Chapter 453: Capital Connections

The three of them were left alone in the room again. After a brief silence, Feng Shaoxian, burning with impatience, made to stand up once more. Just then, Feng Jinfa narrowed his eyes and said, "What's the rush? Without those bookworms helping, can't we get anything done?"

Feng Shaoxian stopped. Feng Da also focused his attention. Feng Jinfa continued, "Bookworms have too many rules, always looking over their shoulders, and they'll skin you for a cut whenever there's profit. They're not as straightforward as those who live by the sword. Since we can't work the lawsuit angle, we'll use other methods."

The other two men in the room looked stern. Feng Jinfa spoke, "Feng Da, you make a trip to Wolf Mountain. Vice General Lu won't have so many complications. Shaoxian, you go right now and gather Li Dajin, Niu Jinbao, and the others. Since we're making a move, we'll pull them up by the roots!"

The old man's breath was not very strong, but the killing intent seeping through his words made both men shiver. Feng Shaoxian had grown up in wealth and comfort, but he vaguely knew some things: his family had fallen into decline in his grandfather's generation, and it was his father and the steward who had fought to carve out the vast estate they now possessed. Quite a few people had died in that process...

In the early months of the forty-fifth year of the Wanli reign, undercurrents stirred in the Southern Metropolitan Region. And in the central hub of the Great Ming, the capital city that had lain at the foot of the Yan Mountains for over two hundred years, beneath the seemingly tranquil, gleaming white snow on all sides, there was likewise turbulent unrest. The entire court was shrouded in dark clouds.

The first month's cold wind howled through the passes of the Jundu Mountains, a moaning roar, carrying snowflakes that drifted down thickly onto the Yongding River. The river's surface had long since frozen into a thick layer of ice. Passersby, wrapped tightly in their clothes, walked across the river ice. The soft snow was packed firm underfoot, producing a crunching, creaking sound.

Why does the sun and moon's light not reach this place? Only the north wind roars down from the heavens. Yan Mountain snowflakes, large as mats, blow down piece by piece upon the Xuanyuan Terrace. When Li Taibai wrote these lines, those who hadn't seen it thought it an exaggeration. But when you truly stand in the cold wind sweeping down from the Yan Mountains, with goose-feather snow falling upon you, no matter how thickly you dress, that wind and snow pierce straight to the bone, so cold it chokes your breath.

Though it was the New Year season, there were few pedestrians on the streets. Several New Year snowstorms had wrapped up Shuntian Prefecture, draping it in silver, but it held no enchanting beauty, only appearing all the more desolate.

Not far inside Chaoyang Gate lay a neat cluster of residences. Though the courtyards were not large, and the area was surrounded by numerous official granaries and private storehouses, the streets were half-occupied, goods piled everywhere, creating extreme congestion.

Yet this area was uninhabitable without some wealthy or noble background. Those who lived here were often capital officials who had taken up their posts alone or had small families, predominantly censors from the Chief Surveillance Bureau. This place was called "Pure Words Ward"—the neighborhood where the so-called pure-stream remonstrance officials dwelled.

There were three north-facing rooms, divided into two private chambers and one central hall. The doors to the main room and the east and west wing rooms were all closed. The buildings were constructed of brick reaching to the roof ridge, with tiled roofs. The cross-shaped brick-paved path in the courtyard was buried under a thick layer of white snow.

The bats and the longevity character carved on the spirit screen looked somewhat gloomy under the wind, snow, and dim daylight. The pattern symbolizing complete fortune and long life showed no festive cheer in this season. Coupled with the creaking sound of the main gate stirred by the north wind, it made one feel a chill from deep within.

Under such weather and scenery, even dressed in new clothes, even with firecrackers sounding now and then and children laughing and shrieking, the adults felt little joy in their hearts—especially those in official circles.

Not far from the gate, a small black-canopied sedan chair was parked. Beside it, several sedan chair bearers in neat cotton-padded robes waited. Wang Youshan stood at the gate, smiling as he saw off a guest. The guest wore a crimson-red robe, which added a touch of festivity to the oppressive, desolate street. The guest had a refined look, in his forties, though his face was pale and beardless.

Any long-time resident of the capital would recognize at a glance that this crimson-robed guest was a eunuch—a castrato. And one of no low rank at that. Grand eunuchs wore red robes; those of the next rank wore crimson outer robes. These things were all governed by strict rules.

Wang Youshan, Censor of Shaanxi Circuit in the Chief Surveillance Bureau, had lived here back then. When he previously left the capital, he had kept this residence instead of selling it, in memory of his deceased wife. This time, upon returning, he moved straight back in. He had left as a Rank 7 official and returned still a Rank 7 official. By rank alone, it was far inferior to being Prefect of Xuzhou, which was a Vice Rank 5 position.

In the Great Ming, capital officials were the most esteemed. A Rank 7 capital official did not fear a Rank 2 Provincial Administration Commissioner. This was no exaggeration but the truth. Therefore, as capital officials, especially those of the highest status who had entered via the imperial examination, each cultivated an air of refinement, composure, and gentle reserve.

But now, such poise had all vanished like smoke. Everyone was either excited, manic, or even dejected and despondent, because the Capital Evaluation was imminent, and everyone more or less guessed the outcome.

Ever since the trend of Ming officialdom forming factions based on regional ties had arisen, every Capital Evaluation became a great battle of factional attack and defense. Whichever faction was in power, many from the opposing faction would be purged in the evaluation, vacating positions for those on the ruling side.

This year, even the common folk in the streets knew what each faction intended to do: "Purge the Donglin." The Qi, Chu, and Zhe factions had finally gained a comprehensive advantage. Anyone associated with the Donglin was to be driven out.

