Chapter 24: Earning Money on the Mountain
The mine supervisor's surname was Sun, and his full name was Xiuting. He came from a scholarly family and his home was in Huai'an Prefecture, which was under the jurisdiction of Fengyang County. He was also a fellow villager of Jiangxia.
This man was a bit pedantic. In Jiang Xia's opinion, he was a bookworm and inflexible. However, he thought he had the character of a scholar. When he passed the imperial examination, he was assigned to be an official in Fengyang County.
But he was ignorant of the ways of the world, offended his superiors, and had no money to bribe people, so he was sent to Fengshan Mine, where he stayed for five or six years.
His previous boss had been replaced, but he seemed to have been forgotten.
Such a person must be full of anger in his heart. Now he was tricked by Jiang Xia again. He felt aggrieved and a little emotionally broken. Liu Laosi brought him some wine at the right time.
As a result, under Jiang Xia's patient persuasion, he drank a few more glasses and became a little tipsy.
His emotions got out of control and he blurted out everything that had happened to him.
“I know that they threw me into this remote place just to laugh at me. They all accepted bribes from Ruyifang and served those thieves as if they were their own fathers.
They left me here so that I would jump into the quagmire like them, get my hands dirty, and never look back.
Pooh!
I won’t! "
Lord Sun raised his head, drank a glass of wine, and cursed:
"I, Sun Xiuting, would rather die of poverty, starvation, or jump off this Fengshan Mountain than accept a single cent of the dirty money from Ruyifang!"
That's a tough statement.
But Jiang Xia shook his head repeatedly. He looked at the table. How many glasses of wine? He was drunk without even a side dish. This Lord Sun had a very low alcohol tolerance and bad drinking habits.
He has some characteristics of a drunkard.
Of course, it could also be an attempt to take advantage of the situation and make indirect accusations.
But Jiang Xia didn't care. The powerful manager of Ruyifang in Fengshan could kill anyone he wanted. How could he take an unsuccessful mine supervisor seriously?
If his help wasn't needed, wouldn't it be more convenient to put a gun to his head and persuade him physically?
"Yes, yes, your Excellency's literary character is something I admire very much."
Thinking this in his heart, with a smile on his face, Jiang Xia picked up the wine pot, poured another cup for Lord Sun, and flattered him:
"If I had encountered such a disgusting thing like you, and been trapped in Fengshan for five or six years, I would not be able to do what you did. The court really doesn't know how to recognize people, and let a talented person like you live in the wilderness.
However, is Ruyifang so powerful?
I heard from you that all the officials in Fengyang County, big and small, have been bribed by them?"
"That was before, when mediocre people were in power."
Mine Supervisor Sun narrowed his eyes, drank a glass of wine, and said:
"The previous governor was a foolish man. As you said, he was incapable of recognizing talented people. He was greedy for money, embezzled money, appointed his cronies, and colluded with wealthy merchants, causing unrest in Fengyang County.
However, he was dismissed from his post and investigated last year, and officials from all levels of Fengyang County were replaced. When the new prefect took office, he killed many people.
I feel happy when I hear the news. "
"oh?"
Jiang Xia's eyes lit up and he asked again:
"So, the new governor can't stand the rampant behavior of these wealthy merchants?"
"Well, Governor Hong is a relative of the emperor, the elder brother of the current Empress Shi, a legitimate royal relative, and a scholarly family. It was rumored that he was going to be the prime minister, but he was transferred to Fengyang County.
It is obvious that His Majesty cannot bear the chaos in Fengyang County, so he sent Governor Hong to deal with it."
Sun Kuangjian is indeed a man in officialdom. Although he is confined to a corner, he has a good understanding of current affairs and speaks from a high-level perspective. His information and intelligence are much better than Liu Laosi's.
He drank and said:
"What a pity! Even if Governor Hong wants to punish them, Ruyifang has a deep-rooted influence in the three prefectures of this county and cannot be easily touched."
"Why is that?"
Jiang Xia deliberately asked:
"No matter how powerful Ruyifang is, it is just a merchant. The governor is in charge of a county and has a full army under his command. Can he not do anything to a merchant?"
"You...you don't even know the details of Ruyifang, yet you dare to do such a big thing! And you insist on dragging me into this. I really don't know what to say."
Mine Supervisor Sun glanced at Jiang Xia, sighed with sorrow, and then said:
“Ruyifang is not just a business, his ancestor was a disciple of the Mo Shuang Mountain Immortal Sect. I heard that he learned the secret technique of prospecting and was able to find spiritual stones.
