Chapter 89 — The Incident at Yu Port
A few days later, Guo Yizhen sent someone to the East Courtyard with an invitation for Lord Bai Jiu to attend a banquet.
Taking the post, Lord Bai Jiu lightly tapped his fingers on the table.
Xie Jing said, “Master, why don’t we go stay in the mountains for a few days? Maybe find an excuse to decline?”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head. “You can hide for a time, but not forever. I’ll have to meet them eventually.” Then he instructed, “Call Zhang Huwei here. Jing’er, come with me to change clothes — you’re going too.”
Xie Jing acknowledged and followed him.
It was late spring, still chilly, with sleet mixed into the rain — the air damp and cold.
When Lord Bai Jiu’s carriage arrived at the restaurant, the hosts had already been waiting.
Outside stood Guo Yizhen’s personal guards, rifles on their backs, straight and solemn, posted on either side of the entrance. The restaurant had been entirely reserved.
As Lord Bai Jiu went upstairs with his entourage, a uniformed man stopped Zhang Huwei behind him, reaching out to search him. Zhang Huwei had never been treated this way in the provincial capital. Just as he was about to raise a hand in retaliation, Lord Bai Jiu said coldly, “Stop.”
Zhang Huwei withdrew half a step, lowering his hand but still glaring at the man.
Lord Bai Jiu turned to the guard. “What is the meaning of this?”
The man replied respectfully, “Security in the provincial capital has been unstable lately. The officer upstairs is merely being cautious — for everyone’s safety.”
“Zhang Huwei has been by my side for years. He is my personal guard. If it’s inconvenient for him to come up, let him wait downstairs,” Lord Bai Jiu said calmly, then ascended the stairs. “Jing’er, come with me.”
Xie Jing followed.
When the guards saw the boy — only around a teen or so — they didn’t dare block him. Lord Bai Jiu was already being gracious by leaving his bodyguard downstairs; pressing further might cause him to walk out altogether.
Upstairs, several men were seated in the private room. The one at the head of the table was in his fifties, bearded and rough-looking, laughing and chatting heartily with the others. Guo Yizhen sat beside him, smiling and talking. When he saw Lord Bai Jiu enter, he rose at once.
“Ah, perfect timing, Lord Bai Jiu! We were just talking about you. Commander Feng here was just saying you made quite a fortune in Russia — really made us all proud!”
Lord Bai Jiu saluted politely. The man at the head was Feng Zhenbei, who raised his eyes to study him and then said, “Your uncle and I were sworn brothers. I’m fifth in rank — you may call me Fifth Uncle.”
Lord Bai Jiu greeted him accordingly, “Fifth Uncle.”
Feng Zhenbei nodded and gestured to the seat opposite. “We’re family, no need to be so formal. Sit.”
Dishes came out like a flowing river — simple fare but plenty of meat and wine. These were military men: rough, unrefined types who didn’t need delicacies. They drank in big bowls, ate in big bites, laughing loudly and slapping their thighs as they spoke.
Lord Bai Jiu drank with them, mostly silent, just listening. Soon, Commander Feng’s gaze turned toward him. Over fifty, wearing full military uniform, his alcohol-flushed face held a certain arrogance — one he could afford. The 28th Division was the elite of the northern army, directly under General Bai’s command, and armed with the best equipment.
After looking Lord Bai Jiu up and down, Feng Zhenbei led a toast. The others followed, one by one, and Lord Bai Jiu downed each cup cleanly, showing the bottom.
Feng Zhenbei seemed pleased. “You hold your liquor well — and you’re much more sensible than those other boys from the Governor’s Office.”
After three rounds of wine, still not a word of business had been mentioned.
Lord Bai Jiu had drunk plenty. When the others began playing drinking games, he stepped outside to get some air.
Xie Jing stayed close as always. Seeing the master pause by the corridor window, he asked softly, “Shall I fetch you some tea?”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head. “No need. Just go downstairs and bring me a bowl of hot tea.”
Xie Jing went quickly.
