Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 305: Chapter 296 Cannot Send a Letter to the Capital City

”Is this something Luo Fu and Zhao Mingsheng came up with? Or has it been a common practice within the Salt Transport Department?” Liu Zhe suddenly asked.

Zheng Xiao let out a deep sigh, saying, ”It must have been schemed by the two of them. I have conducted some secret investigations, and it seems this prepaid salt coupon issue started three years ago.”

Liu Zhe slightly nodded, continuing to pour tea for both.

If this wasn’t common practice, that was better; it meant this situation only involved Luo Fu and Zhao Mingsheng, without implicating any former Salt Transport Commissioners or Salt Inspection Imperial Censors.

However, even if it only involved Luo Fu and Zhao Mingsheng, this was still a very dangerous matter for Zheng Xiao.

If Zheng Xiao was willing to cooperate with them, then everything would be fine, and they could all profit together.

Clearly, Zheng Xiao was unwilling to collude with them.

Considering his life, safety, and future were at stake, the two definitely planned to quickly eliminate Zheng Xiao.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a long while before asking, ”What’s the situation now?”

Logically, if both parties had confronted each other, Zheng Xiao shouldn’t have been able to leave Liao’an Prefecture.

At this time, Luo Fu would definitely keep a close watch on Zheng Xiao, to prevent him from revealing their crimes.

”Fortunately due to your letter, I had the chance to come here. Haven’t you noticed a lot of tails behind me?” Zheng Xiao said with a helpless smile.

He had been in office at Liao’an Prefecture for several months, and his first thought upon discovering this affair was to expose it, but fortunately, he quickly reconsidered and chose to feign compliance with Luo Fu.

Now, both parties were in the phase of establishing trust, so Luo Fu had not made a move against Zheng Xiao yet.

After all, Zheng Xiao was a Salt Inspection Imperial Censor, and Luo Fu wouldn’t easily lay a hand on him unless absolutely necessary.

Not to mention the trouble that killing Zheng Xiao might cause, sending another Salt Inspection Imperial Censor from the Imperial Examination Hall might not choose to collude with him either.

So, as long as there was a chance to win over Zheng Xiao, Luo Fu would make his greatest effort.

”Is your petition also unable to be sent out?” Yang Zhenshan continued to ask.

”It can be sent out, but it’s likely that the other side inspects it before letting it go!” Zheng Xiao replied.

Yang Zhenshan slightly nodded, generally understanding Zheng Xiao’s current situation.

Luo Fu had been operating in Liao’an Prefecture for many years; no one knew how many of his people were hidden around, making it very difficult to do anything without his knowledge.

And luckily, Yang Zhenshan had recently sent a letter to Zheng Xiao, providing him a reason to leave Liao’an Prefecture.

Also, Yang Zhanshan’s letter contained nothing special, merely concerning the Luo family becoming salt merchants, which for Luo Fu, was actually beneficial.

If Zheng Xiao really did this favor for Yang Zhenshan, it would mean that he has to collude with Luo Fu.

Luo Fu likely saw this point, which is why he did not stop Zheng Xiao from leaving Liao’an Prefecture.

After sorting out his thoughts, Yang Zhenshan thought a bit and said, ”Why don’t you write a petition, and I’ll help you send it to the Capital City?”

”Will there be any trouble?” Zheng Xiao asked somewhat worriedly.

Yang Zhenshan picked up the tea and smelled the fragrance, ”It depends on how much power Luo Fu has under him!”

One could foresee, Luo Fu definitely had his eyes on the Tenglong Guard. If there were any letters or petitions sent to the Capital City by the Tenglong Guard, Luo Fu would undoubtedly send someone to intercept them.

Never underestimate Luo Fu; being a Salt Transport Commissioner, he had both power and money, and after operating in Liao’an Prefecture for years, it would be easy for him to garner some Jianghu forces and cultivate some Jianghu Martial Artists.

Moreover, Luo Fu had a group of major salt merchants behind him; these merchants were not easy to deal with either. For their interests, no one knew how bold they could be.

