Chapter 523

Chapter 523: Greed

Upon hearing that killing the eunuch would only bring catastrophic disaster to the family, everyone fell silent.

"Sigh!"

After a while, an elder sighed and said, "Since we can’t protect it, let’s give it to him. The family’s safety is the priority."

"But, elder, that’s the Lianshan Iron Mine! It’s our Jiang family’s main source of income!"

Many people felt very reluctant.

"What does it matter? He is a eunuch from the palace, representing the emperor’s royal authority. As the saying goes, the people must not fight against officials. Are you going to challenge royal authority?"

Hearing this, the gathering fell completely silent again.

This meeting concerned the fate of the family, and everyone understood that the Jiang family could not compete with the eunuchs sent from the palace.

The Jiang family was merely a small family in a small county town.

Faced with royal authority, the Jiang family was no different from ants.

Thus, whether the Jiang family held this meeting or not, the outcome was the same: they would have to relinquish the mine.

"Sigh! I really don’t understand why the emperor would send a personal eunuch to our small Lianshan County. In terms of wealth, Lianshan County can’t compare to the prefectural city, and in terms of iron mines, the large mines near the prefectural city are dozens of times bigger than the Lianshan Iron Mine…"

A member of the Jiang family was very puzzled, unable to understand why the emperor would send a eunuch to their small county to take their small iron mine.

The Jiang family only controlled a small iron mine; it wasn’t anything significant.

Not only he but also many others were puzzled by this.

For example, the county magistrate of Lianshan County was also confused.

The eunuch sent by the emperor had almost undermined his authority, and as long as the eunuch wanted, he could completely undercut the magistrate.

After the eunuch was sent, the magistrate had even asked around.

He learned that the emperor had not sent any eunuchs anywhere else except for Lianshan County.

Moreover, the magistrate had found out that the eunuch assigned to Lianshan County was a trusted eunuch close to the emperor.

Such a situation was truly baffling.

Could it be that there was something special about Lianshan County?

This was the thought of many people after learning that the emperor had placed a trusted eunuch in Lianshan County.

However, no matter how others inquired, they couldn’t discover why the emperor had assigned an eunuch here.

In the county town, not far from the county office, there was a newly built luxurious mansion.

This was where the eunuchs from the palace lived.

"Master, the Jiang family sent someone and expressed their willingness to offer the Lianshan Iron Mine," a little eunuch reported respectfully to the Old Eunuch.

Hearing the little eunuch’s words, the Old Eunuch nodded, "The Jiang family is sensible; this saves us from having to take action ourselves."

"However, this is not enough. I’ve heard that the Jiang family has over three thousand mu of farmland. Go tell them to give up two thousand mu." The Old Eunuch said lightly.

"Yes, I’ll go right away."

"Wait a moment."

The Old Eunuch stopped the little eunuch who was about to leave and asked, "Recently, His Majesty ordered an inquiry into the He family. What have you found out?" The Old Eunuch inquired of the little eunuch.

"Master, I have learned that there is indeed a He family in Lianshan County, which has only appeared in the county town in the past six months. The family head is named Daxuan," the little eunuch reported.

"Very well. Tomorrow, accompany me to meet the head of the He family. This person is a distinguished guest of the emperor, so let’s show him some respect," the Old Eunuch said lightly.

After speaking, he waved his hand to the little eunuch, "You may go."

…

Half an hour later.

Jiang family.

"What? That dog eunuch wants two thousand mu of farmland from my Jiang family? That’s impossible! If we lose so much land, my Jiang family will starve!"

The Jiang family exploded in outrage at the Old Eunuch’s greed in demanding two thousand mu of land.

At this moment, not only was the Jiang family in an uproar, but other families were also equally agitated.

Because the Old Eunuch from the palace had just seized not only most of Jiang family’s farmland but also most of the farmland from other families.

For example, the Qiu family had the most land in Lianshan County, around seven thousand mu.

However, the Old Eunuch had just sent word to the Qiu family, demanding five thousand mu of farmland, which angered the Qiu family immensely.

"We must write an impeachment letter," many members of the Qiu family discussed.

Unlike the Jiang family, who couldn’t do anything about the Old Eunuch, the Qiu family had a connection in the neighboring province.

Faced with the Old Eunuch’s attempt to seize land, the Qiu family chose to have someone help them write an impeachment letter.

"But I’ve heard that the Old Eunuch is a trusted eunuch of the emperor, and he brought the Qingyi Guards to follow his orders in Lianshan County. If we… will he frame the Qiu family with a crime and raid our home?"

"This…"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Qiu family hesitated.

"We can ally with other families to resist the Old Eunuch. I don’t believe he would dare to frame all our families."

"But before, the Old Eunuch wanted the Jiang family’s mine, and when Jiang family sought our help, we rejected them. Will they agree to join us now?" an elder inquired.

Hearing this, the head of the Qiu family waved his hand, "Now is different from before. I believe the Jiang family will choose to ally with us."

Previously, it was this head of the Qiu family who personally refused the Jiang family’s alliance, and now he was the one seeking an alliance, yet he felt no embarrassment about it.

Before, the Old Eunuch targeted only the Jiang family’s mine, which he was more than willing to have taken away; why would he help them?

However, things were different now; the Old Eunuch not only wanted the Jiang family’s mine but also the Qiu family’s assets, which naturally touched upon the Qiu family’s interests, and that was unacceptable.

…

Jiang family!

"What? The Qiu family sent someone to propose an alliance with us? Why?"

"Has that Old Eunuch also taken land from the Qiu family? Hahaha, great! The Qiu family pretended to be high-minded and rejected our alliance. Now that the Old Eunuch is after them, they are looking for an alliance again. Pah!"

The head of the Jiang family looked down on the invitation from the Qiu family.

"Then, master, should we cooperate with the Jiang family?" a family member asked the head of the family.

Upon hearing this, the head of the Jiang family fell deep in thought.

"I think we should cooperate. That Old Eunuch from the palace is too greedy. He wanted the mine, and we gave it to him, and now he demands most of Jiang family’s farmland. If we compromise again, what if he demands the remaining land? Should we give it or not?"

"Therefore, since the Qiu family has a way to write an impeachment letter to the court, we should support them."

…

The next day.

In the morning, under the protection of a group of Qingyi Guards, a palanquin slowly stopped outside the He residence, marked with a plaque.

Knock, knock, knock!

A little eunuch moved forward to knock on the door, producing a series of knocks.

However, after a long while, no one came to open the door.

"What’s going on? Why isn’t the He family opening the door?"

The Old Eunuch furrowed his brows upon seeing no one at the He residence.

After a pause, the Old Eunuch instructed the little eunuch, "Continue to knock on the door."