What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 168 Su Mo escorts silver to the capital, leaving the Empress dumbfounded!
Shenjing, the Imperial Palace.

The Empress stared in disbelief at the secret report sent back by Su Mo.

During this period, the Empress paid some attention to Su Mo's situation in Tianchang County.

After all, this was a covert struggle between imperial power and the power of the ministers.

The Empress was not the only one who paid attention to Tianchang County; important officials of the imperial court were also involved.

Su Mo did indeed go a bit too far.

However, he was working for the imperial court to earn money, and he was young and impetuous.

The Empress could understand that his methods were not tactful enough and thus he offended people.

Officials who truly get things done cannot avoid offending people.

However, the Empress was also surprised by Su Mo, who dared to utter the words "harmony with the world" and deliberately inflated the cost of the Divine Arm Bow.

When it comes to actually doing things, they are not only not smooth, but also extremely ruthless and cold-blooded!
Among the memorials sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial, there were more than thirty memorials impeaching Su Mo, Xue Shan, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard of Tianchang County!
Among those who submitted memorials were high-ranking officials of the court, Hanlin scholars, and censors who reported matters based on hearsay.

The Empress kept everything hidden and did not issue any!
They provided Su Mo with tremendous support.

Of course, Su Mo did not disappoint Leng Liuxi!
The letter that Fengming Si was asked to deliver... well, it should be a letter to "Leng Xixi", saying that Leng Xixi's request has been fulfilled and that the silver is now being escorted back to the capital, inviting "Leng Xixi" to the former Su residence for a talk!

Leng Liuxi was naturally extremely shocked.

He made a promise to Su Mo to grant her three wishes, but there were preconditions.

They are 10,000 taels of silver, 50,000 taels of silver, and 1
Could it be that in just one month, Su Mo obtained a huge sum of money, tens of thousands of taels of silver, from the matter of opening up regulations?
According to the memorials submitted by those censors, Su Mo in Tianchang County had incurred the wrath of both heaven and man, and had been exploiting people to the extreme.

Merchants and wealthy households suffered greatly.

However, the report did not mention a word about the method of exploitation or how much silver was forcibly seized; it simply used words like "extreme" and "enormous" to describe it.

The Empress understood their ulterior motives.

They were simply afraid that the imperial court would find out just how wealthy those merchants were!

Fearing he would go mad with poverty, he ordered the Imperial Guards to confiscate his property and seize his silver!
It's certain that Su Mo offended people, but earning ten thousand taels of silver in a month was still hard for the Empress to believe!
Merchants in Tianchang County have become this wealthy?
……

Su Mo looked at Ding Yu, who was driving the convoy himself and full of vigor, and sighed with admiration.

Twenty mounted guards in brocade robes, their swords drawn, stood on either side of the convoy, protecting it.

Merchants and travelers passing by would flee in terror before the Imperial Guards could even drive them away!
A full fifteen carriages carrying silver!
How could the Imperial Guards dare not be cautious!

In the past month, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard did not know the exact amount of silver that Su Mo had extorted from the merchants!

Only two people knew the exact number.

Only Ding Yu, who personally handled the matter, and Su Mo, who compiled and settled the accounts!

Su Mo did an excellent job of keeping things confidential.

Because he was afraid too!

They collected such an enormous amount of silver, both openly and secretly.

If those aristocratic families and powerful clans found out, who knows, one day some ruthless bandits, Taoist sorcerers, or heretical cultists might massacre the county government!
In fact, officials cannot do without advisors.

This advisor is very capable, that's even better!

Things unfolded exactly as Ding Yu had predicted.

The head of the Baihu Office in Tianchang County was overjoyed when Su Mo came to his door and talked about opening up the regulations for merchants!

Being a magistrate in a county attached to the capital is not easy, and being a magistrate in a local office is no different.

The commanders and probationary commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had long desired to enter the capital.

Unfortunately, they can't just go back to Beijing whenever they want.

Although being a centurion in the capital was more difficult, the problem was that it brought more power and made it easier to get promoted—since both were difficult, they naturally chose to be centurions in the capital's garrison!
Therefore, the garrison cooperated very well, even actively cooperated with Su Mo!

Their execution ability is also quite strong!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is still at its zenith and knows the situation in Tianchang County very well.

In just one day, they captured more than 300 merchants!

Every investigation is accurate.

They either wore jade pendants that exceeded the prescribed standards, or wore silk underneath and jade belts around their waists.

Or, the color of the robes might exceed the regulations, or the size and decoration of the house might be out of line, etc.

