Huangming

Chapter 491 A Series of Schemes, Qin Family's Fine Jade

She Chongming was, after all, the most powerful chieftain in Sichuan, and he controlled the troops of the Yongning Pacification Commission. Although Xu Keqiu had never taken these chieftains seriously, he could not neglect the superficial courtesy he was given.

"Let him in."

Xu Keqiu said slowly.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, a thought quietly popped into his head:
The She family is viewed with suspicion by His Majesty, while Qin Liangyu is His Majesty's loyal follower. If we could use She Yin's help...

Perhaps the problem of transferring Qin Liangyu away can be easily solved?

A moment later, steady footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

Soon, a figure stepped into the hall.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark blue satin robe, with a black rhinoceros horn belt inlaid with jade around his waist. He was tall and straight, with a face as black as iron. His hands were large and thick, and his knuckles were covered with calluses, clearly indicating that he was a martial arts practitioner.

Only those eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like the sharp edge of a cold blade, sweeping across the hall with a subtle sharpness.

It was She Yin.

He stopped three steps in front of the official desk, bowed slightly, and performed a standard official salute. His voice was clear and resonant, carrying a Sichuan accent but full of energy.
“She Yin, the Pacification Commissioner of Yongning, greets Governor Xu.”

Xu Keqiu raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone indifferent: "Young Master She, there's no need for such formality. Please rise and speak. Is there anything important you wish to discuss today?"

His gaze was fixed on She Yin's face, trying to find some clues behind that dark complexion.

Was it for the purpose of tax reduction or exemption for the Yongning Pacification Commission?
Or perhaps, as Your Majesty fears, the She family harbors rebellious intentions and deliberately sent him to probe their intentions.

She Yin straightened up, a faint smile appearing on his face, and calmly replied:

"Your Excellency, with the end of the year approaching, my father, grateful for your usual care for the Yongning Pacification Commission, has specially ordered me to send some local specialties as a token of my appreciation."

"Oh?"

Xu Keqiu raised an eyebrow, his tone suddenly becoming serious, with a hint of deliberate authority.

"Are you trying to bribe me? The laws of the court are clear. Does Lord She know that this is inappropriate?"

Upon hearing this, She Yin was not afraid at all; instead, he laughed even more freely.
"Your Excellency is too kind. It's just some dried mountain produce, furs and medicinal herbs, a few fat sheep, and a few jars of rice wine. These are all things that can be found anywhere in Yongning. They're not worth much money and can't be considered a bribe. It's just a little filial piety from a junior to an elder."

After saying this, he took a heavy booklet from his attendant, held it with both hands, and slowly handed it to Xu Keqiu.

When Xu Keqiu took the booklet, his hand suddenly felt heavy.

This booklet is ridiculously heavy, probably weighing over ten pounds!
He was secretly amazed:
Which gift list could be this impressive?

Could it be made of copper and iron?

With a sense of doubt, he reached out and opened the cover. His pupils suddenly contracted, and his breathing slowed down.

The names of the gifts were neatly written in vermilion on the album pages:

"Twenty catties of dried goods, ten fox pelts, twenty goats, and ten jars of rice wine from Yongning..."

Indeed, as She Yin said, they were all worthless local specialties.

But the booklet itself was made of pure gold!

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto the golden book, reflecting a dazzling light that made Xu Keqiu's eyes blur.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, calmly closed the golden book, and gently placed it in the corner of his desk.

When he looked up again, the seriousness on his face had vanished, replaced by a warm smile, and even his tone had become more friendly.

"Since it is a token of appreciation from Governor She, and these are just ordinary local products, then I will accept them without being impolite."

Afterwards, he composed himself and asked directly;
“Young Master She, we are both straightforward people, there’s no need to beat around the bush.”

Your personal visit today, bringing such a generous gift, must be more than just bringing some local produce.

"If there's anything you need to say, just say it."

She Yin seemed to have anticipated his question, his smile remained unchanged, and he bowed as he answered:

"Your Excellency, I have come here on my father's orders. Firstly, to deliver New Year's gifts to you, and secondly... to ask you some questions."

Xu Keqiu's heart skipped a beat, and he leaned forward slightly:
"Oh? What can I do for you?"

She Yin, however, changed the subject with a smile:
"It's nothing important. I've lived in Yongning for a long time and rarely see the sights of the prefectural city. I just wanted to take the opportunity of delivering New Year's gifts to admire the governor's demeanor."

"Oh?"

Xu Keqiu's eyes narrowed, and the smile on his face faded slightly. He picked up the gavel on the table and tapped it lightly.

