The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The night mist over Kuncheng Lake, like a thin veil soaked in water, heavily enveloped the surrounding area, turning the distant Yushan Mountain into a blurry, dark silhouette.

Deep in the heart of the lake, the silhouette of a three-masted warship appeared and disappeared in the mist.

This remodeled pleasure boat has an extremely spacious middle cabin, resembling a huge floating house.

Inside the cabin, eight bronze interlocking lampstands stood at the four corners, illuminating the central area.

Qian Qianyi, dressed in a dark blue robe with dark patterns and a black velvet cloak, sat alone on a large rosewood armchair inlaid with marble at the head of the table.

He was slightly overweight, his face appeared somewhat pale in the candlelight, and his long, narrow eyes were half-open.

Below, on the left and right, are three rosewood official hat chairs, and six influential gentry from various parts of Jiangnan sit there according to their status and seniority.

From left to right are Xu Fuyuan of the Xu family of Songjiang, Chen Zhilin of the Chen family of Jiaxing, and Wang Shimin of the Wang family of Taicang.

On the right are Hou Dongzeng of the Hou family of Jiading, Gu Gao of the Gu family of Wuxi, and Dong Zuyuan of the Dong family of Huating.

Everyone sat upright, and the servants had already been dismissed. Only the soft sound of the lake water lapping against the side of the boat could be heard.

In the candlelight, a faint shadow covered everyone's face, making it impossible to discern their true emotions.

The silence in the cabin had lasted for quite some time.

In the end, it was Chen Zhilin who broke the silence first.

"Chen Wang disregarded public opinion and insisted on pushing forward the new policies, wanting to make the gentry perform their duties and pay taxes as a whole, thus suddenly changing the ancestral system that had been in place for hundreds of years. This is of great importance to the social order of the gentry."

Chen Zhilin's face appeared and disappeared in the flickering candlelight.

"Even worse, the implementation of the 'Martial Arts Edict' openly emphasizes military prowess while suppressing literature. If this continues, I fear that the rites and music will collapse and the cultural lineage will be severed... We are all well-versed in history books, have we not heard of the lessons of the old Tang Dynasty's regional warlordism and the chaos caused by military men?"

Chen Zhilin paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. His tone grew more serious as he posed the question that had been hanging over everyone's throat.

"Now, all the officials in the court are trembling with fear at the sight of the Jingnan Army's might. Are we really just going to sit idly by and watch as the social order collapses?"

After he finished speaking, the cabin fell silent, with only the faint crackling of the burning candle wick.

The flickering light and shadow obscured the true meaning of each solemn face.

“What Yansheng said is also what we are worried about.”

Hou Tongzeng, sitting opposite Chen Zhilin, slowly stroked his beard, his voice very deep.

"However, Chen Wang is relying on his military might, and his momentum is at its peak. If we confront him head-on at this time, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock."

"Gentlemen, please don't forget..."

Wang Shimin snorted coldly, his teacup suddenly stopped, and he said in a cold voice.

"Chen Wang, relying on his powerful army, is committing this perverse act, and he will eventually suffer the consequences. Today he can force the court officials to submit, but does he think he can exterminate all the scholars in the land?"

"The hearts and minds of the people cannot be severed by weapons!"

Before Wang Shimin could finish speaking, Gu Gao, sitting opposite him, frowned slightly.

"Brother Xuanzhao, be careful what you say."

Gu Gao raised his hand, gently stroking his beard with his fingertips, and spoke cautiously.

"Gentlemen, be careful what you say. Chen Wang now holds absolute power in the court, and the Jingnan Army is at its peak. Any official or local gentry who dares to disobey will face the calamity of having their property confiscated and being exiled."

"Mr. Daolin was merely speaking out for justice in the imperial court when Chen Wang ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to fabricate charges against him, imprison him, and his fate remains unknown."

The Mr. Daolin that Gu Gao mentioned was Shi Kefa, who had been arrested and imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard not long ago.

Chen Wang could not kill all the scholars in the world, but he could make any one who stood out suffer disgrace, ruin, and death.

Xu Fuyuan placed his hand on the armrest, leaned slightly forward, and sighed.

“All of Chen Wang’s decrees are issued in the name of the emperor, thus occupying the moral high ground. If we openly object, we will be defying the court and disrespecting the government’s decrees.”

"Chen Wang commands hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers who have wreaked havoc in the southern kingdom for a long time, leaving us families powerless to resist them."

Xu Fuyuan sighed.

"However, in the Battle of Yangzhou, Chen Wang swept away the enemy and annihilated 400,000 soldiers of the Wanmin Army. In the Battle of Jining, he also defeated the Jurchens and pursued them for thousands of miles."

"Chen Wang pacified the southern kingdom and recovered the northern kingdom. Now Chen Wang enjoys great prestige among the people."

Dong Zuyuan's expression was gloomy as he spoke in a deep voice.

"With the new policies pressing in step by step, resisting them now would be like throwing an egg against a rock."

