The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 76 Making a fuss
Yangzhou, Li Mansion.

Li Haimu and Li Haixing sat facing each other, both looking rather worried.

"That idiot in the sea!"

Li Haixing slammed his fist on the tea table. "Brother, shouldn't we make the final preparations?"

"..."

Li Haimu has been considering this issue ever since he received the news from Beijing yesterday.

He sent Li Haizhong to Beijing not only to get closer to that master, but also to make connections with a few other important figures, to gain more leverage for the Li family, and to gather information from various parties in the capital.

In short, one shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket.

Li Haimu was very dissatisfied with his so-called master, who only wanted money.

However, they had no choice but to leverage the influence of others to secure enough salt permits for the Li family.

Who knew that Hai Zhong, having just arrived in the capital and before he had even done anything, would discover that the Jia family had an opportunity to exploit!
He's confused!
Chen Chong was so ruthless to his own son, and he could also turn on his relatives without hesitation. How could he be a man of his word?

It would be better if this weren't exposed, but once it is... I'm afraid all the blame will be pushed onto his family.

Li Haimu is so annoying.

The capital is too far away, and they don't know the full story of what happened after they were captured at sea. If they make any rash moves... they could easily fall into the eyes of those with ulterior motives.

"That master in the capital, even if it's just for our family's money, probably won't just stand by and watch."

Li Haimu didn't seem very confident when he said this.

He understands those in positions of power.

They also knew that countless people in Jiangnan were eyeing the Li family, wanting to take their place.

Therefore, when the Li family fell, other families quickly took their place.

With a salt permit in hand, that master will never have to worry about not having anyone to serve him.

"Let's wait one more day. Perhaps our master will send us a message after that day."

The Li family always had a way out.

But when it came to the idea of ​​Li Haimu immediately abandoning his family and career and shrinking away from his future, he felt extremely reluctant.

“If the letter doesn’t come… you should take the children and leave immediately.”

He has already ordered his men to keep an eye on the two garrison units near Yangzhou.

If any action is needed, a signal can be sent quickly.

Li Haimu was still somewhat confident that they could leave unscathed. "I've also had the silver in the vault packed into boxes. You can take it with you then."

"Then I... will have someone prepare a ship."

"No need. I just received the message and had my seventh brother moor the boat at the designated location."

Li Haimu sighed, "We need to prepare for the worst and wait for... the best news."

Hopefully, his master won't let him down.

As long as we survive this ordeal, we'll be happy to increase his family's filial piety by even half a percent in the future!

"Go to Chunfenglou and keep an eye on things for us later," he instructed his brother. "Don't think those other families will only laugh at our family."

We're all in the same boat, so who doesn't know who?
If they don't lend a hand when the Li family is down on their luck this time, then they can expect to be picked off one by one in the future.

"to make!"

Li Haixing nodded, "I'll be right there."

He got up to take his leave when the steward stumbled in, "Master, Sixth Master, something terrible has happened! Jia Lian from the Rongguo Mansion has brought his men to attack!"

what?
The two brothers' expressions changed simultaneously.

"Lin Ruhai is here too?"

"No!" The steward hurriedly shook his head. "I didn't see Lord Lin. It was Jia Lian. He brought six servants, kicked down the gatekeeper, and was about to attack."

The master had him keep an eye on things early in the morning, and sure enough, something happened.

It's infuriating that even though they were attacked at their doorstep, their family didn't dare to fight back with all their might.

"Just six people?"

Hearing the commotion outside, Li Haimu realized there were only a few people and felt relieved. "Quick! What are you fighting for? Please come in!"

With that, he strode out, shouting, "Stop! All of you, stop!"

The Li family members all stopped, but Li Haimu, who had run past the hanging flower gate, still saw two fierce servants from the Jia family kicking down two of his servants.

"Young Master Jia, Young Master Jia," he said anxiously and fearfully, "I don't know what crime the Li family has committed. Please tell me, and I will give you a satisfactory explanation."

"...A satisfactory explanation?"

Jia Lian sneered, tapping his fan as he slowly approached him. "Master Li, Li Haizhong... is he from your family?"

"Ah? Yes!"

Li Haimu looked terrified and was sweating profusely. Upon hearing this, he wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead. "Did my cousin Haizhong offend you? No way! He's in the capital!"

The Jia family has connections within the military, so Jia Lian must have received news from the capital.

It's a perfect set.

Of course, seeing that Jia Lian only brought such a few people, and that the Salt Commissioner's Office made no move, Li Haimu suspected that there was no major calamity in their family, and that his cousin Haizhong must have taken the blame for everything by himself.

"What a fine way to go to the capital!"

Jia Lian tapped his fan in his palm. "Does Your Excellency know what he went to the capital for?"

"This?" Li Haimu said with difficulty, "My grandfather just passed away and we separated from the family. I only heard that he found some way to make money in the capital."

At this point, he cautiously asked, "Young Master Jia, he... he caused trouble?"

slap~
Jia Lian's fan slammed into Li Haimu's head, and Li Haimu felt a burning pain on his forehead. He was furious inside, but his face showed fear. He bowed low and said, "Oh dear, I was wrong. Please, please be careful, your hand will hurt."