It was laughable, really. The Donglin was a faction formed by officials from the Southern Metropolitan Region, yet its core consisted of officials and local scholars from the three prefectures of Suzhou, Changzhou, and Songjiang in Jiangnan. Those from other parts of the Southern Metropolitan Region were either marginalized or excluded.

Wang Youshan was from Xuzhou. Because of his association with eunuchs, the Donglin directly classified him as part of the Qi faction. As things went back and forth, Wang Youshan's ties with Qi faction officials deepened, and gradually, he became a member of the Qi faction himself.

It sounded like a joke, but it was precisely because of this identity that Wang Youshan had resigned and returned home a few years ago, and then, at the end of last year, returned to the capital in grand style.

The procedures for reinstatement were easy to handle; the court would not make difficulties on that front. The only thing to consider was how to return to the Chief Surveillance Bureau.

A censor who knew he was certain to be dismissed had made a deal with Wang Youshan in advance. His younger brother would be looked after and would not be treated as part of a hostile faction. After securing this promise and making certain guarantees, he resigned from office. Wang Youshan then smoothly returned to the Chief Surveillance Bureau.

Those who had once received favors from Wang Youshan were now riding high. Wang Youshan himself seemed to have boundless prospects.

Yet one thing struck people as odd. A man of such boundless prospects, a shoo-in for the position of Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, actually did not know to protect his reputation and instead associated closely with those inner-court eunuchs.

Fortunately, the Donglin faction in the capital was now in a state of panic and had no attention to spare. Otherwise, they would surely have submitted memorials labeling Wang Youshan a "Eunuch Faction member." Of course, the Donglin faction now dared not make too many enemies. They could barely look after themselves; if they offended the powerful figures in the palace as well, they would truly have no place to die and be buried.

Even so, comrades within his faction and close friends from his schooldays all kindly advised Wang Youshan, saying that with his boundless prospects, he should not needlessly add a stain to his name.

As a pure-stream official in the capital, there were too many variables in the promotion process. Take the label "Eunuch Faction," for instance—who knew when someone might use it as leverage against him, perhaps even someone from his own faction.

Wang Youshan thanked them for each piece of advice, yet his conduct did not change in the slightest. There were also rumors that a leading figure in his faction had cautioned him, but Wang Youshan had replied with a smile, "Inner officials cannot be drawn too close, yet one cannot afford not to be close. If any ill repute comes of it, I, Wang, shall bear it myself."

The inner-court eunuchs and the outer court officials were an inseparable whole. The various factions fought politically without cease. Beyond the grandees of the Grand Secretariat, the Six Ministries, and the Chief Surveillance Bureau, the grand eunuchs also had their hands in the game. Yet, once one was closely linked with eunuchs, it became a stain. Grasping the proper measure in this was truly not easy.

However, things had not yet reached the stage of open daggers and flashing swords. What Wang Youshan did also brought benefits to everyone. They had given their advice where due; as for the rest, they let him be.

"Magistrate Wang, please stay. No need to see me further. If this scene were witnessed by others, it would only stir up more noisy gossip in the capital, which would be most disadvantageous for you, Magistrate Wang!"

"How can a host not see a distinguished guest off? I, Wang, do not care for such idle talk, and you, Gonggong, should not take it too much to heart either," Wang Youshan said with a smile.

"When my godfather was on his deathbed, I was the only one at his side to attend him. Among all those who used to flatter him, only you, Magistrate Wang, wrote letters to inquire after him. A person's true heart is revealed in times of hardship; ordinary times don't count for much." Were it not for his pale, beardless face, this Eunuch Wu would have looked no different from any civil official or scholar.

Wang Youshan said with a smile, "That I, Wang, have come this far is due to the great kindness of Eunuch Sun. How dare I forget? Let's not speak of past matters. Gonggong Wu, you and I come from the same door; we should associate more often in the future. My place is not far from the Imperial City. If you have leisure, come by for a few cups. Xuzhou has some fine liquor."

Eunuch Wu nodded with a smile and said, "Certainly, certainly. That Xuzhou spirit is terribly expensive in the capital. I've never been able to drink my fill."

The two were like close friends or old acquaintances. They chatted a while longer before taking their leave. During the farewell, Uncle He had stood to the side, eyes lowered and demeanor submissive. Only after following Wang Youshan into the courtyard did he venture to say, "Master, getting too close to these inner-court officials will bring trouble in the future."

"What trouble could there be? Nothing more than returning to Xuzhou," Wang Youshan said with a smile, his expression quite indifferent.

Uncle He paused, then added, "Master, even for the young master's sake, you should remain in the capital. The young master's situation isn't just a matter of a single year. The longer you stay here, the more help you can provide."

At this, Wang Youshan's expression turned considerably more serious. He said in a deep voice, "Xiaojing and the others acted too hastily. Offending the Feng family this time, who knows how many matters it will drag in. If it all erupts at once, it will be a monumental disaster. I can't afford to worry about the distant future."

"Master, didn't you send someone with an urgent letter to the Grand Coordinator of Fengyang? Knowing your prospects, they wouldn't dare act rashly."

"They know their limits. But that Eunuch Yu from Fengyang Prefecture has already returned to the capital. It's said he has close ties with the Depot and the Guard. If I don't act on my end, there will be great trouble!" Wang Youshan said gravely.

The Eunuch Wu who had left the Wang residence sat in his sedan chair. As they turned out of the street in front of the Wang family gate, his personal attendant immediately caught up and asked beside the sedan chair, "Gonggong, shall we return to the palace or to the residence?"