I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 709 Jinyiwei and Political Work Department

Ren Boan asked the guard at the door to get a basin of water and a towel and placed them on the table next to Chen Ronghua.

When he calmed down, he said, "Wash your face."

“Thank you, Master Ren.

Yang Guian asked someone to bring in a few more oil lamps to illuminate the room so that everyone's face could be seen clearly.

"After your son was captured, I recommended him to the Fourth Division's military school, also known as the teaching team, because he knew Chinese and Miao language and could recognize two or three hundred characters.

After studying there for a period of time, they were transferred to the newly formed camp guards in Guizhou or to the local police department.

After washing his face, Chen Ronghua, with tears in his eyes, clasped his hands together and kept bowing to Yang Guian.

“I left the Fourth Division at Maolipu Town on the bank of the Wujiang River and headed back to Sinan City.

Tian Agui followed the Fourth Division into Guiyang and should still be there. I can write to him and ask a friend in the Fourth Division to find out about his current situation for you, or I can tell him about your situation."

Chen Ronghua replied respectfully: "In reply to Master Yang, please help me find out about Agui's current situation and Tian Simei. Thank you very much.

As for my situation, please don’t tell them for now.”

"Okay." Yang Guian nodded and turned his gaze to Ren Boan.

Ren Boan and other guards took the basin away from Chen Ronghua and asked, "Chen Ronghua, do you know what we want?"

Chen Ronghua sat upright on the stool and took a long breath. "I know the purpose of the three masters. Please ask me. I will tell you everything I know."

"Just now you said you were willing to take risks, find someone to buy 20 or 30 vendor signs, and make some money for yourself. Why would you take risks?"

Chen Ronghua was stunned for a moment, then he said admiringly: "The two masters are really observant. I was excited for a moment and said something that gave away my true colors, and you two masters caught me right away.

Yes, Zhao Junhai and Xiu Qiguang are in collusion, and the two have a long history. "

"Origin? Let's start from the beginning, starting with the origin of Zhao Junhai and Xiu Qiguang."

“Yes. Previously, the abbot of Baoguo Benevolent Institute, Master Yuanhai, was from Hubei. He was in charge of the institute’s storehouse and account books, so he invited his nephew Zhao Junhai to be the accountant of the institute.

The uncle and nephew colluded with each other and took advantage of the situation to get a big piece of fat from the Mercy House. Later, Zhao Junhai simply bought the shop and opened "Chu Yuexuan", doing business seriously and becoming a clerk.

Xiu Qi Guang was a security guard at the Mercy House at the time. Because of his ruthlessness and courage to fight, he was promoted to the leader. The friendship between the two men was formed at that time.

In the first year of the Longqing reign, Hai Qingtian was ordered to rectify the Buddhist and Taoist circles in the capital. Yuan Hai, the abbot of the Renci Temple, Zhao Junhai's uncle, was arrested in the first batch because of his bad deeds and many evil deeds.

Yuan Hai accused many people, but he did not expose his nephew Zhao Junhai. Zhao Junhai also used some tricks to finally get rid of the connection with the Mercy House.

After the fall of the Renciyuan, Xiu Qiguang was arrested and imprisoned in Shuntian Prefecture for several months. He was released for unknown reasons, and then he established the Yanzimen and opened the Anlianghang. He bullied people and dominated the market, supported prostitutes and gamblers, and did a considerable business.

Ren Boan nodded, "Then what did Zhao Junhai and Xiu Qiguang collude to do?"

"Zhao Junhai has legitimate business to run, and he also does illegal business of collecting stolen goods and selling them.

Xiu Qi Guang owned several gambling houses. The silks, gold, silver, jewelry, and other illegal gains pledged by gamblers were all given to Zhao Junhai, who asked his business partners to transport them to the south of the Yangtze River or the northwest for resale.

It would not leave any traces behind, and it would also earn more money. Sometimes Zhao Junhai would also help Xiu Qiguang to buy some poor women from the northwest and south of the Yangtze River, and then he would sell them to the brothels in the capital.

"You just said you were taking risks to get a vendor license for the fun fair. Why would you take risks?"

"Alas, Xiu Qiguang took over the amusement park license in order to start gambling. I knew that a long time ago. Zhao Junhai even invested money in it and bought a share.

There are too many people involved in gambling behind the scenes. I didn't want to get involved and didn't dare to get involved. But for me, the amusement club is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After thinking it over, I decided to take a chance and return to my hometown to Bozhou to find my wife and children after making enough money. "

There are too many people involved behind the scenes!
Finally, he said this. Shen Wanxiang was so excited that he almost asked Chen Ronghua directly who was involved.

Yang Guian next to him asked, "Are you Zhao Junhai's confidant?"

“Yes. The merchant I saved in Jingkou was an old friend of Zhao Junhai. We have been doing business together for many years and we trust each other very much.

