Huangming

Chapter 485 Refining Oneself and Building a Foundation, Cultivating Trusted Individuals

time flies.

In the blink of an eye, another half month has passed.

In the past two weeks, Wang Haoxian's black flag swept like a shadow from Songjiang Prefecture all the way to Jiaxing, and wherever it went, the gentry all surrendered.

On the city gate tower of Jiashan County, where the Ming Dynasty dragon flag should have been hanging, the black flag of "Fragrance Master" has now been replaced.

Magistrate Zhou Wenbin, holding the county seal, led three shifts of yamen runners to kneel at the city gate, followed by more than a dozen gentry from the city, each carrying a heavy silver chest.

They heard that after Wang Haoxian captured Jinshanwei, even Xu Jie's descendants surrendered, so they didn't dare to put up any resistance. They raised 50,000 taels of silver overnight, waiting to surrender the city.

As soon as Wang Haoxian's vanguard arrived at the city, Zhou Wenbin shouted, "I am willing to follow the leader to accomplish great things," and handed over the county town.

In Pinghu County, the situation was even worse. The gentry not only surrendered the city, but also took the initiative to contact the surrounding tenants, saying, "The Ming King has been born. If you follow the leader, you will have food to eat." They managed to recruit more than two thousand refugees to join Wang Haoxian's group.

Hainingwei did almost no effective resistance, and its commander even led the way in surrendering.

From beginning to end, Hainingwei did not fire a single cannon shot, and the three thousand garrison soldiers surrendered.

In just half a month, the number of people under Wang Haoxian's command expanded like an inflating balloon:

When they were in Songjiang Prefecture, they only had 50,000 men. After taking Jiashan and Pinghu, they gained another 10,000 men. They also recruited 3,000 surrendered soldiers from Haining Guard. Along the way, there was an endless stream of refugees who were lured by the gentry. When they entered Jiaxing Prefecture and counted the number of people, they had gathered a total of 100,000.

However, this "army of 100,000" consisted mostly of refugees dressed in tattered clothes, holding hoes, sickles, and some even carrying sharpened wooden sticks. Only a few surrendered soldiers and pirates wore armor and carried proper weapons.

With more people, troubles followed.

These refugees were just trying to make a living. After entering Jiaxing Prefecture, they found that the government office was unattended, so they began to loot everywhere.

The silk shop on South Street was ransacked, and the shopkeeper was beaten on the ground, simply because he had hidden two bolts of fine cloth.

The grain stores in the West Market fared even worse. Their grain bins were torn to pieces, and rice grains were scattered all over the ground. Several old women tried to protect their stored grain, but they were kicked to the ground by the refugees, and the grain bags in their arms were snatched away.

Even farmers on the outskirts of the city were not spared. Migrants rushed into the yards, took away the oxen, stole the chickens and pigs, and some even set fire to the farmhouses, just because the homeowners refused to hand over the few strings of cash hidden under the bed.

The people of Jiaxing Prefecture hid behind the broken walls and ruins, watching their belongings being looted and their relatives being beaten. Cries and curses mingled together, but no one dared to resist.

There were too many refugees, like locusts, covering the sky and the earth.

A farmer's son was beaten to death by vagrants. He wanted to rush in and fight back, but his neighbor held him back tightly: "Don't go! You'll only die in vain!"

The old farmer knelt on the ground, looking at his son's body, tears mingling with the dirt as he repeatedly muttered, "I can't live like this anymore."

Wang Haoxian did not try to stop the chaos at all; instead, he ordered his men to raid the homes of the gentry in order to obtain money and grain.

They were repeatedly tormented by the refugees for several days.

Jiaxing Prefecture was soon left in a state of chaos.

And on the other side.

Wang Haoxian, full of self-satisfaction, began preaching in the Jiaxing prefectural government office.

The main hall of the government office was converted into a temporary sacrificial site for the Wenxiang sect. The floor was covered with carpets confiscated from the homes of gentry, and a three-foot-high incense altar was set up in the middle, with nine incense sticks inserted on it. The smoke swirled around, making the entire hall smell smoky and foul.

Wang Haoxian, dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with "Maitreya Buddha," sat on a tiger-skin chair behind the incense altar. On his left and right stood the Twelve Heavenly Generals, Xu Chengye, Hou Chengzhu, Bai Qin, and others, each with a solemn expression, as if participating in some sacred ceremony.

