The Red Mansion

Chapter 167 Dragnet
Qingjiangpu in Huai'an is located at the confluence of the Yellow River, the Huai River, and the Grand Canal. It is known as the "first hub for transporting grain from south to north" and controls the vital passage for northbound grain ships, with more than 300 ships passing through every day.

At Qingjiangpu, there is a Tianfei Sluice Gate, where the waves surge and the sound of the water is like thunder, with the boatmen's chants rising and falling on both banks.

There is a dock at Tianfei Sluice Gate, which is ostensibly a place for repairing cargo ships, but secretly it is the residence of Weng Ningyue, the chief patriarch of the Luo sect.

Weng Ningyue wore a black leather eye patch over his left eye, but his right eye was as sharp as a hawk's. He commanded numerous cargo ships and wielded considerable influence on the Grand Canal.

Hidden underground at the Tianfei Lock Shipyard are secret chambers with secret passages leading directly to the waterway used for repairing cargo ships. In case of emergency, they can escape by boat into the vast Hongze Lake. Outside the shipyard, there is also a "Boatmen's Tavern," ostensibly a place for laborers to rest, but in reality, it is a lookout post for Weng Ningyue.

Zhou Changyong, the gatekeeper of Tianfei Gate, was a member of the Luo sect and a confidant of Weng Ningyue.

On this day, Ren Pijiang, a second-class imperial bodyguard, led two personal guards and forty elite cavalrymen from Jiangning to Huai'an. Upon arriving in Huai'an, Ren Pijiang immediately mobilized local troops, gathering more than two hundred soldiers to launch a surprise attack on Tianfei Gate.

Upon reaching Tianfei Sluice Gate, under Ren Pijiang's orders, the troops split into three groups: one group blocked the cargo ships to repair the waterway, another group controlled the boatmen's taverns, and Ren Pijiang personally led more than a hundred officers and soldiers to storm the dock!

Upon receiving the order, the officers and soldiers rushed toward the target.

Before the Luo sect's spies in the "Boatman's Tavern" could react, they were all pinned to the ground.

Inside the dock, Weng Ningyue was discussing important matters concerning the Luo Sect with Yan Boheng. Yan Boheng was the Earthly Protector of the Luo Sect, in charge of both land and water transportation, and was currently staying in Huai'an.

Upon hearing the news of the government troops' encirclement and suppression, Yan Boheng and Weng Ningyue were both greatly alarmed. They hurriedly opened the entrance to the underground secret chamber, intending to escape through the secret passage, but were discovered by Ren Pijiang.

Ren Pijiang led his officers and soldiers into the underground chamber.

Yan Boheng and Weng Ningyue led their trusted men in a fierce battle with the government troops in the underground chambers and secret passages. They fought and retreated until they reached the canal boats to repair the waterway, only to find that the area had been blocked by the government troops.

Surrounded from both sides, Yan Boheng and Weng Ningyue were captured.

When Ren Pijiang learned Yan Boheng's identity through interrogation, he was overjoyed. He had come to Huai'an on Jiang Nian's orders to capture Weng Ningyue, the Grand Canal Master, but unexpectedly, he also captured Yan Boheng, the Earth Sect Protector, who held a higher position in the Luo Sect than Weng Ningyue.

Ren Pijiang also learned through interrogation that the gatekeeper Zhou Changyong was colluding with Luo Jiao, and then captured Zhou Changyong.

……

……

The Luo sect has a God of Wealth named Shen Chuankui, who is fat and beardless. He is the cousin of Shen Chuan'en, the chief salt merchant in Yangzhou, and runs the Guangling Money Exchange.

Shen Chuankui laundered money for the Luo sect through the Guangling Mint and transferred funds for the sect. He even dug a cellar in his residence to store the sect's gold and silver.

On this day, Qi Jianyu, a third-class imperial guard, led two personal guards and forty elite cavalrymen from Jiangning to Yangzhou. Upon arriving in Yangzhou, without resting, he urgently mobilized troops locally and immediately split into two groups: one to raid Shen Chuankui's residence, and the other to raid the Guangling Mint.

"Surround them! Don't let a single one escape!"

