Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 329 The Day of Suffering
Early in the morning, a sedan chair covered with oilcloth appeared at the entrance of the alley of the Northern Pacification Office. The captain on duty saw the bright red color on the sedan chair from afar and immediately turned around and ran into the office.

At this time, Jinyiwei Commander Tongzhi Tian Ergeng was enjoying the first cup of hot tea in the morning in the lobby.

"Master Tongzhi!" the captain ran into the main hall and shouted, startling Tian Ergeng so much that his hand holding the teacup trembled violently. The teacup swayed, and the warm, slightly hot tea splashed onto Tian Ergeng's face.

"What the hell are you yelling about!" Tian Ergeng put down his teacup, wiped the tea off his face, and looked at the reckless captain with displeasure. "Is the sky falling?"

The lieutenant was startled and said quickly, "Sir, I saw the Third Ancestor's sedan chair coming towards the yamen."

The eunuchs in charge of the Imperial Household Department followed a strict hierarchy. Wei Zhongxian was the third in line, and was therefore often referred to as the Third Ancestor.

"Godfather is here!" Upon hearing that it was Wei Zhongxian, Tian Ergeng's reaction was even greater than the captain's. He quickly stood up and rushed out of the yamen without notifying the other military officers in the office.

As Tian Ergeng stepped onto the street, Wei Zhongxian's sedan chair also landed.

Tian Ergeng arrived before the sedan chair, plopped down on his knees, and then kowtowed resoundingly. "Your son, Tian Ergeng, greets his godfather." He called out "father" affectionately, as if the man on the sedan chair was closer than his own father. Their "father-son relationship" had been officially reported to the emperor; there was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Get up." Wei Zhongxian got off the sedan chair, and Fu Yingxing, who was accompanying him, immediately came over to take off his cloak.

"Thank you, godfather." Tian Ergeng got up from the ground, wiped the dust off his palms on his official robe, and then went to take Wei Zhongxian's arm. "Godfather, you didn't even send anyone to inform me, so your son couldn't even come to greet me."

"Come in and talk." Wei Zhongxian didn't respond to the flattery. But Tian Ergeng, observing his subtle expressions and tone, could tell that Wei Zhongxian was pleased. So, Tian Ergeng became even more attentive. "Godfather, please come in. Junior brother, please come in too." Judging by his appearance, Tian Ergeng could be Fu Yingxing's father, but Fu Yingxing was Wei Zhongxian's nephew, so naturally he was Tian Ergeng's peer.

Tian Ergeng's fawning attitude made Fu Yingxing feel a little disgusted. But he couldn't give someone a cold shoulder when they were so kind to him. So Fu Yingxing pretended to be very pleased, put on a friendly smile, and responded, "You're welcome, Senior Brother."

Tian Ergeng took Wei Zhongxian by the arm and led him to the main seat in the main hall. At this time, other officers also got the news and came over to greet Wei Zhongxian and salute him.

"Greetings, Governor Wei!" The officers knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in a bow. Since they had no godfather, they naturally did not need to kneel, and Wei Zhongxian did not dare to force them to do so.

"Everyone, get up." Wei Zhongxian's face was already filled with a solemn expression.

"Thank you, Director." The officers stood up and lined up on both sides in order.

Wei Zhongxian spoke slowly, maintaining his composure, "Yesterday, a case was uncovered in Liaodong. A serious one."

Hearing the word "major case," the eyes of the military officers present lit up. They concentrated their attention, fearing that missing a single word would hinder their mission.

"Last year, Grand Master of the Imperial Household Xu Guangqi led a group of white monkeys from overseas into the capital." As soon as Wei Zhongxian came up, he carried Xu Guangqi out.

"...and recommended them for lucrative positions in Liaodong. The court offered them salaries higher than those of the governors. Yet, one of these white-skinned monkeys, far from being grateful for the emperor's grace and striving to serve, has instead spread rebellious and outrageous rhetoric in Shenyang, a crucial frontier city facing the old thief, slandering the emperor and his father, intending to incite a mutiny and cause our Celestial Empire to lose Shenyang and Liaodong!"

"Now, that arrogant white monkey has been executed by the Liaodong authorities. The memorial has been delivered to the palace, and the emperor is furious!" Wei Zhongxian paused here, took a quick look around, and then gave the order:
"I now order you to surround the White Monkeys' residence and imprison all of them. No one is allowed to leave the capital until all the rebels are found."

"Surround?" Tian Ergeng asked, "Aren't you going to capture anyone?"

"Let's surround them first. Whether to arrest anyone or not depends on what the Censorate says," Wei Zhongxian replied.

