The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 433 Under Tyranny
Similar to Qiao Yiqi, Ma Shiying also traveled around the mountains and rivers in a bohemian manner and returned as a young man.

During the Ming Dynasty, it was not uncommon for scholars to travel around the world. In the late Ming Dynasty (Note 1), with a developed commodity economy, the gentry generally enjoyed traveling, not for official business, but for personal enjoyment.

In short, it's not just seasoned hikers like Xu Xiake who enjoy traveling. Wang Yangming traveled extensively throughout China and South China in his youth, Qiao Yiqi went to Lingnan at the age of fifteen, and Yuan Chonghuan rode out of the country on his first day of office. Ma Shiying was similar to them.

In his early years, he traveled to Shaanxi and witnessed local natives digging out terracotta warriors from the ground. Those colorful terracotta warriors were lifelike, with thousands of different faces, and no two looked exactly the same.

However, what is certain is that the human figurines mentioned by Emperor Wuding should be different from the Terracotta Warriors.

The process involves wrapping a living person in cloth, sealing it with mud, firing it in a kiln, and finally painting the finished ceramics.

Of course, Emperor Wuding would not let Du Du die so easily.

The emperor would have more cruel methods.

Those who are too harsh on themselves will one day return the harshness and ingratitude to others tenfold.

"Your Majesty, Magistrate Yuan unfortunately died in Japan. The garrisons in the three counties of Handong have been withdrawn."

Ma Shiying added cautiously.

Liu Zhaosun's expression was chilling and frightening. After a long while, he murmured:
"Yuan Qing was a loyal minister. He didn't deserve to die."

The figure of Yuan Chonghuan, who was thin, dark and full of energy, flashed before his eyes. These days, he was reflecting on what he had done in the past eight years.

Looking back on the past, the initial move of landing in Japan was too reckless, overdrawing all of Kaiyuan's strength and laying the groundwork for the tragedy that occurred later.

"Tokugawa should die to pay for Yuan Chonghuan's death."

The emperor's eyes changed, veins bulged on his face, and the teacup on the table swayed gently.

Ma Shiying and Hou Xun looked at each other, hesitating whether to continue talking about Zheng Zhilong's rebellion. They were worried that if the emperor knew about Zheng's rebellion, he would demolish the Chaoguan Yamen.

According to the plan of the Southern Ming court, after Zheng Zhilong dealt with the Guangdong pirate Liu Xiang and eliminated his worries, he led his entire division north to blockade the Liaohai Sea and cooperate with the Ming army to launch an attack on southern Liaoning.

The emperor sitting in front of him, although still handsome, exuded a temperament that was very different from before.

When Ma Shiying was hesitant, he suddenly heard the emperor ask:
"How is the plague in Liaodong? Have any people been infected with the plague?"

Ma Shiying quickly replied, "Your Majesty, no findings have been made yet."

Perhaps because the cold climate inside the Great Wall suppressed the spread of the virus, Emperor Wuding had no experience in preventing the spread of the disease. Wu Youke, who had made great contributions to this, had died in the capital.

Fortunately, the Linqing defenders were not affected by the plague virus. After millions of people died of the disease, the survivors finally achieved the so-called herd immunity.

Emperor Wuding asked Ma Shiying about what he had seen along the way during his trip to Southern Ming. Ma Shiying told him everything he had seen and heard on his way south. He said that the Hongguang court was still obsessed with luxury and factional strife. After this great defeat, Zhu Changling would not send troops north again. Even if some civil officials wanted to march north, the military generals did not have the courage to confront the Qi army again.

The emperor and his ministers chatted for half an hour. Then Lu Xiangsheng's chief clerk came in to report the military situation. Emperor Wuding took a report that had just been sent from Qiu County, unfolded it, frowned, and said to Ma Shiying:
"I'll stop here for today. I still have to put down the rebellion. As for the Liaodong issue, I will help Du Du fulfill his wish to become a guard as soon as possible. We'll discuss the details tomorrow."

Ma Shiying led Hou Xun, Lin Yu and others to pay their respects to the emperor again. After three bows, they slowly withdrew from the gate of Linqing Chaoguan Yamen.

The emperor kept Zhang Dong to discuss military affairs.

Ma Shiying led everyone back to the Liaodong Guild Hall for repairs. They passed by the Guangjimen City Wall and happened to encounter the Qi army going out of the city to fight. This was Ma Shiying's first close contact with the soldiers of the 14th Army. Like him, Lin Yu, Wei Chao and others were also quite interested in the 14th Army.

Hundreds of elite cavalrymen roared out of the corridor, lances and sabers in hand, flintlock pistols slung at their waists, flags fluttering. After leaving the city, the cavalrymen galloped wildly towards Qiu County. Behind the cavalry came the spearmen and musketeers. The musketeers wore black antelope triangular flags on their backs, fluttering in the wind. Daggers and cymbals clashed against each other, making a crisp clanging sound. Thousands of horses and men trampled the city gates, raising dust on the road. The common people stood by the roadside, watching the Qi army retreat, whispering:
"Who are they going to kill today? They've mobilized so many people!"

