nycdaug Chapter 443: Just Escaped from the Wolf's Den and Entered the Tiger's Mouth
Chapter 443: Just Escaped from the Wolf's Den and Entered the Tiger's Mouth
It was not until the night fell at 10 p.m. that Lao Yan drove his carriage to Mo City. Fortunately, the city gates closed later during the long summer season, so they did not have to wait outside the city all night.
Shopkeeper Feng had received the letter in advance and knew that Shopkeeper Mu had been kidnapped by the bandits from Yanjiaopo. He was frightened the whole day. Even after dark, he had no appetite and stayed in the shop. After all, if he failed to wait for Shopkeeper Mu and Butler Ange tonight, Jiangnan Mingli might be in big trouble again.
"Boss, here he comes, here he comes, Boss Mu is here!" Just when Boss Feng was in the backyard of the cloth shop, looking at the peaceful moonlight above his head and getting as anxious as an ant on hot pan, a clerk ran to the backyard door happily and shouted at him.
"Thank God, it's finally here!" Shopkeeper Feng was overjoyed when he heard it. He quickly twisted his short and fat body to go to the shop in front, muttering to himself.
Seeing that Mu Liang and An Ge were both doing well, Shopkeeper Feng's tense expression which had lasted the whole day finally relaxed, and his greasy face once again regained its usual happy expression.
After a brief exchange of greetings in the cloth shop, the group checked into an inn at the invitation of Shopkeeper Feng. After experiencing the dangers on Yanjia Slope and traveling for half a day, they were all very tired. Shopkeeper Feng saw this and understood their hard work, so he said goodbye and left without staying for long.
Free from danger and worry, Mu Liang finally had a good sleep. He woke up early the next day and felt refreshed. After breakfast, he waited until noon, and then left the inn with Ange and went to Li's cloth shop. Shopkeeper Feng had already prepared the account book and had been waiting in the shop for a long time.
Since Li Xingyuan was killed, Li Yunye hurriedly took over the responsibility of Jiangnan Famous Li, and Mu Liang became the most trusted person of the Li family. At first, Shopkeeper Feng was somewhat unconvinced, but in the past year or so, he saw Shopkeeper Mu turn the tide and help the young master to support Jiangnan Famous Li from the crisis of internal and external troubles, especially after the incident in Yujiang City, Shopkeeper Feng was convinced by Mu Liang and respected him highly.
"No wonder the young master always says that although Mo City is far away, there is no need to worry as long as Manager Feng is in charge." After reading the account book and listening to Manager Feng's report, Mu Liang nodded with satisfaction, then raised his eyes and smiled at the other party.
"Thank you very much for your trust, young master. Thank you also for your care for me, Old Feng." Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Feng was overjoyed and bowed and smiled back.
After finishing their business, the three of them came to the backyard of the cloth shop to sit and drink tea, and then they talked about the kidnapping and extortion by the bandits. Mu Liang and Ange did not intend to hide it from Shopkeeper Feng, but they both tacitly ignored the bargaining for the ransom.
After sitting for about half an incense stick of time, Steward Li came to report that the two carriages were ready. Mu Liang and An Ge stood up to say goodbye to Shopkeeper Feng and prepared to return to Jiangnan.
"Excuse me, who is the famous Li storekeeper Mu from Jiangnan?" Just as Storekeeper Feng was sending several people out of the cloth shop, a brave man with a sword, who looked upright, firm and cold in eyes, suddenly stepped forward and asked the people in front of him in a serious tone.
Not knowing the identity and purpose of the visitor, everyone looked at each other in confusion and dared not answer. Manager Li was even more vigilant and protected Mu Liang behind him, so he asked, "Who are you? What do you want from our shopkeeper Mu?"
"I'm not in a position to tell you who I am, but I'm here to bring a message. A distinguished person wants to see Manager Mu. Please come with me, Manager Mu, and don't keep him waiting for too long." The strong man glanced at Manager Li with cold eyes and then said in a deep voice.
"My name is Mu Liang, I wonder who it is..." Hearing someone calling out his name and wanting to see him, Mu Liang was puzzled but still walked out from behind Manager Li, saluted the warrior with a smile and asked, but before he could finish his question, he was interrupted by the other party in a cold voice:
"Shopkeeper Mu will know when he sees it. I have nothing to say."
"I'll go with you." Manager Li also knew that since he was a noble man, he naturally could not offend the famous Li from Jiangnan, so when Mu Liang was about to set off to follow the strong man, he followed closely behind him.
Seeing that the strong man did not interfere, Mu Liang nodded with relief. It would be best to have Manager Li follow him.
The two followed the warrior with a sword through the long street, then turned into an alley, and finally arrived at the backyard of the Mocheng government office. When they entered the courtyard, they saw a graceful and slender figure gently waving a folding fan, standing under the pavilion by the pool. The warrior asked Mu Liang to wait outside, and then he went into the pavilion and bowed and said:
"King Zhao, the person has been brought here."
