Chapter 28 Accident
"I noticed a few suspicious people who seemed to be spying on and following us." Qiao Xiao said.
"This is strange. Why are they spying on us? Although I, Bu Feng, have brought people to Yanling for some time, but I have not made any enemies with anyone." Bu Feng said.
"Could it be that someone is targeting Master Tang? Look, the owner who can offer 300,000 taels is a wealthy man. Could those people be robbers? Let's prepare our plan first and then rob him after we are on the road." Ge Ziyun said.
"That shouldn't be the case. This is Yanling City. There are constables and soldiers here. They don't dare to do anything rash.
Moreover, there are many people in Yanling City who are richer than our master.
For example, the owners of the banks and the big families all have tens or even millions of taels of silver in their bank accounts. "Bu Feng shook his head.
“You see, I’m here to buy Qianyefang.
The asking price of three hundred thousand taels is indeed not high, but these days, of course the lower the better.
Chibafang is close to a prosperous area and has a good location, so there must be other people who want to buy it.
However, everyone wants to lower the price, so this workshop is difficult to sell all of a sudden." Tang Wen said.
"Master, do you mean that those who are spying on us are our business rivals?" Ge Ziyun asked.
"It's possible! They want it too, but they keep trying to lower the price.
If they buy it from us, their plan will fail, and naturally, they will have to keep an eye on us first.
As for the robber, I don't think that's likely.
After all, this is Yanling City, not the wilderness." Tang Wen said.
"Then sir, you have to be careful, this is their territory." Bu Feng said with some concern.
"What are you afraid of? If you dare to come, I will break your feet and hands." Qiao Xiao said aggressively.
"Let's go visit Captain Yang this afternoon," said Tang Wen.
"Yes, yes, we have to let them see that we have backers. Even if we want to take action, we have to think carefully." Bu Feng nodded.
“That’s not necessarily true, they are a prosperous family that was born and raised in Yanling City.
When it comes to our relationship with the government, we are definitely not as good as them.
Perhaps, Captain Yang has a better relationship with them. Moreover, even if we rely on Captain Yang, the county governor's office is much more powerful than Captain Yang.
For example, Tongzhi, Tongpan, Juncheng, Baihu, Shoubei, etc.
Captain Yang is only an eighth-rank official, not as good as the criminal officer in the county magistrate's mansion." Ge Ziyun said.
Each prefecture and county under the Chu Province had six departments, namely, Li, Hu, Li, Bing, Xing, and Gong, corresponding to the six central ministries.
For example, the person in charge of constables is called the Criminal Office in the county, the Criminal History in the county government, and the Anchashi at the provincial level.
The Haisheng City, which is in charge of the six southern provinces, is called the Criminal Department, and when it rises to the national level, it is called the Ministry of Justice.
The superior of Yang Yun, the chief constable, is the criminal historian, a minor official of the seventh rank, but higher than Yang Yun, who is of the eighth rank. The superior of the criminal historian is the magistrate.
The Tongpan of a prefecture is an official of the sixth rank, the Tongzhi is a little higher, of the fifth rank, and above that is the Taishou or Zhifu, who are all of the fourth rank.
Of course, people like Lord Yi in Jiangzhou Prefecture in the provincial capital were half a level higher, a third-rank official.
"Let's take it step by step, starting with Captain Yang." Tang Wen waved his hand.
"Master, I'll go find someone and ask him." Qiao Xiao said.
"Well, that's fine. But be gentle and don't beat him to death." Tang Wen nodded.
"I understand." Qiao Xiao nodded and hurried away.
After lunch, Bu Feng came over nervously and said, "Master, Qiao Xiao hasn't come back yet. Did something happen?"
"It shouldn't be possible. He is very skilled and there are not many people in Yanling City who can deal with him." Ge Ziyun shook his head.
"Don't be arrogant. In this world, many masters don't like to be in the limelight. There are many hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Bu Feng, you should send someone out to look for them. Just go to Qianyefang and find out the situation." Tang Wen shook his head.
Bu Feng had just left when he returned and said, "Master, Liu Bantou is here. He said he was ordered by Captain Yang to contact you. It just so happened that you were in the city, so I brought him here directly."
"Let him in." Tang Wen said, and soon, Liu Bantou was brought in.
"Liu Bantou, please sit down." Tang Wen pointed at the chair.
"Master Tang, Captain Yang said he has something to discuss with you, so please come over right away." Liu Bantou said, because he had met Tang Wen before when he was in Koh Samui.
