Chapter 150: The Voice of the People

After a day of spreading, the news that the Yongwei Camp had mutinied within the imperial city exploded across the entire capital—the news was simply too shocking!

Although the Imperial Ming Times did not report the matter, the newsstands at every street corner were still surrounded by crowds. Those professional news-criers had become very familiar with this business—they could fabricate a story without even looking at the newspaper.

The Yongwei Camp had appeared in the Imperial Ming Times many times and had even had its own column. These news-criers had recited those stories countless times, and with their preconceived notions, they firmly believed in the Yongwei Camp's loyalty.

Based on intelligence provided by plainclothes agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these news-criers vividly described how the tens of thousands of Yongwei Camp soldiers raged and clamored, perfectly portraying the heroic image of men filled with grief and indignation.

If Zhu Cilang had seen this, he would definitely have invested in establishing a Capital Film Academy and hired them as instructors.

Under the propaganda of these news-criers, and after being spread by countless crowds who did not understand but were impressed, soon the entire capital knew of that earth-shaking matter. Every street and alley, every tavern and teahouse was discussing it.

Those with well-connected sources claimed that yesterday afternoon, they had seen many senior court officials and generals of the Capital Camps hurrying into the palace at Chessboard Street—the matter was certainly not simple; perhaps they were preparing to deal with the Yongwei Camp.

After the news spread, the masses were in an uproar. Some loyal supporters of the Yongwei Camp, arranged by those with ulterior motives, pulled out banners and began the first marches and demonstrations.

Chessboard Street was lined with shops and had an enormous flow of people. At this moment, a path split through the crowd in the street. In the long procession, people continuously beat gongs and drums, while even more people excitedly waved flags and shouted.

"The Yongwei Camp is innocent!"

"Treacherous ministers are corrupting the court!"

The procession finally arrived at the southern gate of the imperial city, kneeling before the Daming Gate and shouting loudly that the Yongwei Camp served the country with loyalty, hoping the Son of Heaven would not heed the baseless words of treacherous ministers and chill the hearts of loyal and brave soldiers.

Wen Tiren had wanted to use the Imperial Ming Times to suppress public opinion and denounce the Yongwei Camp's disloyal mutiny to confuse the public, but Minister of Rites Jiang Fengyuan directly refused him. The Imperial Ming Times under the Ministry of Rites did not mention the matter at all.

The Ministry of Rites' lack of cooperation could not stop Wen Tiren and his faction from striking at the Yongwei Camp. He dispatched his own intelligence personnel to spread rumors throughout the capital.

They claimed that the Yongwei Camp had openly threatened the court and threatened His Majesty the Emperor, and that Regional Commander Huang Degong had even buried alive the Left Censor-in-Chief—such arrogance, such high-handedness, truly showing no regard for the sovereign!

At any time, the influence of public opinion is always terrifying. Many commoners began to half-believe these statements, and some, deeply influenced, truly believed them.

Supporters and opponents of the Yongwei Camp began confronting each other in teahouses and taverns. Mutual insults and throwing wine were common, and some even came to blows. Around the newsstands, large numbers of citizens also cursed each other, chasing one another through the streets and alleys.

A large number of yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture and the Troops and Horses Office of the Five Wards took to the streets to maintain order, mercilessly beating troublemakers with clubs. Only with difficulty did they manage to gradually quiet the capital somewhat.

Facing the uproar of the masses, officials of the various yamen wore different expressions. Some privately noted the great influence of the Yongwei Camp, while others worried whether their own interests would be affected in the future.

In the Zhang residence in the eastern district of the capital, grain merchant association head Zhang Dabiao was hosting a merchant from Huizhou Prefecture.

This Huizhou merchant sighed in admiration: "Brother Zhang, the capital truly is different. Everyone is so full of vitality—it's truly a marvel to behold!"

Zhang Dabiao asked with a smile: "Brother Li Xing, what do you mean by that?"

Li Xing said: "In our Huizhou Prefecture, since the great drought began this year, people don't even have food to eat. How could they have the energy to fight and march in the streets? Unlike the capital, where everyone has food and clothing without worry."

Zhang Dabiao laughed: "At the feet of the Son of Heaven, it's inevitable that some people, well-fed, have nothing better to do. Perhaps we think they're just stir-crazy from overeating, but some people see this as a game of chess."

Li Xing shook his head: "I don't care about games of chess. The purpose of my trip is only to tell you, Brother Zhang, that the grain supply from Jiangnan has been cut off."

Zhang Dabiao frowned: "Brother Li, what happened?"

Li Xing said: "Not just our Huizhou Prefecture—nearly half of the forty prefectures and departments of the entire Southern Zhili have suffered drought. It's very severe; corpses of the starving litter the ground everywhere. Grain consumption in the south is enormous, and many people are hoarding. Grain prices have nearly doubled. If we buy at the usual volume and transport it to the capital to sell as in previous years, we'll be selling at a loss."

Zhang Dabiao mused: "No matter. The higher-ups recently told me to prepare to return south to develop business. My enterprises here in the capital don't matter much anymore."

Li Xing said seriously: "Brother Zhang, aren't you attaching yourself too early? The current situation is hardly clear. You've seen what's happening in the capital—the Crown Prince's position is very unfavorable. You must think carefully before acting!"

Zhang Dabiao smiled: "We merchants—sometimes the business we do is inherently risky. The earlier you invest, the richer the returns."

Li Xing said urgently: "But if you fail, the loss to our Hui clique would be considerable. You must consider us."

Zhang Dabiao sighed: "Although our Hui clique has developed well in recent years, we still lag somewhat behind the Shanxi clique. Those fellows are now coming into our territory to steal business. If we continue developing steadily, I fear even the business at our own doorstep in the Lianghuai region won't be easy to conduct."

He continued: "I may seem to be gambling, but based on my years of insight in the business world, the Crown Prince will not fall easily!"

Within the Yongwei Camp's garrison, the camp walls were built high, and the watchtowers around the perimeter maintained sentries around the clock through all twelve double-hours of the day. The Longxiang Night Scouts were even lurking near the imperial city and the garrisons of the various Capital Camp units.

At the slightest sign of trouble, the Yongwei Camp would receive warning and stand ready to strike first from a position of strength, completely crushing any enemy that came! At the same time, the Yongwei Camp units stationed in the new city would also receive the warning, coordinating from within and without, raising their troops simultaneously.

The next day, the court assembly was still held in Huangji Hall, with the most core civil and military officials from all the Great Ming's yamen gathered together.

Although Chongzhen no longer planned to depose the Crown Prince, he still harbored resentment over the Yongwei Camp's actions and decided to handle the matter at the court assembly.

Wen Tiren changed his usual style and was the first to step forward from the ranks, saying in a cold tone: "Your Majesty, Huang Degong and Sun Yingyuan have inscrutable hearts. They dared to surround the Censorate with troops at the sacred ground of Chengtian Gate and kill a Censor! They show contempt for Your Majesty and contempt for the court. Your servant requests their execution!"

Minister of Rites Jiang Fengyuan immediately stepped forward to rebut: "These two Regional Commanders led the Yongwei Camp on campaigns east and west, achieving many great victories, slaying tens of thousands of enemies and driving the Jianzhou barbarians back beyond the passes. With such great merit and complete loyalty and righteousness, they are instead suspected by the censors—will this not chill the hearts of loyal and brave soldiers?"

Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice Yang Tinglin also memorialized: "At present, the common people of the capital hold an excellent opinion of the Yongwei Camp. Many are still kneeling before the Daming Gate. Your Majesty must not chill the hearts of loyal and brave soldiers."

Grand Secretary Xue Guoguan laughed: "Just a mob of ruffians. Does the court's decision need to be influenced by them? How ridiculous!"

Chongzhen frowned and looked toward the Grand Secretariat, only to see the several Grand Secretaries sitting in silence. He Fengsheng pretended to be deep in thought over countermeasures, while Huang Shijun simply stared down at the gleaming golden bricks on the floor, refusing to participate in their struggle.

Huang Shijun had served as a capital official for thirty years. He had no great achievements of sweeping reform, nor any vile deeds worthy of public condemnation. Rather, because of his profound learning, diligent work, and fair handling of matters, he had earned the reputation of being "upright and just"—truly rare and commendable in the corrupt officialdom of that time.

It was precisely this quality that Chongzhen valued when he brought him into the Grand Secretariat, hoping he would actually accomplish some things—yet who would have thought this old fellow wouldn't manage anything at all!

Being able to maintain one's integrity in a thoroughly corrupt officialdom is certainly praiseworthy, and keeping a clear head without falling into the vortex of factional strife is also a wise move. Huang Shijun could hardly be called anything but a clever man.

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