The interior of Suzhou was a scene of prosperity. Tender green colors could be seen everywhere. It was not much different from the rest of the Qing Kingdom. However, the large number of shops, the busy docks, the endless stream of people, the large stretch of government offices in the south of the city, the oppressively wealthy salt merchant manors in the west of the city, the young masters on the streets of the east of the city, and the fierce, sinister, and cunning gangster brothers in the north of the city. All of this formed a scene that was different from any other place in the world. It was adventure, excitement, wealth, and desire.
Here, there was much less of the concealment of scholarly knowledge. The pressure of the thousand-year dynasty was much less. Although no one dared to challenge the authority of the government, because there were too many people moving about, the amount of goods coming in and out of the port was enormous. The citizens had money in their pockets and were able to do things with much more confidence. Putting aside the merchants who had deep connections with the government, just the brothers on the streets who made their living in the waterway also began to learn from the students of the Imperial Academy in Jingdou. They wore long green robes and no longer blindly fought and killed.
The large stretch of land downstream of the Suzhou docks was all the Ming family's property. At this moment, the men in long robes were listening obediently to the lecture of a young master. It was clear at a glance that these long-robed men were skilled martial artists. However, in front of this gentle-looking young master, they did not show a glimmer of arrogance. This young master was the son of the old Ming master, Ming Lanshi. These people hanging around on the docks all relied on the Ming family to make a living. They could be considered half servants.
After young master Ming left, these men pulled at their long robes and wiped the sweat from their foreheads. They whispered among themselves, wondering why young master Ming would specifically come to remind them to be more well-behaved in Suzhou. Given the power of the Ming family, did they need to be afraid of anyone pulling on their pigtails? The governor did have this ability, but had the old Ming master not fed him enough these few years?
The long robes were convenient for wiping sweat. After all, these gangster brothers were not true Jingdou students. However, there were some clever people among them who faintly guessed that it had something to do with the palace treasury opening for the new year. Didn't you hear? The dignified Cui family, one of the two noble families along with the Ming family, had been scooped up by the court during the new year. Rumor had it that this matter was single-handedly handled by the young commissioner of the Overwatch Council. The commissioner was the imperial envoy currently in Jiangnan.
No wonder young master Ming was so cautious and feared the government would find some excuse. It was because he was afraid of Sir Fan junior, who did not recognize his own kin and refused to budge.
…
…
"It's not that I'm afraid of him." Ming Lanshi was sitting in the carriage. He could no longer maintain the calm he had in front of outsiders and his subordinates. With a serious expression, he said, "Sir Fan junior is truly different from any other official in the court."
If Fan of Fan saw who young master Ming was talking to, he would certainly be shocked. Because the person sitting across the carriage was the host of the Martial Arts Meet by Hangzhou's West Lake, the official from Jiangnan Road!
At that time, when Fan Xian saw the official speak and act, he had secretly admired him. He probably would not have guessed that this official had such a deep connection to the Ming family. It was clear this official was someone the Ming family absolutely trusted. If Fan Xian had been more careful, he would certainly have been able to find out his relationship with the Ming family. At that time, if Fan Xian had been more careful, he would certainly have been able to find out his relationship with the Ming family. He would have been more wary of the so-called Martial Assembly.
This official was Zou Lei. He was the Imperial Censor of Jiangnan Road. He said with confusion, "Cousin, what is the difference between the imperial envoy and other officials in court?"
Ming Lanshi smiled coldly and said, "Sir Fan is so young, yet he holds so much power in his hands. Can other officials compare? The Overwatch Council is not the same as your Imperial Censor. Now that he has the identity of an imperial envoy, there are no obstacles when he does things. Even the governor has to give him some face. You should have received the news. Once Sir Fan junior arrived at the palace treasury, he beheaded five troublemaking treasurers, including two masters of the workshops! Now, he has even removed all of the Eldest Princess' transport company officials! Which official in court has the confidence to use such ruthless methods? "
Zou Lei sighed and shook his head. "Without an insider, it will be much more difficult for the clan to play tricks in the future."
Ming Lanshi gazed at him and smiled mockingly. He said with disdain, "I think you've become muddled from being an official. What season is this? You still want to play tricks? I just hope that the imperial envoy doesn't play tricks on us. "
In the Tower Upstairs by West Lake, Ming Lanshi had been very respectful toward this court official in front of him. Yet, he did not give him any face at all. Yet, Zou Lei seemed to be used to this kind of tone. Just from this scene, it could be seen how much power the Ming family was hiding in court.
