The Red Mansion

Chapter 159 The Wang Family is Finished
The next morning, as dawn broke and the sun rose, the east was already bright.

On the drill ground of the Jiangning Military Governor's Office, warhorses neighed and armor clanged, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and impending doom.

Jiang Nian, dressed in the uniform of a second-class imperial guard, looked heroic and dignified. He stood side by side with Chen Bina, dressed in the uniform of a governor, and Tang Jina, dressed in the uniform of a military governor, on the high platform.

The morning breeze was chilly, causing the three men's robes to flutter, making them appear even more dignified.

Standing side by side below the stage were four guards: Ren Pijiang, Qi Jianyu, Dai Shijiao, and Zou Jianyuan, along with He Yun, a fifth-rank Imperial Guard. All five were dressed in official robes, their eyes gleaming, standing solemnly.

Looking behind, there were ten elite officers and soldiers from the Imperial Guard.

Looking further back, one could see two hundred elite cavalrymen under Tang Jina's command, some carrying bows and crossbows, others with scabbards at their sides, arrayed in formation, ready to fight. Their armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian's clear voice rang out: "Ren Pijiang, listen to my command!" His voice was clear and melodious, like the clinking of gold and jade, echoing across the training ground. "I order you to lead forty elite cavalrymen to Huai'an immediately!"

Ren Pijiang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Your humble servant obeys!"

Jiang Nian then shouted again, "Qi Jianyu, listen to my command! You are hereby ordered to lead forty elite cavalry to Yangzhou immediately!"

Qi Jianyu solemnly accepted the order, his voice booming like a bell.

Jiang Nian then shouted loudly, "Dai Shijiao, listen to my command! You are hereby ordered to lead forty elite cavalry to Zhenjiang immediately!"

Dai Shijiao solemnly accepted the order: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Jiang Nian then loudly issued the order: "Zou Jianyuan, listen to my command! You are hereby ordered to lead forty elite cavalry to Hangzhou immediately!"

Zou Jianyuan readily agreed.

As for He Yun, he and Jiang Nian led forty elite cavalrymen straight towards Suzhou!
The ten elite officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guard were divided into five groups, who respectively followed Jiang Nian, Ren Pijiang, Qi Jianyu, Dai Shijiao, and Zou Jianyuan to provide close protection.

After Jiang Nian finished distributing the orders, she turned to look at Chen Bina, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and said solemnly, "Your Excellency, I entrust you with the task of banning those Luo Chapel meetings that we have arranged. As for the male members of the Wang family, I also hope that they will be arrested immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Bina nodded solemnly and replied, "Your Excellency, please rest assured, I will do my utmost."

After speaking, he looked around and saw five groups of soldiers standing at attention on the drill ground, their bows and swords gleaming in the sunlight. Looking at Jiang Nian again, he felt that this young imperial envoy was skilled in command and decisive in his actions, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, like a veteran general who had been through many battles. He couldn't help but marvel at him.

Jiangning Jiedushi Tang Jina stroked his beard and nodded, inwardly sighing, "This commoner prince, though young, possesses such spirit; he is truly a general!"

Suddenly, Jiang Nian shouted, "Let's go!"

As soon as the words fell, he had already leaped onto his warhorse, his movements as agile as a dragon in flight.

In an instant, the sound of hooves shook the ground on the training ground, and dust rose everywhere.

The five armies sped off in different directions, like five dragons.

Jiang Nian personally led He Yun, two personal guards, and forty elite cavalrymen, spurring their horses and heading straight for Suzhou.

Dust billowed, and the iron cavalry moved like the wind. People along the way quickly gave way, hiding by the roadside and whispering among themselves.

Upon exiting the city gate of Jiangning, one sees the sun rising in the east, casting countless golden rays upon the official road, turning the road surface golden.

Jiang Nian suddenly recalled stargazing last night, where the Milky Way was dazzling and the stars were clearly visible, seemingly foreshadowing today's success.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic spirit once again.

He cracked his whip and shouted, "Move faster!"

