Chapter 108: The Inner Treasury Door

March 22nd of the sixth year of the Qingli calendar is said to be very auspicious, so Fan Xian, the official ambassador of the Lord of Qin’s inspection of the Inner Treasury Transit Department, after arriving in Jiangnan, the first tender of the Inner Treasury to open its doors in the new spring was chosen on this day.

This day spring is bright, the breeze sends warm, suzhou city’s gentlemen and women have to go to the city outside to trekking, wide official road on the grass is not long has been supine, the warbler has not flown startled, outside the city of green hills everywhere, the green water silk, will be turned into men and women hooking up with each other a good place to go, the air is permeated with a fresh and beautiful flavor.

Suzhou city is another scene, from the Jiangnan Governor’s mansion to the south of seventy-four feet, is the internal treasury transfer department resident in suzhou government offices, whether it is the Jiangnan road of the various government offices or suzhou government offices are open in this area, it is the place where the official gas clouds gathered, usually is a tightly guarded, the first place to watch out for, today, only to see the sergeant wandering in the streets on both sides of the hand with a long gun, and the magistrates are strong spirit, in the spring of the sleepy, vigilant watch out for the police. The government officials are also vigorously, in the spring thick sleepy vigilantly watching the movements of all parties.

This large area had been tightly controlled.

Every year the inner treasury open day, are this situation, one is from all over the hands of merchants with too much silver, the second is to preside over the inner treasury open the door, in addition to the officials of the Division of Transit and the Palace sent eunuchs to supervise the verification, the Governor of the Jiangnan Road will also be present to listen to the time is less than a group of the Academy of the day nothing to do with the Royal Historian, today, too much silver to converge to here, too many officials, so the security issue has become a top priority, the security issue has become a top priority. Safety has become a top priority.

Good in Suzhou deep in the river, Qing force is strong, there is no force dare to make any temptation, even Suzhou city thieves have long been clear out of the city.

It is a good time to collect money.

Transit Division according to the usual practice, vacated a large mansion. This courtyard is broad, along the main hall on both sides of a small row of cubicles, is said to be the former dynasty when the Jiangnan area of the student examination room, and then the Qing Emperor’s southern tour of the library, found that some of this pattern is suitable for bidding, will be set here, the formation of the practice. On weekdays this mansion is empty in suzhou in the highest level area, by the transfer department lent to the governor’s office account, only in March to return to the transfer department office.

From more than ten days ago has begun to refurbish cleaning, now the mansion is bright to the extreme, clean and dust-free.

Outside the mansion guarded by soldiers, the courtyard hall side stood a few unusual face guards, the light between the lobby is a bit gloomy, only vaguely can see a row of four tai shi chairs, placed in the back of the table.

When the receiving buns of the Suzhou branch of the Kyoto New Wind Pavilion on South Street were sold out, the door of this mansion finally opened.

The huge merchants from all the states did not panic, and picked their way up the steps in an extremely orderly manner, oblivious to the wary eyes of the soldiers around them; after more than ten years, they had long since become familiar with this whole procedure.

Behind a merchant often represents a family, as well as the family behind the official faction, the inner treasury open the door of the matter is important, so today came on behalf of the family are the head of the face of the figure, just the number of people is not much, these merchants behind the back of the long with their own followers and accountant, but also carry boxes and books and related tools.

The one who walked in front of the crowd was, of course, the representative of the Ming family.

Since last year, the Ming family had already delegated most of their power to young master Ming Lan Shi, and master Ming had rarely come out to show his face, but what made the many giant merchants a little shocked was that today, that master Ming Qingda, actually arrived at the mansion in person!

Ming Qingda slightly narrowed his tired eyes, and colleagues bowed to greet, a stroke of the long beard under the jaw, then proudly walked into the door.

The Jiangnan merchants, who were vaguely led by the Ming family, hurriedly returned the salute to this old master and followed him into the door. No one would have a trace of an uncomfortable feeling, since it was the Inner Vault Tender, of course it was the Ming Family that went first, the crowd was just a little confused as to why the Ming Family would be so discreet today, even inviting out the old man.

