Chapter 90: A Sound Beating

"Don't rush," Li Deyong stood up, waving his hand at the people around him. "It's nothing serious. Go about your business as usual, keep shipping the goods out! By the way, the sweet potatoes are about to arrive. Make sure the people you notify hide them well—don't let them be discovered."

Sweet potatoes and corn had long since been introduced to the Great Ming, but they weren't given much attention, mostly used as coarse grain for livestock. But if they were discovered, it could affect their business, and especially ruin His Highness Prince Hui's plans!

One of the men stepped forward. He was in charge of escorting shipments, and looked at Li Deyong, saying, "Understood. But boss, what if the Shuntian Prefecture yamen runners try to block us from leaving, or demand an inspection?"

A hint of ferocity appeared on Li Deyong's face. "Pick twenty strong men. In a moment, I'll tell you exactly what to do—just do as I say!"

Everyone's hearts jumped, but none dared offend him. After all, they were refugees—not starving to death was already good enough. Besides, Li Deyong not only gave them food, but also gave them work to support their families. Even if it meant risking their lives, they'd grit their teeth and do it!

Zhao Han sat in the sedan chair, swaying back and forth, the alcohol rising to his head. His face was flushed red, his eyes barely able to stay open, but he still remembered the purpose of his visit. He forced his eyes open, trying to keep himself alert.

"Sir, we've arrived." To Zhao Han, it felt like an eternity had passed. The yamen runner beside him lifted the curtain and spoke in a low voice.

Zhao Han jolted awake, opening his eyes. With a dignified expression, he said flatly, "Good. Have someone knock on the door. This official will follow shortly."

"Yes, sir! Stop the sedan, stop the sedan!" The yamen runner shouted. Once the sedan came to a halt, he ran to the door of the unremarkable workshop.

The yamen runner pounded on the door—smack, smack, smack—while shouting with borrowed authority, "Open up, open up! Lord Zhao of the Shuntian Prefecture is here! Open the door quickly!"

Zhao Han stepped down from the sedan. He Yunshan and Xiao Yong also got out of their own sedans, watching Zhao Han from a distance without approaching.

The people in the workshop had been on guard all along. The moment they heard the commotion, they immediately went to report to Li Deyong.

When Li Deyong heard that it wasn't Shen Yan, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture himself, who had come, his expression grew even colder. He stood up and said, "Let's go. Let's see just how much authority the Shuntian Prefecture thinks it has!"

Li Deyong walked out of the courtyard, with twenty fierce-looking strong men carrying thick clubs following behind him, advancing toward the gate with menacing momentum.

"Open up! Open up!"

The yamen runner shouted at the door, while Zhao Han stood behind him, his body slightly unsteady, but his eyes gleaming with greed. Though this workshop had only been operating for a short time, from what these wealthy merchants had said, he understood it was absolutely a fat piece of meat. Not only would he take a bite out of these heartless rich merchants, but this workshop—he'd sink his teeth deep into it too!

Li Deyong stood not far from the door. He waved his hand at the twenty strong men behind him, and only after they had retreated and hidden themselves did he sneer at the gatekeeper and say, "Open the door. Let them in!"

With a creak, the gate swung open. Li Deyong stood not far behind it, with the bearing of one man holding a pass against ten thousand.

Zhao Han looked at Li Deyong, his eyes widening slightly, a smile on his lips as he strode inside. The moment he entered, the four yamen runners behind him hurried in as well.

"So you're the owner of this workshop?" Zhao Han looked at Li Deyong, hands clasped behind his back, speaking with an air of officialdom.

A strange smile appeared on Li Deyong's face. In a shrill, reedy voice, he said, "This humble one is not."

"Not the owner? Then why don't you—"

Zhao Han's face, which had just hardened, suddenly froze. He stared at Li Deyong. "This humble one?"

Li Deyong also clasped his hands behind his back, squinting as he looked down at Zhao Han from above. "What, do I need to drop my trousers to show you?"

