Capítulo 763: Chapter 744: Pixiu Inspector (Add 1 More)

Dongfang Sheng couldn’t believe everything before his eyes, filled with heavy doubts.

He cautiously pulled Sun Pingkai aside, and asked carefully.

“Inspector Sun, neither you nor I have ever met General Lin Yi in person, how can you be so sure that this young man in front of us is General Lin Yi?”

“Ha ha ha!”

Sun Pingkai laughed heartily, ignoring Dongfang Sheng’s doubts, and pulled Dongfang Shen back in front of Lin Yi, patting his chest as he spoke.

“Brother Dongfang, you need not doubt any further, General Lin Yi has an Imperial Award gold medal, and just the other day, His Majesty also issued a Holy Decree, bestowing the Imperial Sword to General Lin Yi.”

Hearing this, Dongfang Sheng’s face darkened so much it seemed ink could be wrung out of it.

What had he just done? He had actually lectured the noble General of You Country, even talking about the need to be thrifty and not wasteful!

Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!

He couldn’t help but scold himself inwardly: I must not have checked the calendar before leaving home today!

Dongfang Sheng, trembling with fear, approached Lin Yi, bowed deeply, and said with a face full of apology,

“Please forgive me, General Lin Yi. Just now, this lowly official misspoke due to blind ignorance, I hope the General will overlook my petty fault and spare this small official.”

Hearing this, Sun Pingkai felt uneasy and asked hastily, “Wait a minute, Brother Dongfang, what did you just say?”

Lin Yi quickly stepped forward, supporting this graying-haired Inspector of Lingnan State, and spoke in an even tone.

“Not knowing is not a crime, since everyone is here, let’s go in together.”

Lin Yi walked ahead, and a trembling Dongfang Sheng also followed.

“Lord Dongfang, I called you here to discuss the matter of Official Salt. Why is there now a salt shortage throughout the great You Country?”

Upon mentioning the salt shortage, Dongfang Sheng couldn’t help but sigh, his face filled with melancholy.

“Ah, Lord Lin, you are unaware. There is a salt shortage throughout the entire nation. In the marketplace, most of the salt merchants have switched professions.”

“I’ve heard that some wealthy magnates even go so far as to spend their entire fortunes to hoard large amounts of salt, causing insufficient supply in the market.”

“And recently, there have been frequent issues with Official Salt, either being robbed during transportation or from the Salt Storage.”

Such consistent incidents led Lin Yi to suspect that there is a hidden hand behind the scenes, controlling the salt supply in You Country.

Lin Yi’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, deeply feeling the gravity of the situation. He was determined to uncover the truth. The worries of the young Emperor were his worries.

“Now that there is a salt shortage throughout the entire You Country, how do you still have 100 stones of Official Salt to send?”

Lin Yi was very curious.

With utmost respect, Dongfang Sheng replied, “To be honest, I have a habit of frugality and cannot stand wasteful extravagance, whether it’s the Official Silver, Official Salt, or food distributed by the court.”

“Whatever can be saved, I definitely try to find ways to skim and save it.”

This time, Dongfang Sheng’s thriftiness was a great help to Sun Pingkai. He originally requested to borrow 50 stones of Official Salt from Dongfang Sheng.

Upon hearing about the robbery of the Official Salt, the righteous Dongfang Sheng decided on the spot to provide 100 stones of Official Salt to Sun Pingkai for emergency use.

“General Lin Yi, you are unaware, but Lord Dongfang also has a nickname called the ‘Pixiu Inspector,'” Sun Pingkai explained with a smile.

The Pixiu-like nature of Dongfang Sheng was fully displayed in the official circle.

Although many officials didn’t like Dongfang Sheng’s manner, it was only Dongfang Sheng who had the reserves at critical times and could provide assistance to everyone.

Lin Yi nodded, this ‘Pixiu Inspector’ is quite interesting, but what’s rare is that he is willing to spit out things that he had swallowed when necessary, which is very commendable.

‘Since the Official Salt for the Eighth Prince has been missing for so long, not caring about a day or two more, tomorrow I will personally deliver the Official Salt and meet the Eighth Prince.’

Lin Yi also took this opportunity, during the shortage of Official Salt at Yumen Pass, to observe the reaction of the Eighth Prince.

He suspected that the Eighth Prince might be orchestrating a false shortage of salt across the entire You Country, thereby inciting dissatisfaction among the people and destabilizing the political situation.

When the court truly could not distribute Official Salt anymore, it could then align with public sentiment to overthrow the young Emperor, creating a justified reason for rebellion.

At that point, to distribute the plundered Official Salt to the people would easily cultivate a first wave of popular goodwill.

“Thank you then for the 100 dan of Official Salt delivered by Inspector Dongfang.”

“Someone, put these men into the Salt Storage.”

Hearing that Lin Yi decided to store the Official Salt, Sun Ping was puzzled.

“Great General Lin, isn’t this salt supposed to be sent to Yumen Pass for the Eighth Prince?”

The Eighth Prince had already urged them twice; the newly-appointed Sun Pingkai could hardly withstand the pressure from the Eighth Prince, a Prince of You Country, whom he simply couldn’t afford to offend.

Lin Yi, seeing Sun Pingkai’s anxious expression, understood his concerns, and reassuringly said.

“Lord Sun need not worry, the Eighth Prince will not let his hundred thousand troops go without salt. I will personally deliver this Official Salt myself tomorrow.”

Having the Great General escorting the Official Salt personally was a significant honor for the Eighth Prince; he would certainly not find fault.

Furthermore, even if there were those who wanted to ambush the convoy and steal the Official Salt along the way, knowing the renown of the Great General, Lin Yi believed no one would dare intercept.

“Then my thanks to Great General Lin, I will immediately return this Official Salt to the Salt Storage and ensure it is well guarded.”

With Lin Yi’s assurance, Sun Pingkai finally felt confident and left contentedly.

But Dongfang Sheng had yet to leave.

“Inspector Dongfang? Do you have another matter?” Lin Yi, observing Dongfang Sheng’s hesitance, was really unable to guess what this Pixiu Inspector might still have to say to him.

“Lord, Lord—”

The dignified Inspector, actually began to stutter, instinctively telling Lin Yi that there must be something complicated afoot.

‘This old Pixiu has been an Inspector for nearly ten years, what couldn’t he dare to say?’

“Cough cough, Inspector Dongfang, speak freely, I won’t blame you.”

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Sheng’s tense face finally slackened.

He pulled out a weathered account book from his robes that was nearly falling apart, flipped to the last page, and pointed for Lin Yi to see, his expression conflicted.

“Lord Lin, this is the expenditure of the treasury silver in Lingnan State over the past two days.”

Lin Yi scrutinized it, noting almost every entry was precisely managed by Dongfang Sheng, with not a single coin wasted.

“Indeed, Inspector Dongfang, your management of accounts is meticulous, saving a substantial amount of silver for the court, truly a model for other officials.”

“Rest assured, when I return to the Imperial City, I will report to His Majesty, officials as incorruptibly dedicated as you are truly rare.”

Lin Yi praised him earnestly, firstly in light of Dongfang Sheng’s timely provision of 100 dan of Official Salt during a snowstorm.

Secondly, it was indeed necessary to commend such scrupulous and upright officials; now Lin Yi knew even without inspecting Lingnan State, the residents there were well-cared for, leading stable and joyful lives.

Yet, Dongfang Sheng appeared even more anxious in response to Lin Yi’s praises, clutching the account book and approaching Lin Yi again, stammering.

“Great General Lin, that’s not what I meant, please look at the difference between these last two days and the days before.”

…This chapter ends…