Chapter 103: Signs of Resurgence Everywhere

"Following the battle of military pay and provisions, the imperial forces won another great victory. Gao Jie, Regional Commander of Xuanfu, annihilated a force of Jianzhou barbarians who had crossed the border with only seven thousand infantry, beheading one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and slaying Abatai in battle. The capital region is shaken."

Before long, news that Gao Jie had slain Abatai, the Prince of Raoyu of the Tartar Qing, spread throughout the capital region. Many people had not yet recovered from the recent great victory at military pay and provisions when something like this happened again.

Could it be that this seventeenth year of Chongzhen was the year of the Great Ming's resurgence?

It was said that when Dorgon in the main camp heard the news of Abatai's defeat and death, his expression did not change in the slightest. He only said that Abatai had disgraced the 'Great Qing', and took the opportunity to order the Plain Blue Banner brought under his own command.

The Seven Locust Merchants had people everywhere in the court. Zhai Tang had been disposed of by Chongzhen for no apparent reason; the rest, though arrogant, were shrewd businessmen — who among them lacked brains?

This time they intended to use the Qing army that had already entered the border to take the town of Xuanfu in passing. That way, Gao Jie, newly appointed, would be executed for losing the city and territory, just like Yang Sichang in the old days.

But when the news reached their ears, it scared them half to death. These Tartars were still barbarians after all. Though they had accepted the silver and grain, they had broken their word and acted with reckless arrogance.

Abatai had supposedly just been driven off at military pay and provisions by Tang Tong, and now he went with over a thousand cavalry to attack Gao Jie's seven thousand imperial troops — wasn't that just walking to his own death?

Fan Yongdou and the others were already sitting on pins and needles, sending inquiries to their people in court every day to see if Chongzhen had any new movements, mainly wanting to know whether the town of Xuanfu had fallen.

But who could have expected that after waiting and waiting, what came was such terrible news.

The seven men gathered together the moment they received the news. Even Fan Yongdou could no longer remain calm, his expression quite panicked. At a time like this, the only option was to use Huang Yunfa's method — moving their family property south.

No sooner had the decision been made than the steward ran out, only to come rushing back in a panic, saying that an army bearing the banner 'Gao' wanted to enter the city. When the Garrison Commander and Battalion Commander refused, they brazenly attacked the city directly.

The Garrison Commander's head had already been chopped off by Gao Jie. The troops inside the city simply could not withstand Gao Jie's victorious army. In truth, no one wanted to risk their lives for a group of merchants and oppose the brute Gao.

Hearing this, Fan Yongdou and the others collapsed limply to the ground, not knowing how to plead for mercy.

Wang Dayu was not particularly surprised. He grunted a few times and said angrily:

"See! See! What did I tell you? It's all over now. We're all going to be buried together!"

Wang Dengku and several others who were timid actually soiled themselves on the spot, a sour stench spreading through the originally magnificent main hall. Fan Yongdou pinched his nose in disgust, but could think of no way out either.

Gao Jie had won a great victory, so his promotion was certain. He held the imperial edict of the Chongzhen Emperor in his hands and his army was at the city gates. Even if they had people in court, even if they had influence throughout Xuanfu, this time they were doomed.

The Seven Locust Merchants scurried about the hall in panic like rats. The servants and local gentry scattered like birds and beasts, each returning home to tightly shut their doors and windows, hiding under their blankets shivering, praying that Gao Jie would not sweep them all up in one pot.

Gao Jie's fierce reputation was second only to Zuo Liangyu's. When he led his troops boldly into the city, not only the garrison soldiers but even the street vendors packed up their stalls and went home. Not a soul could be seen along the roads.

Gao Jie had changed his attitude ever since receiving his appointment documents, military pay, and armor for Xuanfu. His troops had been transformed from head to toe. To enforce military discipline, Gao Jie had even personally executed a roving general.

Up to now, apart from rushing to reinforce various places, no further reports of harassing or harming the people had come out.

Gao Jie's armor was still stained with blood. A severed head was tied to his horse's back, and he carried another warm, still-dripping skull in his hand. He looked up at the two large characters reading 'Fan Residence', then drew his blade and roared:

"Damn it all, we're finally here! Brothers, seal the place for me!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers shouted in unison and surged like a flood into the imposing Fan estate compound, seizing the gentry and servants who had not yet managed to flee. If anyone resisted, they showed no mercy — a single backhanded stroke of the blade.