I worked as a waiter in Chuyuexuan for half a year. One time, when Zhao Junhai was chatting with me, he mentioned my uncle inadvertently. Then I learned that he knew my uncle before and had received favors from my uncle.

Since then, Zhao Junhai trusted me more and asked me to do several things for him, two of which were very troublesome. I was quite alert and managed them all.

So Zhao Junhai looked at the younger one differently.

Zhao Junhai was good in all other aspects except that he was easily influenced by his cousin. Mrs. Zhao was a person who would split a wick into two and was extremely harsh and stingy to her subordinates.

So I have no worries about food and clothing under Zhao Junhai, but I can’t save any money, and I am very distressed. ”

"What did Zhao Junhai ask you to do?"

Chen Ronghua blurted out everything without any hesitation.

Zhao Junhai was only his boss, not his benefactor. The two parties were only in an employment relationship, and there was no betrayal. Besides, Chen Ronghua had done so many things for him and solved so many problems, but he always gave him a little reward casually like a beggar. He had been holding back a ball of anger in his heart for a long time.

However, Chen Ronghua was still a man of integrity and tried every means to help Zhao Junhai conceal the truth at the beginning.

But in front of his wife and children, Chen Ronghua immediately figured it out.

I have already repaid your kindness as my employer. I have no worries about food and clothing, and I have earned it all by my own alertness and ability. There is no such thing as me owing you a favor.

He changed his position without hesitation.

The more Shen Wanxiang listened, the brighter his eyes became. Wow, there’s a big fish.

"How much do you know about Xiu Qiguang's activities?"

"I know a lot."

"Talk about it."

"it is good!"

Chen Ronghua had no psychological burden in explaining Xiu Qi Guang's troubles.

"I have dealt with Xiu Qiguang and his four most trusted confidants. Later, we became quite familiar with each other. When they had some stolen goods in private, I helped them deal with them.

We often visited each other, became quite familiar with each other, drank together frequently, and I also heard them talk about their troubles."

Chen Ronghua talked a lot, and then concluded: "Xiu Qiguang's four confidants are all junior brothers of the same master as him. They also served as guards in the Mercy House together. Many martial arts were taught by him on behalf of the master.

In the first year of Longqing, Xiu Qiguang was released from prison. These four fellow apprentices never left him and followed him to build his kingdom.
To put it simply, if the top beam is not straight, the bottom beam will be crooked. Xiu Qiguang is so bad that he has sores on his head and pus on his feet. His four confidants are not good people either. However, his sixth junior brother, Jia Fugui, the fourth of the four great kings, is known as Jia Laoliu. He is still a conscientious person. He never rushes to do bad things, and sometimes he even lends a hand to others. In the cesspool of Yanzimen, he is considered a strange person. Xiu Qiguang and others don't like him very much, but he is talented and has superb martial arts, even surpassing Xiu Qiguang by a large margin.

It is said that Jia Fugui has saved Xiu Qiguang’s life several times from his enemies. Xiu Qiguang still has to rely on Jia Laoliu to save his life, so he keeps coaxing him.”

Ren Boan and Yang Guian looked at each other and said to the door, "Please invite Jia Zaiyin in."

"Yes!"

After a while, the door opened and a man came in. He was majestic and impressive. When Chen Ronghua saw his appearance, he jumped up suddenly and shouted, "Jia Laoliu!"

The visitor laughed and said, "Brother Chen, my name is Jia Zaiyin, with the courtesy name Juye. I am currently the seventh-rank official of the Special Dispatching Bureau of the Jinyiwei Zhenfu Division."

Not only Chen Ronghua was dumbfounded, but Shen Wanxiang was also dumbfounded.

Ren Boan introduced: "The candidate was a high-ranking official from Baoding Mongolia, and his ancestors followed the Earl of Zhongzhuang Gongshun (Wu Yuncheng) from Shanyin to return to the Ming Dynasty.

Later he was settled in Baoding. When Juye was fifteen, he was ordered to sneak into Cangzhou and take his skills to Xiu Qiguang's master. Do you really think Xiu Qiguang and his master are so good that they can teach a master like Juye?"

He came to the master with skills, no wonder his martial arts are much better than Xiu Qi Guang's.

Jia Zaiyin said politely: "When I was fourteen, I was careless and caused a big disaster, so I was punished and became a secret agent for the Jinyiwei.

I didn’t expect that I would be doing this for twelve years.

I am deeply ashamed. I have been undercover beside Xiu Qi Guang for ten years and have collected a lot of intelligence about the underworld, but I have never been able to find out the mastermind behind the scenes.

Brother Chen, on the other hand, was very good at dealing with people, and it didn’t take long for him to figure out who was behind Xiu Qi Guang’s actions. But you were also very alert, and you gave up as soon as you realized something was wrong, and you covered it up very well, so that Xiu Qi Guang could dispel his doubts.”

Chen Ronghua was shocked: "Has Xiu Qiguang noticed my inquiries?"

