Chaos of Ming 1628

Inside the room, the red curtains had not yet been removed. Even the dragon and phoenix candles that had burned out on their wedding night still stood there.

The dripping wax hung there like a woman's tears.

Yang Qingqing sat upright on the edge of the canopy bed. Although she was no longer wearing a bright red wedding robe, it was still the first time between the two of them.

Logically, a woman should be shy and bashful, but there was not a trace of bride shyness in her eyes, only equal scrutiny and calm weighing of options.

With an upright posture, he did not yield an inch.

Seeing Sun Qing approaching, he breathed a slight sigh of relief, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"I'm here," Sun Qing said softly.

Logically, he should be extremely missing Qingqing, even desperately wanting to hold her in his arms. But at this moment, when he looked at Yang Qingqing, all he felt was wariness and scrutiny.

There seemed to be a wall between the two of them.

"My lord, our marriage is a family alliance and a check and balance in the court. From now on, the best way for us to get along is to each perform our duties and not hinder each other." Yang Qingqing spoke first, her voice clear and cold, each word distinct. "I will fulfill my duty, and I hope my lord will not use his authority to restrain me. Let us live together with dignity and mutual benefit."

These words were frank and clear-headed, and every sentence was reasonable.

She remained so calm even after being neglected for several days.

She never depended on anyone, and even as a bride, she was certain that she had the ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and be his equal.

Aside from the slight unease in my heart, tonight's events were mostly due to a letter from Wei Zhongxian demanding a binding agreement of interests.

Sun Qing stood by the window, his figure upright, his eyes gentle but devoid of warmth.

The situation in the court became increasingly tense, with the Donglin Party launching a desperate counterattack. Ignoring the devastation of the snow disaster, those in the court were solely focused on infighting.

With impeachments against Wei Zhongxian pouring in, the eunuch faction was already in grave danger.

His affair with Yang Qingqing must have some substance. Ideally, a child should be involved to put both parties at ease.

Where Wei Zhongxian needed to retreat, Sun Qing wanted the authority to command the imperial guards.

For the past few days, he had always treated her with gentleness and consideration, being reasonable and tactful in everything he did, and maintaining a respectful and equal attitude towards her.

But now, hearing her clear division and seeing the unyielding strength in her eyes, the cautious tenderness in his eyes slowly faded away.

"You're right." Sun Qing's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority: "In matters of the court, you and I can engage in a game of checks and balances. Between families, you and I can mutually benefit and maintain harmony."

"But here..." Sun Qing stepped forward, "you are my wife."

Once those words were spoken, there was no room for further discussion.

He no longer listened to her arguments, nor did he discuss reason, propriety, or checks and balances with her.

The woman, who had been calm and aloof just moments before, suddenly froze, her confident and assertive gaze completely overwhelmed for the first time by the sudden surge of control.

Sun Qing leaned in and placed his large hand on her chest, personally tearing away the layers of disguise and restraint for her.

He turned the world upside down, the red curtains were warm and fragrant, and he completely possessed this woman.

After one or two times, the sharpness in Yang Qingqing's eyes disappeared completely.

After several times, her face flushed, and she had no strength left. She simply leaned weakly against Sun Qing's chest, like a docile kitten.

Breathing evenly, he stared at Sun Qing's profile, his expression now more complex.

Her voice softened: "Husband, if you want to blame me, it's just that the people in the capital are pressing me hard."

"Hmm," Sun Qing felt uneasy at that moment.

He could be so tireless, staring at that face countless times, denouncing that unwilling marriage.

But at this moment, they still have to negotiate terms with this woman.

"Will you believe me? Rest assured, Eunuch!"

"Give me another half month, and I will make Hejian Prefecture his most reliable escape route."

"Yes," Yang Qingqing said, completely oblivious to the slightest change in Sun Qing's eyes. She leaned on him and said softly, "Of course I trust my husband."

"Tomorrow morning, all the imperial guards will be at my husband's disposal."

Sun Qing pursed her lips tightly.

Yang Qingqing has always only displayed the Imperial Guards in the open. The thousands of secret guards, however, remain hidden and disguised.

Although Sun Qingren was still lying in bed, his thoughts were no longer on the woman.

