Dugong

Chapter 77 Biting each other

When Eunuch Ji saw that things were not going well, he dragged his colleagues down with him. This was a common and effective way for eunuchs to save their lives.

Li Ping'an feigned surprise: "Old Ji, are you saying that everyone in the Imperial Horse Administration is embezzling?"

The kneeling eunuchs all looked at Eunuch Ji with anger or resentment. If it weren't for the Admiral's presence, they might have already started beating him up.

"It's not embezzlement, it's profit sharing!"

Eunuch Ji, pale-faced, argued, "For example, surplus hay and horse tack, rather than letting them deteriorate, are better sold outside the palace for silver. Don't worry, Your Excellency, I'll take the lion's share when you arrive."

Li Ping'an took out paper and pen from his sleeve: "Write down who got their share of the silver."

"This……"

Eunuch Ji wanted to refuse, but writing it would be tantamount to cutting himself off from his colleagues, while not writing it would likely mean he wouldn't live past today.

The Taizu Emperor personally wrote the anti-corruption law, which stipulated that anyone who embezzled more than a thousand taels of silver would be beheaded. The amount of silver that Eunuch Ji embezzled was enough to warrant dozens of beheadings.

Li Ping'an's voice turned cold: "Eunuch Ji doesn't want to write? Then we'll have to send people to search your place."

“Write it, we’ll write it.”

Eunuch Ji hurriedly took the book, knelt at the entrance of the Imperial Stables, and wrote down the names of all his colleagues, each embezzling three thousand taels of silver per year.

Li Ping'an reminded him, "Remember to sign and put your fingerprint on it."

Eunuch Ji dared not look at his colleagues' faces. From the moment he wrote the first name, he became the target of everyone's criticism. From then on, he could only cling to the governor's coattails, or he would die without a burial place.

After writing it down, sign your real name, bite your finger and press your bloody handprint on it.

Li Ping'an picked up the book, flipped through the names of the eunuchs, and suddenly said, "My godfather taught me the technique of 'Yan Wang's roll call,' have you all heard of it?"

The eunuchs knelt on the ground in silence, not daring to show even fear or trembling.

The so-called "King Yama's roll call" means that the newly appointed admiral closes his eyes, flips through the roster, points to a name at random, and then investigates the person's crimes.

No eunuch is clean; even the food delivery boy takes the opportunity to solicit bribes. Normally, it doesn't matter, but if they are investigated strictly, they may be demoted to guard the imperial tombs.

"Let's try something different today."

Li Ping'an changed the subject, pointing to the book and saying, "Whoever isn't on the list obviously didn't receive their share of the commission. Such an honest eunuch must have a serious problem; we must investigate carefully."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Ji's legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

Li Ping'an asked, "Eunuch Ji didn't write anyone's name down. Should we check the roster?"

"This servant dares not trouble you, sir."

Summoning his courage, with a somewhat reckless attitude, Eunuch Ji pointed at the three eunuchs and said, "Eunuch Liu of the Saddle Warehouse, Eunuch He of the Horse Training Office, and Eunuch Gao of the Outer Stables. They have powerful backgrounds and connections, so I didn't dare to write their names down."

"Wow, these are all key positions in the Imperial Horse Administration."

Li Ping'an made no attempt to hide his words, saying, "We keep our word. These three will be used as a warning to others, and the vacant positions will be filled by our own people."

The other eunuchs breathed a slight sigh of relief; having survived the "King of Hell's roll call," they could now flatter the governor and bribe him to please him.

No matter how eccentric someone's temper is, there's always a loophole to exploit; random name-calling is truly terrifying and unsolvable.

The three chickens understood their situation and reacted differently. Eunuch Liu, with his explosive temper, chose to strike back, standing up straight and threatening.

“Our family are the ancestors’ godsons, so the Admiral should think this through carefully.”

"What ancestors, what godsons and godsons? In the palace, we only listen to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. Everyone else is just a servant."

Li Ping'an is now the Director of the Imperial Horse Administration, a third-rank official, equal in rank to the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and just one step away from becoming the Grand Director.

