Chapter 137: Hiding in the Fengle Fang

Dayoufang Lane is an old street in Jin Ling. More than ten years ago, there was a Wang Oil Mill here, which was the largest and most famous oil mill in Jin Ling Province.

As time went on, the people of Jin Ling got used to calling this street Dayoufang Lane.

More than ten years ago, the boss of the Wang Oil Mill was found to have rebellious actions and was in collusion with the remnants of the Hidden Sect.

At that time, the Emperor Prince Jia Shun had just ascended the throne in a precarious situation. In order to stabilize the court, he severely suppressed all rebellious acts. The 57 members of the Wang Oil Mill were all beheaded and displayed to the public overnight.

Although the Wang Oil Mill disappeared forever, the name of the lane remained, because the people of Jin Ling had long been used to calling it that, and the government was too lazy to care about these small things.

An ordinary carriage drove into Dayoufang Lane and stopped by the road.

In the carriage, Xiang Ling pointed through the curtain to a house across the street and said: "Young Master, the third black lacquer gate from the opposite side is Boss Zhou's house."

In fact, the Prince of Ning handled the case of the Japanese merchant ship's dispute and the arrest of the Japanese ronin who killed and robbed goods. These were not within Jia Cong's duties and had nothing to do with him.

But the information Xiang Ling accidentally

Jia Cong smiled at Xiang Ling and said, "Just stay in the carriage and don't move. Remember, don't show your face!"

It's just that when we arrived, that foreign goods merchant surnamed Zhou was not at home; we ended up making a wasted trip.

"Your Highness, based on the address provided by the Grade 8 official, we found the residence of that foreign goods merchant surnamed Zhou in Da Youfang Lane.

In his home, we searched out several other bolts of Japanese silk, as well as other Japanese foreign goods totaling over four thousand guan, and even twenty Rumi muskets and some ammunition and gunpowder.

As long as we catch this person and follow the vine to find the melon, those two hundred thousand guan of Japanese foreign goods, as well as those Japanese ronin causing trouble, will surely be captured along with the stolen goods!"

This man was in his forties, with a gaunt figure, gray-brown skin, small eyes, and a pursed mouth, but he had a hooked nose.

Moreover, the Japanese silk and other foreign goods discovered this time, when checked against the cargo manifest of the Japanese merchant ships, were confirmed by their categories, quantities, markings, and other characteristics to be part of those two hundred thousand guan of foreign goods.

Yang Hongbin was reporting to Prince Ning about the matters of coordinating with the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion today to arrest the suspect in Da Youfang Lane.

Rumi muskets are firearms strictly prohibited by the imperial court for civilian circulation; private possession is to be treated as a capital offense. This man surnamed Zhou actually possessed twenty Rumi muskets; this person is definitely not a good sort.

A figure who had just been about to come over at the street corner happened to see this scene and was so scared that he immediately shrank his body back.

A Company Commander of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion led a dozen or so guards and rushed into that black-lacquered gate.

Otherwise, he would not have said a word about this matter earlier at Prince Ning's temporary residence.

Those Japanese ronin were acting unscrupulously on the land of the Great Zhou, killing Great Zhou officers and soldiers, and even massacring more than a dozen households of innocent civilians.

In the situation of inadvertently learning important information, as a person with basic conscience and integrity, Jia Cong could not sit idly by with a clear conscience.

But just because he brought Xiang Ling to recognize the way does not mean he was unaware of the risks implied in this matter.

We asked the surrounding neighbors, who said the master of this house is named Zhou Suqing, a merchant specializing in the foreign goods business, and he had also served as an interpreter for Japanese merchant ships.

It is said that this person lived in Japan for many years, is most familiar with Japanese customs and sentiments, and has close dealings with many Japanese maritime merchants.

Jia Cong got off the carriage and explained the location to Yang Hongbin, who was waiting outside the carriage.

Prince Ning's temporary residence in Jin Ling.

From this, it can be inferred that this person must be the key figure helping those Japanese ronin dispose of the two hundred thousand guan of Japanese foreign goods.

Since Prince Ning arrived in Jin Ling, the Embroidered Uniform Guard imprisoned the eunuch in charge of the Shipping Office, Wang En, and this major case became like a kite with a broken string, with no further progress.

Those Japanese ronin who killed and looted remain at large to this day.

Now that the Japanese ronin have brutally murdered Jin Ling officials and civilians, after dozens of days, it has spread throughout the world.

It has caused a great uproar both inside and outside the imperial court, as the various yamen in Jin Ling failed to protect the people effectively, allowing the Japanese ronin to be arrogant and violent, ravaging Jin Ling.

The impeachment memorials from the Censorate's Jiang Nan Circuit censors are flying like snowflakes.

These days, Prince Ning appears calm and composed on the surface, but in reality, he is at his wit's end. He knows that the Emperor has already sent secret agents from the Zhongche Office down to Jiang Nan.

Every move he makes in handling the case here will likely be sent by carrier pigeon to the Love Shenjing by the Zhongche Office in less than three days.

He was ordered by the Emperor to come to Jin Ling to have full authority to handle this case, and how many pairs of eyes are watching him; if this matter is botched, losing face is a small matter, but losing the Emperor's favor is a big matter....

Unexpectedly, just because of the slight clues provided by Jia Cong, a breakthrough was made in this thorny major case.

