Without money, what is the point of being a traitor?

Chapter 427 The idea is clear
Pei Yuan looked at the time and saw that the appointment was for tonight.

As for the location, it was another property of the Jiaofangsi.

Pei Yuan looked at the time, thought about the place, and said, "Well, let's go and take a look."

Pei Yuan had spent a lot of time and effort in dealing with Zhu Houzhao, and now he was quite tired, so he simply took a nap in the side room in the front hall.

As night fell, Chen Xinjian came to remind him, "Captain, don't forget Zang Fengluan's invitation."

Pei Yuan woke up in a daze.

I sighed, feeling that I had no control over myself and could not be happy.

Because he didn't get enough sleep, Pei Yuan was a little reluctant to go to Zang Xian's banquet.

Chen Xinjian asked through the door, "Captain, do you want to bring more people tonight?"

Pei Yuan came back to his senses and responded, "Okay, it's better to be careful."

If Pei Yuan guessed correctly, Zang Xian would most likely appear as a middleman this time.

I just don't know how much money Zang Xian charged for treating me to this meal.

By the time Pei Yuan had finished packing, Chen Xinjian had also brought his men.

A group of about ten people walked out slowly.

When they arrived at the Jiaofang Office, before Chen Xinjian could step forward to speak, a smiling steward came up to them and asked, "But has Captain Pei arrived?"

Although the work done by the Jiaofangsi is not honorable, it is also a public institution with a permanent staff.

However, because the Jiaofangsi was not respectable, the court had always implemented management based on the officials.

Whether in the shape of the ivory plates or seals, they were distinguished from regular officials.

After Zang Xian became Zhu Houzhao's male favorite, he became very sensitive to the opinions of outsiders.

This kind of treatment of officials as being looked down upon made him detest it even more.

For this reason, he repeatedly petitioned for the same treatment as other court officials. At least, it was not too much to make the ivory plaques and seals, which had no actual interests, in the same shape, right?
As a result, the Ministry of Rites itself disliked the Jiaofangsi and refused to agree to anything.

This time, Zang Xian and Fu Gui completely fell out because his two demands were repeatedly rejected, which strongly stimulated his self-esteem.

It is precisely because of the nature of the Jiaofangsi as a public institution that the manager here is different from the eunuchs in a brothel. He may have an official rank of the ninth rank or the ninth rank. Even if he does not have an official rank, he must at least be a clerk.

So Chen Xinjian politely replied, "Captain Pei has arrived. I wonder if Zang Fengluan has arrived?"

The steward said with a smile, "Zang Fengluan has been waiting upstairs for a long time, please come in."

Pei Yuan and the steward nodded and walked towards the building.

Chen Xinjian also brought his men into the headquarters of the Jiaofangsi.

The steward allowed Pei Yuan's followers to enter the hall. When Chen Xinjian and the others wanted to go upstairs, he stopped them and said, "Zang Fengluan has something to discuss with Captain Pei. I have already prepared drinks for you downstairs."

Pei Yuan heard this and casually said, "Chen Xinjian follow me, and the rest of the brothers stay and have fun."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xinjian turned back and gave them a few words of advice, asking them not to be too careless, and then followed Pei Yuan upstairs.

The banquet had already been prepared upstairs.

Zang Xian saw Pei Yuan coming upstairs and stood up to greet him with a smile, "When did you return to Beijing, and you didn't ask me to welcome you?"

Pei Yuan neither approached nor offended such a man who was good at dancing with his sleeves. He laughed and said jokingly, "That won't prevent you from selling me for a good price."

Zang Xian also laughed when he heard this.

After Pei Yuan was led to his seat, Zang Xian quickly asked someone to remove the fruits on the table and bring the wine and food.

Pei Yuan had made it clear just now, but Zang Xian still had no intention of introducing Pei Yuan immediately.

After the food and wine were served, he poured the wine and said to Pei Yuan, "It's not easy to live in the capital. I have seen what I did. It's nothing more than relying on some connections to supplement the family income."

Pei Yuan and Zang Xian drank a cup together.

First he teased, "Brother Xian is not running a small business."

He added, "Brother Zang helped me out of an emergency last time, and I haven't thanked him yet."

Zang Xian smiled, then leaned forward and whispered deliberately, "Brother, you made a lot of money from that deal last time, right?"

"What?" Pei Yuan was slightly stunned.

Zang Xian smiled and said, "My brother just met with Wang Qiong, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and then he went to the front of the army to sell supplies. Does this matter have nothing to do with my brother?"

Pei Yuan was stunned and asked, "What does this have to do with me?"

Zang Xian picked up a mouthful of food and chewed it slowly, silently listening to Pei Yuan's words. He swallowed it and then smiled, "Brother, why would you spend two hundred taels of silver to meet someone without earning dozens of times the profit?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yuan thought to himself that he had really underestimated this guy.

