Transmigrating to the Song Dynasty: Water Margin Business Management

Wang Zhiqiang knew Gao Qiu's character well and dared not go to Gao Qiu's residence in person. So he sent his trusted servant Wang Wu to test Gao Qiu's attitude.

When Wang Wu arrived at Gao Qiu's residence, he carefully observed Gao Qiu's expression and gave a general account of what had happened.

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiu's face darkened horribly. He said, "Have Wang Zhiqiang hand over the account books and documents related to me, that is, those account books. I will prepare ships for him and send him to Liao to avoid trouble for the time being."

Wang Wu relayed Gao Qiu's words to Wang Zhiqiang verbatim.

Wang Zhiqiang suspected that Gao Qiu was not being kind; his demand for the account books was simply a ploy to destroy evidence and then eliminate him. However, on the surface, Wang Zhiqiang still pretended to comply.

He took out several pre-printed fake account books and handed them to Wang Wu, saying, "Go to Gao Qiu's residence again and give these to him. Tell him that as long as you arrange a ship to take me to Liao, I will tell him the location where the real account books are hidden."

Wang Wu accepted the order and went to Gao Qiu's residence again.

After Gao Qiu obtained the fake account book and examined it carefully, he realized it was a fraud. He angrily threw the fake account book on the ground and roared, "That dog Wang Zhiqiang, how dare he fool me!"

Gao Qiu immediately summoned his men and prepared to personally lead a team to arrest Wang Zhiqiang.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhiqiang anticipated that Gao Qiu might see through his scheme, so he had already packed his valuables and prepared to flee with a few trusted confidants.

When Gao Qiu arrived with his men, Wang Zhiqiang had already escaped from his residence.

Enraged, Gao Qiu ordered his men to hunt him down in all directions.

Wang Zhiqiang proceeded cautiously, avoiding Gao Qiu's pursuit. After much deliberation, he decided to seek help at Tong Guan's residence.

When Wang Zhiqiang arrived at Tong Guan's residence, the gatekeeper, seeing his disheveled appearance, intended to stop him. However, Wang Zhiqiang urgently identified himself and requested to see Tong Guan.

Tong Guan was surprised to hear that Wang Zhiqiang had come, and had him brought in.

Upon seeing Tong Guan, Wang Zhiqiang immediately knelt down to pay his respects.

Tong Guan looked at him with disdain and said, "I heard you offended Grand Commandant Gao. What are you doing at my residence? Let me tell you, don't cause me any trouble. Deal with your own problems and get out of my residence right now. I have a very good relationship with Grand Commandant Gao and I won't offend him for your sake."

Wang Zhiqiang hurriedly said, "Lord Tong, please don't send me away. My visit is also beneficial to you."

Tong Guan sneered, "What benefit can a down-on-his-luck person like you bring me?"

Wang Zhiqiang took out several documents from his pocket and handed them to Tong Guan.

Tong Guan took it casually, initially not paying much attention, but after glancing at it a few times, his expression changed drastically.

It turns out that the document records that Tong Guan once sent Liu Menglong to suppress Liangshan. Liu Menglong suffered a defeat in the campaign and also embezzled money privately. It was Tong Guan who recommended Liu Menglong.

Wang Zhiqiang said, "Lord Tong, Grand Commandant Gao is now relentlessly pursuing me. If he captures me, these account books might fall into his hands. At that time, Grand Commandant Gao will use them to blackmail you, and your situation will be very difficult."

Tong Guan's face darkened as he quickly calculated in his mind.

Wang Zhiqiang continued, "Lord Tong, as long as you help me escape this calamity, I will keep my mouth shut and this account book will never be seen again."

Tong Guan frowned and paced back and forth in the hall.

After a while, Tong Guan stopped and said, "Wang Zhiqiang, I can take you in for now, but if you dare to lie to me, you will bear the consequences."

Wang Zhiqiang thanked him repeatedly.

