Prime Minister

Chapter 168, Section 167: [Exhausted Tricks]

Night falls at the Liu residence in Yongqingfang.

Liu Fu and the others respectfully saw off Lou Shizong, the deputy commissioner of the Salt Transport Office, and then returned to the hall with heavy steps to take their seats.

Lou Shizong's visit was naturally on behalf of Xu Guanlan, to convey the next steps to the heads of several prominent families.

According to Xu Guanlan's deduction, Xue Huai will not change his mind because of the Shen family's situation. This time, he is clearly going to take action against the local powerful families. Shen Bingwen is as steady as Mount Tai, and it will not be easy for him to solidify the Shen family's crime of selling smuggled salt in a short period of time.

This was clearly not good news for everyone in the hall.

Xu Guanlan couldn't control Xue Huai through the Shen family, which meant they had to withstand Xue Huai's methods. The most frightening thing was that they still didn't know how many trump cards Xue Huai held.

All they knew was that Liu Fu had taken the initiative to deliver Liu Mou to their door, hoping to coordinate with the Salt Transport Bureau's investigation of the Shen family and force Xue Huai to temporarily give up. However, Xue Huai did not give the Liu family a chance to negotiate at all. Relying on the ironclad evidence he had prepared in advance, he directly imprisoned Liu Mou in a death row cell, waiting for the Ministry of Justice to review the case.

The attempt by Liu Rang, Zheng Xuan, and other officials in the prefectural government to force the emperor to abdicate was a joke. Xue Huai quietly gained the support of the provincial inspector Shi Daoan and joined forces with Tan Mingguang to suppress Liu Rang and others in an instant, and imprisoned them in the prefectural government. This made the powerful families hesitant to act against them, since the prefectural government housed the core members of each family.

That young magistrate not only had ruthless methods, but also a deep and cunning mind. Or rather, from the very first day he took office in Yangzhou, he was preparing to investigate local officials and gentry.

The hall fell silent. Liu Fu turned to look at his second son, Liu Yi, and his third son, Liu Xu, and suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment and unease.

He was startled to realize that he was indeed getting old. His eldest son, on whom he had placed high hopes, and his most beloved youngest son were in Xue Huai's hands. On the surface, he was calm and composed, but in reality, he was far from at peace.

"Cough cough."

Liu Fu cleared his throat, suppressing the jumble of thoughts in his mind, and looked at Liu Yi, asking, "What's been happening at the government office these past few days?"

Liu Yi replied, "Father, Prefect Tan only went to the north of the city that day, and did not leave the prefectural office at other times. As for Assistant Magistrate Xue, he has been staying at home all day. According to the reports from our informants, Assistant Magistrate Xue has been staying in the Assistant Magistrate's Hall these days, except for personally interrogating my elder brother and others."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Boyan, who was sitting next to him, frowned and asked, "What exactly is Xue Huai trying to do?"

The Shen family was investigated by the Salt Transport Bureau, but Xue Huai remained indifferent. The Liu brothers were arrested, but he did not take action against them either, as if he was satisfied with the current situation. However, considering his various performances since taking office in Yangzhou, it seems that he has made a lot of noise but accomplished little.

On the other side, Bai Xiu tentatively asked, "Could it be... that Prefect Xue is just trying to give us a warning?"

Zheng Boyan immediately said coldly, "Foolish! If Xue Huai were so easily satisfied, then Minister Xue of the Ministry of Works and Vice Minister Yue of the Ministry of Rites wouldn't have fallen for his tricks!"

Bai Xiu hesitated for a moment, then Ge Huaicheng said, "I think Xue Tongzhi is waiting."

As for what Xue Huai was waiting for, everyone present quickly realized that he was waiting to obtain more conclusive evidence so that they could be rounded up and wiped out.

Zheng Boyan found the feeling of waiting to be executed too agonizing and couldn't help but look at Liu Fu and ask, "Brother Zicheng, what did Vice Envoy Lou mean by those words just now?"

