Chapter 569
A Pure Stream
After leaving the Qian residence, Chen Ji rode his horse north, where the Duke of Cheng's residence was more secluded than the Qian residence.
Faxiangfang is a place where most of the mansions belonged to hereditary nobles who had been granted fiefdoms throughout history. The gates were mostly grand, but the claws of the stone lions in front of many mansions had been worn smooth, and the vermilion gates had become much dimmer.
Chen Ji reined in his horse and stopped in front of the Duke of Cheng's mansion, quietly observing the scene.
The two stone lions in front of the Duke's mansion are missing half an ear on one and a crack in the base of the other. The plaque above the gate with the four characters "Chengguo Duke's Mansion" was written by the Emperor Taizu, but the gold paint has peeled off, revealing the ebony underneath.
There were no servants guarding the gate, only an old gatekeeper with gray hair sitting on a small stool dozing off, only slowly raising his head when he heard the sound of horses' hooves.
Before Chen Ji could get close, the old gatekeeper slowly stood up, bowed to him, and said, "This must be Lord Chen. The Duke has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me."
Having said that, the old gatekeeper limped and pushed open the vermilion gate, the rotten wood and bronze fittings on the gate creaking under the weight.
Chen Ji did not dismount, but instead rode up the stone steps and into the Duke's mansion. The iron hooves of the horse, shod, made a crisp sound on the stone steps.
The Duke of Ma's Mansion.
The old gatekeeper turned around and saw his provocation, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he exclaimed, "There are records in the mansion that when our Ning Dynasty was founded, the old Duke was also dressed in such fine clothes and riding such a spirited horse. It's quite a coincidence that there is still a portrait of the old Duke in the mansion, also with a unicorn embroidered on it... Fortunately, our Ning Dynasty still retains some of its spirit."
Chen Ji's heart stirred; this Duke's mansion didn't seem to be as the rumors outside suggested.
The old gatekeeper walked ahead with a limp, while Chen Ji followed behind on horseback.
Stepping through the foyer, the space suddenly opens up.
The layout of the Duke of Cheng's Mansion was personally determined by the founding emperor, featuring five courtyards and magnificent halls.
Upon closer inspection, however, the painted decorations on the pillars have faded, and several glazed tiles on the roof are missing. When passing the screen wall, the stone inscription "Loyalty and Diligence in Serving the Country" is still in vigorous script, but the edges have been blurred by wind and rain.
Before he even turned past the screen wall, Chen Ji heard the sound of vines slicing through the air, along with muffled groans, coming from inside.
He spurred his horse around the screen wall and saw a middle-aged man with his back to the gate, holding a rattan cane as thick as two fingers, whipping the back of a person kneeling on the ground.
The brocade robes of the kneeling man were torn open by the beating. With each swipe of the rattan cane, the man's back trembled, but he dared not cry out in pain.
The old gatekeeper called out from afar, "Lord Duke, Lord Chen has arrived."
The Duke of Cheng, holding the rattan cane, lashed the man in brocade more than ten times before stopping. He then threw the cane on the ground, panting, and turned to look at Chen Ji.
The Duke of Cheng had a square face, sparse eyebrows, a straight nose, and was somewhat thin. He wore a worn-out dark blue Taoist robe and a faded leather belt around his waist.
This man doesn't resemble the Duke of Cheng; he's more like a schoolteacher.
When Chen Ji was scrutinizing Duke Cheng, Duke Cheng was also scrutinizing him.
When Duke Cheng saw him ride in, he was not angry either. He just sighed and said, "Lord Chen is younger than I thought. He has lived the life I wanted to live. If I had lived like this back then, I wouldn't be wasting my life now... It's a misfortune for my family. I hope Lord Chen will forgive me."
Chen Ji showed no intention of dismounting. His gaze swept over the kneeling man in brocade robes on the ground, then turned to the Duke of Cheng: "What is Your Excellency doing?"
Duke Cheng smiled and said, "My younger brother has been talking nonsense outside and causing trouble for the Duke's mansion, so naturally he needs to be disciplined."
