Upon receiving the ledger, Xiao Che did not immediately peruse it. Instead, he rewrapped it in oilcloth and tucked it into his pocket. His calm and composed demeanor made it seem as if this incriminating evidence, which could have stirred up a monstrous storm, was nothing more than an insignificant book.
Qian Canjun and Zhang San watched his every move with bated breath.
“I see your ‘sincerity’.” Xiao Che stood up, his playboy smile returning to his face, and said to Qian Canjun, who was already sweating profusely, “Now, let’s talk about ‘strength’.”
"Real... strength?" Qian Canjun didn't react for a moment.
“Of course,” Xiao Che said matter-of-factly. “My boss’s goods are no small amount. Silk, tea, refined salt—aren’t they all precious commodities? You’d better let me see if your Zhenbeiguan Pass has any space that can hold such a large shipment.”
Zhang San, who had overheard this, quickly chimed in, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes! My cousin manages the largest military supply depot in the entire Zhenbeiguan! It can hold not only silk and tea, but even mountains of gold and silver!"
"Oh?" Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise as he looked at Qian Canjun.
Qian Canjun's heart skipped a beat. He had a vague feeling that something was wrong. This "Xiao Shisan's" demands were coming one after another, completely controlling the pace of the game. But things had come to this point; he had already handed over the account book, his biggest leverage, and there was no turning back. Besides, the promises made by that "salt and iron tycoon" were too tempting for him to refuse.
He could only force a smile that looked worse than a grimace: "My son... cough, my cousin is right. The supply depot is big enough."
"Alright." Xiao Che clapped his hands and made the final decision. "Seeing is believing. Tonight at midnight, at the military supply depot, I'll have my 'big boss' come and 'verify the accounts' in person!"
He emphasized the words "verify the accounts" and glanced meaningfully between Qian Canjun and the real account book.
Qian Canjun instantly understood. This "verification of accounts" was not to verify the ledger he had just handed over, but to verify how much capital Qian Canjun actually had to take on this big deal.
"Okay! It's a deal!" Qian Canjun gritted his teeth and agreed.
...
At midnight, the night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind howled outside the tall walls of the military supply depot, like the weeping of countless wronged souls.
The normally heavily guarded military supply depot seemed unusual tonight. Several lanterns hung at the entrance, illuminating a small open area as bright as day.
Qian Canjun, his most trusted cousin Zhang San, and several other accomplices who usually colluded with each other were rubbing their hands together, pacing back and forth at the door with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"Cousin, do you think... that 'big boss' will really come?" Zhang San's voice trembled with excitement.
"Shut up!" Qian Canjun hissed, his heart pounding with anxiety. He both anticipated the arrival of a fortune-maker and feared it was a trap. But then he thought, his life and fortune were in the other party's hands; there was no reason for them to lie to him.
As they waited anxiously, two figures slowly emerged from the darkness in the distance.
Leading the group was a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe. Although his face bore the marks of travel, his air of authority, accustomed to a high position, was undeniable. Beside him was a similarly well-dressed woman, "Lady Lin," whose eyes revealed a shrewdness and competence.
It was Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan who had changed back into their "Master Xiao" and "Lady Lin" outfits.
"They're here! They're here!" Zhang San, with his sharp eyes, was the first to shout.
Qian Canjun quickly straightened his robes and, with everyone on his face beaming, went to greet them.
"Oh dear! This must be the 'big boss'? I am Qian Yong, and I have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me!" Qian Canjun bowed and scraped, adopting an extremely humble posture.
Xiao Che simply gave a faint "hmm," not even bothering to lift his eyelids. His arrogant demeanor was even more pronounced than when he played "Xiao Shisan," and it was even more in line with the identity of a powerful and influential merchant.
Lin Wanwan quietly observed the surrounding environment and the expressions of Qian Canjun and the others.
"Lord Qian," Xiao Che said bluntly, his voice tinged with impatience, "Time is precious, let's cut to the chase. Where are the account books?"
He didn't mention the previous ledger, but instead gestured with his eyes that he wanted a brand new ledger that could showcase his "strength" in Qian Canjun.
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" Qian Canjun dared not be negligent and quickly took out another account book from his pocket.
