The scorching sun of the Grain Buds solar term baked a smell of asphalt out of the canal, as Shen Xitang stood atop the newly built watchtower of the Xuanji Freight House. In her hand, an improved magnetic telescope was aimed directly at three official salt boats.
The specially made sulfur crystal lenses inside the telescope tube could magnify the ship's waterline threefold—in those cargo holds marked "Green Salt," indigo Wolfsbane Powder was oozing through the gaps of the ballast stones.
"Have the water ghosts of boat number three ready." She removed the Western-imported crystal lens, a prized treasure she had traded from Quanzhou foreign merchants just last month. "When the salt inspection envoy boards to inspect the cargo, replace the magnetic powder in the bottom hold with Peacock Gall."
Chapter 35