In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 928 Lin Chong Mistakenly Enters the White Tiger Hall

Yu Xin entered the room and immediately saw Lord Zhang sitting in a chair with an extremely gloomy face. His heart skipped a beat.
I keenly sensed that I probably couldn't avoid it today.

"sit."

Zhang Gou gestured to the chair next to him, indicating that he should sit down.

After Yu Xin sat down, he did not speak immediately, but instead looked through the documents in his hand with a serious expression.

The only sound in the house was the rustling of pages turning.

This made Yu Xin even more uneasy, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He had initially thought this job of escorting silver was a cushy one, one that would surely boost his chances of promotion.

But if things are handled improperly now, it's hard to say whether he can keep his official position when he goes back.

Yu Xin was pondering to himself,

Before anyone knew it, Zhang Gou had put down the documents and was looking at him calmly.

Seeing his ever-changing expression, Zhang Gou seemed to be deep in thought.

"Lord Yu, what are you thinking about?"

"what!"

Yu Xin jolted awake, quickly snapping out of his thoughts, and hurriedly said:
"No, I didn't think about anything."

Zhang Gou smiled, leaned back in his chair, and slowly asked:
"Lord Yu, you saw the scene in the yamen today. The officials of the Liaodong Military Command were vague about the disappearance of the money."

"You've been in Liaodong for so long, haven't you heard any rumors?"

"coming."

Yu Xin's heart sank, and he sighed softly. In the end, there was no escaping it.

Before he could speak, Zhang Gou continued:
"I've received quite a few documents these days, with wildly imaginative and dazzling contents."

So I want to hear the truth from Lord Yu, the truth you witnessed firsthand.

Otherwise, regarding the Liaodong matter,
Even if we return to the imperial court, we won't be able to explain ourselves.

"Lord Zhang, haven't you understood yet?"

Yu Xin's voice was low and full of helplessness:
"This Liaodong Military Command is a battlefield, and everyone is just a pawn in the hands of a few big shots."

"Since I arrived here, I've become a lowly soldier charging into battle. Now that you've come to Liaoyang, then you too..."

Zhang Gou's expression changed slightly.

As the Vice Censor-in-Chief, he was respected in the capital, and even high-ranking officials treated him with great courtesy, not to mention when he went to the provinces.

But after arriving in Liaodong, he felt constrained at every turn, and the feeling was completely different.

Yu Xin's bluntness in bringing this up is hard for him to accept.

But during his ten days there, he vaguely sensed that there was a pair of large hands behind him, silently manipulating him and leading him in a predetermined direction.

Now, this road is nearing its end, and we are about to arrive at the so-called "truth".

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Gou said in a deep voice:

"Lord Yu, what exactly happened to the silver? How could it have suddenly disappeared?"

"Lord Zhang, have you read the documents from the Commandery?"

"I saw it! It's all fake!"

Zhang Gou's tone was resolute:

"The idea of ​​distributing military funds and salaries is a lie that only they themselves believe."

Seeing Zhang Gou's certainty, Yu Xin's lips moved slightly, but after a long while, he shook his head:
"Lord Zhang, the documents you saw are all true, but some parts have been concealed."

Zhang Gou's pupils suddenly contracted, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, and his whole body tensed up instantly.

"Really? The money was really distributed? Or did they embezzle it?"

"grown ups."

Yu Xin smiled helplessly:

“This is a special fund for road repair. How could the Commander be so stupid as to embezzle this money and do it so decisively and brutally?”
The money was indeed used to pay military salaries, purchase supplies, and even buy some winter gear.

At this point, a deep sense of apprehension flashed in Yu Xin's eyes, and he continued:
"But the reasons for doing so are complicated, and even I myself feel that there is nothing wrong with spending the money."

"What happened?"

Zhang Gou frowned, his eyes full of suspicion. He thought he was getting closer to the truth, but instead, it became even more elusive.

