MLMD -Chapter 279 I Want to Inspect the Granaries

Chen Xinjia truly could not wait any longer. Ever since Chongzhen had reinstated him, the little flame of vengeance that had once been extinguished had begun to blaze again.

On the very second day after his return to office, Yang Sichang sought him out and made it perfectly clear that his primary task upon going to Shanxi was to restrain and keep Yue Yang in check. To achieve this goal, Chongzhen had also dispatched Gao Qiqian to replace Wei Tonghe as the supervising eunuch of Shanxi. One would be stationed in Taiyuan, the other in Datong—north and south, working together to clamp down on Yue Yang.

Of course, Chen Xinjia did not ask the idiotic question of why the court did not simply strip Yue Yang of his post and escort him back to the capital in chains. Even a fool knew that Yue Yang now commanded eighteen thousand troops, with money when he wanted money and grain when he wanted grain. To move against him directly would be the stupidest possible approach. Moreover, Chen Xinjia could clearly see that Chongzhen’s decision to reinstate him was not because Yang Sichang carried such overwhelming influence, but because—aside from having a personal feud with Yue Yang—he was the best candidate for this task. After all, Yue Yang’s wealth, rich enough to rival a state, and his nearly one million mu of fertile land were enough to make anyone’s eyes turn red with envy.

How to accomplish this assignment properly—this was what troubled Chen Xinjia the most.

At an inn in Taiyuan City, Chen Xinjia, dressed in plain clothes, sat in his guest room slowly sipping the fragrant tea that the attendant had just delivered. Clearly, however, the tea did not suit his taste. After a few sips, he set the cup down.

“Sir, this student has returned.”

Zuo Ting stood with his hands lowered in front of Chen Xinjia and spoke respectfully.

“Mmm. Good that you’re back. Has the matter been taken care of?” Chen Xinjia asked, his expression stern as he looked at Zuo Ting.

“It has been done,” Zuo Ting replied confidently. “This student made a circuit through the northern route of Shanxi. Aside from Zheng Fakui, the prefect of Yingzhou, whose stance remains somewhat ambiguous, Jiang Xin, the prefect of Hunyuan Prefecture, Zhou Dao, the military commissioner of Beihengkou, and the magistrates of several surrounding counties have all expressed their willingness to follow your lead, sir.”

“At least they know what’s good for them.” Chen Xinjia nodded, sneering coldly. “In the end, this world still belongs to the Great Ming. That Yue Yang is nothing more than a mere assistant regional commander, yet he dares to slaughter people in the capital region. Does he really think that having a few troops under his command allows him to act with impunity? If I want to deal with him, I have plenty of ways.”

“Sir, shall we begin immediately?” A flash of barely concealed excitement passed through Zuo Ting’s eyes. There were countless ways to manipulate matters like this. As the liaison, the benefits he could reap would certainly not be few. Naturally, the largest share would go to the court, but Yue Yang was one of the Great Ming’s foremost landlords and money gods—just a little leakage from his hands would be enough to leave Zuo Ting stuffed with grease.

Zuo Ting’s excitement did not escape Chen Xinjia’s notice. Chen smiled faintly. “No hurry. This must be done slowly; we need to plan it carefully. We must wait until Eunuch Gao arrives in Taiyuan to take office. Only when both sides act together will it work. Otherwise, if we push the man surnamed Yue too hard, it will become troublesome. A cornered dog will jump the wall, after all.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched, sir!” Zuo Ting praised admiringly.

“Hahaha…” Chen Xinjia laughed heartily. “Yue Yang, Yue Yang—did you expect this? I, Chen Xinjia, am back again. And this time I’m no mere censor making inspections. I’d like to see whether you still dare to mock me with cold sarcasm as you did before!”

At this moment, Chen Xinjia seemed to see Yue Yang—once so arrogant before him—crawling at his feet. He would then use a series of measures to gradually strip Yue Yang of his power, remove him from office, and finally convict him of crimes. His property would be confiscated in full. And that would not be the end of it—he would even sell all the women of Yue Yang’s household into the Courtesans’ Bureau. Only then would the hatred in his heart be satisfied. Chen Xinjia wanted everyone to know what happened to those who dared offend him!

Although Chen Xinjia had not yet officially taken up his post, news of his appointment as Datong Governor-General had already spread like wildfire throughout Shanxi. If Chen Xinjia’s appointment alone could still be chalked up to coincidence, then the simultaneous appointment of Gao Qiqian as the garrison eunuch of Shanxi inevitably invited speculation.

People in officialdom possessed a political sensitivity far beyond that of ordinary folk. When speaking with superiors, even a cough or a fart from above could be analyzed into all sorts of hidden meanings below—let alone the replacement of two provincial heavyweights in succession.