No matter what Zang Xian thought, Pei Yuan certainly could not admit it, and he denied it immediately, "I was thinking about something else, brother, you are overthinking it."

Zang Xian didn't argue much.

Just then the maid refilled the wine glass and Zang Xian raised his glass to toast again.

After they finished drinking, Zang Xiancai said with emotion, "Although I have worked hard to earn money, I am just a passing god of wealth. If you have a good way to make money, why not bring me along..."

As if afraid that Pei Yuan would misunderstand, he looked at Pei Yuan and explained, "I will pay the share I owe to you, not a single cent less."

Pei Yuan felt slightly moved after hearing this.

A guy like Zang Xian who has extensive connections is a resource in himself.

It would not be a bad thing if he could be tied into his own interest chain.

However, when Pei Yuan took stock of the projects on hand, it seemed that there was nothing suitable for Zang Xian to get involved in.

"Zhongsoyu Group" is Pei Yuan's private property to control the economic lifeline of Luojiao, and no one is allowed to participate at all.

The soon-to-be-established "Zhongmian Group" and the trade route in Liaodong were planned by Pei Yuan in order to win over the various forces in Shandong and Liaodong.

If Pei Yuan wanted to make Shandong his base, he had to unite all the forces in Shandong into one.

In order to create cohesion between the forces in Shandong and Liaodong, it is necessary to maintain a certain regionality.

Once outsiders get involved in this regional group organization, it can easily go wrong.

In this case, Pei Yuan really didn't have any good projects to share with Zang Xian.

Unless they really organize a caravan to transport goods from north to south on the canal as they have deceived outsiders.

Pei Yuan thought for a while before saying to Zang Xian, "I do have some ideas, but they are not yet mature. If there is a chance, I would like to cooperate with Brother Zang."

Zang Xian laughed out loud and clapped his hands in applause.

Then he picked up the wine glass and said, "I have something else to do today. I'm sorry to bother you, brother."

Pei Yuan knew that the main topic was coming.

He glanced at Zang Xian's wine glass, but did not raise it. He placed his hand on the glass and said with a smile, "Brother Zang, you need to talk first. If I can help, I will do my best; if I can't help, please don't embarrass me."

Zang Xian put the cup down, turned around and said, "The person has already made an appointment, why hasn't he come out to meet me?"

Pei Yuan also followed Zang Xian's gaze and noticed a screen a little further away. Then, there was a sound behind the screen and a person came out from there.

When Pei Yuan saw the man, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Chen Xinjian, who had been standing quietly below, also put his hand on the hilt of the sword, waiting for Pei Yuan's order.

Soon, the man came under the candlelight and greeted Pei Yuan with a fake smile on his face, "Long time no see, Captain Pei."

The person who came was none other than Zhang Rong's trusted captain Sun Bo.

Pei Yuan's eyes swept across Zang Xian's face.

Zang Xian quickly explained, "It was Captain Sun who said that Zhang Rong, the former commander of the Imperial Guard, and Zhang Gonggong, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, wanted to reconcile with my brother. That's why I tried to set up this plan."

"I think that Eunuch Zhang is the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department and is currently in power. Having bad relations with them is not a good thing after all."

"As the saying goes, it is better to resolve a feud than to create one. That is why I have the audacity to accept this matter."

Pei Yuan thought about it and roughly understood it.

Since the two families fell out, the fact that Pei Yuan was still able to meet the emperor frequently could not be concealed from Zhang Yong.

In addition, after Gu Dayong restored the Western Factory, he did not become Zhang Yong's helper as he wished, but instead became very close to Pei Yuan, which made him even more vigilant.

Now Zhang Yong has also vaguely seen his own crisis. Of course, he wants to resolve the grudge with Pei Yuan first, and then try to bring Gu Dayong back.

Pei Yuan glanced at the fat military officer and asked calmly, "Why didn't Zhang Rong come by himself? Didn't the emperor release him from the imperial prison?"

When Sun Bo heard this, a flash of anger appeared on his face.

Then he said unhappily, "Sun and Captain Pei are old acquaintances, so it is enough for Sun to talk to Captain Pei. Although Sun is of low rank, he represents the deputy commander of the Jinyiwei and the eunuch Zhang who holds the seal of the Silijian."

Pei Yuan chuckled and said, "Hasn't Zhang Rong been masturbated?"

Sun Bo heard this and said calmly, "The captain also worked under the Earl of Anding, so he should remember his duty when speaking."

Pei Yuan was too lazy to argue with Sun Bo about this.

He lifted up his glass of wine and drank it all.

Seeing this, Zang Xian picked up the wine cup and drank a glass with him.

