Chapter 188: Just Get It Done

"That benighted ruler not only imposes exorbitant taxes, but has slaughtered even loyal court ministers like Grand Secretary Chen to the last, while letting sycophantic petty men like Wei Zaode and Feng Quan into the Grand Secretariat to assist in governance. Besides Grand Secretary Chen, in the past year alone, how many loyal righteous men have the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the eunuch dogs destroyed? If this continues, even Jie and Zhou of the Xia and Shang dynasties were no worse than him!"

In truth, the departure of Chen Zilong and others did not make these Fushe scholars who styled themselves as men of integrity realize what true righteousness was. On the contrary, they only grew more frenzied because the only men of reason had left.

After Zhang Cai finished speaking, Wu Weiye nodded and said: "The benighted ruler has already raised his butcher's knife against us Fushe scholars. Since we cannot stand aloof, even if we are ground to dust, we must drag this benighted ruler down from his throne!"

Zhou Zhong, who in the original history had already surrendered to Li Zicheng in Beijing, had—due to the butterfly effect caused by Chongzhen—only recently resigned from office and fled the capital to avoid disaster, returning to Jiangnan, and still remained within Fushe.

He rose indignantly and said with righteous fervor: "Jungong speaks truly. This time we'll use a ruthless scheme, to teach that benighted ruler that there are still scholars like us in this world who set the nation's interests above their own life and death, honor and disgrace!"

Zhou Zhong had served as a Hanlin academician in Beijing. After returning to Jiangnan, he seized every opportunity to loudly proclaim how arrogant and overbearing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot were in the capital, and how the people were living in dire misery.

Because Zhou Zhong was a man of considerable renown—with his intelligence and talent, he had still failed to find success in Beijing and returned to Jiangnan—the Fushe scholars became utterly convinced that the eunuch faction ruled in the capital region and that the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot wielded unchecked power.

Nowadays, many people considered it shameful to go to Beijing to serve as officials, believing that everyone who held office in Beijing belonged to the eunuch faction, and that all those in the capital region were the benighted ruler's hawks and hounds.

Zhang Cai was startled by these words and lost his composure: "Jiesheng, have you gone mad? That benighted ruler kills without blinking—how could he care whether scholars like us live or die? To avoid the Donglin losing a great talent, I think this matter must be deliberated at length."

Zhou Zhong, without deep consideration, his blood boiling, waved his hand indignantly: "Master Nanguo need not dissuade me further. I, Zhou Jiesheng, am not a cowardly, finely-dressed petty man like Chen Zilong and Xia Yunyi.

I previously served as an official in the capital and was deeply ashamed of it. Now that matters have come to this—the benighted ruler wishes to ban Fushe—for the sake of the nation's honor and disgrace, I too should set life and death aside and clear my own name!"

"Jiesheng's righteousness is lofty indeed!" Zhang Cai's face showed profound admiration, but in his heart he breathed a sigh of relief. He rose and bowed gravely to Zhou Zhong: "With a junior brother like Jiesheng, Brother Biao can surely rest easy."

"Compared to me, my clansman is even more righteous. Master Nanguo flatters me." Zhou Zhong smiled, cupping his hands in polite refusal.

Wu Weiye, who had been shouting the most fiercely just moments ago, suddenly fell silent and stopped speaking when he saw Zhou Zhong step forward. Catching Zhang Cai's glance, he first praised Zhou Zhong a few words, then said:

"If Brother Jiesheng wishes to accomplish this matter, he must incite the students to make trouble together. We must do the same. This Jiangnan region is not like the capital—once enough government students and scholars participate, as they say, the law cannot punish the multitude. And since the local prefectural and county offices are all staffed by Donglin men, everyone will naturally be left in peace."

Zhang Cai's eyes rolled at these words, and he sat down, saying: "Jungong's plan is excellent. This way, we can both achieve a fine reputation and protect Fushe's safety. Surely that Ma Shiying won't dare act rashly either. And though Li Youcheng is a Chiliarch of the Eastern Depot, he is in truth nothing but a dog—not worth worrying about."

Zhou Zhong sat down and steadied his emotions somewhat, then said: "But to accomplish this matter and drag that benighted ruler down in one stroke, we still need Elder Qian to make ample preparations on his end. Otherwise, relying on you and me alone, our words carry too little weight in officialdom."

Zhang Cai smiled, gesturing for Zhou Zhong to rest assured, and said with a laugh:

"Naturally. I shall personally pay a visit to Elder Qian's residence. Everyone understands Elder Qian's character—he will not sit idly by and watch us succeed or fail. He has long since looked upon that benighted ruler with displeasure."

