Chapter 108

The first day of the sixth month, Minor Heat.

Wugang Prefecture, in a restaurant.

It is currently noon, and the main hall is full of guests.

Wugang Prefecture is at the border of Huguang and Guangxi, with military households, barbarians, and merchants mixed together.

Plus, after entering the dog days, it makes people feel irritable and uneasy.

Therefore, the wine guests at each table are mostly bare-chested, dancing with joy, and the atmosphere is enthusiastic.

"That was too exciting! You don't know, a group of people rushed into Master Wang's mansion, and when they saw someone, it was, crack! One knife down, such a big scar!"

A bearded man stretched out his hands, thumb touching thumb, index finger touching index finger, making a circle.

He stood up, facing his companions at the wine table, gesturing and spitting.

Halfway through, he took a look himself, felt the gesture wasn't big enough, and simply switched to his middle finger.

One of his companions gave him face and exclaimed: "Directly kill people? Without going to the yamen to try the case!?"

The bearded man sneered disdainfully: "Try the case? Don't even look at who it is; do you know what the Embroidered Uniform Guard is?"

His companion shook his head very cooperatively.

Another companion couldn't stand it anymore and snatched the conversation: "You can't even get to the point with your showing off."

"That's called the Northern Suppressing Division! They try it on the spot and kill it on the spot; don't say they haven't tried it!"

"My third aunt's neighbor's daughter's master is a wealthy merchant in the county, and I heard he was also involved this time, and just happened to be..."

He raised his palm and chopped the air forcefully.

The few were talking happily, and the guests at the next table couldn't help but join in the fun.

A short, fat middle-aged man stretched his head over and snatched the words: "Wealthy merchant? You can't even get to the point!"

"This time the Embroidered Uniform Guard killed all the way from Daozhou to Yongzhou Prefecture, and then cut all the way to this Wugang Prefecture!"

"Don't talk about wealthy merchants; even retired officials, county yamen officials, and generals of the thousand-household offices, as long as they were involved in that matter before..."

The man's voice lowered a bit, he secretly made a gesture, and stared with wide eyes: "Those Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed in and gave them a knife on the spot!"

"Dragged them like dead dogs to the vegetable market."

"That scene, tsk."

He smacked his lips, very satisfied with expressing his desire.

When he finished, he didn't forget to point out: "Those killing stars arrived in Wugang Prefecture today, and there is still more to see; it just happens to give you all some knowledge."

Seeing that the topic was becoming more and more dangerous, many of the wine guests who heard it were afraid of causing trouble.

Upon hearing this, they simply didn't eat the wine and slipped away quietly.

The bearded man was a bit unconvinced by being spoken to in a pointing tone.

He stiffened his neck and said loudly: "Knowledge? My knowledge doesn't know how much higher it is than yours; young, ignorant!"

"I have traveled north and south, what haven't I seen?"

"Might as well tell you, in my opinion, those involved in that matter in our Wugang Prefecture probably still have to count our..."

He pointed to the Wang City in the center of the city in a pretentious manner, his expression quite reserved.

Other wine guests were waiting to take the conversation.

The waiter ran over and grabbed the bearded man's collar.

He cupped his hands and bowed in all directions, begging for mercy: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, don't talk about nobles, don't talk about nobles."

After speaking, he even quietly gave the guests half a pot of wine, doing enough courtesy.

Since one does not hit a smiling person, seeing the waiter acting so sensibly, the wine guests finally settled down honestly.

The main hall stopped making noise, but the private room on the second floor had no such scruples.

From behind the half-hidden door of a private room, low conversation came.

"Brother Zong, I really can't hold on anymore."

A burly man with a bandit air stood below, begging anxiously.

Although he is of clan origin, after mixing in the bandit den for a long time, his habits are naturally quite different.

Zhu Dingjiong kept tapping the table with his fingers, his displeasure overflowing.

"Who is your Brother Zong? You died in the clan records long ago! Remember who you are now!"

"Also, how many times have I said, don't meet recently! Wait until the wind passes before talking!"

He slammed the table and scolded: "If you insist on seeing me today, do you not understand words, or do you not understand what a killing disaster is!"

The bandit-like man felt suffocated and gritted his teeth, swallowing his anger alive.

