Chapter 142: Pulling the Radish Brings Out the Mud

A lightning-fast arrest operation was carried out around the city of Beijing.

In a mere ten days, four dens manufacturing Silver Dollars were destroyed, and over a hundred outlaws were captured and brought to justice.

These people all shared two characteristics.

First, they were not afraid of death; if they were afraid of death, they could never have come to do this sort of thing.

Second, most of them had someone backing them; after all, relying on themselves alone, even with the guts to do it, they could never have sustained such a large operation.

Over these past few days, the threshold of Han San's residence was nearly trampled flat.

These nobles, who were usually sanctimonious and full of talk about benevolence and morality, were panicking.

They sent their stewards to act like spineless cowards, squeezing out smiles to probe for information at Han San's residence.

Han San laughed it off, parrying when he could, and when he truly couldn't, he had no choice but to bring out Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Juzheng as his banner.

But this evening, an extraordinary big shot came to his residence.

It was Qian Liang, the steward of Wuqing Marquis Li Wei.

To avoid suspicion, he had even deliberately disguised himself and taken advantage of the night to pay a visit.

The two met, and Han San personally led Qian Liang to the study to sit down.

Once seated, Qian Liang leaned to the side and said urgently, "Thousand-Household Han, let's not beat around the bush. I have a friend who was caught by your men. Please raise your hand and let him go, and I will thank you on his behalf."

Han San felt a sense of alarm, but on the surface, he remained calm and asked, "Oh? Which blind thing dared to provoke a friend of Steward Qian? What is your friend's name? I will go and ask for you first thing tomorrow morning."

"It's nothing major; he just happened to be passing by when you were making arrests, and your men mistook him for a bandit and caught him along with the others," Qian Liang smiled at him and said dismissively.

"With so many people, one more or one less doesn't make a difference. Just raise your hand and consider it a favor to me."

"Your friend wouldn't happen to be involved in the counterfeit currency case, would he?"

"You could say that."

"Then I'm afraid I cannot release him."

Han San began to find it difficult.

Qian Liang eyed his expression and cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he flattered him, "Who doesn't know that you are the favorite in front of Minister Zhang, his right-hand man?"

"As long as you nod, it's just one person; it doesn't count for much."

"What favorite? To put it bluntly, I am just a servant to the young master; every day is like walking on thin ice, living with my tail between my legs."

"Brother Han is being too modest."

"It is Brother Qian who is overestimating me. I dare not do things I have no certainty about."

The two sparred for a long time, and no matter how much Qian Liang flattered him, Han San remained unmoved. At the same time, he did not completely reject Qian Liang, always maintaining this balance.

He made him feel that there was a certain degree of certainty that this matter could be accomplished.

Seeing that his own weight was insufficient, Qian Liang brought up Wuqing Marquis Li Wei directly: "Brother Han, you should know my status, and you are clear in your heart about who stands behind me."

"Is this the Marquis's intention?" Han San asked in surprise.

Qian Liang did not answer, only smiling as he picked up his teacup, blew gently on the steam inside, and then gulped it down his throat.

An eerie silence permeated the hall.

It was quieter than death.

The silence lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and Han San broke the stalemate: "I wonder, who is the person Brother Qian wants to protect?"

"Sun Xiang," Qian Liang said a name, then smiled sinisterly, "Brother Han, I have said all I can say. If anyone asks, just say you haven't seen me."

"After releasing that person, get him out of Beijing, as far away as possible."

"Then why not just finish him off?" Han San heard the apprehension in Qian Liang's words and asked directly.

You think I don't want to? Qian Liang shook his head, his mind flashing back to events from a month ago.

It is said that a month ago, when the Silver Dollar was just issued, the Silver Dollar Street on Chongwen Street was bustling with noise, and even underweight Silver Dollars could be used as full-weight ones.

Sun Xiang had sought him out, saying he wanted to discuss a big deal with the old Marquis.

Sun Xiang was originally from Nanjing, and his grandfather was a scholar; because there were too many scholars in Nan Zhili, the two lamented that there was no hope of advancing their studies.

Thus, they simply gave up the path of officialdom. His grandfather started out by opening a rice shop, and because he had a sharp mind and prices were more affordable than others,

soon the rice shop opened branches.