Officials were always well informed. Even without telephones or wireless radios in this era, that did nothing to impede the spread of rumors. By now, everyone in Shanxi knew that Yue Yang and Chen Xinjia were sworn enemies. As early as last year, Yue Yang had publicly humiliated Chen Xinjia in the Governor-General’s residence, leaving him speechless. And after the troops of the Xuan-Da Garrison gradually withdrew to their original posts, people learned from certain military officers that Yue Yang had also offended Gao Qiqian, a favorite at the emperor’s side. Now the two of them had both been dispatched to Shanxi—one as Xuan-Da Governor-General, the other as garrison eunuch. Could Yue Yang still expect any good days ahead?

Following those in favor and shunning those out of favor had always been an official habit. Before long, many people began to sense subtle changes.

“Dear husband, Shunbao sent word that recently some people of unknown identity have slipped into Wuli Village. They’re wandering around asking about you, and they’ve even been secretly contacting lower-ranking officials there, trying to win them over.” In Yue Yang’s study, Hai Lanzhu handed him a piece of intelligence sent from Yingzhou Prefecture.

Yue Yang took it, set it aside calmly, and asked, “Anything else?”

Hai Lanzhu puffed her cheeks and produced another stack of reports, saying irritably, “Here—these are reports sent by the Mountain Office. Over the past few days, Jiang Xin seems to have gone mad, constantly running outside the city. He’s taken an interest in our newly reclaimed farmland, canals, and farms—and he seems especially interested in our grain depots. He keeps wanting to go take a look, but our people have stopped him. Even so, he’s clearly displeased. And the officials of the surrounding counties have also begun acting ambiguously toward us. In the past, whenever our people went to them on business, everything went smoothly. Now their attitude has cooled. Even very simple matters are being dragged out. That’s not a good sign!”

Yue Yang smiled. “That’s not surprising. Following those in power and avoiding the fallen is a long-standing rule of officialdom. They probably think we’re about to be in trouble and are trying to distance themselves. But it doesn’t matter. I’ll use strength to tell them that nowadays, power games and conspiracies are out of fashion. These days, what matters is whose fist is bigger and whose strength is greater. Although since the Tumu Crisis this dynasty has emphasized civil control over the military, that is not the right path. A nation or a court cannot endure if it values civil officials too much and despises the military. The Song dynasty is a living example—an immense empire, yet even its emperor and consorts were captured. Is that not warning enough? Of course, overemphasizing the military while neglecting civil governance is also wrong; the Tang dynasty’s warlord disasters are another example. Thus, the most important thing in governance is balancing civil and military affairs. Only by grasping this balance can a state enjoy long-term stability.”

As Yue Yang spoke, Hai Lanzhu watched him quietly, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration and affection. She smiled sweetly. “Husband, what you say is wonderful. Your insight surpasses that of the Ming officials. They really ought to hear you.”

Yue Yang burst into laughter and waved his hand. He knew his own limits well. Everything he had said was common knowledge in later generations, analyzed to death by countless scholars and elites in an age of information explosion. He was merely borrowing others’ wisdom—his skin wasn’t thick enough to claim credit for it.

After that, Hai Lanzhu asked again, “Husband, since they’ve already started moving against us, what should we do?”

“What else can we do?” Yue Yang’s expression hardened. “Chen Xinjia and Gao Qiqian haven’t even taken office yet, and already so many people are rushing to kiss their boots. In that case, don’t blame me for showing no courtesy. Tell everyone below: we don’t provoke trouble—but if someone provokes us, then hit back hard!”

Wuli Village · Yue Family Manor

This was where Yue Yang had risen to power and the very foundation of the Yue family. Though Yue Yang and his family no longer lived here, the manor still bore the Yue name, and most of the surrounding land belonged to the Yue family. Just last year, after more than two years of construction, Yue Yang had built a fortress with a radius of over twenty li centered on Yue Family Manor, firmly protecting all of Wuli Village.

The cement works, steel mills, military workshops, and countless farms and ranches that Yue Yang had established in Wuli Village were generating staggering wealth every moment. Conservative estimates put annual profits at no less than one million taels of silver. Such immense riches naturally attracted countless covetous eyes.

It was midday, and the workshops and factories of Wuli Village were closing for the day. Yue Laifu had just finished his routine inspection and walked out of a steelworks when Zhou, the chief foreman of the military workshop, came to find him.

“Clerk Yue, lately quite a few shady characters have slipped into Wuli Village. They wander around every day, asking about our affairs. What do you think we should do?”

Yue Laifu snorted. “What else can we do? Wuli Village was built by the young master with his own hands. Now that he’s not here, I must guard this family property well. Whoever dares touch it, I’ll fight him to the death! By the way, Old Zhou, I’m heading to the farms next. The autumn harvest should be finishing up soon. I need to urge those little brats to hurry up and move the grain into the granaries. If it gets damp from rain, we’ll be in trouble.”

As he was speaking, a minor clerk came running over in a sorry state. Upon seeing Yue Laifu, he shouted, “Sir! Just now an official entered Wuli Village with a squad of Embroidered-Uniform Guards. As soon as they arrived, they acted arrogantly, demanding to inspect the grain at Yue Family Manor. When I and Clerk Huang tried to stop them, they beat us!”