Fortunately, he didn't lose his composure, only saying in a muffled voice: "The Auxiliary State General has taught me well."

He changed his address directly, not knowing who he was mocking.

"The matter is of great importance; ever since that incident, I haven't said a word, directly abandoning the old nest and only taking the core backbone to hide, never thinking of getting involved in any trouble."

"Even if several thousand-household offices were driven by Liu Zhen, searching everywhere like crazy, I have been cautious, fearing to expose my tail and implicate the mansion."

"But this time there is really no way!"

"Those Embroidered Uniform Guards don't care about the Great Ming laws at all; as long as there is a possibility of involvement, wealthy merchants and big families are directly destroyed!"

"My hundreds of people, without these wealthy households supporting them, haven't had a full meal for several days!"

"If this continues, once they become restless, I won't be able to restrain them, and implicating the mansion is just a matter of time!"

It was called begging, but by the end, his expression was already a bit ruthless.

He is also a clan member of the Min principality; early in his life, because of his carelessness, the matter of killing people was reported to the Governor.

When Shizong ordered his execution, the officials and eunuchs who gave the poisonous wine in the mansion were bribed with a large sum of money, so he was able to fake his death and escape.

Afterward, he took over the water bandits raised in the mansion and did some shady business.

The bandit trouble in Dongting Lake was done by his orders from the mansion.

It was said it was just to make a fuss; who knew it would lead to such a big matter!

Now feeling unprecedented pressure, he couldn't handle it anymore, so he had to seek help from the mansion at this critical moment.

And Auxiliary State General Zhu Dingjiong's face was ugly.

The Min Prince could hand over such things as raising bandits to him, naturally because he is the backbone of the Min Prince, the mainstay of the Min principality.

He also knows more than the cousin in front of him.

Last month, the Min Prince went to Wuchang to make peace with Wu Jinghe, but the two sides ended unhappily.

Since then, Liu Zhen personally led the Capital Battalion, replaced the Yuezhou Guard, and under the name of practicing the Capital Battalion by imperial decree, followed Li Zaiting to bite people everywhere.

And that Duke of Cheng, who sees the head but not the tail, only let his son take the Embroidered Uniform Guard to set up private prisons and harm the people.

Under these circumstances, the Min principality didn't dare to reveal any flaws at all, fearing they would be caught by the tail.

The water bandits raised in secret by the mansion could only be slightly helped through wealthy households controlled by the Prince's mansion.

Now the Embroidered Uniform Guard handles cases without evidence, forcing confessions, cutting off the Prince's mansion's hands and feet, what can he do?

Does he really have to take the risk to come forward?

Thinking of this, he finally had a plan!

Zhu Dingjiong raised his head suddenly, gnashing his teeth, and a sentence came out from between his teeth: "Break the wrist to save the arm!"

Zhu Dingcong raised his head in astonishment and said in shock: "Brother Zong!?"

He has been operating vigorously, and he wants to abandon it just like that?

Then what about his Zhu Dingcong's right to speak? Isn't he becoming a wild dog again!?

Zhu Dingjiong shook his head, his expression serious: "Handle all those 'brothers' and hall masters who know the truth."

"Let the rest fend for themselves."

Seeing this clan brother showing reluctance, he frowned and was about to scold.

Thinking about it, he was afraid of provoking a rebellious heart and ruining the big event.

After a pause, he comforted him warmly: "My brother, our dynasty has never lacked bandits; as long as the Min principality is not in chaos, we don't lack these external things, we can gather them at any time!"

Zhu Dingcong was unwilling, but also understood this truth.

After thinking about it, he still nodded reluctantly.

Zhu Dingjiong relaxed, stood up and patted his shoulder: "After the matter is done, go outside and be carefree; you have worked hard these years."

These years, robbing houses and intercepting merchants, he doesn't know how much this clan brother has handed over and how much he has accumulated.

Unfortunately, not only does he want to use this clan brother to do things, but this clan brother's retreat and back-up plans have always been well-kept.

Otherwise, he would have wanted to kill the donkey after the millstone was used.

Zhu Dingjiong shook his head, threw this thought out of his mind, and ordered people to send this clan brother out of the restaurant through a secret passage—the restaurant, naturally, is also the property of the Min Prince's mansion.

