This was not the first time that the Qian family had smuggled furs from the barbarian territory, and they had already informed the border. But who knew that King Xidan would suddenly appear that day, saying that he was here to comfort the officers and soldiers on the front line and give everyone a surprise.
There were some surprises and shocks, but after this person came over, he did not go to see the military camp first. Instead, he went to the checkpoint first and happened to meet the Qian family's caravan leaving the city gate. He stopped them without any explanation.
The people in the caravan were quite confused. At first they tried to reason with King Xidan, saying that these carts were all furs and could be checked at will, and there was definitely no contraband.
King Xidan intercepted someone else's goods and listened to the explanation with a smile, but he had no intention of letting it go.
"Who said this isn't contraband?" King Xidan said confidently, "As everyone knows, my tribe is the only one in the entire continent that has snow wolves. These snow wolf skins were naturally obtained from my land. You're killing my wolves on my land. I think you're really bold. Come on,
Arrest them all and interrogate them thoroughly!"
The caravan couldn't explain why, but they had never considered hunting before, nor had they made preparations in this regard. Although the caravan had martial artists, they were no match for the barbarian army and were captured in an instant. They even deliberately let one of them go to deliver a message.
It is basically impossible to get this batch of goods back. Even the caravan has been detained and has not been released yet. When the Qian family received the news, they knew that the goods would basically not be returned.
If only this batch of goods had problems, the matter would not be too serious. It is normal for a caravan to have accidents occasionally, and paying some money is nothing. The Qian family can afford to pay.
Qian Manguan was afraid that his line would be completely destroyed and he would no longer be able to sell goods.
Several important trade routes of the Qian family are related to the barbarians. If they really fail, I am afraid that difficulties will come.
"I heard that the officials at the barbarian checkpoint were replaced, and the caravan inspections were tightened. The Qian family's subsequent batches of goods were detained, and I'm afraid they will lose a lot of money." Yuan Jiangwen had never seen King Xidan, but he had heard of him. "What's going on? Zhiyu, is he friends with you?"
How could a king of a country have the leisure to suddenly care about a few trivial matters and suddenly be ruthless and impartial? No matter how the Qian family tries to smooth things over, it will be useless.
Moreover, this incident happened so coincidentally. Just when Fu Zhiyu woke up and was about to deal with them, something happened to the Qian family. Yuan Jiangwen couldn't help but think about it a little more.
"I don't have any friendship with him. We just exchanged a few words at most," Fu Zhiyu was very sure. "It's just... a coincidence?"
But he himself didn't quite believe it.
King Xidan does not play by the rules, but he is still the leader of the barbarians after all, not a child playing house. If there is no reason behind him, he would not do such a strange thing.
The day after Fu Zhiyu found out about this, the head of the Qian family came to his door to beg for mercy. This time, his attitude was very different from the first time he came.
"I was blind to the truth," he said as he bowed to Fu Zhiyu politely upon entering the room, "I beg King Zhao to forgive me."
Fu Zhiyu: “…”
He was silent at the right time and said nothing.
To be honest, he didn't know what was going on with King Xidan, but saying this at this time would make him look cowardly.
"It's all my fault. King Zhao can have whatever he wants. My Qian family is willing to make amends and ask King Zhao to let my son live. He knows nothing and has never been involved in anything."
Fu Zhiyu didn't know who Qian Manguan's son was, and he had never seen him, but he didn't say a word, and his expression didn't change, looking unfathomable.
Qian Manguan had no idea what he was thinking, but seeing this made him even more panicked. He gritted his teeth and fell to his knees with a thud.
"I beg Your Highness Prince Zhao to show some mercy! As long as you are willing to spare the Qian family, I will do anything you ask me to do!"
Fu Zhiyu: “…”
He had a plan and wanted to see this, but the scene happened too quickly and inexplicably, leaving him at a loss as to what to do.
"Master Qian, you are joking," he finally said, "I have never met Master Qian. What does his health have to do with me?"
Fu Zhiyu was telling the truth, but to Qian Manguan, it seemed like he hadn't forgiven her yet.
"You... stop joking," Qian Manguan said nervously, his whole body trembling slightly, looking at Fu Zhiyu as if he was looking at a devil, "My son Qian Mingchong was stopped in the territory of Chen State. He was said to have stolen valuables and has now been thrown into the Royal Prison. He has always had everything he wanted, how could he steal anything!"
Having said that, Qian Manguan seemed to be so excited that he moved a little too much, with his upper body straightened up. But when he saw Fu Zhiyu's expression, he felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him, and he knelt back down to his original position.
"The State of Chen is a long way from Jiangnan. It's getting further and further away. It has nothing to do with me."
"No," Qian Manguan shook his head, and then carefully watched his face from below, "They said... that the Qian family had offended someone they shouldn't have offended, and asked me to seek forgiveness from you, so that the matter can be put to rest."
Qian Manguan came to Fu Zhiyu immediately without any hesitation.
Do I have any friendship with the State of Chen
Fu Zhiyu asked himself this question, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with any result.
"I don't know what's going on," Fu Zhiyu continued to speak the truth. He couldn't do anything for Qian Manguan because of this inexplicable matter that had nothing to do with him. "What they said over there might not be referring to me. Master Qian, please go back. I won't see you off."
