Chapter Fifty: A Single Word Commands Thousands

“Don’t believe me?” A mocking laugh rang out. Fu Shuxun turned the ledger pages, his voice hoarse yet commanding. “Every year, the Capital Garrison receives sixteen thousand taels of silver from the Imperial Stables, and one thousand and sixty taels from farm seed funds. The costs for rewarding officers and soldiers, making equipment, and all miscellaneous labor meals are covered from this sum. But the annual expenditure for officer usage has reached twenty thousand taels! This matter, I will investigate thoroughly right now!”

Fei Jizong suddenly collapsed to the ground; this was his secret operation. Nan Yunjie, the senior officer of the Yunnan Bureau, and Yu Qing, the assistant, both looked dazed.

“The Capital Garrison draws over one million seventy-four thousand bushels of rice a year. In July, August, and September of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen’s reign, there were nine instances of consecutive three-day drills. This, too, will be thoroughly investigated.”

With a thud, Wang Zhengzhi was struck as if by lightning, his entire body crumpling to the ground. The world seemed to spin, his mind in chaos as if it exploded. Those who followed him were even more frantic, their cries and pleas filling the hall.

“And these so-called purchases of armor and battle robes have reached ninety thousand taels in a year…”

Before Fu Shuxun finished reading this, he saw yet another wave of officials collapse in the Ministry of Revenue. Only twenty or thirty people remained, staggering as if evil spirits met righteous gods.

Fu Shuxun let out a cold snort.

Suddenly, from the main gate, Wang Rui and Lin Guchong shouted loudly, “Grand Minister of Agriculture, we, Wang Rui and Lin Guchong of the Yunnan Bureau’s accounting section, have a major corruption case to report!”

Nearby, Wang Beiguan led officials from the Huguang Bureau, bowing with ingratiating smiles.

Now, even the last few remaining officials collapsed, dizzy and disoriented.

Fu Ruguan and Xie Yi exchanged glances, looking at the Ministry’s sweeping victory yet unable to feel joy. “Though we have won a great victory… we feel unworthy to accept it…”

“These are all the merits of Qin the Hero!”

Imperial Academy.

On the terrace of Yi Lun Hall, Qiao Bosheng’s eyes were swollen like giant peaches. After applying vegetable oil, he finally felt some relief, no longer screaming and now calm. “I, Qiao San, have lost. Qin, you are ruthless. I, Qiao, submit. Tell me how you wish to deal with me.”

Zhu Cilang looked at the disorderly soldiers ten steps away, at Old Seventeen who stared fixedly at him and Qiao Bosheng. He smiled, “Two choices.”

“The first: I die here. Your loyal brother, Old Seventeen, dies here. All your followers who rebelled with you will die at the execution ground. The rest will be punished and exiled a thousand miles away, ending in misery, their families unable to find peace.”

“The other choice: surrender to me. I will protect all of you!” Zhu Cilang spoke slowly and steadily, brimming with confidence and composure.

Qiao Bosheng was silent for a while. He asked, “How can I trust you? Are there truly only two choices? You are now taking me hostage, asking my brothers to let you go. I still occupy the Imperial Academy; you are unharmed, and I could still incite a rebellion. Would the court allow the Temple of Literature and the Academy to suffer?”

“No.” Zhu Cilang shook his head. “You have no one to trust but me. Throughout history, military uprisings have never challenged the entire scholar class. If you hold the Academy and threaten obedience, the scholars throughout the court will never accept it. Moreover, the generals sent to suppress the rebellion would not want you to leave alive, lest secrets be revealed. Only the dead keep secrets. So trust me, you have no other way but these two choices.”

The Imperial Academy fell silent, the wind blowing gently, intensifying the stillness.

Old Seventeen spoke hoarsely, “Third Brother…”

Several bold soldiers stepped forward. One, full of anger, looked at Qiao Bosheng, “Third Brother, don’t listen to this villain’s nonsense! He’s toyed with us; how can we trust him?”

“Third Master…”

As these wounded fighters were about to speak, Qiao Bosheng said, “Qin the Hero, answer my last question, and I’ll choose the second option—surrender to you. Originally, if we’d succeeded, this time, Marquis Yangwu, Xue Lian, should have led the Divine Machine Battalion to suppress the rebellion. If only the leaders are punished and the followers spared, the entire Right Detachment would comply. But now we have failed. I, Qiao San, am powerless, my life in your hands. Xue Lian will have us all killed, even if the Academy and Temple of Literature are buried with us.”

“I need to know—if we surrender to you, can my brothers survive? How can we trust you have the ability to persuade the court to spare them? How do we know you won’t deceive us, and after we surrender, go back on your word and have my brothers punished?”

Zhu Cilang pointed to a sharp, lively gaze in the crowd, “For what follows, we must ask Master Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, for help.”

With his mouth gagged with cloth, Ma Shaoyu was moved to tears. Someone quickly removed the foul sock, allowing Ma Shaoyu to laugh and shout, “Qin the Hero speaks truly! According to imperial law, your brothers can survive! Even the army sent to suppress you cannot harm you! Don’t forget, I am the Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs—a court official!”

Qiao Bosheng nodded slowly, staring at Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang smiled, “You need not worry about me going back on my word. I promise you, if you agree to surrender, tonight I will remove my armor and sleep among the Right Detachment soldiers!”

“Good, good, good!” Qiao Bosheng laughed heartily. “Such a hero! To lose to you, I, Qiao, have no regrets. I believe you! Old Seventeen, pass my order—everyone in the Right Detachment, lay down your swords and surrender!”

Hearing Zhu Cilang willing to stake his own safety as proof, Old Seventeen, like Qiao Bosheng, was utterly convinced. “I, Old Seventeen, submit as well, we surrender!”

“Surrender!”

Ding ding dang dang…

Countless spears, armor, swords, and other weapons were cast down.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang relaxed his grip on the sword he had held for so long. Though it was merely a flexible sword tied at the waist, even such a blade grows heavy with time.

Just as Zhu Cilang relaxed a bit, he was suddenly jolted to alertness. Realizing what was happening, he involuntarily let go of the sword.

“Old Seventeen, take care of my parents, wife, and children for this unfilial son!” Qiao Bosheng grasped the blade, twisted it hard against his own neck, and blood gushed like a spring as he collapsed.

Zhu Cilang recoiled in shock, letting the sword slip from his hand.

“Third Brother! How could you be so foolish! We’ve surrendered, we’ve surrendered!” Old Seventeen dropped his armor and weapons, kneeling over Qiao Bosheng.

Several tough soldiers below the terrace glared with bloodshot eyes. “Qin, you’ve gone back on your word and killed our Third Brother!”

Suddenly, they rushed forward.

Old Seventeen spread his arms wide, blocking them furiously. “Do you want Third Brother to have died in vain?”

“Old Seventeen! Qin betrayed our Third Brother!” the leader shouted, his eyes wide, yet he dared not move further.

Zhu Cilang sighed, saying nothing, only gazing at Qiao Bosheng’s angry, glaring eyes, which still held countless traces of unwillingness, rage, and calm.