Chapter 006: Unloading at Shitengzhai

Zhang Shisan immediately detected the issue and interjected, "Manager Wang, I remember that there aren't many able-bodied laborers in your village, right? At the beginning of the year, when we started hiring, the young and strong from your village all came when the young master offered a high wage of one hundred wen per day. There weren't that many people available for work then, so how is it that suddenly there are over a hundred strong laborers now? You must not use this as an opportunity for personal gain, arranging for your relatives and friends, including those who are elderly, weak, sick, or disabled, to come in. If I find out that you are sending people without work or taking up positions without actually working, causing delays in the young master's important matters, hm!"

Xia Xun came to unload stones at the mountain primarily to find a temporary reason to avoid returning to Qingzhou. At the same time, he needed to make various preparations to impersonate Yang Wenxuan during this period. However, since he was here under the pretense of inspecting the quarry, he could not ignore the progress of the work here. Therefore, as soon as he finished dinner, he immediately met with the various managers of the quarry.

The corpse was carried by two people to the turbulent banks of the Gu Shui River. Zhang Shisan cast a worried glance at Xia Xun and asked, "Did you remember everything I taught you just now?"

His hand gently brushed down once more, and it was unclear whether it was the rigid skin of the fragrant maiden beginning to melt and relax, or if, in some mysterious way, her unwilling soul truly understood Xia Xun's words. Those eyes, which evoked a sense of dread, finally closed.

There is also the punishment of disembowelment, which is a rather intriguing form of torture. It requires an iron hook and a high level of skill to extract a person's intestines from the lower body. The condemned is bound there, helplessly watching as a part of their own body is pulled further and further away from them. They will feel their abdomen gradually emptying, their belly slowly sinking in.

Zhang Shisan slightly shook his head and said: "But Yang Xu does not understand swimming at all; he is completely a landlubber. You must remember this point: do not show any flaws after falling into the water. From today onwards, in front of those who are familiar with Yang Wenxuan, you must be cautious; you do not know how to swim."

The rocky mountains rise steeply, their peaks and ridges a deep green. Mountains connect to mountains, leaning against one another in an unbroken chain. Ridges press against ridges, linking together in a continuous expanse. The terrain is perilous and extremely difficult to climb

Do you know what it feels like when boiling water is poured over a person? They will emit a chilling scream akin to that of a malevolent spirit, and even after three days and nights, the terrifying sound will continue to echo in your ears, whether you are awake or asleep. When boiling water is poured over the body, and then an iron brush is used to scrape away the rotting flesh layer by layer, mixed with blood, until the stark white bones are revealed, the scene resembles that of hell.

Indeed, indeed, the owner can rest assured that our quarry will definitely not make any mistakes regarding the commencement of work at the Wang residence. Manager Wang is dedicated, and the brothers are all putting in their efforts.

Xia Xun watched Zhang Shisan's figure disappear into the distance until he was completely lost in the jungle, before squatting down beside the corpse of Tingxiang.

The most abundant natural resource here is stone

Zhu Yuanzhang was strict with himself and even stricter with others. He was an extremely frugal person; even after becoming emperor, he never indulged in extravagant expenditures in any aspect. He imposed the same expectations on his officials. However, when it came to his son, he exhibited the common weakness of many elders—indulgence and affection. Seeing his son's pitiful demeanor made him feel a twinge of sadness, and thus he acquiesced.

Speaking of which, Yang Wenxuan is indeed a generous employer. In his quarry, each worker earns a daily wage of one hundred wen, which is quite fair and considerate. It is important to note that at that time, a county magistrate of the seventh rank received an annual salary equivalent to only 45 taels of silver, while a groom in the government office earned an annual salary of 40 taels, roughly equivalent to 30,000 RMB in later years, comparable to that of a county magistrate.

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The Xieshi Shelf Village is located at the foot of the northern ridge of Xieshi Mountain, while the quarry in Xiaxun is situated at the foot of the eastern ridge, merely a distance of over ten miles from the village

Zhang Shisan suddenly recalled something and asked, "Can you ride a horse?"

