Chapter 814: The Public-Spirited and Loyal Wei Zhongxian

The reason was simple: Eunuch Wei Zhongxian enjoyed the greatest favor from the Tianqi Emperor, and had also formed a "table-mate" union with Madam Ke, which deepened his bond with the Son of Heaven even further. The previous Wang An, who was to enter the Directorate of Ceremonial as the Seal-Holding Eunuch, ended up imprisoned and tortured in a vegetable garden, living a fate worse than death, simply because he had crossed Wei Zhongxian. Wang Tigan, in turn, had only secured the Seal-Holding Eunuch post by currying favor through Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke.

Everyone understood the inner workings perfectly. If not for the fact that Wei Zhongxian was illiterate and needed someone to draft rescripts in red and to comprehend court documents, the Seal-Holding Eunuch position would have long since been his. In all likelihood, he would also follow the precedent of Feng Bao from the Wanli era and seize control of the Eastern Depot in the same stroke.

Now, Wang Tigan behaved like a mere scribe before Wei Zhongxian, and everyone else treated Eunuch Wei like an honored ancestor, terrified that their deference might fall short.

Moreover, Eunuch Wei was exceedingly shrewd in handling affairs. The Wanli Emperor had grown weary of governance, and the Eastern Depot had fallen into neglect for a long time, its personnel caring only for their own enrichment with no regard for official duties. After Eunuch Wei took command of the Eastern Depot, he thoroughly reorganized it. Everyone, high and low, became diligent and cautious, none daring to slack off. Intelligence from all quarters flowed into the palace, and nothing, internal or external, could be concealed from him.

Shrewd as he was, Wei Zhongxian was not harsh in his dealings. He never interfered with his subordinates making money, and would even lend a hand when he could. For instance, during the half-shichen break after lunch each day, once he had finished attending to His Majesty, Eunuch Wei would not rush to rest. Instead, he would first hear reports from his subordinates and juniors, giving them a chance to profit and elevate their status. Such a generous and magnanimous chief eunuch naturally commanded the wholehearted support of everyone in the palace, high and low.

"Xiao Kuang, you dare bring up such a matter? Do you take me for a fool?" Wei Zhongxian said slowly, rocking in his chair without even opening his eyes.

The great red python robe, worn only by chief eunuchs, hung on a rack nearby. Wei Zhongxian himself was dressed in casual clothes. Not having entered the palace as a boy, his upkeep was not as good as those pampered inner officials. His complexion was darkish, his face lined with wrinkles, making him look somewhat like a country scholar.

The Xiao Kuang standing to the side giving the report, however, was fair-skinned and plump, resembling a wealthy man from Jiangnan, the kind of appearance bred by generations of affluence.

But upon hearing this remark from Wei Zhongxian, Xiao Kuang immediately dropped to his knees and said rapidly, "Venerable Ancestor, even if I had the guts of a wolf and the gall of a leopard, I would never dare utter a single falsehood before you! The other side has promised a reward of twelve hundred taels of gold, and already paid five hundred as a deposit, just for me to pass on this message. With so much money involved, and such a shocking and appalling scheme, I dared not be careless."

"With such a lavish hand, wouldn't it be better to simply buy the person out directly? Why go to all this trouble, finding you, and then seeking me out?"

"Venerable Ancestor, I went to inquire about this case. It was flagged by Liu Yunpeng from the Document Office, and the people from the Prince of Lu's estate are watching closely. It's a major rebellion case. Offering such a huge sum of silver to buy someone's freedom—likely no one would dare accept it, and it would only stir up wider alarm. That's why they came to me. I also felt this matter was far too grave, so I beg you, Venerable Ancestor, to make the decision."

Wei Zhongxian, reclining on the rocking chair, opened his eyes. A flash of anger crossed his face, and his voice turned somewhat shrill as he said, "They don't dare cause a stir, yet they dare to threaten? Their audacity is sky-high! For a mere minor official of the seventh rank, a so-called 'pure stream' scholar, they dare to contemplate such a heinous crime? Is the imperial court something to be threatened? Go to the prison at once and have that Wang Shan or whatever his name is hacked to pieces! Then find someone outside to petition His Majesty for a joint military campaign to exterminate those rebels!"

Xiao Kuang hastily kowtowed on the ground and shuffled forward two steps on his knees. "Venerable Ancestor, I risk death to say a few words. When this matter found its way to me, though I was tempted by the gold and silver, I would never trouble you, Venerable Ancestor, with something baseless. I specifically sent men to investigate. That faction once intimidated three thousand elite government cavalry. With such strength, they might actually succeed. Venerable Ancestor, I fear the unexpected. What if we ignore this, and they end up causing a huge uproar? If an investigation follows, you, Venerable Ancestor, who oversees all affairs under Heaven, would inevitably bear some responsibility."

"Three thousand government cavalry?" Wei Zhongxian repeated. He was a native of Northern Zhili and knew how to draw a bow and ride a horse, giving him a far better grasp of military matters than other eunuchs.

"Venerable Ancestor, there are still many treacherous and petty men within the inner court who refuse to submit to you. Yet these are peaceful times, offering no chance to display your heaven-spanning and earth-penetrating abilities. If this affair were to erupt and we could then suppress it, everyone inside and out would be in awe of you, Venerable Ancestor, and His Majesty would surely place even greater trust in you."

"Absurd! How can a scheme that shakes the entire realm be used as a bargaining chip? Once it truly erupts, it's not something you can simply stop at will. Issue the documents at once—order the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest them!" Wei Zhongxian's voice and expression were stern; he sat bolt upright.

A wry smile appeared on Xiao Kuang's face. He spoke, "Venerable Ancestor, they are quite thorough in their actions. Since they arranged for this child to deliver the message, it's likely they have already begun their move!"

