Chapter 139 A certain prince's probing attempt...
"...Your Highness!!"
Following behind the five boys were Song Gu, Xiao Dezi, and Xiao Chengzi. They all looked over, as if they had found their pillar of support and were overjoyed.
Qi Chengming sat down without even catching his breath, and said in a deep voice, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Now, he seemed quite calm and composed.
We've already endured so much hardship, what's a little more time?
"It was in September that the people of Qipan stronghold realized something was wrong," Song Gu said, closing the door behind him and eagerly beginning to recount the story.
Thanks to Qi Chengming's arrangements back then, the entire city of Liuzhou was divided into a chessboard, with 361 strongholds, each housing trusted intelligence personnel. This was like the prototype of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Qi Chengming's grassroots intelligence agency.
Since the establishment of the Prince Rui's Mansion, Liuzhou has gradually transformed from a barren place of exile into a bustling city frequented by merchants. Coupled with the large influx of people from other places drawn by its reputation, the city became a melting pot of all sorts of people, requiring considerable effort to discern their backgrounds. Generally speaking, newcomers, filled with curiosity, would inquire about everything.
How can you tell if it's a spy or someone else in this situation?
It takes effort.
After more than half a year, the people have gained a wealth of experience.
This time, there were unexpected traveling merchants trying to find out the factory's secrets, scholars pretending to be traveling scholars asking if the money shop was hiring, and unknown scholars coming to seek refuge with the prince. All sorts of people came, and things gradually became chaotic.
“These things happen all the time.” Song Gu said calmly. “Liuzhou has changed so much this year that people have always wanted to find out what’s going on. It’s never stopped. But since September, the unusual activity has become too frequent. I had a meeting with the officials in the county government and, through information channels in the capital, we determined that it was Liuzhou that was ‘exposed’ to the capital.”
Previously, these were all small-scale attempts to seize power. This time, the gears of the dynasty are turning in the direction of decline, and the ticket system has been exposed. Nobody's a fool; if they've come to the south to test the waters, how could they not also take a look at Liuzhou, where dramatic changes have taken place? Testing the waters is just the basics.
These things won't cause any major trouble, but you have to be careful every day, which is quite annoying.
"Then, after Lord Shen finished governing Yulin, he left to hand over the reins. The first thing was that the new Yulin Inspector arrived." Having finished recounting the shady dealings, Song Gu now turned to the more explicit details. His face darkened.
"He is very likely one of the prince's men, and he came up here wanting to pay his respects to the prince."
"And then?" Qi Chengming felt that things were not so simple, and that Steward Song's expression should not be so ugly.
Sure enough, Song Gu dropped a bombshell: "I didn't budge during that time, and he left. I thought that was the end of it, but the next day I heard that Inspector Yulin wanted to buy the glass factory and several other factories."
Qi Chengming: "?"
Such niche writing.
"He didn't know... that this was mine?" Qi Chengming asked slowly, dumbfounded.
Even if he's usually very good-tempered, he got angry when someone slapped him in the face like that.
How novel! Robbing someone's belongings in a prince's territory?? A mere inspector?? If he doesn't have powerful backers, he must be incredibly audacious! Even if he does have backers, with the emperor so far away, who gave them the guts to cause trouble in his own territory?
“In the glass factory, wood factory, alcohol factory, and other places, there are many people who were originally Yulin refugees. Somehow, he found them and made them into indentures. The indentures are hard to tell if they are real or fake. He said they were runaway slaves and wanted to take them back.”
But if it's just talk and there's no written contract, who can be sure it's genuine?
Even if it's true... so many people who fled to Liuzhou have found jobs, obtained citizenship, and learned skills. Taking them all away would be effortless; it would be like taking a huge bite out of Liuzhou's rich resources out of thin air.
If this matter is not handled properly, the prince will not be able to stop it with a clear conscience, and may even be accused of abusing his power.
“I sent men to stop them.” Song Gu didn’t even blink.
They won't release them.
Open and aboveboard.
Even if Governor Yulin was there to cause trouble, would he really lead his troops to forcibly take people back to Liuzhou? Would he really go back and write a memorial to accuse the prince of detaining runaway slaves?
Is such a trivial matter even worth mentioning? Nobody would take it seriously.
The prince's mansion can act tough when it wants, but it won't really cause any real harm.
"Later, the city became very chaotic, with villains trying to break into the factory and steal the formulas." At that time, Song Gu was unaware that these clandestine methods were intended to distract them. The newly appointed magistrates of Yulin were also busy every day engaging in a battle of wits with the Yulin governor.
"The intelligence gathering is very slow. We can only vaguely deduce that this Governor of Yulin is a man of the Third Prince or the Sixth Prince."
"Continue." Qi Chengming wanted to hear what other outrageous things were going on; they really didn't take him, a prince, seriously.
"And then there's the Hong family of Jingzhou, a local prominent family that suddenly erupted; they want to seize the money shop." Song Gu looked at the Second Prince. "This is in sync with the actions of the Governor of Yulin."
Qi Chengming had been analyzed by Mr. Qin and Master He several times on the way, and his expression hadn't changed at all. He understood in his heart: "...This is a test aimed at me?"
Regardless of which prince's faction these powerful families and officials belonged to, their ultimate goal was the same: their backers coveted the money shops and coveted the ration coupons.
Moreover, as they had analyzed, all they needed to do to find out was to probe whether the Second Prince's exile to the nearby area was related to all of this.
The two lines run parallel to each other.
