Chapter 46: Persuade to live, not to die

"Official, have confidence in yourself. Maybe one day when the time comes, you will go out." Chen Guanlou persuaded sincerely. He listened to the words of the one surnamed Jin, and felt that the other party already had the worst plan in his heart.

"You are really afraid that I will die in the Heavenly Prison and implicate you. Haha..." Official Jin gave a dry laugh.

Chen Guanlou didn't deny it, but gave him a piece of news, "Jiang Tu returned to his original post, continuing to serve as the Copper Minister of the Imperial Treasury. Then His Majesty appointed him as the Ministry of Works Minister, responsible for building palaces and gardens, sharing worries for His Majesty."

Official Jin heard this, his eyes flickering, "Why are you telling me this."

"Nothing, just letting you know some news from the outside." Don't die in the Heavenly Prison without knowing why.

Official Jin didn't believe it, officials all like to complicate simple things, and turn complex things into death.

"Jiang Tu? Jiang Tu is just a sycophant, he hasn't even read a few books."

"But Official Jiang is more favored by the Emperor than anyone else, and understands the Emperor's intentions better."

"Then may I ask Chen Tou, what is the Emperor's intention?"

"Naturally, it's money."

Chen Guanlou said as a matter of course.

Reality couldn't be so simple, the things the old Emperor was thinking about in his heart definitely went beyond money. However, the things that could make the old Emperor happy, money was the first. With money, he could be wild! The old Emperor is becoming more and more wild now, and the money he needs is also more and more. Jiang Tu got imperial favor at this time, this is time and fate. But if it were ten years earlier, Jiang Tu wouldn't even be able to see the old Emperor's face, and would have been killed.

Chen Guanlou then said another sentence, "The higher-ups haven't allocated money to the Heavenly Prison for half a year. It all relies on your donations to support it."

Official Jin was laughed at by anger, turning coercion and inducement into "donations," prison guards are all the same, truly shameless. However, the word "donation" sounds good, and everyone can save face. The truth is often cruel, lowly, and degenerate, and no one wants to bear the name of a coward to send money to prison guards.

"Chen Tou rest assured, for a while, the old man doesn't have the heart to die."

"That's very good!"

Chen Guanlou left with peace of mind, and at the same time instructed the prison guards to keep an eye on this group of officials and report any abnormalities in time.

He didn't have enough people under his hand, so he submitted an application, hoping the higher-ups would arrange a few more prison guards for him to fill the personnel. The application was submitted, but it sank into the sea. He didn't go to urge it, just worked harder himself and took on more things.

Newcomers came to the prison.

The Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Yu Zhaoan, was locked in the Heavenly Prison, directly locked in Cell 69, under Chen Guanlou's jurisdiction.

After receiving the prisoner, he asked about Yu Zhaoan's case, "I don't know what offense this Official Yu committed? How should we treat him, please instruct."

The Six Shanmen lackey looked at him curiously, "Newcomer? The people above didn't tell you."

Chen Guanlou's heart skipped a beat, then smiled: "The official also knows, the Heavenly Prison is chaotic, and delays are common."

The Six Shanmen lackey looked at him with a half-smile, "There are case files on Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan's side, if you want to know what offense Yu Zhaoan committed, just ask Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan. I only tell you, he offended His Majesty."

"Understood. Many thanks for the official's information! I don't know the official's surname, when are you free, I will set up a table of wine, and invite the official to give me face?"

"You want to invite me to drink? You are really good at drilling."

After saying that, the Six Shanmen lackey left.

Chen Guanlou:...

Is this giving him an opportunity or giving him an opportunity or giving him an opportunity.

He first found Li Dahong and inquired about the precautions for receiving prisoners.

"May I ask if Brother Li is free tonight, I will set up a table of wine at Desheng Tower, please

"Hahaha, plenty of time, plenty of time." Li Dahong seemed very satisfied with his tact. "Younger brother, I heard you've received new prisoners. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

"Brother Li, you've been a huge help! Right now, I've received a new prisoner official who was originally an official from the Censorate. I don't know how to..."

"Don't rush, don't rush. Let's talk about it tonight, let's talk about it tonight. Haha..."

Chen Guanlou agreed repeatedly, but once he turned around, he cursed inwardly. Damn it!

He gathered the four prison guards, found a vacant room, and asked about the matter.

"Tell me, how did Zhao Tou handle it when new prisoner officials arrived in the past?"

In the past, in the C-block prison, there weren't so many issues. The C-block prison held the dregs of the Wu Lin; it didn't matter what they had done, what mattered was paying money. Aside from money, everything else was just trivial details.

In the A-block prison, money was very important, but other details were also important. One had to have a clear idea of what level of treatment a prisoner official should receive and whether the case was big or small.

"Reporting to Chen Tou, in the past, when there were new prisoners, Zhao Tou would always go to find Prison Clerk Wan to inquire about the situation first. If there were no special circumstances, he would handle it according to the rules. If the situation was special, he would have to adapt according to the specific circumstances."

As soon as Chen Guanlou heard the name Prison Clerk Wan, his head began to ache.

"Aside from Prison Clerk Wan, are there any other ways?"

"Does Chen Tou really have a conflict with Prison Clerk Wan?" Qian Fugui asked.

Chen Guanlou let out a cold snort with a fierce look in his eyes, and Qian Fugui immediately shut his mouth.

Xiao Jin was an old hand after all, so he tried to suggest: "If Chen Tou wants to avoid Prison Clerk Wan, this subordinate does have a way."

"Let's hear it."

"You should cultivate a relationship with Li Shuqun, who is by Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan's side."

This Li Shuqun held no official position, but his treatment in the Heavenly Prison was transcendent. Nominally, he was the steward of the Fan Prefecture, but in reality, he was equivalent to Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan's private secretary, devising strategies for him.

It was inconvenient to deal with Jiang Jiang Yucheng Fan directly. The superior would surely be impatient if subordinates ran to ask for advice every time an issue arose. Thus, Li Shuqun's role became prominent: passing information up and down.

Chen Guanlou nodded repeatedly and said to the four prison guards: "In the future, if you have any thoughts or ideas, propose them boldly. Here with me, there is no such thing as trouble coming from the mouth."

"Yes!"

"Then how should we arrange things for Lord Yu?"

"Handle it according to the rules first. After I communicate with Secretary Li, we will decide whether to adjust it then."

"We will follow Chen Tou's instructions!"

The first night, he treated Li Dahong to wine. Li Dahong spat out some real information for him, making him increasingly clear about the unspoken rules of the A-block prison.

The second night, he treated Secretary Li to wine and entertainment, spending a large sum of money to have a top courtesan accompany them, serving Secretary Li comfortably.

Secretary Li did not disappoint him after this hospitality. "Xiao Lou, put your heart at ease. Although this Yu Zhaoan comes from the Jixia Academy, his temper is foul and stubborn, and he has truly offended many people in official circles. Just handle it according to the rules, and you won't go wrong."

Chen Guanlou was not reassured. "But Yu Zhaoan is foul and stubborn. What if he refuses to pay silver according to the rules?"

"If he refuses to pay silver, his family will surely be willing to pay. In our line of work, we must know how to be flexible."

"Secretary Li's words have suddenly enlightened me. This subordinate toasts Secretary Li; I'll finish mine, you drink as you please."

"Hahaha, Xiao Lou has a good capacity for liquor. Next time I host a gathering, you should come too."