Chapter 809: Investigation

"I am not afraid. Otherwise Eunuch Xiong would not have sent me. Perhaps Master Jin does not know, but I was castrated three years ago to enter the prince's estate. It was how my whole family survived the great famine. What do I have to fear?" Eunuch Ren even had the presence of mind to speak while holding his tea.

Although many nameless wretches in the capital castrated themselves hoping to enter the palace, for a healthy adult, self-castration remained a horrific mutilation and humiliation. Judging by this Eunuch Ren's speech and bearing, he could not have been of low standing before his castration. To make so cruel a decision, his claim of not fearing death was likely no boast, and his present composure proved it further.

Zhao Jin exhaled. The other side had calculated precisely and arranged everything meticulously, sending a man of such unshakable resolve. Heavy bribery was useless, and killing him to stall for time was equally futile.

"This is no small matter. I need to consider it. See our guest out," Zhao Jin directly issued the order of dismissal.

Eunuch Ren rose with a smile and said gently, "Master Jin, do not take too long to think. If the delay is too great, the capital may grow impatient."

Zhao Jin waved his hand irritably. Eunuch Ren reached to retrieve something from his pocket, but Niu Jinbao behind him seized his shoulder directly. The eunuch's entire body went rigid. Niu Jinbao's grip was powerful, and Eunuch Ren turned pale with pain, yet his expression remained composed. He merely said, "I only wished to leave Master Jin a token. When the time comes, present this at the prince's estate in Ziyang City to arrange the exchange."

Hearing this, Niu Jinbao released his grip. Eunuch Ren drew a tablet and a folded letter from his pocket, placed them casually on the side table, and said with a smile, "When Master Jin has made up his mind, send someone with this tablet and document to the prince's estate. The gatekeeper will admit them upon seeing these."

With that, Eunuch Ren of the prince's estate offered a polite cupped-hand salute, turned, and walked out. Just before stepping through the door, he turned back with a smile and said, "Master Jin has many horses at his disposal. Remember to send word by fast horse when the time comes. In a matter this urgent, even a single day's delay could bring great calamity!"

The door closed. For a moment, silence filled the room. After a while, Zhao Jin spoke. "Assign men to watch him closely. Follow him all the way back to the Prince of Lu's estate. I want reports delivered to me every day."

Someone immediately went out to make the arrangements. Wang Zhaojing's expression shifted through several changes before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Brother, we cannot agree to this. If we yield this time, they will come to blackmail us again."

Zhao Jin's face was overcast as he said, "Yield once, and it shows we are afraid. Then there will be a second time, a third time, extorting us again and again. Once they have bled us dry, they will report us for rebellion and collect the merit for it."

"... Then what do we do?" Wang Zhaojing hesitated before asking the question.

"Their scheme is brilliant. They set a trap from afar to threaten us. If we are afraid, they carve us up slice by slice. If we are not afraid, the imperial court will send a grand army to suppress us, smashing our territory to pieces, and they can still scavenge something from the wreckage. Either way, they lose nothing. They are counting on us being unable to reach Ziyang City — and even if we went there, it would still be rebellion, the same outcome." Zhao Jin looked up at the sky and spoke with deep feeling.

Wang Zhaojing drew a deep breath, gritted his teeth, rose from his seat, and clasped his fists toward Zhao Jin. "Brother, we cannot submit to the prince estate's extortion. But as a son, I cannot abandon my father. Loyalty and filial piety cannot both be served. I will go to the capital myself..."

"Nonsense! Foolishness! Sit down! Did I say we would not rescue him?" Zhao Jin rebuked him sharply.

Wang Zhaojing froze, then sat down sullenly. Zhao Jin softened his tone. "The matter is urgent, but it does not hinge on this one day. Let me think."

"Then I will not disturb you, Brother. I will go outside for a look." Finding himself at a loss, Wang Zhaojing stood and bowed in farewell.

"Wait outside. Do nothing," Zhao Jin said, his voice low but stern. Wang Zhaojing sighed and bowed again.

The courtyard buildings were well-appointed, and there were places for Wang Zhaojing to wait after he stepped out. But how could he sit still now? He merely paced restlessly around the courtyard. Before long, Liu Yong arrived in haste with Nie Hei and Li Dajin. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he asked, "Third Brother, I heard that the matter with your father was orchestrated by the Prince of Lu's estate in Shandong?"

Wang Zhaojing nodded. Liu Yong cursed under his breath, then said, "I have already assigned men to follow him. I never imagined such a scheme. Where is Big Brother?"

"Big Brother said he needs quiet to think," Wang Zhaojing replied flatly.

Just as he finished speaking, Zhao Jin's voice rang out loudly from the house. "Xiao Yong is here? You and Zhaojing, come in together!"

Wang Zhaojing and Liu Yong exchanged a glance, then both strode quickly into the room. Zhao Jin stood frowning before the table. At some point, a map had been spread flat across it. The map was quite crude, depicting only Xuzhou and the surrounding prefectures and counties.

"You two, go handle a task. Do it quickly. Go to the salt market and the trading market and find people. People from Yanzhou Prefecture in Shandong. People from Ziyang County in Yanzhou Prefecture. People familiar with Ziyang County. People who have dealt with the Prince of Lu's estate. People who have been to the capital. People familiar with the capital. Find all the types I have listed. Put each type in a separate room. Post guards. Do not let them speak to one another," Zhao Jin instructed in a deep voice.

