In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 929: Capture the thief first and capture the king first

In Liaoyang, the evening mist, carrying a chill, permeated the streets, making the bluestone pavement slippery.

At this time of day in the past, the noodle stalls on the street corner would still be steaming, and the peddler would be passing through the alley.

But today, only empty streets remain.

Occasionally, a few people with their necks hunched over hurriedly by.

Upon seeing the soldiers standing guard at the street corner,
They all wished they could bury their heads in their collars.

Since the imperial envoy angrily rebuked Zhou E for disregarding the law at the military headquarters that afternoon,
The entire city of Liaoyang was filled with an indescribable sense of desolation.

At the north gate, soldiers of Dingliao Central Guard were changing shifts under the cover of dusk.

What should have been a routine handover was instead filled with an unusual tension.

Bai Wenzhao, clad in black armor and with a long sword at his waist, stood atop the city gate tower, his gaze sweeping over everyone below like a hawk's.

The soldiers behind him gripped their spears more tightly than usual, and also carried long swords and short crossbows at their waists—items that were usually only issued during wartime.

"Lord Bai, all the brothers who are changing shifts have arrived."

A centurion bowed and reported, his voice extremely low.

Bai Wenzhao nodded, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the knife.
“Tell the brothers that from this day forward, all vehicles and pedestrians entering and leaving through the north and east gates must be carefully checked, especially those heading to the military headquarters or the post station.”

Even with a fly, you have to look closely at the patterns on its wings!

"Yes!"

The centurion responded and turned to go and relay the order.

Before long, a horse-drawn cart carrying firewood tried to enter the city, but was stopped by two soldiers as soon as it reached the city gate.

"Stop! Open the carriages and inspect them!"

The driver shakily lifted the oilcloth, revealing neatly stacked firewood inside.

The soldiers didn't give up. They poked at the firewood with their spears and even tapped under the cart with their scabbards to make sure there were no hiding places before letting it pass.

The driver drove the cart, muttering to himself:
"What's going on? It's never been this strict before."

The junior officer standing guard overheard this and glared at him:
"Enough with the nonsense! I'm just following orders. If you keep nagging, I'll have you arrested and taken to the yamen for questioning!"

The driver shrank back in fright and quickly drove the cart into the city.

Bai Wenzhao watched all this from the city wall, his brows furrowed.

He was promoted by Zhou E, rising from a centurion to a commander, all thanks to Zhou E's support; it was a case of mutual destruction if one was lost.

Now that Zhou E is being attacked by Zhang Gou, he naturally cannot sit idly by.

The north and east gates are the main routes connecting Liaoyang City to the outside world. Controlling these two gates is crucial.

This would both prevent Pan Jing from mobilizing troops and keep an eye on the post station.

In case of emergency, they can also escort Zhou E out of the city.

"Pan Jing, Lu Yunyi, and that imperial envoy surnamed Zhang, do they really think they can bring down Lord Zhou?"

Bai Wenzhao cursed under his breath, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.
"Once Lord Zhou raises the money, let's see how you clean up this mess!"

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the West Gate was somewhat more relaxed.

Liu Hongzhong, the commander of the Dingliao Left Guard, was dressed in ordinary clothes and stood by a tea stall next to the city gate.

They appeared to be drinking tea, but their eyes were actually fixed on the flow of people coming and going.

The soldiers behind him were also conducting checks.

However, it wasn't as tense as the north gate.
They were particularly thorough in their investigation of people who looked like soldiers.

"Lord Liu, the brothers are already in position at the south gate. All passing caravans will have their documents checked before they are allowed to pass."

A guard approached and whispered his report.

Liu Hongzhong took a sip of hot tea and nodded:
"Tell them not to be too conspicuous. We are protecting the city, not sealing it off. Don't let the people see through our ruse."

"clear."

Just as the guards left, an elderly man dressed in blue silk came over. He was Liu Zhong, the steward of the Liu family.

He was carrying a food box when he walked up to Liu Hongzhong and said with a smile:
"Young Master, the Old Master asked me to bring you some snacks to tide you over."

Liu Hongzhong took the food box, opened it, and saw that it contained several pieces of osmanthus cake and a pot of warm rice wine.

He picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, stuffed it into his mouth, and mumbled:

"You're very kind, sir. Is there any news from the Wen family?"

Liu Zhong lowered his voice:

"There's still no news, but the old master said..."
Lord Pan is meeting with Wen Jingchen, the head of the Wen family, tonight. We'll see what Wen Jingchen has to say then.

"it is good."

Liu Hongzhong nodded, his gaze darkening.
"Zhou E has let Bai Wenzhao control the north and east gates. We need to guard the west and south gates tightly so that he doesn't have a chance to send troops in."