Zou Lei's brows furrowed in worry. "But the imperial envoy's trip to Jiangnan this time is clearly aimed at the clan. Does the old man have any plans?"
Ming Lanshi smiled bitterly and shook his head. "This is what I said earlier. Sir Fan is different from other officials. Normal methods will not work … if it was any other high-ranking official coming to Jiangnan, the Ming family has plenty of ways to deal with them. Yet, it has fallen on Sir Fan junior. Our usual methods are completely useless."
Zou Lei probingly said, "There are no officials in this world who are not greedy."
Ming Lanshi's eyes narrowed. It was as if he had thought of something that chilled his heart. After a moment of silence, he faintly said, "This is the most common method, but it is usually the most effective method. Father saw things very accurately and knew that he had to use the mountain-splitting golden axe … we have also tried it before." He shook his head and sighed. "In the end, the other party did not accept it at all and directly retreated. He also didn't say any harsh words. He was just like a block of ice."
"How much did he give?" Zou Lei did not believe that there were any officials in this world who were not greedy. Even if you were the Emperor's illegitimate child, you still had to have silver.
Ming Lanshi raised four fingers.
Zou Lei asked with confusion, "Just 40,000 liang?"
A murderous intent appeared between Ming Lanshi's brows. He lowered his voice and cursed, "40,000 liang? Didn't you see the 130,000 liang of silver in the chest in the young master's yamen? This time, father moved enough chips and even pushed down the tribute to the capital. He gathered a total of 400,000 liang! "
"400,000 liang!" Zou Lei's heart trembled. Even his lips began to tremble. Such a large sum of money could buy a small vassal kingdom. Could it not buy the imperial envoy's heart?
Ming Lanshi gritted his teeth and said, "There's also 20% of the shares."
Zou Lei almost couldn't believe his ears. This 20% of the shares was even more terrifying than 400,000 liang. How could the clan bear to use such a large sum of interest to buy Fan Xian? Usually, when he served the Eldest Princess, he had never been so generous. This could no longer even be called generous. It was completely cutting off his own flesh to keep him safe.
Ming Lanshi slowly closed his eyes. His eyelids moved slightly, and his face twisted slightly. Presumably, he was very unhappy in his heart. Zou Lei didn't dare say anything more. The carriage sank into a period of silence.
After a long time, Ming Lanshi, who was now gradually managing most of the Ming family's businesses for his father, opened his eyes and slowly said, "We have all underestimated Sir Fan's appetite. Don't forget, his father is the Minister of Revenue in court. 400,000 liang can definitely buy a prince, but it cannot buy him. Thus, as I said earlier, this method will not work."
"What about the Eldest Princess?" Zou Lei asked with slight hatred. "The Ming family has done so much for her. She can't just watch and not do anything, can she?"
Ming Lanshi thought for a while and quietly said, "When dealing with officials, if you can't buy them, you will be slandering them. From the center to the limbs, you will have to work hard in Jingdou. In the court, you will have to scheme against the various officials. Unfortunately, this method doesn't seem to be effective."
"Why?" Zou Lei was shocked.
Ming Lanshi said self-mockingly, "What kind of person is Sir Fan? He has Director Chen and Minister Fan behind him. Although Prime Minister Lin has retired a long time ago, his power still remains. As long as the Emperor does not show any inclination, which official would dare to follow our wishes and submit a memorial against him? The Imperial Censorate has done it twice, but unfortunately, they were beaten cold hearted by the Emperor's cane. "
Zou Lei thought for a bit and then shook his head. "Today is different from the past. Sir Fan is far away in Jiangnan and has no time to defend himself. He is also far away from the Overwatch Council, so his reaction will certainly not be as fast as it was in the past. Even if his relationship with the Emperor is not normal, even if he is a proper prince, it is impossible for him to cause trouble in Jiangnan and not be summoned back to Jingdou. If we cause trouble, perhaps the Emperor will summon Sir Fan back."