This youth not only has some luck, but his mind is meticulous, and his agility in responding to changes is also extraordinary. Now the development of the matter is almost identical to what he envisioned that day.

No wonder even the Emperor treats him quite differently; he is indeed a person of character.

Prince Yongning was invigorated: "Immediately draw a portrait of this Zhou Suqing, and notify the Prefecture Magistrate of Yingtian, Jia Yucun, and the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander, Feng Fengnian, to let them mobilize manpower to search the whole city.

Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you must find this Zhou Suqing for me!"

Fengle Ward is a ward district in the east of Jin Ling city.

It is not as prominent as Xinglong Ward, where the old mansions of the Great Zhou's noble dukes and princes are located.

In recent years, Fengle Ward has gradually become a gathering place for middle and lower-level officials of the various ministries in the secondary capital of Jin Ling.

Although there are few luxurious mansions with deep courtyards here, those newly built three or four-courtyard medium-sized houses are exquisite, beautiful, and unique.

In recent years, Jin Ling has opened its ports to foreign trade, and many middle and lower-level officials of the six ministries remaining in the secondary capital have more or less gotten involved in the path of foreign trade, and many have earned considerable wealth.

The so-called "rely on the mountain to eat from the mountain, rely on the water to eat from the water"; this is also a common occurrence in the Great Zhou officialdom.

Those few whose salaries can only guarantee food and clothing—no official is an ascetic monk. If there is a way to earn silver, who doesn't want to live a prosperous life and let their family enjoy some comfort?

Therefore, as long as one does not abuse public office, engage in favoritism, or be too ostentatious, and lets family members come forward to make some foreign wealth, no one will say anything.

The medium-sized houses newly built in Fengle Ward in recent years are all due to this.

Initially, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao opened the maritime borders to trade with the white barbarians from the far seas, prospering maritime trade and bringing wealth to the people.

These "people" naturally also include the family members and relatives of officials.

Therefore, compared to those high officials in the Love Shenjing's court who are dressed in red and purple, hold high titles, and take maintaining ancestral laws as their duty, the officials in the various prefectures of Jiang Nan all applaud the opening of maritime trade.

At this moment, in an inconspicuous three-courtyard house in Fengle Ward, in a study filled with books and antiques, surrounded by an elegant and ancient atmosphere.

A middle-aged man with an imposing demeanor is sitting and drinking tea. Standing in front of him is a young man with a respectful manner, standing with his hands hanging down. He is of medium build, with an ordinary appearance, and the little finger of his left hand is missing half a section.

"My lord, after our people received the news at Prince Ning's temporary residence, they immediately notified Zhou Suqing. Before Yang Hongbin arrived, Zhou Suqing had already escaped in time."

"It's just that, the matter was hasty, and the four thousand-plus guan of foreign goods at Zhou Suqing's place could not be dealt with in time and have all fallen into Yang Hongbin's hands."

The middle-aged man put down his teacup and said, "Zhou Suqing is careful and cautious. Usually, the only people who have contact with him are a few foreign merchants who inspect the goods.

Moreover, Zhou Suqing knows our rules. The foreign merchants he sells to are all screened. First, they cannot be big foreign merchants, and second, they cannot have connections with people in the government.

Third, their family members and relatives must all reside in Jin Ling. Only such foreign merchants are easier for us to control. And Zhou Suqing also has intermediaries to contact these foreign merchants, which is separated by another layer.

Therefore, the possibility of being exposed by these foreign merchants is extremely low."

He asked again, "Have you found out who reported him?"

The young man replied, "We have secret sentries buried near Zhou Suqing's residence. The guy who brought Yang Hongbin to make the arrest is named Jia Cong, a Grade 8 official who is here on imperial order to copy scriptures at Da Ci'en Temple."

The middle-aged man frowned: "How is it this person? He has no connection to this matter at all. How did he know Zhou Suqing's hiding place?"

The young man replied, "It is not yet known. This person seems to have popped up suddenly."

The middle-aged man pondered: "Wang En was arrested. Because he is a Grade 4 eunuch in charge and has some connections with the palace, the Embroidered Uniform Guard did not use heavy torture on him.

At that time, they only focused on Wang En's bribery and those who bribed him. No one knew of Zhou Suqing's existence then.

Naturally, no one would ask Wang En about this, and Wang En was not stupid enough to volunteer it.

But now it's different. Yang Hongbin is skilled in solving cases and prison matters; he will never let go of any possibility. If he happens to think of questioning Wang En about this person Zhou Suqing, then the paper won't be able to wrap the fire.

Zhou Suqing served as an interpreter for Japanese merchant ships, and Wang En knows him, and even vaguely knows his connection to us. If Wang En wants to escape punishment and says this, it will be thorny."

The middle-aged man picked up the teacup again: "Prevent trouble before it happens; you should know what to do!"

A sharp light flashed in the young man's eyes: "My lord, rest assured, I will definitely handle this matter well."

"And are those Japanese ronin all settled?"

"My lord, rest assured, these people are properly settled. At least within a month or so, no one will discover them."

"These people are brave and murderous. They have done business with us for several years and know many things. Now that neither soft nor hard tactics work, we can only stabilize them first."

"Also, send people to watch that Jia Cong. If there is any unusual movement, report it to me immediately."

Currently not recommended and running naked, begging for recommendations and monthly tickets, can squeeze the list. Brothers who have tickets in their hands, please help smash a wave, thank you!

(End of chapter)