Chapter 23 Persuasion
Jiang Xia was wearing a scholar's long gown and holding a paper fan in his hand in a pretentious manner.
These were all “gifts” from Manager Huang, who was now trying hard to disguise himself as a scholar.
The memory of Jiang Shusheng is still there, and Jiang Xia can be said to be playing the role in his true colors. After putting on the long gown and walking steadily as in the memory, he also has the temperament of a scholar.
Unfortunately, he found long hair a nuisance in the wasteland, so he shaved his head, making his current hairstyle look a bit weird.
The scholars in this world all have long hair. Only the Buddhist disciples or some monks have short hair. In desperation, they put a felt hat on their heads to cover it up a little.
"Thank you for the message, old man. I am very grateful."
At the door of the mine supervisor's house, Jiang Xia held a fan in his hand and bowed to the mine supervisor's old servant in a proper manner. Then he took a step forward and turned his wrist, and another small piece of silver fell into the old servant's palm.
The latter took a quick look, and there was a hint of surprise and a little uneasiness on his weather-beaten face.
His master was also a member of the officialdom, and he had heard of some official "customs", but this was the first time he had actually received a red envelope.
This scholar in front of me is so generous, I don’t know what his purpose is.
This made the old servant feel the same worry as the master.
There was a horse-drawn carriage parked on the street behind Jiang Xia. Lao Si and Su, who had changed into ordinary clothes, were carrying large boxes out of the carriage one by one.
He waved his hand and smiled at the old servant, and seven or eight boxes were sent to the mine supervisor's yard and piled at the door.
He straightened his clothes and walked into the courtyard with the old servant. As soon as he came in, Jiang Xia looked around and couldn't help but feel thoughtful.
This mine supervisor really lives a hard life.
You can't see this courtyard from the outside, but once you enter, the air of poverty cannot be concealed.
There are only three rooms in the house. The main hall in front of you is probably where I live. There is a thatched-house-like kitchen on the left, and there are several large jars with lids piled up at the door.
There might be pickled vegetables inside, and a smell wafts in the wind.
The house on the right was also lower, and it should be where the only old servant lived. There were some washed clothes hanging on the edge of the yard, and some of them were patched.
The yard was not well leveled, with weeds growing on the edges, but in front of the main hall, there were some bamboos planted in elegant clusters.
"Does this mean that it is better to eat without meat than to live without bamboo? Or is it expressing one's own sentiments?"
Jiang Xia's eyes rolled.
It seems that Liu Laosi's information is quite true. This somewhat pedantic mine supervisor actually has some character of a scholar. He has been working at Fengshan Mine for several years.
Although Ruyifang looked down on such a small official, as long as he asked for help and a little money slipped through from a few managers, he would not have to live such a hard life.
He really is self-righteous and unwilling to go along with the crowd.
Jiang Xia pondered for a while, thinking about how to deal with this iron-headed boy who represented the Fengming Kingdom's court. After taking a few steps forward, the mine supervisor appeared in the main hall to greet him.
He was a thin middle-aged man with a mustache, wearing a half-worn green gown, with a serious face and a stern expression.
He stood on the steps, looking at Jiang Xia who was walking towards him. His gaze examined him and finally fell on his hat. Although it was covered, the messy stubble of hair could not be concealed.
This made the mine supervisor unhappy.
How can this be called a scholar?
He didn't even know that his body and hair were given by his parents. It was obvious that he was an imposter. He felt a little impatient and wanted to send him away quickly.
"Who is coming?"
The mine supervisor asked, his right hand behind his back and his beard twirled with his left.
Jiang Xia followed the memory of Jiang Shusheng in his heart and performed a standard greeting. Then he said:
"I am Jiang Xia, a student from Erqiao Village, Huai'an Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of Fengyang County. My name is Ziheng. I have come here today to ask to see you, sir. I have something important to report."
"Um?"
After hearing Jiang Xia’s self-introduction, the mine supervisor was a little surprised. Is this guy a student?
Although Fengming Kingdom is small in size, the old emperor has worked hard to govern the country in recent years and attaches great importance to the imperial examination.
Although a tongsheng could not compare to a juren, and a xiucai was so rare, he was still a literary man and passed two examinations at the county government.
Although he was still a long way from being a formal official, any civilian who dared to impersonate him would still be convicted. Jiang Xia took out an identity document from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands, and the mine supervisor stepped forward to take it for inspection.
Well, it's exactly what he said, it seems to be true.
In this way, the mine supervisor's dissatisfaction will be alleviated.
The man in front of him was indeed a scholar, just like him.
There are hundreds of people, big and small, in Fengshan Mine, but the only real scholar is the mine supervisor. He often feels lonely, and now he meets another one.
Although he was just a little boy, he made the mine supervisor feel a long-lost joy.
When he spoke again, his tone was much softer.
"You said something important?"
He returned the document to Jiang Xia and asked:
"What kind of important matter could this small Fengshan Mine have?"
Jiang Xia looked around, took a step forward, opened the paper fan, covered his mouth and nose, and whispered to the mine supervisor:
"Does your Excellency know about the landslide last night?"
"Um."
The mine supervisor nodded, and Jiang Xia continued:
"Does your Excellency know who are buried down there?"
"Don't play dumb!"
The mine supervisor was a little unhappy.
Jiang Xia laughed and said:
"They are the lackeys of Ruyifang, seven managers, plus fifty or sixty thugs and servants. I came here today to tell you the good news.
From today on, you are now worthy of the title of Mine Supervisor. The thief has been eliminated, and the Fengshan Mine will belong to the court."
"!!!"
The mine monitor was stunned and couldn't react for a moment.
