Di Ming

Chapter 416 "With this duke here, who dares to be insolent?"

Although Zhu Yin, Hao Yunlai, and the others were angry, they were not surprised.

The conduct of eunuchs differed from that of officials outside the capital. Officials outside the capital, whether civil or military, were bound by the rules of officialdom. Eunuchs, however, disregarded these rules when they arrived in the provinces and often acted recklessly.

For example, killing someone in public.

Murder is strictly forbidden by the rules of officialdom; even military generals with power rarely dare to do it. But… the eunuchs dare.

Because the power to judge and arrest eunuchs rested with the emperor, local officials and the three judicial departments had no authority over them. Unless ordered by the emperor, eunuchs were lawless in their localities. They were the emperor's servants; officials could not touch them!

The best way to deal with them is to also disregard the rules of officialdom!
At this time, the eunuch, relying on the power of Eunuch Qiu, openly murdered the Miao girl Baling who resisted taxes, which not only aroused fear among the people, but also aroused public indignation.

Since Eunuch Qiu arrived in Chongqing, his extortionate and tyrannical practices, aimed at plundering wealth, have already incited resentment among the people of Chongqing. Tonight, the tax supervisor's murder has only fueled their anger.

However, no one dared to resist.

There were two or three hundred soldiers who came to collect taxes. They were all armed with knives and spears and looked fierce. The people could only swallow their anger and dared not speak out.

Hao Yunlai whispered, "Someone, summon the soldiers from the Qimen Patrol Division!"

He didn't mobilize the garrison troops, only the patrol officers. He knew very well that if he dared to mobilize the garrison troops, Ma Jiude would mobilize even more!
Right now, it's all about force. The other side clearly has the upper hand in terms of military power, but Hao Yunlai has no choice. He can only grit his teeth and hold on for as long as possible.

At the same time, Zhu Yin secretly ordered Kangxi to enter the city and mobilize more than two hundred of the Zhu family's private soldiers. He not only wanted to mobilize troops, but also did not want to leave his private soldiers in the city, because the city was no longer safe.

At his command, Inspector Liu of Chuqimen quickly arrived with seventy or eighty archers and constables.

This is all the troops that the Chuqimen Patrol Division has.

"This humble servant, Liu Dao, greets the Prefect! Please give your instructions!"

Hao Yunlai pointed at Ma Jiude, "They're going to commit violence, stop them!"

"As ordered!"

Inspector Liu immediately led a group of police officers forward.

"I'll fight you to the death!" One of the boatmen on the pleasure boat, who was actually the brother of the murdered Baling, turned red with rage upon seeing his sister's tragic death.

He grabbed a wooden stick and charged at the eunuch.

But before he could get close to the leading eunuch, two long knives pierced his back with two sharp "thuds." He screamed in agony as blood gushed from the two wounds on his back, and he died instantly.

"You dare to commit violence and resist?" The eunuch's face turned pale with anger, and he was even a little surprised, with an expression that seemed to say, "You actually dared to resist."

Even though it was the man who was killed, it was he who was angry.

Seeing their two companions killed in the blink of an eye, the people on the pleasure boat roared and clamored together, their eyes bloodshot as they pressed towards the eunuch.

"They're rebelling!" the eunuch shouted. "The Miao people are rebelling! Killing the traitors will earn them merit!"

The tax collectors and soldiers drew their swords and stepped forward, ready to unleash a massacre and kill the entire group, claiming it as a military achievement for slaying bandits!

Anyway, this isn't the first time they've fabricated charges of banditry, killed innocent people, and claimed credit for it. With the Emperor above them and the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard protecting them, what are they afraid of?
"Wait!" Inspector Liu shouted, "Eunuch Ma, how could this have resulted in a death! If Eunuch Qiu finds out, he'll surely blame us..."

"Hmm?" Eunuch Ma turned around, looking at Inspector Liu who had rushed over with utter contempt. "Who do you think you are? A mere ninth-rank inspector, how dare you interfere with my official duties? Get lost!"

When Inspector Liu met Eunuch Ma's cold and menacing gaze, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine and his legs go weak. He cupped his hands and said:
"Eunuch Ma, I was merely carrying out my duties. Now that a life has been lost, a matter of utmost importance, I implore you, Eunuch Ma, to cease your actions and withdraw your troops back to the city..."

Eunuch Ma slowly stepped forward, holding a blood-stained embroidered spring knife, and approached Inspector Liu, chuckling maliciously, "What did you say? Say it again..."

