Jinting Han people

Chapter 75 Aftermath (4k)

A few more days passed, and July arrived in a flash. After the torrential rain, this year's autumn heat seemed particularly weak. Just as the dog days of summer should have been raging, the cold air arrived with remarkable speed. A few days ago, the people of Luoyang were still wearing light, plain gauze dresses, but now, they had to wear several layers of lining.

Once the weather cools, however, it's the perfect time for autumn outings. Sweet osmanthus flowers are fragrant, lotus blossoms are still blooming, dragonflies dance, and wild geese circle. It's the most pleasant and beautiful time of the year. Scholars who once stayed at home to escape the summer heat now venture out, calling friends and socializing on horseback. They feast on the banks of the Yi and Luo rivers, or hunt with hawks in the northern Mang forests, creating a truly joyful atmosphere.

What was different from previous years was that there was one more thing in Luoyang at this time that people talked about, and that was the robbery of Shi Chong's Jingu Garden.

Shi Chong, once again sitting on the rooftop of Chongqi Tower, had all the windows opened. He then lay on his bed, fiddling with a bronze mirror. Though his eyes were closed, anyone could see the rage within him. Normally expressionless, he now displayed his frustration. His brow furrowed, his hands pounded the bed, and his head pounded on the ground, like a child who had lost a favorite toy. Shi Chao and Shi Shao stood to either side of him, waiting for their parents' orders.

"Saburo."

"exist."

"Hasn't there been any news from Henan Prefecture yet?"

The Henan Prefecture that Shi Chong mentioned refers to the office of Henan Yin Fu Zhi, who was responsible for managing the public security of the capital of the capital. On the night of the robbery, Shi Chong sent someone to the mansion to report, expressing his willingness to catch the mastermind behind the robbery at all costs.

For Shi Chong, such a statement was extremely rare. Ever since he entered the officialdom, it had always been others who begged him for help, never him begging others. Over the past decade or so, he had accumulated unimaginable political energy, and now, once he mobilized it, half of Luoyang was mobilized.

With the emperor's support, the Inspector of the Imperial Capital, the Governor of Henan, the Magistrate of Luoyang, the Inspector of the City Gates, and the defenders of the river bridges searched almost every house, vowing to bring the robbers to justice.

Even places as complicated and troublesome as the Gold Market, the Horse Market, the West Market, the West Suburbs, and even the Imperial College and the White Horse Temple were investigated. It can be said that since the founding of the Western Jin Dynasty, Luoyang officials have never been so attentive.

But unfortunately, this large-scale investigation has not made any progress except making the robbery of Jingu Garden known to everyone.

The same thing happened today. Shi Shao replied with a stiff upper lip, "Sir, Envoy Fu asked you to wait a little longer. He said he's still searching for clues and will report any news as soon as he has one."

"Report..." Shi Chong opened his eyes, his anger almost bursting out, and cursed, "In the capital, a hundred people openly set fire to and looted my Jingu Garden, took away treasures worth tens of thousands of gold, and also took away a beautiful woman. Is it difficult to investigate? But seven days have passed, let alone arresting anyone, we haven't even found the lead to a clue! Good-for-nothings! What a bunch of good-for-nothings with eyes growing out of their butts!"

This barrage of scolding made the two younger generations, Shi Chao and Shi Shao, unable to raise their heads. They could only lower their heads and listen to Shi Chong continue to scold:

"I think you should stop pretending. It's not my first day in the government. It's okay for others to be fooled by him, but why would I not understand? Isn't it just that you haven't found anything, so you want to delay it for a few days and let it go? It's okay. I just think of the money I made in the past as wasted. I'll choose the right people in the future!"

Fu Zhi was only the first person to be scolded. Later, Shi Chong went on to criticize Luoyang Magistrate Man Fen, Sili Xiaowei Wang Rong and others. He scolded them for nearly half an hour before he could barely take a break, but his face was still stern.

He then looked at his two nephews who were listening in. Seeing that they had their heads down, their expressions seemed numb, he asked, "Don't be silent. If you have any ideas, tell me what you think."

He subconsciously looked at his son Shi Shao first and asked, "Sanlang, what do you think?"

Shi Shao just wanted to leave as soon as possible, so he had nothing to say. He said submissively, "Everything is up to you, sir."

Shi Chong was somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that his son's talent was mediocre, so he didn't ask too much. He turned to Shi Chao and asked, "Xi Nu, do you have any ideas?"