Chen Ji, holding the reins, casually asked, "What brings trouble?"
Duke Cheng replied, “There are four calamities in life: insatiable greed, arrogance and fearlessness, stubbornness and refusal to break free, and among them, the calamity of speaking out of one's mouth can be ranked first.”
Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "I'm almost guilty of all four of these calamities, I'm ashamed... But Duke, the self-inflicted injury trick won't work on me. If you wanted to teach your brother a lesson, you should have done so yesterday, there's no need to wait for me."
Duke Cheng sat down at the stone table with a smile: "Lord Chen, you misunderstand. If you had been blinded by greed and gone to find Feng Xi first, you would be nothing more than a nobody, and I wouldn't need to resort to such a self-inflicted injury. But since you weren't blinded by greed, it means you're a formidable character, and even if I used the self-inflicted injury trick to its fullest extent, it would be useless. Family rules are family rules. As for why I had to punish you in front of you, it was naturally to vent your anger... I already disciplined you yesterday, and I'm still too angry today, so I'll discipline you again. Peide, show this to Lord Chen."
Zhu Peide, the second master of the Duke's mansion, silently took off his clothes. Chen Ji looked closely and saw that his body was covered with dense welts from being whipped with rattan.
The marks left by the vine whip will only turn pale yellow at the edges after twelve hours.
The Duke of Cheng was not lying; the beating was even more severe yesterday.
Chen Ji tightened the reins, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Why did the Duke say he must have lost his mind to go and cause trouble for Feng hope?"
At this moment, the old doorman limped over carrying a tray with freshly brewed tea.
Chen Ji's expression was strange.
Duke Cheng laughed and explained, "Lord Chen, you misunderstand. It's not that my Duke's mansion is so poor that it doesn't even have maids and servants. My Duke's mansion is not so destitute as to pretend to be pitiful. Anyone with a bit of backbone would not wear their pitifulness on their face. It's just that what I want to say to Lord Chen today is something they cannot hear."
At this moment, Duke Cheng took off a string of Buddhist coins from his wrist and tossed them to Chen Ji: "This is fifty thousand taels of silver. Lord Chen, you don't need to scare us anymore. I am Duke Ningchao, and I won't be frightened like the spoiled brat of the Qian family."
……
……
Chen Ji caught the Buddhist coin and silently stroked it.
He came to raise money, but he didn't expect it to be so easy. Without threats, pressure, or intimidation, the other party calmly took out 50,000 taels of silver.
Fifty thousand taels could buy almost half a street in the outer city.
Chen Ji said casually, "The Duke's mansion doesn't seem as impoverished as rumored. He just casually threw out 50,000 taels. However, the Duke's actions have confused me."
“Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse, and it still has some assets,” Duke Cheng said, pointing to the spot opposite the stone table. “If Lord Chen feels that my sincerity is sufficient, you may dismount and have a word.”
Chen Ji retorted, "Am I now a treacherous eunuch, Duke, do you not avoid suspicion?"
Duke Cheng laughed heartily: "Lord Chen, in the eyes of those upright officials, you are a treacherous eunuch, and I am a national traitor and a parasite. You and I should sit at the same table."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Ji calmly dismounted and sat opposite the Duke of Cheng: "What does Your Excellency wish to say to me?"
The Duke of Cheng then changed the subject: "Does Lord Chen know what the 'pure stream' refers to?"
Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "A noble family?"
Duke Cheng shook his head and tapped the stone table with his finger: "Lord Chen, the Qingliu faction is the standard-bearer of this court. They determine the moral order, ethics, poetry, and rites; they hold the power to judge these matters. The common people all believe that the Ministry of Personnel should be the head of the Six Ministries, but that's not true; the Ministry of Rites should be." Chen Ji glanced at Duke Cheng: "Your Excellency seems to harbor some resentment towards the Qingliu faction?"
"More than just resentment?" Duke Cheng sneered. "They say merchants shouldn't wear silk because it's against etiquette. They say women's skirts shouldn't have more than three panels because it's immoral. They say drinking games shouldn't be played to prevent licentiousness. But they call their own family banquets 'frugal,' their drinking games 'elegant gatherings,' and their all-night poetry gatherings 'poetry parties.' They've said it all."
