25: Conscription begins, Liu Jiang embezzles...
At the end of the month, the county government issued an order: every household must provide one male to serve in the military.
The Chen Family was naturally no exception; they too had to provide one male.
"Father, I've inquired about it. The one in charge of conscription in the county is County Commandant Liu Jiang. I heard that as long as you pay enough silver to County Commandant Liu Jiang, you can be secretly exempted from military service."
Chen Chuanwu said to Chen Changsheng in an irritable tone, while Chuanwen, standing nearby, looked rather grim.
"I didn't expect that we would have to look to the Liu Family for help this time. If we can't get exempted from military service, we'll report the Liu Family."
Chuanwen's expression was sinister; he clearly held deep hostility toward the Liu Family and would rather go down with them than let them gain any advantage.
"We haven't broken ties with the Liu Family yet, and the Liu Family is still responsible for selling our tea."
"Regarding this conscription, I will go talk to Liu Jinshan myself. Otherwise, even if the Liu Family falls, we still won't be able to avoid sending someone!"
Chen Changsheng was exceptionally calm at this moment. In his view, exempting the Chen Family from military service was a major matter, while the dispute with the Liu Family was a minor one.
Since the news of Chuanwu's Breakthrough in bone-refining spread, the Liu Family had not attacked Chen Changsheng again and even treated him with considerable respect.
Chen Changsheng felt that the Liu Family saw that his family was gradually growing in power, which was why they wanted to improve relations.
"Father… you're going to beg that old bastard Liu Jinshan…"
"Enough. You two just focus on practicing martial arts and doing business in the county town… leave the rest to me!"
Chen Changsheng forcibly cut off Chuanwen, sent them back to rest, and began to ponder how to deal with Liu Jinshan.
The next morning, the two brothers were sent off to the county town by Chen Changsheng, while he himself headed toward the Liu Family's residence.
"Master Chen, what an honor to have you here. May I ask what brings you by?"
The Liu Family's residence had been expanded again, though it looked very much like the Courtyard House of Chen Changsheng's family, just with a larger footprint.
In front of the tall wooden gate stood a servant, who hurriedly greeted Chen Changsheng upon seeing him approach.
After all, thanks to his son, Chen Changsheng was an absolute big shot in Kaoshan Village.
"Announce my arrival. I'm looking for Master Liu!"
Chen Changsheng said to the servant with a smile, then handed him some small pieces of silver.
"Thank you for the reward, Master Chen! I'll go announce you right away!"
Seeing the money, the servant's face blossomed like a chrysanthemum, and he hurried off to report.
"Haha! Brother Chen, what an honor to have you here! Please forgive me for not coming out to welcome you sooner!"
Liu Jinshan came out laughing, grabbed Chen Changsheng's hand, and led him into the residence, looking as if the two of them were the best of friends.
"Brother Liu, you're too kind. It's my fault for coming so suddenly without notifying you!"
Chen Changsheng had a favor to ask, so he naturally played along with Liu Jinshan.
The two arrived in the living room, and after the servant served tea, they exchanged pleasantries.
Seeing that Liu Jinshan kept avoiding the topic of conscription, Chen Changsheng helplessly cut to the chase:
"Brother Liu, I heard that County Commandant Liu Jiang is in charge of this conscription. I wonder if Brother Liu could put in a good word for me? My Chen Family will certainly reward you handsomely!"
Seeing Chen Changsheng reveal his intentions, Liu Jinshan sneered inwardly.
Liu Jinshan was dying for Chen Chuanwu of the Chen Family to be conscripted, preferably to die on the battlefield. After all, a nineteen-year-old Genius in bone-refining posed too much pressure.
However, he knew that was impossible!
He figured Chen Changsheng would never be willing to let Chen Chuanwu go to the battlefield. Chen Changsheng didn't only have one child; he could just have someone else take Chen Chuanwu's place!
Therefore, he had to handle this conscription matter for the Chen Family; otherwise, if he incurred their hatred, he wouldn't gain anything.
On the contrary, if he handled it for the Chen Family, he could fleece Chen Changsheng for a fortune.
"My brother is indeed in charge of this aspect, but it's not something he can decide alone. Everything has to be greased from top to bottom…"
Liu Jinshan lowered his eyelids, sipped his jasmine tea slowly, and put on airs.
Chen Changsheng knew that this old bastard Liu Jinshan was planning to fleece him, but he had already prepared himself for a heavy loss today. He understood the principle of spending money to avoid disaster!
"Brother Liu, just name your price. I won't haggle!"
Chen Changsheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and responded decisively.
"Haha! Brother Chen, you are indeed straightforward! Greasing the wheels will require this much!"
Liu Jinshan held out his palm and then flipped it over. Chen Changsheng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
One thousand taels of silver. What a black heart!
Chen Changsheng knew he was being specially targeted. Making one thousand taels for a single spot—if the Liu Family hid a hundred people, wouldn't they make hundreds of thousands of taels of silver?
It seems the Liu Family is making a fortune this time!
"Fine, I'll do as Brother Liu says. I'll raise the funds and have them delivered to your home in seven days!"
Chen Changsheng knew he couldn't negotiate the price down; Liu Jinshan had him cornered this time, so he had no choice but to scrape together the silver.
Although Chen Changsheng ran a liquor store and sold tea, he didn't actually earn much. He only made two or three thousand taels of silver a month, and buying the high-grade medicinal herbs for the five elements soup would consume more than half of his earnings.
"Brother Chen, no need to rush with the silver. I trust your reputation. I'll mention it to my brother tonight and get the Chen Family exempted from military service!"
Having fleeced a large sum of silver, Liu Jinshan was in a great mood and didn't mind saying a few polite words.
"Many thanks, Brother Liu. I'll be taking my leave!"
After settling the matter, Chen Changsheng didn't stay long and left the Liu Family's residence immediately.
Walking along the road in Kaoshan Village, Chen Changsheng encountered a young man with an outstanding physique, dressed in a white robe, looking exceptionally free and easy.
"Old brother, I heard there's conscription in the county town. Has your family sent anyone?"
Seeing Chen Changsheng, the young man came over to greet him with a smile.
Chen Changsheng was naturally guarded, and since this person looked extraordinary, he didn't tell the truth, instead fobbing him off:
"The county hasn't issued an official notice yet. I expect that once they do, my family will have to provide someone too!"
The young man nodded and asked about some trivial family matters. Chen Changsheng brushed him off and took his leave.
The youth hadn't learned anything from Chen Changsheng, but he wasn't discouraged and instead started asking other villagers.
Others didn't have Chen Changsheng's guardedness. Furthermore, the news of the conscription was spreading like wildfire, and because County Commandant Liu Jiang wanted to accumulate wealth, the fact that a spot cost five hundred taels of silver was being spread everywhere.
Therefore, villagers who didn't have enough silver or were scrambling to find ways to be exempted from military service, as well as the wealthy families, told the young man the actual situation.
This also included stories of how the Liu Family took advantage of the drought to seize people's land, accumulated wealth through unscrupulous means, and bullied the common people in Kaoshan Village.
A flash of light appeared in the young man's eyes as he looked at the Liu Family's large residence, bowing his head in deep thought.
Liu Jinshan didn't know that yet another person had discovered their Liu Family's corruption and accumulation of wealth, and even if he did, he wouldn't care; after all, the peasants couldn't decide anything anyway.
At this moment, he took out an account book filled with the names of people who had paid him to get things done, and he intended to take this account book to his brother.
This conscription had put him in a great mood; all the money his Liu Family had made in twenty years of operation didn't compare to the money earned from this single conscription!