Yuwen Yin quickly found the answer on the map. The terrain in Liu village was very peculiar. It was sandwiched between Pingjiang Prefecture and a corner of Southern Xinjiang. There was also a backwater on the left side, this waterway leads to Bagua Mountain. Bagua Mountain was named as such because the entire mountain range was divided into two by a curved river, like a Bagua map. One of the two divided mountain ranges was adjacent to Southern Xinjiang, while the other can be routed back to Jiuliancheng county. Although the Bagua Mountain was notoriously steep, but since the two gateways of the village have been sealed off, it was hard to guarantee that the villagers wouldn’t take this risk in order to survive.
— If someone was able to successfully cross the Bagua Mountain and enter Jiuliancheng county, then the consequences will be more disastrous than compared to not sealing off the village!
Because Jiuliancheng county can be considered as the transport hub of the entire country. Although it had far less economy than Pingjiang Prefecture, the human conditions were not better than Yicheng county, and the natural environment wasn’t any better than Zhongdu county. But it is the largest transit point, with the three main official roads going through there. Moreover, one of the roads there leads to the capital.
If the epidemic situation spreads to Jiuliancheng county, the entire Dayu Dynasty might be placed in jeopardy. But the refugees that Yuwen Yin saw on the official road when he came from Yicheng county had already reflected the fact that there was a problem within Jiuliancheng county. Only the officials were still complacent and were not the least bit aware of this.
Yuwen Yin’s inference was really accurate. By noon on that same day, Jiangzhou’s government office received an emergency report. An epidemic situation suddenly broke out in Jiuliancheng county, and the death toll had instantly amounted to as many as ten. Yuwen Yin directly threw the emergency report in front of Jin Yi: “Had the medical officers been sent into the village, to isolate and treat people in batches, instead of sealing off the village directly in the hopes of saving trouble and disregarding the life and death of the people, how could such a big loophole be created?! If this matter was to be reported in the royal court, even beheading you a hundred times wouldn’t be sufficient enough!”
It was only at this moment did Jin Yi belatedly realized the seriousness of this matter. His complexion turned ashen, as he trembled uncontrollably while being rooted on the spot. After a short moment, he suddenly crawled to Yuwen Yin and knocked his head on the floor twice: “This humble official knows his mistake. Begging the crown prince to save this lowly subject! The lowly subject is willing to work as a cow and horse for His Highness from this day forth!!”
He knows that his life completely rests in Yuwen Yin’s palm. So long as Yuwen Yin wills it, the big matters can still be made smaller, regardless of the seriousness of the situation. On the contrary, if Yuwen Yin was displeased, he can find fault on things, even if there wasn’t anything wrong in the first place.
Truth be told, this current development was, on the contrary, quite in line with Yuwen Yin’s objective. But he didn’t reveal anything on the outside, and only briefly rapped his knuckle on the tabletop, “What? Do you want this prince to deceive and not report it for the sake of a mere provincial governor like you?”
At this moment, in this room where Jin Yi and his subordinates were presently convened, Jin Yi vaguely heard a slight turn from the words Yuwen Yin uttered, so he immediately said: “Begging His Highness to save this lowly subject’s life! This lowly subject is willing to recompense through meritorious service!!”
Jin Yi’s meritorious service actually pointed to the matter about the joint private business transaction between the two influential families in the capital and Pingjiang Prefecture.
These two influential families could be regarded as the Emperor’s relatives. One was the w.a.n.g family of Consort De and her elder brother w.a.n.g Hong, the other was the Jiang family, the natal family of Qi w.a.n.gfei. The key to the prosperity of Pingjiang Prefecture lies in three words: salt and silk.
Chingshui town in Pingjiang Prefecture has thousand of acres of salt pans, which is an important place for salt production in the Dayu Dynasty. Not to mention that the two largest silk farmstead was located here as well. However both salt and silk were firmly controlled by the government and the established national laws. The decree prohibits the private operation and transaction. Especially the private transaction of salts. The transaction of just more than 5 catty* was enough to warrant a decapitation.
*500 grams
Nevertheless, the prosperity of any influential family was inseparable from money. Moreover, the profit of selling salt was really so high that someone would inevitably hit on this idea. The salt transactions of the Jiang family has been secretly carried out since eight years ago, while the w.a.n.g family’s partic.i.p.ation in this only started six years ago. The smuggling front has also become longer and longer. But even for so long, the Emperor still actually had not the slightest knowledge about this, as no one had reported this.