Liu Yong's spirits lifted. He stepped forward and asked, "Brother, are we seizing spies from the Prince of Lu's estate in Shandong?"

"I suspect the Prince of Lu's estate never planted any spies or informants in our Xuzhou at all. The one who arranged all this is greedy, yes, but he is also capable. I am telling you to invite these types of people here. Be courteous. Start now. It must be done before nightfall!" Zhao Jin remarked with a sigh, then pressed them sternly.

Liu Yong and Wang Zhaojing acknowledged the order solemnly, then each turned and left to set about the task.

Before long, the entire He Village grew bustling. Patrolmen from the salt market and trading market, stewards from Cloud Mountain Trading who dealt with various parties, household troops of the Internal Guard, and the local jianghu and marketplace folk of Xuzhou all began going door to door, questioning and checking.

At first, the merchants and passersby in various places grew rather nervous, but those who came asking were very courteous in manner and stated their purpose clearly: Master Jin requests your presence.

Xuzhou bordered Shandong's Yanzhou Prefecture, the largest and wealthiest prefecture in Shandong, and quite a number of merchants came there to do business. These people were all brought to the Cloud Mountain Inn. There were too many of them, and the council hall was a restricted area of the Zhao Camp, so a place with many rooms was needed.

Besides the merchants, clerks, and the like from the salt market and trading market, guests staying at various inns were also questioned. The haul there was no worse than at the markets; there were even more outsiders staying there.

Before nightfall, the task Zhao Jin had assigned was completed. They went to report back to Zhao Jin, and he brought them directly to this location.

"Everyone, I, Zhao, have asked you here because I need your help. I have some questions to ask you all. Tonight, I must trouble you to work hard, and I ask for your generous forbearance. Dinner will be provided by the Cloud Mountain Inn!"

Before beginning, Zhao Jin first gathered everyone together and politely explained his purpose. Those who had felt some resentment and alarm in their hearts calmed down upon seeing Zhao Jin's courteous attitude. Moreover, the meal provided by the Cloud Mountain Inn was practically banquet fare, exceedingly sumptuous. The only thing that made people uncomfortable was that fellow townsfolk and countrymen were placed in the same room but forbidden by the Zhao Camp men from chatting, even though acquaintances naturally wanted to exchange a few words upon meeting.

Though the food was excellent, everyone was worried about Zhao Jin's impending questions, so they all ate very quickly. To their surprise, a considerable wait followed after the meal before things began. Everyone understood that Master Jin wanted them to finish their meal at leisure. Realizing this, they relaxed considerably.

People from each locality were separately invited into the room where Zhao Jin was. They noticed the room was brightly lit, with Wang Zhaojing seated to one side with paper and brush spread out, and Zhao Jin seated upright, conducting the questioning.

They had assumed that being summoned with such solemnity meant they would be asked about important, urgent matters. Unexpectedly, Zhao Jin's questions were very simple — all about local customs and conditions within Yanzhou Prefecture, as well as matters concerning the officials and noble relatives. Wang Zhaojing recorded every question.

Because the questions differed for each group, no one knew what purpose Zhao Jin's inquiries served, nor could they discern which questions drew his attention.

For example: the doings of the Prince of Lu's estate within Ziyang City, what important figures existed within the Prince of Lu's estate. As for matters of the capital, the questions were about whether it seemed tense lately and how one might connect with the grandees of the court.

These questions were mixed in among many others. When facing Zhao Jin, the merchants and lodgers were already nervous and agitated — how could they think that deeply? Recalling it afterward, they could only guess that Zhao Jin might be looking to do business in Yanzhou Prefecture or to curry favor with some noble in the capital.

"That Ren Daohei who came today kept insisting he was a trusted confidant of Estate Steward Xiong Zao. I never imagined he is actually a close subordinate of Right Administrator Si Wenxuan."

This was one of the fruits of the questioning. As it turned out, the story of this Ren Daohei was quite well-known in and around Ziyang County, the seat of Yanzhou Prefecture. Originally, he had been a county-level licentiate with considerable poetic reputation. The Right Administrator Si Wenxuan was also a scholar, and the two had crossed paths several times.

During the great famine, the Ren family failed to respond in time, and other calamities befell the household. Men of letters, accustomed to smooth sailing, often turn bitter and extreme when faced with such great setbacks. He chose the path of self-castration, seeking a way to survive within the prince's estate. Yet at the time, the head eunuch managing the Prince of Lu's estate wanted to bar his entry, nearly driving Ren Daohei's entire family to their deaths. It was only when Administrator Si spoke up that he was recruited into the estate to serve.

Because of this connection, this Ren Daohei was utterly loyal to Administrator Si. Having studied, his mind was far more agile than others. Having endured such a great setback, his character had also become exceptionally stoic and resilient. His ability to handle assignments and serve far surpassed that of his peers.

It was also learned from the merchants that Administrator Si had been constantly helping the prince's estate expand its properties while also amassing wealth for his own family. Such matters could not be hidden, nor was there any need to hide them.

"This Si Wenxuan is a man of far-reaching schemes and decisive judgment. He has always excelled at using the imperial clan status of the princedom to oppress others. Over all these years, the Prince of Lu's estate and the imperial court may not be particularly close, but in legal principle, they are one family. It is by relying on this that Si Wenxuan has made the Yanzhou prefectural government, the Shandong Grand Coordinator, and the Provincial Administration Commission all bow their heads."

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