Chaos of Ming 1628

Could it be an acquaintance of Sun Chengzong? Sun Qing panicked. Impersonating Sun Chengzong's grandson was a violation of the laws of the Ming Dynasty.

Sun Chengzong was known for his integrity and adherence to propriety throughout his life, valuing reputation above all else. If others used his name to flaunt their positions, wouldn't that be tantamount to handing Wei Zhongxian ammunition against them?

It's important to understand that Sun Chengzong, as a high-ranking official of four reigns and tutor to two emperors, was more than just talented. Crucially, he was extremely low-key and cautious, never taking any risks.

Meng Zhaoxiang, standing before Sun Qing, asked a question that filled Sun Qing with trepidation.

He initially used this identity out of desperation. He knew he had to keep a low profile and avoid strangers. Now, however, it's too late for self-reflection.

Upon encountering Sun Chengzong, an old friend, Sun Qing felt it was worthwhile to bite the bullet and proceed.

He chuckled and quickly joked, "Mr. Meng is truly humorous. I remember when the Great Ancestor returned home, I had just turned thirteen. I am truly ashamed that when I greeted the Great Ancestor, he couldn't even remember my name."

Meng Zhaoxiang was immediately embarrassed. Sun Chengzong had indeed returned to Gaoyang three years ago, but as for that long conversation, it had been six years since then.

Although Sun Chengzong's hometown was Gaoyang, he left his hometown to study at a young age and later entered the palace as the emperor's tutor. If he were a direct descendant, that would be understandable, but as for a collateral descendant, it wouldn't be surprising to meet him for the first time.

Meng Zhaoxiang no longer doubted Sun Qing's identity: "Young Master Sun, I was being presumptuous."

"Young Master Sun is no ordinary person. He is probably already of great importance in the eyes of the Grand Coordinator."

Sun Qing waved his hand and laughed it off.

Old Yu, however, chuckled. Turning around, I saw him curled up on the ground, eyes closed, shaking his wine gourd. He must have been having a silly dream.

Meng Zhaoxiang turned his face away, refusing to look at him.

Su Jiuda, who had been listening intently, frowned deeply when he was interrupted.

He couldn't help but mutter, "I only showed him some respect because he was running errands for Young Master Sun. Alas, he's just a commoner after all, so utterly lacking in manners."

Meng Zhaoxiang gave a half-smile, simply nodding and saying, "Yes!"

"Why don't we ask him to leave? Then the three of us can have a detailed discussion."

Sun Qing didn't budge. What a joke! Who was Lao Yu? He was Song Xian. As for Meng Zhaoxiang, he had only been back in his hometown for a year, and the two of them had even passed the imperial examination in the same year.

It would be a joke if Sun Chengzong, who could talk to Meng Zhaoxiang all night, didn't know Lao Yu's true identity.

I'm afraid that if Sun Qing just nods in agreement, I won't be able to keep my identity a secret.

Old Yu pretended to be deaf and dumb, but that doesn't mean everyone does.

Sun Qing said solemnly, "We are all people who serve the people. If it weren't for Lao Yu, we wouldn't have been able to save the refugees. We don't need to care about his behavior, and we don't need to cover things up for him."

Su bowed deeply and said, "Young master, you have a magnanimous heart; I admire you."

"Young Master, you serve on behalf of the Grand Coordinator; your virtue goes without saying," Meng Zhaoxiang affirmed.

Sun Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he had just passed a test.

I've passed this hurdle. A gust of wind blew, sending a chill down my back. Only then did I realize that I was covered in cold sweat during the conversation.

"Young master, let's get down to business!" Meng Zhaoxiang gave Lao Yu a meaningful look before walking over and carefully closing the doors and windows. Seeing that the postmaster was guarding outside, he returned with peace of mind.

He slowly began to speak: "Young master, actually, this old storyteller brought me seven hundred taels of silver. I invited Xiao Su to come and discuss ways to appease the refugees."

"We were worried that something might happen to the young master, but we didn't expect that he had made arrangements in advance. He was a lucky man."

"But now, the death of the captain is no small matter. The eunuch faction will surely make a big fuss about it. We have come here to discuss with you, young master, how to send you back to Gaoyang."

