Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 483 Civil strife
Han Si looked at Ge Ying beside him.

The Ge family had always managed the porcelain trade and were usually meticulous in their work, rarely making mistakes. But now, they couldn't help but panic, and their faces looked particularly grim.

Ge Ying took the accounts from Han Si, examined them, and then threw them into the brazier. The flames immediately illuminated his face.

Over the years, the porcelain merchants have used various pretexts to help the Xia family embezzle a lot of money. Now, all of this has become evidence of their collusion with the Xia family, and they must be burned before the imperial court comes to investigate.

Han Si said in a low voice, "If we burn these... I'm afraid the authorities will investigate. The Xie family gathered so many porcelain merchants at the South City Wharf before, they will definitely take the opportunity to sue us. What should I do then?"

"What should I say when the government officials come to inspect the accounts?"

Ge Ying threw another account book into the fire before looking up and saying, "Let's push someone out to take the fall!"

Han Si had anticipated this, but now that Ge Ying had seen through him, he stared blankly at Ge Ying, speechless for a moment.

Ge Ying said, "You have a merchant named Fang Min under your command. He usually helps you instruct those merchants on their tasks and collects the commissions for you. He has also transported goods to the Northwest. All things considered, he is the most suitable."

Fang Min and Han Si were on good terms. After Han Si became a business owner, Fang Min always helped Han Si with his work. When they encountered disobedient merchants, it was Fang Min who led people to suppress them.

It can be said that Fang Min deserves a lot of credit for Han Si's ability to firmly hold his position as the senior leader.

Fang Min not only did these things, but also helped sell Han's porcelain kiln. Every year, she would travel with the caravan to the northwest and south.

Thinking of this, Han Si immediately shook his head: "Fang Min won't do."

Ge Ying raised her eyes, her distant and dissatisfied gaze sweeping over Han Si: "Then who do you think is suitable? Who can replace you? Are you going to go to the yamen yourself?"

Han Si's hand trembled, and he opened his mouth, but ultimately failed to utter a single word due to his fear.

Ge Ying seemed to have expected this. He said calmly, "It's settled then. After Fang Min is arrested, I will find a way to protect you. Even if you can't be the head of the industry, you can still continue running your porcelain kiln. The porcelain from the Han family kiln is loved by the palace. Sooner or later, you will be able to make a comeback."

"The porcelain produced by the Xie family's kiln in Daming Prefecture is all for everyday use. No matter how famous they are, they can't compete with you. As long as you maintain your position, you can take care of the Fang family and your subordinates."

Han Si hesitated for a long time before slowly nodding.

“The situation is urgent,” Ge Ying said. “Right now, this is all we can do. We need to shut Fang Min and her people up and make them deny any charges they can. Once we’ve calmed down, we’ll find a way to get them out.”

Han Si said, "Their families..."

Ge Ying waved her hand: "I'll have someone look after me."

Han Si hadn't expected Ge Ying to make this arrangement, but after thinking about it carefully, he understood.

"Are you worried about Fang Min?" Han Si said. "If Fang Min agrees, he won't confess. I'll go and talk to him."

Ge Ying said expressionlessly, "After Fang Min was arrested, you need to sever ties with him. Naturally, you can't protect the Fang family all the time. It's better to leave it to me to arrange."

"Besides, taking his family away sooner will prevent them from being implicated, and he will feel more at ease."

Han Si said urgently, "I'm afraid this is not good..." This was not a show of support, but clearly a threat.

Ge Ying smiled slightly: "If he goes in and implicates you, the entire Han family will be implicated. You should think it over carefully. If you have no ties outside, no one can endure being in prison."

“We did this not because we don’t trust him, but to give him some hope so that he can get through this difficult time.”

Han Si clenched his fists tightly.

Ge Ying finished burning most of the accounts in his hand, stood up, and said, "I should go too." If he hadn't had to stay to make these arrangements, he would have already left Bianjing City. Before the government offices sent troops to search for him, he needed to head south.

Not only him, but the entire Ge family also needs to be prepared. Once rumors start circulating, they will have to go out to avoid trouble, and then return under a different identity after things have calmed down.

Ge Ying straightened his clothes. He burned all the most important things, only keeping the families of those people under control. He wasn't afraid of them saying anything out of line.

Ge Ying patted Han Si on the shoulder: "Minister Xia originally did this to deal with Wang Yan and get rid of that merchant Xie family so that you could continue to control the porcelain business. Unfortunately, something went wrong... You've all benefited a lot from this over the years, and now that something's happened, you have to take responsibility. Even Minister Xia is like this, let alone you?"

After putting on her cloak, Ge Ying was escorted out of the courtyard.

Han Si sat in the room in a daze for a while longer, until all the accounts had turned to ashes, before he got up and went to the Han family home.

As soon as the horse stopped in front of the Han family's house, Han Si saw Fang Min waiting at the door.

Fang Min looked anxious and immediately went up to Han Si: "Brother Han, where have you been? Do you know what's going on in the city? I..."

Han Si looked around and lowered his voice: "Let's go inside and talk."

Once the two entered the study, no longer needing to conceal their true feelings, Fang Min's face was filled with panic: "Lend me some manpower to help me find the whereabouts of my family. My father and the others were supposed to return from the village today, but they haven't entered the city yet. My servants went out to look for them... The clansmen said they set off early this morning... Tell me, people can't just disappear for no reason, something must have happened."

This is what Fang Min can't understand: even if something happens to his father, wife, children, and all their relatives, they should at least send someone back to report.

Han Si's expression flickered, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Fang Min noticed something amiss: "You know about this?"

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Han Si comforted Fang Min: "Don't worry, they're all fine... Now that Bianjing is in chaos, it's good for them to go out and hide."

Fang Min didn't feel relieved at all; instead, she asked with a puzzled look, "What exactly happened?"

Han Si then explained Ge Ying's arrangements.

After she finished speaking, the room fell silent. Fang Min stared at Han Si, her cheeks twitching with excitement: "You agreed? You want me to go to the yamen?"

Han Si forced a smile and said, "There's no other way right now. Ge Ying promised to get you out once things calm down. I didn't know your family members had been taken away by them. He just told me. I tried to persuade him, but it was no use."

"Si Lang, I'm sorry."

Fang Min took a deep breath, her voice almost squeezed out from between her teeth: "Do you know that the imperial court has mobilized the Imperial Guard this time? Those are the people closest to the emperor. With this matter causing such a big fuss, they will definitely investigate the accounts between the porcelain business and the Xia family. I have also transported porcelain to the Northwest, and I also resolved Zhao Dazheng's matter."

"With so many things on my mind, if I go to the yamen, how can I possibly come back alive?"

Han Si lowered his head: "The accounts have all been burned. No matter what they say, don't admit anything, and they won't convict you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Fang Min's cold laughter.

“They took my family away, and I had no choice,” Fang Min said as she stood up. “Even if they let me turn myself in, they should at least let me go home and make some arrangements, at least send the money in my family to the clan. If I die, someone will have to collect my body.”

Just as Han Si was about to comfort Fang Min, he saw the steward walk in.

“Master,” the steward said, “the second branch of the family sent word that the second master is missing.”

Fang Min suddenly smiled upon hearing this: "It seems Ge Ying doesn't trust you either!"