Chapter 345: They Think I Wouldn't Dare to Act?

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the twelfth year of Chongzhen. (Eight

From this day on, the eastern region was suddenly thrown into turmoil. Starting in the morning, shops within the city of Yanqing began to close, and all buying and selling ceased entirely. The city's residents, seized by panic and alarm, set off a wave of panic buying. By the afternoon, before all shops had completely shut their doors, the price of rice had already soared to four thousand wen per dou.

Under the contagion of panic, the prices of all kinds of goods in Yanqing—cloth, salt, tea, timber—also skyrocketed, until finally there were prices but no goods to be had.

Very quickly, the wave of market strikes spread to Huailai City, Yongning City, Baoan Garrison City, and other places. Panic buying became the norm everywhere. Only in Baoan Department City, although prices rose considerably, did things remain relatively calm overall.

A scene of desolation hung over every city's markets. The common people were in a state of fearful anxiety, not knowing what had happened. Not only that, but vast tides of petitioners appeared in the streets of every city, stopping officials to weep and appeal to the department magistrates, garrison commanders, military defense commissioners, and others, demanding that they stop the State-Pacifying General Wang Dou from imposing commercial taxes.

Everywhere, street corners and alleyways were packed with wailing crowds, and all sorts of anonymous posters and notices were plastered everywhere. If any official passed through the streets and alleys, they were met with a constant barrage of tiles and stones hurled by the crowd.

That day, the Guanshan Academy of Yanqing Department announced a class strike. Hundreds of students marched to the department government office to petition Department Magistrate Wu of Yanqing, opposing the State-Pacifying General's tyrannical exactions and his act of competing with the people for profit. Department Magistrate Wu Zhi came out to speak to the students, claiming that he himself strongly disapproved of Wang Dou's tax proposal and would certainly advise the military circuit intendant to urge the State-Pacifying General to abandon such a notion that provoked the wrath of both heaven and the people.

Yanqing Department Garrison Commander Chen Enchong also stood beside Wu Zhi, declaring to the crowd that the talk of the State-Pacifying General imposing commercial taxes was pure rumor. Even if his venerable lordship had such an idea, he must have been deceived by petty men. As a subordinate, he would, with the utmost speed, advise the general and restore the eastern region to a land of peace.

Faced with the market strikes, class strikes, and petitioning crowds in every city, Baoan Garrison City Commander Xu Zucheng condemned such acts of disturbing the markets and showing contempt for the authorities. After being pelted with tiles and stones, his blood surged, and he ordered his own retainers to open fire and shoot arrows, leading to a bloody clash between the two sides.

Yongning City Garrison Commander Wang Yide attempted to stop the crowd but was likewise met with a barrage of tiles and stones. His mouth and nose bled. Lacking Xu Zucheng's boldness, he fled in panic into the garrison commander's residence to take shelter. In his disheveled state, he even lost his official boots.

In Baoan Department City, some merchants also tried to close their shops and organize processions, but they were subsequently beaten by enraged local military households, chased and struck from one end of the street to the other. Their shops were also smashed and emptied. The military households rained curses upon these merchants: "Treacherous merchants, get the hell out of Baoan Department! Whoever dares to oppose the State-Pacifying General is our enemy."

"Damn your mother! If you lot ever want to do business in Baoan Department again, I'll take your surname!"

Zheng Jinglun, the shopkeeper of the Wanshenghe Rice Shop in Baoan Department City, and Lai Mancheng, the proprietor whose business had already expanded to the department city and was still named Qingtianfu Commercial Firm, openly declared their firm support for the State-Pacifying General and their absolute refusal to engage in such treacherous merchant acts that disrupted the markets.

Their statements were widely praised by the military households, and that day, their shops' business turnover increased fivefold.

Merchants in Yongning City likewise went on a market strike. Merchants and students organized processions, but they did not dare to gather in front of the Branch Defense Assistant Regional Commander's residence. Even those who might have been curious onlookers dared not show up. After all, the State-Pacifying General Wang Dou's prestige was no trivial matter. Coupled with the Shunxiang Army's far-reaching martial renown, who would dare cause trouble in front of the general's mansion?

Moreover, the message of the petitioning crowds everywhere was very clear: this action was not directed against the State-Pacifying General himself, but against the "petty men" behind him. As long as the State-Pacifying General rescinded his order, they would absolutely and firmly support Wang Dou's governance of the eastern region.

Faced with this sudden wave of market and class strikes, Military Defense Circuit Intendant Ma Guolei was dumbfounded. Confronted with the processions and tearful appeals of Huailai's merchants and scholars, he expressed that he would handle the matter with great care and would consult with the State-Pacifying General to come for discussions. However, considering that the market strikes affected the people's livelihood, he requested that all merchants reopen their markets and students resume classes. Only then, he said, could the matter be deliberated at length.

After his appeal was rejected, Ma Guolei suddenly "fell ill" and remained holed up in the military defense circuit residence, no longer showing his face.

