Embroidered Uniform Guard, Northern Pacification Office, Imperial Prison.
Hu Zongxian, dressed in simple, plain clothes, looking thin and gaunt, slowly stepped out of the prison gates.
A tall, imposing man suddenly appeared before him. "Congratulations, Brother Ruzhen," he said loudly. "You have weathered the storm and emerged victorious. I am truly happy for you."
Hu Zongxian paused. He recognized the man – Lu Bing.
The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the revered patriarch of the Eastern Depot eunuchs, Emperor Jiajing's sworn brother.
Slowly, Hu Zongxian turned to face him.
Lu Bing was a handsome man, his figure tall and straight. He was skilled in the art of preserving his youth. Although only three years younger than Emperor Jiajing, he still appeared to be in his prime.
His cultivation was at the ninth rank, Great Perfection of the Unity Realm.
"Ruzhen." Lu Bing's tone was surprisingly friendly. "His Majesty has issued a special decree, pardoning you and allowing you to redeem yourself through meritorious service.
One month from now, the Southwestern Wolf Troops will assemble outside the capital. Three hundred thousand men will be under your command.
Furthermore, you will have the authority to appoint and dismiss any skilled martial artists within the Great Ming military, regardless of their rank.
Heaven's grace is truly boundless. Brother Ruzhen, you must retake Yunzhou City!"
Lu Bing finished speaking in one breath, then, seeing Hu Zongxian's unmoving figure, his back still turned, he felt a flicker of confusion.
"What's wrong? Do you have any other requests? You can speak freely. I will relay them to His Majesty."
Lu Bing's attitude was incredibly cordial. He held a unique position in the Jiajing era, considered a brother by the Emperor.
Even the members of the Zhu imperial clan treated Lu Bing with deference. But seeing Hu Zongxian's lack of gratitude, he grew anxious.
"Commander Lu," Hu Zongxian finally spoke. Lu Bing's heart skipped a beat.
Such formality… This was not a good sign.
"Ahem. Speak freely, Governor Hu. This is still the territory of the Northern Pacification Office. Without my permission, not a single word will leave this place."
"Very well…" Hu Zongxian said. "This criminal wishes to ask Commander Lu… Is His Majesty aware that during the fall of Yunzhou City, the Crown Prince personally promised Duke Jin of the Chu Kingdom that Yunzhou would no longer belong to the Great Ming?
If I lead the army to attack Yunzhou, it will no longer be a campaign to reclaim lost territory, but an act of aggression."
Lu Bing stared at him, stunned. Had Hu Zongxian lost his mind in prison? What nonsense was he spouting?
Yunzhou City was undoubtedly part of the Great Ming. Even if it wasn't, the Great Ming Dynasty, with its immense power, could wage war against any nation whenever it pleased. They didn't need anyone's permission.
To wage war – it was the prerogative of the strong!
"Governor Hu, you must be careful with your words. I will pretend I never heard what you just said," Lu Bing said. "And please remember, His Majesty is determined to win this war.
You must not disappoint him, nor the Grand Secretary and Junior Grand Secretary!"
Although Lu Bing wasn't a member of the Yan faction, in the current political climate, it wouldn't be wise to offend them.
Occasional gestures of goodwill towards the Yan faction were only natural for him.
Hu Zongxian remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he turned to face Lu Bing and bowed deeply.
"This criminal thanks you for sparing his life in prison."
Lu Bing had been growing angry, but seeing this gesture of gratitude, he relaxed slightly.
"Please, Governor Hu, there's no need for such formality. You are the Great Ming's God of War. How dare I accept a bow from you?"
In terms of official rank, Hu Zongxian was a second-grade official, while Lu Bing was a second-grade official of a lower branch. It was indeed improper for a subordinate to receive a bow from a superior.
But in the Jiajing era, even first-grade officials often knelt before Lu Bing.
After all, there were countless first-grade officials with little power. While a powerful official like Lu Bing could easily end their careers, even their lives!
…
Ming capital, Hu Zongxian's residence.
The Hu residence had once been a spacious and luxurious mansion. After Hu Zongxian's imprisonment, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had confiscated all his assets.
If not for the generosity of his former comrades, the Hu family, now impoverished, would have been left homeless.
They had returned to the residence, only to find an empty shell. Although the exterior remained grand, the interior was bare, stripped of all furnishings and valuables.
All of Hu Zongxian's private assets in the capital had been seized. He was still considered a criminal, living under a suspended sentence. To have a roof over his head was already a great mercy from Emperor Jiajing.
But the confiscated property would never be returned.
Of course, Hu Zongxian wouldn't be left to starve.
Once news of his release and reinstatement spread, countless former comrades and friends came to visit, laden with gifts. Within just a few days, the empty mansion was once more filled with valuables.