At that time, Yang Xu, who had already gained the favor of him, took the opportunity under the instruction of General Feng to incite him to rebuild the Qi Wangfu. The Qi Wang was already inclined, and with Yang Xu's instigation, he requested the emperor's decree to reconstruct the royal residence. Zhu Yuanzhang initially refused on the grounds of the court's financial strain and wrote a letter to admonish his son: "Greed is like a raging fire; if not restrained, it will consume everything. Desire is like a flood; if not contained, it will overwhelm the heavens. The spring at the bottom of the well may not be full, yet it can be drawn from daily. Excessive greed and extravagance will inevitably lead to unrest across the seas. As a prince, you must cultivate virtue to set an example for the world." And he wrote to his son: "Greed is like a raging fire; if not restrained, it will consume everything. Desire is like a flood; if not contained, it will overwhelm the heavens. The spring at the bottom of the well may not be full, yet it can be drawn from daily. Excessive greed and extravagance will inevitably lead to unrest across the seas. As a prince, you must cultivate virtue to set an example for the world."

Xia Xun, struggling and floundering in the water, was dragged up by Zhang Shisan and others who had rushed over upon hearing the news. The group then quickly made their way to Lin Family Village, where, under the guidance of the villagers, they found the local bailiff. They explained that they were passing through the area with their female companions when, while resting by the river, a maid accidentally fell into the water. They requested the bailiff's assistance in the search and rescue efforts and offered a reward of five guan in cash as thanks.

Xia Xun had Zhang Shisan lend a hand, jumped down from the car, glanced up the mountain, and smiled, saying: "Get up, you are quite diligent, still working close to dusk."

However, I do not favor such complicated punishments. At the age of thirteen, I entered the Jinyiwei under the command of Commander Jiang Luan. Later... In fact, the simpler the punishment, the more satisfying it is to execute. When I punish offenders, I only need an iron rod, which I first heat until it glows red in the furnace. Then, I strip the offender and bind them to the torture bed. There is no need for any elaborate methods; I simply thrust the glowing iron rod into the fleshy parts of the offender's body. The rod penetrates with a sound, and they cannot struggle, yet every piece of flesh on their body writhes desperately. They will exert all their strength to emit a piercing scream. When I punish offenders, I only need an iron rod, which I first heat until it glows red in the furnace. Then, I strip the offender and bind them to the torture bed. There is no need for any elaborate methods; I simply thrust the glowing iron rod into the fleshy parts of the offender's body. The rod penetrates with a sound, and they cannot struggle, yet every piece of flesh on their body writhes desperately. They will exert all their strength to emit a piercing scream. Blue smoke rises from the wound, and blood mixed with fat gushes out from the injury. Hehe...

Tingxiang was a concubine bought by Xia Xun for two hundred guan of silver from a brothel. Her life and death would not attract much attention, and with the local bailiff and numerous villagers testifying that she drowned, the officials sent from the county office merely made a simple record. Thus, Tingxiang's death was naturally classified as a common case of accidental drowning.

At the beginning of the year, Yang Xu established a quarry here not out of a sudden whim, but primarily because the Prince of Qi intended to rebuild the royal residence. The Prince of Qi had been enfeoffed in Qingzhou for only fourteen years, and logically speaking, the royal residence was newly constructed and did not require repairs, let alone a complete reconstruction. However, after the Prince Zhu Xu returned from a trip to Beiping, he developed the desire to rebuild the royal residence.

Xia Xun gently pushed her lifeless body into the river, watching as it floated and sank away into the distance. Only when her figure had completely vanished did he loosen his robe, donning only a pair of shorts before jumping into the water. He immersed himself until he was soaked through, wiped the water from his face, and suddenly cried out loudly: "Help! Help!"