"Lord Zhang, there has been a mutiny in the army."

A soft voice echoed inside the house, and Zhang Gou's pupils suddenly contracted!

"What? A mutiny? Why didn't anyone mention it? Why isn't it recorded in the documents?"

But Zhang Gou quickly realized what was happening.
Mutinies and rebellions are things that local authorities have always tried to suppress or conceal as much as possible.
They would never easily put evidence that was detrimental to them on paper.

Yu Xin sighed:

"During that period, the command post protecting Liaoyang mutinied, the garrison mutinied, even the common people were in turmoil, and there was even an incident where Lord Pan was shot and killed!"
The entire city of Liaoyang was in chaos, and everyone was living in fear.

In an effort to quell the incident, the commander distributed all the money he had just acquired.

After that, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention the matter.

The soldiers who participated in the rebellion were eager to be forgotten, as were the officials of the military command and the prefectural government.
As for the common people, they didn't know much to begin with, and after a few rumors, the gossip soon dissipated.

"Why did a mutiny occur!"

Zhang Gou frowned, but felt a sense of relief.
If he spends money due to a mutiny, he will have an explanation when he returns to the capital. At any time, stability is the most important thing.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin cursed inwardly.

This adult is clearly pretending to be ignorant, wanting me to point out everything.

With a sigh, Yu Xin no longer held back and said calmly:

"This involves the open and covert struggle between the two commanders."

Before Lord Pan arrived, Lord Zhou was in charge of the entire military command. Having served there for nearly ten years, he had deep-rooted power and was already resentful of Lord Pan, this outsider commander.

The two started arguing the moment they met, and it's continued to this day.

If Lord Zhang wants to know more inside information, he might as well ask a higher-ranking official in the military command.
They know far more than I do.

Zhang Gou remained silent, feeling a chill run through his body.

He, an imperial censor, had somehow become embroiled in such a local conflict.

Both of the commanders of the military command are high-ranking officials of the second rank, and they both have connections in the imperial court.

A little carelessness can lead to disaster.

Yu Xin took out a document from his pocket, stood up, and handed it over:
"My lord, this is what I have seen and heard in the past few days. All the officers in the Commandery have taken sides."

There are very few people who can remain impartial and independent, without relying on anyone. You see…

Zhang Gou took the document but hesitated to open it.

He knew that once he truly understood the power struggles within the Liaodong Military Command,
No matter what he does, he will become a pawn in both sides' games. It's safer for him to remain oblivious and ignorant as he is now.

But Yu Xin didn't stop talking.

He's realized it's too risky.
It's better to let everyone know that when the sky falls, there are always tall people to hold it up.

As a fifth-rank silver transport official, he shouldn't be the first to be investigated.

"My lord, things have come to this point, and the road construction has become the focus of the dispute between the two of you."

Some people want to fix it, while others are doing everything they can to stop it.

With things said to this extent, Zhang Gou's face stiffened, and without further hesitation, he opened the document and began to read it silently.

Silence fell in the room once again.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to freeze time.

After a long while, Zhang Gou slowly closed the document, his brow twitching wildly, and his eyes blazing with fury!
Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!

They resort to any means to seize power and disregard the laws of the imperial court!
Especially the matter of inciting a mutiny among the military and civilians,
In any dynasty or era, this would be a capital offense!

After a long while, Zhang Gou exhaled a breath of stale air and asked:
"Is Lord Zhou now in the lead?"

Yu Xin's expression changed slightly, and he nodded gently:
"That's how it looks."

"What do you mean by 'it looks like this'? Isn't the road in Dusi already beyond repair?"

Yu Xin looked puzzled and said softly:
"Lord Zhang, those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. You and I are both caught up in the situation and cannot see the whole picture."

But someone reminded me that it is actually Lord Zhou who is now at a disadvantage.

"why?"

"Because Lord Lu sided with Lord Pan, and he hasn't made any moves in the military headquarters."