The Hu family, who had been on the verge of becoming beggars, regained their former affluence.
"Master, a guest has arrived," a newly hired servant announced. Hu Zongxian, standing in the courtyard, stared blankly at the sky.
Since his release, he hadn't spoken a single word to his family.
The servant, accustomed to his silence, continued, "The Junior Grand Secretary has arranged for this visit. He requests that you personally receive the guest."
The name Yan Shifan carried weight. Hu Zongxian finally reacted. He nodded. "Bring him to me."
Outside the Hu residence, Fan Li stood awkwardly. He was dressed in rough cotton clothes. Did the Ming Emperor have a grudge against merchants? Why were they forbidden from wearing silk?
Although times had changed, and merchants dared to wear finer clothes in their homes or during informal occasions, Fan Li, visiting the Great Ming's Grand Coordinator, wouldn't dare to disregard the rules.
Before leaving the Fan residence, he had carefully inspected his attire, ensuring there wasn't a single trace of luxury. He looked even more destitute than an ordinary farmer.
"Master Fan, please enter," a servant called out.
Fan Li nodded and walked past the servant, whose clothes were of finer quality than his own. He noticed the man suppressing a smile.
How embarrassing!
These clothes… He had borrowed them from a servant in the Fan household, a man of similar build.
They were old clothes, garments the servant had intended to discard.
The Hu residence was a sprawling complex. Fan Li walked for a while before finally finding Hu Zongxian standing in a courtyard, staring at the sky. He, too, was dressed in rough cotton clothes.
"Governor Hu, this humble…"
"Are you a spy?" Hu Zongxian interrupted before Fan Li could introduce himself.
"What… What did you say, sir?"
Fan Li thought he had misheard. Such a direct accusation. Didn't Hu Zongxian know he had allied himself with Yan Shifan?
"I asked if you are a spy from the Chu kingdom."
Fan Li couldn't possibly admit it. He feigned an expression of indignation.
"Governor Hu, you misunderstand! I am not a spy. I am Fan Zhe, a manager of the Fan Clan Trading Company, responsible for all our business affairs in the Great Ming. I recently accompanied Vice Minister Zhao Wenhua to the imperial prison to visit you."
Hearing this, Hu Zongxian finally looked at Fan Li. "You are a merchant? What business do you have with me? I am a soldier. I know nothing of commerce."
Sensing the coldness in his tone, Fan Li remained patient.
The purpose of this visit was to assess Hu Zongxian's current state of mind.
Was he disillusioned?
Had he lost faith in the Great Ming?
Before leaving, Fan Li had informed Yan Shifan, claiming he intended to discuss the specifics of the cosmetics trade in Yunzhou City after its recapture.
It was a matter of making money for Yan Shifan. Naturally, he received the Junior Grand Secretary's full support.
"Governor Hu, what I wish to discuss with you is precisely commerce," Fan Li said. "This is a matter of great importance entrusted to me by Junior Grand Secretary Yan. Please listen carefully."
Hearing this, Hu Zongxian was stunned. He looked at Fan Li, whose face carried the typical merchant's greed, and felt a surge of disgust and anger!
In recent days, everyone who had visited had either congratulated him on his reinstatement or offered empty words of comfort, assuring him that he shouldn't blame himself for the loss of Yunzhou City.
But this man before him… He had no understanding of basic human decency!
Was he, Hu Zongxian, merely a tool for others to profit from?
Where was the Great Ming's dignity?
Where were the laws and moral principles that governed this nation?
Hu Zongxian's heart bled. He had taken the blame for another, wrongfully imprisoned. And now, driven by greed, he had been pardoned. From beginning to end, none of it had followed the law or upheld justice.
Why?
Why did they treat the nation's laws as if they were nothing?
Why did they treat the lives of Ming soldiers as if they were worthless?
And the Emperor… Had he truly pardoned a man who bore such a heavy burden of sin simply because of a shooting star?
Was he any different from the infamous tyrants of history?!
Hu Zongxian dared not think further. He was afraid of giving birth to treasonous thoughts. As a subject, such thoughts were unacceptable!
"You… Speak," he said with difficulty. "I will listen."
"Very well," Fan Li nodded. He retrieved a map of Yunzhou City and unfurled it on the stone table.
"Here… This was the location of Yunzhou City's armory. After discussing the matter with Junior Grand Secretary Yan, we believe it would be the perfect location for a warehouse to store cosmetics ingredients. Once Yunzhou is recaptured, please construct a new armory and allow the Fan Clan Trading Company to use this location."
Hu Zongxian's eyelid twitched. Had he misheard?
Borrow the armory?
Such a thing… it was practically treason!
But Yan Shifan had agreed?
