Chapter 141 – Informing on the Case

The customs office was bustling with activity early in the morning. Firecrackers were set off, and music played as Xu Chun led two deputy chief inspectors out to see the tribute off. Carriages covered in apricot yellow fabric rolled out majestically, each bearing gifts labeled with items such as ores, pepper, fine wine, and jewels, all marked with apricot yellow tags and flags indicating their country of origin. A cart carrying pineapples with a strong aroma passed by, followed by a banana tree laden with golden bananas. There were also many exotic beasts presented as tributes, including a cage of fragrant pigs filled with small, dainty piglets, and a large cage holding a white peacock whose iridescent feathers drew exclamations from the onlookers.

Xu Chun stood at the customs office gate and personally saw off the brightly dressed envoys as they boarded their carriages. Deputy Chief Inspector Dong Xian led them. Pei Dongyan and his guards, and soldiers from the military defense, escorted the tributes ahead.

Sheng Changtian had already gathered several dozen skilled sailors from the ship, armed with rifles. They waited outside the city early in the morning, following at a distance, having agreed that if anyone tried to rob the tributes, they would sound the horn.

Xu Chun muttered to himself, “I hope the little pigs and the peacock come back safe and sound – though you can’t catch wolves without letting go of the cubs, roasted suckling pig really is delicious.”

The crowd didn’t disperse, and Xu Tingjie, who was standing nearby, heard him mumble something but couldn’t make out what it was. He asked with a smile, “What’s on your mind, sir? This tribute is so important, why don’t you personally escort it to the capital? It would also be a good opportunity to visit His Grace the Duke.”

Xu Chun replied solemnly, “Serving the country, how could I think of personal matters first! Inspector Qin has been entrusting me with purchasing provisions these days, and besides, the crackdown on smuggling at sea is in full swing. Last night, we caught another ship smuggling Snowflake foreign sugar, which is very valuable!”

Xu Tingjie’s eyelid twitched slightly. He wondered which unlucky merchant had fallen into their hands. What was the difference between this and outright robbery? After the fierce crackdown by Inspector Qin and this Chief Inspector Xu, there were almost no smugglers left in the entire Jin Port!

Xu Tingjie could only remind him, “Sir, you truly put public service above self-interest. But I’ve heard that the Jinhai Military Defense has been in arrears with salaries for several months now. If we let our customs office front the money for supplies, we may not have the funds to pay later… We’re already in deficit, and it won’t be easy to make up for it when the year-end assessment comes around.”

Xu Chun said righteously, “Inspector Qin has put in so much effort for our customs office to crack down on smuggling and protect our maritime borders! How could we begrudge a bit of deficit? The Military Defense works hard! Day in and day out, through wind and rain, and the New Year is just around the corner. How can we not pay their salaries? We’re all serving in Jinhai, and we should share each other’s burdens.”

Today, the customs office was escorting the birthday gifts, and both the city garrison and the land troops had sent many people. Several military defense commanders stood there, moved by Xu Chun’s righteous words. Privately, they discussed, “Although this Chief Inspector of the customs office may seem like a playboy, he indeed has real courage.”

Only Huo Shiduo, who had grown closer to Xu Chun these days, had noticed his mischievous side. He was usually very friendly and honest when speaking with close acquaintances, which made him likable. However, whenever he suddenly started talking about grand principles, it meant he was fooling someone and likely hatching some scheme. No one knew what trick he was up to. These past few days, he had been collecting grain and military supplies under the guise of helping the Military Defense, and news of this had spread quickly. Farmers in the vicinity of Jin Port all rushed to sell their goods, but what did he need so much grain for? As Deputy Chief Inspector Xu had mentioned, the deficit wouldn’t be covered by the imperial court.

He suddenly remembered how Xu Chun had known in advance about the opium ban. Was it… going to war? He pondered this, glancing at Xu Chun, who was talking to Xu Tingjie with a righteous expression on his face. He took his own men and went to Yagu Pass.

Meanwhile, Xu Chun returned to his office and reviewed the accounts again.

==

On the other side, Liu Bin opened the account book that Qing Qian’s maid had returned. The note he had written was still inside, untouched.

A sense of relief washed over him as he held the note, crumpling it repeatedly. After hesitating for a moment, he hardened his heart and placed the entire letter in a basin of water next to him, watching as the water gradually soaked the letter, spreading the ink.

He stared at the clear water turning murky, a surge of frustration and helplessness rising in his heart.

“Why did Sir Liu destroy the note without even looking at it?”

Liu Bin jumped in surprise, turning to see Qing Qian standing at the door. She had an oval face and long, slender eyebrows, and even her smile carried a certain sternness.

His heart trembled slightly. “I don’t know what Miss is talking about.”

Qing Qian smiled. “This note contains the menu I wrote for tonight’s dishes. Everyone has been working hard these days, and Sir Xu plans to treat everyone. He ordered us to prepare dishes in the small kitchen and send them to the various officials. Please select your dishes. You would have known if you had opened it. But you didn’t open it at all, and instead destroyed it. Is it that the courage to report something only lasts for a moment, and then you regret it every day afterward?”

Liu Bin’s complexion changed. Qing Qian continued with a smile, “I placed such notes on the desks of every official in the customs office. All the officials opened them to look at the menu and then marked their selections to send back to us. Only you didn’t open it at all, and immediately destroyed it.”

Liu Bin stubbornly defended himself. “I don’t know what Miss is talking about. It was just an accident.”

Qing Qian turned her head, and several bodyguards with swords stood behind her. Qing Qian said, “Please come with me, Sir. Sir Xu wants to ask you something.”