Later, he used his connections to obtain Salt Permits, and relying on the profits from selling salt, the Sun family accumulated massive wealth over two generations.

As the saying goes, after a full meal and wine, one thinks of lust.

Once they had money, they naturally thought about seizing power. Although Nanjing was prosperous, it was ultimately far from Beijing, and most people in the city were those who had failed in officialdom.

If the Grand Secretary Zhang in Beijing sneezed, it could cause a tornado in Nanjing.

To expand his business, Sun Xiang brought his servants to Beijing to open a branch.

Through the introduction of a friend, he met the steward of Wuqing Marquis Li Wei. Because Sun Xiang was willing to spend money, after much wining, dining, and gambling, the two actually became close brothers.

Because they were familiar, their courage grew.

Last month, when the Silver Dollar came out, Sun Xiang sought him out and asked Qian Liang, "Brother, a big business opportunity has arrived. Do you dare to pull a job with your brother?"

Qian Liang's heart itched, and he asked, "What big deal?"

Sun Xiang, unhurried, took a Silver Dollar from his bosom and said with a chuckle, "It's this thing. Making one piece yields ten times the profit."

Qian Liang took it and looked, but his heart began to retreat.

Private minting of currency is a capital offense. Money is a beloved bastard, but one must have a life to spend it.

Sun Xiang saw his concerns and smiled to comfort him, "Brother, why are you so timid? You are the steward of the Wuqing Marquis. Who is the Wuqing Marquis? He is the Emperor's grandfather-in-law, the father of the current Empress Dowager."

"It is unlikely that anyone would dare to investigate him."

Qian Liang was somewhat moved, so he leaked this news to his master.

Who is the Wuqing Marquis? He is a figure who would turn somersaults in a money eye and would even pry the dates out of a monkey's mouth if he saw one.

Upon hearing there was money to be made, he relied on his seniority and his status as the number one imperial relative, and immediately gave his approval.

With Li Wei helping out, the two were like wild boars that had eaten aphrodisiacs, howling and screeching, and they managed to build the platform in less than five or six days.

Then they frantically began minting Silver Dollars.

Who would have thought that in less than a month, a thunderous sweep would turn everything into nothingness.

Li Wei and Qian Liang were worried that Sun Xiang might spill something, so they could only pull strings first, preparing to fish him out before anything else.

Han San, standing to the side, saw that Qian Liang had become tight-lipped, and spoke up again: "Steward Qian, we cannot make the call on this matter; we must go and ask for instructions."

"Fine, but be quick, and keep that kid in solitary confinement; no matter what he says, don't believe it." Qian Liang nodded and agreed.

"I understand."

After Han San finished speaking, he saw Qian Liang out of the mansion gate, then headed straight for Zhang Yunxiu's residence.

By now the night was thick and mellow, and Zhang Yunxiu was in the bedroom teasing his daughter in her small carriage when he suddenly heard a servant come to report.

It was said that Han San had an urgent matter and requested an audience.

What could he be coming for so late? Zhang Yunxiu was puzzled, and Zheng Xi'er, who was at his side, reminded him: "Thousand-Household Han has always been steady; coming at this hour, there must be some major event."

"Then you go on coaxing our daughter, I will go see him."

"Mm."

Leaving his wife and daughter, Zhang Yunxiu headed straight for the small parlor. Inside, Han San was drenched in sweat and panting, looking as if he had been busy without a moment's rest.

In reality, this fellow had been having his subordinates do the arresting for the past few days while he hid in the yamen to enjoy some leisure, all to put on a show for his superiors.

He had deliberately worked up this sweat.

"What is going on?" Zhang Yunxiu asked with a frown upon seeing him, then walked quickly to the main seat and sat down.

Han San hurriedly lifted his backside off the stool, cupped his hands and said: "Young Master, we have caught a big fish, and now people are begging at our door; I did not dare to make the decision, so I came specifically to ask for instructions."

"Who?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"The steward of Wuqing Marquis Li Wei."

It really was him.

Zhang Yunxiu had long had a premonition; that old man loved wealth as much as his own life, and relying on being a royal relative, his boldness knew no bounds.

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu did not speak, Han San spoke up again to remind him: "How does the Young Master intend to handle this?"

"First go and see the person who has been detained; this time we must make an example of someone."

(End of chapter)