Dugong

Chapter 134 Suffering
"Now that the yamen is open, we have to handle cases."

Li Ping'an flipped through the news and secrets, and quickly picked out one.

The young master of the Fuwei Escort Agency in Nancheng, drunk, made wild accusations, slandering His Majesty for pardoning corrupt officials, not arresting or killing them, and allowing them to harm the people.

"What kind of background does this escort agency have, daring to come to the capital and display its services?"

At the end of the reign of the late emperor, he eradicated the Jianghu forces in the capital, including several escort agencies, and declared that no gangs were allowed to establish themselves within ten years.

Eunuch Peng replied, "The headquarters of this escort agency is in Yan Prefecture. They came to the capital last year to establish their presence, and most of their escorts are retired veterans from the northern frontier."

Li Ping'an frowned slightly and looked up at Xiao Jinzi.

Pfft!
Xiao Jinzi knelt on the ground, her face suddenly turning pale. She dared not offer any explanation and slapped herself repeatedly on both sides of her face.

"Your child knows his sins, your child deserves to die..."

"Alright, alright, you only recently took on the mission in the northern frontier."

Seeing the bruises and blood seeping from his godson's cheek, Li Ping'an's murderous intent softened slightly. He said coldly, "You and Eunuch Peng will arrest the escort agency, establish it as an ironclad case of treason, and hand it over to the Three Judicial Offices for punishment!"

Xiao Jinzi kowtowed repeatedly: "I will do my job well. If I forget anything in the future, I will jump into the well myself without your permission."

"The affairs of the northern frontier are of paramount importance!"

Li Ping'an emphasized again, looking at Eunuch Jiang and the other two.

"Set off as soon as possible to recruit as many spies and agents as possible, and send them a report of news and rumors every month. If there is an opportunity, bribe the officials in the northern frontier. Don't be afraid to spend money, and infiltrate the three prefectures of the northern frontier as quickly as possible!"

"As ordered."

The three eunuchs bowed and accepted the order, pondering how to cultivate and win over officials. With the support of the salt transport office, there was plenty of gold and silver.

Li Ping'an then instructed, "Eunuch Xia, please draft a list to fill in the positions of the officials of the Capital General Office of the Investigation and Rebellion Division. Let's tentatively set it at fifty people."

"As ordered."

Eunuch Xia pondered that if the old and young eunuchs each submitted half of the report, and a few trusted confidants were added, then it would be possible to get Eunuch An's approval.

As he was pondering this, he noticed the sinister look in Eunuch Peng's eyes and suddenly realized that this was a hot potato.

Eunuch Peng worked tirelessly, risking his life to build the foundation of the Investigation Bureau, and had a hundred or so men under his command waiting to be promoted and made a fortune. In the end, the list of officials fell into the hands of Eunuch Xia.

The deputy commander suddenly lost most of his power.

Eunuch Xia understood Eunuch An's intentions: to seize power in the Investigation Bureau through his own hands and to divide the old eunuchs.

After Xiao Yuzi passed away, Xiao Chenzi, Xiao Jinzi, and their ilk were no match for the old eunuch, and the balance between the two sides was clearly lost.

Of course, Eunuch Xia didn't care about Eunuch Peng's resentment. Everyone in the palace who lived to his age had walked over corpses to get where they were.

Moreover, with Eunuch An watching from above, not only did he dare not compromise, but he also had to stand up and resist. So he bowed and asked.

"Sir, where do you suggest we set up the government office?"

Li Ping'an's lips curled slightly. The old guard in the palace was really useful; he knew when to advance and retreat and understood the hierarchy. He asked back with a smile.

"Does Eunuch Xia have any suggestions?"

Eunuch Xia said, "Your Excellency, there is a large mansion left behind by Leng Ni in Buzhengfang that has been confiscated. It has five courtyards and can be used as an office with some renovations."

Eunuch Peng's face grew increasingly gloomy, and he stared at Eunuch Xia with resentment.

This residence was the very place where his subordinates made contacts and carried out their duties. They thought they had kept it well hidden, but they never expected that Eunuch Xia, who was thousands of miles away, would still know everything about the Imperial Horse Administration.

Li Ping'an nodded and said, "Then let's open it here. Order the Imperial Household Department to quickly renovate it and dig out a dungeon."