Anyway, there's always some illegal package that suits them...

The Hundred-Household Commander is even more ruthless than Su Mo!
The Embroidered Uniform Guards are the least afraid of offending anyone as long as it benefits them.

Without saying a word, they simply dragged out two notorious guys and made an example of them, torturing them in front of the other merchants. The scene was gruesome, with blood everywhere.

The worst thing is to take things too seriously!
The merchant who witnessed the Imperial Guards using torture techniques turned pale instantly, and his clothes were soaked with sweat!
On that day alone, the merchants paid a fine of up to 30,000 taels of silver!
The unlucky guy who violated the rules the most and was fined the most paid 300 taels of silver!

Hmm... This person also had three brothers who were arrested and imprisoned in the garrison jail; they were all taken down at once!
After the fine was paid, Su Mo, playing the good cop, stepped in.

He expressed genuine sympathy for the merchants.

Then, with great kindness, they were told that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would continue to rigorously investigate any violations of regulations.

He warned all merchants to be extremely careful!
If you get caught again, it won't be as simple as a fine; you'll end up in jail.

However, there are ways to evade the strict investigations of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Simply purchase regulated insurance (membership)!

The duration varies, the regulations vary, and the choice is up to the individual.

As long as the membership level is high enough, such as VIP members at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard not only doesn't care about your attire or whether your mansion violates regulations, but they can even protect your business!
This "protection" is also simple.

Members who pay the required fees can report their competitors who haven't paid to the Imperial Guard.

They disappeared the next day after being stored there!

With Su Mo's kind advice.

The merchants were very "enthusiastic" and "eager" to inquire about the rules of buying and selling with Su Mo, and even patted their chests on the spot, saying that they would buy the lowest level six-month ordinary membership to try it out!
Su Mo never imagined that the merchants in the county with a population of 200,000 would be so wealthy.

In just one month, they collected over 70,000 taels of silver in fines.

There are still over 30,000 yuan in membership fees!
More than two thousand merchants, large and small, became members, paying an average of ten taels per person.

Furthermore, many wealthy individuals came upon hearing the news and voluntarily requested to pay for membership!
There's nothing we can do; the Embroidered Uniform Guards don't uphold martial ethics.

Wealthy households who were not originally merchants were arrested and taken in for investigation as if they were merchants.

Once you're in the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison, regardless of whether you're in compliance with the law or not, there's no way you can get out without paying money!

Besides, wouldn't wealthy families secretly wear silk robes and other fine clothes to elevate their social status?

Silk, in particular, was a life-saving item!
It's not safe these days.

Open and covert attacks are impossible to guard against, but a silk undergarment can save your life in a critical moment!

Just as Su Mo was feeling sentimental.

Zhong Dingfang, a centurion of the Imperial Guard in Tianchang County, saw the magnificent city walls of the capital city faintly in his sight.

Finally unable to resist, he spurred his horse forward to Su Mo's side and whispered, "Lord Su, is it really unnecessary to submit a secret memorial to His Majesty?"

He was a centurion in the county seat, and he really did have the power to submit secret memorials to the Empress!

Although the exact amount is unknown, the amount of silver collected by the Embroidered Uniform Guard alone is more than 30,000 taels!

Su Mo also received a considerable amount of fines.

There is a membership fee.

Zhong Dingfang was able to roughly estimate that Su Mo had taken away no less than 80,000 taels of silver from Tianchang County!

Others can earn 100,000 taels of silver in three years as a prefect.

Su Mo achieved it in just one month!

This can also be seen from the size of the silver chariot and the deeply sunken wheels.

The combined weight of the silver and copper coins definitely exceeds 30,000 jin!
In fact, the silver distributed to the Hundred Households Office exceeded two thousand taels, enough for everyone in the Hundred Households Office, including the lowest-ranking laborers, to have a super prosperous New Year!
Otherwise, why would those strongmen and captains work so hard to help Su Mo?
Su Mo turned to look at Zhong Dingfang and lowered his voice, saying, "This matter certainly cannot be submitted directly to His Majesty!"

"If others find out, wouldn't that be spreading rumors and Your Majesty competing with the people for profit?"

Zhong Dingfang nodded quickly!
He knew very well that most of this money was obtained illegally!
Even with court regulations, there is still considerable room for maneuver in many matters, let alone in Su Mo's case, where there is no court law to back it up, so the room for maneuver is even greater.

When doing things, it's inevitable that there will be some... cough cough... some overstepping of boundaries.

Su Mo lowered her voice again and said, "We'll talk about it later!"

