Chapter 68: Knowing Everything

That day, Qian Yue immediately joined Regional Military Commander Cao Kai and Palace Eunuch Yang Youfa in leading ten thousand troops to suppress the rebellion. However, Qian Yue was, after all, a newly appointed Provincial Governor and was not familiar with the situation in Guizhou. He insisted on dividing the troops into three routes, with himself commanding the Center Army, while Regional Military Commander Cao Kai and Palace Eunuch Yang Youfa were assigned to the other two routes.

The so-called Palace Eunuch was actually a eunuch. This eunuch was eager to claim credit and ordered the right flank to advance rapidly, only to fall into an ambush and suffer a crushing defeat.

When Regional Military Commander Cao Kai learned that the Palace Eunuch was surrounded, he immediately rushed to provide reinforcements. However, the Rebel Army, well-rested and lying in wait, defeated his forces in a single strike. Cao Kai died in battle.

When the news reached Qian Yue, his heart turned cold. He was a civil official who had never even witnessed a battle before. During his time in Henan and Shandong, his greatest achievement had been suppressing a group of mountain bandits with just over two hundred members. He truly did not understand the affairs of Guizhou.

Moreover, the Rebel Army was familiar with the terrain, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. They had also allied with dozens of strongholds, achieving successive victories. Qian Yue immediately decided to retreat and return to Guiyang.

But… it was already too late to escape.

The sounds of battle cries came from all directions. The Rebel Army, appearing from nowhere, launched a full-scale attack.

Qian Yue’s face turned ashen, and his body trembled uncontrollably. The sight of being surrounded on all sides, along with the deafening battle cries and wails piercing the sky, filled him with dread.

Pale-faced, he finally let out a sigh. The several advisers and Military Officers in the tent looked at him, hoping that Governor Qian would make a decision—whether to attempt a breakthrough.

Qian Yue looked at them with shame, tears streaming down his aged face. With a choked voice, he said, “Bring me the brush and ink.”

An adviser hastily fetched the brush and ink, whispering, “My lord, let’s retreat. The Rebel Army’s encirclement is not yet complete. With a loyal guard, we can cross the mountain streams and return lightly to Guiyang. There is still Deputy Regional Commander Qi leading troops here…”

Qian Yue sighed and shook his head. “We are already defeated. The only option is death. Even if I were to survive by chance, I would have no face to meet His Majesty or the elders…” He sighed again, picked up the brush, and began writing solemnly: “Your old minister Qian Yue deserves death ten thousand times. Mi Lu, daughter of the Chieftain of Yunnan and wife of Guizhou’s native judge Long Chang, has rebelled, raising an army of over ten thousand and uniting various strongholds, inciting unrest among the natives of Zhanyi Prefecture and Pu’an Prefecture. Your old minister followed the law to suppress the rebellion, advancing with his troops. However, we encountered heavy rain, losing the advantage of favorable weather. Arrogant and overconfident, I recklessly advanced deep into enemy territory, losing the advantage of terrain. Now our army has been utterly defeated. Regional Military Commander Cao Kai and Palace Eunuch Yang Youfa have both died in battle. I dare not live on alone. I only beg Your Majesty to pardon my unforgivable crimes. I am but a scholar, weak and unable to even tie up a chicken. I dare not lose my integrity. I am willing to die under the countless blades of the Rebel Army to atone for my sins…”

As he wrote, he wept bitterly. The memorial was already stained with tears. By the time he finished, he could no longer hold the brush steady. He sealed the memorial, trembling as he applied the wax seal, and handed it to an adviser. “You and the other gentlemen were hired by me. Back then, you advised me to act with caution. I regret not listening to your counsel. Now, our defeat is like a landslide. As the Provincial Governor, I must stay here to uphold my loyalty and righteousness. Gentlemen, take this memorial with you. I will order the guards to do their best to help you escape. Let us part here. Please take care of yourselves.”

The advisers exchanged glances, accepted the memorial, and showed reluctance to leave.

Qian Yue bowed deeply to them. “Gentlemen, go quickly. There is no time to lose.”

“Alas!” The adviser who had taken the memorial stamped his foot, then bowed deeply to Qian Yue. “My lord, until we meet again.”

Qian Yue was terrified, shivering uncontrollably. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath, as if trying to summon courage before his death.

…

At the Marquis of Shouning’s residence.

The Zhang Brothers shivered from the cold. Although they had eaten hot porridge, they found that their body warmth vanished in an instant. Zhang Yanling curled up, staring at the empty firepit on the floor. “Brother, I think we should buy some coal to burn!”

Zhang Heling’s face was blue from the cold, but he was furious. “Buy coal from the Fang Family? Even if I have to go without porridge for the rest of my life, freeze to death, or starve to death, I will never buy even half a pound of coal from the Fang Family. Winter will be over soon. Stop complaining!”

