Chapter 158: Eunuchs in Power, Heroes' Blood Runs Cold

The first day of the eighth month.

Early in the morning, Huang Ke arrived at the Yuegang docks as promised, waiting for Ye Xianggao.

He was lightly dressed today, in the attire of a Confucian scholar, accompanied by only a single servant.

Before long, a single-masted small boat approached from the distance and came to a stop before the dock.

Ye Xianggao emerged from the cabin, exchanged greetings with Huang Ke, and after a brief round of pleasantries, the two entered the cabin.

From Fuqing to Chaozhou, the overland route was not easy to travel, but by sea it was far quicker.

Moreover, for reasons unknown, seagoing vessels had become especially numerous along the coast of Fujian of late, and fares had dropped considerably as a result—this was why Ye Xianggao had been able to charter this boat and make the journey at all.

Ye Xianggao was also plainly dressed for this trip, bringing only one attendant and a single boatman.

Halfway through the voyage, the boatman suddenly stopped.

Ye Xianggao instructed his attendant: "Ye An, go see what has happened."

The attendant Ye An acknowledged, stepped out of the cabin, and returned moments later: "Master, this is bad—an official military vessel is approaching."

As the saying goes, soldiers and bandits are one and the same; the common folk of the Great Ming reacted to the sight of official troops little better than they did to sea bandits.

Ye and Huang, however, remained composed.

The boatman's voice came from outside the cabin: "Rest assured, honored guests, this is a patrol boat from the Tongshan Naval Stockade—nothing to worry about."

"The Tongshan Naval Stockade—isn't that within the jurisdiction of Regional Commander Ma?" Huang Kezuan said in a low voice.

"Let's take a look."

The two had the same thought and immediately stepped out of the cabin.

The sea breeze blew in as a Haicang vessel swept past them, the two ships no more than a dozen paces apart. The soldiers on the other vessel were in strict formation, the great Ming battle flag snapping loudly in the wind, and Folangji cannons were visible along the ship's side.

Camp soldiers across the Great Ming either never patrolled at all, or robbed and extorted anyone they encountered.

A vessel simply passing by like this was a rare sight indeed.

It seemed the court's and the public's praise of Ma Chenglie's military discipline was not unfounded after all.

Ye Xianggao said: "Helmsman, might I ask—"

The boatman hastily cut him off: "Honored guest, you may call me by my name, or 'boatman' or 'sailor,' but the word 'helmsman' is not to be used."

Ye Xianggao was greatly puzzled: "Why?"

The boatman said with a smile: "It's a rule of the sea, the same throughout the Chaozhou region. As for why—this humble one doesn't know either."

Seafaring folk had many taboos—words like "capsize," "sink," "overturn," "scatter," and "fire" could not be spoken, and beyond these, each region had its own unique prohibitions.

Both Ye and Huang hailed from coastal homelands and had heard of such customs, so they asked no further questions.

Ye Xianggao continued: "May I ask, boatman, has the Tongshan Naval Stockade's discipline always been like this?"

The boatman thought for a moment, then said: "In the past, sailing these waters meant paying a toll—a boat like ours would have to hand over at least two taels of silver. It's only in the last few months that the official troops have changed their ways."

Ye and Huang exchanged a glance, thinking: just as we suspected.

Ma Chenglie had taken over the Tongshan Naval Stockade only in the last few months. To have transformed the camp soldiers' discipline so completely in such a short time was truly remarkable.

Soon, the single-masted boat sailed past Dongshan Island, and their destination was already in sight.

The boatman pointed at a patch of green where the sea met the sky: "Honored guests, look—that is Nan'ao Island. This humble one has been there once; it is truly bustling beyond compare, worthy of the name 'Quanzhou of the Sea.'"

"Across from the island, that stretch of land is Chaozhou Prefecture, with Zhelin Bay beside it. If we're lucky, we might even see a great warship leaving port—"

Huang Ke gave a cold snort: "What nonsense about 'Quanzhou of the Sea'—it's just a desolate island with troops stationed on it. All hot air."

Huang Ke had served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Works, and Minister of War, so he had some understanding of coastal defense in the southeast.

The boatman dared not offend the honored guest and said with an apologetic smile: "Quite so, quite so."

