[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-late-ming":3,"chapter-late-ming-late-ming-chapter-232":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Late Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},926592,1218,"Chapter 232","late-ming-chapter-232",232,"\u003Cp>On the seventeenth day of the ninth month, the imperial envoy from Jingshi arrived at Dengzhou Prefecture without pause. Sun Yuanhua had received word early and received them with utmost courtesy, assuring them that the relief army would set out within days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The envoy leading the mission was Vice Minister of War Wang Tingshi, Chen Xin's old superior. Originally due to be dismissed from office in the early part of the third year of the Chongzhen reign, he had instead been promoted to Vice Minister of War because of the great merit earned at Gu'an and the Four Cities battles by the Wendeng Battalion. His prospects were still decent, but he had little interest in the post of Minister of War — the cautionary tale of Wang Qia was not far behind him, and the current Liang Tingdong was also being roasted over the flames. He remained undecided between the factions of Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru, but the Emperor's attitude this time was crystal clear, and he knew what he had to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other members numbered four, among them Zhou Ruibao, Supervising Secretary of the Bureau of Military Appointments. He was a neutral, but one who took his duties with rigid seriousness, so Wu Zongda had specifically chosen him to show that the investigation team was entirely impartial. With such a man arriving to conduct an inspection, how could Sun Yuanhua be allowed to muddle through? The other three all belonged to Wen Tiren's faction, and all were censors of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. If Wang Tingshi truly intended to let Sun Yuanhua off, these three could turn around and impeach Wang Tingshi instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides these few, there were also several men each from the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, whose main task was to investigate the matter of collusion with the Jianzhou Bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua had received word in advance. Upon hearing that Lu Zhi had killed three of the Provincial Governor's personal attendants, he knew at once that these were the men who had gone to Wendeng. Those men had not traveled alone — they had several guards with them — and judging by the circumstances, Chen Xin had finished them off as well. Such methods went far beyond ordinary bureaucratic infighting. Watching Chen Xin bare his dagger now that the map was unrolled, Sun Yuanhua felt himself shrinking back. He was, after all, a man of letters. Using mutual schemes and impeachments in officialdom was what he knew, but he was utterly unaccustomed to this kind of life-and-death vicious struggle. Lately he could not even sleep without surrounding his house with guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yanru's instruction to him was to cease all impeachment of the Wendeng Battalion and Lu Zhi, because Lu Zhi and Chen Xin had moved one step ahead. And with solid evidence in hand, they had seized the initiative completely. Now that Sun Yuanhua was himself under suspicion, no matter what he impeached, the Emperor would only see it as personal retaliation. Not only would it fail to help, it would leave an even worse impression. The other instruction was for him to submit the Wendeng Battalion's merit evaluation documents as quickly as possible, without any withholding whatsoever. Finally, he was to inform the Emperor that the Wendeng Battalion must likewise send troops. Sun Yuanhua was to make the Wendeng Battalion march, no matter what — drag Chen Xin in first, and perhaps Wen Tiren would be dragged into the same pit along with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor was enraged, and the imperial envoys had come. Sun Yuanhua knew the situation was dire. These past days he had been frantically cooking the books and hiring fake soldiers, and had gone ahead of time to pay his respects to Lu Zhi. But Lu Zhi remained cold and indifferent, treating him with nothing more than the perfunctory courtesy due an ordinary colleague. He showed not the slightest willingness to compromise with Sun Yuanhua, nor did he hand over the heads of the three attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua had no other recourse and could only brace himself to face the inspection. After Wang Tingshi and the others arrived, to Sun Yuanhua's surprise, Wang Tingshi was in no hurry to audit the accounts. Instead, the first thing he did was pay a visit to Lu Zhi and see the heads of the three attendants with his own eyes. Wang Tingshi had served many years as the Intendant of the Denglai Circuit and had many old acquaintances in Dengzhou. He found several former subordinates to examine them, and they confirmed the men were indeed from the Provincial Governor's government office. Then he went to the seaside to inspect the captured sea vessel, examining every corner of the cabin. The interior had long since been thoroughly staged by Zhang Dong and the others, and naturally Wang Tingshi's party could detect no flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingshi then divided the four censors among their tasks. Knowing the intentions of the Emperor and Wu Zongda, he specifically assigned Zhou Ruibao, that prickly character, along with one censor to audit troop strength. The Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard continued investigating the matter of Li Sizhong. Wang Tingshi himself, along with the other two censors, went to inspect the storehouses, mainly to examine the supplies allocated to the Wendeng Battalion. Sun Yuanhua simply did not falsify the Wendeng accounts, because Chen Xin would certainly not cooperate with him. After