Niao Ni
Chapter 363: The Gate to the Internal Treasury
The spring sun was bright, and a gentle breeze carried warmth. The young masters and ladies of Suzhou ventured out of the city to enjoy the spring scenery. On the wide official road, the grass, though not yet grown, was already pressed down, and the orioles, though not yet flown, were startled. Green mountains and flowing streams surrounded the city, transforming into an ideal place for men and women to flirt and connect, the air filled with a fresh and beautiful fragrance.
The scene within Suzhou was quite different. Seventy-four *zhang* south of the Jiangnan Governor-General's office lay the Suzhou office of the Internal Treasury Transportation Department. Various offices of Jiangnan Road and the Suzhou government were located in this area, a place of concentrated officialdom. Usually heavily guarded and a primary point of defense, today soldiers patrolled the streets, each holding a long spear, while yamen runners, forcing themselves to stay alert amidst the drowsy spring, watched the movements from all sides.
This entire area had been tightly controlled.
Every year, the Internal Treasury's opening day followed this pattern. First, the wealthy merchants from various places carried too much silver. Second, besides the Transportation Department officials, palace eunuchs were sent to supervise the event, and the Jiangnan Road Governor-General would also be present to listen. Furthermore, the Censors from the Censorate, who always had little to do, were indispensable. Today, so much silver and so many high officials had gathered here that security became paramount.
Fortunately, Suzhou was located deep along the Yangtze River, and the Qing Kingdom was militarily strong. No force dared to make any probes. Even the petty thieves in Suzhou had long been cleared out of the city.
It was indeed a good time to collect money during the Qingming season.
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Following established practice, the Transportation Department vacated a large mansion. This courtyard was extremely spacious, with a row of small rooms along both sides of the main hall. It was said to have been the examination hall for students in the Jiangnan area during the previous dynasty. Later, when the Qing Emperor inspected the Internal Treasury during his southern tour, he found this layout somewhat suitable for conducting bidding, and it was designated as such, forming a tradition. On ordinary days, this mansion stood empty in Suzhou's most upscale area, lent by the Transportation Department to the Governor-General's office for accounting purposes, but it was returned to the Transportation Department in March.
Renovations and cleaning had begun more than ten days ago, and the mansion now appeared extremely bright and spotless.
Soldiers guarded the outside of the mansion, and several ordinary-looking guards stood by the main hall inside. The light in the hall was somewhat dim, barely revealing a row of four grandmaster chairs placed behind the desks.
After the last *baozi* at the Kyoto New Style Restaurant's Suzhou branch on South Street was sold, the mansion's doors finally opened.
The wealthy merchants from various states did not panic, but ascended the steps in an orderly fashion, ignoring the vigilant gazes of the soldiers around them. Over the past decade, they had become thoroughly familiar with this entire procedure.
Behind each merchant often stood a family, and behind the family, a faction in the officialdom. The Internal Treasury's opening was a major event, so the representatives present today were leading figures from their families. However, their numbers were not large. These merchants were accompanied by their personal attendants and accountants, carrying boxes, account books, and related tools.
Leading the group was, of course, the representative of the Ming family.
Starting last year, the Ming family had delegated most of its power to young master Ming Lanshi. Master Ming rarely appeared in public anymore. However, to the shock of many wealthy merchants, today, the old master Ming Qingda himself had actually come to the mansion!
Ming Qingda, with his tired eyes slightly narrowed, greeted his colleagues with clasped hands. Stroking his long beard, he walked proudly into the gate.
The Jiangnan merchants subtly regarded the Ming family as their leader, quickly returning the greeting to the old master and following him through the gate. No one felt the slightest bit uncomfortable. Since it was the Internal Treasury's bidding, the Ming family naturally went first. The others simply did not understand why the Ming family was being so cautious today, even bringing out the old master.
Occasionally, someone connected this to the newly appointed Director of the Transportation Department, that Imperial Envoy, and then thought about how the Ming family's young master had been constantly communicating with everyone in secret this month. They vaguely guessed that today's Internal Treasury bidding would probably not be as smooth as in previous years, nor as bright and pleasant as today's spring scenery.
