Chapter 0005: Generally, it is the third in the world
This is not a chronic poison that needs to be taken over a long period, but rather a one-time substance. As for what it is, she is also not clear.
Even though Wang Xiao has only learned a little due to time constraints, it is already sufficient here
Lin Daiyu revealed a faint smile as she looked at Wang Xiao and said, "Second Brother, I also want to learn."
What kind of swordsmanship is this
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Just so-so, third in the world. If there is anything, just speak plainly; what can be done, I will naturally agree to you."
Wang Xiao expressed satisfaction, stepped back two paces after releasing He Meng, and gestured for him to continue.
Fang Yu was quite straightforward, directly revealing everything.
Lin Ruhai's intention is quite simple; he does not wish to involve Wang Xiao.
"Last time I took the initiative to do so many things, it indeed had its benefits"
These identities are merely superficial; what truly matters is that Jiang Chun is the purse of the retired emperor
Fang Yu's family is also one of the wealthy salt merchants in Yangzhou, and the only one capable of coercing their family to take action against the salt inspector in charge is Jiang Chun, who is the only person in the entire city of Yangzhou able to do so
Lin Ruhai remained silent
Lin Ruhai was unable to avenge his family, and aside from the lack of evidence, the main reason was that he could not take action against Jiang Chun
Wang Xiao originally thought that this matter would be resolved quickly, and he had planned to take the opportunity to visit various famous historical sites in Yangzhou City.
Master Lian II
Wang Xiao pondered for a moment and directly stated the main topic
At this moment, Wang Xiao did not bluntly say that it was impossible and that he must see it through to the end. After responding, he cupped his hands and ushered Lin Ruhai out of the room.
Come again
Wang Xiao's words made Lin Ruhai serious, "You should not inquire about this matter any further; I will have He Meng handle it."
After Lin Ruhai took office, the salt tax increased from over 1,000,000 taels to over 5,000,000 taels. While this appears to be a remarkable achievement, it was actually taken from the hands of those salt merchants and their powerful backers.
In a short while, He Meng arrived at the garden and saw Wang Xiao standing there with his hands behind his back, holding a sword by his side, as if waiting for him
Jiang Chun holds multiple identities, including the head of the Salt Merchants' General Chamber of Commerce, a supplementary official of the fourth rank, a regular minister of the second rank, and a royal merchant of the inner court, among others
At that time, I had to collect the salt tax for Your Majesty, and I dealt with quite a few people harshly. The salt merchants, in a desperate situation, resorted to violence against them as a warning. Although I also killed quite a few salt merchants, that big boss still remained at large. Now, he has finally taken action against me
However, even so, after truly engaging in combat with He Meng, one still holds the upper hand
As expected, He Meng, who was angered by the previous remark, said that it was not appropriate, yet he took two steps back and assumed a defensive stance
Having endured hardships since childhood to hone my skills, how is it that all my abilities were captured in an instant before this young master?
The root of this matter lies with Jiang Chun, and I will find a way to address it
He Meng's hand was still trembling slightly. He had seen blood before; although he had never been on the battlefield, he was unaware of how many he had killed as a smuggler of salt. Those desperate and fierce individuals had never put such immense pressure on him. The knife in his hand was just raised when it was knocked out of his grasp, an occurrence that had completely exceeded his imagination.
The most important thing is to clarify what that pill actually is. Only then can we administer the appropriate treatment
He now has an intuitive understanding of his own combat capabilities, which allows him to undertake many tasks
What has been said to the outside is that it was a death by illness, but now, upon hearing Lin Ruhai's words, it seems that someone has taken action
It is unimaginable that there would be no one in the court to serve as a support for maintaining such immense wealth and prosperity
Wang Xiao sheathed his sword and performed a beautiful flourish with it, saying, "Once more."
Lin Ruhai nodded, indeed it is so
Come out, after watching for so long, aren't you afraid your eyes will fall out
Her family was threatened, compelling her to find a way to have Lin Ruhai take a pill. If she did not comply, her entire family would be killed.
Wang Xiao, whose physical fitness is at an average level, is not easy to handle. After some effort, he directly jumped to the command "Stop."
Behind every prominent salt merchant stands a significant figure. From ministers in the court to royal relatives, and even the retired emperor residing in the secluded palace.
The salt merchants are renowned for their wealth, known throughout the world
I have heard that Jiang Chun, the head of the Salt Merchants' Guild, has received the retired emperor during his several visits to Jiangnan.
The matter involves many aspects behind it, and it is very complex. It is not merely a matter of salt administration; it also pertains to the power struggle between the Emperor and the Retired Emperor.
Having said this, he clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and prepared to turn and leave
Compared to the unrefined martial arts, the various introductory sword techniques of the Five Mountain Sword Sect are far more exquisite
Although one may possess high comprehension, it is still through diligent study and practice. However, the time is too short, and it can only be considered as having learned the basics
A significant portion of the silver earned by the salt merchants was sent to the capital to be offered to various dignitaries. Once a certain dignitary fell into misfortune, the salt merchants would also face ruin.
Lin Ruhai once had a son, but he died at the age of three. Additionally, his wife, Jia Min, also passed away after arriving in Yangzhou.
In the world of "Dream of the Red Chamber," it is also an era of declining martial arts, and guards like He Meng can certainly be considered experts. However, in the face of true martial arts, they are still merely amateur practitioners.