He started his business from here, specializing in supplying spiritual stones for immortals to practice. Mo Shuang Mountain is also related to the royal family of his country, so his family is naturally somewhat superior among the merchants.
Ruyifang not only has money, but also has private soldiers.
Although the imperial court nominally forbade it, the disease had already become serious. In Fengyang County alone, there were two to three thousand people available in Ruyifang.
He gave them enough money, asked them to teach him, and equipped them with complete weapons. He then occupied several mountains and became the king, and only took orders from Ruyifang.
The governor wanted to govern the country, but he could not do anything with just the soldiers in his own government.
Besides, the Ruyifang owner, along with his subordinates, all have the status of outer disciples of the immortal sect. Since this is related to the immortal sect, the governor cannot easily touch him. "
"Is that so?"
Jiang Xia blinked his eyes, poured another glass of wine for the mine supervisor, and asked:
"Didn't the 33 sects of the Immortal Alliance issue a clear order prohibiting cultivators from interfering in worldly affairs? How did Ruyifang, who was rebelling against the imperial court, get the status of a disciple?"
"bought."
Mine Supervisor Sun curled his lips and gave a strange smile, as if telling a secret, and whispered:
“They are called disciples of the Immortal Sect, but they are actually outer disciples. There are only about thirty real practitioners in Mo Shuang Mountain, but there are hundreds of outer disciples, all of whom are there to buy various supplies for the Immortal Family.
Even if you are an immortal, you can't sleep in the open air, right?
The immortal was busy with his cultivation and didn't pay much attention to the people from the outer sect, so this gave an opportunity for those who were interested to take advantage of it. With the financial resources of Ruyifang, and some connection with Moshuang Mountain.
It is naturally simple to buy a disciple status from the elder who manages the outer sect of the Immortal Family and put on a tiger skin. "
At this point, Lord Sun may have drunk a little too much, and he couldn't stop talking, and he lamented:
“This is the difficulty of Ruyifang. They have power in the mortal world, monopolizing the country’s mining industry, and are supported by the immortals. Even if the court is willing, it is difficult to check and control them. In recent years, they have become more and more rampant.
It was only when Governor Hong came here to take charge that their arrogance was barely suppressed.
But Governor Hong is not afraid of them, but I am not.
"Today I've been dragged into this situation by you. My family is about to be destroyed. It's a pity that my family doesn't know this. The children are still young. How pitiful they are! Alas, how sad it is."
As he spoke, the mine supervisor broke down again and even started to cry.
"Why are you crying?"
Jiang Xia reached out and patted the mine supervisor on the shoulder. He thought for a moment and asked:
"Tell me first, based on your knowledge, if we gain an advantage in the fight with Ruyifang, will Governor Hong help us at the official level?"
"should be."
The mine supervisor wiped his tears and said something that aroused Jiang Xia's dissatisfaction. He said:
"What do you mean by should? Will it happen? This concerns our lives and ours, there can be no mistakes."
Lord Sun thought for a few seconds and said uncertainly:
“Probably.
Although I have never met Governor Hong, I have heard some rumors from some of my peers through correspondence. It is said that the old king sent his most capable Governor Hong to Fengyang County to take charge, and there are other meanings. "
"Tell me clearly, what's going on?"
Jiang Xia asked again, and Lord Sun stroked his chin and said:
“The current king is old and has three sons. The third prince entered Mo Shuang Mountain to practice at a young age. The crown prince and the second prince are fighting openly and secretly, needless to say.
It is said that Ruyifang has a secret support from the Second Prince, and Governor Hong's visit to Fengyang County may also be intended to scare the emperor."
Upon hearing this news, Jiang Xia's eyes suddenly lit up. He stood up suddenly, walked a few steps in the room, interlaced his fingers, and said:
"A mere merchant like him actually wants to get involved in the fight for the throne. He is really courting his own death. But, which party does Governor Hong belong to? The prince's party?"
"No."
Mine Supervisor Sun shook his head and said in a strange tone:
“Grandmaster Hong is the Queen’s brother, but the Queen’s biological son is the Third Prince.
It is said that the Mo Shuang Mountain Immortal Sect is closely related to the royal family, but in fact it is not the lineage of the king, but the lineage of Queen Shi.
Several decades ago, when the country was invaded by foreign enemies and was nearly destroyed, Your Majesty quickly married the Queen, which resulted in the protection of the Immortal Mountain.