Even if negotiations break down, we'll have our backs.

"Yes!"

Inside the inn, the candlelight flickered, casting Zhang Gou's long shadow.

He sat at the table, holding the letter Zhou E had sent him, his brows furrowed.

The letter stated that as long as he did not pursue the matter further,

Zhou E agreed to step in and get the Wen and Lin families, among other prominent clans, to contribute 200,000 taels of silver to ensure the smooth commencement of road construction.

If he insists on causing trouble, Pan Jing, an outsider commander, simply cannot control the powerful clans of Liaodong.

At that point, let alone 200,000 taels, they wouldn't even be able to scrape together 20,000 taels.

The road construction had to be put on hold, and he wouldn't be able to explain it to His Majesty when he returned to court.

"My lord, Lord Zhou has arrived," the attendant reported softly.

Zhang Gou put away the letter and said in a deep voice:
"Let him in."

Zhou E pushed open the door and entered, still carrying the chill from outside.

Without bothering with pleasantries, he went straight to Zhang Gou and spoke urgently:

"Lord Zhang, I know that my attitude was not good at the Military Command today, but I did it for the sake of the stability of Liaodong!"

Zhang Gou raised his eyes but didn't speak, gesturing for him to continue.

Zhou E sighed, sat down opposite Zhang Gou, and lowered his voice even further:
"Lord Zhang, you come from the capital and are unaware of the details of Liaodong."

Although Pan Jing was the Commander-in-Chief,

But he has only been here for less than a year, and his foundation is still shallow!

Those powerful clans outwardly showed him respect, but behind his back, who among them didn't respect his mood?
If I fall from grace, how will Pan Jing get money from those powerful families?

If the road construction falls through, His Majesty will blame us.

Do you think Pan Jing is capable of shouldering this responsibility?
Can you shoulder this responsibility?

In addition, Lord Zhang
I'm a bit older than you, so I must remind you...

Never become a weapon in someone else's hands, and be used for nothing.

A shadow of gloom flashed across Zhang Gou's eyes.

His fingers tapped on the table, making a clicking sound.

He knew there was some truth to Zhou E's words.

The powerful clans in Liaodong were deeply entrenched, and without Zhou E's connections, it would have been truly difficult for Pan Jing to raise 200,000 taels of silver.
"Lord Zhou, you say you can raise the silver, but do you have any proof?"

Zhang Gou finally spoke, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

Zhou E's eyes lit up, and he quickly took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over:
"This is the preliminary response from the Wen and Lin families."

As long as I remain in office, they are willing to each contribute 50,000 taels.

The remaining 100,000 taels, I will scrape together from the surplus of the garrison.
"We'll definitely have enough in less than two months!"

Zhang Gou took the paper, and sure enough, it bore the seals of the Wen and Lin families.

Although it's not a formal IOU, it can still be considered a form of proof.

He frowned and remained silent for a moment:

What if you can't raise the money?

"I guarantee it with my life!"

Zhou E's tone was firm, his eyes filled with urgency.

"Lord Zhang, please trust me just this once!"
As long as the road construction can start smoothly, your return to the capital to report back will be a great achievement!
If the road construction is delayed because of my loss of power, do you think His Majesty will only blame Pan Jing?

This statement hit Zhang Gou where it hurt.

His trip to Liaodong was to oversee road construction.

If the road construction fails, even if Zhou E is brought down, he will have no way to explain himself when he returns to court.

Moreover, Zhou E had been operating within the military command for many years.
If we really touch him, it might cause even more trouble.
If you get involved yourself, it will be a losing proposition.

"Let me think about it."

Zhang Gou rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness.

Seeing that he had relented, Zhou E breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not push too hard:

"Alright! Lord Zhang, take your time thinking. I won't disturb you any longer."

If you have a change of heart, feel free to send someone to the Prefectural Office to see me.

After saying this, Zhou E turned and left the post station.

Watching Zhou E's figure disappear outside the door,

Zhang Gou picked up the paper and looked at it again, his brows furrowing even more deeply.
He always felt that things weren't that simple.
But right now, it seems there are no better options.

Meanwhile, in a side hall of the Liu family mansion, candlelight blazed brightly.

Pan Jing sat at the head of the table, holding a teacup in his hand.

She looked calmly at Wen Jingchen opposite her.

Wen Jingchen was wearing a dark blue brocade robe.

He was holding a jade thumb ring in his hand, his fingertips constantly turning it, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

Outside the side hall, Liu's servants stood guard at the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

The firewood in the charcoal brazier inside the hall was burning brightly, but it did little to warm the atmosphere.

