Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress? - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Birth of the Great Greed, Qin Xuan

Qin Xuan’s statement left his nephew completely stunned. He hadn’t anticipated hearing such a declaration. On reflection, it made sense. If someone maintained their purity and integrity consistently, they would indeed embody Qin Xuan’s description.

“Okay, I get it, Big Brother Qin. You can be confident that I won’t bring disgrace upon you and my uncle,” Qin Xuan’s words helped his nephew fully grasp the situation.

In this line of work, it was often nearly impossible to remain untarnished, especially when one’s history wasn’t entirely clean. Allowing this to hinder their superior’s financial endeavors would be their downfall.

“Oh, by the way, Big Brother Qin, I have a question. My uncle seems rather concerned about this mission to eliminate bandits, especially the matter of death. I don’t think a Minister of Justice needs to be worried about such things, particularly not the identities,” the nephew murmured.

From the start, he found Wen Ping’s death to be suspicious. Now, it appeared there was more to it than met the eye.

“If you speak too much, you might meet the same fate one day,” Qin Xuan cautioned.

“Alright, Big Brother Qin, I understand. I’ll be obedient and follow your and my uncle’s instructions,” the nephew quickly pledged.

With that, the room was left with only Qin Xuan. After some time had passed, the scene in the room changed once again, and Wang Zhi reappeared.

“Qin Xuan, you’ve done an excellent job this time. We no longer have any cause for concern,” Wang Zhi sighed with visible relief. It was clear that he had become more at ease.

However, Qin Xuan remained vigilant. Wang Zhi was consistently meticulous and rarely let his guard down. If he had come to see him, it probably meant there was an important business matter to discuss.

“Is the matter with the former Imperial Kitchen’s manager resolved now?” Wang Zhi asked casually.

“It’s been taken care of. Following your orders, all fifty lashes were administered without fail. However, his adopted son proved to have a resilient constitution and recovered soon after the beating,” Qin Xuan reported respectfully to Wang Zhi.

The implication was clear – the issue was effectively resolved.

“Qin Xuan, you’ve been with me for a considerable time, and so far, we’ve been dealing with minor matters. How do you feel about taking on more significant challenges?” Wang Zhi casually inquired, fixing his gaze on Qin Xuan.

“Mentor, I’ve always been appreciative of your guidance. Without your support, I wouldn’t be in my current position,” Qin Xuan replied, with an implicit acknowledgment of his loyalty and readiness to tackle more substantial tasks.

Qin Xuan promptly knelt and spoke fervently as though he were about to repay his mentor’s kindness. His performance greatly pleased Wang Zhi, as it conveyed the attitude he wished to see.

“Although the profits in the Ministry of Justice are modest, the Suifu firearm you presented last time presents a promising opportunity,” Wang Zhi continued, still focusing on Qin Xuan.

While his words were somewhat veiled, he trusted that Qin Xuan could discern their meaning.

Qin Xuan clenched his fists and said, “Mentor, the grasslands have slipped from the court’s control, and it seems like the Emperor is contemplating taking action!”

Wang Zhi nodded, “Yes, launching a campaign against the Mongols could indeed be profitable. However, we must exercise caution in our actions, Qin Xuan. What are your thoughts?”

Qin Xuan furrowed his brow, contemplating how to respond. Wang Zhi’s words contained an underlying message, and it was unclear whether it pertained to recent events or had historical implications. Suddenly, Qin Xuan recalled the valuable fan that had been gifted to him by Wang Xizhi earlier. While Wang Zhi had benefited from their previous dealings, it made sense to give him such a present. Nonetheless, Qin Xuan wondered why the fan had been chosen specifically.

“Mentor, I have limited insight into matters of war, given my background as a civil officer. My true interests lie in calligraphy and art. Regarding what you mentioned…” Qin Xuan’s voice trailed off as he tried to discern Wang Zhi’s intentions.

Qin Xuan spoke calmly, “I couldn’t take direct action, but the fan you gifted me last time was undoubtedly a hint.”

Wang Zhi was pleased to hear this. Qin Xuan comprehended the subtleties of their communication.

“You have a passion for calligraphy and art, so go ahead with it,” Wang Zhi agreed. “Establish your calligraphy and art shop.”

“In that case, Mentor, I’ll open a calligraphy and art shop near Zhongping Street. I hope you’ll provide guidance,” Qin Xuan continued.

The idea of opening a calligraphy and art shop had been inspired by things he had seen on television and heard in anecdotes. Some officers were known to have tea shops near their homes, selling overpriced tea leaves that were not particularly good but highly sought after. It was said that when giving gifts to these officers, nothing was as appreciated as their tea leaves. It was a subtle way to maintain a certain level of secrecy. It was evident that Wang Zhi’s intention was similar, with the ultimate goal being to avoid leaving a trace.

After reading this passage, online readers were somewhat perplexed:

“What does this mean? I’m having trouble understanding.”

“Why on earth would he open a calligraphy and art shop? Is there a hidden message?”

“I don’t understand either, but I’m sure it’s not as simple as it seems.”

“This is incredible. I’ll have to revisit this explanation later. If you don’t use your brain, you won’t get it.”

Online readers continued to speculate on the hidden meaning. They couldn’t help but feel that this conversation was not overtly threatening but still carried an air of danger. It was as though saying the wrong thing this time could have dire consequences.

In the studio, only Professor Yang Chongming understood the subtlety of the conversation. He explained to the audience, “Qin Xuan here possesses a deep understanding of Ming Dynasty history, including unofficial accounts. This is what we call ‘Chencang.'”

He went on to explain, “During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, the eunuch Wang Zhi wielded significant power in the capital. He opened an antique shop and established a practice where anyone seeking Wang Zhi’s assistance in any matter could purchase an item from his antique shop. Wang Zhi would then use his influence to help resolve the issue. Sometimes, the price of these items soared to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. After resolving the matter, the purchased item would be returned to the shop untouched.”

The director comprehended, “Professor Yang, are you suggesting that Qin Xuan employs the same strategy with this antique shop? If someone wants to seek Wang Zhi’s help, they just need to purchase a calligraphy or artwork?”

“That’s it. As long as they spend the right amount of money, it’s possible. If I’m not mistaken, Wang Zhi’s residence is on Zhongping Street. Qin Xuan has conducted extensive research, even uncovering where Wang Zhi lives. Without him, this program would be in a dire situation!” Professor Yang sighed.

There was no exaggeration here. Besides Qin Xuan, no one else could have reached this level of understanding. The audience was left in awe.

Qin Xuan is indeed impressive, isn’t he? “I understand now. Qin Xuan runs the calligraphy and art shop, so even if something goes awry, he’ll shoulder the blame. Of course, that day might be a long way off, or perhaps it may never come,” the director finally grasped the situation.

This “Chencang” strategy was executed flawlessly!

He felt that Qin Xuan was a natural bureaucrat. In reality, there might be some people who received similar hints, but they initially didn’t think in that direction. After listening to Qin Xuan and Wang Zhi’s encoded language, he understood what it meant to be impressive.