"Lord Lu?"

Zhang Gou's eyes narrowed as he recalled Lord Lu, whom he had met in the past few days.

Every time I saw him, he was incredibly calm, like a serene Buddha, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

Yu Xin continued:
"Sir, you must have seen the construction site of the Beiping Military Command, right?"

"Well, in the Ming Dynasty today, the only thing more spectacular than that is the scene of flood control in Henan." "Lord Lu has always been a strong advocate for road construction, but since he came to the Commandery, even though the money has been spent, he hasn't reacted much. He only went to Sanwanwei to check on the iron mine."

I have always felt that Lord Lu is confident and certain that this matter will succeed.

On the contrary, seeing Lord Zhou gaining the upper hand,

But lately they've been getting increasingly anxious, especially since you came; they've been making a lot of moves.

Lord Pan and Lord Lu, on the other hand, seemed to be watching a play.

"Are you saying that the two gentlemen intend to use the excuse that the road cannot be repaired to use my power to bring down Lord Zhou?"

Zhang Gou looked suspicious, but quickly shook his head:

"You're giving me far too much credit."

At this moment, Yu Xin looked conflicted, gritted his teeth, and whispered:

“Lord Zhang, even without money, it’s not impossible to build the road.”

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Gou frowned, staring intently at Yu Xin.

Yu Xin hesitated for a long time before slowly speaking:
"The fact that the Liaodong Military Command is short of money does not mean that the Beiping Military Command is short of money."

Lord Pan was destitute, while Lord Lu was rolling in money.

"As long as Lord Lu is willing to lend a helping hand, the road will definitely be completed."

Zhang Gou squinted and scrutinized Yu Xin for a moment:

"What do you want to say?"

Yu Xin pursed her lips, stood up, leaned closer, and tried to lower her voice:
“Lord Zhang, helping Lord Pan bring down Lord Zhou might not be a bad thing for you.”

"You, you're here as a mediator?"

Ignoring everything else, Yu Xin continued:
"Lord Zhang, since the road must be built, these two officials are clearly trying to use your status as an imperial envoy to their advantage."

If you refuse, who knows what might happen?

Besides, Lord Zhang, you already support road construction, so why not go along with it and do me a favor?

To be honest, the infighting here is even more blatant than in the imperial court.
I have been here for two months.

The city of Liaoyang was rife with conflict, with violence occurring almost every three days, leaving everyone exhausted.

I just want to get back to the capital as soon as possible and have a good rest. I hope you can grant my request.

The sooner the road construction starts, the sooner we can leave.

"You mean, if I don't help them bring down Lord Zhou, this road can't be built?"

Zhang Gou felt a sense of absurdity.
Despite his constant caution and avoidance of inquiries or investigations, he still became a tool in someone else's hands.

Yu Xin nodded helplessly:
"The two officials have deep roots in the court, so even if the road is not completed, it will not harm them in the slightest."

But for lowly officials like you and me, if we can't even fix the road, then the wrath of the officials in the court will be vented on us.

"Lord Zhang, I beg you to show mercy and save my life."

Zhang Gou froze on the spot, then instantly understood the key point, and looked at Yu Xin with some surprise:

"Is this all you've been thinking about these past two months?"

Yu Xin nodded:

"I am a lowly official with little influence and have no say in the military command. I can only think of ways to protect myself."

After much thought, I have no choice but to stand on one side.

If you don't get involved in either,
The first one to suffer will surely be me, your humble servant.

Zhang Gou's heart trembled.
Yu Xin's words were also a direct reference to him.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"Recently, I've been receiving some letters from unknown sources, all mentioning Lord Lu's unauthorized military expedition to Goryeo. Are you aware of this?"

Yu Xin's heart sank, but a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes. After a moment, she feigned realization:
“I also received those letters and presented them to the Commander.”

Later, Lord Pan said it was nonsense, and the matter was dropped.