To stabilize Hejian Prefecture and ensure the survival of its people, the private grain monopoly must be completely broken.

This ensured that all refugees and ordinary people in the region received government-managed relief grain, ensuring that everyone had porridge and every household received relief, thus cutting off the foundation for grain merchants to hoard and manipulate people's livelihoods.

However, the entrenched connections in Hejian over the past century have been intertwined, with gentry forming marriage alliances and grain merchants forming cliques, creating an impenetrable web of personal networks and interests.

This is precisely where the problem is far more difficult to handle than in Jiahe County.

The lives of ordinary people were in the hands of merchants and gentry. Government orders were obstructed at every level. Whenever grain was needed to relieve the people or quell the famine, the first to block it were these grain merchants and powerful families who owned granaries and controlled the local area.

Using the methods employed in Jiahe County simply won't break this deeply entrenched situation.

Jiaohe County held a significant advantage. Furthermore, its small size meant that interpersonal relationships were relatively simple. Any few who dared to rise to prominence were easily suppressed by Wei Zhongxian's name.

At this moment, Wei Zhongxian's power had waned and he was on his last legs. The court was about to be purged, but his accumulated prestige still remained, and the name of the Eastern Depot's secret police was still awe-inspiring.

While the officials in the court dared to overthrow Wei, no one dared to openly defy the old power of the eunuch faction at this time or in the localities.

Everyone fears getting involved in the political infighting, and everyone fears being accused of privately resisting the factory guards.

This is Ma Yu's only weapon to break the deadlock.

With the imperial guards in hand, they could use the pretext of following the secret orders of the eunuchs to investigate hoarding grain, disrupting the government, controlling the local area, and inciting unrest to suddenly blockade all grain shops and private granaries in Hejian.

The next morning.

Sun Qing glanced at Yang Qingqing, who was still fast asleep, and got up first.

He gave a bitter smile as he got out of bed; his back was a little sore from lack of exercise.

They dared not linger and immediately summoned all the elite cavalry to enter the city.

When all the imperial guards were mobilized to threaten the government's grain merchants, they instantly fell silent.

Those gentry and powerful families who had dominated the countryside for generations and influenced the government were terrified when they heard the words "Secret order from Wei Chang, investigation by the Eastern Depot".

They dared to defy the prefect, bully civil officials, and coerce the government, but no one dared to challenge the Eastern Depot.

With Wei Zhongxian's imminent demise, this matter must be handled with utmost urgency.

Since Wei Zhongxian is already infamous, why should we be afraid of adding this crime?

All privately hoarded surplus grain was immediately seized and transferred to the official granary for unified management.

Private sales of grain by merchants were banned, and the circulation of private grain was eliminated throughout the region.

The investigation into the hidden grain reserves of local gentry was carried out and incorporated into the government's disaster relief system.

Anyone who gathers a crowd to obstruct, spreads rumors, or smuggles grain out of the country will be arrested and detained immediately by the imperial guards, without regard to reason or social standing.

No one dared to confront them anymore, and no one dared to obstruct them anymore.

In just three days, the old pattern of grain merchants' monopoly and local gentry's control over people's livelihood in Hejian, which had lasted for centuries, was completely shattered.

Sun Qing did not hesitate and immediately published:

All grain in the region was managed by the government, with unified cooking, distribution, and allocation. There was no distinction between displaced people and natives, or between the rich and the poor. Everyone ate the government-provided communal meals.

With the Imperial Guards around, who would dare to act recklessly?

Within a few days, Sun Qing swiftly suppressed the entire Hejian Prefecture.

There were as many as fifteen soup kitchens in the city for disaster relief.

Sun Qing personally patrolled and inspected the area every day, allowing no room for error.

The people held bowls in their hands, finally able to have a hot meal.

They gathered in twos and threes under the wall, slurping up hot porridge.

"Are these men on horseback forcing us to hand over grain? Are they all officials under the emperor's command?"

"Who cares who they are? Anyone brought by Lord Sun is a savior."

"Yes! If it weren't for Lord Sun, we would have starved to death long ago."

"Therefore, no matter what Lord Sun does, we must trust him; he's doing it all for our own good!"