Chapter 103: Taking by Force
Chapter 103: Taking by Force
“Brother Yang.”
After they left the Imperial Palace, Xu Xianchun gave Yang Xin a direct thumbs-up…
He was truly impressed now.
This guy was absolutely a lucky star!
Actually, he had also broken out in a cold sweat earlier. With his political awareness, he could of course guess that Emperor Wanli wanted to find a scapegoat to appease those scholars. Hit them with a stick, then give them a sweet date. Everyone understood this tactic. Yang Xin had to be kept for future use, but he (Xu) did not have that qualification. Emperor Wanli would most likely give him a Court Beating, as a sweet date for those scholars whose hearts were wounded.
And yet, with just a few words, Yang Xin easily resolved it again.
He was only punished with the forfeiture of one year’s salary for ordering the Imperial Guards to make those two Green Robed Scholars lose consciousness from lack of oxygen.
But…
he got a very, very fat job.
“When do we set off?”
he asked immediately after.
He would next lead a squad of Imperial Guards to escort Yang Xin. Well, to escort Liu Shimin, to be precise, to Qufu to deliver medicine to the Duke Yansheng. The current Duke Yansheng, Kong Shangxian, was already seventy-eight years old and reportedly not in good health. His Majesty the Emperor cared so much for the Duke Yansheng, that he would send medicine even from a thousand miles away. As for Yang Xin going along, that had nothing to do with delivering medicine. Righteous Yang was just very good friends with Liu Shimin in private, and since he was bored stiff in the Capital City, he went along to appreciate the great mountains and rivers of the motherland.
Speaking of which, he really should leave.
He had only been back in the Capital City for a few days, and he already stirred up this peaceful city into complete chaos.
By now, people with sharp eyes had already noticed that the last time he was in the Capital City, he also seemed to cause quite a bit of trouble for this city. This time, after killing people in Liaodong, his destructive power soared upon his return.
“How about tomorrow? The sooner the better!”
Yang Xin said.
As he spoke, he looked ahead.
Xu Xianchun followed his gaze forward and saw Fang Shihong there. He immediately cupped his hands towards the latter, then turned and left himself, preparing to head south tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Yang Xin walked towards Fang Shihong.
They greeted each other, and Fang Shihong took him straight to Fang Congzhe’s home.
The Fang Residence.
“This old man has underestimated you!”
Fang Congzhe, who was enjoying the snow in the warm pavilion, said slowly as he looked at the expanse of white in the garden outside.
“Did you call me here just to say this to me, sir?”
Yang Xin said.
He sat down very impolitely.
“You are a smart person. Smart people should live like smart people. High official positions and generous salaries, beautiful wives and lovely concubines, enjoying wealth and glory for a hundred generations. That is how smart people live. Similarly, smart people should also know when to advance and when to retreat, know what should be done and what should not be done.
For example.
A smart person would not think about making an enemy of the whole world.
That would be a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
I know about the matter between Tinglan and you.
I am her biological uncle. After her father passed away, I am essentially her father.
Then, in this capacity, I will say this to you. Do not try to change the facts that currently exist. Do not try to do things beyond your capabilities. And most importantly, do not make an enemy of the whole world.
This old man has been floating and sinking in the official seas for nearly forty years, rising all the way to the position of Chief Grand Secretary. I understand everything better than you. I cannot be considered a literati either; the Fang family is also registered with the Imperial Guards. But even I dare not cross that line. Do you think you have more power than a Chief Grand Secretary? Being young and impulsive, reckless indeed, is unavoidable. But since you are a smart person, you should sober up. Everything in the Great Ming exists for its own reasons. This was not caused by anyone, but because everyone needs such a state of affairs.
Do not try to challenge everyone.
Do what a smart person should do.
Among the descendants of the second branch of our Fang family, there are no capable people; they are all useless good-for-nothings. Only Tinglan is intelligent, yet unfortunately is a woman. This old man hopes she can marry someone who will help the Fang family preserve its wealth and status, not a disaster star who might bring ruin upon the Fang family at any moment.
Do you understand?”
Fang Congzhe said.
“And then, like a smart person, sit back and watch as the empire rots?”
Yang Xin said.
“The empire rots? How has this empire ever rotted? Is this golden age not still continuing?
It is true there is fighting in Liaodong, but which year in history has there not been fighting beyond the passes? It is true the Jiannu are causing trouble in Liaodong, but can the Jiannu compare to the time when Esen’s troops reached the city walls? There was indeed famine again last year, but can human power resist natural disasters? So what about last year’s famine? Could it compare to the famine in Shandong four years ago? A little relief got us through!
