Chapter Sixteen: The Soul-Returning Incense at the Fifth Watch of the Rooster’s Crow

The sun set, and night closed in from all directions.

Moon Harbor, bustling and lively during the day, gradually fell into silence. Despite the tens of thousands of households emitting the warmth of life and the protection of numerous Princes’ Temples and Heavenly Consort Palaces, few dared to wander at night without good reason.

Xue Da, having finished his shift, changed out of his official uniform and transformed back into his old guise as a river tyrant, blending seamlessly into the common folk of Moon Harbor.

He weaved his way into the stream of people heading home, singing an authentic Tanka fishermen's song. To any bystander, he was indistinguishable from the ordinary fishermen and boatmen. While walking, his eyes darted about, ever watchful.

Though today was only the first day the Waterways Office had set up in Moon Harbor, chaos had already erupted throughout the city. The conflict between fishing taxes and commercial levies affected far more than just the Zhang Fushun Company. In these times, those bold enough to defy the “Mountain and Sea Prohibition” and go to sea were all hardened individuals. Several deaths had already resulted from violent resistance to taxation in a single day.

The act of Scholar Wang upholding justice was hardly the most remarkable event. Yet, only those within the Waterways Office knew the truth: though they claimed to be collecting taxes on behalf of the imperial court, the revenue went straight into the pockets of certain local officials and grandees. They were carrying out private business, with no endorsement from above, and so acted with utmost caution.

“I, Xue Da, have roamed the rivers and seas for years, relying on boldness and caution in equal measure. When I ran with the fishing gangs, I was fierce and fearless in public but prudent and meticulous in private. The same holds true in officialdom. If I accomplish the tasks assigned by the lords, I’ll shed my lowly status, receive an official commission, buy property in the prosperous south, and become a gentleman landowner—no mere dream.”

Without realizing it, Xue Da had reached the outskirts of Moon Harbor. The crowds thinned until the streets were deserted. Suddenly, he stopped, sneered, and shouted into a shadowy corner, “I see you there! Come out!”

He waited, heard nothing, and strode on. After two more turns, he called again in another direction, “I see you! Who’s sneaking around in the dark?”

He continued this pattern as he walked, repeating the ruse. Clearly, the old river tyrant was cunning—if anyone truly trailed him, they might well be caught off guard by his tricks.

After several tries and finding no one following, Xue Da finally relaxed and slipped into an alley shaded by an ancient willow. He entered the third house on the west side.

Inside the small courtyard, more than twenty men had gathered. Each was a hardened, vigorous fellow, all reeking of fish and a hint of blood from living by the blade. Any fisherman or merchant who’d suffered extortion that day would recognize them at once: these were the tax collectors, now out of uniform.

A large pot simmered in the courtyard, filled with whole chickens, ducks, and lamb. Nearby, jars of fine red and green liquor from Minzhou were stacked. Seeing Xue Da enter, the men rose to greet him.

“Brother Xue is here!”

“Big Brother!”

“Brother Xue, you’ve found us a good path to fortune. We’re all grateful—come, let’s feast!”

Judging by the scene, every one of the Waterways Office tax collectors who followed Xue Da was once a river tyrant of Moon Harbor. Green Willow Alley had been chosen as their stronghold; the walls between the adjacent yards had been knocked through, and for safety, they all lived together.

Xue Da, rough in manner but shrewd at heart, knew Moon Harbor was no ordinary place—it was a world trade hub, home to more desperadoes than anywhere else in the nation. Only with such well-trained men could any real venture succeed.

Laughing at their compliments, he said, “Brothers, you’ve worked hard. Now that we’re back in Moon Harbor with the Waterways Office, our time will come. No longer mere river tyrants taking by force, we are now official tax collectors. Tonight, eat and drink your fill—there’ll be plenty more to come!”

The group didn’t bother entering the house—they sat around in the courtyard, dividing the wine and meat in hearty portions, with two men standing watch at the gate.

Yet just as the feast began, a commotion rose outside.

“Stop! What’s in that basket?”

“Hey, hey, this is food and wine ordered by a neighbor—don’t take it! Ouch! How dare you hit me? Is there no law anymore?”