While Lord Bai Jiu stood by the window, he soon heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw it wasn’t Xie Jing — it was Guo Yizhen.
Guo Yizhen had drunk quite a bit himself. He came over, stood beside him, and offered a cigarette. “One?”
Lord Bai Jiu gave him a brief look. “No. My mouth’s full of wine — can’t taste anything now.”
Guo Yizhen lit his own cigarette, leaned lazily against the railing, and eyed him sideways. Then he chuckled. “Bai Jiu, you’re quite something. You can give a man an easy way out without showing a trace of it. Very smooth.”
Wearing a half-unbuttoned uniform, hair slightly messy, he exhaled a puff of smoke and continued, “I’ve had some news lately. Someone’s bought a shipment of arms from Japan — planning to send them to Zhili. The shipment just arrived at Yu Port.”
Lord Bai Jiu raised his brows slightly, feigning surprise. “Truly?”
Guo Yizhen clenched his teeth inwardly but played along. “Truly. It’s a big shipment — enough to arm three full divisions. How about it? Interested in working together? Yu Port’s your territory, and when it comes to shipping, the Bai family’s the best in the North — no one would dare claim otherwise.”
Lord Bai Jiu paused, then said evenly, “This is a serious matter. Ships aren’t the issue. But, Advisor Guo, you’ve been stationed with the 28th Division and might not know the procedures here — things work differently from the headquarters. Everything must be reported up and approved. That takes time. Still, I know a few advisors in the Governor’s Office. I could help you get it through faster.”
Guo Yizhen cursed inwardly but smiled outwardly. “I appreciate the thought, Brother Bai. But this is a sudden matter — we’ll have to act flexibly.”
“The more urgent the matter, the more caution it requires.”
He chuckled stiffly. “That might be… inconvenient.”
“Oh? Commander Feng has some unspoken concerns then?”
Guo Yizhen force a laugh. “Why would you say that? This has nothing to do with Commander Feng. He doesn’t even know. I alone got the information.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. Hearing that, he said no more.
The verbal duel between them made Guo Yizhen realize this man’s calm face hid a deep and dangerous mind — not someone easily tricked. Unable to lure him in subtly, he decided to speak plainly.
“Fine then — yes, Commander Feng knows a little, but he’s not managing the details. Do you know why we came to the provincial capital? General Bai already knows about this shipment. This dinner — me inviting you — is at his request. If you don’t believe me, ask at the Governor’s Office yourself.”
Lord Bai Jiu turned slightly to glance at him. Guo Yizhen’s expression was steady, his eyes clear, showing no hint of deceit.
Just then, Xie Jing returned with the hot tea. From afar he saw Guo Yizhen laughing, patting Lord Bai Jiu’s arm. When he approached, Guo Yizhen only bowed and said, “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Brother Bai. I’ll await your good news.”
After he left, Xie Jing handed the tea over quietly. “Master, did you agree to go to Yu Port?”
Lord Bai Jiu drank, thought for a while, then said, “Things have changed. Later, you’ll go call Bai Mingyu to the East Courtyard.”
Xie Jing hesitated. “I shouldn’t leave you alone.”
Lord Bai Jiu smiled, raising a hand to ruffle his hair. “Zhang Huwei’s still downstairs. This is the provincial capital — no one would dare touch me.”
Xie Jing finally nodded and left.
—
At the East Courtyard, Xie Jing rode to fetch Bai Mingyu and soon brought him back.
Inside the study, Bai Mingyu warmed his hands by a small brass brazier, chatting as he did, “You came galloping like your tail’s on fire — I thought it was something urgent. I didn’t even grab my gloves… Hey, Little Xie, you’re wearing so little — aren’t you cold?”
“Not cold,” Xie Jing replied flatly.
Bai Mingyu looked him up and down, muttering, “Maybe it’s ‘cause you’re short — don’t feel the cold?”
