Fu Shanhe

Chapter 29 Blackmail
After finding the right way and stating Xiang Shihai's name and purpose, Chen Jichuan was treated completely differently from before.

Faced with his overly enthusiastic host, he fully experienced the fickleness of human nature and the fickleness of the world.

"My dear nephew, you have just come from the Imperial Prison. Did the people from the East Factory give you any trouble?"

Wang Shaofeng asked with concern.

The reputation of the East Depot has recently spread throughout the capital. Few civil and military officials in the court are not afraid of it.

When he learned that Chen Jichuan had just walked out of the imperial prison and brought a message from Xiang Shihai, his first reaction was that it was impossible.

"Thanks to Lord Wang, my trip was relatively smooth. The Dongchang guards are all greedy people. As long as we arrange everything, it won't be difficult to get in!"

Chen Jichuan's answer made Wang Shaofeng very embarrassed.

As fellow Jinshi with Xiang Shihai, the two had always had a good relationship. Even Xiang Shihai's joining the Qingliu Party was initiated by him.

As a political ally, after learning that Xiang Shihai was arrested and imprisoned, he not only did not try to help, but instead cut ties with him immediately.

Unfortunately, this separation is limited to drawing a clear political line. The bad things that the two had done together before cannot be directly exposed.

Originally, it was a handle on each other, but now it has become a unilateral constraint. Xiang Shihai, who was in prison, could not care about adding a few more charges, but Wang Shaofeng on the shore could not.

The fifth-rank official position was not very noticeable in the capital, but he served as the Langzhong of the Zhejiang Qingli Division under the Ministry of Revenue, and had a resounding title "Da Sidu" in the outside world.

He was in charge of Zhejiang's fiscal and taxation collection and expenditure review, a core position of power. When officials from all levels of the province came to Beijing, he would always bring a "book handkerchief".

Both the "money prospects" and the "future" are very bright, but you cannot be involved in them.

"Is Brother Xiang okay?"

Wang Shaofeng asked.

He didn't care whether Xiang Shihai lived or died. The officialdom was the most realistic place, even if they were close friends before, that was a thing of the past.

If conditions permit, he would not mind lending a hand. Now the fight between the two parties has reached a white-hot stage, and it is obviously not something that a doctor like him can get involved in.

Unable to save people, Xiang Shihai became an unstable factor.

He knew too many secrets, and if he just told a few of them, he would be dragged down and buried with them. This was what he was most worried about.

"Master's condition is very dire. Those eunuchs are beasts. They tortured him to extract a confession!"

Chen Jichuan said indignantly.

Identity determines one's stance. In the Dayu Dynasty, the teacher-student relationship was second only to that between father and son and brothers. Confucian culture emphasizes protecting one's relatives.

Regardless of whether Xiang Shihai has committed a crime, as a disciple he must take the right stance.

To rescue Xiang Shihai is to rescue his own political resources.

Even though this political resource is about to expire, it still has considerable value.

"Damn you eunuchs, how dare you treat Brother Xiang like this!

Don't worry, my dear nephew. I will not sit idly by and watch this matter. I will definitely find a way to give Brother Xiang justice.

When Lord Pang wakes up, I will report the matter to him immediately, and I will make the eunuchs pay the price."

After hearing Wang Shaofeng's indignant words, Chen Jichuan was moved at first, but then he realized something was wrong.

The pie is drawn very big, but I can see it but cannot touch it!
No one knows when Lord Pang’s illness will be cured.

The case of my mentor will be decided in three days.

Once the verdict is made public, the difficulty of rescuing the person will increase by more than ten times.

"Master Wang, my teacher's body won't last much longer. The eunuchs are forcing him to confess, hoping to implicate more people.

As a student, I am incompetent and have no ability to overturn the verdict on my teacher's behalf. I can only think of ways to bribe the eunuchs to save my teacher's life.

But I am short of money, and the money I brought with me has been used up, and I can’t even feed those hungry wolves!”

After saying that, Chen Jichuan looked at Wang Shaofeng expectantly.

When he was in prison, Xiang Shihai personally told him that if he lacked money, he should find the person in front of him.

"My dear nephew, the eunuchs are the most cunning. Are you sure that you can save Brother Xiang by giving him a gift?"

Wang Shaofeng asked hesitantly. Reason told him that he had to spend money to avoid disaster. But his body instinctively showed resistance.

It would cost a lot of money to rescue people from the eunuchs. The worst thing is that these guys can suddenly turn against you after taking the money.

The East Factory did a lot of sting operations.

"Don't worry, Lord Wang. This time I have found a reliable middleman and a big shot to mediate. The eunuch party will have to give me some face.

Even if something unexpected happens, it won't involve you. If you are worried, just pretend I didn't come to your house tonight!"

After hearing what Chen Jichuan said, Wang Shaofeng broke out in a cold sweat.

If we send him away at this time, he might end up going to the Imperial Prison tomorrow and keep Xiang Shihai company.

"Don't worry, nephew. If you need money, I can still think of a way.

But you have to let me know who the middleman is, who the big shot is who is the one who is going to mediate, and how much money it will cost to sort it all out, right?"

Wang Shaofeng said while trying to suppress the pain.

In order to accumulate some wealth for his family, he worked as a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue for a full five years.

He took the initiative to decline several opportunities for promotion.

He made a lot of money, but he didn't dare spend even a single ounce of it.

Except for a few people who know the inside story, in the eyes of the outside world, he is a representative of integrity and a role model in officialdom.

"Sir Wang, their identities are special, so it is inconvenient for us to intervene directly. I promised to keep their identities confidential.

But I was able to get here safely tonight because I was escorted by people from the Five Cities Army.

The eunuch party had a big appetite and asked for 100,000 taels. It was said that this was set by the traitor Zuo Guangen, and even a tael less would not do.

If they can’t collect the money within two days, they will torture their teacher severely until they find enough money from other places!”

The threatening words were taught to him by Xiang Shihai.

One hundred thousand silver coins is not a small sum.

Without some effort and simply trying to establish a good relationship with them, it would be difficult to get them to pay to save him.

"What, one hundred thousand taels?
Those eunuchs are so bold to ask for it. Who would have the time to store so much cash?"

He was already surprised that someone dared to interfere in the struggle between the Qingliu and the eunuch party. The asking price of 100,000 taels made him even more upset.

"Three years as an honest magistrate, and one hundred thousand silver coins."

Just listen to it. Local officials have high incomes, but their expenses are also high.

Except for a few large prefectures, the fiscal revenues that other prefectures paid to the central government each year were less than 100,000 taels.

As a powerful doctor, he could earn tens of thousands of taels of silver every year, which was considered a rare lucrative position among officials of the same level.

"Sir Wang, I haven't said enough.

The one hundred thousand taels is only what the eunuch party wants. The money from the middleman and that big shot has not been counted in!
You are knowledgeable and experienced, please help me make an idea of ​​how much money should be given."

Chen Jichuan said with a nervous look on his face.

Not knowing that the offer given by Li Mu already included all expenses, he just thought it was what the eunuch party wanted.

For no reason, an additional expense was added.

All the pressure was suddenly placed on Wang Shaofeng, and he didn't dare to say no.

“The middleman gave 10,000 taels, and the big shot gave 30,000 taels.

This is their worth, we can’t break the rules!”

Wang Shaofeng said with gritted teeth.

One hundred and forty thousand taels went out at once, which was purely cutting his flesh.

(End of this chapter)