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“Boss, are we really heading to Lyuzhou?”

A sizable four-masted, nine-sailed ship was slowly approaching the docks of Lyuzhou.

In the now desolate waterway of Lyuzhou, it was particularly conspicuous.

“There’s no other way…” On the deck, a dark-skinned, robust man stood at the bow, gazing toward Lyuzhou with a look of helplessness, “Do you think we are like Baiye, Rongsheng, and those other big businesses?

Do they have so many channels?

Trying to sell our goods in other Provincial Government Offices like them without connections?

Given the current market with its glut of goods, we’d have to slash our prices by at least thirty percent!”

“Not to mention that the other two docks are congested, and the soldiers are deliberately delaying ships.

Boss Su from next door paid four thousand taels of silver to expedite the process, and even then, he managed to enter the harbor only two days earlier.

For us who don’t pay, who knows how long we will have to drift on this river!”

The man they called boss had a gloomy face, “Don’t forget, the interest at Master Rong’s won’t be a penny less!”

As soon as he said this, the several merchants behind him with their varied attire all looked bitter.

They were a newly formed small trading group, the kind where dozens of merchants pooled together to buy their own ship and venture into commercial shipping.

As the saying goes, every beginning is hard, but being an entrepreneur and a boss wasn’t that simple.

The new ship alone had cost tens of thousands of taels of silver, and without the big businesses’ buying channels, the prices they paid for goods were much higher.

With limited starting capital, nearly all had borrowed from the moneylender, Boss Rong.

Merchants are gamblers by nature, thriving off high-risk high-reward transactions.

The moneylender, adept at understanding human nature, would always extract a pound of flesh with loans at usurious rates.

Take it or leave it!

Burdened with such interest rates, it was a race against time.

Fortunately, the crew was experienced in sailing, and the voyage had been smooth so far.

The goods they brought back were expected to cover the costs, and they weren’t hoping to make a large profit.

Just earning back the cost of the ship would mean they wouldn’t need loans for the next journey.

Who would have expected that just as they were nearing their home port, Lyuzhou would be struck by such misfortune, threatening their very lives.

After drifting for two days, the interest mounted with each passing day, leaving everyone as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

“If we keep dragging on like this, we really might end up at a loss!” the man gritted his teeth, “We’ve braved the seas for so many years, even the Dragon King hasn’t claimed our lives, so what is there to fear from some damn demon?”

The others hesitated for a moment, but eventually, they all nodded, “The boss is right!”

“The boss makes a good point.

We’ve even dared to fight pirates, and we’re full of yang energy.

What filthy being out there would dare to mess with us?”

As the crowd echoed in agreement, it seemed that entering Lyuzhou had the least impact on the group.

But within the vast trading group, there were a few sinister, cold gazes hidden in the shadows, wearing cold smiles.

A middle-aged man, who seemed very close to the leading boss, approached and said, “Boss, what about that water ghost?”

“Shh!!” His counterpart glared at him and scolded in a low voice, “Have you got water in your brain?

Why bring that up now?”

Although he scolded, he looked at the other crew members, who had started to busy themselves with the cargo, with a trace of worry in his eyes.

Unlike the people of the Central Plains who honestly till the land at home, those who spend a long time at sea inevitably encounter certain things.

This time they were unlucky, having run into one of them.

Water ghosts were the most commonly mentioned filth in sea legends, often appearing on foggy days.

They would board ships under the cover of fog, kill crew members with low vigilance, then skin and dismember them, taking on the appearance of the sailors and staying on board, looking for opportunities to strike at the living.

The merchant ship’s lead man, Huo Bei, had previously received martial arts training because of his work as a bodyguard for a carriage convoy.

He had been hired by a business owner for a high price to guard the commercial fleet, protecting it against pirates and, most importantly, against such water ghosts.

In the large merchant caravans, familiar with each other up and down, water ghosts actually can’t stay for long before they’re easily recognized.

However, in our smaller merchant teams where members come from all over Tiannan, not very well acquainted with one another, it’s easy for such threats to slip through unnoticed.

A few days ago, relying on my experience, I spotted one.