Inspector Liu took two steps back, his hand on the hilt of his knife, his face deathly pale, and said, "This humble officer was only acting in the course of duty, and two lives have already been lost. I beg Eunuch Ma..."

"Get out!!" Eunuch Ma shouted suddenly, his shrill and shrill voice like a sharp blade piercing Liu Xunjian's heart.

Inspector Liu's legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, saying in a tearful voice, "This humble servant has fulfilled his duty and begs Your Excellency to withdraw the troops..."

"Fuck your mother! You're asking for death!" Eunuch Ma kicked Inspector Liu, sending him sprawling. "If you don't get out of here, you'll be protecting these bandits! Arrest and punish them all! Get out!"

The constables of the patrol office, seeing their leader being so humiliated by the eunuch, dared not speak out in anger and could only help Inspector Liu up.

Eunuch Ma didn't even bother to glance at the constables, and with a wave of his hand, he ordered them to continue. He intended to seize the opportunity to annihilate all the Miao people from Pengshui County on this boat. Firstly, to make an example of them and deter other pleasure boats and brothels; secondly, to deliberately provoke Jiuli City in Pengshui County, hoping to force the Miao people of Jiuli City to rebel.

What are the benefits of rebelling in Jiuli City? There are too many to list.

First, they could pin a crime on Zhu Yin, the magistrate of Pengshui County. After all, Jiuli City was under the jurisdiction of Pengshui County.

Perhaps the rebellion in Jiuli City will storm the county magistrate's office and kill Zhu Yin. If Zhu Yin dies, Eunuch Gao in the palace will surely be happy.

Furthermore, I've heard that Jiuli City possesses a great deal of wealth, especially silverware. If they were to rebel, it would be a perfect opportunity to quell the rebellion and seize their riches.

They could also use this opportunity to earn military merit; heads were worth money and honors.

So he decided to go all in, not afraid of making a big fuss, thinking that his godfather and Grandpa Gao would take care of things if the sky fell.

"Brother Huaji!" Zhu Yin said through gritted teeth, "They want to kill innocent people and claim credit for it! Two people have already died, we can't wait any longer! You stop them first! I have my own plans!"

Hao Yunlai shouted sternly, "Stop! I am Hao Yunlai, the Prefect of Chongqing! How dare you kill people in public and then claim credit for it? What audacity!"

The dignified prefect's loud shout immediately stopped the group of soldiers who were about to kill innocent people and claim credit for it, and they all looked at Eunuch Ma.

Upon seeing Hao Yunlai, the crowd of onlookers all knelt down in unison, forming a dense mass on the ground, and shouted in unison:
"Greetings, Grand Ancestor!"

Someone else said, "Alright, alright! Grandfather Gongzu has arrived!"

The people on the pleasure boat also knelt down one after another, crying out, "Grandpa Gongzu, please make the decision!"

Hao Yunlai strode forward, followed by his entourage and Zhu Yin's guards. His face was ashen as he looked at the eunuch and said in an icy tone:

"Ma Jiude, how dare you! You slaughter Ming Dynasty citizens in broad daylight! Do you have any respect for the law? Do you have any respect for the laws of the Ming Dynasty?!"

"The law?" Ma Jiude chuckled coldly, glancing contemptuously at Hao Yunlai. "The Emperor's decree is the law! It's the law of the Ming Dynasty! In Sichuan, my father, Eunuch Qiu, is the law! Prefect Hao, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, lest you get burned!"

Although Ma Jiude was Qiu Chengyun's confidant and adopted son, his actual official position was only a sixth-rank official.

However, this sixth-rank eunuch dared to be arrogant and speak rudely in front of Hao Yunlai, a fourth-rank prefect.

"Insolence!" Hao Yunlai pointed at Ma Jiude, "How dare you, a mere sixth-rank official, speak to me like that!"

"You keep calling yourselves the Emperor and the Imperial Edict! The Emperor is a wise and enlightened ruler. If he knew that you were committing crimes in the provinces and using the Emperor's name to tarnish his reputation, he would surely skin you alive! This is not only a massacre of the people, but also a crime of deceiving the Emperor!"

"Your name is Jiude, but do you possess even one virtue?!"

Ma Jiude chuckled, "Prefect Hao, you have quite the airs of an official. What kind of lousy official is a prefect? ​​Do you think I'd be afraid of you? I'm my grandfather's servant, I served in the palace for ten years, I served him tea and water, made his bed and folded his blankets. You, a scholar who passed the imperial examinations twice, how many times have you actually seen my grandfather? Probably only once, or maybe from a distance, right? Your name is Hao Yunlai, are you really that lucky?"

