Chapter 30: Premeditation

Liu Fuguo walked out of the government office gate, mounted his horse directly, and rode back to his post with his personal guards; the subordinate officers of the Left Guard also left with him. Zhang Runda and Sun Zuowang had wanted to discuss matters with him, but watching Liu Fuguo ride off haughtily, the two cursed inwardly and could only return to the guard station with their own subordinates.

When Liu Fuguo returned to the guard station, he felt that every hereditary military household he met on the road seemed to be mocking him with their eyes, that everyone was gloating over his misfortune. This made him even angrier. He rode straight back to his own residence, dismounted, and entered the courtyard. The steward Liu Cheng hurried forward to greet him. Seeing his master's grim expression, he carefully put on a fawning smile and asked, "Master is back? The servants just bought fresh Yellow River carp—still lively and jumping! I've ordered it sliced into fillets; Master will be able to enjoy tender fish slices shortly!"

Liu Fuguo snorted and walked toward the study without turning his head, ordering, "Go fetch the secretary. No one is to come within fifty paces of the study. Hurry!"

Liu Cheng hastily acknowledged the order, instructed the servants to prepare tea for the master, then entered through the side gate into a small, delicate courtyard within—the residence of Yang Mingsheng, the secretary Liu Fuguo had hired.

Upon entering the courtyard, he saw Yang Mingsheng standing with his hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly at a patch of bamboo by the wall, lost in thought over something unknown.

Liu Cheng coughed. Yang Mingsheng slowly turned around and looked at Liu Cheng.

He was around thirty years of age, with a slightly dark complexion, a high straight nose, narrow elongated eyes, tightly pressed lips, and a thin, upright build.

He was a government student of Yichuan County, Yan'an Prefecture. He had a wife and one daughter at home; his wife was the daughter of an old failed scholar in the county—gentle and virtuous. They had only obtained a daughter after he passed twenty, and the couple doted on her like a pearl in the palm of their hand.

Although Yang Mingsheng had become a government student at twenty, he subsequently failed the examinations repeatedly. To support his family, he later became a private tutor in the household of a local gentry family. His employer treated him quite generously. Though the family of three was not wealthy or noble, with his monthly salary of three taels of silver, they lived quite comfortably.

But all that beauty was shattered half a year ago. The bandit chief Li Zicheng led his horde from Henan back to Shaanxi via Suizhou, then turned his forces north, intending to return to his hometown of Suide to recruit troops. Along the way he stormed every prefecture and county he passed. Yichuan happened to fall within Li Zicheng's sweep. The county town had only a few hundred militia—how could they withstand an attack by over ten thousand rebels? After holding out for only one shichen, the town fell, and the County Magistrate, Assistant Magistrate, and Registrar all took their own lives with their entire families in martyrdom.

After the bandit soldiers entered the city, they engaged in rampant rape and plunder. Yang Mingsheng's employer did not escape—his entire family was slaughtered. Because his daughter was ill, Yang Mingsheng had not gone to teach that day and narrowly escaped death. Taking his wife and child, he fled the county town while the bandits were preoccupied with looting valuables, then followed the tide of refugees toward Xi'an Prefecture.

On the road, they were robbed several times by small bands of roving bandits. His wife was struck in a vital spot by an arrow and died. Yang Mingsheng, carrying his five-year-old daughter on his back, endured untold hardships before finally reaching the borders of Xi'an Prefecture. Fearing that the northern part of Xi'an was still unsafe, he traveled southwest for several more days before arriving within the jurisdiction of the Xi'an Left Guard.

Father and daughter were already in rags, starving and freezing, and collapsed at the entrance of the Longfu Inn—the very inn where Sun Chuanting had stayed during his last private inspection of the Left Guard. The innkeeper was a kind-hearted man and hurriedly had his servants carry the two inside for treatment, even providing a small courtyard for them to live in.

After a few days, Yang Mingsheng and his daughter recovered. He explained his identity and experiences to the innkeeper, who expressed deep sympathy. Upon learning that Yang Mingsheng was a scholar, the innkeeper regarded him with particular respect, supplied meals on schedule, and generously agreed to let the father and daughter stay long-term. As a scholar, Yang Mingsheng had a very strong sense of pride. Though inwardly extremely grateful, once his body had fully recovered after a period of recuperation, he planned to leave the place.

