Huangming

Chapter 447 Investigating Adultery and Gathering Evidence: A Power Struggle

Wangbianlou, located in the south of Datong, is the most famous restaurant in the city.

The building is three stories high, and you can see the outline of the Great Wall in the distance by looking north from the railing. Border generals, merchants and soldiers who come and go all like to come here for a drink.

Firstly, it's for the sake of a wider view.

Secondly, the head chef is an excellent cook of mutton, which, when paired with local strong liquor, gives you energy.

At this moment, Lu Jianxing was sitting alone in the innermost private room on the second floor.

He wasn't wearing the flying fish uniform of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but only a plain long robe. He held a white porcelain wine cup in his hand, but his eyes weren't on the food and wine on the table; instead, he was looking out the window.

The stewed mutton on the table was still steaming, sprinkled with bright green scallions, and the wine pot next to it was more than half full of wine, but it hadn't been touched much.

He has been in Datong for half a month. Ostensibly, he is escorting the imperial court's grain supplies, but secretly, he is acting on His Majesty's orders to investigate the collusion between Wang Guoliang's remaining followers and the Datong border army.

However, over the past two weeks, the generals of Datong Town have all greeted them with smiles, but they have not uttered a single crucial word. Even when their identities as members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were revealed, few people were wary of them.

Clearly, the people here already have their own powerful backers.

at this time.

With a creak, the door to the private room was gently pushed open.

Lu Jianxing snapped back to his senses, his hand unconsciously reaching for the embroidered spring knife at his waist.

Although he didn't carry a sword, he couldn't break his long-standing habit.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who had come in.

The first of the two who entered was dressed in the flying fish robe of a deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His dark brocade robe was embroidered with silver flying fish, and he wore a phoenix belt around his waist and a gilded waist tag. This was Shen Lian.

He was much more composed than he was in Liaodong six months ago. His features were sharper, his eyes were brighter, and he walked with a steady gait, exuding the competence of someone who had long held a high position.

The next one was Jin Yichuan, wearing a blue robe of a trial centurion, with a brass waist tag. He still had a youthful liveliness on his face and was carrying an oil paper package in his hand, obviously having just returned from outside.

"Big brother."

The two spoke in unison and bowed to Lu Jianxing.

The three of them were originally minor figures in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but they gradually rose to the upper echelons of the Embroidered Uniform Guard because of their meritorious service in Liaodong.

Shen Lian rose from a junior officer to a deputy commander, a meteoric rise indeed.

Jin Yichuan also rose from a minor officer to a trial centurion. This favor made them always respect Lu Jianxing, their leader.

Lu Jianxing raised his hand, gesturing for them to sit down:
"Have a seat, the stewed mutton is still warm, have a taste."

He poured a glass of wine for each of them, his gaze falling on Shen Lian, and his tone turned serious.

"Is there any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"

As soon as Shen Lian sat down, he took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Lu Jianxing, his voice very low:

"We found out. Wang Guoliang's widow and only son didn't escape far; Wang Wei hid them in the 'Willow Creek Manor' twenty miles outside the city."

The manor was Wang Wei's private property; it was rarely visited, and only a few old servants were hired to look after it.

Lu Jianxing picked up the paper, unfolded it, and saw a simple topographical map of the manor, with the number of guards and shift change times marked. The handwriting was neat, indicating that it had been carefully drawn.

He looked up at Shen Lian, raising an eyebrow slightly:

"Is the information reliable? Wang Wei is the deputy commander-in-chief of Datong. He is always cautious in his actions. How could he be found out so easily?"

Shen Lian picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and a smile appeared on his lips:
"Don't worry, brother. This information cost three thousand taels of silver."

I bribed Wang Wei's personal servant, who had been with Wang Wei for ten years and knew a lot about his private affairs.

A few days ago, Wang Wei secretly went to Liuxi Manor, bringing with him a considerable amount of grain and medicinal herbs. His servant followed him and saw with his own eyes women and children in the manor whose appearance matched that of Wang Guoliang's family.

Three thousand taels of silver is an astronomical sum for ordinary people, but it is nothing to Shen Lian, who has just made a meritorious contribution.

When the rebellion was quelled in Liaodong, he was quite well-off with the silver reward from the imperial court and the confiscated property of the rebels.

not to mention.
The imperial court provides funding for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As long as it's used for the right purposes and can withstand scrutiny from the Eastern Depot and Western Depot, there's no problem spending 3,000 taels, or even 10,000 taels.

