CHAPTERS
Jingguo Duke Xu Anlin learned of Li Meiyao's impeachment against him only when he received the imperial reprimand. He was completely stunned. After kneeling to listen to the decree, his face drained of color, and with blurred vision, he accepted the edict. He wanted to give silver to reward the eunuch, but the eunuch refused to accept it, looking as cold as ice, as if avoiding a plague god as he left. Xu Anlin returned home in a daze, only to be met with another scolding from Lady Sheng. "You've…- 643.5 K • Completed
- "Dear Ninth Brother, stay well. You should have received the memorial that Qin and I submitted jointly at the same time. I implore you to quickly approve it. To be frank, after learning that I was coming to Jin Harbor, I advanced funds to have several new-style warships built in Minzhou. They're ready and have been sent over by Brother Changtian. With your approval, I can take to the seas to combat smuggling and recoup the cost of the ships." "The military households in Jinhaiwei are numerous, and the…
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- When Xu Chun arrived at the rear garden, he saw Chunxi and Dinghai standing at the back, their muskets aimed at the opposite side. In front stood Pei Dongyan and Qi Luan, two commanders, also holding guns, their eyes fixed on the opposite side with a tense atmosphere. Xu Chun was startled, but as he approached, he caught a whiff of the distinctive smell of gunpowder from firecrackers. Indeed, the ground near the wall was littered with the red paper remnants of exploded firecrackers. As soon as he…
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- Xu Chun's ostentatious display shocked the entire Jinhai military administration. After the rumors spread, even more gossip circulated in secret, revealing how this former playboy heir was forced to present himself as "clear as water, bright as a mirror" under the machinations of his strategists. For a time, the officials all laughed it off as a joke. However, the Maritime Customs Office was genuinely troubled. Xu Tingjie looked pale before Dong Xian, "What should we do? Could there really be someone…
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- Xu Chun and Jiang Mei stood outside the Customs Hall at the harbor for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Deputy Director Dong arrived in a carriage, looking rather disheveled. He quickly got out of the carriage to bow to Xu Chun and apologize. Xu Chun replied, "No problem, let's go take a look at the Customs Hall." The Customs Hall at the harbor was a two-story building with long pavilions inside and out, filled with various goods. Representatives of ships waiting to clear customs…
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- Xu Chun returned to the Customs Office and first entered the main hall, where both Deputy Prefects came over to report their work. Xu Chun simply had Jiang Mei collect everything. He invited all the officials to sit down and then idly flipped through the tax items and receipts while asking Xu Tingjie, "For this rough cargo, two parts out of fifteen are taxed, and for fine cargo, two parts out of ten. But with so many goods, what counts as rough and what as fine?" Xu Tingjie smiled and said, "Fine cargo…
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- In a blink, they arrived at the Admiral's Mansion in Jinhaiwei, and indeed, Admiral Qin Jie personally came out to welcome them. During their conversation, he proved to be as accommodating as his reputation suggested. Although his father, the Duke of Jingguo, was quite a scoundrel who didn't know how to improve himself, Qin Jie still managed to praise him a few times for his straightforwardness, generosity, and profound blessings. Xu Chun, as before, exchanged some pleasantries. Indeed, Qin Jie asked…
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- The next morning, Xu Chun went to the government office first and then, with Jiang Mei in tow, personally headed to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion. Zhang Jipu, the Prefectural Governor of Jinhaiwei, was usually responsible for local administration and was also a fifth-rank official. Upon hearing that Xu Chun had come to pay his respects, he was overjoyed and came out to greet him personally. With a round face and small eyes, he wore a full smile on his face. "His Highness, Prince Xu, has just taken…
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- As they spoke, the carriage arrived at Xu Chun's destination. He dismounted from his horse and turned to find Ding Hai, instructing him, "Go invite Commander Pei and Commander Qi to the flower hall. Have Mr. Jiang come along too." Pei Dongyan and Qi Luan soon arrived at the small flower hall outside the study. Xu Chun had changed out of his official robes and into a light summer robe, sipping hot tea as he waited. Seeing Pei Dongyan and Qi Luan enter, he smiled and said, "Commander Pei and Commander Qi,…
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- At the Jin Harbor Customs Office. In front of the dark red government building, Deputy Director Dong Xian and Xu Tingjie, both wearing their sixth-rank official uniforms, stood, leading the chief clerk, registrar, chief secretary, recorder, and the local constabulary, as they waited at the door for the arrival of the new Director. The weather was still hot in August, and the sunlight made everyone somewhat restless. Xu Tingjie couldn't help but ask Dong Xian, "Shouldn't we renovate the Director's…
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