When the innkeeper asked where he intended to go, Yang Mingsheng felt lost. Only then did he realize that although the Great Ming was vast, there was no place for him to call home.

The innkeeper advised him that his daughter was still young and could not withstand more hardship and fright on the road—better to settle here for a few years and make plans once the girl grew up. Yang Mingsheng had no choice but to stay. Through a cousin who served as an Assistant Regional Commander in the guard station, the innkeeper learned that Guard Commander Liu Fuguo's household was in need of a clerk to handle documents and was actively seeking someone. But since the guard station itself had no scholars among its households, and scholars from nearby prefectures and counties would hardly deign to serve in a military man's home, no one had been found.

Yang Mingsheng had been worrying about not wanting to remain dependent on others' charity any longer. When the innkeeper returned and told him of this opportunity, he agreed immediately and went to Liu Fuguo's residence to apply. Liu Fuguo could barely recognize a few characters. Previously, the guard station's paperwork had been handled by an impoverished old failed scholar he had hired from Xingping County. Last month, that old scholar had resigned on grounds of age and infirmity and returned to his hometown. Liu Fuguo's subordinates were all illiterate—none of them could make heads or tails of the various orders from superiors or the directives issued by the court.

Though the guard station's soldiers existed in name only, nominally there were still several thousand men. Petitioning the court for pay, reporting candidates for vacant positions, and so forth—all of this required someone literate to handle.

Yang Mingsheng's arrival made Liu Fuguo very happy. He personally conducted the examination and observed him covertly.

Although Yang Mingsheng had repeatedly failed the examinations, his abilities were outstanding. For paperwork he had never handled before, he only needed to examine the previous incumbent's leftover drafts once before immediately knowing how to proceed. His quick wit and broad thinking earned the admiration of a rough man like Liu Fuguo.

In the two months since Yang Mingsheng had taken the post, he handled all incoming and outgoing correspondence and court decrees related to the guard station in perfect order. Liu Fuguo was greatly satisfied.

Upon learning that Yang Mingsheng and his daughter were staying at the inn within the guard station's jurisdiction, Liu Fuguo generously allocated a courtyard from his own estate for the father and daughter to move into directly. As a scholar, Yang Mingsheng looked down on military men from the depths of his bones, but he was still endlessly grateful for such generous treatment from Liu Fuguo. From then on, father and daughter finally had a temporary home of their own.

Seeing Yang Mingsheng turn around, Liu Cheng hastily made a bow with clasped hands and said, "Secretary, the master has returned from the provincial capital. He asks that you come to the study immediately—there are important matters to discuss!"

Yang Mingsheng frowned slightly and asked, "Do you know what it's about?"

"This servant does not know the reason, only that the master's expression was very grim—he seemed extremely angry!" Liu Cheng replied.

"Mm, understood. I'll go over now!"

With that, Yang Mingsheng walked toward the study, while Liu Cheng went off to attend to other matters.

Arriving outside the study, he heard a sharp crash from within—it sounded like a teacup falling to the ground. Puzzled, Yang Mingsheng stepped inside and saw Liu Fuguo pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, cursing incessantly. On the floor was a puddle of water, and a celadon teacup lay shattered into several pieces.

Yang Mingsheng clasped his hands and said, "Master, what has angered you so?"

Liu Fuguo whirled around, strode over to Yang Mingsheng in a few steps, grabbed his hands, and said urgently, "Sir, you've come! This time something huge has happened! If this isn't handled well, the Liu family will be ruined!"

Yang Mingsheng calmly withdrew his hands and, taking the opportunity to make a bow, said, "Master, why such panic? How about we sit down and discuss this slowly?"

Liu Fuguo slapped his forehead and said, "Yes, yes, yes—I've lost my composure! Come, come, sir, please sit. I'll tell you everything, and I ask that you give me your advice after hearing it all. Scholars have many ideas. To be honest with you, sir, I feel I'm at the end of my rope!"