Wang Haoxian cleared his throat, his voice coming through the smoke with a touch of feigned profound authority:
"Do you all know why my Fragrance-Scenting Sect has been able to gather so many brothers?"

Seeing that everyone was shaking their heads, Wang Haoxian continued:

"This religion was founded by my father, Wang Sen."

Years ago, when my father was collecting herbs in Laoshan, Shandong, he encountered a white fox trapped in a snare. My father rescued it, and the fox actually cut off its own tail as a gift. The tip of the tail had a strange fragrance that could ward off evil and disaster, and all who heard of it were sincerely convinced.

The king then used this exotic fragrance as a starting point to gather followers, which led to the establishment of the Fragrance Cult today.

As he spoke, he took out a brocade box from his pocket. When he opened it, there was indeed a tuft of white fox fur inside, with a faint fragrance wafting out.

Xu Chengye immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"The leader comes from a family with profound learning; this is the destiny bestowed upon him by Heaven!"

The twelve heavenly generals echoed this sentiment, and Hou Chengzhu and Bai Qin, though they did not believe it, also shouted, "The leader is the chosen one of Heaven."

Wang Haoxian nodded in satisfaction and then said:

"The world has now entered the 'final kalpa of the three periods,' with Dipankara Buddha in charge of the 'formless kalpa,' Shakyamuni Buddha in charge of the 'solemn kalpa,' and now it is Maitreya Buddha's turn to be in charge of the 'constellation kalpa.'"

This is the 'end of the world,' and only by believing in my Scent-Scented Teachings can one attain liberation.

He glanced at everyone and, seeing the tension on their faces, softened his tone.

"The way to liberation is to cultivate the 'Internal Alchemy' I teach, which can strengthen the body and even prolong life. Today, I will pass on this technique to you all."

These words immediately caused a stir in the hall.

People in the Ming Dynasty believed in ghosts and gods, and the Jiajing Emperor was even more obsessed with Taoist longevity. Military officers such as Hou Chengzhu and Bai Qin often consulted Taoist priests for divination.

Li Tietou, one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, always carried a talisman, hoping to ward off bad luck.

Upon hearing that one could cultivate "internal alchemy," everyone's eyes lit up, and they all bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Master, for transmitting the Dharma!"

Wang Haoxian stood up, walked to the incense altar, and began to demonstrate:
"The first step is the basic training, called 'self-cultivation and foundation building'."

He sat cross-legged on the red carpet, his back straight, his hands forming a complex gesture.

"This is the 'Midnight-Noon Linked Formula'. Hold the four fingers of the left hand with your right hand, and place your thumb against the base of the ring finger; the thumb and middle finger of the left hand are linked together, and the other fingers are straight."

Remember, keep your body straight, relax your mind, breathe softly, and let your thoughts wander.

Everyone quickly followed suit, but most of them were rough people who had been fighting or working for many years, and when they sat cross-legged, they either sat crookedly or grimaced in pain.

His hand gestures were a complete mess. Li Tietou fiddled with his fingers for a long time but still couldn't figure out what "thumb against the base of the ring finger" meant. He could only secretly look at Xu Chengye next to him and try to imitate him.

Wang Haoxian saw this but didn't point it out, and continued:

"Next is 'returning to the source and guarding the acupoint,' with eyes slightly closed, leaving only a slit, not listening to external sounds, and concentrating the mind on the dantian."

He closed his eyes and muttered incantations, as if he were truly practicing meditation.

Everyone closed their eyes, and the hall fell silent instantly, with only the soft rustling of incense ash falling to the ground.

After a moment, Wang Haoxian spoke again:
"Then teach the 'breathing regulation method': when inhaling, tighten the anus and contract the kidneys; when exhaling, let the breath sink to the dantian. The mind and breath should be in harmony, and the spirit and energy should follow each other, so that the breath is continuous."

Everyone did as instructed. Some held their breath until their faces turned red and their necks bulged, while others exhaled so loudly that it made the people next to them chuckle.

After practicing for half an hour, apart from feeling sore back and aching waist, no one felt the so-called "qi".

