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Chapter 18: Wu Zheng (12:00-12:59) Part 5

Translator: DragonRider

Zhang Xiaojing galloped all the way straight to Pingkang Fang, and Yao Ru’eng caught up with him halfway.

Only then did Yao Ru’neng get the chance to tell Zhang Xiaojing that, as soon as he arrived at the door of FarFortune Trade, he heard horse neighing from the nearby stable and then a dozen strong horses dashed out. Too late to dodge them, he collided with the first horse and dented his forehead. He got up to show his identity, while the clerks wrongly thought him a fake. Gradually, they got into fight, so he had to set fire for help.

Zhang Xiaojing asked, “Where’s the stable in the inn?”

Yao Ru’neng replied, “The inn doesn’t do retail, so there is no front. The stable is on the right side of the inn and is connected to the inn through a ramp.”

“Was the stable door open or closed?”

Yao Ru’neng recalled, “It should be half-open. I remember there was a brass lock just hanging on the bolt.”

“I remember I saw two plumes of smokes, one black and one yellow. Where did the black smoke come from? When did it burn?”

Yao Ru’neng answered, “The black smoke rose up after the frightened horses rushed over. I didn’t see the fire source, which should burn from the back of the stable. Maybe the horses kicked over a brazier.”

“Hmm. How interesting.” Zhang Xiaojing just smiled as he thought to himself, “There were forage in the stable, how could a brazier be placed nearby? FarFortune Trade has always been running livestock trade, and is impossible to make such an error.” He opened his mouth, said nothing, finally muttered, shaking his head, “Well, I’d better leave the trouble to Sicheng Li.” Yao Ru’neng was curious, but hesitated to ask him.

Pingkang Fang was located in the Territory of Wannian County. Starting from Guangde Fang, it took them nearly two quarters to keep running east through five intersections to reach the most prosperous entertainment area in capital Chang’an.

Before entering Fang, the two had heard some faint sound of stringed and woodwind instruments from inside. Splendid melody rose one after another; various musical instruments sang together; the songs lingered in the air. Even nothing was seen, a bustling scene had emerged in mind. The Fang was so lively at noon, let alone at night, it would be ten times noisier.

Although it was called a Fang, the inner pattern of Pingkang Fang was completely different from that of ordinary Fangs. Zhang Xiaojing and his partner entered from the North gate, turned left and three winding lanes appeared in the north, middle and south. Three round arches stood in a line at the entrances hanging with silks, pink eaves and white walls were painted with peony, peach blossoms and willow branches respectively.

About the winding lanes, in fact, it was quite wide that could pass two double-shafts covered wagons abreast. There was heavy traffic, carriages carried dressed-up beauties who wore dazzling crowns and shawls, and even the dust run over by the wheels had a faint aroma of cosmetics. There were a lot of banquets on the Lantern Festival, everyone wanted to choose a beautiful girl to enjoy the lantern show, so they all came here early.

The wooden board that Yao Ru’neng found said “First Lane”. Among the three lanes of Pingkang Fang, South Lane and Middle Lane were all top prostitutes. They mostly served bureaucrats and nobles; The North Lane, near the square wall, was also called the First Lane. Most of the visitors here were ordinary people, rich businessmen, poor scholars coming to Chang’an for imperial examination and officials on the waiting list or worse. The difference was visible from the layout: The South lane were all viewing towers; the Middle lane had detached private buildings and a winding stream; Only in the North Lane, dozens of high and low colored buildings were in disorder. The boundaries among the three lanes were sharp and clear.

Zhang Xiaojing stood at the entrance, looked up awhile and said to Yao Ru’neng, “You’d better do nothing rash here.” Yao Ru’neng wondered why he was arrogant and fearless in the West Market, and suddenly pulled in his horn here? Zhang Xiaojing pointed to a huge mansion far away across the street, “Do you know whose house is that?” Yao Ru’neng shook his head. He was from Chang’an County, not familiar with the east area.

Zhang Xiaojing grinned, “It was residence of Duke Li, but now belongs to the Right Chancellor.”