Ming Lanshi mockingly said, "This is the weakness of you officials when you look at problems. You always keep your eyes on official rank and identity. Correct, even if a proper prince comes to Jiangnan, the Ming family has a way to send him back with his tail between his legs. Fan Xian is only the Emperor's illegitimate child, so it seems that we should not be afraid. However, the way the clan looks at problems is different from the way the officials look at problems. In our eyes, Sir Fan has power, soldiers, money, and a good reputation. Yet, he is also ruthless. Even if he has some stains, they have been completely wiped clean by the court's Overwatch Council, which is responsible for magnifying the stains. No one can catch him. Who can swallow such a smooth pebble? He is much more difficult to deal with than any Royal Highness. "
"If we really incite the Jiangnan people to make trouble as you wish …" Ming Lanshi smiled coldly. "Do you believe that Fan Xian would dare to move the Black Knights into Suzhou and directly wipe out the Ming family?"
Zou Lei sucked in a cold breath and said hesitantly, "No way? Does he really not care about … the face of the court at all? The Qing laws are not written for fun. "
"He is a madman." Ming Lanshi gritted his teeth and cursed in a low voice. "A seemingly cultured and refined madman. If you can avoid provoking him, then provoke him. Unless you have the confidence to make him disappear from this world. "
Zou Lei suddenly quieted down. A moment later, he faintly said, "The Martial Assembly?"
This was the Ming family's secret control of the Jiangnan martial arts world. They only wore the cloak of the court, so the Ming family did not control too many jianghu aces. However, they had, after all, used Zou Lei to control a group of fugitives. At this moment, he found that the Ming family could not do anything to the pebble-like imperial envoy. A vicious thought flashed through his heart, and he brought up this matter.
Ming Lanshi looked pitifully at Zou Lei like he was looking at an idiot. "Do you not know that Sir Fan himself is a ninth-level ace? Do you not know that the Emperor has sent a group of the most elite Tiger Guards to him? Do you not know that the Sixth Bureau swordsmen who specialize in assassinations in the Overwatch Council never leave his side? Do you not know that Northern Qi's Haitang once lived with him in Hangzhou for a period of time? "
Ming Lanshi's voice grew louder and louder. He felt more and more that this normally shrewd brother official was truly an idiot today. He scolded, "Just that Martial Assembly? Master Yun, whom father had invited from Dongyi, had only caught a glimpse of him by West Lake before he was stabbed by someone. Presently, those useless aces in Dongyi are being chased around like stray dogs by those strange people … that is Yun Zhilan! Dongyi! The descendant of Sigu Jian doesn't even have a chance to attack in front of Fan Xian. Do you think these Jiangnan martial artists can kill him? "
Zou Lei's face alternated between green and white. Only now did he realize that Fan Xian was not as simple as just a powerful official.
In the present world, Fan Xian was definitely one of the wealthiest people. Those who were richer than him were not as powerful as him. Those who were more powerful than him were not as powerful as him. Those who were more powerful than him were not as shameless as him. Those who were more shameless than him were not as powerful as his backer. Those who were more powerful than him had not yet been born.
He did not care for giving money. He did not worry if they wanted to reduce his power in the capital. He was not afraid if they wanted to assassinate him. He did not care if they wanted to ruin his reputation. He would only use a knife to cut off their heads to vent the anger in his heart.
This was an abnormal existence created decades ago. He was an invisible prince, yet he had the Overwatch Council and Ministry of Revenue that a prince could not have. Even the Eldest Princess, who had secretly influenced the court for over a decade, could not find a way to deal with him.
What could the Ming family do?
…
…
Zou Lei comforted Ming Lanshi and said, "Sir Guo is also in Suzhou. Looking at his intentions, the Eldest Princess will help out in Jingdou. What you said earlier was reasonable, but Fan Xian is so arrogant right now. I'm afraid the Crown Prince and Second Prince will feel uncomfortable. Even if they cannot move him back to Jingdou, talking to the people in the Palace will be able to suppress his arrogance."
Ming Lanshi nodded. He knew that he could only barely maintain the present situation. Hearing the word "Guo," he still couldn't stop the veins on his forehead bulging. In a cold voice, he said, "Tell your superior not to get involved! Back then, he hit Fan Xian with a stick in the Ministry of Justice yamen and was chased to Jiangnan … does he still want revenge? Don't forget, the imperial envoy is the most vengeful of young people. I just hope he doesn't get dragged down by that old white face Guo Zheng! "
The battle for monthly votes is truly cruel … the chase from behind is too close, so I still have to smile and extend my hand to ask for monthly votes.
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