Jiangnan misty rain, hidden stakes first erected
Just when Zhang Qing's troops were caught in the dual pressure of constraints from local officials and potential military missions in the west of Beijing, the advance team of the "Si Hai Warehouse" led by Yan Qing had already sailed south along the canal and entered the misty Jiangnan area.
Suzhou and Hangzhou are truly paradises on earth. Markets are lined with pearls, and households are overflowing with silk and satin, their prosperity far surpassing even the northern provinces. However, beneath this prosperity lies a disturbing undercurrent. Officials are corrupt, and exorbitant taxes are levied relentlessly. The "Yingfeng Bureau," established by powerful figures like Zhu Jie, is even more ferocious, plundering in the name of the "Flower and Stone Gang," fueling public resentment. It was in this fertile soil that Fang La's Manichaeism quietly flourished, with adherents spreading throughout the countryside.
Yan Qing, assuming the persona of the wealthy merchant "Yan Qi," rented a substantial storefront in Hangzhou's bustling market, setting up the "Si Hai Warehouse" sign, specializing in northern medicinal herbs and furs. His generosity and diplomatic demeanor quickly established him with Hangzhou's established merchants and brokerage firms.
However, establishing an intelligence network was far more difficult than conducting business. Jiangnan was a land of intertwined forces, local merchants were xenophobic, the government had numerous informants, and the Fang La followers operated in secrecy. Yan Qing knew that without a local guide, he would be unable to make any progress.
He remembered Qiongying's instructions and sought out the inn called "Yue Lai." He showed the half-jade pendant and met the steward, "Chen San." Shen was in his thirties or forties, with an ordinary face—the kind you'd miss in a crowd. But his eyes shone with shrewdness and composure. He was a hidden pawn planted by Lu Junyi early in his career, having run inns in Hangzhou for many years and possessing a wide network of contacts.
With the help of Shen San, a local tyrant, Yan Qing's work quickly gained traction. Through Shen San's connections, Yan Qing met several local small merchants who were extremely dissatisfied with the government and the "Flower and Stone Gang," as well as some well-informed, down-and-out scholars who mingled in the market. Yan Qing didn't rush to confront them, but simply treated them to drinks and tea, listening to their complaints about the current situation and identifying potential candidates.
Meanwhile, Yan Qing, using his warehouse business as cover, dispatched his clever and reliable men to explore the areas of Muzhou and Qingxi, where Fang La's forces were active, under the guise of purchasing silk and tea. He heeding Qiongying's instructions, he refrained from actively engaging with the Fang La core, instead observing the people's livelihoods, military movements, and the geographical situation within the areas they controlled.
Information began to trickle back to the Sihai Warehouse in Hangzhou. Yan Qing carefully sorted out the information and sent it to Zhang Qing's base in western Beijing and to Qiongying in the rear through the secret channels left by Lu Junyi.
Qiongying received Yan Qing's first brief report on Jiangnan in Yuncheng shortly after Zhang Qing's secret letter arrived. The report described the corruption of Jiangnan officials, the resentment among the people, and the deep-rooted influence of Fang La in the countryside. It also included a crude map of the waterways and major towns surrounding Taihu Lake.
While this information was crude, it was extremely valuable. Qiongying immediately realized that Fang La was no match for a bandit like Wang Qing; he held a powerful influence within his own territory. If Liangshan confronted him head-on, even if they could win, they would inevitably suffer heavy losses, playing into the court's hands.
She immediately wrote back to Zhang Qing, relaying the intelligence from Jiangnan and emphasizing, "Fang La's power is immense, rooted in popular resentment. We must not underestimate the enemy, nor should we completely destroy them. We should employ both suppression and appeasement, prioritizing the preservation of our strength. If this proves impossible, perhaps we can leverage their power to contain the imperial court."
This was an extremely bold suggestion, almost like "nurturing the enemy to protect oneself." But Qiongying knew that in the face of cruel reality, she had to cast aside unnecessary moral constraints.
Just as the Jiangnan intelligence network was taking root, plans for an overseas base took a turn for the better. Chen Laoduo's old friend, veteran helmsman Zheng Laoda, known as the "Sea Fox," was finally persuaded by the promise of a substantial salary and the prospect of "developing a new homeland" and agreed to leave retirement. He not only provided a crude hand-drawn nautical chart marking the suspected location of Ryukyu Island, but also brought with him several experienced veteran sailors who shared his thirst for adventure.
Qiongying personally met with Zheng Lao Da and his group. In the secret room, she hung up a map of the southeastern coast that she had detailed from memory, pointed to the location of Taiwan Island, and asked Zheng Lao Da about the details of the route, the patterns of the monsoon, and the possible dangers on the island.
Boss Zheng was astonished by the map, which was far more accurate than anything he had ever seen, and his conviction in the Taoist priest "Qingshizi"'s identity became even stronger. He answered Qiongying's questions in detail and assured her that, based on his experience, organizing a fleet of several ships and, with adequate preparation, landing and establishing a foothold in the southeastern part of the island would have a high chance of success.
"But, Taoist Priest," Boss Zheng rubbed his hands, looking troubled, "building ships, recruiting people, storing food... everything costs money, and a lot of money!"
Money! It was always the biggest bottleneck restricting their development. Although the "Four Seas Warehouse" was doing well, and Lu Junyi and Zhang Qing also secretly supported it, it was still a drop in the bucket for such a large-scale plan as the Far Seas Colonization.
Qiongying fell into deep thought. Profits from the warehouse took time to accumulate, and time was what they lacked most. They had to find a way to obtain the huge sum of money more quickly.
Her gaze involuntarily turned to the south again. There, there was the prosperous Jiangnan, the storm of uprising that swept everything, and... the Liangshan troops that were about to be swept into it.
A vague and dangerous idea began to grow in her mind.
Perhaps, at some point in the future, the chaos in Jiangnan will not only provide cover, but also bring...unimaginable wealth.
A storm is brewing, and the hidden stakes have been set. Jiangnan's chess game has added another invisible player.
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