Occasionally, some people think of the new ambassador of the internal treasury, the minister, and think of the young master of the Ming family in this month, secretly communicate with the people, which vaguely guessed that today’s tender of the internal treasury, I’m afraid that it will not be like the general wind and rain in the past years, and also will not be like today’s spring light is generally bright and joyful.

The eaves of the two rows of rooms have long been labeled with the name of the family in order to enter, the Ming family will be lined up in the left-hand side of the first large room, they bring the most people, with sixteen cabinets and fellows, into the room, there will be a transfer division arranged by the servants of the underclassmen to serve tea, handing out a hot towel, as well as some exquisite small pastries.

Although the bidding is the government, but they know that these rich people also have to greet well, such as Fan Xian after knowing the arrangement of previous years said with a smile, to kill the pig, of course, you have to first fatten the pig.

Ming Qingda sat in the chair, his eyes narrowed slightly looking at the courtyard outside the door scattered light, before entering the courtyard, he had eye contact with those merchants, know that everyone’s idea is extremely consistent, in front of the interests, no one is willing to raise the price of each other, especially those merchants, do not dare to offend themselves.

Thinking of this, Ming Qingda’s heart was slightly relieved, and asked in a low voice: “How much longer?”

Ming Lan Shi stood beside his father in a disciplined manner, lowering his body and saying, “Soon.” He stretched out those white hands and carried the tea to his father’s body, these hands were so clean, as if they had never been stained with blood.

Ming Qingda nodded, since the court is still inventing bids, and there is no one in this world who has that financial power to compete with himself, there shouldn’t be too much difference from the previous years, but I don’t know why, his lips are still a little bit dry, maybe it’s because of people’s gradual aging, and their energy is always a little bit weak.

Thinking of this, the master of the Ming family’s heart but a trace of inexplicable emotions welled up, his own mother is already so old, why is her body and bones still as healthy as that?

Ming Qingda subconsciously swept with his eyes across, it is easy to distinguish the family represented in those rooms, although these years he has rarely personally into the shopping mall, but the old generation of friendship is still in the old generation of those who came to the house today are some of the second generation of descendants, think the other side is also clear, the inner treasury sixteen standard, Cui family vacated the share of the can be grabbed, as for the Ming family to set the death of the eight, they are broken can not be touched.

Just …… opposite the eaves of the last room door is still closed, I do not know which one handed the bid, but people have not yet arrived.

Ming Qingda drank a mouthful of tea, moistened his throat, frowned and said: “B four is who’s home? It’s about to start, how come people haven’t arrived yet?”

Ming Lan Shi was stunned, unable to answer, because he had obviously investigated in enough detail, why had that room remained empty?

Some sort of warning sign began to grow in Ming Qingda’s heart.

After Fan Xian returned the four hundred thousand taels of silver checks, he fell into silence, wondering what exactly that Chinaman was thinking. He glanced at his son and said in a slightly rancorous manner, “The job should be watertight, without even checking on the person, what should we do if something goes wrong later on?”

Ming Lan Shi face slightly embarrassed, had to admit his fault, but in his heart there is some unconvinced, these characters of the big families, all carry this bad habit of heart and mouth, and said tentatively, “Will it be which salt merchants …… they always do things oddly, maybe this time is also greedy. ”

Ming Qingda had a gloomy face, shook his head and said, “It’s not a salt merchant. One, they gave us a promise, and two, Lord Xue also once made a guarantee to me.”

This master of the Ming family looked at the empty room across the street, looked at the closed door, looked at the coldness vaguely seeping out of the glass window, and a strong uneasiness welled up in his heart.

“What a pity this time.” In the middle of the study of the Jiangnan Governor’s residence, a master sighed, “The Cui family has vacated six items, but it’s inconvenient for us to intervene. It’s a pity to watch so much silver, to be divided up again by the Ming family and those Jiangnan landowners.”

Lord Xue Qing, a feudal official, Governor of Jiangnan Road, and a first-ranking official, wore a smile and did not say a word.