He removed a jade pendant from his waist, his nostrils flared, his face full of arrogance, and his voice became even more shrill, "This was bestowed upon me by the Emperor at 3:45 PM on the eighth day of the sixth month of the eighteenth year of Wanli's reign. It is an imperial item! Prefect Hao, do you have one? I am not only the adopted son of Eunuch Qiu, but also a court attendant who served in the Qianqing Palace! Tell me, who is more representative of the Emperor, me or you, a prefect whom even the Emperor doesn't recognize? Huh?!"

This is the skill of the eunuchs in verbal sparring. When they argue with civil officials, they rarely engage in reasoned debate, but instead resort to sophistry and unorthodox tactics.

The surrounding people were filled with fear upon hearing Ma Jiude's words. The jade tablet in Ma Jiude's hand was like a golden command token, making it hard for them to breathe.

These eunuchs keep talking about the emperor and the king; who among them isn't afraid?
Hao Yunlai's face flushed red. "I won't argue with a scoundrel like you! Withdraw your troops immediately! I will seek justice for these two lives at the tax office and report to the Emperor! This matter cannot be left unresolved! Quickly withdraw your troops!"

Ma Jiude snorted coldly, "You want me to retreat? What are you, a prefect? ​​I came here on orders, and you expect me to withdraw my troops just because you say a few words? All the pleasure boats and painted pavilions must pay taxes tonight! I won't stand for a penny less! Hehe, Prefect Hao, it's not impossible for me to withdraw my troops, but you'll have to pay for it yourself."

With that, he waved his hand and shouted, "Who told you to stop? Keep going! Anyone who resists will be killed!"

"You, you..." Hao Yunlai trembled with rage, "How dare you!"

Ma Jiude chuckled strangely, "They're resisting taxes and rebelling, I'm suppressing rebels! Men! Kill the thieves!"

"Stop!" Zhu Yin suddenly shouted, finally stepping forward.

Seeing that neither the inspector general nor Hao Yunlai could stop the unstoppable Ma Jiude, he had no choice but to step in himself.

We can't back down anymore!
"With this nobleman here, who dares to be presumptuous?" Zhu Yin said coldly, deliberately referring to himself as "this nobleman" to remind the other party that he was still the Marquis of Jiangning. "Zhu Yin?" Ma Jiude immediately recognized Zhu Yin. "Well! Your shrine was burned down, causing the entire temple area to be burned down, and you didn't even show your face. Now you can't hold back anymore?"

Although Zhu Yin had been demoted to the position of magistrate of Pengshui County, Ma Jiude still felt insecure and uneasy when he saw Zhu Yin.

This is Zhu Yin, who became the Vice Minister of War at the age of fifteen and was ennobled as a marquis at the age of sixteen!
He was Zhu Zhihu, the child prodigy who passed the imperial examinations in three consecutive years at the age of twelve, quelled the rebellion in the northwest at the age of fifteen, restored Goryeo at the age of sixteen, annihilated 200,000 enemy troops, and led an envoy to Japan to capture the King of Wa and the entire Japanese court!

Zhu Yin looked at Ma Jiude with the same gaze one would give a dead man, not bothering to utter a single word.

"Is it Mr. Zhihu?" The surrounding people all looked at the tall, handsome, and refined young man in front of them, and were both surprised and delighted.

It's Mr. Zhihu! He looks just like the wooden statue in the Temple of the Prodigy!

In an instant, everyone knelt down and bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, Mr. Zhihu!"

At this moment, seeing Zhu Yin step forward, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Grandfather Gongzu could not stop the eunuch, but Mr. Zhihu certainly can!
"Please rise, esteemed elders! No need for formalities!" Zhu Yin returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then declared loudly, "With the Prefect and I here today, we will not tolerate such treacherous officials!"

With a wave of his hand, a group of guards immediately stepped forward and blocked Ma Jiude's soldiers. Zhu Yin had only brought a dozen or so guards with him on this trip out of the city, but they were all his most formidable guards.

Especially Lancha, who was like a war god, was tall and burly, with a fierce and iron-blooded aura. When he stood there majestically, his cold, lightning-like eyes swept over Ma Jiude and the others, which immediately intimidated the scene. Ma Jiude's men did not dare to continue to make a move for a moment.

