The moment Tie Niaofei spoke, the two men seated at the stone table were both startled. They turned at the same time to look at him.
A household retainer immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"My lord, this merchant is named Tie Niaofei. He claims to be a Jin merchant and holds an official salt certificate. He says he is scouting trade routes, intending to conduct business along this line in the future. He also mentioned that he wishes to discuss matters related to the frontier."
Sun Chuanting had met countless Jin merchants over the years and normally spared them little attention.
But the words frontier affairs made his eyes light up instantly.
Frontier affairs?
You've come to exactly the right place.
His spirits lifted at once. He pointed to the stone bench beside the table.
"Please sit, Mr. Tie."
Tie Niaofei adjusted his merchant's robes, smiled faintly, and walked over to sit opposite Sun Chuanting.
At the same time, the Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun followed him, quietly settling itself opposite Sun Chuanting as well.
Sun Chuanting cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Sun Chuanting. This gentleman beside me is my student, Feng Rong."
Feng Rong also returned the salute—but his face was clearly unhappy.
He had only recently been urging his teacher to stop meddling in national affairs, to avoid getting dragged into trouble. Yet his teacher refused to listen, still brimming with interest whenever border matters were mentioned. Now a self-proclaimed merchant had appeared, openly asking to discuss frontier affairs.
How could Feng Rong possibly be pleased?
He spoke with obvious irritation.
"Mr. Tie claims he wishes to discuss frontier affairs? You are a merchant—what frontier affairs could a merchant possibly discuss?"
Tie Niaofei answered calmly,
"Since I am a merchant, the frontier affairs I speak of naturally concern cross-border trade. Though trade may seem insignificant, in truth it concerns the stability of the border garrisons and the very foundation of the state."
"Oh?"
Sun Chuanting's interest deepened.
"Please, go on."
Tie Niaofei clasped his hands and made a respectful gesture toward the sky.
"Our dynasty's Grand Ancestor established the rules, creating the Nine Border Garrisons to guard the realm…"
Feng Rong cut in impatiently.
"Who doesn't know that already? Get to the point."
Tie Niaofei did not seem offended.
"The point is this: the Nine Garrisons lie along the northern frontier, in lands bitterly cold and harsh. Transporting supplies there has always been extremely difficult."
Sun Chuanting nodded heavily.
"Indeed. Supplying the border garrisons has always been one of the most critical matters of our dynasty—nothing less than the foundation of the nation."
Tie Niaofei continued,
"Thus, the Grand Ancestor decreed that merchants could transport grain, cloth, salt, ironware, and other necessities to the soldiers stationed in the Nine Garrisons. In return, the court issued them salt certificates as compensation."
As he spoke, he took out a salt certificate and presented it.
Sun Chuanting was intimately familiar with these matters, yet he listened without interrupting.
Feng Rong, however, could no longer restrain himself.
"Why keep repeating these old platitudes?"
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun chuckled silently.
He's explaining this for my sake, it thought.
Afraid that I, a being above the mortal world, might not understand human logistics.
Tie Niaofei's expression suddenly grew serious.
"Lord Sun, merchants holding imperial trading privileges can easily transport large quantities of goods to the frontier. If these supplies reach our soldiers, that is naturally a good thing."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"But what if those goods never reach the border garrisons at all? What if they are secretly diverted beyond the frontier—sold to the Mongols, or to the Later Jin?"
He let out a quiet, chilling laugh.
"Hehehe…"
Sun Chuanting's face instantly turned pale.
Feng Rong, who had looked utterly bored just moments before, shot to his feet in fury.
"How dare these villains!"
Sun Chuanting turned sharply.
"Sit down! Why are you so agitated? Weren't you the one telling me to let go of national affairs? Now you're jumping higher than your teacher."
Feng Rong flushed and sat back down, awkward.
"Ah—yes. No national affairs. I truly dislike national affairs."
Having said that, he fell silent.
Yet his ears seemed to perk up all the same—
alert and attentive, like a rabbit pretending not to listen.
Sun Chuanting's expression darkened.
"Mr. Tie, since you specifically came to me with this matter, I assume you already have some leads?"
"Exactly," Tie Niaofei said gravely.
"I know of a Jin merchant who colludes with the Mongols. He is currently here in Daizhou."
Sun Chuanting narrowed his eyes.
"What is his name?"
"Tian Shenglan."
Feng Rong's ears twitched.
"Teacher… this man visited our residence just a few days ago."
Sun Chuanting remembered him immediately.
"Indeed. He appeared calm, spoke little, and gave off a very reliable impression."
His expression grew even more solemn.
"Mr. Tie, you accuse Tian Shenglan of treason. Do you have evidence?"
Tie Niaofei spread his hands.
"None."
Sun Chuanting pressed,
"And yet you say many Jin merchants know of this?"
Tie Niaofei nodded.
"Yes. Those of us in the trade exchange information constantly. Some things can be hidden from outsiders, but not from those within the industry."
Sun Chuanting shook his head slowly.
"I need concrete evidence."
Tie Niaofei hesitated.
"At present… there is none."
"Very well," Sun Chuanting said.
"I understand what you have told me. I will have people investigate. But without evidence, I cannot punish a man based on rumor alone."
Tie Niaofei bowed.
"That was my intention in coming—to inform you, nothing more."
"Then I am informed," Sun Chuanting replied.
"Thank you, Mr. Tie."
He lifted his teacup—clear dismissal.
Tie Niaofei rose, clasped his hands, and took his leave.
Sun Chuanting and Feng Rong both stood to see him off.
At that instant, Tie Niaofei's sleeve shifted.
A miniature Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun, no larger than a palm, slipped free and fell toward the ground.
Clink.
At the same moment, Tie Niaofei deliberately stamped his foot.
Thump.
The heavy sound completely covered the soft noise of the fall.
No human eye noticed.
No human ear heard.
The Puppet Dao Xuan Tianzun instantly darted into the grass beside the stone table.
Tie Niaofei said aloud,
"When I obtain evidence of Tian Shenglan's treason, I will come again."
Sun Chuanting replied,
"I shall trouble you, then."
The retainer escorted Tie Niaofei out.
Sun Chuanting did not relax. His expression remained grim.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly called out,
"Someone! Bring me paper and brush!"
Feng Rong grew alarmed.
"Teacher, what are you writing now?"
Sun Chuanting answered slowly,
"Even without evidence, the matter of Jin merchants colluding with foreign enemies is likely true. I cannot act on rumor—but I can submit a memorial, urging the court to be vigilant against merchants secretly supplying the northern barbarians."
Feng Rong panicked.
"This is beyond our grasp! Teacher—this is truly beyond our grasp!"