Chapter 139: A Clever Move That Backfired

At these words, Liu Ren, the shopkeeper, and the assistants all changed color.

They naturally knew the quality of the grain in the shop. Lu Hui’s attitude made it obvious that he was fabricating a charge. The fact that he was so utterly fearless suggested that this matter would not end well.

Naturally, they could not admit to such a crime. Liu Ren defended himself. “My lord, this humble shop has always conducted its business fairly. We would never commit such an unlawful act. As for the moldy grain, someone must be deliberately slandering us. I beg Your Lordship to investigate the matter carefully.”

Lu Hui bared his teeth in a grin. “If I had no evidence, I would not have come looking for you. But the victim possesses a grain sack bearing your shop’s mark, and there are witnesses to testify as well. Stop trying to argue. I am not so easily deceived… Tang Ming, bring Old Liu Honest and the others over!”

“Yes, my lord.”

Tang Ming cupped his hands, pushed through the crowd, and drove several people out from the alley.

One of them was a gaunt old man dressed in tattered clothing. He appeared timid and fearful. The others were dressed like ordinary commoners; all of them hunched their shoulders and kept their heads lowered, staring at the ground.

Once they arrived, Lu Hui pointed at the frail old man and shouted to the surrounding crowd, “This man’s name is Liu Honest. Earlier, when he went to purchase grain at the Yonghe Grain Shop, the shopkeeper took advantage of his advanced age and poor eyesight and sold him an entire sack of moldy, spoiled grain. Poor Liu Honest and his family are desperately poor and were relying on these twenty pounds of grain to fill their stomachs. Now that they have been deceived by unscrupulous merchants, the whole family is still starving. Liu Honest, pour out the grain and let everyone see whether I am telling the truth!”

At his words, Liu Honest tremblingly opened the sack in his hands and poured the grain onto the ground.

The onlookers crowded around. The heap of unhusked rice on the ground was indeed covered in green mold, and a pungent stench rose from it.

As the people pointed and whispered among themselves, Lu Hui asked Liu Honest, “Tell us where you bought this grain, and what proof do you have?”

Liu Honest glanced up at Liu Ren, then hurriedly lowered his head again. Stammering, he said, “This old man bought it… bought it at the Yonghe Grain Shop. The shopkeeper himself gave me this grain sack. The neighbors who bought grain with me all saw it.”

Everyone looked at the sack in Liu Honest’s hands. Across it were several large red-lacquered characters bearing the name of the Yonghe Grain Shop.

Lu Hui nodded in satisfaction. He turned to the others and asked, “Did you personally see Liu Honest purchase the grain at the Yonghe Grain Shop?”

The men were clearly nervous. After a long hesitation, one of them finally spoke. “We saw it with our own eyes.”

Lu Hui was somewhat displeased by their performance, but he had no time to pursue the matter. He looked toward Liu Ren and said, “The Yonghe Grain Shop sold moldy grain and defrauded the people. The witnesses and evidence are both conclusive. What else do you have to say?”

“My lord, Liu Honest’s words cannot be trusted,” the shopkeeper hurriedly protested. “He came to buy grain from our shop early this morning, but the sack he brought was torn, so he could not use it. Our master pitied him because of his age and gave him a sack. The grain sold to him was all newly stored grain. There was absolutely no possibility of it being moldy. I beg Your Lordship to examine the matter clearly!”

Liu Ren, standing beside him, suddenly understood. At last, he saw through Lu Hui’s scheme.

Earlier, when Liu Honest and the others had come to buy grain, they must have been acting on Lu Hui’s orders. Liu Honest had deliberately brought a damaged sack, exploiting Liu Ren’s compassion to trick the Yonghe Grain Shop into giving him one bearing its mark as evidence.

Once they had obtained it, Lu Hui had everything he needed and had hurried over to make trouble.

“My lord, someone must have bribed Liu Honest and replaced the grain he purchased from our shop, using it to frame us. I beg Your Lordship to investigate carefully!” Liu Ren added, without exposing the scheme, and continued reasoning patiently.