Liu Bantou knew that Tang Wen was a baron, and that he was rich, generous, and seemed to have a good relationship with Captain Yang.
Naturally, he did not dare to sit down, but half-knelt to greet him. Then, Tang Wen hurried to the county governor's mansion.
"Is Qiao Xiao your subordinate?" Yang Yun asked as soon as he saw Tang Wen.
"Yes, my personal guard. Didn't you meet him last time?" Tang Wen nodded.
"This is trouble." Yang Yun frowned.
"Did something happen to him?" Tang Wen was surprised and asked quickly.
"He was caught by the people from the Six Gates for fighting. Although he is locked up in our cell, I have no right to release him. So, quickly call Liu Bantou to come and inform your people. We didn't expect you to be in the city." Yang Yun said.
"The Six Gates also care about such a trivial matter as fighting?" Tang Wen was dumbfounded.
"We just happened to meet." Yang Yun replied.
"What's going on?" Tang Wen asked.
"I don't know either. The master of the Six Gates is called Kang Qingfeng, and he is a deputy director of the provincial hall.
Once they caught someone, they threw him into jail and told him not to let anyone get close to him.
I can't even get close to him, so I can't ask him anything." Yang Yun said.
"You are a captain of police and a military scholar, and I'm just a deputy director of the Six Gates. Don't they even give you face?" Tang Wen asked.
"It's useless! My words still have some effect in Yanling City.
However, the Six Gates are our detectives’ superiors.
They have great power. Whenever there is a case, of course I mean important cases, even military affairs, they will intervene.
What am I, a small constable?
If he is the chief constable of the provincial criminal court, then he is still useful." Yang Yun said bitterly.
"Is it effective, Lord Governor?" Tang Wen asked.
"Of course Lord Zhang's words are useful. Are you familiar with Lord Zhang?" Yang Yun asked.
"Not familiar!" Tang Wen shook his head.
"That would be a big problem. Those people in the Six Gates are ruthless and merciless. Even if you give him a trial for no reason, something bad will happen.
Even if he is released, he will probably have to lie in bed for a year or two. If he is unlucky, he may break his limbs or even lose his life.
Not to mention the common people, even small officials like us would be beaten to death by them in vain, just like killing a chicken.
That year, the prefect of Hongchuan was arrested for being involved in a case.
Finally someone proved his innocence and he was released.
But he was beaten to a cripple and had to spend the rest of his life confined to bed.
They didn't take any responsibility for that matter and the matter was left unresolved.
So, in their eyes, there is only the court, and nothing else matters?
To be honest, Sir, although you have a title, it is too low.
Plus, you don’t have any real power, so they look down on you.” Yang Yun said.
Next door! Isn't this the same as the East and West Factories of the Imperial Guard?
"What if my title can be promoted to Earl?" Tang Wen asked.
"That's certainly better. After all, Qiao Xiao is your subordinate, the head of a count's personal guard. Their attitude will be better.
Of course, only a little better.
If the Earl holds real power, that's another matter." Yang Yun said, "By the way, I have to congratulate you on this matter."
"Congratulations? What are you congratulating me for?" Tang Wen was a little confused.
"Didn't you kill 72 pirates last time? That's 72 military merits .
I submitted it to Lord Zhang, and he applied for it for me.
In this way, because of your military achievements, your title has been promoted to second-class baron.
I had originally planned to come to Koh Samui in a few days to deliver the official documents regarding the change of title.
In addition, there is a token.
Now that you are here, that's even better. I will take you to Master Zhang to pick you up first."
Yang Yun frowned again and said, "However, even if you are a second-class baron, Kang Qingfeng will not give you any face.
Unless you are promoted to earl, alas... this is troublesome.
However, Lord Zhang has also been troubled by the war in the northwest recently.
I haven't been able to collect enough money yet. If you ask him to come forward, I guess he won't be able to do it."
"Then please ask Captain Yang to introduce Lord Zhang. I want to apply for it immediately." Tang Wen bowed, and then the two of them went straight to Zhang Hongjiang.
Zhang Hongjiang was processing official documents, and Tang Wen met him directly.
Zhang Hongjiang is a thin middle-aged man who looks quite respectable. He is not one of those fat, greasy officials with a big belly.
In the past, a county governor was also in charge of military affairs, and even the troops of the county were under their control.
Therefore, the prefect at that time could be called a small official of the frontier, while the governor was called a big official of the frontier.
Later, there was a rebellion by the prefect. From then on, the county prefect was deprived of his military power, and his authority was naturally weakened a lot.
