Chapter 259: One Thing at a Time

"How did this matter come about, and who are the masterminds and accomplices?" the Chongzhen Emperor demanded angrily.

Before the unrest beyond the passes had settled—the war between the imperial army and the Shun bandits still ongoing—these major incidents had broken out one after another within Shandong's borders, giving the Chongzhen Emperor not a moment's respite.

The Imperial Son-in-law was mired in the private salt case with no way out, and if his guess was correct, a large number of Shandong civil and military officials, including Governor Wang Gongbi, Denglai Governor Chen Jin, and Denglai Regional Commander Chen Hongfan, were also deeply stuck in the mire.

Beyond that, there had even been a clash in Jinan Prefecture between salt officers of the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office and the Embroidered Uniform Guard—each of these matters would have been earth-shaking in ordinary times, yet in this troubled season they had all come knocking at once, further demonstrating the dire straits of the present situation.

"We do not yet know exactly who is involved, but according to the Eastern Depot's secret investigations across the region, Wang Gongbi, Chen Jin, Chen Hongfan, and even Qiu Lei are highly likely to be implicated. Your Majesty should prepare early."

Wang Cheng'en, who spoke these words, was not unaware of how grave the matter was—he simply did not wish to conceal the truth from the Chongzhen Emperor.

Qiu Lei had been in contact with the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office for some time, and there had even been a flying dispatch from an Eastern Depot agent claiming that the pay Qiu Lei had distributed to his subordinates in early the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, as well as the silver used last year to purchase and exchange military equipment, had in fact largely come from the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office.

These matters were neither here nor there—after all, the court had not issued military pay for years, and generals could not command their troops with mere words alone. Those with practical initiative would find their own ways to scrape together silver from every corner, using it to replenish equipment and solidify morale.

Most of the remaining dead weight would exchange their peripheral troops for starving refugees who could only fill their bellies and had no fighting ability whatsoever, concentrating all their silver and resources on building up their household retainer forces.

In truth, these household retainers, though the main force in battle, were also each masters at fleeing when the time came.

Wang Cheng'en actually had another worry he had not voiced—if even Qiu Lei, stationed in Wuding Prefecture, had to rely on the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office for support, then what of the other generals?

Setting aside the two prefectures of Denglai, how many generals and civil officials in the other four prefectures had received tributes from that Patrol Inspection Office? If the court directly issued an edict to eliminate the office, would it not stir up the interests of certain people, causing them to unite in defying the court?

Wang Cheng'en had harbored this worry before, which was why he had braved universal condemnation to conceal the matter from Chongzhen and Li Ruolian and act on his own.

Had the matter not blown up, it would have been fine—though a host of corrupt officials would continue to thrive, at least Gong Yonggu's life and property would be preserved, and the court's position in Shandong would not have spiraled out of control.

The present situation was precisely what Wang Cheng'en least wished to see—the root cause of everything was, in fact, that tiny Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office.

Not only had the matter blown up, it had now reached the Emperor himself. The Son of Heaven had issued an edict for a thorough investigation, and in a single sentence, even the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review had been dragged into it.

The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review had almost no connection to this affair, and moreover, the Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review were members of the Emperor's faction. Once an investigation began, it would certainly go from head to toe, and immediately afterward would come upheaval across all of Shandong's military and civil administration.

"Qiu Lei?"

Hearing this familiar name, the Chongzhen Emperor suddenly recalled that he had just moments ago ordered this Qiu Lei to lead his troops back to garrison Denglai and wipe out the Patrol Inspection Office—and now it turned out Qiu Lei was connected to the affair.

If Qiu's forces had truly received relief from the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office, then sending him to suppress it would be like Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—a performance put on for his own benefit!

At this thought, the Chongzhen Emperor, disregarding the potential loss of face from recalling the edict, made an immediate decision and said:

"Li Ruolian, send men at once to recall the mounted couriers bearing the edict to Shandong. Furthermore, strip Chen Hongfan of his post as Denglai Regional Commander, and issue another edict to Yang Yufan, Regional Commander of the Santun Camp, ordering him to lead his forces to wipe out the Jiaozhou Patrol Inspection Office, temporarily station at Denglai, and await further orders."

"Your servant obeys—I will see to it personally!" The Chongzhen Emperor's first act had been to compensate the families of the fallen Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, and Li Ruolian, grateful, also understood clearly that once this edict went out, every member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard across the realm would be filled with gratitude, unite as one, and serve the Emperor with utmost devotion.

Though Li Ruolian's reaction was somewhat slow, he was not so dull as to fail to grasp the severity of the situation—if anything happened to Qiu Lei, it would only make matters worse. He acknowledged at once, rose, and ran down the mountain to intercept the messengers.

"Wang Gongbi, Governor of Shandong, as a high official of the realm, has for years been grievously corrupt, and has even colluded with petty local clerks in violent resistance to arrest—his crimes merit execution!" One thing at a time—the Chongzhen Emperor now thought with a modern man's mindset, caring nothing for these officials' so-called imperial connections, nor having much insight into contemporary officialdom.

In Chongzhen's view, since Shandong was this chaotic and also a strategic region, why not seize this opportunity for a great cleansing? The realm did not lack literati who wished to be officials, nor did it lack patriots who wished to serve the nation.

Chongzhen recalled four words—"break then establish"—which suited the present situation perfectly.

The Great Ming's current condition was rotten to the very roots. It had taken him most of last year and this year just to get the capital and its surrounding areas into decent shape—and even then, that only meant no riffraff dared to show their faces openly.