This empire is like this. It has always been like this.
There are border troubles every year. When there are border troubles, we deal with them. Smaller troubles get smaller fights, bigger ones get bigger fights. The Great Ming has hundreds of thousands of brave soldiers. In Hehuang, in Shaanxi-Gansu, in the Xuan-Da Region, which year do we not fight against the barbarians? When you were in Liaodong, Man Dan and her sons were still harassing Baima Pass. Such things happen every year. Protected by the frontier walls, they don’t disrupt the singing and dancing and peace in the Capital City. Famines also happen every year. When there is famine, we deal with it. The Great Ming is vast. A famine in Shandong is made up for by a bumper harvest in Huguang. Boat after boat of grain continuously transports along the Grand Canal. On the Yangtze River, on the Huai River, grain transport ships are everywhere. Deficits in the west are made up by the east, deficits in the north are made up by the south.
These are all small matters.
As long as we do not have internal strife, this court operates as usual.
And so, days pass.
This Great Ming is actually like our Imperial Palace. Over the years, there are issues here and there. It is always unavoidable that a window breaks or tiles get damaged in daily life. Officials serving as ministers are like patchers, mending and repairing. And so, days pass.”
Fang Congzhe said.
“What if a great fire comes?”
Yang Xin said.
“The Imperial Palace has stood for two hundred years. It has suffered many fires. You put out the fire and then repair it. If one generation cannot finish repairing, the next generation continues. The Hall of Imperial Zenith was burned down by a great fire in the twenty-fifth year of Wanli. It has been under repair for over twenty years and still is. But does that mean the Imperial Palace does not still stand?
If not that, then what would you do?
Demolish the Imperial Palace and rebuild it?”
Fang Congzhe said coldly.
“That’s because it wasn’t burned clean. If a fire burns everything clean, then of course you have to rebuild!”
Yang Xin said.
Fang Congzhe looked at him sharply.
Yang Xin looked back at him just as impolitely.
“You are dangerous. The Fang family will no longer welcome you!”
Fang Congzhe said.
“Uncle!”
Suddenly, a shocked cry came from the door next to them. Immediately after, Fang Tinglan ran out from inside.
“Step back!”
Fang Congzhe shouted.
Servants beside him hurriedly grabbed Fang Tinglan.
“Grand Secretary Fang, this is not right of you!”
Yang Xin said.
“Hurry, apologize to Uncle!”
Fang Tinglan anxiously shouted from the side.
“He doesn’t need to apologize. Such a person is too dangerous. The matter between you two ends here. From today on, you are not allowed to see him again. And you are not allowed to enter the Fang family’s premises again!”
Fang Congzhe shouted, looking at Yang Xin.
In the next moment, Yang Xin in front of him suddenly vanished. The old man hurriedly turned his head. At that same moment, Fang Tinglan’s scream and the servants’ cries of pain rang out. Before he could even regain his senses, Fang Tinglan was already in Yang Xin’s arms. Fang Congzhe instinctively roared in anger. Immediately after, Yang Xin, carrying Fang Tinglan, flashed past him again, directly crashing through the wooden carved window of the warm pavilion. Amidst the flying fragments, they landed outside.
The Household Servants guarding outside were stunned.
Fang Shihong, who was also outside, was stunned.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at Yang Xin who suddenly appeared before them.
“Seize him!”
Fang Congzhe’s roar sounded from inside.
Those Household Servants snapped awake instantly, drawing their swords at top speed and lunging over.
Yang Xin, holding Fang Tinglan in his arms, didn’t even look at them. He leaped up and landed on the nearest two-meter-high artificial rockery. The moment he landed, he sprang up again, like a grasshopper. Amidst the chaotic shouts below, he landed on the roof of the warm pavilion, standing on the outward-sloping eave corner. Fang Tinglan in his arms looked at him as if dumbstruck. This proper lady had never imagined she would be held by him like this. Though upon second thought, this wasn’t the first time. Last time he held her, it was even more shameful…
“Hurry, surround him!”
Fang Shihong’s roar sounded from below.
“You… put me down!”
Fang Tinglan said, her face completely red.
“Then it’s completely hopeless for the two of us. If you insist, then I respect your choice!”
Yang Xin said.
Fang Tinglan immediately shut her mouth.
Yang Xin smiled with satisfaction.
Fang Tinglan bit her lip and looked at him.
Yang Xin suddenly lowered his head and very impolitely kissed her on the mouth…
“Be good. I’ll take you to cook the raw rice into cooked rice first!”
Then, under Fang Tinglan’s wide-eyed stare, he said very seriously.