"The number of people we have offended by acting in this way is something that Lord Ding should know without me having to tell you!"

"You haven't been held accountable by the court for so long, surely you don't think it's all because of my abilities?"

Zhong Dingfang immediately took a deep breath: "Lord Su, what do you mean?"

Su Mo nodded slightly: "Of course, there are people above us who are taking responsibility for us!"

"Tell me, if we were to submit these silver and memorials directly to His Majesty and claim all the credit, what would the officials who protect us think?"

Zhong Dingfang was startled and quickly said, "It's all my fault for being too eager to advance. Please don't take offense, Lord Su!" Su Mo smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lord Zhong!"

"Your contributions are evident to the higher-ups and to this official myself."

"Once we arrive in Shenjing, I will introduce you to the Right Commander of the Thousand Household and the Assistant Commander of the Commandery!"

"If Lord Zhong fails to reach the Shenjing Garrison, I will hold him responsible!"

Zhong Dingfang swallowed hard and hurriedly laughed, "No! No!"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Then I'll leave it to Lord Su!"

Su Mo, the clerk, also served as the chief officer of the Phoenix Cry Division and the chief officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and was a baron of the empire.

A big shot like this: Right Commander of the Thousand Households when he speaks, and Commander of the Vice Commander when he talks!

How could he, a mere centurion, dare to show off in front of Su Mo!
The convoy soon arrived at the gate of Shenjing City.

Such a large convoy naturally attracted the attention of the city's guards and the Imperial Guards.

A dozen or so Imperial Guards quickly stepped forward and blocked the convoy. The leading officer was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly jogged to the back of the convoy.

"Lord Su, you're back?"

Su Mo took a closer look, then smiled and said, "What a coincidence!"

He looked Tan Jin up and down: "Hey... Brother Tan, you've been promoted to junior officer? It seems you were just promoted to captain last month?"

Tan Jin laughed and said, "It's all thanks to the care of Commander Qianhu!"

"Before Commander Lin was transferred to the Right Garrison Commander position, he promoted me to the rank of Junior Flag Officer, and today I happen to be on duty guarding this city gate."

Su Mo chuckled: "Then I must congratulate Brother Tan!"

"However, now that Brother Tan is a junior officer, he should not refer to himself as a petty person anymore, lest people look down on the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Tan Jin quickly replied, "If it weren't for the support of Lord Lin and Lord Su, I wouldn't be where I am today!"

"In front of Lord Su, it is not an exaggeration to call myself a lowly person; in front of others, I will certainly not disgrace the prestige of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Su Mo's convoy: "Lord Su, are you heading back to your residence?"

Su Mo nodded: "I have something to do and need to return to the capital."

"Brother Tan, please have someone inspect the convoy..."

Tan Jin chuckled: "What are you saying, Lord Su!"

He didn't mention the interrogation at the moment, and ordered his strongmen to make way.

Wait until the convoy enters Shenjing.

Zhong Dingfang looked at Su Mo with a complicated expression and sighed, "Lord Su, your reputation in this capital is truly enviable!"

Su Mo waved his hand: "Lord Ding, please don't misunderstand!"

"I am but a lowly clerk, with no real connections. I only knew that flag officer Tan from when I worked at the Upper Left Office."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion and exclamations erupted from the market ahead.

Dozens of heavily armed guards, carrying bows and arrows, who looked like seasoned warriors, were leading a large horse on a journey.

He was followed by a group of noble sons dressed in fine clothes.

Pedestrians and vendors along the roadside scattered in fear, and some vendors who couldn't get away even had their stalls collapse, with their goods scattered all over the ground.

When Zhong Dingfang saw the guards' attire and the markings on the saddles, his expression immediately changed.

How could he not recognize the mark of the Ning Gongguo Mansion, a pillar of the empire!
He hurriedly ordered his Imperial Guards and coachmen to make way for him.

Su Mo frowned.

The sons of nobles glanced curiously in this direction as the convoy passed by.

Then, several of them, with expressions of surprise and doubt on their faces, quickly walked towards Su Mo.

Zhang Xuzu looked at Su Mo with slight surprise, then smiled and said, "Lord Su, why didn't you send someone to deliver a message when you returned to the capital?"

Li You also laughed and said, "It's been so long since we've seen Lord Su! We've missed you terribly!"

"Perfect timing! We've been going out of town for a spring outing and hunting these past few days. Would Lord Su do us the honor of joining us for a bit of fun?"

Wen Bi chuckled: "It's a good opportunity to introduce the other brothers to Lord Su, so that we won't accidentally fight among our own people in the future!"

