Chapter 236: It's You!

"Lord Shen, are you certain?"

Hearing the other's words, the shock in Mo Yu's heart was no less than before. Mo Yu had heard something of what Shen Yu had been doing previously. He had taken down the Sifang Chamber of Commerce and recovered the grain for the Nanling Granary.

Afterwards, this grain had set out from Lujiang City, transported to various places to provide disaster relief to the victims. Yet, this grain, originally intended for disaster relief, had been diverted by unscrupulous merchants to be sold.

How important was disaster relief grain? The people involved in this were not just one or two. Once confirmed, it was likely that everyone from top to bottom in this place would be unable to escape culpability!

"I am very certain!" Holding a handful of this grain, Shen Yu sniffed it carefully, the killing intent on his face becoming increasingly apparent.

Previously, although he had retrieved the grain, he had actually secretly tampered with it a little bit. Among the grain he had retrieved, he had mixed in some Moxun Grass.

This type of grass was non-toxic and harmless, but it had only one purpose: its faint scent would quickly permeate every corner.

This scent was very faint; if one did not sniff carefully, one might not even notice it, yet it could persist for several months without dissipating.

The reason he had done this was to prevent anyone from secretly taking risks again. After all, these people in the Beishan Region were rotten to the core, and Shen Yu dared not trust them completely.

If these people were to make the grain he had gone to such trouble to recover disappear again, he would have nowhere to look for it, so naturally, he had to prepare a backup plan early on.

It was just unexpected that these people were so bold; the grain had already arrived, yet instead of bringing it out to provide disaster relief, they had brought it out to sell first.

To be so corrupt and break the law to this extent, did they not know that at any moment someone might be starving to death by the roadside? How was this any different from treating human life like grass!

At this moment, the killing intent on Shen Yu was no less than Mo Yu's!

Clutching the grain in his hand, Shen Yu then said indifferently, "This official originally thought the grain for Lujiang City had not yet arrived, and these grain merchants were merely offloading their own stock!"

"Who would have thought that the grain for Lujiang City had already arrived, and these unscrupulous merchants were selling the disaster relief grain! Are they tired of my sword being dull?"

Those who had stayed with Shen Yu for a long time would naturally know. Whenever he referred to himself as "this official," it meant he was in a foul mood, or even that he was about to draw his sword and kill.

Whenever this happened, some people had better be careful!

"Lord Shen, could there be a mistake? As far as I know, this Prefect Lu is usually incorruptible and honest; he does not seem like a person who would embezzle."

"Indeed, when I arrived, I also heard that this Prefect Lu had a very good reputation. But why is it that under the governance of such a well-regarded Prefect Lu, there are the most starving people?"

Looking at the starving people lying across the street corners outside, the anger in Shen Yu's heart burned even brighter. Previously, he had wondered why the starving people here looked more numerous than in other places; now it seemed that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will be crooked!

As for the reputation, one just needs to be careful in daily life, not expose one's true nature, and then package oneself. Finally, find a few shills to brag everywhere, and the reputation is blown up.

In this era where information is not well-developed, with scholars spreading it among themselves, the fame is established.

"General Mo, some things are such that you can know a person's face but not their heart; whether it is true or not, we shall see once we look!"

"Let's go, follow me to take a look!" Pulling Mo Yu along, Shen Yu headed straight for the State Yamen. Whether the people here were corrupt officials or not, one use of Floating Life Like a Dream, and he would be guaranteed to know everything.

However, this time Shen Yu was clearly overthinking it. By the time they arrived at this Prefect Lu's residence, they had already discovered something different.

The exterior of this residence did indeed look plain and ordinary, just like an ordinary household, but the plain decorations were basically all worth a fortune.

Although it was not resplendent with gold and jade, it was far more expensive than being resplendent; this Lord Lu was truly a refined man who knew how to enjoy himself!

When they went further inside, they heard the sounds of string and bamboo instruments coming from within, as well as the sounds of drinking, merrymaking, and clinking cups.

