Chapter Fifteen: The Heavy Heart of the Monthly Silver

  Wang Tong turned his head and saw Zhang Shiqiang with a worried expression on his face. Before he could speak, Wang Tong said:

  "Zhang, do you know any bricklayers, carpenters and cooks?"

  These days, Wang Tong's strange behavior has been too much, but this question is quite normal, Zhang Shiqiang was taken aback for a moment, subconsciously nodding his head, he can also be considered a local snake in this area, and has dealt with all kinds of people.

  Wang Tong smiled and said:

  "Trouble Zhang to bring these people over to the tea house side, I have work for them to do, and we can discuss the price..."

  The merchants on South Street were not welcoming to the two Imperial Guards who patrolled the streets every day, and customers and pedestrians always had a psychological fear of the Imperial Guards.

  With this overly enthusiastic little Jin Yiwei coming and going, everyone felt that the number of guests was decreasing. After Wang Tong patrolled for a few days, the merchants secretly discussed whether this was a new way to extort money, and whether they would have to give some money to make Lord Wang stop patrolling.

  But it was only lively for less than five days, and after that, the two of them could only be seen in the morning when they went out with Wang Tong, and when they returned at noon, no one knew what they were doing.

  It's almost November, the weather is very cold, this season is not suitable for construction, but all the masons, carpenters and laborers have gone to work for Wang Tong of the Brocade Guard.

  Several large shops on the street have relatively informed news, saying that this young master Wang has run many storehouses in recent days, buying a lot of bricks and wood, it seems like he is going to build a house.

  Some kind-hearted people wanted to persuade him, while others had some complaints about Zhang Shiqiang. They thought that Wang Tong was too young and didn't understand, and his attendants didn't even try to persuade him. He had just taken office and already wanted to build a house. Not to mention that it's not suitable for this season, but also, if the superior officials saw it, it wouldn't be a good thing.

  But Zhang Shiqiang was busy and nowhere to be found, the scene of the start of work was also quite mysterious, it seemed that the old Wang family mansion was being renovated.

  What's going on, nobody can understand. Before the construction started, a scaffold was built around the house with thick bamboo poles and covered with canvas. From the outside, it looked like a big shed, but what was being done inside was completely blocked by the canvas. The sound of hammering and drilling coming from inside only added to the curiosity.

  The widow of the Wang family's neighbor has also been going around recently, visiting those lonely and helpless families, and even stopped doing needlework to mend clothes. This is also a strange thing.

  People with ulterior motives wanted to snoop around, but Wang Tong had already given warnings everywhere, not allowing anyone to get close, or else they would be treated rudely. The houses where the workers and laborers lived were also rented by Wang Tong on the opposite side. Ma Guafu and those poor families were even more tight-lipped.

  The more mysterious it is, the more curious everyone becomes. Even passersby and customers walking in that direction will point and guess what's going on.

  October 30th was the day of the monthly gathering, and Wang Tong and Zhang Shijiang couldn't help but show up. As per usual, the two men waited in a private room at the tea house.

  Before long, the owners of various shops came, some with their accountants, smiling and delivering silver. In order to do business in the capital, everyone has connections and backing, but giving money is always a way to buy peace and convenience, so no one was too resentful.

  Intentionally or unintentionally, every family that sent silver had some leftover change of one or two cents, which couldn't be returned. Adding it all up, there was about two taels in total.

  Wang Tong had a number in his mind, this was an extra small account for himself, and he couldn't help but be polite for a few more sentences. After the silver was handed over, Wang Tong stood up and said:

  "Wang and everyone have been neighbors for many years, now working here, and have received a lot of care from everyone. Tomorrow at noon, Wang will host a banquet at the Zhenxing Building to entertain the owners of each household, and also invite everyone to attend."

  After finishing speaking, he made a fist and turned around half a circle, then took out five taels of silver from his bosom and handed them to Zhang Shijiang, arranging him to go to the Zhenxing Building to book a room.

