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RR Chapter 322

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Traveling from Ji County to Bing County is not an easy task. Chen Yue first boarded the ship in Dongping, and sailed upstream along the Zhang River, until reaching Ye City. After disembarking, he traveled west through Fukou Pass and entered the territory of Bing County. It took several days before finally arriving in Jinyang.

This journey covered a distance of thousands of miles, involving both boat travel and mountain passage. However, what surprised Chen Yue was that, throughout the entire journey, they never encountered any bandits!

He was accompanying a caravan, and it was not just any caravan; it was a convoy transporting a large quantity of grain!

Yet, things unfolded surprisingly. Besides going through inspections at each checkpoint, the journey proceeded smoothly, and they safely reached Jinyang. Standing outside the towering and majestic city walls, not inferior to those of Ye City, even someone as experienced in the ways of trade as Chen Yue couldn’t help feeling a bit dazed.

The checkpoints in Ye City were stricter than elsewhere. After finally entering the city amidst the crowd, Chen Yue’s attendants couldn’t help but look around, praising, “Ye City is truly extraordinary. There are so many people!”

It’s not surprising they were amazed.

On the wide streets, vehicles crisscrossed, causing congestion. Occasionally, two vehicles would travel side by side, unable to avoid each other. Turban-wearing Hu people led camels with jingling bells, moving at a leisurely pace. Merchants pushing small carts navigated through gaps, occasionally eliciting curses. Women, some with long veils covering their faces, others with bare faces, carried bamboo baskets or wooden boxes, whether for shopping or returning home. Some men looked like scholars, dusty and in a hurry, appearing as if they had traveled a long distance.

Such a scene might only be found in Luoyang during the Taikang era, right?

Having arrived by boat, Chen Yue had disembarked several times along the way to observe the market demands. The counties of Ji County were not particularly prosperous. There were many displaced people, and in many places, efforts were still underway for cultivation and fortress construction, showing signs of desolation. However, within the territory of Si County, especially after entering Ye City, things were markedly different.

Benefiting from its excellent geographical location, the market in Ye City had already taken shape and showed no signs of the devastating raids from the past two years. The silk and satin, paper, and porcelain produced in Bing County all had to pass through here on their way to Haixing Port. Similarly, the grains and miscellaneous goods brought by sea vessels also needed to pass through Fukou Pass and Baigou, heading towards Bing County and Luoyang.

In such a pivotal hub, how could Chen Yue pass up the opportunity? He quickly engaged in business. The goods brought from Haixing Port were sold out in no time. After obtaining a sufficient amount of silk, he proceeded calmly towards Jinyang. However, now that he had truly set foot in the heart of the northern region, he immediately regretted selling his goods too early. In such a prosperous metropolis, where couldn’t he find business opportunities?

Despite this, Chen Yue didn’t show any regret on his face. He just cleared his throat and casually said, “I’m afraid it’s because the imperial examination is approaching; that’s why scholars from various provinces are flocking here.”

“Is the imperial examination that influential?” the attendant exclaimed. “Master, why don’t you try participating? Maybe you can secure a government position in Bing County!”

“Ridiculous!” Chen Yue rebuked, covering up his embarrassment. He had read a few books; how could he participate in such a high-level talent selection? Besides, he came for trading—what did it have to do with the imperial examination?

Ignoring the curious scenes on the street, the group headed towards the West Market. In the real market, it was a different scene altogether. The entire district was filled with shops, dazzling the eyes! Not to mention the rare horses, fur, and Bing County specialties like porcelain and paper, even goods like silk and spices had a distinct charm.

Why were the colors of these fabrics so vibrant? How were the patterns of the woven silk created? The fragrance from the bottles, was it really the essence of flowers? And those makeup boxes that could reflect shadows, what kind of crystal were they?

Walking from east to west, his legs almost gave out, and after seeing countless rare items, Chen Yue couldn’t decide on what goods to buy. With the limited money he had, how could he exchange it for a sufficient quantity of quality goods?

He initially thought that he could make a fortune in Haixing Port, but unexpectedly, the real treasure trove was in the remote Taihang hinterland, a thousand miles away! Frustrated and tired, Chen Yue sighed, planning to find a place to rest, have a meal, and then carefully consider his options.

The place to eat had been decided early on. Initially, he had negotiated a deal in the Denghai Tower in Haixing Port. Since there was a Dengyun Tower in Jinyang, rumored to be under the same management, it was a favored place for local merchants. Planning to continue doing business, he intended to gather information there.

