Chapter 22: The Great Law of Conflict Transfer

"I have something to discuss with Thousand-Household Li; no one is allowed to approach within fifty steps!"

After Mai Qinghu finished speaking, the Eastern Depot agents withdrew from the main hall one after another.

The soldiers of the Thousand-Household Office looked at Li Mu, and seeing that their boss didn't mean to stop them, they also withdrew one after another.

With everyone leaving, the originally tense confrontation atmosphere instantly dissipated into nothingness.

"Now that no one is an eyesore, can you say it now!"

Mai Qinghu said in a huff.

Although their previous cooperation successfully threw the pot away, the experience was not good at all.

A silly scholar like Chen Jichuan, who inquired about his mentor's arrest without cover, simply couldn't escape the eyes and ears of the Eastern Depot.

They didn't move to arrest him before, that was to fish.

Hoping to use the hands of these people to drag more Pure Stream party members into the water.

The Eunuch faction arresting people is not as they imagine, wanting to arrest whoever they want.

If they really did that, the world would be in chaos.

Even if it is to eliminate dissidents, they must first find a suitable reason before acting against them.

Chen Jichuan is undoubtedly a failed bait; he didn't drag Pure Stream party members into the water according to their expectations, but instead ran to seek help from fellow villagers.

These people are not within the scope of the Eastern Depot's strike targets, so there is naturally no need to force a connection.

Asking the Nancheng Thousand-Household Office to hand over people was entirely his whim, mainly to take the opportunity to knock Li Mu down a peg.

Unfortunately, Li Mu didn't take the bait, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he led him to the Marquis of Wuyang, making him completely lose his temper.

The arrogance of the Marquis of Wuyang is famous in the capital.

Unless their own Depot Head comes out, they can't even enter the door to verify the truth.

Running to cause trouble for their own Depot Head for an insignificant little person is not wanting to mix anymore.

Forcibly grabbing people is even more impossible.

Young noble children have suffered less social beatings, and when they encounter things, they really dare to draw their swords.

The conflict on the Xicheng side yesterday was a headstrong file head meeting a bad-tempered, silly hundred-household.

Crossbows and fire guns were all taken out; if it weren't for the rapid intervention of the high level, it would have been a large-scale fire fight.

Now the two yamen are still arguing.

Regardless of the final result, the Eastern Depot file head who led the team definitely has no "bright" future.

"Eunuch Mai, what's the panic.

Good things are never afraid of being late.

The case is about to be closed soon; I think your harvest from raiding homes recently is not small!"

After listening to Li Mu's words, Mai Qinghu's face changed instantly.

"How do you know we are about to close the case?"

As soon as the words came out, he regretted it.

Li Mu's words were clearly mostly probing; his opening was equivalent to directly admitting it.

"Eunuch Mai doesn't need to worry; I don't have the ability to plant spies in your Eastern Depot.

I came to this conclusion entirely based on the analysis of the actual situation.

After being busy for so many days, you have arrested the people you wanted to arrest.

If you continue to toss about and affect the normal operation of the imperial court, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to His Majesty.

Seeing that it is good to stop now and share the fruits of victory is the best choice.

Alright, these are actually not important.

The Eastern Depot arrested so many people; surely they can't kill them all.

I won't talk about the big fish; the people above have their own arrangements, and we are not qualified to intervene.

Some small fish and shrimp that can be caught or released are different; handling them well is all money.

Ordinary people go to prison, and they can also let their families outside take care of them.

Your Eastern Depot is good, directly coming for a pot-end.

Even if there are relatives and old friends outside, they don't dare to ask a word; it's too heartless!"

Li Mu teased with a smile.

It's not that he is bold and wants to make money on everything.

It is purely because the political ecology of Great Dayu is like this.

Yamen like the Wucheng Military Commission, except for the regular officials who receive salaries from the imperial court, the clerks, soldiers, and miscellaneous workers below only receive a small amount of subsidies, and they are still issued in the form of treasure notes.

The cost of living in the capital is high, and the people below also need to live. Relying solely on imperial court appropriations would have starved people to death long ago.

As loyal officials of the imperial court, if there are difficulties, they naturally cannot blame the imperial court and must find ways to overcome them themselves.

Like yamen in various places, the Wucheng Military Commission, which has a serious shortage of funds, also has a system for self-raising funds.

In addition to collecting fees directly from merchants and residents, the yamen's business of redeeming people is also an important source of income.

In the past, when noble children fought, as long as they didn't cause major trouble, they could spend money to redeem people.

The prisoners' food expenses, accommodation expenses, and hygiene expenses are also the yamen's means of creating income.

In officialdom, this is already an open secret.

It's not that no one tried to change it, but the funding gap is too large for the imperial court to bear.

Taking the Nancheng Thousand-Household Office as an example, the funds allocated by the imperial court each year are only enough for 30% of the department's operating expenses, and 70% need to be thought of by themselves.

The Eastern Depot sent people over without giving a single copper coin, and the cost of detaining prisoners was all paid by the Thousand-Household Office.

The money of the Thousand-Household Office is the hard-earned money of the brothers, so it definitely cannot be given for nothing and must find a way to make up for it.

"Thousand-Household Li, this matter needs to be discussed in the long term!"

Mai Qinghu said with slight hesitation.

Eunuchs are clean and have relatively simple hobbies.

It's just that the people above didn't speak, so he didn't dare to make decisions on his own.

"The business of fishing for people is not urgent; there is still a period of time before the final decision above.

The matter in the prison cannot be dragged on.

The Thousand-Household Office has limited financial resources; either your Eastern Depot pays the detention fees, or we find a way ourselves.

I will report this matter to the Regional Commander; you Eastern Depot people eat meat, but you can't even leave us a sip of soup!"

Seeing that the topic was successfully led astray, Li Mu simply continued to play.

It was clearly that he didn't want to hand over the people, but it turned into the Wucheng Military Commission being jealous of the Eastern Depot eating meat and wanting to go in and share a piece of the pie.

"Alright, I will report this matter.

As for how the people above handle it, that is not something I can decide.

However, before the people above make a decision, I don't want any trouble, and I think Thousand-Household Li doesn't want to cause this trouble either!"

After speaking, Mai Qinghu flicked his sleeves and left.

It was truly too infuriating.

Now the Eastern Depot is in full swing; as long as they show their flag, they are invincible in the capital.

But in front of a small thousand-household, he lost face one after another.

Fortunately, he sent the person away; otherwise, the dignity he had built up in these days would have been damaged by more than half.

Thinking of the unlucky colleague on the Xicheng side, Mai Qinghu decided not to care about the little kid for the time being.

The Eastern Depot agents left, and the Thousand-Household Office returned to calm.

In the eyes of the soldiers, there was unknowingly a bit more awe.

"Li brother, great kindness is not spoken of.

If you have any needs in the future, just give orders!"

Chen Jichuan said with an excited expression.

The experience just now was no less than walking through the gates of hell; once entering the Eastern Depot's imperial prison, his own bad luck was small, and there was also the possibility of implicating the family.

"Brother Chen, there is no need to say these things between us.

This matter is only temporarily coming to an end; before the storm ends, Brother Chen will have to be wronged to stay in the Thousand-Household Office for the time being.

Brother Chen, wait a moment; after I go to the Marquis of Wuyang's mansion, we will reminisce again!"

The person was sent away, but the aftermath work still had to continue.

Just now it was a bragging cowhide, and now it must find a way to turn it into reality.

Otherwise, if the matter was exposed, it would not be so easy to pull the tiger skin to scare people later.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====