Simply put, he has very few superiors! This position differs from that of the Director of the Tribute Office; there's no need to consider the background of the eunuchs under his command, but rather to vie for the Emperor's favor. For example, the Emperor's personal eunuch, Eunuch Hai, is currently only the Chief Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, but Eunuch Leng would never dare to treat him lightly.

Seeing that his threats were useless, Eunuch Liu immediately channeled his inner energy and leaped several feet away, intending to escape to the Directorate of Ceremonial to seek help from his godfather.

"The perpetrator resisted arrest and fled; according to the law, he should be executed."

Li Ping'an's figure dissipated and then coalesced, already blocking in front of Eunuch Liu. He poured his true energy into his right palm, which suddenly swelled to the size of a palm-leaf fan.

A golden palm slammed down from the air with lightning speed. Before Eunuch Liu could dodge, his head was smashed to pieces, with red and white fragments flying everywhere.

Ever since he first crushed the little eunuch's head, Li Ping'an had become accustomed to this method of execution.

Violence, bloodshed, and a powerful deterrent.

Li Ping'an carried the headless corpse back to the entrance of the Imperial Horse Stable and casually tossed it down in front of Eunuch He. The old eunuch, who was already slumped on the ground, was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly, begging for his life.

"My lord, I'd like to become your adopted son..."

To save his own life, Eunuch He publicly distanced himself from his godfather: "We've had that Leng guy as our godfather for years, but he's fickle and, even after being promoted to the Directorate of Ceremonial, he left us at the Imperial Stables to train the animals..."

Li Ping'an said coldly, "Our family despises ungrateful people the most."

As he spoke, he spread his five fingers and reached for the top of Eunuch He's head.

"This junior is going too far!" With tears and snot still on his face, Eunuch He's hands transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors as he unleashed a deadly poisonous mist with his inner energy.

Li Ping'an's expression remained unchanged. His powerful true energy condensed and burst forth from his body, forming a giant palm three or four feet in size, which he used to disperse the poisonous mist along with Eunuch He's palm.

Press down and force his head into his chest cavity.

He killed the two men with ease; he was far superior to even the old nanny, let alone the old eunuch who assassinated the Empress Dowager.

Li Ping'an coldly looked at the last one: "Eunuch Gao, would you like to have a go at our place?"

The eunuch kowtowed and said, "I am willing to offer all my possessions to the Admiral, only begging for my life."

Li Ping'an asked, "How much silver?"

Eunuch Gao said, "Fifty thousand taels."

"We must act in accordance with the law since they have embezzled so much money."

Li Ping'an raised an eyebrow. "You dare to test my family with 50,000 taels of silver? Which governor-general wouldn't be able to withstand such a test?"

Besides, even if we kill you, we can still find your silver. Why should we use our family's silver to buy your life?
Sensing the chilling killing intent, Eunuch Gao's mind raced. He gritted his teeth and said, "Our family has a stake in Qing Si Trading Company, two shops in the East Market, and a house in Anxing Ward. We are willing to transfer them all to the Governor's name."

These assets were registered under the names of Gao Gonggong's relatives, making it difficult to uncover them by simply searching the palace's silver reserves.

Li Ping'an asked, "What kind of business does Qing Si Trading Company do?"

"Fertilizer and horses."

Seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, Eunuch Gao dared not conceal anything: "My family manages the outer stables. The imperial horses there are not as precious as those in the inner stables. My family buys inferior fodder from Qing Si Trading Company at the price of the best horses in the inner stables to feed them."

Li Ping'an asked, "Aren't you afraid of causing problems by feeding them?"

"As the saying goes, even with immense wealth, livestock don't count. It's common for imperial horses to get sick. After reporting to Eunuch Ji of the supervisory office, we purchased replacements from Qing Si Trading Company..."

Eunuch Gao resented Eunuch Ji for wronging him, and seized the opportunity to attack him.

Without needing to ask further, Li Ping'an already guessed that some healthy horses would fall ill and die, and then be sold to Qing Si Trading Company before being bought back to make up the numbers.

"Hehehe, it seems that the Imperial Horse Administration is not as poor as outsiders say, and has plenty of ways to make money."

(End of this chapter)