Luo Ying came back exhausted and got drunk for two days. When he was drunk, he received a secret report from his family that Jiang Xuqing had been promoted.
He worked so hard but got nothing in return, while a gigolo got away with it. Luo Ying was so angry that he just took his gun and started stabbing people around the yard. After sobering up, he took a bath and fell asleep next to the bathhouse.
The housekeeper of the Luo Mansion earnestly advised Luo Ying to cheer up and not to ruin his future for a woman. He also rationally analyzed why he had killed General Yelu but still was not reused by the court.
The housekeeper said that if Jiang Xuqing's advisor, Bai Shinian, hadn't come to the Luo Mansion to remind him, he would have missed out on important court matters. It wouldn't matter if he died on the battlefield, but the people of Muhe County would die with him. When merits and demerits are offset, wouldn't everything be lost?
Luo Ying slapped his head and thought that it was true. If no one had tipped him off, he might have died by now. For this alone, he should thank Jiang Xuqing.
Seeing that Luo Ying had recovered, Butler Luo threw out another smoke bomb, which was about Jiang Xuqing's promotion.
Housekeeper Luo said that Jiang Xuqing was no ordinary person. According to information provided by the Luo family, not only did the emperor praise Jiang Xuqing highly, but even the Minister of Personnel and the eunuchs in charge of the Imperial Household Department looked at Jiang Xuqing differently, which was enough to prove that this person was very scheming and would definitely be something special in the future.
Butler Luo told Luo Ying to learn from Jiang Xuqing, saying that if he could learn even a little bit from him, it would be a lifelong benefit. Luo Ying ignored the butler's words, not taking them seriously. But Jiang Xuqing had helped him, so he felt obliged to thank him. So, he went to Jiang Xuqing's house to inform him of the news.
After going around in circles, it turned out to be like this.
Xu Jing held his forehead and said, "I am just a small official, not worthy of your concern, General."
"Xuan Zhen, what are you talking about? If it weren't for Xuan Zhen's help, I wouldn't have found my wife." Luo Ying's eyes were filled with sadness when he mentioned Tian Wan'er. Tian Wan'er had been so decisive that day, leaving him wanting to but lacking the courage to acknowledge her.
Xu Jing asked, "General, are you looking for me to break off the engagement?"
Luo Ying shook his head like a rattle. "No, I'm here to tip off Xuan Zhen. Xuan Zhen will be having a happy event soon. I wonder how Xuan Zhen will thank me?"
Xu Jing, believing that money was more important than life, thought it best to offer the warrior a little sweetness. "I heard the general is interested in recruiting soldiers to defend the city. I have an idea."
Luo Ying's eyes lit up and he said, "You say."
"I've recently been reviewing the files and discovered that there are too many prisoners in the local prisons. If you were to recruit these criminals for your own use, it would be considered a good use of waste."
"This..." Luo Ying looked embarrassed. It wasn't that he didn't want anyone, but what if these prisoners disobeyed the rules and ran away? How would he reason with Jiang Xuqing then?
Xu Jing saw Luo Ying's dilemma and said slowly, "General, don't worry too much. I'm also thinking about you. Muhe County has a small population, and there are even fewer people who need to work and rest. Instead of leaving the green mountains unused, wouldn't it be better to recruit these criminals and use them for your own benefit?"
"How many people are there in total?"
Xu Jing gestured a number. "About five hundred."
Five hundred could temporarily alleviate the urgent need. However, Luo Ying still wanted to confirm it again. "Are these not extremely vicious people?"
"General, you're joking. If this person is truly a vicious criminal, I wouldn't give it to you. I would just hand it over to the prefectural government to handle."
Luo Ying had a clue in his mind. He stood up to salute but was stopped by Xu Jing. "General, you are really being so polite. Why are you thanking me for no reason?"
"There is one more thing that I need to clarify, Lord Jiang."
Why are there still problems? Do you think this is a charity? Why do you come to him for everything?
Xu Jing said patiently, "General Luo, please speak."
"A few Jiannu merchants outside were cursing in the street while holding contracts, and I happened to overhear their curses. This concerns the purse of Muhe County, so I have to remind you. Taking too much money can easily lead to trouble."
Xu Jing smiled and said, "Thank you, General Luo, for your reminder. I was forced to do this for the sake of the people's livelihood in Muhe County. How about General Luo, just pretend that this incident never happened?"
"How can that be?" Luo Ying has always been a hard-hearted person and was extremely disgusted with Jiang Xuqing's behavior of "collaborating with the enemy and treason."
"Master Jiang, please don't forget that they are the Jiannu people. The country strictly prohibits trade with the Jiannu people. If you insist on doing this, don't blame me for being rude."
Xu Jing smiled instead of getting angry and said, "General Luo, you are wrongly accusing me of this. When did I ever cooperate with the Jiannu?"
"Don't try to quibble. They look just like the Jiannu. We must be especially cautious at a time when two countries are at war."
As he was talking, a tea servant came over to add tea and water. Xu Jing said, "Go call Bai Shinian."
Bai Shinian, Jiang Xuqing's lackey, arrived immediately. After greeting the two adults, he asked, "Master, what do you want from me?"
"Let me ask you, sir, are those businessmen I interrogated today good citizens of Muhe County?"
Bai Shinian opened his mouth with a burst of compliments, saying that the lackey's abilities were even better than Jiang Xuqing's. "That's right, Master, you have a very good memory."
Luo Ying snorted coldly, thinking to himself: "Everyone knows that Bai Shinian is your man, but is there any truth to what he says? There must be something fishy going on, otherwise the two of them wouldn't be speaking in unison." Luo Ying thought, after saying goodbye to them, he would investigate thoroughly and he would definitely find out the secret.
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