Volume 1, Chapter 28: The Problem

The rebel leader’s body shuddered, but he remained silent.

"So you won't talk?" Zhu Youjian turned to Wei Zhiren. "Go and bring his family here."

"Wait!" the rebel leader suddenly cried out. "I'll talk... I'll talk..."

"Speak."

"Minister Wen... Minister Wen indeed gave us silver. He said as long as we..."

"As long as you what?" Zhu Youjian pressed.

"As long as we created chaos in the city, he would..." The rebel leader swallowed hard.

"He would what?"

"He would keep our whole family safe. He also said... said he would give us official positions..."

Zhu Youjian sneered: "And you believed him?"

The rebel leader lowered his head, falling silent.

Zhu Youjian returned to the dragon throne and sat down. "Where did those weapons come from?"

"They... they were shipped from a shop in the west of the city."

"Which shop specifically?"

"It... it was the Jubao Pavilion," the rebel leader said, his voice trembling.

Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes: "Who is the owner of Jubao Pavilion?"

"It... it is a merchant surnamed Qian."

"Qian?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "Are you talking about Qian Yongzhen?"

The rebel leader’s entire body jolted: "How does Your Majesty know..."

"I know, of course." Zhu Youjian stood up. "This Qian Yongzhen is a confidant of Wen Tiren."

He walked up to the rebel leader: "Tell me, besides the weapons, what else did they give you?"

"There were also... also some secret letters."

"Secret letters?" A sharp glint flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes. "Where are they?"

"In... in a residence in the west of the city."

"The specific location."

"It... it’s a large house near the West Market. There are two old locust trees at the gate..."

Zhu Youjian turned to Wei Zhiren: "Go and seal that residence for me."

"Yes!" Wei Zhiren bowed and retreated.

Zhu Youjian asked again: "Which of those merchants were involved?"

"There were... the salt merchant Shen Wansan, the silk merchant Xu Leshan, the tea merchant Zhao Mingyuan..."

"And who else?"

"Also..." The rebel leader suddenly stopped.

"What? Are you afraid to speak?"

"This humble one does not dare..."

"Do not dare?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "Then go to the Eastern Depot prison and think it over carefully."

He waved his hand: "Take him away."

Two Eastern Depot agents stepped forward and hauled the rebel leader up.

"Wait," Zhu Youjian added. "Tell him that if he confesses honestly, his family can be spared."

A glimmer of hope flashed in the rebel leader's eyes: "Really?"

"My word is bond," Zhu Youjian said calmly. "It depends on you now."

The rebel leader gritted his teeth: "There is also... also the Jiangnan cloth merchant Zhang Huaide. He and Minister Wen..."

"Go on."

"He and Minister Wen have business dealings. Every month, a large sum of silver is sent..."

"Sent where?"

"Sent... sent to a villa outside the city. It is Minister Wen’s private property..."

"The specific location," Zhu Youjian pressed.

"Ten miles south of the city, in a place called Qingyun Village."

Zhu Youjian nodded: "Very well. You may go now."

"Your Majesty..." The rebel leader hesitated, wanting to say more.

"Rest assured," Zhu Youjian said thinly. "As long as everything you said is the truth, I will naturally keep my promise."

The rebel leader was led away. Zhu Youjian walked to the window, watching the distant night.

"Wang Cheng'en."

"This servant is here."

"Go tell Cao Huachun to have his men watch those merchants."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian continued: "Also, have the Eastern Depot investigate that Qingyun Village. I want to see what Wen Tiren has hidden there."

Wang Cheng'en bowed and withdrew.

Before long, Wei Zhiren returned to report: "Your Majesty, that residence has been sealed."

"Any discoveries?"

"Found some secret letters and ledgers," Wei Zhiren said. "They are currently being tallied."

"Send them to the Eastern Depot for inspection," Zhu Youjian ordered. "Do not let a single word slip by."

"Yes."

Just then, Cao Huachun stepped in quickly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, those merchants are showing signs of movement."

"Speak."

"They are moving their assets overnight. It seems they have caught wind of something..."

Zhu Youjian sneered: "Let them move. I want to see where they can possibly move to."

"Should we..." Cao Huachun hesitated.

