Chapter 72: The Unfortunate Prediction

Fang Jifan had already understood Emperor Hongzhi’s temperament. Emperor Hongzhi was actually a kind-hearted person. Although he sometimes got angry, most of the time he rarely punished people for what they said.

Emperor Hongzhi had to change the awkward subject and said with a stern face, “I summoned you here because of several impeachment memorials. This one is from Censor Zhang Fen of the Censorate, and this one…” He picked up the thickest one. “This is from the Marquis of Shouning and the Earl of Jianchang. They are accusing you of insulting officials and behaving improperly in your daily conduct. Do you have anything to say?”

Fang Jifan said in surprise, “How did I insult officials?”

“It’s about Vice Censor-in-Chief and Guizhou Provincial Governor Qian Yue…”

Fang Jifan finally understood what it meant to face consequences after the fact.

Zhu Houzhao was trembling with fear. He felt a chill down his spine, as if sensing his own doom.

Fang Jifan immediately said, “I only reported the truth and expressed my opinion. How did I insult Governor Qian? I am innocent!”

Emperor Hongzhi smiled. In his heart, he did not necessarily blame Fang Jifan. However… he was using this as an excuse to teach the young man a lesson and make him behave, so he would not cause more trouble.

So he put on a stern face and said angrily, “How dare you deny it now? Haven’t you caused enough trouble with your rude words and actions? Out of respect for your father, I have been lenient with you. But now, with so many impeachment memorials, how can I not give an explanation to the world? This time, I must punish you severely…”

Fang Jifan was stunned…

It was true that a prodigal son would come to no good end.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the Warm Pavilion.

Boots crunched softly on the snow, making a faint, crisp sound.

A moment later…

A eunuch shouted sharply, “Who goes there?”

“Your servant, Daizhao Hanlin Jiang Xin, has an urgent memorial. It is a matter of great importance, and I must see His Majesty immediately.”

Before the eunuch could respond, Emperor Hongzhi felt a bit frustrated. He had planned to use this opportunity to teach Fang Jifan a lesson and set him straight. But now… something else had come up.

He said in a loud voice, “Come in and speak.”

A moment later, the Hanlin Academician hurried in. His face was grave, and without hesitation, he knelt on the ground and raised a memorial high with both hands. “Your servant Jiang Xin reports to Your Majesty. Guizhou Provincial Governor Qian Yue has sent an urgent memorial…”

Emperor Hongzhi was immediately drawn to the urgent memorial. He exchanged glances with Liu Jian and the others nearby.

This was too strange.

What could this urgent memorial be about?

Emperor Hongzhi said calmly, “What is it?”

Jiang Xin’s face turned pale. “Mi Lu, the daughter of the chieftain of Zhanyi Prefecture in Yunnan, had a conflict with her husband, Guizhou native judge Long Chang. She led troops to kill Long Chang and raised a rebellion. Governor Qian, upon hearing the news, immediately organized a suppression force… Unfortunately… unfortunately, they were defeated. The Guizhou Regional Military Commander Cao Kai and Palace Eunuch Yang Youfa were ambushed and killed by the rebel army. The rebels surrounded Governor Qian’s central camp. This urgent memorial was written by Lord Qian before his death. He ordered someone to break through the encirclement and deliver it to the Capital as quickly as possible. By now… Governor Qian Yue… has likely also been killed… This matter is urgent. I feared any delay, so I came to see you immediately. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“What…” Liu Jian stood up abruptly.

This news… was completely unexpected.

The person killed was none other than the Guizhou Provincial Governor, a high-ranking official of the entire Guizhou Province. Moreover, there was also the Regional Military Commander Cao Kai, the highest military officer in Guizhou, and Palace Eunuch Yang Youfa, the supervising eunuch sent by the palace. These three were the most important figures in Guizhou. If any one of them was killed by the rebels, it would not only disgrace the imperial court but also potentially lead to even more disastrous consequences.

Xie Qian was even more shocked and could not help but exclaim, “Qian Yue has always had an outstanding record. How could he possibly provoke a rebellion?”

Yunnan-Guizhou had just been pacified from a previous rebellion. The imperial court was particularly attentive to affairs in Yunnan-Guizhou, fearing further trouble. For this reason, when selecting a governor, both the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat believed that Qian Yue, with his excellent record, was the most suitable candidate. Who would have thought that such a major incident would occur so soon after his appointment?

