The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 624: Arresting People at Nanchang
"Inspector Kang, don't worry. Your father and I have a life-long friendship. I will definitely assist you with the matter of clearing the land."

"Uncle, you are wise and supportive of the emperor's new laws. This is truly a blessing for the Great Qi and the country. When my father was alive, he often mentioned you, saying that you have the demeanor of an ancient gentleman... I, your nephew, will never let you suffer any consequences."

"I've heard that the bandits in Wu, like the bandits in Qi and Yan, are not good people. Jiangnan has just been annexed, so we must be on guard. My nephew has informed the camp commander, Dong Fusheng, that he has a thousand soldiers under his command and will allocate fifty to guard your uncle's residence. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

At dusk on February 11, the second year of Guangde, in the study of the Huang Mansion in Taicang Prefecture, Huang Wenye, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood up to see off Inspector Kang Guangxu.

Kang Guangxu's father, Kang Yingqian, and Huang Wenye were born in the same year. They both passed the imperial examination and were ranked only one place apart. Kang chose to forge ahead and later became the prime minister of the Qi Dynasty, while Huang Wenye resigned early and returned to his hometown to live a pastoral life like Tao Yuanming.

"Don't worry, nephew. Your soldiers will be used elsewhere. Although the Huang family is not a wealthy family, we can still afford to support more than a dozen servants. We will not easily provoke them for ordinary tricks. Besides, I am usually kind to others and don't have any enemies..."

Huang Wenye personally escorted his friend's son out of the Huang Mansion. Kang Guangxu asked to stop, but Huang Wenye insisted on escorting him to the main street intersection.

"Uncle, let's stop here. I will personally bring people to measure the land of the Huang Mansion tomorrow. I will never let you suffer any loss..."

Huang Wenye said, "How can you say that? The Huang family is the first to measure, and there are so many eyes watching, we can't be careless."

Kang Guangxu nodded and said nothing more. Under the escort of the guards, he boarded a carriage with slightly damaged armor. The wheels squeaked as they rolled over the road. Kang Guangxu stuck his head out of the window and said to his uncle:

"Uncle, take care. I will bring soldiers to protect you tomorrow."

Kang Guangxu retracted his head into the carriage. The carriage equipped with shock absorbers ran quite comfortably, but he was not happy at all.

"Dad, even someone as cunning as you is able to have such a close friend..."

Huang Wenye bowed and watched the slightly bumpy carriage go farther and farther away, finally disappearing in the bustling crowd at the crossroads of the state capital. He then sighed and walked back with his servant Lao Zheng, sighing as he walked:
"When I saw him in Yingtian Prefecture, he was only half a man's height. Now he's taller than his father."