Gao Qiu sent someone to Tong Guan's residence. When Tong Guan learned that Gao Qiu's men had come, he was startled, but quickly calmed down.

He instructed his servants to welcome Gao Qiu's envoy into the main hall, while he himself sat upright, waiting for the envoy to speak.

Gao Qiu's messenger was a shrewd and capable middle-aged man named Li Fu. As soon as he entered the main hall, he bowed and cut to the chase, saying, "Lord Tong, my Grand Commandant sent me to ask you whether you have taken in Wang Zhiqiang?"

Tong Guan remained expressionless and coldly replied, "Li Fu, what makes you say that? I have no connection with Wang Zhiqiang, so why would I take him in?"

Li Fu smiled slightly and said, "Lord Tong, you and my Grand Commandant have a deep friendship. I'm sure you won't let a mere Wang Zhiqiang ruin your relationship. My Grand Commandant said that as long as you hand over Wang Zhiqiang, all the previous grievances will be forgiven."

Tong Guan snorted coldly: "What does Gao Qiu mean by this? Does he think I, Tong Guan, am afraid of him? I did not take in Wang Zhiqiang. Go back and tell Gao Qiu not to listen to slander and ruin our friendship."

Li Fu's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Lord Tong, my Grand Commandant is not easily fooled. You are aware of the feud between Wang Zhiqiang and Lord Gao Qiu. If you protect him, I'm afraid..."

Tong Guan slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and roared, "Insolence! How dare you, a mere envoy, threaten me, Tong Guan? I will let it slide for the sake of the Grand Commandant. Go back and report at once!"

Seeing Tong Guan's anger, Li Fu felt somewhat intimidated, but still forced himself to say, "Lord Tong, please calm down. I am only acting under orders. I hope you will reconsider and not let a small matter cause a greater loss."

After saying that, Li Fu turned and left.

Tong Guan sat in his chair with a gloomy expression, pondering a solution.

At this moment, Wang Zhiqiang, who was hiding in the study, heard the commotion outside and became increasingly uneasy.

When Tong Guan entered the study, Wang Zhiqiang hurriedly asked, "Lord Tong, how is the situation?"

Tong Guan glared at him and said, "That scoundrel Gao Qiu sent an envoy to demand our people, and he was very forceful. Although I have sent him away for the time being, I'm afraid this matter will not end well."

Wang Zhiqiang said in a panic, "Lord Tong, you must save me!"

Tong Guan frowned and said, "Save you? Hmph, I can barely protect myself right now. Gao Qiu is a treacherous and cunning fellow; he won't let this matter go easily."

Wang Zhiqiang said, "Lord Tong, as long as you can protect me, I have more incriminating evidence against Gao Qiu that I can use to help you deal with him."

Tong Guan's eyes flickered, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Don't say anything yet, let me think of another way."

Tong Guan paced back and forth in his study, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

He knew full well that Gao Qiu wielded immense power, and that a complete break with Gao Qiu would also put him in a difficult situation. However, if he handed Wang Zhiqiang over, he worried that the evidence Wang Zhiqiang possessed might cause him trouble.

Just as Tong Guan was hesitating, Gao Qiu came to his residence in person.

Tong Guan had no choice but to go out and greet them.

Upon seeing Tong Guan, Gao Qiu said with a forced smile, "Tong Guan, how have you been? My messenger went back and told me that you refused to hand over Wang Zhiqiang. Are you really going to oppose me?"

Tong Guan smiled apologetically and said, "Brother Gao Qiu, there must be some misunderstanding. I certainly did not take in Wang Zhiqiang."

Gao Qiu snorted coldly: "Tong Guan, we've known each other for many years, do you think I would believe your words? If you don't hand over Wang Zhiqiang today, our friendship will end here."

Tong Guan said, "Brother Gao Qiu, why be so aggressive? There may be other hidden reasons behind Wang Zhiqiang's matter."

Gao Qiu's face darkened: "Hidden story? I think you've been misled by Wang Zhiqiang. He's committed a grave mistake, and I will bring him to justice."

