Chapter 185

Yang Tiejiang sized up Chen Xingyuan and Chen Wuji, his thoughts turning like electricity.

When he first met Chen Wuji, in his eyes Chen Wuji was a clean and tidy little hunter, merely with some whimsical ideas.

But as they got acquainted, he suddenly realized this kid's secrets seemed rather big.

Regarding the Drunken Eight Immortals affair, although he helped wholeheartedly, he didn't lose his mind.

That woman wanted to find some account book; clearly she was someone from the officialdom.

If nothing unexpected, they should be people from the Capital.

Chen Wuji has connections with people from the Capital.

The Drunken Eight Immortals' background is the Zhang Family; while the Zhang Family and the Xianya appear to be at odds openly, in secret they are in cahoots—this surface discord is merely a small trick they use to fool the populace.

It is a strategy to deceive the populace.

Two days ago the Zhang Family was arrested en masse, and Prefect Zhu and several heads of the Xianya were also thrown into jail; if nothing unexpected, it was definitely done by those people from the Capital.

Now, throughout Yunan, only the County Assistant Feng and this Constable Chen are in charge.

These two actually have some ties with the Zhang Family, yet they were retained.

Chen Wuji bears a grudge against the Zhang Family; aiding those from the Capital, it is highly likely that Imperial City Department personnel are seeking the account book, and now he has become well acquainted with this Constable Chen…

This matter seems worth pondering carefully.

Both bear the surname Chen, but they are likely not related by blood or clan.

Yang Tiejiang thought of this, and his eyes suddenly gained something else.

Could this Chen Wuji be a spy planted by the Capital in Yunan?

Such things are what the Imperial City Department excels at.

Rumor has it that the Court is about to lose control of the lands south of Shenxian Ling, the Liu Jun lands.

Could the Imperial City Department be the knife the Court uses to break this situation?

If Chen Wuji really is an Imperial City Department person, then what purpose could there be in getting close to him?

Is it to settle old scores, or to make use of these old-timers?

At that moment, Chen Xingyuan's voice suddenly rang out: "Wuji, what do you want to do with those people from the Yude Business Business Business?"

Yang Tiejiang's slightly drooping eyelids jerked up.

Constable Chen asked Chen Wuji for his opinion?

This kid's status is even above Constable Chen's?!

"Their background is deep?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Xingyuan nodded: "The proprietor of the Yude Business Business Business bears the surname Shi, and Lady Lu Jinglve also bears the surname Shi—guess how deep that background goes."

Chen Wuji rubbed his face hard: "Do I clash with officials? I just inexplicably formed a deadly feud with Inspector Zhang, and that hasn't settled, yet I've run into people from Lu Jinglve."

He now truly doubts his own constitution.

After realizing his background offered no hope of an official career, he had already resolved to become a wealthy landlord, make some silver, and live out his life happily.

As a result, he now deals with officials every few days, and these dealings are far from friendly.

What's most aggravating is that the officials he's run into are not minor ones.

Inspector Zhang is a disciple of Ruan Xiang, a pillar of the pure stream.

As for Lu Jinglve, just look at his title.

The Strategist Pacifier is the biggest local bigwig.

The Dayu Dynasty's official system resembles a blend of Han, Tang, and Song institutions, yet with some differences.

Their jun are vast in area—Nan Jun governs eleven zhou and forty‑eight xian.

And the Strategist Pacifier is the highest official of a jun.

This Lu Jinglve is both a Strategist and concurrently serves as the Prefect of Qingzhou, commanding Nan Jun's defenses.

This administrative division mirrors the Han three‑level system of zhou‑jun‑xian, only reversed—jun large, zhou small.

The Strategist's authority equals that of an Inspector, but is far smaller.

Although he commands all of Nan Jun's defenses, he lacks authority over troops, finances, and judiciary.

The right to deploy troops belongs to the Court, financial authority to the Transport Commissionerate, judicial authority to the Inspectorate of Criminal Laws, and they check each other.

Chen Xingyuan's reaction was fairly bland: "On the ground of Nan Jun, which powerful business lacks connections? Those without ties have long been swallowed up. These things you've got—I, a non‑merchant, feel they're sure to profit; what's the big deal about being eyed by a business?"

"The Yude Business Business Business's background is so solid, yet you dare to throw people into jail?" Chen Wuji was somewhat surprised—no wonder he's the tough guy who could cut down the Prefect and the Inspector.

Chen Xingyuan snorted disdainfully: "I'm a constable; if they cause trouble I'll certainly arrest them—I don't know their background. When they come, I take them back; whether they live or die depends on how swift they are. I just follow procedure; worst case, I'll go to the Strategist's office to make a Thorn-bearing Apology."

Chen Wuji: ……

Chen Xingyuan's attitude is like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

"Aren't you afraid they'll kill you? For such a trifle, it's not worth risking your life!" Chen Wuji advised, meanwhile pondering how to vent this anger.

Chen Xingyuan waved a hand: "Not at all—just a low‑level staffer of a Business; they wouldn't kill me over such a petty squabble, after all I'm still a constable."

Chen Wuji glanced at Yang Tiejiang and suddenly asked: "What's the relation between the Strategist and the Zhang Family?"

"I don't know." Chen Xingyuan shook his head: "The Strategist is somewhat far from us; even if I wanted to inquire, I have nowhere to do so."

Chen Wuji's voice sank: "The Zhang Family kicked up such a storm—the Strategist couldn't possibly be unaware; after so long in officialdom, haven't you sensed even a hint of the shifting winds?"

"Do you know our Strategist's nickname?" Chen Xingyuan suddenly asked.

"Doesn't handle matters?"

"Pretty much—his nickname is 'Taiji Push‑hand', the merchant‑oriented Strategist; he seems more concerned with making silver, making silver through trade. The Yude Business Business Business is nominally the Shi Family's, but everyone knows it's actually Lu Jinglve personally running that Business."

"That's all I know; as for the rest, I think you should ask your sister‑in‑law."

Yang Tiejiang keenly noticed that term of address, but his eyes grew ever more bewildered.

Chen Wuji's conduct right now bears no resemblance to that of an Imperial City Department investigator; though he knows at least something of the connections up and down Nan Jun, as an investigator he actually doesn't know and has to come ask Chen Xingyuan.

This point is very strange.

Moreover, sister-in-law...

Who is this again?!

Yang Tiejiang's head ached from thinking, but his thoughts became increasingly disordered.

Chen Wuji's line of questioning made him overturn all his previous judgments, plunging him back into confusion.

What on earth is this kid's identity?!

"Strange and odd, these local officials profiteer at the people's expense—does the Court not care? I feel this is becoming a trend." Chen Wuji said.

Chen Xingyuan glanced and said, "Yude Business Business Business belongs to the Shi Family; what does it have to do with Lu Jinglve?"

"This kind of thing might fool a fool, but if the Court wants to intervene, this smokescreen is meaningless." Chen Wuji said; nobody is blind, it's impossible to clear up the relationship just by covering this up.

"Who knows?" Chen Xingyuan said wistfully.