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Han's forehead. His whole body trembled, and the alcohol sobered up by three parts. He quickly stepped forward a few paces, staring at Li Deyong as he sized him up.

If the man before him truly was a eunuch, then he most likely came from the palace. And anyone from the palace was a person of importance—someone he couldn't afford to offend.

Li Deyong's smile grew wider, and his voice grew even shriller. "Lord Zhao, how about we close the doors and have a proper chat?"

Zhao Han was now mostly convinced. He quickly turned around and shouted, "Close the doors! Close the doors! Everyone out, out!"

The yamen runners had heard everything clearly too, and their hearts were filled with unease. They scrambled out as if fleeing, pulling the doors shut behind them.

Once everyone was out and the doors were closed, Zhao Han approached Li Deyong, his face cautious as he said, "May I ask which palace this eunuch serves?"

Li Deyong had started in the Seal Treasury, then followed Cao Huachun to the Palace Eunuch Directorate, then served a stint in Kunning Palace, after which he was sent out as an external affairs eunuch. Finally, Zhu Xu had stationed him here.

He looked at Zhao Han, his smile growing ever more sinister. He waved his hand, and from both sides, twenty fierce-looking men rushed out, surrounding Zhao Han.

Li Deyong took a step back, waved his hand again, and said viciously, "Beat him! Just don't beat him to death!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The twenty men didn't hesitate. Clubs as thick as arms came down on Zhao Han all at once.

"Ah! Stop! Stop!"

"I am an imperial official! No matter who you are, you cannot lay a hand on me!"

"Ah... ah..."

Before long, Zhao Han was beaten to the ground, reduced to nothing but miserable whimpering.

The leading strong man delivered one final blow, then walked over to Li Deyong and said, "Boss, that should be about enough. Any more and he won't be able to get out of bed."

Li Deyong nodded with satisfaction. He walked over to Zhao Han's head, crouched down, patted his face, and said with great arrogance, "Listen carefully. This eunuch once served in Kunning Palace, and now I am a man of Jinghuan Palace."

Zhao Han had been beaten severely, but the alcohol had completely worn off. He was utterly clear-headed now. At these words, his body shook violently, and his face was filled with terror.

Kunning Palace—of course he knew that. That was the residence of the Empress, the central palace. As for Jinghuan Palace, he might not have known it before, but not long ago, the young lord residing there had ransacked the Shuntian Prefecture's treasury. How could he possibly forget that!

Zhao Han had spent a fortune to secure his position as Deputy Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, and he didn't want to lose it just like that. He struggled to crawl forward, looking at Li Deyong and saying, "This... this lowly official has offended the eunuch. This lowly official deserves ten thousand deaths..."

"Hmph." Li Deyong let out a cold laugh. "Now do you know who the owner of this workshop is?"

"I know, I know..." Cold sweat covered Zhao Han's head and face. Whether it was the alcohol or sheer terror, his entire body was trembling uncontrollably.

Li Deyong stood up with a calm expression. "Then why haven't you scrammed yet?"

"Yes, yes!" Ignoring his injuries, Zhao Han scrambled to his feet and fled, crawling and rolling toward the door. The moment he crossed the threshold, he broke into a desperate run.

He was truly terrified. Last time, His Highness Prince Hui hadn't just ransacked the treasuries of the Six Ministries—he'd had the Minister of War thrown directly into prison. That was a dignified second-rank official! An ant like him wasn't even qualified to have Prince Hui deal with him personally!

"Excellent!"

"Boss, that was truly impressive!"

"Wonderful—the yamen runners outside have all withdrawn."

Li Deyong let out a sneer and walked back with his hands clasped behind his back. Before, His Highness couldn't afford to reveal his identity. But from now on, anyone who dared to cause trouble would come to no good end!

He Yunshan and Xiao Yong watched from afar. When they saw Zhao Han hastily scramble into his sedan and leave immediately, and the yamen runners also withdrawing, their expressions turned puzzled.