Chapter 62: The Ruthless Master

  In the rear courtyard of Yongqing Palace, Yin Zhen played a game of Go with Wu Si Dao and lost badly. As he messed up the board, he asked in a low voice, "Sir, have you heard about the rumors circulating in Beijing these past few days? What do you make of it?"

  Wu Si Dao smiled but didn't speak, and instead focused on putting away the chess pieces. After a while, he said, "Fourth Master's face is filled with worry, his moves are full of mistakes, it seems like you already have an answer, why ask Wu Si Dao again?"

  Yongzheng smiled and said, "Sir, you are highly talented. I suspect that this matter was done by my eighth brother, but unfortunately, there is no way to crack it. Do you have a clever plan?"

  Wu Si Dao nodded slightly and said in a low voice: "This must be the doing of Eighth Master, and behind him is the shadow of Fourteenth Master."

  Yongzheng was shocked, "And what about the share of the 14th brother?"

  "En." Wu Si nodded, "Outside, there are all sorts of rumors and speculations, it's clear that someone is stirring up trouble, trying to confuse people's ears and eyes, what's the purpose? Of course, it's to cover up their true identity. Such a great deed that benefits the common people, why would they want to hide their identity?"

  Whether it is the imperial court or merchants, doing such good deeds will be loudly proclaimed. This matter cannot be settled with just a few thousand or tens of thousands of taels of silver. The imperial court values its reputation and merchants value their profits; how can they not proclaim this? As for officials, it's even more impossible - not to mention that they don't have the financial resources, even if they did, what benefits would they gain from doing so? The drawbacks are obvious. It's even more impossible for ordinary scholars and gentry, who lack both the financial resources and organizational ability.

  So, the only possibility is that it's the prince. The benefits of the prince doing this are twofold: one is to win over the people and the other is to gain favor. Why hide his identity? It's because he's afraid, afraid of being accused of buying people's hearts. The emperor has always been upright and just, so naturally he would be delighted to see such a good deed that benefits the people, and would definitely highly praise and reward it. At this stage, hiding one's identity can avoid being accused of buying people's hearts, and also, by pretending to suppress and then suddenly promoting, it's just a tactic to achieve the desired effect.

  With such financial resources and capabilities, the prince can only be from the Eighth Prince's party. Why is it said that there is a shadow of fourteen behind?

  It's mainly this kind of unconventional idea, a unique way of thinking that the eighth and ninth masters can't come up with. Only someone like the fourteenth master who likes to surprise people and be different would think of it. The fourteenth master entered the capital on March 18th and had discussed with the eighth master and others, and by early April, this project was underway. This isn't a coincidence. Secondly, it's financial resources - without tens of millions of taels, this matter is difficult to complete. Finally, it's the approach used in this matter, an open and aboveboard plot, which is also the fourteenth master's usual style. As for unraveling it, it's not very difficult.

  Wu Si Dao took a deep breath and got to this point, his old habit of selling Guan Zi recurred, he slowly poured himself a cup of tea and savored it.

  Although Yu Zhen had guessed that it was Lao Ba's doing, he couldn't have analyzed it as meticulously as Wu Si Dao did. He listened with great satisfaction and secretly congratulated himself on having such a talent in his hands. If the opponent had someone like this, they would really be unable to eat or sleep peacefully. Seeing Wu Si Dao selling him a favor, Yu Zhen didn't rush him, but just smiled and waited quietly.

  "Spreading a rumor can slow down the opponent's project, or even bring it to a complete halt."

  "Oh?" This was a good method, Yongzheng leaned forward, "What rumor?"

  "It is true that wealth moves people's hearts. Fourth Master only needs to spread the news that when Li Zicheng, the rebel leader of the former Ming dynasty, was hastily withdrawing from Beijing, he buried a large amount of gold, silver and jade in the sewers."

  This is also too absurd, who would believe such nonsense? Yongzheng hesitated and said, "Does anyone believe this news?"