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Two rows of rooms under the eaves had already been labeled with names, and each family entered in turn. The Ming family was in the first large room on the left. They had brought the most people, a full sixteen shopkeepers and assistants. As soon as they entered the room, servants arranged by the Transportation Department brought tea, poured water, handed over warm towels, and offered some delicate pastries.
Although the bidding was being conducted by the government, they also knew that these wealthy men had to be well taken care of. As Fan Xian had said with a smile after learning about the arrangements in previous years, "To slaughter a pig, you must first fatten it."
Ming Qingda sat firmly in his chair, his eyes slightly narrowed, watching the faint sunlight spilling into the courtyard outside the door. Before entering the courtyard, he had exchanged glances with those merchants, knowing that everyone's thoughts were extremely aligned. In the face of profit, no one wanted to drive the prices up, especially since those merchants did not dare to offend him.
Thinking of this, Ming Qingda felt slightly relieved and asked in a low voice, "How much longer?"
Ming Lanshi stood respectfully by his father's side, leaning down and saying, "Soon." He extended his fair hands, holding the tea and offering it to his father. Those hands were so clean, as if they had never been stained with blood.
Ming Qingda nodded. Since the imperial court still used open bidding, and no one in the world had the financial resources to compete with him, there should not be much difference from previous years. But for some reason, his lips were still a little dry, perhaps because he was getting older and his energy was waning.
Thinking of this, the Ming family master felt a strange emotion rising in his heart. His own mother was already so old, why was her health still so good?
Ming Qingda subconsciously glanced across the courtyard, easily distinguishing the families represented by those rooms. Although he had rarely been involved in business in recent years, his old friendships remained. Today, the ones who had come were all second-generation descendants. He figured the others also knew that they could try to snatch Cui's share of the Internal Treasury’s sixteen items, but they must not touch the eight items that the Ming family had secured.
However… the door to the last room under the opposite eaves remained closed. He didn't know which family had submitted a bid, but the person had not yet arrived.
Ming Qingda took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and frowned, saying, "Who is Yi Six? It's about to start, why haven't they arrived yet?"
Ming Lanshi was stunned, unable to answer, because he had clearly conducted a thorough investigation. Why was that room still empty?
A sense of foreboding began to arise in Ming Qingda's heart. After Fan Xian returned the four hundred thousand taels of silver, he had fallen into silence. He didn't know what that Imperial Envoy was thinking. He glanced at his son and said with a hint of anger, "When handling matters, you must be meticulous. If you don't even know who's coming, what will happen if there's a problem later?"
Ming Lanshi looked slightly embarrassed and had to admit his mistake, but he felt somewhat unconvinced in his heart. These figures from wealthy families all had this kind of hypocritical habit. He tentatively said, "Could it be a salt merchant… they've always been eccentric in their ways. Maybe they're just envious this time."
Ming Qingda had a gloomy expression and shook his head, saying, "It's not a salt merchant. First, they gave us a promise. Second, Lord Xue also assured me."
The Ming family master looked at the empty room across the courtyard, at the closed door, at the faint chill seeping out of the glass window, and a strong sense of unease welled up in his heart.
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"It's such a pity this time," a staff advisor sighed in the study of the Jiangnan Governor-General's office. "The Cui family has vacated six items, but it's inconvenient for us to intervene. To watch so much silver being divided up by the Ming family and those Jiangnan local tycoons is truly a pity."
The Jiangnan Road Governor-General, a first-rank official, Xue Qing, smiled without saying a word.
Another staff advisor sitting next to him also showed a look of regret, saying, "Yang Jimei came several times a few days ago, hoping that you could say a few words to Lord Fan on his behalf… His family has been in the salt business for generations, and now he's drooling over this piece of fat from the Internal Treasury."