The setting sun sank into the city wall, and the 27-foot-high Ying'en Gate wall cast a deep shadow. Huang Wenye walked in the afterglow, leaving Lao Zheng far behind in the shadow.

~~~~
In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang established Taicang Guard, and in the twelfth year, Zhenhai Guard was established.

In the tenth year of Hongzhi, the lands of Kunshan, Changshu and Jiading were ceded to establish Taicang Prefecture.

Taihu Lake has three flood discharge channels: Dongjiang River, Wusong River and Loujiang River. Loujiang River flows through Kunshan, reaches Taicang, and merges into the Yangtze River.

Taicang is located on the bank of Loujiang River, so it is also called Loucheng.

During the Cheng and Xuan periods, Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Ocean, setting sail and re-mooring at Liujia Port in Loucheng. Loucheng served as a warehouse for Zheng He's fleet, providing shipbuilding and repair services, welcoming officials, and hosting tribute envoys, and it developed rapidly.

According to historical records, "Nine barbarians and hundreds of tribes came to pay tribute with local products, and the roads were connected. Large ships and boats came to dock one after another." It was at its peak.

By the first year of the Wanli reign, Loucheng had become a major city in the southeast, surpassing Nanjing at one point and second only to Suzhou.

The city wall is more than 14 miles long and more than 15 miles in circumference. The wall is made of bricks.

There are 7 land city gates in total: Dadongmen, Chaoyangmen, Dananmen, Daximen, Xiaoximen, Dabeimen and Xiaobeimen; among them, the most important are Dadongmen Binximen, Dananmen Qingyuanmen, Daximen Yingenmen and Dabeimen Gongchenmen.

Since the east-west Zhihetang and the north-south Yantietang run through the city and intersect each other, Taicang has three water gates to connect with the river outside the city: Dadong Water Gate, Daxi Water Gate, and Xiaoxi Water Gate.

After Taicang was incorporated into Da Qi in the first year of Guangde, the city's regulations basically followed those of the Ming Dynasty, and even the place names remained unchanged.

According to the curfew system of the Great Qi Dynasty, the city gates of prefectures and counties must be closed at 5:55 pm (approximately 8:00 am). In border fortress areas, the gates will be closed earlier.

However, in large cities like Taicang and Suzhou, the curfew is basically just a formality. The prosperity of Taicang city after dark is no less than that during the day.

The number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreased, and the hawkers' cries also decreased significantly. The master and servant walked back along the main street facing the afterglow of Xie Yang.

From time to time along the way, people bowed to Huang Wenye and exchanged greetings with Mr. Huang. They walked and stopped like this, and when they reached the edge of Fengqiao, it was already dark. Old Zheng picked up a whale oil lamp and led the way in front.

Old Zheng was panting in front:

"Master, do you really want the government to come and measure our land tomorrow?"

Huang Wenye looked at the lights of the countless homes in the state capital, and his desire to return home faded: "Of course, if I don't help them, who will?"

With a click, he took out a cigarette from his pocket. It had been a long time since Lao Zheng brought the lighter.

"Old Zheng."

"Ah, sir, I was distracted just now."

Old Zheng hurried back, raised the lighter, and tremblingly lit a cigarette for the master. Master Huang handed him a cigarette and motioned for Old Zheng to take a puff.

"My nephew just gave me this. It's from the Jinzhou Cigarette Factory. It's more authentic than the imitations from Nanjing."

Old Zheng made an "oh" sound, as if he wanted to say something. He sipped his lips carefully for a while, then swallowed the words back into his stomach.

The two men were smoking, one in front and one behind. The white smoke quickly covered Lao Zheng's face, reflecting the red light of the whale oil lamp, making him look like a devil from hell.

"Master, there's something I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it or not."

Huang Wenye crushed his cigarette butt and squinted his eyes. "What are you talking about? Is your son's typhoid fever healed?"

"I'm not borrowing money. He recovered from typhoid fever a long time ago..." Old Zheng waved his hand, pinched the cigarette butt between his fingers, and threw it to the ground as if he had used all his strength.

"In the entire Taicang Prefecture, we are the only ones who are on the same side with the government and the government in the north. What if, I mean what if, what if the Emperor and the State of Qi are defeated, how will we survive in Taicang Prefecture in the future?"

Huang Wenye grinned and said, "What did I think you were going to say? Turns out it's this."

"Lord Kang told me that following the Emperor, Liu Zhaosun, is the right path... He has done the Huang family a favor. Now that Da Qi is pushing a new policy in Taicang, regardless of success or failure, my Huang family will certainly help."

"Master, you don't really want to make enemies with all the wealthy families in Taicang? Go and help the Emperor of Qi? Have you thought it through?"

Just yesterday, the third invitation sent by the Wang family was returned by Huang Wenye. Not only that, Mr. Huang also collected all the evidence of the crimes of local tyrants and evil gentry who had exploited the people in recent years and was preparing to launch a big one in Taicang.

The whale oil lamp illuminated the servant's eyes, which were slightly blue, like a wolf lurking in the jungle.

Huang Wenye said coldly: "It's not that I want to be an enemy of anyone, it's them who want to be the enemy of Da Qi."

Old Zheng felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, and said quickly: "The people in the capital city are all their people. Master, you are so unconventional. I am worried about you..."

Huang Wenye narrowed his eyes and said with disdain:

"I know their methods, but this is the Great Qi, not the former Ming. After all, I am a guest of Zhang Jinglie and Kang Xun'an, and I am still a big shot in Taicang Prefecture. If you want to touch me, you have to think twice!"

The servants were carrying lanterns in front, Mr. Huang was walking in the middle, and Old Zheng, who had just accompanied him to see off the guests, was walking at the end. The aisle was shaded by bamboo forests on both sides, and the lamps on the stone pillars and shrines were dim, casting dim light and shadows in the bamboo forest.

Mr. Huang walked along the dim bluestone road and muttered softly:

"How strange! How come the whale oil that we just replaced yesterday is burned out again? Old Zheng, which servant stole the oil again, Old Zheng..." Phew!

The sound of a knife entering flesh.

"ah·····"

Huang Wenye held onto the shrine and stood up with difficulty, and was attacked from behind again.

He struggled and opened his mouth to shout, but a piece of rag was quickly stuffed into his mouth, making it difficult for him to breathe. Mr. Huang struggled for a few times and finally fell to the ground.

Several masked men in black skillfully put Huang Wenye in a sack, carried him away.

A fierce voice whispered in my ear, "I told you not to use the knife, why didn't you listen? There's so much blood on the ground, and we have to clean it up carefully!"

"What are you, Cao Gonggong's death warriors? Do you know how to kill people? If I were to wait for you, I would just make it look like you were tortured to death, and even the scars on your body would be realistic. You only have a broken embroidered spring knife..."

The sound of weapons being drawn could be heard faintly in his ears. Huang Wenye felt that his breathing was gradually getting weaker and he could no longer hear clearly.

At this moment, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in my ears.

"I have brought the man to you. How you kill him is your business. It has nothing to do with me. First, give me the silver you promised me."

