Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 235 The Grim Retreat After the Trial
Yangzhou.

The darkness before dawn is especially deep.

The thick fog of Jiangnan rises from every inch of the canal and lake, like a thick, boundless white brocade, gently yet resolutely enveloping this magnificent city, renowned for its wealth.

The city was completely silent.

Only the weak sound of the night watchman's clapper, one or two times, came from afar and then drifted away again.

"Bang...bang..." The sound was so weak it seemed to come from a coffin. Each strike not only failed to break the silence, but instead made the deathly stillness even more eerie and unsettling.

This city that never sleeps falls into a true slumber after midnight.

Under the cover of the thick fog and deathly silence, black shadows, like judges crawling out of hell, moved silently through the streets and alleys.

They are wolves that have been lying in wait for a long time, the emperor's sharpest knife.

Yangzhou East Gate, Guangchu Gate.

A city gate guard was dozing off in the gate opening.

He had an empty wine gourd tucked in his pocket, and the sour smell of cheap wine still lingered on his breath.

Suddenly, a hand gripped his throat like an iron clamp, while another hand precisely covered his mouth and nose. Before he could even utter a cry, he was dragged into deeper darkness.

In an instant, more than a dozen dark figures emerged from every corner, moving with lightning speed and without a sound.

The embroidered spring knives in their hands were not drawn; they simply used the hilts, fists, and elbows to strike the back of the neck or temples of the defending soldiers with precision, followed by a series of dull thuds as if sacks were falling to the ground.

Half an hour.

From the East Gate to the West Gate, from the South Gate to the North Gate, control of all the water gates changed hands without exception.

A junior officer from the Imperial Guard walked to the city gate and slowly pulled the heavy bolt open a crack without making a sound. The city gate was ajar, as if only a corner had been blown open by the night breeze.

……

At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), before dawn, the fog grew even thicker.

On the Guangchu Gate tower, the Jinyiwei commander took out a specially made tinderbox from his pocket.

He shook it gently, and a tiny flame, no bigger than a bean, glowed faintly.

As the signal was sent, a tremendous will seemed to be awakened in the silent wilderness outside the city.

The next moment, the six land gates of Yangzhou, which had been slightly ajar, were pushed open, and the heavy door hinges, covered in carefully applied grease, emitted a muffled sound like the breathing of a giant beast.

The city gates opened wide, and what poured in was not the morning breeze, but a silent torrent.

These fierce soldiers were like a group of midnight ghosts, their steps light and swift. The entire army was like a silent black river, silently flowing into the veins of Yangzhou City under the cover of thick fog.

As dawn broke, the fog began to dissipate.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), Wang Laosan, who lived on Pishi Street, opened his window as usual, preparing to go across the street to buy two freshly fried dough sticks.

However, when the window creaked open, he froze completely.

The familiar street scenes are gone.

Soldiers!

Dressed in mandarin duck battle robes, holding long white-handled spears, with cold and stern faces, exuding a murderous aura, they resembled rows of stone figures that had sprung up from the ground.

The streets were deserted, and the fried dough stick shop across the street was closed. At this time of day, there was no sign of the smoke rising from its chimney.

Startled, Wang Laosan slammed the window shut, leaned against the wall, and his heart pounded wildly.

This scene was happening simultaneously in every corner of Yangzhou.

Yangzhou prefectural government office.

Prefect Zhang Guang was awakened in terror from his sleep by his personal attendants.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency! Something terrible has happened! The city... the city is full of government troops!"

"Nonsense!" Prefect Liu, still half-asleep, pulled on his outer robe and retorted, "Where did these government troops come from? Could it be a mutiny by the Guazhou garrison?"

He stumbled to the entrance of the government office, and after just one glance, his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.

The main street outside the government office was filled with well-disciplined soldiers, forming a barrier of long spears that completely isolated his government office from the outside world.

"What kind of troops are these? How dare they be so audacious!" In his panic, Prefect Liu's first reaction was bureaucratic rage.

He stumbled to the entrance of the government office and saw the grim military formation on the street. His heart sank, but he forced himself to remain calm and sternly shouted at the registrar beside him:
"Immediately go there with this prefectural warrant to investigate! Find out who the commander is and where the Ministry of War warrant is! Without this prefectural warrant, they have arbitrarily mobilized troops into the city; this is a serious crime of treason!"

This was the source of his confidence as a high-ranking local official, and also his last effort to try to control the situation. No matter who the other party was, as long as they were still within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, the procedures of "verification" and "command" could not be avoided.

The registrar was terrified, but dared not disobey. He could only steel himself and cautiously walk toward the gate of the government office.

However, he had barely taken half a step out the door when two gleaming white spears, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, crossed and thrust forward, carrying a chilling aura. With a clang, they formed an insurmountable barrier in front of him.

The cold tip of the gun was less than an inch from his nose, and the chilling killing intent made his whole body stiffen and his legs go weak.

The soldiers with guns were expressionless, their eyes vacant, as if the living people in front of them were just air.

The registrar stumbled back, his face ashen, his voice trembling: "Your... Your Excellency... We can't get out... They... They won't listen to our questions, they won't let anyone leave the government office!"

Upon hearing this, the last trace of color drained from Zhang Guang's face.

He finally realized that the other side was not staging a mutiny at all. Ignoring procedures and official precepts meant that their source of power was far above his own, so high that they could completely disregard him!
From the luxurious mansions of salt merchants to the ordinary streets and alleys of commoners, the entire city of Yangzhou fell into an eerie silence within a short hour.

Shops were closed, pedestrians were nowhere to be seen, and the pleasure boats that had been bustling with activity yesterday now lay silently on the lake like giant floating corpses.

Fear, like a thick fog, enveloped everyone's heart.

……

The residence of Wang Zonghai.

Dozens of elite assassins carefully trained by the Wang family charged out, wielding longswords forged in Japan.

The leader, a swordsman said to have wandered from Japan, flashed his blade and slashed at the white-armored soldier at the front like a bolt of lightning.

He was met not with swords and spears.

"puff--"

A faint, almost imperceptible sound of flesh being pierced.

The White-Clad Soldiers' spear formation remained perfectly orderly.

A long spear flashed out from the gap in the shield, piercing the swordsman's throat with perfect accuracy. His long sword was still in a slashing posture, but his eyes were filled with astonishment. Then, with a clang, the sword fell to the ground, and he collapsed limply.

The gun volley moved forward steadily like a moving mountain range, each muffled thud representing the end of a life.

Swords and blades couldn't even get within three feet of the front line; all struggles and bravery seemed laughable and futile.

Li Ruolian's gaze never lingered on the bloodshed in the front yard.

He was like a chess player, only concerned with where the opponent's "general" was.

The back garden, next to the rockery.

Wang Zonghai, dressed in a brocade robe, stood with his hands behind his back. Even though the shouts of battle were deafening behind him, there was not a trace of panic on his face.

Two trusted guards, their auras as deep and imposing as mountains, were working together to lift the stone slab leading to the secret passage.

"My lord, it is an honor to have you here. I have not been able to greet you properly."

Wang Zonghai slowly turned around, looking at Li Ruolian who was walking towards him. His voice was unusually calm, even carrying a hint of the owner's composure. Li Ruolian stopped, met his gaze, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Wang Zonghai, are you preparing for a long sea voyage?"

“It’s hardly a long journey,” Wang Zonghai chuckled, though his smile was chilling. “I’ve just lived in Yangzhou for decades and am a bit tired of it. I’d like to find a quieter place. But you, sir, are making such a fuss. Aren’t you afraid of disturbing His Majesty’s presence?”