Yang Jimei was the largest salt merchant in the Lianghuai area, or rather, a smuggler of private salt, and had always been careful to curry favor with the Governor-General's office.
After thinking for a while, Xue Qing said with a smile, "Drooling? Who isn't? That old rascal Yang Jimei… such a beautiful garden, I asked him for it, and he stubbornly refused to give it. This time, he insisted on sending it to Fan Xian through my hands as a residence. Does he think I don't know what he's thinking? Does Lord Fan not understand?"
As the Jiangnan Governor-General, in charge of one-seventh of the world's military and civilian affairs, his strength was extremely powerful, and his ears and eyes were naturally numerous. Thinking of something, he couldn't help but sigh and said, "Lord Fan will definitely give Yang Jimei face in the future, but this Internal Treasury matter… he doesn't have much of a chance."
The staff advisor asked curiously, "What exactly is the Imperial Envoy thinking? Who is he going to entrust those six vacated items to?"
The smile on Xue Qing's face gradually faded, and he said, "Actually, there's no need to ask. Since His Majesty sent him to Jiangnan, he's naturally going to get those six items himself."
He continued with a sneer, "Not to mention those six items, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for the Ming family to protect their own eight items today."
The staff advisor frowned deeply, saying, "I just don't know which family Lord Fan has chosen this time."
Xue Qing smiled mockingly. As the ruler of Jiangnan, he naturally knew some of the tricks Fan Xian had been up to and smiled, "That choice is probably something none of you would have thought of. This Imperial Envoy is really amazing. Instead of choosing a representative among the merchants, he's digging up people from the underbelly. If that fellow dared to swagger into Suzhou on ordinary days, I'm afraid I would have to throw him in jail and extort some benefits."
The staff advisor didn't know the inside story and gave a dry laugh, but his heart was still somewhat reluctant. He tentatively asked, "Regarding the Internal Treasury's opening, the Imperial Envoy… didn't discuss it with you?"
According to official practice, such a large piece of fat like the Internal Treasury couldn't be monopolized by officials from one faction, especially since Xue Qing's position was extraordinary and deeply rooted in Jiangnan. No matter how arrogant Fan Xian was, he would still have to give the Governor-General's office some consideration.
Xue Qing frowned slightly and shook his head, saying, "Lord Fan naturally mentioned this matter. Don't look at how young he is, he acts with great tact. Minister Fan and Dean Chen have taught him well… but I, this time, had no choice but to politely decline Lord Fan's kindness."
"Ah?" The staff advisor exclaimed in surprise. Politely decline the kindness? As long as Fan Xian opened his mouth, that small kindness would probably amount to at least tens of thousands of taels of silver. When did the Governor-General become so upright and self-restrained? Had he learned to change his face?
Xue Qing gave a self-deprecating smile, stood up, and said, "Although it's close, let's take a step ahead. Lord Fan is waiting in the mansion, and there's also that old pale face Guo Zheng, and the palace eunuch has also brought an imperial decree. We shouldn't be too slow."
He didn't explain to his staff advisors, who were closer to him than his wife, why he had declined Fan Xian's kindness. It was because Xue Qing understood that the Internal Treasury's matter seemed to be just a contest between Fan Xian and Princess, but behind it represented a deeper meaning. How those princes should be ranked had already become an extremely thorny issue.
Xue Qing's position didn't allow him to choose sides too early, otherwise His Majesty would be very angry, so it was inconvenient for him to share in this Internal Treasury feast.
Guarded by his protectors, Xue Qing exited the main gate of the Jiangnan Governor-General's office. He subconsciously turned his head, looking at the plaque in front of the office, his eyes dazzled by the newly risen sun. A strong sense of unease welled up in his heart. His Majesty had been acting more and more… strangely in recent years. Everyone in the world was looking at Kyoto, guessing at the future situation, but such turmoil was definitely not a good thing for the Qing Kingdom's court.
With people's hearts unsettled, how could officials conduct themselves?
Your Majesty, oh Your Majesty, what exactly are you thinking?
