Sizhou, Luoyang.
"I have a cousin's cousin's son's colleague who said the Youzhou army that entered the pass yesterday came bearing the official seal of Li Sizhou."
"Li Sizhou's seal? How could he give out such an important item? Has he lost his mind? Does he not want to be Sizhou anymore?"
"There are likely two possibilities."
"Speak quickly, don't keep us in suspense."
"The first is that Sizhou and Youzhou have secretly formed a true alliance, perhaps even planning a marriage alliance later, becoming as close as brothers from now on. The second is that Sizhou might be about to change hands."
"Both possibilities sound absurd to me. You, Old Man Rong, always boast about being a famous scholar from the south. Could it all be just hot air?"
"Clip-clop, clip-clop—"
Several fast horses galloped through the streets and alleys, finally arriving at the busiest market square.
A tall soldier, carrying a long scroll, dismounted. Two other soldiers parted the crowd, clearing a path straight to the bulletin board stand.
"Those uniforms look like Youzhou soldiers."
"Shh, don't speak. They might have an announcement."
The soldier in the middle unfurled the paper scroll and proclaimed in a thundering voice: "Li Xiaotian has been secretly colluding with the rats of Jingzhou, deceiving the sovereign and harming the people, greedy and cruel, intending to use plague as a spear to sweep across the land. Fortunately, heaven protects Great Chu; his treacherous plot was exposed and discovered by Huo Youzhou. Now, Huo Youzhou, upholding the Emperor's decree, executes the villains, supports the royal house, and dares to seek the aid of loyal and righteous men to jointly vent the nation's fury."
The surroundings erupted in an uproar.
"Did I hear that right? 'Use plague as a spear to sweep across the land'? Has Li Sizhou gone mad?"
"So it seems Li Xiaotian's scheme was uncovered?"
"Nonsense question. If it hadn't been exposed, how would this proclamation exist? In my view, Sizhou's situation is mostly settled. Now, only Jingzhou remains."
"They've posted some other letters too. Anyone illiterate, hurry over and see what's written on them."
"Old Man Rong is literate. Make way, let him take a look."
The crowd parted, and a one-eyed old man in a blue gown stepped forward.
The old man had a narrow strip of black cloth covering his right eye. With his remaining left eye, he scanned the letters posted on the bulletin board. "These are correspondences between Li Sizhou and Rebel Cong, conspiring together on their grand scheme."
That single sentence caused the crowd to explode into chatter once more.
...
Huo Zhizhang was in the Governor's mansion, listening to the guard's report.
All along their journey from south to north, they had issued proclamations right after leaving each place. This served both to publicize Li Xiaotian's deeds and to bolster Huo Tingshan's prestige, as well as to recruit talented scholars from across the land.
With their territory expanding, relying solely on the original capable people wouldn't do.
"Good." Huo Zhizhang then asked, "What about the situation at the checkpoints on the route north from Luoyang?"
The guard replied, "Everything is proceeding smoothly."
They had Li Xiaotian's tokens, so the journey had been largely unobstructed.
Before entering a city, they were all "courtesy and smiles"; after entering, they immediately showed their true colors, swiftly taking control of the Sizhou troops. And because the alliance between Youzhou and Sizhou was known to all, this not-so-subtle method proved unexpectedly effective.
Huo Zhizhang was eager to return to Jingzhou. "Speed things up. Within ten days, we must firmly control all checkpoints in the entire Sizhou."
The guard acknowledged the order.
Just then, Qin Yang entered from outside, holding an ornate box. "Huo Er, I've got something for you."
With that, he tossed the brocade box over. Huo Zhizhang caught it with one hand. "Looks quite valuable. What is it?"
Qin Yang smiled. "The Xun and Luo families of Luoyang heard the news and came to offer gifts first. I picked one I thought you'd like and brought it over."
As the saying goes, a new sovereign brings new ministers. Now that Luoyang, and indeed the whole of Sizhou, had changed hands, the "sky" had changed. The various local magnates naturally adapted, currying favor with the new ruler.
