Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: The Governor's Deadly Trap
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Sun Yisheng had originally planned to head straight for the Gongtian Prefecture yamen. After all, Gongtian Prefecture handled governance over the Xijing region, and Chen Shi wanted them to come apologize. But then he thought better of it.
"If this blows up, Little Chen will be the one who suffers! This is a capital crime! Notify Lord Chen Tang first!"
He immediately rushed toward the Ministry of Revenue yamen. But just as he veered off, the inspector who had followed them to the Guangji Granary bolted straight for Gongtian Prefecture. Sun Yisheng's heart sank—he had no way to stop the man.
"This is Xijing after all. If we were out in the wilderness, I could just take him out on the spot..."
He startled himself with the thought. He had always been an upright law-abider—how had such a ruthless idea suddenly crossed his mind?
"I haven't run into any villains on this trip, so how did I pick up their bad habits?"
He had no time for second thoughts and charged toward the Ministry of Revenue yamen.
Meanwhile, inside the Gongtian Prefecture yamen, Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge was conferring with Vice Prefect Gao Zhihuan, Administration Supervisor Yan Gan, Assistant Prefect Gu Dangli, and the others when the Guangji Granary inspector came rushing in.
"Lord Governor, trouble at the Guangji Granary!"
Xia Jiuge exchanged glances with the others and smiled, as if they had anticipated this all along.
Assistant Prefect Gu Dangli chuckled.
"Lord Governor's foresight is divine as always!"
The group chimed in with praise, each stroking their beards.
The inspector stood there stunned that no one seemed the least bit concerned.
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge smiled.
"Don't rush—take it slow. Something goes wrong at the granary, and you report it to the Ministry of Revenue. Why bring it to me?"
The inspector bowed and explained how Ma Zongzhou and the others had gone to the Guangji Granary, only to get thrashed by the new Guangji Granary Commissioner and strung up on dragon-head skyrockets. The room erupted in laughter.
Gao Zhihuan grinned.
"Poor Nephew Ma. Once this is settled, we'll have to give him a proper promotion."
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge ordered a clerk to escort the inspector away. The clerk led him to a quiet spot outside the yamen, slipped him a few taels of silver, and smiled.
"You did well, my lord."
The inspector offered thanks and departed.
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge smiled.
"Our Gongtian Prefecture's brand-new registrar, instructor, collator—the whole group of sixteen—had just taken their posts. On my direct order, they headed to the Guangji Granary to collect blunted fire spears, sabers, and other gear for duty. Instead, the new Commissioner beats them senseless, dishes out private punishment, and ties them to skyrockets to launch them into the heavens. How serious is that offense?"
The others laughed in unison.
"Serious! Deadly serious!"
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge said.
"But not serious enough yet. Lord Yan, head over there. Let him give you a beating too and string you up on a skyrocket."
Yan Gan was the Administration Supervisor, a proper fifth-rank official. He knew at once the Governor meant to seal Chen Shi's doom. He smiled.
"Fine by me! I'll make a trip."
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge asked.
"You know how to play it?"
Yan Gan smiled.
"When I get there, I won't say who I am or flash your lordship's writ. I'll just demand the prisoners' release. When he refuses, I'll hurl abuse at him. He's nothing but a thirteen-year-old brat—he won't hold back from swinging."
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge said gravely.
"Don't strike back. I'm worried your cultivation's too advanced and you'll kill him outright."
Yan Gan laughed.
"I'll hold steady."
With that, he marched off with vigorous resolve.
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge waited a quarter of an hour before rising with a smile.
"Now we can go."
Gongtian Prefecture's officials all stood and followed Xia Jiuge out of the yamen. Xia Jiuge climbed into his carriage; the rest mounted their own carriages or fine steeds and set off for the Guangji Granary.
Meanwhile, Sun Yisheng had breathlessly informed Right Vice Minister of Revenue Chen Tang. Chen Tang's face darkened the instant he heard.
"Chen Shi walked into a trap! Their whole aim was to goad him into striking someone. He's still too young—not steady enough."
Sun Yisheng asked.
"What do we do now?"
Chen Tang pondered for a moment.
"Go to the alley at Chang'an Street's third crossroads. Once inside the alley, find the fourth building—Listening Rain Tower. Go upstairs to the second room. Knock on the door. Speak politely, keep your back bowed outside, and say your son Little Ten is in danger and needs immediate rescue. Remember: don't wait for them to open up. Speak only before the door opens—lingering risks trouble. And once you've said your piece, leave right away. Don't let the occupant see your face."
Sun Yisheng paused in mild surprise.
"My son?"
Chen Tang said.
"Don't ask—just do it."
Sun Yisheng committed it to memory.
"And you, my lord?"
Chen Tang resumed poring over the ledgers for the Ministry's eight granaries and four warehouses, replying flatly.
"I'll head out shortly to intercept the Gongtian Governor on the road."
Sun Yisheng rushed off to the outer city and soon reached the alley at Chang'an Street's third crossroads.
