CCWAD – Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Undercurrents of the Grand Canal Transport Gang

Prologue:

“She threw me a rusty Grand Canal Transport Gang iron tally: ‘Tong Guan’s claws have stretched too far, it’s time to chop them off.’ Holding that token, stained with the scent of blood, I finally understood—the brothel was merely her mask, the Grand Canal Transport Gang was her true dagger.”

—

The assassination on the Lantern Festival was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, its ripples spreading rapidly. Though the news of Li Shishi’s attack and injury wasn’t widely publicized, it quickly circulated within specific circles in the Eastern Capital. Reactions varied: some secretly rejoiced, others watched with cold detachment, and some sensed an unusual aura of danger.

Tong Guan’s side soon issued a veiled clarification, stating that the incident was absolutely not their doing and hinting that it might be a frame-up by Cai Jing or his associates. Cai Jing’s faction remained silent, offering no comment. In court, the debate over amnesty was temporarily shelved due to this “malicious incident,” and the atmosphere grew even more unpredictable and treacherous.

Yan Qing’s shoulder injury had just healed, and Li Shishi still had a bandage on her arm. The two sat opposite each other in the small courtyard, but the atmosphere was different from before. After a brush with death, a push, and a splash of blood, an unspoken trust and tacit understanding quietly grew in the silence.

“This arrow cannot be endured in vain,” Li Shishi’s voice broke the silence. She put down her teacup, her gaze sharp, “Whether it’s Tong Guan, Cai Jing, or someone else, since they’ve extended their claws, they must pay the price.”

She took something from her sleeve and casually tossed it onto the table. It wasn’t gold or jewels, nor was it a letter or document, but a token about the size of a palm, ancient in shape, with worn edges, and a dull, rusty sheen. The character “漕” (Cao, for Grand Canal Transport) was carved on it, the script archaic, exuding a fierce aura of the Jianghu underworld.

“What is this?” Yan Qing picked up the token. It felt cold and heavy in her hand, and she could faintly smell a mixed scent of rust and river water.

“A token of the Grand Canal Transport Gang,” Li Shishi said lightly. “They manage the canal transport, connecting the north and south, a mix of all sorts of people. Tong Guan has been reaching into it for years, planting his confidants, controlling the grain routes, thinking no one would know.”

Yan Qing’s heart trembled. The Grand Canal Transport Gang! She naturally understood the importance of canal transport in this era, almost vital to the empire’s northern lifeline. Controlling the gang meant, to some extent, controlling the flow of grain and supplies; its influence was not to be underestimated. Could Li Shishi actually be connected to the Grand Canal Transport Gang?

“Everyone and the Grand Canal Transport Gang…” Yan Qing tentatively asked.

“We have some past favors,” Li Shishi said casually, her eyes as sharp as a knife. “The current leader owes me his life, and several elders have also benefited from me. Tong Guan’s hand has stretched too far and is blocking many people’s paths.”

She pointed to the iron token: “Take this and find the secret leader of the Grand Canal Transport Gang in the Eastern Capital, ‘River Dragon’ Li Jun. He will tell you what to do. Remember, our goal is not to confront Tong Guan head-on, but to… prune his wings, let him know pain, and let him understand that the waters of this Eastern Capital are deeper and murkier than he imagines.”

Yan Qing gripped the heavy iron token, her fingertips feeling its rough texture and cold temperature. She understood that Li Shishi was entrusting her with more substantial power, and it was another test of her abilities. Dealing with Tong Guan’s forces within the Grand Canal Transport Gang would be no easy task, requiring courage and, more importantly, strategy.

“To what extent should I go?” Yan Qing needed a clear boundary.

A cold glint flashed in Li Shishi’s eyes: “Cut off his fingers and claws. Drawing blood is acceptable. But do it cleanly, leaving no trace. Make Tong Guan swallow this bitter pill, but he must find no evidence pointing to us, nor to Liangshan.” She paused, then added, “That fellow Shi Xiu would be a good helper. You can take him with you. He’s familiar with the streets and has some connections.”

Yan Qing nodded and carefully put away the iron token. She knew she was about to step into a more dangerous and direct Jianghu struggle than anything at Fan Lou.

That night, Yan Qing found Shi Xiu. She didn’t mention Li Shishi, only saying that she had discovered Tong Guan’s lackeys causing trouble within the Grand Canal Transport Gang and wanted to punish them, to rid the people of harm, and to clear some obstacles for Liangshan’s future actions. Shi Xiu, already deeply grateful to Yan Qing, and hearing that they were going to deal with treacherous officials like Tong Guan, immediately slapped his chest and agreed, his eyes flashing with the excitement and ruthlessness of a “desperate gambler.”

Following the clues and passwords provided by Li Shishi, Yan Qing and Shi Xiu met “River Dragon” Li Jun in a seemingly dilapidated warehouse at the Bian River dock. Li Jun was around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with dark skin, a sturdy build, and remarkably bright eyes that exuded the air of a formidable figure of the waterways.

After verifying the iron token, Li Jun’s attitude towards Yan Qing immediately became respectful, tinged with curiosity. He clearly knew what the token represented and that the overly handsome young man before him was no ordinary person.