"I am very busy today, and there are still a mountain of lawsuits on my desk that I have not yet reviewed."

If there is nothing else important, then I will not keep you any longer.

"Someone, see the guest out!"

He deliberately adopted a posture of seeing the guest off, both as a test and as a way of putting pressure on him.

He didn't believe that She Yin had gone to such great lengths to send the golden book just to "admire its splendor," and that he must have something to ask of him.

"Please calm down, Your Excellency. I did not intend to delay."

She Yin took half a step forward, no longer daring to keep them in suspense.

"Indeed, this matter concerns the imperial court and the safety of Sichuan. I must speak carefully to avoid offending the governor."

Seeing the change in his attitude, Xu Keqiu thought to himself, "Something really has happened," but on the surface, he still maintained the airs of a governor, slowly setting down his teacup, the lid clinking against the rim with a crisp sound.
"Since it concerns the imperial court, then speak frankly. Although I am busy with official duties, I can still spare a few words of your 'serious business'."

She Yin took a deep breath, and when he looked up, his eyes held a deliberately earnest expression:

"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have pacified the Jurchens in Liaodong and restored the territory of our Great Ming. My father and I have always admired you when we hear about this."

During his three years in office in Sichuan, the governor promoted water conservancy projects and reduced taxes, earning him the title of "Upright and Just Lord" among the people.

I have seen all of this.

After saying this, he abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming more urgent:

"I have recently heard that the rebel king Haoxian is very powerful in Jiangnan. Even Jiaxing Prefecture has fallen. Further south are Hangzhou and Yanzhou. When you reach Quzhou Prefecture, it will be the governor's hometown!"

Although I am the son of a chieftain, I know that "every man has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation," so I have come today to convey my father's message:
The Yongning Pacification Commission is willing to send 20,000 troops, with their own provisions, to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion for the Ming Dynasty!

"Oh?"

Xu Keqiu sat up abruptly, his previously squinted eyes instantly brightening.

The unrest in Jiangnan was a great worry to him. If he could really transfer the Yongning chieftain's troops there, he might be able to quell the chaos more quickly and protect his hometown.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Xu Keqiu said "good" three times in a row, his official demeanor largely disappearing, and his tone full of satisfaction.

"As expected of a chieftain of the Ming Dynasty! He is able to share the burden of the court at critical moments. This loyalty must be reported to His Majesty!"

He was about to call his attendants in to draft a memorial, but his hand was stopped by She Yin's words.

"Please wait, Governor."

She Yin stepped forward, lowering his voice even further, his eyes filled with a hint of "worry".

"I am not trying to discourage you, but there is something I need to remind the Governor of:"

Sending a letter from Chongqing to the capital takes anywhere from twenty days to a month.

By the time His Majesty approves the decree, the rebels in Jiangnan will likely have already reached Quzhou Prefecture. At that time…

He didn't finish speaking, but deliberately paused for a moment, leaving Xu Keqiu enough room for imagination.

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Xu Keqiu's excitement.

His smile gradually froze, his fingers hovered in mid-air, and his brows furrowed again.

She Yin is right. Last year, She Chongming requested to send troops to Liaodong, but His Majesty delayed for more than a month before replying that it was "not necessary." Now that the military situation in Jiangnan is urgent, how can we afford to wait for this round trip?

More importantly, His Majesty initially transferred Qin Liangyu to Chongqing to guard against the She family. Now that the She family has volunteered, will His Majesty become suspicious?

"Then, in your opinion, what should this government office do?"

Xu Keqiu's tone softened, and his gaze toward She Yin held a hint of inquiry.

Since She Yin dared to bring it up, he must have had a plan in mind.

Seeing that he had taken the bait, She Yin's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, which he quickly concealed. He leaned closer to the table, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear:
"Your Excellency is unaware that the reason His Majesty has reservations about my Yongning Pacification Commission and has been reluctant to allow my father to send troops is not because he does not trust my family's loyalty, but because... he has been misled by General Qin Liangyu."

"Qin Liangyu?"

Xu Keqiu raised an eyebrow, a thought flashing through his mind.

He was already dissatisfied with Qin Liangyu's control of the military in Chongqing, and when he heard She Yin say this, he immediately became interested.

"Exactly."

She Yin nodded, his tone tinged with indignation.

"General Qin leads the Shizhu troops to garrison Chongqing, but she always says in her memorials that my Yongning Pacification Commission is 'secretly hoarding armor and weapons' and 'harboring treacherous intentions.' His Majesty is far away in the capital, so naturally he believes her and not us."

If we want His Majesty to allow Yongning to send troops, we must first get General Qin out of Chongqing.

