The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The 20th day of the eighth month of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

More than two months after the new policy was issued, the autumn chill of Jiangnan has quietly permeated Hangzhou.

The entire Jiangnan region was plunged into widespread turmoil and unrest due to this sweeping change.

The news that Qian Qianyi and other gentry had been arrested and imprisoned did not quell the turbulent situation in Jiangnan.

On the contrary, this only intensified the resistance from the gentry in Jiangnan.

Many officials wrote letters denouncing the evil deeds of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Within two months, scholars and students from various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan submitted joint petitions.

They gathered in front of the Minglun Hall of the prefectural school, or stood solemnly under the screen wall of the government office, speaking passionately and vehemently denouncing the new imperial examination policy for betraying the teachings of the sages.

Some beat their chests in despair, while others wept, all pleading with the court to rescind its decision.

The rampant activities of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the toughness of the Jingnan Army were constantly distorted in his words.

Local officials did not openly resist the new policies, but they secretly became passive and negligent in their duties, making the implementation of the new policies extremely difficult.

The privilege of tax exemption for gentry was abolished, and the common people who had previously evaded heavy taxes through donations and fraudulent means were filled with anxiety.

Now that this road has been cut off, although the official tax of the Ming Dynasty was not high, if the exorbitant taxes and levies imposed over the years are taken into account, the people who have lost their protection will inevitably be worried.

Although the imperial court issued a decree to abolish all miscellaneous taxes, these grand promises ultimately lacked weight in the eyes of the common people.

In the streets and alleys, rumors spread like wildfire, further fueling such sentiments. With the instigation of those with ulterior motives, these rumors became increasingly difficult to control.

Conflicts of varying sizes broke out in almost every prefecture and county. Officials who went to measure the fields were entangled with local villagers, which greatly hindered their work.

Some officials were beaten until their heads bled, and some villagers were injured in the chaos. At its worst, it even resulted in deaths.

When the authorities arrest rioters, it often leads to even larger gatherings.

People, young and old, knelt before the government office to plead their grievances, while others confronted the officials with farm tools in hand.

Local officials outwardly accepted the imperial decree with obedience, but secretly dealt with it by delaying the process.

The land survey that should have been conducted has been delayed, and the household registration that should have been verified has been repeatedly postponed.

They were all talking about the difficulties in implementing the new policies, blaming all the responsibility on the local villagers' resistance to the law, saying they really had no other choice.

The injured officials submitted petitions to resign and request to return to their hometowns, claiming that if they remained in office, their families would be in turmoil.

The new policy that was originally intended to be implemented gradually stalled amidst the back-and-forth of official documents and became impossible to advance due to silent resistance.

The conflict between the government and the people has almost reached an irreconcilable point.

The autumn rain continued incessantly, as if the entire Jiangnan region was shrouded in an invisible net.

The unease lurking in the shadows is constantly converging into an ever-surging torrent.

At this moment, the streets and alleys of Hangzhou are deserted, and the markets are silent.

Although it was nearly dawn, the entire city remained eerily silent.

The city gates were tightly closed, and every major road was filled with Jingnan Army soldiers holding long spears.

Just last night at midnight, the Jingnan Army's two battalions of troops from Pingnan Town suddenly entered the city, swiftly taking over all government offices and sealing off all markets and neighborhoods.

At this moment, the bustling city of Hangzhou is no longer filled with the usual hustle and bustle; only the pattering rain and the footsteps of patrolling soldiers echo in the empty streets and alleys.

The leaden sky hung low, and the continuous autumn rain silently soaked the bluestone streets and alleys, forming puddles of shallow water in front of the Jinyiwei Thousand Household Office in Hangzhou.

The mirror-like shallow water reflected the imposing gate tower, as well as the armored and armed guards with their swords drawn.

In the main courtyard of the Imperial Guard's Thousand-Household Office, a group of Imperial Guards, dressed in red military uniforms and covered with fish-scale armor, stood quietly around the courtyard, each holding a goose-feather saber.

The fine drizzle dripped down the black lacquered helmet and along the brim, spreading dark watermarks on the bluestone ground.

Although there were many people around, the courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the soft sound of raindrops tapping on the helmets.

The sound of boots stomping on the floor tiles came from the direction of the main hall.

More than a hundred guards looked up in unison, countless sharp, hawk-like gazes piercing the tightly closed sandalwood hall door.

"Squeak-"

The heavy hall doors slowly opened from the inside, and more than ten figures dressed in silver-white brocade robes and covered with fish-scale armor filed out.

These centurions stood solemnly before the steps, their hands on the hilts of their swords, their silver-white brocade robes gleaming coldly in the dim light.

Immediately afterwards, four commanders dressed in crimson robes embroidered with gold, and fully armored, stepped over the threshold and stood guard on either side of the hall door with their hands on their swords.