Fan Yongdou shuffled forward to greet him. Facing this military man he had always detested, he now wore a face full of smiles, calling out ingratiatingly:

"Great Commander, your humble subject is innocent!"

Gao Jie could naturally see the bribery in Fan Yongdou's expression, but he had no such intentions. He only sneered: "Innocent? When you colluded with the Tartars to harm me, you should have known this day would come!"

"This is the head of Ren Gang, Guard Commander of Wanquan Right Guard!" Gao Jie snorted and tossed the head he was holding to the ground, continuing:

"I already know that Ren Gang colluded with you lot. He will be displayed on a pike in the town from now on! Moreover, some days ago I already reported everything to the capital. His Majesty is wise and clear-sighted. After your properties are confiscated, I imagine not even your nine clans will escape! Your good days are over!"

Having said this, Gao Jie suddenly thought of something and roared, pressing his blade against Fan Yongdou's neck: "Do you know how many of my boys I lost in this battle?!"

"Someone, bring forth the imperial edict!"

At Gao Jie's words, a trusted household retainer Platoon Officer stepped forward solemnly and laid out the imperial edict. Gao Jie, whose face had just been twisted with rage, immediately changed to a respectful expression at the sight of the edict, leading those usually unruly officers and soldiers in kneeling as one.

Once the edict had been read, Gao Jie personally walked up to Fan Yongdou, raised the tiger-head great blade seized from the Tartars, and brought it down in a single stroke.

"Hahaha, satisfying!" Gao Jie tossed the blade to his retainer Platoon Officer and ordered:

"Seal all the residences of these seven men! Spread my command: seal the city — allow entry but no exit. Let's see which traitor still dares to jump out and oppose the court!"

In the eyes of the merchants, Gao Jie's troops looked like ferocious demons. Many of them exuded a suffocating smell of blood. They were simply not on the same level as the local slacker soldiers.

After entering the city, these troops first sealed all the residences and shops belonging to Fan Yongdou and the other Seven Locust Merchants by imperial order, then sent people to take over the city defenses, patrol the streets, and deal with a batch of ruffians who had taken advantage of the chaos to commit crimes.

Though Gao Jie had won this battle, it was truly a bitter victory. Li Chengdong and many other familiar soldiers had died in battle — all because of those hateful merchants meddling from behind the scenes.

Now Gao Jie understood the meaning of the Chongzhen Emperor's edict. Against such people, one should show no mercy whatsoever.

The ready silver sealed within the Fan residence alone amounted to over twenty-six million taels — more than the total confiscated from corrupt officials in the capital recently. Not to mention that Fan Yongdou had shops and exchange houses all over the country; sealing them all was simply unimaginable.

In one sweep, the other six households — Wang Dayu, Huang Yunfa, Wang Dengku, and the rest — were also confiscated. The amount of ready silver obtained was too great to even tally. Even using every ox and horse available, they could hardly haul away a third of it.

When news of Gao Jie slaying Abatai reached him, the Chongzhen Emperor was discussing with Wu Youke the final measures for dealing with the plague in the capital region.

The reputations of Wu Youke and Yuan Ban were truly well earned — both were masters of plague treatment. In a little over two months, the rat plague ravaging the capital had essentially disappeared completely. The Capital Camps, the militia camps, and the Four Guards Camp could resume normal training and recruitment.

However, Wu Youke also said that the plague had spread over a wide area. Many of the physicians who had followed him in treating the plague now had methods to contain it, and he wanted to send them out to practice medicine in various regions.

When practicing medicine away from home, there was a huge difference between having official court status and not having it. Some physicians without status were even driven away by local authorities, and no one provided them with herbal medicines either.

Practicing medicine was supposed to be a matter of seeking the welfare of the people, but now it was not so easy. Hearing such a good proposal that would relieve his worries, the Chongzhen Emperor naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

For the Chongzhen Emperor, though these itinerant physicians brought in by Wu Youke and Yuan Ban had low status, they were clearly far superior to the idle quacks of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. He directly issued an edict recruiting them all into the Imperial Academy of Medicine at once.

And he argued it with great conviction: once these people entered the Imperial Academy of Medicine, they would have official status, and when they went out to practice medicine in various regions, they would receive reception, assistance, and relief from the Benevolent Medicine Bureaus.

The emperor's word was law. Wu Youke seemed to want to speak but held back, unable to refute.