plumnovel Chapter 27 Su Mu Business
Chapter 27 Su Mu Business
The morning mist enveloped Luokou Wharf, and the air carried a damp, earthy smell.
Inside the enclosed courtyard of Lu Ji General Store, dozens of huge camphor wood chests were neatly stacked in the center. The lids were all open, revealing neat rows of bright red wood inside.
"Is this Su Mu?"
Fan Fu stood beside the box, holding an account book in his hand. He couldn't help but reach out and touch the wood, which was as hard as iron and as red as blood. "Goodness, this is a real gem. I heard that only high-ranking officials of the third rank or above can afford to use this stuff to make furniture. And the quality is so good, it's obviously a 'top-grade' piece from Southeast Asia. It sinks in water and is the color of chicken blood."
"Don't just look at the color, look at the markings on it."
Lu Yan stood to the side, holding the iconic folding fan in his hand, and pointed to the blurry wax marks on the cross-section of the wood.
"Internal supervision."
These four words alone conveyed a suffocating sense of imperial authority. These were indeed supplies for the imperial family, "private goods" that had leaked from the Ming Dynasty's riddled-with-holes fiscal system.
"Seal the box." Lu Yan withdrew his gaze and gave a calm order. "Affix the seal to 'Ziyang Lu Clan Exam Preparation Books.' Be quick, don't let the spies outside see it."
"yes!"
A group of strong, capable men from Group A immediately stepped forward, skillfully closed the box lid, wrapped it layer by layer with tung oil-soaked kraft paper, and then tied it with Lu Ji's unique anti-counterfeiting knots. The whole process was smooth and efficient, without any unnecessary words or actions.
Standing to the side, Liu Cheng, the eunuch, had changed into an inconspicuous outfit befitting a wealthy man. Watching the efficiency with which the men worked, he finally felt a sense of relief.
"Scholar Lu, you really know how to train your men," Liu Cheng couldn't help but exclaim. "Even the Shenji Battalion soldiers I've seen in the palace aren't this efficient."
"You flatter me, Father-in-law." Lu Yan smiled slightly. "They're all just struggling to make a living, and they're just following the rules."
He turned around and looked at the other side of the yard. There, twenty specially modified trucks were ready to go.
Unlike ordinary cargo trucks, these vehicles have significantly wider wheels with thick sheet metal covering the rims. The sides of the cargo box are fitted with waist-high hardwood panels, which, in the event of an attack, can be easily converted into a makeshift defensive fortification by simply turning the vehicle sideways.
Under the shaft of each vehicle, several sharpened bamboo stakes and a bag of lime powder were hidden—these were the street fighting weapons that Lu Ji had summarized in the "Battle of Fish Market Lane".
But the most crucial "trump card" is not in the open.
"Zhao Tie," Lu Yan called out.
An old blacksmith with a limp and calloused hands emerged from the back of the caravan. He carried a long, rectangular cloth bag on his back, and although he walked with a limp, each step was extremely steady.
"Master." Zhao Tie's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with fervor.
"Is everything prepared?" Lu Yan asked.
"All ready." Zhao Tie patted the cloth bag on his back and lowered his voice. "Ten in total. We just calibrated them last night. Although they can't hit the bullseye from a hundred paces away like you said, they can penetrate two layers of leather armor within fifty paces, as long as they don't explode."
Those were flintlock muskets. Or more precisely, they were the first batch of "self-generating firearms" that Lu Yan combined with later theories and Ming Dynasty craftsmanship, and that Zhao Tie used the "double-layer rolling welding method" to hammer out.
Although limited by materials (a lack of spring steel), the firing rate of these guns was a paltry 60%, and the cost was as high as fifteen taels of silver per gun (equivalent to two years' salary for an ordinary soldier). However, in the Ming Dynasty of 1619, this was a revolutionary weapon that could deliver a devastating blow.
"Bring double the amount of medicine powder and lead bullets," Lu Yan instructed. "Remember, don't use your weapons unless absolutely necessary. Once you do, leave no survivors."
"Understood." Zhao Tie grinned, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by smoke. "The dead are the best at keeping secrets."
At 3:45 AM, the convoy set off on time.
To avoid attracting attention, they did not take the main gate of the official road, but instead quietly drove out through the newly opened side gate of Lu Ji's shop, merging into the surging flow of people heading north.
Twenty large carts, fifty elite guards (thirty servants plus twenty handpicked veterans), plus Lu Yan, Zhao Changying, Liu Cheng and others, formed a caravan that looked ordinary but was actually armed to the teeth.
Lu Yan rode a chestnut horse in the middle of the procession. He specially ordered a banner that read "Lu Family of Ziyang" to be displayed, and a "Juren" flag, symbolizing the academic degree of a Juren, was placed on the front of the carriage.
This trick really worked.
When they passed the checkpoint of Luokou Patrol Office along the way, those tax officials who were usually as fierce as wolves immediately became three points smaller when they saw this flag and Lu Yan's scholarly attire and aloof demeanor.
"Sir, please show me your travel permit." The head tax collector stepped forward with a fawning smile.
Lu Yan remained seated on his horse, not even dismounting, and casually tossed over the document bearing the official seal of Jinan Prefecture and his own degree certificate.
"I'm traveling to the capital to prepare for the imperial examinations, and my carriage is full of books and luggage," Lu Yan said indifferently, with a scholar's unique arrogance. "What, you want to open the boxes and inspect the books? If you damage one of my rare books, can you afford to pay for it?"
