Chapter 409 - 373: Cooperation (2)

Chapter 409: Chapter 373: Cooperation (2)

"Where have you been?"

The hairs on Gao Changhe’s entire body stood on end in an instant. A chill shot up from his tailbone, straight up his spine to the crown of his head.

He whipped his head around, looking toward the source of the voice.

There, on a stool in the back of the room, sat a blurry figure who had appeared at some unknown time.

Not the slightest hint of an aura leaked from him. If he hadn’t spoken, Gao Changhe would have been completely unaware of his presence.

The Star Monarch, the Water-Participating Ape!

Gao Changhe’s heart pounded, but in the next instant, all the gloom and anger on his face receded like the tide.

"I was unaware of the Star Monarch’s late-night visit. What matter brings you here? My quarters are humble; I’m afraid I’ve been neglectful."

He hurried to the table, took out a flint, and with a soft FSSSH, lit the oil lamp on the desk.

But the Water-Participating Ape paid him no mind. His icy eyes remained fixed on Gao Changhe’s face. After a silence that lasted for three full breaths, he spoke again. "I will ask one more time. What were you doing?"

Gao Changhe answered candidly, "Reporting to the Star Monarch, this subordinate went to see the Patriarch of the Chen Family, Chen Li."

The moment the words left his mouth, the sharp aura around the Water-Participating Ape flared violently, causing the flame of the oil lamp to flicker wildly. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Why..."

The Water-Participating Ape’s voice was as cold as falling ice pellets. "...did you go alone?"

Gao Changhe explained with a wry smile, "Star Monarch, please calm your anger. This subordinate was worried that if you were to visit personally, Chen Li would become suspicious and might even flee on the spot. The situation would then become irreversible. By going alone, it was easier for me to probe for information."

The Water-Participating Ape stared at him, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "What are you planning?"

Gao Changhe’s reply was crisp and clear. "Star Monarch, we are newcomers here, unfamiliar with Liyang and its people. Our subordinates are all incompetents, unfit for important tasks. The men sent to deal with the Chen Family were all useless. This subordinate had no confidence in them, which is why I had no choice but to personally meet with Patriarch Chen and test the situation myself."

"And?" the Water-Participating Ape pressed coldly.

Gao Changhe smiled. "Rest assured, Star Monarch. How could he possibly see through my series of interlocking schemes? Even if he saw through one part, he couldn’t possibly see through the next. The crime of concealing property alone is enough for us to make our move. According to the law, concealing more than ten qing of land is a capital offense.

"And the Chen Family has concealed nearly two thousand mu of fertile land. Tomorrow morning, we will go directly to their residence and arrest him. As long as we bring him back, I am confident that with the Garrison Command’s methods, the Star Monarch will get the results you desire."

The Water-Participating Ape’s icy eyes bored into Gao Changhe. "Are you certain?"

"It’s a sure thing!"

Gao Changhe said confidently, "The men in charge of surveying the land should have returned to the county seat yesterday. If the Star Monarch is not at ease, you are welcome to accompany this subordinate to question them in person. You will know the truth at a glance."

The Water-Participating Ape said no more. He stood up. "Let’s go."

"Star Monarch, this way please!"

Gao Changhe breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the side to lead the way.

...

「East City Inn.」

Though it was late, the inn’s main hall was quite boisterous.

Over fifty government constables were sitting together, simple food and wine laid out on their tables. Their loud laughter and the sounds of drinking games were incessant.

After rushing about for days, they had finally finished their work and returned. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief and was now relaxing to their heart’s content.

Li Jishan sat in the seat of honor, eating and drinking heartily, but a trace of unease was hidden between his brows.

They had been forced to redo the survey, which delayed their journey by a day. They had rushed back, only just managing to reach the county seat tonight.

Upon his return, he had immediately gone to the County Magistrate’s Office to find his fourth uncle, County Magistrate Li Wenqian, only to be told that his uncle had gone to a banquet.

Helpless, he could only take his men back to the inn to settle in first. ’I’ll just have to report to him first thing tomorrow morning,’ he thought.

In the midst of their drunken revelry, the light at the inn’s entrance dimmed as several figures walked in.

The man in the lead was none other than Li Wenqian.

"Fourth Uncle!"

Li Jishan stood up and went to greet him. "You’re back?"

"There is no ’Fourth Uncle’ here."

But Li Wenqian did not look pleased. "Stop drinking and come with me. Bring all the documents and records from your survey. An important personage wants to see you."

Li Jishan’s heart skipped a beat. Not daring to delay, he quickly agreed, turned, and hurried upstairs. He retrieved a document pouch from his travel bag and tucked it inside his robes.

