Chapter 34: The Little Man, The Big Stage
Chapter 34: The Little Man, The Big Stage
Yang Xin carried the brocade box bestowed by the Imperial Noble Consort, rode his horse out as if no one else was around, and then waved it at the soldiers outside who were keeping watch on him. The latter looked at him with deep, heavy eyes…
But in the end, they did not dare to stop him.
The guy left just that arrogantly and went straight to Chen Yujie’s place.
“What on earth did I say yesterday?”
Chen Yujie grabbed him, wearing a frantic expression as he spoke.
“Nothing much, just slandered the entire court, said they were all corrupt officials, said they intentionally let the Jiannu grow powerful, fabricated the crisis at the Nine Garrisons to embezzle military funds. Also said the gentry of the land were no good, merchants were all traitors colluding with the enemy, that sort of thing. It was all like that. Hearing it was an eye-opener for me; everything I didn’t understand before, I understood now. Brother Chen, your courage is truly admirable. At this time when all voices are silent, you dared to bravely expose the beautiful facade of this prosperous age.”
Yang Xin said with a smile.
Chen Yujie instantly broke down, clutching his head and letting out a wail.
“This wine is really no good!”
He lamented.
“Truth comes out when one is drunk!”
Yang Xin leaned closer to him and said.
“You won’t go around blabbing, will you?”
Chen Yujie asked hopefully.
“Ha, even if I wanted to, I probably won’t get the chance. My head is about to roll soon. You just complained a bit. Old Cao and I last night beat up the Five City Military Inspectorate, leaving six seriously injured and fifteen lightly injured.”
Yang Xin said.
“Huh?!”
Chen Yujie was stunned.
Yang Xin went straight into his room, sat down on the official’s armchair in the living room, while Chen Yujie sat nervously on the other side. Then, holding a teacup, Yang Xin calmly told him everything that had happened from last night until now, including how he had just beaten up the Deputy Commander of the Western City Metropolitan Police Office again, slapping his face, and finally throwing the Imperial Noble Consort’s calligraphy brocade box onto the table.
Chen Yujie tremblingly picked up the brocade box, looking at the bloodstains still on it…
He let out another wail as if breaking down again.
“It’s not that big a deal. At worst, I’ll just run away again!”
Yang Xin said, blowing on his tea.
Chen Yujie took a deep breath and quickly regained his usual calm.
“I’ll lend you five hundred taels. First, settle things with Xu Xianchun. Otherwise, he’ll seek revenge. As for the Five City Military Inspectorate, the enmity is already there; that can’t be fixed. The Left Censor-in-Chief Li Zhi, who heads the Censorate, is from Grand Secretary Fang’s faction, but he’s old and doesn’t handle affairs anymore. Currently, a group of censors in the Censorate, led by Zuo Guangdou, are jointly impeaching Grand Secretary Fang. You also beat up the Deputy Commander of the Western City Metropolitan Police Office, and in the name of defending the Imperial Noble Consort whom they despise most. That is undoubtedly directly provoking and challenging the Censorate. But since Grand Secretary Fang said he would speak to the Western City Metropolitan Police Office, that means he will convey His Majesty’s oral decree. Your uncle said the Imperial Noble Consort also conveyed an oral decree. Then the Five City Military Inspectorate won’t dare to openly arrest you.
But the City Patrol Censors will submit a memorial to inquire about the situation.
Then His Majesty will have to clearly indicate how to handle it. However, given His Majesty’s habits, such a memorial will surely be ignored. His Majesty ignores even major matters, let alone such a minor one. So, the Five City Military Inspectorate still won’t dare to arrest you. Unless His Majesty clearly indicates how to deal with it, the oral decree is still effective.
Then the censors of the Censorate will step in.
They will submit memorials questioning why a fugitive guilty of serious crimes like you is left unarrested. Then they will steer it toward the Imperial Noble Consort’s protection and Grand Secretary Fang’s sheltering. Ultimately, it will become the Censorate attacking the Imperial Noble Consort and Grand Secretary Fang. They attack the Imperial Noble Consort as a daily habit; they won’t miss any opportunity.