Qian Manguan showed a look of despair on his face, but before he could say anything else, he was taken away by the soldiers who received the order at the door.
Fu Zhiyu instructed: "If he comes in the next few days, don't let him in."
The soldier at the door responded yes.
No matter who did this, the Qian family will have to give him the cold shoulder for a few days.
Fu Zhiyu has been busy these days. While investigating the inexplicable disaster that befell the Qian family, he was also looking through the files in Luanzhou.
The governor of Luanzhou withdrew, leaving behind a lot of files that were too numerous for Yuan Jiangxing to read. Fu Zhiyu was largely responsible for this, so he was also reading them.
During these three years, he was not very familiar with Jiangnan. At most, he had only taken his mother out for a few trips. What he saw was very superficial. Only after reading the files did he realize that it was not easy to run such a large city.
Yuan Jiangxing was a military general after all, and some civil duties were not easy for him to do. Yuan Xi's sister's husband was considered the most educated among his subordinates, so he was also asked to help.
He was looking at the files in an orderly manner, but the Qian family was in chaos.
According to the news received in the past few days, several lines of the barbarians were almost wiped out and all were cut off. Not only did they lose money, but their future business also became slim.
Money is one thing, but Qian Mingchong is Qian Manguan’s favorite son. He has high hopes for him since he was young and plans to hand over all the family business to him when he is old.
When the barbarian tribe was in trouble, Qian Manguan was glad that his son did not take that trade route, but who knew that the border guards of the State of Chen suddenly attacked and found a box of night-shining pearls in the Qian family's carriage. They said that it was a treasure that the Chen royal family had just lost and was priceless. The caravan was arrested as a horse thief.
Stealing royal property is a serious crime no matter where it is placed. The lighter punishment is exile or beheading. This time, the Qian family cannot get away with it even with the silver. The officials who used to show some sympathy are now ruthless and say at most that this is a death order from above, and that the Qian family has offended someone they shouldn't have offended. They told them not to waste their energy here and to get that person's forgiveness before the matter would be over.
Qian Manguan regretted so much that he wanted to slap himself in the face. How could he have known that Fu Zhiyu, who seemed to be honest and not very smart for the past three years, had this trick? Even if Ji Lin was the current emperor, he didn't have the ability to ask the barbarians and the State of Chen to protect him, right
Just because of the temptation of the incense burner during the sacrifice, no one knew that such a big thing would happen.
But the incense burner incident was not caused by him alone. The Deng family was also involved. Why are they fine
Qian Manguan held his breath, feeling that it was extremely unfair. After he was forcibly driven out of Fu Zhiyu's house, he did not go home but turned around and went to Deng's house.
But unexpectedly, the Deng family would not open the door for him.
Qian Manguan was really angry now. He had been friends with the Deng family for more than ten years, but now that they fell into poverty, he couldn't even get in the door. He was so disheartened by the coldness of the world that he even dropped the Buddhist beads in his hand on the spot.
"Tell Deng Qian to get out!" He didn't leave, but got angry at the door of Deng's house, "Don't think you'll be alright if you don't see me. I think it's only a matter of time before he gets into trouble!"
The concierge complained bitterly, and while stopping him, he explained, "It's really not what you think it means. It's really not. Please don't make a scene here. You're making a fool of yourself..."
There was such a commotion at the door that even passers-by were attracted. Qian Manguan was really happy and didn't care about people coming to see him. But this was the Deng family mansion after all, and it would not be good to have people watching and making a fool of themselves.
After a while, someone came out from the gate.
"Uncle Qian, calm down first and go inside and have some tea."
Qian Manguan glanced at the person who came, took a deep breath, then waved his hand and told his men to stop.
"Jinghe?"
"It's me," Deng Jinghe said with a very decent smile on his face, "Please come in first. We have already brewed some tea, the best Biluochun. The Deng family is not what you think it is now."
Qian Manguan looked at him suspiciously, thought about it, and then took his men in.
As soon as he entered, he found it very quiet and there were not many people in the hall. He immediately asked Deng Jinghe: "Where is your father? I have something urgent to ask him."
Deng Jinghe sat down slowly, but what he said was very shocking.
"My father had an accident," he said. "It happened a few days ago. It was said that a girl in the brothel felt that she was deceived by him and held a grudge against my father. The doctor said that he was poisoned. Although his life is not in danger, he has been sleeping and has not woken up yet."
"What?" Qian Manguan was shocked. "Impossible! How come there is no news from outside?"
But when he thought about it carefully, he realized that he had not seen Deng Qian outside in the past few days. In the past, this man would go to the brothel to have fun every day, and it was rare for him not to go there for so many days.
He originally thought that this person had received the news and was just trying to avoid the limelight, but who knew that something bad would happen.
"It's not a glorious thing, how can we tell others about it?" Deng Jinghe said, "Uncle Qian, you also know that many people have received the news of the Qian family's accident. If we also have an accident while refueling at this time, and we just happen to collide with each other, what do you want the outside world to think?"
The more Qian Manguan thought about it, the more frightened he became, and cold sweat began to break out on his forehead.
He suddenly collapsed in his chair and muttered: "Who is this Fu Zhiyu...?"