"Ho~"

Jia Lian had a half-smile on his face, showing disgust at the bloodstains on the fan. He simply wiped the fan on his clothes. "I've long heard that your Li family is incredibly wealthy. Sure enough, when Li Haizhong, a member of a branch family, tried to swindle my Jia family out of 100,000 taels of silver, we didn't even blink an eye."

"..."

Li Haimu's lips twitched, looking incredulous. "How...how could this be?"

Jia Lian narrowed his eyes. "So you think I've wronged you?"

"No...don't dare!"

Li Haimu swallowed hard. "But... isn't there some kind of misunderstanding here?"

Is this young nobleman from the capital really that strong?

Li Haimu's forehead hurts terribly.

"Although my cousin had some misunderstandings with...madam Lin in his younger days, it's...but it's still too audacious for him to go to the Duke's mansion..."

slap~
Jia Lian then rewarded him with another fan.

He made salt himself, which not only made the salt darker, but also made him stronger.

This time, the same spot was hit again, and blood really started flowing from Li Haimu's forehead.

"You still want to defend him?"

Jia Lian snorted coldly and glanced at Li Haixing, who was about to rush forward in anger. "My elder brother Zhen wrote the letter himself. He colluded with Chen Chong, the head of the Ministry of Works who has a grudge against my family. One provided the money, and the other used the lives of his clansmen as a ploy to frame my Jia family."

The matter had already spread throughout the capital, and Chen Chong had confessed his guilt in court at the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

Li Haimu: "..."

Li Haixing: "..."

Both of them knew in their hearts that Chen Chong must have bitten his cousin.

"You should receive news about this in a few days."

Jia Lian, carrying a fan, walked towards Li Haixing. "What's your name? Are you also one of Li Haizhong's brothers?"

what?
Sweat beaded on Li Haixing's forehead. "...Yes!"

slap~
Despite his preparations, he was still struck hard by the fan, causing his vision to go black.

clap~
Jia Lian struck him twice more hard, "He harmed my brother, so call all his brothers here, every single one of them!"

what?
The Li brothers were stunned.

Li Haimu quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "Young master, please calm down, young master, please calm down." He looked pitiful, "There are eight brothers in our generation, but only Haixing and I are still alive and in Yangzhou."

"Oh?"

Jia Lian wiped the blood off the fan onto Li Haixing's body.

My aunt specially found this fan for me.

Each of the fan ribs was inlaid with a layer of copper, which my uncle had specially polished before we arrived.

"But I'm still angry... I haven't finished venting yet."

"It's the fault of the petty people!"

Li Haimu hurriedly pulled out a stack of silver notes from his pocket. "It's just a small token of my appreciation. Please, sir, be lenient."

It's actually a silver note worth five thousand taels?

Jia Lian estimated there were about fourteen or fifteen. Damn it!

If he hadn't received a letter from the capital while summoning his servants, he would definitely have been dazzled.

"Young master, please, young master, show mercy."

Seeing that the other party wouldn't accept the money, Li Haimu quickly gave his brother a wink. Li Haixing, his hands trembling, pulled out ten bills from a hidden pocket in his sleeve. "Young master, please, don't worry, my family will definitely not let Li Haizhong off the hook."

At this point, he turned to his elder brother and said, "Brother, let's remove that bastard from the family tree!"

“Right, right,” Li Haimu seemed to just realize, “I’ll cut him off later.”

"Only target him?"

Jia Lian accepted the silver notes they had been holding up. His peach blossom eyes seemed to be naturally smiling, yet he still looked at the brothers.

Li Haimu's heart skipped a beat, "Slash...slash their whole family."

How many children does he have?

"two!"

"Bring it here!"

Jia Lian blew on the loose feathers that had stuck to his clothes with his fan. "Today, I, this young master, will watch you two give his two little brats forty strokes each outside the Li family's gate."

"..."

"..."

Are they trying to beat the children in the sea to death?

Li Haimu gave the steward a look and said with great difficulty, "Yes!" Then he ordered the steward, "Go and bring...bring Li Yunsheng and his brother here."

The steward glanced at his two masters, then at the aggressive Jia Lian, bowed slightly, and hurried away.

"Please wait a moment, young master!"

Li Haimu's smile was extremely unpleasant. "Our two families live a bit far apart." He then gestured for his servants to quickly bring out a table and chairs and serve tea. "I wonder if Li Haizhong in the capital has been sentenced yet?"

"nature!"

Jia Lian glanced around the courtyard. "Go to the capital this autumn and collect his body!"

Execution after the autumn harvest?

Li Haimu felt a pang of pain in his heart. "No...no, aren't they going to send him back to his hometown to be executed?"

The capital city was a place they couldn't afford to bother with.

On the contrary, in Yangzhou, they can use some tricks to make the sea appear to be dead.

"...You still want to save him?"

Jia Lian's face immediately turned cold again.

"Don't dare!"

Li Haimu quickly shook his head, "He's about to be expelled from the clan register, so we brothers certainly won't collect his body. This... isn't the idea that coming back to execute him would serve as a warning to the clan members?"

