Fu Shanhe

Chapter 446 Treason
"Ok!"

"I will issue an edict to have the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard participate in the operation."

Emperor Yongning said with a slight hesitation.

This was the first time he had participated in such a spoils-sharing activity, and he was quite unaccustomed to it.

In the education I received in the past, the profits from the liquidation of Shanxi merchants should all be nationalized.

The nobility faction clearly has no intention of doing that.

Although he didn't pocket the money, he also didn't plan to deposit it into the household registration department's account, or rather, only a small portion of the fines and confiscations were deposited into the account.

More of the profits will go into military spending.

The involvement of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot was largely driven by political needs.

Of course, a share would definitely be left for the emperor afterwards, but the exact amount is currently unknown.

Even if deep down, they despise this method of dividing the spoils.

Faced with the ever-shrinking imperial treasury, Emperor Yongning chose to agree.

Even if the proposal is rejected, the action against Shanxi merchants will still be carried out.

Regardless of whether they were the masterminds or were unwittingly drawn into the assassination, assassinating a Grand Secretary of the court would come at a bloody price.

……

The capital city, the Fan residence.

"Martial law in the capital has been lifted. Quickly pack your things and leave immediately."

The old man in the red robe hurriedly gave the order.

In an effort to track down the murderer, various government offices in the capital are making arrests.

Anyone even remotely implicated ended up in prison.

The reason he couldn't find the Fan family was not only because of their solid foundation, but also because he was extremely cautious.

Sensing something was amiss, they refused the Northern barbarians' demands.

However, given the current situation, if the investigation continues, they will eventually be implicated.

When it comes to the assassination of the Grand Secretary, businessmen have no say.

Even though he spent a lot of money to donate the title of Guanglu Dafu to himself, which allowed him to wear red robes and official attire, his political status remained essentially unchanged.

He might be able to scare away the monsters and spirits under heaven during normal times, but once the imperial court wants to investigate him, this identity is of no use.

The political privilege of not punishing high-ranking officials had nothing to do with these officials who purchased their positions.

"Master, the eldest young master went through the Marquis of Baoling's channels, didn't he say everything was fine?"

The butler asked with a puzzled look.

The network of relationships among Shanxi merchants was not limited to civil officials.

Members of the imperial family, relatives of the empress, meritorious officials, and eunuchs were all people they cultivated, establishing a vast network of relationships.

When dealing with a single Shanxi merchant family, their network of connections shrinks significantly. They usually rely on currying favor with one or two powerful figures in the imperial court and befriending a group of lower- and middle-ranking officials.

"Better safe than sorry!"

Most of the officials who were arrested had connections with Shanxi merchants. Who can guarantee that the Duke of Cheng and the Marquis of Zhenyuan won't have second thoughts?

With the slightest thought from such powerful figures, we could all lose our heads.

Tell your subordinates that this situation is special.

While withdrawing from the capital, we must clean up all the mess left behind.

He sent someone to inform the clan members who were officials in the court to be careful.

When it comes to assassination cases, no matter who is involved, they are not allowed to take action.

"Preserving oneself is the top priority!"

The old man said with a solemn expression.

These people can leave, but the clansmen who hold positions in the capital cannot.

Not only can they not leave, they can't even show any intention to leave.

At such a sensitive time, even the slightest movement could bring about utter disaster.

Even without being framed, the Fan family's business couldn't withstand scrutiny, even without the assassination attempt.

The civil service was terrified and dared not stand up for them, and the maternal relatives were equally unreliable.

Once the imperial court begins to purge them, those powerful figures who had previously cooperated with them will become their death warrant.

To protect their own reputation, powerful and influential people will also kill to silence witnesses.

You can't expect people to risk having their homes ransacked and their families wiped out for a few taels of silver and go against the enraged nobles.

"As ordered!"

……

Similar scenes are constantly playing out in Beijing.

Merchants from Shanxi with even a slight sense of crisis chose to flee.

As for business in the capital, let's get through this crisis first.

Deep in their hearts, they cursed the ancestors of the Northern Barbarians for eighteen generations.

This is such a rip-off!
They planned such a large-scale operation without even consulting their allies.

There are so many merchant groups in the world, why do they always target their own people to cause trouble?
If they knew that the Northern barbarians wanted to assassinate the Grand Secretary of the court, they would have to distance themselves immediately, even if they didn't report it right away.

The message was transmitted much faster than if they had evacuated from Beijing.

Kong Family Courtyard, Zhangjiakou.

"News has come from the capital that the Tatars, with the help of our caravans, sent assassins into the city to assassinate the chief minister and the second minister."

The noble faction is in an uproar and is making every effort to find the murderer.

