Chapter 123: The Ancient Land of the Han Dynasty

The Gyeongwon Yi clan was the most powerful family of in-laws in Goryeo, with the wives of four consecutive monarchs hailing from their lineage.

The phenomenon of maternal relatives dominating the court usually arose from a weak or befuddled monarch. However, the current ruler, King Yejong, Wang U, was no fool. During his reign, although the Gyeongwon Yi clan was formidable, they had not yet reached the point where they could dictate state affairs. Thus, the clan pinned their hopes on Wang U’s son, Wang Gae, assuming the boy would be easy to manipulate.

The current patriarch of the Gyeongwon Yi clan, Yi Ja-gyeom, was the king’s father-in-law. He knew well that for the Yi family to rise again, Wang U had to be eliminated. Yet, the king’s grip on power was firm, making schemes like military coups or assassinations impossible. By chance, Wang U fell ill—a sickness that could prove fatal at any moment—and Yi Ja-gyeom was determined to prevent any remedy from reaching him. Whether a thousand-year-old ginseng could truly extend a life was debatable, but centuries of lore had imbued it with mythical status, leading to the rumor that such a root could save the king.

Zhao Yu was unaware of these internal struggles. Wu Qian had heard that a young master from the Gyeongwon Yi family had headed toward Huining, and no matter how Zhao Yu tried to disguise himself, the aura of nobility he naturally exuded could not be hidden, leading to Wu Qian’s misunderstanding. However, Wu Qian was well-versed in Goryeo’s internal secrets—not out of a desire for political involvement, but because a great merchant must possess political intuition.

Zhao Yu enjoyed strong liquor, a habit from his past life, and the northern spirits suited his taste well. Wu Qian’s wine was excellent; a single sip felt like a trail of fire sliding down the throat, setting one’s entire body ablaze. After some idle chatter, Wu Qian suddenly produced a small parcel from behind him. Inside lay a pile of loose silver, appearing to be several hundred taels.

"To be honest, I do have a favor to ask. If you agree, this will be your reward."

"That depends on the nature of the request. If I were to agree without asking, would you even dare to trust me, Brother Wu?"

"Haha! A fair point. I suppose I was being shortsighted."

As he spoke, Wu Qian brought out a long, narrow box from behind him and placed it on the table. "I wish to entrust you with delivering this to Kaesong."

"Is it that simple?"

"Do not underestimate this item. It contains a thousand-year-old ginseng capable of extending a life; there are countless people coveting it in the shadows. I will lead a large force to draw their attention, while you secretly transport it to Kaesong. Once the item arrives safely, there will be another thousand taels of silver for you."

"May I ask why you would trust me, Brother Wu?"

"Character is reflected in one's appearance. Though you are young, you strike me as an upright man. Most importantly, we are both Han Chinese."

The reasoning was powerful—so powerful that one could find no grounds for rebuttal. Zhao Yu stared at Wu Qian for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. "Very well!"

Being trusted is a good thing, but if the person trusting you has ulterior motives, that is another matter entirely. Zhao Yu didn't need to look to know that the box certainly did not contain a thousand-year-old ginseng. In other words, he was the bait.

Back in his tent, Han Shizhong could not help but say, "Your Highness, you should not have agreed."

Zhao Yu toyed with the wax-sealed box for a moment before replying calmly, "Can you think of a better way to enter Goryeo?"

Han Shizhong paused, suddenly realizing the truth, though he knew this move would put them all in grave danger. With Jurchen pursuers behind them and unknown perils ahead, this journey to Goryeo promised to be quite lively.

At dawn, as the cooking fires began to rise, Zhao Yu and his two companions were the first to depart. Watching them ride away, a man who appeared to be a counselor asked Wu Qian with concern, "Manager, is that young man trustworthy?"

A strange glint flashed in Wu Qian's eyes. "Use the fake as true, and the true as fake—this is the wisdom left by our ancestors. Send a team to follow them; be careful, in case he tries any tricks."

It was ironic. When together, people would prattle on about how fellow countrymen should look out for one another, yet it was often these seemingly harmless compatriots who stabbed you in the back. Fortunately, Zhao Yu was no easy target.

It was two hours later before Wu Qian’s party finished breakfast and set out. Upon passing through a forest, a scout who had been pathfinding returned to Wu Qian’s side at a gallop and whispered, "Manager, the men we sent to track that boy have all been stripped of their clothes and hung from the trees."

Hearing the report, Wu Qian turned deathly pale. His intuition told him that his true intentions had been seen through long ago.

Baozhou, the city closest to the Yalu River, had originally been a dagger aimed at Goryeo’s side, but during the war between the Jurchens and the Khitan, the Goryeo people had seized the opportunity to pull it out. To consolidate control, Goryeo had continuously relocated its own citizens there. However, as the occupation was still recent, the city still held many Han and Xi people.

As the weather warmed and the earth thawed, the city, now far from the threat of war, grew lively. Zhao Yu and his two companions did not look particularly out of place, and a few pieces of silver at the city gate easily satisfied the Goryeo soldiers. Looking at the low, dilapidated houses and the smell of livestock feces permeating the air, Zhao Yu could not help but frown. The Goryeo people had occupied the place without any proper planning; what a waste of land.

Just as Zhao Yu was looking around, Yan Qing whispered, "We are being followed!"

They had caught up so quickly! A faint, imperceptible smile crossed Zhao Yu’s lips, but he continued walking as if nothing were amiss. His gaze soon fell upon an inn by the street, which bore signs in Chinese characters and appeared relatively clean and tidy.

Before they could even approach, a waiter hurried out to greet them. "Welcome, three distinguished guests. The rooms and hot water have all been prepared for you."

He spoke in standard Mandarin. Zhao Yu asked in surprise, "Do you know us?"

The waiter smiled. "You are too kind, sir. How would I have the honor of knowing you? Someone described your appearance to me and asked me to look out for your arrival."

A chill flashed in Zhao Yu’s eyes. This was not merely about being followed; his movements had been tracked for some time. Who could it be? Was it Wu Qian?

Casually slipping the waiter a piece of silver, Zhao Yu smiled. "Thank you. Can you tell me what that person looked like?"

"My apologies, sir. I am under orders to say no more. However, that person said that once you are well-rested, they will come to host a banquet for you personally."

The waiter was quite honest; unable to answer the question, he returned the silver to Zhao Yu, then deftly took the reins from his hand and led them into the inn.

They would actually initiate a banquet to host him? Zhao Yu was even more intrigued. Who on earth was this? Adopting a "come what may" attitude, he signaled to Yan Qing and Han Shizhong and followed the waiter inside.