Chaos of Ming 1628

Old Yu fell for the trap: "Could it be that the young master has no connection with the Sun family of Gaoyang?"

Sun Qing smiled.

Even if the person in front of him is unknown, Sun Qing would never admit it, after all, walls have ears.

This reminds Sun Qing of Wei Zhongxian. Historically, he is condemned as utterly shameless. This eunuch, a villain who committed countless evils, rose to high office and enjoyed great wealth, yet he aspired to be a saint. He wrote a book, *Essentials of Three Reigns*, and thought he could be on par with Confucius.

Such shamelessness deserves the scorn of the world. But Wei Zhongxian didn't care; he only wanted the world to sing his praises.

With such a large country and so many people, how can we silence public opinion?

But Wei Zhongxian succeeded. As the chief eunuch of the Eastern Depot, his Eastern Depot's spies were spread all over the country, even surpassing those of Emperor Gaozu Zhu Yuanzhang.

The daily lives of Ming Dynasty officials under Zhu Yuanzhang's control, and Wei Zhongxian, even when a few people were drunk in a secret room and hurling insults at him, could still be caught red-handed by someone who suddenly barged in and lose his life.

Think about it, even if ordinary people whisper a few words, someone will listen carefully at the door. How much more so inside a post station?

Old Yu scratched his head and chuckled foolishly, waving his hand madly: "Who is this young master? What does it have to do with me? Anyway, the young master has to give me money after listening to the story."

"If you don't give it to me, I'll throw a tantrum and even throw shit at you."

Such words must come from a madman.

Sun Qing, however, understood the unspoken meaning: no matter who you are, I will not expose your identity; this matter is not for one person to interfere with.

Thus, this perverted man from Gaoyang, the first person to be able to expose his own identity, managed to fool everyone.

This person, however, cannot be driven away. He tells stories in the afternoon and at night. He tells two stories a day, and you have to pay to hear them. If you don't have money, that's fine too, just accept it.

Facing this man, Sun Qing smiled wryly: "Old Yu is a scoundrel."

Old Yu lay on the ground with his legs crossed: "Whether you listen or not is your business. I've said it, so you have to pay me. If you don't settle the bill by the end of the day, I'll stay here and eat and drink with you."

Three days have passed in the blink of an eye.

These three days, regardless of weekdays, were merely observed out of courtesy.

Three days later, inside the county government office.

Those who went to Gaoyuan County, Shandong Province, returned without seeing Sun Chengzong's son, Sun Quan, but received only a letter.

Li Weilin and Zhou Ji unfolded it for a look.

There are only two lines of text.

Li Weilin, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Jiahe County, was able to become Wei Zhongxian's man because he shared the same ability as Wei Zhongxian: he was illiterate.

"Read it!" Li Weilin snapped.

Although Zhou Ji was a high-ranking official, he was still a lackey of the eunuch faction and thus had to be considered inferior to others.

Faced with the reprimand, he dared to speak out, took the letter with both hands and repeatedly agreed, but upon reading it, his face turned ashen.

Sun Quanshu wrote: "The official documents are numerous and complicated. I dare not leave without an official order. Let us each do our own job and not bother you by coming to my door."

Li Weilin's face immediately fell.

Logically speaking, Sun Quan was also a seventh-rank official, with a slightly higher rank than Li Weilin, so it was understandable that he would rush over with just a word, which naturally made Li Weilin unwilling.

The eunuch faction members always acted like bullies, rushing to inform people of "important matters to be dealt with immediately," while others would tell them not to bother them.

"Damn it!" Li Weilin snatched the letter and tore it to shreds. "Sun Quan is just as pedantic as Sun Chengzong, beyond redemption."

"The eunuch will take their heads sooner or later."

Zhou Ji shrank back, not daring to speak. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, who knows how long the eunuch can remain in his position?

"What about Young Master Sun..." Zhou Ji had just started to speak.

Another slap landed on Zhou Ji's face.

Li Weilin glared at him and sneered, "Who knows if it's Young Master Sun or not? A mere member of the Sun family dares to act so arrogantly. I'd like to see just how capable he really is."

"If we can't get Sun Quan to come, we'll make him beg to come."

This left Zhou Ji confused: "Sun Quan is so old-fashioned, why would he come?"

"They don't acknowledge this member of the Sun family, but we will." Li Weilin smiled coldly: "From now on, Sun Qing can only belong to the Sun family of Gaoyang."

"Anything the Sun family of Gaoyang does in Jiahe County is at the behest of the Sun family of Gaoyang."