More than forty riders responded in unison to the order, their hooves thundering like a rolling thunder, as they surged toward Suzhou like an iron torrent.

Along the official road, several farmers and women suddenly heard the sound of hooves like a tidal wave. Looking up, they saw iron cavalry rushing past like dragons. An old farmer, leaning on his hoe, squinted and said, "Where is there a battle going on?"

at the same time--

Ren Pijiang led his troops north, heading straight for Huai'an; Qi Jianyu led his troops at breakneck speed, capturing Yangzhou; Dai Shijiao, fully armored, marched swiftly, raiding Zhenjiang; Zou Jianyuan led his troops south, aiming his sword at Hangzhou.

Jiang Nian's scheme is like a net that covers the entire Luo Cult in Jiangnan.

I wonder if we can achieve our goal in one fell swoop and wipe out the Luo Cult?
……

……

The Wang family was divided into twelve branches, of which only two branches resided in the capital, while the remaining ten branches were all based in Jiangning.

Previously, the male members of Wang Longyi's household had been apprehended and are still being held in the temporary detention facility of the Viceroy of Liangjiang's yamen. There are still nine male members of his household who have not yet been arrested.

Governor-General Chen Bina of Liangjiang mustered two hundred officers and soldiers, some with swords sheathed at their waists, others with bows and crossbows in their hands, and divided them into several teams, rushing towards the Wang family residences like tigers and wolves.

In fact, ever since Wang Long colluded with Tan Fengchi and Luo Jiao to cause trouble, and the male members of Wang Long's branch of the family were captured, several of the remaining nine branches of the Wang family in Jiangning were terrified and had already fled.

However, with Chen Bina personally overseeing the operation and his troops acting swiftly and decisively, they still managed to capture dozens of men, ranging from old men to young boys, in various royal residences.

In one of the royal residences, the head of the household, Prince Zimai, nearly fifty years old, was fast asleep, embracing his newly acquired eighteen-year-old concubine. The sun was high in the sky when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. Before he could react, soldiers burst in, pulled off the covers, and pinned him to the bed. Though terrified, Prince Zimai struggled, shouting, "What crime have I committed that you dare to trespass and arrest me? I hold an official position; how dare you be so disrespectful!"

The leading officer sneered, "By order of the Governor-General, we have no regard for your status as a purchased official!" Without allowing any further explanation, he ordered his men to drag Wang Zimai, who was only wearing his undergarments, out.

The beautiful concubine, only eighteen years old that year, huddled in the corner of the bed, hiding under the covers, her face pale with fright.

The leading officer glanced at them sideways with a lewd grin, but did not make any advances.

Meanwhile, at another Wang residence, in the morning, the head of the household, Wang Zila, gathered several cronies to gamble with dice at home. Just as they were getting into the swing of things, they suddenly learned that government soldiers were coming to arrest someone. Seeing that things were not going well, Wang Zila tried to escape by climbing over the wall, but little did he know that there were soldiers lying in ambush outside the wall. When they saw him climbing over the wall, they grabbed his feet and dragged him down like a chick.

Another royal residence, having heard the news, ordered its servants to close the gates and hold them shut. Seeing this, the soldiers sneered, built a human ladder, and scaled the wall. Moments later, cries and screams erupted from within the courtyard as several male members of the Wang family were bound and brought out.

By noon, the various groups of officers had successively escorted the captured male members of the Wang family back to the Viceroy of Liangjiang's yamen. However, the temporary detention facilities within the yamen could not accommodate so many suspects.

Chen Bina urgently ordered that the male members of the Wang family of the tenth branch in Jiangning be transferred to the Jiangning Prefectural Prison.

Dozens of male members of the Wang family were thrown into the government jail.

Some of the timid ones, their faces ashen, slumped to the ground; while others, habitually arrogant, still jumped up and down, shouting.

Prince La shouted, "My Wang family has been officials for generations, how dare you act like this!"

No matter how much he shouted, the iron lock on the prison door slammed down, and he was ultimately doomed to escape.