Even Ma Jiude, when he met Lancha's gaze, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stared at by a fierce tiger.

He had killed more than once, making him a ruthless man. But now he sensed that the towering giant before him had killed many people and was a truly ruthless one!

Immediately afterwards, Cen Xiubing waved her hand, and a group of her guards stepped forward with knives to block Ma Jiude's soldiers.

Ma Jiude's face was ashen, and he glared at Zhu Yin with gritted teeth, like a venomous snake.

"Zhu Yin!" Ma Jiude roared, "Do you still think you're the Vice Minister of War and the Grand Coordinator? You're not! You were demoted by the Emperor for your crimes and are now just a lowly magistrate of Pengshui County! What are you so arrogant about!"

What?! Mr. Zhihu has been demoted to the position of magistrate of Pengshui County? Upon hearing this, everyone stared wide-eyed in disbelief, exchanging bewildered glances.

They had heard that Mr. Zhihu had arrived in Chongqing, and the whole city was overjoyed. But they didn't know why Zhu Yin had come to Chongqing; it turned out he had been demoted by the emperor.

Mr. Zhihu is a lucky charm of the Ming Dynasty, a reincarnation of a star deity! How could someone with such talent and such great achievements be demoted to a county magistrate?

Emperor Wanli was a truly incompetent ruler. He sent eunuchs to impose exorbitant taxes, and not long ago he even forced Hai Qingtian to commit suicide. I heard he even wanted to depose the eldest son and install a younger one in his place. He didn't attend court or offer sacrifices to his ancestors for several years. Now, he has even demoted and exiled a renowned talent like Mr. Zhihu. He was truly a great incompetent ruler!

At this moment, countless people feel indignant on behalf of Zhu Yin.

Zhu Yin didn't respond to Ma Jiude at all, but said to Lan Cha, "Lan Cha, count from one to three. If they don't retreat, kill them without mercy."

Zhu Yin's tone was indifferent, yet it carried the detachment of someone who had been killed on the battlefield.

"Yes, sir!" Lancha accepted the order, took a big step forward with his heavy spiked club in hand, and said with a chilling smile, "I will count to three. If you do not disappear by then, you will be killed without mercy."

Ma Jiude trembled with rage. "You dare! I have two or three hundred men! How many do you have? My father still has several thousand soldiers in the city! The Chongqing Garrison's main camp is just ten miles away! The naval forces of the Thousand Households Garrison are also nearby!"

Lancha shouted, "One!"

Ma Jiude brandished his sword and shouted, "Zhu Yin colluded with the Miao people, commanded his private army to resist the government troops, and intended to rebel! Kill him!"

At his command, the soldiers behind him swarmed forward.

Lancha snorted coldly, then suddenly raised his heavy spiked club and swept it away as if it were nothing.

With two "poof" sounds, the heads of the two soldiers who were at the forefront exploded one after another like watermelons, spraying blood mist.

Immediately afterwards, there were two more "thud" sounds, and two more soldiers were killed.

The large group of soldiers behind them suddenly stopped, as if they had been frozen in place, staring in horror at the four soldiers who had been killed in the blink of an eye.

Lancha laughed and said, "You guys are far inferior to the border troops."

Ma Jiude stared in disbelief at the ferocious-looking Lancha. After a brief moment of fear, his face contorted as he screamed, "Rebellion! Rebellion! Rebellion! Kill them! Kill them!"

Before he could finish speaking, his head suddenly exploded, smashed to pieces by Lancha's spiked club. He died before he could even scream.

With a thud, the body fell to the ground.

Hao Yunlai was also stunned.

Zhihu's guards killed Ma Jiude? How will this be handled? How could Eunuch Qiu let this go? Ma Jiude was Qiu Chengyun's adopted son, a court attendant in the Qianqing Palace, and a former servant of the Emperor.

Zhu Yin looked at the group of stunned tax officials and soldiers, and said calmly, "You were just following orders, so I'll spare your lives. Go back and tell Qiu Chengyun not to oppose me, and even more so, not to harm the people, otherwise... hmph. Do you all understand?"

"Yes! Yes!" How could the two or three hundred soldiers dare to do evil? Seeing that even Ma Jiude was dead, they could only carry the bodies of Ma Jiude and the others back to the city in a sorry state.

Almost simultaneously, Zhu Yin's more than two hundred private soldiers left in the city also took advantage of the chaos to leave the city and join Zhu Yin.

