Chapter 400

Jin Ling, office of the Ministry of Works Firearm Division.

Upon hearing Liu Shilun say that this Ottoman refined iron could be used to forge two hundred gun barrels, the expressions of Jia Cong and the others all shifted.

Liu Yong exclaimed aloud, "That means it could produce two hundred firearms! Could the Jin Ling Zhen family be planning a rebellion?"

"Master Jia, this is a matter that has pierced the heavens. I must return immediately to report this to Battalion Commander Ge."

"I don't believe Zhen Shiwen can withstand the Embroidered Uniform Guard's severe punishments; he will spit out everything he knows!"

Jia Cong, however, said, "Brother Zhao, you absolutely must not. If you do this, I fear the Embroidered Uniform Guard will never be able to uncover the bottom of this matter!"

Hearing this, Liu Yong's expression was somewhat bewildered.

Jia Cong continued, "The Jin Ling Zhen family is a local prominent clan, on par with the four great families of Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue."

"Upon my first arrival in Jin Ling, I heard that the father and daughter of the Zhen family's second branch are both paragons among men, relying on maritime trade to earn astonishing wealth for the Zhen family. The streets call them 'Zhen Half-City'."

"Since the Zhen family holds official rank and possesses inexhaustible wealth, if there is any type of person in this world least likely to rebel, it is the likes of the Jin Ling Zhen family."

"Zhen Shiwen, as the legitimate son of the Zhen family, cannot be unaware of such priorities. To say he hoarded refined iron for gun-making for the sake of a future rebellion is truly hard to believe."

"The greatest possibility is that he was entrusted by someone, or acting under someone's direction!"

"Zhen Shiwen grew up in a Jin Ling noble family; he cannot be a man without insight. He cannot be unaware of the risks of privately storing materials for firearm construction."

"Yet he did it anyway. I have pondered the reasons, and they boil down to two."

"The first is that doing this could bring him immense benefits, benefits far outweighing the risks he had to bear."

"The second reason is harder to speak of: that he was coerced by someone into doing it."

"But the Zhen family's power and wealth in Jin Ling are not trivial. How many people in Jin Ling City have the ability to coerce the legitimate son of the Zhen family?"

"Therefore, I am more inclined toward the first possibility: Zhen Shiwen, in order to obtain immense benefits, acted under someone's direction."

"Today, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in full view of the public and with great imposing force, searched the shop and took people into the Thousand-Household Office. I fear the news has already spread throughout Jin Ling."

"That person who directed him must have known long ago, perhaps even grown highly vigilant, preparing an escape route. If this person truly had the audacity to privately manufacture two hundred firearms, what is there that they would not do?"

"As long as Zhen Shiwen cannot leave the Thousand-Household Office for the better part of a day, I fear the relevant figures and criminal evidence will all vanish without a trace."

"By then, what use will it be for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to hold onto a single Zhen Shiwen?"

"Furthermore, although this batch of refined iron was discovered in the Zhen family shop, it cannot serve as direct, irrefutable evidence of illegal activity."

"Without hard evidence in hand, using severe punishments on the legitimate son of the Jin Ling Zhen family will likely bring great trouble upon the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Not to mention Zhen Shiwen's father, Zhen Yingjia, who holds the rank of President of the Tiren Academy, a high-ranking official of the third grade."

"The Zhen family also has an esteemed Old Imperial Consort in the palace. These are not things the Embroidered Uniform Guard station can easily touch."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong felt a chill in his heart, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He had been somewhat impulsive and nearly caused a disaster.

This Zhen family was no ordinary household; how could one use ordinary methods to deal with them?

Even without Jia Cong's reminder, Battalion Commander Ge Ge Zhi Cheng was old, wise, and shrewd; he certainly would not have let him act recklessly. In the end, it would have been he himself who showed his incompetence.

Years ago, when Jia Cong solved the great case of the Water Supervision Office, Liu Yong had personally experienced it. He knew Jia Cong's mind was meticulous and always extraordinary.

Now, seeing that in just a few moments, based on the news provided by Liu Shilun, he could deduce the root of the entire matter so flawlessly, he could not help but feel great admiration.

