Chapter 810: Who Can Decide

They had gathered quite a bit of news about the Prince of Lu's estate, but nothing particularly meaningful about the capital. Even merchants who had been to the capital had only skimmed the surface with casual observations. Those who truly knew the inside story were the top-tier magnates, and most of them were in Qingjiangpu, Yangzhou, and Jiangnan — it was no coincidence that none were here in Xuzhou.

"Write to Zhou Xuezhi tomorrow. Have him ask around among the merchants in Qingjiangpu — see if there's any way to get a message to the big shots calling the shots in the capital."

By the time he said this, it was already deep into the night. The candles in the room had been replaced several times. Wang Zhaojing, brush in hand as he recorded, had bloodshot eyes and had filled page after page with dense notes.

"Brother, we've already stationed men in Qingjiangpu to watch every family's movements. If there's any sign that they know about our rebellion, word will come back at top speed," Wang Zhaojing said.

"Those are two different matters. That's not what I'm after," Zhao Jin replied curtly.

"Brother, if you want to ask about dealings in the capital, wouldn't Ma Chonghao be the best source?"

"I know he's the best to ask. But asking only him still carries risk. Better to find some corroboration beforehand."

After this brief exchange, Wang Zhaojing cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Brother, regarding my father's matter…"

He had barely gotten halfway before Zhao Jin cut him off without ceremony, waving his hand. "Go back and sleep right now. I already have a plan and arrangements for your father's situation. Just do as I say!"

Wang Zhaojing froze for a moment, then in the end only sighed, nodded, cupped his fists, and took his leave.

Once he was gone, Zhao Jin did not leave in a hurry. Instead, he picked up the record book from the table and began leafing through it, examining it carefully.

Early the next morning, Ma Chonghao was brought over. His expression was perfectly calm, but inwardly it was anything but. The team for the prison-break mission to the capital was already being assembled, and he was, of course, one of its core members.

Going to the capital to break someone out of prison was, nine times out of ten, a death sentence. Ma Chonghao understood this better than anyone. But when you're living under someone else's roof, with your family in their hands, some things are beyond your control — there's simply no way around it. These past couple of days, Ma Chonghao had barely slept. Every time he thought about it, he ground his teeth. Had he misjudged? Did Zhao Jin not realize his value?

A Brocade Guard Assistant Commander who had served in office and handled real affairs — a man like that was of great use. How could he be thrown away on mere fighting and killing? Could it be that Zhao Jin still held a grudge over that business years ago, when he had gone north to apply pressure?

Amid this anxiety and dejection, Ma Chonghao was led into Zhao Jin's room. The moment he saw Zhao Jin, he was startled. Zhao Jin, who had always been full of vigor, was now sporting two dark circles under his eyes, looking as if he had not slept well all night. Ruhui, standing to the side, had a calm expression, but Wang Zhaojing, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

"Sit down and talk," Zhao Jin said, gesturing. The courtesy made Ma Chonghao's heart lurch. Could it be that he was about to be sent to his death? But having already resigned himself, Ma Chonghao kept his composure, thanked him, and sat.

"If I had something I wanted the big shots running the court to know — if I wanted to negotiate terms and do business with them — would you have a way to make that happen?" Zhao Jin asked, coming straight to the point.

The question made Ma Chonghao freeze. He shook his head slightly before it registered, then after a moment's deliberation, replied, "The big shots running things — that means the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Directorate of the Imperial Horses. Right now, the big shots in the outer court haven't been in power all that long. When it comes to calling the shots, you still have to look to the chief eunuchs of the inner court…"

Whether a man knew his business or not was clear the moment he opened his mouth. The merchants' tales of the capital yesterday had been far too superficial. What Ma Chonghao was saying cut straight to the heart of the matter. Both Zhao Jin and Ruhui nodded.

"Getting the big shots to know about something — you could say it's hard, or you could say it's easy. Spend enough silver, buy off their trusted confidants, and the message can be delivered directly. As for negotiating terms and doing business, well…"

Ma Chonghao hesitated here. Zhao Jin said in a deep voice, "Speak freely."

"This 'man in charge' Master Jin speaks of — given Master Jin's breadth of vision, I take it you mean someone who can manage the great affairs of the realm?"

He asked, and seeing Zhao Jin nod, Ma Chonghao continued, "This humble one has dealt with such grandees before. Men like that wield power and act as they please, but having reached that position, they are still capable of listening to others. Yet seated so high, managing such a vast situation — whether they can be made to listen, and whether it's worth their while to listen, that, this humble one cannot say for certain."

"The great affairs of the realm — they have to listen to those," Zhao Jin said in a muffled voice. Ma Chonghao smiled and nodded.

Zhao Jin sank back into deliberation. The room fell silent. Ma Chonghao kept his head respectfully lowered and said nothing, but inwardly he was wondering what exactly Zhao Jin was trying to do. He had thought he'd figured it out earlier, but after this conversation in the room, he was confused again.

"Spend whatever silver you need. Ask for whatever men you require. Find out as quickly as possible who these big shots in the capital are, and through whom we can make contact," Zhao Jin said after his deliberation.

"In this subordinate's judgment, the man calling the shots in the capital is, nine times out of ten, Eunuch Wei Zhongxian — Wei Zhongxian!" Ma Chonghao looked up and replied.

Hearing that name, Zhao Jin paused, narrowed his eyes, and studied Ma Chonghao for a moment. Only then did he say coolly, "Without investigating or asking around, how do you know it's this man? Don't just tell me what you think I want to hear because you know I'm curious about him."

