Chapter 1384: Two Embroidered Uniform Guards

Since ancient times, the art of official graft has been passed down from generation to generation, and the skill of concealing hidden wealth has naturally endured just as long. In most house confiscations, even when carried out with meticulous care, large sums of wealth always end up hidden away. In the past, few people were ever pursued to the bitter end — a shred of dignity was always preserved. But now the court is unwilling to grant even that shred of dignity, which shows just how desperate things have become.

After a pause, he offered a defense for himself. "That said, over all these years, I have not fixed my eyes solely on jewels and precious jade, nor have I devoted myself single-mindedly to amassing wealth. It is simply that the accumulated customs and conventions of officialdom are what they are, and not everyone can be as upright and incorruptible as Grand Secretary Yang."

"Please set your mind at ease, Eunuch Wei. I understand, of course." Though himself an exceedingly incorruptible man, Yang Lian had fought his way through officialdom for so many years — how could he not understand those unwritten rules?

"Furthermore, among my subordinates and trusted aides, there are some you certainly cannot spare — imprisonment and house confiscation would hardly be surprising. But others are guilty of only minor transgressions..." Seeing Yang Lian's attitude so amenable, the politician's instinct and concern for his former subordinates drove Wei Zhongxian to keep bargaining. "I beg the Grand Secretary to show them some leniency where appropriate."

"Even if you had not mentioned it, Eunuch, I would have done so." Yang Lian nodded in agreement.

As if fearing Wei Zhongxian would not believe him, he added an explanation.

"Times are so difficult now — this is precisely when we need to make use of talent. If we recklessly launch mass purges, I fear it would shake the very foundation of the state... Even for the sake of the nation's affairs alone, I would not busy myself with settling scores."

Wei Zhongxian watched Yang Lian's declaration and finally nodded.

"Grand Secretary Yang, I trust you! I will write it out for you today — I will not delay the hour!"

"Then I must trouble you, Eunuch Wei..." Seeing that Wei Zhongxian had agreed to everything, Yang Lian raised his hands and clasped his fist toward him. "I take my leave."

The sky was nearly dark. Wei Zhongxian still stood in the courtyard, watching Yang Lian's receding figure in the cold wind.

In the chill wind, he held his head high and chest out, gaze fixed forward, as if unbowed by any adversity.

This matter had not required him to come in person — a word passed along would have sufficed. By coming himself, Yang Lian had already shown him a great deal of respect.

Just as he had said — only after managing the household did he realize how costly firewood and rice could be, and how difficult his own position had been back then...

But what of the others? Would they, like Yang Lian, put the nation's affairs first?

The answer was self-evident.

Forget it — what point is there in dwelling on it now? Let them scheme as they please!

A bitter smile crept across Wei Zhongxian's lips.

"My Long Live Lord, the Great Ming will not perish by our hands after all!" he muttered to himself, then turned and walked back into the room.

A few days after Yang Lian visited Wei Zhongxian's residence, the bleak autumn wind still swept through the capital, leaving the once bustling streets considerably desolate.

"This weather really is freakishly cold!" Qi Wang, a Junior Flag of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in his flying-fish robe, hunched his neck and threaded his way through the blue-stone alleys until he arrived before a common dwelling.

He was a young man — his face had shed its boyish softness but still retained a trace of spirited vigor. His body, hardened by years of martial training, was solid and sturdy. Though draped in a loose, wide robe, that distinctive drive of youth still showed through.

The front gate was made of cypress wood, riddled with cracks like tree bark, and fitted with two iron rings. The face of the door was recessed inward, as if stained a sooty black by the passage of time.

He took hold of the iron ring and knocked lightly.

"Third Uncle? Third Uncle?"

No answer came, but the door was not locked.

Without hesitation, Qi Wang pushed the door open and walked in.

Looking in through the open gate, one saw a rather small courtyard, within which stood a modest dwelling. Several of the stone steps propping up the entrance had fractured, and some spots seemed polished bright from wear. Beneath them was once the den of a house dog — now only a ragged, broken hollow remained. The stone-paved ground had split at the seams, wild grass and moss growing in the cracks, and the same was true of the stone steps. The wind wandered freely through this little courtyard, as if emitting a soft, mournful whimper.

The entire residence showed hardly any sign of upkeep, as if abandoned for many years — it truly did not look like a place where anyone lived.

This Third Uncle of mine, really... A sudden pang of sorrow struck Qi Wang's heart.

After a moment of stunned silence, he forced a cheerful smile onto his face.

"Third Uncle! I've brought you wine!" he shouted, shaking the wine flask in his hand.

No answer.

He shouted again.

At last, not disappointing his hopes, the small house door slowly creaked open.

It was a middle-aged man, about forty-five, his face etched with wrinkles. Perhaps because he had just risen from bed, he wore no outer garment, only a thin inner robe.

