Xie Ming

The handling of key figures in the South China Party led Chiu Chih-chung to reveal another hidden concern.

Considering that Liu Wenbing and Gong Yonggu, the two culprits, are imprisoned in the imperial jail, I urge you to be cautious and take precautions as soon as possible.

Upon hearing this, Xiao, caught off guard by the question, found it difficult to make a hasty decision.

After a moment of contemplation, he plopped back down on the stool, propped his elbows on the table, looked up with a troubled expression, and hesitated for a moment.

Clang, clang clang clang.
After a long while, unable to find a good solution, he sighed again.

As for the two of them...

"Sigh, if all else fails, I'll just have to go to the prison myself later."

He personally took charge, willing to use his legs and feet, and personally went to handle things, responding to each challenge as it arose.

Having said that, Xiao Yi straightened his posture and explained his words again.

"Uh, I see."

"From both a moral and logical standpoint, these two guys came south with us, fought alongside us, and were once comrades-in-arms and brothers in the same tent."

"Although we have different paths today, we can still be considered upright and loyal people."

"Especially Gong Yonggu."

"It looks alright to me."

"I will go there in person, explain the situation with courtesy and emotion, and then propose a surrender."

"Who knows, we might actually persuade these two generals to sincerely submit to us."

Xiao Yuan remained optimistic, rubbing his hands together and managing a forced, bitter smile.

Upon hearing this, Zhizhong, observing from the sidelines, breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in affirmation.

However, it was clear that the two were speaking in unison, and while Yao Zuyin remained silent with a gloomy expression and displeasure, he was caught in the middle.

Seeing the situation, Xiao's eyes lit up. He changed the subject, offering a way out and asking for clarification.

"kindness?"

“Master, what do you think?” Xiao Zuo asked.

The old monk, however, was unwilling and refused to accept this favor.

As soon as he spoke, he immediately refuted and rebuked the other party.

"Humph!"

"A woman's kindness!"

What am I supposed to say about you?!

As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve and rubbed the prayer beads twice, seemingly unconcerned.

Since there was no immediate interface, another sentence was added.

“If we follow my advice, these two are no longer of any use. Executing them on the spot in prison would be the best course of action.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao and Qiu looked troubled, exchanging bewildered glances.

Qiu Zhizhong, who was standing nearby, could not have predicted what was going on, so he decided to mediate and get involved.

"Master, this..."

"In fact, I also feel that neither of them are people who can be persuaded."

"Now, Gong Yonggu is a brute, he'll be easy to deal with in the future."

"As for that Marquis Liu, he is quite cunning and we must be wary of him."

Use a gentle, conversational style, starting with praise and then gradually downplaying the situation.

"But, if we start by executing them right away, especially at such a tense moment, wouldn't that be too risky?"

"Why don't we let Lao Xiao give it a try first?"

"The situation outside the city is already chaotic enough."

"Killing these two now would be... [I fear]"

He then observed the old monk's demeanor and appearance.

Seeing that he remained calm, Qiu Wei then said a few more words.

"If you ask me, it's better to wait and see."

"Whether you can persuade them or not, don't escalate the conflict."

"Even if it is a demotion and exile on the surface, Yuan Ping will find a way to escort him to Nanjing on the front line in a grand manner."

"This will at least give an explanation to these nearly 10,000 troops, prevent the soldiers from losing control of their emotions, and allow for continued efforts to appease them." "It's not too late to discuss the punishment after a few days, once the storm has calmed down."

Qiu Zhizhong's strategy of retreating as a means of advancement and seeking a compromise ultimately aimed to give Liu and Gong a chance to live.

Upon hearing this, Yao Zuyin, being a shrewd and calculating old man, could easily discern Xiao and Qiu's thoughts from the sound of their voices.

He was sullen and sarcastic; that old, wicked monk had quite a temper.

Seeing that his advice was ignored and his plans were not followed, he stubbornly resorted to sarcasm and retorts.