The red tassels on their helmets fluttered in the autumn wind, and their gazes, hidden beneath the red-tasseled helmets, swept over the crowd in the courtyard like sharp blades, suppressing all sound.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Zhao Huailiang's imposing figure slowly stepped out of the main hall.

The brocade-embroidered Qilin robe shimmered with a muted golden light in the dim sunlight.

With his right hand resting on the jade belt at his waist and his left hand lightly pressing on the hilt of the wild goose feather saber at his waist, Zhao Huailiang stood like a mountain in front of the hall door, completely isolating the world behind the door.

As the autumn wind grew stronger, it stirred up the banners erected within the Thousand-Household Garrison, the fluttering sound standing out clearly in the otherwise silent headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhao Huailiang made no move or said anything, but simply turned his gaze to the far end of the courtyard, to the tightly closed gate of the Qianhu Office.

The autumn rain falls softly and steadily.

The sky was dim, and dark clouds covered the sky.
Time passed slowly with the sound of raindrops hitting the armor.

Until the water clock rang, signifying the arrival of Chenshi (7-9 AM).

The gates of the garrison, which had been tightly shut all along, suddenly opened amidst the neighing of countless warhorses.

Countless crimson banners billowed and surged in the biting autumn wind, while countless soldiers wearing pointed helmets, clad in iron armor, and carrying goose-feathered sabers filled the long street outside the gate, their imposing formation obscuring everyone's view.

Tang Shiping sat upright on his black warhorse, his mountain-patterned armor gleaming coldly in the rain.

His calm gaze passed over the open door and met Zhao Huailiang's cold gaze in the air.

Their eyes met, and they both nodded slightly, conveying a thousand unspoken words in an instant.

Zhao Huailiang lowered his head slightly, looking at the group of Imperial Guards in the courtyard, his voice as cold as ice.

"The implementation of the new policy is truly a plan for the benefit of all people."

"Reform and innovation are matters of vital importance to the safety and well-being of the nation and its people."

"However, throughout the court and among the common people, petty villains harbor selfish motives, and the gentry and their ilk engage in corrupt practices, disregarding national affairs for their own selfish interests. These scheming and despicable individuals dare to defy the mandate of Heaven!"

Zhao Huailiang gripped the goose-feather knife at his waist, his eyes surging with a chilling killing intent.

"By imperial decree!"

"From this day forward, anyone who obstructs the new policies will be treated as a traitor, and anyone who incites a popular uprising will be executed without mercy!"

"Imperial warrants have been issued to all regions. All banners are to search for the smuggled goods according to the warrants and arrest all those involved. Anyone who resists will be punished for treason, and their entire family will be implicated!"

"Special Gift—"

"The right to execute first and report later!"

"Tiger!"

Inside the garrison, all the Imperial Guards bowed their heads and obeyed orders.

Outside the Thousand Households Office, a group of Jingnan Army soldiers stood with their heads held high and weapons in hand.

Countless helmets were held aloft, their gazes burning like raging fire!
The sound of horses neighing filled the air, and in an instant, the vast Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) headquarters was in an uproar.

Countless Imperial Guards clad in red armor surged forth like a flood bursting its banks.

The iron hooves of warhorses pounded on the bluestone street, rattling the windows of the houses on both sides.

Thousands of Jingnan soldiers, holding high their banners, galloped through the streets and alleys of Hangzhou.

Streams of crimson torrents surged forth, sweeping in all directions along with the reopened gates of Hangzhou.

The clanging of armor and the fluttering of banners shook the entire city. Through the rain, as the crimson tide passed, a chilling atmosphere permeated the heavens and earth.

……

"You, you..."

"How dare you... do this!"

In the main hall of the Hangzhou government office, Zhang Yinli, the prefect of Hangzhou, dressed in a scarlet robe, slumped to the ground.

His official hat was askew, revealing his disheveled, graying sideburns.

Zhang Yinli's outstretched finger trembled as it pointed to the group of Imperial Guards who surged into the hall like a blood-red undercurrent.

"I am the Prefect of Hangzhou! A fourth-rank official of the Imperial Court!"

Zhang Yinli strained his voice, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

"By what right...by what right do you trespass into the government office and arrest the minister!"

The head of the Imperial Guards, a centurion, stood in the center of the government office, looking down coldly at Zhang Yinli, the prefect of Hangzhou.

"Prefect Zhang".

“We may not be good people, but we do obey the law. The reason we are here is because…”

Baihu's voice was as calm as a frozen lake, but it suddenly turned fierce when he uttered the last two words.

"Your business has taken off."

As the centurion finished speaking, a thin document was handed to Zhang Yinli with an expressionless face by a member of the Imperial Guard, almost poking him in the nose.

Zhang Yinli's cloudy eyes suddenly widened as his gaze fell upon the familiar handwriting and bright red seal on the document. His face turned deathly pale, as if all the blood in his body had been drained in an instant.

