Chapter 34: Extortion

Pang Yu lifted the teacup and blew gently across the surface. "Brother, my meaning is very clear. In the Fish Scale Atlas, Second Capital, Third Map, the Sun Family Branch Manor's seventeen mu of farmland — the registered owner's name has been changed to He Ruchong. Someone colluded with the neighborhood register and drove a farming woman of South Pond Neighborhood to her death. This is murder for property! Afterwards, they bribed a copyist in the Household Office to fraudulently register it under Grand Chancellor He's name, ruining Grand Chancellor He's lifelong unsullied reputation. The full ins and outs of this matter are detailed in the petition. I just want to ask Brother Yin: is such a hidden affair not worth those seventy taels?"

Yin Deng leaned forward slightly. "Brother Pang means to blackmail us."

Pang Yu met Yin Deng's fierce glare. "It is extortion. Lord He rose to the rank of Grand Secretary, returned home in retirement with the honor of a Grand Chancellor, never made an enemy of anyone, and is deeply revered by the people of our Tongcheng. Someone killed for land, then fraudulently registered it under the esteemed Lord He's name to evade taxes. Public outrage will be hard to quell. Unworthy as I am, I still feel obliged to intervene."

"If Brother Pang means to intervene, then he should report directly to His Honor Yang. Arrest the killer, seize the one who made the fraudulent registration. Why come to my New River Pawnshop instead?"

Pang Yu did not blush in the slightest. "I considered that New River Pawnshop is Lord Wu's enterprise. If County Magistrate Yang learned of this, he would have to worry about the esteemed Lord He's reputation on one hand, and Lord Wu's face and sentiment on the other. Would that not put him in an exceedingly difficult position? As a subordinate, I am willing to shoulder the burden. Take these few mu of land, and everyone gets peace and quiet, sparing Lord Yang a hard choice."

Yin Deng was briefly stunned. He seemed not to have expected Pang Yu's skin to be quite so thick. Narrowing his eyes, he said coldly, "And if I refuse?"

"There are two copies of the petition in Brother Yin's hands. If Brother Yin refuses, one copy will be delivered to the He Residence gatehouse before noon. Grand Chancellor He is a man who cherishes his feathers. He loves his reputation and knows when to advance and retreat. Intangible assets are very expensive. Yet you chose to fraudulently register land that incurred a human life under Lord He's name. If this matter blows up, it will not be about nine mu of farmland, but about a member of the Wu household slandering Lord He's lifelong unsullied reputation. When Lord He then comes asking at your residence, Lord Wu's humiliation will be more than nine mu of land can offset. And I wonder how Lord Wu might then view Brother Yin."

Yin Deng said angrily, "What intangible asset — nonsense and ravings. You stir up a heaven-shaking storm over a few mu of land — what good can possibly come of it for you?"

"Naturally, I gain no real benefit either. But Brother Yin's loss is far greater than mine. So to avoid a mutual loss for us both, I made a special trip to discuss this with Brother Yin face to face."

The corner of Yin Deng's mouth twitched. He composed his fierce expression somewhat and said, "Brother Pang, it is true that you have gone to the Household Office, but in the end you are still a runner. Pawnshops and pledge shops may be too vulgar for polite society, but they are connected in every way to the County Yamen's Household Office, Archive Repository, and Document Receiving Office. How many people depend on the profit-sharing from these lands to make a living? Even if Brother Pang is a man of influence within the yamen, he dare not offend so many people."

"I understand that perfectly. But your esteemed establishment will offend even more people."

"I am not the one stirring up trouble. Whom has my New River Pawnshop offended?"

"The shady dealings in farmland — huafang, Scattered Allocations, guiji — buried beneath the soil, they are customary practice." Pang Yu fixed his eyes on Yin Deng. "But if someone digs them up, and the matter involves a retired Grand Secretary, then Lord Yang, even just for show, will have to audit the Fish Scale Atlas to give Grand Chancellor He an explanation. I dare guarantee that the fraudulent registrations under the He family on that map are by no means limited to one or two places. In Tongcheng, there are two pawn brokerages, two pawnshops, and three pledge shops. Every one of them likely has such cases — perhaps even fraudulent registrations under the Zuo family, the Sun family, the Fang family. These are all great clans of scholarly tradition, some with members still on official career paths. Naturally, they value their reputations even more. Their collecting land themselves is one thing; someone else using their names for fraudulent registration is another. Offend all these families, and Tongcheng's pawn and pledge trade will suffer a great calamity. The Household Office will also be implicated far and wide. Trace the matter to its root, and it comes down to Brother Yin being unwilling to part with these few mu of land. Count up the people offended — I fear they will be no fewer than those offended by me."