Tong Guan was silent for a moment, then said, "Brother Gao Qiu, why don't we sit down and have a good talk? Perhaps we can find a solution that satisfies both of us."

Gao Qiu stared at Tong Guan for a while and said, "Alright, I'll give you this chance. But you'd better not try anything funny."

Tong Guan led Gao Qiu into the inner hall, where the two sat down to continue their discussion.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhiqiang, in the study, was sweating profusely with anxiety, wondering what his fate would be...

Tong Guan led Gao Qiu into the inner hall, where the two sat down to continue their discussion.

Gao Qiu stared intently at Tong Guan with sharp eyes and said, "Lord Tong, I'll ask you one last time, is Wang Zhiqiang in your residence or not?"

Tong Guan remained calm and replied, "Brother Gao Qiu, I have said many times that Wang Zhiqiang is indeed not with me. Are you pressing me so hard because you don't believe me?"

Gao Qiu sneered, "Tong Guan, do you think I would easily believe your words? I think you are deliberately protecting him."

Tong Guan said, "Brother Gao Qiu, we are both important officials of the court, and we should understand that everything must be based on evidence. How can you claim that Wang Zhiqiang is in my residence without any proof?"

Gao Qiu's face darkened, and he said, "Fine, since you're so stubborn, then I'll search your mansion to see if you're really there."

Tong Guan's heart tightened, but his expression remained firm: "Grand Commandant Gao, don't go too far. How dare you search my residence at will?"

Gao Qiu stood up and said, "Tong Guan, I must search you today."

Tong Guan also stood up and said angrily, "Gao Qiu, I have always been very polite to you because of my relationship with you, Grand Commandant. I never expected you to be so unreasonable. Then I will not be polite either."

As he spoke, Tong Guan took out the Thousand Character Classic that Emperor Huizong had bestowed upon him from his bosom, held it up high, and said, "This Thousand Character Classic was bestowed upon me by His Majesty, representing His Majesty's favor upon me. You are acting so recklessly in my residence today; aren't you afraid that I will report this matter to His Majesty?"

Gao Qiu was slightly startled when he saw the Thousand Character Classic, but he still refused to give up: "Tong Guan, don't try to use the Emperor to pressure me. Wang Zhiqiang has committed a serious crime. If you protect him, you will also be implicated."

Tong Guan sneered, "Gao Qiu, you keep saying that Wang Zhiqiang is guilty, but what crime has he actually committed? You just want to take this opportunity to eliminate your rivals."

Gao Qiu said, "He secretly kept the account books, attempting to frame me. Isn't that a serious crime?"

Tong Guan said, "The matter of the account books is still unresolved. Why are you so eager to arrest Wang Zhiqiang? Could it be that you have something to hide?"

Gao Qiu roared, "Tong Guan, stop making baseless accusations!"

The two were deadlocked and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Just then, one of Tong Guan's confidants rushed over and whispered a few words in Tong Guan's ear.

Tong Guan's expression changed slightly, and he then said to Gao Qiu, "Brother Gao Qiu, since you insist on searching, then search. But what will you do if you can't find Wang Zhiqiang?"

Gao Qiu said, "If I cannot find anything, I will apologize to you."

Tong Guan said, "Alright, then it's a deal."

Gao Qiu immediately ordered his men to begin searching Tong Guan's residence.

Tong Guan watched coldly from the sidelines, secretly praying that Wang Zhiqiang would not be discovered.

After searching for a long time, they still couldn't find any trace of Wang Zhiqiang.

Gao Qiu's face grew increasingly grim, while Tong Guan said, "Brother Gao Qiu, do you believe me now?"

Gao Qiu gritted his teeth and said, "Tong Guan, you're lucky this time. But this matter is not over. I will definitely continue to investigate."

After saying this, Gao Qiu led his men away from Tong Guan's residence.

Tong Guan watched Gao Qiu's departing figure, feeling a sense of relief, but he also knew that this matter was far from over...