Chapter 21: Mourning the Past, Glories Competed

Fang Village was a dangerous place. Yang Xin decided he would move through it stealthily…

Which actually meant going back to hide in the carriage.

Soon, he passed through this small village, which actually had a sparse population, with some fright but no real danger. He even intentionally took a look at the ancestral home of the current dynasty’s Chief Grand Secretary from the carriage window. At this time, the utterly dedicated and exhausted Fang Congzhe could indeed be described as Chief Grand Secretary, because the Grand Secretariat had only him as an assisting minister. He was both the Chief Grand Secretary and the only assisting minister, absolutely qualifying as the top minister. The Wanli Emperor trusted him absolutely. Although later generations often mistakenly said he was from Huzhou in Zhejiang, he was actually registered with the Imperial Guard. His ancestors followed the Yongle Emperor north during the relocation. The family had lived in Fang Village in Daxing for over two hundred years.

He was a Capital City native.

Gazing at the Fang family mansion in the continuous drizzle, Yang Xin left despondently…

“Her butt was very big!”

He said with certainty inside the carriage.

Soon after, the carriage turned onto the main road to Yongding Gate. This road was very busy. Even the rain could not stop the bustling traffic. Yang Xin’s carriage quickly crossed the moat and entered the barbican, passing through unimpeded. The gate guards only glanced at him and then ignored his passage.

Yang Xin really wanted to ask them: Are those who wear nice clothes automatically good people?

But people do judge by clothing.

Dressed in a moon-white crepe silk robe worth one tael of silver, wearing cloud-patterned shoes worth two mace of silver, a flowing headscarf, a wide belt at his waist, and a jade pendant worth three taels, holding a folding fan with a famous artist’s inscription, Yang Xin — who was in fact a heavily wanted criminal — entered the Capital City openly. He then got off in front of Shopkeeper Lin’s store, paid the fare, and dismissed the driver. Only then did he step into the shop door, greeted by the smiling clerks…

Shopkeeper Lin was also startled by him.

But being a smart man, he did not ask Yang Xin why he had returned or why he was dressed like this. Since Huang Zhen had asked him to help contact Master Wei, he still had to help with this small favor.

Right after, a clerk led Yang Xin away from the shop towards the Inner City.

“How do we find my elder uncle?” said Yang Xin.

“That might require some silver,” the clerk said. “Jiazi Storage is inside Xi’an Gate. We don’t have waist passes, so we cannot enter. We can only bribe the gate guards to go in and look; otherwise, we can only wait at Master Wei’s house outside the Imperial City. But waiting is uncertain — Master Wei might have business and not leave the Imperial City for days!”

“Brother Hu, catch!” Yang Xin laughed and threw over a five-tael silver ingot.

The clerk took it with a beaming smile.

“Brother Yang, quite generous!” he said.

Bribery did not need this much; he would pocket the rest himself.

“Money is an external thing,” Yang Xin said. “I just like making friends. Once I get settled, I’ll treat Uncle Lin and you brothers to a good drink. Being a stranger here, I’ll surely need your help again!”

“No problem! Brother Yang, wait a moment. I need to step over there for a moment,” the clerk said with a smile.

Yang Xin nodded.

The clerk hurried to a familiar shop nearby to break the five-tael silver ingot. Yang Xin knew he had given too much, but he did not mind such small matters now because he had found a way to make money. If he ran out someday, he would just go find a local tyrant or evil gentry for ‘sponsorship.’ He had no psychological burden doing such things. Suddenly thrown from a healthy, lawful society into this era where human life was as cheap as grass, and possessing combat abilities comparable to a super-general, he had become somewhat inflated. He could kill without hesitation, extort and blackmail without a guilty conscience, and take hostages as easily as anything. Ultimately, human nature has latent violent tendencies; they are just locked away by law and morality in modern society.

But this era was different.

It was like throwing a modern person like him into the Syrian war zone — he would also come to see killing as a normal thing.

It was innate.

Holding an oil-paper umbrella, he stood on the rainy street, leisurely admiring the ancient city in the rain. In these final days of the Great Ming’s golden age, it remained as prosperous as ever. Everyone was busy with their own lives. Carriages and horses bustled between rows of buildings; towers and pagodas stood among green trees and red flowers; the imposing city walls guarded the last glory of Hua Xia’s civilization…

Twenty-six years later, there would be no more Hua Xia civilization here.

“Mourning the past, glories competed; sighing at the towers beyond the gate, sorrows and regrets continued,” he suddenly recited loudly.

Passersby looked up at him. Since he was a scholar acting crazy, everyone was used to it.

“You’re here!”

Then a voice filled with resentment sounded behind him.

Yang Xin turned his head in shock.

“I’m dressed like this, and you can still recognize me?” he said, horrified.

“I’d know you even if you were turned to ashes,” Chen Yujie said, sitting upright on his horse with hatred. “I have a natural gift — I never forget a voice. Whether it’s been just five days or even five years, I’d recognize you as soon as you spoke.”

“Um, let me explain,” Yang Xin said. “I didn’t mean to abandon you on purpose. I just had to settle my cousin and the others first. After all, I can’t be irresponsible. See, as soon as I took care of things over there, I rushed straight to the Capital City to find you.”

“Then please proceed! I rode hard for four days and arrived in the city at the same time as you. Your travel speed is quite fast!” Chen Yujie said.

“Uh, I have some private business to attend to,” Yang Xin said.