“Whether I investigate or not is not for you to instruct me on!”

Lu Hui glared at Liu Ren, his face darkening. “Since you claim this moldy grain was not purchased from your shop, then let me search the premises. If I find moldy grain identical to what Liu Honest bought, that will be incontrovertible proof. Let us see how you argue then… Men, search the shop!”

“Yes!”

The twenty soldiers behind Lu Hui shouted in unison and prepared to rush into the grain shop.

Liu Ren himself showed little reaction, but the six veteran soldiers standing guard beside the entrance leveled their staffs horizontally and blocked the soldiers of the Eastern City Military Command.

The men from the military command stared in surprise. They had never imagined that anyone would dare bar their path, and they stopped involuntarily.

Lu Hui’s gaze fell upon the veterans, examining them from head to toe.

As a military officer, Lu Hui possessed some discernment. The old soldiers moved with practiced ease, and a murderous glint showed in their eyes. Anyone could see that they were men who had fought and shed blood. It was hardly surprising that they could intimidate these young hotheads from the Five-City Military Command.

After a brief standoff, Lu Hui threatened them. “I am acting according to the law. Interfering with official duties is a serious crime. Do you want me to arrest you first and then continue my work?”

The veterans remained unmoved. The atmosphere gradually grew tense.

Seeing this, Liu Ren waved his hand. “Gentlemen, let them search.”

One of the veterans turned his head and warned him in a low voice, “Master, you must not let them search. Look at their bulging clothes and waistbands. They must have moldy grain hidden on them. Even if the shop is spotless, they will still frame us!”

Lu Hui’s scheme was so commonplace that Liu Ren had seen through his intentions immediately. He had no need for the old soldier’s reminder.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, Liu Ren still said, “Clear the way. Let them search. I want to see what tricks they can come up with.”

Seeing that he insisted, the veterans, though worried, could only step aside.

Lu Hui sneered and said to Tang Ming, “You lead the men in personally. Do not overlook a single corner. You must find conclusive evidence and ensure that this unscrupulous merchant does not escape punishment.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Tang Ming rolled up his sleeves and waved his hand. “Brothers, follow me!”

A great clatter arose as a dozen or more men surged into the Yonghe Grain Shop and hurried toward the warehouses in the rear courtyard.

People gathered around the shop once more.

Many found it difficult to believe that the Yonghe Grain Shop had been selling moldy grain. Among all those who had purchased grain, Liu Honest’s case was the first of its kind.

Still, the enormous commotion stirred up by the Eastern City Military Command caused many who had not yet bought grain to waver.

Grain prices had risen throughout the city, while the Yonghe Grain Shop alone had kept its prices unchanged. Perhaps the grain was being sold so cheaply because its quality was poor.

Hearing the people’s discussion, Lu Hui sneered inwardly. Once the evidence had been planted, he would see how the people of the Yonghe Grain Shop could continue to argue.

After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Tang Ming led the soldiers out in single file.

Lu Hui’s spirits lifted, and he hurriedly asked, “Well? How much moldy grain did you find?”

At his superior’s question, Tang Ming’s face crumpled as though someone close to him had died. “My lord… We did not find a single grain.”

“Did not find any?”

Lu Hui froze for a moment, then flew into a rage. “You’re talking nonsense! How could you possibly find nothing?”

“My lord…”

Tang Ming stood with his mouth open, trying to think of an explanation.

Lu Hui’s face turned livid. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Take the men back in and search again. If you still find nothing, I will hold you personally responsible!”

He issued the order, but Tang Ming and the soldiers did not move. They acted as though they had not heard him.

Lu Hui stared for a moment, then lashed Tang Ming with his whip. “You dare disobey me now? I see you have all grown bold enough to challenge the heavens… I’ll teach you not to disobey me! I’ll teach you not to disobey me!”

The whip struck Tang Ming and the soldiers around him with a series of dull cracks. The men dodged and begged for mercy.

