Chapter 30

Nancheng Battalion Command.

Looking at the chests being carried in one by one, Li Mu suddenly felt that his quote had been hasty.

The financial power of the civil officials was much stronger than he had anticipated.

Being of the same Senior Rank Five, it would be very difficult for him, a Battalion Commander of the Wucheng Military Commission, to save up such a huge sum.

After all, connections above need to be greased, colleagues need their share, and there are so many soldiers under the yamen to support.

Unless one happens upon a money-making opportunity like this, in normal years, after deducting all expenses, one could only save three to five thousand taels.

To get more, one has to take risks.

Within the Wucheng Military Commission, only the East City and West City Battalion Commands have a more affluent life, with incomes about three to five times higher than here.

The most miserable Beicheng Battalion Command has a jurisdiction that is a large slum, and the amount of profit that can be squeezed out is the least.

If one were to serve as the Beicheng Battalion Commander, saving one or two thousand taels a year would be considered good management.

In fact, this is already considered good.

With income every year, working for ten or twenty years, it is still a considerable fortune.

If one enters some cold yamen without any way to make money, then one just has to live on their salary!

The monthly salary for a Senior Rank Five official is sixteen shi, paid in a mix of six parts paper money and four parts rice.

In the early years of the dynasty, the paper money had not yet depreciated, so this salary was quite good.

With inflation to this day, it barely covers pork freedom. If there are many mouths to feed in the family, one even has to calculate if they want to eat a few more meals of beef or mutton.

The wealth gap among officials has always been very stark.

The extra money given will certainly not be returned.

A beautiful misunderstanding is naturally better the more there is.

Just by looking at how readily he paid, one could tell that this Lord Wang who paid the money must be well-versed in the rules of the officialdom.

Li Mu decided that future quotes would all use vague methods; perhaps there would be even more unexpected surprises.

Opportunities to get rich are rarely encountered.

Since civil officials have money, it would be a waste not to knock them for a profit, and the Eunuch Faction would be the scapegoat anyway.

"Brother Chen, you go to the back residence to rest for a while first.

Once I'm done here, I will arrange for someone to go with you to the Imperial Prison to bring Teacher Xiang out!"

Li Mu said with a smile.

You get what you pay for.

When it involves credibility, the extra money naturally shouldn't be spent in vain.

After thinking it over, the only thing he could do now was to bring Xiang Shihai out of the Imperial Prison early to reunite with his family.

For the sake of the money, he figured the Eastern Depot would give him this face.

"Thank you for the trouble, Brother Li!"

Chen Jichuan said with pleasant surprise.

Having been in the capital for so long, this was the best news he had received.

Even though his body was already exhausted from a night of rushing about, he didn't feel tired anymore.

Everything was worth it!

Having rescued his former teacher from the Imperial Prison, this experience alone was enough to make him famous in the scholarly circles.

With the label of respecting teachers and the Dao, even if he passes the imperial examination in the future, he will be held in higher regard by his examiners.

……

The news of Xiang Shihai walking out of the Imperial Prison, deliberately spread by the Wucheng Military Commission, soon spread throughout the capital.

Anyone with a little political sense knew what role the Wucheng Military Commission had played in it.

The Censors were uncharacteristically silent for once.

It was clear that those who could avoid the factional strife were all smart people.

To speed things up, under Li Mu's operation, the families of the arrested officials were granted the qualification to visit the Imperial Prison.

Immediately afterward, escorted by soldiers from the Wucheng Military Commission, these families who had finished their visits secretly paid calls to many incumbent officials.

Amidst countless curses, carriage after carriage continuously drove into the Nancheng Battalion Command.

From tens of thousands of taels to two or three hundred thousand taels, not a single poor one was seen.

It was very clear that the suckers the arrested officials were looking for to pay the money were all wealthy masters.

Even if they didn't have enough ready cash on hand, they used gold, jewelry, land, and antiques to offset the cost.

A similar scene was playing out in the other several Battalion Commands.

Wherever the family members were locked up, that was where the business was handled; the scene was very harmonious.

……

West City Pang Mansion.

"Yue Shufeng, you really have some nerve, knocking for a profit even at the door of this Grand Secretary!"

Pang Hengsheng cursed in a rage.

Originally, he had sympathized with Yue Shufeng's plight, but now only full-blown anger remained.

As the Junior Grand Secretary, Pang Hengsheng was a true titan in the imperial court.

From the moment he rose to power, he had always been a figure pursued and flattered by everyone; who would dare to come to his door to blackmail him?

"Grand Secretary, calm your anger; this is most likely a conspiracy by the Eunuch Faction.

Once you enter the gates of the Imperial Prison, your life and death are no longer in your own hands.

Lord Yue is likely at the mercy of others at this moment.

It's not worth getting worked up over.

However, the Eunuch Faction's actions are somewhat strange.

To make such a big commotion, only to rake in a sum of money, is a bit too small-minded!"

After hearing Mr. Yan's reminder, Pang Hengsheng soon calmed down.

Provoking his dignity was a small matter; the Eunuch Faction's schemes were what were deadly.

Having taken down Yue Shufeng this time, in the next clash between the two factions, the target might just become them, the Grand Secretaries.

"That bunch of eunuchs is the greediest; it's not strange for them to do some bizarre things to get money.

It's just that the commotion is so big now, as if they are certain we will definitely pay.

Something is wrong!

This is the Eunuch Faction testing us!

It seems I must wake up from my sickbed; if this continues, something big will definitely happen."

Pang Hengsheng said vigilantly.

Caught in the vortex of a storm, any abnormal behavior inevitably brings to mind factional strife.

After all, in his high position as Junior Grand Secretary, he had never lacked money.

The people who wanted to send him money every day could line up from the capital to Lingnan, but he cherished his reputation and didn't accept just any money.

"Grand Secretary, your words are reasonable.

We truly cannot let the Eunuch Faction continue to run rampant, or the situation will spiral out of control.

It's just that in the living room, Lord Yue's son is still waiting for an answer; how do you intend to reply to him?"

Mr. Yan took the opportunity to continue the conversation.

He understood the temperament of his master.

He liked power, but also valued his reputation both during his life and after his death.

When doing things, he inevitably hesitated.

These flaws were both weaknesses and strengths.

Although he often missed the best decision-making time, it also allowed Pang Hengsheng to avoid countless dangers and remain standing in the officialdom.

"Forget it, notify the Zhejiang Merchant Guild and let them pay this money.

By the way, give that bunch a warning; no matter what, Lord Yue is one of our own, and he has rendered great service to the country and the people.

Even if he has fallen into trouble, everyone should take care of him.

In the future, when encountering similar things, let them be more conscious; don't make me remind them of everything!"

Pang Hengsheng said with annoyance.

Once one reaches his position, there are plenty of people willing to help pay.

If it weren't for the sake of his fellow townsmen, the Zhejiang Merchant Guild would have to line up outside if they wanted to pay this money.

The ranking of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants is a matter of principle; the order of importance must never be confused.

Appropriate warnings are the only way to make those below listen.

"Grand Secretary, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly!"

(End of Chapter)