Late Qing Dynasty Executioner

Chapter 26: Addis's Plan
Watching Chen Gu's leaving back, Bian Shichun felt a sudden impulse in his heart, but it was not because he wanted revenge.

Instead, Addis came out to make money. After returning from the border between Sichuan and Shaanxi, Addis stopped and walked along the way, basically visiting every county along the Jialing River and then the Yangtze River.

At present, this warship has become a treasure transport ship. There is definitely a lot of wealth on it. If we can get it, it will definitely increase the family's wealth.

But the risk is too great. If a Manchu provincial governor like Addis was killed in the local area, it would definitely be a huge case and the court would definitely investigate it to the end.

Once the slightest clue is found, there is no need for even concrete evidence, the people and their families involved will be skinned alive if they don't die. If concrete evidence is found, it will be a disaster of having their property confiscated and their entire family exterminated.

Of course, the risks and benefits in this matter are directly proportional.

But the risk was too great. Bian Shichun sighed, then got up and left.

After Adis, who was being cared about by Chen Gu and Bian Shichun, walked onto the dock, he entered the large carriage prepared by the Bai family.

Addis invited Bai Yunqing, the head of the Bai family, to ride in the same carriage, which made all the officials in Jiangjin County envious.

Only Bai Yunqing himself knew how much the Bai family had paid for the qualification to ride in the same carriage with Addis.

Addis is about 1.7 meters tall and weighs more than 200 kilograms, looking very fat.

"My Lord General, please be advised that the Bai Family Restaurant was deliberately set on fire and the entire restaurant was burned down. This is really not the students' fault. They have suffered even greater losses." Bai Yunqing complained.

"Thank you very much, General, for your kindness!" Bai Yunqing had the title of a juren, but because he had to be in charge of the Bai family, he had never had a candidate position. It was reasonable for him to call himself a student in front of Addis, and it also made people feel closer to him.

Bai Yunqing is taller than Addis, but he always bends slightly in front of Addis. Even when they enter the carriage and sit face to face, Bai Yunqing looks like he is a head shorter than Addis.

"You don't have to talk about this nonsense, let's talk about the opium. How did it get burned?" Addis asked in a cold voice. That was all his money.

Not to mention the capital, Addis can get along well in the whole Sichuan, because not only is he the general of Chengdu, his father has also been the governor of Sichuan. It can be said that his students and former officials are spread all over the Sichuan Basin.

"I really can't gather so much opium at once. I have tried my best to collect it these days, but I only found 1,000 kilograms. I hope you can give me some time. For this, I am willing to compensate you for your losses."

"That general doesn't care. Since I have already paid the deposit, you need to hand the things over to me." Addis said angrily.

Even though Addis was reprimanded by Jiaqing, he had a strong background. For a small Jiangjin County, no matter how big the problem was, he could just use some connections in the capital to settle it.

The reason why he said it was a favor was that Addis invited him to ride in the same carriage, which would inevitably make the magistrate and others value the Bai family more.

As Bai Yunqing spoke, he took out a stack of silver bills from his arms and presented it with both hands.

Addis took the banknotes expressionlessly and looked through them. They were all banknotes from large banks worth one thousand taels each.

Datongxing is a money industry union formed by all the money houses opened by wealthy merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang in Shanghai. This kind of silver bill can be exchanged throughout the country. There are a total of 20 silver bills, totaling 20,000 taels of silver. Adis has ordered a total of 10,000 kilograms of opium from the Bai family. At this time, opium is still relatively cheap, especially the opium grown locally in Sichuan, which is only 2 taels of silver per kilogram. These 20,000 taels are already the retail price of Adis.

In other words, even if Addis transported 10,000 kilograms of opium back to Chengdu and sold it, he would only make this much money.

So Addis nodded in satisfaction, put away the banknotes, and said, "Tell me, how did your restaurant get burned down? Did you catch the person? Don't worry, I will take care of it for you."

Since you have taken other people's money, you naturally have to do them a favor. Addis is a typical second-generation official. Although he is greedy for money, he will help do things after taking the money. After all, this is the only long-term way.

If you eat in an ugly way, even if others cannot afford to offend you, they will try to avoid you. Your path will be narrowed and it will be difficult to make money.

"We didn't catch the man. The thief sneaked into the restaurant through the sewer at four o'clock in the morning when everyone was least alert. While setting the fire, he also placed gunpowder cans in the yard to hinder the firefighting, causing the restaurant to be completely reduced to ashes." Bai Yunqing said gritting his teeth.

"It will be difficult if we don't catch the person!" Addis frowned and thought for a while, then asked, "Is there anyone who suspects me?"

"Yes!" Bai Yunqing nodded and said, "My son had a grudge with Bian Shichun of the Bian family before. On their way back from a trip, they hid from hail in a grocery store. When they were leaving, the boy from the Bian family actually tried to harm my son, causing him to fall and have a bloody head.

My Bai family naturally refused to comply, and subsequently reported the Bian family's son to the government office. As a result, the Bai family's restaurant was burned down within a few days. I ask the general to make a decision for the Bai family!"

"The Bian family!" Addis frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "The Bian family seems to be one of the big families in Jiangjin County, right? I just saw his family!"

"It is indeed one of the big families in this county." Bai Yunqing said.

Addis nodded and asked, "What price do you want the Bian family to pay?"

"It's up to the general!" Bai Yunqing hesitated for a moment, then said, "It would be best if the Bian family compensated my Bai's restaurant for all the losses, and expelled the little bastard from the Bian family from school!"

"Let's talk about this matter after I meet the magistrate and the county governor!" Addis would naturally not agree easily. After all, it goes without saying that the loss of Bai's restaurant must be huge. If Bai Yunqing exaggerates, the loss will be enormous.

The Bian family might not agree to pay so much compensation. After all, there is no evidence to prove that the fire in the Bai family restaurant was related to the Bian family. Otherwise, Bai Yunqing would not have to come to him for help.

As for academic status, it is an even more troublesome matter. The imperial examination, on a larger scale, is even related to the foundation of the imperial court. Even if the Manchus want to become officials, the imperial examination is still the right way.

Although Jiangjin is just a county, Addis doesn't want to get involved in student affairs.

Addis wanted to have the best of both worlds, taking the Bai family's share as well as the Bian family's. He was about to step down anyway, and it was not certain whether he would have the chance to come to Sichuan in this lifetime, so it was not impossible for him to do something a little excessive.

Of course, we still have to give the Bai family an explanation to some extent so that everyone can save face.

(End of this chapter)