Chapter 25: Dredging the Canal and Welcome the Concubine (5)
"Sir, the people have already admitted that what they said is all nonsense, so you can rest assured."
"What's the use of forcing him to apologize!" The Minister of Industry slapped the table and roared like a lion at the minister, "You can only do this kind of noisy thing! Don't you know, no matter whether the unruly man admits it or not, as long as he does this
The matter reached the ears of Magistrate Ye, and he would come there personally no matter what he said... If we open up about this matter and talk about it openly, then our heads will fall off!"
"Is... is it that serious?" The Minister of Industry became more and more frightened and couldn't hold his tongue straight.
"you do not know?"
"I have been here for three years and have never heard of the Fang Family Dyeing Shop..."
Shangshu sighed: "Come here, I will talk to you."
The waiter slowly walked over and listened to what he said: "This wealthy businessman's name is Fang Jiancai. He only opened an inconspicuous small workshop in Nanjing fifteen years ago. It was considered a small business. At that time, the dyeing shop business in Nanjing was only played by family members.
, no one can come close to it, it can be said to be the hero.”
"Playing house?"
"Yes. I still remember this man's name. He was called Chu Zi. His father was also a high-ranking official. Later, he was disliked by the Liu Party and was dismissed. He also had a younger brother named Xiangren.
I don’t know what else is going on.”
"Then let's continue, sir."
"Let me moisten my throat first." Shangshu picked up the tea, took a sip, and continued talking, "Seeing that my silk dyeing business has grown, I am a little arrogant and overbearing. In order to collect taxes, I have to fight with the government.
A quarrel broke out. At that time, Nanjing was jointly managed by the prefect Lu Fangxuan and Wan Junwang. These two were by no means easy-going people and were not easy to provoke, so they thought of supporting the other party to check and balance him.
Fang Jiancai and Lu Fangxuan were classmates, and the prefect Lu helped him open a dyeing workshop to secretly resist the family. Guo Chuzi was also very sensible, and figured out the government's intentions, so he moved his family and his family north to Yangzhou
, will never come back again.”
"What happened next?"
"Later, Lu Fangxuan gave up the power to remove all officials to Wan Heshun, and he devoted himself to helping the Fang family run the dyeing shop without asking about political affairs. As a result, a few years later, Lu Fangxuan was transferred out to serve as Duke of Jing. At this time, Wan County
Wang just realized that this dyeing workshop had become a tool for Lu Fangxuan to set up spies and control Nanjing."
"Prince Wanjun is so smart, how could he be fooled by this Lu Fangxuan?"
"Lu Fangxuan knew long ago that he would not be able to stay in Nanjing for long, so he took the initiative to hand over the military and political power to him. How could the princes of Wanjun be reluctant to do so? No matter how smart he is, he is still a human being, and he will naturally have weaknesses."
"So," the Minister of Industry suddenly realized and stood up immediately, "You are afraid that after Ye Yongjia finds out, he will definitely remove this domineering thorn in the side of the Fang family's dye house, and the only one who can command Fang Jiancai is Lu Fangxuan!"
Shangshu slapped his thigh: "That's right! It's exactly right!"
"In that case, Lu Fangxuan can use this matter to return to Nanjing and make a comeback!" After the minister said this, he secretly felt a sweat for himself.
"This is exactly the reason." Wei Chong came from behind the screen and said.
"Master Wei!" The minister hurriedly walked over and knelt down. "Master Wei, I really can't handle this situation... Please help me!"
"Don't be anxious, don't be anxious." Wei Chong seemed to be a little distracted, "You just need to make a false statement and give it to the officers and soldiers present at the time, saying that the people were unconscious, don't believe it. These sergeants are very honest, and they can just prevaricate with a word.
It's over, don't be too nervous; as for the magistrate, I can keep it a secret."
"Master Wei is a confidant of the county prince. Since he said it's okay, then you should do as he says. Go quickly!" Shangshu said while pouring tea.
"Understood." The waiter nodded, bowed to the two of them, and immediately walked out of the room.
Wei Chong talked with the magistrate for a while, saying some unimportant words, and then turned around and left, saying that he had something to do.
He walked eastward from Xishui Pass, never letting go of his worries on the way, always thinking about the past and the future. Although he was a spy placed by Wan Heshun next to Ye Yongjia, he was by no means the kind of person who was willing to be a dog-legger. Wei Chong
I thought, if Wan Heshun is allowed to grow bigger and become unbeatable, he will be of no use in the eyes of the prince and will be left out, and his fame and fortune will definitely be lost. Why not lure the wolf into the house so that there is someone in Nanjing who can compete with Wan Heshun?
A rival as a rival so that you can enjoy eternal wealth?
Just as he was making up his mind, he suddenly looked up and saw Cai Xianqing, wearing a coarse short coat, walking over without looking at the road.
"Isn't this Mr. Cai?" Wei Chong stood in front of him, pressed his arm, and said with a smile.
"What?" Cai Xianqing followed the voice and smiled happily when he saw it was Wei Chong. "Wei... oh, I don't even know what to call him!"
"It's not so particular. Just call it the usual way."
"Don't I hear that they usually call you 'Master Wei'? But..." Cai Xianqing grabbed his wrist and smiled: "I don't want you to be my father. I'd better call you something unusual.
Fa, I call you a good brother."
"You can say whatever you want! Leave it to Mr. Cai!" Wei Chong felt very uncomfortable when he saw that even a mere actor refused to say a word of flattery.
"What are you going to do?" Wei Chong asked with a forced smile.
"Go to Laolang'an and take a look at the situation there. If something gets flooded, it's best to be prepared on both ends."
"That's right, that's right..."
"Brother Xian, where are you? What are you doing?" Cai Xianqing stared into his eyes and asked.
"According to the order of the prefect Ye Yongjia, I went to the temple to comfort the victims and to investigate the situation of the disaster."
"I only heard rumors that the Fang Family Dyeing Shop..." He raised his head and looked at the sky, then lowered his voice: "Is this true?"
This question played right into Wei Chong's intentions.
It goes without saying that Wei Chong was happy in his heart, but in order to hide his thoughts, he pretended to be frightened and said: "Don't say too much!"
Cai Xianqing rolled his eyes: "Really?"
Wei Chong nodded silently, and then put his mouth to his ear: "Really. But don't let Ye Yongjia know about the dyeing workshop, otherwise the prince of Wanjun..."
Cai Xianqing hurriedly pushed him away: "I understand... Don't let outsiders see it and get suspicious. It's better to go away."
Wei Chong also said "yes", and the two of them bowed and went their separate ways.
Cai Xianqing looked back at Wei Chong from time to time. When he saw him turning a corner, he walked towards Huaiqing Bridge with confidence.
Because the Huaiqing Bridge is located downstream, it was not seriously flooded. At the beginning, the water was only one foot high. Now it has fallen half a foot, so business is starting again, but the number of people is much thinner.
Cai Xianqing rolled up his trouser legs and strode into the familiar tea shop, making a powerful sound of "pah pah pah".
"Tea master, simmer a pot of tea for me. I'll sit here for a while."
Cai Xianqing walked under the shed and shouted towards the shopkeeper who was busy wiping the table in front of the counter.