Liu Fu's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "He wanted to tell us that Xue Huai is coming for us this time, and whether we can withstand his fierce methods depends entirely on our own abilities. Of course, Envoy Xu will definitely lend a hand at crucial moments, but we cannot place all our hopes on him. Just like this time when the Salt Transport Bureau attacked the Shen family, Envoy Xu personally intervened, but Xue Huai refused to take the bait. So the Salt Transport Bureau cannot really force Shen Bingwen to confess under torture."

After hearing this analysis, everyone felt even more gloomy.

Before things completely break down, Xu Guanlan and the Salt Transport Bureau certainly won't resort to desperate measures, since Xue Huai is currently only targeting the officials and gentry of Yangzhou.

"That……"

Zheng Boyan said with some difficulty, "What should we do now?"

Although things were relatively calm at the government office, people could no longer naively wait.

Liu Fu looked displeased. When Xu Guanlan was mentioned earlier, a vague thought suddenly popped into his mind, but perhaps because of his old age and lack of energy, or perhaps because Zheng Boyan had interrupted his train of thought, it had already vanished from his mind.

He could only hold back for the time being and looked at everyone, saying, "We cannot sit idly by and wait for death. Before Xue Huai makes a move, we must escalate the problem."

"That's exactly what Brother Zicheng was waiting to hear."

Zheng Boyan was impatient, and since his son Zheng Xuan was also trapped in the government office, he immediately said loudly, "What should we do? Please tell me, Brother Zicheng."

Bai Xiu and Ge Huaicheng echoed each other. Their entanglement with the Liu and Zheng families was too deep; they were already in the same boat. Even though they had been incredibly envious of the Qiao family, who had broken with the Liu family, and the Wang family, who had been able to waver because of Wang Gui, a member of a collateral branch, they dared not hesitate at all.

"First, as previously arranged, all businesses will close down starting tomorrow. Xue Huai wants to make a big fuss, right? Let's help him out and bring Yangzhou City to a complete stop! Shen Bingwen is currently trapped in the Salt Bureau, and the Shen family is leaderless, so it goes without saying that the old fox Qiao Wangshan wouldn't dare to make any rash moves. This is the best opportunity."

Liu Fu's face hardened, and he continued, "Secondly, all the salt merchants who borrowed money from our various banks to prepare for the reckoning ceremony will be forced to settle their accounts as soon as the time comes, or their ancestral property will be confiscated."

Zheng Boyan and the others exchanged glances and nodded emphatically, saying, "Okay!"

These four companies, along with the large and small businesses they control, occupy half of Yangzhou's business community. Their sudden closure will naturally have a huge impact on the local area, and soaring prices are almost a foreseeable scenario.

Threatening those small and medium-sized salt merchants with the balance of accounts was naturally intended to make them attribute the problem to Xue Huai, forcing them to go and cause trouble for Xue Huai.

Liu Fu continued, “Furthermore, the Taixing Zhongshi Saltworks is the core of the Lianghuai Saltworks, and it is also where our families have invested a great deal of effort over the years. Now the government is acting perversely and is treating us merchants with all kinds of cruelty. We cannot withstand such terrifying methods, so we have no choice but to suspend all business. As for those poor people and salt workers who have lost their livelihood, let them go to the government to ask for clarification.”

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became extremely solemn.

Previously, Liu Fu sent Liu Song, along with the confidants of everyone present, to Xinghua County with the intention of inciting a popular uprising. However, Xue Huai discovered this in advance and promptly investigated and dealt with Luo Tong and his gang. Now, Liu Fu is trying to repeat the same trick.

This was no small matter; it involved mobilizing all forces, using public opinion as a weapon to strike at Xue Huai and Tan Mingguang, who were firmly seated in the government office. After a brief silence, Zheng Boyan took the lead and said, "Now that things have come to this, we have no other choice."

Bai Xiu also said, "Instead of waiting for Xue Huai to cut us with a dull knife, we might as well strike first."

