I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 212 We have no choice!
That night, the stars were sparse and cold, and a crescent moon was in the sky.

In the backyard of Jiangdu County Government Office, Pu Yongan, wearing a green robe and a net scarf on his head, sighed and hesitated.

Today, Hai Rui and Wang Yi'e's attitudes are very clear. The Liang Huai ship is going to be sunk. Do they want to take the opportunity to replace it with a new ship or are they willing to sink to the bottom of the water with the old ship?
It’s up to you to choose.

Of course I want a new boat.

But Pu Yongan was worried that after the success, would he become a discarded pawn?
In the struggles between the court and the local governments, people like me would most likely not be accepted by the victors and would be thrown away after being used without any regret.

Pu Yongan was unwilling to give in.

After working so hard for so many years to get to the current position, who would be willing to give up easily?

"Master, there are guests visiting." The old servant reported at the backyard door.

Pu Yongan was stunned. Who would come to visit him so late?
"Who?"

"Mr. Liang."

Liang She!

Pu Yongan rolled his eyes and said, "Please come in."

After a while, Liang She lifted his clothes and walked in quickly.

Pu Yongan stepped forward to greet him and said, "Brother Kejian, what brings you here?"

Liang She bowed and smiled faintly, "The north wind is fierce, Brother Shide, don't you feel the biting cold?"

"I feel it, that's why I'm sighing here. Let's go to the study and talk."

"Okay. Please."

The two sat down in the small study. After the old servant brought the tea and left, Liang She spoke first.

"Brother Shide, the three imperial envoys talked to you today. What did they say?"

Pu Yongan shook his head: "What else can I say? It's just a warning. This time it's coming with great force."

Liang She replied in a deep voice, "It is true that the person who came here has bad intentions. Hai Gangfeng is well-known throughout the country, but he is a sharp sword of the prince, and he can kill demons and exorcise monsters. Xu Mengquan has lived in Nanjing for a long time and is familiar with the political affairs of Nanzhili. He is valued by the new Minister of Revenue, Lord Gao, and it is time for him to serve enthusiastically. Wang Zijian is a student of Lord Shaohu and a capable general of the prince. He is decisive and capable."

Pu Yongan shook his head again, "Kejian, you missed something."

Liang She was stunned. "Did I miss it? Nanjing City's new Minister of Revenue Liu Zihe (Liu Yingjie) is in a position that he cannot reach."

"Kejian, you forgot to count Yang Jinshui in Shanghai, the Zhenhai Camp in Wusong, Cao Zizhong (Cao Bangfu), the governor of Zhejiang and Fujian and the admiral of the sea defense, and the Dinghai Camp on Zhoushan Island."

Liang She's face changed, and after a moment's silence, he slowly said, "Yang Jinshui is stationed in the southeast, and he coordinates the southeastern merchants with the Southeast Office of the Coordination Bureau, and then controls the trade in Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Huguang. These merchants travel around, have extensive contacts, and are well-informed.

There is also the elusive Commercial Investigation Division. In that case, there are also the East Factory and the Imperial Guard. Indeed, we underestimated a lot.”

After finishing speaking, Liang She's face was solemn. "Brother Shide's talent and wisdom are far superior to mine. This time during the salt inspection, Lord Gao wants political achievements and money. What does the Crown Prince want? What does Lord Shaohu want? I can't figure it out for the moment."

Pu Yongan shook his head: "Kejian is too polite. It's not that you can't figure it out, it's that you don't dare to think about it."

Liang She leaned back in his chair, looked up at the roof, and sighed, "Brother Shide still understands me. Liang doesn't want to repeat the same mistake!"

Pu Yongan was also a little excited. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly in the small room.

"Back in Andong County, I was the county magistrate and you were the magistrate of Huai'an Prefecture. We worked together and spent half a year to eliminate the Manchi mountain bandits who had been plaguing Huaidong for more than ten years.

What did they get in the end? They took all the benefits, leaving us with some leftovers. At first I advised you to go to Nanjing, but you didn't listen, and then..." Liang She looked angry and closed his eyes, as if he didn't want to recall the past.

"Kejian, it's hard to guard against villains in this world."

Liang She nodded: "Shide, don't mention it again."

"Why not? Back then, you and I wiped out the Manchishan bandits in Andong and rescued Han Chenglian. He thanked us profusely that day and said that he was the second son of the Han family, one of the top ten salt merchants in Yangzhou. He was kidnapped by bandits while out for fun and his life was in danger.

