Volume 1 Nightfall Border City Chapter 38 Entrance

  As he approached the Hu Kou, Ning Sheng's heart grew more and more apprehensive. All along, he had been just a small-time porter, but now the master of the house was treating him as if he were the boss, entrusting him with goods worth three or four hundred thousand taels of silver on horseback, all handed over to him with a single slap.

  The merchant team walked in the valley between the two mountains, with strange rocks on both sides of the valley, white snow covering the convex parts and dark colors in the concave parts. Further up were emerald green pine forests that made a mournful cry under the cold wind's sweep. This was the only way to enter the Kill Hu Kou, also the observation point for the pass lookout.

  On the high city wall, the guarding soldiers saw the approaching people from afar and whispered to each other.

  "Has the merchant group arrived?" The tone was full of skepticism.

  The merchant caravan drew closer and closer, becoming clearer and clearer in the eyes of the soldiers.

  "It's really here! The merchant caravan has arrived!"

  The merchant group arrived at the gate, and Ning Sheng plucked up his courage to shout loudly in front of the gate: "I am a Ming person, this is a Ming merchant group! We want to enter the pass!"

  The soldiers on the city wall responded loudly: "Where is the business team of the Great Ming Dynasty still in the grassland?"

  Ning Sheng helplessly spread out his hands and said, "I am Ning Sheng from Ningjia Village in Youyu County. I've been doing business on the grasslands for a long time, and many people know me by mouth!"

  On the city wall, soldiers were laughing and chatting with each other, ignoring them. The merchant group stopped in front of the city gate, helpless.

  There was no war between the Ming and Chahar, but in fact, during the day, the city gate of Hu Kou was not closed. However, for several months, no one had gone out of the gate, and the banditry in Helin was severe. The guard Zhang Guang ordered the city gate to be closed.

  The soldiers in the city tower rushed to the Guardian Office to report: "A merchant group came from outside the pass, saying they were people of the Great Ming."

  "What other business firms have caravans outside the pass? No one has left here for half a year, could it be that they are bandits in disguise?"

  The soldier scratched his head and said: "I don't think so, there are only thirty or forty people, but the horses carrying goods are sixty or seventy, blocking the city gate!"

  Zhang Guang thought for a moment and felt that there was something fishy about this matter. He said, "This is a critical moment, don't stir up trouble for yourself, just ignore them."

  "Are we going to drive them away?"

  Thinking of the Chahar people who are now occupying Hohhot and behaving outrageously, Zhang Guang was worried that they would cause trouble and said, "Don't!"

  The merchant group was stuck under the city gate, and the soldiers on the city wall were laughing and joking with Ning Shengduo, who was so anxious that his throat was smoking. If he didn't rely on the identity of the merchant group, he would not be able to enter the pass at all. The Ming court had issued an order last year, strictly prohibiting Han people from the Tumet tribe from returning to the Ming dynasty.

  From morning till noon, Ning Sheng paced back and forth on the city wall. As long as he didn't enter the pass, his fate was like that of a stray dog. The horse thieves used him, treating him as their boss. If they didn't use him, would he still return to his previous fate? The cavalry shuttling back and forth at the foot of Black Mountain made him understand the strength behind them, with both confidence and fear.

  In the afternoon, the soldiers who changed shifts in the city gate entered a small wine shop in Jizicun and started talking about this matter. The mouth of the butcher was not big, and it spread rapidly in less than half an hour.

  In the northeast corner of Jizuo, in the De Xiang Kui store, a young clerk rushed into the backyard and shouted: "Young master, I heard that a merchant caravan has arrived from outside the pass!"

  Kaihu mouth has not had a business team leaving the pass for half a year. At this time, the Lantern Festival has not passed, and the war in the capital has just ended. The various merchant houses of the Ming Dynasty are basically in a state of semi-closure, with most families only leaving some partners to watch the door, waiting for changes in the situation. Only the young master of De Xiang Ge, Liu Quan, stayed in the collection as usual.

  The Liu family in Youyu County was well-known, and over the years, they gradually expanded their business, taking advantage of local convenience. However, compared to those big merchants who had been operating at the Huguan Pass for many years, such as Jiezhou and Qixian, they were still far behind. Liu Quan's father, Old Master Liu, had spent decades accumulating wealth by traveling to the Western Pass, and he knew the difficulties and risks involved. He only hoped that Liu Quan could pass the imperial examination and obtain a government position, so he wouldn't have to take risks in business anymore. However, Liu Quan disliked the eight-legged essay, and after taking the exam for several years, he still couldn't get selected as a candidate. Seeing that officialdom was also precarious, he took over the family business from his father.

