Traveling through the Republic of China, I married a dead person

It was indeed a military expedition to hold the culprits accountable, Kong Dai gave his judgment.

At today's lunch, it was not in accordance with the rules for Su Bai to arrange the housekeeper to sit at the same table with the concubines. This was not only against the rules in the Kong Mansion, but also in any wealthy family.

It was certainly inappropriate for the third concubine to mock Su Bai's arrangements in front of the two county governors, but it was also impolite for Su Bai to show off his power to the concubines in front of the two county governors. Although Su Bai was the head of the Kong Mansion, these concubines were elders after all.

More importantly, it is not a good thing to completely anger these concubines. If they unite and complain to the second master, it may be disadvantageous to Su Bai.

"What I said may be a little abrupt and offensive to Madam, but it is what I really think."

"Uncle Kong, please stop calling me an old slave. This is the Republic of China. We can't live in the Qing Dynasty, right? I don't like to hear it!" Su Bai had already told Kong Dai not to call himself an old slave, and he reiterated it again.

According to Kong Dai, since the master has handed over the Kong family's wealth to Su Bai, the second master Kong Chen usually will not interfere. He is more concerned about military power and territory.

But these concubines are his sisters-in-law after all, and he can't just ignore them.

If he felt that Su Bai had gone too far with his sisters-in-law, although he would not directly interfere in the affairs of the Kong Mansion, he would make things difficult for Su Bai in other aspects.

For example, regarding military expenses, after the Kong Mansion was separated from the military power, it still had to bear one-third of the military expenses of the Kong family army within three years, and the amount of military expenses was decided by Kong Chen.

He would randomly pick an enemy to stir up a small conflict, and then say that if a big war was fought, military spending would increase exponentially.

In fact, the current situation is in a state of apparent stability with undercurrents. The National Government has unified various forces and issued commands to the entire country, but except for the Central Army and other troops under the National Government, the military power of various factions is still in the hands of warlords of all sizes.

The second and third masters were unable to attend their master's funeral this time because they had friction with another small warlord, Marshal Yang.

Under the current situation, no one wants to start a war that will result in mutual destruction, but no one wants to give in.

In terms of strength, the self-proclaimed marshal warlord named Yang is no match for the Kong family army, but the second and third masters currently want to stabilize the morale of the army and expand their strength, and do not want to fight for the time being.

This small conflict will definitely end with peace talks, and Kong Chen and Kong Xin will come back and formally discuss increasing military spending and expanding the military with Su Bai.

If the concubines rebel, it will be disadvantageous to Su Bai.

Su Bai brought Zi Yan to the East Third Courtyard where the Third Concubine lived, and asked Zi Yan to stay outside while he went in.

In the main room of the principal house, the third and fourth concubines sat on either side of the octagonal table, the fifth concubine sat next to the third concubine, and the sixth concubine sat next to the fourth concubine, sitting in a not very neat row across the table.

The second young lady was also there, standing behind the fifth concubine.

There were no more chairs in the main room, so there was no seat for Su Bai, so he could only stand.

The preparations for launching a war to hold someone accountable were very strong.

"What's wrong, ladies? Do you want to put on an opera?" After hearing Kong Dai's words, Su Bai was ready to compromise, but only partially. He couldn't let them intimidate him.

"What's the eldest lady's surname?" asked the fourth concubine.

Su Bai had already guessed what the next sentence of this question would be, but she still answered her calmly: "Madam, my last name is Su, and my name is Su Bai."

Sure enough, the third concubine slammed the table and said, "I thought you forgot your last name!"

Su Bai ignored her completely and said calmly, "I'm sorry, ladies. The master's funeral has just been completed, and I have just officially taken over the accounts of the Kong Mansion. I have to hurry up and familiarize myself with them, otherwise, the ladies will not be able to pay their respects on time next month."

As soon as these words were spoken, the ladies immediately fell silent. Perhaps they did not expect Su Bai to start the conversation with their expenses. They had not been prepared for this and could not think of a good way to deal with it.

Su Bai took advantage of their lack of reaction and finished what he wanted to say in one breath.

First of all, it was wrong for her to lose her temper in front of the two county governors today. Please forgive me, ladies. The eldest master has just passed away for more than a month, and she was already in a bad mood, and now the old master is gone.

The rules set by the master before still need to be followed for the time being. She will sleep a little less every day these days and take over the accounts of the Kong Mansion as soon as possible so as not to delay the ladies from using their money.

The second and third masters couldn't even attend the master's funeral. Under the urgent military situation, the expenses of the Kong family army will inevitably increase greatly. Although the master has a will that the Kong family and the army should be completely separated after three years, the Kong family army is our Kong family's army after all. The army needs money and we can't just ignore it.

Therefore, Su Bai asked all the ladies to be mentally prepared, as the days ahead would probably not be easy.

Su Bai thought that someone would definitely tell Kong Chen what he said. Instead of letting them complain, he might as well get the word out first.

Kong Chen will definitely ask for additional military funds from me sooner or later. Instead of being forced by him, I might as well express my stance first.

The concubines glared at each other for several times. Su Bai had already apologized, so naturally they couldn't find fault with what happened this afternoon.

It was the third concubine who reacted first. She changed the subject and said, "We don't know whether the second sister is dead or alive, but you act like nothing happened. You don't want to care about it anymore, right?"

The second sister she mentioned is the second wife.

Su Bai responded to her coldly. Captain Zhou led more than a hundred people to search the mountain, and the housekeeper also led people from the Kong Mansion to look for it, but to no avail.

If the third concubine knew how to find the second wife, she could choose any servant in the Kong Mansion and take them to search the mountain again, giving them people and money.

"You, what are you talking about? I'll take people to search the mountain?" The third concubine pointed at Su Bai and shouted, then sat down again.

The second young lady walked up to Su Bai and begged him to think of a solution in a crying voice.

Seeing the second young lady's pitiful and pleading expression, Su Bai felt that the second wife had not revealed her plan to her daughter.

It makes sense if you think about it. Once the truth is revealed, the unaware Second Miss will not be implicated.

The second wife kept the secret from her biological daughter for her safety.

Su Bai changed his tone to a kinder one towards the Second Miss. Captain Zhou saw with his own eyes that the Second Miss was shot several times and then rolled down the steep slope. There was little hope for her to survive.

The Guard Battalion and Confucius Mansion have sent so many people but haven't found it. We have done what we should do, and the rest is up to God.

If the second wife is lucky enough to be rescued, she will definitely come back.

But the second wife was shot several times and even if she was saved she couldn't walk, so even if she could come back it would take some time.

I have talked with the housekeeper about the second wife more than once in the past few days. The deadline is one month. If there is no news about the second wife after one month, I can only build a cenotaph for her like the eldest young master did.

When Su Bai said this, the second young lady burst into tears again.

Su Bai still felt somewhat guilty about the Second Wife's matter.

She knew clearly that the second wife's body was in a small cave opposite the hillside where she rolled down, but she couldn't send anyone to collect the body for her.

She stayed in the Confucius Mansion all day and never went out, how could she know so many details?

This news was told to her by Wang Yutian, and this matter must be kept secret.

Under the current circumstances, protecting yourself is the priority.

After Su Bai comforted the Second Young Lady, he said goodbye to the concubines and wives: "I have a lot of things to do, so I won't accompany you ladies anymore."

"Wait!" The fourth concubine stood up and said, "Who was the man who came to your house to see you yesterday? Can't you tell us clearly?"

Su Bai felt numb all over when he heard this. Wang Yutian was still noticed by others.