"You know what I mean!"

Jia Lian lifted his foot and walked out, saying, "Then call all your clansmen here, so we can all see the forty strokes of the cane that Li Haizhong's child will receive!"

what?
Li Haimu, who wanted to perform with him again, stumbled and almost fell.

"What? You don't want to again?"

Upon hearing the sound, Jia Lian turned around, his peach blossom eyes seeming to hold daggers.

"No, we'll call for help right away."

Li Haixing helped his elder brother up and gave his servant a wink. "Young master..." he asked with difficulty, "won't you sit inside for a while?"

"Wang'er, go and bang the gong!"

Jia Lian ignored him completely and directly ordered, "Let everyone come and take a look. While you're at it, find out who in the Li family is here... but who isn't." It doesn't matter if they don't know the Li family; there must be someone in Yangzhou who does.

"Yes!"

Wang'er hurriedly ran out.

The Li Haimu brothers, who were supporting each other, almost fainted.

They weren't fools; of course they could hear the unfinished words Jia Lian was saying.

Can……

Just thinking about how they brought this upon themselves through their own loose tongues makes them want to slap themselves in the face.

Now, it was too late for either of them to back out.

Their grandsons all did it.

Having already been beaten and given the silver notes, it wasn't realistic for him to abandon his family and property to fight Jia Lian again.

The two had no choice but to swallow their anger.

Far away, in the Salt Commissioner's office, Lin Ruhai, who had been watching this scene, let out a soft sigh.

The second letter was written to them by Jia Zhen at the request of their sister-in-law, and it arrived very promptly.

The letter said that he and Min'er were both unable to move, but Lian'er either pretended not to know or made a big fuss.

But whether it's the former or the latter, Lian'er cannot use the power of the government.

Even he cannot have any contact with the two garrison troops.

In short, this is a matter concerning the Jia family.

As the heir to the Rongguo Mansion, Jia Lian didn't need to use the power of the government. He simply took a few servants to avenge his brother. Even if his methods were a bit excessive, the Li family wouldn't dare to do anything to him.

If we could turn the Li family upside down and make them a laughingstock in the whole of Yangzhou, that would be even better.

The Li family, who are under the spotlight, find it difficult to do anything they want.

The Emperor will avenge them.

All they need to do is keep an eye on the Li family and prevent him from escaping.

The entire letter contained not a single superfluous word.

He only mentioned it briefly at the end: the experiment was a success, and he would report it immediately.

Lin Ruhai also decided to report it immediately.

He wrote the memorial overnight after receiving the good news yesterday, but he hasn't sent it out yet.

After all, his original plan was for Zhezi, his wife, and children to arrive in the capital one after the other.

In this way, the emperor would definitely ask more questions, and would inevitably pay attention to his wife and children.

but now……

Hearing that the Li family had actually sent people to the capital to target the Jia family, and that they had almost succeeded in their attack, Lin Ruhai was filled with lingering fear.

In the current situation, without the Jia family, he would find it difficult to move an inch in Jiangnan, let alone protect his wife and children.

Report the good news here as soon as possible, and then send Jia Lian, who personally participated in the salt production, back to the capital to report. The Jia family will be stable, and so will his wife and children.

If the emperor is willing, he will take care of his wife and children as well.

Lin Ruhai took the memorial, looked it over again and again, and after confirming that there were no mistakes, he quickly sealed it, wrote the words "deliver immediately" on it, stamped it with his official seal, and said to the courier who had been summoned, "Thank you for your trouble."

Those suitable locations for building salt fields required the emperor's approval.

Once these salt fields are completed, the price of salt in Dazhao will surely decrease, benefiting millions of ordinary people.

Lin Ruhai was filled with excitement, hoping that the Emperor could persuade the Retired Emperor to complete this matter as soon as possible.

May is almost here, the perfect time to build salt fields!

If we act quickly, perhaps before the New Year, that bitter, slightly toxic salt can be replaced.

Lin Ruhai stood in front of the yamen and watched the courier leave on horseback before he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, a large number of people had already gathered in front of the Li residence.

Everyone looked at Jia Lian, who was sitting in the very middle, with great curiosity.

Of course, seeing Master Li and Master Li Liu was even more surprising.

Their heads... they must have been hit, right?
The major salt merchants who were supposed to go to Chunfeng Tower were all quite surprised and suspicious.

Others might not recognize Jia Lian, but they did.

He didn't hit the Li brothers on the head, did he?

Is Lord Lin really going to ignore this?

Isn't that official always touting fairness and impartiality?

His nephew is like this...

"I knew it! Why did the Li family invite us to dinner so generously?"

Master Lu, one of the top ten salt merchants, said, "They still insist that we come. Have they offended the Duke's Mansion?"

The Li family had previously offended Lin Ruhai's wife, Jia Min.

Now that their nephew has come, I've offended him again...

At this time, they were unaware of what was happening in the capital, and the letters that could contact them were still on their way. "Brother Liu, Brother Gu, Brother Zhang... what do you think, should we greet Jia Lian first?"