"Oh well, never mind."

"Since you've already made up your minds, why are you asking me for advice?"

"When asked about my position, there's only one word: kill!"

He turned his head slightly, met Xiao Chu head-on, and made sarcastic remarks to his face.

"Xiao Chuan, you can't really be that confused, can you?!"

"What kind of loyal and upright person is he?"

"Even if he is loyal, he is loyal to the Ming Dynasty, not to you, Xiao Jingchuan."

"If you are too soft-hearted and let these two fool you."

"If we release a tiger back into the mountains, it will surely become a disaster in the future."

It's difficult to determine whether these words are an exaggeration, a deliberate attempt to mystify, or a true prophecy fulfilled by the Daoist tradition.

Xiao, unable to decide the outcome, remained silent, unable to offer a reply.

Upon hearing the sound of his sigh, Yao Zuyin decided to add more firewood to embarrass him.

"Oh, you, so indecisive, how will you manage in the future?"

"As for the more than 10,000 Imperial Guards, many of them are scions of prominent families from various parts of Jiangnan."

"These individuals are inherently unusable."

"A young master soldier, can he fight a war?"

"Instead of causing you trouble in the future, it's better to streamline and correct things, dismiss a bunch of people, and gather and select the ones that are still usable."

"Break them down into smaller groups and expel them back to their hometowns."

“If we insist on forcibly forming an army, what if Liu and Gong have an accident during the escort and escape?”

"These soldiers will inevitably put Hangzhou in danger."

"Instead of doing that, it would be better to be decisive and kill the commander with one stroke."

"Make an example of someone to warn others; don't be soft-hearted."

"Being fussy and hesitant makes it difficult to achieve great deeds and a magnanimous spirit."

Yao Zuyin remained steadfast in his opinion and refused to budge.

As the conversation reached its climax, the wind chimes on the eaves of the Huang residence's front hall tinkled.
A northerly wind blew in autumn, bringing a chill into the courtyard.

The three men discussed matters in the hall, their conversation hurried until early evening, around 7 PM. Only after some porridge and rice were brought in from the inner quarters of the hall did they finally take their leave.

Words cannot fully express my feelings
The wind cuts through the night's brocade like a knife; I walk alone, treading on the frosty path.

As night deepened, Xiao Lang, still unable to let go of his worries, used his cloak to stealthily make his way to the prison under the moonlight and met with Generals Liu and Gong.

What exactly they said across the prison walls is no longer important, and will not be discussed further here.

Just by learning about this matter, it became clear that Liu Wenbing and Gong Yonggu, two former imperial relatives and meritorious nobles, had mysteriously died in prison at midnight that very night.

The following day, an imperial edict was issued, ordering Yuan Ping to put helmets on the two corpses and send them to Nanjing in a grand procession, signifying that he intended to make amends for their past mistakes and to encourage them to fight on the front lines.

Stop with the rambling.

At the same time, the investigation and prosecution of the crimes committed by the Southern Party traitors such as Ma Shiying, Qiu Weizhen, and Gao Hongtu was hastily concluded.

The traitors have betrayed the country; there is no way to reverse the situation.

The court and the public were thrown into turmoil, and officials everywhere were filled with anxiety and fear.

Within Hangzhou, all family members and relatives involved in serious crimes were subjected to confiscation and sealing of their homes by the Imperial Guards led by the Emperor. Personnel from all three clans were also dispatched to various locations to retrieve them and bring them back to the capital.

In both the court and among the common people, less than three days after the new emperor ascended the throne, the plot to eliminate traitors and usurp the throne was already beginning to emerge.

The case implicated many people, leading to a series of major cases involving the implicated individuals that followed over the next decade.

From this day forward, the entire Jiangnan region is in increasingly chaotic disarray, though the common people are still relatively better off.

The powerful clans, gentry, landlords, and wealthy landowners were especially terrified and uneasy, finding no peace whatsoever. (End of Chapter)