With such a commotion, it's hard to cover up all the clues; sooner or later, the imperial court will find us.

The reason I've gathered everyone here is to secure a future for my Kong family.

As soon as Kong Chenyu finished speaking, the hall erupted in excitement.

The members of the Kong family all cursed the Tatars for being shameless.

That was truly outrageous; the Tatars' actions had driven them to the brink of despair.

They were already in the business of beheading people, and they were also involved in the assassination of the Grand Secretary. When the court investigated, this was the end for Bao's entire family.

Even bribing the emperor with money couldn't save their lives.

"enough!"

"Since it has already happened, don't complain."

We should have known this day would come from the moment we started trading with the Northern barbarians.

We've been fortunate enough to survive decades of peace; it's all thanks to the blessings of our ancestors!

Kong Chenyu immediately reprimanded him.

It was all caused by greed.

The Kong family were originally middle-class gentry in Shanxi. Because they were envious of the huge profits from smuggling, they thought of making a quick buck.

However, the lure of profit makes people lose their minds. Once they get used to making quick money, they can no longer stop.

The Kong family's power expanded rapidly through the huge profits earned from smuggling, making them one of the most powerful families in Shanxi, but this also dragged them into an abyss.

"Brother, there's no need to worry so much."

There are so many merchants engaged in smuggling, and it's not just one or two that are colluding with the Northern Barbarians.

Merchants from Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, and Henan—the most well-known merchant groups in Dayu—were more or less involved in smuggling.

The northern barbarian assassins infiltrated the capital; surely it wasn't our family who sent them in!
With so many people involved, everyone should mobilize their connections in the court to suppress the matter.

Kong Chensi said calmly.

This was their first time attempting to assassinate a high-ranking official, but they were experienced in handling public relations for similar incidents.

When the imperial court investigated smuggling, they were implicated, but in the end, they not only escaped unscathed, but also used the power of the imperial court to turn the tables.

Going back further, they were also deeply embroiled in the defeat in Liaodong.

The matter had too many implications, and the imperial court did not dare to investigate further, so it was eventually dropped.

"Fourth brother, past experience is not applicable now."

Unlike previous enemies, the noble faction carries swords.

We're now quite fat, it's time to slaughter us.

Even without the assassination attempt, they had ample motivation to push for a reckoning with us.

Kong Chenyu shook his head and said.

This moment, that moment.

Since the nobles dared to brandish their knives at the gentry in Jiangnan, they dared to use their swords against them.

In terms of influence in the imperial court, they were far inferior to the gentry of Jiangnan. As for other merchant groups that also participated in smuggling, they were only a small part of the group, and most of the transactions still passed through their hands.

Relying on mountains to eat mountains, relying on water to draft water.

They smuggle goods to the grasslands and make huge profits; they also have their own ways of making money.

By monopolizing the trade of goods such as grain, salt, tea, silk, and ceramics, they could also make a fortune.

Especially in recent years, after the imperial court lifted the ban on maritime trade, many southern merchant groups have turned their attention overseas.

The ever-increasing tariffs are a testament to the booming revenue.

Their business focus has long since shifted away from the grasslands.

"Brother, now that things have come to this, we only have one path to take."

Since the court won't give us a way out, then we might as well rebel against them and let the northern barbarian army enter the pass!

Kong Chenxi said with a solemn expression.

Throughout history, those who invited foreign tribes into the country have never had a good ending.

If they had a choice, they certainly wouldn't have done that.

After all, their ability to cooperate with the Northern Barbarians on an equal footing was a value that their very existence could not replace.

Once the northern barbarians entered the pass, the situation changed.

The chips in hand, if not completely lost, will certainly be mostly gone.

The imperial court has its eyes on their enormous wealth, and no one can guarantee that the northern barbarians won't be envious.

They're a regime that lives by robbery; they're capable of anything.

"It's difficult!"

"It is easy to lure the northern barbarians into the pass, but once the defenses are breached, who can guarantee that the northern barbarians will be able to seize the world?"

"If the imperial court wins and drives them out of the pass, and we are forced to migrate to the grasslands, then we will be at their mercy!"

Kong Chenyu sighed and said.

Although the Great Yu Dynasty currently faces various problems, it is still far from being destroyed.

If we lead the northern barbarians into the pass and seize the world, great Confucian scholars will surely come to debate the classics for them.

If they make a mistake and the Northern barbarians are driven out, they will not only be disgraced, but their lives will also be in danger.

As for the clan's wealth, he didn't care about it at all.

When you're alive, wealth is truly yours.

If a person dies, all the wealth they have will ultimately benefit others.

"Brother, we have no choice."