As the vessel sailed past Zhelin Bay, no great warships were to be seen, but trading vessels could be spotted in the distance, coming and going without end.

Especially in the waters near Chenghai County, merchant ships gathered like schools of fish—so numerous they spread across a vast expanse of sea.

At the docks, ships came and went, people bustled about, and the busy scene rivaled Yuegang itself.

Both Ye and Huang wore looks of astonishment, thinking to themselves: could private vessels in Chenghai County truly flourish to such a degree? Did they really dare treat the law as if it did not exist?

The boatman explained unprompted: "Some of these ships are headed for Zhangzhou or Huizhou, but most of them are going to the island."

"Which island?" Huang Ke cut in.

"Nan'ao Island, of course." The boatman looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Even as he spoke, the boatman was steering and furling the sail, bringing the vessel to a steady stop alongside a pier.

"We've arrived—this is Chenghai County. This humble one will be moored here for the next few days; honored guests, feel free to call on me at any time."

The two men gave their thanks and disembarked with their attendant.

At the harbor, carts, horses, and crowds flowed in an endless stream. Merchant ships constantly pulled into port, cargo was loaded and unloaded without pause, and stacks of crates of every description rose along the warehouses like city walls.

Ye Xianggao casually pulled aside a man and asked what kinds of goods were being traded.

The man was busy hauling cargo and had not wanted to be bothered, but seeing that Ye and Huang carried themselves with distinction and were both dressed as scholars, he grew respectful and replied: "The usual fare—raw silk, porcelain, white sugar, and deer products."

"Deer products?"

"That's right—deer penis, deer antler velvet, deer antlers, deer sinew, and the like. If you want to buy any, just head to Hu's Deer Products."

With that, the man went back to hauling his goods.

Ye Xianggao was left deeply puzzled. Chaozhou was nowhere near Liaodong—where could deer products possibly come from?

Huang Kezuan frowned at the scene around them and said: "Jinqing, there's something strange about this Chenghai County. Raw silk, porcelain, and white sugar are all goods for foreign trade—they ought to be shipped to Yuegang. What are they doing in Chenghai County? And where did these deer products come from?"

Ye Xianggao furrowed his brow. He had made this trip hoping to meet Ma Chenglie, but instead he had stumbled upon some of Regional Commander Ma's shady dealings.

If their suspicions proved true, Chenghai County was a den of private vessels, and was Ma Chenglie not openly acting as an umbrella of protection for those who violated the law?

If that were truly the case, then even though the two of them were retired men of no office, they could hardly avoid submitting a memorial to rid the state of this scourge.

Of course, it was still too early to draw conclusions.

After discussing the matter for a while, the two decided to first go and see this so-called "Hu's Deer Products" before saying anything more.

Along the way, commerce on both sides of the street was thriving—wine houses, inns, and eateries were everywhere, with many traveling merchants lodging and resting among them.

The attendant Ye An was dazzled by the sight and remarked with feeling, "Master, though this is also a county town, Chenghai County seems far more prosperous than Fuqing."

Ye Xianggao's face darkened, and he said nothing.

Huang Kezan's attendant chimed in from the side, "More prosperous than ours too."

"Silence." Huang Kezan rebuked him in a low voice.

When the party arrived before the deer-product shop, they were immediately struck by the shop's decor.

The establishment clearly had an eaved storefront, yet it also set up a stall at the street edge, laying out all its goods along the street in plain view.

Huge, deep-red deer penises and plump deer antlers were arranged neatly, delivering an intense visual impact.

A shop assistant stood behind the stall, hawking loudly.

Behind the assistant stood five or six enormous wine jars, and at his side were five or six wine pots and countless cups.

Seeing Ye and Huang staring, the assistant enthusiastically lifted a wine pot and poured two cups of amber-colored wine.

"Honored guests, do come and taste—this medicinal wine is good for the body."

Ye Xianggao stepped forward and took a cup: "How much?"

The assistant smiled: "This cup is on the house—no charge. Guests may taste it freely; if you find it not to your liking, simply turn and leave."

Ye Xianggao sniffed it—there was indeed a faint aroma of wine—then handed the cup to Ye An: "Have a taste."