The sight left the onlookers dumbfounded. They had no idea why the men of the Eastern City Military Command had suddenly begun fighting among themselves.

“Stop!”

A thunderous shout came from inside the Yonghe Grain Shop.

“Stop your—”

Lu Hui was already furious. Hearing someone dare interfere while he disciplined his own lackeys, he was about to curse them, but the foul words only made it halfway out before catching in his throat.

The people craned their necks to look inside and discovered that another person had appeared in the shop.

He wore a blue official robe, and embroidered upon the insignia on his chest was a mandarin duck. It was the mark of a seventh-rank civil official.

Everyone was puzzled. How had an official suddenly appeared inside the Yonghe Grain Shop? Was the infighting within the Eastern City Military Command also somehow caused by him?

Before they could figure it out, Lu Hui scrambled down from his horse and hurried to the entrance, bowing obsequiously. “This subordinate pays his respects to Lord Zhao. I had no idea Lord Zhao was conducting official business here. What a coincidence.”

Zhao Ji stepped outside and stood on the steps, looking down at Lu Hui. His face was stern.

“My presence here is no coincidence. I came specifically to wait for you, Lord Lu.”

That single sentence left Lu Hui sweating profusely.

Ordinarily, he treated Zhao Ji with the utmost courtesy. Though he held a sixth-rank post while Zhao Ji was only seventh rank, he still addressed himself as Zhao Ji’s subordinate and kept his posture exceedingly humble. He feared that one day Zhao Ji might catch him making a mistake, leaving him no room to maneuver.

Because Lu Hui had always been so accommodating, Zhao Ji had shown him some consideration in return. As long as Lu Hui did not go too far, Zhao Ji would turn a blind eye rather than force the matter into open conflict.

Who could have imagined that today, when Lu Hui had come to deal with a mere grain shop, Zhao Ji would arrive without warning and wait for him inside?

Zhao Ji’s purpose was certainly no simple matter.

In an instant, Lu Hui thought of an explanation. He said humbly, “This subordinate received a report that the Yonghe Grain Shop was selling moldy grain. Since no such grain was found, these troublesome commoners must have planted the evidence. As the official responsible for managing the Eastern City markets, I will never tolerate such conduct. Now that the evidence has been collected, I shall take them back to the office for severe interrogation. Lord Zhao, this subordinate will take his leave.”

As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at Tang Ming and the others, intending to slip away while he could.

Zhao Ji gave him no such opportunity. Expressionless, he said, “Lord Lu, wait. While your men were searching the shop, I happened to discover something interesting. Why do you not take a look?”

Lu Hui’s expression changed. Swallowing hard, he stammered, “Lord Zhao… What are you referring to?”

Zhao Ji pointed at the soldiers of the Eastern City Military Command and barked, “Take out what you are carrying!”

The Patrol Censor possessed the authority to impeach and supervise the Five-City Military Command. The soldiers naturally knew who held command here. At his shout, they promptly opened the cloth pouches hidden on their persons and emptied them onto the ground.

As the soldiers did so, the onlookers widened their eyes.

The small cloth pouches contained varying amounts of moldy grain. Altogether, there must have been at least a hundred pounds.

“I knew there was something strange about their bulging waistbands. So they were carrying moldy grain!”

“Disgraceful! The people from the military command actually tried to frame the Yonghe Grain Shop. What a despicable thing to do!”

“Who is that official? He can actually control those arrogant men from the Eastern City Military Command?”

“…”

Lu Hui’s face turned deathly pale. No wonder Tang Ming had been stammering just now. Their scheme had already been discovered by Zhao Ji.

Now Zhao Ji had ignored all considerations of face and exposed them in public. Not only would Lu Hui lose his official position, he might even be investigated and punished by the imperial court. He could possibly be exiled all the way to Hainan.

“Lord Lu, do you have anything else to say?” Zhao Ji demanded loudly.

“This subordinate… This subordinate…”

Lu Hui’s mouth was dry, and he had no idea how to answer.

