Perhaps because it was payday, the inspection post, usually sparsely attended even for roll call, was now teeming with people, a clamor filling the air.
Chu Mu stared blankly at the paper bills in his hand, momentarily dazed.
If he remembered correctly, he had only been working at the inspection post for four or five days.
His monthly salary was a mere eight silver.
By calculation, on payday, his share should amount to little more than one silver.
Yet now, clutched in his hand were a dozen or so paper bills, totaling over nine silver!
"Haha, stunned, aren't you?"
He Ergou sidled up, slinging an arm around Chu Mu's shoulder, grinning smugly.
Chu Mu looked up, subtly shifting his body away, and asked with a hint of confusion, "This extra money is…?"
He Ergou's loud mouth immediately started jabbering. "It's the same for everyone—double pay! One portion is the salary from the court, the other is a bonus from the higher-ups…"
Chu Mu vaguely understood but probed further, "This bonus money?"
He Ergou raised a hand, pointing toward the direction of the mine, his voice lowering slightly. "The mine, our county's treasure trove. Every time they send ore to the prefectural city, the county skims off a portion."
"Ore's expensive, you know! Think about it—our mine, with thousands of conscripted laborers digging day and night. How much money is that worth?"
"The lords up top eat the meat, but they've got to leave us some soup!"
"Everyone in the county with an official post gets double pay…"
Chu Mu swallowed hard. He realized he had been too naive. He had thought that the vast web of profit was far removed from him. Who would've imagined that he, a lowly inspector, was already ensnared within it?
He couldn't help but wonder if, among the lords of Qinghe County, there was one named Lei Luo.
This was, plain and simple, a black gold empire!
In the end, Chu Mu asked, "With such brazenness, aren't they afraid of higher authorities investigating?"
He Ergou curled his lip. "You think the lords in the prefectural city don't take their cut?"
"Who'd turn down money?"
"Besides, who'd dare to investigate?"
Chu Mu didn't press further. A vast web of profit bound together all of Qinghe County's ruling class, and it surely extended to the prefectural city as well.
Such an immense network of interests could only be dismantled by a thorough purge from the bottom up or by someone at the top with the ruthless determination and authority of Zhu Yuanzhang. Otherwise, minor disturbances wouldn't shake it in the slightest.
At that moment, Chu Mu felt an inexplicable urgency. He wanted to find a history book and carefully study what this Great Chu realm was truly like.
"Now you see the perks of being an inspector, right?"
He Ergou blabbered on carelessly, then abruptly changed tack, slinging an arm around Chu Mu with a grin. "So, how about lending me some money? I'll pay you back next payday!"
"Don't trust him, newbie. That scoundrel never repays his loans. It all goes to women's bellies—he'll die on one someday!"
He Ergou immediately flared up, charging forward and cursing, "What nonsense are you spouting, kid? Looking for a fight?"
"Oh, look at this dog getting feisty! What, did I say something wrong?"
"Damn it…"
The shift was so sudden that Chu Mu hadn't even processed the loan request before He Ergou was grappling with someone.
However… despite He Ergou throwing the first punch, he seemed to be the one getting beaten…
Fortunately, the inspection post was crowded with people—corporals and squad leaders aplenty. Soon, with a sharp shout, several inspectors rushed forward to break up the fight.
The two were promptly bound and dragged away, accompanied by a grim-faced centurion. Clearly, neither would escape punishment.
"Uh…"
Chu Mu blinked. He suddenly felt an urge to lend money to He Ergou. Even if he didn't get repaid, it wouldn't matter.
Poor He Ergou—twice he'd asked Chu Mu for a loan, and both times, before Chu Mu could even refuse or say a word, he was hauled off.
"So, I've taken dirty money now?"
Chu Mu glanced down at the paper bills in his hand. Heavens above, he, a fine young man from the new century, barely ten days in this world, had already accepted dirty money?
Silently, Chu Mu tucked the money into his robe. The already thick stack of bills grew slightly thicker, much like the skill proficiency ticking up on his interface panel.
Well… reassuring…
Chu Mu figured that next month, when he received sixteen silver in salary, he'd feel even more reassured.
"Brother Mu!"
He hadn't walked far when his shoulder was grabbed again.
"Tonight, I'm treating you to the Moonlit Tower!"
This time, Chu Mu didn't pull away. Glancing at the bills in Xu Yuan's hand, he said pointedly, "You've struck it rich, kid?"
"You bet!"
Xu Yuan grinned, then cautiously scanned their surroundings before leaning in close to Chu Mu's ear. "Brother Mu, I've hit the jackpot!"
Chu Mu feigned confusion. "Jackpot?"
"At least this much!"
Xu Yuan held up his hand, smugly flashing a number.
"Twenty silver?"
Chu Mu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. At black market prices—twenty copper for a pound of iron—twenty silver equaled a hundred pounds of iron. For a rookie like Xu Yuan to get twenty silver, how much iron had their gang stolen?
But considering the scale of the mine, Chu Mu wasn't too shocked. Thousands of conscripted laborers toiled day and night; what they stole was likely a drop in the bucket compared to the mine's output.
The real haul went to the county's lords.
If even the "soup" for those with official posts was this substantial, one could only imagine how terrifying the "meat" for the higher-ups must be.
Expecting Chu Mu to press for details, Xu Yuan waited, but Chu Mu remained silent. Unable to hold back, Xu Yuan asked, "Brother Mu, aren't you curious where I got the money?"
Chu Mu shook his head. "Keep your secrets to yourself. Don't tell me."
Xu Yuan was momentarily stunned, then grinned. "I'm only telling you, Brother Mu, not just anyone!"
Chu Mu waved it off, changing the subject. "Didn't you say you're treating me to dinner at the Moonlit Tower tonight?"
Xu Yuan's eyes lit up with excitement. "Brother Mu, you don't know what the Moonlit Tower is like…"
Seeing Xu Yuan's enthusiasm, Chu Mu couldn't help but feel exasperated.
The Moonlit Tower—its name alone betrayed its nature.
A place for eating, drinking, and revelry.
If Chu Mu remembered correctly, Xu Yuan was barely grown, yet he'd already been to such a place for "fun"?
A young colt pulling a heavy cart?
Could he even handle it?
Curiosity piqued, Chu Mu couldn't resist sizing Xu Yuan up.
"Brother Mu, what's up?"
Chu Mu didn't answer, instead asking, "When did you go to the Moonlit Tower?"
"Last time, with the chiliarch!"
Chu Mu's expression turned odd. "So, you went back on your own after that?"
"Heh…"
Xu Yuan gave an embarrassed chuckle.
Chu Mu was speechless…
…
*(End of Chapter)*