"His Majesty?" Li Ruolian seemed to have heard the funniest joke. "Wang Zonghai, haven't you figured it out yet? Tonight's wind is blowing from the imperial palace. You think those people behind you are your backers? No, in His Majesty's eyes, they are just like you, just a pile of dust in this courtyard waiting to be swept... a layer of accumulated dust."

Wang Zonghai narrowed his eyes, and the shrewdness of a businessman vanished instantly, replaced by the ruthlessness of a fallen hero. He knew that the old path of relying on power was no longer viable.

He abruptly changed his tone, becoming incredibly seductive, like a devil's whisper: "My lord, let's speak frankly. I, Wang, have dominated the Huai River region for decades, and the wealth I've accumulated is beyond your imagination. Besides what's in the mansion, I also have three secret vaults on three overseas islands, containing enough gold, silver, jewels, and spices to buy half of Jiangnan. Why must you drive me to such extremes?"

Wang Zonghai stared intently at Li Ruolian: "Of the three secret vaults, I only want one. The remaining two, along with everything confiscated here, are yours, and your brothers'."

He believed that no one could resist such a temptation.

Li Ruolian listened quietly until he finished speaking, then slowly drew the long, narrow Embroidered Spring Knife from her waist.

The cold light reflected off his face, making him appear even more ruthless.

“Wang Zonghai, what you’re saying is quite interesting,” he said softly, as if he were commenting on a play. “However, you’ve miscalculated something.”

He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Before I set off, His Majesty summoned me and said one thing."

Li Ruolian paused, then uttered, word by word, the words that could freeze the heart of any ruthless hero:

"His Majesty said that even if he kills you, all this money and grain will be his!"

These words were sharper than any sword, instantly shattering all of Wang Zonghai's psychological defenses.

His composure, ruthlessness, and calculation crumbled completely at that moment, leaving only endless horror and despair.

Just then, a special cavalryman galloped in, reporting loudly that his voice echoed throughout the back garden: "Reporting to the Vice Magistrate! In Wang Zonghai's study, we found over three hundred secret letters exchanged with important officials in the capital! In addition, we found a draft of a letter of state sent in secret to the Later Jin! His intention is to use one million taels of silver and a map of Jiangnan to collude with the Jurchens to enter the pass, create chaos in the country, and seek personal gain!"

The voice was loud and clear, like the pronouncement of a judgment.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zonghai was first stunned, then his pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill deeper than death rushed from his tailbone straight to his head!
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and a wild, guttural sound came from his throat!

"You...bloody mouths..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Ruolian let out a soft groan.

Several Imperial Guards standing behind Li Ruolian immediately raised their military crossbows.

"Buzz—Puff puff puff puff!"

The buzzing of the mechanism and the dull thud of the crossbow bolt piercing flesh occurred almost simultaneously!

Wang Zonghai, a salt smuggler who once dominated Jiangnan, couldn't even leave a complete last word before his body was pierced by more than a dozen powerful crossbow bolts in an instant.

The immense impact pinned him firmly to the stone slab that should have led to the secret passage to freedom. He was covered in blood, looking like a hedgehog, with lingering horror and resentment in his eyes.

……

Compared to the bloodshed and decisiveness of the Wang family, the surrender at Li Mingcheng's residence was a carefully orchestrated performance.

When the commander of the Imperial Guard kicked open the gate, he did not see a pathetic figure kneeling and begging for mercy. Instead, he saw Li Mingcheng, dressed in the simplest robe of a wealthy man, leading his entire family of dozens of people, bowing respectfully as if welcoming a distinguished guest.

In the center of the hall, on the octagonal table, two items were neatly arranged.

On the left are dozens of neatly stacked account books, each marked with different colored silk threads. Next to them is a general outline detailing the origin and destination of every penny of illicit money, and how it was laundered and flowed into the businesses of other salt merchants.

On the right is a sandalwood box.

The leader of the group, Qianhu, walked in with a slightly amused smirk on his face.

