Chapter 937 Chapter 937: Playing the Game (Part 1) [Asking for monthly votes]
The oiran's beautiful eyes flashed with astonishment.
She didn't seem to expect that Shen Tang was still a young man. In the past, among those well-established businessmen, who would come up and ask how much they could borrow to guarantee a guaranteed profit without losing money? Who is not careful to accompany the smiling face? After a while, the oiran returned to her usual charming and calm self.
"Nu Jun is joking. When doing business, there are profits and losses. How can there be a business in this world that is guaranteed to make a profit? How much principal you borrow depends on how much principal Nu Jun needs to do business. According to the rules, as long as you borrow, no matter how much it is, you will To be able to gain asylum.”
Shen Tang was not distracted by her.
He smiled and said: "Indeed, you can get shelter by borrowing any amount you want. Shelter is all shelter, but it can also be divided into caring and uncaring. This is like the maids and servants around the queen, who are also divided into first, second and third classes. The little girl thought All you know is, how much will it cost to borrow first?”
She did not mince words in her words.
The oiran held up the tea cup with her slender fingers and pretended to drink tea. She did not directly answer Shen Tang's question: "I heard that the queen decided to complete this business in order to save the family business from the elders of the clan. The business will be successful." That’s all. In that case, why pursue first-class status? From Yinu’s point of view, third-class or even lower-class is enough. Since you can do business in Jinli County with just a little borrowing, you can rely on your protection.”
Facing the oiran's temptation, Shen Tang just shook his head: "If it was just for this purpose, there would be no need to sign up today."
The top oiran’s drinks are not cheap either.
The oiran's rich makeup flashed with surprise for a moment.
He smiled and asked, "Is there another purpose?"
Shen Tang said frankly: "To be honest, I personally thought that Kunzhou was originally established for more than a year, and various places were waiting for development, and there were business opportunities everywhere. So I planned to eat this place's grain before other grain merchants could react. . As long as the business is done properly, there will be countless dividends in the future. I have a husband who has been dead for less than two months. Even though I have thousands of net worth, I still have no way to climb up to the high school. Although the king allows merchants to enter the officialdom, how rugged is this road? For this, it is reasonable to pay some price.”
To put it more simply -
She just wanted to use money as a stepping stone.
The more official debts you borrow, the more interest you will pay to others, and the more disguised bribes you will give to others, and the easier it will be for officials to regard you as one of your own. In the land of Jinli County, there is such a big tree to protect her. Isn't it smooth sailing for her to do business here?
The oiran covered the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, and her laughter was as clear as a silver bell: "The lady has a valiant temperament and is quick to talk to others. In the past, there were so many male guests seeking connections, but none of them were as courageous as you."
Said, stroking his hands and praising: "I admire you very much."
"If this happens, the benefits of the oiran's wife are also indispensable." Shen Tang is a person who can remain calm and composed when facing hundreds of officials fighting. How can he be deceived by the oiran's few words? She waved her hand calmly, and the cashier standing beside her took out her money bag with a wink.
Chu Yao took out two heavy, golden pieces of gold.
Two pieces of gold are not big, but their purity is rare.
Shen Tang said: "This is the tea fee for the lady."
The oiran lady smiled and put her hand out to put the gold into her sleeves. Her heavy makeup could not hide her good mood: "Okay, I will tell you everything you said, and it will definitely happen!"
Shen Tang sat for a while and then prepared to get off the flower boat.
The court lady covered the back of her hand with her palm and said softly: "My lady, don't worry, it will still be a while before we reach the shore."
When the other party leaned over, the rich fragrance penetrated into Shen Tang's nostrils. Like a frightened rabbit, she suddenly retracted her hand and blushed slightly. She still had the momentum from before: "Hua, Oiran... please respect yourself, I There is also great filial piety.”
The oiran woman rested her chin on her hands.
A pair of phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered in her ear with a sweet and bewitching tone: "It's a pity that the lady became a widow before she knew the beauty of the world."
Shen Tang raised his eyes and looked at the oiran lady.
The court lady giggled and said: "This is the most popular place in the world, and there are always some secrets that outsiders don't know about. I don't need to be so nervous. It will make me look scornful of you."
Shen Tang's mouth twitched slightly, he opened his eyes and lied to make up for it.
"What I said is true. My late husband and I were married at the fingertips. Nine years ago, our two families were in love, and we were destined for life. It's a pity that on the day of the marriage ceremony, he was forcibly recruited. He went to fight. The news has been intermittent over the years, so I thought he was still alive. Two months ago, when his clothes were searched and found, I learned that he had been killed in battle for many years, and even his remains were not found..."
As he spoke, his eyes were filled with crystal water.
Chu Yao and colleagues: “…”
Seeing her reaction, the court lady believed her a little bit, and blamed herself. Shen Tang softly pulled the veil and said: "No wonder the court lady, in fact, I have had a premonition in my heart for these years, but I have always refused to believe it. Tell me. , I feel much better.”
In this way, the oiran lady gave her some gentle words of comfort.
In order to make Shen Tang feel better, the oiran lady also took the initiative to tell some of her own tragic past, which was quite tragic.