The first time Zhao Jin had heard the name Wei Zhongxian, he had paid extraordinary attention, and Ma Chonghao had been present at the time. The answer just now made Zhao Jin instinctively feel a surge of disgust — he assumed the man was deliberately currying favor.

"Master Jin, this subordinate would never dare be slipshod in his duties. From the court gazettes, from Old Master Wang's letters, and from this subordinate's own correspondence with the capital, it can all be seen. His Sacred Majesty — no, the Son of Heaven today — cannot bear to be parted from his wet nurse, Madam Ke, and favors her to the utmost. And this Wei Zhongxian is exceedingly close to Madam Ke — it's even said they are 'table companions.' He has now already entered the Directorate of Ceremonial. Master Jin, this subordinate reported last time that Wei Zhongxian is illiterate. For a man like that to enter the Directorate of Ceremonial shows the Son of Heaven's favor. Add the Madam Ke connection, and he is likely the foremost man in the inner court!" Ma Chonghao laid it all out.

To the ignorant, the clues could be laid out before their eyes and they still wouldn't see the pattern. To the expert, it was entirely different. A man like Ma Chonghao, steeped in officialdom for years and serving in the Brocade Guard's business of espionage and investigation, naturally analyzed and synthesized such intelligence differently from others.

The news of the Son of Heaven's favor toward his wet nurse, Madam Ke, was plainly visible in the court gazettes. The Tianqi Emperor not only bestowed honors on Madam Ke but also lavished titles and rewards on her relatives. The court officials had argued repeatedly, and repeatedly gotten nowhere. Moreover, the Son of Heaven was already of age, yet Madam Ke still resided in the palace — a breach of ethics and decorum. After debate, she had once moved out of the imperial palace, but the Tianqi Emperor could not bear to be without this wet nurse, and before long, she moved back in.

The court officials loved to argue about such matters. It had nothing to do with their own interests or factional disputes, yet allowed them to display their unyielding integrity and win a reputation for probity and forthrightness. What trouble could one woman cause? At worst, she'd just wangle some benefits and money for herself and her kin.

But anyone with a modicum of clear-headedness could see another point: Madam Ke and Wei Zhongxian were table companions. She could have Wei Zhongxian do things for her. By the same token, Wei Zhongxian's power was magnified by the favor Madam Ke enjoyed with the Son of Heaven.

Now, the illiterate Wei Zhongxian had already entered the Directorate of Ceremonial, that pivotal and confidential nerve center. What it meant for a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial to have the Son of Heaven's favor and close ties to the Son of Heaven's intimates — everyone understood perfectly well.

After Ma Chonghao laid out this analysis, both Zhao Jin and Ruhui nodded. Seeing their expressions, Ma Chonghao was secretly pleased, knowing he had just proven his competence. He cleared his throat and added, "It is worth letting Master Jin know: at this juncture, approaching Wei Zhongxian to discuss matters and negotiate is most effective, because this Chief Eunuch Wei has only recently taken charge and also needs to accomplish a few things to demonstrate his own skill and ability."

A hint of relief appeared on Zhao Jin's face, but he did not speak. Ruhui, however, smiled and nodded at Ma Chonghao. After this conversation, Director Ma was certain to be promoted. A bright future under Zhao Jin was assured. A man like that — it wouldn't hurt to show some goodwill.

This time, Zhao Jin deliberated for a very long while, so long that both Ma Chonghao and Ruhui grew solemn. Zhao Jin was decisive and swift, usually arriving at the correct conclusion quickly. That he was thinking so long this time meant the matter was certainly no small thing.

"Would Wei Zhongxian — or whoever the big shot running the capital is — would they act on impulse or emotion?" Neither of them had expected Zhao Jin to ask such a question.

Ma Chonghao was briefly taken aback, then smiled and replied, "No. In the outer court, from passing the highest exams to entering the Cabinet and holding power — the fastest that takes is over twenty years. In the inner court, from learning to read and write to wielding the brush in the Directorate of Ceremonial's inner sanctum — it's the same number of years. Having endured so many decades to reach such a lofty position, anyone prone to impulsive, emotional decisions would have long since suffered for it and fallen. How could they ever climb up? As for this Wei Zhongxian, he entered the palace in middle age and has endured twenty years as well. Even if he was once hotheaded, by now he has no edges left. They all act not on likes and dislikes, but on pure interest."

Zhao Jin let out a long breath. After a moment of silence, he said, "Ma Chonghao, you are now the Grand Squad Leader of the Internal Guard. Go discuss with Liu Yong immediately. Send men to the capital to open channels. Don't be afraid of spending silver. See if you can get Uncle Wang released through Wei Zhongxian."

"Master Jin, that won't be easy. It involves a princely estate. It involves rebellion. Even a chief eunuch of the inner court would have to weigh it carefully. If the Son of Heaven ever found out, all favor would vanish in an instant. With that risk, they wouldn't dare take the silver, no matter how much," Ma Chonghao replied earnestly.

Zhao Jin did not get angry at this answer. He merely nodded and said, "If it can't be done, then just start building ties. We can't afford to have no one to pass a message to when the moment comes."

Ma Chonghao nodded. Zhao Jin waved his hand. "Go find Liu Yong and bring him here right now. I'll explain your assignment to him. Get busy immediately. Once you've established a line to the capital, come report. Remember: everything must be done quickly. Spare no expense!"

Thanks to old friends "Qi Sanwen, Yuan Heng Li Zhen, and Wu Liulang" for the tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets.