Chapter 303.2: Turning Into Child’s Play
Once they finished using their meal, the accountants began working again. The others waited for Li Hong Yuan’s arrival, yet after waiting left and right, they didn’t see a shadow. Although they didn’t want to face Li Hong Yuan, having him in front of their eyes was actually slightly a little more reassuring. When unable to see the person, who knows what kind of mischief he will be causing in the dark again.
However, the situation right now was these black clad guards weren’t just watching over those accountants, but also them. That’s why, there was no way to inquire about anything at all.
They just hoped that Jin Qinwang this while was actually intoxicated in the warm nest, and just continuously stay in the rear court.
However, was Li Hong Yuan in the rear court?
Precisely as the saying goes, the good didn’t work, but the bad did. Li Hong Yuan at this very moment really wasn’t in the villa, but rather had gone to Chongzhou Fu’s treasury. Of course, he also brought along Jing Wan.
Li Hong Yuan wanted to look over Chongzhou Fu’s treasury money. The people guarding the storeroom rather wanted to block, yet as a result, got directly taken down by the people Li Su Yan brought along.
Speaking of which, the people guarding the storeroom weren’t in the minority, far more than the black clad guards Li Su Yan brought along, but this wasn’t the problem of quantity. First of all, government soldiers have never seen blood before, let alone having human lives on their hands. In terms of formidability, they already dropped by a large chunk. Besides, these ordinary government soldiers were just the same as ordinary commoners, and towards the imperial family, naturally possessed reverence. With Li Hong Yuan present, who would dare to use the blade? When the black clad guards drew the sword and stepped forward, they all perceptively threw down their sword, obediently crouching on the ground, their two hands hugging their head.
Entering the fu treasury this smoothly was a bit beyond Jing Wan’s expectation.
The entrance was opened, and towards the piles of silver ingot and gold bricks on the shelves, although it was her first time entering this kind of place, Jing Wan actually wasn’t considered surprised. If truly deprived of everything, completely just empty shelves, then that would really be strange. However, “A fu’s treasury is this big?” Then Qi Yuan’s state treasury, wouldn’t one just be able to madly gallop around in?
“This kind of situation only exist in Jiangnan. Speaking of which, the prefectural capital’s storeroom is even bigger. However, don’t look at how it’s this big. On normal days, to be able to have one-tenth of the shelves filled with gold and silver is already not bad. Situations like this perhaps exist every year when the treasury money is handed over to the state treasury. Of course, at that time, should be even more. After all, too far is as bad as not enough.” Li Hong Yuan explained.
In other words, this person was said to not understand? Heheh......
“Then right now, isn’t this amount a bit too much?” After all, right now wasn’t the time for handing it over to the state treasury.
“Only making it more conspicuous by trying to hide it, that’s all.” Li Hong Yuan casually picked up an ingot of silver, weighing it in hand, and then placing it back again.
“This is, fake?” That would be adding to the offense. So they just firmly believed that Li Hong Yuan was this incompetent, even unable to figure out this?
“Rather, it’s not fake, but Wan Wan, why don’t you guess, what the situation is for the other fu’s treasuries right now in Shannan Prefecture.”
Jing Wan instantly understood his meaning, revealing a look of disbelief, “Ah Yuan, you’re saying that all this money came from the other fu?”
“Since the money itself wasn’t counterfeited, then the origins of this money can only be moved from the other places. Otherwise, was it letting the officials fish out from their own pockets, or letting the merchants generously contribute? If all undoable, then this probably is the only way.”
“Afterwards, when you arrive at the other places, they will secretly have these transported over again. As long as they are a step ahead of you every time........”
“If unable to detect this bit, then just won’t guard against. And it was obvious that for the most part, they can have this matter brought full circle.”
But now, it got seen through by Li Hong Yuan with just a glance. Jing Wan silently lit candles for these people. How was this someone that didn’t understand ‘common affairs’? Practically just a master. To want to deceive him, and play tricks with him, probably in the end, one will only get destroyed by him. Moreover, with this ‘certain to take revenge’ personality, attempting the fool him, the consequences brought about probably will be even bigger than the matter itself.
