Chapter 525: Yangzhou Sealed Off

By the time Chen Hong came looking for Wei Changsheng again, two hours had already passed.

Wei Changsheng did not dare to be negligent, and promptly brought Huang Changzong along as he walked up.

After Chen Hong and Wei Changsheng entered the room, they saw Zhu Youxiao reclining sideways on the couch; Chen Yu'er, who had originally been attending the Emperor, was no longer by His Majesty's side.

Wei Changsheng did not dare to ask, nor did he even dare to raise his head. He only said in a deferential tone, "Your Majesty, Huang Changzong has arrived."

"Let him come in." Zhu Youxiao sat up straight and said.

Before long, Huang Changzong walked in from outside the door.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Huang Changzong hastily knelt to the ground and said, "Your servant Huang Changzong pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Enough, no need for ceremony." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.

Huang Changzong stood up and waited respectfully at the side.

"Is everything prepared?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Huang Changzong and said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is about to make their move. This time they're going after the Han family, and you should be able to take over the Han family's business soon."

In truth, Zhu Youxiao did not care about the Han family's other businesses—the only thing he cared about was the Han family's salt.

The salt business could not be delayed. In this regard, Huang Changzong had to handle things properly: the salt supply could not be cut off, nor could salt shortages be allowed to break out in various regions.

Otherwise, trouble would easily arise. Without salt, distributors everywhere would raise prices, and the consequence would be that the common people would have no salt to eat—and that would spell problems.

"To answer Your Majesty, everything is prepared. The moment you make your move here, we'll take over on our end." Huang Changzong hastily said, "My people have already arrived in the city. As soon as the Embroidered Uniform Guard acts, I'll send men to inventory the account books and arrange for ships—we'll take over immediately."

"Alright, then you may go." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is about to act. Go keep an eye on things."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Huang Changzong quickly acknowledged, then turned and withdrew.

After finishing these instructions, Zhu Youxiao lay back down again.

There was nothing much to do these next couple of days. What he needed to do next was watch the show and see who would jump out right away.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters.

After Huang Changzong arrived, he met with Xu Xianchun.

Once the two met, they directly discussed their strategy.

In truth, there was not much to discuss. One side arrested people and sealed properties in front, the other took over from behind—this was not the first time they had done such a thing.

Back when they were in Zhangjiakou, they had already done this sort of thing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested people in front, while the Imperial Household Department collected the spoils on the side.

With the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intimidation, basically no one dared to reach out their hands at such a time. After all, they had already arrested a batch of people—they would not mind arresting another. Moreover, the Imperial Household Department had accumulated quite a few capable talents over the years, so such matters were no problem.

At the same time, Han Qi's expression was somewhat grim.

After Yangzhou Prefect Chen Tang walked into the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, he never came back out.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters felt like a man-eating beast—anyone sent in would be swallowed up. From the garrison eunuch Zhang Wei to Yangzhou Prefect Chen Tang, not a single one was an exception.

This gave Han Qi a rather ominous premonition.

Han Qi left his home, preparing to make a trip to Nanjing.

This matter could no longer be resolved in Yangzhou; he needed to go somewhere else to settle it. Xu Xianchun had been very aggressive since arriving in Yangzhou, though Han Qi did not know why.

But before leaving, Han Qi still planned to visit one person—the Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner, Chen Zhenglin.

In Yangzhou, if one were to rank official positions, Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner Chen Zhenglin held the highest office; if one looked even higher, that would be the Grain Transport Governor-General.

Established in the second year of Jingtai, he oversaw grain transport by water, supervising the southern provinces in shipping grain via the Grand Canal to the capital.

In the early Ming, the Capital Grain Transport Bureau was established with a Grain Transport Commissioner, but it was abolished shortly thereafter.

During the Yongle era, the post of Grain Transport Regional Commander was established, and during the Xuande era, Vice Ministers, Censors-in-Chief, and Junior Vice Ministers were dispatched to supervise grain transport.

In the second year of Jingtai, the Grain Transport Governor-General was established, concurrently serving as Governor of the four prefectures of Fengyang, Yangzhou, Luzhou, and Huai'an, and the three subprefectures of Xu, He, and Chu, with his seat at Huai'an (in present-day Jiangsu).

Later, a separate Governor was sometimes appointed, but in the fortieth year of Jiajing the posts were merged again, changing the title to Grain Transport Governor-General concurrently overseeing military affairs.

Although Huai'an was not far from Yangzhou, there was still some distance after all—as the saying goes, distant water cannot quench a nearby thirst—and moreover, even the Grain Transport Governor-General would be inadequate for dealing with Xu Xianchun.

It seemed he would have to take the second path. Xu Xianchun was clearly about to turn hostile completely.

He could only go to Nanjing to find the Emperor and try to topple Xu Xianchun before His Majesty.

For Han Qi to go to Nanjing alone would naturally be somewhat difficult. He needed someone in Yangzhou to cooperate with him.

Originally, Yangzhou Prefect Chen Tang would have been the most suitable person, but that old fellow was cunning and crafty—he probably would not be willing to wade into these murky waters.

Now Chen Tang was already gone, which proved Han Qi's guess correct, so he needed to drag Chen Zhenglin down as well.

In Yangzhou city, the person most deeply entangled with his Han family was none other than Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner Chen Zhenglin.

Han Qi believed Chen Zhenglin was a reliable man—as long as he found Chen Zhenglin, the man could not possibly refuse to help. With Chen Zhenglin's planning, combined with his own resources, it would surely be no problem.

Meanwhile, inside the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, Xu Xianchun was continuously listening to his subordinates' reports.

Xu Xianchun's expression was very grave. Looking at a subordinate approaching from not far away, he asked, "How is it? Has the Han family made any moves?"

"To answer you, sir, they have made moves. That Han Qi has left the Han residence and is now heading to the Salt Transport Commissioner's office—he's likely going to see Yangzhou Salt Transport Commissioner Chen Zhenglin." The subordinate hastily replied.

"Then let's make our move." Xu Xianchun stood up and said in a stern tone, "Go arrest the people. Arrest Han Qi directly inside the Salt Transport Commissioner's office; everyone else, move immediately."

"Also, notify Qi Yuanfu to take over Yangzhou's city defense at once. From now on, Yangzhou is to be sealed off immediately—only entry allowed, no exit."

"Once we've finished our business, then we'll reopen Yangzhou city; otherwise, do not open it."

"Yes, sir." The subordinate quickly acknowledged, turned, and walked out to deliver the message.

After the subordinate left, Xu Xianchun glanced at Huang Changzong beside him and said, "Master Huang, let's make our move too. At this point, we can no longer delay—otherwise word will leak out."

"Good, let's set out as well." Huang Changzong said with a smile.

The two walked out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters together.

A great many Embroidered Uniform Guard officers also surged out onto the streets. This time they were no longer in plain clothes—flying-fish robes and embroidered spring sabers led the way, and their bearing was truly fearsome.

At this moment, Han Qi also walked into the Salt Transport Commissioner's office and was directly received inside by Chen Zhenglin.

After the two met, Han Qi immediately furrowed his brow.

Chen Zhenglin, who in days past had been full of vigor and high spirits, now wore a very grim expression, and his whole person exuded an air of dejection. This was not the state he ought to be in.

"Master Chen, what is this?" Han Qi looked at Chen Zhenglin and asked in confusion.

Chen Zhenglin glanced at Han Qi and said, "Nothing much, just some troubling matters lately — nothing that can't wait. What brings you here?"

"There's a matter I'd like to ask Magistrate Chen to help with." Han Qi didn't beat around the bush and laid out the whole affair directly.

Finally, Han Qi said, "Things have already reached the point where action is unavoidable. Xu Xianchun is running rampant in Yangzhou City, clearly targeting our Han family, so I have no choice but to strike back. If we let him keep making trouble, none of us will come out of this well."

Chen Zhenglin looked at Han Qi with a complicated expression, then let out a helpless sigh.

He certainly knew that letting Xu Xianchun continue would end badly for everyone — but the man hadn't come to play games. He had come to arrest people, to topple men like themselves.

Chen Zhenglin also knew that what Han Qi was thinking could never be accomplished.

This Han Qi still wanted to go before His Majesty, still thought the old methods would work?

At a time like this, those approaches no longer held any water. After all, Xu Xianchun wouldn't dare act this way on his own authority — the only one capable of such a thing was the current Emperor.

So then, this was all the current Emperor's doing. No matter how you resisted, it was useless.

Seeing Chen Zhenglin remain silent, Han Qi furrowed his brow, his expression turning grim in an instant, and his voice grew deeper and heavier. He said coldly, "Could it be that Magistrate Chen is unwilling to help? Or does Magistrate Chen have some unspeakable difficulty?"

From start to finish, this whole affair had been fraught with strangeness at every turn. If Han Qi still couldn't tell that something was going on beneath the surface, he didn't deserve to be in this game.

Han Qi looked at Chen Zhenglin, hoping Chen Zhenglin would give him an explanation.

"Let this official explain it to you instead."

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.

Following the direction of the voice, Chen Zhenglin looked over and saw a middle-aged man walking out — composed in bearing, with a faint smile on his face, wearing a flying-fish robe with an embroidered spring saber at his waist.

The attire made it obvious at a glance that he was from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the robe was far more exquisite and luxurious than ordinary ones — clearly a high-ranking member of the Guard.

"Young Master Han, you and I have long known of each other by reputation." Xu Xianchun smiled as he looked at Han Qi and said, "You may not recognize me, so allow me to introduce myself. I am the Guard Commander of the Northern Town Fu Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard — Xu Xianchun."

Upon hearing that name, Han Qi's pupils contracted sharply.

He glanced at Chen Zhenglin again, and understanding dawned in an instant. He said, "So Magistrate Chen has been detained by you as well. Those men are in your hands too, aren't they?"

"And my younger brother's matter was a frame-up by you, wasn't it? It seems you're targeting our Han family. I wonder why you would do such a thing?"

Xu Xianchun glanced at Han Qi and said, "Your younger brother's matter is a small affair. What we need to discuss is something much bigger."

"I had heard that the Han family in Yangzhou was lawless and ran wild without restraint, and I didn't quite believe it. But after these past few days of walking around, I must say I've truly had my eyes opened."

"The Yangzhou Garrison Eunuch, the Yangzhou Prefect, and the Yangzhou Transport Commissioner really do all listen to your words. I suspect the Grain Transport Governor-General has connections with you as well — is he also one of your men? I wonder if a single word from you could summon him here?"