Chapter 2 Leaving the Pass (1)
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In the morning, selling private salt and tea was a serious crime. Selling more than 100 catties of private salt could result in beheading. However, despite the severe crackdown by the imperial court, the sale of private salt and tea continued to thrive in the Ming dynasty. This was especially true among officials and local nobles who participated in this illicit trade because it brought them huge profits. The government purchased one catty of edible salt for only 10-20 copper coins, but sold it at a price of 70-80 copper coins or more, depending on the region. In some areas, the price was as high as 300 copper coins. Ordinary people could not afford official salt and had to buy private salt, which was much cheaper than official salt, with profits several times higher, sometimes even tenfold. Such a lucrative business naturally attracted those who wanted to get rich quickly. If there were powerful figures involved in the partnership, selling private salt would be as safe as selling official salt. How could the private salt trade not thrive and be banned? The same logic applied to private tea.
Zhu Yinglong's team is now a genuine salt and tea smuggling team. Shen Xi, born into a merchant family, had also smuggled salt in his early years. After accumulating some capital, he stopped doing it and opened the Bogu Zhai instead. So, he was very familiar with the tricks of salt smuggling, forging salt certificates and tea certificates was no problem at all. With some advance arrangements, bribery and a few words, they could pass through customs smoothly.
After more than a dozen days of traveling, the originally pale and refined Zhu Yinglong had also become dark and tanned. Without experiencing wind and frost, how could one see a rainbow? At this time, if he didn't come out to temper himself, he would probably never have another opportunity. The people following him, such as Xiong Tingbi, all looked up to this young prince who had grown up in a warm greenhouse with reverence. No matter what his goals were, the fact that the majestic heavenly king could have this kind of willpower was enough to make them admire him greatly. Along the way, he hadn't complained once about being tired or hungry, which was already enough to make them feel deeply impressed. Especially since he had become fast friends with Lu Haodong and more than 50 soldiers from the Ferocious Tiger Camp, drinking large bowls of wine, eating large chunks of meat, speaking crudely, cursing, and boasting loudly, everyone almost forgot that he was still the Xining King of the Great Ming Dynasty. Unrestrained and unbridled, he was just like a private salt merchant living on the edge of a knife.
The further north he went, the more he could feel how difficult life was for ordinary people in the Ming dynasty. Natural disasters and man-made calamities were constant, and there were also enemies constantly invading. He saw one family after another broken apart. Although he didn't see the tragic event of "people eating people" written about in history books, if things continued like this, such a tragedy would probably become a reality.
On the way, they encountered several robberies. Shen Xi, who had been traveling outside for many years, told Zhu Yinglong that this was just how it was in the north, and that the south was slightly better. These robbers were mostly ordinary people who had been driven to desperation by the government and only stole valuables, generally not harming anyone. A private salt smuggling team like theirs usually wouldn't be targeted, only larger robber gangs would have the audacity to do so.
Dozens of mules carrying salt and tea bricks continued to move north, entering Hebei Province. As they passed through a village called Xiaoliangzhuang, the simple villagers brought out their most sumptuous food to entertain them. In the eyes of ordinary people, these top criminals of the imperial court, private salt sellers, were actually the benefactors of the villagers. Right and wrong are self-evident. The imperial court was not wrong in monopolizing the salt industry, but the mistake lay in the fact that officials at all levels used the monopoly as a tool to accumulate wealth. On the one hand, they privately sold salt, and on the other hand, they raised the price of salt to seek benefits, which all went into the pockets of corrupt officials. The country became the object of the people's resentment, which is truly unfortunate for the country and the people!
Before leaving, Zhu Yinglong asked Lu Haitian to take down over 100 kilograms of salt as a thank you gift for the villagers' hospitality. The villagers thanked them profusely and kowtowed to express their gratitude, refusing to get up no matter how much Zhu Yinglong tried to persuade them. They insisted on kowtowing three times in unison with over 100 villagers, and in that moment, Zhu Yinglong understood the profound meaning of Tang Taizong's saying "water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it." The ruler is like a small boat floating on the surface of the water, while the common people are the water that supports the boat and propels it forward. If the boat strays from its course, the water will overturn it. Throughout history, emperors have known this saying, but how many truly understand its meaning? They only know that their power is divinely ordained, that they were appointed by heaven to rule over the people, and that everything belongs to them. Whoever disobeys them must die, as expressed in the extreme saying "the ruler orders the minister to die, and the minister cannot but die."
All the way through wind and rain, the group bypassed Beijing and entered Zunhua City, replenished supplies and dry food, had a good rest for a night, and set off again.
On February 2nd, Dragon Lifts Its Head, Zhu Yinglong and others set up camp at the foot of a mountain slope thirty miles from Da'an Pass, preparing to leave the pass tomorrow afternoon.
Everyone was busy cooking and making a fire, but Zhu Yinglong found a high slope nearby, sat down, gazed at the last remnants of red clouds disappearing over the western horizon, then silently welcomed the arrival of night.
Xiong Hu, the only woman in this group and also Xiong Tingbi's daughter. Of course, these fierce tiger camp soldiers and their captain Lu Haotian only knew her as the daughter of their leader, who was disguised as Xiong Ba. Now, Xiong Tingbi's mouth is clean and smooth, his beloved beard shaved off under Zhu Yinglong's strong request. People familiar with Xiong Tingbi know that he loves his beard and likes to swear, so now standing in front of Wei Zhongxian, he might not even dare to confirm himself. Because Xiong Tingbi has changed not only his name but also his image, appearance, and habits, especially his catchphrase from "he's mother" to "niang hipi", and he rarely swears. The reborn Xiong Tingbi already possesses the qualities of a strategist. As his daughter, Xiong Hu, in this situation with so many men, no one would ask her to help with anything, so she became the second most idle person after Zhu Yinglong. When not traveling, the only thing she could do was secretly observe Zhu Yinglong with her own eyes.
As a father, Xiong Ting couldn't help but notice that his precious daughter had developed feelings for this young prince. Ever since he was imprisoned, the arranged marriage his daughter had previously agreed to had fallen through. For years, a teenage girl had followed her brother around, trying to save him, wasting her youth. Apart from teaching her martial arts, Xiong Ting felt he hadn't done his job as a father properly and couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. He wondered if this young prince with grand ambitions and seemingly extraordinary wisdom was the right person for his daughter to entrust her life to. Even someone like him who had seen many people over the years couldn't tell! Perhaps, he thought, it's best to let fate decide. So he didn't interfere with Xiong Hu's feelings, as long as she felt happy, that was all that mattered.
Xiong Hu found a rock beside Zhu Yinglong and sat down. What she saw was the side of Zhu Yinglong's face. Slowly, the outline of Zhu Yinglong, who had been weathered by the wind and sun, became clear. This was not a particularly handsome face, so why couldn't her eyes move away from it?
Zhu Yinglong naturally knew about Xiong Hu's every move, and his heart skipped a beat as he suddenly turned around to face her with a sly smile, asking: "Liangniang, you're staring at me like this, could it be that you've taken a liking to me?"
Xiong Hu's face suddenly turned red, and he lowered his head, stuttering: "How could that be? Li Niang wouldn't possibly like the prince! Your Highness mustn't make wild guesses!"