Liu Bin’s expression changed slightly, but seeing that the two bodyguards had their hands on their sword hilts, he knew he couldn’t avoid this confrontation. He could only steel himself and follow.

Xu Chun had already returned to his study and was playing with a fan, thinking that Brother Jiuge had promised to make him a jade pendant, but it hadn’t arrived yet.

Ding Hai came over to report, “Sir Liu has arrived.”

Xu Chun said casually, “Bring him in.”

Liu Bin entered and saw that Xu Chun still had that young, carefree demeanor. Resentment rose in his heart, and he clasped his fists stiffly. “Why did Sir Xu summon me?”

Xu Chun noticed his expression and was somewhat surprised. He thought for a moment and laughed. “Sir Liu is a master accountant, extremely proficient in mathematics. The customs office’s accounts for several years have been perfectly kept, and I admire you greatly.”

Liu Bin said coldly, “It’s my duty, and I dare not neglect it.”

Xu Chun, however, said, “Sir Liu originally came from a poor family. Because of your proficiency in mathematics, your father-in-law helped you secure a position as a registrar in the customs office. Your brother-in-law was originally idle, but in recent years, he has continuously acquired properties, estates, and shops, and his business has flourished. You have a son and a daughter, a complete family, and your son is studying in the village school. I hear he’s very smart and gifted. Your daughter is beautiful, and many suitors have come to propose marriage.”

“It’s understandable that you don’t want to destroy such a happy family.”

Liu Bin remained silent.

Xu Chun continued, “Your brother-in-law previously ran an opium den, which did well until the opium prohibition order came down, forcing him to shut it down. However, your brother-in-law became addicted to opium, and I heard that you found a doctor to help him quit, but it seems he wasn’t very grateful?”

Liu Bin was speechless.

Xu Chun said, “Opium is a harmful thing, and I’m sure Sir Liu knows that. When Marshal Huo raided your brother-in-law’s opium den, I asked him to confiscate all the account books. It took some time to investigate them, but guess what? Your brother-in-law’s account books weren’t as perfect as yours. The so-called channels for procuring goods couldn’t be traced, quite a profitable business without any costs, no wonder he prospered.”

“You haven’t lost your conscience, and you knew it was wrong. At first, you were coerced, perhaps by someone who deliberately lured you in. By the time you realized it, your father-in-law’s entire family was involved. With your wife and children by your side, you had no choice but to continue. You were resentful, but you knew you couldn’t destroy your whole family.”

“Tsk, I feel sorry for you too. Either be a bad person completely, or be a good person; being stuck in the middle is indeed difficult.”

He snapped open his fan, and the words “Phoenix Pool Bright Scales” shone brilliantly. “So not a speck of ink can be allowed to stain you. Once you’re dragged into it, there’s no way out. Sir Liu, don’t you agree?”

Liu Bin remained silent throughout, but Xu Chun said, “You must despise me in your heart. I’m a playboy, born into a noble family, and I can afford to be above the fray. You’re just an ordinary citizen, coerced into this situation. Why am I morally judging you, right?”

Liu Bin said indifferently, “Sir is eloquent, and I have nothing to say.”

Xu Chun chuckled. “Ah, Sir Liu, I still love talent. Seeing that you were still thinking of warning me, I’ll leave you a path. Return all the profits, hand over all the smuggling account books, and truthfully recount all your actions over the years. You’ll definitely lose your ninth-rank official position, but I can save your life. As long as you return the ill-gotten gains, your family won’t be implicated. You can serve as my advisor, and someday, when you make amends, I’ll give you a chance to start anew. How does that sound?”

Liu Bin sneered. “In Sir’s eyes, tens of thousands of taels are easily obtained, but in the hands of common folk, even the money for tomorrow’s rice is gone. Just exile my whole family, Sir. I have no money, only my life to offer.”

Xu Chun smiled. “Sell all the industries belonging to your father-in-law and brother-in-law, and whatever remains, this Young Master can cover for you, deducting it from your monthly salary as an advisor. This is your last chance. If you remain stubborn, then tomorrow, it won’t be this Young Master who comes to question you.”

“Of course, I can also lend you a hand by throwing your brother-in-law into prison for a few months. No matter how addicted he is to opium, he’ll be able to quit.”

Liu Bin was speechless.

Xu Chun continued persuading him, “Sir Liu, the head of the customs office leading smuggling operations is a major case that will certainly reach the ears of the emperor. Don’t be afraid to tell you that Deputy Chief Inspector Dong’s trip to the capital this time will be a one-way journey. Just the charge of colluding with merchants to slander a superior is enough to detain him, let alone what other crimes will be uncovered in the investigation.”

Liu Bin’s expression changed slightly.

Xu Chun slowly said, “If you join me now, you’ll still have the merit of informing on the case. In the future, if those two people reveal your involvement under torture, you’ll still have to confess. But at that point, execution, confiscation of property, and exile for your whole family… it’s pitiful to think of your two young children being left without support…”

Liu Bin stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Liu is willing to inform on the case.”

Xu Chun revealed a smile and instructed Ding Hai, “Take Registrar Liu to retrieve the account books, but be careful to avoid Deputy Chief Inspector Xu.”

Ding Hai acknowledged the order and was about to leave with Liu Bin when Xu Chun felt pleased with himself, believing that everything was going smoothly. However, he didn’t know how the bandit suppression was faring. He picked up a book and began flipping through it absentmindedly, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of how he would meet Brother Jiuge during the Longevity Festival.

At that moment, Chun Xi suddenly ran over. “Sir, Grand Secretary Fang Zixing and Imperial Scholar He have arrived! They say they have an imperial decree! They’re already at the front office, please change into your official robes and lead the reception of the decree!”