MLMD -Chapter 256 The Robbery Begins

In this era of imperial rule, people’s reverence for the emperor was innate. Even though scholars spent their days chanting about how the emperor and his ministers jointly governed the realm, deep down, they still held the emperor in awe. Whether that awe stemmed from the emperor’s authority or his power didn’t matter—it existed in everyone’s heart.

Yue Yang, however, was a different story. Asking a young man who had grown up singing “There has never been a savior, nor a divine emperor,” drinking Sudan red tea and Sanlu milk powder, to feel reverence for an emperor was nearly impossible. Especially when this young man already knew that the so-called emperor had dug a massive trap just for him, any trace of respect had long been tossed into the air.

When Yue Yang saw that Chongzhen had actually issued such a pitifully “trap-laden” imperial edict, his perception of the emperor plunged to absolute zero.

Seeing Yue Yang’s icy expression, He Kegang furrowed his brows deeply, but there was nothing he could do. At this moment, he was merely a helper dragged along by Yue Yang to attract resentment. In theory, he could only offer suggestions—he had no right to interfere with Yue Yang’s actions. Of course, rights and responsibilities are relative. If something went wrong later, it wouldn’t be much of his concern; the main person responsible was the audacious-looking man in front of him. He had originally wanted to say a few words of advice, but seeing the expression on Yue Yang’s face, He Kegang realized that even if he spoke with the eloquence of a lotus, he wouldn’t be able to convince him.

The steward whose finger Yue Yang had just twisted, probably burning with desire for revenge, quickly fetched his master. Along with him came more than a hundred household guards, all brandishing clubs and bristling with hostility.

Zhou Xinquan was furious—truly furious. He had just finished lunch and was planning to retreat to his room with his newly purchased maids for some private enjoyment when his steward came running into the inner courtyard, tears streaming, snot dripping, reporting that a group of officers had stormed into the Zhou residence like raging demons. Not only had they injured him, but they demanded fifty thousand taels of silver and a thousand dan of grain, threatening that if he didn’t comply, he would be made to pay dearly.

The first thought that struck Zhou Xinquan was that perhaps his ears were failing and he should see a doctor. The second thought was that his steward was gravely ill and already talking nonsense. Zhou Xinquan was not naive; a businessman who thrived under the emperor must have some cunning. But he had never heard of anyone so audacious as to boldly demand fifty thousand taels and a thousand dan of grain from someone’s home in broad daylight. Not even the emperor himself would dare behave this recklessly. When the steward tearfully recounted how these wretches had even smashed open the front gate, Zhou Xinquan’s rage boiled over. He immediately gathered over a hundred household guards and charged toward the front courtyard.

“You are the lowly warrior who dared demand that I hand over fifty thousand taels of silver and a thousand dan of grain?!” Zhou Xinquan shouted, pointing at Yue Yang who stood in the middle of the front courtyard, the gates of his mansion already toppled.

“Yes, that’s me!”

Seeing Zhou Xinquan’s face turning pale with anger, Yue Yang nodded approvingly and waved the imperial edict in his left hand. “See this? I have been tasked by the imperial edict to collect military funds and supplies in the capital. Wealthy households, gentry, and officials are all expected to respond—those with money provide money, those with grain provide grain, those with strength provide strength. Your mansion is quite well-built, so you are my first stop. How’s that? I’m giving you face, isn’t that enough?”

Seeing Yue Yang’s expression as if saying, “I’m giving you face, you should be grateful,” Zhou Xinquan was so enraged he felt he might faint. As a merchant, thick skin and cunning were a must, but in decades of business, he had never seen someone so shameless. To blatantly extort someone’s property and speak with such self-righteousness—this was a new level. He truly understood the saying, “There is always someone greater, always someone beyond.”

Pointing a trembling finger at Yue Yang, Zhou Xinquan spat out, “You… lowly warrior… how dare you act so unreasonably! Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to the Ming court and have your head taken?!”