Hearing Lord Xie’s question, Jiang Xin quickly replied, “The urgent memorial says that Mi Lu and her husband had long-standing conflicts. Before this, Lord Qian went to mediate. He thought that after the mediation, the matter would be resolved. Who could have expected…”

At this point… everyone was dumbfounded.

Mediation…

Both Mi Lu and Long Chang were chieftains with their own soldiers, wealth, and provisions. If Qian Yue had detected something wrong, why didn’t he send troops to guard against it or monitor their strongholds? Instead, he went to mediate? In such a situation, even detaining both of them to calm the situation and then making a decision would have been acceptable. But… Qian Yue chose the most unbelievable approach.

Emperor Hongzhi’s face turned pale. A minor rebellion by a local chieftain would not have been a big problem for the imperial court. But now, the worst had happened. Over ten thousand suppression troops were wiped out, and Guizhou was left without leadership. The imperial court’s authority in Yunnan-Guizhou would surely be lost. Other restless chieftains, seeing Mi Lu’s military strength, might start having other ideas.

Emperor Hongzhi leaned heavily on the Imperial Desk and could not help but say, “Qian Yue has failed me!” He wanted to curse, but then he remembered that Qian Yue had died for his country. Although he was foolish, he was still loyal. It was not appropriate to criticize him too harshly. But the Emperor was filled with anxiety and said, “Just because of a marital conflict, a rebellion broke out… How terrifying!”

Liu Jian frowned deeply and quickly begged for forgiveness. “Your Majesty, this is my oversight. I was the one who recommended Qian Yue…”

Xie Qian said, “It’s too late to ask for forgiveness now. The most important thing is to send troops immediately to suppress the rebellion. We must not let the situation spiral out of control.”

Li Dongyang, who had been silent all along, showed a trace of surprise in his eyes. Then, he looked at Fang Jifan in shock.

Because what shocked him even more than the news from Guizhou was… Fang Jifan.

Emperor Hongzhi had gradually recovered from his shock, but then an even greater shock replaced it. He could not help but look at Fang Jifan because he realized that the outcome in Guizhou was exactly as Fang Jifan had predicted.

The chieftains in Yunnan-Guizhou, due to the imperial court’s leniency, had always pretended to be respectful but actually governed independently. Fang Jifan had guessed they would rebel again, and indeed they did.

Qian Yue, the former Governor of Henan and Shandong, had an outstanding record. But Fang Jifan believed that this man was too scholarly and not suitable to take charge in Guizhou. And now, it had all come true.

Emperor Hongzhi did not believe in supernatural matters. So, in his mind, how insightful was this young man?

Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains!

Now it seemed that Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains was absolutely necessary.

Being stared at by Emperor Hongzhi and the three Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat like hungry wolves, Fang Jifan felt quite embarrassed.

Actually… he did not want this rebellion to happen. Back then, he had hoped to prevent it, which was why he spoke without thinking and issued a warning. Unfortunately, no one took his words seriously.

After all… he was a scoundrel. Fang Jifan was used to it.

Emperor Hongzhi paced quickly around the Warm Pavilion with his hands behind his back. “Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains seems inevitable now. The urgent task is to suppress the rebellion. Issue an edict: appoint Wang Shi, Minister of Revenue of Nanjing, as Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Left, acting as the Guizhou Provincial Governor. Mobilize troops from Yunnan-Guizhou and advance in separate forces to suppress the rebels. I swear to capture the rebel leader Mi Lu and show no mercy.”

After saying this, he paused and showed his decisive side. “After the rebellion is suppressed, the troops will remain stationed in the native prefectures of Yunnan-Guizhou. Then, order Wang Shi to implement Bureaucratization of Native Chieftains. Minister Fang, I intend to issue an edict. After the rebellion is put down, we will first divide the chieftains and the native people. We will force the native people to replace the chieftains with appointed officials. We will set up Education Officers in the native prefectures to promote Moral Education. Additionally, we will win over the native people by distributing land to them for farming. If any chieftains resist, arrest them immediately. What do you think, Minister?”

Fang Jifan shook his head. “Not good.”