After hearing this, Gong Liangzhao turned around gracefully, glanced at Mu Liang outside the pavilion, and then smiled faintly:
"This king has something to say to Shopkeeper Mu, you guys go down first."
After the warrior with the sword responded respectfully, he turned and walked out of the pavilion, giving Manager Li a cold look.
Upon learning that the person who wanted to see Manager Mu was actually the prince of the current dynasty, Manager Li naturally said nothing more. After looking at Mu Liang, he followed the strong man and left.
"I am Mu Liang, a humble servant, and I am honored to meet the prince." Mu Liang then quickly walked into the pavilion and knelt down respectfully towards Gong Liangzhao.
He never expected that the person who wanted to see him was Prince Zhao, the sixth son of the emperor, who was said to be the most trusted assistant of the crown prince. But what confused Mu Liang was that Jiangnan Mingli had never dealt with anyone from the royal family. Why would Prince Zhao target Jiangnan Mingli? Was it because of the crown prince's order...
Thinking of this, Mu Liang's heart trembled, his drooping face turned pale, and a lot of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. After so long, could it be that Prince Gong Liangming still coveted his sworn brother?
"Get up." Gong Liangzhao still gently waved his folding fan and smiled at Mu Liang at his feet.
"Yes." Mu Liang stood up in a daze, the hands in his sleeves clenched into fists involuntarily, he concentrated his mind and held his breath waiting for the other party's next words.
"Are you feeling unwell, Manager Mu?" Gong Liangzhao was shocked to see Mu Liang's pale face and sweat all over his head, and asked anxiously.
"Thank you King Zhao for your concern. I'm fine." Mu Liang replied absentmindedly.
"Could it be that he hasn't recovered from the fright he suffered from those crude and brutal bandits at Yanjiaopo?" Gong Liangzhao had no idea what Mu Liang was worried about, and he just joked with his eyes narrowed.
"Maybe..." Mu Liang smiled without thinking, but then he reacted and quickly looked up at King Zhao in front of him, asking in surprise: "King Zhao knew about this?"
"To be honest, I left the capital this time on the orders of the emperor to suppress the bandits." Gong Liangzhao put away the folding fan in his hand and went straight to the point.
Suppressing bandits? It turns out to be suppressing bandits...
King Zhao's words made Mu Liang secretly delighted, and at the same time, his fists stretched out involuntarily. He raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then saluted King Zhao in front of him and said, "Rampant bandits are causing panic among the people, which is indeed a great disaster. It is a good thing for the court to come forward to suppress the bandits!"
"I heard that Yanjiapo was very lively yesterday. I didn't expect that there are so many famous people in Jiangnan!" Gong Liangzhao ignored Mu Liang's compliment and continued to lead the topic to Yanjiapo.
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. How could a small man named Li from Jiangnan hide such a powerful person?" Mu Liang also saluted with an expression of great fear and trepidation.
King Zhao was also aware of what happened at Yanjiapo yesterday. Could it be that he had spies at Yanjiapo? However, the governor of Mocheng also went to Yanjiapo, so it was hard to say that they knew about it.
"Shopkeeper Mu is too modest!" Gong Liangzhao shook his head, then sat down at the table and said bluntly again: "Eliminating the bandit problem is a serious matter. I will not beat around the bush with Shopkeeper Mu. This time, the bandit suppression cannot be delayed, but the court alone may not be able to do it. I need the help of the famous Li from Jiangnan."
"I wonder what King Zhao wants me, the famous Li from Jiangnan, to do?" Mu Liang's heart tightened again. If the famous Li from Jiangnan was involved in the bandit suppression, the Li family would undoubtedly become the target of public criticism.
"Don't worry, Shopkeeper Mu. Jiangnan Ming Li is doing business honestly. I will not push you to the forefront. As for what I want to do with Jiangnan Ming Li, it's very simple. I heard that there is a powerful housekeeper in the Li family who bargained down the 50,000 taels of silver offered by the mountain bandits to 8,000 taels yesterday. So, the silver that should have been given to the mountain bandits is still 42,000 taels left?"
When King Zhao said this, Mu Liang suddenly realized that King Zhao had set his eyes on the more than 40,000 taels of silver that An Ge had managed to save from the bandits. He had really just escaped from the wolf's den and fallen into the tiger's mouth!
"Shopkeeper Mu, I need a sum of silver to suppress the bandits this time, but the court has its own difficulties! Shopkeeper Mu doesn't know that the court spends a lot of money on suppressing bandits every year, but the number of bandits is increasing, and His Majesty is worried about this. In order to relieve His Majesty's worries and let the people of Jingsong live and work in peace, I have taken on the important task of suppressing the bandits this time. Let's put it this way, just consider it as me borrowing 30,000 taels from the famous Li in Jiangnan. If I succeed in suppressing the bandits and get a reward from my father in the future, I will definitely return it in full."
Having said that, how could Mu Liang dare to say no? Moreover, the famous Li from Jiangnan would definitely not offend King Zhao for the sake of 30,000 taels of silver.