"Once she leaves, and no one is left to 'slander' His Majesty, the Governor can submit another memorial, and His Majesty will surely approve it!"

Xu Keqiu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

She Yin's words struck a chord with him.

But he also had concerns. Qin Liangyu was the Sichuan General Commander appointed by the Emperor himself, and was also bestowed with a python robe and jade belt. She was deeply trusted. How could he let her leave Chongqing without a legitimate reason?

If the order is forcibly issued, not only will Qin Liangyu not comply, but the Emperor will also be unable to explain it.

"That may be true, but General Qin holds military power and enjoys His Majesty's favor. How easy is it to get her to leave Chongqing?"

Xu Keqiu sighed, his tone full of hesitation.

"We can't just dismiss her from her post or force her to send troops to Jiangnan without any evidence, can we?"

Seeing that he was interested, She Yin was secretly pleased, but still pretended to be deep in thought, stroking his beard with his fingers:

"Your Excellency, please do not be hasty. There is a solution. However, this matter requires Your Excellency to take the lead, and I will assist from the sidelines..."

"Tell me in detail!"

She Yin's words hit him right where it hurt the most.

Seeing this, She Yin thought to himself that the matter was already more than half done.

"Your Excellency is wise. To deal with Qin Liangyu, we must proceed in three steps, pressing her relentlessly until she has no choice but to retreat."

"The first step was to use the chaos in Jiangnan to persuade her to volunteer for the war."

She Yin's eyes flickered, and he slowly said:
"Now the bandits in Jiangnan are rampant, and His Majesty is worried about the lack of troops. Qin Liangyu has always regarded herself as 'loyal and brave,' and often says to others that she is 'willing to go through fire and water for the Ming Dynasty.'"

"We might as well send someone to 'guide' her, saying that the people of Jiangnan are displaced, and Quzhou Prefecture is the governor's hometown, and we can persuade her to write to His Majesty and volunteer to go to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion." "If she is sensible and takes the initiative to write a letter to leave Chongqing, that would be the best outcome."

This would relieve the governor's worries, save us the trouble, and earn us the reputation of "serving the loyal and brave."

Xu Keqiu stroked his beard and nodded slightly:
"This plan is brilliant, but what if she refuses? After all, she holds military power and may not listen to others' instigation."

"If she refuses, then use public opinion to force her!"

She Yin's tone suddenly turned stern, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

"Governor, have you forgotten? Over the past year or so, the people of Chongqing Prefecture have had quite a few complaints about the soldiers of Shizhu."

It was said that the White-Clad Soldiers forcibly seized houses and extorted money from businesses, causing widespread public resentment.

“We just need to secretly contact some ‘righteous people’ and have them take their petitions to the General’s Mansion to cry and make a scene. Then we can ask some local gentry to take the lead and submit petitions to the government office, pleading with the Governor to ‘do justice for the people’ and force Qin Liangyu to restrain his troops.”

Qin Liangyu, being a woman, valued her reputation above all else. With the people blocking her gates and causing trouble, she would lose all face in Chongqing and would most likely resign and leave the city.

A glint flashed in Xu Keqiu's eyes, and he clapped his hands, saying:
"A good plan! But what if she stubbornly refuses to leave, or even uses military law to suppress the people?"

"Then we can only take the third step: frame her son, Ma Xianglin!"

She Yin sneered, his tone full of confidence.

"Although Ma Xianglin was known as 'Little Ma Chao,' he was brave, but he was young and impetuous, and his temper was as volatile as a bull."

Qin Liangyu could endure humiliation and hardship, but Ma Xianglin could not tolerate the slightest injustice.

"We just need to secretly fabricate some 'injustices' for the Qin family. For example, we can forge testimonies that Ma Xianglin forcibly abducted women, or spread rumors that he embezzled military pay, and then have a few 'victims' go to the General's Mansion to cry out their grievances."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xianglin will surely be enraged and will definitely confront the person, perhaps even resorting to violence.

"Then we'll make a big fuss and say that the soldiers of Shizhu are lawless and their generals are tyrannical."

To protect her son, and fearing the situation would implicate the entire army, Qin Liangyu, however unwilling, had no choice but to lead her troops away from Chongqing to avoid disaster and ensure their safety.

Xu Keqiu nodded repeatedly, a smug smile finally appearing on his face.

"Excellent! What a brilliant three-step plan! In this way, even if Qin Liangyu has extraordinary abilities, she will have no way to escape!"

A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he muttered to himself:

"If she takes the initiative to write a letter to leave Chongqing, then she will be considered wise."

