Liu Bei time-travels to become the Heavenly King Chao Gai

Chapter 45 Hanfeng Escort Agency

Song Jiang lowered his head and remained silent.

He certainly guessed that what Chao Gai was doing was far more than just doing business.

But he couldn't respond to that.

Shi Wenbin smiled.

He stood up, walked to the window, and put his hands behind his back.

"Sir Song, I have served as the magistrate of Yuncheng County for many years and have seen many people. Some live off the legacy of their ancestors, some oppress the people by relying on the power of the government, and some are short-sighted and only care about immediate gains. But I have never seen anyone like Chao Gai before."

He turned around and said, "He was able to turn four or five hundred idle hooligans into a disciplined and orderly force in such a short time. That's something no ordinary person could do."

Song Jiang asked cautiously, "What do you mean, sir?"

"What I mean is—a person like this should either be suppressed as soon as possible, or given a helping hand." Shi Wenbin's voice was calm. "Suppressing him isn't something I lack the ability to do. But it depends on how serious his crimes are. Which of the things he's been doing is illegal? Taking in vagrants is encouraged by the court. Opening a rice shop is a legal business. Taking in hooligans is something he pays to support himself, preventing them from causing trouble in the streets, and saving me trouble. Tell me, on what grounds should I suppress him?"

Song Jiang fell silent.

Shi Wenbin walked back to the table, took out a bunch of keys from his sleeve, and placed them on the table.

"Sun Biao's house is in a good location. It's on the main street in the west of the city, right in front of the official road. It has three courtyards and a large yard. I've decided to give it to Chao Gai."

Song Jiang was stunned.

"My lord, that house is worth at least several hundred strings of cash..."

"As I said, it's a gift." Shi Wenbin pushed the keys in front of Song Jiang, "but there's a condition."

Song Jiang's heart leaped into his throat: "What are the conditions?"

Shi Wenbin looked at him and said, word by word, "This house can only be used to run a security escort agency."

Song Jiang opened his mouth, wanting to ask why, but then felt he shouldn't.

Shi Wenbin noticed his confusion.

He stood up, walked to a map on the wall, and drew a circle around the location of Hebei Road with his finger.

"Sir Song, you are an educated man. If the Jurchens in the north destroy the Liao Dynasty, where will they attack next?"

Song Jiang's expression changed slightly.

Without waiting for his reply, Shi Wenbin continued, "Although I am only a seventh-rank county magistrate, I still have some insight. The Jurchens will be advancing south in no more than three to five years. By then, the Song Dynasty's reinforcements will be too late, the city will be indefensible, and the people will have to find their own way to save their lives."

He turned around, looked at Song Jiang, and his gaze was deep.

"Chao Gai has several hundred men under his command, and at least one or two hundred of them are capable of fighting. If we let him open a security escort agency, he can legitimately recruit soldiers, purchase weapons, and train his men—in case chaos breaks out in the future, he will have a force that can protect the territory and its people. Even if things go wrong, at the very least, he can protect us."

Song Jiang finally understood.

Shi Wenbin wasn't helping Chao Gai; he was finding a way out for himself and Yuncheng County.

When the Jurchens marched south, the government troops could not be relied upon.

At that time, the ones who can protect the people will not be the imperial army, but the local militias under the control of powerful local magnates.

Those men under Chao Gai, if trained properly, could be ready-made local militia.

"My lord is a man of profound wisdom and foresight," Song Jiang said sincerely.

Shi Wenbin waved his hand and sat back down in his chair.

"Tell him tomorrow that this house is a congratulatory gift from me. He should open a large-scale security escort agency with a prestigious name. If he encounters any difficulties, he can come directly to me; you can handle the communication."

After saying this, he said, slowly and deliberately, "I like to be friends with intelligent people. Chao Gai is that intelligent person."

Song Jiang stood up and bowed respectfully.

"I will certainly convey your message."

Shi Wenbin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and this time he tasted the flavor.

"It's late, you should go home."

.........

As Song Jiang walked out of the magistrate's office, a night breeze blew by, and he shivered.

It wasn't the cold, it was the lingering fear.

He recalled how Chao Gai had saved him when Yan Poxi had driven him to the brink of despair.

After that incident, he was willing to follow Chao Gai.

But he never considered the grand scale behind everything Chao Gai had done.

Tonight, Shi Wenbin's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

The Jurchens marched south.

The world is in chaos.

This seemingly pleasure-seeking official had already made his moves outside the chessboard.

