Chapter 408 - 373: Cooperation

Chapter 408: Chapter 373: Cooperation

Chen Li stared at Gao Changhe, his thoughts racing.

If this man was truly only after wealth, as he claimed, then dealing with him would be much simpler.

But it was difficult to discern how much of his claim was true and how much was false.

With his status as Governor and his Divine Realm Cultivation, it would certainly not be difficult for him to get into the silk business if he truly wanted to.

However, the silk industry in Liyang, and even all of Jiangzhou, was already well-established. To start from scratch—building Textile Workshops, recruiting artisans, and greasing the necessary palms—would take at least three to five years to become a real force.

By then, the period of exorbitant profits from the early Western Heaven trade would be long gone. Besides, it was uncertain whether Gao Changhe would even still be in office in a few years.

The fastest, most effortless method was, therefore, to steal!

From that perspective, his motive seemed plausible.

Chen Li watched him with a faint, unreadable smile. "So, you’re saying... Governor Gao has taken a liking to my Chen Family’s Textile Workshop?"

Gao Changhe laughed heartily and admitted without hesitation, "That’s right. When I first came to Liyang, I carefully assessed the situation. The only established Textile Workshops in the commandery belonged to the Liu Family and the Zhou Family. The Liu Family has since scattered to the winds, with no hope of reassembling. And the Zhou Family’s Textile Workshop is now in the hands of the Chen Family. It would be a lie to say the thought never crossed my mind."

His tone suddenly shifted. "However, that was then, and this is now. I wouldn’t dare entertain such wild ideas anymore. I love money, but I value my life more. Compared to the Chen Family, the Jiang Family—who don’t even have a Grandmaster of their own and are merely propped up by one whose allegiance is unclear—is obviously a more suitable target. Wouldn’t you agree, Patriarch Chen?"

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Li followed his lead. "And what sort of cooperation might the Governor have in mind with me?"

Instead of answering, Gao Changhe posed a question of his own. "Tell me, Patriarch Chen, what did you think of the men I sent to trouble your esteemed household earlier? Were they to your liking?"

Chen Li’s tone was flat. "The Governor has certainly gathered some capable men. Surveying the farmlands, they managed to conjure nearly two thousand mu of ’hidden fields’ for my family out of thin air. You allowed the Iron Alliance to run rampant, smashing our shops and injuring my Guests. Your methods have indeed caused the Chen Family no small amount of trouble."

"Excellent."

Gao Changhe clapped his hands and smiled. "In that case, I invite Patriarch Chen to go to the Commandery Magistrate’s Office and file a formal complaint. Accuse the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County, Luo Pingyuan, of using the land survey as a pretext to deliberately cause trouble and pervert justice for personal gain. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

At the same time, accuse the Jiang Family of lawlessness—publicly smashing Chen Family shops and robbing silver taels, acting no different from bandits. The account book I sent to your residence earlier contains proof of Luo Pingyuan secretly embezzling treasury silver from the County Magistrate’s Office for his own coffers.

"As for the Jiang Family thugs who injured the Guests of your household, I have already apprehended them. With a nod from Patriarch Chen, I can have them delivered to your estate for you to deal with as you see fit."

His gaze was intense as he stared at Chen Li. "As for you, Patriarch Chen, you need not do anything else. I will handle all the subsequent arrangements. When all is said and done, I only want the Jiang Family’s silk business and their Sang Tian.

"All other lands, shops, and residences... including this very Mirror Mountain beneath our feet, will belong to the Chen Family. What do you think, Patriarch Chen? Is this a good deal?"

Chen Li listened but did not respond immediately.

’He saw it with perfect clarity. Gao Changhe had made a brilliant calculation!’

’It looked like he was offering a generous gift, but in reality, he was pushing the Chen Family into the spotlight to serve as a target and draw all the fire.’

’Once the Chen Family stepped forward with the accusation, they would be the first to bear the brunt of every open attack and hidden arrow.’

’Meanwhile, Gao Changhe could hide in the shadows, calmly clean up the mess, and seize the greatest benefits for himself.’

’For the Chen Family, there was a mountain of harm and only a molehill of profit.’

’The risks and rewards were completely disproportionate.’

’Moreover, Chen Li had no idea what other schemes this Governor Gao might be plotting.’

He immediately changed the subject. "The Governor’s plan is certainly thorough, and I am impressed. But... what about the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch? How does the Governor intend to handle him?"

Gao Changhe replied nonchalantly, "Patriarch Chen, you worry too much. He is just a brute, albeit a powerful one. I have my own ways of dealing with him. Besides, didn’t the County Captain, Lord Zhao, already conclude that the cases of He Mingyun, Zhou Bo’an, and the others were the work of remnants from the Opium case? That gives us a perfect excuse."

Hearing this, Chen Li sneered inwardly.

Gao Changhe’s words sounded reassuring, but they were empty and offered no real guarantee that the Water-Participating Ape would not get involved.

He said no more on the matter. "In my opinion, Lord Gao, you should handle things with the Star Monarch first. It will not be too late to discuss other matters after that."

Before his voice had even faded, Chen Li gave his sleeve a slight flick. A leather-wrapped package shot out from within, flying smoothly toward Gao Changhe.

Gao Changhe’s eyes narrowed as he reached out and caught it.

Then he heard Chen Li say, "As for this account book, an item of such importance is not safe with me. It would be far more secure if the Lord Governor himself kept it."

The smile vanished from Gao Changhe’s face in an instant, replaced by a scowl so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

After a moment, he gave a cold, sinister smile. "I am confident that one day, Patriarch Chen will... change his mind. After all, some things are beyond one’s control."

"Who can say what the future holds?"

Chen Li replied coolly and turned to leave.

In a few flickers, he vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all.

Only Gao Changhe remained on the summit of Mirror Mountain.

He stared in the direction Chen Li had disappeared, the smile completely gone from his face, replaced by an icy coldness. After a long moment, he forced a cold snort through his clenched teeth.

"You don’t know what’s good for you!"

With that, he flung his sleeve and turned to descend the mountain.

...

「The moon’s shadow crept westward.」

His face grim, Gao Changhe walked swiftly back to the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office without a word.

He headed straight for the courtyard where he was temporarily staying, pushed open the door, and had just closed it behind him when, before he could light a candle, a cold voice suddenly spoke from the darkness.