The man had a square, angular face. His features were filled with exhaustion, his eyes half-lidded and half-open, looking utterly listless — the complete opposite of the vibrant Qi Wang.

"Third Uncle!" Qi Wang cried out happily at the sight of him, shaking the wine flask in his hand again. "Come, I've brought wine for you!"

"Wang boy, you finally made it over! I was starting to think you'd come running before dawn!" He, too, looked delighted at the sight of Qi Wang. "Well, well — at least it let me get a good sleep..."

Just then, a gust of cold wind struck him, making him shiver involuntarily.

"Aiyo, this weather really is freakishly cold! Come in, come in!"

He beckoned with a wave, then ducked straight back inside.

"Sit yourself down." Once Qi Wang was inside, the man did not bother changing clothes but went directly back onto the heated brick bed and pointed at the wooden tray across from him. "Here, put the wine there!"

The moment he entered, Qi Wang caught a strong whiff of alcohol — a smell so thick it could only come from a place where someone drank every day. The floor was strewn with wine bottles, and clothes lay scattered everywhere.

Seeing the chaotic mess, Qi Wang felt another secret pang of sorrow. The imposing and formidable Third Uncle of his memory — he had never imagined the man would sink to such a state.

There was a reason he called him Third Uncle. This middle-aged man was named Liu Songping, a Junior Flag of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and a sworn brother of his late father. Their ancestors, two hundred years ago, had both followed the Chengzu Emperor south on the Jingnan Campaign and then entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard — both families could be said to have lived on imperial grain for generations. Down through the generations, though they had not risen to great heights, their food and clothing had always been secure.

His Third Uncle, in the Embroidered Uniform Guard — a place teeming with hereditary officers and the sons of high officials — had once been a figure of some standing, neither too great nor too small. Decades of competent service had earned him a measure of respect from above and below. When Qi Wang was young, he had even studied martial arts under this Third Uncle, who in those days had been full of fire and pride — never once inferior to Qi Wang's present self.

But ever since Third Aunt had died, Third Uncle had fallen apart entirely. His spirits had grown worse and worse, his work reduced to mere perfunctory motions, and small mistakes had cropped up again and again. Because his superiors had worked with him for so many years, they had never severely punished him, only occasionally scolding him a few times. But now, in this state, where could one see even a trace of an Embroidered Uniform Guard's heroic spirit?

"Third Uncle!" Anxious, Qi Wang could not help but remonstrate. "Drink a little less, won't you!"

"Heh!" Liu Songping looked at him oddly, little light left in his eyes. "Now that's strange — you come to me carrying wine, and then you tell me to drink less?"

"That... that's different." A trace of embarrassment flickered across Qi Wang's face. "I'm... I'm worried about you!"

"Alright, alright, Third Uncle knows you mean well..." Liu Songping waved his hand with a smile. "But no need to worry about me — I'm fine, perfectly fine, perfectly fine!"

Then, from somewhere or other, he produced two cups and, without ceremony, opened the wine flask and poured himself a cup.

He sniffed it first, then lifted the cup and drained it in one gulp — glug, glug, glug.

"Mm... the wine's not bad, but not as good as what your uncle drank yesterday." He smacked his lips and delivered his judgment. "A pity you came late — your uncle's already finished off that Xuzhou liquor. Otherwise we could have had a proper drinking bout together. Now that was strong and fierce — truly fine wine!"

"Third Uncle!" At those words, Qi Wang grew agitated again. "How could you buy wine from those Xuzhou rebels?!"

"What of it if they're Xuzhou rebels?" Liu Songping blinked dismissively. "Rebels or no rebels, wine is still wine, isn't it? If they sell good wine cheap, and there's good cheap wine on the market, why shouldn't we drink it? The way I see it, the Xuzhou people may be rebels, but this stuff is genuinely good..."

"That's precisely why it's such a great harm — because it's genuinely good!" Qi Wang's face was full of indignation. "Think about it — if Xuzhou's goods are well-made, and all our money goes to buying their goods, then won't they be able to use our money to expand their military strength? When we buy their goods, we're helping them dig at the Great Ming's foundation! Haven't you heard? Every extra bottle of Zhao Jin's wine we buy lets them cast one more musket ball; every extra bolt of Xuzhou cloth we buy gives them one more spear! Those Xuzhou rebels are vicious and ruthless — let the ignorant common folk be excused, but how can we, who have enjoyed the imperial grace for generations, go and aid the enemy?!"

Watching Qi Wang's heartbroken and indignant expression, Liu Songping could not help but laugh and shake his head.

This nephew — young, full of fire, willing to take responsibility. All good qualities… it's just that he sees the ways of the world far too naively.

"Brother Wang, have you ever stopped to think — since even you understand this logic, how could the imperial court not understand it?"

This counter-question made Qi Wang freeze for a moment.

"The court… the court may have other considerations…" In the end, he stammered, "Isn't Zhao Jin powerful right now? Not long ago he even forced the court to promise not to tax his goods."