Chapter 1194 Identity exposed?

Huainan, Yingzhou, Abao Theater
The scenery of Qilishantang is new, and the autumn air is clear and dust-free.

Today is a festive day for us to go out and enjoy the scenery, and we can take a half day to relax and have a bottle of wine.

Clouds rise and the boat moves slowly.

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As Huainan and Jiangnan are adjacent, they have many similarities in customs and culture. Therefore, the people of Huainan are very fond of and welcome the melodious Jiangnan folk songs. Basically, every city in Huainan has several theaters and teahouses performing Pingtan opera.

At this time, the classic Pingtan piece "White Snake Appreciating Mid-Autumn Festival" was being sung on the stage. Most of the audience in the theater were attracted by the performance on the stage, but in the private room on the second floor, someone was whispering.
"Old Chen, I heard that Boss Hu and his men all ran off to the countryside?" A middle-aged man with a very sturdy figure and well-dressed clothes asked another tall, square-faced man beside him who was wearing a Confucian robe:
In response to his companion's question, the middle-aged scholar called "Old Chen" continued to watch the performance on the stage and nodded slightly as he replied:

"Well! That bastard named Hu went to the countryside!"

Although Lao Chen gave a positive answer, the middle-aged businessman Fatty Zhang still found it hard to believe and asked again:

"This is actually true?"

Seeing that Fatty Zhang didn't seem to believe it, Lao Chen turned around, glanced at him and said:
"Of course it's true! Not only him, but also his three wives, two children, and five trusted thugs, have all gone to the countryside!"

After hearing what Lao Chen said in such detail that it didn't seem like a lie, Fatty Zhang gradually began to believe it. He swallowed his saliva and asked again:
"What's going on, Old Chen? Boss Hu was plotting against Shopkeeper Wang's shop a few days ago. How come he ran off to the countryside after just a few days?"

Fatty Zhang’s question seemed like Old Chen didn’t hear it. He just picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip...

Seeing this, Fatty Zhang also understood what he meant, and quickly called the waiter waiting outside the private room:

"Waiter, bring us a pot of the best Longjing tea from your theater, and bring us all the dim sum from your store!"

Upon hearing this, Old Chen glanced at Fatty Zhang and said calmly:
"Mr. Zhang, how can I be so cheap in your eyes? You want to pry open my mouth with just a little tea and snacks?"

Hearing this, Fatty Zhang couldn't help but curse Old S in his heart, but on the surface he still smiled and preached:
"How can that be possible, Old Chen! We are old friends, I know the rules, don't worry!"

After hearing this, Lao Chen's expression eased a little, and at this time the waiter brought up Longjing tea and snacks. Lao Chen didn't hesitate to pour himself a cup of tea, then picked up a piece of snack and started eating.

Under Fatty Zhang's gaze, Old Chen slowly finished a piece of cake before he began to speak:
"Boss Zhang, I know you're worried about whether Mr. Hu has offended someone. You can put your mind at ease about this. Mr. Hu has always been very careful and never dares to offend anyone he shouldn't offend!"

"The reason why he ran to the countryside this time was just to prepare for a rainy day!"

After hearing what Lao Chen said, Fatty Zhang seemed to have taken a reassurance pill, and he relaxed completely...
Although Lao Chen had already answered the topic he was most concerned about, Fatty Zhang was still a little confused and asked again with some curiosity:

"Old Chen? What on earth happened?"

Old Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip before he began to speak slowly:
"When gods fight, mortals suffer!"

"You know about Marshal Ye's inspection in Qilu, right?"

Fatty Zhang nodded without hesitation and said:
"Of course I know. The business environment and tax policies in Qilu are still very attractive. I've been thinking about doing some business in Qilu recently!"

Upon hearing this, Lao Chen continued:

"You don't have to go to Qi and Lu. The next stop of the Marshal's inspection is Huainan!"

After hearing the news, Fatty Zhang seemed to realize something and said in disbelief:
"Old Chen, you don't mean to say that Boss Hu ran to the countryside because Marshal Ye was coming to inspect?"

Old Chen smiled disdainfully when he heard this:

"Mr. Zhang, you are such a smart person, how can you say such stupid things?"