Only the Eastern Region Grain Administration Assistant Prefect Guo Shitong was secretly delighted. He openly declared that it was precisely because of Wang Dou's arrogance and ignorance that today's calamity had been brought about. He suggested that Wang Dou read more of the sages' classics; perhaps then he would not act so rashly in the future.

As the class and market strikes entered their second day, the officers and soldiers gathered at various forts, worried that they would be unable to buy grain, oil, and salt, also began to stir restlessly. With such events suddenly occurring in every city, the military households and common people everywhere, in their alarm, all turned their eyes toward the general's mansion, hoping that the State-Pacifying General would have a way to handle the situation.

Unlike those merchants, scholars, and military men, these ordinary commoners held deep expectations of Wang Dou. They hoped that under Wang Dou's governance of the eastern region, everyone could live as good a life as the people of Baoan Department. Moreover, Wang Dou's suppression of bandits and opening of military farms had, in a short time, won the hearts of the many commoners in the eastern region.

What did the merchants' and scholars' protests against commercial taxes have to do with them? They didn't run shops, nor did they smuggle goods beyond the frontier. But they still hoped this wave of unrest would pass quickly; after all, the merchants' market strike had too great an impact on them.

The soaring prices were something ordinary commoners could not bear. Everyone just wanted to live a stable and peaceful life. If they ran out of rice at home, they wanted a place to buy it, and they didn't want it to be so expensive.

Hearing about the class and market strikes everywhere also made them panic. How could so many troubles suddenly arise?

At this moment, the Branch Defense Assistant Regional Commander's residence, the very center of the storm, was very calm.

"Students on a class strike, merchants on a market strike, and now the soldiers are about to make trouble too."

Wang Dou gazed out the window for a long time, then turned around and said with a smile, "Very lively, very interesting!"

The spacious main hall of the Assistant Regional Commander's residence was packed with members of Wang Dou's staff. The State-Pacifying General was still in the mood to chat and laugh, but they did not share Wang Dou's calm state of mind.

Zhang Gui, the Commissioner of Civil Affairs, said worriedly, "General, for the merchants to suddenly go on a market strike, and the students even more suddenly on a class strike—there must be a conspiracy behind this. But the most urgent task is to get the merchants to reopen their markets. Otherwise, with prices soaring, the common people will inevitably blame you, General, damaging your prestige."

Wang Dou nodded noncommittally. Gao Shiyin flew into a rage: "Damn it all! I said back then that these treacherous merchants were no good. General, please issue an order: if those treacherous merchants dare to continue the market strike, arrest them all and execute them."

Wang Dou nodded again. Wen Fangliang mused, "Strange. How is it that the word spreading outside is that the General intends to impose commercial taxes? It seems our staff has not yet made such a plan?"

Wang Dou also pondered: "Indeed. Although I have such an intention, I have not yet implemented it. Why is the banner raised outside a protest against my imposition of commercial taxes?"

"There is certainly something odd here."

Ye Xizhi and Qin Yi, having performed outstandingly within the staff during this period, had also been invited to take seats, and were naturally very excited. This crisis was an opportunity for them.

Qin Yi pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands toward Wang Dou and said, "General, this student believes that someone is definitely spreading rumors among the people, using wicked words to deceive the masses. Their intent is extremely malicious."

He analyzed: "Throughout the Great Ming, officials and merchants are one body, especially in the border garrisons where private trade by merchants is extremely rampant. The General's intention to strictly inspect the border passes naturally cuts off the livelihoods of many unscrupulous merchants. They hate you to the bone but have no pretext. Opposing commercial taxes is a perfectly justifiable cause. Since the Wanli era, waves of opposition to mining taxes have surged across the Great Ming. Many mining tax eunuchs have been utterly disgraced, and even the Illustrious Emperor had no choice but to cancel the commercial and mining taxes."

"If the General adopts a tough stance, their scheme succeeds, and henceforth the General's reputation among merchants and scholars will be greatly diminished. If the General retreats, it likewise damages your prestige, and in the future, implementing any policies in the eastern region will no longer proceed smoothly! This scheme is quite vicious, but I do not know who is spreading these words."

Ye Xizhi said, "The most urgent task is to make the merchants reopen their markets. The common people cannot afford such losses. As time drags on, they will certainly harbor much resentment against the General. The General's heartfelt efforts to suppress bandits and bring peace to the people will all be washed away."

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "A truly excellent scheme!"

At this moment, Wen Daxing, the Commissioner of the Intelligence Division, and Liu Benshen, the Director of Internal Affairs, hurriedly entered.

As a former Embroidered Uniform Guard Company Commander of Zhending Prefecture, after Liu Benshen had made a statement to Wang Dou in the third month, Wang Dou, considering his abilities, appointed him as Director of Internal Affairs, specifically responsible for counter-intelligence matters in the eastern region, strictly guarding against all kinds of spies, and especially dealing with reconnaissance efforts from the Qing state.

Liu Benshen was an ambitious man. Having served long within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he naturally had his own methods. However, the Intelligence Division had just been established, and the training of relevant personnel could not be perfected in a short time. Deploying control and defense across the entire eastern region still required time.

