novelAbuy Chapter 335 Questioning
Chapter 335 Questioning
On the same day, the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month, two boats, one large and one small, sailed away from Matuosha and headed downstream.
The two wharves at Ma Tuo Sha remain busy.
Supported by long-term orders, batches of timber, bricks, grain, and livestock were purchased and piled up everywhere.
Furthermore, since provincial officials had already come down to investigate and their strength was already partially exposed, Shao Shuyi no longer hesitated. He directly spent money to hire a group of people in Jiangyin, loaded them with horses and sand, and began to build various houses and warehouses until the end of the twelfth lunar month, allowing these people to earn some money to spend before the new year.
Fushan Port directly rented an old warehouse and converted it into the fourth store of Brothers Grain Shop. The first phase of grain storage is 2,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). An order has been placed with Madam Shen, and Shengye Trading Company ships have been dispatched to Suzhou to pick up the goods.
Changzhou Zaogang also sent people to rent warehouses, preparing to open its fifth grain shop. This time, they placed an order with Madam Liu for 1,000 shi of grain. Zaogang is actually somewhat remote, and there aren't many ships docked there, but this is Shao Shuyi's first foothold in Changzhou, and it will be very important for the future.
Wang Bai also came by a few days ago. For no other reason than that Old Wang was happy, saying that through his unremitting efforts, coupled with the fact that salt was indeed selling well and in short supply, he was finally able to stabilize the monthly supply of Huai salt at around 20,000 jin, and even up to 30,000 jin during the peak summer season.
Shao Shuyi accepted all the offers and, taking advantage of Lao Wang's good mood, asked him to help introduce him to acquaintances. In a place not far from the Yangtze River in the southern part of Taixing County, the sixth branch of Brothers Grain Shop was opened, with an expected grain storage of 2,000 shi.
Such a bold and decisive action is naturally related to the current situation. If we don't take advantage of this opportune moment when the province is hesitant to act rashly, and establish certain arrangements, who knows what the situation will be like next year.
After instructing his family on matters, he took Gao, Bian, and Wei's three teams, loaded with a batch of cotton cloth, raw silk, silkworm cocoons, and silk fabrics purchased in Jiangyin and Wuxi, and sailed downstream, arriving in Taicang the next day.
The commotion when they came ashore was actually quite significant.
At the long-awaited Haiyuncang Wharf, familiar seafarers came to visit upon hearing that Shao Shuyi had returned.
Shao Shuyi laughed heartily and had Yu Yuan distribute some paper money to everyone as New Year's gifts. They were busy like this until dark before he finally boarded an oxcart and arrived at the Zheng family's old residence in Yantietang.
Upon receiving the report, the servant opened the door and saw Takagi, who was leaning on a black spear and wearing a yellowish-brown leather armor.
Old Gao grinned at him, waved his hand, and a dozen or so men swarmed in and quickly occupied the front yard.
Some of them stood under the eaves, some stood in front of the side rooms, and some stared at the archway connecting the front and back courtyards.
"This..." The servants were dumbfounded.
Before they could even react, Bian Yuanheng's team of more than ten people, lined up in neat rows, entered through the archway, and lined up on both sides of the bluestone path, carefully examining the surrounding grass, bamboo, trees, and houses.
Wei Erdi's team stayed outside the gate, guarding the oxcart and keeping watch for any unauthorized personnel approaching.
Finally, there was Shao Shuyi himself.
"I'm sorry to have been frightened." He nodded to the Zheng family servants and walked forward.
Yu Yuan paused briefly and gave each person two strings of cash.
The group continued their journey at a leisurely pace until they arrived at Ganzeyuan.
Zheng's servant hesitated for a moment, but finally stepped forward to greet him.
Shao Shuyi whispered a few instructions, leaving the Fu brothers and the other nine guards in the garden. Then, surrounded by Tie Niu, Yu Yuan, and Wang Xing, he went to Zheng Yonghe's study.
This is a sensitive time, and he's not so naive as to think that Zheng Yonghe would definitely not harm him.
Why should he? Old Zheng is the deputy commander of the Grand Canal, and all the connections he has built up throughout his life are in the government. What if someone in the higher-ups offered him some incentives to have someone ambush and kill him? Do you dare to bet that he wouldn't do it?
When it comes to his own safety, Shao is extremely cautious. Unless the Zheng family uses a honey trap...
Wow, her long legs are getting longer every day, she looks so beautiful today.
Shao Shuyi glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze to Zheng Yonghe, bowing and saying, "Greetings, Officer Zheng."
"It's just a matter of clinging to life." Zheng Yonghe smiled nonchalantly and said, "Find a chair and sit down."
Shao Shuyi responded and sat down in front of Zheng Yonghe.
Tie Niu stood behind him, scanning the room. Yu Yuan and Wang Xing sat on either side of Shao Shuyi.
"I took a break this year and went home before the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month. But the house was so quiet and deserted, it was quite lonely," Zheng Yonghe said with a smile.
He was aware of the commotion outside, but showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, as if it were only natural—of course, even if this old fox of a bureaucrat were truly dissatisfied, you wouldn't be able to tell.
"You have worked hard all your life and deserve a good rest," Shao Shuyi said. "I acted somewhat rashly and will need to learn more from you in the future."
"Xiao Hu is too modest," Zheng Yonghe sighed. "Having navigated the officialdom for decades, I've unknowingly had my edges smoothed and my spirit extinguished. Now, in my old age, I'm awakened to this reality, but I'm powerless to change it. Sometimes, seeing your daring and relentless drive, I envy you. There was a time when I also wrote memorials criticizing the ills of the times, even at the cost of offending powerful figures. Unfortunately, after the age of thirty-five, I rarely did that anymore." "Master Zheng has family and relatives to care for, so you must have some difficulties that forced you to do this," Shao Shuyi said.
