Chapter 465 Ye Cheng’s ambition!
The reason why Ye Cheng was appreciated by An Miaoyi so quickly and became the steward of the Governor's Mansion was not only because An Miaoyi wanted to curry favor with Ye Cui, but also because Ye Cheng was a very capable person. He was very careful in his work and always handled the tasks assigned by his superiors in a flawless and decent manner...
This time, after receiving An Miaoyi's order to teach Wang Gui a lesson, Ye Cheng did not act hastily, but instead carefully investigated Wang Gui's situation!

As a small man with good luck, Wang Gui's situation was not complicated. He was just an idle country boy who couldn't stand the hardship of farming. He heard that his sister was favored by the governor, so he secretly ran away from the countryside of Fengshan County to Dongning.

During the time in Dongning, Wang Gui relied on the money given by his sister to eat, drink, gamble and whore, and he was like a walking corpse. Although the situation was not complicated, Ye Cheng was keen and discovered a special person among Wang Gui's interpersonal relationships. This person was Xue Laowu!

According to Ye Cheng's investigation, of Wang Gui's spending on eating, drinking, whoring and gambling in Dongning, the sum of the money spent on eating, drinking, whoring and gambling did not exceed 20%, but the remaining 80% of the money was all spent on gambling...
When Wang Gui was in the countryside, although he was idle and did not work, he was not a gambler. The reason why he became what he is now is all because he walked into the gambling den under the guidance of Xue Laowu!

At the beginning, just like raising pigs, Xue Laowu would let Wang Gui earn some money and make Wang Gui addicted to gambling. When Wang Gui really fell into the trap, Xue Laowu would not only make Wang Gui return the money with interest, but also make Wang Gui owe a lot of debts.

If things were just like this, Ye Cheng would not care too much. After all, things like what happened to Wang Gui, although the government has tried its best to crack down on it, will never stop happening as long as human desires exist.

What really made Ye Cheng feel that things were unusual was that although Wang Gui was so stupid that he was slaughtered like a pig, he was not a complete fool. When he was in danger, he would say that his sister was the concubine of the governor-general and drag the governor's mansion out to bully others...

In this situation, most loan sharks knew how powerful the situation was and were afraid of the Governor's Office. Most of them would consider themselves unlucky and dare not do anything to Wang Gui. However, in order to reduce losses, these people would not continue to lend money to Wang Gui.

But Xue Laowu was different. Knowing Wang Gui's identity, he still continued to lend money to Wang Gui, and the amount of loans was increasing, from the initial dozens of taels of silver to hundreds of taels of silver now!

After this caught Ye Cheng's attention, Ye Cheng began to follow this clue and soon he dug up a lot of information about Xue Laowu.

Xue Laowu's real name is Xue Dongqiang. Because his parents died early and he had no relatives or friends, he started eating at other people's houses and hanging out on the streets when he was thirteen or fourteen years old. As for the nickname Xue Laowu, it was given to him because he was the fifth child in the family after swearing brotherhood with someone in his early years.

Xue Laowu had been a thief since he was young, and he became more and more unscrupulous as he grew up. In the early years of Anhe, he was imprisoned for participating in a fight with others and was sentenced to three years in prison. However, as the administration in Liaoyang was in chaos and corruption was rampant, Xue Laowu paid money to his superiors, so he was quietly released after only three months in prison.

After coming out of prison, Xue Laowu behaved himself for a while, but soon he started selling contraband salt again. He and An He were arrested again in the same year. This time Xue Laowu was sentenced to ten years in prison, but Xue Laowu repeated his old tricks and was released from prison after only one year after spending all his wealth.

From then on, Xue Laowu began to get involved in the loan sharking business. He was ruthless and careful in selecting his targets. He seldom touched those with status and background to avoid bringing trouble upon himself. Therefore, Xue Laowu soon made a lot of money again and made a comeback...
However, just when Xue Laowu's career was flourishing, Ye Mingsheng came to power and became the governor of Liaoyang. Because Ye Mingsheng was determined to rectify the market order and crack down on illegal activities such as hoarding and usury, people like Xue Laowu were among the first to be arrested and became typical examples of people who were sent to prison three times.

