Chapter 1407

Chen Guanlou gave a seemingly approving 'hmm', his gaze toward Du Xiuwen even holding a hint of appreciation.

People capable of doing great things, pulling off bizarre stunts, and also capable of self-brainwashing—remaining steadfast and unrepentant—all have some ability in them. As for whether this ability is good or bad, it depends on what they use it for.

If used for gambling, then there's no saving them!

If used for pyramid schemes, they are at least a leader of some size, and they have the ability to make a comeback.

This person's brain was slightly similar to the cult rebels; it was a bit to his taste.

Du Xiuwen held his head high, like a warrior ready to die for a cause, a proud iron rooster, or perhaps someone who considered himself to represent the integrity of scholars. He looked at Chen Guanlou with disdain, but upon seeing the appreciation in the other's eyes, he was instantly bewildered. The proud posture he had just struck instantly collapsed.

"You approve of me? You also think I was right, don't you?"

Chen Guanlou shook his head, then nodded, "I approve of your spirit, but I don't think you were right."

"Absurd! Since you approve of my ideas, why do you insist I was wrong? How can a person be so fickle and two-faced? Warden Chen, you are very dangerous."

Chen Guanlou sneered; he hadn't expected to be lectured in return.

"No matter how dangerous I am, I don't have to go to the execution ground to be beheaded. You are different; not only will you be beheaded, but you will also receive a 'nine-generation execution' package. Scholar Du, are you surprised?"

Du Xiuwen was a living example of a dead duck with a stiff beak; he would never bow his head, "Even if I go to the execution ground to be beheaded, it cannot deny what I did. The law not allowing it does not mean I was wrong. Warden Chen, you read too little and don't understand my sentiments; I forgive you."

Chen Guanlou wanted to laugh but tried his best to hold it in, biting his lips together and pinching his nose. Scholars these days, compared to those from a dozen years ago, seemed remarkably conspicuous and peculiar, as if they had been instilled with some strange ideas; each and every one of them acted and spoke in such an abstract way.

The 'Jia' grade prison held hundreds of Jinshi officials, and he hadn't seen those officials being so abstract, so high and mighty, or using their academic credentials to look down on others.

A mere Xiucai—what virtue or ability did he have to possess such a strong sense of superiority!

Thinking about it, perhaps the elders in Scholar Du's hometown were all too simple, only knowing how to praise people and not how to scold them.

"Scholar Du, you seem a bit unclear about the situation. You are a prisoner, and I am the Warden. If I want to deal with you, it only takes one word to make your life worse than death. The last scholar who was as stubborn as you, the grass on his grave is already growing."

"So what! What is there to be happy about in life, and what is there to fear in death! I don't even fear death; would I fear you!" Du Xiuwen's gaze was exceptionally disdainful; a mere Warden trying to threaten him—what a joke.

In his hometown, he was a famous stubborn bone.

His ability to study might not be great, but he lacked none of the bad habits of a scholar.

Chen Guanlou really couldn't help but laugh out loud, "How about this: considering you rebelled, I won't treat you harshly. For the next three days, you will live in the interrogation room and experience the hospitable side of our Heavenly Prison. Don't refuse; we are just that enthusiastic. Someone, send Scholar Du to the interrogation room to experience the fiery side of life!"

Upon hearing this, the prison guards became excited; they loved watching these stubborn scholars cry and wail. The contrast was so great—so it turns out scholars are also afraid of death! They might even be more afraid of death than ordinary people.

This was just too good!

Chen Guanlou left the 'Jia' grade prison leisurely and returned to his office to drink tea.

News came from the Marquis's mansion, inviting him over for a drink.

He had only finished drinking with them a few days ago; why drink again?

He asked the servant who delivered the message, "Has something happened?"

"The little one doesn't know very well. It seems like the caravan or something else ran into a problem."

Chen Guanlou nodded in understanding, "Go back and tell Brother Qiang that after I finish my shift, I'll go find him for a drink."

"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Lou!" The servant bowed and withdrew.

Following the death of the old Marchioness, the Marquis of Pingjiang was promoted from 'Old Master' to 'Old Patriarch', and Chen Guanlou was also promoted from 'Young Master Lou' to 'Lord Lou'. After all, he was of the same generation as Chen Guanfu.

Chen Guanfu was already an 'Old Master', so as a peer, he couldn't remain a 'Young Master' playboy.

Lord Lou, Lord Lou—this title was not bad; he was very satisfied.

After his shift, he headed straight for the Marquis's mansion. Entering through the back door, he was invited to the flower hall, the banquet was set, and he and Chen Guanqiang exchanged cups; the atmosphere was excellent. It was just a pity there were no beautiful maids to accompany them.

After all, it was a Marquis's mansion; one had to be mindful of decency. One couldn't bring the ways of brothels into the mansion and corrupt the atmosphere.

After drinking three cups, they got to the point.

"I invited you over today because something happened."

"What happened? Did the immigrants run into problems?"

"Immigrants running into problems is something the court should worry about; it's not our place to worry. You also know that the Marquis's caravan travels all over the world without ever being harassed. Even going to the Great Wilderness, the people there don't dare to play dirty. Yet this time, someone in the South was bold enough to dare touch the Marquis's caravan. And people died!"

Chen Guanqiang was extremely furious, even to the point of gritting his teeth.

"And among those who died, several were members of the Chen clan, of the same generation as you—all of the 'Guan' generation. Several of the 'Meng' generation, because they were young and ran fast, managed to escape a disaster. The Heir Apparent handed this matter to me to handle entirely, so I thought of you."

Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows slightly, "Do you know who did it?"

"That's where the problem lies. Up to now, we suspect rebels, we suspect mountain bandits, we suspect local powerful families, and we suspect the government. But there is no concrete evidence."

"Who is the biggest suspect? What do the survivors say? Were the goods all looted?"

Chen Guanqiang deliberated for a moment before saying, "We judge that the rebels are more suspicious. We also don't rule out local powerful families; after all, they have a reputation. As for the goods, naturally, they weren't preserved. There was also a sum of silver among the goods. These are all minor matters. The key is that there were things the Marquis needed among the goods, and they were also looted. This matter can be big or small. So, I need you to go to the South in person. How about it?"

Chen Guanlou didn't rush to agree.

He had long known that the Marquis's mansion organized caravans to transport goods from the South to the North. Each time, a batch of goods was sent to the Marquis. He had speculated that they must be contraband.

The South had many mountains and mineral resources, making it very convenient to produce contraband on the spot.

And with the Marquis's mansion's strength and long-term vision, they would certainly lay out plans in the South and set up several profitable business strongholds.

"Brother Qiang, tell me the truth: the things the Marquis wants—could they be contraband, like crossbows?"

"You can't just say things like that." Chen Guanqiang immediately became nervous and looked around, fearing someone might overhear.

Chen Guanlou teased with a smile, "Don't worry, within fifty zhang, there is no one."

"Caution is never a mistake!" Chen Guanqiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "The Marquis is fighting for the court. If he lacks military equipment, naturally he asks the court for it. How could he spend his own money to fight for the court? You misunderstood, misunderstood!"

Chen Guanlou smiled without smiling, "Truly misunderstood? If you don't tell me the truth, how can I find the lost goods for you? If I find the goods, how will I know if it's the batch you're looking for? Brother Qiang, we're our own people; why are you still being so distant?"