Chapter 421: Clues

In the ninth month, on Qipan Street in Jingshi, a cold wind swept through, kicking up gusts of dust. Fallen leaves swirled along the road as the first chill of the season set in. Song Wenxian emerged from the Ministry of War; a Vice Minister courteously saw him down the steps before clasping hands and bidding him farewell.

Song Wenxian's expression was entirely relaxed. He had received word of the great victory at Lushun even earlier than the Ministry of War. In truth, the fighting had ended over ten days ago. Chen Xin's battle reports were always late, giving all sides time to balance the credit.

Song Wenxian understood the situation in Liaodong thoroughly. Military merit could never be monopolized by one man, and under the present circumstances, one house dominating all others brought no benefit whatsoever to Dengzhou Garrison. The distribution of credit for the Lushun battle involved the future division of power around the Liaodong Sea, and Chen Xin would certainly consider the whole picture.

Liang Tingdong had also learned of it earlier than the official dispatch and was now completely composed. A storm was brewing at court: Zhou Yanru's relative by marriage, Chen Yutai, being named Top Graduate had been seized upon, and it had also been dug up that Zhou Yanru had accepted bribes through an intermediary from the bandit Shen Yikui. The latter was especially damaging, since Shen Yikui was, after all, a roving bandit. Censorial memorials flew in like snowflakes, and Zhou Yanru was too weak to parry them.

With news of the great Lushun victory arriving at this moment, Liang Tingdong's entry into the Grand Secretariat was all but certain, so he was naturally exceedingly courteous to Song Wenxian. They exchanged news almost daily, meeting either at the Ministry of War or at his residence.

What Song Wenxian and Liang Tingdong discussed this time, apart from the distribution of honors and the matter of the Qingzhou Regional Commander, was the Four Seas Money Shop in Jingshi. Chen Xin hoped to draw Liang Tingdong in as a partner. Jingshi's status was unlike other places; the support of high court officials was critically important. If Liang Tingdong entered the Grand Secretariat, he himself would be an excellent guarantor of credit. The money shop now had branches all along the Grand Canal; one could withdraw funds in places like Linqing or Yangzhou simply with a note. Once trust was established, it would hold great appeal for capital officials, not to mention that it even paid interest.

The two had essentially finished their discussions and were only waiting for Liang Tingdong to enter the Grand Secretariat. Then they would expand the scale of the Four Seas Money Shop and absorb capital from Jingshi. Once people grew accustomed to using the money shop, many would not withdraw piles of ready silver to keep at home, and the bulk of the funds would be put to use by Dengzhou Garrison.

Song Wenxian could not immediately grasp the full function of the money shop. This venture involved not only Liang Tingdong but also Wen Tiren and Wu Zongda, who held shares in it. Every year Chen Xin would distribute dividends to them. Song Wenxian analyzed it based on the profits of an ordinary money shop and felt that Chen Xin could not be making much money. Yet seeing that the money shop occupied the greatest space in every letter from Chen Xin, he had no choice but to devote much of his energy to negotiating money shop matters.

He walked west for a stretch and entered Xitong Hutong in Xijiaomi Lane, where his new residence was located. The money shop's Jingshi branch was also set up here. The residence Chen Xin had the trading company buy for Song Wenxian was a large compound, complete with east and west gardens and a rear garden, and within the compound were further sub-courtyards, suited to match his steadily rising status.

In the central hall of the second courtyard, Zhang Dahui had also just returned. He was now the head of the Dengzhou Office in the capital. The number of people coming from Dengzhou to Jingshi on business was gradually increasing. When Song Wenxian was absent, Zhang Dahui was responsible for all matters in the capital, chiefly external affairs and intelligence. Zhang Dahui lived in the west courtyard and had already taken three concubines, two of whom had been redeemed from the pleasure quarters.

Song Wenxian and Zhang Dahui were thoroughly familiar with each other; they dispensed with formalities and each sat down to drink tea. As the serving maid turned to leave, Zhang Dahui lightly patted her on the backside. The maid turned her head and shot him a sidelong glare, then sauntered away with a coquettish, alluring air.

