What did three million taels of silver mean? That was a year's worth of food for a troop of one million and five hundred thousand people.
But how many people were there in the military? Even though the military number was one hundred thousand, there were less than one hundred thousand people, including the workers who delivered the food and made the meals.
One hundred thousand people, in less than a year, had used fifteen times the amount of silver. Where did it all go?
Pang Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly as he sized up Shopkeeper Liu of Four Access Shop.
This person was of medium height, over forty years old. His appearance was upright, and his entire body exuded a scholarly air. He had the temperament of a modest gentleman. He didn't seem like a shopkeeper at all, but more like a teacher.
This person had a pair of overly bright and wise eyes. The intelligence between his brows could not be concealed. Pang Xiao admitted that his ability to read people was not bad. He quickly concluded that this person was not a simple shopkeeper.
So, why did the owner of Four Access Shop order this person to come here to press for the debt?
Why would Four Access Shop so easily lend money to the ruffian Lu Zhang, and a large amount of three million taels of silver?
Why would Lu Zhang fall ill so coincidentally? Was it really just to shirk responsibility?
Pang Xiao would definitely not believe that there was nothing fishy about this.
There must be something fishy about this. The relationship between Four Access Shop and Lu Zhang needed to be pondered deeply. The purpose of Four Access Shop also needed to be carefully investigated.
Countless thoughts turned in his mind, but on the surface, it only took a breath.
Shopkeeper Liu heard Pang Xiao's words clearly and said with a smile, "Sir Lu is wholeheartedly working for the imperial court. Our head shopkeeper was moved by Sir Lu's sincerity and agreed to lend money. Two times, a total of three million taels of silver. I think the lives of the soldiers in the military will improve because of this, and they will be more capable of fighting against foreign enemies. Although our head shopkeeper is a merchant, he still cares about the country and the safety of the people. "
At this point, Shopkeeper Liu's tone changed, and his tone was full of helplessness and bitterness. "However, it was easy to borrow money, but difficult to return the money. The first time our head shopkeeper went to ask for the money, Sir Lu said that the situation in the military was too tense and could not come up with the money in a short time. He could only wait for the first batch of money to come. Furthermore, he borrowed a second sum from our head shopkeeper.
"Our head shopkeeper is a warm-hearted person, thinking that with such a large army here and such a large amount of silver, the imperial court will not be greedy for the silver of us ordinary merchants and not return it.
"But who would have thought that after the head shopkeeper ordered many people to urge them several times, the army still did not respond, and even seemed to have some intention of shirking the responsibility. Until now, this lowly one had no other choice but to shamelessly seek you out, Wang Ye.
"Wang Ye has a high position and power. Not only is he the new Commander-in-Chief of the army, his position in the army and in the eyes of Your Majesty is not ordinary. If it was Wang Ye, he would definitely have a way to get the money to repay the debt."
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao listened quietly. Shopkeeper Liu was a person who would not leave any loopholes in his words. Moreover, his greatest characteristic was that no matter how urgent the matter was, his voice would not be raised at all. He would still use a kind and amiable tone to discuss things.
Qin Yining felt that this person's background was not simple. He was definitely not as he said, an ordinary head shopkeeper.
Therefore, there must be some secret between the Four-Way Shop and Lu Zhang. This time, they had clearly dug a trap for Pang Xiao to jump into, and Pang Xiao had already fallen into the trap.
The matter of returning the money could not be easily agreed to.
However, the problem was that Pang Xiao was the Commander-in-Chief of the army. Pang Xiao was in charge of all matters in the army. If Pang Xiao did not agree to return the money, the Four-Way Shop would definitely spread the news that Pang Xiao borrowed money and did not return it. At that time, where would Pang Xiao's dignity be?
However, there was indeed a problem with the money. Either Lu Zhang was greedy, or Lu Zhang was in cahoots with the Four-Way Shop. The Four-Way Shop did not lend Lu Zhang so much money at all, and Lu Zhang's IOU was also done in private.
In this way, wouldn't the other party be able to say whatever they wanted?
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining had the same thoughts. However, in this kind of situation, Qin Yining could not easily interrupt.
She looked at Pang Xiao worriedly. She was afraid that Pang Xiao would easily agree to this kind of unreasonable matter because of his responsibility. There was no reason for the other party to dig a trap for them, and they had to suffer because of morals and other reasons.
Pang Xiao could already feel Qin Yining's gaze. However, in this kind of situation, it was not suitable for him to talk to Qin Yining.
His slender index finger gently tapped on the table. Pang Xiao smiled faintly and said, "Is the person who wrote the IOU This King?"
Shopkeeper Liu understood when he heard this.
He hurriedly said, "Wang Ye is of course not the person who wrote the IOU. However, Wang Ye is the person in charge here. Sir Lu is your subordinate. Whatever your subordinate does, you have to be responsible for it. "
Pang Xiao's smile deepened when he heard this. He leaned forward and said, "What you said makes sense."
Shopkeeper Liu felt that Pang Xiao's tone was very strange. Although he was happy that Pang Xiao agreed with him and might agree to return the money, he still instinctively felt a bit of danger. He even unconsciously took half a step back.
