Chapter 447: Be Cautious in the Open

After passing through two courtyards, another wall appeared ahead, dividing the entire Feng family estate into inner and outer sections. They arrived at a small gate, also guarded by a gatehouse. Compared to the outer gatehouse, this one showed far less courtesy. Li Dajin humbly and politely stated his identity, but the gatekeeper merely glanced at him with indifference and shuffled lazily inside.

The wait was long. A young man in a silk-faced cotton robe walked out, his face full of impatience. The moment he saw Li Dajin, he rebuked him: "Couldn't whatever it is wait until after the fifteenth? If you spoil the Old Master's and the Master's mood, can you bear the consequences?"

In Yangzhou city, others respected Li Dajin as a dragon head, but within this estate, Li Dajin knew he counted for nothing. The young man before him, handsome in appearance, surnamed Yang, was the younger brother of Master Feng Shaoxian's sixth concubine. He also held a steward's title in the Feng household. Steward Yang didn't even rank highly in the Feng family; inner residence stewards held more sway than the managers of the outer courtyards. A single word from him in front of the Master or Madam could utterly destroy one's prospects in the Feng family.

Li Dajin hurriedly bowed with an apologetic smile and said, "The matter is urgent. The Old Master and the Master may well be waiting for news. I must trouble Steward Yang to announce me."

In years past, he might have simply slapped the man, but things were different now. His wife and children relied entirely on the Feng family for their prosperous and comfortable life. His child was now studying in a private school, and Master Feng had given his word: as long as he performed his duties well, securing an official degree for the child would be simple; a Xiucai or even a Juren would be no problem.

If anyone else made such a promise, people would dismiss it as wishful thinking. But coming from the Feng family, Li Dajin had to take it seriously. He knew exactly what heaven-reaching methods the Feng family possessed. His days of fighting and killing were behind him; it was time to think of his wife and children.

After smiling apologetically and speaking pleasantries for a long while, and slipping a silver ingot into the man's hand, Steward Yang finally turned around, most reluctantly, to deliver the message.

Another two hours passed before Steward Yang led Li Dajin inside. This time, he was somewhat more polite, because both the Old Master and the Master wished to see him.

The room where Li Dajin was received was a study in the inner residence. A wealthy, established family like the Fengs had cultivated a certain refined taste; nothing looked overtly resplendent. Yet anyone with a discerning eye would be stunned by every detail—everything was extraordinary.

Along with Old Master Feng Jinfa and Master Feng Shaoxian, an old man was also present to meet Li Dajin. Though this old man was dressed as a steward and stood to the side, Li Dajin dared not show the slightest negligence. During the questioning, this old man interjected with inquiries from time to time, and Li Dajin answered with the utmost respect.

He knew this old man was the Feng family's head steward. Despite being a servant, he lived like a master, with his own garden and estate, and even his own steward. Everyone simply called him Master Feng, having long forgotten his name was simply Feng Da.

Feng Jinfa's hair and beard were graying, his face showing few wrinkles, clearly a man who had lived a life of luxury for many years. Feng Shaoxian was a slightly plump middle-aged man around forty, with faint dark circles under his eyes, evidently having overindulged in wine and women. Yet his eyes held a sharp gleam, looking very shrewd. Feng Da had a scar on his forehead, which was rather peculiar. Great and wealthy households cared deeply about appearances; a steward who welcomed and saw off guests on behalf of his master should at least have proper features. A man with a scar on his face would be mistaken for a bandit and was generally not employed. Yet this steward of the Feng family had served for decades in this role, his status even more esteemed than collateral branches of the Feng clan. People could only assume the Feng family valued old loyalties.

Li Dajin's affairs had already been inquired about, recorded, and reported by others upon his return. This time, they merely asked about some details. Old Master Feng Jinfa leaned against the soft couch as if already asleep, while Master Feng Shaoxian and the steward Feng Da questioned him very meticulously.

"You've worked hard this time. Those men from Huai'an Prefecture were also working for our Feng family. You handle the compensation for the bereaved; draw up a list for the accounting office. Also, draw three hundred taels for your troubles this time." Feng Shaoxian spoke in a deep voice as he finished.

Handling bereavement compensation meant ample opportunity for profit, and three hundred taels for one's trouble was not a small sum. Li Dajin had long witnessed the Feng family's generosity. But this time, he wished to know their countermeasures. He was one of the Feng family's guard captains, and any further operations in Huai'an Prefecture or even Xuzhou would likely fall under his responsibility. He wanted to know their plans as early as possible.

However, the three highest-ranking members of the Feng family said nothing, and Li Dajin dared not ask further. He saluted and took his leave.

As soon as Li Dajin left, a maidservant brought a wooden chair for Feng Da. Feng Da thanked the Feng father and son and sat down directly.

"Master, Young Master, this Li Dajin comes from a background as a personal guard of a great general. His temperament is steady, and his martial skills are exceptional. We should offer him more benefits to win him over. Why always keep him in the outer courtyard? Give him a position in the inner estate, and he'll be even more utterly loyal."

After Feng Da finished speaking, Feng Shaoxian gave a dry laugh and then turned his gaze toward his father. As the master of the house, he found it inconvenient to directly refute the steward's suggestion.

Old Master Feng, who seemed to have been in a light doze, opened his eyes at this moment and spoke in a muffled voice: "These rough fellows who play with blades and spears have wild natures. Give them the slightest favor and they'll try to climb all over you. Keep their positions suppressed, and just give them enough silver."

"The Master has considered it thoroughly," Feng Da said, and did not press the matter further.

As Old Master Feng made to sit up, Feng Da hurriedly rose to help him, then poured tea and water for him. Though also in his fifties, his movements were still quite nimble.