  Everyone looked at each other in surprise, thinking that this little brocade guard wanted everyone to treat him to a meal and was prepared to pinch his nose and endure it, but who would have thought that he actually took out five taels of silver, it's really unclear what he wants to do.

  The Tian's residence usually did not allow lower-ranking soldiers to enter, but today was different. Wang Tong and the doorman said "Come to deliver for October", after reporting, he immediately let him in.

  The courtyard was vast, and Wang Tong had thought he would see the old family servant who got up early to sweep, but there was no sign of him. In the afternoon, Tian Baihu also returned from the town's pacification office and was waiting for him in the wing room.

  Carrying the silver into the house, Wang Tong, who was good at observing others, keenly noticed that when he entered the house, Bai Hu Tian Ronghao furrowed his brow and his face turned solemn.

  Following the rules, he knocked his head and paid his respects, presenting a silver box, Wang Tong said respectfully:

  "Sir, this is the October installment, a total of 52 taels, please inspect it."

  Zhang Shi-qiang had previously dissuaded Wang Tong, because according to convention, the silver was kept for oneself and the rest handed over to General Flag Liu Xin-yong, who would then submit it.

  But Wang Tong didn't care about this rule, he brought the silver and went straight to the door. Whether in ancient or modern times, superiors have always been disgusted with subordinates who break rules. Tian Baihu called Wang Tong in just to scold him and make him behave.

  Tian Rong's eyebrows furrowed, just about to scold, but upon hearing Wang Tongbao's report, he was taken aback and his words turned into a question:

  "Is it just October's? Did Liu Xinyong take it?"

  "As for what you said, this is the usual practice of filial piety in every household on South Street in October. The smaller ones are all sent to your side by me, and it's up to you to distribute them."

  Tian Baiwu looked at Wang Tong, who was standing respectfully on one side, opened the iron box on the table, and indeed found fifty-one taels of silver. After a moment's thought, he took out about six taels of loose change and said in a low voice:

  "This is what you deserve for this month, take it back!"

  Wang Tong once again thanked him politely and took it over. Tian Ronghao patted the table lightly with his hand, hesitated for a moment before giving another order:

  "From now on, let's handle the monthly routine in this way. You bring it over here and I'll distribute it."

  Nature is also respectfully answered, hearing this order, Wang Tong secretly smiled in his heart, knowing that he had gambled correctly. He had gambled on the usual silver sent by Liu Xinyong to Tian Baihu's side, and Liu Xinyong must have swallowed a lot of it.

  This action of his own will inevitably make Governor Tian harbor evil intentions towards him.

  Liu Xinyong plotted to seize Wang Tong's family property, and Wang Tong in turn seized the official position of Zhao Guotang, who was under Liu's command. The relationship between the two had already become irreconcilable. As the commander-in-chief, Liu Xinyong looked down on others from a superior position, and it was unknown how many secret plans he had to deal with Wang Tong. Wang Tong had never been one to wait for death with his hands tied behind his back, so he also took action.

  Tian Baohu's expression didn't change, but he was furious in his heart, just like Wang Tong thought. Liu Xinyong indeed had embezzled funds. According to the rules, Tian Ronghao should receive thirty taels of silver every month from the usual practice on South Street, but actually, Liu Xinyong only handed over twenty taels each month. This was only for one place on South Street; if other places were also calculated, it was unknown how much had been embezzled.

  "There's one more thing I'd like to report to you, sir!"

  Wang Tong opened his mouth again, Tian Ronghao took a deep breath to calm himself down, nodded in agreement, and Wang Tong respectfully stepped forward and said:

  "Sir, someone is renting a small house in our compound and wants to open a restaurant by covering the courtyard..."

  "We, the imperial guards, also need to eat and sleep. Such trivial matters don't need to be reported... No wonder Liu Xinyong's side says you're not doing your job properly, just building houses..."

  Tian Baiwu cut off impatiently with a wave of his hand, but the implication in his words still made Wang Tong's heart skip a beat. As expected, Liu Xinyong was not up to any good.

  These days update time slightly changed, but still two updates