Lu Jianxing nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the paper:
"If it is true, this would be a great achievement."

Wang Guoliang's treasonous plot warranted the confiscation of his family's property, let alone the fact that it implicated Wang Wei.

This man has been operating in Datong for many years. If Xiong Jinglue wants to reorganize Datong, the first thing he needs to do is remove this thorn in his side.

Shen Lian's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked:

"Brother, shall we make our move tonight?"
I'll take two hundred Imperial Guards and head to Willow Creek Manor tonight to take control of the people. When Commander Xiong arrives, we can report back!"

He was impatient and wanted to implement his merits as soon as possible, especially since this was an opportunity to bring down the deputy commander of Datong.

Lu Jianxing shook his head, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and spoke with a hint of caution:

"no.

We are guests now; Datong is Wang Wei's territory.

He is the deputy commander-in-chief with 20,000 border troops under his command, while we only have 500 Imperial Guards. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake.

If we act rashly, and he turns hostile, accusing us of 'trespassing and falsely accusing a high-ranking official,' we won't even be able to return to Xuanfu."

He paused, his gaze growing even deeper:
"Xiong Jinglue hasn't arrived yet. Our current task is to 'keep an eye on' him, not 'capture' him."

Have someone keep an eye on Liuxi Manor and prevent Wang Wei from moving the people. We can take action once Xiong Jinglue arrives and we have his order.

At that point, Wang Wei won't be able to stop him even if he wanted to.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian, though somewhat unwilling, understood Lu Jianxing's concerns and nodded.
"Brother is right, I was too hasty."

I'll arrange for people to keep an eye on them, in shifts day and night, there won't be any problems."

Lu Jianxing turned his gaze to Jin Yichuan, who had remained silent to the side, and raised his wine glass to him:
"Third brother, how about your side? What have you found out about the refugees in Youyu County and Zuoyun County?"

Jin Yichuan put down the mutton in his hand, wiped his mouth, and his lively expression became less lively and more serious:
"Brother, those refugees are not simple."

I disguised myself as a merchant and went to Zuoyun County to investigate. Those refugees seemed to be scattered, but in fact, someone was managing them from behind.

Every day, people brought them food, taught them how to rob merchants, and even gave them weapons.

"Oh?"

Lu Jianxing frowned.

"Who is funding this?"

Jin Yichuan lowered his voice and uttered a few words:
"It is Liu Zhenbang, the military commander of Polu Fort."

"Liu Zhenbang?"

Lu Jianxing frowned even more deeply.

"I remember, isn't this Liu Zhenbang Wang Wei's son-in-law?"

Before coming to Datong, he specifically looked through the official roster of Datong Town and still remembered the relationships between several key figures.

"Exactly!"

Jin Yichuan nodded.

"Brother, you know about this too? This Liu Zhenbang married Wang Wei's second daughter, who was just promoted to the position of military commander of Polu Fort last year."

I investigated. Every month, he would secretly deduct a portion of the military rations from Polu Fort and transport it to the refugees. He even sent several trusted confidants to serve as 'leaders' among the refugees, teaching them how to fight.

The private room fell silent instantly, with only the occasional sound of horses' hooves and vendors' cries coming from outside the window.

Lu Jianxing held his wine glass but didn't drink any more; his eyes were full of thought.

The fact that Wang Guoliang's family was hidden by Wang Wei, and that the refugees were sponsored by Wang Wei's son-in-law, is no coincidence.

What exactly was Wang Wei's purpose in doing this?
Is the government trying to use the chaos caused by the displaced people to blackmail the imperial court?
Or do they want to wait for the right time to rebel like Wang Guoliang?
"It seems that the waters of Datong are deeper than we thought."

Lu Jianxing sighed softly.

“Wang Wei, Liu Zhenbang, and those refugees—a single move can have far-reaching consequences.”

We need to be more careful and absolutely avoid alerting them.

"When Commander Xiong arrives, these scores will have to be settled one by one."

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

They originally thought that investigating the remnants of Wang Guoliang's faction was just a simple task, but they did not expect that it would involve the collusion of the Datong border army, and might even hide a larger conspiracy.

"Alright, we don't need to worry about these things too much. Once we've investigated this information, we can hand it over to Eunuch Zhang."

Seeing how nervous his two sworn brothers were, Lu Jianxing's tone became much more relaxed.

"We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, are His Majesty's eyes and ears. Our only responsibility is to investigate the cause and submit a secret report."

As for how to deal with Wang Wei and how to quell the refugees, that was a matter for the garrison eunuch and the military governor's office.