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Inside the Internal Treasury mansion, the merchants who had come to bid were already sitting in their rooms waiting. But Fan Xian, who was in charge of this matter, was still leisurely drinking tea, conversing with a eunuch who had come from Kyoto.
The Internal Treasury was imperial property, so according to the rules, it had to be supervised jointly by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Inner Court. Since Fan Xian himself was the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices didn't bother sending anyone else to Suzhou, which reduced a lot of trouble for him.
But a senior eunuch had come, and that was also a big problem.
"Eunuch Huang is right," Fan Xian placed his teacup on the low table and said with a smile, "I also think that it's best to leave things as they are and handle everything according to the old rules."
This senior eunuch from the palace had extremely high rank, otherwise he wouldn't have been entrusted with such an important task. This man was fat-headed and big-eared, with the fat on his cheeks piled together. Hearing Fan Xian's reply, he said with a fake smile, "This servant is relieved that you are in charge, my lord."
This eunuch had always been deep within the inner palace. Although he knew Fan Xian's great name, he thought that since he was carrying out the emperor's orders, he wasn't too afraid of the other party. On the contrary, he had come to Suzhou for a few days, but Fan Xian hadn't invited him to the mansion for a chat, and this fact of being ignored made Eunuch Huang feel a little uncomfortable.
In their previous conversation, this Eunuch Huang had brought Fan Xian extremely bad news, or rather, he had conveyed the Empress Dowager's oral decree, telling Fan Xian to handle the Internal Treasury matter according to the old rules and not to mess around.
Not to mess around? The old rules?
Fan Xian sneered in his heart. This was naturally saying that what belonged to the Ming family should remain with the Ming family, and he could slowly play with the rest. It seemed that after Princess returned to Kyoto, the Empress Dowager felt sorry for this youngest daughter and actually put on a long face, using such great influence!
He understood in his heart that the Empress Dowager was warning him not to go too far and to leave some money for the members of the royal family to spend. Thinking of this, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh, thinking that his Emperor father, who was known as a great emperor, had become more and more confused over the years? Letting his mother and sister send the family wealth to his sons' mansions?
Of course, he knew that the Emperor was not a simple person, but he was increasingly unable to understand what the Emperor was trying to do by creating such a turbulent situation.
"To achieve great order, there must first be great chaos?" He frowned subconsciously and said aloud.
"What?" Eunuch Huang, who was next to him, asked curiously.
"Nothing," Fan Xian said with a smile. "Thank you for delivering the decree, Eunuch."
Eunuch Huang coughed twice and said with a hint of pride, "The Empress Dowager trusts this servant, of course, and I must also thank Lord Fan for giving me this face."
Fan Xian didn't respond, but looked at Eunuch Huang's pig-like face with a playful smile. After a long while, he said, "Your face?"
Eunuch Huang was stunned.
Fan Xian said with a smile, "Eunuch Huang, you'd better put away that act in front of me. Old Yao, Old Dai, Old Hou… are much better at playing the game than you are."
Eunuch Huang was furious, but then he was shocked again. The three people Fan Xian had mentioned were all powerful eunuchs in the palace. Although Old Dai had already fallen out of favor, except for Hong Zhu, the chief eunuch who had recently been transferred to the Eastern Palace, Old Yao and Old Hou… had more influence than him! Fan Xian saying this naturally meant that even Eunuch Yao and Eunuch Hou had to be respectful in front of him, so what did he count as?
Eunuch Huang's city was quite deep. He restrained his anger and responded with a smile, "You're right, my lord." But in his heart, he looked down on Fan Xian a little. Such a young and powerful official who made enemies everywhere would probably not last long. Moreover, he was, after all, a close confidant of the Empress Dowager, and his status was somewhat special.
Fan Xian said with a half-smile, "Eunuch Huang, you'd better be honest in Suzhou."
Eunuch Huang lowered his face and replied, "What are you saying, Imperial Envoy?"