People outside were enduring hunger and starvation, yet they were drinking and making merry inside, while still maintaining the reputation of an honest official outside—they really had the nerve!

"Lord Lu, Lu Chengnian, you truly have a fine mood!" Rudely pushing the main gate open, Shen Yu strode inside.

Inside, there was not only Lu Chengnian, but also several of his confidants from the State Yamen. Besides them, there were also several merchants dressed in gorgeous clothing.

If there were no surprises, these people should be the local grain merchants.

When Shen Yu pushed the door and entered, there were six or seven beautiful young women dancing gracefully in the room; the scene was more than just lively.

Facing the suddenly appearing Shen Yu, Lu Chengnian was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. Whoever had their secret suddenly exposed would likely be unable to suppress the anger rising in their heart.

"Who are you? Do you know what place this is! Someone, come here!"

"Lu Chengnian, the commoners under your governance are enduring hunger and starvation, yet you are here seeking pleasure."

With his sword hilt resting on the table, Shen Yu looked at him coldly. "Look at this! Jade plates and delicacies, fine food and wine, beautiful women—it truly opens one's eyes!"

"The outside world says Lord Lu is incorruptible and honest, with nothing to his name. Is this your incorruptibility and honesty?"

"All of you, back down!" At this moment, the guards outside wanted to rush in, but were blocked by Mo Yu at the doorway.

The moment that terrifying aura was released, it made the guards at the door tremble as if facing a formidable enemy. Just by looking at the aura, they knew they could not beat this person at all!

"No, who are you? Do you know this is Lord Lu's residence!" With a cold snort, a person beside him leaped up, staring coldly at Shen Yu.

As a wealthy merchant of this place, although his family business could not compare to the Sifang Chamber of Commerce, it was still a famous existence. He had raised quite a few experts under his command, so naturally, he had plenty of confidence when speaking.

I really don't know where this greenhorn came from, daring to come here to cause trouble. Believe it or not, I can beckon and have my thousand or so experts beat you into a pulp!

"Shut up!" Hearing this person's words, Lu Chengnian not only did not agree, but his expression changed drastically as he looked toward the door.

"The one at the door is General Mo!"

"Which General Mo? I know General Mo, and he is not that one, plus he is too young!"

"Shut up, that is Left Guard General Mo Yu, General Mo!"

"Mo Yu?" Hearing this name, that person's eyes widened instantly. The General Mo he had just mentioned was Mo Yu's second uncle. As a wealthy merchant of this place, of course, he had to maintain a good relationship with this General Mo.

As for Mo Yu, he had joined the army in his youth and basically never returned home. Even if he did return, it was just to have a meal with his family, and he never interacted with outsiders. Therefore, it could be said that very few people knew him.

Although Mo Yu and his second uncle were both generals, their status was worlds apart. The name Mo Yu alone was enough to make enemies tremble with fear; this was something ordinary people could never achieve!

"Gen, General Mo!" In just an instant, cold sweat had already soaked his back. It was said that this General Mo could not tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes; was he not about to be finished?

"Lord Lu!" Holding a handful of grain in his hand, Shen Yu threw it fiercely into the other's face; the cold gaze made Lu Chengnian tremble.

Being thrown in the face in front of so many people, Lu Chengnian should have been furious; did he not have his dignity?

But when he met Shen Yu's gaze filled with killing intent, Lu Chengnian cowered instantly; not only did he cower, but there was a fear rising from the bottom of his heart. It was as if the other party might draw his sword and kill at any moment!

"Look at this, this is all the grain and fodder that this official went to such trouble to collect, and then sent people to deliver here with great difficulty!"

"But why is this grain being taken out by grain merchants to be sold? Lord Lu, do you not need to give this official a reasonable explanation for this?"

"If I had not arrived today, I fear I would still be kept in the dark by you all!"

"The grain you collected?" Seeming to have grasped the point, Lu Chengnian's expression changed drastically, and even his voice trembled quite a bit.

"It's you! You are Shen Yu?"