Chapter 29: Extortion

After finding the right path and mentioning Xiang Shihai’s name to explain his purpose, Chen Jichuan’s treatment changed completely from before.

Faced with the host’s excessive warmth, he fully understood the fickleness of human relationships and the coldness of the world.

“Young nephew, you just came from the Imperial Prison—did the Eastern Depot harass you?”

Wang Shaofeng asked with concern.

The Eastern Depot’s reputation has recently echoed throughout the capital; few civil or military officials dare not fear it.

Upon learning that Chen Jichuan had just walked out of the Imperial Prison and carried a message from Xiang Shihai, his first reaction was disbelief.

“Thanks to Your Excellency’s favor, my journey has gone smoothly. The Eastern Depot’s men are all greedy; as long as the bribes are sufficient, entering once is not difficult!”

Chen Jichuan’s reply left Wang Shaofeng deeply embarrassed.

As fellow jinshi of the same examination cohort, the two had always gotten along well; it was Wang Shaofeng who introduced Xiang Shihai to the Pure Stream Faction.

As a political ally, upon learning Xiang Shihai had been arrested and imprisoned, he did not attempt to help—even at the first opportunity, he severed ties.

Unfortunately, this severance only extended to clearing political boundaries; the illicit deeds they had jointly committed could not simply be erased.

What was once mutual leverage had become a one-sided constraint. Xiang Shihai, inside the Imperial Prison, could afford to ignore additional charges—but Wang Shaofeng, outside, could not.

A fifth-rank official may seem insignificant in the capital, but as Director of the Zhejiang Revenue Bureau under the Ministry of Revenue, he held the famed title “Grand Treasurer.”

Responsible for Zhejiang’s tax collection and expenditure audits, it was a core position of real power; every official from the province coming to the capital had to present him with a “book-and-silk gift.”

His financial prospects and career path were both vast—he could not afford to be dragged in.

“How is Brother Xiang faring?”

Wang Shaofeng asked.

He did not care whether Xiang Shihai lived or died. The bureaucracy was the most pragmatic place; even former bosom friends were matters of the past.

If conditions allowed, he would not mind lending a hand. But now, with the struggle between the two factions at its peak, he, a mere Director, could not possibly intervene.

If he could not save the man, Xiang Shihai became an unstable element.

Knowing too many secrets, even a single revelation could drag him down to die alongside Xiang Shihai—that was his greatest fear.

“My master’s condition is dire. Those eunuchs are beasts—they subjected him to brutal torture!”

Chen Jichuan spoke with indignation.

Status determines stance; in the Great Yu Dynasty, the teacher-student bond ranked second only to that of father and son or brothers, and Confucian culture emphasized familial concealment.

Regardless of whether Xiang Shihai was guilty, as his disciple, Chen Jichuan must take the correct position.

Saving Xiang Shihai was saving his own political capital.

Even if this political capital was about to expire, it still held considerable value.

“Damned eunuchs, how dare they treat Brother Xiang like this!”

“Young nephew, rest assured—I cannot stand idly by. I will find a way to restore justice for Brother Xiang.”

“Once Grand Secretary Pang regains consciousness, I will immediately report this to him. Then, the eunuchs will pay dearly.”

Hearing Wang Shaofeng’s righteous fury, Chen Jichuan was first moved—then realized something was off.

The promises were grand, but visible only, untouchable.

No one knew when Grand Secretary Pang would recover.

His master’s case would be decided in three days.

Once the verdict was made public, attempting to rescue him would become ten times harder.

“Your Excellency, my master cannot hold out much longer. The eunuchs keep pressuring him to confess, trying to implicate more people.”

“I, as his student, am powerless to overturn his case. I can only try bribing the eunuchs to save my master’s life.”

“But my purse is empty—I’ve spent every last coin, and it’s not enough to feed those hungry wolves!”

After speaking, Chen Jichuan looked at Wang Shaofeng with anticipation.

In prison, Xiang Shihai had personally told him: if he lacked funds for bribes, he should come to this man.

“Young nephew, the eunuchs are the most cunning. Are you certain that a bribe will guarantee Brother Xiang’s safety?”

Wang Shaofeng asked hesitantly.

Reason told him he must pay to avoid disaster—but his body instinctively resisted.

To rescue someone from the eunuchs would cost far more than a pittance. Worse, these bastards could take the money and instantly turn on you.

The Eastern Depot had done sting operations many times.

“Your Excellency, rest assured—I’ve found a reliable intermediary and secured a powerful figure to mediate; even the eunuchs must give them some face.”

“Even if something goes wrong, it won’t touch you. If you’re still uneasy, pretend I never came to your mansion tonight!”

Hearing Chen Jichuan’s words, Wang Shaofeng broke into a cold sweat.

To send him away now might mean he’d be in the Imperial Prison tomorrow, keeping Xiang Shihai company.

“Young nephew, don’t rush. If you need money, I can still find a way.”

“But you must tell me who the intermediary is, who the powerful figure is, and exactly how much money is needed for the bribes.”

Wang Shaofeng gritted his teeth, speaking through the pain.

To build his fortune, he had served as Director of the Ministry of Revenue for five full years.

He had turned down several promotion opportunities.

He had amassed considerable wealth, yet dared not spend a single tael of silver.

Outside, except among a few insiders, he was seen as a paragon of integrity—a model official.

“Your Excellency, their identities are sensitive; I promised to keep them secret.”

“But I was able to arrive here tonight because I was escorted by the Five City Military Command.”

“The eunuchs demanded one hundred thousand taels. It’s said this was set by the traitor Zuo Guang’en—not a single tael less.”

“If we don’t raise the silver within two days, they’ll torture my master even more, until they extract enough money from elsewhere!”

The threat was taught to him by Xiang Shihai.

One hundred thousand taels of silver was no small sum.

Without applying pressure, mere friendship would not make them pay to save him.

“What? One hundred thousand taels?”

“Those eunuchs dare demand that? Who keeps that much cash lying around?”

That someone would dare meddle in the struggle between the Pure Stream and the eunuchs had already shocked him; the demand of one hundred thousand taels shattered him.

“Three years as a clean magistrate yields one hundred thousand taels.”

Just listen—it’s true local officials earn well, but their expenses are enormous.

Only a few major prefectures could afford it; other prefectures and departments sent less than one hundred thousand taels annually to the central government.

As a powerful Director, he earned several ten thousand taels a year—already among the rarest lucrative posts in his rank.

“Your Excellency, I’ve even understated it.”

“One hundred thousand taels is just what the eunuchs demand—the intermediary’s and the powerful figure’s fees haven’t been counted yet!”

“You’re experienced—tell me how much should be given to them.”

Chen Jichuan spoke nervously.

He did not know Li Mu’s quote already included all costs—he assumed it was only the eunuchs’ demand.

He had been handed an extra fee for free.

All pressure now fell on Wang Shaofeng—he dared not refuse.

“Ten thousand taels for the intermediary, thirty thousand for the powerful figure.”

“That’s their worth—we cannot break the rules!”

Wang Shaofeng growled through clenched teeth.

One hundred and forty thousand taels gone at once—it was like cutting out his own flesh.

(End of Chapter)