After the two sat down, Liu Fuguo recounted everything Sun Chuanting had said that day in full. Though illiterate, he had an excellent memory and reproduced Sun Chuanting's words almost verbatim, even describing the reactions of everyone present in complete detail.

After hearing his account, Yang Mingsheng frowned deeply, stroking his beard in thought. Liu Fuguo dared not disturb his contemplation and only watched him nervously.

After a long while, Yang Mingsheng sighed and spoke: "Master, in my view, this matter is extremely thorny. To put it bluntly, the three guards of Xi'an are doomed this time. I have not yet devised a countermeasure!"

Hearing this, Liu Fuguo's face was full of disappointment. He sighed, "If even a man of great talent like yourself, sir, cannot think of a way out, is the Liu family's accumulated wealth of several generations to be buried by me, Liu, now? Then when I go down to the underworld, what face will I have to meet my ancestors? Alas!"

Yang Mingsheng spoke up to console him: "Master, this time the Governor comes bearing the imperial mandate—this is righteous authority, and his campaign has proper justification. Within barely a month of his arrival, he dispatched generals hundreds of li away to ambush and kill the great bandit Qi Zheng Wang of Shanyang. This act was meant to intimidate those with treacherous intentions and those who pay lip service while acting otherwise—this is establishing his authority. The guard stations are rotten, and the hereditary military households suffer unspeakably. The Governor takes this opportunity to reform them, rescuing the military households from fire and water—this wins the hearts of the people. Whoever obstructs this matter will face not only the court that the Governor represents and his fierce regular troops, but even the military households of the guard stations themselves will never agree! The Governor is employing an open and aboveboard scheme—there is simply no countermeasure to it, unless..."

The more Liu Fuguo listened, the more agitated he became. But upon hearing that final word, his spirits lifted and he hastily asked, "Sir, unless what?"

Yang Mingsheng shook his head and said nothing.

Liu Fuguo said angrily, "Master Yang, though you have not been here long, you must know in your heart how I, Liu, have treated you. Now my Liu family faces utter ruin. If we follow that damned Governor's regulations, my family's vast estate will be reduced to almost nothing—what will over a hundred mouths eat and drink in the future? Master Yang, just speak your mind directly! At a time like this, why hold anything back?"

Yang Mingsheng sighed and slowly began to speak: "Master, what I am about to say leaves my mouth and enters your ears. Beyond this door, I will deny everything. Moreover, what I am about to say is treasonous words. Whether you act on it or not has nothing to do with me!"

Liu Fuguo hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and said, "Please speak frankly, sir. How you choose to proceed has nothing to do with you—I, Liu, will bear full responsibility for all consequences!"

Yang Mingsheng looked at the resolute Liu Fuguo and felt a twinge of reluctance, for Liu Fuguo had indeed shown kindness to him and his daughter. But considering his own and his daughter's future, he still made up his mind.

He began to speak: "Actually, just now I also considered taking the official route—using a superior to suppress the Governor and force him to retract his words about reforming the guard stations. That would have been the best approach. But in the months since I came to your household, I have reviewed nearly all of your correspondence. From it, I can discern that although you are wealthy, Master, you are after all merely a guard station commander—neither civil nor military in standing. Your accumulated wealth comes mostly from the military households under your command, and you have little interaction with civil or military officials. As far as I know, the highest-ranking civil official you can reach is the Shaanxi Circuit Intendant. This is because he controls the court's allocation of funds and grain to the guard stations—that is why you maintain good relations with him. He counts as your direct superior. The Circuit Intendant is a man of real power in Shaanxi officialdom, but compared to Lord Sun, who was sent by imperial mandate to govern Shaanxi, he is truly not worth mentioning. So this avenue is already blocked!"

Liu Fuguo knew what he said was true, so he did not argue, only listening quietly.

Yang Mingsheng sighed again and continued: "Unless you follow the Governor's words completely, if you wish the Liu family to endure and prosper, there is only one option—remove him. Only this course of action can preserve the Liu family's present and future!"

