Chapter 77: The Merchant's Scheme to Kill with a Borrowed Knife (Part 3)

  This conversation left everyone speechless, including the water sellers, who all fell silent after hearing it. Everyone knew to some extent that the Kong family was not entirely innocent. They had sold a lot of black market salt in the past and made a fortune from it. Recently, there were also rumors that he had a private deal with the county magistrate, and it was known that he had moved a large amount of grain from the granary in Huayin County, but whether it was as righteous as he claimed, no one knew.

  Everyone saw the notice clearly and secretly admired it, but with everything that has happened recently, everyone can't help but have doubts in their hearts.

  Shi Jin also deeply understood the severity of Confucius' words at this moment, because he knew that once he lost the hearts of the people, everything would be lost from then on. Now, what he was fighting for was not just food and grass, but also the direction of the people's hearts. The seriousness of the problem had already been stirred up to another level by Confucius' words. Although it was something Shi Jin had not anticipated before, he faced his curses without even frowning.

  Shi Jin said to Kong Rong, "Mr. Kong, since the notice was posted on Mount Shao Hua, no one has dared to take it down. Everyone here knows that we mean what we say and do what we say. But as for you being so rude, you know the reason better than anyone else!" As he spoke, Shi Jin stood up and walked to the edge of the three deep pits, grabbed a handful of soil and slowly poured it into the pit, scaring the people below pale.

  Shi Jin continued, "Just now, the people from the Kong family all exposed your secrets, saying that you've done many dishonest businesses. Although they died for you, this title of a treacherous merchant can't be erased just like that. You guys say, is it true or not?" Shi Jin looked at his three companions who were nodding vigorously in agreement below him, and then stopped talking.

  Shi Jin stood up straight, looking at Kong Ruzi and said: "Kong boss, you said you were doing it for the good of Huayin County, taking grain from the warehouse to prepare for unexpected events. Well, let's assume you're clever, this granary indeed had an accident, then shouldn't your grain also be taken out and used?"

  Kong Ruzi originally wanted to take advantage of Shi Jin, but unexpectedly Shi Jin's brain turned faster than anyone else's, leaving him speechless. Kong Ruzi himself knew he was in the wrong and his eyes darted around, not daring to look at Shi Jin's face. However, in his heart, he was quickly thinking of a way to retort. Just as Shi Jin was about to speak, Kong Ruzi suddenly said: "The grain and fodder are prepared for County Magistrate Liu, I cannot let you use them!"

  "But Liu Gouguan is already dead." Shi Jin saw that Kong Ru had found all sorts of excuses, but in fact he was just unwilling to hand over the grain. Shi Jin had wasted a lot of time on these two families, Kong and Huang, and at this point he was about to lose his patience with Kong Ru's uncooperative attitude.

  "Magistrate Liu may be dead, but the king's law is still in effect! As long as the king's law exists, this grain is mine, and you have given me your promise. You won't plunder the property of any commoner, and I just so happen to be a commoner!" Kong Ru was beyond caring about logic at this point; he had grasped onto an idea and wouldn't let go, no matter how unreasonable it sounded.

  Ke Shi Jin was not provoked by such a rascal, it can only be said that this Confucian scholar did not understand Shi Jin at all. What Shi Jin feared the least was being bullied. You want to play tricks? Fine, I'll let you see what real bullying looks like!

  Shi Jin's expression changed as he coldly laughed, patted Huang Erlang's shoulder and said to Kong Ruzi: "Kong boss, you want to talk about the king's law? Coincidentally, I have the king's law here." Turning his head to look at Huang Erlang, Shi Jin asked: "Huang old master, what did you tell me just now?"

  "Huang Erlang didn't know what Huang Shiren meant by his words, but looking at the current situation, it didn't seem like he was going to pursue that reckless remark of his. So he said in a low voice: 'Huang Dage, I originally said "The county magistrate is dead, you take care of everything, the yamen is burned down, and I will establish the king's law"... Huang Dage, I didn't...'"

  Shi Jin patted his shoulder again, interrupting what he was about to say: "That's it! I'll take care of this matter. He wants the law? You give him the law!"

  Shi Jin's words were urgent and profound, and Huang Er Lang immediately understood them. He hastily echoed: "Oh oh oh, the king's law is here, the king's law is here." As he spoke, Huang Er Lang kicked Kong Ru on the ground and asked crudely: "Speak! Where are the grain and fodder?"

  Kong Ru's ribs were kicked broken by Huang Er Lang, and he was in so much pain that he was sweating all over. Since childhood, Kong Ru had been spoiled, and normally, Huang Er Lang wouldn't dare to kick him. Today, Kong Ru felt wronged, and immediately got angry, loudly scolding: "Huang Er Lang, you damn bastard! Call Huang Tian Bao to see me!"

  Kong Rui mentioned Huang Tianba, and Shi Jin only then realized that the one who had been tied up was not Huang Tianba. At this moment, Huang Erlang was also speechless for a while, unable to say anything, and looked at him with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, as he usually listened to his older brother's words.

  Just at this moment of awkward silence, a man walked in from the wind and water gate. Huang Erlang took a look and thought to himself, isn't this the person he sent to invite Huang Tianba? Could it be...

  It turned out that the man had returned to report back a long time ago, and happened to encounter Jin Jiban killing people there. He saw that the situation inside was not right, so he hid outside the door. At this moment, he heard that Huang Tianba was going to be called over, and he became nervous for a while, fearing that Huang Er Lang would blame him for not reporting back in time. That's why he plucked up his courage to come in. Standing in front of Huang Er Lang, he said: "Second Master, the old master said he couldn't leave, so he didn't come. Before leaving, he asked me to bring a message to you..." The man's voice became lower and lower as he spoke, obviously what followed was private talk.

  At this time, Huang Tianba knew that Shi Jin had come for grain and grass, not to make things difficult for him. So, since his brother didn't come, he was even more open-handed, wanting to use Shi Jin's power to overthrow the foundation of the Huang family. The more Huang Erlang thought about it, the more beautiful it seemed, so he also became unscrupulous and rushed towards Xiao Si, saying: "If you have anything, just say it loudly!"

  Xiao Si's face was somewhat embarrassed, and he could only stammer: "Master said that it's fine if we don't intervene in this matter, let Second Master take people back as soon as possible, and the other side is still urgently short of manpower for mining."

  Huang Erlang heard that it was this, and every day he dug with a gloomy face. What's good to dig? He felt unhappy in his heart and called the little Si to roll over to one side.

  Shi Jin knew that the person in his hand was not Huang Tianba, so he cut off the rope of Huang Er Lang with one knife and said: "Huang Tianba is not coming, then this king's law still has to be given to him. If it's late, there won't be any dinner tonight."

  Huang Erlang rubbed his wrist and smiled: "Let Master Shi rest for a while, I'll give him a royal treatment right away!"