Zhang Dahui chuckled lewdly. Song Wenxian, seated across from him, shook his head and said, "This Huang Ying'er is indeed a natural-born seductress."

"Mr. Song, with your experience of women, your judgment is always spot-on," Zhang Dahui said smugly. His funds in the capital were ample; all his dining, drinking, and entertainment were covered as expenses, and each year he could embezzle a bit more. Previously, Chen Xin had never interfered, but at the end of the previous year, Liu Minyou had sent someone to audit the accounts. Zhang Dahui could no longer freely draw on the trading company's money, so he had reined himself in somewhat this year. Still, his operational funds remained considerable, and audits were always far looser than those inside Dengzhou.

Song Wenxian leaned back in his chair, resting with his eyes closed, and began to discuss business. "Lord Wen's side says that the Qingzhou Regional Commander post is definitely to be established. His Majesty has already approved it; only the candidate has yet to be decided. I have been busy with other matters lately. You must keep a closer eye on this Qingzhou Regional Commander affair. We are at the final stage now — has Geng Zhongming's sponsor been secured?"

Zhang Dahui dropped his lecherous demeanor, sat up straight, and said, "Secured. He's from Liu Yulie's faction, but privately he has now defected to Liang Tingdong. He is the most suitable person for this. In Liang Tingdong's ministerial deliberations, he will propose Dai Zhenggang. Geng Zhongming has also submitted another memorial impeaching Lord Chen. Word from the palace says that His Majesty has muttered to himself several times the words 'Dengzhou's strong troops.' Although he hasn't stated it explicitly in several Grand Secretariat meetings, the implication that he does not wish men from Wendeng to control any more battalions is discernible. His Majesty has not yet decided on the Qingzhou Regional Commander, probably waiting for the Jianzhou bandits to withdraw. Once the official dispatch of the Lushun victory arrives, the likelihood of Geng Zhongming being confirmed is nine in ten."

Song Wenxian rubbed his temples. "This affair is truly exhausting. All these lords twist and turn in endless circles. Lord Chen only wants the Qingzhou Regional Commander post, but Wang Tingshi still wants to snatch Qingzhou Prefecture outright from Shandong. I hear Xu Congzhi has also sent men to the capital, seeking out old classmates and former colleagues to keep Qingzhou Prefecture where it is."

Zhang Dahui said, "Wang Tingshi's little scheme — he has only two or three trusted officers in Dengzhou. He understands the game Geng Zhongming is playing, but since it ultimately benefits him, he's helping to push it through. At this juncture of the Lushun victory, if Wang Tingshi gets cocky, he might demand an exorbitant price. What Lord Chen needs most is the Qingzhou Regional Commander; Wang Tingshi wants Qingzhou Prefecture. Let's wrap up this Qingzhou Regional Commander matter quickly. Whether Wang Tingshi gets Qingzhou Prefecture later — we can simply ignore him then."

"Exactly. Lord Chen's letter also made it clear: Geng Zhongming will have some head-count military merit from the Lushun battle, so his qualifications are the strongest."

Zhang Dahui laughed. "As long as Liang Tingdong proposes Dai Zhenggang, Zhou Yanru is certain to oppose it. These lords at court — they don't care whether Dai Zhenggang or Geng Zhongming can fight. Whatever their rival supports, they are sure to oppose. So as long as Liang Tingdong opposes Geng Zhongming, Zhou Yanru will definitely support Geng Zhongming, and he'll certainly add Xiong Mingyu's opinion to it. As for His Majesty — the intention to check and balance Dengzhou Garrison is beginning to emerge. Once news of the Lushun victory arrives, with the Jianzhou bandits routed and fleeing by our hand, plus over twenty thousand bondservants dead or wounded, it's impossible that His Majesty won't feel some misgivings in his heart."

Song Wenxian nodded. "Devote more thought to this matter. Several people have been mobilized for a single Regional Commander post, and no small amount of silver has been spent. From Dengzhou and Laizhou to the Jiliao Regional Commander's office, the Ministry of War, and the Grand Secretariat — every link requires calculation. Don't let anything slip at the final moment. That censor who impeached Lord Chen last time for training a private army — which faction does he belong to? Has that been investigated clearly?"