The courtesan's wife was originally from a good family.
Her father is violent and gambling, and her mother is cowardly and submissive. She and her twin sister depend on each other for life. In exchange for gambling money, her father came up with the idea of selling a pair of daughters to Hua Chuan. They are rare twins with excellent foundation and look exactly the same. If Huachuan buys them and trains them well, and when they are brought up, they can be presented as "Emperor's Queen" and "Sisters serve together".
Huachuan is willing to pay a high price.
The man who was addicted to gambling agreed immediately.
However, the man revealed the secret while drunk.
The mother of the courtesan hid one of the children. When the appointed time came, the flower boat came to pick her up. When she saw that only the elder sister was left of the twins, the price was cut in half. The man was so angry that he beat the woman half to death, and for another two years, he sold her off to make money.
“Pawn it to make money?”
"Pawn your wife." The courtesan smiled charmingly. Some men could not afford the bride price, so they rented their wives. The price of renting a wife was only 20 to 30% of the bride price. After the rented wife gives birth to a child, the wife will return to her original husband. Originally, the husband sold his wife in exchange for profit, but later the husband rented his wife to continue the family line. "Everyone gets what they need, and everyone is happy."
Shen Tang's face gradually darkened.
asked: “A lot?”
Oiran Lady: “I don’t know.”
Shen Tang’s hands hidden in his sleeves closed and his knuckles tightened.
She asked: "Are you the twins' sister?"
The court lady smiled and said nothing.
While speaking, the flower boat suddenly swayed greatly.
Shen Tang stood up and said, "We've reached the shore."
The oiran lady stood up suddenly and walked to the window. There were more than 20 people dressed as government soldiers on the bank of the river and lake. The leader pushed aside the left and right sides and forced boarding: "Zhe Chongfu, check! All men, keep to the left, all women, keep to the right, be aware of your appearance!"
Shen Tang came up and stretched out his neck to watch the excitement: "This is it?"
The oiran's voice was cold, her hand that was digging at the window edge tightened unconsciously, and she gritted her teeth and said, "It's those poor soldiers again!"
Shen Tang covered his face with a handkerchief.
After a while, the sound of footsteps and the clash of weapons and armor came from downstairs. Counting the footsteps, there should be number six people.
The elegant room was kicked open.
“Everyone, men on the left and women on the right!”
Shen Tang: “…”
The leader is a female soldier with a strange appearance.
The other party saw a crowd of people in the room, his thick eyebrows were raised, and he pressed the handle of the knife: "I say it again, men on the left and women on the right."
Shen Tang and others could only do as they were told.
This is not the time to reveal your identity.
The leading female soldier took a few steps forward and stood looking at the courtesan. The latter stood weak and boneless, and sneered: "You poor soldiers, why don't you want to train and cultivate the land, and have trouble with flower boats all day long?" ? I’ve been here a few times, and have you found a pair of disheveled people? Or do you have to see a man and a woman having **** on top of each other before you stop? I really can’t do it, I..."
The oiran lady said, raising her hand to take off her clothes.
Before he finished speaking, Shen Tang heard a loud slap.
The female soldier slapped the oiran in the face neatly. The latter didn't expect the other party to come out, and his face tilted to one side. After slapping someone, the female soldier said one word after another: "I am willing to humble myself."
The oiran lady licked the corners of her lips with a faint blood.
The female soldier ignored her words and waved her hand: "Take it away!" The court lady scolded: "How dare you?"
The female soldier stuffed a cloth into her mouth and said, "Take it away!"
He walked to the door and stopped, then thought of Shen Tang and others, and added: "There are also these others, take them all away too!"
Shen Tang: “…”
Several ministers: “…”
This is the first time in my life that I was imprisoned for coming to a flower boat.
The prison environment in Zhechong Mansion is relatively clean.
Shen Tang sat on the straw mat and covered his face: "No, why did this group of people suddenly appear? What is Zhe Chong Mansion doing?"
The king of the country and his ministers were caught while visiting a flower boat together.
This matter will explode wherever it is placed.
Turning his head, the accompanying living room attendant grabbed a small pen and held a slip of paper in one hand to record something. Shen Tang's expression immediately cracked. The person who lives in the living room is responsible for recording the daily actions and national events of the king, and writing daily notes to the king...
In other words—
If the country of Shen Tang can be passed down stably for several generations, future generations will be able to see a record of the founding emperor and his ministers going on a flower boat together and being cracked down on pornography. This is a rhythm that will be nailed to the pillar of shame in unofficial history. Thinking of this, her head hurt even more.
“Liang Lang, can you please stop writing?”
Other officials were stiff and their expressions were cracked.
Damn it, they forgot about the living room!
Will this guy also write their names? Thinking of this, my eyes darkened for a while - it was still unknown whether my name would go down in history, but it would be safe to lose face to future generations together with the king.
The person in the living room was called by name. He looked up at Shen Tang and then at his colleagues. He turned around with a palm-sized letter and continued writing and drawing without giving Shen Tang any face.
Just when several officials wanted to roll up their sleeves and beat up the living room official and force him to rewrite the content, someone came from the prison.