Dengyun Tower wasn’t far from the West Market, just separated by two streets. One could see tall flags and gatehouses from a distance. The tower was quite tall, with three floors in total, and exquisitely decorated. It was said that the top floor of the three was reserved for entertaining the immensely wealthy, offering dining arrangements that rivaled the mansions of noble families.

However, Chen Yue didn’t intend to go to the top floor. Instead, he went to the first floor, which appeared similar to the Denghai Tower. It was spacious and lively, with many people. Outside the tower, there were also quite a few individuals buying fruits and snacks, carrying baskets. They were doing their small businesses in this area.

As a visitor, Chen Yue could afford to eat. Still, the purpose of coming here was to gather information. Therefore, he didn’t opt for the elegant seats on the second floor but chose a position on the first floor near the window. The restaurant’s furniture was somewhat peculiar; the tables were higher, and the small couches were about two feet from the ground, suitable for kneeling or cross-legged sitting. However, from what Chen Yue observed, many diners were casually sitting with their legs hanging down, apparently not adhering to any particular etiquette.

After a day of walking, Chen Yue was too tired to care about such details. He sat down casually, looking at the menu hanging on the wall. There were dozens of dishes listed, some familiar, while others were perplexing. Fortunately, most had prices written next to them. After carefully pondering for a while, he summoned a servant to serve tea and water and ordered three dishes and a pot of wine.

It wasn’t that he was stingy, but the business was not yet concluded, and it was not the time to indulge in culinary desires. Moreover, being a southerner, he might not be accustomed to the northern cuisine.

Not minding the fact that he ordered a small amount, within a short time, two plates of dishes were brought to the table. One was a simple dish of tofu mixed with green onions, tender and delightful, with a slight sour freshness. The other was a soup made from chicken and matsutake mushrooms, slightly salty and rich, but quite palatable. The wine was freshly brewed fruit wine, mellow and dense, providing a refreshing relief.

After eating for a while, the last dish finally arrived – a steaming bowl of Shiuyinjianbing. This was their signature dish, adorned with red silk. Chen Rui didn’t particularly favor staple foods, but seeing many people ordering it, he decided to give it a try. Upon closer inspection, the shuiyinjianbing looked quite appealing. The noodles were cut into strips over a foot long, the soup was clear and bright with shimmering oil, and there were two pieces of meat in soy sauce, emitting a delightful aroma.

Picking up a strand of noodles with wooden chopsticks and tasting it, Chen Yue immediately sensed the difference. It wasn’t the usual soft and flat staple food; instead, the noodles were firm and elastic, exuding a wheat fragrance, with a satisfying texture. The meat was fat, tender, and surprisingly lamb! However, there was no hint of the characteristic gaminess; it seemed some special spices were added.

With a bowl of steaming hot noodles placed before him, especially during the approaching late autumn and early winter, it truly aroused one’s appetite. Temporarily setting aside his thoughts, Chen Yue focused on enjoying the meal. However, after only a few bites, the conversation of nearby diners entered his ears.

“I heard that Ji County is planning to repair the official road, and this time, even the aristocratic families will be involved…”

“Which aristocratic family would spend manpower and resources on repairing the official road? Isn’t that the responsibility of the provincial officials?”

“Who knows? But it’s news from the Governor’s Mansion; it seems to be profitable.”

“What profit? Could it be opening inns next to the relay stations?” the person laughed. “Ji County is adjacent to You County and Yan County; who knows when they might go to war!”

While they laughed heartily, Chen Yue’s heart was in turmoil. Opening inns outside the relay stations? These people hadn’t been to Ji County, but he had! Just on the day’s journey from the port to the ferry, he saw countless storefronts.

All travelers need food, drink, and rest during a long journey. Without an official status, one cannot stay in relay stations and can only stay in inns. This seemed to be a big business opportunity! Moreover, having seen the new port of Ji County, as long as he brought enough grain, he could secure a share of the purchases of popular goods like ceramics and salt in Bing County. What if road construction was the same? Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity to enter the game?

His wealth was not abundant, and it was impossible to transport tens of thousands of stones of grain at once. Still, it seemed not impossible to cover the expenses for a section of the road…

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. Chen Yue quickly finished the meal, asked the waiter for the bill, and then hurriedly left Dengyun Tower.

Because his mind was occupied, he left in a hurry and almost collided with a cattle cart. Fortunately, the other party was not moving fast and managed to avoid him. Chen Yue knew he was at fault and apologized repeatedly. The people in the cart were easygoing and didn’t pursue the matter, letting him leave.

Seeing the group of merchants rushing through the streets, a middle-aged man in the cart shook his head, “The population in Jinyang is chaotic, not comparable to the past…”

He had spent his youth in Luoyang and had witnessed the former glory of the capital. Now, although Jinyang was big, it was disorderly and lacked the grandeur of the old capital.