Need we be reminded of the "Rebel Sun's Rebellion" two hundred years ago? After the rebel Sun entered Luoyang, lacking funds and supplies, he simply confiscated property and executed officials. Anyone who didn't submit to him was branded a traitor and rebel, their wealth seized, and they were beheaded outside the city walls. It was truly a scene of widespread misery, leaving no chicken or dog untouched.
Yes, with military power, one could be that overbearing.
Huo Zhizhang opened the jade clasp of the box. Inside lay a short blade inlaid with exquisite pearls. The blade glimmered brilliantly and was scarcely thicker than a cicada's wing.
"Seems like a fine blade." Huo Zhizhang gave it a practice swing. The knife was only as long as his forearm. Plucking a hair, he gently drew it across the edge—it severed effortlessly, truly sharp enough to split a hair.
The young man muttered, "Too short. I'm not used to such a short blade. But it is indeed excellent. I'll take it back for my younger sister; she'll probably like it."
Qin Yang changed the subject. "Wanbao Garden and Xianlai Tower are both famous luxury goods shops in Luoyang, comparable to Chang'an's Shengjing Pavilion. The former belongs to the Fei family of Luoyang, the latter to the Xun family. The Xun family, hearing we were interested in opening a shop to sell exotic treasures, proactively gifted Xianlai Tower to us."
Pulling a stack of deeds from his pocket, Qin Yang handed them over, sighing with admiration. "This Xun family is really sharp and slick. No wonder they've lasted over two hundred years. During that Rebel Sun's Rebellion back then, eight out of ten great merchants perished, one was maimed, yet this Xun family managed to survive."
Huo Zhizhang took the deeds and flipped through them. The documentation was complete, even the transfer of ownership was already processed.
"Qin Yang, will you come with me to Xianlai Tower? The sugar will arrive in a few days. I'll go first to change its signboard and some fittings," Huo Zhizhang said.
Qin Yang sighed. "I won't go for now. The affairs with the local magnates are numerous and complicated. I need to sort through them."
The local powerful families had deep, intertwined roots. To establish authority and ensure the smooth implementation of new policies later, it was necessary to make examples of a few unlucky ones.
Choosing these unlucky scapegoats was itself an art.
Time flowed like water, slipping away silently amidst alternating quiet and clamor for five days.
"Clang, clang." The auspicious hour arrived, gongs and drums sounded.
Under the gaze of the assembled magnates who had come to show support, Huo Zhizhang sharply pulled the silk ribbon connected to the signboard above.
The ribbon fluttered down gracefully. The gilded signboard glittered brilliantly in the sunlight. The four characters "Pei Family Trading House" were written with a wild, sweeping flair, so bold they nearly seemed to transform into a tiger or leopard leaping out from the signboard's frame.
Just looking at the calligraphy gave one the impression that the writer was not of a gentle temperament.
Huo Zhizhang announced loudly, "Today, the Pei Family Trading House opens in Luoyang. The proprietor says that all customers visiting today and tomorrow will receive a small gift. We hope for your generous support."
As his words fell, continuous cheers erupted around them, the scene becoming extremely lively.
Those cheering were none other than the local Luoyang nobility and magnates. They usually traveled surrounded by beautiful maids and numerous servants, riding in carriages whenever possible, hardly ever walking, and most were plump and well-fed.
Now, having waited under the summer sun for an hour already, they were both nervous and hot, sweating profusely.
All the magnates knew perfectly well that this wasn't just about offering cheers; they also needed to go inside and make substantial purchases.
That Huo Youzhou is truly formidable. Though nominally just the Governor of Youzhou, after he took Sizhou as well, it's no exaggeration to say the entire north is in his grasp.
Having such a powerful warlord opening a shop right next door, even if it meant sacrificing half their wealth, they would certainly support it to seek peace and security.
That said, Pei products have always been of exceptional quality. Having a shop in Luoyang is good too, saving them the trouble of sending people to Chang'an for goods.