"Thank you, Mr. Xie Zhihu!" The surrounding people were extremely excited and overjoyed, and couldn't help but kowtow again.

Sure enough, Mr. Zhihu took Ma Jiude's life with a single move, eliminating this heinous eunuch.

Mr. Zhihu, your merits are immeasurable!
The Miao women on the flower boats disembarked and knelt in worship. The Miao people, especially those from Jiuli City in Pengshui County, were not only grateful but also filled with anticipation.

It turns out that Mr. Zhihu is the new county magistrate!

“Zhihu, you…” Hao Yunlai said with a worried look, “This matter has escalated so much that Qiu Chengyun will soon mobilize troops to arrest you. How are we going to clean up this mess? You… you’d better leave Chongqing immediately! I can’t protect you! He has the military power!”

Unbeknownst to him, Zhu Yin had already obtained evidence of Qiu Chengyun's crimes and was just waiting for Qin Liangyu's troops to arrive before confronting Qiu Chengyun.

“Brother Huaji, don’t worry. Is this matter more dangerous than our battles in the Northwest? I have my own plan,” Zhu Yin said confidently. “You go back to the city first, play along with Eunuch Qiu, and maintain order in the city. With Zheng Guowang’s support, even without military power, he can’t do anything to you.”

Hao Yunlai asked, "And what about you?"

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "I will not return to the city for now, but will temporarily avoid Qiu's wrath. I will wait for Qin Liangyu to come to the prefectural city to collect the provisions. Once she arrives, I will have a way to deal with Qiu."

Hao Yunlai frowned and said, "You expect the Shizhu soldiers to fight against Eunuch Qiu? Zhihu, let me remind you, this is a huge taboo! If Qiu were to report this to the court, it would be considered collusion with the local chieftains, plotting a rebellion. Does the Emperor believe him or you?"

Zhu Yin said, “The Emperor will naturally believe him, not me. But I am not without voice in court. You can ask Brother Yueying to say a few fair words for me. Besides, Qiu Chengyun may not dare to impeach me.”

Hao Yunlai shook his head. "Are you so sure Qin Liangyu will help you? Would she dare to stand up to Eunuch Qiu, who represents the palace, for your sake? Although she was once your subordinate and you had a personal relationship, the chieftain cannot be trusted! What if she turns against you and not only doesn't help you but also sides with Qiu Chengyun? Then you'll be doomed! I won't be able to help you then!"

Zhu Yin smiled slightly, "Don't worry, if I didn't even have this much confidence, would I dare to fight Qiu Chengyun? In a few days, everything will be clear."

"Alright." Hao Yunlai had no better idea. "Then you should leave quickly and go hide in Bashan for a few days. I'll take care of things here."

After exchanging a few words, Zhu Yin led his guards and soldiers away, and Cen Xiubing followed him.

Zhu Yin hurriedly left Chongqing and headed towards Bashan overnight.

Before leaving, Zhu Yin also gave a secret order to the local Tiger Gang: keep a close watch on the tax supervisor's office, intercept and kill Qiu Chengyun's messenger, and prevent Qiu Chengyun's report from reaching the capital!
Just a quarter of an hour after Zhu Yin left, Qiu Chengyun personally led three thousand soldiers out of the city in a furious rage to demand an explanation.

However, Zhu Yin has already disappeared.

Qiu Chengyun was furious. He immediately ordered the Chongqing Guard, the Private Security Bureau, the Mining Protection Battalion, and the Naval Thousand-Household Office to search for Zhu Yin and his men.

Furthermore, he wrote a secret memorial to the emperor overnight, falsely accusing Zhu Yin of harboring resentment, colluding with the Miao people, inciting the people to resist taxes and rebel, killing Ma Jiude, and fleeing to avoid punishment. He requested that the emperor order the confiscation of Zhu Yin's property and the extermination of his clan.

He also reported that Hao Yunlai was protecting Zhu Yin, being two-faced, and shirking his responsibilities, and requested that he be dismissed from his post and await punishment.

However, what he didn't know was that his report was intercepted near the post station the day after it was sent out, and both the messenger and the secret report fell into the hands of the Tiger Fang agents.

He was unaware of this, believing the report had already been sent out and he was still waiting for the emperor's decree.

Just three days after the incident, while Qiu Chengyun was still mobilizing his army to search for Zhu Yin, a battle-hardened elite force, weary from their journey, arrived outside Chongqing city under the leadership of a valiant female general.

Qin Liangyu!
(End of this chapter)