No, it wasn't just a test; they genuinely wanted the prescription and the person's heart.
They can catch rabbits while gathering grass; everything in Liuzhou is novel and exciting, a golden goose. How could the prince behind the scenes, plotting to seize the money exchange, possibly look down on these things in Liuzhou? They're aiming to kill three birds with one stone!
Qi Chengming laughed in exasperation: "My brother here doesn't take me seriously at all."
They know their own situation best. The Second Prince has been away from Liuzhou for the past few months, leaving the city vulnerable, which is exactly what they need.
Those who were testing the waters and plotting to seize power didn't realize that they were being blatantly defiant, thinking that Qi Chengming, a weak and incompetent second prince, couldn't do anything. If they knew their brother was plotting to seize power, they'd better hand him over obediently.
This overbearing attitude sounds just like the Third Prince...
"Your Excellency, the Prefect, have done a great service this time." Song Gu's expression was solemn yet showed a hint of respect.
During His Highness's absence, they worked together to thwart these open and covert attacks. Song Gu still knew nothing about the new emperor's financial theories. If it weren't for Prefect Mu's repeated interventions, the perilous period, and Mr. Huang's timely delivery of large sums of silver, the Hong family of Jingzhou might have truly succeeded.
"We have successfully defended the city, Your Highness." Song Gu cupped his hands in greeting. "Also, the fellow graduate of the Prefect, that young man from the Wang family of Taiyuan, helped us a great deal, contributing both money and effort."
This time it can be considered a clash between a powerful family and a prestigious clan.
These past two or three months have been really tough.
"You've done a great job. Even if I were still here, I couldn't think of a better idea," Qi Chengming earnestly encouraged.
His weaknesses were obvious: he lacked ministers to rely on and powerful allies, and he didn't have a strong maternal family. He was practically a lone commander, which explains why his brothers treated him like a fat sheep to be slaughtered and weren't worried about his revenge at all.
"Then what's the story behind my return? And who is the person imprisoned in the manor?" Qi Chengming asked in detail.
Although he asked that question... Qi Chengming already had a vague answer in his mind after hearing it.
"It's Governor Yulin." Sure enough, Song Gu answered with a gloomy face.
After several failed attempts to probe, the people behind the scenes realized that both sides were tough nuts to crack, the money shop must be connected to Liuzhou, and the Second Prince was no ordinary person.
And here they are, turning back to test the waters again.
Whether or not they can seize this lucrative opportunity is no longer important. The primary concern for the prince vying for the throne is whether the second prince has concealed his strength and whether he can succeed.
In fact, all things considered, Liuzhou's strength has long been impossible to hide, and these visitors must be aware of that as well.
But after the Governor of Yulin repeatedly failed to see him, Song Gu realized something was wrong and that the Prince's situation was likely becoming suspicious. If things continued like this, the Prince's condition would surely be exposed. He immediately devised a plan, detaining the Governor of Yulin on charges of spying on the Prince's residence.
The men brought by the governor of Yulin were like headless flies, while the people in the shadows hadn't even made their move yet.
That finally calmed things down, but it dragged on for a while until Qi Chengming returned.
Qi Chengming remained silent.
The private room was packed with people, but no one dared to speak; the atmosphere was eerily quiet.
Finally, the young prince suddenly chuckled calmly, "I've only been gone a short time, and so much has already happened..."
This is a crazy move against him, regardless of whether he is there or not, as soon as the situation changes and there is profit to be made.
"It's almost time." Qi Chengming knew that if he wanted to return to the capital and participate in the struggle for the throne as planned, he had to make a name for himself after he was well prepared.
Before that, the initial brilliance, being targeted, and experiencing such chaotic growing pains were all unavoidable.
But that doesn't mean he'll accept being bullied.
—If he doesn't avenge this, he'll truly become a spineless coward!
"Xiao Dezi, have someone serve the food!" Qi Chengming was so angry that he didn't plan to eat, but when he looked up and saw that such a large group of people hadn't eaten yet, and they had only been at Bai Family Restaurant for a short time, he couldn't let this slip in front of other people's eyes.
So he decided to eat first, still fuming, and then go back to his residence.
"Sigh!" Little Dezi, having not seen his prince for many days, was in high spirits and went out obediently.
Qi Chengming sat there, his mind preoccupied with figuring out how to deal with that hot-tempered Inspector Yu Lin and the prince behind him when he got back.
Now that the First Prince has fallen from power, he holds leverage over the Third and Sixth Princes. Leaving aside the Seventh Prince, the original male lead, he wants to see which of his brothers is waiting for his revenge!
Shouldn't you go and keep the eldest prince company?
...
Tsk... On the contrary, it's Governor Yulin, this little minion, who's not so easy to deal with.
Qi Chengming didn't have many people in the official ranks. As a prince, he couldn't directly deal with the officials appointed by the imperial court... He still had to hold a meeting with the prefectural and county governments and think about it for a couple more days.
Qi Chengming did not harbor any deep resentment or bitterness.
He quietly opened his infrastructure system page and looked at it.
Ultimately, he was a man with a knack for getting things done. If he lacked manpower, he'd use unconventional methods. Sometimes he didn't need to be so "proper." If all else failed, he'd use poison, tamper with things, or frame someone discreetly—anything would do, and he could always bring down the Governor of Yulin.
At times like these...
Qi Chengming believed he could use any means necessary.
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The author says: I'm about to return to Beijing, though it won't be that soon, but trouble has already started.
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