Chapter 234 No Poison, No Man

“My son, my joining forces with Lin Huai’an is not for personal gain, but to sell the old grain in our Liu family’s warehouse for a good price.”

Snap!

Seeing that Liu Taofang was still dodging the question, Liu Hong slapped him again.

I don't want to hear your explanation!

"Just tell me what you and Lin Huai'an did for that money!"

At this moment, Liu Hong had lost his usual composure and stared at Liu Taofang with a serious expression.

Even though he was only dressed in plain white clothes, he still exuded an air of authority.

In contrast, Liu Taofang's brocade robes were already tattered, with streaks of blood seeping through the tears.

Even so, he remained kneeling on the ground with his back straight, not daring to move.

That fairly handsome face was filled with fear and grievance.

"I don't know..."

Snap, snap, snap!

Liu Hong lashed him three times with the whip without any mercy, leaving him with torn and bleeding skin.

"Do you not know, or are you afraid to say?"

"You think I wouldn't know what you've done just because you don't tell me?"

Liu Hong paused slightly, staring at him with icy eyes, and asked in a low voice:

"Was the burning of the summer grain in the three towns your idea, or Lin Huai'an's?"

Liu Taofang, clutching her wound, looked up in astonishment and stammered, "Father, you, how could you..."

Anger flashed in Liu Hong's eyes. He stopped using the whip, stepped forward, and kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You unfilial son! You rebellious son!"

"How dare you! How dare you!"

"Father, Father, your son knows he was wrong, your son knows he was wrong..."

"You admit you were wrong?"

"No, you don't know you were wrong, you're just hurt!"

"How dare you commit such a heinous act! You...you're trying to kill your father?!"

Hearing Liu Hong's angry voice coming from the study, Liu Lang's smile faded slightly, and he suddenly realized what was going on.

The person who burned down the summer grain in the three towns has been found—it turns out that the person who gave Black Tooth 30,000 taels of gold was actually the second son of Provincial Governor Liu Hong.

And who is Lin Huai'an?

After thinking for a moment, Liu Lang secretly pursed his lips, "It doesn't matter anymore. As long as we know Liu Taofang is involved, the boss will definitely be able to find out who else is involved."

"Even Liu Wen, the second young master of the Liu family in Jingzhou, was schemed against and killed by the boss. What's one more second young master from the third branch of the Liu family?"

Liu Lang was quite familiar with Chen Yi's ability to scheme against people.

It's easier to just tell Chen Yi the news than to rack your brains yourself.

Moreover, in his mind, Chen Yi, who had now mastered the three arts of gun, fist, and knife, was already a being comparable to a god.

He wouldn't do anything unnecessary.

At this moment, Liu Hong must have gotten tired of beating him. He threw down the whip and said coldly:

"Besides that incident, was this recent increase in grain prices in the prefectural city also your idea?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Taofang paused, clutched her wounds, knelt up again, and nodded silently.

Liu Hong stared at him for a long time, then suddenly sighed: "Fang'er, before you do these two things, have you thought about the consequences?"

“My child, I have thought about it… If the summer grain in the three towns is burned, the Xiao family will become, become the target of everyone’s criticism.”

Aren't you afraid they'll find out about you?

Liu Taofang said in a low voice, "After discussing with Lin Huai'an, I found Mingyue Tower to take action. They... they don't know our identities."

Liu Hong looked at him noncommittally: "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place."

"Fortunately, the Xiao family was prepared that time and killed all the invaders. Otherwise, with Xiao Yuan's abilities, how could he not have guessed the opponent?"

"Besides you, your second brother Liu Wen also made a move?"

He paused, then continued, "Before that, were you aware that Liu Wen was also involved?"

Liu Taofang subconsciously shook his head, "I don't know."

"After Lin Huai'an and I devised the plan, I didn't inquire about the matter anymore; Lin Huai'an was the one who found the people."

"Not a single word?"

"Yes... However, although I did not know that Brother Liu Wentang was involved, I am aware that someone has also come to Mingyue Tower to burn down the summer grain in the three towns."

"who?"

"He is a江湖人 (jianghu person) named '刀狂' (Dao Kuang) Liu Lang (刀狂)."

Liu Hong frowned slightly. "This name sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before."

Liu Taofang quickly replied, "Father, have you forgotten? When Liu Jing first came to Shuzhou, he used Mingyue Tower to have this 'Knife Madman' rob the Xiao family's medicine shop of medicinal herbs."

“It’s him…”

Liu Lang, who was outside the door, couldn't help but grin when he heard this.

Liu Taofang is truly a good-for-nothing.

Not only was such a big matter left to Lin Huai'an to handle, but he also knew nothing about it.

No, he wasn't entirely ignorant.

Liu Taofang must have asked that question once at the very beginning.

After that, he stopped asking questions whenever the owner came in and out of Mingyue Tower.

Thinking about it, Liu Lang continued to listen to the conversation between the father and son.

"Fang'er, didn't you notice anything unusual after that?"