He made up his mind not to offer reckless suggestions again. The Battalion Commander telling him to listen more to Jia Cong's opinions was indeed correct.

Liu Yong asked, "Does Master Jia mean to cast a long line to catch a big fish, releasing Zhen Shiwen from the Thousand-Household Office as soon as possible, as if nothing had happened?"

Jia Cong replied, "Since Zhen Shiwen has entered the Thousand-Household Office, the necessary interrogation procedures must still be followed, but he must be released as soon as possible."

"However, letting him leave too easily might easily arouse suspicion. If there were a pretext or a reason, it would be even more flawless."

Jia Cong handed the piece of refined iron that Liu Shilun had brought back to Liu Yong and said, "I must ask Brother Liu to have your capable men place this piece of refined iron back into the Zhen family's warehouse."

"And you must not let the Zhen family notice."

Liu Yong laughed, "This is easy, Master Jia, rest assured."

At this moment, a yamen runner from outside came to report that Liu Xian, a steward of the Jin Ling Zhen family, was requesting an audience with Master Jia and was currently waiting outside the yamen.

Hearing this, Jia Cong's heart stirred. Just as they were speaking of the Zhen family, someone from the Zhen family had come knocking. He ordered the runner to invite the person to the outer hall for a meeting.

Liu Xian waited in the outer hall for a moment before seeing a youth of elegant and handsome bearing, dressed in a fifth-grade official robe, walk into the inner hall.

Liu Xian had naturally heard of Jia Cong's name and was also clear that the prefecture regarded him as a candidate for marriage with the Third Young Lady.

As a trusted steward of the second branch and a capable assistant to the Third Young Lady, he naturally paid more attention to Jia Cong. Seeing that he was even more extraordinary than the rumors suggested, he was secretly surprised.

Jia Cong asked, "Is this Steward Liu of the Zhen mansion?"

Liu Xian smiled slightly, "I am Liu Xian. I have been ordered by my master, the Third Young Lady, to deliver a letter to Master Jia."

Jia Cong took the letter and unfolded it. A beautiful and elegant hand greeted him. Although one could tell at a glance it was written by a woman, the brushwork was restrained and revealed a heroic spirit.

To the Honorable Count Weiyuan:

I have long heard that you are a youth of complete literary and martial excellence, brilliant and peerless. Your anecdotes have spread throughout the world, and your fame has reached the South of the Yangtze. Due to the friendship between our families and the righteousness of our peers, I regret that I have not been able to meet you since your arrival in Jin Ling.

The Zhen clan of Jin Ling is a family that reveres grace and values righteousness, taking it as our duty to benefit the common people and facilitate trade routes.

The Xin Chun Hao has achieved success in the South of the Yangtze through the fragrance industry. We have been favored by the guidance of the Qu family steward, and with the vermilion brush, we have jointly promoted the prosperity of Southern trade. I am filled with honor and sincere anticipation.

Now, my elder brother, Zhen Shiwen, has temporarily encountered trouble and is trapped in the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Office of the auxiliary capital. I have heard that you are widely connected and possess the prestige of a high-ranking noble family. All matters in the yamen halls look up to your great name.

Thinking of the long-standing friendship between our families, I hope you can mediate and assist in resolving my brother's distress and danger. I am filled with gratitude and sincerity.

I hope that at a better time, we may set out wine and sweep the couch, cut verses and pluck the zither, and enjoy the harmony of old friends.

The 20th day of the 8th month, 14th year of Emperor Jia Zhao, written by Fangqing.

Seeing the Third Young Lady's letter, Jia Cong found the language elegant and the bearing free and easy, generous and open, without the slightest hint of a young lady's coyness. He could not help but marvel.

Are not the daughters of great families supposed to stay behind the second gate, never stepping out, rarely seeing the world?

Only this Third Young Lady was quite different; matters of family social interaction and planning were all handled by her.

Yingchun and Daiyu had both mentioned to him that the Third Young Lady of the Zhen family was a very uncommon daughter. Now it seemed she was indeed quite extraordinary.

He had just been worrying that if the Embroidered Uniform Guard released Zhen Shiwen too easily, it would arouse suspicion.

