Nunnery

Zhang Kun's anger stemmed largely from a river worker who had come from Hejian.

Following Zhang Kun's instructions, the river worker struck up conversations with disaster victims at the soup kitchen, having just recounted the dire situation in the disaster area to Zhang Kun the day before.

"Supervisor, our Hejian has also suffered many disasters, and in previous years it even came to the point of cannibalism."

But no matter how much they make a scene, all they do is drag the child who just collapsed on the road home. Even more ruthless ones will swap the child with the neighbor's.

This time is different from previous years. I heard that people were actually being killed in the streets of Qingzhou!

They even sold them at the market, where they cost only a few copper coins per pound—cheaper than chickens and ducks!

Zhang Kun was horrified and asked the river workers, "Isn't the government doing anything about this?!"

"It's out of control; too many people are killing."

The river worker shook his head and sighed to Zhang Kun:

"The officers arrested the murderer and asked him why he killed. He said that if he didn't kill others first, others would kill him."

There were also many people carrying knives on the road. When they saw someone collapse from hunger, they immediately surrounded them!

Many were just too weak from hunger to breathe, but hadn't died yet, and could only stare helplessly...

Previously, Zhang Kun only knew that the disaster in Shandong was severe, to the point that people were resorting to cannibalism.

I never imagined that cannibalistic hell had layers!

The reason why Linqing City could maintain its apparent prosperity was because grain was continuously transported through the Grand Canal.

Hundreds of miles to the east, where there is no waterway, lies a cannibalistic hell!

Zhang Kun can't save many disaster victims now, and he will directly or indirectly kill a number of them during his 800-mile march.

The tragic situation, the helplessness, and the sense of abandonment fueled a fire within Zhang Kun, which he wanted to vent.

That Master Qi from the Prince of Lu's mansion is truly arrogant!

Chen Jizong told Zhang Kun that Master Qi wanted the river work team to smuggle Japanese copper, white salt, and other goods, with a 30/70 profit split.

The portion allocated to the river engineering battalion was not 70%, but 30%!

......

A few miles southeast of Linqing City, there is a terrace in the forest, and on the terrace stands a nunnery.

Although it's called a nunnery, none of the nuns here have shaved their heads. They all have beautiful faces, and long, black hair is hidden under their Guanyin-shaped hats.

The undergarment covered by the plain black robe was also plain, but a closer look at the collar and cuffs revealed that the fabric was of the finest silk.

"You look unfamiliar, sir. Is this a chance encounter?"

The nun in charge of greeting guests, sensing that Zhang Kun was either rich or noble, took the initiative to approach him and said:

"Although this hermitage is small, it has many wonderful features. You can come in, rest your feet, and have a cup of fragrant tea."

If your journey is arduous, you may rest for the night at this hermitage.

Hearing the nun's solicitation in this manner, Zhang Kun knew she was a prostitute within the Buddhist community and said expressionlessly:

"I want to see Protector Qiu of your temple."

Then, gesturing with his hand, a skilled bodyguard following behind him escorted Master Qi to the front. Master Qi weakly said:

"Take these men to see Master Qiu."

The nun was startled when she saw Master Qi, but quickly responded to Zhang Kun:

"Please wait a moment, sir, while I go..."

The skilled guard holding Master Qi drew his sword short and interrupted sharply, "Lead the way immediately!"

Qiu, the nunnery's owner, is sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, facing a gilded statue of Guanyin.

Hearing the door behind him being pushed open, he opened his eyes and said, "Song'er?"

Turning around, he saw several strangers escorting Master Qi into the Guanyin Hall. They stood up and said in a deep voice:

"Who are you people?"

"I am Zhang Kun, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the supervising officer of the River Works Camp."

Zhang Kun walked up to Protector Qiu, pointed at Master Qi, and smiled:

"When he went out of the city on business, he encountered a group of thieves. After killing the thieves, he rescued Master Qi."

"I never imagined that Master Qi was sent by Protector Qiu to find me. What a coincidence!"

Seeing Master Qi's timid and hesitant appearance, Protector Qiu knew that Zhang Kun was lying.

Most likely, there was some conflict between the two sides, and Zhang Kun wanted to shift the blame onto the thief.