Perhaps this is exactly what the Northern Barbarians wanted to see.

After the nobility seized power, the court's military expenditures increased dramatically, which also put considerable military pressure on them.

In order to eliminate potential threats, they chose the least costly method of assassination, but unfortunately, their efforts failed.

At this point, the Northern barbarians had no choice but to launch another invasion southward, interrupting the military reorganization efforts of the noble faction.

During their time at the front, news came from the grasslands that the Tatars were preparing to gather their troops to attack the northern desert.

It seems this was all a feint; their target had always been the Great Yu, and they were just waiting for us inside agents to walk right into their trap!

Kong Chenxi replied bitterly.

Unlike the perfunctory approach taken during the period when civil officials were in power, the nobility were truly willing to invest heavily in military spending after they came to power.

On one hand, they repaired the Great Wall defenses, and on the other hand, they expanded their army and prepared for war.

Without inside help, the Northern barbarians would inevitably pay a heavy price if they wanted to break through the Great Wall defenses.

"There's no doubt that this is their conspiracy."

Send word to the Northern Barbarians that we are willing to contact various factions to cooperate with them in seizing the Great Wall defense line!

Kong Chenyu said in a low voice.

Forced into a corner, and not wanting their family to be raided and wiped out, they had no choice but to follow the script laid out by the Northern barbarians.

"Brother, this is not enough. We also need to send the Northern Barbarians a great gift."

Before our connections are completely dismantled, let's use all our political resources and spare no expense to persuade His Majesty to personally lead the army into battle!

Kong Chenxi then added.

While the Northern barbarians were formidable in combat, the troops of the nobility were equally capable.

Without external intervention, if the two sides were to clash on the battlefield, even if the Northern Barbarians were to win, they would suffer heavy losses.

When the various armies that came to the aid of the emperor arrive, they will inevitably be driven out of the pass again.

"Ok!"

……

The grassland allied forces' camp.

"Great Chanyu, news has come from the Shanxi merchants that the assassination attempt has failed."

They are willing to cooperate with us from within and without to seize the pass!

Erd reported nervously.

He orchestrated the assassination himself, and it took him almost a year from planning to execution.

Unfortunately, the assassination attempt, despite numerous optimizations, ultimately ended in failure.

They didn't even manage to wound the target, let alone kill it.

"knew.

The backup plan is activated, and troops are dispatched to attack the Great Yu.

Tell those Shanxi merchants that the Chanyu (ruler) never mistreats his meritorious officials.

If you can help us conquer the Central Plains, being granted a title and high office is a certainty.

Hugjil immediately made a promise.

To infiltrate the capital of an enemy state to carry out an assassination is inherently a high-risk operation, and failure is to be expected.

If assassination were so easy, Jing and Li would have died ten times over without them even having to make a move.

The rise of the aristocratic faction has blocked the path of many people, and countless people hate them to the core.

Not everyone can weigh the pros and cons, and the number of people who secretly target them is definitely not small.

The fact that the two have been able to remain at large until now is enough to prove that their security is quite strong.

What appears to be a backup plan is actually Hugjiltu's real plan.

……

The roar of artillery fire signaled the renewed outbreak of war in the northern border region.

One plume of smoke rose after another, delivering the message to the capital of the Great Yu Dynasty in the shortest possible time.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

"Brother Jing, everything is as you predicted. The Northern barbarians have made their move after all."

Li Yuan said with a serious expression.

Once they identified the assassin as a Northern Barbarian, they knew that a new round of war was not far off.

"This battle is going to be tough!"

Jing Guoliang said with a solemn expression.

Anticipating the outbreak of a major war does not guarantee victory.

From the outbreak of the assassination to the raising of the alarm, less than ten days passed, leaving them no time to mobilize their troops.

The most troublesome issue is the internal hidden dangers, which have not yet been eliminated.

The political purge of Shanxi merchants has only just begun; even the civil and military officials in the court have not been investigated yet.

Colluding with Shanxi merchants isn't something they openly admit.

Officials who frequently speak favorably of Shanxi merchants are merely lowly pawns on the surface.

The true protectors of Shanxi merchants in the imperial court always provided covert protection.

They've only apprehended those publicly identified; the investigation into those operating covertly continues.

"Your Excellency, now that foreign enemies are attacking, the court must remain stable."

For the sake of the greater good, please suspend the investigation. We'll discuss everything after we defeat the Northern invaders!

Gao Jingfeng began to offer his advice.

It wasn't that he wanted to go against the noble faction; it was simply that the threat from the Northern Barbarians was too great.

If the purge continues, it might incite the Shanxi merchants to rebel, and the border situation could deteriorate again.

……

(End of this chapter)