It's not our place to overstep our bounds.

He wasn't making excuses; he was telling the truth.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had the power to arrest, in the border towns, the garrison eunuchs were "military supervisors" appointed by the emperor, who held the position of checking and balancing military power. Before Xiong Tingbi arrived, Eunuch Zhang was the "heaven" of Datong.

If these outsiders, the Imperial Guards, were to rashly intervene, they would only give others ammunition to criticize them.

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan understood this principle and nodded in agreement.

They were indeed powerless to challenge a high-ranking official like Wang Wei in a border town, and investigating the case was already their limit.

Seeing that Shen Lian's expression was still somewhat tense, Lu Jianxing wanted to change the subject, so he reached out and patted his shoulder, his face showing a touch of elder brotherly gentleness:

"Second brother, you are now the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You look much more dashing in this flying fish robe than you did in Liaodong."

"By the way, how about I introduce you to a potential marriage partner?"

Shen Lian was taken aback, his hand holding the wine glass froze in mid-air, and a look of confusion flashed in his eyes.

Jin Yichuan, however, became excited first and leaned over with a smile:
"Is the eldest brother going to arrange a marriage for the second brother? Which family's daughter is she from?"

"She is the niece of Li Ruoxing, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lu Jianxing took a sip of wine, his tone full of solemnity.

“Li Qianshi is our benefactor. If it weren’t for his recommendation to the eunuch, how could the three of us have gone from being soldiers in Liaodong to entering the Jinyiwei?”
I've met his niece before. While she may not be considered a stunning beauty, she has regular features, is hardworking, and is very good at managing a household.

If you marry her, you will not only repay Lord Li's kindness, but you will also have a powerful backer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It's a win-win situation.

Every word he said made sense and was entirely for Shen Lian's future.

But Shen Lian's face slowly darkened, and the smile on his lips became extremely forced. He put down his wine glass, his fingers digging into the cracks of the table, his voice so low it was like a mosquito's hum:
"Big brother... I know that I already have someone I love."

"Do you have a crush on someone?"

Lu Jianxing's face darkened instantly, and he slammed his wine glass heavily on the table.

"Are you talking about that prostitute named Zhou Miaotong?"

He knew about this when he was in the capital, and at the time he thought Shen Lian was just confused for a moment. He never expected that almost a year later, the kid still hadn't given up on the idea.

"I told you long ago that she has that merchant's son from Jiangnan in her heart, and her relationship with you is nothing but pretense. Why are you so stubborn?"

Shen Lian lowered his head even further, his eyes slightly red, and his voice carried a hint of stubbornness:

"Brother, I know she has someone else in her heart, but the first time I saw her, I knew I would never meet another person who could move my heart again in this lifetime..."

Even if she doesn't like me, I'll accept it.

"you!"

Lu Jianxing was so angry that his fingers were trembling. He wanted to say something, but seeing Shen Lian's distraught appearance, he swallowed his words.

Fuck!
Among my brothers, there's actually one who's willing to be a cuckold?
Hey ~
He sighed heavily, leaned back in his chair, and said in a tone full of disappointment and frustration:
"That's all!
You're as stubborn as a donkey!
I will no longer concern myself with your affairs!

Seeing the atmosphere become tense, Jin Yichuan quickly tried to smooth things over, tugging at Shen Lian's arm and whispering, "..."

"Second brother, look at you, you've made eldest brother angry again."

"Your brother is only doing this for your own good. You should apologize to him quickly!"

Shen Lian looked up and saw Lu Jianxing's ashen face, and felt bad too.

He picked up the wine jug, filled three cups for himself, raised the first cup, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lu Jianxing:
"Brother, it's my fault for being ignorant and causing you worry."

I'll drink three cups myself as an apology.

After saying that, he tilted his head back and gulped down the wine. The spicy liquor made him cough twice, but he didn't stop. He drank two more cups in a row, turning the cups upside down before slamming them down on the table.

"Alright, alright, stop drinking."

Seeing his expression, Lu Jianxing's anger subsided considerably. She glared at him and softened her tone.

"We're going to see Eunuch Zhang later. If we're drunk, won't he think we Imperial Guards just drink all day and don't do our jobs?" Shen Lian quickly wiped his mouth and bowed, saying, "It was my fault. I will never drink again."

Lu Jianxing ignored him, but secretly began to make plans.

Shen Lian's heartbreak has dragged on for almost a year and is still not healed, which shows how much Zhou Miaotong means to him.

