Chapter 486: Jurchen Cavalry from the Central Plains, Hardly a Cause for Fear

Upon returning to Hedong Road city with Huang Yunfa’s subordinates, Iron Bird Flies witnessed a bizarre scene.Huang Yunfa sat petrified in the center of the room. Across from him, Master Zhan Sheng sat cross-legged, rotating Buddhist beads with his left hand while his right palm faced upright before his chest. He continuously chanted strange incantations like “Amitabha.”

Iron Bird Flies found this deeply perplexing: During their last encounter, Master Zhan Sheng had been utterly dejected, claiming Huang Yunfa refused to listen. What could have caused such a drastic shift?

Nevertheless, that wasn’t the priority now.

Huang Yunfa’s subordinate leaned in and whispered, “Master, after accompanying Iron Bird Flies, I verified his goods on the Yellow River—hundreds of top-grade Firearms.”

Huang Yunfa’s elation instantly overrode his dread of the wooden puppet, greed overshadowing fear. “Any signs of trickery?”

“Nothing suspicious,” the man murmured. “The Firearms had no ammunition, just as Iron Bird Flies stated. Fugitive blacksmiths forged them, unable to procure gunpowder or bullets.”

Ecstasy surged through Huang Yunfa. Selling this cache to the Jurchens would yield astronomical profits! More crucially, establishing this supply line meant endless Firearms from these fleeing craftsmen for resale to the Jurchens. Wealth would cascade endlessly—silver and gold piling higher than mountains.

What commodity could rival the profits of arms dealing?

Nothing!

Suddenly, even his salt licenses seemed worthless.

He turned to Iron Bird Flies, admiration gleaming in his eyes. “Iron Bird Flies, I am quite taken with your merchandise.”

Iron Bird Flies chuckled. “Delighted to hear it. So, name your offer.”

Huang Yunfa promptly drew salt licenses from his sleeve, pressing them into Iron Bird Flies’ palm. “You wanted salt? Take it all! Furthermore, I’ll introduce you to my contacts beyond the Great Wall.”

Iron Bird Flies feigned gratitude. “Many thanks for your guidance, Merchant Huang.”

Huang Yunfa inquired, “Where shall we exchange?”

Iron Bird Flies began, “On the riv—”

“Unacceptable!” Huang Yunfa cut him off sharply. “The river is too perilous. We’ll meet six miles west of Dayu Crossing, at Zhouqing Village.”

Iron Bird Flies understood immediately. Guarded by Jurchen cavalry, Huang Yunfa trusted his land-based defenses far more than venturing onto the water.

What a pity!

They had dispatched three cannon ships precisely to obliterate Huang Yunfa mid-river and feed him to the Yellow River’s monstrous fish. Yet his caution rendered those vessels useless.

For now, appeasement was vital. Iron Bird Flies conceded, “Very well. Zhouqing Village it is.”

With the agreement set, Iron Bird Flies prepared to exit the city again to “arrange delivery,” temporarily breaking surveillance on Huang Yunfa. He shot Master Zhan Sheng a meaningful glance. The monk’s eyes remained downcast, seemingly oblivious, but a minute lift of his brow acknowledged the signal.

Reassured, Iron Bird Flies strode out.

Exiting the salt tax office’s compound and navigating an alleyway, a half-height wooden puppet abruptly emerged.

Iron Bird Flies exclaimed, “Ah! I pay homage to the Deity!”

The puppet deity emitted a Clattering Sound, offering no words.

Comprehending instantly, Iron Bird Flies’ aide produced a black sack. The puppet deity crawled inside voluntarily, and the group hastened beyond the city walls. Soon, they reached Nitrifying Pond, where Xing Honglang, Gao Chuwu, Zao Ying, and Old Nan Feng had long awaited.

After Iron Bird Flies relayed the details, everyone grinned deviously. “Splendid! We’ll prepare a Grand Feast at Zhouqing Village. Let Huang Yunfa and his Jurchens experience our utmost hospitality firsthand.”

Two days later.

Zhouqing Village.

Zhouqing Village was a typical plain village, with perfectly flat terrain all around.

In good years, the plains of this place were entirely covered in large fields of crops, but during this drought year, crops were absent, leaving only vast stretches of desolate, dry wasteland.

It was an excellent location for galloping horses freely.

Huang Yunfa chose this spot to deliver the goods precisely because it was flat enough.

Flat areas favored cavalry combat but hindered ambushes.

Huang Yunfa’s men drove several large carts and arrived at Zhouqing Village.

The Jurchen cavalry were extremely cautious; before entering the village, they first sent out scouts to thoroughly reconnoiter the area within several miles of Zhouqing Village. They ensured no ambush forces were present, and then Huang Yunfa’s main unit slowly approached.

Iron Bird Flies had been waiting here for a long time with several dozen men; on the carts before them were piled large numbers of firearms.

Huang Yunfa did not approach immediately; instead, he sent more subordinates over to inspect the goods and confirm that all these firearms were genuine. Only then did he wave happily: “Good, we accept these goods.”

Iron Bird Flies smiled: “In that case, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll use the salt license you gave me to collect some salt, make a profit, and then return to find you, Mr. Huang, to take me outside the pass for business.”

Huang Yunfa responded: “No problem, no problem!”

Iron Bird Flies threw down over two hundred firearms and strode away.

Until he departed, Huang Yunfa remained vigilant; not until Iron Bird Flies had truly gone far did he smile and say: “It seems he didn’t play any tricks and genuinely sold firearms to me. Heh heh heh, we’re about to make a huge profit—men, load the goods immediately.”

His men immediately surged forward to load the over two hundred firearms onto their own carts.

As they worked, a subordinate suddenly pulled out a piece of paper from among the firearms, held it high in surprise, and said: “Huh? There’s a piece of paper in with the firearms. It has writing on it, but I’m illiterate.”

Huang Yunfa felt great curiosity: “Bring it to me to see.”

He took the paper and looked intently; on it was written: “Your death has come.”

“Hiss!”

Huang Yunfa jolted in shock: “Trap?”

Just then, the expressions of the Jurchen cavalry suddenly darkened; they heard the sound of familiar hoofbeats, specifically the noise of many warhorses galloping together.

“A cavalry unit is coming from three directions.”

A Jurchen who could speak Chinese shouted loudly.

Huang Yunfa flinched again; to the east, west, and north, each direction brought a hundred cavalrymen, spreading out horizontally as if forming a huge trap, sealing off all three sides with only the south left open.

And to the south lay the surging Yellow River!

Huang Yunfa cursed: “Damn it, that Iron Bird Flies schemed to frame me! What’s the origin of these cavalry? How could a mere salt smuggler like him possess so many cavalry?”

A subordinate cried out: “It might be the government—they must know we’ve been providing supplies to people outside the pass and aim to punish us.”

Huang Yunfa snapped: “Fuck! Think fast—we must break through!”

That Jurchen soldier who could speak Chinese chuckled coldly: “These soft southern cavalry from the central plains—what’s to fear? We can fight ten to one! Mr. Huang, stick close to us; we’ll pick a direction and break straight through their encirclement.”