"Mr. Zheng from Qiu County refused to sell the gold mine to our Great Qi, and even beat to death the yamen runner sent by Magistrate Lu to take over the gold mine."

"How dare you! Private property is now forbidden in Great Qi. Even Eunuch Dongfang's medicine shop has been confiscated. Who the hell is this Zheng Yuanwai? Isn't he afraid that the emperor will kill his entire clan?"

"Who knows? These days, there are many people who value money over life."

"Stop talking, the pacification troops are here."

Two pacification soldiers who were patrolling the street happened to be walking near the city wall. They looked up and saw several people gathered here (the Great Qi strictly prohibited the people from forming associations and gatherings privately). They were holding swords and muskets in their hands and walking towards them with sharp eyes.

The common people who were chatting animatedly just now stopped talking. Seeing the pacification soldiers coming towards them, everyone fled in all directions as if they had seen the plague god. Soon only Ma Shiying, Hou Xun and others were left around. A burly pacification soldier wearing cotton armor took two steps forward, his hand on the scabbard of his sword, and glanced at Lin Yu, who was a head taller than him, from the corner of his eye.

"Who are you guys? Why are you lingering near the city gate?"

Wei Zhao cursed and reached out to pull out the Yanling knife, but Lin Yu did not move. Hou Xun coughed twice, pushed the two of them away and said:
"I am Hou Xun, the Minister of Rites of the Great Qi Dynasty. I was ordered to go on a diplomatic mission to Nanjing and returned today. This is the cabinet minister Ma Shangshu, and this is..."

As Hou Xun spoke, he took out his badge and handed it to the pacification soldier. The soldier took the badge, checked it, and looked at Hou Xun with a clearly different look in his eyes. He and his companions saluted Ma Shiying and the others.

Ma Shiying looked at the two unfamiliar faces in front of him. In the past, he was familiar with the chief officer Yang Tong in Kaiyuan, so he knew many pacification soldiers and was familiar with their faces. However, he had never seen these two pacification soldiers in front of him. They were wearing black and white uniforms and black military boots. The collars of the uniforms were turned up high and the shoulders were wide, giving people a strong sense of oppression. It felt a bit like the Jinyiwei Tiqi, but obviously more powerful than the Jinyiwei.

When they entered the city before, it was Zhang Dong who led them all the way without any obstacles. Now that Zhang Dong is gone, Ma Shiying can finally see the true face of Linqing City.

Two fully armed pacification soldiers escorted Ma Shiying and his group for a distance, crossing a street still ablaze with smoke. Occasionally, a shop door would open a crack, revealing pairs of eyes filled with resentment, staring intently at Ma Shiying and his group. When the pacification soldiers turned around to look, the door had been slammed shut again.

After doing this several times, Lin Yu noticed the smile, and he gripped the scabbard tightly with his big hands, protecting Ma Shiying and Hou Xun. He looked around vigilantly, as if he was back on the battlefield.

Fortunately, they had a safe journey and were escorted all the way to the door of the guild hall. The two dedicated pacification soldiers stopped and returned to patrol the streets. Before leaving, they did not forget to remind their superiors to take good care of themselves.

"The streets have been quite turbulent lately. As I just saw, there are arson attacks in the city, people are killing people every day, and the local tyrants in Qiu County are rebelling again. So, unless there is an urgent matter, please do not go out for the time being."

Hou Xun nodded in agreement. Ma Shiying remained silent for a long time. When the pacification soldiers disappeared around the corner, he muttered to himself:
"It's changed, it's changed, everything has changed."

As he walked along, what he saw and heard made him wonder how Linqing City under the emperor's rule was completely different from the former Kaiyuan City.

In Linqing, all Ma Shiying saw was killing and resistance. The soldiers of the 14th Army of the Imperial Guard were more like killing machines under the emperor. They obeyed the emperor's orders and slaughtered the people wantonly (according to Liu Zhaosun's previous standards, the powerful and evil gentry were also considered the people).

These things were unimaginable in the former Kaiyuan and the former Da Qi.

"The emperor has really changed."

Ma Shiying shook his head helplessly.

Everyone was repairing the guild hall until the emperor summoned them again. Hou Xun saw Ma Shiying sighing all the way and comforted him:

"The world is in turmoil, as we've all witnessed along the way. Severe punishments are called for in times of trouble. Let's quickly persuade the Emperor to send troops to reinforce Liaodong."

Ma Shiying seemed not to hear Hou Xun's words. After a long while, he looked up at everyone and said worriedly:
"A new emperor appoints new ministers. From now on, Liaodong and Shandong will be two different situations, two different worlds. Even a ruthless Prime Minister Kang would find it difficult to accept the Great Qi of Shandong."

Note:
1. Gu Yanwu: Collection and Commentary on Rizhilu, Volume 12
(End of this chapter)