Once this matter in Datong is resolved, he will return to the capital and make sure to visit the Nuanxiang Pavilion to find Zhou Miaotong.

Who dares to mess with Lu Jianxing's brother? Of all people to mess with, why provoke his people?
Then we'll see how he teaches that prostitute a lesson!

Each of the three had their own thoughts, but they didn't waste the food and wine on the table.

They devoured the food in a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them went out of the building, where dozens of Imperial Guards were already lined up and waiting.

Dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes, with embroidered spring knives at their waists and muskets on their shoulders, they stood tall and straight like pine trees, silently following behind the three men. This caused passing merchants and commoners to retreat to the side of the street, their eyes filled with awe.

"Go west, and you'll find Eunuch Zhang's residence deep in Gulou Lane, away from the main street."

Lu Jianxing gave the instructions in a low voice, without stopping.

soon.

They then arrived at the garrison headquarters.

The western part of Datong City was mostly occupied by the residences of officials. Although the residence of Zhang Wei, the eunuch in charge of the garrison, was not luxurious, it exuded a sense of authority.

Two stone lions stood in front of the vermilion gate, and a plaque reading "Zhenjianfu" hung above the gate. The corners of the plaque were still covered with some sand and dust, giving it a rough feel of the frontier.

The guards, seeing that it was Lu Jianxing and his two companions, didn't even bother with questioning. They simply bowed and stepped aside to make way for them.

Over the past two weeks, the Imperial Guards have been frequently visiting the town's residence, and have long since become regulars there.

The three of them climbed the steps and entered, passing through the front yard planted with several old locust trees, when they heard faint voices coming from the direction of the main hall.

As soon as he reached the outside of the hall, Lu Jianxing stopped in his tracks.

Through the half-open door, one could see two figures sitting inside the hall, besides the garrison eunuch Zhang Wei.

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan also noticed something was wrong.

Upon entering, the three of them finally saw the scene inside the hall:
Zhang Wei, who sat in the main seat, was dressed in a dark brown python-patterned casual suit. He held a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand. Although he had a smile on his face, there was a hint of solemnity in his eyes.

On the left, in the guest seat, stood a man dressed in a blue official robe of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, with a silver belt around his waist. He had a thin face and an upright, scholarly air about him. He was none other than Sun Chuanting, the Assistant Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Shanxi.

This man was sent to Datong by His Majesty before the New Year to supervise official conduct and to assist Xu Guangqi in promoting sweet potatoes. He is quite prestigious in the border region.

Seated to the right was a young official, dressed in the robes of a seventh-rank county magistrate, with a refined and scholarly appearance; he was none other than Dong Zhongxing, the magistrate of Datong County.

He was the third-ranked candidate in the second class of the imperial examination in the Gengshen year. Because his answer to the border policy question in the palace examination was clear and logical, he was promoted by the emperor to be the magistrate of Datong County, in charge of civil administration and to control the local powerful families.

"So it was Vice Commissioner Sun and Magistrate Dong. What a coincidence."

Lu Jianxing was the first to react, and he, along with Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan, bowed in greeting.

"Your subordinate Lu Jianxing, along with his brothers Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan, pays their respects to the garrison commander."

Zhang Wei raised his hand in a gesture of support, his voice carrying the high-pitched quality characteristic of eunuchs, yet remaining steady:
"No need for formalities, please sit down. You've come at the perfect time; I was just about to send someone to invite you."

He pointed to the empty seats below the hall, his gaze sweeping over the three people.

"It seems you've pretty much finished your investigation?"

After Lu Jianxing sat down, he did not speak immediately. Instead, he looked at Sun Chuanting and Dong Zhongxing with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

The intelligence they uncovered involved Wang Wei, the deputy commander of Datong, and was of great importance. Although they knew that the two men were sent by His Majesty, they still needed to confirm whether it was convenient to disclose it.

Seeing this, Zhang Wei paused in his hand, which was holding Buddhist prayer beads, and smiled:

"Rest assured, Commander. Both Vice Commissioner Sun and Magistrate Dong are His Majesty's confidants. It is only right that we should inform them about matters concerning Datong."

Sun Chuanting also chimed in, his tone calm and steady:

"Commander Lu need not worry. We are all guarding Datong for His Majesty. We should share any intelligence we have so that we can prepare a response as soon as possible."

Dong Zhongxing nodded as well.

“Wang Wei has deep roots in Datong. If he really does something wrong, it would be difficult for this county alone to control him.”

