Later, Zhang Chen returned to his residence. After dinner, feeling a bit tired, he leaned back on the couch to rest.
Just then, a clear notification sound rang in Zhang Chen's ear.
【Ding! Successfully traded cloth with Zhongshan Zhen Cloth Shop, obtaining 1.8 million silver. Triggered the 'Good Fortune' effect, increasing income by 100%, adding 3.6 million silver!】
!!!
Zhang Chen immediately jolted and sat up.
Steward Wu had been away from the residence for several days. He heard that he went to a neighboring county to do a big business deal. He didn't expect the business partner to be the Zhen!
That was a famous aristocratic family in Ji Province, the Zhongshan Zhen, whom even Yuan Shao was eager to marry into!
Zhang Chen couldn't help but be overjoyed and quickly opened the 【Assets】 page to browse through it.
【Property: 250,000 gold (6 million cash)】
【Shops: 14】
【Land: 100 mu】
【Tenants: 140】
【Grain Reserves: 1500 shi】
Indeed, Steward Wu was as capable as ever. Zhang Chen's assets had increased again. In terms of wealth alone, he actually had as much as 250,000 taels of gold!
According to the conversion method of the Eastern Han Dynasty, 1 jin of gold was 24 taels, and 1 tael of gold was 24 cash.
250,000 taels of gold was more than ten thousand jin!
This didn't even include the shops, land, and other items.
With Zhang Chen's current financial strength, he was definitely a wealthy old man. He was quite satisfied with such results.
However, Zhang Chen also knew in his heart that although this money looked like a lot, it would flow away like water when it was actually needed.
He was going to achieve a great cause, and the army was a bottomless pit. Food, weapons, horses, as well as military pay and pensions, were all places where money was spent.
If this amount of money was thrown in, he probably wouldn't even see a ripple.
Alas, relying solely on Steward Wu's management, even with multiple title effects stacked, it was still too slow. It seems that after gaining some strength, he really had to consider forging relationships with those aristocratic families and powerful clans.
But for now, let's first deal with that Han Xuan. Tomorrow, he will definitely demand a bribe.
Zhang Chen had no intention of getting entangled with him and did not expect a small Imperial Envoy to provide him with much help.
If he knew when to stop, he would give him some money and send him away.
But if he was insatiable, hmph hmph!
Midnight, the inn in the west of the city.
In the Heaven-ranked room on the second floor, Han Xuan was wearing a single garment, leaning against the side of the couch, his eyes slightly closed.
Two singing girls were also wearing thin clothes. One knelt in front of him, massaging his legs, and the other sat on the couch, kneading his shoulders, their eyes full of seductive charm.
Pan Feng, who was standing by, turned away with a face full of anger.
Outside the door, a middle-aged man in his forties walked in. He had a mustache, wore a plain cloth robe, and was dressed like a legal advisor.
After the man entered, he bowed to Han Xuan, but his eyes involuntarily glanced at the two singing girls, revealing a lewd smile.
Han Xuan, with his eyes closed, naturally didn't see the man's actions. After a long while, he said, "What, you still haven't found out the details of this County Magistrate? What's the problem, is it corruption and bribery, or tyrannical extortion?"
"Reporting, Lord, I have inquired of several common people, and they all praised the County Magistrate without exception, and no one mentioned his evil deeds."
"Hmm?" Han Xuan sat up slightly and snorted coldly, "Hmph! How can there be such an official in this world? It's clearly because you are incompetent!"
Han Xuan's angry reprimand scared the man into quickly kneeling down.
At this moment, a follower from outside the door led a woman in.
"Lord, someone is willing to testify that the County Magistrate of this county is acting unlawfully."
"Oh?" Han Xuan's eyes lit up, and he looked at the woman.
He saw that the woman was in her thirties, dressed simply, but still charming, not looking like she came from a poor family.
"Who are you? Why are you accusing the County Magistrate?"
"Lord..." The woman plopped down on the ground, sobbing, "This humble woman wants to accuse... that County Magistrate Zhang Chen, of disregarding human life, killing my husband, and seizing my family property, Woohoo..."