"But I think those letters are well-reasoned and supported by evidence."

Zhang Gou looked at him thoughtfully, then asked:
"You've been in Liaodong for so long, haven't you found anything real?"

Yu Xin looked ashamed and gently shook his head:
“Lord Zhang, Lord Lu is the Commander of the Military Command, how dare I investigate him?”

By the way, there are some rumors in the military headquarters that Lord Lu left his territory without orders, and some people want to report this to the imperial court.

If Lord Zhang wants to make something of himself, he can start here.

"hehe."

Zhang Gou chuckled and shook his head slightly:

"Such a thing would be a huge crime for anyone else, but for Lord Lu, it is as light as a feather."

What he did in Daning that wasn't more serious than this?

The officials in the court didn't say anything, so let's not humiliate ourselves further.

"Yes, yes, Lord Zhang is right."

Yu Xin breathed a sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from his heart. He was really afraid that this official would be too stubborn.

But Zhang Gou's next words made his expression change drastically.

"Lord Lu wouldn't come to Liaodong for no reason. I don't think those letters are baseless either. This matter needs to be investigated."

Unauthorized entry into Korea is a very serious offense.

Last year, Goryeo sent envoys to pay tribute, and His Majesty personally stated that he would not interfere in Goryeo's internal affairs.

Therefore, you should write a letter to the Goryeo court in the name of the Imperial Envoy of Liaodong, and ask them if this matter is true.

"what?"

Yu Xin suddenly raised his head:
"I?"

Zhang Gou glanced at him and silently organized the documents in front of him:
"Could it be me? From now on, I, the imperial envoy, will become a knife in the hands of these two lords."

How can a knife be used to cut the person holding it?

Wouldn't that offend both sides?

Yu Xin then realized that the official in front of him was determined to get involved in this matter.

Therefore, he is indeed no longer suitable to do such "backstabbing" things.

Yu Xin was still somewhat uneasy. This was a capital offense, and there was no guarantee that Lord Lu wouldn't do something drastic.

But at this moment, Zhang Gou didn't even raise his head, and said calmly:

"Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. If you don't want to take risks, you can't expect any benefits."

If you want to keep your official position, you have to do something for me.

Otherwise, why should I take this risk for you?
Don't forget, bringing down Lord Zhou will save both our lives.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of struggle crossed Yu Xin's eyes.
In the end, however, it turned into a resolute decision.

He took a deep breath:

"My lord, I understand."

I will write a letter to Goryeo today to inquire about this matter.

"Yes, be careful not to get noticed."

Zhang Gou nodded, picked up two books from the side, stood up, his eyes resolute, with a kind of determination that showed he was ready to die.

"I'm going to the Commandery now. While all the officials are here, please get things done."

"Yes!"

As evening approached, about ten miles outside Liaoyang City, Xu Cheng dismounted in a disheveled state and gazed into the distance.

Today is a rare sunny day. Although it is still cold and there is a light mist, you can see Liaoyang City standing at the end of your line of sight.

He glanced back at the long convoy, a surge of joy at surviving the ordeal welling up inside him.

After traveling thousands of miles, I'm finally back!
Just then, a troop of soldiers galloped over at full speed.

Xu Cheng recognized the man in the lead; he was one of Lord Pan's personal guards.

The guard dismounted and strode forward:
"Greetings, Lord Xu!"

"Did Lord Pan send you to pick us up?"

"Lord Xu, Lord Pan has ordered you to find a nearby post station to rest and not to enter the city for the time being."

Lord Pan will inform us of the subsequent timing of our entry into the city.

"what?"

Xu Cheng was taken aback, but quickly recovered and asked in a low voice:
"Something has happened at the Commandery?"

The guard, looking alert, nodded slightly.
"This afternoon, Imperial Envoy Zhang impeached Lord Zhou for disregarding the law, inciting rebellion, and obstructing the court's policies. Now the entire military command is in chaos."

(End of this chapter)