“Then what does Ah Yuan plan on doing next? Set a trap to let them move the money, then catch them in the act?”
“Towards suddenly catching the opponent off-guard, this kind of thing, this husband isn’t all that interested in. Moreover, with this husband being watched by everyone, this sudden thrust also isn’t that easy to execute. The cicada shedding its shell, this kind of thing, also depends on the right conditions, especially inside the city. It’s not that easy to manipulate. Does Wan Wan have other suggestions?”
“Leave people to guard?”
Li Hong Yuan shook his head, “If leaving a few, there won’t be any use. Having the things moved out, doesn’t necessarily require using the entrance. And if leaving more, we don’t have enough people on hand. The ones in front perhaps can still manage to look after, but for the later ones, our hands will certainly be tied, so this route isn’t practical.”
Thinking it over, it was indeed so. Jing Wan contemplated again. Suddenly her eyes lit, “Let’s have these gold and silver all melted down and make a big size one, how about it? The kind where it’s so big that it’s unable to be moved. Melting down the small ones to make a big one is relatively easy, but having a big one melted down to small ones won’t be that easy. When time comes, regardless whether it’s thinking of a way to melt down, or moving to elsewhere to melt, there will undoubtedly be a big movement. That way, just need to leave behind a small number of people, and it will be enough to keep watch. Presumably those people also don’t have the guts to do anything to the people you leave behind.”
historical
“This idea is rather not bad.” Li Hong Yuan interestedly rubbed his chin, “Or just simply move to another place, a place visible to everyone. In any case, it can’t be easily moved, so not scared of someone stealing it. Then, adding heavy guards to watch over, if all still able to have something go wrong, for instance, ‘losing it’ or whatnot, wouldn’t that be very interesting?”
Hey, this is purely just wanting to cause trouble. If really lost, Jing Wan will first suspect him. But then again, thinking it over, this idea that she suggested was also quite childish. Moreover, moving it outside for others to see, you think that’s some work of art, or is it that you want have it made into an art piece?
As soon as Li Hong Yuan saw that look of Jing Wan’s, he just knew what she was thinking. Reaching out, his fingers brushed over her face, “Is this husband that kind of person?” Carrying a bit of tiny innocence.
As long as it’s someone that’s slightly familiar with you, Li Hong Yuan, at least nine out of ten will believe you’re precisely this kind of person.
Unable to see Jing Wan’s unchanging expression, Li Hong Yuan was a tiny bit ‘heartbroken’, “For this husband right now, the most important thing is accompanying one’s wife. To be able to have the things that should be taken care of taken care of is already not bad. Where did one still have the leisure energy to go do superfluous things? For Wan Wan to not understand this husband’s intentions like this, really is just.......” Looking to Jing Wan, those two eyes also turned increasingly gloomy.
Jing Wan, unable to continue enduring, just stuck her palm to his face. She clearly knew he was pretending, but that face was still too against the rules, making people think that she did something unforgivable to him.
Li Hong Yuan grasped her hand, taking the opportunity to just nuzzle closer, smiling gently. Jing Wan disdainfully pushed him. Clearly doing something that was ‘damaging to public decency’, but the feeling it gave people was nevertheless very warm. For the people that saw this kind of scene, probably all won’t think it’s fake or pretending. That kind of feeling couldn’t be feigned, and even if pretending, it was also unlikely to reach such an extent. In front of Jin Wangfei, Jin Qinwang was entirely a completely different person. He probably had her placed at the tip of his heart, loving to death.
T/N: This chapter and the are probably my favorite in the ‘messing with corrupt officials’ category. The whole set up is just comedy waiting to happen. To be honest the officials of Chongzhou Fu’s plan to just move around the money to wherever is being inspected isn’t that bad of an idea.