My brothers erupted in violence, hacking it to death with chaotic blows.

In its panic, the water ghost burst through its human skin, revealing it to be an extremely ugly Shark Person.

After killing that monster, I announced that we were clean, to put everyone at ease, but in reality, I knew full well that these creatures, like cockroaches in a home, when you spot one, there are often many more hidden.

That’s also why, when I heard the news about Lyuzhou, I hesitated to dock there.

Not just because of the demons in Lyuzhou City frightening people, but because of the water ghosts lurking aboard!

These creatures carry a strong fishy smell that can’t be detected at sea, but once in town where there are more people, they are easier to spot.

Apart from their strength and ability to disguise themselves as human by wearing skins, these monsters possess no significant abilities.

Once discovered, they can be easily killed by soldiers swarming them with a few slashes!

Therefore, these monsters often try to escape before nearing the bustling ports.

But if they disembark at a smaller port and enter less busy cities with less strict guards, the bolder ones dare to continue to mix among the people.

They will even inquire about where their own home is, donning the skin of a crew member to return and devour his wife and children!

Having sailed for many years, I’ve seen such incidents no less than ten times!

Wives and children longing for their husbands to return, only to welcome a demon that flays and dismembers the whole family, not sparing even infants in swaddling clothes!

To me, Gu Bei, doing business together at sea is a kind of fate.

Even if I couldn’t protect them at sea, the least I could do was to prevent these evil creatures from harming my friends’ families.

But now…

there’s really nothing I can do!

Gu Bei gritted his teeth and whispered, “Keep a close watch when we enter the city later.

Remember anyone who likes to inquire about their family history!”

The subordinate beside him nodded in agreement, but in his heart, he knew that the boss said this just to reassure himself.

Once in town and busy with selling goods, who would have the mind to pay attention to others?

If there really were water ghosts mixed in with our group, there’s a high chance something bad would happen.

But the boss had no choice, with the interest piling up day by day; if we don’t sell the merchandise soon, it will cost us dearly.

“Boss, this thing about Lyuzhou not collecting commercial taxes…

is it true or not?”

“It’s very likely to be true!” Gu Bei felt a bit better as he brought up the topic: “The news came from the Nanming Government Office.

I heard that many big merchants have been attracted to Lyuzhou to purchase goods, and the Imperial Court has thought of a good idea to help Lyuzhou recover.”

“If that’s the case, that’s good…”

Another man beside him smiled: “If they’re not taxing, with the goods we brought in this time, we should be able to break even, and most likely make some profit.”

The others nodded vigorously upon hearing this.

Great Jin, unlike the previous dynasty that believed those scholars’ nonsense about not competing with the people for profit, does impose a heavy commercial tax.

If it’s tax-free, then profits could conservatively increase by thirty percent!

“Boss, look ahead!”

As they were speaking, a bare-chested man excitedly pointed ahead, prompting Gu Bei to hurriedly look over and immediately spot the familiar dock of Lyuzhou.

The fog had not yet dispersed, but the faint outline of a few ship fires could be seen, all belonging to large trading companies!

“Boss, it’s Rongsheng’s ship!”

“Good, good, good!!” Gu Bei laughed heartily as he clapped his hands.

It seemed the rumors were true, and indeed, the managers of the big trading companies had come to Lyuzhou to purchase goods, so there was a place for this shipment to go!

The furs and horses from the north were valuable goods sought after by the affluent traders, while some precious stones from the Western Ocean could be sold in the counties for an exotic price, a deal that likely wouldn’t result in a loss.

“Boss, look, there are so few guards on the docks, just a handful of people.”

Gu Bei nodded: “It seems the rumors about the Lyuzhou naval forces being transferred are true.”

“Then should we make a secret deal with Wansheng’s manager…”

“Bullshit!” Gu Bei suddenly widened his eyes and barked angrily: “If you want to die, go by yourself, don’t drag us into it!”

The younger brother immediately shrunk back upon hearing this, not daring to say another word.

The other seasoned merchants on the ships shook their heads amused, silently lamenting: The young are bold and reckless, not knowing the severity of the world.