"But if we sit idly by, then the cultural heritage of Jiangnan over the past few centuries, the integrity of its scholars, and even the foundations of its families will likely be completely annihilated in the hands of this scoundrel."

Dong Zuyuan raised his eyes and looked at Qian Qianyi.

"Chen Wang established new schools in various places, abandoning the teachings of the Four Books and Five Classics and the ways of the ancient sages, and focusing on teaching what he called 'practical learning'."

"Rumors have already spread in the court that they intend to reform the imperial examination system, and from now on, the selection of officials will prioritize practical learning... This move will undoubtedly shake the very foundation of Confucianism, and is a radical solution."

"If Chen Wang is allowed to continue his perverse actions, the world will surely collapse once again..."

“Mr. Muzhai, we must come up with a plan now. Public opinion is useless. Chen Wang holds absolute power and makes decisions arbitrarily. Some time ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested another group of scholars.”

As soon as Dong Zuyuan finished speaking, everyone looked at Qian Qianyi, who was in the main seat.

The situation is now extremely critical. Chen Wang is pushing through new policies, and anyone who opposes them is directly arrested and imprisoned.

Public opinion was useless, and officials in the court were silent; a new plan had to be devised.

"The cultural heritage of Jiangnan has lasted for thousands of years and has always been the source of education for the world."

Qian Qianyi slowly put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping across the room. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"The sharpness of the Jingnan Army's weapons is well known to all of you. However, as the Zuo Zhuan says, 'It is difficult to defy the wrath of the masses, and it is difficult to achieve one's own desires.'"

“Chen Wang is relying on his military might, and his momentum is at its peak. If we confront him head-on at this time, it would be no different from throwing an egg against a rock, as Yan Sheng said, and it would be a path to disaster.”

Yansheng is Chen Zhilin's courtesy name, and everyone present was well aware of what he had said earlier.

Now Chen Wang commands a strong and powerful army, dominating the world, wielding absolute power and issuing orders swiftly, but those who disobey are all suppressed.

"But in this world, besides imperial edicts and weapons, there is public opinion, people's hearts, and the foundation upon which our Confucian tradition has been built for thousands of years."

Qian Qianyi's gaze was stern, and his voice was solemn and dignified.

"Chen Wang uses his power to suppress us, and we are indeed unable to resist him. But although Chen Wang has many soldiers under his command, can he control every inch of the countryside and alleys of the world as if they were his own limbs?"

"Even with hundreds of thousands of soldiers scattered across various prefectures and counties, there were only a few hundred thousand or so."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard monitors the entire country. Although they have extensive eyes and ears, how can they truly see everything and keep it all in their sight?"

Qian Qianyi leaned forward slightly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the rosewood armrest, producing a rhythmic sound, and continued in a deep voice.

“When new policies and regulations are issued to local areas, they always need to be handled by clerks and officials, and the cooperation of gentry.”

Qian Qianyi admitted that confronting them head-on was indeed like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

However, although Chen Wang had a strong and well-equipped army, he did not have enough officials to handle internal affairs.

The officials at all levels in the imperial court and local areas were all gentry and Confucian scholars. Who would really do their best to implement the new policies?

Chen Wang's staff, even those managing directly administered areas, are already stretched thin. The number of people Chen Wang can send will be limited, and naturally, the tasks they can accomplish will also be limited.

“The measurement of farmland involves a complex web of interests, often affecting the livelihoods of thousands of households.”

Qian Qianyi gave a cold laugh, his tone calm.

"Even if we sincerely follow the imperial decree, the local villagers have cultivated the land for generations, regarding it as their lifeblood. How could they truly be willing to hand over their ancestral property in detail and let it be disposed of at will?"

"Chen Wang abolished some of our preferential treatments, calling it 'equalizing taxes and corvée labor.' But once this precedent is set, the court's power will reach directly to the countryside. If it can abolish the preferential treatments of the gentry today, it can increase the taxes of the common people tomorrow! Who can predict how heavy the taxes will be and how greedy the officials will be?"

Chen Wang was ruthless and decisive.

They were ruthless in killing gentry and officials, and didn't care about the consequences at all.

They also knew how many people the gentry and nobles in the capital had been framed by Chen Wang under the pretext of recovering stolen goods to fund the military, and how much property they had been killed and confiscated.

The reason why Chen Wang acted so recklessly, disregarding the opinions of scholars and the overall situation of the court, was precisely because he did not rise to power by relying on these gentry and officials.

Chen Wang relied solely on his elite troops and generals.

Most of the soldiers who followed Chen Wang came from poor backgrounds and naturally hated the gentry.

Qian Qianyi spoke with righteous indignation, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone turning somber.

“The ignorant villagers may be temporarily misled by the name of equality, but with just a little guidance, they can understand that today’s equality is actually the beginning of tomorrow’s oppressive rule.”