"Master Wen, let's not beat around the bush," Pan Jing said, putting down his teacup.

"Zhou E is now in dire straits, barely able to save himself. Lord Zhang has his eye on him, and everyone in the military command is watching the winds."

What benefit could you, Wen family member, possibly gain by following him?

Wen Jingchen raised his eyes, his voice tinged with caution: "Lord Pan, the Wen family has cooperated with Lord Zhou for many years. If we were to rashly switch sides, I fear..."

"Wouldn't that offend Zhou E?" Pan Jing sneered.
"Master Wen, you know better than anyone else..."
Zhou E is barely able to protect himself now, how could he possibly retaliate against the Wen family?

Conversely, if you continue to follow him...
"Once he falls from power, when the reckoning begins, will your Wen family be able to escape responsibility?"

Wen Jingchen's fingers paused, the jade thumb ring stopping between his fingers.

He knew Pan Jing was telling the truth; Zhou E had instigated a mutiny and obstructed road construction.
If these things are verified, they will be serious crimes.
None of those who followed him fared well.

However, the Wen family had been operating in Liaodong for many years and had too deep an entanglement with Zhou E.

If they rashly switch sides, not only will they be ridiculed by other powerful clans, but they will also have to consider whether Pan Jing will actually offer any benefits to the Wen clan.

"Lord Pan, what will the Wen family gain?"

Wen Jingchen finally asked the most crucial question.

Pan Jing smiled and said calmly:
"First, I will not pursue your actions afterward; you will remain a prominent family in Liaodong."

Second, Wens can contract part of the road construction project, and even supply some raw materials.

Thirdly, as long as the Wen family behaves themselves, they will certainly not be shortchanged from any benefits the Commander-in-Chief may offer in the future.

Each of these three conditions struck a chord with Wen Jingchen.

The road construction project will earn the Wen family a lot of money, and the farmers in the fields will also have work to do.
More importantly, it allows them to retain their position.

He paused for a moment, then asked:
"Lord Pan, what about Lord Zhou?"

"You don't need to worry about Zhou E," Pan Jing said confidently.
"I will handle this. You just need to state your position: from now on, the Wen family will follow me."
"I can let bygones be bygones regarding what happened before."

Wen Jingchen quickly calculated in his mind that following Zhou E might lead to being purged.
Following Pan Jing will bring you tangible benefits.

Which is lighter and heavier, at a glance.

But he still hesitated. The Wen family was large, and he couldn't make the decisions alone.

If something goes wrong, he cannot bear the responsibility.

"Lord Pan, this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to return and discuss it with my clan. I will give you an answer tomorrow, how about that?"

Wen Jingchen finally relented.

Pan Jing nodded, not pressing him:

"Okay, but Mr. Wen, you need to think this through. You only get one chance."

If you miss this opportunity, you won't have such good conditions to cooperate with me again in the future.

"Yes, I understand."

Wen Jingchen bowed and replied, already having made up his mind.

After seeing Wen Jingchen off, Liu Yanchen came out from the inner room, holding a hand warmer and handing it to Pan Jing:

"So? Is Wen Jingchen interested?"

"I'm tempted."

Pan Jing took the hand warmer and put it in his pocket.
"He's a greenhorn, he only cares about his own interests. As long as the benefits are right, he'll definitely switch sides."

"That's good."

Liu Yanchen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhou E has put Bai Wenzhao in control of the north and east gates, so we need to be careful."

"Have Hongzhong send extra men tonight to keep an eye on those two gates, and make sure Zhou E doesn't pull any tricks."

"Do not worry."

Pan Jing's eyes darkened.
"Zhou E must have already tried to persuade Zhang Gou."

However, Zhang Gou was a smart man and would not be easily deceived by Zhou E.

After the Wen family defected, Zhou E was left all alone.

Even if Zhang Gou wanted to protect him then, he wouldn't have a reason to do so.

As night deepened, the fog grew thicker.

The entire city of Liaoyang is like a taut bowstring.

Everyone is waiting, waiting for that final note!
Either Zhou E falls from power, or Pan Jing loses control.
There is no third possibility!
The next morning, the fog had not yet lifted.

Wen Jingchen then sent someone to deliver a message to Pan Jing.
Effective immediately, we will cease cooperation with Zhou E and fully support Pan Jingxiu's road repair efforts.

When Pan Jing received the message, he was handling official business at the military headquarters.

After reading the letter, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He said to his attendant beside him:
"Go tell Liu Hongzhong to strengthen the defenses at the west and south gates."
Send another messenger to the post station to deliver a document to Lord Zhang.

