Chapter 1748: The House and the Land
Chapter 1748: Chapter 1748: The House and the Land
Xie Cheng’s eyes slightly widened: "Military salary? Real gold and silver brought to the soldiers?!"
The court has been struggling these last few years, and their troops in the south have been neglected. The court skimps on their military salary whenever possible, and as a result, many garrison commanders in the south have had to find their own means to pay their troops.
Suddenly hearing that the court has brought military salary for the soldiers, Xie Cheng felt a bit excited.
Manager Xie nodded, unable to conceal his excitement, and said: "Exactly, it’s the military salary, two taels of silver for each person, and it’s not the regular monthly allowance, but a reward for offering the formula for the Insect Attractant!"
Concerned that Xie Cheng might not have understood, he added: "All the goods and supplies delivered this time, including the military salary, are rewards from the Emperor for the soldiers offering the formula. Additional rewards will be given for future battle merits!"
This means that the soldiers resisting the Rong bandits in the Northwest will receive two rounds of rewards, one for offering the formula and another for battle merits.
Ji Zhenniang scoffed after hearing this: "Only two taels of silver, the Emperor is really..."
"Zhenniang, do not be disrespectful!" Xie Cheng interrupted her harshly: "No matter how much it is, it’s the grace of the Emperor, and we can only be grateful."
He looked around and, seeing no outsiders nearby, lowered his voice to say: "You must not show disrespect, or there will be grave consequences, do you understand?"
Ji Zhenniang, seeing how serious he was, quickly nodded: "Understood, I just said it in front of you, I wouldn’t say such a thing in front of others."
She was indeed sharp!
Xie Cheng, seeing her smug expression, shook his head helplessly and reminded her: "We are outside, not at home."
He then asked Manager Xie: "Where is the team escorting the rewards, and when will they reach the Prefecture City? Who are the accompanying officials?"
Manager Xie replied: "When the scouts discovered them, they were at Zhanggu Town; they are expected to reach the Prefecture City by tomorrow morning."
Because the Rong bandit spies had breached the Long’an Prefecture’s defenses and caused military disaster in Xing’an Prefecture, General Liang had spread the scouts a bit far, and Zhanggu Town is some distance from the Prefecture City.
He continued: "It’s said that the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Censorate have all sent officials to accompany them. The highest rank is Secondary Third-rank, but the specific officials and their preferences are unknown at present."
The Ministry of Rites oversees external affairs and rituals. Ouyang Zhang suggested sending officials from the Ministry of Rites to the Northwest, not only to perform memorial services for fallen soldiers but also to intimidate Dongqing.
Prince Dongqing Yi went too far, and in order to avoid Great Chu going to war with two countries simultaneously, Emperor Jingyuan had to endure the connection between Prince Yi and the Rong bandits, but it didn’t mean he was weak. Therefore, sending officials from the Ministry of Rites to the border serves as a warning to Dongqing not to act foolishly again.
Manager Xie further added: "However, the amount of supplies and military salary is so extensive that it would take several trips to complete delivery. This is only the first batch; more will follow."
The Ji family is in business, and Ji Zhenniang asked after hearing this: "Is there not enough silver to distribute in one go?"
When her brother passed the student exams, her grandfather gave every servant in the family two taels of silver in one go. The fact that the Emperor needed multiple trips showed how poor things have become.
Manager Xie was taken aback, remaining silent.
Xie Cheng’s face sank: "Zhenniang, speaking out of turn again."
"Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore." Ji Zhenniang grumbled discontentedly, they lack money, yet no one is allowed to mention it? Is speaking the truth wrong too?
Speaking the truth isn’t wrong, but if you want to speak the truth about the royal family, you must be prepared for your entire family’s demise.
Xie Cheng turned to ask Manager Xie: "Has San Lang’s side been informed?"
Manager Xie replied: "It was exactly Qin’s Company Commander under Zhang Zhong who sent someone to inform us."
Meaning that the Qin family had already been informed.
