piratefiction Chapter 100 The Power Structure of Yuntai Prefecture
Chapter 100 The Power Structure of Yuntai Prefecture
This is the cargo ship that 014 used to purchase supplies. It originally belonged to the Yu family, but at the moment almost everyone in the Yu family is in Gaoyang County making bricks, so there is no time to discuss the ownership of the cargo ship.
Fu Que was dressed in a black martial arts uniform, with a backpack sewn for him by Xu Qingying on his back. Apart from a few changes of clothes, he didn't carry much else.
"Once I've established myself in Yuntai Prefecture, I'll bring you some good things back."
He waved to the Liu mother and daughter and Xu Qingying who came to see him off, but Hu Liangyu said he wouldn't come to see him off if he said he wouldn't.
Before leaving, he had already arranged everything. With the kinship he had built up during this chaotic battle and Hu Liangyu's status as a retired Tiger Cavalry instructor, as long as he didn't have a relapse and do anything like betraying the Great Zhao, the family ties he had accumulated during his transmigration would be secure.
Liu's eyes reddened, but Hu Chewan smiled and didn't seem to care at all, even waving her hand and saying it was a deal.
Xu Qingying simply exchanged glances with Fu Que for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"President, this way please."
A guard from the fishermen's mutual aid association, seeing the departing group disappear into the distance as they turned into black dots, approached Fu Que and spoke respectfully.
"I'm no longer the president."
Fu Que withdrew his gaze and shook his head.
The guard who was speaking smiled but remained silent, only gesturing with his hand.
Fu Que followed in his footsteps and arrived at the upper deck of the cargo ship, in a cabin with an excellent view. A familiar figure appeared at the cabin door.
Dark eyes.
She wore a loose-fitting ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a gauze overlay, revealing her two fair arms.
Fu Que gasped, "Holy crap, you're going to work while pregnant? The Heavenly Official is inhuman! Making you travel like this while you're seven months pregnant? Doesn't he worry about you having a miscarriage and then coming after him?"
Surprised, Fu Que even started speaking in his hometown dialect.
Mo Tong wore her usual serene smile. Although she didn't quite understand what Fu Que was saying, she could guess his general meaning from the context and the actual situation. She shook her head.
"Lord Fu Que, you misunderstand. This trip to purchase supplies and explore trade routes was at my own request, not on the orders of Lord Tian Guan."
Why?
Fu Que asked.
"I can answer your question, but after that, you must answer one of my questions."
"What do you want to ask?"
"What I want to ask is, why doesn't Lord Fu Que stay in Gaoyang County? After all, you have already established a foothold in Gaoyang County. If you manage it well, given time, you may well become a powerful family in the county or even the prefecture."
Why then would they choose to travel all the way to Yuntai Prefecture, only to waste their time and energy in an unfamiliar environment?
"I misspoke, please don't be offended."
After a moment of silence, Fu Que shook his head and apologized.
"You're too kind, sir. Please."
Mo Tong moved aside.
Fu Que stepped inside. The cabin was simply furnished and there was no ice basin, so it was a bit hot. However, the porthole was open and a gentle river breeze was blowing, so it wasn't too unbearable.
On a small table, there was a white porcelain wine bottle, emitting a refreshing aroma, and several delicate side dishes were also laid out on the table.
The two took their seats as host and guest, and the guard quietly closed the cabin door and left without a sound, leaving only the two of them inside.
Outside the window, the outline of Gaoyang County gradually disappeared into the waves.
Mo Tong poured Fu Que a cup of sake with her slender hands and bowed slightly, saying, "Mo Tong thanks Lord Fu Que."
"As the saying goes, God helps those who help themselves. If you don't have the ability, I can't save you. You help me with my work, and I'll help you live a stable life. It's a fair transaction, and there's no need for thanks."
Fu Que did not accept the sake, but simply said calmly.
This was indeed his honest opinion. He and Mo Tong had only met a few times, and the situation in Gaoyang County had changed too drastically. In terms of the transaction, it was indeed a win-win situation. But in terms of friendship, to be honest, his friendship with Mo Tong was not as good as that with Han Qian, who was now the foreman at the construction site.
Mo Tong glanced at the young man in front of her, who was about the same age as her, sighed inwardly, and gave up the idea of continuing to have a deep conversation with Fu Que.
Originally, she wanted to deepen her connection with Fu Que and join forces in the future to share the profits of trade along waterways. However, judging from Fu Que's attitude, she immediately realized that he had no interest in this, so she gave up on the idea.
Whether you take it seriously or not, I will accept this favor.
Yuntai Prefecture is not like Gaoyang County. It is not a territory completely controlled by the Great Zhao Dynasty. The power of the sects within it is even greater than that of the Qi family faction in Gaoyang County. Now that rare minerals have been discovered, the place is a mixed bag, and the waters are deep and turbulent. My lord, you must be very careful on your journey.
Before his departure, the Heavenly Official had explained to me the current power structure of the various factions in Yuntai Prefecture. You saved my family from dire straits; if I were to conceal this information from you, I would be far too ungrateful.
"Thank you. Then tell me what you can. I really don't want to get involved in this mess. Otherwise, I would have stayed in Gaoyang County."
Fu Que picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and then said, half-jokingly.
His understanding of Yuntai Prefecture was basically limited to its literal meaning; he only knew that it was a prefecture within the territory of Da Zhao, and nothing else.
This is the downside of not having an information age. Even in a world of extraordinary individuals with great power, people know very little about environments other than their own. While it may not reach the point of completely different customs and traditions, it's not far off.
Mo Tong really threw Fu Que an almost irresistible bait, but he really didn't want to join forces with Mo Tong to do any water transport trade. 014 This corrupt official is too terrifying, completely unlike a local official of Da Zhao.
Having finally wiped out all the monsters and demons in Gaoyang County, he certainly didn't want any more trouble to arise under his rule, especially while he was busy with infrastructure construction.
Fu Que has few people he truly cares about in this world living in Gaoyang County, and he's not short of money, so why would he cause trouble under the noses of corrupt officials?
"The forces in Yuntai Prefecture are complex and intertwined, but in general, only five forces can determine the direction of the prefecture. One of them is the Dragon Tiger Cavalry, which you are going to. This is one of the most important surveillance organizations in Dazhao. You should be more familiar with it than I am, so I will not go into details."
The second one is…
Fu Que listened attentively.
The information provided by 014 has a clear focus. It only briefly mentions the four major forces: the Dragon Tiger Cavalry, the Prefect of Yuntai Prefecture, Dragon Spring Valley, and the Bone Piercing Sect, but it provides a very detailed account of the Flowing Cloud Merchant Guild that Mo Tong needs to contact.
This is a massive merchant guild led by several of the most prominent martial arts families in Yuntai Prefecture, and composed of numerous businesses. Its influence permeates every aspect of Yuntai Prefecture.
Compared to them, the Qi family faction in Gaoyang County is nothing. These people have already passed the stage of still needing to use black gloves and have begun to parasitize the government.