"With the Grand Commander here, he will surely protect the young master."

Sun Qing was both amused and exasperated. Even during the Tianqi era, Wei Zhongxian couldn't touch Sun Chengzong, let alone after Chongzhen ascended the throne. The emperor, carefully cultivated by the Donglin Party, naturally harbored deep hatred for the eunuch faction. Wei Zhongxian only had a little over two months left.

The key is that there are many things that can be done in the past sixty years, enough for the grass on Sun Qing's grave to grow three feet high.

Undoubtedly, Sun Chengzong was capable of protecting his people. The key point is that the Sun family wasn't a large, insignificant group. Whether someone was a relative or not was easy to discern at a glance.

Isn't this like rescuing him from the wolves only to send him to the tiger's den?

"No!" Sun Qing stood up abruptly, his expression solemn, and said sternly, "If I were to turn away, how would the anger of the eunuch faction be appeased, and how would the people find peace? Though I am inexperienced, I am not one who cowardly clings to life."

The two men looked at Sun Qing with unusually bright eyes.

Scholars value integrity and have their own code of ethics. Sun Qing's words and actions perfectly embody the attitude that scholars uphold.

Although Meng Zhaoxiang was over fifty years old, his hands trembled as he tightly grasped Sun Qing's hands, crying, "Young Master, Young Master!"

"Do you know how cruel the eunuch faction was? How much suffering did Lord Yang endure back then! And, and..." Meng Zhaoxiang simply couldn't continue.

When Wei Zhongxian suppressed the Donglin Party, the methods he used were absolutely inhuman!

"I'm afraid they'll capture the young master, and he'll die without ever showing a single scratch."

As they spoke, their minds were filled with many thoughts, and their eyes reddened as they secretly wiped away tears.

Sun Qing wept; he was well aware of the gravity of the situation. At least the eunuch faction was someone he could deal with, someone he could scheme against, someone he could survive in the cracks. Facing Sun Chengzong, he thought of his entire family of forty-eight who had died on the battlefield. Faced with such a loyal and virtuous man, he couldn't bring himself to lie.

"Sigh!" Sun Qing turned around, walked to the window, and said worriedly, "Even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, we have to get through it."

Even the sleeping Old Yu sat up abruptly after the words were spoken, staring at Sun Qing's back.

Old Yu's gaze was heavy and distant, as if he were looking at Sun Qing, or perhaps looking through him into a very far place.

Meng Zhaoxiang and Su Jiuda were already in tears. The way of scholars is to be loyal to the people, to serve the country, and to uphold righteousness, without fear of sacrifice.

The two men suddenly bent their knees and knelt down before Sun Qing, saying, "Young Master Sun, please rest assured."

"If you bleed, my lord, then we two will soon be buried in the earth."

"Yes, young master, I, Su Jiuda, will do anything for you, even risk my life, to help you eliminate the eunuch faction."

Sun Qing quickly turned around and helped the two of them up, remaining silent for a long time.

The purge of the eunuch faction was to be carried out by Emperor Chongzhen. From his own heart, Sun Qing was unwilling to eliminate Wei Zhongxian.

The fact that the Ming Dynasty's fortunes lasted for seventeen years has become a myth. What if Wei Zhongxian hadn't hanged himself so early? Would the Ming Dynasty still be so short of money?

Emperor Chongzhen was indeed a bit too anxious. The national treasury was not yet full, and factional strife still existed. How could he possibly eliminate this person?

But for now, Sun Qing has no choice but to cooperate.

He grasped their hands in return and said passionately, "Then this junior shamelessly begs the two seniors to lend a helping hand."

The two readily agreed.

His tone gradually softened.

"Young Master Sun," Meng Zhaoxiang suddenly smiled, then changed the subject, "open attacks are still manageable, but it's the hidden arrows that are hard to guard against."

"For the sake of your safety, young master, please do not look down on the guards we have arranged for you."

So you're sending someone over?

Sun Qing smiled bitterly. Old Yu had already made him act unnaturally, and now someone else had come.

One after another, they come into his life. Can he still shake off all these troubles and disputes?

"Still not..."

Before the word "use" could be uttered, the door opened.

The postmaster, accompanied by a young woman, stood at the door.