The Prodigal Son

Fangzhou, located on the Pingjiang River.

As night fell, the flower boats moored along the riverbank were brightly lit, and bursts of laughter could be heard from them.

"Master Jia, I've come to feed you some wine."

"Drinking like this won't do, it has to be done this way..."

"Master Jia, you're so wicked..."

Jia Dequan was lying in the arms of a woman who was completely naked.

The woman's skin was as white as snow, and she poured wine onto her snow-white body from a wine jug.

The liquor flowed down her chest and eventually into Jia Dequan's mouth.

Surrounding Jia Dequan was a group of beautiful women, some dancing in sheer veils, others massaging him with their bodies.

Jia Dequan indulged in pleasure, his fat face covered in lewd grins.

He has already booked this flower boat.

All the women on the pleasure boat belong to him tonight!

He can play however he wants!

When Jia Dequan first received the news that the imperial court was going to rectify the salt administration, he was in a panic.

But after talking with Master Shi, all his worries disappeared.

Isn't it just about losing money to avoid disaster?

I have little in everything except money!

Although he may not be as famous as the historians, he is still quite well-regarded in Fangzhou!

No matter how greedy the imperial court is, surely it would be enough for them to take out 200,000 taels of silver to avoid disaster?

It's just two hundred thousand taels of silver, isn't it?

Once we get through this, we can earn it back ourselves!

Enjoy the moment!

Having lots of money is for enjoying life, isn't it?

Just as Jia Dequan was having a great time, the madam of the pleasure boat strode in.

Jia Dequan's mood was dampened, and his face immediately turned cold. "You'd better have something to say!"

"Mr. Jia, please calm down!"

The madam, all smiles, leaned closer and whispered in Jia Dequan's ear.

"Um?"

Jia Dequan frowned slightly, pondered silently for a moment, then had someone help him put on his clothes, and waved for everyone to leave.

After the women left, Mo Wu walked in, his body hunched over.

"Who are you?"

Jia Dequan looked Mo Wu up and down. "Did you say you wanted to tell me something that concerns my life and fortune?"

"right."

Mo Wu slowly stepped forward, took an envelope from his sleeve, and handed it to Jia Dequan.

Curious, Jia Dequan took the envelope and opened it, only to find that it contained a series of receipts.

Do not!

To be precise, it was a transcribed receipt.

Although the notes were not official government documents, the contents of the notes were genuine.

If the original copies of these receipts fall into the hands of the imperial court, I'm afraid I'll be doomed!

Jia Dequan suppressed his fear and tried his best to appear calm and collected. "What do you mean by this? Are you threatening me?"

Mo Wu shook his head and smiled, "The old man is saving your whole family!"

"Save my whole family?"

Jia Dequan narrowed his eyes slightly. "You were sent by the governor, weren't you?"

The original copies of these receipts were most likely in the hands of Sun Min, the governor of Fangzhou.

Mo Wu smiled but remained silent.

Seeing the softening on Mo Wu's face, Jia Dequan became even more certain.

It must be Sun Min!

After pondering silently for a while, Jia Dequan looked at Mo Wu again, "What does the Prefect mean? Is he afraid that if the truth comes out, he will be implicated, and he wants me to take the blame for everything?"

Mo Wu lowered his eyelids and said expressionlessly, "As long as Master Jia commits suicide out of guilt, your entire family can live!"

really!

Sun Min, that corrupt official!

He's been embezzling a lot of money on a regular basis, and now that the court hasn't even investigated, he's already trying to sell himself out!

He thought that only he had leverage over himself, and that he didn't have leverage over him.

If you push yourself too far, you might as well fight to the death!

After taking a few deep breaths, Jia Dequan spoke with a fierce glint in his eyes: "Tell the governor for me that I haven't lived enough!"

"He has something that could take the lives of my entire family, and I, Jia, also have something that could take the lives of his entire family!"

"I've received word that the imperial court's actions are merely a warning to us, not as serious as they think!"

"We're all in this together, this will all pass quickly, and we'll stick to the old ways from now on!"

"If he pushes me out to take a bullet, we'll fight to the death!"

Upon hearing Jia Dequan's words, Mo Wu's face immediately fell, and a murderous aura instantly spread out.

"You want to kill me?"

Jia Dequan sensed the killing intent in Mo Wu's eyes and sneered, "Once I die, some things will naturally fall into the hands of the imperial envoy!"

"You think you can fool the old man?" Mo Wu's eyes flashed even colder.

"Let's take a gamble!"

Jia Dequan tried his best to remain calm, appearing very confident.

Seeing Jia Dequan's confident demeanor, Mo Wu hesitated.

After a moment's hesitation, Mo Wu said in a deep voice, "The old man will relay your words to Lord Sun verbatim!"

After saying that, Mo Wu leaped out of the flower boat and disappeared in a few bounds.

Meanwhile, another person also met Sun Min, the governor of Fangzhou, at the governor's mansion.

"Did Jia Dequan send you?"

Sun Min's eyes flashed with a cold light as he coldly questioned.

Is Jia Dequan really that well-informed?

I had just received news that Qin Yu had suddenly arrived in Linhai, and he had already come to my door?

The visitor bowed and said, "My master said he has some things he wants to give to you in person, and also wants to find a quiet place to have a good talk with you."

"Shall we chat?"

A flash of murderous intent crossed Sun Min's eyes. "Alright, I agree! I've been wanting to talk to him anyway! I'll be waiting for him at Wangjiang Terrace tomorrow at noon!"

"This humble servant takes his leave!"

The person left quickly.

Watching the person leave, Sun Min could no longer suppress his killing intent, and his face turned icy cold.

Soon, Sun Min called his son over and whispered a few instructions in his ear.

The son's expression changed, and he asked with worry, "Father, are we really going to do this? Won't it be too obvious? What if the imperial court finds out about us..."

"What time is it now? Why are you still thinking about these things?"

Sun Min glared at his son, "That Jia fellow must have received news of the trouble in Linhai! These salt merchants are all lunatics. Once they're driven to the brink, they'll fight us to the death! If we don't get rid of that Jia fellow, we're truly finished! Remember, it was I who received a report from someone else. I intended to interrogate Jia Dequan, but Jia Dequan arrested me in defiance of the imperial court..."

"I see!"

The son understood and quickly left.

"call……"

Sun Min let out a long breath and sat there quietly pondering.

If Jia Dequan were to die at his own hands, the imperial court would certainly have some suspicions.

Hmm, we'll probably need the historian's help with this!

When necessary, historians should unite with all salt merchants to put pressure on the imperial court.

That's good enough!

Making an example of a few people is enough to shut things up!

Destabilizing the Liangjiang region and the Hai and Yuan prefectures will not benefit the imperial court!

Okay! That's it!

Having made up his mind, Sun Min immediately went to his study, where he wrote a letter. He then summoned his trusted aide: "Deliver this letter to Lord Shi, the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang, tonight! Remember, it must be handed to him in person!"

"yes!"