“This guy named Hu can only show off in front of you small traders. Anyone who works for an official family must submit to him. Marshal Ye is a man who wants to be the emperor. This guy named Hu is nothing compared to him…”

After hearing this, Fatty Zhang touched his head awkwardly, feeling that what he had just said was a bit brainless.

At this time, Lao Chen gave a somewhat mysterious sermon:
"There is a big operation going on at the Censorate. Although the main target is not Mr. Hu, the Censorate's operation covers a wide range, so Mr. Hu is afraid of being implicated, so he went to hide in the countryside. When the storm is over, he will come back to the arena!"

Fatty Zhang nodded in sudden realization, but he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity:

"Old Chen, where did the Censorate's big move come from? Is it related to Marshal Ye's trip?"

Upon hearing this, Old Chen glanced at Fatty Zhang and said calmly:

"Mr. Zhang, a smart person like you should know what to know and what not to know. As a businessman, you'd better do your business honestly. Knowing too much is not a good thing for you!"

After these words came out, Fatty Zhang's expression changed slightly, but he still smiled and said:
"Old Chen, I won't ask anymore! I won't ask anymore!"

After a cup of tea, the Pingtan performance on the stage ended, and Lao Chen and Fatty Zhang in the box left one after another. However, what these two people would not have thought of was that in the box next to them, a man of extraordinary demeanor was thinking about something.

"Marshal! Do you want me to bring them back for interrogation?" Zhang Renwu, who was promoted to deputy commander of the Royal Guard Battalion a few months ago, asked in a low voice:
Ye Mingsheng, who was on a secret visit, hesitated for a moment and shook his head and said:
“Not for now, but we can send someone to find out their bottom line…”

"Yes!" One of Ye Mingsheng's main purposes of this southern tour is to go deep into the grassroots to understand the sufferings of the people, and then adjust the court policies accordingly to ultimately benefit the people's livelihood!
However, along the way, although Ye Mingsheng inspected many places and visited farmlands, markets, and factories, these environments were basically arranged by local officials. So even though Ye Mingsheng found some problems, most of them were still whitewashed!

So on this issue, Ye Mingsheng made a bold decision, which was to let Song Haibo, Ye Kui and others continue to go to Huainan as planned, while he took Zhang Renwu and dozens of other personal guards, disguised himself and went on a private visit to see the most real production and life of the people in Huainan.

When Ye Mingsheng proposed this idea, Song Haibo, Ye Kui and others were all frightened. They all advised Ye Mingsheng, saying that a son of a wealthy family should not sit in the hall and that a secret visit could not guarantee safety. However, Ye Mingsheng had already made up his mind at that time, so he gave the order directly!

However, after repeated requests from Ye Kui, Song Haibo and others, Ye Mingsheng agreed to keep in touch with the main force.

After everything was arranged seven days ago, Ye Mingsheng officially started his incognito visit with Zhang Renwu and others. It must be said that compared to the traditional inspection where the officials led the way and were greeted with cheers and greetings wherever they went, the incognito visit made Ye Mingsheng see the hardships and cruelty of the lower class.

Because he saw a lot of discordant things along the way, Ye Mingsheng wanted to change his mood after arriving in Yingzhou, so he came to the Abao Theater, which is very famous in Yingzhou, to listen to Pingtan...
However, Ye Mingsheng really didn't expect to encounter such a thing while listening to Pingtan. The two people next door didn't seem to know that the walls had ears. In addition, the Abao Theater was mainly made of wood, so the sound insulation effect was not good. Therefore, the conversation between the two just now was basically heard by Ye Mingsheng.

Although Ye Mingsheng was very surprised that he would encounter such a thing just when he came out to listen to Pingtan, Ye Mingsheng had to admit that the words of the middle-aged scholar called "Lao Chen" just now aroused his interest.

Zhang Renwu was still very efficient. An hour later, when Ye Mingsheng returned to the inn after listening to the Pingtan in the theater, he brought Ye Mingsheng the latest news.

"Marshal, this old Chen's real name is Chen Guangsheng, and he is the legal advisor of Yingzhou prefect Liu Zhurun. The fat guy Zhang's real name is Zhang Huikang, and he is a local businessman in Yingzhou. He mainly deals in ceramics and grains. He has a lot of business in Yingzhou, with three or five stores and a cargo station!"