“Li Linfu?” the young man’s heart shuddered, and he looked up at the beasts on the ridge of the mansion, which became somewhat gloomy. It was an anecdote of sorts that a Chancellor of the imperial court lived so close to Pingkang Fang, enjoying the scene of prosperity day and night.

When stepping into the first lane, Zhang Xiaojing went straight ahead, looking steadily forward. Sparse voice of soliciting came from both sides of the upstairs, then it became quiet. The girls were eagle-eyed that they could read from their steady paces and serious face that the two men were not coming for fun.

They winded through the lane and ended up in the middle section. Zhang Xiaojing turned his feet into next alley, along the sides of which densely stood shabby wooden shacks filled with odds and ends in between.

There were ditches covered with blue tiles for drainage and street scouring on both sides of Pingkang Fang’s street, which was one of the six main streets receiving this special treatment in Chang’an City-these ditches were led to this low-lying alley, and then flew into the waterway outside the Fang. So, the alley was crisscrossed by sewages, and smelled bad.

Yao Ru’neng wondered, “Why did he come to such a nasty place instead of tracing the source of the wooden plate?” Seen from his determined paces, this was by no means a temporary action; obviously, Zhang Xiaojing had planned well, so Yao Ru’neng had to follow him in silence.

Zhang Xiaojing went to a shack and knocked on the door three times. A man opened the door, peered around, subconsciously closed the door at the first sight of Zhang Xiaojing, as if he was stung by a scorpion. Zhang Xiaojing reached out his arm against the door frame, “Don’t worry, Little B. I’m not coming for your case today.” The man who was called Little B shrank back for them to let them in.

The back of the shack turned out to be gambling site. Owing to the ingenious design, few adjoining broken shacks were seen from outside, but the inside connected to be a spacious open space, with tables and beds, only very dark.

At this time, dozens of gamblers gathered around three high tables, cheerfully watching three bankers rolling the dices, coins all around. As Zhang Xaiojing stepped in, all eyes were focused on him. There was a silence in a moment, then the crowd dispersed, half of them jumped out of the window, the other half crawled under the table, and few hands wept coins away in a hurry. The scene was full of comedy and chaos.

A beggar leader came menacing to see who was making trouble. As soon as he saw Zhang Xiaojing standing there, he opened his mouth wide as if saw a demon, even forgetting to calm down gamblers for a moment.

“Cap. Zhang....”

Zhang Xiaojing said quietly, “You are here?” The beggar leader dared not speak, embarrassed. Zhang Xiaojing continued, “Take me to your banker.” The beggar leader hesitated for a while, still said nothing. He turned back into house to ask for instruction, and then led them to the back.

The titles like beggar leader and banker were all shady idioms. Yao Ru’neng suspected the man, who walked in a similar way as Zhang Xiaojing did, had served in imperial court, but somehow ended up here.

These shacks adjoined each other, but were separated by rooms and earth walls from inside. So, it was very dark inside like mazes of tunnels. Walking in it, the faint sobs and cries sounded like someone was confined here.

Yao Ru’neng was freaking out, realizing that he had reached another Chang’an. This hidden city was filled with blood and greed, no laws or morality, chaotic and cruel like Titan prison in Buddhism. Those who could survive here were all evils. Even the government didn’t dare to go deep into this world.

Throat dry and heart beating a little fast, Yao Ru’neng had to look forward and saw that Zhang Xiaojing was walking steadily, with his back seemed to have blended in the gloomy background.

“The former Commandant of the Indecent should have got deep into the devil’s lair and fought against evil forces many times. Following him is always right. Moreover, the wicked people are born enemies to criminal catcher. If I’m frightened to look at this place, how can I fight with them later?” Thinking of this, Yao Ru’neng regained his courage, clenched his fist, eye burning with raging fire.

Suddenly, Yao Ru’neng felt a little disappointed, “If Zhang Xiaojing was not a condemned prisoner, he may be my superior now. Although he is sophisticated, there’s a lot I can learn from him.”

They walked for a long time, and were surprised to find that there was a hidden brick courtyard. The yard was small and tidy, with a smell of medicine from a black pot on a stove standing in the center of the yard. A man wearing scarlet fur coat sat cross-legged by the stove, with a yellow cat in his arms.

Zhang Xiaojing said, “Elder Ge, how do you do?”

