Chapter 995: Find Evidence

Shen An finally agreed.

Shen Boxiu immediately went out to find people.

Shen Shukang followed behind him.

Shen Boxiu stopped walking and turned to look at him.

Shen Shukang insisted: "Big brother, only I've seen her—I can recognize her. Otherwise, with Chaozhou City so large, how will you find her?"

After hesitating, Shen Boxiu said: "You must think carefully—those entering the city may end up at the very back, or even be forced to the front. If there are deaths, those entering the city will die first."

Shen Shukang: "I'm not afraid. If she's lying to me, then I deserve to die most."

Shen Boxiu pressed his lips together, then finally nodded: "Alright. You're truly my brother—someone with backbone!"

Shen Boxiu put an arm around his shoulder and took him along to search for people.

In the night, Shen Boxiu fastened his sickle to his waist and set out toward Chaozhou City with five strong young men and his younger brother.

The group hadn't even had dinner—they'd just returned from working the fields, their stomachs still empty.

But they said nothing, walking in silence toward Chaozhou City.

After walking more than three hours, when they saw the city gate, they sat down on some nearby grass, drank a few sips of water, tightened their belts, pressed together, and closed their eyes to sleep, waiting for dawn.

At this moment, Pan Yun flew over their heads.

She flew straight into the city and landed on a quiet, empty street.

She climbed out of the pot, hung the Three Treasures Cauldron—now shrunk to the size of a fist—around her waist, glanced at the silent street, identified the direction, and headed toward her rented courtyard.

The courtyard gate was already closed; Pan Yun didn't even hesitate, leaping over the wall.

She landed soundlessly, walked silently to her door, and was about to push it open when the neighboring door opened.

Xue Shao stood at the threshold, watching her.

Pan Yun raised an eyebrow.

Xue Shao stepped aside; Pan Yun turned and entered his room.

On the bed, Xi Jin was fast asleep, hugging the quilt, unaware of the commotion inside.

On the dining table lay many sheets of paper, ink still wet, showing that Xue Shao had not slept before Pan Yun returned.

Xue Shao picked up the kettle from the stove in the corner, poured Pan Yun a cup of hot water, then lifted the wick to brighten the lamp, sat across from her, and asked softly: "How did it go?"

The fact that she had returned only now meant she had found something.

Pan Yun pulled out the two sheets of paper Shen Shukang had given her, placed the dozing Pan Xiaohei on the bed, and covered him with a blanket, saying: "I visited every location marked on the map, and followed the trail to find Feng Hongde's three grain warehouses."

Xue Shao sat up straight upon hearing this: "Grain warehouses?"

"Yes," Pan Yun exhaled. "Can you imagine? Many military households tilling land can't even fill their stomachs with thin porridge, yet Feng Hongde, as the Chaozhou Battalion Commander, has private grain stockpiled in three full warehouses. Too bad I couldn't locate the public granary."

Xue Shao flipped through a stack of books on the table and pulled out one volume, speaking gravely: "This is the official granary ledger for the Chaozhou Battalion Commander office—this year's."

Pan Yun reached out to take it, flipped through it, confirmed its authenticity, and stared at Xue Shao in surprise: "Where did you get this?" "Stolen."

Pan Yun: "Wait—you broke into Feng's villa, right? You stole such a secret document in just one day?"

Xue Shao said: "Feng Hongde likes me very much. Tonight's dinner was at the Feng residence. I didn't just enter Feng Hongde's study—I went to the Battalion Commander office's official building. I saw this ledger on the desk. It was stolen by the accompanying Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Pan Yun: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard followed you?"

Xue Shao grunted: "I had them contact the Guangdong Military Command. I'm sure Cao Rong will send people soon."

Cao Rong is the Guangdong Military Commander.

Pan Yun: "Feng Hongde has tyrannized Chaozhou for nearly twenty years—do you think the Guangdong Military Command knows?"

"Whether they know or not, the matter must go through them," Xue Shao said. "I will uncover the truth. The Embroidered Uniform Guard won't let a single corrupt worm escape."

Pan Yun's lips curled slightly as she glanced at Xue Shao's half-written memorial: "Is this your first military case, personally uncovered?"

"Yes," Xue Shao said. "Due to the delicate relations between civil and military officials in the imperial court—especially after last year's personal campaign—Kuang Ye leads the Datong army and guards the border, while Wang Ji is a civil examination graduate who rose to noble rank through military merit. The military aristocracy resents this deeply. Last year's campaign stabilized the situation, but the army suffered defeat, causing the late emperor's death and shattering the military's prestige. Empress Dowager Sun has repeatedly rebuked the generals. Meanwhile, you and the Emperor began your administrative reforms by targeting the military. If I forcefully intervene now, I risk uniting them against us, concealing the truth and making things worse."

Thus, Xue Shao's consistent stance has been: the Five Military Directorates should first order each regional Military Command to conduct self-audits, while the Censorate, Northern Security Bureau, and Court of Judicial Review form a tripartite inspection team to fill gaps.

This gives the military time to respond without inflaming tensions.

Pan Yun: "Clearly, Cao Rong failed to seize the opportunity and time window you gave him."

Xue Shao said coldly: "Then he deserves to die."

He deserves to die—but he cannot die.

The Guangdong Military Commander is a top provincial official. Executing him might serve as a warning, but it could also backfire, uniting the other officials into a solid front that clashes violently with the blade.

Now is a crucial moment for Great Ming's economic development. We must eliminate corruption, but the court's problems are not confined to the military.

Pan Yun said: "I chose to start with the military because, compared to local administration, the military's situation is slightly less dire; second, future reforms will rely heavily on the military—it is Great Ming's safeguard."

"Whoever controls the military wins," Pan Yun sneered. "Once the military is reorganized, when we turn to local reforms, no matter what demons or monsters arise—those who obey will be punished lightly; those who resist will be crushed."

Thus, she intends to reorganize the military—not to place civil officials above military officers and return Great Ming to the Song-era condition where civil officials commanded generals.

She believes the Emperor shares this view.

Her proposal to assign Kuang Ye to guard Datong was because Kuang Ye himself had the ability, and none of the military aristocrats surrounding him could change Datong's situation.

Selection of talent must not be based on whether someone is a civil official—what matters is personal will and capability.

The two successive emperors' appointments of Wang Ji prove this.

Before Wang Ji, Zhu Qizhen also used military officers in the Luchuan campaign, but they lost.

Should we refuse to use Wang Ji just because he is a civil official, despite knowing he could win?

Pan Yun closed her eyes, still deciding to judge by the person: "After meeting Cao Rong, we'll decide whether to protect him. If he is utterly corrupt, we'll find another way to appease the military aristocracy and generals."

She simply cannot tolerate stupid, vicious people polluting the air and hearts of this world.

Xue Shao smiled slightly and nodded: "Alright. If he is utterly corrupt, we'll find another way."