Chapter 719

Kong Jianshi, like a wind sweeping away scattered clouds, polished off two buns, five or six scallions, and a pot of tea, then sat upright with a relaxed expression.

Young Shopkeeper, the second matter is that within the Charitable Relief Lodge, someone questions the Old Shopkeeper's decision, showing disrespect and lack of reverence toward the Young Master.

However, this matter is almost settled. The Old Shopkeeper entrusted me to tell the Young Master that before his death, the Charitable Relief Lodge will be handed over clean and tidy to the Young Master, hoping only that the Young Master give the Lodge a good resting place, so it does not drift again in the Rivers and Lakes.

Chen Wuji let out a light sigh, 'Why would the Old Master have you tell me this? Is his health not very good?'

No, the Old Master's health is very sound, and those opposing within the Charitable Relief Lodge cannot reach Yunan; the Young Master need not worry about this.' Kong Jianshi said, 'The Old Master also gave this reason: when facing the Young Master, he could not say these words.'

Chen Wuji remained silent for a moment, then lightly nodded, 'I understand; just these two matters?'

The Old Master's entrusted message is finished, but my business this trip is not yet complete.' Kong Jianshi spoke in a strict, meticulous manner, utterly like an emotionless messenger.

Zhang Lao's original words, exactly as they were, he hardly added any of his own.

'Continue!' Chen Wuji said.

After the Yaozhou Song Clan approached my Charitable Relief Lodge, I sent people to investigate and discovered some matters, please inform the Young Master.' Kong Jianshi continued, 'Not only did the Yaozhou Song Clan hire assassins to harm the Young Master, but many wealthy families also poured vast wealth into placing bounties on him in the Rivers and Lakes.'

How much is 'vast'?

This number keeps changing; the figure I received before coming was a bounty of eight hundred thousand silver.

Chen Wuji smiled lightly, 'I, Chen Wuji, can also be considered to have risen; my head now actually reaches the value of several hundred thousand taels of silver. What was the highest bounty before?'

Ten million silver, and the person with that bounty is His Majesty the Emperor!

Chen Wuji had been feeling a bit pleased, but upon hearing that number, he instantly became unhappy.

Indeed, people must compare.

Ten million taels and eight hundred thousand—this is not silver; it is a heaven-and-earth difference in status.

'Da Yu truly has talent everywhere; even the Emperor is subjected to such blatant bounties. Compared to that, I am quite normal.' Chen Wuji sighed.

If this occurred in a dynasty where civil governance and martial prowess were formidable, such a thing appearing would mean the Rivers and Lakes could not exist; inevitably, troops would trample the Rivers and Lakes, stirring a bloody storm, killing to the point that Rivers and Lakes folk dare not go out with knives, nor call themselves Rivers and Lakes people.

The present Emperor, with his genuine strength, proves what it means to be a Martial Hero Breaking Prohibitions.

'Has the person with the bounty ever been caught?' Chen Wuji was quite curious about this.

Kong Jianshi gave a slight sneering smile, 'They have been caught, but the person is fine, and even that bounty still stands to this day.'

Chen Wuji: ……

His Majesty the Emperor is awesome.

Chen Wuji pondered for a moment, then asked, 'Can I now order you to do some things?'

Zhang Lao has attached the Charitable Relief Lodge to his name; if left unattended, it seems not quite right.

'Please, Young Master, give your orders!' Kong Jianshi rose abruptly.

'You mean we can? Then arrange people to kill that Yaozhou Song Family and those wealthy families who placed bounties on me, so as not to bother me with idle matters.' Chen Wuji said calmly, 'Affairs of the Rivers and Lakes—we handle them with Rivers and Lakes methods.'

'Yes!'

Kong Jianshi's mouth curled into a faint grim smile as he lowly replied, 'Within ten days, I will certainly give the Young Master a perfect settlement; they will not disturb the Young Master for long.'

'Yaozhou… also look into the relationship between the Song Clan and the Prefect of Yaozhou.' Chen Wuji ordered.

The Prefect of Yaozhou's documents sent today have high artistic content, but lack some useful things.

Since surrender, he has achieved nothing, only blueprints.

This fellow is practically putting his inattentiveness and two-facedness out in the open.

By the way, if he has direct problems, we can take care of them incidentally.

Kong Jianshi answered, 'There is one more matter: I need to report to the Young Master that I will not personally undertake these tasks. The Old Master instructed that, as the Lingnan Rivers and Lakes have recently shown great hostility toward the Young Master, I am sent to lead people to protect the Young Master.'

However, I will certainly pick the most elite personnel to carry out these tasks.

Probably because this is Chen Wuji's first order, Kong Jianshi explained it especially carefully.

'As long as the matter is done, I don't care how you do it.' Chen Wuji said.

'Here!'

'You also brought personnel, right? Later, discuss with Chen Li about inserting them into the army; the troops' defenses are tight, so your people may not be able to get close, to avoid friendly fire.'

'Yes!'

Entrusting Kong Jianshi to Chen Li, Chen Wuji continued to sit at his desk, processing the documents still unresolved.

Although it is only a commandery, Chen Wuji already feels some pressure.

No wonder those diligent monarchs do not live long.

Even a single commandery already entails such a workload; if extended to the whole territory, that workload will surely be immense.

The workload is large, Chen Wuji can endure it, but what is most aggravating is that group engaged in artistic creation inside.

These people have written little substantive content, yet their word count is the highest.

For such a document, Chen Wuji not only has to spend a lot of time reading it, but must also scrutinize what is truly useful inside, thereby estimating what this bastard has actually done locally and what he is still doing.

Reading such documents in full, Chen Wuji is undoubtedly conducting a criminal investigation in the text.

Really makes one's head dizzy and swollen, the urge to strike someone wells up.

'Husband, it's not early anymore; time to rest!'

Qin Zanhong walked over slowly, her hand gently pressing onto Chen Wuji's shoulder.

After a brief period of doubting life, she has now finally adjusted.

Let there be many experts; after all, luck is on her side, and it has caused her no trouble.

And now these experts are practically our own people.

That is even better.

Chen Wuji pinched his brow, 'Wait a bit longer; there's not much paperwork left. These few western states haven't been thoroughly swept by the main army; they just don't learn, making me truly miserable.'

'Are there many problems?' Qin Zanhong asked softly.

Chen Wuji grunted, 'Not only are there many problems, they seem to be using the same tricks they use to deceive the Emperor to deceive me, each one clever in their own way.'

"Husband, why bother getting angry with them!" Qin Zhanhong said with a light smile.

"After the Songzhou battle ends, there will be plenty of time to slowly deal with them. Although these things have temporarily brought you much trouble, aren't they essentially a handle placed in your hands?"

"By then, relying only on these things, not a single one of them will be able to escape."

"Chen Wuji nodded; he understood the reasoning, but seeing these things, his blood pressure would inevitably rise."