Seeing that the two men's attitudes were clear, Lu Jianxing finally felt relieved. He took out a prepared intelligence report from his pocket, stood up, and handed it to Zhang Wei:

"Regarding the garrison, your subordinates have discovered two things:"
Firstly, Wang Guoliang's widow and only son were hidden by Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wang Wei at Liuxi Manor outside the city, where Wang Wei sent people to guard them and sent them food and medicine every month.

Secondly, the refugees from Youyu County and Zuoyun County were supported by Liu Zhenbang, the military commander of Polubao.

This man was Wang Wei's son-in-law. He embezzled supplies from the army's rations every month and also sent his trusted men to train refugees and plunder merchants.

Zhang Wei took the note and read it word by word. His expression gradually darkened, and the prayer beads in his hand spun rapidly.
"It really involves Wang Wei..."

He looked up at the crowd, his tone grave.

"Do you know that now General Yang Zhaoji of Datong has led his troops to Shandong to quell the Wenxiangjiao rebellion, and the border troops and garrisons of Datong are actually under the command of Wang Wei?"

He commands 20,000 border troops. If he discovers his plot has been exposed and follows Wang Guoliang's example in Xuanfu by rebelling, the consequences would be unimaginable!

The room fell silent instantly, and even the sound of the wind and sand outside the window seemed clearer.

Sun Chuanting frowned.

“What the garrison commander said is absolutely right.”

Wang Wei has been in power in Datong for more than ten years, and most of the garrison commanders are his former subordinates. If they really rebel, our forces are simply not enough to deal with them.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zu Dashou had only three thousand soldiers from the Beijing Garrison, five hundred from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and no more than a thousand from the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Magistrate Dong's forces consisted only of yamen runners; a direct confrontation was not an option.

Dong Zhongxing's tone was serious:
"What's more troublesome is that Wang Wei controls most of Datong's grain supplies. If he cuts off our supply lines, we will be in trouble in less than ten days."

Zhang Wei was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"Now that things have come to this, we must not act rashly."

The most urgent task was to send the intelligence to the capital by express courier, and at the same time send a message to Xiong Tingbi, asking him to come to Datong as soon as possible.

Only he, as the military governor of the nine border regions, possessed sufficient prestige and military strength to suppress Wang Wei.

He looked at Lu Jianxing and said:
"You Jinyiwei should continue to gather intelligence, especially on Wang Wei's dealings with border generals and the allocation of supplies. These are crucial pieces of evidence for dealing with him in the future, and you must not overlook them."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Lu Jianxing bowed and replied.

Zhang Wei then turned to Sun Chuanting and Dong Zhongxing:

“Mr. Sun, you need to keep a close eye on the criminal cases handled by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to prevent Wang Wei from using ‘investigation’ as a pretext to eliminate dissidents.”

Magistrate Dong, you must stabilize the civil administration of Datong, appease the people, and prevent the displaced people from being exploited by Wang Wei.

The hearts and minds of the people of Datong are more important than anything else right now.

"We understand!" Sun Chuanting and Dong Zhongxing replied in unison.

Zhang Wei looked at the people in the hall, his eyes showing a newfound confidence:

"The four of us, though each with our own duties, are all pawns sent by His Majesty to guard Datong."

Although Wang Wei wielded great power, he could not defy His Majesty's will or the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

As long as we each do our job, once Commander Xiong arrives, we will surely be able to clear up this chaotic situation in Datong!

Lu Jianxing and his two companions exchanged glances with Sun Chuanting and Dong Zhongxing, then stood up, their voices firm:
"I would gladly die to serve His Majesty!"

After the meeting, everyone left the garrison headquarters.

Lu Jianxing mounted his horse, his fingers barely gripping the reins, when a slightly urgent call came from behind:
"Commander Lu, please wait!"

He reined in his horse and looked back.

Dong Zhongxing hurried out of the mansion to catch up.

Shen Lian and Jin Yichuan, who had already led the Imperial Guards to form ranks, stopped in their tracks upon seeing this scene, their gazes falling on the two men with a hint of curiosity.

Lu Jianxing dismounted, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Dong Zhongxing, and spoke with a hint of surprise:

"What are your instructions, Magistrate Dong?"

"Didn't you already assign tasks back at the manor?"

Dong Zhongxing quickly stepped forward, waving his hands repeatedly, his tone almost cautiously humble:

"I dare not use the word 'order,' but I have a few private words to say to the commander in private."

There are too many people here, it might be inconvenient.

His gaze swept over the Imperial Guards standing solemnly to the side, and the worry in his eyes deepened.