It was said that the Wen family was willing to contribute 50,000 taels of silver to support road construction.

"Yes!"

The attendant responded and quickly turned to leave.

Meanwhile, in the Tongzhi yamen, Zhou E was discussing troop deployment with Bai Wenzhao when he received news of Wen's defection.

The teacup in his hand crashed to the ground with a clatter, splashing tea everywhere.

"That bastard Wen Jingchen! He actually dared to betray us at the last minute!"

Zhou E's face turned ashen with anger, and he pointed towards the door.

"Bai Wenzhao, immediately take your men to the Wen family mansion and bring Wen Jingchen here!"

I'll make him know the consequences of betraying me!

Bai Wenzhao frowned, somewhat hesitant:

"My lord, wouldn't it be too risky to arrest Wen Jingchen now?"

Lord Zhang is still keeping watch at the post station; if things escalate, I'm afraid…

"What are you afraid of!"

Zhou E roared,
"If Wen Jingchen defectes, we will lose 50,000 taels of silver!"
Without money, Zhang Gou will definitely take action against me!

Rather than sit and wait to die, let's take a gamble!

Bai Wenzhao sighed inwardly as he looked at Zhou E's frantic state, but still bowed and replied:

"Yes, I will take care of it now."

But as soon as Bai Wenzhao reached the door, he was stopped by a guard:

"My lord, something terrible has happened! A troop of soldiers has arrived outside the north gate, saying that Lord Xu Cheng has returned and wants to enter the city!"

"Xu Cheng?"

Zhou E was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"He's back? You couldn't stop him?"

Bai Wenzhao also frowned:

"Sir, he's probably back for us!"

Zhou E managed to stand up only by holding onto the table.
If Xu Chengzhen returns with the silver, Pan Jing will have the money to repair the road, and Zhang Gou will have no reason to hesitate anymore.

He staggered a step, then steadied himself on the table:
"Quickly stop Xu Cheng and don't let him into the city!"

"Yes!"

The guard responded and turned to run.

But it's too late.

At this moment, Xu Cheng had already led a group of soldiers to the west gate and entered the city from there!
As the city gates slowly opened, Xu Cheng led his soldiers and silver carts into the city in a grand procession.

Xu Cheng rode his horse at the head of the caravan, his eyes resolute.
Once the money entered the city, Zhou E would have no chance to turn his life around.

Not long after, inside the post station, Zhang Gou received a message from Pan Jing. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:
"Where did he get the money?"

Zhang Gou stared blankly at the document in his hand.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver is not a small amount even in Yingtian. Where did Pan Jing, an outsider, get it?

The image of that calm and composed figure immediately flashed into his mind!

"Lu Yunyi?"

A hint of suspicion flashed in Zhang Gou's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and finally made up his mind.

He picked up a pen and wrote on the paper:
"Zhou E has instigated a mutiny and obstructed road construction. The evidence is conclusive. We earnestly request the court to punish him severely!"

After he finished writing, he sealed the opening with sealing wax and handed it to his attendant:

"Send it to the capital immediately by fast horse, and be sure to hand it over to Lord Zhan of the Censorate personally!"

"Yes!"

The attendant took the letter and ran out quickly.

Inside the Qian Shi Mansion, Zhou E slumped into a chair, his face deathly pale, upon hearing the news that someone had left on horseback from the post station.

He knew he had lost this time.

Bai Wenzhao stood to the side, his face ruthless:

"My lord, let's fight to the death!"

There are still nearly two thousand brothers in the city. If we can wipe them all out, there's still a chance to turn things around!

Zhou E seemed to have aged several years suddenly, and his whole demeanor was bleak.

"grown ups!!"

Bai Wenzhao grew increasingly anxious and shouted loudly.

Zhou E took a deep breath, his breathing becoming more rapid, and his expression growing increasingly serious.

His face hardened, and he abruptly sat up straight:

"Armor!"

Bai Wenzhao breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran to get his armor.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

The door was kicked open!

Pan Jing led a troop of soldiers in.
Holding a document in his hand, he looked at Zhou E, who had hurriedly stood up, and let out a cold laugh:
"Lord Zhou, the evidence is conclusive that you instigated a mutiny and obstructed road construction."

Now, in the name of Pan Jing, Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong, and Zhang Gou, Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, I hereby arrest you!

Zhou E froze on the spot, his body swaying.

Looking at the words on the document, he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed into the chair.

The soldiers immediately stepped forward and tied Zhou E up!
Pan Jing looked at Zhou E, who was bound, with no sympathy in his eyes:

"Zhou E, you brought this upon yourself."

If we had cooperated properly during the road construction, things wouldn't have come to this.

(End of this chapter)