"You know how to talk," Zheng Yonghe said with a smile. "It's a pity that I've spoiled my family and clan, and now there are few who can shoulder great responsibilities." Just as Shao Shuyi was about to speak, Zheng Ning had already brewed tea and brought it over, saying, "Please have some tea, young master."
"Thank you." Shao Shuyi stood up, bowed, and took the teacup.
He wore a sheepskin robe over his clothes, and underneath was a traditional Chinese robe. The robe had a low neckline, and when he bent over, a section of red rope and half a bronze mirror were visible. He was tall and slender, probably around 1.73 or 1.74 meters tall. When he inadvertently glanced at the bronze mirror, his face flushed slightly, and he quickly served tea to Yu Yuan and Wang Xing.
Yu Yuan immediately stood up and respectfully accepted it with both hands.
Wang Xing, without looking to the side, also accepted it with both hands.
Zheng Ning also went to the low table next to Tie Niu and served him a bowl of tea.
After doing all this, she returned to the corner and quietly called to her two maids to prepare some refreshments.
Zheng Yonghe held the teacup in his hand, more to warm his hands than to drink it.
After a moment, he spoke: "When I was young, I traveled to Dadu (Beijing) and heard an old story. Emperor Shizu once asked Yao Shu, 'How should the world be governed?' Yao Shu replied, 'There are three essentials to governing the world: be close to the virtuous, keep away from the wicked, and be cautious in enforcing the law.' Emperor Shizu then asked, 'How can one obtain the virtuous?' Yao Shu said, 'If one's heart is open, the virtuous will come.'"
He paused, looked at Shao Shuyi, and asked, "Xiao Hu, do you think Yao Shu is right?"
Shao Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "Yao Shu is right, but that's the way to govern the world. These days, officials who are truly selfless are long gone, their graves overgrown with weeds." "Insolence!" Zheng Yonghe's tone wasn't harsh, but rather mocking: "Are you insulting the entire court?"
"I wouldn't dare," Shao Shuyi replied with a smile.
"Those who govern a nation invariably regard loyalty and filial piety as their principles, and literary and martial talents as their virtues. However, the loyal are not sycophantic, and the sycophantic are not loyal; the literary are not martial, and the martial are not literary. Those who possess both are extremely rare in the world." Zheng Yonghe shook his head and said, "In this world today, let alone those with talent, even those who are loyal and filial are few and far between. If this continues, then..."
Zheng Yonghe did not continue speaking, but his words revealed a sense of pessimism.
This pessimism arose after he went to Dadu to oversee grain production, and it has only grown stronger since then.
"Little Tiger, have you ever heard of Ling Zhe?" Zheng Yonghe suddenly asked.
"No." Shao Shuyi shook his head.
"During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Zhao Dun in the State of Jin. He was hunting on Shouyang Mountain and rested under a mulberry tree when he saw a man named Ling Zhe who had collapsed from hunger. Zhao Dun asked him what was wrong, and Ling Zhe said he hadn't eaten for three days. Zhao Dun gave him some food, and Ling Zhe ate half of it, then wrapped up the other half. Zhao Dun asked him why, and Ling Zhe said that he had an elderly mother at home and didn't know if she had anything to eat. Zhao Dun then gave him a lot of rice and meat to take back with him." Zheng Yonghe paused, looking at Shao Shuyi.
"And then?" Shao Shuyi asked.
"Later, Ling Zhe became a soldier in the army of Duke Ling of Jin. Duke Ling wanted to kill Zhao Dun and ambushed him with his soldiers. Zhao Dun fled into the mountains, but Ling Zhe turned against him and saved his life. When Zhao Dun asked him his name, he replied, 'I am the man who collapsed from hunger under the mulberry tree.'"
After Zheng Yonghe finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Xiao Hu, when Zhao Dun saved Ling Zhe, did he think about asking him for something in return?" Shao Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "He probably didn't. Zhao Dun didn't even know him; saving him was just a favor."
"What would you do if you were in my shoes?"
"The title 'Ling' is not a good one. I imagine that Duke Ling of Jin has already angered both the heavens and the people. If it were me, I would directly ask Zhao Dun whether he wanted to depose Duke Ling and make the decision myself. If he wanted to, I would follow him. If he didn't want to, I would retreat and protect my family."
Zheng Yonghe couldn't help but laugh and said, "You're still so energetic. People are indeed different. You're not Ling Zhe, and Ling Zhe isn't you. Just be more careful in the future, and don't be too flamboyant sometimes."
"Yes," Shao Shuyi replied.
Zheng Yonghe was silent for a moment, then said, "During the Song Dynasty, when Zhang Yong was in Chengdu, some people reported that someone in the army was plotting a rebellion. After investigating, Zhang Yong found that it was just a few soldiers fighting after drinking and saying some wild words. He neither executed them nor reported it, but simply gave those soldiers a beating and then let them go."
After saying this, he sighed and said, "Back then, the customs of the Five Dynasties still lingered, and soldiers were prone to inciting rebellion at the slightest provocation. Zhang Guaiya was right to do what he did. In life, one must assess the situation and act differently at different times. Sometimes, and some things, cannot be investigated too deeply. If investigated too deeply, small disturbances can escalate into large disturbances, and large disturbances can lead to the downfall of a nation..."
Finally, Zheng Yonghe smiled, looked at Shao Shuyi, and said, "It's nothing. Have dinner with me tonight. Since Sanlang went to Qingyuan, we haven't had any guests at home for a long time."
"Yes." Shao Shuyi bowed and thanked him.