Chapter 519: The Garrison Eunuch Zhang Wei Has Stumbled

Xu Xianchun watched Mao Guangqi leave, then stepped into the room.

He glanced at Zhang Wei and asked with a smile: "Have you finished your talk, Eunuch? Satisfied, I take it?"

Hearing Xu Xianchun's words, Zhang Wei nodded and replied with a smile as well: "Of course. Many thanks, Magistrate Xu."

"This is nothing — we're all one family here, no distinction between yours and mine." Xu Xianchun said matter-of-factly: "Eunuch Zhang, whatever matters you have, you can always bring them to me. What we can do, we'll certainly do for you."

"Magistrate Xu isn't joking?" Zhang Wei asked with a smile, speaking the most serious words in the most jocular tone.

"Of course." Xu Xianchun nodded and said seriously: "Whatever Eunuch Zhang entrusts, we'll certainly see it done. Just say the word, Eunuch Zhang — what is it?"

"I want to protect a man." Zhang Wei looked at Xu Xianchun and said: "That man is Han Guotai. If Magistrate Xu can agree, nothing could be better. I would be endlessly grateful."

"So it's that man." Xu Xianchun frowned and said: "That one is rather difficult to handle. He accused Mao Guangqi, but had no evidence, and all those charges were false. This sort of false accusation is not easy to manage."

"What's the difficulty? Just say it was a misunderstanding, and it's done, isn't it?" Zhang Wei said matter-of-factly: "Surely Magistrate Xu can't handle even this?"

There was a hint of provocation in this, paired with just the right expression and a hesitant tone — the killing power of these words was considerable. Zhang Wei felt it would work. He watched Xu Xianchun quietly, waiting for him to speak.

"This matter is rather troublesome." Xu Xianchun said with a sigh, looking as if he didn't know what to do.

Zhang Wei glanced at Xu Xianchun, and a smile spread across his face.

No need to play this game with me — this is all tricks I've long since left behind. Saying it's hard to handle while actually angling for a bribe — this sort of thing is all too common.

Zhang Wei said: "No matter. As long as it can be done, difficulties are no problem — if there are difficulties, we'll solve them. Whatever the difficulty, Magistrate Xu has only to speak, and we'll certainly see it accomplished. Speaking of which, there is actually one matter I'd like to discuss with Magistrate Xu."

"Is that so?" Xu Xianchun looked at Zhang Wei with keen interest and asked: "What matter does the Eunuch have?"

"A few days ago I made the acquaintance of a merchant from Jiangnan who lost money doing business in the capital. He wants to sell a residence he owns there. It's not too far — about three li outside the palace gate — a compound of roughly five courtyards. Would Magistrate Xu be interested?" Zhang Wei said with a smile, his expression full of confidence, certain that no one could refuse.

A compound that large in the capital — that wasn't something money alone could buy. As long as he put forward this condition and Xu Xianchun agreed, the matter could be settled.

For the Han family, this was nothing more than a matter of money. Anything money could solve wasn't a problem. As for things beyond money, they could solve those too — it was merely a residence in the capital, hardly a great matter for them.

In fact, if it could be settled this way, they'd even come out ahead.

Hearing these words, Xu Xianchun couldn't help but marvel inwardly — these people truly had a lavish hand, giving away a grand compound in the capital as if it were nothing.

One had to know — living in the capital was no easy thing; this was no longer a question of money. To buy such a residence was no simple matter. Though perhaps they already owned it to begin with.

Xu Xianchun stroked his beard and said with some hesitation: "Though it's a bit difficult, it can be done. Only, there are still some obstacles."

Hearing Xu Xianchun open his mouth, Zhang Wei said with a smile: "Difficulties are no concern. As long as Magistrate Xu is willing to help, everything else is easy to arrange."

"Oh, right — that merchant also has two shopfronts, which should also be sellable to Magistrate Xu. As long as Magistrate Xu is willing to take them over, the price can be pressed down a bit. After all, there aren't many who can take them off his hands right now. And in that part of the capital, he doesn't want to deal with just anyone — he can't trust them, and one careless move and he'd be swindled. For someone like Magistrate Xu, he's willing to lower the price."

Zhang Wei watched Xu Xianchun, and seeing him look tempted, couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

People really were all the same — they talked of principles and loyalty, but when it came down to it, the money just wasn't enough.

Wasn't he himself once principled and loyal in his own day? And what good had it done him?

When it came down to it, money was what was real. Over all these years, he'd seen officials great and small — didn't they all do things for money?

This actually gave Zhang Wei a kind of pleasure — everyone was like this, so no one could point fingers at anyone else.

Zhang Wei prodded Xu Xianchun once more, saying directly: "That residence plus two shops — the merchant's asking price is eight thousand taels of silver. If Magistrate Xu fancies it, I think the price can still be negotiated lower."

Hearing this, Xu Xianchun's expression changed.

Eight thousand taels of silver — this price wasn't high, it was far too cheap. A residence that large, with that many courtyards, and shops besides — a mere eight thousand taels of silver. This wasn't a sale — this was a gift!

If he got his hands on it and flipped it, even just one of the shops would sell for far more than that.

So this was the Han family's way of sending him a gift. Truly not bad at all.

Xu Xianchun said: "I never imagined Eunuch Zhang had such connections — truly remarkable. This humble official is full of admiration!"

Zhang Wei waved his hand and said: "Nothing worth mentioning, nothing worth mentioning."

Though he said this, the pride in Zhang Wei's bearing was plain for anyone to see at a glance.

Xu Xianchun didn't bother to expose Zhang Wei — clearly this man had gotten carried away here in Yangzhou, much like Mao Guangqi.

At that moment, another voice suddenly rang out.

The voice said: "With such fine connections, why not introduce them to me as well!"

Having said this, the man strode in directly from outside. He glanced at Zhang Wei, then at Xu Xianchun, and said: "I'm quite hard up these days. Why don't the two of you take me along?"

Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Xianchun looked over and saw that the one who had arrived was indeed Chen Hong.

Xu Xianchun dared not be remiss. He rose directly and walked before Chen Hong, saying respectfully: "Greetings, Eunuch Chen. Your honored presence truly graces this humble place."

Glancing at Xu Xianchun, Chen Hong said: "I'll remember this favor. No need for all these empty formalities."

"Yes, Eunuch." Xu Xianchun acknowledged and said: "Should this humble official dismiss everyone here, so that Eunuch Chen and Eunuch Zhang can speak privately? Call me back when I'm needed."

Hearing this, Chen Hong glanced at Xu Xianchun and said: "No need for such petty schemes. Keep your people here and listen obediently — don't get any wild ideas."

If he let them withdraw now, Chen Hong knew he'd never be able to explain himself.

Whatever happened here today, Xu Xianchun would not dare conceal a shred of it — he would certainly write a routine memorial to inform His Majesty. If he and Zhang Wei spoke privately, what would that look like? How would His Majesty view him?

That would be courting death in the worst way.

The exchange between the two was perfectly clear, yet Zhang Wei, sitting there, felt he couldn't hear it properly.

His head was spinning, his ears ringing, and he felt utterly unwell.

He gripped the chair with both hands and stood up, but no sooner had he risen a little than he collapsed back into it. Then he stood up once more, and with a thud, fell to his knees.

Looking at Zhang Wei prostrate on the ground, Chen Hong said: "Why have you knelt? Come now, get up."

"A man of such vast reach as Eunuch Zhang, whose word is law here in Yangzhou — I wouldn't dare let you kneel like this. If word of this got out, I fear I wouldn't even walk out of Yangzhou alive. Get up, quickly!" Chen Hong said slowly, his voice dripping with that peculiar effeminate spite peculiar to eunuchs.

Xu Xianchun listened from the side, his face expressionless, but in his heart he understood — Chen Hong hated Zhang Wei to the bone.

What was this?

This was preparing to strike Zhang Wei down hard — in plain terms, to finish him off.

The reason could be guessed well enough. People in the palace were different from officials. Those in the palace were the Emperor's confidants — sent out to oversee the regions on His Majesty's behalf.

But instead of overseeing the regions, you've thrown in with the local powers, taking bribes left and right and doing their bidding. And now you've even helped them recruit people and deliver bribes — is that what a eunuch ought to be doing?

If His Majesty the Emperor were to learn of this, not a single senior eunuch in the palace would escape — all of them would be punished. What is the Directorate of Ceremonial even for?

And Chen Hong, of course, was even less able to escape. Under such circumstances, how could Chen Hong not hate Zhang Wei?

Only killing Zhang Wei would ease that hatred.

Zhang Wei was still lying prostrate on the ground, his body trembling — he simply could not stand up.

With Chen Hong here, things had become truly serious.

Who was Chen Hong?

The current emperor's personal eunuch, attending to him every single day.

Xu Xianchun, a high-ranking member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the current emperor's trusted confidant, had accompanied him on this trip south to Jiangnan.

Originally, the emperor should have been in Nanjing, and these men should have been there too. Xu Xianchun appearing in Yangzhou could still be explained away, but Chen Hong had also shown up in Yangzhou. For the two of them to appear together in Yangzhou could only prove one thing: the emperor was in Yangzhou.

Then these matters before him were not something Xu Xianchun had cooked up on his own — it was the emperor who was behind them.

What the emperor intended to do, Zhang Wei could not guess. But he also understood that no matter what the emperor intended to do, he had already placed himself in opposition to the emperor.

And he was a eunuch — with a status like his, the palace could deal with him without the slightest effort. They could even have someone drag him out and beat him to death on the spot, without needing to give a single reason.

Under circumstances like these, how could Zhang Wei not be terrified?

The moment he saw Chen Hong, Zhang Wei's nerve had already shattered.

"Help the man up — how can he be kneeling like this?" Chen Hong said in a gentle tone. "This is a great figure of Yangzhou city."