novelAbuy Chapter 213 Old Friends
Chapter 213 Old Friends
Han Yuanshan acted quite quickly, and the prefect Liu Yexian also gave him face. A few days later, an official letter was sent to the six departments of the prefectural government and various patrol offices, and a number of clerks and archers were assigned to Du Zhigu, the Southern Censor, to go to Songjiang Prefecture to investigate the case.
Without a doubt, no one wanted to go.
The reason is simple: they don't have the money and need to subsidize it themselves.
Furthermore, hearing that the inspection team was going to Songjiang to investigate the salt fields made them even more hesitant to go. As the most important source of revenue for the Yuan Dynasty, the salt fields were extremely corrupt, a murky and dangerous place. How many heads would you dare to risk going with an imperial censor?
The corrupt officials at the salt fields might not dare to touch the Censor-in-Chief for the time being, but do you think it would be difficult to kill a few clerks and soldiers as a warning? The last point is also quite important: the Censor-in-Chief can't help you get promoted within the prefectural government. He's just a seventh-rank official, and not even from the same department. What's the use of currying favor? Unless you perform a tremendous service, gaining the favor of that Chancellor Han, who will actively use his influence to speak well of you—and perhaps even giving up some leverage over certain officials—there's only a chance. But such merit is hard to achieve, and the danger is self-evident. Therefore, starting from June 21st, the clerks of the six departments of the prefectural government all made excuses, and the archers of the patrol office were either sick or had urgent family matters to attend to, unable to leave immediately.
Du Zhigu's lips twitched as he watched. This was a major case, related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and this was the kind of attitude you had?
Upon hearing this, Prefect Liu Yexian felt somewhat embarrassed and thus forcibly ordered all departments and the patrol office to send personnel, specifying the exact number. The six departments of the prefectural government had no choice but to send out capable individuals without connections, such as Qi Le, the clerk who had been stuck at the point of perfecting the three tests for many years.
The patrol office was similar. Qi Erlang wasn't supposed to go, but when no one else volunteered, he "volunteered" and went with his uncle Qi Le.
On June 23, the uncle and nephew arrived at the headquarters of the Shengye Trading Company in Jiuyicang and met with Shao Shuyi.
Shao Shuyi was very generous, giving each person five ingots of paper money and promising that there would be another five ingots upon their return. He also assured them that they wouldn't have to worry about anything at home, as he would send people to check on them regularly to see if they needed anything, ensuring they would have no worries.
"Don't worry, Lord Qi." Shao Shuyi invited the two men to sit opposite his desk and said, "If this trip goes smoothly, I am willing to contribute several hundred shi of grain to help you secure a patrol inspector position."
Qi Le was thrilled upon hearing this.
The ranks of inspectors varied according to their importance, ranging from the eighth rank to the ninth rank, a span of four levels. He didn't have high expectations; he would be overjoyed to have even a ninth-rank inspector.
Moreover, this position is really suitable for him because he is qualified to donate his official title.
The imperial court still has some sense of decency; not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can become an inspector by contributing some grain. But Qi is qualified.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He might only have this one chance to become an official in his lifetime, and he had to seize it.
Qi Le immediately stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Shao She."
"Sit down, sit down," Shao Shuyi said with a smile. "We're all brothers, no need for such formalities."
Qi Le took a deep breath and sat down.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered something: why did Shao She help him?
Don't tell me he's one of our own brothers; he's not that naive.
Shao She is indeed good to his own people, but are you really one of them?
Even if we take a step back and say that Shao She treats you as one of his own, would you be willing to be one of his own?
Everyone knows a little bit about what Du Zhigu went there for, so it seems that Shao She...
Qi Le felt a chill run down his spine and dared not think any further.
Compared to his uncle, Qi Erlang was much more normal.
This fellow had, after all, gone out to sea to rob things, and in terms of ruthlessness, he was far superior to his uncle, who had spent half his life as a clerk. Therefore, even after guessing a little about what had happened, he remained completely unconcerned.
"This time, as expected," Shao Shuyi pondered for a moment before saying, "The Red Headband's raid on the salt fields has shaken Zhejiang and the Imperial Censor has been ordered to investigate thoroughly. This is a matter of utmost importance, and I am also very curious. If you have any news after you and Imperial Censor Du travel east, please tell me what you think." Qi Le sighed inwardly, but his reaction was quick. He cupped his hands and said, "Shao, please don't worry. We can keep in touch through correspondence."
Shao Shuyi then looked at Qi Erlang.
Erlang patted his chest and said, "Brother Shao, I will definitely pay close attention. However..."
"But how?"
"I'm just an archer," Qi Erlang said. "If I go to Songjiang Prefecture, I'll probably just be a gatekeeper, and my earnings will be limited." "Just do your best," Shao Shuyi said. "Gou Nu will contact you then; they've known each other for a long time, so don't worry."
After saying that, Shao Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "If anything happens, don't try to be a hero. Preserving your health is the most important thing. If I become successful in the future, I will share my wealth with you."
"Okay." Qi Erlang felt a surge of warmth in his heart and answered loudly.
Qi Le looked at his nephew's reverent expression and sighed inwardly.
Erlang is still too young; he got carried away by all that encouragement. I need to keep an eye on things; this matter is very complicated, and there could really be danger.
Qi Le and his nephew Qi Erlang left the old granary and soon parted ways.
Qi Le returned to his home in the city, while Erlang went to the Gutang Patrol Office to pack his personal belongings.