Someone couldn't help but mutter to themselves, "Why don't I feel anything?"

Wang Haoxian opened his eyes, having already anticipated everyone's reaction, and said with a smile:
"Please don't be impatient, everyone. For those with exceptional talent, it will take at least ten days to establish the foundation of this technique."

Those who are slow to grasp things may not get the hang of it for three to five years, or even a lifetime.

Today I will guide you through the thirty-six cycles of energy circulation to help you get started.

The crowd was skeptical but could only continue practicing with him.

They practiced from afternoon until dusk, all nine incense sticks on the altar had burned out, and everyone was exhausted, covered in sweat, and their legs were so numb they couldn't stand up, yet they still couldn't feel any "qi".

But seeing Wang Haoxian's confident expression, no one dared to question him.

After all, he was "personally taught by the cult leader," so perhaps I was just too slow to realize it.

Finally, the group helped each other to their feet, bowed to Wang Haoxian once more, and then dispersed.

Xu Chengye walked at the back, glanced back at the fox fur on the incense altar, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly covered up by a fawning smile.

Hou Chengzhu and Bai Qin walked side by side, whispering to each other:
"Does this technique really work?"

"Whether it works or not is not important, just don't upset the cult leader."

Only Li Tietou, while rubbing his numb legs, excitedly told the people around him:
"I think I felt something just now, a warm sensation in my lower abdomen!"

Those around them gave perfunctory replies, but inwardly they were all wondering what was going on.
That warm feeling, is it probably from holding in the heat after practicing for too long?
After everyone left.

Wang Haoxian was still sitting in the tiger-skin chair.

He looked at the empty lobby and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

How could he possibly know any "internal alchemy"?
It was just snippets of information gleaned from wandering Taoist priests, along with some supernatural tricks, used to fool these people.

As long as I can keep these people firmly under my control, it doesn't matter whether they believe in "internal alchemy" or not. As long as they believe in me as their "leader," that's enough.

Wang Haoxian rubbed his throbbing temples, the stiffness from his earlier pretense of meditating still lingering. He waved at the empty incense altar, his tone full of feigned languor:

"You're tired of playing tricks. Serve the food, then rest."

As soon as he finished speaking, his trusted confidants outside the hall quickly retreated.

Before half an incense stick had burned, footsteps came from the side door of the main hall of the government office.

Four cooks dressed in cotton-padded clothes filed in, carrying red lacquered food boxes. The one in the lead was an old man with a goatee, who was the head chef of "Zui Xian Lou" in Jiaxing.

The three people following behind him were a pastry chef from the Taihu flower boat "Huafangchun" and two private chefs from the former prefect's family. They were all specially invited by Wang Haoxian after he took over Jiaxing.

One by one, the food boxes were opened, revealing silver plates and jade bowls that gleamed coldly in the candlelight. Thirty-six dishes were laid out on the table, a harmonious mix of meat and vegetables, hot and cold dishes.

The crab meat lion's head, a specialty of Jiangnan, is glistening with oil, with crab meat wrapped in fatty fat, and bursting with fresh juice when you bite into it.

The squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is fried until golden brown and drizzled with an amber-colored sweet and sour sauce; its eyes are still glistening.

There were also steamed Taihu silver fish, Dongpo pork, and crystal shrimp dumplings. Even the dim sum included crab roe xiaolongbao and osmanthus cake. Finally, the whole roasted lamb was served, which was incredibly fragrant with oil and the skin was roasted until crispy and sprinkled with cumin and sesame seeds.

Some of these dishes were the chefs' specialties, while others were "imperial cuisine" dishes that Wang Haoxian had specifically requested. Even the wine pot was a Hetian jade pot confiscated from a gentry's home, filled with aged Shaoxing daughter red wine.

Wang Haoxian sat in the main seat, looking at the table full of delicacies. He picked up his jade chopsticks and took a bite of the lion's head meatball. The delicious taste spread in his mouth, and he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

He used to live a life of hiding in Hebei, where even getting a full meal was difficult. Now, however, he can enjoy the company of an emperor, with thirty-six dishes laid out on the table. This feeling is more comfortable than any "internal alchemy" for him.

"good."

He mumbled something and took another swig of wine.

"From now on, this will be the standard every day. This emperor... this leader's food must be prepared with this level of grandeur!"