“You’re right. These days coincide with the opening of the imperial examination, inevitably causing chaos. It’s also due to the shortage of people in the north, which led to this plan.” A young man serving beside him chuckled.

“Is the imperial examination about to start?” The middle-aged man, upon hearing this, asked in confusion.

The imperial examination was the most significant event in Jinyang nowadays. Anyone who came to this place would know about it. This question sounded somewhat out of touch. However, the person being asked didn’t find it strange and replied, “Exactly so.”

This exchange revealed some differences in opinions. The contemporary aristocracy held two different attitudes towards the imperial examination. Some considered it degrading and detrimental to the moral atmosphere. Others saw it as an opportunity for advancement. However, among the two, the former was generally held by the high-ranking families.

The two men in the carriage were both from distinguished backgrounds. The elder, named Wei Xie, hailed from the Wei family in Hedong. The younger one, named Xun Zhi, belonged to the Xun family in Yingchuan. Although neither of them was a legitimate heir of their respective clans, the wealth and prestige associated with their surnames ranked at the top in the world.

Surprisingly, these two individuals harbored no significant animosity toward each other regarding the imperial examination.

Hearing his junior’s remarks, Wei Xie stroked his beard thoughtfully. “No wonder it’s so chaotic. Let’s hurry out of the West Market and head into the mountains.”

Xun Zhi chuckled, “Maybe those who burn incense and worship Buddha in the mountains would appreciate it more.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Xie sighed deeply, “Let it be. At least, after the examination, we can meet Duke Liang, right? I wonder when the murals at Huai’en Temple will start reconstruction?”

For Wei Xie, the importance of the imperial examination was secondary; what truly mattered was the task at hand.

With the recent loss of Hedong to the Xiongnu, the legitimate heirs of the Wei family, Wei Zhi and Wei Jie, had relocated to Yang County. Wei Xie had come to Wu territory in his youth, studying painting under Cao Buxing, one of the “Eight Wonders” of Wu, known as the “Master of Painting.” He had since mastered the art and gained fame in the Three Wu regions, earning the title of “Painting Saint.” However, while many scholars moved south, he chose to sail north. The reason was the reconstruction project at Huai’en Temple. The temple wanted to restore its main hall and paint colorful murals of Buddha images, and that’s why they had invited him from afar.

Wei Xie didn’t particularly care about the compensation offered by Huai’en Temple, but the newly developed Buddhist caves in the Western Mountains of Jinyang intrigued him. His teacher, Cao Buxing, was skilled in painting Buddha images and was known as the “Ancestor of Buddha Painting.” Having learned the same techniques, Wei Xie had a deep affinity for Buddhism. Moreover, at present, Jinyang is undoubtedly a first-class Buddhist center in the Northern Region. Even eminent monks like Zhufa had settled in Huai’en Temple.

The importance of such a Buddhist temple is already enticing. Not to mention the continuous mountain ridges adorned with stone-carved grottoes. Exquisite works crafted by artisans from countries like Xiliang, Dunhuang, and Dayue, all the effort put into them is evident, and merely observing them is highly beneficial. For an art enthusiast like Wei Xie, how could he pass up such an opportunity?

Upon hearing that Wei Xie was coming to Bing County, his disciple, Xun Zhi, also followed him, serving by his side. While Xun Zhi also loves painting, his attitude differs from Wei Xie’s single-minded obsession with art. Yu County is currently in turmoil, and Yingchuan has suffered frequent military disasters. The Xun family is preparing to migrate south and seek refuge with the new emperor. However, Yingchuan is very close to Si County, and noble families cannot avoid considering having multiple options. Since Liang Zixi has already taken control of the territory of three provinces and become a regional warlord, it wouldn’t be wise not to invest in him.

Therefore, Xun Zhi’s visit also has an element of investigation. However, Xun Zhi is open-minded, and he doesn’t harbor any aversion to the various measures taken in Bing County. On the contrary, he feels that the place is vibrant and far better than the southern regions. Thus, he even welcomed new policies like the imperial examination and now believes that the Xun family should consider leaving a few branches behind to align with Bing County.

However, despite his thoughts, the final decision would still depend on the opinions of the elders in the family. Soon, Xun Zhi put aside these mundane matters and began discussing the stone sculptures in the grottoes with his teacher.

The ox cart moved slowly, unhurried, heading away from the bustling crowd.

 

Author’s note:

In ancient times, all types of wheat-based food were referred to as “bing” (饼), and when in Shanxi, one must indulge in knife-cut noodles~


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