Chapter 1700: A Guilty Conscience

"Estate Master, someone from the prefecture has come!" While Yuan Ke and Zhang Hong were deep in their scheming with great enthusiasm, a trusted steward reported from outside the door.

Hearing this, Yuan Ke paused from his animated discussion, clearly somewhat reluctant to stop, and said with a hint of puzzlement: "Quickly, invite him in!"

Before long, a lean, dark-skinned man strode in, walking hurriedly with an anxious look on his face. As soon as he entered, he was greeted by Yuan Ke's hearty laughter: "Brother Mashan, you've come. What has happened in the prefecture?"

The visitor was named Ma Shan, also one of the relocated households. Originally a rogue in the prefectural city, he had later followed the example of the heroes of Yanzhou, visiting Yuan Family Estate to eat and drink, and thus established a connection. Moreover, with Yuan Ke's support, he engaged in the sheep-trading business, while also helping him gather intelligence, assisting the Prefectural Administrator in resolving some troubles, and serving as a go-between.

Yuan Ke greeted him with a smile, but Ma Shan could not muster a smile at all. Whether from the exhaustion of travel or nervous tension, sweat beaded on his forehead. Forgoing pleasantries, he said directly: "Brother Yuan, disaster has struck!"

Startled by these words, Yuan Ke's smile vanished. Frowning, he raised a hand in a calming gesture: "Don't panic, speak slowly!"

"Prefect Liu has been arrested!" Ma Shan delivered news shocking enough to rock all of Yanzhou.

Yuan Ke's face showed utter astonishment. It took him a moment to react before he exclaimed in alarm: "What happened?"

Ma Shan took a deep breath and poured out the news like beans from a sack: "An hour ago, a host of Wude Camp soldiers suddenly appeared in the prefectural city. Word soon spread that Prefect Liu had been taken into custody by men of the Wude Office! Shortly after, the prefectural yamen was sealed off, and no further news has come out. Sensing something amiss, I came at once to report!"

"The Wude Office!" Those three words sent a chill through Yuan Ke. Suppressing the ripples of unease in his heart and forcing himself to stay calm, he said to Ma Shan: "Brother Ma, your loyalty is exemplary. I, Yuan, will surely repay you handsomely!"

Ma Shan, however, shook his head. Looking at Yuan Ke with concern, he said: "Brother Yuan, such words put distance between us. Do I do this for reward? It's just that with the prefectural yamen suffering such a sudden upheaval, where are we to go from here? I hope Brother Yuan will give it much thought!"

Ma Shan could not help but be anxious. Prefect Liu Fang had been the greatest umbrella of protection for all of them. When the umbrella leaks and the torrential rain pours down, how could those of them who walked the gray and black zones avoid being drenched head to toe?

In the past, whenever the court brought down a corrupt official, there was always a purge with widespread implications. He did not think that people like themselves were special enough to escape. Moreover, this time the Wude Office had made its move—over the past year or more, the Wude Office had been extremely active in the northwest region, running rampant indeed.

Yuan Ke was no different. Knowing his own affairs best, all his schemes were rooted in the shadows, where he worked his sinister plots. Though there had been moments of risk, he had always kept himself in a relatively safe position.

But this sudden bad news truly terrified him. Danger was creeping closer without his notice. At this very moment, Yuan Ke suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck.

"Brother Ma speaks truly. The situation is unpredictable now; we must not lose our composure. How to respond—let me think, let me think." Yuan Ke's brows were nearly twisted into a knot as he spoke words of comfort, which also seemed to comfort himself.

Beside him, the dog-strategist Zhang Hong also snapped out of his shock, his expression worried. He pointed out sharply: "Brother Ma, you say the Wude Office arrested Prefect Liu. These lackeys and hounds—how dare they be so bold? A dignified prefect, and they can seize him just like that?"

Before Ma Shan could answer, Yuan Ke explained with a grim face: "Master Zhang has been away and doesn't know. Over these past few months, the Wude Office has been striking out across the northwest under the guise of rectifying official governance, purging the government offices of the various circuits. In Guannei, Longyou, and Hexi, dozens of prefectural and commandery officials have been detained, and over a hundred powerful clans and prominent families have had their properties confiscated.

In these few months, both officialdom and the common folk have been wailing in misery, with fear spreading like a wind. Of the four northwest circuits, Yulin alone remained untouched. I had thought it was because the court was concerned about Tangut unrest and instability. Now it seems it was merely delayed—and the moment they struck, they chose our Yanzhou as the first target."

Zhang Hong took a deep breath before digesting this news, then asked in puzzlement: "But the court's clarification of official governance has always been led by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, with everything done according to law and regulation. For the Wude Office to be deployed to directly arrest major prefectural officials—isn't that rather sensational? Aren't they afraid of public criticism? Also, Prefect Liu is a disciple and old subordinate of Governor Wang. Does the Wude Office have no fear at all?"