"Father, son, son doesn't know what you mean?"

Liu Hong looked at him with a disappointed expression and scolded:

"Your cousin Liu Wen is dead, Xiao Dongchen of the Xiao family is dead, the Mingyue Tower gang and the spies in the three towns are dead, didn't you notice anything?"

"Stupid! Utterly foolish!"

"You, Liu Wen, and Xiao Dongchen have been framed, and you didn't know anything about it?"

Liu Taofang opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing his expression, she couldn't say anything.

"Father, you...you mean there's another group hiding behind this?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong snorted, "If I'm not mistaken, the person behind Liu Lang is putting on the same show for you, Mingyuelou, Liu Wen, and Xiao Dongchen."

Liu Taofang was stunned for a moment, "Acting? He's acting...why would he do that?"

"reason……"

Liu Hong looked north towards the location of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence and said in a low voice:

"If I'm not mistaken, that person was trying to help the Xiao family."

According to his deduction.

Liu Wen and Xiao Dongchen must have been targeted by that person for some reason.

Then, taking advantage of the opportunity to travel from Mingyue Tower to the three towns, that person eliminated everyone at once.

Liu Tao's face suddenly lit up. "Father means that the 300,000 taels of silver that the Xiao family received from Xiao Dongchen... belonged to my cousin Liu Wen?"

"You're not completely stupid."

"Although I don't know what method he used, judging from the result, that person is not simple."

As he spoke, Liu Hong's eyes grew even colder.

"Fortunately, you and Lin Huai'an hid yourselves well enough that person shouldn't have discovered your identities, otherwise..."

Otherwise, not only would Liu Taofang and Lin Huai'an be implicated, but even he, the provincial governor, would likely be implicated.

After thinking everything through, Liu Taofang was also filled with lingering fear.

Now he finally understood why Liu Hong was so angry.

"Father, what should we do now?"

Liu Hong glanced at him and snorted, "Now you know fear? Why didn't you think more carefully when you were blinded by money?"

"I know I was wrong."

Seeing Liu Tao's regretful expression, Liu Hong sighed inwardly.

Although his son was not as good as his eldest son, lacking in talent and knowledge, and prone to grandstanding, he was still his son.

Even if you break a bone, the tendons still connect it.

"Fang'er, do you still remember how your father taught you when you were little?"

"To accomplish great things, one must plan carefully before acting."

"Now I'll teach you the second piece of advice: If you want to achieve great things, you must be ruthless in your methods."

Liu Taofang paused upon hearing this, a look of confusion flashing across his face: "Father?"

Everything he and Lin Huai'an did was a matter of life and death; they were certainly ruthless.

Liu Hong knew he hadn't understood, so he lowered his voice slightly and said, "Let's leave aside the summer grain harvest in the three towns for now and just talk about the recent rise in grain prices."

"When you discussed this with Lin Huai'an, did you intend to use the opportunity of the Emperor's punishment of Old Marquis Xiao to shift all the blame onto the Xiao family?"

Liu Taofang nodded and honestly admitted, "That's exactly what I think."

"The Xiao family needs to prepare grain for the three towns, so they will inevitably have to buy it from the two markets, which is why grain prices are rising."

"In addition, the summer grain harvest in Shuzhou was not good this year, so a higher price is to be expected."

Liu Hong glared at him. "So you're going to wait until grain prices rise to a high point, then sell off our family's old grain and make a fortune, right?"

"I can't hide it from you..."

"Have you considered how the Xiao family will react to what you've done?"

"They will probably approach Lin Huai'an to discuss this. I've thought it over. I'll ask Lin Huai'an to give Lord Xiao some face then."

"Give him some face?"

Liu Hong almost laughed in anger and asked, "Where do you get the audacity to say such a thing?"

Liu Taofang looked at him in confusion, "Father, does the Xiao family have some other way to deal with this?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong shook his head. "You know too little about the Xiao family, and even less about the old Marquis."

"The Xiao family is indeed in a dilemma now, but as long as the old Marquis is alive, it will be difficult for others to deal with him using ordinary tricks... at least in Shu Prefecture, it will be very difficult."

"Do you know that because of your and Lin Huai'an's reckless price increases, the old Marquis is already planning to borrow grain from Guangyue Prefecture?"

Liu Tao looked surprised and asked, "Borrowing grain from Guangyue Prefecture?"

"Is the old Marquis planning to borrow grain from the Zhang family, the Duke of Gan?"

Liu Hong snorted, "Now you know how stupid you are, right?"

"It's laughable that you don't even know what your opponent is capable of before you decide to make a move."

“But Father, Lin Huai’an said earlier that the old Marquis has a very strong sense of self-respect and would not easily ask outsiders for help.”

"You believe what he says?"

"Do you know that, besides the old grain you have, Lin Huai'an has already prepared nearly a million shi of grain?"

"What?!"

Liu Taofang stared at him blankly, her face already somewhat disheveled.