Just then, the clerk returned, looking at them with confusion. Chen Yujie glanced at them and motioned for them to walk ahead, while he followed behind. Clearly, this time he did not intend to let Yang Xin go. Yang Xin did not really mind. He knew Chen Yujie would not betray him. Staying in the Capital City to get closer to Xu Guangqi seemed good too.

Old Xu was a wealthy man.

He could also correct their misguided beliefs, tell them about the inside stories of the Semitic three religions, the glorious deeds of the Inquisition, and the strange legends of the medieval Church, like burning witches. If nothing was amiss, Chen Yujie probably also believed in Yahweh, but they only knew the missionaries’ polished version and were largely attracted by the science.

Missionaries would not talk about things like burning witches.

Thus, they entered Xuanwu Gate.

After walking over four more li, they reached Xi’an Gate. Yang Xin stood there admiring the Imperial City while the clerk went to the gate to bribe. The Great Ming truly valued silver most. A soldier immediately ran off to find someone…

“What kind of soldier is this?” Yang Xin asked curiously.

“From the Imperial Bodyguard Battalions,” Chen Yujie said from behind. “The Imperial City and palace gate defenses are all managed by the Imperial Bodyguard Battalions. At Xi’an Gate, it’s the four right guards of Jinwu, Yulin, Fujun, and Yanshan on rotation. These should be from Yanshan Right Guard. Inside the Imperial City, from Imperial Bodyguard soldiers to palace attendants and eunuchs to the Imperial Guard and even civil and military officials, everyone needs a waist pass for entry. Waist passes are made of different materials like ivory, bronze, or ebony, each with its assigned character and number. However, after a long period of peace, not only are the various city gates loosely managed, but even this Imperial City is chaotic. Otherwise, someone like you wouldn’t be able to enter openly.”

His tone still carried deep resentment from being abandoned.

“What about the Imperial Guard?” Yang Xin said.

“The Imperial Guard is one of the Imperial Bodyguard Battalions,” Chen Yujie said. “Emperor Taizu established that the twelve Imperial Bodyguard Battalions were not under the Five Military Commissions. Emperor Chengzu elevated the original three guards of Beiping and the seven guards of the Beiping Regional Military Commission to Imperial Bodyguard Battalions, increasing them to twenty-two. During Emperor Xuanzong’s reign, Tengxiang and Wuxiang, left and right, four guards were added, making the Imperial Bodyguard Battalions twenty-six, collectively called the twenty-six Imperial Bodyguard Battalions on Direct Duty. However, currently, most are under the Ministry of War. The Minister of War also assists in administering the Capital Garrison, effectively controlling each guard. Only the Imperial Guard is directly under His Majesty. Additionally, the four guards like Tengxiang and Wuxiang are under the Commander-in-Chief of the Directorate of the Imperial Horses, managed by eunuchs.”

As they spoke, Wei Zhongxian walked out of Xi’an Gate.

“You little rascal, why aren’t you with your cousin but coming to find your old master instead?” he said with a smile.

He seemed to be in a good mood, probably still remembering Yang Xin’s hundred taels vividly.

“Elder Uncle!”

Yang Xin hurried forward to pay his respects.

This scene bewildered Chen Yujie behind him.

This wasn’t a place to talk. They went directly to a nearby restaurant, found a private room, and sat down. The clerk left discreetly, while Chen Yujie waited downstairs.

“Who is this?” Wei Zhongxian asked doubtfully.

“A tag-along, the nephew of Junior Advisor of the Left Xu Guangqi. What official rank is Junior Advisor of the Left?” Yang Xin asked.

“From the Office of the Heir Apparent, a sixth-rank official without real power, used for transfers among Hanlin scholars,” Wei Zhongxian said. “I actually know that Xu Guangqi. His learning is quite high. Both His Majesty and the Crown Prince think highly of him. He’s someone who can rise to great heights.”

“So he’s worth befriending?” Yang Xin said.

“Worth it, but don’t get too close,” Wei Zhongxian said. “Xu Guangqi is close to the Donglin faction. In the end, he’s not one of us. But you, little rascal, why are you dressed like this now? Did you get into trouble and need a place to hide?”

“Elder Uncle sees things clearly!” Yang Xin sighed.

Then he recounted the matter of killing Liu Qi.

“Old Huang still has that temper — bearing grudges and seeking revenge. He hasn’t changed in decades,” Wei Zhongxian said. “But this matter is indeed somewhat troublesome. You did kill someone after all. Since you’ve come to find me, your elder uncle, I cannot ignore it. I’ll take you to my place to stay for now. We’ll see how Old Huang handles it. Even if it cannot be resolved immediately, you’ll just have to stay in the Capital City. Your elder uncle won’t let you lack the means to eat!”

“But this will implicate you, Elder Uncle!” Yang Xin said, cupping his hands.

“No need for formalities among family!” Wei Zhongxian said.

Of course, he didn’t really care. It was just letting Yang Xin stay for a few days. He knew very well what Huang Zhen did; such a small matter would be resolved quickly. Even if discovered, so what?

He was just a landlord!

“Elder Uncle, I still have fifty taels of silver here. I’m afraid it’s unsafe to keep it on me, being alone and easily targeted by thieves. It’s better if you keep it for me,” Yang Xin said.

He then presented the travel gift from the local gentry at Shahe Inn.

“Well, this…” Wei Zhongxian looked at the silver and paused. “Alright then. You youngsters don’t understand managing a livelihood and spend without restraint. Since I am the elder and Old Huang isn’t here, I must take charge. I’ll keep the silver here for you, saving it for when you get married someday!”