Tea Merchants of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 153 Investigation

The atmosphere in the lobby was weird. Not only did Li Ji and Yan Li disapprove of Jiang Yin going to investigate in person, but even Jiang Er Niang disapproved.

Jiang Yin hesitated for a moment, and had to follow Jiang Erniang's words, giving in and saying, "Okay, then we'll talk about it after we go back and discuss it."

If she had known there would be such opposition, she should have informed Er Niang before coming.

Before leaving the Tea and Horse Department, Li Ji was a little worried, so he called Jiang Yin aside and told her, "Miss Jiang, if you want to go, you must come to me first, and don't act on your own."

He could object to Jiang Yin's risking her life, but he couldn't influence her decision. If she really wanted to go, it would be safest for her to go with him, as he would protect her anyway.

Jiang Yin paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. Don't worry, Mr. Li. If I were to go, I would definitely tell you."

She had originally planned to go with Li Ji, but she didn't know whether he would agree.

After talking to Li Ji for a few words, Jiang Yin and Jiang Erniang and her husband hurried to the old house.

In the carriage, Jiang Erniang said angrily, "A Yin, what are you thinking? Do you really want to take the risk?

This matter has nothing to do with us, why do you have to get involved? The Tea and Horse Bureau will not default on the payment of the 10% of tea."

The goods are sold, and we are not responsible for them. These matters are for the Tea and Horse Department to solve, and have nothing to do with them.

Wouldn't it be better for them to just grow good tea and manage Jiang's business?

"It's okay, don't worry, Second Mother." Jiang Yin raised his hand and held Jiang Second Mother's hand, comforting her, "The tea-horse trade has not yet ended, and I'm worried that the longer it is delayed, the bigger the problem will be.

This is a serious matter, one more person means one more way. Maybe I can actually find out something."

The people involved are often confused, so if she investigates as a bystander, it might be easier for her to find out the information.

Sending Li Ji away sooner would allow the government and the people in Tokyo to shift their attention sooner. This would help the Jiang family to recuperate.

What's more, two of the other three major families in Mengshan are still active outside.

This time, under the pretext of investigating the case, she will personally send them off so that they can be reunited in prison as soon as possible.

"Are you really determined to go?" Jiang Erniang asked solemnly, "You can send Wang Heng, why do you have to go yourself?"

She was finding it increasingly difficult to understand Jiang Yin. Although he was changing for the better, he was too bold and risky.

However, Jiang Yin still shook his head and said, "Don't worry, Second Mother, I know what's going on. Besides, I won't be gone for too long, I'll be back in three to five days at most."

She could only verify some things that happened in her past life by herself. Even if she could reveal some to Li Ji, it would only be a small part.

She went to check it out herself and found the source of the news.

Jiang Erniang nudged Xie Daoyun with her elbow and said, "Why don't you follow suit and try to persuade them!"

She didn't know how to persuade him, and needed an ally to help her.

However, Xie Daoyun shrugged and said indifferently: "Go if you want to. With Li Ji here, there won't be any problem."

Li Ji's feelings for Jiang Yin are obvious. He will protect Jiang Yin and there is nothing to worry about.

If he can't even protect Jiang Yin, then Li Ji has lived all these years in vain.

Jiang Erniang's face froze, she rolled her eyes at him, and said unhappily, "I asked you to persuade her not to go, not to go."

He was asked to persuade Jiang Yin not to go, but he instigated her to go. It would have been better if he hadn't said anything.

Xie Daoyun touched his nose, secretly gave Jiang Yin a look that said "May you be lucky", and said nothing more.

Jiang Yin said quickly, "Yes, don't worry, Second Madam. With Mr. Li here, it's safe. If anything goes wrong, I can just run away."

She is not the kind of person who overestimates her own abilities and insists on dying. If she can't win, she should just run away.

"If you really want to go, I can't help you." Jiang Erniang sighed and said helplessly, "But after you go, you must not act alone.

If the sky falls, there are still tall people to hold it up. If there is anything, let the Tea Horse Department and Li Ji handle it. Don't rush forward stupidly."

Jiang Yin is still young, how can he fight against those old foxes who have been in the officialdom for a long time?

Jiang Yin took Jiang Erniang's hand, nodded and said coquettishly: "Okay, I'll listen to you, Erniang."

Of course she would not rush forward foolishly. Her life was valuable and she had to keep it to protect the Jiang family.

After deciding to go to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road to investigate the porters stealing tea case, Jiang Yin began writing and drawing in the old house, piecing together the bits and pieces in his mind.

This incident of a porter stealing tea was not actually just referring to one porter, but a gang.

There may not be just one gang, there may very well be multiple gangs, coming from multiple forces.

From selecting porters, transporting time and routes to stealing tea and selling stolen goods, there must be gangs behind the scenes.

Of course, some individual porters stole tea, but not many. Occasionally, the Tea and Horse Bureau would turn a blind eye to such cases.

After all, the porters who carried tea from Mount Mengshan to Tubo with great difficulty did not earn much money. That little bit of tea was considered alms.

However, this is only done when the quantity is small. If the quantity is large, it will still be treated as selling private tea.

If it is dealt with, the person may lose his life at the least and his entire family may be implicated at the worst. Therefore, there are cases of private tea theft, but they are not common.

This time, we have to investigate not only to find out the porter who stole the tea, but also the gang behind it to prevent future troubles.

……

On the Tea Horse Road, Jiang Yin, dressed as a man, and Li Ji, wearing coarse clothes and carrying bags, were heading towards Tubo.

Others either followed closely or hid in the dark.

At this time of year every year, there are many vendors coming and going on this road, and even more ordinary people.

Therefore, Jiang Yin and his friends' dress and behavior were not out of place and did not attract much attention.

Taking advantage of the open area and no one around, Li Ji leaned close to Jiang Yin's ear and whispered, "Who do you think is behind this?"

He felt that Jiang Yin would know the truth. Even if he didn't, what Jiang Yin said was well-founded and not groundless.

This can be seen from the information Jiang Yin gave in the previous times, although he felt that the source of Jiang Yin's information was not necessarily her parents.

The sudden heat beside her ear startled Jiang Yin, and she immediately moved a few steps to the side.

"Don't get so close to me." She said unhappily, "Apart from the rebels, there are only the royal family members who are too idle to care."

She felt that people in Tokyo lived too comfortably and had to find trouble for no reason.

If the government really takes this seriously and lets those people do things that benefit the country and the people like Li Ji did, then who knows how prosperous the Song Dynasty would be.

Seeing Jiang Yin's actions, Li Ji felt a little hurt.

But he immediately adjusted his attitude and continued as if nothing had happened: "So when do you think they will act again?"

The ideal situation would be that they happened to encounter thieves along the way, and then his people and the people from the Tea and Horse Bureau would step in and catch all the thieves in one fell swoop, saving them the trouble of investigating them one by one.