That's incredibly audacious! They dare to use such tricks against the people of the Prince of Lu's mansion!

After a long silence, Protector Qiu suppressed his anger and asked Zhang Kun:

"Qi Sheng has most likely already told Zhang Baihu about that matter. If I'm not mistaken, Zhang Baihu is unwilling to cooperate?"

"I guessed right."

Zhang Kun smiled at Protector Qiu:

"The canal boats of the River Works Camp are loaded with grain for disaster relief, and cannot hold Qiu Hufa's goods."

Turning his head, he gestured for his henchmen to release Master Qi, and continued speaking to Protector Qiu:

"Please, Protector Qiu, find someone else."

After saying this, just as he was about to turn and leave, Protector Qiu said, "Please, Commander Zhang, wait."

Protector Qiu clapped his hands and instructed a nun who came out of the side room, "Go and fetch some cherry dew."

He then smiled and explained to Zhang Kun:

Even if the deal falls through, it is still a matter of fate to have met Zhang Baihu.

My elder brother manages the farmland in the Fengcheng Department of the Prince of Lu's Mansion, and this year the farmland has produced a lot of cherries.

The first batch of cherry wine has been brewed; please accept it, Commander Zhang.

It turns out he was the younger brother of the eunuch in charge of the Lu Prince's mansion.

"Thank you, Protector Qiu."

Zhang Kun smiled, pointed to the top of the Guanyin Hall, and refused Protector Qiu:

"It is a sacred place in Buddhism, and I am unwilling to accept items that violate the precepts."

"Commander Zhang..."

Zhang Kun ignored Protector Qiu's attempts to persuade him to stay and turned to leave with his men.

"waste!"

Enraged, Protector Qiu shouted at Master Qi:

"What a terrible business deal you've ruined!?"

"I'm innocent, Master Qiu!"

Master Qi hurriedly knelt down and explained urgently to Protector Qiu:

"Song'er only urged that camp officer surnamed Chen once, and a person next to her suddenly became angry and insulted Song'er!"

Before Song'er could retort, she was kicked to the ground by this scoundrel surnamed Zhang, who then held a knife to her neck!

This thief even ordered his men to capture Song'er's attendants, take them to the post station, and kill them, claiming it was the work of the thieves!

"How is that possible?"

Protector Qiu found it hard to believe that Zhang Kun would act this way, and questioned Master Qi:

"You must have done something wrong to provoke that guy surnamed Zhang!"

Master Qi repeatedly protested his innocence, swearing to the heavens that he had truly not provoked Zhang Kun.

"...Get up."

With a skeptical look on his face, Protector Qiu waved his hand at Master Qi.

"Master Qiu, that scoundrel killed several of Song'er's followers!"

Master Qi got up and said indignantly to Protector Qiu, "Are we just going to let this go like this?"

"It's just a few servants dying."

Protector Qiu sat back down on the futon and continued meditating in front of the Guanyin statue, saying:

"Didn't I say before? The official gazette said this river works battalion was run by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Are the Embroidered Uniform Guard easy to mess with?"

"...Yes, Song'er will listen to Master Qiu."

Seeing that Protector Qiu had chosen to back down, Master Qi had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Moreover, it was indeed Master Qi who acted on his own initiative, reducing the 40/60 split to 30/70 in an attempt to gain credit.

Thinking of this, Master Qi revealed a seductive manner, climbed to Protector Qiu's side, and said in a coquettish voice:

"Master Qiu, please stop meditating. Let Song'er help you calm down..."

Protector Qiu opened his eyes with a lewd grin, then suddenly frowned, sniffed, and asked, "Where's that stench coming from?"

Master Qi suddenly froze, remembering that he hadn't changed his clothes yet.

"Get out!"

......

"My dear brother, I must give you a word of advice. You went too far today!"

Back at the post station, Chen Jizong called Zhang Kun into his room and whispered, "..."

"That fellow was just arrogant because he was from the Prince of Lu's mansion, yet you killed his four followers."

Brother knows that Lord Zhang trusts you greatly, so you shouldn't cause him any trouble.

If outsiders find out about this, especially if it reaches the ears of those censors, even Lord Zhang might not be able to protect you!