At Qi Jianyu's command, the soldiers stormed into Shen Chuankui's residence like wolves and tigers. They searched the entire place, inside and out, but couldn't find Shen Chuankui. The cellar was discovered, but it was completely empty; there wasn't a single copper coin, let alone gold or silver.

The Guangling Coin Bureau was in the same state; Shen Chuankui was nowhere to be seen, and there was no trace of his dealings with the Luo Cult.

Qi Jianyu frowned, knowing that the news must have been leaked. He then led his officers and soldiers straight to the residence of Shen Chuan'en, the head of the salt industry in Yangzhou.

Shen Chuan'en's residence was extraordinary, consisting of a vast garden.

Shen Chuan'en had already received the news and specially dressed in his fifth-rank official robes to greet Qi Jianyu. He was in his forties and had a refined appearance. When he saw Qi Jianyu, he calmly cupped his hands and said, "I did not know that the Imperial Guard had arrived. I am sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Qi Jianyu knew that the Shen family was not simple, but he still said with a cold face: "Your younger brother, Shen Chuankui, colluded with the Luo Sect and is the God of Wealth of the Luo Sect. I was ordered by the Imperial Envoy to come to Yangzhou to arrest him, but now his whereabouts are unknown. I hope you can give me an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuan'en remained calm and composed, leading Qi Jianyu into the main hall to serve tea. Above the main hall hung a gleaming golden plaque inscribed with "Hereditary Favor of the State," below which was a portrait of the Shen family welcoming Emperor Jingning.

Shen Chuan'en pointed to the portrait and said, "When my ancestor was alive, he received Emperor Jingning on his southern tour. When Emperor Jingning quelled the rebellion of the princes, my Shen family took the lead in donating 500,000 taels of silver to help with the military supplies, and also organized many salt merchants to help with the military supplies. All of these can be verified." As he spoke, he took out the document of commendation from Emperor Jingning, "Although I was a merchant, I was still granted the honor of being awarded the fifth-rank official hat."

Qi Jianyu flipped through the documents and found them to be true. Looking at Shen Chuanen's calm and composed demeanor, he was secretly annoyed: This old fox was prepared all along!
Qi Jianyu said, "Your brother has committed a very serious crime. Please allow me to search..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Chuan'en interrupted, "Shen Chuankui is just my cousin, not a direct descendant of the Shen family. If he really commits a crime, he will be dealt with according to the law. However..." He gave Qi Jianyu a meaningful look, "If Guard Qi wants to search this place, that's not allowed."

Qi Jianyu was outmaneuvered.

He wasn't an imperial envoy, after all; he was merely ordered by Jiang Nian to arrest Shen Chuankui in Yangzhou, and had no right to search Shen Chuanen's residence without authorization. Moreover, he surmised that even if he searched Shen Chuanen's residence, he would likely find no witnesses or physical evidence. The Shen family was deeply entrenched, and acting rashly without solid evidence would only bring trouble upon himself.

Thinking back on everything that happened today, it all seems increasingly strange. Shen Chuankui's escape was so clean and efficient; someone must have tipped him off. And Shen Chuan'en, while outwardly obedient, was actually on guard at every turn. But right now, without any evidence, there's really nothing we can do to Shen Chuan'en.

After much deliberation, Qi Jianyu could only suppress his anger and say, "In that case, I shall take my leave. If you have any news of your brother, please inform me in time, otherwise I fear I will be punished as an accomplice."

As they left Shen Chuan'en's residence, one of his personal guards said angrily, "Guard Qi, are we just going to let this go like this?"

Qi Jianyu looked at the high walls of Shen Chuan'en's residence and said helplessly, "Let him be smug for now! We should ban all the Luo Church assemblies in Yangzhou. Perhaps we can get news of Shen Chuankui during that time. If we really can't get any news, we can only report to Lord Jiang and let him make a decision."

……

……

Under Cheng Muqian, a protector of the Luo Sect's Heavenly Sect, there was a Venerable Master who transmitted scriptures, named Yu Xilian. Yu Xilian was in charge of printing and transmitting scriptures within the Luo Sect, and under him were three scripture printing envoys and nine scripture transmission envoys.

Qian Jingxiu was one of the three printing commissioners under Yu Xilian, in charge of three Luo sect printing workshops, including the Qian family printing workshop at Jubao Gate in Jiangning.