"As for the man named Hu mentioned in the conversation between the two, he should be the local bully Hu Lei. It is said that Hu Lei has killed several people!"

"After Chen Guangsheng and Zhang Huikang left Abao Theater, Zhang Huikang and Chen Guangsheng went to a brothel in the north of the city. I have already sent people to keep an eye on them!"

Ye Mingsheng was not surprised at all when he heard Zhang Renwu’s report. From the way Chen Guangsheng spoke, he knew that he was no ordinary person. However, he was definitely not an official. After all, if he was an official, Zhang Huikang would not dare to call him Old Chen...

After confirming the identities of these people, Ye Mingsheng immediately ordered:
"Bring Chen Guangsheng here! Don't alarm the others!"

"Yes!"

Half an hour later, Zhang Renwu walked into the room carrying a sack. When Zhang Renwu untied the sack, the middle-aged scholar Lao Chen from the daytime appeared in front of Ye Mingsheng.

However, at this time, Chen Guangsheng was tied up with hemp ropes and a piece of rag was stuffed in his mouth. He had completely lost the elegance and calmness he had during the day.

Zhang Renwu was not polite to Master Chen at all. He went straight up and slapped him twice, causing Master Chen to see stars and a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. After giving him a warning, Zhang Renwu said in a deep voice:
"Just answer whatever Mr. Chen asks you! Do you understand?"

"If you don't behave yourself, I'll skin you alive!"

As a scholar, Chen Guangsheng had not yet fully recovered from the dizziness brought by the two slaps from Zhang Renwu, but feeling the murderous intent in Zhang Renwu's words, he did not dare to say anything and nodded quickly.

Seeing this, Zhang Renwu took off the rag stuffed in Chen Guangsheng's mouth. Although Ye Mingsheng sat on a chair beside him and did not speak, Chen Guangsheng seemed to realize who the protagonist was as soon as he saw Ye Mingsheng, and immediately said very respectfully:

"I am Master Chen, the advisor of Yingzhou prefect Liu Zhurun, and I am here to see you, Your Excellency!"

Ye Mingsheng was a little surprised when he heard this, and then he asked with interest:
"How did you tell?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangsheng glanced at Zhang Renwu beside him and said hesitantly:

"At first I thought this officer was here to rob me, but before I entered the inn, he searched me, as if to prevent me from having anything on me. I had a hundred taels of silver in my arms, but he didn't even look at it...

"Although this officer is wearing casual clothes, the boots he wears are made of top-quality cowhide, and they are the military style. As far as I know, only high-ranking generals in the army are qualified to wear this kind of cowhide boots!"

"If I'm not mistaken, this inn should be the Rongbao Inn in Yingzhou. This room is also the best room in the Rongbao Inn. It costs one tael of silver per night. So considering all these conditions, you two are obviously powerful people!"

After hearing Chen Guangsheng's analysis, Zhang Renwu, who had originally had a serious expression, also became a little embarrassed and angry.

At this time, Ye Mingsheng applauded Master Chen and said:

"You are really a smart guy! In that case, why don't you guess who I am and why I am looking for you?"

In response to Ye Mingsheng's question, Chen Guangsheng looked at Zhang Renwu and Ye Mingsheng again and seemed to realize something, but his expression seemed a little unbelievable.

However, under Ye Mingsheng's gaze, Chen Guangsheng swallowed his saliva and mustered up the courage to preach:

"If I am not mistaken, you are either the minister sent by Marshal Ye to visit incognito, or Marshal Ye himself!"

After saying that, Chen Guangsheng looked at Ye Mingsheng seriously, as if he wanted to see some clues from Ye Mingsheng's expression, but to his disappointment, Ye Mingsheng's expression did not change at all.

"Chen Guangsheng, tell me your basis!"

Chen Guangsheng preached without hesitation:
"The boots on this general's feet are only the high-ranking generals of the Fengwu Army are qualified to pass on. When I accompanied our master to entertain the troops, I saw that General Ma Zhongjun of the First Division and others were wearing similar military boots!"

“And this general in front of you seems to be a family general. There is probably only one person in the world who can treat a senior general of the Fengwu Army as a family general…”

(End of this chapter)