Then Jiang Xia continued to speak in a clear voice:
"This is all thanks to your great foresight, your brilliant plan, your secret dispatch of me to do the work, and the help of God, which has made this great event a success. We have acquired the Fengshan Mine for the country, and have greatly suppressed the arrogance of the thieves in Ruyifang.
Your Excellency is indeed a good official who is incorruptible, upright and serves the people.
I admire you so much that I have asked several of my followers to spread the news of your clever plan to get rid of the thieves in Fengshan Street, so that the poor people will know your kindness. "
"shut up!"
The mine supervisor became more and more uneasy as he listened, and his face turned pale as he shouted:
"When did I tell you... I don't even know you! Stop talking nonsense!"
"Hey? What are you doing, sir?"
Jiang Xia looked surprised, and said seriously:
"Didn't you, my Lord, secretly spy with me some time ago and come up with a plan to eliminate the thieves?
In the past few years since you came to Fengshan Street, you have never come into contact with people from Ruyifang, and you have kept yourself clean, considering them thieves. Everyone knows this.
The adults were devoted to serving their country and could not bear to see the state property being occupied by evil people, so they worked hard to investigate the situation and then used clever tricks to get rid of the thieves.
Isn’t this the natural thing to do?”
Seeing the mine supervisor's increasingly panicked expression, he smiled inwardly, pointed seriously at the boxes in the mine supervisor's yard, and said slowly:
"That's the stolen goods that were confiscated, and now they're all being sent to your Excellency's courtyard.
The people of Fengshan Street saw everything clearly along the way. You may as well report it truthfully. With my testimony and the money and other evidence, it will be a great achievement."
"Shut up! Shut up! Get out!"
The mine supervisor was feeling very confused at this moment.
His eyes were filled with anger towards Jiang Xia, and he wished he could hold a big stick in his own hands and beat this disaster star out to prove his innocence.
What level of wealthy merchant is Ruyifang?
How could a mere mine supervisor like him dare to provoke that?
He still has a wife and children, and a family back home. If what happened today gets out, his family will be destroyed.
"No one will believe you! Get out of here!"
The mine supervisor cursed loudly, but Jiang Xia didn't care. He put away his paper fan and said slowly:
"It doesn't matter whether others believe it or not. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. As long as Liu Fangzhu of Ruyifang and that idiot Liu Bao who takes human life lightly believe it, it's fine.
Your Excellency, do you think those two people would believe this or not when they heard about it?"
"you you!"
The mine supervisor stretched out his hand and pointed at Jiang Xia. His face was pale, his fingers were shaking, and his well-groomed beard was trembling. It was obvious that he was so angry that he couldn't speak.
Do those two people believe it?
not important.
The tragic deaths of seven managers of Fengshan Street and fifty or sixty people from Ruyifang were a slap in the face of the prosperous Ruyifang. This matter must be explained.
At this point, the truth or falsity of the matter is no longer important.
As long as the rumor spreads, in order to maintain the reputation of Ruyifang, the mine supervisor and his family will surely be killed.
What's more, such a big incident happened in the small Fengshan Street, and as the mine supervisor, he had the responsibility of supervision and could not escape the connection.
"Won't you please invite me in and sit down, sir?"
Jiang Xia said softly.
The mine supervisor looked as if he had lost his parents. He wanted to find someone to capture the bandit in front of him and send him to Fengyang County to be tortured in order to clear himself of suspicion.
But there was no one available under his command.
How could an old servant who barely walks be a match for this brutal bandit?
The dirty water has been thrown on him. If a fight really breaks out, Fengyang County Magistrate Hong will not fight with Ruyifang for a lowly official like him. He will be dead for sure.
It's already dead.
But since this person dared to come and spoke so clearly, he must have had a plan and some intention.
The mine supervisor clenched his fists, took a deep breath, glared at Jiang Xia fiercely, turned around and walked into the house. Jiang Xia also laughed and followed him in.
The door closed the next moment.
"Don't worry, sir. I had no choice but to resort to this measure."
Jiang Xia sat on a chair in the room and said calmly:
“As long as you help me, I will not let you die, and the whole family can be saved, even if things go wrong and reach the worst.
The wealth in those seven or eight boxes is enough for an adult to take his family to a distant land and live a life of wealth and prosperity. "
The mine supervisor had a gloomy face and said nothing.
Today is a disaster from heaven.
He was in no mood to do anything now.
"Seven managers are dead, and their lackeys are also dead. Fengshan Street is unmanaged and in chaos. It's time for you, the mine supervisor, to step in and stabilize the situation."
Jiang Xia stood up, poured himself a cup of tea, and poured another cup for the mine supervisor.
He said:
"You are an official of the imperial court. Maintaining order is what you are supposed to do. I also have people under my command who can help you stabilize the people's livelihood.
Adults don’t need to speak, they just need to show up.”
"It can't be hidden."
The mine supervisor lowered his head, held his face in his hands, and said in despair:
"Such a big thing cannot be concealed. If Ruyifang sends people over, how many of you can stop them?"
"I know I can't hide it, so I'll put it off for as long as I can."
Jiang Xia said:
"I also have a solution to this situation. If they dare to come, just beat them back.
Anyway, it's a situation where you're bound to die, so you might as well trust me. Even if the sky falls, I'll be the first one to fall.
You see, sir, unless you have connections everywhere and a background that won’t let you fear Ruyifang’s revenge, we are now tied to the same rope.
We must help each other and survive.
I don't know much about Ruyifang, so I would like to ask you about their background. You are an official, so you must know more secrets than us ordinary people.
If you don't understand the enemy when you go to war, that's the way to your death. So, sir, don't be anxious. Tell me everything you know, one by one.
Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you fight a hundred battles without danger. Sir, don’t you think this is true? "