"Everyone has eyes to see. It is not decided by your mouth alone. You ruin the financial path of Tongcheng's many pawn and pledge shops — that is a business of ten thousand taels a year. Has Brother Pang ever heard that blocking a man's financial path is like killing his parents? A petty runner like you — I wonder how much that life is worth."

"My head is a bit dull. Sometimes I look at who gains more; sometimes I simply compare whose loss is greater. I have never carefully calculated the value of my life. At present, I estimate it is not worth ten thousand taels, but it is also not so easily taken. Moreover, I would also advise Brother Yin not to casually calculate the price of a man's life. Brother Yin's own wife and children are also in Tongcheng. If we tear off all pretense, at the very least, the Wu family using Brother Yin as a substitute scapegoat is well within the realm of possibility."

Yin Deng's eyes bulged wide as he glared death at Pang Yu and roared, "Then you and I perish together! My family has the Wu Residence to look after them — do your parents have anyone to support them in their old age?"

Pang Yu leaned in with a smile. "I wager Brother Yin will not resort to such a desperate measure. Do you know why?"

Yin Deng's gaze flickered. "Why?"

"Because once the Wu Residence comes to its senses, they will surely ask: New River Pawnshop is the Wu family's enterprise. The land the pawnshop acquires should naturally be placed under the Wu family name, which likewise enjoys tax exemptions. Why did Yin Deng risk provoking a retired Grand Secretary by fraudulently registering it under Grand Chancellor He's name?"

Yin Deng did not answer, but the muscles of his face twitched faintly. Pang Yu observed Yin Deng's expression and knew his deduction was very close to the mark. Yin Deng and Shopkeeper Liu had definitely done far more than just this one parcel of land. If one investigated through the Household Office, more would certainly be uncovered.

Pang Yu continued, "Because the He family is self-disciplined and observes propriety. They do not own much land in Tongcheng, and thus have never paid attention to fraudulent registrations under their name. These few mu of land did not go to the Wu family, nor to the He family. From then on, they vanished without a trace. When finally sold, the silver naturally never entered the pawnshop's accounts either. Perhaps it entered the Yin family's accounts. Someone used the Wu family pawnshop to earn silver for himself. I wonder how many more unclear accounts there are, and how many more have vanished without a trace. If the Wu family wishes to follow the vine to the melon, I can lend assistance from the Household Office. I believe Brother Yin has also heard that what I am best at is counting. Even if Brother Yin bought my life in advance with ten thousand taels of silver, it would be hard to dispel the Wu family's suspicions. The Household Office has plenty of people, and they all know how to keep accounts."

"Brother Pang certainly prices his own life very dearly."

Pang Yu smiled and ignored him, continuing, "If the matter leaks, I am a commoner, but Brother Yin is a household slave. Not only is Brother Yin himself a man of the Wu household, even his wife and children belong to the Wu family. Since Brother Yin has been using the pawnshop to line his own pockets in secret, the Wu family will naturally no longer shelter Brother Yin's family dependents. Not only that, Brother Yin will also have enraged the He family. How then will you establish yourself and make a living in Tongcheng? Therefore, I have come to make a transaction, not to fight Brother Yin to the death. Brother Yin may carefully consider, and then tell me: are the consequences above not worth seventy taels?"

Before Yin Deng could answer, a gentle male voice came from behind the screen. "Brother Pang has great courage."

Without raising his head, Pang Yu recognized the voice as Shopkeeper Liu's. In a pawnshop, where large sums of money are involved, mutual wariness runs deep. Whenever there is a major transaction, the shopkeeper is always present — if not in front of you, then behind the door. Since Yin Deng was negotiating with Pang Yu, Pang Yu had guessed all along that Shopkeeper Liu was in the inner room.

He immediately rose with a smile. "Greetings, Shopkeeper Liu."

Liu Ruogu emerged gracefully from behind the screen. Yin Deng hastily yielded his seat. Shopkeeper Liu sat down opposite Pang Yu, took the petition paper that had been crumpled into a ball in Yin Deng's hand, unfolded it, and began reading it carefully.

He read very quickly. After a moment, he raised his head, his rather spirited eyes looking at Pang Yu's face. His expression was calm — worlds apart from Yin Deng's gnashing fury.

"Brother Pang's visit is somewhat sudden. I originally felt an instant affinity with Brother Pang. Though I am no wealthy man, these few mu of land are still within my means. Even giving them to Brother Pang outright would not be out of the question. However, we who open our doors to do business abide by the rules of commerce. Brother Pang coming to our door like this, demanding goods with an open mouth — in the seven years I have run this pawnshop, I have never heard of such a thing. Once this precedent is set, if Brother Pang feels like coming again in the future, he will come. Or worse, if others follow suit, this pawnshop will be out of business."