Xie Jing shot him a cold glance. Bai Mingyu instinctively avoided it, then realized — this wasn’t Lord Bai Jiu, so he had nothing to fear. Raising an eyebrow, he looked back provocatively. “What, did I say something wrong? You are shorter — look, I’m taller by this much now.”
He came closer to measure the difference, smug — lately his greatest pride was having outgrown Xie Jing. The other boy had barely grown since last year.
But before he could finish comparing, Xie Jing’s ear twitched. Without a word, he stepped forward and stomped on Bai Mingyu’s foot, hard.
Bai Mingyu yelped — but before he could finish, someone outside called “Lord Bai Jiu!” He had to swallow the cry.
Lord Bai Jiu entered, ignoring Bai Mingyu’s limp, and said quietly, “Come. I’ve something for you to do.”
Xie Jing also moved to follow, but one of the attendants stopped him. “Manager Xie, the Master’s head hurts. He asked for hangover soup.”
Xie Jing glanced toward the study, realized he wasn’t meant to go in, and left to prepare it.
In the small kitchen, the head chef was delighted to see him, giving him a pile of snacks. Xie Jing had no appetite, saying he’d already eaten at the banquet.
“Nonsense,” the chef said. “At those banquets, you barely eat — too busy being polite! Come, have a warm piece of jujube cake.”
He hadn’t eaten much all day, so he accepted and ate quietly by the stove. After two pieces of steamed jujube cake and a bowl of beef vermicelli soup, the hangover broth for Lord Bai Jiu was ready.
He carried it to the study.
Bai Mingyu was gone. Lord Bai Jiu sat by the round table, eyes closed. Hearing footsteps, he said without opening them, “Come, sit.”
Xie Jing placed the bowl before him and handed over the spoon. Lord Bai Jiu took one sip and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Jing asked, puzzled. He started to try it himself, but Lord Bai Jiu stopped him. “It’s fine. Just a bit sour.”
“Oh… I might’ve overcooked it. The soup reduced too much. I’ll make another—”
“You made this yourself?”
“Mm.”
Lord Bai Jiu opened his eyes, took the bowl, and finished it in one go. Then he drank a cup of tea, and his brow slowly relaxed.
That night, Zhang Huwei was nowhere to be seen — Xie Jing had already guessed why.
When night fell, he lay on the mat beside Lord Bai Jiu’s bed, unable to sleep for a long time. He lay properly on his side until an arm suddenly reached around him, pulling him back into a warm embrace. Lord Bai Jiu’s voice murmured beside his ear, “Something on your mind? You’ve been awake a long while.”
“How did you know?” Xie Jing asked softly.
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled. “You always turn over once before falling asleep, and your lips make a little pop — like a child tasting food. Every time.”
“Oh,” Xie Jing muttered.
After a pause, Lord Bai Jiu said quietly, “I sent Bai Mingyu to Yu Port for a reason. Jing’er, courage alone doesn’t make a man successful. You have your talents; he has his. This task — only he can do it.”
Exposed, Xie Jing felt embarrassed, turning to bury his head in Lord Bai Jiu’s chest, mumbling something.
Lord Bai Jiu heard and laughed, pulling him back to kiss his forehead. “No need to learn from him. Stay with me. I’ll teach you myself.”
—
Three days later, an incident broke out in Yu Port.
Overnight, more than ten thousand cargo units vanished from the port — containers pried open, warehouses near the southeastern docks stripped bare. The goods stored there, including countless wooden crates, were all gone.
The Japanese merchants who had just placed their cargo there were furious, shouting for justice. The port officials dared not slack off and immediately called in the police, but when questioned, both dockworkers and merchants gave vague answers. The Japanese traders refused to specify what exactly had been stolen.
In the end, the investigation went nowhere.
Guo Yizhen again sent an invitation to the East Courtyard, asking Lord Bai Jiu to dine.
Lord Bai Jiu declined, citing illness.
Unexpectedly, Guo Yizhen took no offense — instead, he sent an extravagant collection of gifts: fine medicines, antiques, and rare curios, each one of considerable value.