“Young Master Yan, since Great Lady Li has given the order, I, Li, will naturally obey,” Li Jun dismissed his subordinates and lowered his voice. “That old eunuch Tong Guan has indeed sent a few confidants into our Grand Canal Transport Gang. Relying on their official status and Tong Guan’s power, they control several key waterways, extorting our brothers and lining their own pockets. The brothers have long been resentful, but they dare not speak out due to their connections.”

“Who is the ringleader? Where is he now?” Yan Qing asked directly.

“His name is ‘Mountain-Crossing Tiger’ Zhang Gan. He was originally a Patrol Officer in Tong Guan’s army, arrogant and cruel. He should be at the ‘Happy Forest’ gambling house east of the city right now. That’s his usual haunt for squandering money and a base he secretly controls.”

“Good,” a cold glint flashed in Yan Qing’s eyes. “We’ll start with him.”

The Happy Forest gambling house was brightly lit and bustling with noise. Amidst the swirling smoke, gamblers were shouting and playing dice, their faces either excited or ferocious.

In a private room on the second floor, a burly man with a fleshy face, his chest exposed to reveal coarse hair, was embracing a courtesan, looking proudly at the pile of silver on the table. This was Zhang Gan. Several fierce-looking guards stood beside him.

Just then, the door to the private room was gently pushed open. Yan Qing, dressed in a blue robe, fanning herself with a folding fan, walked in gracefully. Shi Xiu, like an iron tower, followed behind her, blocking the doorway.

“Who are you? Get out!” one of Zhang Gan’s guards shouted fiercely.

Yan Qing acted as if she hadn’t heard, her gaze fixed on Zhang Gan. She smiled slightly, “Are you perhaps Patrol Officer Zhang Gan?”

Zhang Gan narrowed his drunken eyes and sized up Yan Qing. Seeing her delicate and handsome appearance, she didn’t seem threatening, so he sneered, “Who is this pretty boy? Do you recognize this old man? If you have something to say, say it quickly, don’t disturb my fun!”

“It’s nothing major,” Yan Qing closed her fan and lightly tapped it against her palm. “I just want to ask Patrol Officer Zhang to return what you shouldn’t have taken, and by the way… get out of the Grand Canal Transport Gang.”

Zhang Gan was stunned, then flew into a rage. He shoved the courtesan in his arms away and slammed his hand on the table, roaring, “How dare you! Do you know whose man I am?!”

“Grand Marshal Tong, of course, I know,” Yan Qing’s tone remained calm. “Unfortunately, this is the Eastern Capital, this is the territory of the Grand Canal Transport Gang. Grand Marshal Tong’s hand has stretched too far.”

“You’re seeking death!” Zhang Gan roared, “Break his legs and throw him out!”

Several guards lunged forward in response. However, they were fast, but Shi Xiu was faster! He moved like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, his fists and feet working in unison. With a few muffled thuds, the guards cried out in pain as they were sent flying backward, overturning tables and chairs, and collapsing on the ground.

Zhang Gan’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected his opponent to bring such a formidable fighter. Confident in his own strength, he roared and lunged at Shi Xiu himself. But his military combat skills were no match for a top Jianghu expert like Shi Xiu. In just three to five rounds, Shi Xiu landed a heavy punch to his chest, causing him to stumble back and spit out a mouthful of blood.

Yan Qing then strolled forward, using her fan to lift Zhang Gan’s face, contorted with pain and fear, and said in an icy voice, “I don’t repeat myself. Spit out the embezzled funds, sever one of your fingers yourself, and get out of the Eastern Capital. Otherwise, the next time we meet, it won’t be your finger that’s severed.”

Zhang Gan looked into Yan Qing’s emotionless eyes, then at the menacing Shi Xiu beside her, and finally felt a bone-chilling fear. He had no doubt that they would dare to kill him.

“I… I’ll spit it out! I’ll get out!” he trembled, enduring the intense pain, took out the bank notes he carried, then shakily drew a dagger, gritted his teeth, and severed one of his little fingers. Blood gushed out immediately, and he wailed incessantly.

Yan Qing didn’t even look at the bloody severed finger. She picked up the bank notes and nodded to Shi Xiu.

The two left the Happy Forest as quietly as they had arrived, leaving behind a mess and wails in the private room.

The next day, Zhang Gan and several of his confidants vanished from the Grand Canal Transport Gang as if they had evaporated. The waterways they controlled were quickly taken over by Li Jun’s men. When the news reached Tong Guan, he was so angry that he smashed his favorite inkstone, but he could find no direct evidence pointing to Yan Qing or Li Shishi. He could only swallow his rage and became even more wary of the “frail” Yan Qing and the unfathomable Li Shishi.

In the small courtyard, Yan Qing returned the Grand Canal Transport Gang iron token, still bearing the intangible scent of blood, to Li Shishi.

Li Shishi took it, her fingertips brushing over the cold “漕” character. A slight smile curved her lips. “You did it cleanly. It seems my ‘dagger’ is quite sharp.”

Yan Qing looked at her and finally understood that this world-renowned courtesan’s power extended far beyond Fan Lou. The brothel was her mask, and the Grand Canal Transport Gang might be just one of her many daggers.

And she herself seemed to be gradually becoming the most special one in her hand.

—

(End of Chapter 22)