Chapter 43: An Unpleasant Meeting

The boat docked, and the young nobles aboard were all thrilled beyond measure.

Ignoring their weakened bodies, they scrambled eagerly onto land.

Their disheveled appearance shocked the Yangzhou officials who had come to greet them.

Everyone knew the imperial envoy was coming, but these people clearly had nothing to do with an imperial commissioner.

After both sides revealed their identities, the Yangzhou officials instantly realized the situation was dire.

This was no imperial envoy—these were a pack of living ancestors.

Anyone who had ever reported to the capital knew these spoiled scions of noble families well.

In the capital, there were many high officials; with superiors holding them in check, these spoiled scions of noble families merely bickered over women or fought petty brawls.

But out in the provinces, who dared to control these ancestors?

Arriving south just as the salt merchants were arrested, these fellows clearly meant to grab a share of the spoils.

“Yangzhou Prefect Hao Xingfeng, at your service, Marquis Wuyang!”

Hao Xingfeng bowed with a respectful hand gesture, neither subservient nor defiant.

His demeanor was cold, showing not the slightest warmth befitting an imperial envoy’s arrival.

Seeing this, the Marquis Wuyang was not angered.

Bringing so many plagues here, the fact that they hadn’t turned on him outright was already a sign of good temper.

No matter what chaos followed, as the local magistrate, Hao Xingfeng bore primary responsibility.

From the moment the Five City Garrison troops set foot on shore, Hao Xingfeng’s official career had been trembling in the storm.

"Lord Hao, no need for formalities—we're all serving the court."

“The dock isn’t a place for talk; please arrange lodging for us first!”

The Marquis Wuyang said with a smile.

The Yangzhou officials glanced at the procession, their faces grim.

If these were ordinary soldiers, they could simply camp outside the city with minimal supplies.

They’d only need firewood, grain, and minor expenses—wealthy Yangzhou could easily afford them.

But this group had too many big shots; even a single officer held rank enough to be a major figure in the provinces.

Normally, if there was a chance to build connections, no one minded expanding their network.

But these people clearly meant to snatch meat from everyone’s bowls.

“Master Zhu, have someone clean out the confiscated salt merchant mansions and assign them as lodging for our distinguished guests.”

After a brief hesitation, Hao Xingfeng ventured cautiously.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot had only arrested them; no verdict had been passed.

Legally, their mansions still belonged to the salt merchants personally.

Moving in ahead of time was clearly a violation.

A civil official familiar with the law would never accept such an arrangement that handed enemies a weapon.

“Fine, do it that way!”

“I’ve heard salt merchants are the richest in the world—we might as well see for ourselves.”

Before the Marquis Wuyang could speak, someone in the crowd began to stir up trouble.

To retaliate for their miserable treatment aboard the ship, only these spoiled scions of noble families would dare publicly humiliate their superior.

They must truly think themselves Deputy Commanders.

The difference between Commander and Deputy Commander was only half a rank; for minor matters, the Marquis Wuyang couldn’t punish them.

“Do it then.”

The Marquis Wuyang said without changing expression.

Not worth getting angry at fools—he was already calculating how to sell out these disastrous allies.

Entering Yangzhou with the crowd, Li Mu’s Nan Cheng Battalion was assigned to the residence of a salt merchant surnamed Tu.

A typical Jiangnan water-town garden, even with partial damage, clearly showed its luxurious design.

Most striking was the eight rooms arranged in a row along the main hall—this layout was reserved for dukes and imperial princes in the Great Yu Dynasty.

The violations weren’t limited to the hall’s layout: the yellow glazed tiles on the roof, the exotic beasts carved in decoration—all were strictly forbidden to merchants.

No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot dared arrest them despite insufficient evidence.

Just this single violation of protocol could cost the Tu salt merchant his head.

If such a violation existed, it wasn’t an isolated case.

The mansion was merely the tip of the iceberg; their daily clothing, food, housing, and travel likely brimmed with breaches.

The salt merchant’s brazen audacity, Li Mu had now witnessed firsthand.

Every inch of them was riddled with flaws; the court needed no evidence to crush them.

…

“Battalion Commander, the Yangzhou Prefecture has sent an invitation to attend a welcome banquet on the Qinhuai River.”

Upon hearing this, Li Mu smiled faintly.

He had assumed the unpleasant meeting at the dock meant Yangzhou would skip the welcome banquet.

Yet these officials’ thick skin exceeded even his expectations.

“Master Lan, what do you think Yangzhou intends?”

Each region had its own customs.

Li Mu was curious to experience the Qinhuai River’s charm, but reason prevailed.

The capital troops were still dawdling on the road, yet the Five City Garrison had arrived first—something felt deeply off.

“Sir, the welcome banquet is standard protocol.

Though today’s incident at the dock was a minor disturbance, that was official business; tonight’s gathering is private.

In the Jiangnan region, officials always clearly separate public and private matters.

But our arrival has been too conspicuous, stirring the local officials’ sensitive nerves.

They may try to probe us during the banquet.”

Lan Linjie said after some thought.

Though born in Jiangnan, his understanding of its bureaucracy remained limited to discussions with fellow students.

He didn’t know the exact purpose of the Five City Garrison’s large-scale southern deployment, but one thing was certain: the court distrusted the Yangzhou local government.

“Forget it—I have no interest in playing their games.

Tell the messenger I’m unwell and cannot attend tonight’s banquet.”

Li Mu nodded.

He knew this southern expedition wasn’t just the capital troops and the Five City Garrison—high-ranking officers from the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard had also secretly arrived in Yangzhou.

Their whereabouts en route remained unknown.

If trouble was brewing, tonight’s banquet would be the perfect opportunity.

Others might not know the hidden patrons behind the Two Huai salt trade, but the two secret agencies certainly did.

These clans didn’t just control salt—they were deeply entangled in the entertainment industry along the Qinhuai River.

“Battalion Commander, is the court truly determined to reform the salt monopoly?”

Lan Linjie asked hesitantly.

As a private secretary, he shouldn’t inquire into matters his patron hadn’t raised.

But some thoughts had festered too long—he couldn’t hold them back.

“Are you connected to these salt merchants?”

Li Mu asked half-jokingly.

He had inquired into his secretary’s background.

His family owned a few hundred mu of land—a minor landlord in Jiangnan; Lan Linjie was the first to climb into the gentry class.

Such a small fry could only dream of joining the salt trade—as a bookkeeper for a merchant.

“Sir, you jest. How could I possibly be tied to salt merchants?

I merely heard from fellow students about some of their deeds.

Their network is extremely complex, wielding great local influence—handling them is perilous.

One misstep could spark a popular uprising!”

(End of Chapter)