Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

For the last three miles, the boatmen were all immersed in the shadow of their companions who had fallen into the water and died.

But they didn't have much time to feel this sadness; they could only grit their teeth and silently drag their tethers forward with faltering steps.

Every year, many boat trackers fall into this river, making it a veritable river of death for them.

But they had no other choice. If they gave up this meager job, their wives, children, and elderly parents would starve to death.

They can only shoulder the responsibility of supporting their families with their own shoulders and blood and sweat.

As night fell, the most difficult ten-mile journey was finally over.

Until the moment the tow rope was released, these simple men finally couldn't hold back their tears and burst into tears.

They were mourning their companions who had drowned, and also weeping for their own tragic future.

"Lord Ding, I want to disembark."

Ban Dingyuan could no longer bear the torment of his conscience and immediately asked to disembark and talk to the boatmen.

But Ding Shizhen shook his head and stopped him: "Foreign envoy, don't create unnecessary trouble. I've already made it very clear that every profession has its own destiny."

Since they've chosen this path, they must be prepared to bear the consequences. You can't help them.

Ban Dingyuan stared intently at Ding Shizhen, then said, "That was a living, breathing human life, and now it's gone just like that, without even a trace of its remains. Do you think this is justified?"

Ding Shizhen was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer Ban Dingyuan's question.

"Lord Ding, everyone has a heart. Wu Zhao Kingdom has its own laws and rules. As a guest, I should respect local customs."

But don't I, as a guest, even have the right to offer my condolences to these people?

Under Ban Dingyuan's repeated questioning, Ding Shizhen's cheeks twitched involuntarily, and when he looked at the boatmen again, he felt a pang of pity.

"Lord Ding, the boatman who drowned died because of us!"

"Foreign envoy, please stop!"

Ding Shizhen quickly interrupted Ban Dingyuan.

"I am also a member of the River Conservancy Department. How could I remain indifferent to the drowning of a boatman? Well, there is a reason for this. Let's make an exception for now. Men, moor the boat to the shore."

Ban Dingyuan cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Lord Ding."

After saying that, he was about to disembark.

But Ding Shizhen stopped him: "Foreign envoy, you cannot disembark. There are too many people and too many eyes here. If you directly interact with these boatmen and the people from the river management office find out..."

You will certainly not face any punishment, but these boatmen and their families will suffer because of you. Even if not for yourself, you should think of them.

Upon hearing this, Ban Dingyuan fell silent.

Ding Shizhen sighed: "Foreign Envoy, I know you are a kind man and cannot bear to see these suffering people. But haven't I been the same way?"

Unfortunately, I am merely a guide in the river management office, a low-ranking official of only eighth grade, and my annual salary is only 25 taels of silver. I simply don't have any extra money or provisions to help them.

You disembarked probably to take some money back to the family of the deceased boatmen, right? Give it to me, I'll give it to them for you.

Ban Dingyuan didn't say much, and directly ordered his subordinates to bring two hundred taels of silver.

Just as it was handed to Ding Shizhen, he immediately stopped it: "Foreign Envoy, what are you doing? You don't need so much."

"Isn't a human life worth two hundred taels of silver?"

"If you hand over these two hundred taels, it will probably bring great trouble to these boatmen. Listen to me, leave this to me."

As he spoke, Ding Shizhen picked up a ten-tael silver ingot, then went into the cabin, took out a pair of scissors, and began fiddling with them.

Before long, the ten-tael silver ingot had been cut into a pile of silver scraps.

"This way, they can hide more securely and won't be discovered by the officers and soldiers who are checking them."

After saying this, Ding Shizhen took the loose silver and disembarked.

Ban Dingyuan stood at the bow of the boat and watched as Ding Shizhen, after talking with the boatmen, threw the money bag containing loose silver in front of them and then quickly returned to the boat.

The next moment, all the boatmen knelt down and kowtowed to the official boat.

Ban Dingyuan couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned back to his cabin.

"Absurd, absolutely absurd."

Is this truly a golden age?

Filled with suppressed anger that had nowhere to go, the official ship continued to slowly sail northward...

After getting out of the most difficult shoals, the voyage became much smoother. For seven or eight days, the ship sailed steadily northward without any further setbacks.

While standing on the deck enjoying the river breeze, Ban Dingyuan could already see many passing merchant ships. After asking Ding Shizhen in detail, he learned that most of them were silk merchants and salt merchants traveling between the north and south.

Those who can become salt and silk merchants in Wu Zhao Kingdom generally have backgrounds and connections in the capital, because these two professions are extremely profitable in Wu Zhao Kingdom, involving huge interest groups, and even members of the royal family.

Regardless, seeing the passing ships at least relieved Ban Dingyuan of the pent-up frustration he had been feeling these past few days.

"Foreign Envoy, the river mouth is just ahead. After passing this point, it will be another three to five days' journey north."

We will then be able to reach Peijing, which is only a day's journey from Shengjing.

"You should simply wait patiently in the capital for the Emperor's summons. Someone will come to teach you the proper etiquette and manners for an audience with him."

"Once we arrive in the capital, can I move around freely?"

"You can move freely within the inner city, but not in Shengjing (the capital city). However, in the secondary capital, you can bribe the gatekeepers."

As long as you don't do anything outrageous, no one will hold it against you.

However, I've never heard of any foreign envoys going to the outer city, since it's mostly inhabited by commoners, far less comfortable than the inner city.

Ban Dingyuan didn't say much, just nodded in response and went back to his cabin.

Inside the cabin, Ban Dingyuan's deputy had already finished organizing all the things he had seen and heard over the past few days.

Upon seeing Ban Dingyuan enter the cabin, he immediately stood up and handed over the record of his observations and experiences since leaving Haizhou to Ban Dingyuan for inspection.

As Ban Dingyuan carefully perused the document, his deputy suddenly asked, "Chief of Staff Ban, does our Great Chu really want to associate with this kind of country?"

"Pei Ju, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that such an arrogant, corrupt country, which treats its people like floods and beasts, is not worthy of having any dealings with my Chu Kingdom!"

Pei Ju's gaze was piercing, his eyes flashing with nothing but anger.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Ban Dingyuan immediately stood up, glanced outside the cabin door, and, finding no one paying attention, whispered, "We, the people of Great Chu, have come to Wu Zhao Kingdom to conduct trade and do business, not to make friends with them."

Pei Ju said, "Chief of Staff Ban, I've been with you in Wu Zhao for almost three years now. In these two years, I've come to see through this country."

This land is rife with backwardness, ignorance, selfishness, arrogance, and conceit; the government is exceptionally brutal towards the people.

Almost all the signs that the Duke of Zhenguo had predicted for the coming of the dynasty's end were found in the state of Wuzhao.

Since that's the case, there's no need for us to continue dealing with these people who consider themselves the Celestial Empire.

What we should give them is not industrial products from our Great Chu, but warships and cannons, so they can experience the power of our Great Chu!

Tell them times have changed!