Chapter 27: The Invaluable Kunwu Jade

"Miss Lu, I did not expect that your uncle is the current Marquis Yuan. It so happens I have a favor to ask," Su Yi said to Lu Xiangling after considering his words.

"Benefactor, please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will not decline," she replied.

"I have an old friend's descendant who must travel to Guangyang and will arrive in Jiangting tomorrow afternoon. There are formidable enemies lurking in the shadows, intent on harming him. I fear, with my limited resources, I may not be able to protect him fully. Thus, I have a rather presumptuous request: when you write to your aunt, could you ask the Marquis Yuan on my behalf? I am willing to pay handsomely if he would dispatch the navy northward to Jiangting, to guard my friend with a strong force."

Zhou Kui'an looked utterly astonished. What sort of foe must this be, to warrant Su Yi himself worrying he cannot handle them and requesting the mobilization of the military?

Lu Xiangling too was surprised, but Su Yi had saved her and her maid's lives. Such a small effort was a trivial repayment, and she would not refuse. She nodded and said, "Rest assured, Benefactor. Since the matter is urgent, I will write to my aunt at once. But I cannot guarantee that the Marquis will agree."

"Then let me thank you in advance, Miss Lu. Please do your best. If it cannot be arranged, I will find another solution," Su Yi replied, unconcerned. The Admiral of the Suiyang Navy was responsible for the entire Suiyang Lake water network, Jiangting included. Naval patrols in these waters were routine, and with his favor from saving Lu Xiangling and the offer of a handsome reward, Su Yi could not imagine any reason for refusal.

Moreover, even if the Marquis declined, Su Yi would simply seek another way.

"Miss Lu, here is my deposit to the Marquis. If he agrees to help, I will pay four more gems of equal size as compensation."

Even before he finished speaking, Su Yi produced a gem slightly smaller than a pigeon egg and set it on the table.

At once, Zhou Kui'an, Lu Xiangling, and Lin Yu's eyes were drawn to it.

Sitting on the table was a nearly colorless, crystal-clear gemstone, about the width of a finger, its surface cut into intricate facets. Under the lamplight, the gem gleamed brilliantly, casting a dazzling array of colors.

What a beautiful gem...

This was the only thought left in Lu Xiangling and Lin Yu's minds.

Zhou Kui'an held his breath, staring fixedly at the artificial diamond, his throat dry.

"Master, could this be the legendary Kunwu Jade from beyond the seas?" Zhou Kui'an, something of a local magnate, had lived in the prosperous city of Jiangting for decades and was not short on worldly experience.

By contrast, though Lu Xiangling's family was wealthy, she hailed from a small provincial town and was still young; she had no idea what this was. She and Lin Yu were simply stunned by its beauty.

"That's right," Su Yi nodded.

"It really is Kunwu Jade!" Zhou Kui'an continued, "I've heard it's imported from distant Bharata, crystal clear and radiant, and extremely rare and valuable in our land. Though I've never seen it myself, the tales say Kunwu Jade's luster is nothing compared to how splendid this one is."

Of course, Su Yi thought privately, this is still a pre-modern society—how could their craftsmanship in Bharata compare to modern cutting techniques?

Before entering this world, Su Yi had prepared some universally valuable currency. Diamonds were his first thought. With advances in mining and technology, the value of diamonds had plummeted, kept artificially high only by monopolies and certificates. In China, the increasingly mature artificial diamond industry had made these gems as cheap as cabbages.

The small pouch of artificial diamonds Su Yi brought had cost him little, but if he revealed them all, they would dazzle the eyes of the natives.

After arriving in Jiangting, Su Yi had inquired about the local value of diamonds. If this dynasty were rich in diamonds or had never heard of them, his gems would have been worth far less. But with the Marquis' family enjoying wealth for over two centuries, they would surely recognize the true worth of Kunwu Jade.

"Miss Lu, after you finish the letter tonight, please give it to Mr. Zhou here. I'll have him set out at dawn for Yuanyang, to avoid any delay."

Lu Xiangling had no objections to Su Yi's arrangement. After a few more pleasantries, she and her maid took their leave.

Once they were gone, Su Yi turned to Zhou Kui'an and asked, "I hear you hold a position as an arresting officer in the local authorities?"

"Yes, Master."

"And I heard you’re distantly related to the inspector of the Southern District?"

"Yes." Zhou Kui'an was rather puzzled by these questions, and a little worried—was some new trouble brewing?

"Since you’re well connected in official circles, I suppose it would be no problem for me to visit the city armory?"

Zhou Kui'an said nothing...

Jiangting City, Southern District Armory.

After presenting the official letter and verifying their identities to the garrison stationed outside, Zhou Kui'an slipped the guards some silver. He and Su Yi were led into the armory by a clerk.

The heavy winch slowly opened the cast-iron gates. The clerk and two soldiers, carrying torches, led the way, illuminating the darkness within.

Halfway there, Su Yi removed his mask. Zhou Kui'an was surprised to see how young he was. The torchlight flickered over Su Yi’s face, his bright eyes scanning the rows of weapons in the dimness.

It was a veritable treasury of arms: bows, crossbows, halberds, spears, axes, sabers, swords, lances, hammers, maces—every conceivable weapon. There were over a dozen types of swords alone, including saw-edged, curved, ring-handled, horse-chopping, twin, and butterfly sabers. According to the clerk, the Jiangting armory held over a million items, including many weapons left over from the previous dynasty.

Su Yi's purpose was to find suitable weapons for himself. As he went along, he picked up and weighed various arms from the walls and racks. After trying several, he asked the clerk at the front:

"What are the heaviest weapons you have here?"

"You’ve come to the right man, young master. I’ve worked here for decades, and there’s no one more familiar with the dozen thick ledgers cataloging the armory’s contents. Please, follow me."