  "Normally, no one would believe it." Wu Si said with a light smile, "But now they're digging up the sewers and refusing to reveal their true intentions, which is already suspicious. Once this rumor comes out, Fourth Master can arrange for a few pawns to say that someone has picked up gold, silver, and jade in the sewers before. This way, people won't be able to help but believe it, especially the poor common folk."

  "Wonderful!" Yongzheng's eyes lit up, if the rumor is successful, those digging ditches will inevitably be stopped by the people, and the entire city's ditches will be dug into a mess. Then it will be easy to find someone to impeach, heh heh.

  Wu Si Dao, however, reminded him in a low voice, "Fourth Master, this is the worst plan. If we set fire to the water ditch and it spreads, it will inevitably reach the capital, enraging the Emperor and leading to a thorough investigation. If the matter is not kept secret, the consequences are unimaginable."

  Yin Zhen's face darkened for a moment, then he thought again and smiled with joy, "Sir, do you have another clever plan?"

  "This is going to cost money." Wu Si sighed, "In the vast capital city, there are many important things related to people's livelihood. They can repair sewers, build garbage stations and public toilets. Can't the Fourth Master and the Crown Prince just fix the streets and build more schools? On the one hand, they can win over the hearts of the people, on the other hand, they can also attract the hearts of scholars. These two measures can at least make them equal to the Eighth Master."

  He furrowed his brow, "This is a good plan, but where can we get so much silver? And as for Second Brother's place, it's even more hopeless."

  The Western Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  Yongzheng respectfully kowtowed to Kangxi and asked after his health. After the formalities, Kangxi warmly asked: "Is your body recovering?"

  "Replying to the Emperor, the imperial physician said that after another month of rest and recuperation, I will be fully recovered."

  "Ah, the illness is gone like pulling out silk threads, and you can't be noisy anymore. Take good care of yourself as the doctor ordered." Kangxi changed the subject, "In recent days, the capital has been unusually lively. The construction of garbage stations, public toilets, renovation of sewers, tree planting, etc., are all measures to improve the environment of the capital and benefit its people. Are these initiatives from your hands?"

  Yinreng had already anticipated on the way to the palace that Kangxi's sudden summons were for this matter. Since the start of the project, he had been planning ahead. As the fourteenth brother was both the mastermind and the financier, this achievement could not be erased, nor did he dare to erase it. Otherwise, how would his brothers look at him in the future? Who would want to follow a lord who is greedy for merit and jealous of ability? Moreover, he was currently recuperating from illness in the mansion and couldn't take the lead on this matter either.

  "Your Majesty, this matter was decided by the 14th brother when he returned to Beijing. He even took out a share of the 'Four Great Constants' as expenses. The specific affairs were handled by the 9th and 10th brothers, I, your son, just assisted on the side."

  It's really Old Fourteen's handwriting, and he even took out a share of the 'Four Great Constants', this kid only had four shares left in his hand, but it was really generous, one move was 500,000 silver. Kangxi also secretly sighed and couldn't help asking, "Do you need to spend so much money?"

  The humble and respectful reply, "Replying to the Emperor, the 14th brother said that this matter not only concerns the people's livelihood but also our own safety. If the capital is clean, it will be less likely to breed epidemics. Since we are going to do it, we must do it perfectly and cannot lose face for the imperial family. He also said that if there is leftover money, use it to repair the streets."

  This temperament is quite similar to his own, and Kangxi can't help but feel relieved. He originally thought it was just a matter of people's livelihoods, but he didn't expect it to be related to preventing the plague, which is indeed a matter of governance. It's hard for Old Fourteen to see far ahead, think thoroughly, and plan carefully. Thinking of the recent secret reports about Old Fourteen, Kangxi couldn't help but chuckle. This guy actually led a group of imperial clansmen on foot all the way to Xuzhou, which is really quite ridiculous. Thinking of this, Kangxi relaxed and smiled, "Why do you want to deliberately conceal such a good deed that benefits the country and the people?"