Chapter 29: Human Trafficking

Jia Zhi had departed early, leaving the caravan short of a capable hand. Wu Tiande was forced to take charge himself, occasionally participating in duties like guarding the carriages and keeping watch. Fortunately, his martial arts training had yielded results, and he could now be considered a third-rate expert in the pugilistic world; such physical labor was not enough to tire him out.

On this day, he led the caravan out of Wanping County, traveling along the ancient Zhuozhou road, intending to reach Baoding Prefecture. They had originally planned to set off at dawn, but Wu Tiande had been too vigorous the night before, leaving his wife, Qin Keqing, feeling languid and weak. This caused a delay, and by the time they finally departed, it was already midday.

The ancient Zhuozhou road was a major thoroughfare southwest of the capital, built during the Qin and Han dynasties and weathered by a millennium of wind and frost. The road was paved with massive bluestone slabs, and though some areas were worn and sunken, revealing the yellow earth beneath, the grandeur of its original design was still evident. On both sides of the road lay undulating hills. It was late autumn, and the trees across the mountains and plains had shed their lush summer green for a colorful, vibrant attire. Maple leaves were as red as fire, gingko leaves as yellow as gold, and clusters of wild, nameless fruits—some purple, some orange—dotted the branches, creating a stunning sight. Occasionally, fallen leaves drifted down with the wind, spiraling onto the carriage roofs before being startled away by the thunder of passing hooves.

Wu Tiande sat on the lead carriage, squinting as he surveyed the scenery, his mind busy calculating the various matters of the journey. Leading his entire family to take up his post at Tongguan Garrison was a journey of over a thousand miles; there was no room for carelessness.

"Giddy up! Move!"

Just as the caravan rounded a mountain bend and was about to enter a dense forest, several urgent shouts suddenly came from behind.

Wu Tiande’s heart tightened. He whipped his head around to see dust billowing in the distance as several riders galloped toward them like arrows from a bow. The lead rider, dressed in dark green martial attire with a scimitar at his waist, bellowed from a distance, "Commander Wu, stay your hand!"

"Oh no! It’s the Jia household!" Jia Yun, a soldier under Wu's command, whispered in alarm.

Wu Tiande’s expression shifted instantly. He had long been at odds with the Jia household; their pursuit could only mean trouble. Could it be that Jia Zhen had finally swayed the elders of the house and was now desperate to move against him? Upon reflection, however, he found it unlikely. He was currently a Deputy Commander of the Tongguan Garrison, a lower-sixth-rank official. If he had committed a crime, the Ministry of War would be the one to apprehend him; what business did the Ning and Rong mansions have with it? Was it perhaps because of the elopement of Jiao Ya and Jia Zhi? If so, he could set a trap for these men.

Thinking this, Wu Tiande feigned panic and shouted to his men, "Quickly! Keep moving! Don't let them catch up!"

The group dared not delay, cracking their whips to urge the horses on. The carriages jolted violently on the ancient road, and the dust kicked up by the wheels made it difficult to keep one's eyes open. However, no matter how fast the carriages went, they were no match for riders on horseback. In a matter of moments, the pursuers had closed in.

"Stop them!" the lead rider roared. It was Lin Zhixiao, the steward of the Jia household.

Lin Zhixiao surged forward, aiming for the flank of the caravan, specifically targeting the carriage where Jia Yun was riding. Jia Yun, young and headstrong, drew his sword to block him, but he was no match for Lin. Lin Zhixiao had served as a guard in the Jia household for years before becoming a steward. Agile and quick, he dodged the blade and delivered a sharp hand-strike to Jia Yun's wrist.

In pain, Jia Yun dropped his sword and lost his balance, tumbling from his horse onto the bluestone road. His knees and elbows were scraped raw and bleeding.

"Yun'er!" Madame Bu, in the carriage behind, cried out in alarm. She tried to lean out to check on her son, but a violent jolt caused her to lose her balance. Her head struck the wooden frame of the carriage with a dull thud, and blood began to stream down, staining her hair.

Lin Zhixiao, eager to impress Jia Lian, attempted to intercept Wu Tiande as well, but was forced back by a single stroke of Wu's sword. The strike sliced half of his horse's head off, spraying the steward with blood. Lin Zhixiao was left trembling and parched-mouthed; he had not expected Wu Tiande’s martial prowess to be so formidable. It seemed the rumors of him studying under a master from the Hengshan School were true.

After driving Lin Zhixiao back, Wu Tiande didn't have time to gloat. He knew that continuing to flee would only result in more injuries. He pulled on the reins and shouted, "Everyone, halt!"

The caravan slowly came to a stop. Wu Tiande dismounted and hurried to Madame Bu and Jia Yun. Madame Bu’s forehead was still bleeding, and her face was pale; Jia Yun was grimacing in pain, clutching his knee. Wu Tiande immediately ordered Jia Jun and Qin Zhong to fetch medicinal powder to dress their wounds.

"Commander Wu, trust you are well?" Jia Lian and Jia Rong, uncle and nephew, rode up slowly, wearing expressions of faint, mocking amusement.

Wu Tiande was indeed a tricky opponent, but as long as they occupied the high ground of law and morality, they believed they could keep him in the palm of their hand. To them, many martial artists were content to be dogs for the imperial court—no matter how good Wu Tiande’s skills were, what use were they?