His confidants quickly echoed, "Our leader is wise!" But Wang Haoxian ignored them, focusing only on eating and drinking, constantly putting his chopsticks into his mouth, the oil dripping from the corners of his mouth onto his brocade robe, but he didn't care at all.

He didn't stop until his belly was completely bulging, then patted his stomach, leaned back, and let out a burp.

By this time, it was already quite dark. The sound of the night watchman's clapper signaling the second watch came from outside the government office. His confidant thought he was going to rest and was about to go forward to clear the dishes when he saw Wang Haoxian's eyes light up. He got up and walked towards the backyard of the government office.
"Rest? What's the rush!"

He walked and laughed, muttering to himself.

"Awake, I wield power over the world; drunk, I rest my head on the lap of a beauty. They've all rebelled! I deserve every last bit of happiness! Tonight, I, the leader, will indulge myself!"

Wang Haoxian immediately walked towards the backyard.

now.

In the main room of the backyard, candles were already burning brightly. Five women stood in the center of the room, each dressed in fine silk and satin, but they all had their heads down, their hands twisting the hem of their clothes, their eyes filled with fear.

The woman on the far left is the daughter of the owner of "Ruichang," the largest silk shop in Jiaxing. She has snow-white skin and wears her hair in two buns.

The two in the middle are the daughters of the former magistrate of Jiaxing. One is skilled in playing the zither, and the other is skilled in painting. They both have a scholarly air about them.

The two on the right are famous courtesans from the Misty Rain Pavilion. One is named Su Mei, and the other is named Liu Yao. They are graceful, but they cannot hide their fear.

They were all searched out of the city by Wang Haoxian's men; they were either from prominent families or had outstanding looks, and none of them dared to resist.

Wang Haoxian staggered into the house, his eyes sweeping over the five women like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

He stepped forward and grabbed Su Mei's waist, then pulled over the young lady from the silk shop, embracing her on both sides with astonishing strength. Su Mei cried out in pain, but dared not struggle.

"What are you afraid of?"

Wang Haoxian whispered in Su Mei's ear, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Following this leader, you will enjoy endless blessings!"

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and ripped open the collar of the silk shop girl's dress, revealing her snow-white neck. The woman was so frightened that tears streamed down her face, but she could only let him do as he pleased.

Soon, the sounds of a woman sobbing and Wang Haoxian's maniacal laughter came from inside the room. The candlelight flickered, casting a ridiculous and ugly shadow on the window paper.

at the same time.

The city of Zhenjiang, hundreds of miles away, exudes a stark and somber atmosphere, quite different from that of Jiaxing.

A group of soldiers arrived outside the city gate. Their armor gleamed coldly in the night. Every soldier stood tall and moved in unison. The sabers at their waists and the muskets on their backs were polished to a shine.

These are elite troops from the Beijing Garrison; the characters "京营" (Beijing Garrison) on their armor are clearly visible in the moonlight.

At the very front of the procession stood a general riding a tall horse, none other than Marquis Dingyuan, Deng Shaoyu.

He wore general's armor, his face was resolute, and his eyes were sharp. Although he commanded 10,000 elite troops, he dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Upon arriving outside the Zhenjiang Prefectural Government Office, he dismounted and had his personal guards carry the Ministry of War's documents, then quickly walked into the office.

The key to the war in Jiangnan lies entirely in the hands of Yuan Keli and Zhang Weixian. Although I am a marquis, I am only here to assist them and must not put on airs.

Inside the government office.

Yuan Keli and Zhang Weixian were discussing matters around the map when they saw Deng Shaoyu enter, and they both stood up to greet him.

Deng Shaoyu quickly bowed and presented the document with both hands:

"This humble general, Deng Shaoyu, has been ordered by His Majesty to lead 10,000 elite troops of the Beijing Garrison south, at the command of Minister Yuan and the Duke!"

Yuan Keli took the document, read it carefully, and handed it to Zhang Weixian, a relieved smile on his face:

"Lord Deng, you've come at the perfect time!"

He pointed to the location of Jiaxing on the map.