Li Weilin glanced disdainfully at Zhou Ji, his voice suddenly rising: "You understand?!"

Zhou Ji's eyes flickered, he frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded.

It's afternoon, and it's already the week.

Alone, carrying a blue cloth bundle, he entered the post station with a broad smile on his face.

Three days have passed, and Sun Qing has figured out the place based on what the old man said.

Jiaohe County, Hejian Prefecture, Beizhili, was located at the confluence of two rivers, a key passage leading south from the capital, hence its name.

The winters here are bitterly cold, and summers and autumns are often plagued by floods. When the weather turns cold and droughts and locusts follow one after another, fertile fields often lose their entire harvest in a single season.

The Yan and Zhao regions have always been home to many generous and magnanimous people, and the local people are known for their upright character. However, the world has become corrupt, and the social atmosphere has long since deteriorated.

Now that Wei Zhongxian is in power, corruption is rampant in government offices, exorbitant taxes are levied at every level, and courtrooms have become marketplaces.

In the city, powerful families established their own households, some of whom attached themselves to the eunuch faction, using their power to seize land and monopolize lawsuits; the remaining gentry either fawned on them or kept to themselves, scheming against each other, the strong bullying the weak, and the order of the village was completely destroyed.

The most miserable are the ordinary people, who suffer from scarce land and heavy taxes, and are made worse off in years of famine. They toil all year round but still cannot get enough to eat.

Sun Qing looked at Zhou Ji; he was fat and greasy-looking.

The person who arrived at this moment did not bring anyone to verify Sun Qing's identity, indicating that there had been a mishap on the path to confirming his identity.

"Young Master Sun," Zhou Ji said with a beaming smile, presenting the cloth bundle with both hands. "These clothes were specially prepared for you. It's all the tailor's fault for being so slow, delaying us until today. It's truly my fault."

Sun Qing was dressed in coarse linen clothes, which were indeed uncomfortable. Just as he was about to reach out to take it, he suddenly noticed the pattern in the bundle and involuntarily withdrew his hand.

He chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm: "The late emperor has just passed away, the entire nation is in mourning, yet you've prepared brocade and colorful robes for me?"

"Don't you know that according to the ancestral laws of the Ming Dynasty, wearing Chinese clothing is forbidden within a hundred li (approximately 50 kilometers)? Anyone who violates this rule is openly breaking the law!"

"Is Lord Zhou trying to punish me for disrespecting the emperor?"

Zhou Ji looked flustered, slapped his forehead, and suddenly realized: "Look at me, I was so focused on matching the young master's identity that I overlooked this detail."

"Of course I believe Lord Zhou's words," Sun Qing replied immediately.

Old Yu, who was lying on the ground sleeping with his head sprawled out, suddenly sat up upon hearing this.

Then Sun Qing sneered, "In this life, I, Sun, will live and die with the Sun family of Gaoyang. Whom do you intend to bring trouble upon by sending such a violation of regulations?"

Zhou Ji's face turned as white as paper. He never expected that Sun Qing would see through him so clearly and then speak so bluntly.

It was incredibly awkward for a moment.

Old Yu scratched his backside, yawned, moved to another spot, lay down on the ground, and fell fast asleep again.

Zhou Ji hurriedly explained, "Young master, you misunderstand. I just want to make up for what I did at the execution ground that day."

"The mourning period has only lasted five days; it is indeed inappropriate to dress like this. Please accept it for now, young master, and you may wear it later."

Sun Qing glanced at Lao Yu behind him, then looked at the weekday. With wolves in front and tigers behind, this was no place to linger.

Sun Qing returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his expression calm: "Thank you very much, Lord Zhou, but I have been away from home for a long time and have important matters to attend to. I wish to depart for Gaoyang immediately. I will repay your hospitality in the future."

"Young master, you are unaware of the situation," Zhou Ji interjected, reacting swiftly, "today is turbulent, bandits roam freely, and the roads are fraught with danger. How could you possibly take such a risk?"

"I have already reported to my superiors. Once we receive a reply, we will arrange the necessary personnel to escort the young master back to Gaoyang."

Afterwards, his gaze slowly slid across Sun Qing's face: "Before that, young master, you should stay at the post station for a few more days, for your safety."

Sun Qing's face darkened.

Before he could speak, Zhou Ji bowed again: "If you need anything, young master, please feel free to come to my residence and get it. Whatever you lack, whatever you are missing, it doesn't matter, it's all fine."