Lu Jianxing's heart stirred slightly. Judging from Dong Zhongxing's appearance, it didn't seem like ordinary politeness, but rather that he had something difficult to say.

He turned to Shen Lian and instructed him:

"You take your teams and set up defenses in the direction of Willow Creek Manor. Keep a close eye on Wang Wei's men. I'll be there shortly."

Shen Lian nodded in agreement and led the Imperial Guards away slowly.

The two walked side by side toward the street corner, where a simple teahouse was not far away.

Dong Zhongxing pushed open the door and entered first. The shopkeeper, seeing that it was the county magistrate in his official robes, hurriedly greeted him with a smile, but Dong Zhongxing waved him off.

"A private room on the second floor, the innermost one, with a pot of brick tea, and no one to disturb us."

Upon reaching the second floor, the wooden windows of the private room were tightly closed, barely blocking out the wind and sand outside.

The waiter brought over a pot of steaming hot brick tea. The tea soup, a deep brown color, filled the rough earthenware teacup and carried the mellow aroma unique to the border region.

After the waiter left, Lu Jianxing picked up his teacup and asked:
"Lord Dong, can you speak now?"

What could possibly be so important that you went out of your way to chase after me?

Dong Zhongxing didn't drink the tea; he simply held the cup with both hands, a bitter smile on his face.
"Commander Lu is a former member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and has been through many battles. Perhaps he thinks that I, a scholar, am too timid."

But after I took the imperial examination last year and came to Datong as the magistrate with His Majesty's decree, I truly understood what the phrase "step by step is fraught with danger" meant.

When I was studying the classics in the capital, I only knew the ideal of "serving the ruler like Yao and Shun." But here I realize that displaced people must be appeased, border troops must be dealt with, and powerful families must be kept in check. The slightest misstep could lead to the destruction of one's family and the loss of one's life.

He paused, his gaze falling on the lanterns swaying in the wind and sand outside the window, his tone becoming even more somber:
"Just now at the manor, Eunuch Zhang said that everything would be fine once Commander Xiong arrived, but I still feel uneasy."

Wang Wei operated in Datong for over ten years, wielding considerable military power; these are the things we investigated.

Tibet's Wang Liang family and its aid to refugees—which of these isn't a crime punishable by death?
If he senses it beforehand, he'll be driven to desperation...

At this point, Dong Zhongxing's voice trembled slightly. He looked up at Lu Jianxing, his eyes full of pleading:

“It’s not that I’m afraid of dying, but the people of Datong have just survived a drought. If another rebellion breaks out like in Xuanfu, how will they survive?”
Therefore, I would like to ask Commander Lu that if he finds any important information related to Wang Wei in the future, especially any signs that he might take action, he must inform me in advance.

Although I only have about a hundred constables, I can still organize the people to take cover in advance, which is better than being caught off guard and panicking when the incident actually happens.

Upon hearing this, Lu Jianxing's hand holding the teacup trembled.

He originally thought Dong Zhongxing's little scheme was a bit unnecessary. After all, with the garrison eunuch in charge and the Embroidered Uniform Guard watching over things, even if Wang Wei was bold, he might not dare to rebel easily.

But now, Dong Zhongxing mentions that "Wang Wei holds a large army" and "a cornered dog will jump over the wall."

He suddenly remembered what Sun Chuanting had said when he was at the town's administrative office.

Wang Wei had 20,000 border troops, but they could only mobilize less than 2,000 soldiers.

If Wang Wei really cuts off the supply lines and incites the displaced people to riot, Datong might really repeat the same mistake as Xuanfu.

He put down his teacup, the casualness on his face fading, replaced by a serious expression.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Dong Zhongxing, his tone sincere:

"Lord Dong, I have learned a lot."

You're right, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Since we are all working for His Majesty, and this concerns the safety of the people of Datong and your jurisdiction, as long as it doesn't involve classified information, I will certainly have someone inform the county magistrate in advance.

Hearing this, Dong Zhongxing finally breathed a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing. He picked up his teacup and took a sip; the warmth of the tea seemed to dispel some of his unease.

"With Commander Lu's words, I feel relieved."

"To be honest, I was just being too paranoid. Please don't laugh at me, Commander."

Lu Jianxing drank the tea in one gulp.

"Your Excellency is too kind. It's always better to be cautious."

In Datong, he was indeed less vigilant.

This is not a good thing.

I need to check that out.
Wang Wei, do you really dare to rebel?

(End of this chapter)