"I, Li Mingcheng, a sinner, respectfully welcome the arrival of the divine angel!" Li Mingcheng stepped forward, bowed deeply, his posture elegant and his words earnest. "Knowing that the royal army has arrived, I, a sinner, have not slept all night. I have collected all the illegal gains of my entire clan and prepared a small gift to help the heavenly army to eliminate the wicked and uphold the nation!"

As he spoke, he personally opened the sandalwood box.

Inside was not gold or silver jewelry, but an exquisite "map of the distribution of secret resources".

The map uses different colors such as cinnabar and gold powder to mark in detail the secret vaults and cellars of the other seven salt merchants, and even shows how many acres of private land each of their concubines owned outside the city.

Qianhu picked up the picture, held it up to the light, and couldn't help but smile.

Li Mingcheng has truly taken betrayal to the extreme.

"You are indeed... quite shrewd and perceptive." Qianhu's voice was devoid of emotion.

Li Mingcheng bowed even lower, a humble smile plastered on his face: "This sinful subject dares not. This sinful subject only wishes to serve His Majesty and Your Excellency with his life, in order to atone for even the slightest sin."

“Very good.” Qianhu rolled up the blueprint and gently patted Li Mingcheng’s cheek with it. “Your life is temporarily in my hands. Now, lead the way, and follow this map to visit your old friends one by one…”

Li Mingcheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and repeatedly said, "Yes, yes! This sinner obeys! This sinner will now lead the way for you, sir!"

As he turned around, a hint of relief at surviving a disaster flashed in his eyes, but he clearly hadn't learned the idiom "the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked" properly in school.

……

The Qian residence was long gone and deserted.

At this moment, Chandler was standing on the deck of a large ship disguised as a grain transport vessel. The sea breeze was blowing his robes, giving him the illusion of ascending to heaven.

Behind them was the city of Yangzhou, now reduced to a tiny dot.

He picked up a glass of wine and raised it in a toast in that direction.

"Wang Zonghai, a man of reckless courage; Li Mingcheng, a spineless slave. How laughable, how lamentable." He took a sip of wine, his face full of intellectual superiority. "To fight against heaven, to fight against earth, to fight against man, is endlessly enjoyable. But to fight against the current emperor, one must outwit him. In this round, I have won."

The emperor wanted money, but he wanted to kill people to establish his authority.

Qian De made the court believe that he had fled far away, while he himself took the most dangerous and least expected route—the canal transport ship—and disappeared into the sea.

Once at sea, he immediately transferred to his own speedboat and sailed towards Luzon.

He only lost a stronghold in Yangzhou, but he gained a vast and open world, a truly independent kingdom!

The boat slowly sailed out of the inland river and entered the wide estuary. Ahead lay the azure sea he had always dreamed of.

However, just as his ship was about to enter the main channel, he saw a sight that he would never forget.

Ahead of his course, several enormous Fujian ships had appeared in a row, seemingly out of nowhere.

These Fujian-style ships were not merchant vessels; the gun ports on both sides of the hull were dark and empty, and the decks were filled with Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes. In the center of these Fujian-style ships, on the most magnificent flagship, an Imperial Guard commander sat leisurely in a grand chair, with a glass of wine on a small table beside him.

Upon seeing Chandler's ship appear, the commander raised his wine cup and offered a toast to him from afar.

Chandler's smile froze, shattered, and vanished in an instant.

The official canal transport ship was a connection he had bribed at an exorbitant price; it was the most foolproof part of his plan!
His elaborate, seemingly flawless escape was, in that instant, like a child's sandcastle being shattered by a merciless wave.

“No…it’s impossible…” Chandler muttered to himself, utterly distraught.

……

Three poles in the sun.

The last name on the list was crossed out.

All eight major merchants of Lianghuai and their core cronies were apprehended without exception.

The city of Yangzhou, this giant prison tailor-made for the salt merchant group, finally completed its mission at dawn.

The city returned to a state of quiet.

But this stillness was no longer the deathly silence before dawn, but the grim silence after the trial.

(End of this chapter)