With these varied thoughts, the group of magnates entered the shop.
The moment they stepped inside, they all jolted with surprise.
It was cool, wonderfully cool!
The shop had many ice basins placed around. Outside was the sweltering summer heat, yet inside there was a pleasantly cool breeze. The stifling heat and hidden impatience in their hearts vanished instantly, leaving them wishing they could just live there.
After letting out a long, relieved sigh, they surveyed the newly opened Pei Trading House.
Due to time constraints, Huo Zhizhang hadn't undertaken major renovations. It largely retained the basic framework of the former Xianlai Pavilion, though the shelves for displaying goods had been replaced and many removed, making the space appear more open and spacious.
"The Xianlai Pavilion is completely transformed. It looks much more grand this way."
"Indeed, the view is certainly more open, very luxurious."
"Speaking of which, before I left today, my wife specifically told me to buy more soap. The stock we had someone procure from Chang'an is almost used up."
"It's truly compassionate of Madam Pei to spare us the hardship of traveling all the way to Chang'an, specially opening the 'Pei Trading House' here in Luoyang."
Flattering remarks came one after another. However, as they ventured further inside, many compliments turned into genuine exclamations of admiration.
The range of goods Pei currently sells publicly is actually quite limited. Soap, fine wine, fire starters, and ice pre-orders—just these four items for now. But they haven't stopped developing variations within each product line.
For instance, medicinal herbs were added to soap, creating a more expensive medicinal soap. Its beautifying effects have made it highly sought-after by noblewomen. The fine wine isn't limited to rice wine either, with experiments in distilling other varieties.
While there have been many changes, some things remain constant, such as the consistently exquisite and luxurious packaging.
A relatively small set of medicinal soap could be packaged in a large box. The gift box is made of high-quality wood, carved with a lifelike white rabbit trademark. The box alone is a pleasure to behold.
The shelves break from the usual straight lines, crafted into lattice screens. A section of the screen is completely hollowed out and fitted with mortise and tenon joints, forming a lotus-petal-shaped display stand where the corresponding product is placed.
Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Ice pre-orders? Do you mean selling ice as I imagine?"
"Exactly. The Pei Trading House sells ice. Those with large purchase volumes can enjoy delivery by the Pei Guards." Huo Zhizhang thought to himself, Mother really is a business genius. These magnates are inherently status-conscious. With the exclusive guard delivery service, they'll surely open their purses generously from now on.
Xun Tairan, the head of the Xun family, along with the others, showed genuine astonishment on their faces, perhaps the first time in a decade his expression matched his inner thoughts.
Every wealthy household stored ice, collected in winter for summer use. But cellar storage was limited, extremely labor-intensive and costly, something only those with substantial family wealth could afford.
Now, the Pei Trading House was openly selling ice. Just how much ice had they stored? When did they store it? How was there not even a whisper of news?
But that didn't make sense either. Huo Youzhou only occupied Luoyang recently. They had no reason to have cut and stored ice last winter. Could it be they know some magical art, able to turn water into ice?
Their hearts skipped a beat, and many felt a deeper sense of awe and wariness.
Before they could ponder further, they heard Huo Zhizhang continue, "Soap and fine wine are existing products. Today, to mark the opening, I formally introduce to you another new Pei product: white granulated sugar."
Huo Zhizhang walked to a display table and carefully picked up a palm-sized small earthen jar. "This substance is crystal clear like snow, sweet as honey. It can be used in cooking, or simply mixed with water for drinking. It has a fine, rich sweetness. Regular consumption invigorates the spirit, yet its price is far from as expensive as honey."
The magnates, who had been discussing ice, fell silent. Pairs of eyes stared at the earthen jar in Huo Zhizhang's hand with a mix of astonishment and doubt.
As the small jar tilted, pure white granules, fine as sand, poured out. They looked almost indistinguishable from the highest grade of salt.
"Young Master Huo, is this the white granulated sugar?"