In Zhenjiang, there is a temple called Jiangtian Temple, originally called Longyou Temple. More than thirty years ago, Emperor Jingning made a southern tour and came here. He climbed Miaogao Terrace and saw the Yangtze River flowing eastward, with the water and sky merging into one. He personally inscribed the four characters "Jiangtian Yilan" (A Panoramic View of the River and Sky), and renamed Longyou Temple "Jiangtian Temple". He also personally wrote and bestowed the plaque "Jiangtian Chan Temple" by imperial decree. In fact, it is the Jinshan Temple of Jiang Nian's previous life.

Near Jiangtian Temple, there is a Jujingtang, a three-room shop that prints and sells books. In reality, it is the residence of Yu Xilian, the Venerable Master of the Luo Sect.

Yu Xilian was over fifty years old, with a long, flowing beard. He spent his days holding scriptures, looking more like a schoolteacher.

On this day, Dai Shijiao, a third-class imperial bodyguard, led two personal guards and forty elite cavalrymen from Jiangning to Zhenjiang. Upon arriving in Zhenjiang, Dai Shijiao immediately mobilized local troops and led his men in a surprise attack on Jujingtang, surrounding it completely.

Dai Shijiao personally led his officers and soldiers into the shop, where they found bookshelves standing tall and books covering all four walls.

The officers and soldiers rushed forward and captured the shopkeeper and several employees.

Dai Shijiao then personally led his troops into the inner quarters and found Yu Xilian in a study.

Dai Shijiao strode forward, pressing his iron rod against Yu Xilian's throat: "Master Yu of the Luo Sect, I've long admired you!" Yu Xilian forced himself to remain calm: "This general must have mistaken me for someone else. I am but a bookseller..."

"A bookseller?" Dai Shijiao sneered. "Cheng Muqian, the protector of the Luo Sect's Heavenly Sect, and Qian Jingxiu, the printing commissioner under your command, have both been captured and have confessed. Are you still trying to deny it?"

Seeing that his plan had failed, Yu Xilian sighed deeply and said nothing more.

Dai Shijiao ordered his men to tie up Yu Xilian and then thoroughly searched the study. They discovered a hidden compartment behind the Buddhist shrine and found dozens of secret letters and two account books.

Upon seeing this, Yu Xilian turned ashen-faced. As he was being led out of the Jujing Hall, the bell of the nearby Jiangtian Temple rang out. Hearing the bell, he suddenly gave a bitter laugh and sighed softly, "I used to enjoy hearing the bell of Jiangtian Temple, but today it sounds like a death knell."

Dai Shijiao ignored his nonsense.

The onlookers pointed and whispered, and someone who knew the inside story said in a low voice, "The owner of this bookstore usually acts all respectable, but it turns out he's the leader of a cult!"

……

……

Although Yao Jisheng, the leader of the Luo Sect, resided at Yunyan Temple in Tiger Hill, Suzhou, his disguised identity was that of a monk staying at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, with the Dharma name "Miaodi".

At Gongchen Bridge in Hangzhou, there was a canal worker's office. It had three rooms, made of blue bricks and gray tiles, and looked like an ordinary place for canal workers to rest. But little did people know that the office was a different story. Those "canal workers" dressed in coarse clothes and short jackets were actually Yao Jisheng's trusted servants.

Behind the Cao Ding Gong Guan (a government office for grain transport workers) was a residence, which was Yao Jisheng's home. Some of Yao Jisheng's relatives lived there, including his wife and two sons. There was a secret room in the basement of the rear residence, where a large amount of gold and silver treasures were hidden.

Third-class imperial guard Zou Jianyuan, leading two personal guards and forty elite cavalry from Jiangning, arrived in Hangzhou. Upon arrival, Zou Jianyuan urgently mobilized local troops and then led his officers and soldiers in a surprise attack on the Cao Ding Gong Office and Yao Residence under the cover of dusk.

With a sharp look between his brows, Zou Jianyuan personally led his officers and soldiers into the Cao Ding Gong Office.

There were nearly twenty men gathered inside the office, led by a middle-aged man.

"Attack!" Zou Jianyuan gave the order, and the soldiers descended like tigers from the mountain.

The middle-aged man tried to resist with a weapon, but was wounded by Zou Jianyuan with a short-handled knife and then captured.