He had not expected that just as he was feeling sleepy, this Young Lady Zhen would send a pillow.

The meaning in the Third Young Lady's letter was very clear: she stated that she had business dealings with Xin Chun Hao to show their closeness, knew that he had a deep relationship with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and asked him to help rescue Zhen Shiwen.

He smiled slightly at Liu Xian, "I have already heard about this matter from my subordinates. Now that I have received the Third Young Lady's request, and since the Jia and Zhen families are old family friends, I will certainly help with this favor."

"I will go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Household Office in a moment. You may reply to the Third Young Lady for me and tell her to rest assured."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Liu Xian was stunned. He had originally intended to ask Jia Cong to help fish someone out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; after all, it was a matter that required spending favors and face.

Moreover, the Cong Sanye was involved in the private transport of firearms, which was somewhat of a taboo, not to mention it involved the gloomy and eccentric Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Even if Jia Cong feared trouble and found an excuse to decline, it would be human nature.

Even if he remembered the friendship between the two families, he would usually first ask him to clarify the cause, and then weigh the matter before acting. That would be the normal way of human relations and officialdom.

He had not expected that after reading the Third Young Lady's letter, he would agree without much hesitation. What exactly did the Third Young Lady write in the letter to make him so warm-hearted...?

Jin Ling, Rongyu Square, Zhen Mansion.

Liu Xian returned from the Ministry of Works Firearm Division and entered the Hongxuan Hall outside the second gate of the Zhen mansion, then had a maid send word to the inner residence for the Third Young Lady.

Before long, the maid returned and said that the Third Young Lady had taken her personal maid to check accounts at several old shops in the city an hour ago and had not yet returned.

Liu Xian waited in the Hongxuan Hall for the time it takes to eat a meal before seeing the Third Young Lady return with her maid, Bei'er.

The little maid Bei'er had a stack of account books tucked under her arm and was holding a heavy short stick in her right hand, following closely behind the Third Young Lady.

As soon as Zhen Fangqing saw Liu Xian, she asked, "After the letter was delivered, how did Jia Cong reply?"

Liu Xian said, "After Master Jia read the letter, he agreed to go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to speak on our behalf, so that the Cong Sanye can come out as soon as possible."

Zhen Fangqing's eyes flickered, and she asked, "Did he not ask for the cause, and agreed to the matter in one breath?"

Liu Xian said, "After reading the Young Lady's letter, he did not ask about anything else, just agreed to the matter in one breath, and also said to tell the Young Lady to rest assured. Does the Young Lady feel there is something wrong?"

Zhen Fangqing said faintly, "In order to withdraw silver from the old shops as quickly as possible, I spoke to the Old Lady, saying I would personally ask Jia Cong to come forward."

"I sent the letter to Jia Cong as a gesture to the family."

"The Third Brother is involved in the private transport of firearms. Fishing someone out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's hands is not as simple as inviting a guest to dinner."

"Although the Zhen and Jia families are old family friends, Jia Cong and we are complete strangers. What friendship is there to speak of?"

"Although I have never met him, I have heard too much about him. This person must be a man of extraordinary wisdom who plans before he acts, and he is absolutely not a man of soft heart."

"Back then, the great case of the Water Supervision Office involved two disciples of the Jin Ling Shi family. The Shi family begged at his door, hoping he would come forward to mediate and rescue them, but he wouldn't even see them."

"This matter is known to many in Jin Ling. The Shi family is his grandmother's maternal family, and he was so decisive and resolute."

"You tell me, how can we Zhen family members compare to the Shi family? Although I let you deliver the letter, I did not hold much hope that Jia Cong could help."

"But I did not expect that without asking for the cause, based solely on my letter, he agreed fully. Does this not make one feel it is suspicious?"

In fact, when Liu Xian went to deliver the letter to Jia Cong just now, the other party agreeing so readily also made Liu Xian feel somewhat surprised.

It was just that he was not as meticulous and thoughtful as the Third Young Lady, unable to analyze it so delicately.

Zhen Fangqing said, "Just now, while Uncle Xian went to deliver the letter to Jia Cong, because I had already obtained the Old Lady's permission, I struck while the iron was hot and went to several shops to withdraw silver, and by the way, checked the accounts and warehouse assets."