Chen Ji interrupted, saying, "Your Excellency, we are too familiar with each other. I have no intention of discussing this matter."
Duke Cheng smiled and said, "Lord Chen is more cautious than rumored, but while you avoid them, they don't avoid you. How can Lord Chen save Princess Baili without going through the Qi family? Do you know that the money you painstakingly raised with your life on the line can be transferred to them with a wave of their hand? Of course, it's not that simple. After all, noble families are not allowed to collude with merchants, so they have to transfer money discreetly."
Chen Ji seemed to be deep in thought. The Qi family was different from the others. The servants of the Chen, Xu, Hu, and Yang families were all engaged in business, but the Qi family had no property on the surface. Even the servants and stewards in the house were not allowed to engage in business. All the Qi family had was reputation and official position.
But the luxury of the Mingse Building is no less than that of other buildings.
Seeing him pondering, Duke Cheng smiled and explained, "The Qingliu family doesn't call it soliciting bribes; they call it 'ice tribute' or 'charcoal tribute.' The Qingliu family's property isn't in their own hands either; it's all hidden away."
Duke Cheng picked up the tea on the table and sipped it, his gaze sweeping over Chen Ji's expression as he examined the teacup.
After a moment, he put down his teacup and continued, “Lord Chen, although the Qi family may not have any businesses on the surface, and no one would let so much cash sit idle in their accounts, the amount of silver they can allocate within five days is definitely more than you expect. So, Lord Chen, if you want to save Princess Baili, the Qi family is an insurmountable obstacle.”
Chen Ji remained calm: "So, the Duke wants to advise me not to compete with the Qi family?"
Duke Cheng shook his head, smiling but saying nothing.
Chen Ji said "Oh," and then added, "So, Duke Cheng wanted to use me as a weapon."
Duke Cheng laughed loudly: "I just wanted to teach Lord Chen what he was facing. These are upright officials who even His Majesty finds troublesome. How dare you provoke them so casually?"
Chen Ji also picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying calmly, "I suppose the Duke has been waiting for me for a long time, not to make fun of me."
Duke Cheng composed himself and changed the subject: "But the term 'pure stream' is actually a double-edged sword. Can Grand Secretary Qi go to brothels to listen to music? No, he is the heart of the nation's literary circles. Can the Qi family engage in cockfighting and horse racing? No, they have a family tradition of poetry and propriety. Can the Qi family engage in business and amass wealth? No, they must maintain their family's tradition of poverty. Grand Secretary Qi has served as an official for over forty years, have you ever heard of him being corrupt, breaking the law, or selling official positions? No, because he cannot be."
Chen Ji said calmly, "I know a guy named Qi who frequents the Eight Great Hutongs; he's a regular there."
The Duke of Cheng said with great interest, "Lord Chen, are you referring to Qi Zhenzhuo? That's because his elder brother, Qi Zhenwu, was afraid that someone would compete for power in the family, so he deliberately spoiled him."
Chen Ji was taken aback.
Duke Cheng suddenly asked, "Lord Chen, what do you think the upright officials who dare to speak out are most afraid of?"
Chen Ji did not answer.
The Duke of Cheng answered himself: "What they fear most is the discrepancy between knowledge and action. They preach loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness, so they themselves must be loyal, filial, integrity and righteousness, which is the foundation of their character. But how meaningless is that? They have to play the role of a saint for their whole lives, living like clay statues rather than human beings. It is uncomfortable for others to watch, and it is also uncomfortable for them to live."
Chen Ji picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips, unwilling to speak.
The Duke of Cheng ignored him and continued, “Lord Chen, the Qingliu are cautious and cherish their reputation. They always clean up their messes. If you want to use Feng Xi to find fault with them, you are just daydreaming. Feng hope is such a small fry that he is not worthy of knowing their secrets.”
Chen Ji casually remarked, "If we investigate their businesses, it will let the world know that the virtuous are not corrupt."