The head tax collector glanced at the documents, then at the imposing guard of the convoy, and his heart sank. These wealthy families with both official titles and private armies were the most difficult to deal with. What if he really offended a future scholar-official? Would he still have a job?
"No, no! Since these are the books of a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations, then of course we'll let them through! Let them through!"
The tax collector waved his hand, and the fence was lifted.
Hiding inside the carriage, Liu Cheng peeked through the window and saw this scene. He couldn't help but sigh, "Sure enough, a scholar's arrogance is more effective. If we show our credentials, these bastards might not dare to stop us, but they'll definitely write a memorial impeaching us for 'disturbing the peace' later."
This was the political landscape of the Ming Dynasty. The civil service group held the power of discourse and the moral high ground. Although eunuchs were an extension of imperial power, in their specific spheres of influence, they were often cut to pieces by the subtle but effective tactics of the civil officials.
Lu Yan took advantage of this huge "system loophole" to start this risk-free and highly profitable "privileged logistics" business.
The convoy crossed the Yellow River and headed north.
As they moved further away from Jinan Prefecture, the once smooth official road began to become bumpy and uneven, and the scenery on both sides became increasingly desolate. Villages were sparse, fields were barren, and occasionally groups of refugees could be seen dragging their families south, their eyes numb and empty.
This is the "no man's land" where Beizhili and Shandong meet, and it is also the area where bandits and thieves are most active.
"Boss, the 'Black Wind Pass' is just ahead."
On the evening of the third day, Zhao Changying rode up to Lu Yan's side and pointed to two desolate mountains facing each other like the gates of hell. "According to the scouts, a gang of bandits called 'One-Ear' is entrenched here. They have seventy or eighty men under their command and specialize in robbing passing caravans."
"One-Ear?" Lu Yan frowned slightly, his gaze unusually calm in the setting sun. "Was this group mentioned in the intelligence provided by Eunuch Liu?"
"He didn't mention it." Zhao Changying shook her head. "Eunuch Liu said that in the past, Ma San would pay a toll in advance when he traveled this road. Five taels of silver per cart, to ensure his safety."
"Five taels?" Lu Yan sneered. "With twenty carts, that's one hundred taels. This toll is more expensive than the transportation fee."
"Shall we pay?"
"pay?"
Lu Yan reined in the horses and surveyed the surrounding terrain.
This is a typical valley pass with a narrow road. Although the slopes on both sides are steep, they are not sheer cliffs, making it suitable for ambushes, and also... counter-ambushes.
"Changying, remember this," Lu Yan's voice drifted in the wind, "In logistics, the biggest cost is 'uncontrollable costs.' Tolls are a bottomless pit. Today you pay five taels, tomorrow they'll demand ten. The day after, they'll think, 'Since you can come up with so much money, why don't they just swallow you and your goods whole?'"
He took out a monocular telescope (a Western item confiscated from the Fan family) from beside the saddle and observed the movements on the hillside.
Sure enough, in the withered grass on the left hillside, there were several faint reflections—the gleam of weapons.
"Prepare for battle."
Lu Yan put down the binoculars, his tone as calm as if he were saying, "Get ready to eat."
"Stop the convoy and form a circular formation. Zhao Tie's musketeers will be in the inner circle, and the pikemen in the outer circle. Push those riot control vehicles filled with lime powder to the outermost edge."
"Master, are we really going to fight?" Zhao Changying's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, a bloodthirsty excitement flashing in his eyes.
"It's not about hitting."
Lu Yan checked the time by looking at the sky.
"It's a complete disaster for our 'Lu Ji Security'."
"Eunuch Liu is watching from inside the car. If we rely on paying money to buy peace for our first deal, how will we survive in the capital? We're selling 'armed escort,' so we have to show our clients what real armed escort is all about."
"Pass down the order: annihilate them all. Leave no one alive."
As soon as Lu Yan gave the order, the convoy, which had been moving forward, suddenly stopped.
The men driving the carts remained calm and skillfully linked the carts end to end, forming a large circle. The side panels on the carts were raised to form a sturdy wooden wall.
In the center of the circle, Zhao Tie, along with ten handpicked archers, was slowly loading gun barrels with black powder and lead bullets. Although their movements were still somewhat clumsy, their hands were steady.
On the hillside, the bandit leader "One-Ear" was lying in the grass, looking at the fat sheep that had suddenly stopped, his eyes full of doubt.
"What are these bookworms doing? Why aren't they moving?"
"Brother, who cares! Look at those deep tire tracks, it's definitely good stuff! And that flag says 'Lu,' it must belong to a wealthy family!"
One-Ear licked his chapped lips and brandished the demon-head knife in his hand.
"Brothers! Since they've stopped to their deaths, let's grant them their wish! Charge! Kill all the men, and the women... ugh, there isn't a single woman in this convoy! Kill them all! The cargo is all ours!"
"Kill them!!"
Accompanied by a strange cry, seventy or eighty bandits, dressed in rags and wielding various weapons, came howling down the hillside like a pack of hungry wolves.
Lu Yan sat on horseback at the very center of the circular formation. He even had the leisure to pick up his water pouch and take a sip of water.
"Three hundred paces away... two hundred paces... one hundred paces..."
He counted silently in his mind.
This is an asymmetrical war.
It's not an asymmetry in the number of people, but an asymmetry in the "era".
When those bandits, still stuck in the era of cold weapons, thought they were facing a flock of lambs to the slaughter, they didn't know that they were about to crash into a wall of sighs built by industrialized thinking and the prototype of firearms.