Eunuch Xia asked in confusion, "Why dig a dungeon?"

The current duty of the Investigation and Supervision Division is to supervise, and it does not have the power to arrest or torture. Setting up private prisons is a serious crime in the current dynasty.

Li Ping'an said, "What the Zhenfu Division has, the Chani Division must also have!"

Eunuch Xia said worriedly, "In this way, with the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs targeting us from within and the Garrison Command attacking us from without, Your Excellency may find yourself in a dilemma."

Li Ping'an remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.

"Our family has made too great a contribution, so we must face a dilemma and let His Majesty see our hardships and difficulties, otherwise we will not be able to hold the Salt Transport Office in order!"

"Your Excellency is wise!" Eunuch Xia exclaimed in amazement. There are many people in the world who can achieve great things, but few can remain humble and avoid complacency.

The eunuchs showered him with flattery and sycophancy, and the various new terms and phrases made Eunuch An very happy.

"Alright, you all do your jobs well. I'm going to pay my respects to the Empress."

Li Ping'an waved his hand and led a dozen or so eunuchs from the Imperial Horse Stables toward the Cining Palace.

They were aggressive and domineering all the way.

With his current power and status, few in the vast palace can stand in his way.

When the young eunuchs and palace maids encountered this, they hurriedly kowtowed against the wall.

"Eunuch An, this servant has been waiting for you for a long time..."

A clear, crisp voice came from the corner of the wall. Li Ping'an looked in the direction of the sound and saw a palace maid in green, who was pretty and charming.

Li Ping'an cupped his hands in greeting and said, "So it's Miss Xueyun. How is Your Majesty the Empress?"

"Your Majesty is well."

Xueyun is Empress He's close maid and the head lady-in-chief of Kunning Palace. Despite her young age, she holds a high position in the palace, and her voice inevitably carries a hint of aloofness and arrogance.

"I heard that Eunuch An is in charge of salt transport. It just so happens that Your Highness has a cousin who runs a business. Please make an exception and give him some preferential treatment."

"It's easy to talk about."

Li Ping'an agreed, "I'll give the order to the manager to go directly to the yamen to collect the salt tickets."

Xueyun said, "Please write a note, Eunuch An, so I can return to the palace and report back."

"Ok?"

Li Ping'an raised an eyebrow. He hadn't heard such a tone in a long time. His Majesty usually praised him the most when he spoke to him.

"We left in a hurry and didn't bring paper and pen."

Xueyun took out paper and pen from her sleeve: "I brought them with me. Please leave a note, Eunuch An."

"Good good."

Li Ping'an smiled as he took the paper and pen, wrote "Ten thousand salt tickets to be extracted," and then stamped it with the seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Xueyun took the note with satisfaction and turned to leave without saying a word.

"This lowly servant girl is so rude..." Xiao Chenzi cursed, circulating his inner energy to his palms, about to strike Xueyun in the back.

Li Ping'an stopped his godson: "Don't be so hot-tempered!"

Xiao Chenzi gritted his teeth and said, "Godfather, this vile servant dared to slight you. Let me finish her off."

What's the point of killing one?

Li Ping'an said calmly and without changing his expression, "Go back and investigate her family, fabricate a charge, and throw them all in jail."

Xiao Chenzi was horrified. His godfather was known for killing entire families at the drop of a hat. He would rather die in battle than rebel and implicate his clan.

"Godfather, this lowly maid is someone close to the Empress; I'm afraid she won't be easy to deal with."

Li Ping'an said, "If we arrest the person, we'll let Qiluan Palace know. Consort Hui will surely be willing to embarrass Kunning Palace."

Xiao Chenzi whispered, "Godfather, do you think Qiluan Palace is a good choice?"

"None of us in the family think it's a good match."

Li Ping'an said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life and in good health. You have a long life ahead of you, so don't take sides too early."

Xiao Chenzi asked in confusion, "Aren't you offending the Empress?"

"Our family gave out ten thousand salt coupons; that's money to buy our lives..."

Li Ping'an didn't explain in detail that not taking sides doesn't mean being aloof or yielding; it requires maintaining a balance between the two sides, making sure both sides need each other and winning over our family.

(End of this chapter)