two days of investigation, Wang Tingshi determined that the Wendeng Battalion's arrears in regular supplies were enormous. He did not ask Sun Yuanhua to explain, but instead sent men to Wendeng to summon Chen Xin to come and reconcile the accounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin knew that Wang Tingshi and the others had already reached Dengzhou. This trip held no danger. Upon receiving the order, he took his personal guards and set out at once, riding by land route toward Dengzhou. He rested one night at Ninghaizhou, and by the second day had reached Dengzhou. Standing outside the Provincial Governor's government office, looking up at the towering military gate, a trace of emotion rose unbidden in his heart. He had been here many times. The very first time, he had come bearing silver to bribe Sun Guozhen, a minor nobody whom no one paid any attention to. Five years later, he now commanded nearly ten thousand crack troops. Even if the Provincial Governor wanted to move against him, it would be no easy matter. When he had come here at the start of this year, he and Sun Yuanhua had still been full of mutual praise, their relationship close and cordial. In just a few short months, it had become a fight to the death. The turns of fate in life were indeed strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he presented his name card, the Squad Commander guarding the gate sent a personal soldier to report to Sun Yuanhua, then sized up Chen Xin with an unfriendly expression. Hai Gouzi and the other personal guards accompanying Chen Xin stared back coldly at Sun Yuanhua's personal soldiers. Among this group of guards, seven or eight had experienced the bloody battle against the scattered Jianzhou Bandit soldiers on Shenmi Island, and the killing aura about them was heavy. They quickly gained the upper hand in presence over the Provincial Governor's Personal Battalion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin, entirely unaffected, continued pondering his own plans, until Sun Yuanhua personally hurried to the main gate to welcome him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Chen, it has been several months since we parted. Have you been well?\" Sun Yuanhua set aside the airs of a superior and actually saluted Chen Xin first. Chen Xin raised his head, saw it was Sun Yuanhua, and hurriedly returned the salute, adding politely, \"For Lord Sun to hold me in his thoughts is a blessing I have cultivated over several lifetimes — naturally I have been well. Lord Sun toils daily over affairs of state and must likewise take good care of his health.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin was subtly alluding to how Sun Yuanhua had lately been fixated on making trouble for him. Sun Yuanhua caught the meaning, and his smile carried a constant trace of awkwardness. He was no match for the old thespians like Sun Guozhen and Zhong Haidao, and even less comparable to figures at the very tip of the pyramid like Wen Tiren and Zhou Yanru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused a moment before saying, \"General Chen jests. Affairs of state are matters that only His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries are qualified to toil over. This official merely follows the guidance of the various lords and attends to trivial, insignificant tasks. I am but a man of ordinary aptitude. As for matters, if I can manage to get by, that suffices. How could I possibly handle every affair to the satisfaction of every lord? Thus I labor only in body, not in mind. This old frame of bones can still hold out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Eastern Depot agents would not let him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin gave a faint smile and said, \"Your subordinate is under the jurisdiction of Denglai, and is but a simple military man. Naturally, I also follow Lord Sun's guidance in handling affairs, whether great or small. So long as Lord Sun entrusts a matter to my hands, in the end there will be an accounting. If Lord Sun does not entrust it, then your subordinate truly will not know how to act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua was taken aback for a moment, then let out a laugh and led Chen Xin toward the second hall. Having been an official for over a year, his official bearing and demeanor were still quite decent. The two walked one behind the other, exchanging casual pleasantries, and those around them might well have thought their relationship was indeed close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked, he turned to Chen Xin, who was following slightly behind and to the side, and asked, \"General Chen, regarding the great victory at Shenmi Island, this official had originally intended to report it long ago. But Huang Long and the others reported back that there was word a high-ranking Jianzhou Bandit official had been wounded in that battle and might soon die. This official wished to wait for the news to be verified, so as to add another merit for General Chen and avoid having to submit a supplementary report later that would invite questioning from the supervising censors. It was for this reason that there was some delay. Some have said that this official was deliberately making things difficult for the General. I beg General Chen to give such talk absolutely no credence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin, eyes lowered and expression obedient, answered from behind, \"Your subordinate would never, ever believe it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua lowered his voice and said, \"A few days ago I already signed the documents. When General Chen's reward comes down this time, a Vice Regional Commander's post is assured. After a year or two, or with further battle merit, a Regional Commander's post is not out of the question. At that time, this official will naturally find an even better Regional Commander posting for the General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin's eyes shifted. Sun Yuanhua was now trying to offer him benefits, but it was still just a pie in the sky. If Zhou Yanru did not fall, Sun Yuanhua's promise might carry some weight, but Chen Xin knew that following the normal course of events, Wen Tiren ought to defeat Zhou Yanru. Why should he switch camps for a vague promise? This showed that Sun Yuanhua was indeed in dire straits at present — otherwise why resort to such a blatantly clumsy move? It also showed that Sun Yuanhua was not adept at buying people off. If Chen Xin were doing it, he would simply give silver and grain directly, which would be far more effective than a pie in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately put on a face full of gratitude and answered Sun Yuanhua, \"I thank Lord Sun for his fond regard. When your subordinate first threw himself into the ranks, I merely hoped to gain some minor official post to bring honor to my family. I never dreamed of reaching the high positions of Vice Regional Commander or Regional Commander. If that day ever comes, it will be because Lord Sun has raised me up. This humble man will never forget it, even when his teeth are gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua saw that Chen Xin's performance seemed genuine, even showing true emotion. Perhaps he really could reconcile with him. He felt slightly more at ease, but Chen Xin had not given a personal promise, so there was still some unease. Today he was bargaining with a mere military officer like this, all in the hope that Chen Xin would let him off this one time. Under ordinary circumstances, how could Chen Xin ever be qualified to converse with him like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eloquence was also mediocre, and in a moment he had nothing left to say. He had originally wanted to remind Chen Xin that he also knew about his smuggling and private troop training, but in the end the words never left his mouth. He could only chat with Chen Xin about trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this conversation, their relationship eased considerably. They soon arrived at the second hall, where Wang Tingshi came out to greet them. He had deliberately let Sun Yuanhua go to receive Chen Xin, also hoping that Sun Yuanhua might have some room to maneuver. If the two sides could reach a deal, he himself could both fulfill his mission and avoid offending Zhou Yanru. Seeing how the two now appeared, they seemed to have grown much more amicable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin hurried forward a few steps, knelt, and saluted Wang Tingshi, saying, \"Your subordinate pays his respects to Lord Wang. In those years, my lord showed me much care and guidance. It is a regret that since we parted the year before last, I have been denied the honor of meeting you. Were it not for military duties keeping me here, your subordinate would long since have gone to Jingshi to pay his respects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingshi stroked his beard and chuckled. Chen Xin's conduct was still very proper. Although he himself had been transferred away from Denglai, Chen Xin still sent ceremonial gifts every year. The amounts were not large, but the thought was there. He helped Chen Xin to his feet. \"Assistant Regional Commander Chen looks more imposing than ever. So long as you serve His Majesty well and earn merit here in Denglai, that will gladden this official's heart far more than any visit of respect...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Wang Tingshi started talking, he went on for the time it takes to eat a meal, leaving Sun Yuanhua, the actual authority here, cooling his heels to the side. Only when he had finished did he beckon Chen Xin inside to discuss matters. In the room were also Lu Zhi and two censors. The censors both had the look of upright gentlemen, and all exchanged courtesies with Chen Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Wang Tingshi had seen that Chen Xin and Sun Yuanhua were still on fairly harmonious terms and assumed the two had already reconciled. He glanced left and right at the two censors of Wen Tiren's faction and decided it was time to question Chen Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assistant Regional Commander Chen, His Majesty has dispatched us here to inspect the military affairs of Dengzhou. After this official's investigation over the past few days, it has been found that the Wendeng Battalion's regular supplies have never been received in full. Last year you received only two months' worth, and this year likewise only two months' worth. Is this indeed the true situation? Or perhaps Lord Sun had some separate arrangement with you?\" Wang Tingshi waited until Chen Xin had taken a small sip of tea, then asked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to Lord Wang, there was no arrangement.\" Chen Xin set down his teacup. He already knew that both censors were Wen Tiren's men. There was now no room whatsoever for a middle path. With an agitated expression, he said, \"Lord Wang, you served long in Denglai and know the situation well. Your subordinate's battalion was formed entirely by recruiting and training refugees. In Wendeng there is little military farmland available for garrison cultivation. The moment Dengzhou withheld the regular supplies, my Wendeng Battalion was filled with the starving dead. Moreover, Lord Sun did not allocate naval vessels, and iron stock, gunpowder, saltpeter, and sulfur — not one was supplied in sufficient quantity. As a result, at the Battle of Shenmi Island, our battalion's war preparations were incomplete and our ships lacking, ultimately leading to heavy losses. The merit report documents were then withheld, and the death gratuities have been long delayed. The families of the fallen soldiers cry out for sustenance, and your subordinate is ashamed before the heroic dead...