Chapter 1017: Cleanup (Part One)

Zhu Qiyu decided to follow the National Teacher's advice and question more people.

Pan Yun reminded him: "Since Your Majesty agrees with Xue Shao's handling of Guangdong, you should choose someone capable of implementing this policy. If Guangdong can follow Your Majesty's will, it will no longer be a remote land."

Zhu Qiyu lowered his gaze; he already had a plan in mind.

After instructing the Emperor, Pan Yun did not linger; that very night she returned to Chaozhou Prefecture.

The Emperor would still need time to select someone; she wouldn't waste her time waiting.

When Pan Yun returned to Chaozhou Prefecture, it remained perfectly calm; from the Prefect down to the common folk, no one knew Feng Hongde had been arrested—they all thought he was out hunting.

Only Shen Boxiu and Shen Shukang, having learned in advance that the National Teacher and the Imperial Censor were investigating Feng Hongde, had sensed something amiss.

So when the Embroidered Uniform Guard began searching military households for victims, the two brothers observed for a while, then stepped forward voluntarily.

When Pan Yun appeared, the two were crouching with their companions against a wall, staring intently at the opposite Feng residence.

Pan Yun tapped Shen Shukang on the shoulder; he shifted his shoulder and said: "Don't rush me—I've got eyes on them."

"It's me."

Shen Shukang and his brothers spun around in shock.

Pan Yun asked: "Where are the Embroidered Uniform Guards? Why are you two left here?"

Shen Boxiu hurried to explain: "The Chaozhou Garrison seems to have sensed something—they just sent a large group over, and they're still inside the Feng residence. Two Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers went in to listen for sounds, and told us to keep watch outside—just focus on the Feng Young Lady and anything being moved out."

"Fine, keep watching. I'm going in."

Shen Shukang wanted to go too, but Pan Yun tapped his head: "Stay put."

Shen Shukang could only watch as she leapt onto the roof like a bird, then darted swiftly along the ridge like a cat, vanishing from sight in moments.

The rear courtyard of the Feng residence was in chaos; chests lay open in the yard, and the steward led servants in a steady stream, pulling treasures from the storerooms and shoving them into the boxes.

The Feng Young Lady rushed out with her maidservants to stop them: "My father is merely out hunting—what are you doing?"

The steward blocked her while shoving her away, face twisted in anguish: "Oh, little master, don't cause trouble! The Master hasn't sent word in three days. News from Guangzhou says even Commander Cao has been arrested by the Imperial Censor from the capital. The Master was heading to Guangzhou—this affair must have already broken, and he's been hiding it from us."

"You're lying!"

"I'm not lying, Young Lady. The Master made arrangements long ago: if anything happened, we were to gather the wealth and take you away immediately. Think—where did he hide his banknotes and seals? Fetch them quickly—we must leave the city today."

The Feng Young Lady glared furiously, wrenching free from the steward's grip and shouting: "You're spreading panic! I tell you this—so long as I'm here, no one dares take the family's wealth and run!"

She snapped: "My father hasn't sent word for three days—not three months, not three years. He may have simply forgotten, or the messenger may have met with misfortune. Don't spread false rumors here."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the courtyard gate was kicked open; a squad of soldiers surged inside. The junior officers, impatient, growled: "Why waste time talking to her? Tie her up and take her away. Before the officials arrive, grab the gold, silver, and jewels and flee."

The Feng Young Lady was dragged, screaming in terror; any maidservant who dared resist was seized and bound as well.

Pan Yun landed behind the two Embroidered Uniform Guards, frowning in confusion: "What's going on here?"

The two guards turned, astonished and delighted, and immediately explained: "They're trying to divide the loot and escape."

"I thought they rushed here to consult the Feng Young Lady—turns out they plan to kidnap her and the property together."

Pan Yun frowned: "Report this to the prefecture."

"But the Feng family's confiscated assets…"

Pan Yun said: "The Emperor has a direct order. Lin doesn't want to go inside—he must guard this money, not touch a single coin."

Most of Feng Hongde's wealth was now in her hands.

Embroidered Uniform Guard A bowed and immediately left to report.

Pan Yun settled into his position and watched the spectacle with Embroidered Uniform Guard B.

When they spotted government office runners racing toward the compound, they exchanged glances and began selecting roof tiles.

In the courtyard, the officers had already bound the Feng Young Lady and her two maidservants, gagged them, and tossed them aside, then entered the house to search.

Anything that looked valuable was dragged out and stuffed into the chests.

Pan Yun broke the tiles into pieces; by then, the soldiers had nearly finished looting the Feng estate.

The steward ordered men to dig up a chest beneath a tree; inside was gleaming gold. He then wandered to a nearby rock garden, returned with a chest of silver.

Feng Hongde's bedroom had been turned upside down, but the hidden chamber went undiscovered—and of course, no one saw it was empty.

The officers grew increasingly agitated, pacing: "Feng Ban Cheng was this rich—how could there be only this much? Where are the land deeds, property deeds? The amount of gold and silver doesn't add up. Old Feng, you didn't embezzle some, did you?"

"Heaven and earth bear witness—I'd never dare! We've only taken these. The Master didn't fully trust me, but I know he deposited a huge sum in the bank, all converted to banknotes." His gaze shifted to the Feng Young Lady, discarded nearby.

The officers understood: they'd capture the Feng Young Lady—she couldn't hide the deeds or banknotes forever.

"Take the Feng Young Lady—we're leaving!"

One soldier stepped forward to seize her—CRASH—his hand exploded in agony. He screamed, staggered back two steps, clutching his hand. Whistling sounds filled the air; screams erupted everywhere.

At the same moment, the main gate of the Feng residence was smashed open; government office runners and Shen Boxiu's brothers charged in together.

Pan Yun flung the broken tiles like scattered blossoms—they flew downward like living things, WHISHH, striking precisely at the popliteal tendons of every man; the courtyard filled with kneeling soldiers.

The other servants, seeing the government office runners storm in, shrieked and bolted for other exits.

As soon as they pulled open a side door, guards waiting outside grinned at them, then kicked them squarely in the chest, sending them tumbling back inside.

Chickens and dogs flew into the air—Feng's servants had long abused their master's power to bully others.

These military household youths especially hated them; whenever they could kick, they never held back.

All side gates of the Feng residence were tightly sealed; not a single person escaped—and not a single coin left the compound.

All assets were recorded in ledgers, guarded jointly by Lin the Prefect's men and the military households, awaiting higher orders.

Meanwhile, Xue Shao had coordinated with all prefectures and counties to act simultaneously, arresting all military officers and local officials implicated; their assets were temporarily guarded jointly by local yamens and military households.

Soon, Xue Shao's handling method reached every prefecture and county, with local administrations and military garrisons cooperating to clean up the aftermath. (End of Chapter)