The prototype of the secret guard

As written in Zhang Yanghao's short lyric poem, through the changing of dynasties and the rise and fall of nations, it is always the common people who suffer the most.

When rebellions and wars break out everywhere, the common people are the first to suffer.

Countless family members are coerced or forcibly conscripted into the battlefield.

In rebel-held areas, many people are stripped of their livelihoods and forced to join the ranks of the rebel army.

Even more commoners are forced to flee their homes with their families just to survive.

Hundreds of thousands of commoners headed south, entering the two The two Jiangnan Circuits where war had not yet reached.

Left with nothing to rely on, many were reduced to selling their children or themselves.

At the Yangzhou docks, Wan Sanqian watched expressionlessly as batch after batch of people he had purchased were sent onto seagoing vessels.

In his eyes, although these people would be far from their homeland, they would at least be able to eat their fill and stay warm once they reached Diannan; he felt he was performing an act of kindness.

While he was lost in thought, a fawning voice called out.

"Manager Wan, so you're here! You've made me search everywhere for you!"

Wan Sanqian turned his head and saw a lean figure. He immediately put on a friendly smile.

"Ah, so it's Steward Liu. Does Lord provincial inspector Yang have some instructions?"

The newcomer was Liu Dacheng, a steward from the residence of the newly appointed Yangzhou provincial inspector, Yang Qianli. He was also the middleman for this business deal.

Liu Dacheng pulled Wan Sanqian aside and whispered.

"Indeed, my Lord provincial inspector has something to discuss."

Wan Sanqian's heart tightened. He wondered if Yang Qianli was still unsatisfied, even though he had already paid twenty percent above the market price.

To his surprise, Liu Dacheng looked around and shared a piece of news that delighted him.

"Manager Wan knows that with the current chaos of war, the people are displaced and helpless. Many women have no choice but to sell themselves to brothels. Our Lord provincial inspector is a benevolent man; how could he bear to see such a sight?

Currently, Commandery Duke Gao is guarding the Southwest border against foreign aggression and is in need of manpower. Our Lord provincial inspector's idea is for Manager Wan to simply redeem these women and send them to the Southwest. What do you think?"

Wan Sanqian's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that he wanted virtuous women; surely Yang Qianli hadn't raided the brothels and was trying to sell all those women to him?

Wanting to refuse but fearing he might offend Yang Qianli and cut off his future prospects, Wan Sanqian gritted his teeth and prepared to swallow this loss.

"I wonder how much money is needed to redeem these women?"

Liu Dacheng must have already received instructions, as he directly gestured a number with his hand.

"A total of eight hundred and fifty-seven people. One hundred strings of cash per person, totaling eighty-five thousand strings. I wonder if Manager Wan is interested?"

Wan Sanqian was certain now: Yang Qianli was addicted to making money and had indeed raided the brothels of Yangzhou. He could only spread his hands helplessly.

"I am interested, but Steward Liu, as you know, I've already spent all the funds I brought to Yangzhou. Could we perhaps set these people aside until my next visit?"

To his surprise, Liu Dacheng simply waved his hand dismissively.

"With Manager Wan's reputation, why wait for next time? Our Lord provincial inspector said that as long as the people haven't escaped their sea of suffering, he cannot be at peace. Take the people first; as for the money, our prefectural office will advance it for now."

Good grief, this guy was determined to make him take them. In his heart, Wan Sanqian cursed Yang Qianli's entire family, but eventually forced a smile.

"Then I must thank Lord provincial inspector Yang. Next time, I will certainly repay the amount with interest."

Hearing about the interest, Liu Dacheng finally broke into a brilliant smile. After a few pleasantries with Wan Sanqian, he left.

That evening, nearly a thousand weeping women were added to Wan Sanqian's ship.

To Wan Sanqian's relief, after asking around, he found that most were pure courtesans, and some had only just sold themselves. There were fewer than two hundred red courtesans.