\" Chen Xin finished and wiped his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingshi was slightly dumbstruck. The two censors, on the other hand, wore expressions of excitement and kept writing without pause. Lu Zhi merely smiled faintly and nodded gently. Chen Xin continued, \"Your subordinate could not bear to see the soldiers so wretched and sent men to Dengzhou to investigate. They discovered that the Denglai regular rice supplies, though collected and assembled by the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission, were taken by the navy under the pretext of transporting them to Dongjiang, then shipped out to sea and transferred to various private ports. A considerable portion of it was then sold by treacherous merchants via the Liaodong Sea to the Southern Four Garrisons. Among the naval personnel involved are over ten officers, including Peng Zai'en, the Regional Military Commissioner of the Dengzhou Naval Battalion. Among the treacherous merchants are the Dengzhou Huang Family Grain Shop, Tang Congren, Wang Liangyi...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a shichen later, Wang Tingshi's mouth was hanging wide open, and the two censors had filled an entire ledger with notes. Chen Xin walked out the main gate and came face to face with Sun Yuanhua. In both men's eyes was cold indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua had heard everything from outside the door. Although Chen Xin had not directly said that Sun Yuanhua was smuggling grain, every single charge pointed straight at him. This was meant to put him to death. He was just about to say a few words to Chen Xin when Lu Zhi and the Eastern Depot agent leading the team this time walked over. Lu Zhi said to Sun Yuanhua, \"Lord Sun, the men Lord Chen has identified are all guilty of grave crimes, and his identifications are well-founded. We believe these are all matters stirred up by underlings and have nothing to do with Lord Sun. The Eastern Depot will now go to the naval camp to arrest the men. If this causes any offense, I beg Lord Sun's magnanimous forgiveness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua immediately sought out Wang Tingshi, who was behind him, and began arguing with him, saying that no one could be arrested without solid proof. Wang Tingshi, however, produced an account book — it belonged to the Dengzhou Huang Family Grain Shop. Inside was recorded on which day grain was received from which naval officer, and on which day it was shipped to Gaizhou for trade. Sun Yuanhua stood frozen on the spot. He knew little of military affairs. He was aware that the various battalions engaged in embezzlement, but that these regular supplies had actually been shipped to Liaodong was something he had never imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingshi shook his head. He was now reevaluating Chen Xin as well, but even now, he still had not figured out why Chen Xin was so irreconcilably opposed to Sun Yuanhua. Given Chen Xin's usual tact and smoothness, he should not have let things with a superior officer reach such a state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin did not wait for them. He walked straight out the main gate. A group of Ming troops was just passing by in front of the gate. Zhou Shifa, disguised as a personal guard, came up and said in a low voice, \"My lord, that is part of the Left Personal Battalion and the Main Army Battalion. The commanders are Kong Youde and Wu Jinsheng. They are about to board ships to go relieve Dalinghe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin said flatly, \"Wang Tingshi wants us to send troops too. I agreed. We'll send a thousand men, but we'll drag the timing out a bit. In a couple of days, invite Wang Tingshi to inspect Wendeng. Send word back first — have Mr. Liu find more wounded soldiers. If there aren't enough, find cripples among the refugees. They have to look as wretched as possible. Also, the Denglai troops are already moving. Have the Special Service Team and the Action Team infiltrate their various points in Dengzhou first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Zhou Shifa still did not understand why they were laying out pieces across Denglai, but he asked no further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where have Zhang Dong and Wu Jianzhong gone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang Dong is at the naval fortress. Wu Jianzhong has gone to Laizhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still not back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wu Rong has already returned with the Action Team. They managed to buy off two small bands of bandits. But since we can't reveal they're from the Wendeng Battalion, the larger bands didn't trust them. Wu Rong brought the men back to Dengzhou to await orders. Only Wu Jianzhong stayed behind — he said he was determined to recruit a large band for you, my lord, and remained in Laizhou alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By himself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin praised him, \"He has guts...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just at that moment, footsteps sounded behind him. Sun Yuanhua, following behind Wang Tingshi, walked over with a dark expression. Although he was under multiple impeachments, he was still the Provincial Governor of Denglai. So long as he was not dismissed from office, he still had hope of turning the tables. And in Chen Xin's view, his only hope was to obtain sufficient military merit — and it could not be merit from the Wendeng Battalion. That left only the Dengzhou garrison troops, the personal battalions, and the Dongjiang troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>, your support is my greatest motivation.)\u003C\u002Fp>",3702,"2026-06-03T06:47:03.964Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","0ece09e1052649953d3c065d5be2c90f4bf397692b8a13ef655bf63001bd8e23","late-ming-chapter-233","late-ming-chapter-231",580,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flate-ming-cover.jpg"]