  Hearing the shouting outside, Liu Quan closed the book in his hand and said: "Liu Rui, what's the matter, say it slowly." Liu Rui was also a member of the Liu family. When Jin merchants chose their partners, they usually gave priority to their own family members.

  "I heard that a merchant caravan has arrived outside the city gate, but the soldiers guarding the gate won't let them in!" Liu Rui said, panting as he entered.

  "Caravan?"

  Liu Rui nodded repeatedly.

  Liu Quan put down the book in his hand and stared at the icicles hanging from the eaves, saying after a while: "Follow me to take a look!"

  The snow on the street had been cleared, and Liu Quan put on a fur coat and walked towards the city wall with Liu Rui.

  The soldiers saw Zhenyu come over and greeted him with a smile: "Young Master, you're here!"

  Liu Quan smiled and nodded, asking: "I heard a merchant team came outside the city gate?"

  "Yes, adults' orders, no entry into the city, let them hang around first!"

  Liu Quan took out two pieces of silver from his sleeve and handed them over, saying: "Can I go up to the city wall to take a look?"

  Two soldiers caught it and laughed, saying: "Young master, please!"

  Liu Quan stepped onto the city wall and carefully observed Ning Sheng's chaotic movements below, then asked: "How long have they been here?"

  "It's already half past noon!"

  Yu Zhen polished for a moment, Liu Quan turned his head and went straight to the Shoubei government office. He walked quickly, and Liu Rui behind him almost couldn't keep up, running after him in small steps.

  Inside the Guardian's Mansion.

  "Are you going to keep them from entering?" Zhang Guang was shocked when he heard Liu Quan's intention.

  Liu Quan nodded slightly and smiled, saying: "Ning Shengben was originally a partner of mine, De Xiangkui. Last year, he was displaced by the war and wandered onto the grasslands. Now that he's back, how can we not let him in?"

  Zhang Guang stared at Liu Quan with a pair of dead eyes and said, "You didn't deceive me? You know that if something goes wrong at this time, it's not just a matter of spending some money to solve it."

  "How dare I cheat an adult!" Liu Quan quietly handed over a silver note from his sleeve.

  Zhang Guang took a peek at the face value, 500 taels! This money is really worth it. If you say that the merchant group outside the pass is from the Liu family, Zhang Guang would not believe it even if he was beaten to death, but the silver bill in front of him is the most authentic and valuable.

  "Alright! Let him go!"

  Outside the city gate, Ning Sheng had already made preparations for not being able to enter the pass and was waiting for it to get a bit darker before leading the merchant group back to Hei Shan. Suddenly, the soldiers on the city wall shouted loudly: "The merchant group below the city listen up, the lord has an order, let you in but you must hand over your weapons, and your goods will be inspected!"

  Ning Sheng hastily replied, "Good!"

  Seven or eight soldiers inside pushed the wheel of the city gate, accompanied by a piercing creaking sound. The two iron-plated gates opened, and inside, two rows of soldiers stood neatly lined up. Zhang Guang personally rushed over.

  Ning Sheng led the way in, and the guards collected the bows, arrows, knives, and swords carried by the escorts. After the pack horses entered the earthen city, the soldiers one by one inspected the cargo bags, and only after confirming that everything was correct did they allow the merchant caravan to enter Jizicao.

  Ning Sheng walked up to Zhang Guang, bowed his head and said: "Thank you, sir, for letting me go!"

  Zhang Guang narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up Ning Sheng, asking: "Did Liu Shaodong's family say you're a partner of theirs, is that right?"

  "Ah!" Ning Sheng hesitated for a moment before responding, "Exactly!"

  "If it weren't for Young Master Liu's family, you wouldn't have been able to enter the city today!" Zhang Guang showed a knowing smile to Liu Quan and turned to leave.

  With Zhang Guang gone, Liu Quan stepped forward and bowed his hands, saying: "I am Liu Quan. Would it be an honor to invite Mr. Ning to a small gathering at my humble abode?"

  Ning Sheng hastily returned the courtesy and replied: "Thank you, Young Master Dong, for your help. We'll just stay at an inn instead!"

  "Alright then, I'll come back to see you after Mr. has settled in!"

  Killing Hawk's mouth was desolate for a long time, and Ning Sheng finally found a guest house called Yue Lai with great difficulty. It was still open for business, so everyone moved in, unloaded their goods, and had the second son lead the pack horses to the stable. There were only a few servants in the guest house, who were busy to the point of being out of breath, but they finally managed to settle everyone down by nightfall.