"It seems that Wang Ye has decided to take on the responsibility."
Pang Xiao smiled and said, "You said that I am the commander of the army and the person in charge of the army. Therefore, I should be responsible for whatever my subordinates do. However, all the land under the heavens belongs to the King. All the land under the heavens belongs to the King. Whether it is you, me, or Sir Lu, we are all Your Majesty's subordinates. We all work for Your Majesty. Why don't you go find Your Majesty to return the money? "
Shopkeeper Liu's face immediately turned red.
Qin Yining lowered his head. It took a lot of effort for him to control the smile on his lips. He forced himself not to laugh out loud and affect Pang Xiao's work.
Shopkeeper Liu became anxious. He said in a low voice, "Wang Ye, you can't say that. Back then, Sir Lu borrowed money from our Four Clear Channels, that is absolutely true. Now that Sir Lu is no longer in charge, the money borrowed from Four Clear Channels can only be repaid by you, the Grand Marshal. If you insist on implicating His Majesty, wouldn't that be suspected of shirking responsibility? "
"So you can see that This King is shirking responsibility." Pang Xiao stood up and walked in front of Shopkeeper Liu with his hands behind his back.
Shopkeeper Liu was of average height, but Pang Xiao was tall and muscular. Pang Xiao even had to take two steps back and bend slightly to see Shopkeeper Liu's expression.
Shopkeeper Liu said anxiously, "You can't do this! Back then, it was for the sake of the dynasty and the safety of the people that we took out such a large sum of money to lend to you to solve your urgent needs. But now that the crisis has been resolved, you want to go back on your words? Is this what a gentleman should do? If the people know about this, how will you be able to stand firm as the Grand Marshal? "
"What a joke." Pang Xiao sneered, "It is right and proper to repay debts. But that was only if the person who owed the money had to pay back the money. Did I write your IOU for someone else? "
"N-no …" Shopkeeper Liu couldn't help but take two steps back. He even stuttered because of Pang Xiao's intimidating aura.
"No matter where you go, the person who wrote the IOU will be the one to ask for the money back. But according to your thoughts just now, won't you have to go to the capital to meet the Emperor?
"When the time comes, you can say, 'Your subjects owe you money and refuse to pay. As the ruler of the country, all the people are your subjects. Naturally, you have to think of a way to repay the money.' If you say that, do you think you will still be alive?"
Shopkeeper Liu's brows furrowed together. "Wang Ye, please be careful with your words."
Pang Xiao dared to talk about Your Majesty, but Shopkeeper Liu didn't have Pang Xiao's courage and confidence.
Pang Xiao said, "Lu Zhang wrote the IOU. If you want to collect the money, you can go ask Lu Zhang. Your reasoning won't work. "
Shopkeeper Liu was rendered speechless. He rolled his eyes and covered his face with his sleeves as he began to sob.
"What should we do! Our Four Links Shop was willing to lend the money for the sake of the court. But now, the court has let us down! Three million taels of silver is not a small amount. If we can't get it back, won't we suffer a great loss?
"Could it be that the imperial court is supposed to make all sorts of excuses like this? You, the newly appointed Grand Marshal, don't even care about what your subordinates do. What should we do? "
Shopkeeper Liu's voice was mournful and pitiful. Even so, his scholarly appearance didn't cause anyone to feel annoyed.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining looked at each other.
Qin Yining lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. He already had an idea.
"Don't cry." A gentle female voice interrupted Shopkeeper Liu's words.
Shopkeeper Liu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Prince Zhongshun's consort, who had been sitting to the side without speaking.
It was said that this consort was very favored and respected by Prince Zhongshun. Today, Prince Zhongshun had come with Princess Consort to receive guests. It was clear that this woman was different from ordinary women of the inner residence. She could speak in front of Wang Ye.
Shopkeeper Liu's heart skipped a beat. He turned and bowed to Qin Yining.
"Princess Consort, please don't blame me. This lowly one really doesn't have any other choice. This large sum of money can't be recovered no matter how long it takes. When I went to find Official Lu, Official Lu pushed it to Wang Ye. Now that I've come to ask Wang Ye, Wang Ye pushed it to Your Majesty. This, this is simply making things difficult for me. "
Qin Yining had a sympathetic expression on his face. He said with righteous indignation, "I know your difficulties. Don't worry, we will investigate this matter. If it is true, we will definitely give you an explanation."
Shopkeeper Liu froze when he heard this. "Are, are you speaking the truth?" He couldn't help but look at Pang Xiao's expression.
Pang Xiao was clearly unhappy. But in front of him, he didn't immediately refute Princess Consort. It was clear that he loved Princess Consort very much.
Shopkeeper Liu sighed. Even heroes have a weakness for the charms of a beauty. He bowed to Qin Yining again and again. "Thank you, Princess Consort. Thank you, Princess Consort. As long as you give us these words, we can be at ease!"
Qin Yining smiled and comforted Shopkeeper Liu. Then he served tea and sent the guests out.
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