Yue Yang maintained a cheerful smile, but his eyes were ice-cold. He stepped closer and shook his head slowly at Zhou Xinquan. “You’re right. I am not afraid. Do you know why? Because the knife that kills is now in my hand…”

At this, Yue Yang circled Zhou Xinquan a few steps and continued, “I gave you the time of one incense stick to decide. Now less than half a clock remains. Have you decided whether you will hand over the silver yourself, or should I take it myself?”

Zhou Xinquan let out a contemptuous laugh and jabbed a fat finger almost into Yue Yang’s nose. “You lowly warrior! I didn’t grow up scared of anything. As long as I don’t consent, not even the emperor can arbitrarily search the mansion of a recognized scholar. I want to see if you dare touch a single blade of grass here. If you do, tomorrow you’ll be waiting for your head to roll!”

Zhou Xinquan’s words were domineering, yet no sooner had he spoken than he let out a piercing scream of pain and shock.

Yue Yang had grabbed that fat, radish-like index finger and twisted. There was a crisp snap, and Zhou Xinquan joined the ranks of his steward—his finger broken, kneeling in agony, clutching his hand and wailing.

Wu Chengfeng, standing silently behind Yue Yang, sneered. As the saying goes, “ten fingers connected to the heart.” His night patrols often used this trick on Mongol scouts. If even those self-proclaimed brave Mongol scouts couldn’t handle it, what chance did a pampered, fat merchant have? This fool of a man had been so cocky, pointing a finger at Yue Yang’s face and daring to speak. Truly, as the saying goes, “If you don’t seek death, you won’t die.”

Yue Yang bent slightly, staring coldly at Zhou Xinquan kneeling and wailing. “I’ve noticed that your Zhou family has a habit of pointing fingers when speaking. Your steward did it, and so do you. I do not like anyone pointing a finger at me, so your fingers are broken. Consider this a lesson. Don’t point at someone else’s face again—it’s dangerous. You need not thank me; I am simply a warm-hearted man by nature. Now, time’s up. Since you still haven’t handed over the silver and grain, I’ll just have to search myself!”

Straightening, Yue Yang shouted, “Men…”

Wu Chengfeng immediately stepped forward. “Yes, sir!”

Yue Yang smiled. “This Mr. Zhou refuses to hand over his silver. Then we’ll have to lend a hand! Wu, you and the men go in at once, find his silver vault and granary, and transport everything to the camp outside the city!”

“Yes, sir!”

Wu Chengfeng saluted and led a thousand fierce soldiers into the inner courtyard. Soon, piercing screams, curses, and cries of pain echoed from within.

Yue Yang ignored the chaos behind him. He walked calmly out of the mansion’s gates, followed by Chen Dazhi and several dozen bodyguards, with He Kegang quickly catching up.

“Lord Yue, aren’t you afraid the emperor will punish you for this?” He Kegang’s steady voice now trembled slightly.

“Afraid, for what?” Yue Yang looked at the street, already crowded with onlookers. The natural curiosity of the populace to watch a spectacle was fully on display.

“What are you doing? Stop!” Chen Dazhi suddenly shouted.

“Lord soldier, please let us pass! We just want to say a word to you!”

Hearing this, Yue Yang said calmly, “Dazhi, let them come through.”

Huang Dafu and Xiao Pan both knelt before Yue Yang, trembling as they pleaded, “Sir, we guided you here. Please, let us go. If the Zhou family finds out we led you, our lives will be forfeit!”

Yue Yang sighed. “Do you think sneaking away means the Zhou family won’t know? I’m not kidding—you leave now, and in less than three days, you’ll be stripped of your official robes and thrown in prison. Your families won’t survive either.”

“Ah…” The two were utterly dumbfounded. They weren’t fools—they knew Yue Yang’s words were true. With the Zhou family’s capabilities, everything they did today would soon be discovered, and cruel retribution awaited.

Xiao Pan slumped to the ground, muttering miserably, “I knew it… we’re dead…”

Seeing their terrified faces, Yue Yang felt some sympathy. He said softly, “It’s okay, don’t be sad. If you can’t stay in Beijing, you can come to Shanxi with me. Today, you’ve helped me, and I won’t treat you unfairly. As long as you guide me properly, I will arrange for your whole family to go to Shanxi, even securing a minor post or position for you. How does that sound?”