Before long, Zhang Cai arrived at the imposing Qian residence and made contact with Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Donglin faction throughout the realm.

"Regarding the matter of establishing a new sovereign, I have long had a settled plan. It's only that the scholars' opinions differ, and for the moment, it is still difficult to decide." Qian Qianyi was steady and prudent, speaking only halfway and leaving the rest unsaid. Hearing that Zhang Cai and the Fushe scholars proposed establishing a new sovereign, his face showed not the slightest ripple.

The smile on Zhang Cai's face froze. After a long moment, he forced a smile: "What does Elder Qian mean by this? The letter was written at your bidding. The Fushe scholars are all benevolent men of ambition who care for the nation, and it was because they considered Elder Qian the foremost among us that they followed. Now that the benighted ruler's hawks and hounds have arrived, is Elder Qian planning to retreat before the battle?"

"No, no, Nanguo, you misunderstand me." Qian Qianyi let out a long sigh and asked: "Establishing a new sovereign is no easy matter. Tell me, then—whom do you wish to make Emperor of our Great Ming?"

Hearing this, Zhang Cai drew a deep breath and said:

"First, after long deliberation among us Fushe scholars, the current benighted ruler's bloodline is impure, whereas the old Prince Fu was the third son of Emperor Shenzong, of the purest bloodline. As a descendant of Emperor Shenzong's line, the Prince Fu should rightly be first in succession. Second, the Prince Fu is currently at Huai'an, not far from Nanjing. For him to come to Nanjing, comply with Heaven's mandate, and ascend the throne is only proper. Third..."

Qian Qianyi had originally asked casually. Seeing that Zhang Cai was actually earnestly and enthusiastically discussing the matter of a new sovereign, he shook his head and interrupted: "Nanguo, you should leave. The time for establishing a new sovereign has not yet come."

"Elder Qian, what do you mean by this?" Zhang Cai was greatly alarmed and asked repeatedly.

The Nanjing garrison headquarters had long since been taken over by a group of newly arrived soldiers.

These men had not only taken over the garrison headquarters' defenses, but had also moved into the military camps of the eastern and western cities within two days, taking over the defense of Nanjing's inner city from the Capital Camps.

These men were soldiers of the Divine Martial Army under Zhou Jingwu's command. This time they had come to Nanjing bearing a secret edict from the Chongzhen Emperor, ready at any moment to suppress any rebellion that might arise.

Zhou Jingwu glanced at the eunuchs Lu Jiude and Guo Shangyou, as well as Ma Shiying and other members of the Emperor's faction who still wished to dissuade him, but waved his hand and said:

"You needn't say more. One night is enough time for too many things to happen. Best we act today." As he spoke, Zhou Jingwu gestured for his Vice Regional Commander to come forward and asked:

"Are the soldiers all prepared?"

"Reporting to the Commissioner-in-Chief, everything is ready—we await only your command!" The Vice Regional Commander's face was swarthy, his hands bore thick calluses, and his voice was deep and resonant when he spoke—clearly a man trained in the martial arts.

Zhou Jingwu grunted in acknowledgment, nodded, and waved his hand as he was about to leave, when he was suddenly grabbed by Li Youcheng. He frowned and looked back, asking: "Chiliarch Li, is there some other problem?"

"I beg Commissioner Zhou to think thrice. Once we act, if this stirs up a city-wide uproar, what then?"

At this, Zhou Jingwu let out a cold laugh and turned back to counter: "Why did His Majesty send you and me here?"

"I hold troops in my hands, and you hold the Eastern Depot agents. If we don't act now, are we to give them a chance to deliberate a solution? If anything happens, I'll bear the responsibility!"

With that, Zhou Jingwu drew his blade with a sharp "shing" and swung it:

"Soldiers, follow me to raid Fushe!"

Watching the Divine Martial Army soldiers depart in a clatter, Ma Shiying and Guo Shangyou and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. Who could have imagined that this Commissioner-in-Chief of the Divine Martial Army would act so decisively, not even heeding their advice?

On second thought, Ma Shiying broke into a smile. Seeing this, Guo Shangyou asked in confusion:

"Minister Ma, what is the meaning of this smile?"

"Nothing. I was merely thinking—with Commissioner Zhou acting so swiftly, those Fushe scholars probably haven't even had time to deliberate anything, have they? Actually, this is rather good."

Judging by the manner of Ma Shiying's departure, he seemed no longer worried about the Fushe matter.

Guo Shangyou and Lu Jiude exchanged a glance, still looking utterly bewildered, unable to fathom what schemes these men were harboring in their hearts.