"Yes." Ye An took it and drained it in one gulp, then smacked his lips, "It really is quite good—the wine isn't harsh, and it's pleasantly sweet."

Huang Ke did the same, having his attendant taste it; the attendant gave a thumbs-up.

The assistant smiled: "Glad it tastes good—that's as it should be. Besides deer penis, this wine also contains wolfberry, angelica, astragalus, eucommia bark, and such. Beyond tasting good, it also strengthens the body, as you gentlemen surely know."

Huang Ke gave a cold snort: "Since it contains deer penis, the wine's nature leans warm and drying. Those with yin deficiency and blazing fire, or damp-heat constitutions, cannot drink it, and even ordinary people will get internal heat from it. To have people indiscriminately try the wine merely to make a sale hardly seems proper."

That assistant had clearly seen the world—faced with such a barrage of questioning, his expression did not change at all; instead he beamed, "Exactly so! You, sir, are clearly a connoisseur. All the medicinal wines in this shop are formulated by renowned masters, and before any purchase a physician conducts a consultation. Should we encounter anyone with yin deficiency and blazing fire or a damp-heat constitution, we would absolutely never sell to them!

Moreover, that cup of wine just now was free of charge, with little medicinal content, and you gentlemen drank only a small amount—a single cup—so it will do no harm to your health."

Huang Kezan was left speechless, then sneered, "You certainly have a silver tongue."

The assistant said, "I wouldn't dare. If you gentlemen are interested, why not step inside for a look? Our shop has a treasure that anchors the establishment—all who have seen it are astonished and full of praise."

Ye and Huang both knew full well the assistant was using sales talk to lure them inside, yet both were somewhat curious about that "shop-anchoring treasure."

They stepped toward the shop, and the moment they entered, they were stunned.

In the very center of the shop sat a wooden stand, upon which rested a jar of medicinal wine.

Unlike ordinary medicinal wine, this jar was made of glass, its contents—wine and herbs alike—fully visible.

The shop's windows were open, and sunlight streamed in, striking the glass jar directly; the wine seemed to shimmer with a lustrous amber glow.

A single glance was enough to captivate the heart and mind.

Even Ye and Huang, who had seen countless rare treasures, were momentarily dazed by the sight.

Glass was a foreign import brought by the Macao barbarians, extremely costly in the Great Ming—let alone such a large glass jar.

The glass jar alone could already be called a treasure, to say nothing of how precious the wine within must be.

The shopkeeper saw Ye and Huang enter and hurried over to introduce it with great enthusiasm.

By the time the two left the shop, each held a brocade box in hand.

The two exchanged a glance and both gave wry smiles.

Their original purpose in going to Hu's Deer Products had been to investigate the source of the deer goods.

But the shopkeeper's single line—"Goods imported from Macao; our master holds a ship permit"—sent them on their way.

Then, under the shopkeeper's and assistant's extremely powerful sales patter, and the intense visual impact of the various deer products, the two each forked over twenty taels of silver to buy the deer goods in their hands.

Even now, recalling the shopkeeper's words, Ye Xianggao still felt a lingering tremor of unease.

"Honored guests, deer products are no tiger-or-wolf medicine—they are proper, gentle tonics for the body."

"What? Both of you have already passed your sixtieth year—I had thought you were not yet fifty, buying deer products for your own use!"

"Surely your grandsons have already come of age—have they been wed?"

"Ah, my own son was also recently married, but my daughter-in-law's belly has shown no sign of movement—truly worrisome."

"Indeed, as you say, sir—men always harm their bodies dwelling on bedroom matters, so I too gave my son deer products."

"As elders, who doesn't wish for grandchildren filling the hall and joy at one's knees? But such things are hard to force—send a deer product, and one's children and grandchildren will understand."

"Whether it succeeds or not, it's always a token of feeling."

Ye Xianggao had been Chief Grand Secretary for so long—what persuasion had he not heard? Yet today he had actually been moved by a shopkeeper's words.

"Whether it succeeds or not, it's always a token of feeling." Those words were truly formidable, striking straight at the heart.

They even gave him, for a moment, the fear that if he didn't spend the silver on deer products, he would never hold a great-grandson.

