Chapter 1385 – South Prosperity, Autumn of Chaos (Part 11)
The previous year, the Tao Clan’s profit from the salt business was equivalent to two years’ military expenses.
If we included the salt profits from other aristocratic alliances during the same period, it would be about five years’ worth of military funding!
They monopolized the salt trade for an entire year; it was enough for Jiang Pengji to train troops for four or five years!
“No wonder the Tao Clan and others are refusing to budge—such profits are indeed tempting.”
Xie Ze sighed and had someone pack up all the financial records and confiscated silver assets, sending everything to Wanzhou.
The Lord’s private treasury, when compared to the Tao Clan, truly felt poverty-stricken!
Xie Ze didn’t intentionally humiliate the captured criminals, but he didn’t go easy on them either; these folks sure suffered along the way.
Before their downfall, they were pampered nobles who spent more on a single meal than an ordinary family’s yearly food expenditure. Just a modest banquet could see them tossing money like it was nothing. Now, they had to march on foot, wearing nothing but shabby grass sandals or wooden clogs.
Lady Qiqi didn’t suffer much, though; due to Han Yu’s standing, she could ride in a carriage with three meals a day composed of two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish.
The others had it rough—two meals a day, eating hard, coarse buns and biscuits. On the first day, they ruined a pair of grass sandals; by the second day, their soles were covered in blisters, and by the third, their calves were swollen and ready to burst… Lady Qiqi couldn’t bear to see her parents suffer, so privately, she saved food for them, but to her surprise, they were ungrateful, even overturning the food table and splattering soup all over her…
As resentment grew, Lady Qiqi hardened her heart and stopped caring for them.
On the fifth day, her parents sought her out, hoping she would take care of her young nephews.
Though Tao’s parents still despised Lady Qiqi, they pretended to show some sorrow, which moved her heart.
“We, old bones, don’t care if we die, but the young ones can’t bear this hardship,” Tao Matriarch wept. “The Tao Clan still relies on them to thrive; we can’t afford to lose any! I admit I was foolish and made a rash decision out of anger, causing you grievances, but how can there be overnight grudges among family? Your nephews must not suffer!”
Lady Qiqi initially wanted to refuse but ultimately surrendered to their persuasion and secretly hid a few nephews in the carriage.
Upon hearing this, Xie Ze simply turned a blind eye, arranging to increase Lady Qiqi’s food rations.
The Tao Clan had a large family—Lady Qiqi had three nephews and four nieces.
However, Tao Matriarch only allowed three grandsons to ride, ignoring the granddaughter who was sick with a fever.
Unable to bear the sight, Xie Ze had two more carriages arranged specifically for children under seven.
Before the party reached Wanzhou’s Xiangyang County, news of Jiang Pengji confiscating the aristocratic family assets spread like wildfire.
Jiang Pengji’s relationship with the aristocracy was already strained; this incident exacerbated their mutual animosity.
Encouraged by some cunning individuals, rumors began circulating that Jiang Pengji was tyrannical and greedy, fabricating charges to seize other people’s wealth for her own gain. If she could seize from the Tao Clan today, who wouldn’t be next?
They even concocted satirical ballads mocking her, exploiting the fake news spread by the Tao Clan to attack Jiang Pengji.
Faced with such petty tactics, Wei Ci could only provide a subtle rebuttal, showcasing his respect.
Compose ballads?
Using outdated smear tactics—how embarrassing!
It was like swinging a wooden sword at an iron wall, nothing but a laugh!
Inspired, Wei Ci pulled out fresh rice paper, working through the night to pen a new book.
Meanwhile, he dispatched storytellers operating under the magistracy to refute the rumors and clarify the accusations against the Tao Clan and others.
Under Wei Ci’s management, his propaganda team was starting to take shape, with the effectiveness of their water army growing daily.
In terms of efficiency, reach, and audience, the hidden adversaries were no match for Wei Ci.
“No wonder you’re the commander of eight million water troops! Zixiao’s propaganda power is really something!”
Before Jiang Pengji even heard the filthy rumors, the flames were doused by Wei Ci’s water army.
Old Driver Alliance: Can’t mess with this—Zixiao’s fighting spirit is off the charts!
Wei Long Spicy Strips: Beauty Ci is truly loyal to the streamer!
Blue Drawer: Other people’s boyfriends never let the baby down; the more I see, the more I envy!
Met You at Twenty-One: If the streamer debuted, I feel like Beauty Ci could single-handedly tear apart the entire entertainment circle!
Frozen Dream: Sigh, three books in half a year; if only the author I follow had half the diligence of Beauty Ci, I’d wake up laughing in my dreams.
Jiang Pengji watched the live stream comments and couldn’t stop grinning.
She just loved seeing others praise Wei Ci to the heavens.
Who said that being burly made one a man? Zixiao was fine just the way he was; the rest she could handle.
Time flew by, and Xie Ze safely escorted the criminals back to Xiangyang County.
Though Xu Ke had taken thorough preparations, clearing out several warehouses, he still couldn’t return all the confiscated assets.
“The greed of the Tao Clan and others is truly unprecedented.”
Such wealth—one could hardly find a rival to match it, not just in Dongqing but even in all five countries of the realm!
Jiang Pengji flipped through the account book, her expression growing darker.
The Tao Clan’s greed surpassed even her imagination!
Salt is an essential commodity in the daily lives of the common people and is consumed rapidly.
The Tao Clan, along with other aristocrats, monopolized the salt trade, raising prices at will, while the salt quality was unguaranteed, often mixed with mud or other impurities. In certain areas, there were even reports of mass poisoning incidents. But the powers of the Tao Clan prevented the commoners from seeking justice.
Jiang Pengji said, “Xiaoyu, it’s been tough on you these days.”
Xu Ke was the steward, and these matters all fell to his responsibilities.
He nodded in agreement but couldn’t help but smile ruefully.
When he returned, he would have Mistress Xun Mei prepare bedding, expecting to stay late; it seemed he wouldn’t be returning for several days.
After Xie Ze completed the handover of the criminals, he turned to visit Han Yu’s residence.
Ever since the divorce, Han Yu had been home less and less, usually busy running around.
Even when he did come back, he mostly stayed in his own courtyard, occasionally visiting his concubines.
As Xie Ze came calling, he unexpectedly found himself facing an empty house, but he bumped into Han Run, just returned from school.
“Uncle Xie, are you looking for my father?”
After his mother’s blow, Han Run looked considerably steadier, with a maturity beyond his years in his brow.
Xie Ze hesitated, “I do have something to discuss, but… it’s a bit tricky.”
Han Run replied, “Father will be back no later than seven days from now. If it’s urgent, you can tell me, and I can pass it along!”
Xie Ze sighed, “This matter involves Young Master’s mother.”
Han Run’s hand hesitated, nearly betraying his composure.
“What happened to Mother?”
Focusing on his studies, Han Run had little information from the outside world, so he was unaware that trouble had already befallen his maternal grandfather’s family.