The entire group of "canal guards" was captured in no time.

Zou Jianyuan then personally led his troops into the Yao residence behind the Caodinggong Office.

Yao Jisheng's eldest son was quite ruthless. When the soldiers came to arrest him, he pulled out a short-handled knife and tried to fight them. Zou Jianyuan sneered and took matters into his own hands, capturing him within three moves.

"Tie them up!" Zou Jianyuan ordered. "Search the entire house thoroughly!"

The soldiers, like wolves and tigers, bound everyone in the Yao residence.

Soldiers discovered a mechanism behind the Buddhist shrine; pushing it open revealed a hidden door. Descending the stone steps, they found a secret underground chamber, about three zhang square, filled with chests and boxes. Opening them, they found them overflowing with gold and silver treasures: gold and silver ingots, pearls, agate, jade, and other precious stones…

When Yao Jisheng's wife saw that the secret room had been broken into and all the gold and silver treasures had been confiscated, she collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly.

……

……

Suzhou.

Under Su Tianshi's skillful treatment and Xing Xiuyan's meticulous care, Jiang Nian's fever was cured in just three days.

During his three-day illness, Jiang Nian did not neglect his duties. He wrote a secret memorial to Emperor Taishun and ordered a personal guard to send it to the capital as quickly as possible via the postal system; he ordered the suppression of all Luojiao (Buddhist sect) synagogues in Suzhou and also ordered Situ Jing to lead troops to wipe out the Luojiao stronghold on Xishan Island in Dongting Lake...

The day was a clear, crisp autumn day with a bright, clear blue sky.

Jiang Nian got up very early, ordered people to prepare incense, candles, and paper money, and personally led Xing Xiuyan to bury Xing Zhong and his wife.

Jiang Nian had already ordered a burial site to be selected for Xing Zhong and his wife, and had a tombstone carved.

The cemetery is located on Tiger Hill, with green pines on the left, bamboo on the right, and a babbling brook in front.

Dressed in mourning clothes, with only a wooden hairpin in her hair, Xing Xiuyan stood among the green pines and bamboos, gazing at the fine burial site before her, at the carved tombstone, and at the two fine coffins about to be laid to rest. She felt grateful to Jiang Nian. However, when she thought of her parents, who, though not kind to her in daily life, were still her blood relatives, and now died tragically and were being buried, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls.

Jiang Nian stood to the side, looking at Xing Xiuyan crying with tears streaming down her face, and couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

At this moment, the pallbearers shouted in unison as they slowly lowered the two coffins into the tomb.

Xing Xiuyan rushed to the grave, grabbed two handfuls of yellow soil and scattered them on the two coffins, crying so hard she almost fainted.

Jiang Nian stepped forward and comforted her, "Please accept my condolences, young lady. Your parents in heaven would not want to see you so heartbroken."

Xing Xiuyan sobbed and remained silent.

Jiang Nian took out a plain handkerchief and handed it to her.

Xing Xiuyan took the handkerchief to wipe her tears, then suddenly kowtowed to Jiang Nian: "Thank you, sir, for burying my father and mother."

As she left, Xing Xiuyan looked back every few steps, watching her parents' new graves gradually disappear into the distance, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

Jiang Nian said gently, "Even if you come to the capital with me, you will have the opportunity to return to Suzhou in the future and come here to pay respects to your parents."

“I am but a weak woman. Once I go to the capital, how can I return to Suzhou to pay respects to my parents? Besides, I don’t even know what my situation will be like after I arrive in the capital.” Xing Xiuyan sighed inwardly, but said softly, “Your kindness is too great, I’m afraid… I’m afraid I will have no way to repay it…”

Jiang Nian waved her hand and said, "Why do you say that? I have already told you that if I hadn't led the troops to Xuanmu Mountain to suppress the bandits that night, your parents would not have suffered such a disaster. Besides, we are both related to the Rongguo Mansion in the capital. I have been sick these past few days, and you have taken good care of me. It is my duty to take care of you."

Xing Xiuyan managed a weak smile.

The two walked slowly along the mountain path, followed by a group of soldiers.

The autumn wind blew Xing Xiuyan's white dress, making her look like an orchid swaying in the autumn sun.

(End of this chapter)