Qing Yao

Chapter 457 Launching the Decisive Battle

Old Master Mukton's knife?

Fan Canling didn't realize what it meant at first. He was still wondering who Mukton's grandfather was. After a few breaths, he was stunned: Mukton's grandfather was Ebilun, one of the four regents of the Kangxi Emperor.
Ebilun's knife!

Fan Canling was shocked and filled with doubt, wondering how this precious sword, which was regarded as an imperial sword, had fallen into Zhao An's hands.

This is information asymmetry.

Aside from the key officials involved and the Anhui bureaucracy, only some local officials who were very interested in the happenings in the capital knew about the old master's bestowal of the knife, such as Jiangsu Governor Fu Song and Jiangning Provincial Treasurer Fu Chang.

People like Commander Fan, who work at their unit every day, have no way of knowing about it and have no interest in knowing, since such things have nothing to do with them.

Moreover, the Eight Banners was a closed system, and unless appointed to a post outside the region, officials within the system rarely interacted with the outside world.

As long as their interests are not involved, they don't care if the sky falls.

Therefore, they had no idea that the Ebilun Knife had reappeared in the "martial arts world".

"Is the sir referring to the Ebilun sword?"

Commander Fan felt it was necessary to confirm this.

Zhao An glanced at him indifferently and said, "Just go and find Mukton. Don't ask about anything else that's not your business."

"Whoo!"

Seeing that Zhao Anzhen was really going to make a move against Mukton, Commander Fan had no choice but to obey the order and leave.

Despite the fact that Mukton is involved with many important figures and his family is very prominent, Mukton's branch of the family has declined because his chief military advisor, Amarna, was personally ordered to be executed by the old master.

The execution was carried out using the sword of Neqin's grandfather, Ebilun, and was overseen by his own younger brother, Aligun.

How popular was Neqin back then?

He's even a tiny bit more popular than Heshen.

He was the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, Assisting in the General Affairs of the State, a First-Class Duke, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, concurrently Minister of Personnel, Minister of War, Minister of Works, and Chief Grand Councilor.

He handled all the lucrative and demanding positions, including personnel appointments and dismissals, financial budgeting, engineering construction, and material procurement.

Why does the old man dote on Neqin so much?

Because the two of them were childhood friends who grew up together, practically naked together!

Unexpectedly, his childhood friend Neqin was secretly making a fortune behind the old man's back. To prevent any trouble, he even kept a vicious wolfhound at home, meaning that anyone who dared to come to his house to "lobby" for gifts should not blame the wolfhound for biting him.

The old man was so angry that after Neqin died, he specifically brought up the wolfhound, saying that Neqin was a typical example of "formalism".

If it weren't for the fact that Neqin's younger brothers were quite capable, the old man probably would have made Neqin's line end.

Amma's death cast a shadow over Mukden's career. He worked quietly in the printing and salary offices of the governor's office until his retirement. With the help of his cousin Feng Sheng'e, he became the fourth commander. After less than two years, his cousin died of illness. Without his support, he had to be laid off and became an idle old man in the banner.

How to describe Mukden? He's the kind of person who comes from a prestigious family but lives in dire poverty. This is probably the root cause of his "path of crime".

This is also a common problem among most Manchus—they are obsessed with saving face even at the cost of suffering.

Those with connections would swindle and cheat, finding ways to siphon money from the imperial court into their own pockets, while those without connections could use a piece of lard to wipe their mouths for a year.

Who is Zhao An?

The nemesis of corruption!
Known for his upright and incorruptible character, he was intolerant of any wrongdoing. Whether in Anhui or in Manchuria, corrupt officials were always the targets of his iron fist.

Therefore, he would show absolutely no mercy to criminals who dared to steal resources from the flag.

About half an hour later, Commander Fan brought Mukton over.

Perhaps fearing that he might frighten Mukton and cause him to "resist arrest" and escape, Commander Fan did not dare to tell him that his grandfather's knife was in the hands of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. He simply asked the other party to come to the yamen to ask a few questions about the thief Zhang Changbao.

Because the old master only verbally delegated the investigation to Heshen, without issuing any specific imperial edict or official document to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Commander's Office, Mukedun harbored a fluke mentality, thinking that he was, after all, from a prestigious family and related to Agui by marriage, and that the newly arrived Deputy Commander Zhao would at least give him some face and wouldn't do anything to him.

At most, they'll get a scolding and a fine.

After being led to Zhao An's office by Fan Canling, Mukton, who disdained Zhao An as a newly promoted bannerman, had no choice but to obediently follow the rules and pay his respects.

During the Qianlong reign, there were some families that were directly promoted to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, such as the family of Yin Jishan, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, who came from the Han Army of the Plain Yellow Banner, and the family of Huang Tinggui, the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, who came from the Han Army of the Plain Red Banner.

But someone like Zhao An, who was directly promoted from a bondservant in the Imperial Household Department to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, is one of a kind you couldn't find even with a lantern.

In terms of rank, Zhao An was two ranks lower than Yin Jishan and Huang Tinggui, who were governors-general, but he was appointed deputy commander-in-chief as soon as he entered Manchuria, making him a true anomaly in the eyes of both the old and new Manchus of the Eight Banners.

Without exception, almost everyone attributed the "miracle" that happened to Zhao An to the old master's boundless favoritism towards Heshen.

Heshen was someone Mukden couldn't afford to offend.

"Get up."

Zhao An raised his hand, signaling for Canling Fan to go back and continue the in-depth investigation, leaving Mukton there.