……

...In the morning, around 9 AM.

The Xue family mansion was completely silent and tranquil.

Aunt Xue was fiddling with her abacus in the inner courtyard, checking the monthly accounts, when she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps approaching from the outer corridor. Looking up, she saw Xue Pan's wet nurse, Granny Xie, rushing in, abandoning her usual manners, and stammering, "Grandma, something terrible has happened! The Wang family… the Wang family has been attacked by soldiers!"

Aunt Xue's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and she nearly dropped the abacus in her hand. She said urgently, "You...you should explain yourself more clearly!"

Granny Xie wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and said, "I just received news that many soldiers have surrounded the Wang family's residences! The scene was quite something, with them brandishing knives and sticks, it looked like they were going to ransack the entire family!"

Although Jiang Nian had previously promised to protect Aunt Xue, Aunt Xue was still shocked and worried upon hearing this, after all, the Wang family was her maternal family.

After a moment's thought, Aunt Xue hurriedly got up and went to Xue Pan's room to ask him to find out the news.

But as soon as they reached the door, they heard lewd sounds coming from inside.

Aunt Xue was instantly enraged. She pushed open the door and saw Xue Pan making love to a disheveled maid in bed. The two women panicked when Aunt Xue suddenly barged in.

Aunt Xue was so angry that she trembled all over. Pointing at Xue Pan, she cursed, "You wicked child! The sky is about to fall outside, and you're doing such a shameless thing here!"

With her son Xue Pan no longer a reliable source of support, Aunt Xue returned to her room and said to Granny Xie, "Quickly tell Xie Jixing to go find Master Jin and ask him to inquire about the Wang family's situation. Once he has found out, report back to me immediately!"

Granny Xie readily agreed and hurried off.

Aunt Xue was restless in her room, her heart pounding wildly.

The sun outside the window was blazing, casting dappled shadows on the ground as the old osmanthus tree in the courtyard swayed its branches and leaves.

Aunt Xue kept glancing towards the door, muttering to herself, "Why aren't they here yet..."

About half an hour later, Xue Jin hurriedly arrived. Today he was wearing a dark blue robe, his face was solemn, and he bowed as soon as he entered the door and said, "Sister-in-law, I have found out everything."

Aunt Xue grabbed his sleeve and said urgently, "Tell me quickly!"

Xue Jin lowered his voice and said, "It was Governor-General Chen of Liangjiang who personally led the troops. All the male members of the Wang family in Jiangning, except for a few who had already fled, were captured."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue swayed and nearly fell. Xue Jin, out of courtesy, could not help her up, and since there were no maids in the room to serve her, she could only say repeatedly, "Sister-in-law, please take care of yourself! Right now, it's just a matter of interrogating people, not confiscating your property. Besides, since Lord Jiang has promised to protect you, I think you'll be fine."

Aunt Xue composed herself and quickly said, "You will come with me to see Lord Jiang!"

To everyone's surprise, Xue Jin said, "Sister-in-law, you don't know, Lord Jiang went to Suzhou this morning."

Aunt Xue asked in surprise, "What is he going to Suzhou for?"

Xue Jin said, "I heard they went to capture members of the Luo Cult."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue could only sigh deeply and slump into her chair.

Just then, they heard a commotion outside.

Just then, Granny Xie rushed in, saying, "Grandma, several ladies and young women from the Wang family have arrived outside. They say... they say they've come to seek refuge..."

Aunt Xue and Xue Jin exchanged a glance and couldn't help but smile bitterly at each other.

At times like these, when the women from the bride's family come to seek refuge, it only adds to the sorrow!

……

……

Dozens of male members from the ten branches of the Wang family were all imprisoned in the Jiangning Prefecture jail.

Chen Bina did not order Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jiangning, to participate in the interrogation, but Jia Yucun, who was extremely cunning, insisted on conducting the interrogation himself.

