Chapter 50

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's major movements could not be kept secret, and the news of the Yin family being raided soon spread throughout the Lianghuai region.

"Unreasonable!

These soldiers are simply lawless!

……"

Xu Xintian cursed in a panic.

The court took action against the salt administration, and as the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, he hadn't received a single bit of intelligence beforehand.

When the salt merchants were arrested earlier, he had found people to inquire about the news.

The letters from colleagues in the capital all told him to set his mind at ease, saying the court's arrest of salt merchants was only to crack down on private salt.

The matter was limited to merchants and would not be pursued to a deeper level.

The private salt case was indeed not pursued; the crime pinned on the Yin family for being raided was treason.

"Commissioner Xu, please calm down; the Embroidered Uniform Guard acting recklessly is not just for a day or two.

Although the Yin family is prominent in the Lianghuai region, looking at the entire Great Dayu, they are only a second-rate family, so naturally, they wouldn't be taken seriously by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The Salt Inspection Ding Yushi Xia Shigao on the side advised calmly.

Unlike Xu Xintian, who served as the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, he, this Salt Inspection Ding Yushi, had only been in office for a few months.

Although he had received quite a few gifts from salt merchants, the involvement between the two sides was not deep.

The relationship of taking money to handle matters was not enough to make him stand on the opposite side of the court for the life or death of the salt industry interest group.

Corruption is the norm in the Great Dayu dynasty; as long as it is not done too excessively, there is room for maneuver in matters.

Being able to sit in the lucrative position of Salt Inspection Ding Yushi, naturally, there is no lack of background connections behind him.

Grand Secretary Xu, who is rushing over from the capital, is his teacher.

If you don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's face.

Now, as long as he doesn't pick sides randomly, there won't be any big problems.

"Commissioner Xia, you speak easily.

Although the seven great families of Lianghuai have disputes, they have always been of one mind when facing the outside.

The Yin family has been raided, and the other six families will definitely take action; it's quite possible the Lianghuai region is about to be in chaos.

There's no time to explain; Commissioner Xia, let's hurry and mobilize soldiers to go and stop the Embroidered Uniform Guard's atrocities!"

Xu Xintian said with an anxious look.

He didn't care whether Lianghuai was in chaos or not, but he was afraid the Embroidered Uniform Guard would force the six families to rebel.

Involving treason, the court would inevitably pursue it to the end.

Officials like him who were closely related to the salt industry group, even if they wanted to cut ties now, it was too late in terms of time.

Carrying the crime of being an accomplice to rebels, the light punishment would be losing one's head, and the heavy punishment would be the annihilation of the nine clans.

To reverse the situation, the only way was to limit the Embroidered Uniform Guard's actions and stabilize the other six families first.

As long as they could withstand the first wave, there would be a glimmer of a turning point. Everyone could mobilize their connections in the court together and find ways to change the court's decision.

"Commissioner Xu, these words cannot be spoken randomly.

The great families in the Lianghuai region are secretly forming parties and plotting rebellion; then we must hurry and report it to the court!"

Xia Shigao said, pretending to be confused.

Xu Xintian's problem was too big, and he had been reduced to an abandoned pawn of the Qingliu Party, but he was not.

Under this background, what he needed to do was stabilize the Salt Administration Bureau and wait for the arrival of his mentor, Grand Secretary Xu.

For the survival of the salt merchant interest group, risking offending the Emperor, the nobles, and the Eunuch Party to jump out and fight against the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was not that stupid.

The six great families rebelling was a disaster for the entire Qingliu group, but for individuals or small groups within the Qingliu, it could possibly be an opportunity.

First, the moral pressure of abandoning teammates no longer existed. No one was willing to be with rebels, and even if the relationship was close in normal times, they had to cut ties.

The Lianghuai gentry were being purged, and many positions would definitely open up in the court, increasing the probability of everyone advancing further.

The Lianghuai economy was developed, and the literary atmosphere was prosperous; it had always been a cradle for provincial graduates and metropolitan graduates.

Affected by the treason case, the number of people participating in the imperial examination next year would decrease significantly. With fewer connections capable of operating, the probability of their own children passing the exam would greatly increase.

Indeed, some officials would have reduced income, but the officials with reduced income and the officials who gained benefits were not necessarily the same group of people.

No matter how profitable the salt industry was, it was impossible to bribe all the bureaucrats of the Great Dayu; most officials were not qualified to take money.

……

"Clan leader, the Yin family wasn't just simply raided; the Embroidered Uniform Guard went specifically to exterminate the family.

According to eyewitnesses, the Embroidered Uniform Guard only captured three living people, and the remaining men, women, old, and young were all slaughtered.

The court is about to take action against us; if we don't resist, we're all finished!"

The young man said with great emotion.

His younger sister had just married into the Yin family a few months ago, and now a disaster had fallen from the sky.

It is easiest to feel pain from a disaster happening right before one's eyes.

The crime for which the Yin family was raided was treason; according to the "Great Dayu Law," he happened to be on the list for execution.

"Forget it, it's not that we are disloyal to the court, but that treacherous officials are rampant in the court, wanting the lives of us loyal ministers.

If they don't give us a way to live, then let no one live.

I intend to gather troops to clear the monarch's side, execute the Eunuch Party, and return peace to the world.

Ziping and Zijie, stay behind; everyone else, go and prepare!"

The old man said with a grave expression.

Rebellion, for a traditional scholar like him, was still very challenging.

In the books of sages, he had never been taught how to rebel.

The seven great families had become six, and the court's blade was at their throats; now they had no choice but to rebel.

Everyone left uneasily, leaving only the three grandfather and grandsons.

"You two, immediately pack your things, take the family fleet out to sea, and from now on, change your names and hide your identities to continue the family bloodline.

Unless this rebellion of ours shakes the rule of the Great Dayu, otherwise, never come back!"

The old man's words gave Zhou Ziping and Zhou Zijie a fright.

The banner of rebellion hadn't even been raised, and he was already arranging for them to run away; this was too damaging to morale.

"Grandfather, you don't need to belittle yourself.

This dilapidated house of the Great Dayu is full of termites everywhere; if the wind and rain are a little stronger, it could collapse with a crash.

Our raising troops at this time is also following the timing of heaven; perhaps we can kill our way into the capital, change the dynasty, and establish a dynasty belonging to our Zhou family!"

Zhou Ziping said unconvinced.

"You yellow-mouthed child, what do you know!

Since ancient times, those who first raise the banner of rebellion are all pioneers for others; how could we be an exception?

The government troops in the Lianghuai region are trash, but that doesn't mean all the government troops in the world are trash.

Don't look at those salt soldiers we raise as fierce and brave; that's just fighting in the underworld. If they really encounter the court's great army, they are simply not worth mentioning!"

The old man couldn't help but scold angrily.

If rebellion were really that easy, the Great Dayu would have changed dynasties countless times already; where would it be their turn to take action?

"Grandfather, since the hope of a successful rebellion is slim, then we might as well have the whole family leave.

Overseas is not some barren land, and the family has been involved in overseas trade for some years; we are fully capable of sending ourselves out!"

Zhou Zijie on the side spoke up to persuade.

Compared to rebelling and clashing head-on with the court, he felt that running away was more cost-effective.

Avoiding the world overseas for a few decades, it wouldn't be too late to come back after the limelight passed.

"If we leave together, then we are dead for sure.

Overseas is not some peaceful land either; how could the wealth accumulated by our Zhou family over generations not attract people's attention!

Alright, you two hurry and pack your things; leave separately at midnight.

I have arranged body doubles for you; from now on, you are dead people, and don't use your current names in the future."

……

(End of chapter)