Two days earlier, after the wave of class and market strikes appeared in the various cities of the eastern region, Liu Benshen had been ordered by Wang Dou to monitor and investigate. Now that he had come in haste, he must have his own intelligence findings.

As for this man Liu Benshen, the various members of the staff actually did not much like him. He was usually taciturn, and his eyes always flickered with a gloomy light. When with everyone else, he habitually stood in the darker corners of the room. While others were fully exposed, he secretly observed something from behind the scenes. Before him, it seemed that everyone had no secrets to speak of—a feeling that made people uncomfortable.

Now standing before Wang Dou, he was also expressionless as he slowly reported the results of his investigations: "The market strike is led by Zhang Wanshan, who contacted merchants from various cities to conspire together. His nephew is the former Eastern Region Assistant Regional Commander, now Regional Military Commissioner Zhang Guowei. Whether Zhang Guowei is the mastermind behind the scenes, this humble official is still investigating!"

"Many are involved in the market strike conspiracy. This humble official suspects that Eastern Region Grain Administration Assistant Prefect Guo Shitong, Yanqing Department Magistrate Wu Zhi, Huailai Garrison Commander Huang Changyi, Yanqing Garrison Commander Chen Enchong, Jinghu Fort Garrison Commander Song Jiaxuan, Zhousigou Fort Drill Commander Chen Qinluan, Heihanling Fort Defense Commander Ding Fangming, and Liubin Fort Defense Commander Guo Cairong are all complicit. Their strategy is to make a feint to the east while attacking in the west, in order to thwart the General's strict inspection of the border passes."

The people in the hall were moved. So many people were secretly plotting and participating.

"The class strike is led by Ceng Youxian, the Academy Director of Guanshan Academy in Yanqing Department, and Wu Lue, the son of Yanqing Department Magistrate Wu Zhi. Through this humble official's detection, it is suspected that Wan Meier, the newly taken concubine of Wu Lue, is a spy for the Eastern Slaves. Regarding the related rumors, this humble official believes that this woman spread them!"

"This woman, Wan Meier, was once an old acquaintance of Han Lu, the current Laishui Garrison Commander." Wang Dou's hand trembled slightly. Wen Fangliang murmured, "It can't be."

A dead silence filled the hall, with only Liu Benshen's emotionless voice continuing to echo: "In the first month of the tenth year of Chongzhen, Garrison Commander Han married Lady Zheng of the Wanshenghe Rice Shop, and Wan Meier disappeared from Baoan Department. At the end of last year, she appeared in Yanqing Department, where, due to her beauty, she was taken as a concubine by Wu Lue. It is suspected that out of love turned to hate, she was bought off by the Eastern Slaves during this period."

Everyone in the hall collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Benshen continued: "This humble official also suspects that Ceng Fuyang, the son of Ceng Youxian, is a spy for the Eastern Slaves. This humble official has already observed that Ceng Fuyang and Wan Meier have close and frequent contact, and their movements are suspicious. In the cities of Huailai, Yanqing, and Yongning in the eastern region, among various officials, generals, and merchants, there are many suspected of colluding with the enemy. This humble official is currently investigating." Wen Fangliang sucked in a breath and said, "It can't be. There are so many spies in the eastern region? That Ceng Youxian seems to be the Academy Director of Yanqing. Although famous for his stinginess, he is still considered to be of high virtue and prestige. His son... could Director Liu have made a mistake?"

Liu Benshen bowed to Wang Dou and said, "The Eastern Slaves are exceptionally cunning and are most skilled in espionage. Since the time of the old slave, they have spared no expense in lavishly funding spy workers, even building a 'Barbarian City' specifically for espionage purposes. Initially, Li Yongfang was the ringleader; later, his son-in-law Wu Changchun took over. Their agents pose as merchants, monks, Daoists, beggars, or artisans of all kinds. Their spies are spread far and wide, seeping in through every crack."

"The timing of the Sarhu campaign was leaked in advance. The fall of Guangning, Liaoyang, and other cities was all due to their agents acting as internal collaborators. During the Tianqi era, the 'Barbarian City' bought off Ming turncoat generals like Ji Yingcheng, Ceng Yougong, Liu Bao, and Liu Boqiang, leading to the defeat and death of General Zhang Pan and Army Supervisor Ma Shilong—all because of these spies and turncoat generals."

"Later, Liu Bao, Wu Changchun, and others were arrested and brought to justice by the Eastern Depot and executed by slow slicing, which can be considered revenge for General Zhang and the others!"

Everyone in the hall fell silent. So rampant were the Eastern Slaves' spies. Wang Dou stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. He smiled and said, "Excellent. Class strikes, market strikes—such a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering uproar, yet it is all for their private gain, to facilitate their aiding the enemy and betraying the country."

He smiled and said, "Do they think I wouldn't dare to act?"

He said flatly, "It's good that they've jumped out. I can kill them all off cleanly in one go!" j A Mortal's Journey to Immortality (Eight.. Baidu Search)