"Shopkeeper Liu's words are somewhat inconsistent."

Liu Ruogu asked curiously, "How am I inconsistent?"

"Since in all these years, I am the only one who has come, that proves not everyone can follow suit. I can also guarantee that this matter will not reach a fourth person's ears." Pang Yu's face was full of sincerity. "All my life, I have followed one principle: where there is a need, there is value. Right now, you and I both hold something the other needs. After the transaction, the land goes to me, and my item goes to you. In the future, no one will bring it up again. There will absolutely be no worry of someone coming whenever they please."

Liu Ruogu shook his head with a rueful laugh. He waited a moment before speaking. "Brother Pang is from the Household Office. New River Pawnshop has dealt with the Household Office for many years — we are not outsiders. To speak frankly, I am not the only one who has made fraudulent registrations under the He family name. Back when Zhang Juzheng was at the height of his power, people dared to fraudulently register under the Zhang family name, let alone under a retired Grand Secretary. There is even less reason to harm the harmony with the yamen over a few mu of land. But I want to understand clearly: is this land something Brother Pang wants for himself, or does someone else in the yamen want it? I must ask Brother Pang to give me an honest answer."

Pang Yu knew Liu Ruogu was probing his background. Fixing his eyes on the man, he said slowly, "I will not say it is for myself, nor will I say it is not for myself. But there are some things I can reveal a little to Shopkeeper Liu. Your taking of these less than ten mu of land is nothing much. But the public anger over Old Zheng beating Yue Ji to death has not yet subsided, and then you drove a farming woman in South Pond Neighborhood to jump into the water and die. This land, stained with human life, you then fraudulently registered under Grand Chancellor He's name. Do you think the Tongcheng County Yamen has too few troubles?"

Shopkeeper Liu carefully studied Pang Yu's expression. Pang Yu steadily met Shopkeeper Liu's gaze. His words mixed truth and falsehood, without involving any actual figures from the yamen. He borrowed the public sentiment from the Yue Ji affair and the immense prestige of He Ruchong, hoping to lead Shopkeeper Liu to draw his own conclusions.

Because of the Old Zheng matter, New River Pawnshop had been at the center of the storm these past few days. Although Yue Ji's grain sale had nothing to do with the pawnshop, Old Zheng indeed worked at New River Pawnshop, and both were Wu family enterprises. So when Yue Ji's funeral procession passed, his family dependents had deliberately stopped in front of the pawnshop gate.

Wu Yingqi was advanced in years and ordinarily paid no attention to business matters, leaving everything to the household slaves to manage. After this incident, Wu Yingqi was quite enraged and absolutely dared not stir up any more trouble at this moment. Pang Yu's choice of timing could be said to strike precisely at New River Pawnshop's most vulnerable spot.

Shopkeeper Liu had failed to glean any information from Pang Yu's demeanor. He withdrew his gaze and was silent for a moment. "This matter was handled too rashly. We who open our doors for business seek only wealth, not lives."

Pang Yu looked at Yin Deng, who stood to the side. "Yet just now, Brother Yin was calculating how much silver my life is worth."

Liu Ruogu, having lost ground in the verbal exchange, could only say, "Then allow me to apologize on his behalf first, and I beg Brother Pang not to take it to heart. Given our relationship with the Household Office, everything is negotiable. We would never dare threaten violence."

Yin Deng kept his head slightly lowered, his eyes glancing up at Pang Yu, showing no hint of apology whatsoever.

Liu Ruogu tapped the tabletop. He still had not figured out the other party's angle — whether Pang Yu was simply blinded by personal greed, or whether someone powerful behind the scenes in the county yamen was pulling the strings. The implications in Pang Yu's words allowed for many interpretations. It could be the Household Office's intent, or the County Vice-Magistrate's intent, or it could even be that he was acting on Yang Fangzao's orders to rap New River Pawnshop's knuckles, to prevent them from seizing land and inflaming public sentiment again, or from provoking He Ruchong.

Ordinarily, the county yamen was not in a position of strength against the Wu family. But Pang Yu had seized the crucial point that Shopkeeper Liu and his associate had deceived the Wu family, preventing the two from borrowing the Wu family's backing. It had become a contest between the two of them and the county yamen — and Shopkeeper Liu's side was at a crushing disadvantage.

Seeing Pang Yu's utterly fearless demeanor, Liu Ruogu felt increasingly uncertain. Of course, no matter how many calculations Liu Ruogu made, he would never have imagined that this utterly shameless person before him had come solely for the sake of a little girl he did not even know.

Liu Ruogu raised his eyes to look at Yin Deng. After exchanging a silent consultation with their eyes, he said to Pang Yu, "Then how can I trust that Brother Pang will not come pulling this same stunt again?"