Even now, with the cold wind blowing and his senses returning, he didn't feel cheated—instead he felt an eager anticipation to hurry and give the deer products to his grandson, so that a great-grandson might soon be born.

This longing for the family to have posterity made his face wear a smile and his heart feel warm.

Ye Xianggao turned back, gazing at "Hu's Deer Products," and mused—where did a country moneybags get such skill? There must be a mastermind behind it all.

At noon, the two chose a wine house facing the street, took seats on the second floor, and ordered some homestyle dishes.

As they ate, they overheard traveling merchants downstairs discussing "Hu's Deer Products."

One of them said, "That Squire Hu is a famous benefactor in Chaozhou Prefecture—just last year he built a great charity granary of several hundred thousand dan, and even the County Magistrate himself inscribed calligraphy for it."

Ye Xianggao's interest was piqued, and he called over the waiter: "Is the owner of 'Hu's Deer Products' very famous in Chenghai County?"

The waiter said, "You're asking about Squire Hu? He's the biggest big shot in Chenghai County. He made his fortune weaving Chaozhou silk, pays his weavers generously, and never presses them for debts.

Of all who work for the Hu family, not one has a bad word to say about Squire Hu—he's the very best of good men!"

Ye Xianggao smiled: "Thank you for the information."

The waiter said a polite word and went back to work.

Huang Kezuan snorted coldly: "Buying people's hearts with false benevolence and righteousness."

Ye Xianggao could also see that Squire Hu's actions were meant to win people's support, but he said: "After all, he truly gave the common folk real benefits—better than those who openly do evil."

Huang Ke knew who "those who openly do evil" referred to, and agreed wholeheartedly.

At present, the southeast was a scene of prosperity, with songs and dances heralding peace.

Yet two thousand li away, Guiyang was already a hell on earth.

The rebel army of the native chieftains had besieged the city since the second month of this year—nearly half a year now—and still the siege had not been lifted.

News could not pass in or out of the city, but with a provincial capital besieged for half a year, one could well imagine the horrors within.

And the court was still consumed by factional strife—the powerful Eunuch Wei, whose influence dominated the court and the country, was busy striking down his rivals, while frontline generals were replaced and dismissed, dismissed and replaced, never settling on a suitable "man of their own."

The Donglin Faction, meanwhile, was busy counterattacking the eunuch faction and paid little heed to the siege of Guiyang.

This caused government orders to lag, as every step—from debate to decision, from troop mobilization to grain provisioning—was dragged out endlessly.

Though the two men belonged to no faction, their sympathies leaned toward the Donglin Faction, and both hated the eunuch faction for ruining the country.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out in the street: "Contribute to the war chest! Contribute to the war chest! All merchants, have your money ready and pay in turn!"

At these shouts, merchants hurriedly shut their doors and closed for business, while street vendors packed up their wares and fled—in an instant, the street was in utter chaos.

Before long, a bustling street stood empty and deserted.

Huang Kezuan recognized the identity of the contribution collectors and said in a cold voice: "The fox's tail is finally showing. Jinqing, look."

Ye Xianggao looked toward the sound and saw that those beating gongs and drums were a band of men wearing Ming army uniforms.

Since they were in Ma Chenglie's defense zone, Huang Kezuan took them to be Ma Chenglie's men.

"Slap!" The window shut, blocking Ye Xianggao's view.

The waiter who closed the window said apologetically: "The contribution collectors have come. We have to shut the doors and windows and hide for a while. My apologies, honored guests."

Ye Xianggao asked in puzzlement: "Will shutting the doors and windows really exempt you from the levy?"

After all, this behavior seemed like nothing more than covering one's ears while stealing a bell.

"The soldiers are just following orders, going through the motions. As long as we close our doors and windows, the soldiers won't make trouble. That's how we've gotten by these past few months."

"These past few months?" Ye Xianggao caught the implication.

"Right. A few months ago the court sent a eunuch supervisor, and it's that eunuch dog who collects the contributions. Sigh—the Emperor is unenlightened and treacherous ministers hold sway. Chenghai County was finally blessed with a good magistrate, and now he's being tormented by that eunuch dog."

Literacy was high in Jiangnan under the Great Ming, and the common folk had always enjoyed discussing current affairs.