Pei Yuan put the cup down, without even looking at Sun Bo, and said calmly, "Let Zhang Rong come to see me in person, and this matter will be settled."

Although Sun Bo had come with the mission of reconciliation, he couldn't help but feel angry at this moment.

He opened his mouth and asked, "Don't you think this is a bit too much, Mr. Pei?"

Pei Yuan smiled when he heard this. He turned around and looked at Sun Bo calmly, "Is that too much?"

Then, Pei Yuan looked into Sun Bo's eyes and said lazily, "Then go back and teach Zhang Rong that principle."

Sun Bo frowned and looked at Pei Yuan, with a hint of doubt on his face.

Pei Yuan stared at Sun Bo jokingly and said slowly, word by word, "When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head."

Sun Bo was furious and took a step forward, "You!"

Chen Xinjian drew his sword without hesitation and strode over.

Some of the serving maids were so frightened that they screamed in panic and fled in all directions.

Zang Xian's face also turned pale. He didn't expect that a simple peace talk would cause such a big commotion.

Pei Yuan waved his hand to stop Chen Xinjian.

After all, Zhang Yong is still the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department. The fact that they sent someone to negotiate peace is already a big concession.

It doesn't matter that Pei Yuan has a bad attitude, because Zhang Yong doesn't have a good way to deal with him now.

The three thugs of the eunuch who holds the seal of Silijian are the East Factory, the West Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The newly appointed eunuch Zhang Rui from the East Factory was an old acquaintance of Emperor Hongzhi and was not at all the same kind of person as Zhang Yong. It was considered good enough that he did not put any obstacles in the way of Zhang Yong's request.

Gu Dayong, the eunuch of the Western Factory, had long known that Zhang Yong's position as the head of the Imperial Household Department could not be kept, so he and Qiu Ju went to Shandong to seek refuge with Pei Yuan in order to protect themselves. It was impossible for the Western Factory to deal with Pei Yuan.

Besides, the chief of the West Factory who was in charge of executing the mission was Song Chunniang, and all the soldiers were recruited by Song Chunniang from the underworld. If she wanted to give orders beyond her level, no one would execute them.

As for the Jinyiwei, that is even more impossible.

The current commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is Qian Ning. He rose to the position by overthrowing Zhang Rong. How could he not see the current situation?

However, even though he said that, if he killed the people they sent, Zhang Yong would probably have to fight to the death with Pei Yuan for the sake of the face of the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department.

Pei Yuan said to Chen Xinjian, "Let him go. If he doesn't leave, throw him out."

Sun Bo glared at Pei Yuan viciously again, then went downstairs angrily.

Chen Xinjian sheathed his knife, took the initiative to act as the villain, and asked Pei Yuan, "Should Qian Hu go back early?"

Pei Yuan waved his hand and smiled, "No need to spoil the fun for such a person."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Zang Xian and raised his glass, saying, "I just offended Brother Zang, so I will drink three glasses as punishment."

Then he drank the wine.

He poured himself three more cups of wine.

Zang Xian's expression eased slightly, and he sighed, "It's also my fault that I didn't explain it clearly before."

But soon, he smiled as usual and said, "It's okay, the money has been collected, and the person has been seen."

Both of them wanted to ease the deadlock, and the atmosphere became lively again as they drank and chatted.

Zang Xian then asked the steward to call for singing and dancing to liven up the two men's drinking mood.

Pei Yuan was still afraid of Zhang Rong's revenge, so after drinking a few more cups, he stood up and said goodbye.

Zang Xian personally saw him off downstairs, and then they said goodbye reluctantly.

Chen Xinjian witnessed the entire incident and was naturally more nervous than Pei Yuan.

Once they left the Jiaofangsi, he ordered his Jinyiwei to be on alert.

Taking advantage of the night, they kept changing the route to escort Pei Yuan home.

When he got home, someone came to report.

It was said that the young lady's father had come, but when he heard that the captain was not at home, he only waited for a cup of tea before leaving in shame and anger.

Pei Yuan scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

He didn't expect that it would take so much time today, so it would be difficult for him to take credit for it with Yan'er.

Seeing that Pei Yuan looked clear-headed and not drunk at all, Chen Xinjian told the old servant and then said to Pei Yuan, "Zhang Rong has done something dirty before, so we have to be on guard now. I will go to Puxian Hundred Households Office to transfer a few people to strengthen the defense of the old house."

The Puxian Hundred Households Office was originally set up by Pei Yuan to protect him in front of Dengshikou by abusing his power for personal gain, and it came in handy now.

However, originally, Chen Toutie led the elite Xuzhou soldiers to guard the Puxian Hundred Households Office. Now, the Taoist priest Zhenji nearby took turns to guard the office, and the combat effectiveness has declined significantly.

(End of this chapter)