"That’s good, instruct our servants from now on to be cautious with their words and actions, so as not to cause any mishaps, otherwise, severe punishment will follow." Xie Cheng turned to Ji Zhenniang and said: "Let’s go back inside."
With that, he took Ji Zhenniang’s hand and led her towards their residence, followed by Nanny Xie.
Ji Zhenniang was a bit pleased, her cheeks flushed. She was hoping to encounter some gossiping relatives along the way, so they would spread how well Xie Cheng treated her, unable to resist holding her hand even during the day.
"Husband, slow down a bit."
Walking so fast, what if they don’t run into anyone?
Xie Cheng slowed down his pace, glanced back at her, and seeing her eagerly glancing around with anticipation and excitement, he was unsure of what she was thinking, shaking his head helplessly yet smiling with delight.
But upon reaching the courtyard’s gate, Ji Zhenniang was displeased: "Usually, a whole lot of people are wandering around outside, how come today we didn’t run into anyone!"
Saying this, she withdrew her hand, not allowing Xie Cheng to hold it, and walked angrily into the courtyard.
Accompanying relatives were numerous, and the Lei Family’s two separate yards couldn’t accommodate them all. Before, Ji Zhenniang had to share a courtyard with Mrs. Han, but after Xie Cheng returned, she could stay in a single courtyard by herself, thanks to Ms. Gao Lei purchasing the neighboring Scholar Zhao’s house.
When the poisonous insect disease broke out in the city, some people in the neighboring Zhao family died, and the frightening death stances scared Scholar Zhao profoundly. Believing in ghosts and spirits, he found the house inauspicious and decided to move!
Ms. Gao Lei had long wished for him to move quickly. After hearing Scholar Zhao wanted to sell his house, she immediately sent Peng Wen to inquire and offered a generous price.
Scholar Zhao, hearing Ms. Gao Lei’s offer, immediately handed over the house and land deeds, selling the Zhao family residence. When his sons found out, they were furious, and for the first time, argued with him: "You old fool, do you want to doom the entire family? With the Northwest so chaotic, which house in the entire city is safer than those near the Lei Family? Without the Lei Family’s protection, our Zhao family wouldn’t just worry about being bullied; we’d also be constantly robbed by thieves!"
The sons beat their chests, wanting to die from hitting their heads against the wall.
They eventually went to plead with Ms. Gao Lei, asking her to return the house to them, promising to pay an additional hundred taels of silver to compensate her.
Ms. Gao Lei refused, explaining the numerous relatives made the two separate yards crowded, and buying the Zhao family house meant they could live comfortably.
But Ms. Gao Lei understood the Zhao family’s worries and told them: "There’s a house near Feng Family Escort Agency’s alley, enough for your entire family. If you want it, I can help you, and I’ll also talk to Feng Family Escort Agency, asking them to look out for your family more."
She also gave them a post from the Lei Family’s Trading Team, promising if they were bullied, the Lei Family’s Trading Team would step in to help. This promise was announced to the entire Lei Family’s Trading Team, so even if she wasn’t present, Lei Mao and the others would protect the Zhao family.
Only then did the Zhao brothers return home, and soon, with Ms. Gao Lei’s help, they purchased a house in Feng Family Escort Agency’s alley and, with the Lei Family’s Protectors’ aid, swiftly relocated.
The Lei Family’s Trading Team was overly enthusiastic, and only then did Scholar Zhao realize, angrily declaring: "That shrew Ms. Gao Lei was eyeing my Zhao family house all along!"
The sons laughed, you only realized now? But you’re the one who sold the house; who can you blame?
Fortunately, the Old Madam Gao is righteous, giving extra silver coins and promising protection for the Zhao family.
Gu Jinli also had a penchant for buying houses and land, having sent many servants out around the Dragon Boat Festival, specifically to search for houses and land, to inquire immediately if anyone wanted to sell.
After the great battle, many families in Xing’an Prefecture wanted to sell their houses and land; everyone was scared. Families with means wished to move to the Capital, and those without also aimed to move to Daliang Prefecture, the further away from the Rong bandits, the better.