Under Ye Mingsheng's instruction to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys and to be strict and severe in his punishment, Xue Laowu was soon sentenced to beheading by the Censorate and was executed in August last year. This means that, according to the law, Xue Laowu was already a dead man who had been beheaded in the government!
When the matter reached this point, Ye Cheng clearly felt that something was wrong. Although he was not a government official, as the steward of the Governor's Mansion, he understood the government's procedures very well. Just like Xue Laowu's previous two visits to the palace, he could have done it if he found the right channel and spent enough money.

But the third time he was imprisoned was different. This time he was sentenced to death by beheading. Not only was there a strict review process, but it also had to be approved by the Censor in person. In addition, Ye Mingsheng had given an order at the time, requiring strict and severe punishment. Under such circumstances, Xue Laowu was still able to escape from prison, which meant one thing!
That means someone is helping Xue Laowu behind the scenes, and this person definitely has considerable power in the Censorate...
Combining this situation with Xue Laowu's abnormal behavior towards Wang Gui, Ye Cheng quickly realized a possibility, that is, Xue Laowu's setting up of Wang Gui was not accidental, but premeditated, and their purpose was most likely not to make money, but to have other intentions!
So what else could Wang Gui, this rotten guy, want if not money?

The answer is undoubtedly obvious!

Hearing Ye Cheng's question, perhaps because he was mentally prepared, or perhaps because he had experienced many ups and downs in the world, Xue Laowu still appeared very calm. He raised his head, met Ye Cheng's gaze and said in a deep voice:
"My young master, you are joking. I, Xue Laowu, am a master in Liaoyang. How can there be a master behind me?"

"My Lord, I have hit a wall this time because I didn't recognize the great man. I deserve it and I admit my defeat! If you are willing to spare me, I will give you all my wealth and reward you handsomely! If you must punish me, I have lived enough at my age. You can kill me or chop me up at your will!"

Ye Cheng also felt a little tricky when he heard this. Unlike Wang Gui, the spineless man who could not stand being frightened, Xue Laowu, who had been in the underworld for decades, was obviously a tough guy. It would be useless to use the same tactics you used against Wang Gui on him...

Feeling Xue Laowu's attitude, Ye Cheng smiled slightly and said:

"I say, Xue Laowu, why are you doing this? I checked you thoroughly before I arrested you. You have restrained yourself a lot in recent years from lending money at high interest rates. Just say that last year you gave in and didn't dare to ask for money because the other party was just the brother-in-law of Chen Qinghe, the governor of Changqing Prefecture!"

"You are really relentless in pursuing Wang Gui this time? Does it mean that in your eyes, Xue Laowu, the governor is not as good as the governor of Changqing Prefecture?" Seeing that Ye Cheng had found out all his past, Xue Laowu knew that today would not end peacefully. He felt a chill in his heart, but still said stubbornly:
"I just thought Wang Gui was making it up. How could I know that he was really the brother-in-law of the governor? If I knew he really had this relationship, I wouldn't dare to provoke him even if I had three guts!"

Hearing Xue Laowu trying to argue, Ye Cheng did not argue with him any more, but changed the topic and asked with a smile:

"In that case, Old Fifth Xue, let me ask you another question. Last August, you were arrested by the Censorate and sentenced to death. Who released you?"

As soon as these words came out, Xue Laowu's expression suddenly panicked. However, what no one expected was that in the next second, a hint of cruelty flashed across Xue Laowu's rough face. He gritted his teeth and actually wanted to bite his tongue to commit suicide...
Xue Laowu's determination directly shocked Ye Cheng. He never expected that this old man would be so cruel to him. However, Ye Cheng reacted very quickly and tried to pry open Xue Laowu's mouth. Xue Laowu was an important living being and he must not be allowed to die like this!

After Ye Cheng took action, the other men around him reacted and came to help. Although Xue Laowu was determined, with the joint efforts of everyone, his bloody mouth was still pried open in great pain. Everyone hurriedly stuffed a smelly rag into his mouth to prevent him from committing suicide.

After doing all this, Ye Cheng relaxed a little, and then instructed his men around him:

"Go find the best doctor!"

"Yes!"