Shi Chao had been listening on the left, with a look of disapproval on his face. When Shi Chong pressed him, he was very straightforward and answered directly, "Sixth Uncle, I won't beat around the bush with you. Is there any need to investigate this case further?"

"What is necessary or not?"

"Didn't Sixth Uncle just say that if we continue investigating, we'll probably find nothing? So why continue investigating? Will we continue to make a fool of our family in Luoyang? Or will we cause public outrage and ruin our business after years of operation?"

Shi Chong was startled when he heard this, then he understood what his nephew meant. If he couldn't find the truth now, then he probably really couldn't find it. Complaining further would only offend his colleagues, which would go against his principles for many years. Instead of trying to recover the unrecoverable property, it would be better to cut the losses and preserve the dignity of the founding duke.

This is indeed the right way to be an official. Shi Chong glanced at Shi Chao and showed some appreciation. Compared with his disappointing son, Shi Chao was the one with more understanding.

But dealing with people is one's own business. If some losses happen to oneself, it is unbearable. Especially when thinking of Lu Zhu, Shi Chong's anger surged like the waves of the sea, making it difficult for him to sit still. He was unwilling to give up and asked Shi Chao: "You mean, after such a big joke, we should swallow our anger?"

"It's not about swallowing one's anger, it's about letting it go unresolved." Shi Chao said as a matter of course, "Sir, do you think that if I ask you to investigate the case, you can solve it?"

These words were so rude that Shi Shao's face changed. Shi Chong stared at him intently and said, "Go on."

"Honestly, I admire these people who came to commit crimes." Shi Chao was allowed to speak without restraint. "Sixth Uncle, logically speaking, although our Jingu Garden is located in the wilderness, its defense is not weak. There are at least a hundred guards and swordsmen. Including the servants and maids, there must be at least a thousand people."

"And what about these people who committed the crime? There are only a little over a hundred of them at most. Although there are many people, they are far less than you, Sixth Uncle!"

"But they dared to commit the crime! Not only did they do it, but they did it beautifully!"

"Sixth Uncle said that Envoy Fu was incompetent and couldn't find any clues, but didn't you yourself let them slip in without anyone noticing? One group burned the stables, another robbed the vault, and another openly killed four people and abducted Miss Luzhu. Not to mention leaving a single person alive, not even a body was left. How can anyone investigate?"

Shi Chong said angrily: "It's not like there are no clues at all!"

Shi Chao laughed and said, "There are clues, but it's no different than having none."

"Envoy Fu has really come up with a plan. They first checked the arrows used by that gang. They were all arrows circulated on the black market in the western suburbs. There must be at least 80,000 of these in Luoyang, if not 100,000. It's impossible to find the buyer."

"Then he went to the black market based on the list you gave him. They're very smart and are hiding from the public. They haven't even sold anything, so that's why the supply is cut off."

"Now he's following along to check on people and see if anyone's movements are unusual. But you know, the western suburbs are always in chaos, and there's no telling how many people are involved. They've already apprehended at least eight or nine suspicious gangs, and then uncovered a dozen murders, but there's still no news. If you keep investigating, Sixth Uncle, you're going to offend people badly." "Offend?"

"Sixth Uncle, you've committed dozens of crimes on a daily basis. Do you think you're the only one of the Eight Founding Lords who's committed crimes? There must be people like them in the western suburbs."

"Although everyone knows about this, it's kept under the table, so everyone keeps to themselves and nothing to do with it. But if we continue to investigate, I'm afraid we won't be able to cover it up, and it will come to light."

"We scholars may give up other things, but we cannot give up our dignity. However, if you continue to do this, I'm afraid the emperor's dignity will be lost!"

Indeed, Shi Chong's expression was unpredictable. Although he was angry, he had not completely lost his mind. Compared with the damage to his family's political future, his current loss was indeed insignificant. But when he thought of losing Lu Zhu, Shi Chong could not help but lean back, rubbing his face with his hands, and mourning.

Shi Chao continued to narrate, "Envoy Fu has checked the river bridge and the checkpoints to the north and south. However, they haven't seen anything of yours in the past few days. This means that they either haven't crossed the river bridge or have another way out."

"If they didn't cross the bridge, it would be fine. But if there's another way out, it means this group of people is not simple."

Hearing this, Shi Chong felt as if he had been whipped on the head. He stood up and looked at Shi Chao and asked, "What do you mean?"