He located the building Chen Tang described, climbed the stairs, and reached the second room. He knocked, then recited Chen Tang's exact words. A voice drifted out from inside.
"My son Little Ten? Ha! Chen Tang coached you on that?"
Sun Yisheng dared not reply and turned to descend. But the lazy voice from the room drawled after him.
"I'm not going."
Sun Yisheng froze in shock, his heart plunging into ice. He blurted out.
"You're not going?"
"Not going."
The voice from the room cut clean.
"My brother's trying to manipulate me. You think I'd fall for his schemes? No thanks."
Cold sweat drenched Sun Yisheng's brow. He bolted downstairs, heart racing.
"He won't go... He won't go. Who else can Lord Chen turn to?"
The time it took one stick of incense to burn passed. Chen Tang set down his brush, closed the documents, rinsed the inkstone, wiped his hands clean, and strode out of the Ministry. Moments later, he crossed paths with Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge's convoy.
"Well, if it isn't Lord Chen Tang!"
Xia Jiuge sounded genuinely surprised. He called for the carriage to halt, slid open the window, and smiled.
"Lord Chen, where might you be off to?"
Chen Tang replied.
"There's been an issue at the Guangji Granary. I'm going to have a look."
Xia Jiuge laughed.
"I've heard as much myself. A few of our men got nabbed there—I'm heading over to check. Same road, Lord Chen. Why not ride with me?"
Chen Tang accepted with pleasure.
"I'd be honored."
Xia Jiuge bade him aboard. The two sat facing each other inside the carriage.
Xia Jiuge broke the quiet with a smile.
"Lord Chen's so young, yet Right Vice Minister of Revenue—a solid third rank. Even I, as Gongtian Governor, hold only third rank. And without noble blood to your name, reaching this height is no small feat."
Chen Tang said.
"It's not any talent of mine. Duty alone drives me, so I toil diligently without rest. The court saw my devotion and named me Vice Minister."
Xia Jiuge smiled faintly.
"Third rank. That's the ceiling."
Chen Tang said.
"I don't follow."
Xia Jiuge drawled at ease.
"No pedigree, no backing, no great house allegiance—third rank's the absolute limit for anyone. Climbing higher demands the Thirteen Great Houses. You've peaked your career, Lord Chen. No further to go."
Chen Tang kept his gaze lowered, silent.
Xia Jiuge peered out the window.
"You've sent for aid for your boy by now, haven't you? You held off on the granary on purpose—just to waylay me here, buying those precious moments for your savior. But have you considered, Lord Chen... the real target might not be your son?"
Chen Tang lifted his eyes to meet the man's.
"I don't follow."
Xia Jiuge said coolly.
"Sitting as Right Vice Minister, you command the eight granaries and four warehouses—funds and silver dispatch, grain and supply trains, gunpowder and firearms for West Ox New Continent's fifty provinces. Disaster relief, army pay. How many lives hang on your whim? But you won't play ball. You're a nail jammed in that post, immovable. A tree dies transplanted, a man thrives on the move. You won't budge? Then we'll budge you."
He locked eyes with Chen Tang.
"You shun bribes, shun beauties. You refuse—so how do the rest collect? How does the Minister? Eyes everywhere covet your seat, praying you'll vacate."
He leaned back easily.
"Your son's fate today hinges on one thing: do you yield the post?"
Chen Tang fell silent a moment.
"The court employs me for my principles. With me at Revenue, the dynasty's coffers hold firm—so the Cabinet, Three Dukes, Six Ministries, Eastern Depot, Five Camps, Divine Machine Battalion, Divine Pivot all rest secure. Ousting me isn't their scheme."
He met Xia Jiuge's gaze steadily, voice soft.
"Then whose is it?"
The two locked eyes for a beat. Xia Jiuge chuckled.
"After Young Master claimed top scholar, he needs mastery over silver, grain, supplies, gunpowder, firearms."
Chen Tang said.
"Young Master wants my Vice Minister seat?"
Xia Jiuge smiled faintly.
"Young Master holds you in high regard—calls you a governing genius. He's aboveboard; he won't move against you. But we reckon it's time you stepped aside. Yield the Right Vice Minister post, Lord Chen. Retire to your hometown. Your son walks free from Xijing, rejoins you in Xinxian."
He glanced out the window.
"Not much time to mull it. Until the granary, when we step down. Yield, or collect a corpse."
Chen Tang's expression remained still as an ancient well.
At last, the Gongtian convoy pulled up outside the Guangji Granary. The carriage halted.
Xia Jiuge eyed the motionless Chen Tang and arched a brow, half-smirking.
"Lord Chen's one cold bastard."
He rose to his feet. Chen Tang stood and moved ahead of him.
"Let me get the door, my lord."
Their gazes clashed. Xia Jiuge snorted and stepped down. Chen Tang followed, shutting the door behind him.
Gongtian officials clustered at their backs. Yamen runners and garrison troops hurried up, brimming with killing intent, encircling the granary gates.
