On the second day, at the Gold family.
Yi Chen arrived as scheduled with a team from the Peacekeeping Department to attend the meeting.
The day before, Qi Yuan led a team to raid a small family notorious for their misdeeds, and under Yi Chen's supervision, all the property had been distributed, with the lower-ranking members each receiving no less than two years' worth of salary.
Liquor and beauty enticed people's indulgence, Gold stirred people's hearts.
With glimmering silver and gold in hand, the morale of the Peacekeeping Department soared, and many were eager to volunteer for today's task.
Qi Yuan, on the other hand, had been sent by Yi Chen to investigate the whereabouts and identity of Xu Xiaoxun's missing companion and did not attend today.
"Master Yi, please, watch your step~" A hundred household officer with a slightly swollen face was half-bowing, leading the way with an obsequious manner.
This man was one of Qi Yuan's people, and yesterday was the first to taste Yi Chen's iron fist.
For those who had been beaten, Yi Chen gave each a bonus of 'medical silver' when the money was distributed yesterday.
Indeed, the funds came from the treasury, and Yi Chen didn't spend a penny.
To be punished with a beating, and afterwards given 'medical silver', was certainly to show an attitude of bygones being bygones. This was a reward.
Between punishment and reward, his one-handed PUA technique ensured that nobody in the Peacekeeping Department continued to worry about being undermined because of yesterday's incident.
"Hundred Household Officer Qi, tone it down, I prefer your unyielding appearance from yesterday."
"Everyone, do your jobs well, I have my eyes on your achievements. The future of Tianfeng Prefecture is yours. Do well, and this seat will not be stingy with rewards."
Yi Chen turned his head to address the Peacekeepers he brought along, loosely promising them a bright future as he glanced at the Gold family's archway.
"A family that accumulates good deeds will surely reap continuous blessings."
"The inscription is not bad."
After making a comment, Yi Chen walked into the mansion, accompanied by Master Li, while the others waited outside.
"Family Head Gold, please!"
After being seated and offered tea, Yi Chen got straight to the point.
"Family Head, have you considered it?"
"Reporting to my lord, I've sold this old face of mine and barely managed to scrape together this sum of money with great effort from several major families. However, I have also made a military pledge: we, the major families, hope to receive a promise from you."
"A promise of amnesty for past actions."
Both being cunning as ancient foxes, Family Head Gold did not hedge and laid out his terms directly.
The thunderous action that Yi Chen took against that small family yesterday had truly intimidated the major families of Tianfeng Prefecture, hence they were willing to pay a fortune to avoid disaster.
"Let's speak frankly, Family Head, we're all friends here." Yi Chen took a sip of his tea with a smile on his face.
Such a large sum of money, with the major families having their own demands, was quite normal; not asking for anything in return would actually be abnormal. Yi Chen was well-prepared for this.
"My lord's wisdom is clear, we hope this is only once, and not a precedent," remarked Family Head Gold with a fervent gaze.
One million taels was a significant amount for the wealthy clans, but the sum was delicately chosen—not too little, yet not enough to irreparably ruin relationships.
If the figures behind them truly wanted to take action, setting aside the current risk of making such a move, the cost of defiance would likely far exceed this amount. Compelled by circumstances, the major clans had to swallow their pride and accept it.
"How could you think so lowly of me, Family Head Gold?"
"I am here solely to investigate the case of disappearing civilians and the death of the Prefectural Governor Xu Xiaoxun. Other matters are outside my investigative purview."
"My lord..." Family Head Gold had more to say, but Yi Chen cut him off.
Yi Chen's gaze suddenly sharpened, a hint of keenness flashed in his eyes, and he leaned forward slightly.
"Are you implying that the Gold family is involved with the civilian disappearance case and the death of Prefectural Governor Xu Xiaoxun?"
"Absolutely not, my lord, please be cautious with your words!" Family Head Gold panicked, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Then that settles it."
"If the Family Head is not at ease, I can swear an oath upon the Lancyang River! If I go back on my word, let my diligent cultivation of 'The Supreme Spirited Pure Yang Origin Dao Scripture' regress to the first level."
Yi Chen had nearly formed a muscle memory for this set of oath-taking, his speech was earnest, even more sincere than those who make vows by the waters of the Luo and Mississippi rivers combined.
After a verbal skirmish, Family Head Gold eventually gave in.
He produced eight large-denomination banknotes, each worth a hundred thousand taels.
Yi Chen swiped his sleeves and tucked them into his bag.
"Where's the other two hundred thousand?"
"Didn't my lord promise a twenty-eighty split? Could it be that my lord intends to renege and grow fat off his words?" Family Head Gold's expression suddenly chilled.
"I never said I'd give the Gold family's share right away."
"If the Family Head withholds the payment, I can always send people to inquire with the major families, perhaps help them reconcile their accounts, how about that?"
"I said how come I only received six hundred thousand, where did the silver go?"
Family Head Gold was dumbfounded for a moment, wondering if this was a rascal from the Dao Sect, shockingly just giving away eighty thousand taels as if lying through his teeth about such a significant matter, which he truly had not kept for himself.
Seeing that Family Head Gold seemed about to lose his composure, Yi Chen's tone suddenly softened.
"Family Head, hear me out, I have a venture to the north with great profit margins, urgently in need of capital. Consider these two hundred thousand taels a loan from the Family Head, which I shall return when I leave Tianfeng Prefecture in a month."
"If the Family Head doesn't trust me, I can swear by the Lancyang River and draft a formal contract."
After using both carrot and stick and establishing a contract, Yi Chen eventually secured the one million taels.
If a month later the Gold family really was uninvolved with the case, Yi Chen would certainly return the money. If they were involved, there would be no creditor left to repay; he had borrowed it fair and square, and there would be nothing to return.