"That's right, let's fight him."

The elderly Ge Huaicheng clenched his fists, his expression extremely fierce.

Liu Fu then discussed the details with them for another half hour before the secret meeting came to an end.

After everyone left, Liu Fu slumped back in his chair, his exhaustion impossible to conceal.

Liu Xu saw Zheng Boyan and the others off on behalf of his father. Liu Yi, the second son, came to Liu Fu and whispered, "Father."

Liu Fu closed his eyes slightly and asked, "Will there be a problem with the hiding place of Liu Song and the others?"

Liu Yi said, "Father, rest assured, this matter was arranged jointly by your son and Vice Commissioner Lou of the Salt Bureau. They hid it very well and it will not be discovered by Xue Huai's people."

"Ah."

Liu Fu responded, and after a moment said, "Yi'er, starting tomorrow, you should not show your face."

Liu Yi was shocked. He looked at Liu Fu in disbelief and asked, "Father, why?"

"I have always felt that Xue Huai's trump card has not been revealed yet. This time, our Liu family is likely to be in grave danger. However, with such a large family and business, we cannot escape even if we want to. Now your eldest brother and fourth brother have fallen into Xue Huai's hands, and your third brother only knows how to do business. At my age, I am not capable of doing anything. Only you can survive in this difficult environment. After all, you have been secretly handling those things all these years."

Liu Fu opened his eyes and looked at his second son, saying in a deep voice, "Xu Guanlan may not be a match for Xue Huai, and Governor Chen will most likely not risk his life to save him. If things don't go well, Yi'er, don't think about revenge. You must live!"

Liu Yi hesitated.

"Did you hear me? Live on! Leave a bloodline for our Liu family!"

The old man's forehead veins bulged, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Liu Yi took a deep breath and solemnly said, "I remember, Father."

Liu Fu waved his hand, signaling him to step back.

The old man sat there for a long time, gazing wistfully at the flickering candlelight in front of him.

Until dawn.

The people in the city had no idea how many people had been secretly running around that night; all they knew was that when they woke up, it was as if the whole world had changed.

The streets and alleys were deserted, so quiet it was unsettling.

All the rice and flour shops, grain and oil shops, cloth shops, money shops, taverns, and even tea shops that they were familiar with were closed.

The bustling and lively city of Yangzhou is gone forever, replaced by a deathly silence.

At first, people thought it was just a temporary phenomenon, but even when the sun was high in the sky, nearly half of the businesses in Yangzhou were still closed, and panic began to spread.

Inside the government office, Xue Huai and Tan Mingguang stood side by side, while several minor officials recounted the absurd and bizarre situation in the city in a flustered manner.

"I understand, you may leave."

Tan Mingguang looked at Xue Huai with a solemn expression and said, "Brother, these people are so heartless and insane."

Xue Huai calmly said, "It's just a desperate struggle. I thought they would endure it for a few more days, but it seems I overestimated their patience."

Tan Mingguang glanced at the mysterious man in his thirties behind Xue Huai. After spending some time with Xue Huai's subordinates, he had become very familiar with them. However, starting yesterday afternoon, the man in his thirties suddenly appeared beside Xue Huai.

Although Xue Huai only said that this was a skilled guard from his household, Tan Mingguang sensed an extremely cold and sinister aura emanating from the man.

Just then, another minor official strode into the second hall and said urgently, "Your Excellency, there are dozens of local merchants gathered outside the government office, requesting an audience with you!"

Tan Mingguang and Xue Huai exchanged a meaningful glance and said, "Everything is as you predicted."

Xue Huai smiled and said, "Your Excellency?"

Tan Mingguang nodded, then turned to the officials of the prefectural government who were standing by in high spirits, and said loudly, "Open the gates of the prefectural government!"

"As ordered!"

Everyone responded in unison.

Xue Huai and Tan Mingguang led the way, with the others following closely behind, walking forward with firm steps.

(End of this chapter)