"That's right. If you go a little further, I will have to play a tune for you on my Qiang flute."

Chen Ronghua was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat.

Shen Wanxiang couldn't help swallowing.

The Jinyiwei are indeed as terrifying as their reputation says!
"Okay, Chen Ronghua, now tell me about the masters and nobles behind Zhao Junhai and Xiu Qiguang."

Chen Ronghua swallowed his saliva with lingering fear, "Okay, I am sure about the noble person behind Zhao Junhai, but I am just guessing about the noble person behind Xiu Qiguang."

"It's okay to guess, just tell me."

More than three hours later, only Ren Boan, Yang Guian and Shen Wanxiang were left in the room. Chen Ronghua went downstairs to rest, and Jia Zaiyin left for something.

Shen Wanxiang put down a thick stack of documents and said happily: "Brother Ren and Brother Yang are right, Chen Ronghua really has something in his belly!

Now I am confident that I can fulfill my duties as prefect."

Ren Boan and Yang Guian smiled at each other without saying anything.

"But what impressed me tonight was the Jinyiwei's grasp of people's hearts. It was really amazing. If it weren't for the two of you using a series of clever tricks, we really couldn't subdue Chen Ronghua, the fox."

Ren Boan waved his hands repeatedly, "The Jinyiwei has a lot of experience in secret investigations and executions, but they are a makeshift team when it comes to educating people."

It seems to make sense.

The Jinyiwei's notoriety is mostly due to its omnipresence and ruthlessness. I have never heard that it has made any achievements in winning people's hearts.

Shen Wanxiang asked doubtfully, "Could it be that you two learned this skill by yourselves?"

Ren Boan laughed, "This is a skill we learned from the Political Work Department."

"Political Department?"

"Yes, it is the former Military Propaganda Bureau."

Shen Wanxiang asked, "Xuanzan Bureau? I remember Li Ziming went there to observe politics for half a year, but I didn't hear the name anymore."

"The Xuanzan Bureau was established by Mr. Meng Chun (Yang Fengming) during his time as the governor of the South China Sea, and it performed outstanding feats in the recovery of Annan.

Later, the whole army was promoted to set up political work departments at the regimental level and above, and political work instructors and counselors were set up in battalions and companies. They were affiliated with the Political Work Bureau of the Central Military Governor's Office, and the chief officer was Mr. Meng Chun. "

Yang Guian corrected him, "Brother Ren, the Political Work Bureau is now under the jurisdiction of the former Military Governor's Office."

Ren Boan was stunned, "Changed?"

"Yes, it was published in the Imperial Ming Dynasty Newspaper a few days ago. I heard from a friend that the Central Military Governor's Office had a General Staff Bureau, which had too much power, so the Political Work Bureau was moved to the Front Military Governor's Office."

"I see. Shen Lingshi, the Political Work Department is responsible for propaganda and education, rectifying military discipline in peacetime, and boosting morale and inspiring the army in wartime. It is also responsible for educating prisoners and pacifying the local area.

They are very good at educating people.”

Yang Guian added: "For example, in the ambush at Xiangshui Dam in Meitan, which I participated in, more than 6,000 soldiers under Yang Zhaolong were captured. The Political Work Department divided and disintegrated them.

First, they exposed and reported the officers who committed many evil deeds and bullied others. Then they held a grievance meeting to denounce the evil deeds of these evil officers and severely punished them in public.
Then we taught them to read and sing, organized class meetings and group meetings, told stories to each other, talked about the past, criticized and self-criticized, looked forward to the future, and imagined happiness. After only five days, more than half of the six thousand captives returned to their homeland.

Ren Boan added: "We have only learned a little bit from the Political Work Department. They are really powerful. They don't use torture, but just talk to you. They don't need to say a few words to make you cry and regret.

By the way, your classmate Li Ziming, Li Lingshi, is also a master. I heard that he followed the First Division in Shizhouwei and Shizhu to reform the natives, led the Political Work Department, and made six or seven chieftains deserted by their relatives and friends."

Shen Wanxiang was surprised and delighted. "Ziming has made such great progress and made such great contributions. I am really happy for him."

I was secretly anxious.

Brother Ziming, you are making great progress. I can hardly keep up.

Oh, the anxiety.

I am happy that my brother has made progress, but I am also worried that he is progressing too fast!

After sorting out the documents, Ren Boan said to Shen Wanxiang, "Shen Lingshi, we will go into the city at dawn to report to Pan Fuyin and Su Zhenshi, and then ask for instructions on the next step."

"Great! We have made a significant achievement, we must strike while the iron is hot!"

The three of them walked out of the room and were surprised to see the sky in the east change from dark blue to grayish white, with a hint of orange gathering on the distant horizon. Then they suddenly opened their eyes and saw a red sun bursting out, illuminating the entire world.

"Its daybreak!"

(End of this chapter)