Wu Tiande looked at them coldly, suppressing his rage. "Master Lian, Master Rong, what is the meaning of this relentless pursuit?"

Jia Lian dismounted and cupped his hands. "Commander Wu, it is not our intention to obstruct you on your way to your post. It is simply that we have a matter we must trouble you with."

"Oh? What matter requires such a grand display from Master Lian?" Wu Tiande asked coldly.

"It concerns Jiao Da and Jiao Er’s family," Jia Lian said. "They are creating a scene at the Jia mansion, claiming you incited Jia Zhi to seduce Jiao Er’s daughter, Jiao Ya. Jiao Er’s family is currently weeping before Brother Zhen, who has reported this to the Old Matriarch. She has ordered us to invite you back to assist in clarifying the truth."

"What? This is preposterous!" Wu Tiande flew into a rage. "Jiao Er’s family claims I abducted someone, so I abducted someone? If I suspected you of abduction, could I simply break into your home to search? There is no such logic! Even if this case were brought before the Regional Commander, I, Wu Tiande, would not fear it!"

At the mention of Wang Ziteng, the Regional Commander of the capital garrison, the expressions of Jia Lian and Jia Rong turned bitter. Wang Ziteng was a man of immense power; even with the Jia household’s influence, they dared not offend him lightly. But they could not ignore the Old Matriarch’s orders. Furthermore, they were convinced that Wu Tiande’s panicked flight was proof of his guilt.

Jia Rong, young and eager to impress his father, stepped forward. "Commander Wu, empty words mean nothing. Just let us search the caravan. If we find Jiao Ya, your excuses will be useless. If we don't, I, Jia Rong, will personally apologize to you. How about that?"

Wu Tiande sneered inwardly. He knew Jia Zhi and Jiao Ya had left early that morning, so he had nothing to fear from a search. However, he knew that if he agreed too readily, he wouldn't be able to extort any benefits. He allowed a look of hesitation to cloud his face.

Seeing this, Jia Lian felt confident he had caught Wu Tiande in a trap. He smiled and said, "Commander Wu, we are all acquaintances; why make things so difficult? I know you might face some trouble in your new post. I happen to have a good friend at the Tongguan Garrison, Shi Guangzhu, who is currently an Assistant Commander. If we have wronged you, I am willing to write him a letter to ask him to look after you. How about that?"

With Jia Lian offering such terms, Wu Tiande knew he had to agree, or he would look guilty. He weighed the pros and cons and nodded. "Fine. Since Master Lian is so generous as to offer a connection, I will allow a search. But let it be said: if you find no one, you will have to answer to me."

"Naturally, naturally," Jia Lian agreed.

"Furthermore, the carriages contain female family members. How can strangers see them? If you must search, you must send a woman to do it," Wu Tiande added.

"That is easily done. We brought Lin Zhixiao’s daughter with us. She is only eleven or twelve, and a child’s words are always honest," Jia Lian explained.

"Fine. Truth cannot be forged, and falsehood cannot be made real. I will wait for your results," Wu Tiande said with a wave of his hand, appearing unconcerned.

This made Jia Lian hesitate again. Had Wu Tiande really not been involved? But the die was cast; there was no turning back.

As a young maid in the Rong mansion, Lin Hongyu had often gone to Jiao Ya’s stall to buy food and knew her, which was why Jia Lian had brought her. Lin Hongyu could not ride, and had spent most of the journey in her father’s arms. She looked rather sickly from the jolting, but her eyes were sharp and lively.

Jia Lian ordered the girl to search the carriages. She checked every one, including the luggage of the servants, but found no sign of Jiao Ya. She returned to Jia Lian, shaking her head.

Jia Lian and Jia Rong’s smiles froze; they were deeply disappointed. They had no choice but to apologize. "Commander Wu, we misunderstood. Please, do not take offense."

Wu Tiande waved them off, pretending to be magnanimous. "As long as the misunderstanding is cleared, it is fine. However, while I have suffered no loss, Madame Bu and Jia Yun were injured because of your chase. They are now immobile; surely you don't expect me to look after them on the road alone?"

Jia Lian knew Wu Tiande was seizing an opportunity, but to keep the peace, he ordered, "Hongyu, you stay behind to look after them. Once they have recovered, I will send someone to fetch you."

Lin Zhixiao and his daughter had no choice but to comply. Once Jia Lian finished his letter, Wu Tiande ordered the caravan to continue. The wheels rolled over the bluestone road once more toward Baoding.

Jia Lian, Jia Rong, and Lin Zhixiao discussed going to Yonghe Village outside Wanping, where they heard several of their estate managers were staying. They intended to look into matters there.

The two Jias had come with hope and left with disappointment. Wu Tiande, however, was equally displeased. The Jia household was like a plaster stuck to his back. "Very well," Wu Tiande resolved. "If you are heartless, don't blame me for being unrighteous."

He knew he couldn't infiltrate the Rong and Ning mansions—they hired too many experts. But dealing with a common estate manager like Wu Jinxiao was well within his capabilities. If he could cut off the Ning mansion’s source of funds, he believed Jia Zhen wouldn't be able to cause trouble for much longer.

That night, as the caravan rested, Wu Tiande waited until everyone was asleep. He dressed in black robes, covered his face, and vanished into the night toward Yonghe Village.