He waited for the time to stagger, and then he would leave the restaurant in a big way.

But just at this moment, a eunuch rushed into the private room in a panic: "Auxiliary State General! The Embroidered Uniform Guard has gone to the mansion!"

Zhu Dingjiong's heart jumped, and he asked subconsciously: "What?"

The eunuch was still terrified, and hurriedly added: "Just now Zhu Shitai led the Embroidered Uniform Guard and broke directly into our mansion! They didn't even wait for a report and broke in directly!"

"The slave didn't dare to look much, and hurriedly came to report to the General."

Zhu Dingjiong frowned, pressed down the uneasiness in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Speak clearly, is it the Min Prince's mansion, or our Lishan Prince's mansion."

The former is the Prince's mansion, representing the Min principality; the latter is the Commandery Prince's mansion, just one of more than ten Commandery Princes.

The meaning represented is naturally completely different.

The eunuch finally came to his senses and hurriedly replied: "Lishan Prince's mansion! It's Lishan Prince's mansion!"

Zhu Dingjiong let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it hasn't reached the worst point yet.

He forced himself to stay calm and ordered the eunuch: "I am returning to the Wang City now; you follow my clan brother and watch him finish the matter."

He also entrusted the attendant: "Those wealthy gentry, go and soothe them for me; leave one branch of the clan bloodline and send them back to Jinan."

"As for all the wealthy households that cast weapons and armor and coins for us, handle the people for them; if the clan leader needs to be changed, you make the decision for them."

Speaking to the end, his tone gradually lowered, he held the Chief Clerk's hand: "If I have any misfortune, let the Prince sacrifice to my mother for me."

He spoke very fast, giving orders to the eunuch, attendant, Chief Clerk, and others, as if explaining his funeral.

Seeing this, several people were moved.

Just as they were about to persuade him again, Zhu Dingjiong had already pushed the door, left the private room, and went downstairs.

Downstairs, there were sharp-eyed wine guests who saw a clan member coming down from upstairs, immediately closed their mouths, and hinted at the wine friends at the opposite table.

Some with equally extraordinary status even took the initiative to stand up and salute: "Auxiliary State General."

Zhu Dingjiong responded with a smile unhurriedly, and left the restaurant calmly.

Until he walked far away, the wine guests whispered.

"Isn't this the great filial son of the Lishan Prince's mansion?"

A knowledgeable merchant explained: "This is the son of Town State General Zhu Yufen; the Town State General died early, and this one's filial piety in serving his mother is truly pure."

"I heard that at the beginning of the year, the Min Prince even submitted a memorial for this old master, requesting to confer this Auxiliary State General as a Town State General."

The bearded man at the very beginning was disdainful.

He mocked: "Pure filial piety? Pure joke is more like it!"

"They said his mother was seriously ill, and he cut off the meat from his thigh to treat his mother."

"If you believe it, your life will end here."

As soon as the words fell, the two sides were arguing again, their faces red and ears red.

Filled with the irritability of summer.

……

The irritability of summer is not just physical.

The irritability in Zhu Dingjiong's heart was even worse, even making him ignore the sweat on his head from walking fast.

Especially when he stepped into the Lingxing Gate and entered the Wang City.

A smell of blood drifted out from the direction of the Lishan Prince's mansion.

Zhu Dingjiong's face changed greatly, his pace became faster and faster, and the followers behind him could almost not keep up.

Passing through the Chengyun Gate, as soon as he walked in front of the Lishan Prince's mansion, he saw a scene that made his soul fly away!

Soldiers, mansion guards, and eunuchs gathered in front of the Lishan Prince's mansion.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard stood on the steps in front of the mansion gate, looking down from a high position, confronting the crowd.

The Lishan Prince's mansion gate was wide open, and several corpses lay inside.

Among them were the personal guards and servants Zhu Dingjiong was familiar with, and even... brothers and nephews!

The few rockeries he liked most on weekdays, the mansion gate, were all accidentally stained with blood, adding a touch of enchantment to the red bricks and vermilion doors.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Dingjiong's eyes were already red.

Regardless of everything, he was about to rush into the mansion!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard naturally performed their duties and wanted to block him outside.