If she is forced to retreat without authorization, this prefecture will submit a memorial impeaching her for "absconding from her post and fleeing to avoid punishment," not only removing her from her position as Sichuan General, but also ensuring she can never return to Chongqing Prefecture!

Back then, when Qin Liangyu led the White-Spear Army into Chongqing, she held military power and was even bestowed with a python robe and jade belt by the Emperor. She suppressed him, the governor, in every way, and he had long been harboring resentment.

Now, this opportunity allows me to eliminate this thorn in my side, relieve my worries about my hometown of Quzhou, and gain sole control of the Sichuan military—a double win.

"The governor is wise!"

She Yin immediately bowed and flattered him with a fawning expression.

"With the governor's strategic planning, Qin Liangyu will undoubtedly leave this time!"

When the Yongning Pacification Commission sends troops to Jiangnan, it will both serve the court and relieve the governor's worries, truly a win-win situation.

but
She Yan was also somewhat worried that Qin Liangyu wouldn't take the bait.

after all.

Those so-called "white-spear soldiers disturbing the people" incidents were actually done by his trusted confidants disguised as stone pillar soldiers.

His men were the ones who forcibly seized houses from residents and extorted money from merchants. He carefully pinned all the blame on Qin Liangyu.

of course.

If Xu Keqiu can mediate between them, Qin Liangyu will have no choice but to take the bait.

Qin Liangyu's White Spear Soldiers were disciplined and powerful, posing the biggest obstacle to the She family's grand ambitions.

If this thorn in our side isn't removed, the first thing my father, She Chongming, will do when he raises an army is to block his path.

Only by forcing Qin Liangyu to leave and causing the Chongqing government's military power to fall into other hands can the She family gain a foothold in Sichuan and wait for the right opportunity.

the other side.

Inside the main hall of the Sichuan General's Mansion, the candlelight flickered, casting the old wooden glow of the Sichuan map on the table.

The forty-eight-year-old Qin Liangyu was dressed in silver-white soft armor, with an embroidered spring knife hanging at her waist. Although there were a few strands of frost on her temples, it did not diminish her heroic spirit in the slightest.

She was leaning over the map, her fingertips hovering over the border between Yongning Pacification Commissioner's Office and Chongqing Prefecture, her fingertips repeatedly tracing the ink mark "Chishui Pass," her brows slightly furrowed.

This map was drawn by her own hand, and it is densely marked with the distribution of troops of the various chieftains:
The wolf soldiers of Yongning She family, the white-pole soldiers of Shizhu family, and the garrison troops of various garrisons were all circled in red ink, and even details such as "five hundred soldiers can be hidden here" and "the river is flooded during the rainy season and it is not suitable for marching" were noted.

Since being ordered to Chongqing last year, she has studied this map every day, and every inch of the southwestern land has been engraved in her heart.

at this time.

"Tap tap tap~"

The sound of hurried footsteps outside the hall, tinged with anxiety, interrupted Qin Liangyu's thoughts.

She straightened up and turned around to see twenty-six-year-old Ma Xianglin striding in, his brocade robe still damp with snowflakes, his face flushed red, and a crumpled piece of paper clutched in his hand.

"Mother! That old bastard Xu Keqiu is making things difficult for me again!"

Ma Xianglin slammed the paper down on the table, his voice filled with grievance and anger.

"This is the accusation note he just sent, saying that our White-Spear Soldiers 'disturbed the people and forcibly occupied civilian houses,' and that he will write a letter to impeach us for 'lax military discipline'!"
Isn't this wrongly accusing someone?
Our soldiers would never do such a heinous thing!

Qin Liangyu's gaze swept over the indictment, the words "Shizhu soldiers harass the people" on the paper were glaringly obvious.

Unlike her son, she wasn't agitated. She slowly walked to the table, picked up the interrogation slip, carefully read it, then looked up at Ma Xianglin, her tone calm:
"Have you checked? Are you sure it wasn't one of our people who did it?"

"My son has been checked many times!"

Ma Xianglin said urgently, taking a step forward, his words coming out rapidly.

“I personally went to ask those merchants who said they were harassed by the ‘White-Clad Soldiers’.”

They said that although the people who did the attack were wearing our uniforms, they spoke with the Yongning accent and did not have our White-Spear Soldiers' copper tokens hanging from their waists!

And the homeowner of the house that was 'forcibly occupied' secretly told me that a few days ago, some strangers gave him ten taels of silver and told him to resign and file a complaint with the government office!

This is clearly someone impersonating us and deliberately framing us!

Upon hearing this, Qin Liangyu's gaze gradually darkened.