He clearly hadn't expected the old Marquis to make this choice, and he couldn't understand why Lin Huai'an hadn't told him those things.

Or perhaps Lin Huai'an knew all along and was just playing him for a fool?

Liu Hong glanced at him, then waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Get up and talk."

Liu Taofang pursed her lips slightly, knelt down and bowed, then carefully sat down to the side.

A moment of silence.

Liu Hong tapped the back of his chair and said, "I know you were deceived by Lin Huai'an. This is not your fault, but you must never trust others so easily again."

"Yes, I understand."

"you do not know!"

"Are you thinking of going to see Lin Huai'an after tonight?"

Liu Taofang lowered his head and remained silent, clearly having had his thoughts exposed.

Liu Hong, knowing his temperament and thoughts, didn't get angry again, but calmly said:

"Although Lin Huai'an is a businessman, he has come a long way, which is no easy feat."

"What's more, he also has the Jizhou Merchant Guild behind him."

Liu Taofang nodded silently and asked softly, "Father, you've been talking about the Jizhou Merchant Guild the whole time. What's their background?"

Seeing that he could calm down so quickly, Liu Hong's eyes flashed with a hint of relief.

"The Jizhou Chamber of Commerce? They're a bunch of money-grubbing wolves."

"Although I don't know much about them, I am aware of what they have been doing in the north."

"north?"

"Yes, they made a lot of money through the trade markets on the northern grasslands. Some of it was legitimate, and some was illicit."

Liu Taofang realized what was happening and her eyes widened slightly: "Father, you mean them? They're smuggling?"

Liu Hong nodded slightly and said, "Salt, iron, weapons, armor—as long as those nomadic tribes on the grasslands, who are similar to barbarians, can afford it, there's nothing that the Jizhou Merchant Guild wouldn't dare to sell."

Aren't they afraid of being discovered?

"Who discovered it? Who dares to discover it?"

"Everyone in the know has already been bribed by them, even the nine ministers in the imperial court..."

At this point, Liu Hong paused, shook his head, and said, "You only need to understand one thing—Lin Huai'an is one of their people, and also the pawn they chose to replicate what happened in the north in Shuzhou."

Liu Taofang didn't say anything upon hearing this, but just stared at him without blinking.

Of all the things he heard, this one had the biggest impact on him.

After a moment's thought, he said bitterly, "Father, then... haven't I been schemed against by Lin Huai'an all along?"

"Why...why did he..."

Liu Taofang suddenly realized what was happening and looked at Liu Hong, saying, "He wants to drag you into this?"

Liu Hong glanced at him, raised his head slightly, and said, "It's worth telling you all this if you can think of this."

"Lin Huai'an has been in Shu Prefecture for quite some time now, so how could he not have come to see his father?"

"Then, then you..."

Before Liu Taofang could finish speaking, Liu Hong waved his hand and said, "He's just a pawn, what right does he have to be on equal footing with me?"

He paused, then a cold smile appeared on his face: "Besides, he even dared to plot against my son, Liu Hong. How could I possibly let him get away with it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Taofang's face showed a complex expression, a mixture of gratitude and shame.

He wanted to do something for his family, but it backfired, and in the end, his father had to sort everything out for him.

"Father, please tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Liu Hong said calmly, "Don't do anything."

"From today onwards, you shall stay in the manor and not go anywhere. No matter who comes looking for you, you shall simply insist that you do not know Lin Huai'an!"

Liu Taofang didn't understand, but she just nodded obediently and didn't ask any more questions.

Seeing this, Liu Hong's expression softened, and he said:

"The Shuzhou of today is not the Shuzhou of five or ten years ago. The situation is so complicated that ordinary people simply cannot understand it."

"If I weren't in the Provincial Administration Commission and had enough knowledge of certain aristocratic families and people, I might have been plotted against."

He looked at Liu Taofang and continued, "It's not all bad that you've suffered this calamity. Learn from your elder brother and don't make similar mistakes again."

Liu Taofang nodded first, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Father, what about Lin Huai'an?"

"My son met with him tonight and they discussed the follow-up measures. Also, we need to continue raising grain prices."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong revealed a somewhat enigmatic smile. "You don't need to worry about this. Just stay put."

"But……"

Why worry about a dead man?

Dead, a dead person?

Who is it, Lin Huai'an?

Liu Taofang was startled, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes as she looked at Liu Hong.

Liu Hong met his gaze and said calmly, "Fang'er, remember what I said today."

"Those who wish to achieve great things must be ruthless in their methods."

Anyone who stands in your way will only meet one fate... death!

Liu Lang outside the door was startled.

He had already guessed that the person named Lin Huai'an was one of the people he had seen outside the house in the East Market.

I don't know if that person became dead as Liu Hong said.

No wonder.

No wonder the boss asked him to keep an eye on Liu Hong—just based on this ruthlessness alone, Liu Hong, the provincial governor, is enough to warrant serious attention!

(End of this chapter)