Fan Li seemed oblivious to Hu Zongxian's reaction. He continued confidently, pointing to another location on the map.
"And here… This is the location of the Yunzhou government offices. Our company will also need to borrow these buildings.
To produce cosmetics, we need to hire skilled artisans at the Golden Core Realm. They require high-quality accommodations.
The government offices are close to the armory, reducing transportation costs. We intend to convert these buildings into dormitories for our skilled artisans."
Hu Zongxian clenched his fists.
In the Great Ming Dynasty, where agriculture was valued and commerce suppressed, to allow merchants to reside within the government offices?
It was preposterous!
"Master Fan," Hu Zongxian said through gritted teeth, "it would be inappropriate for Yunzhou officials to reside with merchants."
Fan Li nodded. "Indeed. Therefore, before our skilled artisans arrive, please relocate the local officials. Their presence would disrupt our employees' rest."
"Relocate them… Where?"
Hu Zongxian forced the words out, hoping the man before him could sense his anger!
But Fan Li was playing deaf.
He shrugged, his face indifferent. "The accommodation of Great Ming officials is not our concern. If you have any questions, please address them to Junior Grand Secretary Yan. He is capable of resolving such matters."
"…Very well… Very good! Have you finished?" Hu Zongxian asked angrily.
"Not yet," Fan Li shook his head with a smile, pointing to a location outside the city walls – a vast expanse of grassland.
Yunzhou City was located in the northern territories. Most of the local residents were herders, raising cattle, sheep, and horses.
"And this grassland… We will need to borrow it as well. The Fan Clan Trading Company intends to cultivate various crops here, the raw materials for our cosmetics."
"Are you joking?!" Hu Zongxian exploded. "The Yunzhou herders' pastureland, you want to claim it as your private fields? Where are they supposed to graze their livestock? Are they supposed to go further north and fight the barbarians for grassland?!"
Fan Li shrugged. "This matter… Please address it with Junior Grand Secretary Yan. He is capable of…"
"Get out! Get out of my house!"
Hu Zongxian finally erupted. Seizing the armory, the government offices, and the pastureland – such arrogance!
Did the Chu kingdom's merchants truly have no respect for the Great Ming Dynasty or was Yan Shifan so consumed by greed?
Hu Zongxian's roar nearly knocked Fan Li off his feet. The disparity in their cultivation levels was immense.
Hu Zongxian realized he had lost his composure. He was startled. The Fan Clan Trading Company manager, he had just withstood his outburst? It seemed his cultivation wasn't weak!
But Hu Zongxian had no time to dwell on this.
He said coldly, "I will not agree to any of your demands! I will seek an audience with Grand Secretary Yan immediately! Do not return to my residence!"
Fan Li was unceremoniously ushered out of the Hu residence, practically thrown out the gate.
Playing his part to the very end, Fan Li pretended to be indignant, shouting, "I will tell the Junior Grand Secretary!" before storming off.
Upon returning to the Fan residence, Fan Li saw Lu Fubao changing baby Diao Chan's diaper.
"Look away, look away," he said to himself. She was once a renowned beauty of the Han Dynasty, even though she was now his "daughter." He still felt awkward witnessing such scenes.
He had never participated in changing diapers or bathing the child.
"You're back?" Lu Fubao finished with the baby and greeted Fan Li with a smile. "Was everything settled?"
"Yes," Fan Li nodded. "I almost got beaten up."
Lu Fubao giggled. "You're truly a sneaky one! You deliberately provoked Hu Zongxian with those outrageous demands, even though you had no intention of following through. Why don't you care about your reputation?"
Fan Li could only smile wryly. Reputation? He hadn't been born with that luxury.
Lu Fubao was right. His claims of seizing the pastureland, the government offices, and the armory had all been lies.
Recapture Yunzhou?
He would never allow such a thing to happen, at least not under Hu Zongxian's command. His goal was simply to make Hu Zongxian utterly disillusioned with the Great Ming. He had resorted to trickery, but it was a necessary evil.
If the Great Ming were truly righteous and just, his petty scheme wouldn't have affected Hu Zongxian.
A thousand-mile dike could be destroyed by an anthill.
…
Yan Residence.
Hu Zongxian knelt before Grand Secretary Yan Song, who was reclining in a grand armchair. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady.
Beside the armchair stood Yan Shifan, gently fanning his father.
"Hu Zongxian, I don't understand why you're so stubborn! Wanli has already sold Yunzhou City. Are the people there still citizens of the Great Ming?"
"We retake the city, use it to make some money, isn't that a good thing? Without money, how can my father support the officials? How can he raise an army? How can he care for the people?"
Yan Shifan paused, taking a deep breath.
"Hu Zongxian, do you know how much my father spent to rescue you from prison? Taking care of you is expensive!"