"There is reason in our Great Ming's practice of honoring the civil and debasing the military. These rough fellows have no understanding of rules. But shortchanging them on their military pay is wrong. If you want men to exert themselves, you must feed them well." After a sip of tea, Old Master Feng's spirits seemed much improved.

"Father, that insolent brat in Xuzhou simply doesn't know his place. He thinks just because he has some blades and spears he can do as he pleases, and he actually dared to strike against our family. We must teach him a harsh lesson. Tomorrow, I'll send someone to Taizhou and have the Grand Coordinator issue an order to arrest this Zhao Jin and exterminate his three clans!" Feng Shaoxian spoke through gritted teeth.

By rights, the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang should be stationed in the Central Capital of Fengyang, but the administrative center of the Grand Coordinator's jurisdiction lay in the Huaiyang region, so the Grand Coordinator's office had long since been relocated to Taizhou.

Yangzhou and Taizhou were not far apart. Given the Feng family's influence, the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang would surely grant them this face. This Grand Coordinator was a paramount frontier official who oversaw the entire northern bank of the Southern Metropolitan Region and managed the grain transport canal. Dealing with Zhao Jin in Xuzhou would be a trivial matter for him.

Feng Shaoxian had barely finished speaking when he heard a cold snort from Feng Jinfa. Feng Shaoxian's expression changed, realizing his suggestion was problematic.

"The moment trouble arises, you think of using officials. Do you think they're so easy to use?" Feng Jinfa said slowly.

Feng Shaoxian laughed dryly and said, "Father, we can't exert our strength in Xuzhou, so we can only have the Grand Coordinator step in. He's just a petty local thug; there's no need to make things so complicated."

"Not complicated? The Grand Coordinator is a high-ranking provincial official. Do you think using him costs nothing?" Feng Jinfa said calmly.

Feng Shaoxian was momentarily stunned. Mobilizing such a paramount frontier official would certainly cost a great deal of silver. But the Feng family was as rich as a mountain of gold and a sea of silver; anything that could be accomplished with silver was not considered a major issue.

Feng Jinfa continued in his unhurried manner: "If that Grand Coordinator wants to do anything in Xuzhou, he still has to go through the Prefect of Xuzhou. If that Prefect had any way to deal with this Zhao Jin, would Zhao Jin dare to act so brazenly against our family?"

Feng Shaoxian froze, then nodded with an embarrassed look. The Feng family had deep official connections and wide social circles throughout the Southern Metropolitan Region; a mere Prefect of Xuzhou naturally wouldn't dare offend them. If that Prefect could control Zhao Jin, Zhao Jin would never have dared to strike against the Feng family.

But matters in officialdom adhered to hierarchy and rules; one could not overstep authority. Using the Grand Coordinator to deal with Zhao Jin meant the Grand Coordinator could only act through the Prefect of Xuzhou. Yet what real deterrent did a local official have against a local magnate? One only had to look at how the Prefect of Yangzhou treated the Feng family to understand.

As for getting the Grand Coordinator to act with full force, the silver spent and the favors owed would far exceed the current budget. And if things were done strictly by the rules, even the Grand Coordinator would be kept at arm's length, utterly unable to apply real force.

Feng Shaoxian gave two dry laughs. Feng Jinfa shook his head, reached into a wooden cabinet beside him, and pulled out a thin booklet. He flipped through it briefly, then held it out. Feng Shaoxian hurriedly rose to receive it.

"Don't keep all your attention on the girls and boys in the inner residence. Read more of the reports sent in from various places. Did you not see that there's a Censor standing behind this Zhao Jin?"

"Father, that's just a Censor who retired and returned home. A sesame-seed-sized official, why bother about him?" Feng Shaoxian said dismissively.

"You fool! Not only do you not study properly, you even look down on scholars. What do you mean, sesame-seed-sized official? That Wang Youshan is a Presented Scholar, and he entered the Chief Surveillance Bureau as a Censor. Back then, he maneuvered both inside and outside to give up his position voluntarily; people both in and out of court owe him favors. Even Investigating Censor Ai exchanges letters with him. A figure like that—do you have any idea how many old friends and fellow graduates he has in both capitals? Do you think the Grand Coordinator would move against such a person lightly?" Feng Jinfa said in a deep voice.

The moment he began speaking, it became apparent that Feng Jinfa's breath was very strong; he was not nearly as senile and decrepit as he appeared.

At the mention of the name Investigating Censor Ai, Feng Shaoxian fell silent. This Investigating Censor Ai was also a Censor of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, stationed in Yangzhou specifically to inspect the salt trade—the so-called "Salt Inspection Censor." Such a figure was effectively the direct supervising official of the salt merchants. Upon learning that Zhao Jin's backer had close ties with such a person, the plan to use official power was clearly in trouble.

Feng Jinfa shook his head and said in a tone of bitter disappointment: "To think you even sent someone to congratulate Zhao Jin on his wedding. Did you not think to casually inquire along the way? That Wang Youshan has already returned to the capital. He is now a rising star in his faction and is about to be appointed to an important post."

"Father, the affairs of those local thugs north of the river are all handled by a few stewards. How could your son have the time to attend to..."

"You spend all your days fussing over those opera troupes with their soft, trilling arias—of course you have no time. If it truly comes to a fight, even if our family can gain the upper hand, it will take considerable effort. The slightest official disadvantage for us, and the Tao and Liu families will certainly strike from behind. The slightest misstep then, and we'll be in serious trouble!" Feng Jinfa raised his voice slightly, and Feng Shaoxian's expression grew even more embarrassed.

Feng Da glanced at Feng Shaoxian, stood up, and said in a low voice: "Master, since we must be cautious in the open, shall we use methods from the underworld? I will go back and make preparations, and have Li Dajin and the other captains mobilize as well."