"Saying Kyoto things," Fan Xian said gloomily. "I hate it the most when people try to pressure me with the Empress Dowager. Others may fear you, but that doesn't include me. You can say whatever you want after you return to Kyoto and see what the situation will be then."
Eunuch Huang raised his head in anger. A minister dared to be so disrespectful to the Empress Dowager! Did Fan Xian really not want to live!
Fan Xian had his reasons for speaking like this. His face was cold, and he flicked his sleeves, turned to the side corridor, and walked towards the main hall of the mansion, leaving behind one last sentence, "Figure out your own identity. You're not named Hong!"
Besides Hong Gonggong, what else was there in that cold palace that Fan Xian was wary of?
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Fan Xian stood indifferently on the stone steps in front of the main hall. The merchants in the rooms on both sides quickly came out and bowed to him.
His eyes were fixed straight at the main entrance, not even glancing at the Ming family father and son in room A, who were closest to him.
The door creaked open.
A line of silent people slowly walked in. These people didn't have the wealthy aura common among merchants, nor did they have the air of officials. Instead, they were filled with the feeling of a bloodthirsty, lawless group.
These people standing in the courtyard were like a few wolves suddenly appearing in a flock of sheep, with a deer tail placed on the pastries, appearing extremely out of place and abrupt.
Leading them was Xia Qifei, the Grand Commander of the Jiangnan Water Camp.
Today, Xia Qifei was wearing a light blue washed silk robe, but it still didn't hide the iron-blooded aura on his body. Although his face was calm, a hint of excitement and tension still flowed in his narrowed eyes.
Xia Qifei clasped his fists and saluted Fan Xian, saying, "Imperial Envoy, this commoner is late."
"Not late," Fan Xian said indifferently. "As long as you've come."
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The wealthy merchants of Jiangnan often had some shady businesses, and they also relied on the strength of the local lawless groups in many places. Xia Qifei, as the head of the Jiangnan Water Camp, actually had some dealings with these merchants in secret, even with the Ming family.
So some people had seen Xia Qifei's true face. Today, he led his brothers to stand in the courtyard, and sharp-eyed people immediately recognized him. Whispering voices began to rise, gradually turning into countless exclamations of surprise!
Water bandits had also come to bid for the Internal Treasury!
The wealthy merchants looked at Xia Qifei in the courtyard with terrified faces and couldn't help but glance at Fan Xian standing on the stone steps, not understanding this matter no matter how they thought about it.
Water bandits engaging in business? Then what were they, the merchants, supposed to do? Become mountain bandits? This world… since Lord Fan Xian made a name for himself, it seemed to have become a bit bizarre and elusive. Moreover, what the Jiangnan merchants were more curious about was how Xia Qifei could raise so much silver even if he robbed everywhere. But since these people from the Jiangnan Water Camp had already entered the Internal Treasury gate, they must have at least paid the security deposit… If being a water bandit could earn so much money, then did they still need to work so hard to do business?
Ming Qingda, standing at the door of the room closest to the stone steps, narrowed his eyes, looked at the person who had entered the courtyard last, and said softly, "Who is that person?"
"It should be Xia Qifei," Ming Lanshi said, leaning close to his father's ear. "The head of the Jiangnan Water Camp. We've had some contact in the past, but I haven't seen him in person. I don't know what's going on, but he's also here to join in the fun today."
Ming Qingda's eyes narrowed even more, almost unable to see the deep coldness within them. He only heard him say faintly, "It seems… that person is the chess piece that the Imperial Envoy buried beforehand."
At this moment, Xia Qifei slowly turned his head, met the gaze cast by the current master of the Ming family, and smiled slightly, a smile that sincerely… revealed endless animosity and a desire for blood.
With Fan Xian's help, Young Master Ming Qi, whose mother had been killed and his property seized, finally had the opportunity to stand on the stage in a dignified manner and seek revenge.
(Chapter name: Gate of the Internal Treasury. This was a name I had thought of when I was writing the first chapter of Qing Yu Nian. I finally wrote this chapter, and it feels so good, hahaha.)