"Stop being silly, baby..."
Ji Bochang chuckled dismissively, but then immediately remembered Jiang Ming's earlier words and frowned in confusion, asking, "Mr. Jiang, you just said... there are still unclean things in the house?"
His word "still" is very meaningful.
This proves that the story told by Fatty He earlier was not entirely fabricated.
"hehe......"
Jiang Ming smiled slyly, "Your Excellency, have you ever been possessed by an evil spirit before?"
"Huh? This! You even know this?" Ji Bochang looked shocked.
"Oh......"
Jiang Ming laughed and said, "Fortunately, it was dealt with in time, preventing the evil energy from entering the body. Otherwise, the prefect would have gone insane... and the consequences would have been unimaginable!"
"Oh my god!"
Ji Bochang patted his chest lightly, sighing with lingering fear.
"Then... Mr. Jiang, we need to quickly exorcise the evil spirit from my mother! It wasn't easy for her to raise me!"
Ji Bochang said with a bitter expression, "What's more, she has now had a misunderstanding and conflict with my wife, I'm afraid there will be chaos in the family in the future!"
"hehe......"
Jiang Ming smiled faintly: "The prefect's filial piety is commendable, but... it's a small matter, no need to be so nervous."
While he was talking to Ji Bochang, Jin Feng kept giving Jiang Ming knowing, flirtatious glances, her watery eyes darting around shrewdly...
The meaning couldn't be clearer: Well done, Mr. Jiang, you're really 'smart'! Not only is your talent astounding, but you also have a keen eye for talent. I absolutely adore you!
However, she immediately became wary again, as if wondering how Jiang Ming knew so much.
"The Prefect's wife..."
Jiang Ming rose again and bowed, smiling slightly awkwardly, "The Prefect and I have some important military and political matters to discuss. Would you be willing to go to another room for a while, Madam? Once we return to the manor together, I will discuss poetry and literature with you in detail."
"Oh..." Jin Feng rolled her eyes mischievously and said coquettishly, "So you're already starting to dislike me? Fine, military and political affairs are your men's business, but when it comes to family matters and money, you can't hide anything from me..."
"That's natural..."
"Don't worry, Madam, we wouldn't dare..."
"If you dare to do anything shady behind my back, you'll regret it!"
Jin Feng pinched Ji Bochang's arm, making him wince in pain: "Ouch! No, no! Don't worry, Madam."
......
Jiang Ming instructed the maids to take Jin Feng to the inner quarters of Old Master Chen's house for a temporary rest.
As soon as she left, the two started talking about Dongshan again.
"Oh dear, Mr. Jiang, this matter is a bit troublesome..."
Ji Bochang clicked his tongue and said, "He and my wife have always had a good working relationship. Their business spans various prefectures, and they also trade with neighboring countries like Jin, Zhongshan, and Ji... The mountain god wants him to come into the mountain to serve, but I'm afraid it won't be easy to get past my wife, since he still needs to manage many businesses..."
"Hehe..." Jiang Ming chuckled, "What if Madam agrees as well?"
"If she agrees, then there's no question. Let alone sending Dong Shan up the mountain to serve the mountain god, even if you chop that son of a bitch into pieces and throw him into the street to feed the dogs, it's no big deal..."
"If that's the case..."
Jiang Ming pondered for a moment and said, "I'll handle the madam's situation and try my best to persuade her. Cough... this Dong Shan is a brainless idiot. Why did he have to provoke the mountain god for no reason?"
“I already said so, oh right! You just said... you have some important military and political matters to discuss with me? What is it?” Ji Bochang looked at Jiang Ming with a sincere expression.
"That's how it is!"
Jiang Ming asked, "I heard from the county that the prefecture has ordered each village to contribute 500 shi of grain, ten sets of armor, and one able-bodied man from each household. Is this true?"
"I don't know the specifics!"
Ji Bochang feigned innocence: "I've entrusted matters like tax collection to my wife and Dong Shan's brother, Dong Chuan..."
"Oh, oh, oh," Jiang Ming was speechless. He simply couldn't imagine what Ji Bochang was busy with every day.
He even entrusted matters like conscription and grain requisition to that spendthrift woman; what a terrible prefect he is...
However, this Jin Feng is truly resourceful!
In domestic affairs, he colluded with Dong Chuan, the county clerk, who was essentially Ji Bochang's secretary, exploiting the people to the bone. In foreign affairs, he also colluded with the unscrupulous merchant Dong Shan to make huge profits, forming a "iron triangle" that was truly cunning!
Dismantling this interest group is no easy task.
Jiang Ming could guess with his own eyes... Dong Chuan and Jin Feng definitely had something going on!
He originally thought that the King of Yan, in order to avenge the disastrous defeat at Maiqiu, acted impulsively and disregarded the lives of the people, thus draining the pond to catch all the fish!
Now it seems... these corrupt officials, ruthless merchants who extort and plunder, and this adulterous wife of the prefect are the real culprits who have driven the people to the brink of despair!
Jiang Ming did not claim to be a 'saint' or to be so selfless.
But how could such a lucrative business be allowed to benefit others?
He has to come himself...
Moreover, you can't cut the leeks by pulling out the roots, can you?
"Mr. Jiang, what are you thinking about?" Ji Bo asked curiously when he saw that Jiang Ming hadn't spoken for a long time.
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