However, the 45 taels received by the county magistrate is his net income; his housing, travel, attendants, and living expenses are all covered and subsidized by the court, while the groom does not enjoy such benefits. Zhu Yuanzhang, having come from a poor background, despised corrupt officials. In his view, holding an official position was not for the purpose of amassing wealth, and the income disparity between civil servants and common people should not be as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

Building the royal palace requires a large amount of stone. Yang Wenxuan, being conveniently located near the water, took on this business. However, if he were to purchase stone from elsewhere and transport it to Qingzhou, the expenses would be considerable, and his potential profits would be minimal. Therefore, upon learning that there was an abundance of stone at Sheshan, Yang Xu decided to invest in establishing a stone yard there.

By the time Xia Xun arrived, it was already after dusk. After having dinner, the sky was completely dark, but the lights in the hall were not bright, and the oil lamps were intentionally placed near the stewards. Xia Xun sat in the dimly lit upper seat, inquiring about the recent production situation at the quarry: "Steward Wang, the first batch of stone materials from the site is to be supplied for the use of the Qi Wangfu, and there must be no delays. How is the progress of the quarrying now? Is there enough manpower?"

Two miles down the river, there is a village called Linjia Zhuang, and the village protector is named Lin Wudou

People from Jiangnan are rarely unfamiliar with swimming, especially since when they first met, Xia Xun was holding a string of fish caught by hand. Therefore, Xia Xun did not conceal this fact and replied candidly: "I understand; I am very good at swimming and can catch fish by hand"

As soon as Manager Wang spoke, all the foremen chimed in with their comments.

Although the workers at Yang Wenxuan's quarry work hard, earning one hundred wen a day, their total annual income is actually not much different from that of the "driver masters" in the government office. Such generous treatment is certainly a valuable opportunity for those farmers. As long as the foremen do not merely go through the motions and manage strictly, the workers will indeed have no incentive to be lazy or dishonest in order to keep this job.

The Yan Wangfu was built on the foundation of the imperial palace in the Yuan Dynasty, characterized by its grand scale and imposing presence. Among all the feudal lords of the Ming Dynasty, the Yan Wangfu is the most magnificent and spectacular. Upon seeing the residence of his fourth brother, Zhu Laoqi felt as if a country bumpkin had entered the city for the first time, marveling at the grandeur of the wealthy families in town, and he immediately became envious. When he returned to Qingzhou and looked at his own residence, he felt a distinct disparity, akin to the Heavenly Emperor's Lingxiao Palace compared to a local earth god temple, finding it increasingly unsatisfactory no matter how he viewed it.

In the evening, they arrived at the unloading stone shed village

Between the princes, the policy of "the king does not meet the king" is upheld. Unless summoned to the court for an audience or during family gatherings of the royal family, there are generally no opportunities for them to meet. However, there are exceptions, particularly when carrying out imperial orders. Prince Qi, Zhu Xu, was once commanded to lead troops from Shandong to assist Prince Yan, Zhu Di, in the campaign against the Northern Yuan. As a result, he had the opportunity to enter Beiping and visit the Yan Wangfu of his fourth brother, Zhu Di.

He gently lifted Tingxiang's head; the girl's neck was soft, and her skin felt icy to the touch. Even though she had become a corpse, her beautiful face and alluring body still held a considerable attraction for the man. One can only imagine how enchanting she must have been when she was alive.

Zhang Shisan chuckled nervously twice: "Our Jinyiwei is divided into the Southern and Northern Towns. The Northern Town deals with external matters, while the Southern Town handles internal affairs. For those Jinyiwei personnel who have committed crimes or are disobedient, the methods of punishment employed by the Southern Town's Office of Punishment are just as splendid as those of the Northern Town's Office of Punishment... You need not be afraid; as long as you obediently follow my instructions, you will be free from blame and will not have the opportunity to experience the severe punishments of the Jinyiwei."

Zhang Shisan carried the corpse out and nonchalantly said: "This woman is named Tingxiang. She was bought by Yang Wenxuan for two hundred guan from the Cuiyan Tower in Taian Prefecture. When Yang Wenxuan was attacked, she was right beside him, a witness to everything, so I killed her. Since Yang Wenxuan is safe and sound, there must be a plausible reason for Tingxiang's death, which is why I brought her here..."