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North of the south city wall of the capital, south of the Imperial Medical Bureau, in the middle of Dongjiangmi Lane, is the Liu family courtyard.

Normally, by this time, the court official Liu Heqing would have arrived at the yamen, but today he was still at home, not even changing into his official uniform.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the gate of the courtyard.

Liu Heqing was already in the courtyard, and when he heard the noise he went over. When he reached the door, the gatekeeper had already opened it.

The man who came was the coachman sent by the carriage and horse company.

The Liu family's residence was very close to the Imperial Hospital, just across an alley, a short walk away. Liu Heqing didn't need to maintain a prominent presence. Therefore, to save money, the Liu family didn't employ sedan chair bearers or horsemen, and only kept a family of servants to do laundry and cooking. Whenever he needed a carriage, Liu Heqing would go to the carriage and horse shop to hire one, as he did today.

"My humble servant greets Envoy Liu." The driver bowed and said, "The carriage is waiting at the street corner."

Dongjiangmi Lane is a narrow lane that is not very wide. When a horse-drawn carriage comes in, it will block most of the road, so the coachmen who come here will park their carriages at the intersection of the main street.

"Please wait a little longer. Come in and have some tea." Liu Heqing invited with a smile.

"I have to look after the carriage, so I won't come in." The driver declined. "Please take your time, there's no rush." ​​In the capital, fares are calculated by time, half a day, and Liu Heqing has already paid. So the driver has to obey his orders for half a day.
"Okay. Thank you." Liu Heqing said no more. He bowed and turned to leave.

The Liu Family Courtyard is a typical "口"-shaped courtyard. When they first moved to Beijing with Emperor Chengzu, other hereditary medical officers also lived in this courtyard, but over the past few decades, these medical officers gradually moved out and established their own homes.

During the reign of Emperor Yingzong, the last hereditary medical officer who had shared the same courtyard with the Liu family went on a campaign with the emperor. As a result, none of the male members of the family returned, effectively wiping out the family. This courtyard house became the property of the Liu family.

Liu Heqing and his wife, Mrs. Zhong, lived in the main house, which faced south. The second son, Liu Guowei, his wife, Mrs. Xiao, their son, and their eldest grandson, Liu Guangji, lived in the east wing. Liu Heqing, the posthumous daughter of the eldest son, Liu Guoyong, lived in the west wing with her mother, Mrs. Zhao.

Liu Heqing walked quickly to the door of the west wing and stopped. Without knocking, he urged, "Hang'er, hurry up and pack. The carriage has arrived."

"That's good!" Liu Yun responded crisply.

At this moment, Zhao opened the door, her eyes reddening. "Father, are you really going to let my daughter enter the palace to serve as an official?"

"It's not me who wants to let Yan'er enter the palace to be an official, it's the emperor who wants to let Yan'er enter the palace to be an official. Can I disobey the order?" Liu Heqing took a step back. Since the death of his eldest son Liu Guoyong, he has never set foot in the west wing again.

"But this is the case. I, I only have this one child." Zhao said aggrievedly.

"Even if Ying'er doesn't enter the palace, she will have to get married sooner or later. Can you keep her by your side forever?" Hearing the noise, Zhong came out of the main room.

Indeed, Liu Heqing had reached marriageable age. But because Liu Heqing couldn't bear to part with the granddaughter he'd raised, he'd intentionally or unintentionally avoided mentioning the matter. Zhong even blamed him, accusing him of not caring about their granddaughter's future. "It would be nice to enter the palace and become an official. With official status and savings, you can leave the palace and marry, and you'll be able to hold your head high." It wasn't clear whether Liu Heqing was trying to comfort Zhao or himself.

"Then I don't know when I can leave the palace. I heard that young girls have to wait until they are old maids before they can leave." Zhao sniffed. "By then, will I still be able to get married?"

Liu Heqing was a little annoyed. He didn't respond to Zhao's words, but shouted into the wing room. "Are you done?"

"Okay, okay." Liu Ying slung a small package over her shoulder, walked to the door, put her arm around her mother's arm, and blinked.

"Now that you've packed up, let's go." Liu Heqing turned around.

Liu Yi bowed to her mother. "I'll come back to see you."

"Go ahead." The moment Liu Yun turned around, Zhao stretched out her hand, but she didn't hold Liu Yun in the end.

"Sister." Liu Guangji pushed the door and walked out of the east wing, and the young Xiao followed closely.

"Oh." Liu Ying ran up, squatted down and pinched Liu Guangji's little face.

"Can you bring me some candied haws when you come back?" Liu Guangji asked.