“What?! An official—and he dared to beat people?” Yue Laifu’s beard bristled in anger. “Have they gone mad? How dare they beat people in Wuli Village? Do they not know whose territory this is?”

“Sir, I don’t know either! That official is vicious. As soon as he opened his mouth, he demanded that we prepare grain to pay taxes and wanted to inspect our account books to verify past harvests. So I ran here at once to report to you!”

“Outrageous! They’ve turned the world upside down!” Yue Laifu flared up, ready to march into the village. But after taking only two steps, Zhou grabbed him.

“Clerk Yue, please calm down. This matter is too strange—there may be some scheme behind it. You can’t just rush over like this, or you’ll fall right into their trap.”

Persuaded, Yue Laifu slowly calmed down and slapped his thigh. “You’re right! Just yesterday, when the young master summoned us, he told us to guard the family property carefully and ignore whoever comes. Quickly—send someone to inform Captain Ma to tighten security and guard the fortress well. No one is to enter freely anymore! Also, send someone into the city to tell that brat Shunbao to come here at once. I’m worried that without an official present, we won’t be able to suppress him!”

The clerk asked, “And you, sir?”

Yue Laifu glared. “Of course this old man will go personally! That grain is our lifeline—we absolutely cannot let anyone in!”

“Yes, sir!”

Since the walls of Wuli Village were built, the Yue Family Manor area had become a bustling hub. Thousands of mu of farmland around it had been requisitioned and turned into commercial districts, packed daily with merchants. Only Yue Family Manor itself remained unchanged, though an additional ring of tall walls had been built around it, guarded year-round by soldiers. Everyone knew that inside were stored most of the grain of Wuli Village and even Yingzhou Prefecture, as well as the silver vaults. Calling it a forbidden zone was no exaggeration.

Yet today, a fifth-rank official with a white pheasant embroidered on his chest arrived at the gates of Yue Family Manor, accompanied by several dozen Embroidered-Uniform Guards. Producing an official document from the Yingzhou Prefectural Office, he demanded entry for inspection—only to be stopped by the guards.

Pointing at the four soldiers blocking the gate, the official barked arrogantly, “What do you think you’re doing? I am a court official, here on official orders to inspect this place. If you dare obstruct me, you will be charged with impeding official business and held accountable by the court! If you don’t want to implicate your families, step aside at once—or I’ll charge you with obstructing officials!”

As he berated them, many onlookers gathered outside the manor gates. After all, gossip was a national pastime, timeless and universal.

The lead guard, a squad leader, merely frowned and said, “My lord, this is Yue Family Manor. Without Lord Yue’s written order, no one may enter. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being discourteous.”

“You dare?!” The official, about forty years old, had fairly decent features, but a black mole at the corner of his mouth spoiled the impression, lending him a sinister air.

Pointing at the squad leader, he shouted, “I have orders! Whoever dares obstruct me will be treated as a rebel! Men—break in! Let me see who dares stop us!”

“Yes!”

At his command, the dozens of Embroidered-Uniform Guards behind him shouted in unison, drawing their Xiuchun sabers and advancing menacingly toward the gate.

Seeing this, the squad leader grew nervous. Unsure whether to advance or retreat, he led his men backward step by step. They were nearly at the gate when the Embroidered-Uniform Guards continued to press forward.

The official smiled. As long as he could enter Yue Family Manor, today’s task would be accomplished. He had heard that not only were the granaries inside piled high with grain, but the silver vaults were filled with gold and silver mountains. If he could skim a bit for himself, he’d never have to worry about the rest of his life.

But his dream was quickly shattered by an angry shout: “Who dares make trouble at the gates of Yue Family Manor?!”

As the voice rang out, an elderly man in a clerk’s uniform came running over, panting heavily, followed by several minor officials. Reaching the gate, the old man pointed at the official and shouted, “Who are you, to cause trouble at Yue Family Manor? Don’t you know this is Lord Yue’s estate?”

The official froze for a moment, then flew into a rage. “Insolence! Who are you, to speak to your superior like this?!”

Yue Laifu pointed at him and shouted back, “This old man is Yue Laifu, steward of Yue Family Manor! This is Yue family land—what business do you have here?!”

“Oh? You’re the steward?” The official sneered sideways. “Perfect timing. I’m here on orders to inspect your grain stores. Order your men to open the gates at once—I’m going in to inspect!”

“Bah!” Yue Laifu spat on the ground. “I don’t care whose orders you claim to have. This is Yue family sacred ground. No one is allowed to cause trouble here—or don’t blame me for being rude!”

Enraged that a mere clerk dared speak to him this way, the official shouted, “You damned old fool! How dare you talk to me like that! Believe it or not, I’ll have you arrested right now!”

“You dare?!”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?!” Furious, the official waved his hand, and two Embroidered-Uniform Guards stepped forward to seize Yue Laifu…