Wei Zhongxian slammed his hand heavily on the armrest of the rocking chair and said shrilly, "With a sage and enlightened Son of Heaven on the throne, how can so many demons and monsters run rampant? Is there no law anymore? Dispatch the Depot and the Guard—send them both openly and covertly. If that side dares to stir up trouble, then send the army for a joint campaign. This vast realm cannot tolerate such petty clowns!"

Xiao Kuang hastily kowtowed to accept the order, no longer daring to say more. Before he could speak further, Wei Zhongxian continued, "Pass on my order: Xiao Kuang, you go and fetch that Wang somebody and place him securely in the Eastern Depot prison under close watch. We will deal with him once this matter is concluded."

Hearing this, Xiao Kuang was momentarily stunned, then a smile spread across his face. He quickly kowtowed in acknowledgment and rose to leave.

"Xiao Kuang, some silver you can take, some you cannot touch. If you don't earn it this time, so be it. Next time, I will find you a proper assignment—one with prestige and dignity."

"To be honest with you, Venerable Ancestor, that side only wants this outcome. Once it's settled and he is dealt with later, this child can collect the remaining gold. When I've gathered it all, I'll present every bit to you, Venerable Ancestor, as a token of filial respect."

Xiao Kuang said this with a beaming smile. After he finished, Wei Zhongxian fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "They are that confident? Over a sesame-sized, seventh-rank nobody?"

Seeing Wei Zhongxian lost in thought, Xiao Kuang dared not say more. He merely seized a gap to say with a dry laugh, "Venerable Ancestor, genuine gold and silver can never be fake, after all."

"Two major cities lost beyond the pass, and now the Southern Metropolitan Region is about to stir up this trouble. His Majesty's heart is heavy with bitterness!" Wei Zhongxian said this seemingly out of nowhere, then let out a long sigh.

The two-horse cart's iron-bound wooden wheels sank deep into the road, yet there was not much luggage on board. Anyone in the underworld with a discerning eye could tell at a glance that the cart must be loaded with valuables—gold, silver, bronze, or tin.

Anywhere else, such a convoy of carts traveling on the official road would have attracted countless bandits and strongmen. Yet now they proceeded in peace. Even those who might have had designs, upon seeing the Zhao-character flag on the cart shaft, abandoned all such thoughts.

Moreover, the escorts around the carts were all household retainers and militia from the Zhao Character Camp, clearly elite and robust young men—a force that might not be defeated even in a direct assault.

Apart from this, the few people sitting on the carts looked rather out of place. These individuals were fair-skinned, plump, and swaggering with arrogance, showing no courtesy whatsoever to the household retainers and militia escorting the carts. It was truly bizarre.

Within the Zhao Character Camp and the Cloud Mountain Firm, one rarely saw anyone fair-skinned and plump. And under Zhao Jin's command, there was no such thing as valuing the civil over the martial. The household retainers and militia held high status and would never be treated with such contempt. Passersby and traveling merchants could also see it clearly: the fifty household retainers and militia escorting the five large carts all wore expressions of suppressed anger, not daring to voice their resentment.

Well-informed people were murmuring to themselves: could the rumors be true? They said the Zhao Character Camp had been caught in a grip by an outside princely estate and had been forced to give up the salt market and the distillery. Now, people with Yanzhou accents were growing more numerous in He Family Village—over a hundred of them. They weren't there to do business, but acted like tyrants, even secretly boasting that Zhao Jin was about to be finished, and that everyone should see the situation clearly and not follow him to ruin.

After the incident with Ma Chonghao, until the situation became clear—especially in a place like Xuzhou—no one would act rashly or stir up trouble, unless they felt their death wasn't coming fast enough.

Besides, people could also see things that didn't add up. If the camp was truly being strangled by a princely estate, it made no sense that the men sent to Xuzhou by the Prince of Lu's estate had been arrested again. Word was that this time, the person who came was a cousin of the Princess of Lu herself, accompanied by several skilled fighters from the underworld. They had been extremely arrogant, only to have their limbs broken inside the yamen and be thrown directly into prison.

By all logic, the Prince of Lu's estate was more closely related to the reigning Tianqi Emperor, while the Prince of Lu's was more distant. There was no reason to fear the more distant one and not the closer one.

All these inexplicable oddities kept everyone from daring to move or pick sides. The only thing anyone could do was stand by and watch, waiting for the outcome.

The convoy of carts laden with valuables trundled along slowly, leaving the borders of Xuzhou and entering Yutai County in Shandong. The few men on the carts could no longer be bothered to put on airs and huddled together, whispering among themselves.

"All this gold and silver, and we're just going to send it back like this? Why not split some of it down first?"

"Do you have a death wish? Qiao Shan and the others already counted it and sent a fast horse back to the estate. If the tally is off when we return, they'll surely make an example of us!"

"What rotten luck, just us few drawing the short straw! That other bunch must have all stayed behind to make a fortune. Tsk tsk, they've probably taken over several manors by now!"

"I hear there are quite a few young maidens in those manors..."

As they grumbled and jested, none of them noticed a lone rider on a fast horse passing by them, nor did they pay attention to the several large carts stopped about a hundred paces ahead—carts that looked exactly like the ones hauling their valuables.

The fast horse slowed slightly as it passed the convoy, its rider glancing down at them before spurring on. Reaching the carts stopped by the roadside ahead, the rider turned his horse sideways and halted.

Before long, the convoy arrived at that spot. The rider raised a hand and waved, saying, "The definite word has come through. We can head back—and make it quick!"

Thanks to the new and old friends "Tian Xia Zong Heng You Wo," "Qi San Wen," "Yuan Heng Li Zhen," "Yong Hu Man De Hen," and "Tian Mi De Gan Zhe" for their tips, and thank you all for your subscriptions and support.