"He doesn't seem to belong to any faction. We've already assigned men to watch his residence. This man is a Metropolitan Graduate of the forty-first year of Wanli and has always had a reputation for outspokenness. Zhou Yanru's side has impeached him before too; this isn't the first time. I sought out Wang Chengen. This memorial is placed at the very bottom every day; His Majesty has not yet seen it. Zhou Yanru appears to be unaware of it and has not raised the matter before His Majesty."

Song Wenxian opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Dahui. "That is why I told you to keep an eye on him. The details in his impeachment about the garrison farms and troop numbers are quite thorough, not far from the true figures. If it were just random scribbling, it would be one thing, but it also mentions the establishment of the Four Seas Trading Company in Dengzhou, smuggling across the Liaodong Sea, and other items. That makes it out of the ordinary. If someone is behind it, then that person behind the scenes must have an inside source within Dengzhou Garrison. We must find the trail starting here in the capital. Do not take this lightly. All the wealth and power under heaven converge in Jingshi. Although Dengzhou and Laizhou are a thousand li away, the interests here must be contested at every moment. Lord Chen sent you to the capital precisely to entrust you with a matter of the utmost importance. Do not overlook any minor matter connected to Dengzhou Garrison."

Hearing the gravity in Song Wenxian's tone, Zhang Dahui quickly replied respectfully, "Mr. Song is right. I have already arranged for men to watch him. If there truly is someone behind him, we will eventually discover some clues."

Song Wenxian had demanded Zhang Dahui take this man seriously precisely because the impeachment mentioned certain inside details of Dengzhou. Although the actual situation in Dengzhou ran even deeper, Song Wenxian's instinct told him this matter was different from ordinary impeachments. Just as they were speaking, a gatekeeper hurried in and whispered to Zhang Dahui. After listening, Zhang Dahui dismissed the gatekeeper, turned to Song Wenxian, and said, "What a coincidence. It's news from that very censor. Mr. Song, would you care to guess who the surveillance men saw entering that censor's house?"

Song Wenxian asked coolly, "Zhou Yanru's man?"

"No. In the seventh month, we discovered a Jianzhou bandit safe house. We didn't eliminate it, leaving it in place to see if any big fish would appear. Today, someone came out of that censor's house, and the place that person ultimately went to was that very location."

"The Jianzhou bandits?" Song Wenxian furrowed his brow.

………

Fenzi Hutong in the inner city of Jingshi lay between Ganshi Street and Xixie Street. Unlike the neat regularity of most of the capital's hutongs, its orientation slanted slightly to the southeast. This hutong was mostly filled with low-class brothels. In Ming dynasty Jingshi, prostitutes were called fentou or fenzi, hence the name Fenzi Hutong. Gaudy signs hung high on both sides of the street; large and small houses of pleasure were doing business. Many women waved handkerchiefs at the doorways, soliciting customers, their faces caked with thick white powder that a single grin could send flaking off in a layer.

Amid the hutong's chirping voices and sweet tones, in a secluded courtyard down a narrow alley, someone was groaning in agony. Five or six men stood in the courtyard, dressed in commoners' clothes but powerfully built and fierce-looking. Inside the house, two corpses lay on the floor. One had been killed by a crossbow; the other appeared to be a woman, a knife wound to her throat.

Zhang Dahui sat inside the house, watching several of his subordinates subject a captured Later Jin spy to water torture. They were already on the second round, and the spy could no longer endure it.

Zhang Dahui waited until the man had finished coughing violently. "Speak. Tell me, and I'll give you a quick end. If we catch a big fish, I'll spare your life, give you silver, and let you flee far away. Who gave you your orders?"

The man had just ceased his violent gasping; his face was covered in water stains, and the terror of facing death still showed on his features. His expression anguished, he looked at Zhang Dahui, then turned his head to glance at the others. He did not know who these people were. He was from Yongping and had surrendered to the Jianzhou bandits after being captured by the Later Jin in the third year of Chongzhen. The Later Jin had detained his family and sent him to operate in Jingshi.