After the brief uproar, two river tyrants strode in, carrying the basket with pride and placing it before Xue Da. Inside was a banquet of ten dishes and one soup—prawns with pepper vinegar, roast goose, braised lamb head and trotters, goose meat sausage, salted black bean and mustard lamb tripe, five-flavor steamed chicken, original-broth lamb bones, steamed fresh fish, garlic and vinegar blood soup, and more, along with a large jar of Minyuan Spring white liquor—worth several taels of silver at least.

The two men laid out the dishes as if seeking praise. “A servant from Wanfulou was delivering this nearby. Big Brother, don’t worry—I grew up on this street and know every household. There’s no one here we can’t handle.”

Such acts were routine for them, and Xue Da paid it no mind, letting them join the feast. If it had been a gift, he might have been suspicious, but since they’d taken it themselves, none thought it amiss.

As they ate the fine restaurant fare, someone grumbled, “If it weren’t for that Duke Jinghai meddling, sending out his twenty-four generals and thirty-six commanders to rule the Eastern Sea these past three years, we wouldn’t have had to flee inland along the Jiulong River to survive. Only now, by leveraging the power of the authorities, have we regained our old prestige.”

“Exactly! Now that Duke Jinghai’s been executed and the boat-dwellers are wailing, I say good riddance! If he hadn’t died, would we have ever had our chance?”

Whenever the balance of power shifts, some profit while others lose. These river tyrants, little different from pirate raiders, were the latter. For three years, others lived well while they, like stray dogs, were driven from Moon Harbor to the upper reaches of the Jiulong River. Now, with their return, they became die-hard loyalists of the official clans, vowing to reclaim everything they’d lost!

As the wine flowed and faces flushed, Xue Da took a long draught of Minyuan Spring and, beaming with pride, addressed his brothers, “Let me speak plainly. This job is more than just working for the Waterways Office. Do you know? At first, the court truly intended to pardon Duke Jinghai and his Five Peaks Banner, planning to form an elite navy with them.”

“Otherwise, how could they have fooled a man of his caliber? But though the court agreed, our backers did not. If they wanted him dead, then dead he must be! Rest assured, no matter how much the boat-dwellers, sea merchants, or watermen protest, the maritime ban will not be lifted, and the court will never see a copper from sea trade. All that boundless wealth belongs to our patrons—eventhe Sovereign on the Dragon Throne won’t get a taste. As the gentry feast on the meat, we’ll have our share of the broth. Brothers, our good days are just beginning. Cheers!”

Hearing such promises, the others raised their bowls in delight.

“A toast to Brother Xue!”

“They say there’s no better place to rise than in the ranks of government. Big Brother, it won’t be long before you’re an official yourself. Perhaps one day you’ll win the prestige of the Grand General of Maritime Affairs, or the late Duke Jinghai! Remember us when you’re wealthy!”

After the age of thirty-five, it was nearly impossible for a commoner to “light the heart’s lamp” and receive official recognition. Though Xue Da had drifted for years, he had mastered the “Yaksha Staff Technique” of the water-cultivating tradition, earning sincere praise from his peers.

Hearing himself called a true brother, Xue Da glanced toward his own room, heart aflame.

“In truth, I secretly split that haul of a hundred thousand sea treasures with two other collectors today. After years of patience, I’ve already lit my heart’s lamp. To receive official status, I need only pure yang life-fire, a guide, and a talismanic object. The treasure I took from Zhang Lu four years ago—I’ve never sold it, no matter how tough times got. It was meant for this! I’ve already found the best master to study under. Once the Waterways Office grants us a break, I’ll go to… go to… hic…”

He hiccupped, vision blurring—his companions’ faces doubled, then tripled, until he saw six heads before him and his dizziness worsened.

The others were affected too. Still talking, the tax collectors began to slump over the table one by one. Soon, the sound of collapsing bodies merged into a continuous thud. Xue Da held out the longest but eventually joined the others, sending cups and dishes clattering.

After a moment, a voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement came from outside the door:

“Scholar, we all knew you were learned, but to recreate the ‘Chicken’s Dawn and Five Watches Soul-Returning Incense’ from herbs bought in a single afternoon—and to say our business isn’t just about serving knife-cut noodles? Are you really a proper naval household man?”