Chapter 30: Full-Scale Expansion

Nan Cheng Battalion Command.

Watching the boxes being carried in, Li Mu suddenly felt his initial quote had been too hasty.

The financial power of the civil officials was far stronger than he had imagined.

As a battalion commander of the Five Cities Military Command, holding the same rank of fifth grade, it was extremely difficult for him to save such a large sum.

After all, he had to bribe superiors, share profits with colleagues, and feed dozens of soldiers under his command.

Unless he caught an opportunity like this to make money, in normal years, after all expenses, he might barely save three to five thousand taels.

To earn more, one had to take risks.

Among the Five Cities Military Command, only the East and West Battalion Commands enjoyed better fortunes, their income being three to five times higher than this one.

The worst off was the North Battalion Command, whose jurisdiction was a vast slum, yielding the least profit.

If a North Battalion commander could save one or two thousand taels a year, he was considered exceptionally capable.

In fact, that was already good.

With steady annual income, after ten or twenty years, it amounted to a substantial fortune.

If assigned to some obscure, powerless office with no way to make money, one had to live solely on salary.

The monthly salary for a fifth-grade official was sixteen shi of grain, paid as six parts rice and four parts paper money.

In the early days of the dynasty, before the paper currency had depreciated, this salary was quite decent.

Now, with inflation, it barely covered pork. If a household had many mouths to feed, even a few extra meals of beef or mutton required careful calculation.

The wealth gap among officials had always been enormous.

The extra money given would never be returned.

Beautiful misunderstandings were always better when multiplied.

Judging by how readily the money was paid, this official Wang must have been well-versed in officialdom’s customs.

Li Mu decided that all future quotes would use vague terms—perhaps there would be more pleasant surprises.

Opportunities to get rich were rare.

Since the civil officials had money, why not squeeze them? After all, the eunuchs would take the blame.

“Brother Chen, go rest in the back quarters for now.”

“Once I’m done here, I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you to the Imperial Prison to fetch Master Xiang!”

Li Mu said with a smile.

You get what you pay for.

When it came to reputation, the extra money couldn’t just be wasted.

After careful thought, the only thing he could do now was to bring Xiang Shihai out of the Imperial Prison early and reunite him with his family.

Given the money, the Eastern Depot would surely grant him this favor.

“Thank you, Brother Li!”

Chen Jichuan exclaimed in delight.

After so long in the capital, this was the best news he had received.

Even though his body was exhausted from a night of travel, he no longer felt tired.

It was all worth it!

Pulling his master out of the Imperial Prison would earn him fame in scholarly circles.

With the label of reverence for teachers, he would gain extra favor from his future mentor if he passed the imperial examinations.

…

News that Xiang Shihai had been released from the Imperial Prison spread quickly through the capital, deliberately propagated by the Five Cities Military Command.

Anyone with even a hint of political sense knew what role the Five Cities Military Command had played.

The censors remained unusually silent.

Clearly, those who could avoid factional struggles were the clever ones.

To speed things up, under Li Mu’s arrangements, family members of arrested officials were granted permission to visit them in the Imperial Prison.

Immediately afterward, escorted by soldiers of the Five Cities Military Command, these visiting families secretly called on several serving officials.

Amid countless curses, carriage after carriage rolled into the Nan Cheng Battalion Command.

Each paid at least tens of thousands of taels; some paid two or three hundred thousand—none were poor.

Clearly, the officials’ families were seeking wealthy patrons to pay their ransoms.

Even when short on cash, they settled debts with gold, jewels, land, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings.

Similar scenes unfolded at the other battalion commands.

Whoever held custody of the families handled the business—everything proceeded harmoniously.

…

Pang Mansion, West City.

“Yue Shufeng is truly resourceful—he’s even come to extort me, the Grand Secretary!”

Pang Hengsheng raged.

He had once pitied Yue Shufeng’s plight; now he was filled only with fury.

As Vice Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, Pang Hengsheng was a true titan of the court.

Since ascending to power, he had always been fawned over—no one had ever dared to come to his door to extort him.

“Your Excellency, calm down. This is surely a eunuch plot.”

“Once you enter the gates of the Imperial Prison, life and death are no longer yours to control.”

“Master Yue is likely powerless now.”

“It’s not worth getting angry.”

“But the eunuchs’ actions are strange.”

“They’ve made such a huge commotion, yet only to extort money—it’s too petty!”

Hearing Yan’s warning, Pang Hengsheng quickly calmed down.

His dignity being insulted was minor; the eunuchs’ scheme was deadly.

If they took down Yue Shufeng this time, next time during the factional clash, the target might be the Grand Secretariat ministers themselves.

“Those eunuchs are the greediest—they do bizarre things to get money, so it’s not surprising.”

“But now they’ve made such a huge show, as if certain we’ll pay.”

“Something’s off.”

“This is the eunuchs testing us!”

“I must wake up from my sickbed—unless we act, this chaos will lead to disaster.”

Pang Hengsheng warned.

In the eye of the storm, any unusual move inevitably linked back to factional politics.

After all, at his rank as Vice Grand Secretary, he had never lacked money.

People eager to give him money could line up from the capital all the way to Lingnan—but he valued his reputation and didn’t take just any bribe.

“Your Excellency, you’re right.”

“We absolutely cannot let the eunuchs continue their arrogance—otherwise the situation will spiral out of control.”

“But Master Yue’s son is still waiting in the reception hall—how should we respond to him?”

Yan followed up smoothly.

He understood his master’s nature well.

He craved power yet cared deeply about his reputation.

He often hesitated in action.

These flaws were also strengths.

Though he frequently missed the best moment to decide, they had also saved him from countless dangers, keeping him firmly in office.

“Enough. Inform the Zhejiang Merchants’ Guild to pay this sum.”

“Also, give them a warning—Master Yue is one of us, he has rendered great service to the state and people.”

“Even in misfortune, his peers should show him some care.”

“Next time something like this happens, let them act on their own initiative—don’t wait for me to remind them!”

Pang Hengsheng said irritably.

At his position, people willing to pay were countless.

If not for their shared hometown ties, the Zhejiang Merchants’ Guild would have to queue outside to pay this sum.

The hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was a matter of principle—never confuse the order.

A proper warning kept subordinates obedient.

“Your Excellency, rest assured—I’ll handle it.”

(End of Chapter)