Chao Gai was the person chosen by Shi Wenbin.

Song Jiang took a deep breath and strode towards the west of the city.

.........

The official granary in the west of the city.

The lights in the back room were still on.

Liu Bei and Wu Yong are brewing tea.

When Song Jiang entered, he brought in a cool breeze.

He placed the key on the table and repeated Shi Wenbin's words verbatim.

After listening, Wu Yong looked at Liu Bei with a smile on his lips.

"Brother, this gift from Master Shi is quite generous."

Liu Bei did not go to get the key.

He picked up the teacup, blew on the floating leaves on the water, and took a sip.

"He wants us to watch over his house and property."

Wu Yong waved his feather fan: "Yes and no. He wants to leave himself a way out, and also wants to leave some confidence for Yuncheng County. If the Jurchens really attack, he can't rely on the imperial army, he can only rely on us."

Song Jiang chimed in, "Brother, should we accept it or not?"

Liu Bei put down his teacup and looked at the bunch of keys on the table.

"Answer it. Why don't you answer?"

He stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

In the darkness, lanterns dotted the distant city walls, like a string of silent eyes.

"Once the escort agency is open, we can legitimately recruit soldiers and horses. We'll acquire swords, spears, armor, and warhorses one by one. Then, whether we choose to protect our territory and its people or pursue a greater cause, the initiative will be in our hands."

Wu Yong cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother is wise."

Liu Bei turned around and looked at Song Jiang.

"Tomorrow morning, go to Prime Minister Shi's residence to express my gratitude. Tell him that Chao Gai will certainly not fail in his mission."

Song Jiang clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."

Liu Bei sat down again and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Also, tell Master Shi that I've decided on the name for the escort agency—it will be called 'Hanfeng Escort Agency'."

"Hanfeng?" Wu Yong read it aloud. "That's a good name. It signifies the majesty and uprightness of the Han dynasty."

……

Late at night.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper echoed from afar.

In the courtyard of the official granary in the west of the city, several thick torches were lit, and the firewood crackled as it burned.

Liu Bei, wearing a gray cloth cloak, walked on the path paved with bluestone slabs.

Wu Song trained the hundred men in the merchant escort team during the day, giving them a real beating.

At this moment, the sound of snoring could be heard coming from the several large communal sleeping rooms on the east side.

Liu Bei walked to the window and glanced out.

The dormitory was packed with people.

Some were sprawled out on their backs, while others were curled up in a ball.

Most of the blankets had fallen to the floor.

Liu Bei reached out and pushed open the half-closed door.

He went inside, picked up the blanket that had fallen to the ground, and covered Wu Song, who was sleeping on the outermost side, with it.

Wu Song rolled over and mumbled something in his sleep.

Liu Bei withdrew and walked down the corridor to the backyard.

The backyard was where the stewards lived.

Wu Da and Pan Jinlian lived in a small, detached courtyard on the far east side.

Song Jiang also returned to his home.

Liu Bei walked to the west wing room.

He saw that Wu Yong's room was still lit, and a slender silhouette was projected onto the windowpane.

The silhouette was holding a book and slowly turning the pages.

Liu Bei walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

"Knock knock".

Wu Yong's voice came from inside the house: "The door isn't latched, please come in, brother."

Liu Bei pushed open the door.

The room was simply furnished.

A wooden bed, a set of table and chairs, and a bookshelf.

Wu Yong, wearing only a single garment, sat at the table.

An oil lamp sat on the table.

The wick was very long, and the flame flickered.

Wu Yong was holding a thread-bound book in his hand.

Several other booklets were scattered on the table.

Liu Bei walked over and sat down in the chair opposite Wu Yong.

He glanced at the books on the table.

The cover of the top book reads "Six Secret Teachings".

The book next to it is "Three Strategies".

At the very bottom was a somewhat worn copy of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

Liu Bei smiled and said, "Scholar, you haven't rested yet, and you're in the mood for this?"

Wu Yong closed the book in his hand, placed it on the table, and pressed down the curled corners with his palm.

"Brother, you are destined for great things." Wu Yong looked at Liu Bei. "I may be able to manage some writing and accounting, but I'm completely incapable of leading troops and waging war."

He pointed to the military treatise on the table.

"Now our business is expanding more and more, and we have more and more people working for us."

"Wu Erlang is good at training soldiers and charging into battle."

"Song Yashi was able to navigate the officialdom and build connections."

"If I don't learn something soon, I'm afraid I won't even be qualified to give you advice in the future."