CHAPTER 446: 344, KOI

Morning, the crowing of a rooster is heard.

Chen Ji on the bed gently sits up, but still, he wakes Xiao Man.

Hugging the Little Black Cat, Xiao Man raises her right hand to rub her eyes: "Young master, you’re awake? I’ll go boil some water for you."

Chen Ji sighs: "Xiao Man, can’t you sleep in the side room? Our things are still empty there, and the furniture inside looks brand new."

Xiao Man doesn’t reply: "What does young master want for breakfast?"

Chen Ji laughs: "You’ve reached the realm of no ego."

Xiao Man is puzzled: "What kind of riddle is the young master telling?"

Chen Ji explains with a smile: "There was a Zen monk named Zhao Zhou, who was famous for his learning. A monk wishing to debate scripture with him asked, ’What is the Way?’ Zhao Zhou said, ’Go, have some tea.’ The monk asked again, ’What is no ego?’ Zhao Zhou said, ’Go, have some tea.’ The monk asked yet again, ’What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?’ Zhao Zhou said, ’Go, have some tea.’

Xiao Man didn’t understand: "Isn’t this answering without addressing the question?"

Chen Ji asked again: "Xiao Man, can you go sleep in the east wing, there’s no need to guard me every night, I won’t run away."

Xiao Man retorted: "Young master, shall I make white congee and pair it with a salted duck egg?"

Chen Ji laughs heartily, no longer entangled with Xiao Man, he rises, picks up the pole from the small side room, and walks leisurely towards the well, his thoughts drift elsewhere:

About to go on a military expedition to Korea, what else needs doing before departure?

Chen Ji does not want to go to Korea.

Having just established himself in the Imperial Capital, with the businesses in the Eight Great Hutongs, the salt merchant business, reclaiming Aunt’s business from Mrs. Liang, he has far too many unfinished endeavors.

Once gone, it could be as short as six months or as long as three to five years, not to mention the uncertainty of returning alive.

He wonders if cheap ginseng can be bought by chance in Korea? Will there be older ginseng with better medicinal properties? Are there business opportunities to make money in Korea?

Being the Mountain Lord burns too much money, without money, even with Ice Flow, cultivation is impossible.

Should he stay on the sea and become a pirate?

As Chen Ji lets his mind wander, he draws water at the well, until both wooden buckets are filled and he wobbles back.

Returning to Silver Apricot Garden, Xiao Man is still in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

Chen Ji sits at the desk, grinds ink, picks up a brush, and prepares to write several letters. If he truly cannot return, it would be good to give some explanations.

However, while easy to hold the brush, putting down the brush proves difficult, as if this less than a foot long Hu Brush is harder to handle than a lance over eight feet long.

Finally, he writes three letters, the ink not yet dry, when he hears Xiao Man’s voice from outside: "Young master, it’s time to eat!"

Chen Ji quickly blows on the letters, folds them, stuffs them into envelopes, and seals them with red wax.

Just as he finished sealing them, Xiao Man comes in, her shoulder pushing open the cloth door with a tray in her hand.

Chen Ji hands her the letters: "In a few days, I’ll go with Mr. Wang to send troops to Korea..."

Xiao Man is aghast: "Young master, are you out of your mind, going so far? Many people have died at sea over the years, those who ship goods at sea are risking their lives. It is said there are not only strong winds and big waves but also giant fish as big as houses, terrifying."

Chen Ji doesn’t answer, only solemnly says: "If I don’t return in six months, deliver the first letter to Second Miss Zhang, the second to Lord Zhang, and the third to Brother Pao in the Eight Great Hutongs outside the city."

Xiao Man widens her eyes: "Young master, you are not allowed to go to Korea!"

But Chen Ji merely lifts the bowl, devouring the white congee in a few bites: "Give me the house’s silver, I need to buy some ginseng before the expedition."

Seeing his resolve, Xiao Man reluctantly takes out three strings of Buddhist Treasure and some broken silver from her personal wallet: "Three hundred and ten taels are what’s left from Guyuan, six hundred taels are from Second Sister’s worship present, and five hundred and seventy taels are this month’s tuition fee from Qi Zhenzhuo and others, totaling one thousand four hundred and eighty taels of silver."

Chen Ji looks at the Buddhist Treasure in his hand, at a price of thirty-five taels each, this silver isn’t even enough to grow a fourth stripe.

He really feels like becoming a pirate.

Leaving through the side gate of Qingzheng Garden, he sees thirty-seven Yulin Army soldiers gathered outside.

Qi Zhenzhuo leans on a stone lion, boasting flippantly: "Having been trained in the Eight Great Hutongs, this time going to Korea, we won’t disgrace our brothers. Just watch my performance! Once we return from Korea, we’ll celebrate our achievements and fortunes with wine!"

Duobao sneers: "Just don’t throw up when you see severed limbs."

Qi Zhenzhuo defends himself: "I’ve already thrown up all there is in the past twenty-one years, don’t laugh, this is called late bloomers."

At this moment, the side gate of the Chen Mansion creaks open, and Chen Ji, dressed in grey cloth clothes, steps out, everyone instinctively stands straight, their eyes staring intently at him.

Qi Zhenzhuo exclaims: "Master, brother-in-law said you persuaded Mr. Wang... no, General Wang last night."

Chen Ji’s gaze sweeps over the faces of the Yulin Army, even the excitement in Li Xuan’s expression is hard to hide.

He shakes his head: "On the battlefield, people die, don’t be too happy too soon, don’t think being an Executive Officer means you can ride freely in battle; countless Executive Officers have died wrongfully on the battlefield."

Qi Zhenzhuo is unfazed: "Master, why have you become as cautious and steady as my brother-in-law?"

Chen Ji doesn’t advise further.

...

...

All morning, the Yulin Army doesn’t train.

More than thirty men stand guard in front of the camp gate, just waiting for the Imperial Decree from the palace, so they can immediately go home, pack up, and report to the Ministry of War.

Qi Zhenzhuo and others cheerfully discuss: "With our rank, upon entering the Pingdong Army, we should each command our troops, right? Having the Master and General Wang’s connection, we’re the direct line of descent, we should help the general restrain the subordinates."