Sitting beside him another master also showed a look of pity and said, “Yang Jimei came a few times the other day, not counting on your lordship to help him speak in front of Little Lord Fan……. His family has been making salt for generations, and now looking at this piece of fat meat in the inner treasury, he is also craving for it.”

Yang Jimei was the largest salt merchant, or private salt dealer, in the two Huai generations, and had always been careful to flatter the Governor’s Office.

After thinking about it, Xue Qing said with a smile, “Greedy? Who is not greedy? Yang Jimei this old kill talent …… so good a Huayuan, I look for him to want, he all hard top not to give, this time have to through my hands to Fan Xian as a residence, what he wants, is this official do not know? Is it not clear to Lord Fan?”

He as Jiangnan Governor, in charge of one seventh of the world’s military and civil affairs, strong to the extreme, the ears and eyes of the natural many, think of a pile of things, can not help but sigh: “Fan Taoyuan will certainly have to sell Yang Jimei a face in the future, but the inner treasury this thing …… he is not much chance. ”

The master was curious and asked, “What on earth does Lord Qin think? Empty out of those six items, he is actually prepared to hand over to whom?”

The smile on Xue Qing’s face gradually converged and he said, “In fact, you don’t even need to ask, since His Majesty sent him to Jiangnan, these six items are naturally something he is prepared to get for himself.”

He then laughed coldly and said, “Not to mention these six items, I see that the Ming family’s own eight items, today to keep down, I’m afraid that it will also be very strenuous.”

Master Shifu frowned deeply and said, “I just don’t know which family Little Lord Fan has chosen this time.”

Xue Qing mockingly smiled, he was in charge of Jiangnan, of course he knew some of the tricks Fan Xian had done, and laughed, “That candidate, I’m afraid none of you would have guessed, this Lord Qinzhi is also really powerful, he didn’t even choose his endorsement amongst the merchants, but instead dug up people amongst the grass and the mundane, if that guy dares to waltz into the city of Su on a regular basis, I’m afraid that this official will have to take him to jail and demand some favors. ”

Master did not know the inside story, dry laugh two, heart but still some reluctance, tentatively asked: “About the inner library open the door, the Chin Chinchilla adults …… did not say and you said said?”

According to the practice of the officialdom, like the inner treasury such a big piece of fat meat, can’t be swallowed by a faction of officials, especially Xue Qing’s status is supreme, and deep-rooted Jiangnan, Fan Xian again how arrogant, but also always have to the Governor’s Office mean.

Xue Qing slightly frowned, shook his head and said, “Little Lord Fan naturally has mentioned this matter, don’t look at his age, but act quite a rounded style, Fan Shangshu and President Chen taught ah …… just this official, this time, I had no choice but to politely decline the good intentions of Little Lord Fan.”

“Ah?” Master Shifu exclaimed in shock. Politely refuse good intentions? As long as Fan Xian opened his mouth, this small goodwill, I’m afraid that it’s at least a share of more than a hundred thousand taels of silver, when did the Governor General become so clean and self-possessed? Did he learn to change his face?

Xue Qing laughed to himself, stood up, and said, “Even though we are close, let’s go one step ahead, Little Lord Fan is waiting in the mansion, as well as Guo Zheng, that old white face, and the eunuchs from the palace are also coming with their decrees, let’s not be too tardy.”

He didn’t explain to the masters who were closer to him than a madam why he politely declined Fan Xian’s kindness because Xue Qing understood that the inner treasury appeared to be just a contest between Fan Xian and the Eldest Princess, but it actually represented a deeper meaning behind it. Those imperial sons, how exactly should they be sorted, this was beginning to turn into an extremely tricky issue.

Xue Qing’s status did not allow him to take sides too early, or else His Majesty would be very angry, so it was inconvenient for him to go and share in this feast in the inner treasury.