Duke Cheng shook his head again: "The money they allocate will definitely pass through many hands before it reaches them, so you can't trace it back to them."
Chen Ji stared at the Duke of Cheng: "So, you have no other options?"
Duke Cheng said sincerely, "There is only one way: first make them arrogant. When people are complacent, they will reveal their flaws."
Chen Ji shook his head: "I can't wait that long... Why did the Duke say these things to me today?"
The Duke of Cheng stood up and looked at the neatly trimmed Podocarpus macrophyllus in the courtyard: "Lord Chen may not know the current situation of my Duke of Cheng's mansion, or he may know some things. But Lord Chen probably does not know why my Duke's mansion has fallen into such a state."
"Appreciate further details."
The Duke of Cheng sighed, “When the founding emperor established the country, he enfeoffed ten dukes with hereditary titles. Now, including my Duke of Cheng’s family, there are only three left. Regardless of others, the decline of my Duke of Cheng’s family is due to two words: ‘pure stream’ (a derogatory term for a family that has fallen into poverty).
Chen Ji's heart stirred.
The Duke of Cheng asked with a smile, "My Duke of Cheng's mansion receives an annual stipend of two thousand shi of grain from the imperial court, which is equivalent to one thousand five hundred taels of silver. Lord Chen, what do you think one thousand five hundred taels of silver is enough for? It's not enough for anything, so we have to find a way to support ourselves."
“My Duke Cheng’s manor has an estate in Tongzhou where we grow some fruits and vegetables and raise some chickens and ducks. Since we can’t consume them all ourselves, we send them to the capital to sell. In less than a month, the Censorate’s impeachment was submitted to the Emperor, saying that my Duke Cheng’s manor was ‘competing with the people for profit’ and tarnishing the reputation of nobles.”
"Later, our government invested in raising and trading horses with merchants. The Censorate accused our government of 'colluding with merchants' and intending to sell the horses to Jingchao. I was so frightened that I stopped the matter overnight."
“The upright officials kept a close eye on us. If they found even the slightest mistake, they would accuse us of being ‘arrogant and disregarding the law.’ If we associated with court officials, they would accuse us of ‘becoming too powerful and plotting rebellion.’ From then on, I understood that we nobles who rose through the ranks based on military merit could not have money, power, prestige, or even ideas.”
Duke Cheng looked at Chen Ji with a deep gaze: "How could my Duke Cheng's mansion not decline? I and Qingliu are sworn enemies..."
Chen Ji interrupted, saying, "The reason given by the Duke is rather lame. I do not wish to be involved in the struggle between the nobles and the upright officials, nor do I wish to be involved in the struggle between the civil officials and the military generals."
Duke Cheng said meaningfully, "Lord Chen, you are now a nobleman, you should stand on our side."
Chen Ji stood up, cupped his hands in farewell, and said, "Farewell."
Having said that, he mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and headed out of the Duke's mansion.
As Duke Cheng watched him leave, he said loudly, "Regarding the silver given today, does Lord Chen wish for our Duke's mansion to keep it a secret or to publicize it?"
Without turning his head, Chen Ji said, "Please help me spread the word. It's quite an achievement to be able to extort such a large sum of money from the Duke's mansion."
Duke Cheng smiled and said to the old gatekeeper beside him, "Young and impetuous. If I were his age, I would have had his courage and decisiveness."
The old doorman, tidying up the tea set, chuckled and said, "The Duke might not have been any less capable than him in his youth."
Duke Cheng shook his head: "Far from it. I am now like that Podocarpus macrophyllus in the corner, being pruned, unable to grow tall, unable to grow short, unable to grow, living is like being dead."
The old doorman changed the subject: "Lord Duke, Lord Qi just sent someone to ask what you should do next?"
Duke Cheng walked up to the Podocarpus macrophyllus and reached out to stroke its neatly trimmed crown: "Let the eunuch faction first have a showdown with the upright officials."
He withdrew his hand, turned, and walked towards the inner courtyard: "We will wait patiently for the opportune moment." (End of Chapter)