Now, the only advantage was that inside the Tenglong Guard, there probably weren’t any of Luo Fu’s tendrils, since Tenglong Guard had been the Lan family’s territory and had nothing to do with salt policies and industries; presumably, Luo Fu hadn’t arranged any schemes there.

Zheng Xiao hesitated, but Liu Zhe spoke up, ”The petition can be kept first at the Tenglong Guard, but there’s no rush to send it to the Capital City!”

”Why?” Zheng Xiao asked.

Liu Zhe smiled and said, ”You go back and talk to Luo Fu about letting the Luo family become salt merchants first, and see if you can get some of this year’s salt coupons from him!”

”But this year’s salt coupons were already sold last year!” Zheng Xiao said.

”He surely has a way to get some!” Liu Zhe said.

Zheng Xiao thoughtfully nodded, ”So~~”

Yang Zhenshan smiled, ”It’s just to distract Luo Fu!”

Luo Fu was now waiting for Zheng Xiao to collude with him, and allowing the Luo family to become salt merchants would undoubtedly be a good start for Luo Fu.

As long as Zheng Xiao talked to him about this, he was likely very willing to satisfy Zheng Xiao’s request.

And once this was done, the two sides would have established an initial trust, and Luo Fu would likely lower his guard. At that time, just sending the petition to the Capital City would simplify the rest.

Once the cover was removed, Luo Fu would completely lose control, and by then he would just be a criminal with no power to do anything.

Although he had great influence in Liao’an Prefecture, in the court, he was merely a Secondary Third Rank Salt Transport Commissioner.

Hearing this, Zheng Xiao’s eyes brightened, ”Then let me write a petition first!”

”Sure!” Yang Zhenshan stood up and personally prepared the ink and paper for Zheng Xiao.

Liu Zhe then said, ”After returning to Liao’an Prefecture, be careful with your actions, don’t reveal any flaw!”

”This is extremely dangerous. Once exposed, Luo Fu will certainly risk everything to fight you!”

”I understand!” Zheng Xiao spread out the paper and solemnly nodded his head.

”Perhaps I should arrange a squad of soldiers to follow Mr. Zheng,” Yang Zhenshan suggested.

”No!” Liu Zhe and Zheng Xiao said in unison.

”That might expose us more easily!” Liu Zhe explained.

Yang Zhenshan thought about it, realizing the truth of the matter, and temporarily gave up on the idea.

Even if he arranged a squad to follow Zheng Xiao, it wouldn’t necessarily ensure Zheng Xiao’s safety.

After all, Liao’an Prefecture is Luo Fu’s territory; sending several dozen soldiers there really wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Unless Yang Zhenshan could accompany Zheng Xiao personally, but if Yang Zhenshan went with Zheng Xiao to Liao’an Prefecture, it would be somewhat like giving away that there’s silver hidden here.

Soon, Zheng Xiao wrote a lengthy memorial and let the ink dry. He then solemnly handed the memorial to Yang Zhenshan, ”Master Yang, I leave this matter to you!”

”Rest assured,” Yang Zhenshan solemnly took the memorial.

This memorial was a matter of life and death for Zheng Xiao; he had to handle it cautiously.

After the serious topic was finished, the three of them discussed some details.

Mainly, Yang Zhenshan and Liu Zhe were helping Zheng Xiao analyze the situation and giving advice.

What kind of person Luo Fu was, which forces Luo Fu was colluding with, what Jianghu forces Luo Fu might control, and so on.

While the three were talking, the door of the tea room was suddenly knocked, Yang Zhenshan frowned and called out, ”Come in!”

”Sir!”

The door was pushed open, and Wu Hai walked in somewhat nervously.

”What is it?”

”Master has returned. Xiao Liu and Shi Tou are injured!” Wu Hai said quietly.

Yang Zhenshan’s expression changed slightly, ”How are their injuries?”

”No serious harm!” said Wu Hai.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly. Since Wu Hai only mentioned that Xiao Liu and Shi Tou were injured, it meant that the others were fine, and since the injuries were not serious, it seemed the problem wasn’t too big.

”Brother Yang, since there’s an issue at home, you should go and check. I can keep company with Master Zheng here!” Liu Zhe said.

Zheng Xiao was a student of Liu Yuanfu, so naturally Liu Zhe was his senior.

Yang Zhenshan got up, ”Mr. Zheng, I must excuse myself for now. I’ll arrange a banquet for Mr. Zheng tonight!”

”No trouble, Master Yang can attend to his duties first!” Zheng Xiao said with a smile.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, and after leaving the tea room, he instructed his personal followers, ”Go and tell Zhou Ren to arrange a guest room for Mr. Zheng!”

Although the courtyard where the Yang family was living was not small, there weren’t many guest rooms, especially since the Yang family had a considerable number of members.

However, there were a few vacant smaller courtyards at the government office side, which were the Lan family’s former guest rooms. When Yang Zhenshan was renovating the government office, he had kept those courtyards specifically to accommodate guests.

With a brief instruction, Yang Zhenshan quickly returned to the Yang family’s residence.

”Dad!”

Right as he entered, Yang Mingcheng came up to greet.

”Ah, did something happen on the road?” Yang Zhenshan asked as he walked towards the front courtyard’s main hall.

Yang Mingcheng recounted the encounter at Xinping Town.

In the hall, Yang Zhenshan calmly listened to him finish.

”Hengdao Sect!”

”Yes, it was Ji Hai and the elder Ning Qingqing from the Hengdao Sect who saved my son!” Yang Mingcheng said.

”Then prepare a gift in thanks and send it to the Hengdao Sect,” said Yang Zhenshan.

”I’ll prepare it right away!” Yang Mingcheng hesitated slightly.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, and Yang Mingcheng then left the main hall, while Yang Zhenshan fell into deep thought.

Someone wanted to kill Yang Mingcheng!

And it was someone from the Capital City?

Several suspects flashed through Yang Zhenshan’s mind.

Although the Yang family had been living in Chongshan Town for these years, they actually had quite a few enemies in the Capital City.

Among them, Marquis Jingyuan Su Qian had the biggest grudge. Su Qian’s second son, Su Shanyu, was personally killed by Yang Zhenshan, and Su Qian was also reprimanded by Emperor Chengping for this and lost his position as the Commander of Fenwu Camp, also being deserted by the Crown Prince.

Although several years had passed since the incident, Yang Zhenshan did not believe that the Su family had forgotten this feud.

Besides the Su family, the households of Duke Chang, Duke Shou, and the Marquis of Qing’an had more or less grudges with the Yang family.

However, the grudges with these households were not deep enough to justify fatal retaliation.

Another possibility was the Crown Prince. The Yang family’s marriage alliance with the Changping Marquis Mansion had thwarted the Crown Prince’s plan, possibly causing dissatisfaction, but it was unlikely that the Crown Prince would resort to such despicable means against the Yang family.

After considering all possibilities, only Marquis Jingyuan Su Qian seemed likely culprit.

”Marquis Jingyuan!” Yang Zhenshan frowned.

It wouldn’t be easy to clarify this matter, and taking revenge would be even harder.

Attacking a marquis with force was the least wise option, and methods like assassination weren’t suitable for a marquis.

It wasn’t that a marquis couldn’t be killed, but the consequences of doing so would be very troublesome.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment and decided to first investigate the Marquis Jingyuan Mansion.

But just as he was about to write a letter to Wu Zheng, asking him to investigate the Marquis Jingyuan Mansion, he put down the pen.

”I can’t send a letter to the Capital City!”

He remembered Zheng Xiao; sending a letter to the capital at this time would be akin to harming Zheng Xiao.

”It seems this account must be noted for now; fortunately, Ming Cheng wasn’t harmed!”

Yang Zhenshan could only put down the pen and temporarily set aside the matter.