For Ye Cheng, ever since he realized the trick of Xue Laowu, he realized that the opportunity he had always dreamed of had come!

When Ye Cheng was a child, he often followed his father Ye Renxiao to collect rent for the Ye family in Fengshan County. Although their family did not live a rich life, they had enough food and clothing. Under such conditions, Ye Cheng, as the eldest son in the family, was sent to a private school for a few years. However, because Ye Cheng was not a good student, he returned home from the private school at the age of sixteen, intending to follow in his father's footsteps and continue to collect rent and manage the Ye family's business...
Although Ye Cheng was somewhat unwilling to spend his whole life like this because he had received education, he had no choice but to accept his fate under his father's orders and beatings.

However, all this changed with the rise of Ye Mingsheng. Like countless other members of the Ye family, Ye Mingsheng was a god-like existence in Ye Cheng's eyes. Seeing that Ye Tie, Ye Dong, Ye Kui and others had become successful under Ye Mingsheng, the young members of the Ye family were all eager to follow Ye Mingsheng to join the army and try their luck. Among them was Ye Cheng, who was unwilling to accept his fate.

But what made Ye Cheng helpless was that, as the eldest son in the family, he had to stay to inherit the family business according to clan etiquette. So no matter how he talked to his parents, they just didn't agree to him joining the army. They were worried that Ye Cheng would lose his head accidentally in the battlefield.

Although Ye Cheng wanted to join the army and follow Ye Mingsheng to make a career, he was also a filial person who could understand his parents' painstaking efforts, so he could only hide his desire in his heart, hoping that one day he would be able to follow Ye Mingsheng and make great achievements like other children of the Ye family...

With the end of the civil war in Liaoyang, people's livelihood gradually settled down. Ye Cheng looked at the Ye family members who followed Ye Mingsheng and returned home with honors and became prosperous. His envy and desire were beyond words. At this time, the war was gradually subsiding and there was no need to fight on the battlefield. Ye Renxiao naturally did not want to block his eldest son's future, so he personally took Ye Cheng to meet Ye Cui, wanting to find a good job for Ye Cheng.

Because of the prior agreement between Ye Mingsheng and Ye Cui, although Ye Cheng did not enter the Fengwu Army he had always dreamed of, he was able to work in the Governor's Mansion with the help of An Miaoyi. To be honest, Ye Cheng was a little disappointed with this job. In his eyes, working in the Governor's Mansion was almost the same as his family's previous job of collecting rent for the Ye family. This was not what he wanted!

What he wanted was to lead thousands of troops on the battlefield like Ye Tie and Ye Dong, or to be a capable official who governs the country and benefits the people like what was recorded in the books in the private school.
Although a little disappointed, Ye Cheng was not discouraged. He tried his best to do every task assigned by his superiors. He believed that his efforts would always be noticed by Ye Mingsheng. The person Ye Cheng admired most was Wei Qing, a great general of the Han Dynasty. It was amazing that a horse slave could become a great general with brilliant military exploits and a name recorded in history...

Wei Qing's deeds always inspired Ye Cheng. Ye Cheng had strong self-confidence. He felt that he could emulate Wei Qing and change his fate. What he needed now was an opportunity, an opportunity that would make Ye Mingsheng notice him and appreciate him!
The situation is now very clear. Xue Laowu and the people behind him undoubtedly want to use Wang Gui as a pawn to reach into the Governor's Mansion. Although he doesn't know what kind of conspiracy the other party has, if Ye Cheng can dig the other party out, it will definitely be a great achievement!
Therefore, in Ye Cheng's eyes, Xue Laowu absolutely cannot die, at least not now. If he wants to die, he must reveal the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes!
Looking at Xue Laowu who was subdued by the crowd and looked extremely painful, Ye Cheng thought for a moment. A gleam of light flashed in his eyes. Without any hesitation, he anxiously ordered his men beside him:

"Do you know where Xue Laowu's family is? Quickly notify the Supervisory Department and have them arrest Xue Laowu's family as soon as possible!"

Although his mouth was blocked and he couldn’t speak, Xue Laowu’s ears were still very useful. He closed his eyes in pain after listening to Ye Cheng’s words, and a hint of regret seemed to emerge in his expression...

(End of this chapter)