Making Inquiries
The biggest concern with this land purchase issue isn't the price, but rather the presence of temples built by monks or nuns on the land.
If these monks want to build temples somewhere, as long as it doesn't cause too much trouble, the landowner will generally agree, since it's considered an act of accumulating merit. However, if the land is to be resold and the buyer wants to use it for other purposes, then it becomes very complicated.
It's not that the monks and nuns are unwilling to leave, but rather that if they are asked to relocate without any compensation, they will have nowhere to go. This practice is considered immoral and is something most people wouldn't do. However, buying new land to build a temple to house them would cost too much money. Therefore, potential buyers would rather buy land without a temple than get involved in such a matter.
"It's best if you don't personally inquire about local matters or business dealings. You can have Qian Buque find a middleman to negotiate," Zhao Ruxi instructed. "Also, tell the other servants to be careful with their words and actions, and absolutely not to do anything out of line or get into conflicts. If anything happens, they should try to endure it; if they can't, they should come back and tell you. I've recently been checking Cai Yaozong and Chen Kang's accounts, and I'm worried they might also be trying to find something to tarnish my reputation."
Zhou Chun straightened up, then nodded and said, "Don't worry, Miss, I will definitely discipline the servants and make sure they don't cause you any trouble."
Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Alright, go ahead."
At this moment, Cai Yaozong and Chen Kang were drinking at Chen Kang Family.
Some time ago, both of them had given in to Zhao Ruxi, each harboring their own ulterior motives. However, as Zhao Ruxi reviewed the files and accounts recently, they both felt uneasy. This shared experience of hardship brought them closer again, and they spent more time drinking and discussing things together.
"What's wrong? Have you found out anything? Is there anything about her that we can use against her?" Chen Kang poured a glass of wine into his mouth and asked Cai Yaozong.
A local bully can only stay a local bully; he can't roam anywhere else. Therefore, he can only rely on Cai Yaozong to investigate news in the capital, hoping to find some bad information about Zhao Ruxi so that they can make a fuss about it.
If Zhao Ruxi can find something to use against them, they won't be helpless. They can use this information to negotiate with Zhao Ruxi or retaliate directly.
Cai Yaozong shook his head, quite frustrated, and said, "I just don't understand. This girl is so young, yet she acts so maturely. She's been involved in quite a few things in the capital, teaching people from all over the province to paint, selling safes, and partnering with others to open a printing shop and a textile factory. But she's done everything cleanly, and she's always partnered with big shots that none of us can afford to offend."
Chen Kang's mind raced, and he raised his eyelids. "Who do you all collaborate with?"
"Let's not even talk about the painting; it was commissioned directly by imperial decree. Although she was paid, all the officials in the capital remained silent, tacitly approving of her actions." Cai Yaozong slammed a glass of wine into his mouth in frustration, then popped a peanut into his mouth.
Only when Chen Kang's expression grew impatient did he continue, "The safe-selling business was a partnership with the Emperor, Mister Kumu, Wu Huaisi, Gong Cheng, and Wu Zong. The printing shop and textile factory were partnerships with Grand Princess Shangde, and I've heard that the Emperor seems to have a stake in them as well. So we can't use these to smear anyone."
"And what about her private life?" Chen Kang asked again. "She's a young girl, she needs to study and take the imperial examinations, she has to come into contact with men, right? Do you think all the noble ladies in the capital are so virtuous as to not gossip about her?"
Having lived half his life, and having grown up in the streets, Chen Kang knew best the jealousy of women. If there was a woman on the street who was prettier, more capable, or married better, these gossipy old women would definitely use the most disgusting words to slander her behind her back.
Zhao Ruxi, as a woman, surpassed the sons of all the imperial concubines and became the top scholar in the imperial examination. She stood out among the women in the capital. He simply did not believe that these women could have anything good to say about Zhao Ruxi.
Cai Yaozong gave a strange look. "Really not. The Princess Consort and the former Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan's Residence, as well as Grand Princess Shangde, all protect her very much. If anyone dares to speak ill of Zhao Zhiwei, they won't send banquet invitations to that family. Besides, someone once made things difficult for Zhao Zhiwei..."
He recounted the story of the Earl of Earl of Zhongqin, Princess Pingyang, and the master and apprentice Mei Zhongjun, saying, "That's why I feel this person is very strange. Logically speaking, she's just a young girl, and the Earl of Suiping's Residence isn't some powerful noble family, yet everyone who offended Zhao Zhiwei ended up in dire straits."
Chen Kang felt a chill run down his spine. He raised the wine glass to his lips, but hesitated for a long time before actually drinking it.
He put down his wine glass and asked, "Do you think she might be a celestial being descended to earth?"
Not only is she beautiful, but she's also incredibly smart and capable; anyone who crosses her suffers a terrible fate. Upon hearing Chen Kang's words, Cai Yaozong felt they made perfect sense.
"Very likely," he nodded.
"So, tell me, should we still go against her?" Chen Kang asked.
Cai Yaozong lowered his eyelids and remained silent for a long while.
Seeing that he remained silent, Chen Kang continued, "I think we shouldn't resort to petty tricks. Just have someone keep an eye on her and her servants. If anything happens, we'll have some leverage over them, which will give us peace of mind. Unless absolutely necessary and our lives are in danger, we shouldn't release any information. In short, I think it's best not to provoke her."
He raised his eyelids slightly. "If you insist on going your own way, Lord Cai, I won't stop you. But don't drag me into this."
Cai Yaozong was of higher status than Chen Kang. Although he had to rely on Chen Kang after arriving in Nanyang, his attitude was inevitably somewhat arrogant.
Upon hearing Chen Kang's words, he immediately flew into a rage, his face darkening as Chen Kang retorted, "How I do things is none of your business."
With that, he stood up, turned and left.
Chen Kang stared at Cai Yaozong's retreating figure with a gloomy expression, remaining motionless for a long time.
After Zhao Ruxi finished reviewing the files and accounts, she finally had time to take over various other tasks.
In ancient times, officials governed their subordinates in a way that differed from that of modern times.
In modern times, due to convenient transportation, superiors often notify their subordinates to hold meetings at the location of the government office. In ancient times, not only was transportation inconvenient, but there were also bandits on the roads, making it a dangerous place. In addition, the imperial court had regulations that officials were not allowed to leave their place of office. Therefore, if there was anything that needed to be done, superiors would only send someone to deliver the notice, rather than convening a meeting for their subordinates.
In the event of any major incident, it is always the higher-level officials who go down to the lower levels for inspections, rather than the lower-level officials coming up to the higher levels for meetings.
If Nanyang were in modern times, it would be considered a county-level city. It governs only four counties, as well as the border areas of Nanyang Prefecture, which have more than twenty village chiefs.
Liu Hongyu had already sent a document to the four counties below Cai Yaozong the day after Cai Yaozong gave in, informing them that Zhao Ruxi had taken over the management of grain, water conservancy, and military farms from Cai Yaozong and Li Li. The twenty-three village chiefs also received a notice from the yamen runners, knowing that the three matters of grain collection, water conservancy, and military farms had been placed under the jurisdiction of the newly arrived Lord Zhao.