"Don't think you can fool this young master. Since we were able to catch you here, we know your background clearly. Don't bring suffering upon yourself," Zhang Dahui bluffed for a moment, then waited for the man to speak.

"This lowly one will confess everything, but this lowly one truly does not know who delivered the orders. It was always this…" The man pointed at the corpse on the floor. "He was this lowly one's master. The woman on the floor was an unlicensed prostitute he bought, used to establish a household in the capital. Every time the master went out to make contact, he would return and tell us what to do. Last time, the order he brought back was the intent to impeach Dengzhou. He went and sought out that censor, giving a thousand taels of silver to impeach Dengzhou Regional Commander Chen Xin."

Zhang Dahui asked coolly, "What orders have you received recently?"

"To continue impeaching Chen Xin, saying that he and Geng Zhongming are colluding in Dengzhou to control the broker houses and privately dividing the commercial taxes, and also…"

Zhang Dahui's pupils contracted. This point alone was absolutely impermissible right now. Once the Qingzhou Regional Commander post was secured, it might not matter — irregular collection of commercial taxes happened everywhere — but the connection between Geng Zhongming and Chen Xin would arouse the Emperor's suspicions.

Zhang Dahui leaned close to the Later Jin spy, his eyes menacing, and threatened, "Apart from that censor, who else have you approached?"

"No one else. It was originally two thousand taels of silver, with orders to find two censors to impeach. He embezzled one thousand taels and only found one censor."

Zhang Dahui felt slightly relieved, then immediately sneered. "Now this old master asks you: where did this man make contact? There must be some clues to follow. You will recall every detail for me, bit by bit. Anything useful, spit it out. If you can't remember a single thing, I'll torture you once every quarter hour."

"My lord, spare my life! This lowly one truly does not know…" The spy's tears and snot flowed freely. As two men moved to press the cotton cloth over his face again, he immediately begged for mercy, his hands and feet struggling desperately. "This lowly one remembers now! The master — the master said once, said that our Great Jin has someone in Dengzhou, with a rank that's not low, someone who can even see that Regional Commander Liu regularly."

Zhang Dahui's heart jolted. If this was true, it was a serious security breach. Dengzhou had expanded too quickly; many people in the various departments had arrived only in recent years, and it was highly possible that spies had infiltrated among them. But when he pressed further, the spy truly could not answer. Zhang Dahui applied water torture twice more, and the man's spirit was already extremely weakened; nothing more could be extracted from him.

"This matter of Geng Zhongming and Regional Commander Chen collecting commercial taxes — you've already delivered it to that censor?"

The spy's head drooped. He lifted his eyes and glanced listlessly at Zhang Dahui. "Delivered."

Zhang Dahui stroked his chin, his eyes darting about. One of the action squad men beside him leaned in. "Lord Zhang, this lowly one can act tonight and kill that censor. His household has few servants; this lowly one can make it look like a sudden illness."

Zhang Dahui thought for a moment. This subordinate had formerly been a street fighter in Jinan Prefecture, highly skilled, and an expert at murder and robbery. Faking causes of death was a common technique among the street fighters. The most urgent thing now was to prevent that censor from submitting his memorial. He finally nodded. "Do it tonight. After it's done, remember to search the house. If there's a memorial already written, take it with you."

"What about this one? Keep him alive?" The action squad man pointed at the man on the floor.

"Keep him. Set up defenses inside and out here. If there's no stir from the censor's side, other spies may come here to check. Watch everyone coming and going. This time, we want prisoners taken alive."

"Understood."

With that, Zhang Dahui stood up and hurried back toward Xijiaomi Lane. From the man's words and the content of the impeachment, there was indeed a mole, and his status was likely not low, since even matters concerning the militia battalions had been mentioned. Dengzhou deliberately worked to erase the court's influence; ordinary low-level personnel did not even know that Liu Minyou was the Militia Regional Commander, only addressing him as Mr. Liu or Lord Liu. He therefore needed to notify the Dengzhou Intelligence Bureau as quickly as possible to dig out the person hidden inside Dengzhou.

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