Outside the Guangji Granary gates, cannon platforms rumbled forward. Two-zhang dragon-head skyrockets stood mounted on them. Ma Zongzhou, Zhou Qianyin, and the rest rode the rockets, bound hand and foot. Many lay beaten senseless; the few awake spat curses or begged for mercy.
Administration Supervisor Yan Gan was battered black-and-blue too. He sternly condemned Commissioner Chen Shi's actions while flashing a discreet thumbs-up to the approaching Xia Jiuge and company.
Xia Jiuge shot a glance back at Chen Tang. His face hardened as he bellowed.
"Guangji Granary Commissioner Chen Shi! You demand I come apologize? Do you grasp you've defied royal law—crime beyond forgiveness?"
Vice Prefect Gao Zhihuan advanced a step and roared.
"You've got some nerve, laying hands on Gongtian court officials! These men bore the Governor's writ to claim duty weapons—yet you beat them half to death and hoisted them on rockets! You flout all law!"
Yan Gan cried out.
"Lords, save me!"
Gongtian officials pressed close for a look and gasped in shock.
"It's Administration Supervisor Yan Gan!"
"Lord Yan got beaten too?"
"You monstrous fiend—daring to truss Lord Yan on a skyrocket!"
Gao Zhihuan seethed with rage.
"Lord Yan's a fifth-rank official, dispatched by the Governor himself to parley—and you strike him down like this!"
Gongtian clerks and officers surged with fury, all shouting to seize Chen Shi and punish him.
Chen Shi swept his gaze around.
"You dogs barking—what for? Shut your mouths!"
The words ignited even Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge's fury.
"Outlaw scum—true outlaw! Men, take him!"
Sun Yisheng arrived out of breath, hurried to Chen Tang's side, and gave a subtle headshake. He whispered.
"My lord, the man in the room wouldn't come."
Chen Tang's heart jolted. He eyed Xia Jiuge's back with a complicated look, hesitated an instant, then strode forward.
Gongtian runners and soldiers arrayed for assault, killing aura thick in the air, closing in—when a shrill voice pierced the din.
"Halt! Everyone halt!"
Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge spotted the newcomer and felt his heart quake. He rushed forward in a deep bow.
"Brother, what brings you here?"
The man was none other than Minister of Rites Xia Canghai—Cabinet Scholar too, the Xia House's very face at court. He raked his brother with a cold glance and marched straight to Chen Shi, bursting into laughter.
"Lord Chen just assumed office today, and already this unpleasantness. The whole affair? Pure misunderstanding."
Xia Jiuge gaped. He hurried forward.
"Brother, this thug's gone lawless..."
Xia Canghai whipped around, gaze like daggers, words hissing through clenched teeth.
"Don't stake the entire Xia House on Young Master! Step down as Governor. Get out!"
Xia Jiuge's mind rang like a gong, chill flooding his chest. He watched Xia Canghai beam with smiles, ignoring him entirely as he bantered cheerily with Chen Shi.
Then another Cabinet minister arrived, laughing heartily.
"Little Lord Chen's first day—I rushed over empty-handed, no gift in tow. Bear with me!"
Gao Zhihuan brightened with shock and delight, rushing up.
"Big Brother, Chen Shi's committed a grave offense..."
Gao Quan strode smiling toward Chen Shi. His glance slid to Gao Zhihuan—icy murder in it. Gao Zhihuan chilled to the bone, sweat beading. Gao Quan threw his head back in laughter and cupped his hands to Chen Shi.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Cabinet's other minister, Yan Shuhu, approached with a grin too, offering hearty felicitations on Chen Shi's new appointment. He spared not a glance for Administration Supervisor Yan Gan trussed on the rocket, absorbed in pleasantries with Chen Shi.
Sun Yisheng stared at the scene in a daze. He sidled to Chen Tang and whispered.
"My lord, is Little Chen... that Young Master?"
Chen Tang frowned.
"He's my son. Can't be."
Sun Yisheng murmured.
"Then why are Cabinet ministers rushing to Little Chen's side, disavowing the great houses?"
Chen Tang was equally baffled.
"You've been to Xinxian. Anything you know that I don't?"
Sun Yisheng shook his head, then remembered something.
"Old Lady Wuzhu from Huangpo Village was awfully rude to him."
Chen Tang said.
"She's rude to everyone."
By then, the three Cabinet lords wrapped up their chat and took leave of Chen Shi.
"Little Lord Chen, no need to see us off."
Chen Shi stayed put.
Sun Yisheng whispered.
"My lord, Little Chen's post outranks even your Vice Minister!"
Chen Tang snorted.
Xia Canghai approached Prefecture Governor Xia Jiuge, smile polite, voice low.
"The Xia House backs Young Master—but not blindly. And never at the cost of crossing another taboo. Jiuge, you're no youth anymore. Time to retire home."
Xia Jiuge hung his head, eyes brimming with tears. He was in his prime—not old at all.
But to the Xia House, he was past his prime. Unfit any longer for the Governor's seat.