“Wang Haoxian has already established a strong presence in Jiaxing. Although his troops are mostly refugees, he still numbers around 100,000. While we have 100,000 troops, we have to divide them up to guard Jiangyin, Changzhou, Changxing, and other places. The guerrilla force we can actually mobilize is only about 30,000. It will be difficult to deal with them.”

Zhang Weixian nodded in agreement: "The elite troops of the capital garrison are personally trained by His Majesty, and their combat strength far surpasses that of the local garrisons. With the addition of these 10,000 men, we can free up our forces to encircle Jiaxing!"

Upon hearing this, Deng Shaoyu quickly replied, "The brothers I brought are all veterans from the Beijing Garrison, skilled in infantry combat and muskets. If we are to attack Jiaxing, I am willing to be the vanguard!"

Yuan Keli patted Deng Shaoyu on the shoulder and said with satisfaction:

"With Lord Deng's words, I am relieved. Let them rest in Zhenjiang for a few days, and we will discuss the strategy for encirclement and suppression tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Deng Shaoyu immediately accepted the order.

Besides the elite Beijing garrison under Deng Shaoyu, clad in bright armor, a line of carriages bearing the banners of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Revenue were slowly entering the city gate. The boxes of documents and seals piled up inside the carriages could be vaguely seen through the half-open curtains.

This is the official procession heading south from Beijing. The leading horses carry the most outstanding graduates of the Gengshen year's imperial examinations:

Ni Yuanlu, Lu Xiangshan, Fu Guan, and more than ten other officials from the same department, all dressed in blue robes, with a sharp look between their brows.

Lu Xiang-sheng walked at the front, wearing a fifth-rank official robe and a fish-shaped pouch bestowed by the emperor at his waist.

His exceptional promotion to the position of Vice Minister of War was not only due to His Majesty's high regard, but also to his own abilities.

After Yang Lian reorganized Jizhou, it was he who took over Jizhou and then stabilized it.

If it weren't for the fact that promotions couldn't be made too quickly.

Otherwise, his official position would be much higher than just a junior official in the Ministry of War.

"Dr. Lu, the Zhenjiang Prefectural Government is just ahead."

Ni Yuanlu, standing beside him, reined in his horse. After gaining experience in the Grand Council, Ni Yuanlu was appointed as the Principal of the Ministry of Personnel. He was skilled in document processing and was on his way south to assist Yuan Keli in investigating the accounts of the gentry in Jiangnan.

He pointed to the government office not far ahead and said with a smile, "We've been rushing all this way, and we've finally caught up with the time to quell the rebellion."

Lu Xiang-sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the Beijing garrison soldiers lined up on the street, his tone becoming more serious:

“Wang Haoxian caused chaos in Jiaxing, and 100,000 refugees were caught up in it. Many gentry in Jiangnan also colluded with the rebels. The burden on our shoulders is not light.”

As they spoke, the two men led the officials toward the government office.

As soon as they arrived outside the government office, Yuan Keli, Zhang Weixian, and Deng Shaoyu came out to greet them, giving these disciples of the emperor a great deal of face.

Seeing this, Lu Xiang-sheng and the others were flattered and quickly dismounted, bowing respectfully.

"Student Lu Xiang-sheng, leading the officials who have traveled south, has met with Minister Yuan, Lord Zhang, and Lord Deng!"

Ni Yuanlu and the other officials also bowed.

Although most of them were civil officials, their new appointments meant they were less superficial and more pragmatic and capable than those in officialdom.

Yuan Keli looked at the group of young officials before him, his eyes full of approval:
“You are all pillars of the Gengshen examination. His Majesty sent you to Jiangnan because he trusts your abilities.”

He turned to Zhang Weixian and smiled, “Look, Physician Lu can stabilize Jizhou, and Chief Clerk Ni can distinguish truth from falsehood in the Ministry of Personnel’s investigation of official corruption. With their help, there’s no need to worry about civil affairs and military supplies in Jiangnan.”

Zhang Weixian nodded and echoed, "Pillars of the nation, pillars of the nation! Gentlemen, please come in!"

"Minister, Duke, please go first!"

Everyone was very polite, and then they walked together into the mansion.

now.

Tea tables had already been set up under the eaves of the government office.

After taking their seats, one official couldn't help but ask:

"Minister Yuan, most of our Gengshen-era Jinshi are now serving in places like the Qingtian Division, the Disaster Relief Division, and Liaodong. Many of them have been promoted much faster than the previous Jinshi. This is all thanks to His Majesty's promotion of new talents."