Manager Wang nodded and said: "It is only right, it is only right. With such trust from the master, how could I not serve? Please, the master, your residence has been cleaned and is ready for you, please."

Zhang Shisan turned around and saw Xia Xun's face pale, his teeth clenched tightly, and his legs trembling slightly. If he weren't leaning against the wall, he would have likely collapsed to the ground. It turned out he was not unafraid; he was just enduring it. Zhang couldn't help but laugh at his own suspicion and then said leisurely: "The dead know nothing; what is there to fear? The truly terrifying thing is not death, but a life worse than death"

Xia Xun let out a gentle sigh: "Listening to the fragrance, make sure to take a good look when you are reborn... in the next life, find a good family..."

Zhang Shisan purchased a thin coffin, placed the body of Tingxiang inside, and then paid the local villagers to casually bury her in the nearby green hills. The group then continued on their journey, as if the loss of a life was of little consequence

King Zhu Xue of Qi was an extremely obstinate person; once he made up his mind, he would not turn back even if faced with great difficulty. Upon receiving his father's letter, he remained unshaken and immediately replied, expressing his grievances in detail. He described how numerous the inhabitants of the royal palace were and how the Qi royal palace, built on the site of the Longxing Temple, was exceedingly simple and cramped, making living conditions quite inconvenient. He assured the court that the funds need not be disbursed in one lump sum; he could initially cover the expenses with his own salary, and his words were exceedingly clever and sincere.

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The principle that the people do not report and the officials do not investigate has been followed since ancient times. Moreover, if a case occurs within one's jurisdiction, even if it is subsequently solved, it will still reflect poorly on the stability of the jurisdiction, which is detrimental to the future promotion of the county magistrate. Since everyone unanimously claims it was an accidental drowning, it is naturally accepted that the cause of death was drowning.

When Xia Xun arrived at the stone yard, a large amount of stone had already been piled up at the foot of the hill, neatly arranged, ready to be transported to Qingzhou soon. On the cliff and the hillside, many bare-chested men with dark skin were still working. Old Wang, the manager, brought seven or eight foremen to greet him at the foot of the mountain. Upon seeing Xia Xun, he immediately flashed a grin revealing his yellowed teeth, bowed deeply to the ground, and courteously said, "I have been waiting to meet the master."

Xia Xun's eye corner twitched suddenly, but quickly returned to calmness

He gently wiped the eyelids of the girl Tingxiang, but those eyes remained wide open. Xia Xun gazed into those heart-stirring eyes, and after a long while, he finally spoke softly: "Miss, your fate is unfortunate, and mine is also tragic. We can be said to share the same suffering. I know that you cannot rest in peace. If you have any spirit in the heavens, please bless me."

Xia Xun nodded repeatedly, and Zhang Shisan smiled: "Very good, be a bit more clever, and act according to the plan"

He turned around and took two steps, suddenly recalling something, he looked back and asked: "Do you understand water conditions?"

Seeing Xia Xun's extravagant generosity, Old Man Lin was all smiles. He immediately collected five guan of banknotes and, with drums and gongs, called upon all the villagers, young and old, to mobilize and search downstream along the river. After more than an hour, the villagers found the body of Tingxiang caught by the corner of her clothing on a jagged rock at a spot where the water was relatively calm and shallow.

Manager Wang stood up busily and said respectfully: "Rest assured, master. The workers have now become proficient, and the speed of quarrying has increased by a full 20% compared to the beginning of the year. We have sufficient manpower; in the past two months, we have recruited at least a hundred strong laborers. According to your instructions, each person is paid 100 wen per day. With such generous wages, naturally, no one will hold back their efforts. Moreover, the foremen are keeping an eye on things. If anyone is found to be slacking off, they will be immediately dismissed."

Xia Xun shook his head, and Zhang Shisan said with a wry smile: "Yang Xu, however, knows how to ride a horse, and his horsemanship is excellent. It seems that after arriving at Xieshi Mountain, you have yet another skill to learn."