Chapter 7: The Astute Jiang Qianhu

Song Huan stammered, "How can the master listen to this brat's nonsense? I am my father's own child; is there still a need for doubt regarding such matters?"

Song Nan smiled and said: "Lord Qianhu must be quite familiar with the Song family, yet upon hearing the details of the matter, you did not immediately lend them your support. Instead, you seemed to advise me against taking action. I dare to speculate that this is because if I were to report the matter to the authorities, my chances of success would be considerable. Young Master Song would be unable to provide evidence, and it is quite possible that their family assets could be confiscated. This might implicate many others, perhaps even you, my lord. Therefore, it would be better to minimize the situation, turning a major issue into a minor one. If you could step in to mediate and resolve this matter, wouldn't that bring joy to all?"

Jiang Qianhu disdainfully said: "What do you know? I ask you, can you provide evidence that he is your biological father?"

Song Huan exclaimed: "He is not of the Song family's bloodline..."

Song Huan still had something to say, but Jiang Qianhu no longer paid him any attention. He signaled to Yan to follow him aside, where they whispered a few words. Yan's expression changed dramatically, and she quietly inquired a few questions, to which Jiang Qianhu responded briefly.

Song Huan hurriedly stepped forward and recounted the matter of Song Nan coming here to demand family assets and causing a disturbance in its entirety. In the end, he said: "Sir Qianhu, do you not find such troublesome people detestable? How could there be such individuals in Weizhou Prefecture? This matter, Sir Qianhu, you must take charge of it for me"

"What is going on?" Jiang Qianhu removed his helmet, placing one large foot on the stool, the mud on his shoe staining the polished mahogany surface black.

Jiang Qianhu frowned and said: "Do you take me for a fool? Who has the audacity to come and falsely claim to be a descendant of the Song family? This is something that can be figured out just by thinking with your head; if he is not a descendant of the Song family, you in the Song family should know it well. If he truly were not a descendant, you would have long since turned him over to the authorities, so why would you come to me for help?"

Although Song Nan was not very familiar with the Ming Dynasty, the notorious reputation of the Jinyiwei has been passed down through the centuries, with various descriptions of this organization circulating even hundreds of years later. These individuals were tasked by the court to gather intelligence, probing like moles into the actions and behaviors of officials, gentry, and commoners across different regions. When something happened, they would swarm in like flies drawn to a foul smell. Although the Song family appeared to be powerful, in the eyes of the Jinyiwei, they were merely a large piece of meat. If matters escalated, they would not miss the opportunity to seize and confiscate the entire wealth of the Song family. Once the Jinyiwei intervened, it was almost certain that the Song family's assets would be doomed.

Yan stood in silence for a moment and softly said: "What you say is true, my lord. There are indeed matters in this world that, although they are facts, cannot be proven. It has been years since my late husband passed away, and it is indeed impossible to prove this matter; you are acting in defense of the Song family, and we shall rely on your mediation for everything."

Jiang Qianhu coughed once and waved his hand to the soldiers, saying: "Go, go, go, stay in the courtyard, you are embarrassing me."

Jiang Qianhu looked up and down at Song Nan and chuckled, "Interesting, you little rascal who is so cunning. This is the first time I have encountered someone who dares to bite back. You must be ready to throw caution to the wind, aren't you

You are a clever person, but being too clever is not a good thing. Having said that, how do you plan to resolve this matter?" Lord Jiang sat down on the chair and picked up a snack to chew on again.

Song Nan smiled faintly and said softly, "Are you referring to those people, the Embroidered Spring Blade and the Flying Fish Garment?"

These matters are naturally well understood by Jiang Qianhu, while Song Huan and the Yan family mother and son are completely unaware of the implications involved. Instead, Song Huan somewhat complained, saying: "Master Qianhu, you must not condone the extortion of such unscrupulous people; you cannot support his words."

The soldiers rushed out in a crowd, either sitting or standing in the courtyard, basking in the sun while keeping their eyes fixed on the maids coming and going from the Song residence, displaying a drooling expression. This frightened the maids of the Song residence, causing them to blush and hurriedly lower their heads, not daring to make eye contact.

Song Nan quietly said: "Is my doubt not justified? They accuse me of not being my father's biological child, can I not similarly question them? They demand that I provide biological evidence, can I not make the same request of them?"

Yan said with a smile: "No worries, no worries. Shortly, I will have someone prepare a package for each of you to take back and enjoy at your leisure. You all are stationed in Yuanzhou, safeguarding our people’s safety; what is a little snack in return?"

Song Nan said: "It is indeed the truth"

At first, Jiang Qianhu was still somewhat indifferent, munching on pastries one after another while nodding frequently and making sounds of approval. However, when he heard Song Nan retort that Song Huan was not of the Song family bloodline, he was taken aback, his mouth agape, and the pastries in his mouth fell in a flurry, resembling the catkins of March blanketing the ground.

What a cunning little rascal! Jiang Qianhu slammed the table and shouted

Jiang Qianhu reached out to rub his large nose, slowly walked up to Song Nan, and stared at him, saying: "Brother, do not expect to take half of someone else's family fortune. Although the Ming decree is clearly stated, it has been five years since Lord Song's passing. During these five years, the eldest son of the Song family has been busy managing the family affairs. Can you really just come here and claim half of the family fortune with a single sentence?"

Yan and Song Huan had no interest in listening to Song Nan's taunts, fearing that Song Nan might regret it. They hurriedly ordered someone to fetch silver from the accounts room and insisted that Song Nan write a receipt, declaring that from then on, there would be no further dealings with the Song family. Song Nan looked down on this and, with a flourish of his brush, wrote it down. He then called Li Daniu to bring a large cart, loaded it with two thousand taels of silver, and confidently set out with the deed to the old residence on North Street in hand.

Jiang Qianhu praised, "There is ambition, https://www.hetushu.com, and there is broad-mindedness, which is rare indeed."

In the main hall of the Song residence, Jiang Qianhu sat boldly at the head of the table. Under Song Huan's repeated instructions, the servants prepared fine tea and brought out exquisite pastries. The dozen or so soldiers, like starving ghosts reborn, grabbed the snacks with both hands and stuffed them into their pockets, creating a scene of utter chaos on the floor

Song Nan understood that the opportunity of the day lay here. Whether his intention to report to the government office would be effective was uncertain to him. This was the Ming Dynasty, entirely different from later times. Although he had encountered many people in later years and was adept at navigating the subtle relationships among individuals, he was still completely in the dark regarding the circumstances here. The reason he staged that scene was merely to target the common weaknesses of human nature.

Lord Jiang widened his eyes in astonishment and said: "Not simple, truly not simple. You have even discerned my thoughts. How did you know that this general intended to mediate?"

Lord Jiang's gaze was sharp, but he soon regained his composure and let out a hearty laugh, neither confirming nor denying. Meanwhile, Song Huan and her son, observing Lord Jiang and Song Nan engaged in a friendly conversation, felt a sense of unease. They had originally hoped that Lord Jiang would support them, but to their surprise, he seemed inclined to mediate. The exchanges between them left Song Huan and her son utterly perplexed.

Song Nan lowered his head in thought and then spoke: "Since the gentleman is mediating, I naturally must give him face. I am not greedy; the Song family can give me two thousand taels of silver, along with the deed to the old residence on North Street, and I will no longer contest the family estate."

Song Nan smiled and said, "Then according to your wishes, what should be done?"

Jiang Qianhu was taken aback and clicked his tongue, saying: "I didn't expect you to have such a strong character. It seems there is some truth to what you are saying. Are you really willing to go all out and be relentless in this matter?"

Song Huan anxiously said: "Mother, how could you... how could you let this brat take advantage of you"

Jiang Qianhu walked slowly to Song Nan and asked: "Is what Young Master Song just said true?"

Song Huan and her son were astonished, and even Lord Lian was greatly surprised. The Song family's wealth was immense, totaling well over a hundred thousand taels. They had expected Song Nan to demand a few tens of thousands of taels, but to their surprise, he only asked for two thousand taels. The Yan family mother and son nearly burst into laughter.

Jiang Qianhu expressed his doubt: "Are you sure?"

