My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

Chapter 305: Encounter on the Road

Passing through the border customs between the two countries, just as Deng Zhengde said, the inspection was strict but indeed, as long as you paid a bit more silver, showed your own country's documents, and explained your purpose and destination… it was no problem at all.

Following Deng Zhengde’s caravan, Liu Shan and the others smoothly traveled from Great Liang to Great Wei.

As soon as they entered Great Wei territory, even before Liu Shan expressed his desire to continue following the caravan, Deng Zhengde took the initiative to invite them to visit his home.

Was this a case of getting something for nothing?

Liu Shan and the others, who originally knew nothing about Great Wei, did not hesitate to accept Deng Zhengde’s offer.

On their first day in Great Wei, the caravan stayed in a border city.

Just like when Deng Guang’s caravan returned before, Deng Zhengde’s caravan also caused a stir among the locals in the border city, who eagerly asked if there were ready-made goods to sell.

While the caravan members were dealing with the enthusiastic locals, Liu Shan and the others found an excuse to stroll around the city.

After all, they were all merchants; if there was any suspicion or investigation, wouldn’t that be the job of the authorities?

Officials and merchants have different stances— even if Deng Zhengde noticed something, he probably wouldn’t meddle.

Liu Wenzhou felt at ease wandering through the city.

However, the border city was not much different from other cities in Great Liang, except that the locals seemed more open-minded?

Liu Wenzhou entered a few shops and saw that the goods sold were all rather ordinary items, unlike the daily necessities sold by caravans in Great Liang. Then he asked some questions to the shopkeepers and, after hearing their answers, Liu Wenzhou became puzzled.

“So soaps and such things aren’t used by all the people in Great Wei?”

He had thought these were already widespread throughout Great Wei, but it turned out they only learned about them after the caravans arrived?

Liu Shan came over. “Young Master, these locals have all mentioned the Merchants' Alliance. It seems Deng Zhengde’s earlier claim that they are members of the Merchants' Alliance wasn’t a lie.”

Liu Wenzhou: “I didn’t need you to tell me that; say something useful.”

Liu Shan: “…It’s getting late; it’s time to go back for dinner, Young Master.”

“Oh, right, I’m hungry too.”

—

The border city had nothing Liu Wenzhou wanted to explore further. As Deng Zhengde led the caravan onwards, they followed him toward the Yizhou Ji Commandery.

Along the way, stopping and starting, passing through many cities, Liu Wenzhou kept probing and gradually understood more about the so-called Merchants' Alliance and revised his ideas again.

— Those daily necessities were not yet universally known; the fundamental reason was probably that the Merchants' Alliance had been established only recently.

One year.

The Merchants' Alliance in Great Wei had been established for only one year!

And the appearance of items like soap was even more recent than the establishment of the Merchants' Alliance!

Not only one soap appeared but suddenly many goods that improved people’s livelihoods emerged!

Was the appearance of these goods coincidental, or was there one person behind directing and guiding this?

Liu Wenzhou didn’t know, but as he traveled from the border city through Yizhou, while probing about the Merchants' Alliance, he also heard frequently about a person with a very high mention rate among the locals — the Ninth Wise King of Great Wei.

He didn’t know if the information from the people was true since some high officials often spread rumors to gain popular support, turning black into white. Moreover, in the mouths of the locals, it seemed the foundation of the Merchants' Alliance and the emergence of soap and other goods were all the achievements of the Ninth Wise King alone?

“That sounds fake.”

Shortly after entering Jiaozhou, passing a tea house and again hearing the storyteller inside praise the glorious deeds of the Ninth Wise King in establishing the Merchants' Alliance, one of Liu Shan’s subordinates following behind couldn’t help but speak up.

They were resting with the caravan in the city, and habitually took strolls around each city they passed, which the caravan was used to, so no one followed them out.

Before Liu Wenzhou could react to the subordinate’s words, a nearby guest who had been sitting in the tea house immediately turned around and retorted sharply.

“Where are you from? How can you speak so disrespectfully about His Highness the Wise King! If not for His Highness’ efforts, how could we people of Jiaozhou have what we have today?”

The guest’s reaction was intense, his voice louder than the storyteller’s, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Liu Wenzhou frowned inwardly, thinking things might turn ugly.

But Liu Shan immediately apologized to the guest. “Sorry, brother, we are all merchants from out of town and don’t know much about what the Wise King has done in Jiaozhou. My companion spoke without thought and was out of line. Please forgive us if we offended you!”

Liu Shan’s timely and sincere apology eased the guest’s anger.

“Well, ignorance is no crime. Since you are all from out of town, we’ll let it go this time.”

“Thank you, brother.” Liu Shan smiled and bowed slightly to those around. “Sorry for disturbing everyone.”

Not wanting to quarrel or cause trouble, Liu Shan was ready to leave. However, the storyteller on the platform called after them.

“Please wait a moment.”

Liu Shan stopped, glanced at the Young Master, then turned to smile at the storyteller. “May I ask what you wish to say, sir?”

The storyteller was old, smiling as he stroked his graying beard slowly. “I see you all look relaxed and not in a hurry. You are merchants, so if you plan to continue traveling in Jiaozhou, I advise you to sit and listen as I tell you in detail about His Highness the Wise King. He is a great benefactor to the people of Jiaozhou, and no one likes to hear him criticized.”

The storyteller’s words were mild but conveyed a clear hint.

He did not like that these travelers had spoken disrespectfully about the Ninth Wise King.

Liu Wenzhou glanced sideways and noticed that the other patrons in the tea house were all staring at them—not with malice but somewhat unfriendly.

It seemed the Ninth Wise King was truly beloved by the people.

Liu Wenzhou thought to himself, then smiled at Liu Shan and said, “Brother Shan, this gentleman has a point; we should stay and listen.”

Since the Young Master spoke, Liu Shan naturally had no choice but to obey.

The group sat down in the tea house and began listening as the storyteller recounted when the Wise King arrived in Jiaozhou, what he did, and why the people’s lives improved, telling the story from beginning to end.

While Liu Wenzhou and the others were intently listening, a group sitting in the corner of the tea house also retracted their gaze from them.

Three people at a table, all dressed in inconspicuous brocade, giving the look of wealthy young masters.

Sheng Hong: “Since coming to Jiaozhou, this is the first time I’ve seen someone who hasn’t heard of His Highness.”

Fu Jixiang: “They are said to be from out of town, so it’s not surprising they haven’t heard.”

Only Chang Ning, sitting in the middle, rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, “No, I find it strange.”

These are merchants traveling, so how could there be anyone who didn’t know about His Highness at this time?!

Aren’t merchants supposed to be the best-informed?

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