Hearing a shift in Liu Ruogu's tone, Pang Yu also softened his own. "I have never been a good man, but there is one thing I value above all: trustworthiness. Whether Brother Liu believes it or not, I will not be a runner forever. In the future, if someone wanted to give me nine mu of land, I might not even accept it. Of course, Shopkeeper Liu and I are not deeply acquainted. Whether your trust is well-placed can only depend on luck."

Shopkeeper Liu looked at Pang Yu. Pang Yu smiled and met his gaze. After a long while, Brother Liu suddenly burst out laughing. "Some days ago, I heard a few friends in the yamen mention that Brother Pang's spirit awakening was a stroke of fortune. I took it as an amusing tale. I never imagined Brother Pang had such courage. In my thirty-plus years in Tongcheng, today is the first time someone has dared to do business with me like this. This fortune of Brother Pang's — I am somewhat inclined to believe it now. Since Brother Pang says these few mu of land will stir up no small amount of trouble, then I dare not hold onto them any longer. I must trouble Brother Pang to dispose of them on my behalf."

Pang Yu stood up. "The shopkeeper's magnanimity is indeed on another level. The dozen or so taels you paid as principal for the land must still be reimbursed. Once the autumn grain is collected, I will come to settle the account."

Liu Ruogu also stood. "I will see the favor through to the end. Since I wish to make Brother Pang's friendship, I might as well waive it entirely, to avoid having to scramble at the last minute in the future. But this is a one-time exception, never to be repeated. Yin Deng, give the deed to Brother Pang."

Pang Yu felt a slight surge of excitement in his heart, but immediately realized Liu Ruogu was still observing him. He quickly calmed his mind, sat steadily in his seat, and without any change of expression, chatted with Shopkeeper Liu about amusing trifles.

Yin Deng quickly returned with the deed. Shopkeeper Liu presented it to Pang Yu with both hands.

Pang Yu accepted it respectfully and flipped through it. The map number and local land name on the deed were all correct, but the registered owner's name was written as someone surnamed Jia — needless to say, a purely fictitious person. That meant it also did not match the Fish Scale Atlas. The He family was on the Fish Scale Atlas but held no deed. Shopkeeper Liu held the deed, but it did not match the Fish Scale Atlas. As long as one had the neighborhood register and the Household Office squared away, one could evade taxes and still seek opportunities to trade.

After a long time, through further transactions and transfers, this parcel of land would vanish entirely from the official registers. The only person who would know the truth was the neighborhood tax register clerk, because he dealt directly with the specific land. All transactions passed through their hands. The register in their possession was the true record of the land situation. By exploiting the discrepancy with the official information, the neighborhood register could profit over the long term.

Pang Yu tucked the deed safely away and cupped his hands toward Shopkeeper Liu. "Regardless of who sent me today, in the end, it is the shopkeeper who has given me face and sentiment. There will be recompense in the future. Shopkeeper Liu, our days ahead are long."

With that, Pang Yu also cupped his hands toward Yin Deng, then turned and walked out the door. Only when his back was to the two men did Pang Yu let out a long breath.

Shopkeeper Liu and his associate saw him to the door and watched Pang Yu's retreating figure stride away into the distance.

Yin Deng's face was full of displeasure. "This man talks in circles and contradictions. Shopkeeper, why did you still give him the deed? We lost several dozen taels of profit for nothing. I don't believe he would dare go report this to the He family."

Shopkeeper Liu said quietly, "Can you guarantee that?"

Yin Deng was momentarily speechless. If by any chance this Pang Yu really did it, it would be utter catastrophe for both Shopkeeper Liu and Yin Deng. Who would dare rashly guarantee otherwise?

Shopkeeper Liu sighed. "He used to be called Pang the Second Fool. Perhaps he wouldn't have done such a thing before, but at this stormy moment, how dare we take the risk? Besides, the Household Office people say the County Vice-Magistrate and that Tang Weimin think very highly of this man. For this autumn grain collection in kind, they assigned him a bench. It is very hard to say who really sent this Pang Yu here. If it was the County Vice-Magistrate, then it is mostly out of concern for public sentiment. If it was Tang Weimin — he completed his examination as a clerk last year. If one day he succeeds Clerk Zhao as head, and we refused to give it now, would we not be offending the head of the Household Office over a few mu of land?"

"But what if that fool Pang came here on his own…"

"Then all the more reason to give it to him." Liu Ruogu raised the petition in his hand, frowning. "A boy in his teens who can write a petition like this, yet has the audacity and sheer nerve to walk into a pawnshop and demand land — he's either a complete idiot or frighteningly shrewd. Either way, I'd rather get to know someone like that."