~~~~
In the living room of the Taicang Prefecture government office, Zhang Jinglie and four inspectors were sitting at the table. Also arriving was Dong Fusheng, an officer of the combat battalion and the first battalion of the Imperial Guards.

"Captain Dong, how many soldiers are available for deployment?"

"Zhang Jinglie is asking if we can withdraw troops for combat?"

"Exactly."

"There are still eighty-one people, including the two guards behind me. The rest have been sent down."

Zhang Yunxiu was shocked. He knew little about fighting and garrisoning troops, and he had the common defect of scholars in talking about war on paper.

"When you set out from Nanjing, didn't the court give you a thousand soldiers? Several prefectures and counties also surrendered to the Ming army and were under your command. How come there are only so few left?"

Dong Fusheng quickly explained, "Reporting to the governor, we need to send people to supervise the dozen or so prefectures and counties surrounding Taicang. It's already very difficult to have 80 people left."

Zhang Yunxiu shuddered. Only then did he realize that Da Qi had been in turmoil for a long time, and it was not easy to maintain it until now.

It is almost impossible to rely on eighty soldiers to control Taicang City and fight against an enemy that is a hundred times larger than your own.

Fortunately, Zhang Yunxiu took on such an important task, and when he left Nanjing, he was determined to die.

Kang Guangxu changed his usual leisurely and decadent demeanor and shouted, "It is not advisable to divide our forces. It is not advisable to divide our forces. For now, not only must we not divide our forces, but we must also gather all our strength, clench it into an iron fist, and hammer these ungrateful beasts to death."

Zhang Yunxiu was obviously not interested in such an iron fist theory.

"Your Majesty has entrusted us with the important task of reform. How can we be so careless? The imperial court has already expanded the pilot reform program from Zhejiang and Jiangsu to Jiangsu alone. Suzhou, Taicang, Jiading, Wuxian, Kunshan, all of these places must also implement reforms. How can we show weakness to them?"

Kang Guangxu is the only son of Kang Yingqian. He is not only the 18th generation inheritor of Vajra Powder, but also, like his father, has his own views on power struggles.