The other noble sons naturally looked at Su Mo with surprise and suspicion.

I wonder what kind of background this ordinary-looking young man in plain clothes has that makes him so familiar with Brother Zhang and the others!

Su Mo waved his hand: "I still have matters to attend to, so I will not leave the city with you."

As he spoke, he frowned slightly, pointed to the merchants who were frantically packing up their goods, and sighed: "Brother Zhang, it's not easy being a merchant or commoner like us."

"It's best for us to be extra careful when we travel."

Zhang Xuzu's expression changed slightly, then he nodded: "Lord Su is absolutely right!"

With that, he turned to the guards and shouted, "Didn't you hear what Lord Su said? Hurry up and help them clean up! If you do this again, you won't be spared!"

After saying that, he smiled at Su Mo and said, "Lord Su is busy with affairs, so let's wait until we return from the hunt before we go to find you for a drink!"

"However, your beautiful maid will have to cook a few dishes to go with the drinks!"

Su Mo blinked: "Could it be that since Brother Zhang went to Baiyujing, Jiang Lan wouldn't dare not cook for him herself?"

Zhang Xuzu immediately looked annoyed: "Don't even mention it!"

Wen Bi chuckled beside him: "Now that the lord's beautiful maid is cooking herself, it will require a gold-plated approval card!"

"Zhang San's card is just a gold VIP card!"

Zhang Xuzu snorted heavily: "If it weren't for Lord Su's sake, how could I have let her off!"

He paused, then looked at Su Mo suspiciously: "What exactly happened with the 'Only Love Approval Card'? I asked your concubine surnamed Liu, but she wouldn't say! I'm so angry!"

Su Mo was speechless.

He didn't even know when the Gold VIP Card was issued.

Aren't restaurants just tiered into three membership levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold?

He could only say, "I don't know what happened either. The restaurant is now under Siyun's management. When I get back, I'll ask her to upgrade Brother Zhang's card!"

Zhang Xuzu snorted: "That's more like it!"

"We have already spent eight or nine hundred taels of silver in Baiyujing, and they won't even give us a Gold Love Card. Isn't that a rip-off?"

……

After watching Zhang Xuzu and the others take their leave.

Zhong Dingfang couldn't help but swallow, looking at Su Mo with a strange expression: "Lord Zhang, who are they?"

Su Mo casually replied, "The one in the lead is the third son of the Duke of Ningguo."

"The other two are from the families of the Marquis of Dingbian and the Marquis of Anyang, but I don't recognize the others."

Zhong Dingfang was dumbfounded.

After a long while, he looked at Su Mo with a resentful expression: "Lord Su, you said earlier that you didn't have many connections in the capital..."

"Actually... I'm very discreet, Lord Su, don't worry about me spreading rumors!"

Su Mo coughed lightly: "Ahem, we've only met a few times, our relationship isn't deep, it's not deep at all!"

Zhong Dingfang didn't want to talk anymore!

Do you think I'm blind?

He even questioned the eldest son of the Duke of Ningguo about why he allowed the guards to disturb the people!
The third son of the Duke of Ning did not dare to refute!
Is this what you call a shallow relationship?

What exactly constitutes depth?

Does "deep" mean that only those with connections and backgrounds as profound as Lord Su's are considered "deep"?
Damn it!

Shenjing is indeed a place where hidden talents reside!

A low-ranking official, who would have thought that he was actually a man-eating dragon if I hadn't seen him with my own eyes!
If I am transferred to Shenjing, I must keep a low profile!

Well, we still need to cling to Lord Su's powerful leg!

Su Mo had no idea what a convoluted thought was going on in Zhong Dingfang's mind.

He led the convoy back outside the house.

Then, to his shock, he discovered that the large black carriage that had instilled a sense of dread was parked at the side gate of the house.

Inside the carriage was none other than that stern-faced, beardless old fellow!
Why did Leng Xixi arrive at my house so quickly?

Well, that's perfect, saves me the trouble of notifying her to come over!
Su Mo instructed the gatekeeper to direct the coachman to drive the silver carriage into the courtyard.

Then Zhong Dingfang and others were led to a side hall on the third floor to receive them.

Then, upon arriving at the main hall of the inner courtyard, they indeed found Leng Xixi leisurely pouring herself a drink.

In addition, Nangong Sheyue, the commander of the Fengming Division, was also in the hall.

Here's a 12-word chapter to make up for the one I promised yesterday, and another one before midnight tonight!
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(End of this chapter)