The moment the words fell, Liu Fuguo leaped up abruptly, his face full of terror. Pointing at Yang Mingsheng with a trembling finger, he stammered, "Kill the Governor? Isn't that rebellion? What kind of advice is this! What are your intentions! You want my entire Liu family executed and our heads displayed!"

Yang Mingsheng looked at him calmly and said, "Master, calm yourself. Killing an official is not the same as rebellion. As I said before, no matter what I say, whether to act or not is your own choice—it has nothing to do with me. I hadn't even finished speaking, and you were already in such a panic. Then I will say no more. Let this matter end here!"

After coming to his senses, Liu Fuguo returned to his seat and sat down slowly. Staring at the door, he said coldly, "Very well. Since that's the case, you might as well explain yourself fully. I want to hear how killing a provincial governor can possibly not count as rebellion!"

Seeing his attitude, Yang Mingsheng knew that if he could not explain clearly, he would not get out of this situation easily today.

"Master, killing an official is not the same as rebellion—it depends on who does the killing. This student is not asking you to personally carry out such an evil deed. If someone else were used to remove the Governor, then when a new Governor is appointed, based on this student's understanding of the Great Ming's officialdom, the successor would most likely not continue his predecessor's policies, and the matter of reforming the guard stations would probably fizzle out. However, this student does genuinely admire Lord Sun. Observing his conduct, he truly acts for the sake of the Great Ming's rivers and mountains. If this student had not received the great kindness of your taking in my daughter and me, I would never have devised this scheme to harm Lord Sun!" Yang Mingsheng said.

Hearing this, Liu Fuguo's attitude shifted somewhat. He said, "Use someone else? How exactly would this scheme of yours be carried out, sir? Tell me quickly!"

Yang Mingsheng smiled slightly and said, "Actually, the most critical element in this matter is your resolve, Master. How it is carried out is of secondary importance. This student's plan is actually very simple. For now, you should make thorough preparations. When the deadline set by the Governor draws near, you should claim that your subordinate officers refuse to act according to the Governor's regulations and are gathering to cause trouble, that you can no longer control them, and request that the Governor come in person to overawe the rest. Barring unexpected circumstances, to protect his authority from being defied, the Governor will certainly come. You should organize your trusted men—the more the better—to create chaos. At that point, turn the false into the real: surround and attack the Governor. However, the Governor's personal guard battalion is exceptionally fierce—they cannot be overcome by force. At that moment, you should step forward, feigning protection, and lead the Governor into your own residence, then close the gates, thereby separating the Governor from his personal guards. Even if the Governor still has some guards by his side at that point, they will not be many. You will have prepared elite household retainers within the residence in advance. Once they strike him down, seize the opportunity to open the gates and let the mob of troublemakers flood into the residence. Your retainers slip away amid the chaos, and you yourself should also be 'wounded,' falling to the ground unconscious. Even if the Governor's personal guards kill everyone else, it will be too late to change anything. Moreover, since you were gravely wounded protecting the Governor, even if the court investigates afterward, you will be in the clear. Furthermore, following our dynasty's conventions, when matters are delayed and shuffled aside, even if the court truly sends investigators, it will consume a great deal of time, and the outcome is usually that the matter is dropped. Also—whether to involve the relevant persons from the Xi'an Front Guard and Rear Guard is your own affair. Everything this student has conceived has now been fully spoken, as repayment for your kindness in taking in my daughter and me. Matters from here on have nothing to do with me. This student takes his leave—my daughter's afternoon nap has likely already ended." With that, he clasped his hands, bid farewell, and departed.

Liu Fuguo was stunned by Yang Mingsheng's words and did not notice his departure. He sank into tangled, uncertain deliberation. After pondering for a long time, he finally made up his mind. Only then did he realize Yang Mingsheng had already left. He rose and strode out of the study. Upon reaching the front courtyard, he sternly ordered two household retainers to keep close watch on Yang Mingsheng—he was not to leave the guard station's grounds, and contact with outsiders was strictly forbidden. He then sent men to the Xi'an Front Guard and Rear Guard, saying that he invited the two Guard Commanders to come to the Left Guard for a gathering. Only after arranging these two matters did Liu Fuguo go to the inner courtyard to dine and rest.