Because behind this businesses were influential families and high officials. The escorts were the experts in Jianghu. The clients were also the rich and powerful people from various regions. All parties along the road worked together. Each joint and role weren’t good to offend. So, who would dare be nosy, and take care of these people’s business? What’s more, this matter could be considered as playing for keeps, as anyone who’s in this, can gain quite a lot of benefits.
Take Jin Yi as an example. He will be given a bribe every time the salt caravan sets off from Pingjiang Prefecture. There’s benefit to be gained, and no one will be offend. So he turned a blind eye, and was happy to see this happen. In the fullness of time, this matter has successfully been turned to a norm.
Yuwen Yin raised his brow, then finally spoke slowly amidst Jin Yi nervously holding his breath: “……I never expected Sir Jin to be such a smart person.”
On the surface, Jin Yi motionlessly knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation, but inwardly had a sinking feeling. He didn’t have any good intentions when confessing the illegal trading of salt to Yuwen Yin, as this was tantamount to directly pushing Yuwen Yin to the opposite side of the influential w.a.n.g and Jiang families, and tie the other to him. So no matter whether Yuwen Yin chooses to report a thorough investigation or wallow in the same mire as others, he would certainly be protected. If the former was chosen, he would stand up and be a witness of this meritorious deed. On the contrary, if the latter was chosen, he would be able to hold something against Yuwen Yin.
“However, Sir Jin should know that an obedient dog can live longer than a smart person,” Yuwen Yin paused, then looked at Jin Yi and asked word for word: “– So, do you want to be a smart but short-lived person, or just be an obedient dog?”
Jin Yi instantly realized the hidden implication in this sentence. So, he hurriedly nodded, and clearly expressed his loyalty: “This lowly subject wants to be an obedient dog. Begging His Highness to give this lowly subject a chance!”
In fact, the most obedient person to speak of, was still actually His Highness himself. In the carriage, Yuwen Yin was peeling grapes for his sweetheart, with a manner that can be regarded as honest and docile, which was more impressive than the most outstanding servant.
The Liu village has already become a sacrificial victim of politics, and could no longer be saved. Yuwen Yin commanded Jin Yi to send troops. The soldiers would be divided into 3 places, to primarily block all pa.s.sageways of Jiuliancheng county, and to make a decision when it’s time to decide, before immediately deciding to rush to Jiuliancheng county that very night. The carriage sped along, the imperial guards outside, who were riding their horses, also looked like they were in a hurry. But the expressions of the two individuals in the carriage were very peaceful. Especially the little quilt, who would lie down if there wasn’t a need to be seated. He lazily leaned on the soft pillow with one hand resting on another soft pillow. His eyes were half-closed as Yuwen Yin fed him grapes.
The youth’s eyelashes, which appeared even longer from above, cast a shallow shadow. Quivering with every shake of the carriage, and also made Yuwen Yin’s heart tremble with each quiver.
Yuwen Yin naturally didn’t forget the grapes in his hand while being silly, and did his best to figure out the best way to peel grapes. He turned the grapes upside down, then started peeling from the small tip behind it, to ensure that the peeling would be swift but still intact.
Although the little quilt had a somewhat arrogant and willful temperament, but he was still a very sensible and clever individual deep down. It was only because of the still unhappy feeling in his chest, in addition to being unable to pinpoint the reason for this unhappiness, that he deliberately ordered Yuwen Yin around like this. Yuwen Yin was well-aware of this, and was also happy to spoil his sweetheart into being short tempered. It would be best if the other was spoiled to the point of lawlessness, and be spoiled to the point of being inseparable to him. So that he won’t look for anyone else other than him.
No matter how sweet the bunch of grapes is, one or two sour ones would always be chanced upon. If sour ones were eaten, the little quilt would immediately become upset, and look at Yuwen Yin with a frown of dissatisfaction, as if the other had intentionally fed him the sour ones. But only one sentence would pop up on the guiltless Yuwen Yin’s mind, who’s on the receiving end of this look, which was, even the frowning expression of his baby was so lovely and beautiful.
He then immediately said: “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t peel sour grapes for you to eat. How about punishing me to ma.s.sage your legs?”
The little quilt slightly pursed his lips. He only haughtily nodded after a long while, like a difficult to please master.
Yuwen Yin was no longer that neglected and low-borne son of the Qi w.a.n.g’s mansion from those years, but a prince who could enter and exit the royal court at a young age and possesses real power. Not only was he extremely favored by the emperor, but was also supported by many ministers such as Wei Song and Hong Tang. He even needed to be saluted by Qi w.a.n.g with each encounter. In front of others, he could crazily and magnificently call the wind and summon the rain. But to be this subservient in front of the little quilt, could also be considered as another skill.