In the past, such discussions were held behind closed doors, passed by word of mouth.

In recent years, some had openly compiled court affairs into storybooks and ballads, gathering crowds at street corners to comment and discuss.

Their words were utterly unrestrained, and everything they spoke of was the various failures of the government—all of which the crowds delighted to hear.

Thus the waiter felt no hesitation in mocking the court before Ye and Huang.

Ye Xianggao smiled bitterly upon hearing this.

Huang Kezuan was dumbfounded. He wished to refute the man, yet found the waiter's words reasonable; by the time he had thought of a rebuttal, the waiter had already walked away.

Just as the waiter had said, the contribution-paying procession downstairs soon moved off into the distance with their gongs and drums.

Huang Ke said: "For Commander Ma to have devised this method—neither offending the eunuch supervisor's dignity nor extorting the people—is truly rare."

Ye Xianggao remained silent, his mind churning with far more thoughts.

First, Ma Chenglie was also under the eunuch supervisor's surveillance, yet he paid lip service while acting otherwise, refusing to help the powerful eunuch rake in money—clearly he was not of the eunuch faction.

Second, even a tavern waiter knew the contributions were collected by the eunuch—the eunuch's evil reputation must have spread far and wide.

Finally, the soldiers on the street clearly collected nothing, yet still beat gongs and drums—besides warning the people to take cover, they surely also intended to remind the common folk not to forget that in Chenghai County, there was still a wicked eunuch in power.

Ma Chenglie must harbor the intention of toppling that eunuch.

If so, Ma Chenglie was clearly no simple man, and the various changes in Chenghai County could not be unrelated to him.

If this man were truly loyal to the state, all would be well—but if he harbored disloyal ambitions, that would be a real problem.

With this thought, Ye Xianggao rose to his feet and said: "Let's go."

"Go where?" Huang Kezuan was taken aback.

"Let's go see 'Maritime Quanzhou.'"

An hour later, the two men stepped onto the docks of Houjiang Bay.

They were instantly stunned by the sight before them.

Countless ships filled the harbor, stretching for several li; the buildings in the town stood row upon row, extending beyond the horizon; merchants and pedestrians wove among them—the place was several times more prosperous than Chenghai County.

Ye Xianggao's eyes widened as he took in everything before him. Only after a long while did he say: "Brother Shaofu, did you not say this was a desolate island garrisoned by troops?"

Was there such a thing as a desolate island like this anywhere under heaven?

Huang Kezuan felt as if a fishbone were stuck in his throat. After a long pause, he said: "What a great city! This—this simply isn't on the Ministry of War's books!"

While the two stood gaping, a minor clerk came over and registered their identities and the reason for coming ashore.

Ye Xianggao claimed he had come to the island to trade, then probed the clerk: "This old man has long dwelt in the north and has not returned home in many years. When did such a great city rise on this island?"

The clerk smiled: "To be honest, it was the Commander's kindness—he allowed the camp soldiers' families to come onto the island, and over time this city was built."

Ye Xianggao saw through the excuse at a glance but did not press further.

After the clerk left, the two strolled about the island, and the more they walked, the more astonished they became.

Along the way, they saw warehouses piled up like small mountains, rows of white-walled, black-tiled si dian jin houses, and tall streetlamps at crossroads.

In the west of the city, at Huanghua Mountain, there was also the Yunjian Academy and terraced fields stretching in patches.

When the two arrived at the western part of the city, they happened upon students coming down from the mountain, standing together with farmers and clerks—nothing about it seemed out of place, and they conversed with natural ease, showing no sign of estrangement due to differing status.

The customs on the island were also completely different from elsewhere—women freely took to the streets and conversed with men without any avoidance.

Ye Xianggao was open-minded and magnanimous, and thought nothing of it. Huang Ke, however, kept criticizing it as corrupting public morals.

As dusk approached, the two stopped to rest at a stall selling niandoubao.

While waiting for the sticky rice balls, Ye Xianggao said in a low voice, "Brother Shaofu, what do you make of what's happening on this island?"

Huang Ke looked around and said, "Building a city and collecting taxes, privately raising military supplies—this already bears the mark of treasonous intent. Ma Chenglie deserves death!"