Shi Chao said, "Sixth Uncle, gather about a hundred people in Luoyang. Although the number is not large, it is actually not small either."

"The fact that the plan was so well executed, not only cleanly and efficiently, but also with seamless aftermath, shows that there was a mastermind behind it."

"Among these people, there's also an expert equestrian who can easily control the Black Dragon Horse, and another expert swordsman who can even defeat Zhao Hei. Could they be just ordinary thieves? They must be someone very important!"

"You mean..."

This is indeed what Shi Chong was confused about.

The Black Dragon Colt has a violent temperament and it is difficult for ordinary people to get close to it. Even a skilled rider would need several days to get familiar with its habits. However, it is incredible that it can be tamed on the spot.

What is even more incredible is that Zhao Hei's swordsmanship is superb. In the Mianhan area, there are very few people who can even fight him to a draw, let alone defeat him. But this time, he was pierced through the throat by a sword, and his sword was cut off. How high must that person's swordsmanship be!

Add in the people behind the plot and the operation, and this group is truly a sea of talent. There's nothing they can't accomplish, so why would they be willing to take such a huge risk, even at the expense of offending the Duke of Boling's mansion, just to rob Lu Zhu and her treasure? It defies common sense.

The only possible explanation is that these people are not just robbers, they have other missions behind them.

Sure enough, Shi Chao and Shi Chong came to the same conclusion. He whispered, "Sixth Uncle, do you think they could be from the Three Yangs?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Shi Chong shouted, but his expression was not one of reprimand. "What evidence do you have? If this gets out, if others know about it, won't they say I'm framing the ministers?"

"The General of Chariots and Cavalry is now extremely powerful and has everything he wants. How could he be interested in my small fortune?"

"Shut up right now and go out and continue looking for Envoy Fu to see if there's any news! If you still can't find any clues by tomorrow, I'll hold you accountable!"

After saying this, Shi Chong did not wait for Shi Chao to refute, but shouted and called the servants over, and drove his son and nephew out.

When Shi Chong was the only one left in the Chongqi Tower, his expression changed. When he raised the bronze mirror in his hand to his eyes, Shi Chong's original anger had quietly dissipated, and what remained on his face was an intriguing contemplation.

As a seasoned official, Shi Chong possessed profound political experience. His previous anger had blinded him because he was overly confident in his own management, believing that, after more than a decade, the Duke of Boling's mansion had only friends and no enemies in Luoyang, and therefore that this case could not be orchestrated by anyone else. However, once Shi Chao pointed out a possible enemy, he immediately put aside his anger and investigated the matter with full determination.

San Yang, Yang Jun, this is indeed possible.

Such a group, capable of such excellent preparation and post-processing, couldn't have been completely silent beforehand. And if someone was behind the scenes directing and assisting with the aftermath, then given the power and influence of the Three Yangs, they certainly could have done it. But the key question is why they did this, whether they had the right motive, and what they were trying to achieve.

The answer is easy to find, because on that day, Shi Chong hosted a banquet for King Shiping Sima Wei for the first time.

According to Shi Chong's own thinking, this was just a test for King Shiping, and whether he should return the favor in the future still needed to be carefully considered.

But for the Three Yangs, this could be seen as an extremely dangerous signal, representing the dissatisfaction of the Bo Ling Mansion with the Hou Party. Therefore, even if it meant taking a risky move, they had to make Shi Chong lose face in front of Sima Wei, to serve as a warning and sever ties.

The more Shi Chong thought about it, the more he felt it made sense. After all, his political speculation was only related to the future of his family. If things didn't work out, he could still change his family lineage. But the Three Yangs had already monopolized the government, and there was no way back. Either they would prosper for several more dynasties, or their entire clan would be exterminated. There was no way back.

But when he thought of this, Shi Chong did not develop any desire for revenge, but instead felt some doubt and fear.

He thought that if this continued, the political struggle would reach a life-and-death stage.

This was not a good sign. Was the stable government of decades about to vanish with the death of the current emperor? Although he had been in officialdom for a long time, he was not yet prepared for this. He believed that most people were not ready for this either.

The 39-year-old tycoon still yearns for tenderness. More than a decade of extravagant life has made him cold and soft. He lies back on the couch, trying to find some remaining body warmth from Luzhu, but the emptiness in his heart makes him extremely lonely.

But even so, he had to make a choice.

Perhaps, in order to maintain balance in this struggle, a sufficiently cruel ruler is necessary...

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(End of this chapter)