The Governor Wang Zhang Hong referred to was Wang You, the current Fiscal Commissioner of the northwest. This gentleman could be said to be another leading figure in northwest officialdom after Lu Duoxun, having served as Administration Commissioner in both Guannei and Yulin. When the Hall of State Affairs was previously expanding the number of chancellors, Wang You had been among those considered. However, his competitors were somewhat formidable, and Emperor Liu believed Wang You's continued presence in the northwest would be of greater use, which was why he ultimately lost out.

And Yanzhou Prefect Liu Fang was a man personally promoted by Wang You. With such a solid backer behind him, Liu Fang's position as Prefect of Yanzhou was naturally very secure. But even so, the men of the Wude Office took him whenever they pleased—how could this not make petty schemers like Yuan Ke, who sheltered under his wings, feel tense?

Clearly, as a man of letters, Zhang Hong had some understanding of the court's institutions. Hearing this, Yuan Ke could not help but smile bitterly: "The Wude Office has always acted with arrogance, but such behavior that oversteps regulations and violates the law is nonetheless rare. That this time it is so rare, so utterly unscrupulous, is precisely what makes it more terrifying."

"Estate Master, you mean—" Zhang Hong's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help but clasp his hands in the direction of the southeast.

Yuan Ke sighed: "Given the Wude Office's arrogance, without the approval of the Son of Heaven in the Eastern Capital, I doubt they would dare to defy the world's condemnation."

Having said this, Yuan Ke shook his head and continued: "Enough. The Eastern Capital is too far from us. What matters now is how to respond to the upheaval in Yanzhou. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Without the prefect's protection, if we do not prepare ourselves, I fear we will end up like those powerful families of the northwest—property confiscated, families exiled, fortunes scattered to the winds!"

Ma Shan, listening nearby, nodded repeatedly and hurriedly said: "Brother Yuan speaks most truly! The priority now is to seek self-preservation! Does Brother Yuan have a good plan?"

Yuan Ke lowered his head, pondered for a long while, took a deep breath, and looked at Ma Shan: "The situation in the prefectural city is still unclear. We must not lose our composure. We need to wait for further news and adapt accordingly. Therefore, finding out the situation in the prefectural city and the prefect's condition is the most urgent matter at hand. Brother Ma, would you be willing to return to the prefectural city?"

Ma Shan naturally understood Yuan Ke's meaning. However, he had fled the prefectural city precisely to take refuge. Still, he could not refuse Yuan Ke's request, and besides, he had left in such haste that his affairs in the city were not properly settled—at the very least, a large batch of his belongings was still there.

After hesitating a moment, Ma Shan gritted his teeth and clasped his hands: "I have received much kindness from Brother Yuan. Since you entrust me with this, I dare not refuse. I will return to the prefectural city at once and gather intelligence for Brother Yuan!"

"Do be careful!" Yuan Ke forced a faint smile.

"I take my leave!" Ma Shan clasped his hands, turned, and departed. He came in haste, and left in haste.

After he left, Yuan Ke's face darkened once more. He turned and sat down, picking up his teacup, but his hands were trembling unconsciously.

Seeing this, Zhang Hong said hesitantly: "Estate Master, this Ma Shan—I fear he cannot be trusted!"

Yuan Ke nodded but said nothing. After a long silence, he finally looked up at Zhang Hong: "Master Zhang, what do you think—how should we break this deadlock?"

Zhang Hong was in fact somewhat panicked himself. People like them, hiding in the shadows, could still stir up storms, act without restraint, and direct the course of affairs. But once they had nowhere to hide, they became at a loss.

Pacing a few steps and striving to steady his mind, Zhang Hong said: "When a prefect falls, there will surely be implications. With the keen noses of the Wude Office's hounds, they will eventually trace things back to the Estate Master. If things develop that way, our situation will certainly be perilous. At Yuan Family Estate, there are too many things that give others leverage. Estate Master, the situation is now extremely critical—please make a decision quickly!"

"Master Zhang, you mean—" Yuan Ke looked up, his gaze questioning.

Zhang Hong gritted his teeth: "Why not rise up immediately!"

At these words, Yuan Ke was somewhat startled. In the past, on such matters, Zhang Hong had always been conservative, full of doubts and worries, quite a damper on things.

But at this moment, his decisiveness surprised Yuan Ke. He studied Zhang Hong carefully and saw that he was serious. Yet Yuan Ke himself, in turn, hesitated.

He rose and paced about the study, looking indecisive. Zhang Hong watched him in silence, waiting for his decision. In the end, Yuan Ke did not approve, saying: "No. We are not ready. If we act rashly, I fear we will fail at the last step and bring death upon ourselves and extinction upon our clan!"

Hearing this, Zhang Hong could not hide his disappointment. He sighed: "But in this present crisis, how are we to avoid it?"

Yuan Ke hesitated for a moment: "I will take the brothers and go into hiding for a while. If this storm passes smoothly, all the better. If not, we will make other arrangements."