Ye Xianggao nodded: "This man cares for the common people and governs his troops with strict discipline. If he were loyal to the court, he would surely accomplish great things.

A pity he harbors treacherous designs and has committed a grave error. Fortunately, you and I have learned of this matter. Once we return to shore, let us submit a memorial to the court."

"Honored guests, your sticky rice balls are ready." The stall owner placed two steaming sticky rice balls in bowls and set them before the two men.

"One moment." Ye Xianggao called him back, speaking amiably, "Judging by your accent, shopkeeper, you're not a local?"

The stall owner laughed: "You've got that right. I came from Liaodong."

Liaodong? Alarm bells rang in Ye Xianggao's heart. Could it be that this Commander Ma not only harbored rebellious intentions, but—but had also colluded with the Jianzhou barbarians?

Ye Xianggao pressed further with more questions.

The stall owner then recounted the bombardment of Zhenjiang City, the relocation to Pidao, and how they had subsequently sailed to Nan'ao Island.

Huang Kezuan was completely dumbfounded. Even as a former Minister, he could not keep his composure: "Impossible! The one who attacked the Tartars' Zhenjiang City was Mao Wenlong, not some He Battalion Commander!"

The stall owner was a straightforward man who could not tolerate anyone insulting his lifesaver. Upon hearing this, he flung down his ladle and shot back: "How is it not so? Go ask anyone on this island—which of the Liaodong people here wasn't saved by Battalion Commander He? That fellow surnamed Mao stole Battalion Commander He's credit, and he has no shame!

That old emperor is muddle-headed too, unable to tell loyal from treacherous! No wonder he can't defeat the Liaodong Tartars.

If you ask me, if the court had a few more good officials like Battalion Commander He, the realm would have long been at peace, and the Tartars wouldn't have a prayer!"

Huang Ke truly didn't believe it, so he directly stopped passersby to ask, and the answers he received were exactly the same.

Everyone had been saved by Battalion Commander He. As for this Mao Wenlong, they hadn't even caught a glimpse of him.

To guard against anyone lying, Huang Kezan also asked many detailed questions—such as how the Manchu language sounded, what clothing and appearance Battalion Commander He had, what Pidao's terrain looked like, how long the voyage from the Yalu River to Pidao took, and how long the voyage from Pidao to Nan'ao Island took.

Everyone answered fluently, their answers consistent, with no contradictions.

Even if they had memorized a script, it would be impossible for everyone to have memorized it so thoroughly.

Upon hearing this, Huang Kezuan collapsed into his chair. Looking at former Chief Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, he said in a trembling voice, "I recall that you, Chief Grand Secretary, submitted a memorial at the time praising Mao Wenlong, comparing him to Ban Chao and Geng Gong, lauding his courage and military acumen—did the Grand Secretariat never verify the truth of his battle merits?"

Ye Xianggao opened his mouth slightly, not knowing how to answer.

To be honest, Zhenjiang was separated from the capital by the sea and lay deep behind enemy lines; they could hardly send someone to Zhenjiang City to investigate.

Moreover, according to the Liaodong campaign plan, only Mao Wenlong's single force had been dispatched to Zhenjiang, and no one else had submitted a memorial to claim the credit.

Judging from the Jianzhou barbarians' reaction and the scattered reports from beyond the passes, Zhenjiang had indeed been raided, and the battle situation was not much different from what the report claimed.

Besides, at that time the Ming court was lifeless and stagnant—everyone said the Jianzhou barbarians were invincible, and they were in dire need of an inspiring piece of news.

The great victory at Zhenjiang came at just the right time, fitting perfectly, and all the battle results were backed by Liaodong Governor Wang Huazhen.

As a result, neither the Ministry of War nor the Grand Secretariat gave it much thought and simply accepted it.

Now, thinking carefully—with fewer than two hundred men, could Mao Wenlong really have taken Zhenjiang?

Even if he was lucky enough to take it, how did he manage the subsequent transport of tens of thousands of Han people to Pidao?

At this thought, Ye Xianggao could not help but shudder.

Could it be that the credit for the great victory at Zhenjiang had truly been given to the wrong man?

If that were really the case, then for the true hero, it would be an injustice as vast as the heavens!

Even the hottest blood would have been doused cold by now.

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen