Chapter 474 Disaster
Jiang Qingzhi woke up.
Many people in the capital were gritting their teeth or were extremely disappointed.
The celebratory banquet turned into a party to vent disappointment and anger.
Amid the bright lights, more than a dozen men raised their glasses.
"That person actually woke up. This shows that the disaster has lasted for thousands of years." A man said, "The heaven is blind."
"Dry!"
After drinking a glass of wine for Wuyan Cangtian, everyone started talking.
"My house is on the street, and I heard more than ten sounds of galloping horses last night, but the soldiers from the Military Affairs Department turned a blind eye." Someone sneered, "Later, it was even more outrageous. It is said that Xiyuan sent people to the imperial physician's house and took them all to Xin'an Lane. For the thief Jiang, Xiyuan is willing to go to war."
"Yan Song and his party are the fence blocking the West Garden, and Jiang the thief is an anomaly." A man who is not young has jealousy in his eyes, "Since Jiang the thief came to Beijing, he has done a few things very well. The man in the West Garden is like a treasure, how can he not use him? After Zuo Shunmen, Jiang the thief has become more and more proud."
"Chiang's trip to Yunnan is what moved the man in Xiyuan." Another man disagreed with him and said, "Taking back the governance of Yunnan is almost like expanding the territory. And you all forgot one thing."
"What's the matter?" The older man drank alone, one hand exploring something in the arms of the prostitute beside him, but he still managed to maintain the appearance of a gentleman.
The man said, "In our opinion, Jiang Qingzhi's going to Yunnan was a compromise by Xiyuan after the Zuo Shunmen incident, allowing him to temporarily avoid our raging anger."
The man picked up the wine glass and said in a low voice, "But Chiang Kai-shek took back the administrative power of Yunnan. Ladies and gentlemen, he did not go south to escape disaster, but to build achievements."
"So what?" The jealousy in the older man's eyes almost turned into flames.
"The second dispute between the emperor and his ministers broke out at Zuo Shunmen. Jiang Qingzhi brazenly took action and instigated the people to beat up the officials. Afterwards, we judged that the person in Xiyuan was a little panicked and worried that our Confucianism would strike back, so he let Jiang Qingzhi go south to avoid disaster. This was also a compromise gesture made by him. But Jiang Qingzhi went south with a secret order to take back Yunnan?"
The man looked at everyone and saw that they were all confused. He couldn't help but feel that he was surrounded by a bunch of stupid teammates. He sighed and said, "This shows that the second conflict between the emperor and his ministers at Zuo Shunmen was not a big deal in the eyes of the man in Xiyuan. I understand, it's not a big deal!"
"So what?" The older man became more jealous when he thought of Jiang Qingzhi's achievements.
"Idiot!" The man couldn't help scolding his companion. "You only know how to be jealous of talented people, but you don't know how important the emperor's attitude is to the future. The one in the West Garden doesn't care about the dispute between the emperor and his subjects, which means that we must be more cautious in our actions from now on."
"Does he dare to send all the officials in the court back home?" the older man laughed.
The man sighed, "But everyone in the court...are you willing to give up your high positions and generous salaries?"
"Where the truth lies, there is no turning back!" said the older man.
"Would you be willing to do that if it were you?" The man sneered, "Aren't you worried that the prominent position you've worked so hard for half your life will be taken away by someone else?"
The older man nodded. "Of course I would."
The two were about to have a falling out, but one of their companions advised them, "Although Jiang has woken up, his illness is still spreading. He will surely stop doing anything in the near future. The officials in the court can take advantage of this situation to suppress the Yan Party... The overall situation is not bad at the moment."
A prostitute got up to change her clothes. A familiar prostitute came out to get some fresh air. Seeing her coming out, she asked, "What's wrong? Is it too hot?"
The prostitute shook her head. "I can bear the heat, but the stench is unbearable."
"Smelly?"
“The stink of hypocrites is unbearable to smell.”
A man came hurriedly and pushed the door open, "Jiang Qingzhi left Xin'an Lane."
"You bastard, you're actually allowed to go out?" The older man's face flushed as if he had heard bad news.
"Who knows Zhang Xi?" the man asked.
The older man said, "Zhang Xi and I have been friends for many years. What's the matter?"
The man looked at him with a look of sorrow on his face, "Zhang Xi offended Jiang Qingzhi, and Jiang Qingzhi went to Chenghe Building and arrested him personally."
"Zhang Xi has a strong temper and will definitely curse Jiang Qingzhi!" said the older man.
The man shook his head and sighed, "Zhang Xi knelt down and begged for mercy."
Older man: “…”
"Jiang Qingzhi dragged Zhang Xi back. When the Wucheng Bingmasi arrived, they did not dare to stop him. They only heard that Zhang Xi beat up an old craftsman."
The older man was not sure if he was disappointed or what, he said angrily: "The craftsman is a lowly person, so I beat him up. What's the matter? Does Jiang the thief want to kill people?"
The man said: "Jiang Qingzhi said in public that he would make the person behind this pay the price."
That night, someone quietly left home, carrying a bag and hid in a dilapidated Taoist temple.
Early the next morning, this man slowly walked out with the crowd leaving the city.
He found that there were more than a dozen hooligans at the city gate, yawning and staring at people leaving the city.
When he saw him, a ruffian's eyes lit up, "Zhang Han!"
The man turned and ran. More than a dozen hooligans were overjoyed and chased him madly. They knocked the man down after only a few dozen steps.
"I discovered it first, so I'll take the lion's share of the reward!"
"At most I'll let you take 50 more strings of cash."
"two hundred!"
"One hundred and five!"
"One hundred and fifty is one hundred and fifty!"
Just last night, Jiang Qingzhi tortured someone into confessing and immediately sent word that a reward of 1,000 strings of cash would be offered for the capture of Zhang Han, the mastermind behind the incident.
More than a dozen thugs tied up Zhang Han and went to Xin'an Lane happily.
"stop!"
Several soldiers led by a deputy centurion stopped them.
"Greetings, sir." Although the Ming dynasty used civil officials to control military officials, and military officials had a low status, they were the nemesis of the ruffians. Just like a cat and a mouse.
"Greetings, sir." The ruffians saluted.
"Are you constables?" the deputy captain sneered.
"Don't dare."
"If I arrest you secretly and kill you, who dares to say anything?"
The deputy captain shouted murderously: "Hand the man over to me." But that was one thousand strings of cash!
The ruffians gritted their teeth and retreated. The leader said, "This man is the wanted criminal in Xin'an Lane. Are you sure you want to go against Mr. Jiang?"
The deputy captain sneered, "So what? Release him in ten breaths, otherwise..."
"What if I don't let go?"
The wages of avarice is death.
For a thousand strings of cash, the ruffians dared to turn against the officers and soldiers, just like mice daring to fight with cats for a bite of food.
"Catch him!" The deputy captain sneered. At this moment, everyone heard the sound of horse hooves.
A scoundrel looked up and said, "The savior is here."
The deputy captain cursed: "Even if the king of heaven came today, he can't save you!"
"what about me?"
The sound of horse hooves stopped behind him. The deputy captain turned around and saw a large young man dismounting from his horse.
"You are……"
"Greetings, Young Master Sun!" More than a dozen ruffians saluted happily. Someone said, "It's a pity that Young Master Sun learned that after we captured Zhang Han, this official rudely intercepted him and said he wanted to take Zhang Han away."
Young Master Sun… The deputy captain’s expression changed drastically, “Sun Chonglou!”
“You also know Grandpa?” Sun Chonglou grabbed the deputy captain, who struggled helplessly in his hands like a chicken or a duck. “I am acting according to the law... You bastard, let me go, otherwise…”
Snapped!
Sun Chonglou slapped the deputy captain so hard that his face was covered with red blood. Then he loosened his grip and kicked the deputy captain in the chest.
"Master Sun, stop fighting. If you continue, someone will die."
Seeing that the situation was not going well, a few ruffians rushed to dissuade them.
Ever since his young master fell ill, Sun Chonglou had been filled with worry. Now his worry turned into anger and he couldn't stop himself from attacking.
He took a few steps back and watched the deputy centurion collapse.
A scoundrel cautiously stepped forward and felt the deputy captain's breath, "Not bad."
When he saw that there was a cave-in in the deputy captain's chest, his face changed drastically.
Sun Chonglou led his men away carelessly, "Just go to Xin'an Lane and ask for the reward money from the housekeeper."
"Young Master Sun," the scoundrel shouted, "I'm afraid this man is going to die."
"Just die." Sun Chonglou cursed.
He brought Zhang Han back to the Earl's Mansion and tortured him. He learned that someone was behind this matter. He vaguely knew that it was related to the Ministry of Works, but Zhang Han didn't know who it was. He just followed the orders.
Jiang Qingzhi was recuperating in the backyard. After getting the confession, he pondered for a long time.
"I was wondering why those people would target an old craftsman. It turns out that someone from the Ministry of Works did it." Xia Yan said, "Only people from the Ministry of Works know how powerful such an old craftsman is. Qingzhi, the Mo family's land outside the city has not even started construction, but they are already wary of it."
Jiang Qingzhi leaned back in the recliner. This was Li Tian's order. Huang Yan'er was supervising him meticulously, telling him not to worry too much.
So Jiang Qingzhi looked lazy and said, "Methane digesters are now being promoted everywhere, and the feedback is good. Those people are worried that the Mohists will come up with something good that will benefit the country and the people, which will make them look even more incompetent."
"They don't do anything themselves, and they don't allow others to do anything." Xia Yan sighed, "Those people are getting worse and worse. If the sage were reborn, he would be furious."
"Send someone to visit Feng Yuan's home." Jiang Qingzhi ordered.
"Yes." Huang Yan'er asked someone to pass on the message, but she remained motionless.
Jiang Qingzhi sighed: "Can't you go by yourself?"
Huang Yaner said seriously: "My wife said that if I neglect my duty, I will not be allowed to eat braised pork."
Huang Yaner likes braised pork the most and can eat half a bowl of it in one meal.
Jiang Qingzhi was a little hungry, "What's for lunch?"
"My wife asked us to have a lighter lunch." Huang Yan'er looked at Jiang Qingzhi, "She said that since Master is recuperating, the meals should be lighter."
"I can't survive." Jiang Qingzhi fell down heavily.
Jiang Qingzhi asked someone to find Sun Chonglou and whispered to him, "Go to the kitchen and secretly get a leg of marinated lamb. Remember, do it secretly."
"Don't worry, Master."
Sun Chonglou had the largest appetite in the mansion, so it was common for him to go to the kitchen to cook. He took the marinated lamb leg and also took half a roast chicken.
On the way from the kitchen to the backyard, this guy ate half a roast chicken cleanly.
"Master!"
Sun Chonglou entered the study room and saw Jiang Qingzhi reading a book. His focused look reminded Sun Chonglou of the days when he was preparing for the examination to become a scholar.
Jiang Qingzhi put down the book and said, "Bring it here quickly."
Sun Chonglou handed over the lamb leg and picked up the scroll. "Embroidered portrait...Lamp..."
Jiang Qingzhi snatched the scroll and said righteously, "You are still young, you can't read such a book."
"Oh!" Sun Chonglou didn't care about these things at all.
Jiang Qingzhi had just taken a bite of the marinated lamb leg when he heard someone outside say, "Meet the Madam."
"Not good!" Jiang Qingzhi quickly tore off a large piece of mutton. A figure flashed outside the door and Li Tian came in.
"My dear, the imperial physician said that you cannot eat oily, meaty foods, let alone hair-raising foods..."
Seeing that he was still chewing, Li Tian was worried and tried to snatch the food from him.
Sun Chonglou stared in amazement as Li Tian pounced on Jiang Qingzhi and snatched half of the mutton from his mouth.
Fu Cheng came, his expression stern, "Shi Tou, get out."
Sun Chonglou left, and Li Tian stood up somewhat embarrassedly. Fu Cheng turned a blind eye and said, "Shi Tou had previously beaten up a deputy centurion. That man...his sternum pierced his lungs, and he is said to be in critical condition."
(End of this chapter)