Thus, the Imperial Noble Consort and Grand Secretary Fang will have to fight back.
If they don’t fight back, they are admitting defeat.
You’ve basically lit the powder keg!”
Chen Yujie said with horror.
“So what should I do?”
Yang Xin asked curiously.
“If you want to be safe, run. Run far away, the farther the better. Whether it’s Jiangnan, Sichuan, Yunnan, or Guizhou, just go to the distant south where the sky is high and the emperor is far away.
If you’re not afraid of death, stay. The rest is up to fate.
This is no longer just your matter. This is internal strife in the court. You’re just a pawn. If the censors win, you’ll be taken to the execution ground and beheaded. If the Imperial Noble Consort wins, you still won’t have a good outcome. A troublemaker like you is better cast aside. Given Grand Secretary Fang’s character, he’d probably reward you with a military post to go to the battlefield and die! That way, he and the Imperial Noble Consort won’t be seen as forgetting a meritorious servant. It lets their subordinates know that merit is rewarded, and it cleans you out so you don’t keep causing trouble for them.”
Chen Yujie said.
“I see!”
Yang Xin stroked his small beard, pondering.
“I think you should run quickly! That’s the safest. With your skills, you won’t starve wherever you go. If you need money, I’ll give you some more. Actually, once you’re out of Shuntian Prefecture, you basically won’t be caught.”
Chen Yujie said very seriously.
“Just tell me, will the Five City Military Inspectorate keep trying to arrest me before the outcome of this struggle is clear?”
Yang Xin said.
“No. Arresting you would be openly slapping His Majesty in the face. Whether it’s Grand Secretary Fang or the Imperial Noble Consort, they are conveying His Majesty’s intention. It’s just that a minor matter like yours doesn’t require an Imperial Edict.
Issuing an Imperial Edict is troublesome. The Directorate of Ceremonial drafts it, then it must be reviewed by the Six Offices of Scrutiny.
Moreover, keeping you outside can continue to be used as material to stir up public anger, letting people see how the Imperial Noble Consort and Grand Secretary Fang protect a fugitive. The censors will watch you, magnify everything you do, eventually turning you into a notorious, heinous criminal. They might even spread rumors about you. Probably tomorrow when you go out, you’ll see how you are pointed at by thousands. In short, you’re about to become very famous in the capital. For the Censorate, you’re going to be beheaded sooner or later anyway; they have the patience for that.”
Chen Yujie said.
“Then I’ll stay. I like watching the show!”
Yang Xin nodded with satisfaction.
“You’re a madman!”
Chen Yujie said speechlessly.
Madman or not, Yang Xin really wanted to see this good show.
“Speaking of which, this Imperial Noble Consort is really stingy. Just giving me this piece of calligraphy to send me off? Can’t sell it either. How nice would it be if she gave me some real silver?”
Yang Xin picked up the brocade box and said discontentedly.
“Don’t even think about real silver. Our Majesty always values money highly. Given the Imperial Noble Consort’s favor, she secretly gave a jade bowl to Prince Fu and was reprimanded by His Majesty. Giving you a piece of calligraphy is pretty good. How did you please the Imperial Noble Consort anyway?”
Chen Yujie said.
“Nothing much. I just called her ‘Her Majesty the Empress’ a few times!”
Yang Xin said candidly.
“You, you…”
Chen Yujie pointed at him in shock.
“You’re truly shameless!”
Then he took a deep breath and said.
“She’s an old woman in her fifties, been with His Majesty for almost forty years, has given birth to a bunch of children. Prince Fu can’t become Crown Prince anymore. Isn’t this just the last little wish she has left? I really don’t understand why her little request is so unreasonable. Why does the entire court have to gang up to bully an old woman?”
Yang Xin said.