The Imperial Court would absolutely not tolerate smuggling; once discovered, it was a matter of losing one’s head.

If a large trading company got involved in such matters, it would be in for a serious peeling.

If an official wanted to go after you, they could simply shut down your business!

No large trading company would be foolish enough to engage in such riskier-than-gainful trade; they all strictly instructed their managers not to engage in smuggling.

As they spoke, the ship approached the shore, and the hired sailors came forward to anchor and dock the ship; the young merchants didn’t wait for the sailors’ assistance and began frantically unloading their goods.

“Oh, Gu Erlang?”

After disembarking, a familiar voice came over, and Gu Bei quickly looked up, his face immediately breaking into a smile: “Manager He!”

The person was in his early forties, with a large belly and round waist, and skin as delicate as a woman’s, clearly a person of fine and rich living.

“It looks like you’ve obtained a good haul this time,” said Manager He with a beaming smile, eyeing the endless stream of goods on Gu Bei’s ship.

“Not at all, just a small business!” Gu Bei chuckled: “Since Manager He is here, it seems the rumors are true.

What’s the situation in Lyuzhou City now?”

“Desolate…” Manager He shook his head: “There are so few people it’s like a ghost town; my guys almost couldn’t find a tavern to eat, sigh.

To think of the flourishing times of Lyuzhou, and now, just in this short half month…”

“Indeed…” Agreed Gu Bei, before swiftly inquiring about what concerned him most: “So is the rumor about the tax exemption true or false?”

“If it were false, why would I come to this godforsaken place?” Manager He said with a chuckle.

“Is it really tax-exempt?” an assistant exclaimed in surprise: “What is the Government Office thinking?

Has the new Magistrate gone mad?”

“You understand nothing!” Gu Bei glared at the assistant.

Manager He just shook his head, still amused.

“But to tell you the truth, this new Magistrate does have courage,” Manager He said in a low voice: “I heard he’s a new Imperial Scholar, skillful in handling affairs, even more adept than some seasoned bureaucrats.

Quite extraordinary.”

Gu Bei nodded as well.

To reinvigorate commerce in Lyuzhou, it certainly took some exceptional measures, but these tax exemptions were truly a courageous move.

“So, Manager He, are you busy right now?

If not, would you mind accepting my goods first?”

“Haha, of course!” Manager He nodded: “Then let’s go, into the city!”

“Alright!” Gu Bei’s face beamed with joy as he yelled to the others behind him: “Brothers, unload quickly, we’re heading into the city!”

“Right on, boss!”

The group of merchants responded with equal excitement, while certain presences lurking in the shadows, noticing the sparse crowd on the docks and the few guards, flashed a glint of greed in their eyes and sneered quietly, but they too followed behind the main group.

“Erlang…” Manager He and Gu Bei were walking in front, and he whispered to Gu Bei: “Are any of ‘those things’ mixed in with this time’s group?”

Gu Bei’s expression tensed immediately upon hearing this, and after hesitating for a few seconds, he nodded slightly: “Yes…”

Being an old hand, Manager He naturally understood what that meant; a sharp gleam passed through his eyes, and he nodded: “It’s not easy for you.

Let’s hurry into the city and try to clear the goods before nightfall.”

“Okay!”

————————————-

The docks of Lyuzhou were not far from the South City Gate.

The group sped up, and with the transportation arranged by Manager He’s carriages and the horses they had brought with them, the journey to the city gate took less than a quarter hour.

But when Gu Bei and the others saw the current South City Gate, they were all taken aback.

“This South City Gate of Lyuzhou…

when did it change?”

The others also stared in astonishment.

The reason for their attention was that the new gate of Lyuzhou was exceptionally majestic!

The city gate, wide open, appeared extremely sturdy, at least twice as thick as the old one, with an intense metallic texture.

Two huge metal wolf heads on either side of the gate exuded an air of dominance.

Especially the one hanging above the gate, which from a distance conveyed a powerful aura—truly impressive!

“Does Lyuzhou City really have the money for such lavish decorations?” asked Gu Bei curiously.

He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he saw those metal wolf heads move their eyes…