This must be traced back to the source. Wang Xiao explained that this incident should have arisen from the salt administration, and the key players are certainly in the capital. However, the individuals executing this must be prominent figures among the salt merchants. This person should not be difficult to find
Carrying the hem of her skirt, Lin Daiyu walked in from the courtyard gate, circling around Wang Xiao twice, her gaze lively and spirited
He Meng's dagger was easily knocked away, and then Wang Xiao's long sword was already pointed at his throat.
"No problem." Wang Xiao smiled as he drew his sword and performed a flourish. "The weapon that can harm me has yet to be forged in this world."
Jiang Chun has stood firm in Yangzhou City for decades, with his greatest support being the presence of the retired emperor behind him
The description of this segment in "Dream of the Red Chamber" is indeed brief, yet the underlying perilous struggles are tumultuous and intense, and it may even be related to the shocking events that later unfolded at Iron Net Mountain.
Wang Xiao nodded, indicating his approval
In the past two days, Wang Xiao has not been solely occupied with practicing Eagle Claw Kung Fu and playing games. He has gathered intelligence from various sources and conducted analysis on it
However, the development of events exceeded his expectations
He Meng squinted his eyes, no longer wasting words, and drew his waist knife to charge forward.
He Mengdu was stunned
How can we determine what poison it is?" He Meng could not help but speak up from the side
The imperial guard before him serves as the best mirror; Wang Xiao needs to clearly understand his own worth in this situation.
Wang Xiao, who has only learned the basics of the Eagle Claw technique and the Twelve Routes of Tan Tui, indeed surpasses He Meng. However, in terms of physical fitness, he is at a disadvantage
After being subdued by Wang Xiao several times in succession, He Meng also became aware of this. He decided to abandon any pretense and opted for a straightforward approach, relying solely on his strength to overpower his opponent.
He Meng's expression turned solemn, "Weapons are blind."
He Meng went out for two days, and upon returning, he immediately apprehended Fang Yu
Hua Shan Sword Technique
The identity of the salt merchant Shang Jiangchun is distinctly different from that of other salt merchants
He Meng couldn't help but laugh, "May I ask for your guidance? Master Lian, please do not blame me for speaking the truth. With your frail appearance, if I were to throw a punch, you would at least be laid up for three days. I have important matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."
Including the time spent in the world of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," Wang Xiao has only learned those techniques for a little over one month
At the garden gate, the quirky little girl signaled to the maid behind her to be silent, peeking her little head in with curiosity.
The current emperor's reorganization of the salt administration also serves the purpose of undermining the influence of the retired emperor
Elder brother, how is your swordsmanship so good
With a face like a jade crown, Wang Xiao, dressed in a green robe, raised his hand to signal, "I would like to seek your guidance on a couple of techniques."
Wang Xiao felt a sudden realization; no wonder Lin Daiyu was sent to the capital at such a young age to be raised in the Jia family. It was not that Lin Ruhai did not want his family by his side, but rather to protect her
At that time, Lin Ruhai did not take action, as it was due to his identity and the protection of the Emperor. This resentment was then directed towards Jia Min and Lin Ruhai's son
The top salt merchants of Yangzhou change every ten to twenty years, but among them, Jiang Chun is an exception
This matter has become complicated
As he watched He Meng leave the garden in a daze, Wang Xiao quickly cast aside the feelings of guilt that had arisen in his heart
Now the emperor intends to raise the salt tax from over 5 million taels to a level exceeding 10 million taels. In their fury, those individuals, in order to protect their own interests, no longer had any reservations and directly took action against Lin Ruhai
Finally taking things seriously, He Meng charged forward with full spirit, launching a fierce offensive.
He Meng shook his head, bent down to pick up his dagger, and said, "The martial arts I have painstakingly studied for twenty years seem like a joke in front of the young master. I have matters to attend to, so I take my leave."
What guard
A fist came crashing down, and Wang Xiao directly seized He Meng's acupoint with the Eagle Claw technique. With a twist and a turn of his arm, he pressed He Meng down to the ground
Although Fang Yu is a married daughter and a concubine, her feelings for the Fang family remain deep. Ultimately, it was she who personally deceived the unsuspecting Lin Ruhai into taking that pill.
Although Wang Xiao has learned a considerable amount of martial arts through his exceptional comprehension ability, he has not truly engaged in actual combat. The specific effectiveness remains untested; whether his skills are merely ornamental or if he can truly excel in this era of martial decline is entirely uncertain.
Seventeen years ago, the current emperor forced the retired emperor to abdicate through coercive means. However, the former emperor still retains significant power, and both sides have been targeting each other without a clear victor emerging.
Wang Xiao gave a thumbs up to his own cleverness. Although his studies were not particularly impressive, in the world of Mo Wu, it was sufficient for self-preservation. Moreover, this skill often proved to be unexpectedly useful in many situations
Seeing He Meng's puzzled expression, Wang Xiao smiled and picked up the sword, "Let us try the weapon."
Years ago, your aunt and your cousin were publicly said to have died of illness. In reality, they were both harmed by treacherous individuals
That is Jiang Chun.
Martial artists tend to have fiery tempers; they cannot tolerate such provocation. If it were not for the fact that Wang Xiao is a relative of Lin Ruhai, He Meng would have directly retaliated with a punch.
Wang Xiao directly named that "only he in Yangzhou has the ability and motivation to do these things. It seems he believes he is protected by the retired emperor behind him, thus acting without restraint"
Wang Xiao put down his sword and took off his blue robe, revealing a set of short martial arts attire. "There is no need to be concerned about identity in matters like this. If you can defeat me, it is your skill, and I can only admire it without any resentment. I know you want to hit me; now the opportunity is yours."
Wang Xiao stepped to the side and blocked his path, "Are you afraid?"