But the third prince went into the mountains to practice Buddhism early and did not get involved in the fight for the throne. Therefore, Governor Hong was neither a member of the Crown Prince's party nor of the Second Prince's party.
He is so loyal to Your Majesty that he is trusted."
"I understand. Your Majesty saved the country with his lower body. What a manly man!"
Jiang Xia snapped his fingers, signaling Lord Sun that there was no need to say more. He already knew all the information he needed to know, and he also had a general idea of what to do next.
Seeing that Lord Sun was already drunk, he said no more. After flattering him a few more times, he left.
As soon as Jiang Xia left, the drunken Sun Mining Supervisor immediately jumped up.
His movements were so agile that he didn't look like a drunk man at all. He leaned on the window and watched Jiang Xia go out. Then he called the old servant and asked him to pack up quickly.
"We can't stay here! The bandits are determined to cause trouble for Ruyifang. If a small shrimp like me runs into them, I will be crushed to pieces if I'm not careful."
While Master Sun was packing up his books in his room, he said to his old servant:
"Go home quickly and have your wife bring the child to reunite with me and escape from Fengming Country."
"Master, you can't leave!"
The old servant grabbed the mine supervisor's wrist with a look of horror, and whispered with a hint of fear:
"Just now I heard that someone wanted to go outside the mountain to report the news, but when he reached the mountain pass, he was struck by thunder and his legs were broken. There were also people who didn't believe in evil and wanted to take a small path, but there was also thunder.
So far, more than a dozen people have had their legs broken and were thrown on the road, wailing and waiting to die.
Anyone who wants to leave will suffer.
Some people said that it was a magic trick from the gods that was sent down and Fengshan Street had been blocked off. The concubine of Manager Huang even spread rumors everywhere, saying that Ruyifang had committed many evil deeds and that the gods had been sent to eliminate the evil.
Master, that scholar Jiang just now, maybe, maybe he is..."
"This... is a thief!"
Before Mr. Sun's plan to escape was implemented, it was interrupted by cruel reality. He hugged the book, cursed, and stood there. His mind was confused for a moment and he didn't know what to do.
This thief actually has such means?
After a few breaths, he moved his lips with a pale face and said:
"Boxes, in those boxes..."
“It’s all money!”
The old servant's eyes also widened at this moment.
With a bit of fear and a bit of secret joy, he secretly took out a stack of silver bills from his patched sleeves and stuffed it into the master's hand.
explain:
“I went to have a look secretly, sir, and it was full of money!
I'm afraid there are tens of thousands of taels of silver, as well as various jewels and silks. Master, the man said that these are stolen goods and you can do whatever you want with them."
Lord Sun's expression became even more confused.
Before he could make a decision, the gate of the courtyard opened again, and several top girls from local brothels, dressed in red and green, playing various instruments and singing, were shouted into the courtyard by Liu Laosi.
The guy also shouted loudly:
"You guys have been bought out of your indentures. From now on, you will be the maids beside Master Sun. You must take good care of Master Sun and serve him wholeheartedly. Do you understand?"
The girls answered with laughter and went to the courtyard.
"Master, this..."
The old servant didn't know what to do, so he turned around to look at his master. Lord Sun moved his lips again, wanting to scold him, but in the end, it just turned into a long sigh.
He turned around and looked at the old servant, whispering:
"Ahfu, you have followed me for so many years, you are loyal and have suffered a lot. I am just a scholar and I don't have anything good to give you, so you should just accept these women.
It would be nice to leave a bloodline for your family.
As for the money..."
The mine supervisor clenched his fists, glanced at the sage book in his hand, and finally closed his eyes and threw the book aside.
He said:
“Leave one box.
The rest will be sealed up as stolen goods. I will also write a letter and send it to the city tomorrow and give it to Governor Hong.
You should go back to your hometown and quickly send your family members to the provincial capital, and ask the prefect for protection, so that they won't fall into the hands of Ruyifang. Afterwards, you don't have to come back and be trapped here with me.
Alas, it’s a pity that the mother and daughter have lived with me for most of their lives, and I don’t know when they can live a good life.
As for me, I'll stay here.
That thug said that I had the character of a scholar. I knew he was mocking me, but things had come to this point and there was no way out, so I might as well show some character and fight with that thief from Ruyifang.
It can be considered as a way to vent my anger for the hardship and humiliation I have suffered over the past five or six years!
I, Sun Xiuting, will die!
I will also eliminate this evil villain for my country and leave my name in history... It can be considered that my reading of the sages' books and the teachings of the Master are not in vain."
