[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364299,4623,"Chapter 30: Full-Scale Expansion","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>Nan Cheng Battalion Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the boxes being carried in, Li Mu suddenly felt his initial quote had been too hasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The financial power of the civil officials was far stronger than he had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had to bribe superiors, share profits with colleagues, and feed dozens of soldiers under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To earn more, one had to take risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst off was the North Battalion Command, whose jurisdiction was a vast slum, yielding the least profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a North Battalion commander could save one or two thousand taels a year, he was considered exceptionally capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, that was already good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With steady annual income, after ten or twenty years, it amounted to a substantial fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If assigned to some obscure, powerless office with no way to make money, one had to live solely on salary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monthly salary for a fifth-grade official was sixteen shi of grain, paid as six parts rice and four parts paper money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early days of the dynasty, before the paper currency had depreciated, this salary was quite decent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealth gap among officials had always been enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The extra money given would never be returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful misunderstandings were always better when multiplied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by how readily the money was paid, this official Wang must have been well-versed in officialdom’s customs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu decided that all future quotes would use vague terms—perhaps there would be more pleasant surprises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opportunities to get rich were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the civil officials had money, why not squeeze them? After all, the eunuchs would take the blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chen, go rest in the back quarters for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once I’m done here, I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you to the Imperial Prison to fetch Master Xiang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You get what you pay for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to reputation, the extra money couldn’t just be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the money, the Eastern Depot would surely grant him this favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Brother Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan exclaimed in delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long in the capital, this was the best news he had received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though his body was exhausted from a night of travel, he no longer felt tired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all worth it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling his master out of the Imperial Prison would earn him fame in scholarly circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the label of reverence for teachers, he would gain extra favor from his future mentor if he passed the imperial examinations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News that Xiang Shihai had been released from the Imperial Prison spread quickly through the capital, deliberately propagated by the Five Cities Military Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone with even a hint of political sense knew what role the Five Cities Military Command had played.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The censors remained unusually silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, those who could avoid factional struggles were the clever ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To speed things up, under Li Mu’s arrangements, family members of arrested officials were granted permission to visit them in the Imperial Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately afterward, escorted by soldiers of the Five Cities Military Command, these visiting families secretly called on several serving officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid countless curses, carriage after carriage rolled into the Nan Cheng Battalion Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each paid at least tens of thousands of taels; some paid two or three hundred thousand—none were poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the officials’ families were seeking wealthy patrons to pay their ransoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when short on cash, they settled debts with gold, jewels, land, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar scenes unfolded at the other battalion commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever held custody of the families handled the business—everything proceeded harmoniously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Mansion, West City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yue Shufeng is truly resourceful—he’s even come to extort me, the Grand Secretary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng raged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once pitied Yue Shufeng’s plight; now he was filled only with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Vice Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, Pang Hengsheng was a true titan of the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ascending to power, he had always been fawned over—no one had ever dared to come to his door to extort him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, calm down. This is surely a eunuch plot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once you enter the gates of the Imperial Prison, life and death are no longer yours to control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Yue is likely powerless now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not worth getting angry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the eunuchs’ actions are strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve made such a huge commotion, yet only to extort money—it’s too petty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yan’s warning, Pang Hengsheng quickly calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dignity being insulted was minor; the eunuchs’ scheme was deadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they took down Yue Shufeng this time, next time during the factional clash, the target might be the Grand Secretariat ministers themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those eunuchs are the greediest—they do bizarre things to get money, so it’s not surprising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But now they’ve made such a huge show, as if certain we’ll pay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the eunuchs testing us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must wake up from my sickbed—unless we act, this chaos will lead to disaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eye of the storm, any unusual move inevitably linked back to factional politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, at his rank as Vice Grand Secretary, he had never lacked money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, you’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We absolutely cannot let the eunuchs continue their arrogance—otherwise the situation will spiral out of control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Master Yue’s son is still waiting in the reception hall—how should we respond to him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan followed up smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood his master’s nature well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He craved power yet cared deeply about his reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He often hesitated in action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These flaws were also strengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he frequently missed the best moment to decide, they had also saved him from countless dangers, keeping him firmly in office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. Inform the Zhejiang Merchants’ Guild to pay this sum.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, give them a warning—Master Yue is one of us, he has rendered great service to the state and people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even in misfortune, his peers should show him some care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time something like this happens, let them act on their own initiative—don’t wait for me to remind them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng said irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his position, people willing to pay were countless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for their shared hometown ties, the Zhejiang Merchants’ Guild would have to queue outside to pay this sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was a matter of principle—never confuse the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A proper warning kept subordinates obedient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, rest assured—I’ll handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1219,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","6cb9626defdac39dccb0c4b1118c0ca4c525cb99cfa8bfaec465e4e8e4d754f8","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-31","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-29",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]