"Follow me."

Li Wenqian led Li Jishan out of the inn at a brisk pace. After a series of twists and turns, they ducked into a dark alley far from the main street.

Deep in the alley, two figures stood silently. Though he couldn’t see their faces clearly, the sight made Li Jishan hold his breath, his palms beginning to sweat.

Li Wenqian hurried forward, bowed, and said in an awed tone, "Governor, I’ve brought the man."

After speaking, he discreetly tugged on the corner of the still-dazed Li Jishan’s sleeve.

Only then did Li Jishan snap out of it. He hurriedly fell to his knees. "This humble one, Li Jishan, kowtows before the Governor."

"There’s no need for such ceremony."

Gao Changhe waved his hand. "The task you were assigned—is it done?"

Li Jishan quickly replied, "Reporting to the Governor, it is finished."

"Mm." Gao Changhe nodded. "You have all worked hard on this matter; it was truly not easy. The Commandery Magistrate’s Office will remember your efforts, and you will be rewarded in the future."

His tone shifted as he got to the point. "In this survey, how much land does the Chen Family own within the borders of Mirror Mountain? Bring the documents for this official to inspect."

Li Jishan raised the stack of documents from his robes above his head. "Reporting to Your Lordship, the preliminary numbers have been recorded, but they have not yet been tallied and verified..."

"No matter."

Gao Changhe reached out, took the documents, and began to flip through them by the light of the moon.

His gaze swept quickly over the pages. His finger stopped on one, then he flipped back several pages as if cross-referencing something.

Suddenly, he looked up, his gaze shooting toward Li Jishan like a bolt of lightning. His voice carried a hint of coldness. "What is the total amount of land surveyed under the Lingxi Chen Family’s name within the borders of Mirror Mountain?"

Li Jishan swallowed hard and answered, "Reporting to the Governor, after preliminary verification, the Chen Family has... eight thousand nine hundred and forty-eight mu of land in Mirror Mountain."

The hand Gao Changhe used to hold the documents stiffened slightly. He stared at the kneeling Li Jishan, his tone laced with a chilling disbelief. "This official will ask you again: how much land is the Chen Family registered as owning?"

"It’s... ten thousand five hundred and fifty mu."

Li Jishan’s scalp tingled. He forced himself to answer.

A dead silence fell over the darkness.

Gao Changhe was silent for several breaths. When he spoke again, his voice sounded as if it were being squeezed through his teeth. "Are you telling me that after dozens of you have worked for so many days, you’re now informing this official that not only did you fail to find any concealed property, but instead... the Government Office actually owes the Chen Family one thousand six hundred and two mu of land?!"

Gao Changhe’s chest heaved, his breathing heavy.

Beside them, the Water-Participating Ape’s cold gaze swept over Gao Changhe’s face. A soft, derisive sound came from his nostrils. "Useless."

His figure flashed and vanished into the darkness of the alley like a phantom.

Stung by the Water-Participating Ape’s "useless" and merciless departure, Gao Changhe’s face turned ashen, the veins on his forehead bulging.

"Good... good... Very good!"

He laughed in his extreme anger, his chest rising and falling violently. He suddenly flung the document pouch in his hand to the ground, scattering papers everywhere. "County Magistrate Li! Lord Li! This official has served for twenty years, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a land survey resulting in the government owing a citizen land! You... you have truly... opened my eyes!"

With that, he couldn’t be bothered to look at the uncle and nephew duo any longer. With a flick of his sleeve, he too vanished at the alley’s entrance.

A deathly silence persisted for a long time.

Li Wenqian collapsed onto the ground, his face the color of ash.

After a long moment, he suddenly raised his head and, with all his might, roared hoarsely, "What... what in the world did you do?! Didn’t I tell you to...?"

Stunned by the rebuke, Li Jishan was utterly bewildered. "Fourth Uncle! This is clearly what you personally instructed me to do that night! You told me to be absolutely impartial when I resurveyed the land, and you even said... that this was the only way to show our sincerity... I did exactly as you ordered!"

"Bullshit!"

Li Wenqian was trembling with rage. "I’ve been at the County Magistrate’s Office handling official business this whole time! When would I have gone to see you?!"

"But it was you, Fourth Uncle!"

Li Jishan grew frantic as well. "You came that night, wearing this exact official uniform! How can you deny it?!"

"You... you... you..."

Li Wenqian pointed a trembling finger at Li Jishan. Unable to catch his breath, his vision went black, and he fainted, falling backward as stiff as a board.

"Fourth Uncle! Fourth Uncle!"

Terrified out of his wits, Li Jishan scrambled to catch Li Wenqian.