The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 14 Controlling Commander He

Ximen Qing slightly raised his eyelids, remaining expressionless: "Eight hundred shi? That's a considerable amount. It's a pity that the old rice is moldy, but it's also due to bad weather. Why did you end up like this, brother-in-law?"

"Alas!" Commander Wu sighed again, slapping his thigh. "If it were just mold and rot, causing some loss of money and grain, that would be fine! What's worse is that when we checked the accounts, we found that we had a deficit of a whole thousand shi of new rice! How... how are we going to fill this 1800 shi rice hole?"

"If the higher-ups come to investigate, Commander He and I might be in serious trouble!"

As he spoke, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, clearly showing his mixed fear and apprehension.

Upon hearing this, Master Ximen understood perfectly.

According to the original plot.

He Qianhu will only come to me for help a month later when he has absolutely no other choice.

He had only casually tossed a few hundred taels of silver to Commander He, and in doing him a huge favor, he had done him a tremendous favor.

Now that I'm going to expose this matter myself, I'm doing it through Commander He's hands.

Give that rich guy a good slap!

So that he'll know who the real bigwig is in Qinghe County!

Ximen Da Guanren picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Brother-in-law, this matter... is not entirely without room for maneuver."

Commander Wu, like a drowning man grasping at a piece of driftwood, urgently asked, "Brother-in-law, what brilliant idea do you have? Teach me quickly!"

"Although I could lend my brother-in-law a hand, unfortunately, Commander He is the one who calls the shots in the military guards." Ximen Qing smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

"Why don't you find an excuse to visit Commander He's residence? In the course of your conversation, you can 'unintentionally' reveal the predicament of the granary."

"Take those eight hundred bushels of wet rice, for example. They're about to rot and will soon be gone. And then there's the one thousand bushels of deficit in the accounts. The garrison is at a loss and might jeopardize important military and national affairs... Just say what you need to say, don't go too far, or it will seem deliberate."

Commander Wu was taken aback: "What...what does this mean?"

Ximen Da Guanren shook his head: "Brother-in-law, just keep complaining, saying you're extremely worried and afraid of getting involved."

"Commander He, having been in officialdom for so long, surely knows the stakes involved. If this granary deficit really blows up, he, as the principal commander, will be the first to bear the brunt, and his punishment will likely be even heavier than yours! Upon hearing this news, he'll be like an ant on a hot pan, and will definitely seek a solution. At that time..."

"What will happen then?" Commander Wu asked eagerly.

Ximen Qing, confident and relaxed, said, "At that time, my brother-in-law can go with the flow and sigh, saying, 'It's a pity that my brother-in-law, Master Ximen, is good at business and has many connections. If he were here, he might be able to come up with some ways to get through this urgent crisis...' and so on!"

"Remember to just give it a light touch. If Commander He is a smart man, he will naturally take advantage of the situation."

Commander Wu was skeptical: "This... Lord He would believe that? Would he come looking for my brother?"

Ximen Qing laughed heartily, revealing a shrewd and calculating nature: "Brother-in-law, don't worry. In officialdom, nothing is more about profit. What Commander He fears most right now is that things will be exposed and affect his future."

"As long as someone can cover up this mess for him, let alone come to me, Ximen Qing, he'll have to try even if he had to consult with the King of Hell! Just follow the plan, and I guarantee that Commander He will come looking for me right away."

Seeing Ximen Qing's confident tone, Wu Qianhu's eyes lit up with hope again, and he nodded repeatedly: "Good! Good! I will go to the He residence to pay my respects now!"

After bidding farewell to his elder brother-in-law, Ximen Da Guanren headed home.

But not long after that...

In his own flower hall, Commander He listened to Commander Wu's "worried" discussion about the true state of the granaries—the eight hundred bushels of wet rice that were about to rot into mud, and the one thousand bushels of military rations that had "vanished into thin air"!

Just as Ximen Qing had predicted,
Commander He kept sighing!

If this is investigated, he'll probably be out of a position as a commander for good!
He forced himself to remain calm and gave Wu Qianhu a few perfunctory words, but he paced back and forth in the hall like a trapped beast, his clothes soaked with sweat.

"Commander Wu, do you have a brilliant plan? To be honest, I haven't been sleeping well these past few days, constantly trying to find a solution!" "This is a catastrophe of immense magnitude; we must devise a plan carefully!"

Commander Wu said, "Sir, I have an idea that will surely save our lives!"

Upon hearing this, Commander He was overjoyed, his eyes widening: "Commander Wu, please lead the troops!"

Commander Wu said, "Sir, have you ever heard of the Lotus Flower Ballad performed by the beggar from Qinghe County?"

[In literature there is the literary champion, and in martial arts there is the martial leader.]

[That Commander He of the South Gate, with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes, commands a hundred or so soldiers; ordinary people cannot approach him.]

[The wealthy Zhang family of East Street owns half the county's land; even the county magistrate gives them deference.]

Although the eunuch Hua of Xiguan is gone, his nephew Hua Zixu, who possesses immense wealth, frequently visits the residence of Grand Tutor Cai in Dongjing.

[The wealthy man who runs the herbal medicine shop and pawnshop in front of the county gate is known throughout the county as "Half of the City at the West Gate"!]

Upon hearing his name, Commander He was taken aback: "What does Commander Wu mean by this?"

Commander Wu slapped his thigh: "My lord!"

"What I'm talking about is my brother-in-law, Master Ximen... He has many connections and is good at business; maybe he can save us!"

Commander He suddenly stopped, slapping his thigh: "Oh! How could I forget this God of Wealth!"

"If we could get Ximen Bancheng to take action and clean up this moldy rice and deficit, without anyone knowing, wouldn't that be a great thing? Although we would owe him a favor, it would be better than losing our official position or even going to jail!"

The more he thought about it, the more he felt this path was feasible, as if he had glimpsed a ray of light in the darkness.

Commander He hurriedly said, "Commander Wu is your brother-in-law, why don't you plead for our lives?"

Commander Wu waved his hands repeatedly: "Sir, it is true that I can set the fuse, but who am I?"

"He's nothing but a fake commander who inherited his father's business!"

"To put it bluntly, I often have to rely on my brother-in-law, Ximen, for financial support!"

“But you are different, sir. You are a dignified commander of a thousand men, holding the power to suppress smuggling!”

"The adults' reputation is more important than my good-for-nothing older brother!"

He Qianhu nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Forget about official decorum at that moment, He Liansheng ordered, "Quickly! Prepare the sedan chair! No! Prepare the horse! Hurry to Master Ximen's residence!"

His heart was pounding. He had been given a chance to escape from a desperate situation. Who wouldn't be excited!
He hurriedly changed into civilian clothes, went out, mounted his horse, and, accompanied by two trusted attendants, rode off towards Ximen Qing's residence, kicking up a trail of dust.

At this moment, in his heart, Ximen Qing was no longer an ordinary merchant, but a god or bodhisattva who could save him from dire straits.

Meanwhile, inside the Ximen residence, Ximen Qing had just returned home.

The Moon Goddess was performing her midday prayers at the Buddhist shrine.

He was leaning against a soft couch by the window, playing with a warm, smooth white jade pendant.

Upon hearing the servant's report that Commander He had arrived on horseback, a knowing and confident smile slowly crept onto his lips.

The fish took the bait.

(End of this chapter)