"What! There is such a thing!" Han Xuan was startled upon hearing this and said, "Tell me in detail, without the slightest concealment."
"Yes, Lord." The woman said, "My husband was originally a merchant in this Guangping County, named Huang Wenyi, and he originally had old ties with his Zhang Family..."
It turned out that this woman was Huang Wenyi's wife. That day, after Zhang Chen publicly executed Huang Wenyi, he confiscated all of his family property. As for his wife, children, and elderly, they were not punished, and they were given a few mu of land to live on.
However, this Lady Huang was used to living a life of ease and comfort. How could she endure a life of coarse tea and simple food? Therefore, not only did she not have any gratitude in her heart, but she also harbored resentment.
Today, she was strolling in the market and happened to see the Imperial Envoy from the capital entering the city and staying in this inn.
She originally wanted to watch the excitement, but after a while, someone from the inn came out and inquired everywhere whether the County Magistrate had committed any illegal acts. Lady Huang secretly thought that if she could take this opportunity to accuse Zhang Chen, she might be able to bring him down in one fell swoop, to avenge the death of her husband and the confiscation of her home that day.
So, she sought out Han Xuan's subordinate.
At this moment, after her exaggeration and embellishment, she had painted Zhang Chen as a treacherous villain who didn't repay debts, twisted right and wrong, and finally killed innocent people indiscriminately.
Han Xuan was overjoyed upon hearing this. He didn't expect this County Magistrate of Guangping County to have such a big handle. Tomorrow, he must extort a large sum from him!
"Don't worry, this Lord is on an inspection tour on behalf of the heavens, and I will naturally investigate everything clearly. I will definitely not let such a malicious person sit high in the temple!" Han Xuan smiled and said, "Are you willing to write down what you just said as a complaint and testify in court tomorrow?"
"I am willing, I am willing!" Lady Huang quickly said.
Han Xuan immediately asked his legal advisor to bring paper and pen, told Lady Huang to write down the complaint, and put her fingerprint on it.
Han Xuan looked at the complaint and immediately beamed with joy, repeatedly saying, "Good, with this complaint, this Lord will definitely give you justice!"
"This humble woman... this humble woman thanks Lord. If I can bring down this corrupt official and reclaim my family property, this humble woman... is willing to give half of my family property to reward Lord!"
Lady Huang immediately knelt on the ground, covering her face and weeping.
"Hehe, easy to say, easy to say! You two, take her down to rest first and take good care of her. Tomorrow, this Lord will make that County Magistrate confront her in court!"
"Yes." The legal advisor and the follower responded and took Lady Huang out, ordered the waiter to arrange a guest room, and assigned additional personnel to guard her closely.
Han Xuan watched Lady Huang leave, his face immediately sank, and he cursed in his heart, "Hmph! Half? Do you really think this Lord is a beggar!"
Tomorrow, if that County Magistrate is sensible and knows how to be filial, I will get rid of this Lady Huang for him. If he is not sensible, then after dealing with him, I will confiscate all of his assets in the name of ill-gotten gains, hehe!
...
Early the next morning, Zhang Chen arrived at the County Government early. Ju Shou, Gao Shun, and all the constables disguised as Soldiers of the Trapped Camp, gathered at the County Government to wait.
But after waiting for a long time, Han Xuan's carriage did not arrive. It was not until the sun was high in the sky that a constable from outside the gate reported that the inspecting official had arrived at the entrance of the County Government.
Zhang Chen quickly called everyone and got up to welcome him.
After a while, Zhang Chen arrived outside the yamen and saw that Han Xuan's carriage had arrived. He quickly stepped forward to salute and said, "Your Lord's arrival truly brings glory to our humble county. Please come inside for a talk."
Pan Feng dismounted, lifted the carriage curtain, and Han Xuan slowly stepped out of the carriage.
Today, the two singing girls were not in the carriage.
Zhang Chen took a quick look and saw that Han Xuan had dark circles under his eyes and looked tired, which was likely due to working all night yesterday.