"As a result, I found this thing in the warehouse of the Haiyun Pavilion."

She took the short stick from the maid Bei'er and handed it to Liu Xian, saying, "Does Uncle Xian recognize this?"

Liu Xian took the short stick and looked at it for a few moments, his eyes revealing a look of surprise. He said, "Third Young Lady, this should be high-grade refined iron from overseas."

"The Jin Ling Xue family is also an imperial merchant of the Imperial Household Department. Their Ziyun Pavilion purchases a certain amount of this refined iron every year for the Ministry of War's Armory to forge high-grade swords and blades."

"I have some private friendship with the Xue family's steward and have seen this item in their shop."

"However, this kind of high-grade refined iron is strictly controlled by the government. Every purchase is quantified and recorded, and it rarely flows into the private sector."

"Although it is not a prohibited item like firearms, ordinary civilians have no use for this kind of thing."

"How could there be such a thing in the Haiyun Pavilion's warehouse? This kind of high-grade refined iron is not easy to buy."

Zhen Fangqing's expression was solemn as she said, "Uncle Xian is indeed knowledgeable. There are quite a few of these things in the Haiyun Pavilion warehouse. I counted a total of one hundred and four pieces."

"I heard from the shopkeeper that this refined iron was sent by land five days ago, and the Third Brother received the goods himself, saying it was for updating and forging the anchors for the Zhen family's sea ships."

"I was uneasy, so I took this piece of refined iron and consulted an old blacksmith in the city. He said this is high-grade refined iron from the Ottomans."

"Not only can it be used to forge precious swords that cut iron like mud, but it can also be used to forge gun barrels for firearms!"

Hearing this, Liu Xian's face changed drastically, and he said, "The Cong Sanye has hidden so much high-grade refined iron. What does he want to do?"

Zhen Fangqing sneered, "Earlier, he privately transported firearms and also brought in an Englishman of unknown identity. You had the old silversmith probe his background, and he said he might be a blacksmith."

"Now the Third Brother is hoarding refined iron that can cast gun barrels. You tell me what he wants to do?!"

"Even if we ask him, he will only say the refined iron is for casting anchors. He won't tell us the truth..."

"What I am thinking about now is not whether the Third Brother will tell the truth, but that I, a woman, could find the suspicious nature of this batch of refined iron in the Haiyun Pavilion."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard, with a clerk from the Firearm Division proficient in firearms, entered the shop to search but did not expose this matter. This is truly too unusual."

"Moreover, you went to deliver the letter to Jia Cong, and he agreed without hesitation to help bring the Third Brother out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It was as if he found this matter easy to handle..."

Zhen Fangqing's brows were tightly knit, and she walked back and forth in the hall a few times. Liu Xian knew this was the habitual gesture of the Third Young Lady when she encountered a difficult matter.

Zhen Fangqing suddenly stopped her steps, her eyes shining with light, and said to Liu Xian, "Uncle Xian, you must immediately arrange reliable men to transport the silver withdrawn from the five old shops as quickly as possible."

"Exchange all the cash into silver notes for safekeeping. In addition, take inventory of the business assets in the next two days, and gradually transfer the movable silver flow to the Xiuwen Pavilion."

"For the idle fields and shops in the family, secretly find buyers. They can be liquidated at any time if needed."

Liu Xian's face changed. He had spent his whole life in the great mansion and had heard and seen many things. Naturally, he understood that the Third Young Lady was preparing an escape route.

He said with some worry, "Third Young Lady, I fear the Cong Sanye will notice if you do this. Although the current matter sounds somewhat bad, the Zhen family is a great clan of Jin Ling, and the Old Master still holds official rank. Surely it won't come to this?"

Zhen Fangqing's pretty face was full of charm, revealing a steady calmness, "The things the Third Brother has been involved in recently have become increasingly dangerous. He won't report what he has done to the second branch."

"I, a woman, have managed the family business and have already attracted much gossip. I won't be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the first branch."

"But I cannot watch the family business left by my father be destroyed. Making more preparations will never be wrong." (End of chapter) *** **【401-0】 Foolish Appearance Hides Deep Danger**