Chapter 56 - 54: Ulterior Motives
"I’ll think about it some more. I’ll make a decision in a few days," Weii Fei said to Wei Tu after a moment of thought.
Even though he couldn’t understand the "Celestial Book" known as the *Five Elements Spirit Body*, he could guess it was incredibly valuable.
If he didn’t know Wei Tu’s character, he most likely would have hidden this Secret Manual on his person and slowly searched for a way to decipher it.
Now, with Kou Liang and Fu Zhizhou involved, he felt the risk was becoming Uncontrollable.
"This is your decision, Second Brother. I’m just offering a suggestion."
Wei Tu understood his place. After hearing this, he nodded in agreement with Weii Fei’s decision and didn’t press the matter.
...
「Three days later.」
County Captain Xu announced that he had apprehended several remnants of Wuyun Tower in Siyang Town and its surrounding villages. He stated that the rest of the fugitives were still at large and urged the common people to help the Government Office capture the rebels.
Then, in front of a crowd of onlookers, he beheaded several Wuyun Tower Martial Artists on the grain-drying ground.
The watching commoners fell silent, while the Gentry standing in the crowd trembled slightly.
That evening, the "slow-witted" Gentry and wealthy households who had previously resisted the search and seizure immediately pushed wheelbarrows full of their transportable wealth to the military camp at Liu Family Castle.
"I will not take all this wealth for myself. We all become officials to get promoted and get rich. I will take fifty percent. The rest, according to the rules, will be divided among you all..."
The wealth was piled high inside the main hall.
County Captain Xu summoned all the Military Officers. He swept his gaze over each of their faces, then weighed the Jade Ruyi in his hand and spoke with a smile.
Among this group of Military Officers were, of course, Wei Tu and Weii Fei. The two exchanged a subtle glance and nodded.
’Although the riches before them were ill-gotten, extorted by County Captain Xu from the Gentry and commoners of Siyang Town, they could hardly change the overall situation... It would be a waste not to take their share.’
Besides, if they presented themselves as incorruptible Military Officers and refused the money, they would surely be seen as a thorn in the side by County Captain Xu and the other officers.
It would be detrimental to both their future prospects and their own lives.
’Besides, we’re miscellaneous officials. We’re not qualified to join the ranks of the incorruptible anyway.’
"Thank you, Lord Xu." After a pause of several breaths, the Military Officers, their faces alight with joy, clasped their fists and thanked County Captain Xu.
Seeing this, County Captain Xu nodded in satisfaction. He then turned his gaze to Wei Tu and another middle-aged Military Officer, saying, "Army Envoy Wei, Army Envoy Chu, the two of you will be in charge of distributing this wealth."
As his voice fell, Wei Tu and the middle-aged Military Officer clasped their fists to accept the order. They began to allocate shares of the wealth based on the rank of each Military Officer in the room and the merit they had earned during the assault on Liu Family Castle.
An hour later, the two of them had finished distributing all the wealth in the room.
All the Military Officers were satisfied, and none found any fault with Wei Tu’s and Chu Army Envoy’s distribution.
As a Capital Army Envoy, Wei Tu also received a share of over forty taels.
Combined with the loot he had seized during the assault on Liu Family Castle, Wei Tu’s trip to Siyang Town had netted him a total of over one hundred thirty taels of silver.
These silver coins were enough to pay off his outstanding debts, with plenty to spare.
"Tomorrow, we break camp, leave Siyang Town, and return to the County Town."
As the meeting concluded, County Captain Xu addressed the assembled Military Officers.
However, just as Wei Tu was about to leave the hall, County Captain Xu called out to him, asking him to stay behind for a moment.
Slightly taken aback, Wei Tu remained standing in the hall.
After the other Military Officers had left one by one, County Captain Xu took a gold ingot from his own pile of wealth and pressed it into Wei Tu’s hand.
"Army Envoy Wei, you performed two great services this time, but you forgot about that when you allocated your own share. That’s not a good habit to have."
County Captain Xu chuckled.
"This..." Wei Tu was shocked to see the gold ingot pressed into his hand.
One tael of gold was equal to ten taels of silver. This ingot was about five taels, which meant it was worth fifty taels of silver.
This was no small sum.
It was equivalent to the share of a full Military Officer.
"Thank you, Lord Xu." After a moment of racing thoughts, Wei Tu composed himself, clasped his fists, and bowed in salute to County Captain Xu.
He hadn’t been unaware of his two great merits when distributing the wealth. He had simply worried that taking a larger share would antagonize Chu Army Envoy, who was of the same rank, so he had taken the same amount of silver coins as him.
"Follow me, Army Envoy Wei, and you won’t have to be so cautious in the army from now on..."
County Captain Xu walked over to Wei Tu’s side, clapped him on the shoulder, and said this with a smile.
Then, before Wei Tu could process the meaning behind his words, County Captain Xu waved his hand, dismissing him.
...
’Could it be that County Captain Xu has ulterior motives?’
’Is that why he’s showing me favor, to win me over? Does he want to make me his Trusted Confidant?’
Walking out of the hall, Wei Tu mulled over County Captain Xu’s words.
’Distributing money to the Military Officers this time was standard practice in the Xiang Army. County Captain Xu couldn’t possibly take all the benefits for himself.’
’If he didn’t share the money, it wouldn’t be so easy for him to command the Qingshan County Xiang Army as he pleased next time.’
’The Military Officers would be dissatisfied, and County Captain Xu would find it difficult to control the army.’
’However, for County Captain Xu to secretly press more money on him after the other Military Officers had left—that carried a completely different meaning.’
’It was a direct attempt to win him over, to make him a Trusted Confidant.’
’Buying military morale and recruiting Military Officers are major taboos in the army!’
’The initial division of wealth was something his superiors would overlook, even if they knew. After all, the Court hadn’t allocated many provisions or pay for this campaign against the Wuyun Tower branch...’
’But adding the latter part changed the meaning entirely. Anyone could see that County Captain Xu’s intentions were not simple.’
’It has nothing to do with me.’
’Fifty taels of silver alone isn’t worth my life.’
Wei Tu felt the lump of gold at his waist, deciding he would take the sugar-coating but reject the cannonball.
The gold ingot County Captain Xu had pressed on him was ill-gotten wealth. He felt no psychological burden in taking it.
’If I’m really going to serve someone, it would be the Zheng Country Court and the people of Siyang Town.’
’What does it have to do with County Captain Xu?’
’Besides, given my status and position, a mere fifty taels of silver is far from enough to win me over.’
...
「The next morning.」
After taking a headcount of the soldiers, County Captain Xu ordered the army to break camp, leave Siyang Town, and return to the County Town.
When the Xiang Army had left Siyang Town and reached the hilltop where they had camped before the battle...
Wei Tu heard the sound of gongs and drums coming from within Siyang Town.
He sighed inwardly and shook his head. Without a second glance, he spurred his horse away from the hilltop and caught up with the main force.
The journey from Siyang Town back to Qingshan County Town was smooth and uneventful.
After returning to the County Town, Wei Tu went home, removed his Refined Armor, and washed up. He then took thirty taels of silver and went to the Huang Family residence to pay a visit.
"Thirty taels?"
"You gathered it all so quickly?" Wei Hong looked astonished when she heard the reason for Wei Tu’s visit, finding it a little hard to believe.
Thirty taels of silver... based on Wei Tu’s salary, it would take him three or four years to save up that much, and that’s if he didn’t eat or drink.
And how long had it been since she had lent Wei Tu the money?
Less than two years.