Just as he took a step forward, a voice came from inside the mansion: "Let him in."

No matter how exquisite Zhu Dingjiong's thoughts were, he had no heart to distinguish this matter.

He pushed away the Embroidered Uniform Guard who was blocking him in a rage and rushed in!

As soon as he entered the mansion, the smell of blood became thicker.

Several corpses lay horizontally and vertically in the courtyard, corridors, and main hall, and the blood was even steaming.

Seeing the person standing blankly in the courtyard, Zhu Shitai didn't hold back either.

He pulled his long knife out of someone's abdomen, took out the portrait from his bosom, walked two steps closer, and compared it with the person.

Not long after, Zhu Shitai nodded with satisfaction, with a dandy look: "Zhu Dingjiong, right?"

"Don't be afraid, these people are resisting stubbornly; as long as you wait to die, you don't have to lie in this pile of people."

After speaking, he looked at Zhu Dingjiong full of expectation, hoping he would also say something like "Do you know who I am?", "How dare you", and other delightful words.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Dingjiong was silent for a long time, closed his eyes tightly, and took a deep breath with his head raised.

He asked peacefully: "This Commander, I don't know what crime my Lishan Prince's mansion has committed, that you would kill without the Emperor's imperial decree."

His eyes were still red, but his expression remained calm, and he seriously pursued: "Killing clan members without the Eight Deliberations, are you Embroidered Uniform Guards trying to rebel?"

Zhu Shitai had never seen such a clan member, and for a while, he was a bit at a loss—it was fine to let him do the rough work of killing, but debating classics was forget it.

He thought about it and simply didn't answer, nodding left and right: "Take him back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household office."

Just at this moment, there was a clamor outside the mansion.

A roar, preemptive: "Who dares! Who dares!"

Min Prince Zhu Dingyao finally arrived late.

Wearing armor and carrying a sword, he strode into the Lishan Prince's mansion.

Seeing this scene, he lost his composure on the spot, pointed his sword at Zhu Shitai, and said tremblingly: "You've bullied your way to my Min principality! This Prince will kill you! This Prince will kill you!"

After speaking, he was about to hack at him.

Zhu Shitai retreated several steps in a hurry, hid behind the left and right, and exclaimed: "Min Prince! The Embroidered Uniform Guard is handling the case by imperial decree! Don't make a mistake!"

He came to handle the Lishan Prince's mansion case; bullying a Commandery Prince was something his old man had explained.

He couldn't afford to offend this Prince.

Zhu Dingyao didn't listen to him at all; failing to hack, he simply snatched Zhu Dingjiong.

With red eyes, he commanded his personal guards and was about to hack these Embroidered Uniform Guards to death in the Min Prince's mansion: "Kill! What are you stunned for! Kill them for me! Ten taels of silver for one head!"

He was dealing with other things today, left the Wang City for less than half a day, and when he came back, he saw this scene!

In the Wang City, someone was actually killing on the spot!

Even if it wasn't his Min Prince's mansion, but the mere Lishan Prince's mansion, it was still hacking at him, the master of the principality!

At this time, he wouldn't care about any Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Even if the Emperor came, he would have to hack him to death in the mansion!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard stood ready, and the mansion guards hesitated.

Just at this time.

"Cough... cough..."

A weak coughing sound came.

The sound was weak, but like a basin of cold water, it extinguished the tense situation.

Everyone turned their heads one after another.

Only to see a figure sitting in a wheelchair, slowly being pushed out of the study of the Lishan Prince's mansion.

Zhu Xizhong sat in the wheelchair, holding a stack of envelopes in one hand and covering his mouth with a handkerchief in the other, coughing until his back arched.

He was pushed into the courtyard, between the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the mansion guard.

He looked around.

He took away the handkerchief, revealing a face full of gullies, and looked up at Zhu Dingyao, whose eyes were red and whose eye sockets were moist.

He said softly: "Min Prince, don't be in a hurry to cry... wait until I investigate the matter of the Lishan Prince's mansion colluding with water bandits, and I will come again."

He paused and put the handkerchief stained with blood from coughing into his sleeve.

Zhu Xizhong continued sincerely: "Wait until I finish killing, and then the Min Prince can cry together."

(End of chapter)