As for deciphering the meaning behind Lord Jiang's words, it is indeed a skill acquired through keen observation and contemplation in later generations. Both Lord Jiang and the accompanying soldiers are dressed in ordinary military attire, and their status may merely be that of the court troops stationed in Weizhou. When Lord Jiang stated, "This place is not solely managed by the local government office," in connection with the well-dressed and spirited guards of the Jinyiwei that Song Nan had seen on the streets earlier that day, he easily deduced what was being referred to. Their status may merely be that of the court troops stationed in Weizhou. When Lord Jiang stated, "This place is not solely managed by the local government office," in connection with the well-dressed and spirited guards of the Jinyiwei that Song Nan had seen on the streets earlier that day, he easily deduced what was being referred to

Yan and Song Huan exchanged glances, their faces pale and ashen, yet remained silent.

Lord Jiang laughed heartily and nodded, saying: "That is a good question, quite interesting; however, have you considered that even if you take this to the authorities, your chances of success are probably less than one in ten? I dare say that when you reach the county office, you will be arrested for slander and causing trouble, and given your age, you probably don't even know what a prison looks like. Anyone who enters there cannot hope to come out without shedding a layer of skin. What use is the spirit of a scholar?"

Mr. Jiang raised his head and thought for a moment, saying: "Name your price; I see that you are not one to quibble over a few small coins. If it were not for your and your child's difficult living situation, you probably would not have come here to ask for help"

Mr. Jiang raised his finger and praised, "Remarkable, remarkable. Although what you said is not entirely correct, it is still about fifty to sixty percent right. Since you are so straightforward, I might as well speak frankly with you. If you go to the government office to lodge a complaint, it is certain to end in failure; I can guarantee that you will meet a very tragic fate. However, today's events are bound to come to the attention of others. In Weizhou City... heh heh... it is not only the state office that is in charge; there will always be some busybodies who will take notice. Although it is not difficult to brush them off, it is better to have one less matter than one more. Since I am familiar with the Song family, I certainly do not wish to see anyone cause trouble for them."

Song Nan smiled and said: "Of course, I know that the Song family possesses immense wealth, but with your lord's mediation, how could I let you be put in a difficult position? I am doing you a favor, and this two thousand taels of silver is also to ensure my mother's well-being. The Song family owes my mother a great deal; even if it were twenty thousand taels, what difference would it make? Can it buy back the suffering my mother and I have endured? I only wish to remind the people of the Song family that wealth without benevolence cannot last long. My father taught me this when I was young, and I have not forgotten, but it seems that the eldest son of the Song family has long since forgotten."

Song Nan said: "Is it possible that you wish to act as a mediator?"

Indeed, can you believe it?" Song Huan echoed.

Song Nan clasped his hands and said: "I do not wish for this either. I originally only wanted to obtain a share of the family estate that belongs to me. Since they are unwilling and have also slandered and insulted me, I have no choice but to bring them down with me."

Jiang Qianhu felt somewhat embarrassed and rolled his eyes, cursing, "A bunch of bastards, you have brought shame upon me. What is so good about the pastries that you are fighting over? Are you all beggars by birth?"

Song Nan smiled and said: "Even if it is less than half a success, so what? Weizhou is under the rule of the Ming Dynasty. Even if there are corrupt officials colluding with powerful families, the truth will eventually come to light. I may be imprisoned, but my mother and friends will still seek justice for me. As long as there is a just magistrate who learns of this, it will not only be my misfortune; no one who shelters the guilty or acts unjustly will escape their fate."

Jiang Qianhu scolded: "Nonsense, how can your word alone be sufficient? What is the point of having officials then? Evidence is required, do you understand?"

Jiang Qianhu chuckled and said, "It's somewhat interesting, but with such a commotion, aren't you suffering both physically and failing to obtain what you desire? This is called harming others without benefiting oneself; why go through the trouble?"

Jiang Qianhu cast him a glance and said: "It is still the old lady who understands the bigger picture. I have no prior acquaintance with this young man; why should I help him? Young Master Song, you should think more in all matters. You are far behind compared to your brother."