He hadn't walked far when his sharp eyes suddenly spotted a drunkard staggering on the street who looked very familiar. He took a few steps closer, and after seeing him clearly, he was startled and exclaimed, "Yang... Liu!"
Yang Liu turned around, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, and glanced at Qi Erlang, saying, "Erlang?"
Qi Erlang thought for a moment, then stepped forward and helped Yang Liu up, saying, "Yang...Yang Liu, what happened to you?"
He was wearing patched clothes that faintly smelled of vomit. The knife that he always wore at his waist was gone; it was unclear whether it had been sold or stolen.
His face was pale, his eyes were lifeless, and his limbs were weak. He was a completely different person from the brave and daring Yang Liu of yesteryear.
Yang Liu also sized up Qi Erlang, and seeing that he was wearing a brand-new blue robe, he smiled and said, "You've become a hoodlum, huh? Now... you won't even call me... Brother Yang anymore?"
Qi Erlang frowned, thinking to himself, "Why is this person like this? The matter of my brother's murder back then hasn't been settled yet. I kindly helped you up, but you're being so ambiguous. What's the reason behind this?"
He was furious and flung Yang Liu's hand away, saying, "I shouldn't have helped you. You'd be thrown in jail by the officials and rot away." Yang Liu laughed hysterically and said, "Shao Shuyi hasn't been to jail yet, how can I go in?"
For a fleeting moment, Qi Erlang's eyes flashed with a fierce light, thinking that he might as well kill this fellow and make him apologize to the prince. But after thinking it over, he ultimately did not dare to make a move, after all, there were quite a few people on the street.
"Don't talk nonsense. What has Brother Shao done to wrong you?" Qi Erlang sneered. "He promised to share your money, and he hasn't shortchanged you a single penny. It's been two years, and he hasn't caused you any trouble. Aren't you satisfied?"
Qi Erlang's mention of "Shao Shuyi" made Yang Liu's eyes clear a bit more, and he chuckled, "He's scared, he's really scared. He's afraid I'll tell everything."
"This is utterly absurd!" Qi Erlang subconsciously touched the hilt of his sword, but eventually let go. He glanced coldly at Yang Liu and said, "Next time I see you, I will settle all the old scores with you."
Having said that, he strode away.
Yang Liu leaned against the wall in the shadows, touched the last few crumpled banknotes in his pocket, chuckled foolishly, and muttered to himself, "They're all bitches! Shao Shuyi is a bitch too!"
As they spoke, several people walked past. One of them, a young man in blue with a sullen face, stopped instinctively upon hearing the name "Shao Shuyi." The other three also stopped, looking at him with surprise. One of the young men, with a bruised and swollen face, said impatiently, "Just a drunkard, why bother with him? Hurry back and find someone. I'm going back to Jiangyin to get my revenge. Those two bastards, and those lowly officials in jail, I'll make them wish they were dead!"
The young man in blue gestured to stop his companion, squatted down, and stared intently at Yang Liu, saying, "Is the Shao Shuyi you just mentioned the owner of the silk shop in Xia Zheng?"
Yang Liu glanced at the man, but didn't answer. He simply stretched out his hand and said, "Money! Wine will do too."
The young man in blue touched his pockets and realized he was out of money, so he turned to look at the three people behind him.
The three of them shook their heads.
"Come home with me, and I'll give you a coin," the young man in blue said, holding up one finger.
Yang Liu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Really?"
Upon hearing this, the young man in blue nodded emphatically and said, "Really. My name is Lu Zhonghe, Shen Wansan's son-in-law. I can give you five or ten ingots, let alone one."
Yang Liu's expression shifted slightly; he had heard of this name before.
Before completely severing ties with Wu Heizi, the latter treated him to a drink. During their conversation, Wu Heizi casually mentioned Lu Zhonghe, saying that he had been very close to Sun Chuan and seemed to be plotting against Shao Shuyi. However, nothing happened in the end, probably because Sun Chuan ran away, or perhaps Lu Zhonghe got scared. Thinking of this, Yang Liu struggled to his feet and said, "Okay, I'll go with you."
Lu Zhonghe subconsciously took a step back and covered his mouth and nose.
In the past, Yang Liu would have been furious if others looked down on him like that, but now he was penniless and had no confidence to get angry. He could only force a smile and say, "Lu She, can we go now?"
Lu Zhonghe slowly released his grip and nodded, saying, "Follow me."
Having said that, he walked away first, his mind heavy with worry.
Zhang Qiujiao and the other two immediately followed, without even glancing at Yang Liu.
They had just returned from Jiangyin and planned to stay at the Zhang family's house for a few days until the scars on their faces healed before making any further plans.
Actually, they didn't suffer much. After the minor officials in the Jiangyin prison learned that Lu Zhonghe was Shen Wansan's son-in-law, they stopped humiliating them.
Since no one had warned them that they were being targeted, they were released quickly.
But it's hard to swallow this insult.
Looking back now, this whole thing seems very strange.
It seems someone deliberately messed with them, wanting to vent their anger—this could be a fellow freight transporter, blaming them for overstepping their bounds, since this time they were transporting tea to Jiangyin and had ruined someone else's business.
It also seems like someone is jealous of them and wants to teach them a lesson—this could be someone who is envious of Guan Yanyan's beauty.
After brainstorming, the four even thought that someone in the Furong Tower might not want to be discovered by them, so they deliberately had someone entangle them so that they could sneak away quietly.
In short, it's very strange, and we must get to the bottom of it.