Green Mountain-Chapter 718 - 572: Just One Step Away

The figure in the red official robe that had briskly stepped out from the Ministry of Personnel was heading directly towards the Yulin Army Commander's Mansion's gate.

Initially, the officials from the Six Ministries, who were whispering and pointing outside the gate, hadn't noticed yet. They were all facing away from the direction of the Ministry of Personnel, silently marveling at the righteous individuals in this Dandy Army.

However, as those steady footsteps pressed forward, the Ministry of Revenue's chief, who was closest, first sensed something was amiss. He turned his head in doubt. In the next moment, he instinctively staggered a step to the side, giving up the position where he was standing.

This small movement was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that quickly spread.

Second, third... More and more officials turned their heads, and when they saw the Second Grade Product red official robe embroidered with golden thread peacock, all discussions, whispers, even breaths, got instantly cut off.

No orders, no calls.

The crowd silently retreated to the sides in awe, like tides drawn by a giant hand.

Within a few breaths, a clean road suddenly appeared. On both sides of the road stood rows of officials in blue and green robes with heads lowered.

Zhang Zhuo, as the Minister of Personnel overseeing the Imperial Capital inspections, had become the cabinet minister most feared by the various government offices. Everyone feared retreating too slowly and getting noticed by Zhang Zhuo.

At this time, Zhang Zhuo came to Chen Ji's front, lowered his head to examine the Buddhist Treasure and silver piled under his feet, then looked up to Wang Daosheng: "What amount of silver do you, as his master, give to your direct disciple?"

Wang Daosheng replied indifferently: "One hundred taels."

Zhang Zhuo teased: "How could Zhang Zhuo have such a penny-pinching friend? A dignified Minister of War, and only gives his direct disciple one hundred taels?"

Wang Daosheng glanced sideways at him: "I only have one hundred taels altogether, so I give one hundred taels. How much do you have, and how much do you intend to give?"

Zhang Zhuo paused, then circled Wang Daosheng with interest: "Oh, Wang Daosheng, you've employed military tactics on me for the sake of your disciple? If I gave him all my wealth, I'm afraid he wouldn't dare accept it."

He turned around to look at Chen Ji, took out two strands of Buddhist Treasure from his arms, and placed them on Chen Ji's wrists: "I heard from Axia that you've pawned the Gufu Building. That was the family asset your Aunt worked hard to save for you. Now that your Aunt is no longer here, keeping the Gufu Building serves as a remembrance. Go redeem it later. Each strand of Buddhist Treasure is worth two hundred thousand taels, totaling four hundred thousand taels."

Four hundred thousand taels.

Can buy five hundred thousand bushels of rice.

Can purchase twenty-six thousand seven hundred acres of fertile land.

Can buy two thousand inner city courtyards in the Imperial Capital.

Can sustain a border army for years.

Can wage a war mobilizing tens of thousands of soldiers.

Outside the gate, which was previously noisy due to the Yulin Army collecting money, now quieted enough to hear the autumn wind sweeping past the flags on the Chengtian Gate.

The Ministry of Revenue's chief, who first made way, had his fingers digging into his palms. Being in charge of finances, he knew better than anyone what four hundred thousand taels meant: it's the Qing Officials Division's half-year revenue from the Ministry of Revenue, equivalent to half a year's land tax from one province in the South.

According to the official's salary in the Ning Dynasty, he would need to work diligently from the country's founding until now to accumulate this amount, but even then, it might not be enough.

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zhuo: "Lord Zhang, this sum of silver is too much, if you take it out publicly, you'll likely face impeachment from many people."

Zhang Zhuo, however, laughed and tightened his grip on Chen Ji's wrist: "Don't worry about others, redeem the Gufu Building first. Some things may not be very important, but keeping them serves as a remembrance. You're a nostalgic person, redeem it, don't worry, I'll handle everything."

Chen Ji remained silent for a moment, cupped his hands, and said: "Thank you, Lord Zhang."

Zhang Zhuo, looking at the silver coin on the ground, jokingly said to the Yulin Army: "Alright, take all these back, and quickly redeem what's sold from each of your homes, don't let your parents catch you and break your legs."

Li Guang was the first to take back his silver, smiling sheepishly: "With Lord Zhang here, my silver probably isn't needed, I'd better save it for getting married."

Wang Peng also took back the silver he borrowed from the official: "I still need to return the redemption money."

Qi Zhenzhuo laughed and scolded: "You two have no ambition, Wang Peng, why don't you just marry the official? Anyway, your parents are both gone, no one will stop you. How much does the girl's redemption silver still lack? Brothers with extra money on hand should chip in for you, consider it giving you a gift."

Wang Peng brazenly said, "You said it, it still lacks one thousand two hundred taels."

Li Cen threw his silver to him, chuckling: "Just a courtesy, you truly dare to ask."

Wang Peng didn't mind at all: "I could borrow money from the official, what's there to be shy about... I'll treat you to drinks next month."

The Yulin Army started cursing, those with surplus money simply threw their silver to Wang Peng.

Once everyone retrieved their silver, Chen Ji looked at Li Xuan: "Go redeem the Feibai Sword."

Yet Li Xuan showed no sign of joy and unexpectedly tore the pawn ticket in half on the spot: "Not redeeming it, I don't need it anyway."

Chen Ji sighed inwardly.

Zhang Zhuo looked at him and helped him roll down his sleeve, covering the Buddhist Treasure on his wrist: "Go ahead, guard the silver, there's a big event tomorrow."

Chen Ji nodded, turned, and walked through the crowd towards Li's Pawnshop.

Arriving at the pawnshop, the old pawnbroker behind the counter didn't expect him to actually come to redeem the house deed, and immediately felt heartache: "Guest, why do you come to redeem it today when you just pawned it yesterday? Do you know, the interest for one day alone is one hundred and twenty taels..."

Most of a pawnshop's profits come from the accumulated interest of dead pawns and live pawns, such as pawning yesterday and redeeming today, this kind of transaction is nearly a wasted effort. Moreover, the Tianbao Pavilion storefront was a prized asset he spotted yesterday, initially planning how to acquire it in half a year, but now the cooked duck is flying away, how could he be willing?

Chen Ji had prepared well in advance, directly placed Zhang Zhuo's strand of Buddhist Treasure on the counter: "The net profit of Tianbao Pavilion for one day isn't worth one hundred and twenty taels, this strand of Buddhist Treasure is two hundred thousand taels, redeem."

The old pawnbroker picked up the glazed mirror on the counter to verify the micro-engraving on the Buddhist Treasure. It took him an hour just to verify the Buddhist Treasure, and it was indeed worth two hundred thousand taels.

After the verification, he said with difficulty: "Guest, my Li's Pawnshop currently doesn't have that much silver to give you, it will take at least half a day to prepare."

Chen Ji frowned: "What, does Li's Pawnshop intend to renege on the debt? Even dares to swallow the Eunuch Party's land deeds, seems you're not thorough. I'll wait here, if I don't see the deeds before sunset, I'll confiscate your Li's Pawnshop."

The old pawnbroker had no choice but to call the back courtyard staff: "Quick, get the landlord to take some silver from Silver Vault No.1 to meet the emergency."

The staff member hesitated: "These past few days..."

The old pawnbroker frowned and urged: "The silver won't go missing, once this guest has redeemed the pawn, send it to the landlord."

Chen Ji drank tea for three hours in the main hall, until noon when he saw the staff member return.

The old pawnbroker personally carried a rosewood tray around the counter, in the tray was the wooden box Chen Ji brought yesterday and four strings of Buddhist Treasures, along with three ingots of current silver: "Please check."

Chen Ji put the Buddhist Treasures and current silver into the wooden box, turned and left the pawnshop.

...

...

The seventh day.

On the last day, Chen Ji went nowhere.

He sat on a stone bench, wearing the Qilin Embroidery, every button fastened tightly. As the morning light grew stronger, the Qilin Embroidery on him reddened as if it was about to catch fire.

Chen Ji steadied his left hand on the blade's body, with his right hand holding a thin hemp cloth, starting from the nearly transparent edge of the Whale Blade, he wiped inch by inch towards the blade's guard, over and over again.

Now, holding more than fifty thousand taels of silver, if the Qi family wanted to outbid him to buy Bai Li and regain face, they'd have to pay a bigger price.

It would also be easy to save money—just kill him.

Today, Chen Ji was waiting for the Qi family to risk everything and make a move to resolve him early, but he waited an entire day, and no Qi family officials came.

Did the Qi family give up?

He wasn't sure.

Until evening, Xiao Man glanced at the sky and whispered to Chen Ji: "Master, it's time, the Imperial Music Bureau will start selling criminal prisoners after 3:45 PM, you should go to the Imperial Music Bureau."

The movement of Chen Ji wiping the Whale Blade stopped at the last inch of the blade.

The next moment, he flipped his wrist, and the dazzling blade traced a fleeting arc in the air, perfectly returning to its sheath. He stood up, holding the Whale Blade, and walked out: "Let's go."

Shaojiu Alley was not far from Yanle Alley, crossing two streets, then turning north at one intersection to reach.

On Jixian Street outside the Imperial Music Bureau, a bustling crowd had gathered, even more lively than Tianqiao. Officials, commoners, and vendors, all gathered there.

Suddenly, someone whispered: "He's here!"

The crowd looked south, just in time to see Chen Ji carrying the blade, followed by Xiao Man holding Wu Yun, and a little monk holding the wooden box.

Chen Ji did not walk under the eaves along the street but instead walked right down the center of the bluestone road.

Pedestrians hurriedly stepped aside, some eyeing Chen Ji, whispering: "Isn't he supposed to be part of the Eunuch Party? But he looks so righteous, he doesn't seem like he's part of the Eunuch Party at all."

"Indeed not, he seems more like a powerful minister about to purge the court."

"Who writes 'Eunuch Party' on their face? A Eunuch Party is a Eunuch Party."

Chen Ji acted as if he hadn't heard, passing through the crowd without glancing sideways. However, just as he was about to enter Yanle Alley, he heard a voice from behind: "Viscount Wu Xiang, please hold on."

He turned to see Wang Zhao, a Jiefan Guard centurion he'd seen before, leading twelve Jiefan Guards to part the crowd and come forward.

Xiao Man whispered: "Master, they don't come with good intentions… Why choose this moment!"

Chen Ji said calmly: "Lord Wang, what business do you have with me?"

Wang Zhao produced a Driving Letter: "Viscount Wu Xiang, someone has impeached Lord Zhang Zhuo at the Imperial Court for selling offices and titles, lining his own pockets. This is somewhat related to you. I've been ordered to take you to Renshou Palace for questioning."

Chen Ji did not respond, but instead looked toward the Danbi Grand Music Hall at the end of Yanle Alley in the Imperial Music Bureau, seemingly just one step away, just one step forward and...

But the inevitable always comes.

Chen Ji handed the Whale Blade to Xiao Man: "Don't worry, wait for me here."

Wang Zhao pointed to the wooden box in the little monk's arms: "This must also be brought into the palace."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Alright."

Wang Zhao opened the box for a glance, seeing the silver and Buddhist Treasures intact, he was immediately reassured: "Let's go, Mr. Chen, surely you don't need us to escort you, right?"

"No need."