"It looks like salt."
"Young Master Huo, what is the price of this white sugar?"
Huo Zhizhang knew their questions about price were mostly polite gestures at this point; few might genuinely intend to buy. You have to spend to earn, the young man thought with a pang of heartache. "For today's opening, I invite you all to taste this white sugar for free."
Servants brought out small wine cups. Huo Zhizhang poured a little white sugar into each, just a tiny amount for a taste, no more.
Huo Zhizhang gestured with his hand. "Gentlemen, please."
Xun Tairan stood at the front. Upon hearing this, he immediately reached for his cup with an almost comical eagerness. Others, a step slower, inwardly scoffed at Old Man Xun's theatricality.
But when they took their cups and poured the white sugar into their mouths, they were all shocked, eyes wide.
A burst of pure, unadulterated sweetness exploded on the tip of their tongues. Like honey, yet without honey's stickiness—a completely new experience.
Extremely sweet!
"Young Master Huo, what is the price of this white sugar?"
"I have lived over sixty years and previously thought I had tasted all the delicacies of the world. I never imagined there were wonders beyond wonders. Young Master Huo, is this white sugar subject to purchase limits like the soap?"
Someone skipped asking the price altogether, stating directly, "Young Master Huo, I wish to buy one jar of white sugar!"
"Me too, I want two jars!"
On the day the Pei Trading House opened, commoners heard many magnates had come. Not daring to enter, they peeked in from outside. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from inside the shop.
It seemed they were jostling and pushing over something they were trying to buy.
Shenyuan Path, Jingzhou. The Acting Jiedushi's residence.
Pei Ying unfolded the thick stack of letters sent by Huo Zhizhang and began reading slowly.
The opening of the Pei Trading House went smoothly. The first day's revenue was astonishingly high. In the following days, servants from wealthy families waited eagerly outside the shop early each morning, ready to place orders as soon as it opened.
Furthermore, as the weather grew hotter, ice sales soared rapidly.
Someone sat down on the couch beside her. Pei Ying knew it was Huo Tingshan. "A letter from our son. Take a look."
Huo Tingshan glanced at the thick stack, estimating at least five or six pages. He couldn't be bothered to take it. "You can summarize it for me, my lady."
Pei Ying first described the situation at the Luoyang Pei Trading House, then mentioned Huo Zhizhang's longing for home expressed in the letter.
Huo Tingshan scoffed. "He's eighteen this year, still wanting to cling to his parents every day. What kind of behavior is that?"
Pei Ying turned to meet his gaze, speaking earnestly, "Huo Tingshan, where I come from, one is considered an adult at eighteen. It signifies maturity and the ability to handle many matters independently. Setting aside my homeland, even here, the capping ceremony is at twenty. He is still a youth. You must not demand too much of him. Moreover, a child caring for his family is a good thing. You must not disrupt family harmony."
Huo Tingshan's eyelid twitched.
He had said one sentence, and she had ten more waiting for him.
The husband's authority was clearly not holding firm.
"Great General, Mistress, there is someone outside requesting an audience," Xin Jin reported.
Whether it was Pei Ying's imagination or not, she felt Xin Jin's voice sounded somewhat strange.
"Local magnates or officials at the door? Turn them away. They swarm here daily, disturbing our peace," Huo Tingshan said dismissively.
However, Xin Jin kept his head bowed and said, "It is not a magnate or official. This person's surname is Meng. He claims to be a cousin of Meng Ducang..."
Pei Ying was astonished.
Meng Ducang's cousin? Her deceased husband's cousin.
The curve of Huo Tingshan's mouth remained unchanged, but his eyes grew much colder. "Ji Province and Jing Province are not adjacent. With the times growing increasingly turbulent, he certainly has remarkable skill to have tracked us down here."
Pei Ying gathered the letters on the table. "Let's go and see."
Huo Tingshan turned to look at Pei Ying. "I must ask my lady to remember her own words just now: one must not disrupt family harmony."