But Zhao Ji had no interest in listening. He waved his hand as though brushing away a fly. “Lord Lu, you had better return to your office with your men and wait to hand over your duties to your successor.”

“Yes…”

Lu Hui’s heart was ashen. Supported by Tang Ming, he stumbled back toward the military command office, completely bereft of spirit.

“Lord Zhao is wise! Lord Zhao is wise!”

Seeing the corrupt official who had tried to frame an honest merchant slink away in disgrace, the surrounding people could not help cheering.

Liu Ren stepped forward and said gratefully, “Many thanks for your assistance, Lord Zhao. Without you, our little shop would truly have been unjustly accused.”

“Heh. The innocent will remain innocent. Since you, Master Liu, are kindhearted, even if I had not come, someone else would surely have upheld justice for you. Lu Hui has committed one evil deed after another. I will certainly submit a memorial to the court impeaching him. So long as your shop conducts its business fairly, I can ensure that you face no further obstacles,” Zhao Ji replied courteously.

Liu Ren knew that Zhao Ji was saying this only because of his nephew. Cautiously, he said, “If you have the time, Lord Zhao, perhaps you might come inside for a cup of tea to soothe your throat. It would be a small expression of my gratitude.”

Zhao Ji understood that Liu Ren wished to offer him a gift, but how could he dare accept it? He hurriedly shook his head.

“That will not be necessary. I still have important matters to attend to. I shall take my leave. Master Liu, there is no need to see me out.”

Without waiting for Liu Ren to press him further, Zhao Ji strode away and climbed into the carriage that had been waiting nearby.

Whoosh—

Only after seeing Zhao Ji off did Liu Ren finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Now that Lu Hui, the man who controlled the fortunes of every merchant in the Eastern City, had fallen from power, conducting business would surely be much easier from now on.

All day, the Oirat forces stationed at Purple Thorn Pass had made no move. On the Ming side, troops had been mobilized and the final deployments completed. They were merely waiting for the Oirats to come and fight to the death.

It was the rare calm before the storm.

When Xue Rui returned home after finishing his duties, he heard the good news brought by his eldest maternal uncle.

Upon learning that Lu Hui had made such a foolish move and had been exposed on the spot by Zhao Ji, Xue Rui could not help laughing. Those unscrupulous merchants would never have imagined that the Liu family could actually call upon the Patrol Censor, whose office was specifically responsible for disciplining the military command.

After his amusement faded, however, Xue Rui still reminded Liu Ren to proceed with the utmost caution. Those grain merchants would certainly not let the matter rest. They had to guard against the possibility that their enemies might resort to desperate measures.

Fortunately, with the assistance of the veterans he had hired, together with the Liu family’s servants and shop assistants, there were more than enough men to protect both the grain shop and the family residence.

…

As winter drew near, the weather grew colder by the day.

Early one morning, a brazier had already been lit in a private room at the Taibai Tower.

Yet the warmth gradually rising within the room could not melt the chill on the faces of Sun He and the others.

The previous day, Sun He had waited the entire time for news from his cousin’s husband.

But despite waiting and waiting, no messenger came.

Unable to settle his unease, Sun He personally went to his brother-in-law’s residence to inquire after him.

The moment he entered, he heard his female cousin wailing bitterly in the courtyard.

After learning what had happened, Sun He nearly spat blood.

His cousin’s husband had been impeached by the Patrol Censor for framing a merchant. The imperial court had dismissed him from office on the spot and thrown him into the Ministry of Justice prison to await trial.

He had held the post of commander for barely a year. Sun He had spent an unknown amount of silver greasing the right palms and smoothing the right connections for him. Yet, merely for helping with this small favor, he had been stripped of everything, without even the slightest chance of recovery.

Only then did Sun He truly realize that although the Liu family appeared ordinary, they were not nearly as easy to deal with as he had imagined.

Thus, early that morning, Sun He invited Wang Guiqing and the others to discuss how they should resolve the matter.