He gasped for breath, then collapsed to the ground, completely limp as if his bones had been removed, unable to utter a single complete word.

On that document, he meticulously recorded the people he had been secretly contacting and the things they had been doing in secret over the past few days.

Each and every single incident was written down clearly.

……

Late at night, in the back hall of the Qiantang County Government Office, the candlelight flickered gently.

County Magistrate Zhou Wenyuan was sitting opposite his trusted advisor.

"The imperial court has already urged us two or three more times... If this drags on any longer, I'm afraid..."

Zhou Wenyuan's expression was cold. He picked up the teacup, took a small sip of the tea, and said slowly and deliberately.

“Clearing up the fields is indeed important, but with the continuous rain these days, and the conflict with the people a while ago, four or five officials were injured. Not long ago, when they were measuring the land in the rain, several more caught colds. Right now, the government office is already struggling to handle the county's affairs, so where would we find the manpower?”

Zhou Wenyuan gave a fake, cold laugh.

"It's not that we're unwilling, it's just that we're short-handed..."

Zhou Wenyuan picked up his teacup and added a sentence in a casual tone.

"Furthermore, the heavy rain the day before yesterday caused the warehouse to leak, and the already completed fish scale illustrations were unfortunately dampened, making the text in many of the illustrations blurry and illegible, so they need to be rewritten... There's nothing we can do about it."

"My lord is wise..."

The advisor quickly echoed with a dry laugh, his wrinkles crinkling into a knot. He reached for the teapot on the table, leaned forward, and prepared to refill Zhou Wenyuan's tea.

But just as he picked up the teapot from the table, a loud crash came from outside the hall.

The advisor trembled, and the teapot slipped from his hand.

The teapot tumbled and shattered into pieces, splashing scalding hot tea everywhere.

"you!"

Zhou Wenyuan was scalded by the splashed tea and immediately wanted to curse.

However, upon seeing four or five men in red armor standing solemnly outside the hall, they realized that...

Zhou Wenyuan was like a rooster with its neck being choked; all his angry curses and official arrogance were stuck in his throat.

He stood frozen in place, his legs beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

The head of the flag bearers had a stern expression, his right hand always resting on the hilt of his goose-feather sword.

"Big, bold!..."

His voice trembled as he forced himself to maintain his official demeanor.

"You dare to break into the government office at night..."

Before he could finish speaking, the head flag bearer gently waved.

A woman dressed as a maid, with her head bowed and eyes lowered, slowly stepped into the hall. She bowed slightly before the captain, appearing extremely respectful.

"This humble servant, Yuan Bi, an informant of the Qiantang Intelligence Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays respects to Commander-in-Chief."

Zhou Wenyuan looked at that familiar face and listened to that cold voice, his face turning ashen.

He was completely limp, like a rag doll. He never dreamed that the personal maid his wife had served for years was actually an informant for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
“Magistrate Zhou, you can admit it now or not, but I think that once you get to the Jinyiwei prison, you'll remember everything…”

When two Imperial Guards lifted Zhou Wenyuan up from either side, the hem of his official robe was already soaked, whether from tea or something else was unknown.

……

Jiaxing Prefecture, Shen Family Residence.

Deep within the mansion, the study was warm and inviting, filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood.

The head of the family, Shen Chongming, sat behind his desk, leisurely flipping through the book in his hands.

The sound of rain pattering outside the window only accentuated the tranquility inside.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

Suddenly, a lot of noise came from outside the study.

Shen Chongming frowned slightly, feeling displeased, and was about to send his page to inquire about the situation.

A flurry of hurried, chaotic footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by terrified gasps.

"Master, no...no...something's wrong..."

The study door was suddenly flung open, and the butler, Shen Fu, scrambled into the room, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Outside...outside are soldiers everywhere, with the banners of the Jingnan Army! And...and the Embroidered Uniform Guards!"

Shen Chongming's face turned ashen instantly. He forced himself to remain calm and growled at the page beside him.

"Quickly, go through the back gate and report to Lord Zhang of the Provincial Administration Commission!"

The pageboy was about to leave when the head of the guards rushed in to report.

"Master, the back door and side door are all blocked! Outside... outside are all Jingnan Army musketeers!"

Shen Chongming staggered and fell onto the chair, his face ashen...

……

The only lesson humanity has learned from history is that humanity has learned nothing from history.

During the Hongwu era, the Hu Weiyong case occurred. Zhu Yuanzhang, observing Hu Weiyong's growing arrogance, purged the court in one fell swoop.

And now, Chen Wang is doing the same thing that Zhu Yuanzhang did.

Chen Wang was fully aware of the obstacles the new policy faced at the local level.

Chen Wang's reason for coldly observing the local officials' feigned compliance was to lure out the snakes from their holes and bring more opponents to the surface. (End of Chapter)