Zhang Yanling shivered. “But brother, it’s only mid-autumn now…”

Zhang Heling immediately bared his teeth in frustration. How infuriating.

Actually, in the past, when it was freezing cold, the Zhang Family would still burn Charcoal. Even though they were frugal, they couldn’t just freeze to death.

But now, with smokeless coal available on the market for just a few coins, spending ten times the price on Charcoal made Zhang Heling feel like a complete fool. Before, he thought the price of Charcoal was acceptable, but now he felt as if the unscrupulous Charcoal merchants were ruthlessly trampling on his intelligence.

Therefore, he couldn’t bring himself to buy Charcoal now, and smokeless coal… was even more out of the question.

They would just have to endure.

The colder it got, the more Zhang Heling felt life was unbearable. Even the square tables and chairs, which were once used to cultivate an air of elegance, and the perfectly square calligraphy and paintings pasted on the walls, now seemed detestable to him.

“My lord, my lord…” the household steward rushed in anxiously. “My lord, look, the Capital Gazette, the Capital Gazette…”

The Zhang Family’s steward actually had many opportunities for graft but dared not show any signs of wealth in front of his masters, lest the two lords beat him to death. So, the steward wore patched clothes but happily held a copy of the Capital Gazette. “My lord, look, Fang Jifan has been impeached!”

Zhang Heling was overjoyed upon hearing this. He perked up, snatched the Capital Gazette, and his eyes lit up as he read. “Zhang Fen, the Censor of Northern Zhili in the Censorate… accused this Fang Jifan of insulting Minister Qian… Qian… What was the name he slandered and insulted?”

The steward replied cheerfully, “Qian Yue.”

Zhang Heling let out an “Oh,” then clapped his hands excitedly. “This Zhang Fen is good. I like him. He speaks out for justice! Well said, well said! I am so happy now, so very happy.”

The steward grinned. “Isn’t it? This Impeachment Memorial has stirred quite a reaction. It’s as if The World has suffered… long suffered under Fang Jifan. Censor Zhang Fen stepped forward boldly. This is a sign that when a wall is about to collapse, everybody gives it a push. My lord, in my opinion, Fang Jifan is finished.” He narrowed his eyes. “Before Governor Qian Yue served as Provincial Governor of Henan, Shandong, and Guizhou, he worked in the Censorate for over ten years. My lord, do you understand?”

Zhang Heling scratched his head. “Understand what?”

The steward grew anxious at Zhang Heling’s lack of understanding. “Oh, my lord, he was in the Censorate for over ten years. Now, who knows how many people in the Censorate are his former subordinates? Take the Censor of Northern Zhili, for example. Back then, he was just a minor Censor under Qian Yue. It was only through Qian Yue’s recommendation that he was promoted to his current position.”

“Oh.” Zhang Heling seemed to grasp something. “You mean, Fang Jifan insulted this Qian… Qian Yue? So, the Censors in the Censorate are angry and are rallying together, determined to berate Fang Jifan to death?”

“Exactly.” The steward beamed. “That Fang Jifan is being cursed vehemently. He will surely…” The steward stroked his goatee, shaking his head and swaying with delight. “He will surely be so ashamed that he’ll wish he could find a hole to crawl into. He’ll vomit blood three times and die of sheer anger.”

“Haha!” Zhang Heling clasped his hands and laughed heartily, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. “Well said! How could he still have the face to show himself outside? That shameless, good-for-nothing waste is bound to be overwhelmed with shame…” At this point, his smile gradually froze. Zhang Heling’s intelligence was actually not low, and he suddenly said, “Overwhelmed with shame? That scoundrel named Fang is so thick-skinned. Would he even know how to write the word ‘shame’?”

The steward was stunned…

The Zhang Brothers stared at each other in bewilderment.

An indescribable awkwardness filled the hall.

First of all, it was certain that Fang Jifan was a scoundrel and a degenerate.

A scoundrel and a degenerate, already notorious, would he care about being berated in refined language?

If a few harsh words could make him grieve and rage, overwhelmed with shame, would that still be Fang Jifan?

So…

It seemed… the so-called Impeachment Memorial, for some people, was like killing someone and destroying their spirit. But for someone with skin as thick as eight feet… it might not even cause a scratch.

“You worthless dog, get out!” Zhang Heling flew into a rage and kicked the wretched steward away. “I’m docking your monthly allowance for this month! Get lost!”

The steward quickly tucked his tail between his legs and scurried away dejectedly.

“Brother, calm down. Maybe… that Fang Jifan still has a tiny bit of shame?” Zhang Yanling offered a feeble attempt at consolation, though he lacked confidence himself.

“Maybe… we should curse him too?”

“Brother, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Zhang Heling took a deep breath, his face turning red with effort. “Save your energy. Talk less. Every word you speak drains a bit of your vitality. Keep it stored in your body, and you’ll feel warmer.”

“……” Zhang Yanling looked at his elder brother with admiration. His brother knew everything.