Seeing that all the women had been loaded onto the ship, Liu Dacheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned in close to Wan Sanqian.

"Manager Wan, there are nine hundred and seventy people in total. We'll count it as eight hundred and fifty-seven; the rest are my personal gift to Commandery Duke Gao."

Wan Sanqian immediately understood that this fellow must have hidden some to make a profit. He quickly responded.

"Rest assured, Steward Liu. I certainly won't forget your friendship. When I come next time, I'll be sure to bring you some local specialties."

Liu Dacheng's wrinkled face crinkled into a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum, and he nodded repeatedly.

"That's good, that's good. Just deliver them directly to my home when the time comes."

After saying goodbye to Liu Dacheng, Wan Sanqian boarded the seagoing vessel heading south. This trip, his fleet had arrived fully loaded and was returning fully loaded, taking away over two thousand people, most of whom were young women.

This wasn't even what satisfied him the most. What pleased him most was that he had established a permanent trading firm in Yangzhou. This firm was not just a base for accumulating wealth, but also a hub for intelligence gathering.

After more than a month of sailing, these people finally reached the warm south. They stepped onto the soil of Diannan Circuit at Coastal Defense and were then escorted by the Xuanjia Army to East Pass for settlement.

As for those hundreds of women, they were sent all the way to Guchang County to be personally dealt with and assigned by Gao Yuan.

Time moved to the third month of the third year of era name. The spring plowing had just been completed across the two circuits. Gao Yuan had just returned to his residence after inspecting the spring plowing when Wan Sanqian arrived.

"Your subordinate, Wan Sanqian, pays respects to my Lord."

Gao Yuan patted Wan Sanqian on the shoulder.

"You've worked hard. Sit. Someone, bring tea."

Wan Sanqian sat down stiffly, took a symbolic sip of tea, and began to report his achievements.

"Lord, on this trip north, I took fifteen ships of refined salt, white sugar, and white paper, all of which were sold out. I brought back over two thousand four hundred young and able-bodied people, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Wan Sanqian hesitated for a moment before recounting how Yang Qianli had raided the brothels to sell the women. This made Gao Yuan chuckle.

"Hahaha, you must feel like you've suffered a huge loss, don't you?"

Wan Sanqian nodded helplessly.

"If they were all pure courtesans, it would be fine, but buying red courtesans is truly unpleasant."

Gao Yuan stopped smiling and looked at Wan Sanqian seriously.

"If they could live a stable life, who would choose such a path? They are all pitiable people. Red courtesans or not, as long as they are willing to turn over a new leaf and be good, why should we care?

I will later assign them to the meritorious officials and soldiers; it can be considered a good home for them. As for those who are unwilling, let them go.

In the future when you go north again, you can buy such women back as well. I'm not picky here."

Seeing that Gao Yuan had no intention of blaming him, Wan Sanqian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sanqian, I heard you set up a post in Yangzhou?"

Wan Sanqian immediately stood up nervously.

"Your subordinate acted on his own initiative. I hope my Lord will not blame me."

Gao Yuan shook his head and gestured for him to sit.

"You did very well. In the future, we must use trade routes to spread our intelligence network everywhere. Not just in Great Qian, but also in Khmer, Toungoo, and Vietnam—there should be our people everywhere. Even in our own Diannan and Zhongnan Circuits. Do you understand?"

Wan Sanqian was overjoyed and immediately stood up to bow to Gao Yuan.

"Your subordinate understands."

Gao Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

"I'm planning to establish an intelligence agency called the Secret Guards. You will be its first commander, with a rank equivalent to a Great General of the Sixteen Guards."

Wan Sanqian's heart was practically jumping for joy. He knelt on the ground with a thud.

"From now on, your subordinate will certainly give his all for my Lord until my dying breath."

"Work hard!"

Gao Yuan stood up and gave Wan Sanqian an encouraging pat on the shoulder. These two pats gave the merchant immense strength and filled him with confidence for the future.