An elderly voice came while the fur coat moved, “Younger bro. Zhang, I never think I would see you again,” He was quietly stating a fact, not wondering.

“Me neither.” Zhang Xiaojing had no intention to explain.

“My gambling house has been turned into chaos upon your arrival. The tiger has died, the power remains. Why do you come for me?” the old man asked.

It was not until the coat slipped off that Yao Ru’neng see the wrapped old man was small and skinny, with tan skin, curly hairs, broad lips. He was not from Central Plains, but a Zanzibar slave. He had bright and cruel eyes, and spoke in fluent Official language without accent. From their dialogues, they had known each other for many years, but they obviously didn’t get along.

Strange that Zhang Xiaojing behaved rudely in West Market and Xianist temple, but was polite when facing really bad guys. Yao Ru’neng was ready to put up a desperate fight, yet the two showed little inclination to fight.

Zhang Xiaojing said, “Elder Ge, you still owe me a favor.” Tut-tut! Elder Ge patted the cat in his arms, “An eye for an eye, that’s my life principle. Go ahead.”

Zhang Xiaojing threw the wooden plate to him, “It belongs to a Qiuci named Long Bo. I want to know who gave it to him, which girls he was close to and where they are right away.”

Elder Ge picked up the wooden plate with his skinny fingertips and examined it for a while. Then, he reached out to lift the lid of the medicine pot and knocked on the side of the pot. A strong servant went into the courtyard, Elder Ge told him a few words, and the servant hurried away.

Elder Ge gazed at Zhang Xiaojing, “It isn’t the case in Wannian County, is it?” Zhang Xiaojing showed him the seal of “Jing An Ce Ping” and then held it back. Elder Ge said, slowly standing up, “It’s not suitable for me to serve tea for officials. Please help yourself.” Away he turned and went in.

Faced with Yao Ru’neng’s suspicion, Zhang Xiaojing gave a brief instruction. A Zanzibar slave, Elder Ge had been sold into Chang’an in Shenlong Period (AD. 705—707) to serve in an Assistant Minister family surnamed Ge, and then he was transferred to a brothel as servant. The common Zanzibar slaves were honest and obedient, somewhat dull, but Elder Ge was an exception. He was silver-tongued and tactful, getting along with everyone, ended up persuading the master to discharge him out of slavery.

He hunted women for the brothels of three lanes over the years; in addition, he must discipline, and chase the disobedient or escaped girls. Gradually, with his cruelty, he became the biggest trafficker, and something like a bully in Pingkang Fang. The shantytown was under his control, and all the girls knew that it’d be better to offend officials than irritate Elder Ge.

Zhang Xiaojing had handled a few cases of human trafficking in Wannian County. It was a pity that Elder Ge was clever enough to avoid getting caught every time, and he still stayed safe here in the shack. Zhang Xiaojing knew that he’d better ask Elder Ge for help in Pingkang Fang, if he negotiated with those procuresses for this case, he would inevitably be refused by lame excuses. What a waste of time.

“Isn’t this collusion with the villain?” Yao Ru’neng was confused.

Having some family elders died of criminal catching, Yao Ru’neng couldn’t endure to see these brazen thieves. In his opinion, he should not hesitate to kill them when they showed up. He never thought that Zhang Xiaojing, an official in the court, would make bargains with them.

Zhang Xiaojing said, “Everyone has his own way to solve problem, so does the rats, snake and wicked people. However, there are certain things court can’t do.”

“This shantytown, right in the Pingkang Fang, is easily wiped off by dozens of criminal catchers. How can the court tolerate a human trafficker to live here at ease? This is a violation of Tang’s law!”

“Figure it out yourself. The answer is your second lesson,” Zhang Xiaojing answered.

Yao Ru’neng bit his lip, thinking that it was an evasive answer. It occurred to him that Zhang Xiaojing, who had been the Commandant of the Indecent for nine years, must have mountainous secrets. Elder Ge owed him a favor, did it mean there was collusion between them before?

Well, then, Zhang Xiaojng might be sticky-fingered, or for which he was put in dearth prison. Thought here, Yao Ru’neng quietly stood away and remembered another important duty.