"of course."

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Liu Heqing led Liu Ying out of the alley and to the carriage. The driver had already thoughtfully placed a wooden pad beside the carriage. Liu Ying stepped onto the pad and climbed into the carriage, reaching out to his grandfather. But Liu Heqing simply waved his hand away, saying, "I'll sit outside."

"Envoy Liu, where are we going?" The driver asked after Liu Heqing sat down.

"Go to Bei'anmen." Liu Heqing said.

"Okay." The driver grabbed the reins, leaned forward slightly, and gently patted the horse's butt. The horse understood, took a step forward, and slowly pulled the three people and the carriage along the straight road heading north.

The carriage reached the intersection near Taijichang and was about to turn when Liu Heqing suddenly heard a loud, rapid, and gradually distinct sound of footsteps. As the carriage turned the corner, it was confronted by a large group of soldiers surging towards it.

Leading this group of soldiers was the mounted Li Judicial Officer Yang Huan. In front of him were several cavalrymen clearing the way. As they rode forward, they shouted, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! The Northern Pacification Office is here!"

The Northern Pacification Division was notorious for its brutality. Seeing this group of devils, pedestrians on the road gave way. The drivers quickly pulled on the reins, steering their horses toward the curb. Soon, the entire road was dominated by this single group of soldiers.

"Oh, it's been so uneasy every day." After the Jinyiwei left, the coachman turned his head to look at Liu Heqing and asked, "Liu Yuanshi, which official is going to be in trouble now?"

"You're asking the wrong person." Liu Heqing shook his head. "I'm a medical officer, not a health officer. How would I know about this?"

Liu Heqing felt the majesty of the emperor was unfathomable. He had only met the emperor yesterday. He had only seen a benevolent ruler concerned for the health of his aging ministers. Now that he thought about it, he probably thought that while the emperor cared about his aging ministers, he was also thinking about severely punishing an official who had angered him.

"Let's keep going, we still have a long way to go." Liu Heqing said.

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The route taken by the Northern Pacification Division southwards and Liu Heqing's route northwards almost overlapped. The only difference was that after crossing the entire Dongjiang Rice Lane, the soldiers had to go south to Zhengyang Gate to reach the Outer City.

There were sixteen gates inside and outside the capital, and each gate had officers from the Western Office guarding the city gate. When they saw this group of people rushing in, they did not ask too many questions and just let them go.

Yang Huan led his men forward and soon arrived at the residence of the Jesuits and Western merchants in Zhengxifang.

When the Royal Guards arrived, Charles Craner, the commander of the musketeers and head of the household servants, was standing at the doorway, dazed as usual. He had spent a fortune on women's bellies the previous night, and had also drunk a lot of wine, which was considered a good fight. His head was groggy and his legs were a little weak. He sat on the doorstep, like an old dog that had just been bred.

Extreme fatigue and sleepiness continued to attack his nerves, so much so that even though the other mercenaries in the house had noticed the noise outside the wall, he had not noticed it yet.

"Charlie." Deputy Salcedo Vázquez shook the commander who was in a semi-faint state.

"What's wrong?" Charlie Craner forced open his bloodshot eyes. "Is it time for the shift change?"

"Why change shifts?" Salcedo continued to shake the car harder, almost slapping him twice.

"What do you want me to do if I'm not changing shifts?" Charlie Kleiner impatiently slapped Salcedo's hand away. In his current state, it didn't really matter whether he changed shifts or not.

"Oh!" Salcedo decided to go out and take a look. But before he reached the door, he heard a loud knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Salcedo came to the door and felt that the sound was like someone banging on the door.

"Open the door! Northern Pacification Office." Yang Huan ordered.

Even though Salcedo had learned quite a few Chinese words, he still didn't quite understand the meaning of the term "Northern Pacification Division." "What are you doing? You're welcome, okay?" Salcedo shouted back, removing the bolt.

The moment the bolt was removed, the door was kicked open with a tremendous force. Salcedo was unable to dodge and was knocked to the ground by the door.

"What are you doing?" Salcedo fell in pain. In shock and rage, a surge of strength shot up from his head. He rolled over, raised his hand, and was about to strike. But before Salcedo's fist could reach Yang Huan, Yang Huan delivered a flying kick, knocking him to the ground.

"Put away your weapons! If you encounter resistance, arrest them on the spot!" As soon as Yang Huan finished speaking, two strong men like tigers pounced on him and locked Salcedo's arm joints.

"Hmph." Yang Huan looked down at Salcedo, snorted coldly, and said, "Polite? The Northern Pacification Division is never polite."

(End of this chapter)