I wonder if I can achieve any merit in Jiangnan?

Upon hearing this, Fu Guan, the third-ranked scholar, echoed:

"Yes, when we first passed the imperial examination, most of the predecessors were serving as county magistrates, but His Majesty quickly sent us to Qingtian in Beizhili."

Within six months, the Qingtian Division uncovered two million mu of hidden farmland, earning me the title of "capable official in clearing farmland."

Later, due to his meritorious service in the Grand Council, he was appointed as a Supervising Censor. In previous years, it would have taken at least ten or eight years to reach the fifth rank.

Ni Yuanlu also added:
"Several colleagues from the Disaster Relief Department managed to extract hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain from the gentry during the disaster relief efforts in Jiangnan, and appeased 100,000 displaced people. His Majesty specially issued an edict to commend them, and they have all been promoted."

Our Gengshen year (1900-1905) was fortunate to have been born at a good time.

But then, Lu Xiang-sheng's tone turned somber:
"But this 'good time' is also a whip urging us forward."

His Majesty promotes us because he wants people who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty and willing to take on responsibilities.

Last month, Li Tongzhi, the prefect of Qingtian Division, was demoted to Yunnan and exiled for fear of offending the gentry and for doing a perfunctory job in the land survey.

Wang, the head of the disaster relief department, was beheaded for embezzling disaster relief funds.

This process of natural selection is like gold being sifted from sand; a slight misstep can result in being eliminated.

"Not to mention."

Ni Yuanlu picked up his teacup, his eyes gleaming.

"After the birth of His Majesty's eldest son, an imperial decree has been issued to open a special examination, and the candidates will be selected in the spring of next year."

"A new batch of scholars will emerge then. They are young and energetic. If we don't seize the opportunity to pacify Jiangnan and make contributions now, we may be overtaken by them in the future."

These words struck a chord with everyone.

In officialdom, the saying "one step ahead leads to continuous progress" is never an exaggeration.

Lu Xiang-sheng is now a fifth-rank official. If he can assist Yuan Ke-li in stabilizing the civil administration during the suppression of the rebellion in Jiangnan, he can be promoted to a fourth-rank prefect.

If Ni Yuanlu can thoroughly investigate the accounts of civil officials' treason, he can also be promoted to Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

But if they miss this opportunity, when the special imperial examination results come out, these "old-timers" might not even be able to keep their positions.

"Rest assured, everyone."

Yuan Keli smiled as he looked at the solemn expressions on everyone's faces.

These newly appointed scholars were all full of vigor and vitality, unlike those seasoned and shrewd officials.

Yuan Keli looked at them with great satisfaction.

He then spoke up to comfort her:

"The pacification of the Jiangnan region presents a perfect opportunity for you to distinguish yourselves."

Lu Langzhong can assist Lord Deng in handling military supplies and ensure the supply of food and provisions to the Beijing garrison.

Ni, the head of the department, is responsible for investigating the accounts of the gentry in Jiaxing and Songjiang and finding evidence of treason.

The rest of you may be assigned to Changzhou, Changxing and other places to assist local officials in pacifying the people, rebuilding city defenses and suppressing the rebels.

"As long as you handle the matter well, I will certainly petition His Majesty to award you credit."

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits immediately lifted.

Lu Xiang-sheng immediately stood up: "This humble official is willing to go to Lord Deng's army to be in charge of military supplies and dispatch, and will never let the soldiers fight on an empty stomach!"

Ni Yuanlu also stood up: "This humble official is willing to go to Jiaxing to investigate the accounts of the gentry and will definitely find out who is colluding with the rebels!"

Other officials also volunteered, some to appease the people, others to rebuild the city's defenses, and the originally somber atmosphere instantly became lively.

Yuan Keli and Zhang Weixian exchanged a glance and both nodded.

The arrival of these Gengshen-era Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) can provide crucial assistance in thoroughly reforming Jiangnan.

after all
The chaos in Jiangnan not only required the elite troops of the Beijing Garrison to quell the unrest, but also the writing skills and pragmatic spirit of these young officials to clean up the mess left by the war.

(End of this chapter)