The moment they saw the silver, the constables' eyes widened.
Although this large platter of silver, when divided amongst them all, would only amount to a few taels of silver per person, the value of silver at this time was far greater than copper coins. Taking the silver to exchange for copper coins, if the market was good, each person might get close to ten strings of cash.
While this amount was merely the cost of a meal for wealthy families, for these low-ranking constables, if they spent it frugally, it would be enough to support their families for one to two months without worry.
After receiving the money, their gazes towards Zhe Wanchun became significantly more cordial.
"The shopkeeper is truly too kind. I thank you on behalf of my brothers. If there are any similar matters in the future, just send someone to inform the yamen!"
"Then I will trouble all of you!"
Looking at Ping Zhengsheng, who was covered in blood and now unconscious, Zhe Wanchun's lips curved into a cold sneer.
Although he didn't know how this person had offended his son-in-law, was Zhe family's son-in-law someone they could offend?
When Ping Zhengsheng opened his eyes again, all of them had already been thrown into the Kaifeng Prefectural prison.
"Where are we?"
Suppressing the strong dizziness, Ping Zhengsheng asked weakly.
"Patriarch, are you alright?"
The personal guards beside him hurried forward.
"I just took a blow to the head, I'm a little dizzy now. Where are we?"
Looking at his guards, all of whom were injured, Ping Zhengsheng naturally couldn't be too harsh on them at this moment.
"Those Song people are too unreasonable. We've likely been imprisoned by them!"
As the leader of Ping Zhengsheng's guards, Hirai Ichiro said indignantly.
"I told you not to come into conflict with them, but you just wouldn't listen..."
Speaking of this, Ping Zhengsheng could only offer a wry smile.
In order to procure sufficient goods, they had not brought too much copper coin with them.
Coupled with the considerable expenses from Mingzhou to Bianliang, and their expenditures and bribes in Bianliang city, they had not much copper coin left at this moment.
Being directly thrown into prison at this juncture was truly adding insult to injury.
"Patriarch, Patriarch, are you alright?"
Just as the two were about to say something, Ping Tian Masao, Ping Zhengsheng's deputy who had accompanied him to Bianliang, led by a constable, arrived directly at the prison cell.
"Look at him, does he look alright? Daring to draw a knife in Bianliang city, have you not considered who you've provoked? If our brothers hadn't arrived sooner, you would all have had your heads chopped off and hung on the city gates! This is the first time I've seen someone dare to cause trouble in front of a Zhe family shop. Don't you know that the owner behind this merchant house is the renowned Song general Zhe Kexun?"
Seeing these Japanese men weeping, a constable watching the commotion from the side said disdainfully.
"Even if they are the Zhe family army, so what? Are they not making any sense at all? This matter was clearly initiated by their humiliation of us!"
Hirai Ichiro, who was full of pent-up anger, couldn't help but retort.
"Humiliate you? Take a look in the mirror, what do you look like? With your pathetic appearance, do you think anyone needs to humiliate you?"
Seeing that this fellow was still unruly even in prison, the constables guarding outside burst into laughter.
"You!"
Hirai Ichiro spoke, then heavily punched the prison bars.
"Behave yourselves! If you don't behave here, watch out, I won't be polite to you!"
As soon as he threw his punch, a constable standing by the cell door opened the cell door and rushed in with a cudgel.
These personal guards were already injured, and now they were shackled and manacled. Bare-handed, they were no match for these constables. In a short while, they were all beaten to the ground again.
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! My subordinates were wrong today. Please, spare us this once! Let this be my apology to all of you!"
Seeing that his subordinates were on the verge of being beaten to death, Ping Zhengsheng quickly took out a jade pendant from his怀, stuffed it into the constable's hand, and then, using his broken Song dialect, pleaded for them.
"That's more like it. We're leaving!"
After receiving benefits, the constables finally ceased their actions.
Seeing them leave, Ping Zhengsheng hurried forward to check on his subordinates' injuries.
The Ping family in Japan, while not a top-tier noble family, was still a prominent one, and he, as the patriarch of the Ping clan, was a notable figure.
Looking at his subordinates, each of them wounded and near death, and then at the foul-smelling dungeon, Ping Zhengsheng began to doubt whether his decision to insist on trading in the Great Song, despite widespread opposition, had been the right one.
"We are sorry, Patriarch. We are incompetent!"
After spitting out a mouthful of black clotted blood, Hirai Ichiro said with a ashamed expression.
"Alright, don't talk about this anymore. You should rest first, we'll be out soon!"
Even though this fellow was indeed a bit rash, looking at his injuries, Ping Zhengsheng couldn't say anything more. He comforted them in a low voice before returning to the edge of the prison cell.
"The trouble we've caused this time is probably not small. Although we don't have much money left, I remember we have some gold dust among our cargo. Take this and try to bribe your way through the city to get us out as soon as possible!"
At this point, no matter how proud Ping Zhengsheng was, he could only temporarily lower his arrogant head.
"Patriarch, please don't worry. I will find a way to get you out as soon as possible!"
"They are all injured. Next time you come, try to bring some medicinal ointment. Alright, if there's nothing else, you should go back. Make sure the remaining people keep a close eye on our cargo. If we lose this cargo, the entire Ping family may decline from this point onwards!"
"Patriarch, rest assured!"