"No need to take action yet," Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "Let them descend into chaos first."

He returned to his desk, picked up a brush, and wrote a secret decree: "Effective immediately, seal all shops throughout Jiangnan."

"Your Majesty," Wei Zhiren said cautiously, "will this not..."

"Will it not what?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "I want to see how much longer these people can jump about."

He turned to Cao Huachun: "Go tell the men below to keep a close watch on the movements of those merchants."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian added: "By the way, that Qian Yongzhen..."

"This servant already has men watching him," Cao Huachun said. "He has been frequently visiting the Wen residence lately."

"Very good," Zhu Youjian nodded. "Keep watching."

He walked to the map, his finger tracing across the Jiangnan region: "These merchants are all henchmen of Wen Tiren."

"Your Majesty," Wei Zhiren said, "should we arrest a few first to establish authority?"

"No hurry," Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "Let them fall into disarray first."

"But..."

"Why do you think I am waiting?" Zhu Youjian sneered. "It is to see who else will jump out."

He turned to Cao Huachun: "Tell Zheng Zhilong that he must blockade the sea routes within three days."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian continued: "Additionally, have the Eastern Depot strictly investigate the merchant guilds in every region. Report any abnormal activity immediately."

"This servant obeys the edict." Cao Huachun bowed and withdrew.

Zhu Youjian walked to the window, watching the night in the distance.

"Wang Cheng'en."

"This servant is here."

"Go and summon the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is ready. Just waiting for Your Majesty's order..."

"No hurry," Zhu Youjian interrupted. "Let them fall into chaos first."

He turned to Wei Zhiren: "Go and tell Sun Chanting to be prepared."

"Yes."

Zhu Youjian said again to the Commander: "Send your men immediately to keep a close watch on those merchants."

"Yes. However..." the Commander hesitated.

"What is the problem?"

"Those gentry families..."

"Rest assured," Zhu Youjian sneered. "They won't be able to jump about for much longer."

A sharp glint flashed in the Commander’s eyes: "This subject understands."

"Go." Zhu Youjian waved his hand.

The Commander bowed and withdrew.

Zhu Youjian returned to the desk, picked up his brush, and wrote a secret decree: "Effective immediately, strictly audit the ledgers across Jiangnan."

He set down the vermilion brush and looked at the memorials on the desk. These were his weapons.

"Bring me the personnel roster of the Eastern Depot," he added.

Wang Cheng'en handed over a thick volume. Zhu Youjian opened it and examined it carefully. Every page recorded the detailed information of Eastern Depot agents.

"These people..." he made marks next to certain names, "can be put to heavy use."

He stood up and walked to the map. His finger moved across Jiangnan, as if playing a great game of chess.

"Bring me the confessions of those captives," he ordered.

Wang Cheng'en quickly brought a stack of documents.

Zhu Youjian examined them carefully, nodding from time to time. These confessions revealed a great deal of useful information.

"So that's how it is," he sneered. "These people have actually confessed quite a lot."

He returned to his desk and wrote another secret decree: "Effective immediately, strictly investigate the merchant guilds across Jiangnan."

Wang Cheng'en took the decree and was about to withdraw.

"Wait," Zhu Youjian added. "Go tell Sun Chanting and the others that I want them alive."

"Yes."

He walked to the window, watching the distant night. Every detail was under his control.

"Your Majesty," Wei Zhiren approached quickly, "news has come from Zheng Zhilong's side."

"Speak."

"He says everything is ready, waiting only for Your Majesty's command."

Zhu Youjian nodded with satisfaction: "Very well."

He turned to Wang Cheng'en: "Go and summon the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Yes."

Before long, the new Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard strode in: "This subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise and speak," Zhu Youjian said calmly. "How are the preparations in Jiangnan?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is ready. Just waiting for Your Majesty's order..."

"No hurry," Zhu Youjian interrupted. "Let them make the first move."

The Commander was somewhat puzzled: "But Your Majesty, if we let them strike first..."

"Do you think," Zhu Youjian sneered, "I would really give them that opportunity?"

He turned to Wei Zhiren: "Go and tell Zheng Zhilong to proceed according to the plan."