Originally, Chongzhen had planned to start with Shanxi, but since this incident had arisen in Shandong, he would naturally go with the flow and take this place as the first target.

"The Directorate of Ceremonial shall draft the edict: strip Wang Gongbi, Governor of Shandong, of his post and bring him to justice—behead him on the spot, display his head atop the city walls for three days, and execute his entire clan to the ninth degree. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot shall jointly confiscate his property, and all corruptly acquired wealth shall be transported to the capital for the public treasury."

Having said this, the Chongzhen Emperor turned to Gong Yonggu and said coldly:

"Imperial Son-in-law, at this time, should we discuss how to deal with you?"

At this point, Gong Yonggu naturally understood that his momentary greed had led him into grave error. By all accounts, he had always been diligent and conscientious—a fact known to all his fellow officials—yet now he was about to be punished by association for a minor matter of corruption. One might expect him to feel wronged.

Gong Yonggu was exceptionally calm. He did not waste words defending himself against the charges of private salt and the killing of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, but simply prostrated himself on the ground and said:

"Since taking those silver taels, your servant has known he committed a great crime. Though not a single coin was spent, in these past days I have been exhausted in mind and body, unable to sleep, and I know full well that I harbored corrupt intentions."

"Now the evidence of my acceptance of bribes is ironclad. Your servant only regrets that I failed to hold fast to the integrity within my heart. As one bearing guilt, I can only hope to repay the Great Ming's imperial grace in the next life. I dare not offer further defense."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Son-in-law's embezzlement amounts to only a few tens of thousands of taels—not even a small fraction of Wang Gongbi's estate. Moreover, the Imperial Son-in-law has been diligent for years and may serve as a model for all ministers. I beg Your Majesty to consider his past merits, let merit offset fault, strip him of his active authority, and permit him to retire to his residence."

After Wang Cheng'en finished speaking, Li Ruolian, Fang Zhenghua, and others all repeatedly pleaded for Gong Yonggu.

The Chongzhen Emperor had been furious—what he hated most was being deceived, and what he hated most were those corrupt officials who squeezed the people's blood and sweat. Seeing Wang Cheng'en so agitated, he forced himself to calm down, gazing at the distant scenery and taking several deep breaths.

In those few breaths, Chongzhen suddenly recalled how Gong Yonggu had worked tirelessly last year, rushing about without complaint, and had never uttered a single word of grievance against his edicts. He let out another sigh.

"In consideration of your seventeen years of service protecting the state, I hereby strip you of all active posts in the capital defense forces. Henceforth you shall hold no substantive office—return to your residence and live out your years. As for that silver, keep three thousand taels for your own use; the rest shall be surrendered to the public treasury."

Having spoken, the Chongzhen Emperor waved his hand to indicate Gong Yonggu could withdraw, then turned away and did not look back.

Hearing this, Gong Yonggu was somewhat surprised and wished to say more, but the others were overjoyed—Wang Cheng'en hurriedly pulled him back from behind, vying to acclaim the Emperor's benevolence and sagacity.

Later that evening, at the Santun Camp city in Jizhou.

Not long ago, the imperial army had gone beyond the passes to suppress the Shun bandits, and even Bai Guangen and Gao Jie had been mobilized. The only forces remaining in place were the newly established Ji Garrison and the two commands of Huang Degong and Yang Yufan at the Santun Camp.

The Ji Garrison was the throat of the capital region—it not only guarded against the direction of Shanhai Pass and beyond the passes, but also incorporated the city walls around Xifengkou into its defense perimeter. It could not be lightly moved unless absolutely necessary.

Yang Yufan and Huang Degong both understood these principles, so no matter how fiercely the war between the imperial army and the roving bandits raged within the passes, the two of them remained at their posts, standing firm along the Jizhou line.

In fact, Huang Degong and Yang Yufan had discussed their primary defensive direction more than once. Huang Degong's opinion was: "The Jianzhou barbarians are thieves who have usurped Liaodong—the mortal enemies of four hundred million Han people, with whom we share an irreconcilable blood feud—therefore they must be defended against first."

Yang Yufan held the opposite view. He believed the Jianzhou barbarians were merely a stubborn skin disease, not fatal—what the Ji Garrison should truly guard against was the force of Wu Sangui, the Pacifying West Earl, stationed at Shanhai Pass. Should Shanhai Pass fall to the enemy, that would be the greatest misfortune for the state and family.

Though the two differed in opinion, they remained very close friends in private, respecting each other's views. On major matters, Yang Yufan, as Vice Regional Commander, had always deferred to Huang Degong's orders.

Thus, up to the present, the Ji Garrison could be counted as the most stable and peaceful place in the capital region and among the Nine Border Garrisons—many common folk had already begun returning home to settle.

"Jizhou's garrison city and my Santun Camp city form a pincer formation. Grand Commander Huang coordinates defense of the Xifengkou and Great Wall area, while my Santun Camp connects westward to the capital and Baoding, northward to Chengde and Chifeng, and to the southeast lies the Dongjiang and Tianjin naval forces—truly a position of utmost importance."

"At present, the Xuanfu and Datong armies have all marched out to suppress bandits, and Commander Huang focuses on defending against the barbarians. Therefore, you should deploy more scout cavalry in the direction of Shanhai Pass. This morning I have already sent letters to Governor Zhang of Tianjin and Regional Commander Huang of Dongjiang, to guard against Wu Sangui suddenly rising." Yang Yufan was speaking when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the room, and frowned as he looked over.