She had sensed something was wrong a long time ago.

Since she took up her post in Chongqing, Xu Keqiu has been on guard at every turn. Now that Jiangnan is in chaos, Xu Keqiu is frequently using "public grievances" to launch attacks. Considering the recent unusual activities of the She family in Yongning, a sense of conspiracy began to creep into her mind.

"Jiangnan is in chaos, and Chongqing cannot afford any more mishaps."

Qin Liangyu spoke slowly, her voice carrying the composure of someone who had been through many battles.

"You don't need to worry about Xu Keqiu's charges. If he wants to impeach you, let him."

His Majesty promoted me to the position of General of Sichuan, bestowed upon me a python robe and jade belt, and even wrote a letter specifically stating that "the soldiers of Shizhu are the bulwark of the southwest." His Majesty has absolute trust in us.

Last year, His Majesty transferred her to Chongqing to guard against She Chongming's potential rebellion.

The She family had been entrenched in Yongning for decades, holding considerable military power. Although they appeared respectful, they had long harbored rebellious intentions.

Now, Xu Keqiu is secretly colluding with the She family and using "public resentment" to force her to leave. He simply wants to remove this thorn in their side and pave the way for the She family's rebellion.

"But we can't let ourselves be wronged for nothing!"

Ma Xianglin stamped his feet in frustration, his young face full of resentment.

"Xu Keqiu has gained benefits from the She family and is targeting us at every turn. If this continues, the morale of our brothers will collapse!"

He had followed his mother into battle since childhood, and his temperament was as fierce as a raging fire. He could not bear such grievances, and his hand unconsciously went to the sword at his waist.

Qin Liangyu glared at him sharply, her eyes as sharp as knives:

"Foolish! If you go to Xu Keqiu to argue now, won't that be playing right into their hands?"

They just want to provoke you into doing something impulsive, so they can solidify the accusation that the 'Stone Pillar soldiers are lawless'!

Ma Xianglin was intimidated by his mother's gaze. He slowly removed his hand from the hilt of the knife, lowered his head, and spoke with a hint of grievance in his voice:

"mother……"

"You go down first."

Qin Liangyu's tone softened, and her gaze fell on her son's shoulder, which was covered in snowflakes.

"The New Year is approaching. Go to the accounting office and get some silver to buy some wine, meat, and cloth for the boys."

Our people came to Chongqing from Shizhu; they've worked hard all year, so they deserve a peaceful New Year.

Ma Xianglin wanted to say something more, but seeing his mother's resolute gaze, he knew further persuasion would be useless, so he could only sigh, bow, and reply:

"Yes."

Watching her son's figure disappear outside the hall, Qin Liangyu turned around and walked to the desk, circling the location of Yongning Pacification Commissioner on the map with a red pen, her eyes solemn.

She walked to the bookshelf, took out an exquisite wooden box containing a secret memorial card personally bestowed by His Majesty.

This is a special privilege granted to her by His Majesty, allowing her to send letters directly to the palace via the urgent courier service.

Under the candlelight, Qin Liangyu spread out Xuan paper, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and her hand was as steady as a rock.

She didn't write about Xu Keqiu's difficult behavior, nor did she mention Ma Xianglin's grievances; instead, she clearly and logically described the undercurrents in Chongqing:

The Yongning She family has recently been frequently mobilizing troops and impersonating White-Spear Soldiers to frame others...

Every word and sentence conveyed caution; he had to explain the situation clearly without appearing flustered, lest His Majesty worry about instability in the southwest.

After she finished writing, she carefully folded the letter, put it in a brocade bag, and then sealed the bag with a seal that read "Personally presented to His Majesty".

Then, she summoned her trusted courier, handed him the brocade bag, and solemnly instructed him:

"Set off immediately, take the secret post road, and send an urgent message over 800 li. Be sure to personally deliver it to Eunuch Wei of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, and have him forward it to His Majesty immediately."

If anything goes wrong along the way, I'll answer to you with my head!

"I will obey your orders!"

The courier bowed and accepted the brocade bag, tucked it into his robes, turned and strode away, the sound of his horse's hooves quickly disappearing into the wind and snow.

Qin Liangyu walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked at the snowflakes falling outside.

The cold wind blew in, carrying snowflakes that landed on her face, but it didn't make her feel cold at all.

Whether this secret memorial can reach His Majesty in time and resolve the crisis in the southwest is a matter of great importance to the safety of countless people and the stability of the southwest of the Ming Dynasty.

Hopefully, His Majesty, with his wisdom and might, can offer her some guidance!

(End of this chapter)