This chapter opens with a speech by the land army chief, who is on his way to fight against the rebel army and bring peace and stability to the country. He asks the people of the country to cooperate with him. The chief says that he is here because the army has recently defeated a band of bandits from the province of Jiangxi. His son has been kidnapped by them, and the family is grateful to the general for his help. The father tells the chief that he has been worried about his son for several days, and that he will take the chief to see him once he has settled his soldiers. He says that the general refuses to let his son go until he gives him more money, and then the soldiers are all the same. This is the father's response to the chief's question about the shopkeeper, who he says tricked him into selling his silks to the young master. He explains that the shopkeeper tricked him because he was the local agent for the hongs, and therefore the shopkeepers had to buy the silks from him. He also explains that his factory makes silks, but only in high-end markets like the one in Jiangxi.