It turned out that Jia Yucun had already received news that Wang Ziteng had been imprisoned, and he guessed that Wang Ziteng would most likely be dismissed from his post. He had originally been promoted by Wang Ziteng and obtained the lucrative position of prefect of Jiangning only through Wang Ziteng's connections. Now that his patron was about to fall, he was afraid of being implicated and was also thinking of finding an opportunity to make a name for himself.

This afternoon.

In a dark room of the Jiangning Prefecture prison, Jia Yucun sat alone at his desk, toying with a gavel in his hand. A few rays of sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating his ever-changing face.

At this moment, the jailer brought in a man who was nearly fifty years old. He was Wang Zimai, a member of a collateral branch of the Wang family, and Wang Ziteng's cousin.

Wang Zimai's face was deathly pale, and his hair and clothes were disheveled.

Upon seeing Jia Yucun, Wang Zimai knelt down with a thud and said in a trembling voice, "Grand Master Jia... Grand Master Jia, please understand, I am truly innocent!"

Jia Yucun suddenly put down his gavel and waved his hand to dismiss those around him.

After everyone had left, Jia Yucun personally stepped forward to help Wang Zimai up, speaking gently and softly, "Brother, why do you need to do this? Please get up quickly." As he spoke, he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and dusted the dust off Wang Zimai's clothes.

Wang Zimai was momentarily stunned. He stole a glance at Jia Yucun and saw that Jia Yucun had a worried look on his face and his brows were full of concern. He felt relieved and sat down on the wooden stool.

Jia Yucun sighed and personally poured a cup of hot tea for Wang Zimai, saying, "Brother, you know that I am fortunate to be where I am today because of Lord Wang's support. Now that the Wang family is in trouble, how can I sit idly by?"

Wang Zimai accepted the teacup with both hands as if it were a priceless treasure, and said in a trembling voice, "If Grandfather Jia can save me, it will be a life-saving grace!"

Jia Yucun looked around, then leaned closer and whispered, "There are no eyes or ears here, so please speak freely, brother. If anyone in the clan, besides Wang Long, is colluding with the Nara Cult, please inform me quietly, and I will do my best to cover it up. But if the Imperial Envoy or the Governor-General finds out..." He lowered his voice, "that would be a true catastrophe that could wipe out the entire family!"

At that moment, a ray of sunlight shone through the window and fell directly on Wang Zimai's face. His expression was uncertain, and his eyes flickered with light and shadow, clearly indicating an inner struggle.

Seeing this, Jia Yucun added fuel to the fire: "Lord Wang is now... Alas! I am of low rank and have little influence, and I am powerless to change the situation. I can only do my best to protect your Wang family."

Suddenly, Wang Zimai grabbed Jia Yucun's sleeve and said in a trembling voice, "I'll talk! I'll talk! That Wang Zibin is indeed a follower of the Luo Sect, and a 'good man' at that! He tried to recruit me into the sect several times before, but I refused each time. After Wang Long colluded with Tan Fengchi and the Luo Sect to cause trouble, Wang Zibin saw that things were not going well and fled!"

Jia Yucun was secretly delighted, but he showed no sign of it on his face. Instead, he became even more gentle and patted Wang Zimai's hand, saying, "Brother, please tell me slowly, what kind of title is this 'Good Talented Person'?"

Wang Zimai swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "I heard that they are the trainees secretly cultivated by the Luo Sect, who are selected from among the sons of officials or those with talent, so that they can be put to great use in the future."

Jia Yucun understood and moved even closer: "Brother, rest assured, what we said today is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me."

After saying this, he asked a few more questions with feigned concern before ordering someone to take Prince Mai away and keep a close watch on him.

When only Jia Yucun remained in the dark room, the prefect paced back and forth a few steps by the window, a cold smile gradually creeping onto his lips. He thought to himself, "Wang Ziteng, oh Wang Ziteng, it's not that I, Jia, am unkind, but your Wang family has brought this upon yourselves. First, Wang Long colluded with the rebels, and now this 'benevolent scholar' Wang Zibin has appeared. It's only natural that your Wang family's fate is sealed!"

(End of this chapter)