"Zhang Jinglue, do you know why the Emperor has repeatedly reduced the scope of the land survey?"

Zhang Yunxiu said without hesitation, "How dare I speculate on the emperor's intentions? I am only acting in accordance with the emperor's orders."

Kang Guangxu laughed and said, "Is Zhang Jinglie really the descendant of Zhang Taiyue? He is so pedantic. If you had even a fraction of Zhang Jiangling's political skills..."

Zhang Bao coughed lightly and quickly came out to smooth things over. He first glared at Kang Guangxu fiercely and said angrily: "Kang Xunan..."

Finally, a vote is taken.

Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Bao advocated sending troops to the counties and prefectures around Taicang to launch a comprehensive attack, while promoting the land survey task. Kang Guangxu and Dai Li advocated defending Taicang, taking every step carefully, and first dealing with the Wang family.

Two to two, and finally everyone's eyes fell on Li Zicheng, the general of the Suoyi Guard.

"General Li, do you think we should divide our troops?" Zhang Yunxiu looked at Li Zicheng expectantly.

Li Zicheng slowly raised his head, and after a long pause he spoke, "Back then, when there was a drought in northern Shaanxi, the former Ming court allocated 300,000 taels of silver for disaster relief. The Mizhi County Magistrate withheld 50,000 taels and colluded with the scholar Ai Zhao to lend money to the poor. Li Xianzhong couldn't pay back the money, so Ai Zhao reported him to the Mizhi County Court. The county magistrate shackled Li Xianzhong and paraded him through the streets for three days, nearly starving him to death. Luckily, he survived and killed his creditor, Ai Zhao, which led to his rebellion. All crows are evil, and this applies to the Mizhi officials as well as the Taicang officials. The retired emperor was too kind to these former Ming officials, but we can't underestimate them. These beasts are capable of anything."

While everyone was still discussing, a guard suddenly came in and whispered something to Zhang Yunxiu.

"What? Huang Wenye is dead?"

All arguments ceased.

The last wave of eighty soldiers sent to Wu County stopped where they were.

"Everyone knows Huang Wenye is a kind man. Now they have killed him and said he was tortured to death by the Suoyi Guards. What is their intention in putting the blame on the court?"

Kang Guangxu advised: "Zhang Jinglue, ignore the culprit for now, recall the soldiers from all counties as soon as possible and defend Taicang first."

Zhang Yunxiu said passionately: "If you want to defend it, go and defend it!" He slammed the table and stood up.

"I will lead my troops to apprehend the murderer right now! I am the Governor of the Seven Provinces of Jiangnan. As the saying goes, good prevails over evil! Who dares to touch me?"

After Zhang Yunxiu finished speaking, he called two guards and rushed out of the governor's residence without saying anything.

Kang Guangxu hurriedly said: "Zhang Jinglie, there are already thousands of people gathered outside, all of them wanting revenge. If you go out, you will probably be beaten to death..."

Kang Guangxu and Dai Li looked at each other, and both shrugged and smiled.

No one knew why the retired emperor assigned this young man to the land survey inspection team and gave him the power of life and death.

Could it be because this person is loyal?

Of course, now is not the time to think about this. Kang Guangxu quickly called on the remaining people to follow.

"Captain Dong, take your troops and go to the streets to protect Zhang Jinglue."

~~~~~
At the gate of the Wang family in Taicang.

Zhang Yunxiu, dressed in a black official robe and full of righteousness, led the straw raincoat guards forward. They were surrounded by a surging crowd of citizens, estimated to be thousands of people.

Zhang Yunxiu rode on horseback and roared loudly:
"Wang Heng is plotting to murder the gentry and exploiting the people. The evidence is irrefutable. The Nanchang (the abbreviation for the Suoyi Guard) is here to arrest him. Who dares to step forward?! Even if you kill me today, our army will soon annihilate Taicang, and Wang Heng will not be able to escape!"

(End of this chapter)