This ledger was a fabricated "fake ledger" that he had his confidants forge overnight. The inventory figures recorded inside were exaggerated by more than ten times, with the aim of demonstrating his "strength" and securing a more advantageous position in this future major cooperation.
Xiao Che took the ledger, glanced at it casually, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.
Very good, they've even prepared fabricated evidence.
He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and then, under the expectant gazes of Qian Canjun, Zhang San, and the others, he made a move that made everyone's eyes nearly pop out.
Holding the "fake and real ledger," he slowly walked to a large brazier used for heating at the warehouse entrance.
Then, with a casual flick of the wrist—
"Whoosh!"
The ledger, which contained all of Qian Canjun's dreams of getting rich, traced a beautiful parabola and landed precisely in the blazing brazier!
The flames shot up high in an instant, engulfing the paper and turning it into flying ashes.
The whole world seemed to have been muted.
Qian Canjun, Zhang San, and all their accomplices were frozen in place. Their mouths were agape, their eyes wide like saucers, their faces filled with bewilderment, as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I? What happened?"
A full three breaths passed.
"You...you...what are you doing?!" Zhang San was the first to react, letting out a pig-like scream.
Qian Canjun also snapped back to his senses, his face turning deathly pale. He pointed at the brazier, his voice trembling violently with fear and anger: "My...my lord! What...what do you mean by this?!"
He thought the other party was going to renege on the agreement, burn the evidence, and double-cross him!
However, Xiao Che simply brushed off non-existent dust from his hands, turned around, looked at them with an expression as if they were idiots, and slowly said:
"This one is fake, so just burn it."
He paused, then pulled out the actual incriminating evidence from his pocket, waved it in front of the horrified crowd, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips:
"Because, I... already have one."
The Emperor?!
This word, like a thunderclap from the heavens, struck Qian Canjun and Zhang San and the others squarely on the head!
Their minds went blank for a moment, as if a buzz had gone off!
The "Master Xiao" in front of me, what did he just call himself?
The Emperor?!
Qian Canjun's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints. He stared intently at Xiao Che's face, which flickered in and out of focus in the firelight. An absurd thought, so utterly absurd it made his very soul tremble, uncontrollably surfaced.
"Who...who are you?!" he asked hoarsely, his voice filled with boundless fear.
Xiao Che smiled.
That smile no longer held the restraint of "Xiao Shisan" or the arrogance of "Master Xiao," but instead exuded boundless majesty and chilling killing intent.
"Who am I?"
He slowly raised his hand and unbuttoned the brocade robe he was wearing.
The outer robe slipped down, revealing the black dragon-patterned soft armor that he had already changed into! The lifelike five-clawed golden dragon, illuminated by the blazing firelight, seemed to come alive, baring its fangs and claws, ready to tear the unforgivable parasites in front of it to shreds!
"Boom—!"
Just then, the heavy door of the supply depot was smashed open from the outside with a huge log!
Countless soldiers, armed with torches, surged in like a tide, instantly surrounding Qian Canjun and his men!
The leader, clad in heavy armor and with a resolute face, was none other than General Meng Wei of Zhenbei Pass! Upon seeing Xiao Che, who wore dragon-patterned soft armor, he immediately knelt on one knee, his voice booming:
"This humble general, Meng Wei, has arrived late to rescue Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
His Majesty!
It really is His Majesty!
Qian Canjun, Zhang San, and the others felt dizzy and their vision went black. Their legs went weak, and they all collapsed to the ground with a thud, defecating and urinating. They couldn't even utter a word of begging for mercy.
Their get-rich-quick dreams shattered at that moment, more completely than the ashes in a brazier.
Xiao Che ignored the group of terrified termites on the ground. He looked at the mountain of moldy rice in the warehouse, and a trace of deep sorrow and anger flashed in his eyes.
His voice was as cold as iron, echoing throughout the entire warehouse, carrying an unquestionable imperial authority:
"Meng Wei! Seal off the warehouse!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
“These ‘parasites’ and these ‘stolen goods’…” Xiao Che pointed to the warehouse full of moldy rice, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, “I… want to burn them all to the ground!”
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