After returning to Yangzhou, his attitude changed. Later, he accidentally saw his sister-in-law and had evil intentions. Kejian, you almost lost your life back then, don't you remember?"

Liang She said bitterly, "Of course I remember. If it weren't for Brother Shide asking someone to recommend me to the Duke of Wei's mansion, my family would have been destroyed long ago!"

Pu Yongan looked at Liang She and said, "Kejian, do you consider the kindness of the prince of the Duke of Wei's mansion?"

Liang She hesitated for a few breaths, then nodded, "Yes. The Lianghuai salt administration is a matter of course. The top ten salt merchants in Yangzhou may seem to be the richest in the world, with money and power, but anyone with a discerning eye knows that they can fall with just a slight push."

Pu Yongan smiled faintly and said, "Kejian, are you worried that once Yangzhou is taken, they will follow the clues and find Nanjing and the Duke of Wei's mansion?"

"Yes, Your Highness, the Crown Prince is magnanimous and ambitious. There is also news that the court wants to abolish Nanzhili and set up a provincial government."

Pu Yongan laughed: "I knew that this is the root of Kejian's worries. You just asked about the Lianghuai Salt Inspection. Lord Gao wants political achievements and money. You are worried that the prince and Lord Shaohu want to abolish Nanzhili and set up a separate provincial government."

"Yes." Liang She nodded. "The prince was brought up by the late emperor, who loved to change the ancestral system and establish a new one. Will the prince also like this? Canceling Nanzhili and setting up a provincial government will bring many benefits to the Jiangnan family headed by Shaohu Gong."

Pu Yongan stared at Liang She and asked, "Are you more worried about the abolition of Nanzhili and the relocation of Duke Wei's mansion to Beijing?"

Liang She hesitated for a while, and finally nodded slowly.

"Kejian, you are confused!" Pu Yongan sighed.

Liang She's face flickered for a few times, and he said, "Please give me some advice, Brother Shide."

"Brother Kejian, do you think this time's salt inspection in Lianghuai will be like the last time when Gao Gong's 24 disciples returned empty-handed?"

"Of course not. Hai Gangfeng and Wang Zijian are famous ministers. We are also familiar with Xu Mengquan. He is quite talented and can be considered a capable minister. What can't they find out when the three of them come to inspect the salt industry?"

"Yes, if the three of them take action, what can't they find out? Once the dirty deeds of the salt administration are discovered, the first to bear the brunt are the salt merchants in Yangzhou City.

Kejian, what's wrong? Are you still thinking of taking action in advance and using Wu Shilai's clumsy method to kill people and silence them?"

Liang She looked embarrassed. "I have advised the young master about this matter, but he didn't listen and insisted on doing it his own way. Alas! One wrong step leads to all the wrong steps!"

"That's right! The young master has been away from the imperial court for too long, and has been bullying the city of Nanjing for too long, and has forgotten the rules of officialdom. Wu Shilai is even more stupid! He thinks he has done a great job and is smart. Haha, he was the stupidest one among those who gathered at the door of the Tianzhai.

He jumps up and down, acting pretentiously, and everyone looks at him like a monkey juggling on the street. Gangfeng Gong and his men want to break the situation, but they just need an excuse.

Well, Wu Shilai has brought the evidence to me. Mobilizing soldiers, pirates causing chaos, and harming wealthy families, any one of them can be investigated by Lord Gangfeng. Kejian, which of their bad deeds can withstand a thorough investigation? "

After a pause, Pu Yongan advised: "Kejian, don't think about it anymore. You have worked hard for the Duke of Wei's Mansion for several years, and you have already repaid the favor. There is no need to be buried with it. It is better to think about how to jump out of its broken ship and destroy the Han Mansion to avenge the hatred of the past."

Liang She was somewhat puzzled. "Brother Shide has already made up his mind. Why are you still sighing and hesitating?"

"Kejian, I see things too clearly, so I'm worried that in the end, all my efforts will be in vain and I'll be abandoned again."

Liang She was deeply moved. He remained silent for a while, then sighed and said, "Brother Shide, do you and I have a choice?"

Pu Yongan slammed the table in anger and said angrily: "Yes, there are thousands of ways in this world, but there is only one way to survive in front of you and me. How do you choose?
Kejian, I have made the decision. We will jump off the boat. Whether we will be abandoned or not is a matter for the future. The most urgent thing now is to jump off this broken boat as soon as possible, so as to avoid losing our lives and property."

(End of this chapter)