Moma Liangshan

Chapter 169 Sugar-Coated Bullets, Using Someone Else to Kill

Li Rongshang owned a house in Jiaozhou, slightly smaller than Wang Hao's. When Wang Hao's invitation arrived at the Li residence, Li Rongshang immediately handed over his affairs to his subordinates and went to the banquet. Upon arriving at Wang Hao's house, Li Rongshang greeted him warmly, "Young Master, how did your trip to Fujian go?" Wang Hao nodded and said, "Generally, it went smoothly!" Li Rongshang knew that although Wang Hao was young, he was a very busy man, and took the initiative to say, "Young Master, is there anything I can do for you?" Wang Hao smiled and said, "County Lieutenant Zhu Heng is arrogant and domineering, and has repeatedly opposed me. His existence is a huge obstacle to the development of Jiaozhou!" Li Rongshang instantly understood the meaning behind Wang Hao's words, thinking to himself, "It is said that Zhu Heng was planted by Gao Qiu." "Taking down Zhu Heng would inevitably offend Gao Qiu, but Gao Qiu has made things difficult for the Li family over the years, both openly and secretly. Even if we help Wang Hao take down Zhu Heng, although we might face Gao Qiu's retaliation, we would also gain Wang Hao's support. If we refuse Wang Hao's request, we will surely betray his trust and might even be sidelined!" Li Rongshang said, "Zhu Heng is clearly a greedy person. Taking him down won't be difficult!" Wang Hao smiled broadly and said, "Give Zhu Heng a chance to amass wealth, and you don't need to interfere in the rest!" Li Rongshang replied, "Understood!"

Upon returning home, Li Rongshang immediately summoned his steward and said, "Young Master Wang wants us to do something; please give me some advice!" When Li Rongshang was young, the steward was his page, and after inheriting the family business, the page was promoted to steward. The steward asked, "What is it?" Li Rongshang replied, "Young Master Wang wants us to find some dirt on County Magistrate Zhu Heng!" The steward frowned slightly and said, "Although Zhu Heng is tyrannical, Young Master Wang has completely sidelined him. Finding dirt on him won't be easy!" Li Rongshang agreed, saying... "Zhu Heng has Grand Commandant Gao as his backer. It won't be easy to remove him from his post with just any old leverage!" The steward pondered for a moment, then said, "I have an idea!" Li Rongshang was overjoyed and said, "Tell me quickly!" The steward said, "Our Li family only needs to find a pretext to send Zhu Heng a sum of money, and establish that connection first. Then, find an opportunity for him to have some fun at our restaurant. At that time, Master, all you need to do is find a down-on-his-luck imperial relative in Dongjing (Kaifeng) and have him clash with Zhu Heng."

Li Rongshang quickly understood the steward's meaning and said, "Beating a member of the imperial family will be enough to give Zhu Heng and Grand Commandant Gao a headache, given the Imperial Clan Court's accountability measures!" He then asked, "Zhu Heng has no real power in Jiaozhou. If we rashly offer him a bribe, it might arouse his suspicion!" The steward smiled confidently and said, "Why don't we lie and say we want to see Grand Commandant Gao?" Li Rongshang slapped the table in admiration and said, "Brilliant! That way, even if Zhu Heng is imprisoned, probably no one will suspect that this is a trap we set!" He then said, "Take five thousand strings of cash and deliver it to Zhu Heng as soon as possible! If he agrees to our request, I will see him in person!"

The steward said, "I will take care of it immediately tomorrow!" Li Rongshang shook his head and said, "Bribery is better done under the cover of darkness!" The steward then said, "I will go tonight!" Li Rongshang nodded in satisfaction.

After sunset, Steward Li arrived at Zhu Heng's house in five oxcarts carrying a full five thousand strings of cash. Although Zhu Heng was the county magistrate of Laoshan, his household was always deserted due to Wang Hao's usurpation of power, let alone anyone visiting in the middle of the night! After Steward Li knocked on the door, an old woman answered cursingly, "Who's the blind fool knocking at the door in the middle of the night?" It turned out that this old woman was a servant brought from Zhu Heng's wife's family home. Zhu Heng's wife, relying on her family's power, always had the final say in the house, so this old woman, like a fox borrowing its power, became increasingly shrewish with age. After the door opened, Steward Li, without saying a word, slipped a string of cash into the old woman's hand, saying, "Please inform Magistrate Zhu that the Li family has brought some local specialties as a gift!" The old woman clutched the heavy copper coins, her wrinkled old face resembling a withered chrysanthemum, and said, "Please wait a moment, sir!" Then she ran towards the main house.

Just as Zhu Heng and his wife had settled into bed, the old maid called from outside the door, "Reporting to Master and Madam, someone is requesting an audience!" Zhu Heng, disturbed from his sleep, was in a bad mood and said, "Whoever it is, tell them to come back tomorrow!" The old maid said, "That person brought a cartload of local specialties, saying they've come to offer them as a gift to Master!" Zhu Heng's wife immediately sat up and asked, "What kind of local specialties?" The old maid whispered, "They look like copper coins!" Madam Zhu kicked Zhu Heng off the bed and scolded, "Why aren't you going to greet this important guest?" Zhu Heng dared not speak his anger and hurriedly dressed to receive the guest.

Upon entering the hall, Zhu Heng asked, "Who are you?" Steward Li replied, "The Li family!" Zhu Heng sneered, "There are over a million people with the surname Li in the world. How would I know which Li family you belong to?" Steward Li answered, "Fanlou Restaurant in Dongjing is my master's property!" Zhu Heng was shocked and said, "Master Li, instead of managing your restaurant properly in Dongjing, you insist on getting involved in this mess in Jiaozhou!" Steward Li said, "My master had no choice. Without a powerful backer in Dongjing, it's incredibly difficult to make a living!" Zhu Heng smiled insincerely and said, "So you've come to Jiaozhou to curry favor with Wang Hao?" "A commotion?" Steward Li sighed deliberately, saying, "My master was too hasty and mistakenly thought Wang Hao was someone he could rely on!" Zhu Heng snorted coldly, saying, "Putting aside everything else, Wang Hao was running around in Tokyo, promoting his woolen cloth, even going so far as to win over the Empress. But what was the result? He still lost to Lord Tong, Grand Tutor Cai, and Grand Commandant Gao!" Steward Li quickly echoed, "The County Magistrate is right!" Then he added, "My master has also realized that Wang Hao is capable of governing Jiaozhou, but if he goes to Tokyo, he'll be far from competent!"

Zhu Heng, even more smug, said, "After all this talk, you still haven't told me why I've come." Steward Li replied, "Naturally, we've come to deliver some local specialties to the County Magistrate!" He then opened a chest in the living room, revealing it filled with gleaming copper coins. He said, "There are ten chests here, totaling five thousand strings of cash. Please accept them, County Magistrate!" Zhu Heng, already drooling with envy, feigned composure and said, "Are you trying to put me in an unjust position?" Steward Li said, "This is merely a small token of my master's appreciation. If it wins the favor of Grand Commandant Gao, the Li family is willing to..." "Send twenty boxes of these local specialties to the County Magistrate!" Zhu Heng thought to himself. "Ten boxes are five thousand strings of cash, twenty boxes are ten thousand strings!" At this moment, Zhu Heng felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and said, "I've been away from Tokyo for some time now, and the Grand Commandant's residence needs some patronage!" Steward Li immediately said, "My master owns twenty-three restaurants in Tokyo. When the time comes, County Magistrate, just let me know how you need things arranged!" Zhu Heng suddenly said with high spirits, "Seeing how sincere your master is, I will personally go to Tokyo!"