“What’s the use of telling me?”
Chen Yujie said.
After saying that, he took out a money box and counted out several Silver Notes from it.
“You’re quite rich!”
Yang Xin exclaimed from the side.
“What richness is this? Although our Chen family does some maritime trade, we still don’t rank high in Songjiang.”
Chen Yujie said modestly.
“Don’t pay taxes?”
Yang Xin said.
“Says the one who traffics Illicit Salt, as if you’ve ever paid taxes.”
Chen Yujie said disdainfully.
The two of them then left the Xu Mansion together.
People were still watching outside. Clearly, the Five City Military Inspectorate was also guarding against Yang Xin escaping.
“Where to find Xu Xianchun?”
Yang Xin asked.
“Just go to his home. The Xu family are descendants of Emperor Shizong’s son-in-law!”
Chen Yujie said.
“Speaking of which, this Imperial Guard doesn’t seem all that frightening!”
Yang Xin said.
“There are many kinds of Imperial Guard. Those who raise elephants in the Imperial Palace are also Imperial Guard. The ones with the truly fearsome reputation are just the Judicial Bureaus, especially the Northern Judicial Bureau. They control the Imperial Prison and have the power to arrest and interrogate officials. But the Northern Judicial Bureau is actually semi-independent from the Imperial Guard. They don’t need the Commander’s approval for what they do. And the Imperial Guard outside the Northern and Southern Judicial Bureaus are just nobles’ sons idling around. Besides drawing salaries, they mostly use this skin to intimidate people.”
Chen Yujie said.
“Who is the Commander now?”
Yang Xin asked.
“Luo Sigong.”
Chen Yujie answered.
“What about the Eastern Depot?”
Yang Xin asked.
“The Supervisor of the Eastern Depot is the eunuch Lu Shou, who also holds the position of Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.”
Chen Yujie said.
Yang Xin silently remembered.
So, the number one powerful eunuch of the Great Ming Dynasty at this time was Lu Shou, Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and Supervisor of the Eastern Depot, while the Imperial Guard Commander was Luo Sigong.
They soon arrived at the Xu residence.
Xu Xianchun, of course, warmly welcomed the money delivery.
“Five hundred taels, presented with both hands!”
Yang Xin straightforwardly handed over the Silver Notes.
“Quick and clean!”
Xu Xianchun said with satisfaction.
“Company Commander Xu, how were my few friends dealt with?”
Yang Xin asked.
“The new Liaodong Provincial Governor Xiong Tingbi took them. That Cao Wenzhao is indeed a tough man. Over a dozen Capital Garrison soldiers couldn’t beat him alone. Xiong Tingbi directly took him as a Personal Guard. As for the Five City Military Inspectorate and the City Patrol Censor side, Xiong Tingbi resolved it for them. They actually benefited from the disaster. Following Xiong Tingbi to Liaodong to achieve merits and build a career, with Cao Wenzhao’s skills, he’ll surely rise high. Much better off than you. So, what’s this? I heard you beat up the Deputy Commander of the Western City Metropolitan Police Office again? And slapped his face, swelling it up?”
Xu Xianchun said with great interest.
“He was disrespectful to Her Majesty the Empress, saying something like our Great Ming doesn’t have an empress, what right does the Imperial Noble Consort have to issue orders to the Five City Military Inspectorate? Hearing that made my blood boil. Last night I told Her Majesty the Empress, in my eyes the Imperial Noble Consort is Her Majesty the Empress, forever Her Majesty the Empress. If I didn’t beat him up for saying that, wouldn’t my words last night be deceiving Her Majesty the Empress? So I took the calligraphy bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress and slapped his face hard twice with it. If my uncle hadn’t stopped me, I would have slapped out all his teeth!”
Yang Xin said righteously and indignantly.
“Well done! These dogs deserve a beating!”
Xu Xianchun immediately gave a thumbs-up.
Beside him, Chen Yujie quietly slipped a pearl into his hand.