The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 186: Dying Once Might Be the Way Out
Xing Honglang frowned: “No one is allowed to touch gunpowder? What about gunpowder makers?”
The rotating worker whispered softly: “Gunpowder makers can still access it. As long as he doesn’t have gunpowder on him, there’s no problem with strolling around the workshops or taking a walk outside. But he can’t leave the city. Too many permanent workers have fled these past few years. The officials are terrified gunpowder makers might escape too, so they keep them under tight watch.”
Xing Honglang understood now: “Can’t touch gunpowder. Can leave the workshops, but can’t leave the city, is that it?”
The rotating worker nodded: “Yes!”
“Good, got it.” Xing Honglang pulled out another piece of silver and placed it in his palm: “Still want to make money?”
The rotating worker nodded vigorously: “Yes, very much.”
Xing Honglang pulled out a five-liang lump of good silver and dangled it before him: “Invite a gunpowder maker out of the workshops to meet me. This silver is yours.”
The rotating worker was overjoyed: “This… such a small matter, and you’re giving me this much silver? Little sister, promise you won’t back out of your word.”
Xing Honglang sneered: “Look at me, woman. Do I seem like someone who breaks promises? Let me tell you, anyone who breaks their word and crosses my path gets hacked to death, piece by piece, and sent to see Yama Wang.”
It was fierce talk, but it reassured the rotating worker: “Alright, little sister, wait for me at the teahouse around the corner up ahead. I’ll drag a gunpowder maker out for some tea.”
As he turned to leave, Xing Honglang suddenly called out to him: “Wait, what kind of worker are you?”
The rotating worker scratched his head, slightly embarrassed: “I’m a lamp maker. A useless nobody.”
Xing Honglang understood: “Oh? You make lamps?”
Back in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, Chang’an was dazzlingly opulent. The streets were lively and bustling; lamp makers were truly skilled artisans with plenty of work.
But now, Chang’an had been renamed Xi’an. It was no longer glorious, but gloomy and heavy like a dying world. Lamp makers had faded into obscurity long ago.
Xing Honglang whispered: “Want to venture out, make more money?”
The lamp maker shook his head: “I don’t have the ability for that.”
Xing Honglang swiftly threw him another piece of silver: “Use this to pay your artisan registration fee for the next ten years. Then come with me. I’ll take you to the dazzling, prosperous world. We’ll make a fortune.”
The lamp maker was ecstatic: “Little sister, wait for me at the teahouse. I’ll go pay my registration fee, bring the gunpowder maker, and then go with you to seek our fortune.”
Xing Honglang went into the teahouse, sat down, and sipped her tea absently.
Before long, the lamp maker really brought a man over. He looked about thirty, wearing tattered clothes, his face deeply lined. This seemed to be the gunpowder maker.
Inside the teahouse, the two found a table and sat down.
The gunpowder maker looked curious: “Elder brother, where’d you strike it rich all of a sudden? You paid the registration fee for ten years in one go! Congratulations! The next ten years, you’re set. Ah, you even have money to treat me to tea now. Impressive.”
The lamp maker spread his hands: “I brought you here to meet someone.”
The moment he finished, Xing Honglang thumped down on the bench beside the two. She was big. The sudden weight made the worn stool groan under her, threatening to collapse. The gunpowder maker almost jumped backwards in fright.
Only when he saw it was a woman did he relax slightly.
Xing Honglang radiated outlaw vibes. She didn’t beat around the bush: “You make gunpowder?”
The gunpowder maker knew this woman wasn’t ordinary and couldn’t be offended. He hastily said: “This humble one is Xu Dafu. A gunpowder maker.”
“How’s life treating you?” Xing Honglang went straight for the jugular: “Enough food? Warm clothes to wear?”
The question hit like a dagger!
Xu Dafu froze. Pain twisted his face.
“Want to run away?” Xing Honglang spoke straightly: “These years, the running away of permanent workers has been very serious. Have you thought about escaping?”
Xu Dafu was startled, and a flash of vigilance swiftly crossed his eyes. He lowered his head and said: “I don’t want to run away. I never thought about escaping. I just want to safely be a gunpowder maker and serve the government.”
Xing Honglang smiled. Since she had roamed the underworld long enough, such subtle changes in expression didn’t escape her eyes. This man clearly wanted to run, but he wouldn’t easily reveal his true thoughts to anyone.
She feared he thought she was an official sent to test him.
If he said he wanted to escape, he might get dragged back and beaten immediately.
Xing Honglang said: “Truth be told, I’m not a decent woman.”
This startled Xu Dafu again. The lamp maker was also startled, but he had already guessed earlier, so he was a little better than Xu Dafu.
Xing Honglang said: “I’m a smuggled salt seller, the kind who carries a blade and resists arrest.”
Carrying a blade and resisting arrest—that wasn’t an ordinary small salt smuggler, but a “salt lord,” which was serious. They killed without even blinking.
The two artisans were terrified.
Xing Honglang said: “Telling you this just means I’m not an official. Don’t be afraid. You can say your real thoughts.”
Xu Dafu had always been timid and careful; he wouldn’t easily trust someone like that. Anyone not cautious or bold enough couldn’t do a gunpowder maker’s job—they would’ve been blown up by carelessness long ago.
He shook his head: “I really don’t want to escape.”
Xing Honglang said: “Fine! Got it. Follow me. I’ll take you to see some fun.”
She stood up and strode off.
Behind her, the two artisans exchanged a look and gave each other questioning glances. Then they timidly followed.
Xing Honglang wasn’t wrong; although they didn’t believe her, they didn’t want to miss the chance to turn their fate around, so they braved it and stayed with the plan.
Xing Honglang led them turning left and right. Soon, they reached the market and ducked into a corner. Her thirty-eight underlings were clearing remaining stock there. Snow-white smuggled salt was being sold at twenty percent below the price of government salt.
As Xing Honglang approached, she asked: “How’s our salt selling?”
One underling laughed and said: “Almost cleared out!”
Xing Honglang nodded: “Good.”
She turned and said to the two artisans: “See? What do I do?”
The two artisans exchanged another glance. Suddenly, Xu Dafu knelt down with a thud, kneeling stiffly: “I beg you, brave people, to help me escape Xi’an. I can’t endure another day of this life.”
Xing Honglang chuckled lowly: “Just waiting for those words.”
Xu Dafu said: “The city gates are very tightly guarded. It’s hard for me to leave. Brave woman, do you have any good way?”
“Die!” Xing Honglang chuckled. “By dying, you can get out.”
Xu Dafu gasped in shock: “Huh?”
Xing Honglang said: “With so many refugees in the city, it’s not hard to find a corpse starved to death. Tonight, we’ll fake a robbery and murder. You, Xu Dafu, will be killed by bandits in an alley. Your face will be chopped apart… Understand?”
Xu Dafu understood suddenly: “Understood. I quite get it.”
Chapter 186: Dying Once Might Be the Way Out
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