It turned out that Captain Qi Shan and Captain Zhe Chong came to pick them up.
Qi Shan sighed and said: "My lord..."
Shen Tang raised his hand: "This matter has nothing to do with me."
Captain Zhe Chong immediately knelt down half-kneeling, lowered his head and clasped his fists: "...I will not be able to do things well in the end. Please punish me and punish me."
Shen Tang: "You should take care of Zhe Chong Mansion."
Zhe Chong, the captain, bowed his head even deeper: "I will obey your orders at the end."
"Ji Shou, what did you find here?" Several groups of people entered from different places, and Kang Shi was on the other side.
After leaving the prison, we met at the temporary stop.
Well, the staff is quite neat.
Kang Shi: "I sent people to check the nearby white paper shops. During the period when ghosts stole food, people rarely worshiped their ancestors, so paper money should not be used much. I went everywhere and found that there was indeed a shop that sold a lot. Paper money, the person who buys paper money is the government official."
Shen Tang chuckled and said, "Does the government department buy so much paper money?"
It’s really not cover-up at all.
Kang Shi said: "The news I heard was that Si Yan's family asked him to dream, so he bought a lot of paper money and burned it to the other party."
Shen Tang asked casually: "What is Si Yan's name?"
Kang Shi checked very carefully: "Niu Zhong."
"Niu Zhong? This name is quite decent." Because the level of education was so low, common people's names were basically randomly chosen.
“It is reported that his real name was Niu Er, but he donated money to find a job as a janitor, so he changed his name to Niu Zhong.”
Shen Tang stroked the teacup: "Niu Er?"
The words of the previous broker could not help but come to mind.
“Have you met any brokers at the inn?”
“Broker? None.”
Shen Tang became more and more certain that this broker was cheating on him.
“Does Niu Er have a crazy woman?”
"How do you know, my lord? This Niu Er does have a mother-in-law. Neighbors say that this person is delirious. He goes crazy and hurts people everywhere. He bites people when he sees them. One time, he bit off a person's ear. Niu Er's mother-in-law will The daughter-in-law is locked up at home to take care of her... These are the words of the neighbors, but in-depth investigation revealed that the testimony is somewhat inconsistent with the reality. I judge that this woman was not crazy or stupid before." Kang Shi continued, "A neighbor once said that this woman The hands are slender and white, unlike those of farmers..."
A pair of slender, white and flawless hands is not easy to maintain.
This means that the person does little work.
Be pampered and taken care of everywhere.
and-
"Niu Er is the chief minister of the government, and not everyone can sit in this position. Where did he get the money to get a job?" Shen Tang pointed at the desk, fearing that the money was not clean, "Ji Shou, Apart from this clue, are there any others?”
Kangshi said: "Niu Er is dead."
Shen Tang was not surprised: "It's normal to die."
Are you leaving such an obvious clue unprocessed, waiting to be caught?
Shen Tang asked again: "Have you checked the mass graves?"
If those ghosts were made up of living people, there must be places hiding people in the mass graves. No matter what, you can still find traces of a large number of living people's activities, and maybe there will be clues. Just be afraid, those ghosts are disguised by Yan Ling, there is really no clue at all.
Kang Shi said: "I checked it too, there's no problem."
No problem, just no clues.
"The Tianquan Guard secretly interviewed many people who saw ghosts that day, and most of the testimonies were correct. Those ghosts did not look like living people. A child took advantage of the elders in the family not paying attention, ran into the group of ghosts, and walked straight through these ghosts. My body is broken and I have a high fever when I come back."
Shen Tang thought for a while and looked towards Gu Chi.
Today I went to the flower boat without Gu Chi. Gu Chi went to do another thing. To put it more simply, it was to dig a grave. What he was digging was the grave that the broker was muttering about in the middle of the night.
Gu Chi said: "There is a woman in the tomb. Judging from the condition of the bones, she should be around seventeen or eighteen years old. There are varying degrees of cracks in the occipital bone, temporal bone, scapula, clavicle, and ribs. There is also a knife on the lumbar spine. It was obviously someone who was injured. Murder."
The woman's leg bones were also hit with blunt objects.
|ω`)
Regarding the investigation, I probably don’t quite understand why Tang Mei took action.
At first, Tangmei sent seven soldiers and horses to cooperate with the Ministry of Punishment to arrest him, but she later changed her mind temporarily because this matter was serious.
First of all, the supervisory censor died.
Do you know how serious it is to kill an imperial envoy?
Secondly, Kunzhou borders the Northern Desert. It took Tangmei three years before Yuanhuang took over the entire territory. Before that, she only controlled part of it (especially the border forces bordering the Northern Desert). If we start a war with Bei Mo, food supplies will be in Kunzhou. Part of Kunzhou is also a neighbor of Wu Xian.
It is the most ideal result for the grain to be embezzled by officials. Otherwise, no matter which neighbor takes it away, the problem will be very serious.
Tangmei is now investigating privately to confirm what the situation is.
For pure corruption, just do it in a big way and do everything according to the list. But if forces from other countries infiltrate, they will alert the enemy.
PS: Everyone knows about Tang Mei’s luck, so...┓(`)┏
(End of this chapter)