I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

"Your Excellency, something terrible has happened!"

Xie Jinrong was just about to fall asleep with his concubine in his arms when Zhang Zian rushed in.

"This is outrageous! In the middle of the night, what kind of behavior is this?"

No wonder Xie Jinrong was angry; this is his own backyard!

Even if there's some important official business, you should wait until tomorrow, or at least let me know!

How dare they just barge in like that? Don't they have any manners?

Zhang Zi'an, disregarding his apology, shouted through the door, "Just now, County Magistrate Huang went to see Prefect He!"

Xie Jinrong immediately sobered up, released his concubine, and came to the living room in his pajamas.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Zhang Zian said, "Didn't you instruct me to keep an eye on Magistrate Huang? After the banquet, I personally saw Magistrate Huang go to Prefect He's bedside and not come out for a full half hour!"

"Half an hour? That long?"

Xie Jinrong frowned. What was Huang Mao going to do at this crucial moment?

In the middle of the night, if it were just about showing affection, it wouldn't take half an hour to talk.

It seems things are definitely not that simple!

On second thought, He Fu had accepted the silver that Fan Liuyang had given him.

The atmosphere at tonight's banquet was quite harmonious, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Could it be that this Prefect He... thinks that 50,000 taels is not enough?

Zhang Zian said, "Your Excellency, I have always felt something was amiss. Prefect He's sudden visit came without any prior notice. What's even stranger is that if he truly intends to inspect education, the Assistant Prefect had just conducted an inspection not long ago. Why would he need to personally inspect it again?"

"Baoding Prefecture is currently at war. As the prefect, instead of staying at the front lines, you suddenly come to Dingxing to inspect education and morals. Don't you think that's a bit problematic?"

Xie Jinrong had certainly noticed something was wrong long ago, but he only suspected it because he hadn't found any clues.

Hearing Zhang Zian's words now, I felt even more that something was wrong.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind!

I heard that the cabinet minister Chen Yan and others once planned to transfer their families and property, but in the end they were all caught and died a terrible death!

With all their wealth going into the national treasury, the court had money to pay the soldiers at the front.

With the battle raging on the front lines, could it be that they're out of money and are planning to rip off the big spenders?

Thinking of this, he broke out in a cold sweat!

In the years since I came to Dingxing, I have made a lot of money, at least a million taels!

If it's really directed at you, the best way is to start by targeting the people around you.

Among all the officials in the county government, Huang Mao was the most likely to betray him!

Thinking back on what I did, although it was subtle, it was impossible to be completely watertight no matter what.

Huang Mao is the second-in-command of the county government; it would be too easy for him to secretly gather evidence!

"If something bad happens, prepare a sedan chair immediately at the Fan residence in the East District!"

Half an hour later, the sedan chair stopped in front of the Fan residence, and Zhang Zian went up and knocked on the door.

The gatekeeper was a little at a loss; it was the middle of the night, and he thought there had been a burglary.

To bolster his courage, he called all the guards before daring to open the door.

Upon seeing that it was the county magistrate's sedan chair, they immediately became obedient.

"What brings Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, to visit so late at night?"

Fan Liuyang hurriedly put on a coat and ran out of the bedroom to greet him.

Zhang Zian looked around and gave him a wink.

Fan Liuyang understood, quickly dismissed everyone, and personally closed the door.

Xie Jinrong then said, "Something terrible is about to happen!"

"what?"

Fan Liuyang was greatly puzzled. He had just had a pleasant meal with the prefect today!

Xie Jinrong said, "Just tonight, Prefect He met with Huang Mao, and the two had a private conversation for half an hour. Do you know the consequences of this?"

Fan Liuyang hurriedly asked, "Is that so?"

Xie Jinrong said with a grim face, "County Magistrate Huang is no pushover. He must have known we were planning to attack him and decided to strike first!"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Fan Liuyang's forehead, and he said in a slightly trembling voice, "If this person really tells everyone about our affairs, what will Prefect He do?"

Xie Jinrong chuckled contemptuously and said, "This county official suspects that the imperial court, due to a shortage of funds for the frontline troops, is planning to target us. In Dingxing County, you and I are the wealthiest. If we can get hold of something against us, these funds and provisions will rightfully belong to the imperial court!"

"Is...is it really that serious?"

Fan Liuyang's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he was at a loss for what to do.

"Do you know that Emperor Chongzhen confiscated the property of many people in the capital? Even the Duke of Cheng and the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet were not spared. Now that the big fish are done, he is going to catch the shrimp. If your private sale of salt to the Mongols is thoroughly investigated, it will be a serious crime of treason. Everyone in this county who is in the same boat as you will not escape death."

Fan Liuyang's legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground, but fortunately Zhang Zian beside him caught him in time.

He managed to steady himself and said in a panic, "Your Honor, what should we do? We can't just sit here and wait to die!"

"Of course, we can't just sit here and wait to die!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Xie Jinrong's eyes as he said, "Now that things have come to this, we must prepare for the worst. Tomorrow, the county magistrate will list Huang Mao's crimes and force He Fu to kill Huang Mao, and then appoint you as the county magistrate!"

"Then... will Prefect He agree?"

"He has no choice but to agree!"

Xie Jinrong said in a cold tone, "Immediately gather your guards, and then contact the managers and employees of various workshops and shops. They are all your trusted confidants and can be used in a critical moment. In addition, hire some street thugs, the more the better, and prepare to besiege the county government office and force it to submit!"

"But even if Prefect He killed Huang Mao, it was under duress. Once we leave Dingxing, our deaths will be inevitable!"

"He killed an official of the imperial court without authorization and also accepted your money. We have these incriminating facts in our hands, so what are we afraid of?"

Fan Liuyang felt a chill run down his spine. Although he knew what this meant, there was no turning back now.

"What if Prefect He doesn't agree? What should we do then?"

"If he refuses to compromise, then there's only one option..."

At this point, Xie Jinrong placed his hand on his neck and gestured.

Fan Liuyang was sweating profusely and at a loss, muttering to himself, "Perhaps we're overthinking it. Prefect He is just discussing official business with County Magistrate Huang, or maybe they're just chatting about family matters..."

"Hesitation will only lead to disaster. If they are truly targeting us, tomorrow could be our death day!"

"But, but..."

Fan Liuyang paced back and forth, his face contorted with worry, and said, "If things really come to this, we have the audacity to kill an official of the imperial court, and a prefect of the fourth rank at that. The truth will eventually come out..."

"A petty person is no gentleman, and a man without ruthlessness is no true hero!"

Xie Jinrong, on the contrary, remained calm and said, "If it really comes to that, we can take our money and supplies and go to join Li Zicheng."

Fan Liuyang's heart tightened, and he asked, "Does Magistrate Xie have any connections?"

"You don't have connections in this county, do you?"

"I...I can't say things like that, I can't say things like that..."

"snort!"

Xie Jinrong snorted again and said, "Your Fan family in Shanxi has long been in cahoots with Li Zicheng. Do you think I don't know that?"

When Fan Liuyang was exposed, he said awkwardly, "Those were all things done by the direct descendants of the Fan family. I really don't know anything about it..."

"Alright, that's enough!"

Xie Jinrong raised his hand to interrupt, then said, "Li Zicheng's army is now unstoppable, and the imperial court is powerless to reverse the situation. We have money and grain in our hands; once we get there, we might even be able to secure an official position. It's better than waiting to die here!"

Fan Liuyang gritted his teeth and finally nodded in agreement.

"Fan will follow the magistrate's lead without question!"