Under the arch of the guards out of the main gate of the Jiangnan Governor’s residence, Xue Qing subconsciously turned back and looked at the plaque in front of the residence, and was shaken by the eyes of this early sun, his heart surged with a strong uneasiness, His Majesty has been acting more and more …… oddly in the past few years. Everyone in the world is looking at Kyoto, speculating about the future pattern, but this kind of turbulence, for the court of the State of Qing, is definitely not a good thing.

The people’s hearts are uncertain, how can the officials live with themselves?

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what on earth are you thinking?

The inner treasury was open, and the merchants who had come to answer the bids were already sitting in the room waiting. Fan Xian, who was presiding over this matter, was still leisurely drinking tea, and the person he was drinking tea with and conversing with was a eunuch who had come from Kyoto.

The inner treasury is the property of the royal family, according to the rules, it should be supervised and verified by the Taishang Temple and the inner court, because Fan Xian himself is the young secretary of the Taishang Temple, so today the Taishang Temple did not have much trouble to send another person to Suzhou, and it also reduces a lot of trouble for him.

But there came a big eunuch, and at the same time a big trouble.

“Eunuch Huang has a point.” Fan Xian placed the tea bowl on the desk and said with a smile, “This official also thinks that a move is better than a quiet one. Everything will be handled according to the same rules.”

This big eunuch from the palace was of very high rank, or else he could not have been entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. This person was born with a fat head and ears, and the fat meat on both cheeks was piled up in one place. At this time, listening to Fan Xian’s response, he said with a smile on his face and no smile on his face, “We are relieved to have you preside over this matter.”

This eunuch has always been deep in the inner palace, although very clear Fan Xian’s name, but thought he was in charge of the holy order, but not how afraid of each other, on the contrary, he came to Suzhou for a few days, Fan Xian did not invite him to have a chat in the house, the fact that this is disregarded, so that Eunuch Huang’s heart is a little uncomfortable.

In the previous conversation, this Eunuch Huang brought Fan Xian a very bad news, to be precise, it was to pass on the word of the Empress Dowager, let Fan Xian preside over the inner treasury, as much as possible, the same rules, don’t mess around.

Don’t mess around? The old rules?

Fan Xian sneered in his heart, which naturally means that the Ming family’s return to the Ming family, the rest of their own slowly toss, it seems that after the Princess returned to the capital, the empress dowager heartache this young daughter, actually pulled a long face, with such a big face!

He understood in his heart, the empress is warning himself, do not go too far, always have to leave some money for those members of the royal family to spend, think of this section, Fan Xian can not help but want to laugh, thinking of their own that the emperor’s old man called a generation of emperors, how to live more and more turn back in these years? Why did he let his mom and sister send the family business to his sons’ houses?

Of course, he knows that the emperor is not a simple character, just more and more some do not understand, the emperor to create such a turbulent situation, in the end is for what.

“For great governance, there must first be great chaos?” He subconsciously frowned as he spoke.

“What?” Eunuch Huang, who was beside him, asked curiously.

“Nothing.” Fan Xian smiled and said, “It’s hard for the eunuch to deliver the decree.”

Eunuch Huang coughed twice and said with slight pride, “It’s also because the Empress Dowager trusts us as her lackeys, and of course, we have to thank young Lord Fan for selling us this face.”

Fan Xian did not answer, but just looked at Eunuch Huang’s face like a pig’s head with a smile, and said after a long time, “Your face?”

Eunuch Huang was stunned.

Fan Xian smiled and said, “Eunuch Huang, in front of this official, you’d better put that away. Old Yao Lao Dai Lao Hou …… can be a bit more human than you.”

Eunuch Huang was furious, but then surprised, Fan Xian mentioned the three, are the power of the palace eunuchs, although the old Dai has long been out of power, but in addition to the recent transfer to the East Palace of the head eunuch Hongzhu, the old Yao Laohou …… can be bigger than their own face! Fan Xian said, naturally, even Yao Gong Gong Hou in front of themselves have to be respectful, and what do you count as a tic?

Eunuch Huang, who had a deep understanding of the city, converged on his anger and smiled instead, saying, “Your Honor is right.” In his heart, he was looking down on Fan Xian, a young minister who makes enemies everywhere, I’m afraid it will be difficult for him to last long in the future, and after all, he is the Empress Dowager’s close friend, his status is somewhat special.

Fan Xian said with a smile on his face, “Eunuch Huang, you’d better be honest with me in Suzhou City.”

Eunuch Huang lowered his face and responded, “What is Lord Qin Zhai saying?”

“Speaking of Kyoto.” Fan Xian said grimly, “This official hates it when someone uses the Empress Dowager to pressure me. Others are afraid of you, but not me, so you can talk about it when you return to the capital and see what the situation will be like.”

Eunuch Huang raised his head in anger, a courtier, how dare you treat the Empress Dowager with such disrespect! Does Fan Xian really not want to die?

Fan Xian had his own reasons for speaking in such a manner, and with a chilly face and a flick of his sleeves, he turned down the side corridor towards the main hall of the mansion, dropping one last sentence, “Get yourself straight, you’re not surnamed Hong!”

Besides Eunuch Hong, what else in that cool palace was worth Fan Xian’s fear?

Fan Xian stood indifferently on the stone steps in front of the main hall. The merchants in the rooms under the eaves on either side hurried out and bowed to him.

He stared straight at the main door, not even glancing at the Ming family’s father and son in the nearest A-word room.

The main door was pushed open with a creak.

A silent line of people slowly walked in, this pedestrian’s body did not carry the common rich and noble aura of merchants, nor did it have the flavor of officials, instead, it was filled with a bloody and murderous sense of recklessness.

The pedestrians to the courtyard station, as if the flock suddenly came a few wolves, pastry resting on a deer tail, seems out of place, abrupt to the extreme.

The leader, is the Jiangnan Water Village Commander, Xia Qifei.

Today Xia Qifei wearing a light green washed silk, but still did not hide the iron blood breath on his body, face although calm, but slightly narrowed eyes still showed a trace of excitement and nervousness.

Xia Qufei clasped his fists, saluted Fan Xian and said, “Lord Zhengzhi, the grass people are late.”

“Not late.” Fan Xian said indifferently, “As long as it’s here, it’s fine.”

Jiangnan’s giant merchants often have some unseen business, and they also have a lot of places to rely on the local reckless power, and Xia Qufei as Jiangnan water fortress big head, in fact, secretly with these merchants, and even with the Ming family have some dealings.

So there are some people who have seen the true face of Xia Qufei, today he led his brothers to the courtyard one stop, immediately there will be sharp-eyed people recognized, whispering voice gradually rose, gradually turned into countless voices of amazement!

The water bandits also came to the inner treasury to tender!

The merchants looked at Xia Qufei in the courtyard with fear, and couldn’t help but glance at Fan Xian standing on the stone steps, and couldn’t figure out how to understand this matter.

Water bandits are doing business? Then what do we merchants do? Do not go to be a mountain bandit? This world …… seems to have become a bit strange and elusive since little Lord Fan became famous. And these Jiangnan merchants are more curious, Xia Qufei even if the robbery around, but where can raise so much silver? But these Jiangnan water fortress people since they have entered the inner treasury door, must have at least paid all the deposit …… when the water bandit can earn so much money, then they still need to work hard to do business?

Ming Qingda, who stood at the door of the room nearest the stone steps, narrowed his eyes, looked at the person who entered the courtyard last, and said softly, “Who is this person?”

“It should be Xia Qufei.” Ming Lan Shi attached himself to his father’s ear and said softly, “The Jiangnan Water Walled Village’s big leader, there had been some contact in the past, but I didn’t see 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 more and more powerful, about to be unable to see the deep cold eyes inside, only to hear him say quietly, “It seems …… that this person is the chess piece buried in advance by Lord Qinzhi.”

Right at this moment, Xia Qufei slowly turned his head, on the gaze cast by the contemporary master of the Ming family, a slight smile, the smile is extremely sincere …… showing endless hostility and blood devouring desire.

The seventh young master of the Ming family, who had been killed by his mother and robbed of his birth, finally had the opportunity to stand squarely on the stage for revenge with the help of Fan Xian.