"With direct control by the imperial court, and no longer any local gentry or clans to act as a buffer, the court will impose even more restrictions in the future, leaving them as fish on the chopping block!"

Qian Qianyi had a clear understanding: Chen Wang still relied on the common people.

Then they truly implemented the new policies, and Chen Wang's people measured and administered the land however they pleased.

"It might encourage people to spread the word about the benefits and harms, and talk about the plight of the people in the north after this method was tried. With a little encouragement, the villagers might gather to resist the land survey, appeal against the injustice, and even have some friction with the surveying officials. Wouldn't that be reasonable?"

"You gentlemen should be able to grasp the proper measure in this matter."

If public opinion is guided properly from the beginning, the local people will definitely have some conflicts with the officials who are conducting the survey.

Chen Wang couldn't send too many people, which inevitably left room for maneuver.

Whether using the original clerks or recruiting people from outside, things became much easier once they arrived in the Jiangnan region.

By secretly stirring up a few conflicts, or by casually sending people to do some tricks, everything will become a tangled mess that is difficult to untangle.

Qian Qianyi slowly leaned back in his chair, disappearing into the shadows. His tone returned to calm, but the chill in his words still permeated the air.

"At that time, public sentiment will be high, and gatherings to petition are a natural and human reaction to protect one's home and property, in accordance with natural law and human ethics."

"It's not that we're unwilling to cooperate, but the will of the people is hard to defy, and local stability is of utmost importance."

Qian Qianyi stared at the representatives of the six families in the cabin and said coldly.

"Even if Chen Wang has a fierce army, can he really slaughter every village in Jiangnan where people gather to petition?"

"The charge of obstructing the new policies will ultimately not fall on us law-abiding gentry."

Inside the cabin, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the thoughtful faces of the passengers.

The strategy proposed by Qian Qianyi is undoubtedly the most feasible strategy at present.

Wang Shimin tapped the armrest lightly with his knuckles and nodded first.

"Mr. Muzhai's strategy, which uses softness to overcome hardness, is indeed the best strategy."

Hou Tongzeng stroked his beard and pondered.

"Public opinion comes first, public opinion is a shield, and if the balance is right, it can put them in a dilemma."

Gu Gao added cautiously.

"The most urgent task is to unify the opinions of scholars in Jiangnan and secretly contact scholars from various places to plan important matters together."

A cold smile flashed across Dong Zuyuan's gloomy face.

"If we are to take action, we must be meticulous and mobilize simultaneously in various places, so as to demonstrate the overwhelming power of public opinion..."

Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, Qian Qianyi slowly stood up, flicked his sleeves, and spoke solemnly.

"In that case, gentlemen, please proceed according to the plan, and remember—"

Qian Qianyi was about to finalize the rules when he suddenly stopped speaking at the crucial moment.

Then Qian Qianyi frowned slightly, suddenly looked up at the cabin door, and his expression was extremely terrifying.

"Did you... hear anything?"

As soon as Qian Qianyi finished speaking, the cabin fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone instinctively held their breath and listened intently.

A night breeze quietly drifted in, causing the candlelight in the cabin to flicker slightly.

The subtle sounds that had been ignored were now clear.

That was the faint sound of boots lightly tapping on the boat planks.

There was also the rhythmic, cold dripping sound of some kind of liquid falling to the ground.

The next instant, accompanied by an unpleasant creaking sound, the hatch was suddenly pushed open.

A stronger lake wind rushed in instantly, and the candlelight on the eight interlocking lampstands inside the cabin flickered wildly, as if making a final struggle.

In an instant, half of the lights went out, and the remaining light dimmed abruptly, plunging the entire cabin into an eerie atmosphere of half-light and half-darkness.

Inside the cabin, Qian Qianyi's hands trembled uncontrollably within his sleeves, and his face was ashen.

The strong smell of blood in the air had already revealed everything.

Unlike the dimness inside the cabin, the outside was brightly lit.

A burly military officer, dressed in a bright red flying fish robe and wearing a wingless black gauze hat, sat lazily on a grand master's chair, blocking the cabin door.

The patterns embroidered with gold thread on the flying fish robe seemed to come alive in the interplay of light and shadow, their scales gleaming as if ready to devour anyone who might harm them.

The dazzling firelight poured down on him, illuminating the unsheathed goose-feather sabers in the hands of the Imperial Guards behind him.

The blade, as smooth as a mirror, reflected both the chilling moonlight and the warm firelight into the cabin.

The cold light reflected off the cabin floor and into the horrified eyes of the group of gentry.

Right behind the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and his entourage.

The bright firelight clearly outlined the haphazardly lying black shadows on the ground.

Those dark figures lying on the ground were Qian Qianyi's personal servants.

At this moment, all of them had become silent corpses, and blood was slowly seeping from beneath them, meandering across the deck.

Zhao Huailiang slowly raised his eyes, calmly scanning the faces in the cabin that had instantly paled.

His gaze was deep and still, like a calm, deep well. (End of Chapter)