After Commander Fan withdrew, Zhao An carefully examined Mukton, who was in his early sixties, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Lord Mu is a senior member of our banner, and his family background is even more distinguished. He is not comparable to someone like me who has just joined the banner. I invited Lord Mu here today mainly to ask a few questions. Please do not take it too seriously."

Hearing Zhao An's polite words, Mukton felt much relieved and quickly replied, "Sir, I will answer your questions truthfully." "Very well,"

Zhao An nodded, then changed the subject, his voice turning cold, "What is your relationship with Zhang Changbao? Why did you instruct him to embezzle funds and grain? Besides Zhang Changbao, who else did you instruct to do this? How much have you profited from this over the years? Besides you, who else in this banner was involved?"

A barrage of questions made Mukton's face tighten, and his heart pounded wildly.

"My lord, where did this all begin?"

Instinctively, Mukden wanted to deny everything.

Zhao An gave him no chance to deny it, raising his hand and slamming his fist on the table: "Zhang Changbao has already confessed, what are you still trying to deny! Do you want me to call Zhang Changbao here for a face-to-face confrontation with you!"

"My lord, this is Zhang Changbao's slander! My family has been loyal officials for generations, how could I do such a thing!"

Mukton was both anxious and flustered.

"Loyal and virtuous?"

Zhao An sneered, "If you, Amaneqin, were truly loyal and virtuous, would the Emperor have executed him with Ebilun's sword? You, Mukden, as a Manchu, yet you instructed others to impersonate Manchus and swindle the court's money and grain. What kind of loyalty is that!"

Before Mukton could even defend himself, he pulled out the Ebilun sword that Xu Lin had just sent to the examination hall from under the table and slammed it on the table, his face full of anger: "Mukton, you think you recognize this sword!"

"This is this"

Mukton's expression changed instantly, and his voice trembled.

Of course he recognized the knife, because his father had died from it!

All I remember is that the emperor later entrusted the knife to his uncle Aligun for safekeeping. After his uncle's death, it was inherited by his cousin Fengsheng'e, but Fengsheng'e returned the knife to the court before his death.

Therefore, due to the various legends surrounding the sword and the emperor's high regard for it, the sword became virtually the imperial sword of the Qing Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, the knife ended up in the hands of the young man in front of me.

It was clearly a gift from the emperor.

Even if he were confused, Mukden would never have thought that Zhao An had stolen the knife.

"I wonder what Lord Zhao's purpose is in taking out this knife?"

Mukton, who was trying to remain calm, looked extremely unpleasant.

"What do you say?"

Zhao An reached out and gently stroked the scabbard, saying calmly, "Mukerton, let me be frank with you. If you do not tell the truth and insist on concealing the truth, I may have to follow the precedent set by my predecessors and make this sword drink the blood of villains again."

Upon hearing this, Mukton's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. The execution of Amana by his great-grandfather Ebilun was a permanent wound in their family's heart. It was this incident that spurred his uncle Aligun to become incredibly brave, which prevented the family from completely declining.

Now that Zhao An has brought up the old matter again and taken out the Ebilun sword, his purpose is all too clear.

If you, Mukton, don't behave yourself, this Ebilun sword will drink the blood of your great-grandson once again.

"Your subordinate. Your subordinate."

Mukton was incoherent, sweating profusely, and his face was deathly pale.

The fact that the former deputy commander-in-chief, the Marquis of Jinghai, had almost been wiped out told him that this newly appointed henchman was capable of anything.

Seeing this, Zhao An softened his tone: "Muketon, I am not an unreasonable person. If you are willing to confess everything you know about the misappropriation and embezzlement of funds and grain within the banner, as well as other sordid matters, I can plead for you with Grand Secretary He and the Emperor, and may even recommend you for merit, ensuring the safety of your entire family. If you do not cooperate..."

With a flick of his wrist, a third of the blade was revealed. "Then don't blame me for being merciless and using your ancestor's sword to cut down this parasite of the Eight Banners!"

"Your humble servant,"

Mukton trembled violently, his heart churning. He knew perfectly well that Zhao An was using his great-grandfather's sword to threaten him into cooperating. If he didn't cooperate, he might really end up like his father.

But if he were to reveal everything he had done and knew, Mukden would offend far too many people.

Overwhelmed with grief and fear, he thought of the miserable days he had endured since his father's execution, the despicable things he had done in secret to maintain a facade of respectability over the years, and the consequences of his resistance.
Mukton was truly in a state of utter confusion.

"Have you thought it through? I will only give you one chance. Even if you, Mukden, are as sharp-tongued and hard-hearted as iron, I will find a way to make you speak."

Zhao An's voice was as cold as ice; he knew more about torture methods than the experts in the Ministry of Justice's prison.

He may not have seen how others use the Great Memory Restoration Technique, but even if he hasn't eaten pork, he's seen pigs run, right?
Struggle requires strategy.

If Zhang Changbao was the fuse, then Mukden was the handle that completely lifted the lid.

Whether it's an investigation or a case handling, the evidence must be irrefutable.

He pointed out the way; now it's up to Old Man Mu to grasp it.

To put it bluntly, it's about getting Mucton to become a witness for the prosecution and help him launch this crucial battle.

Mukton's gaze remained fixed on his great-grandfather's sword. Finally, the terrible consequences overcame his wishful thinking, and he slowly knelt down: "What does Your Excellency wish to know? This humble official will speak."

(End of this chapter)