Chapter 29

While Zhang Ke was searching for Wang Huaishui, Wang Huazhen was constantly thinking. The more he thought, the more afraid he became. He was not only worried about Eunuch Hong but also about the situation in Liaodong. Everyone understood the principle of Sun and Liu uniting against Cao, and the situation outside the pass was like a three-kingdoms drama. Wild Boar Skin was becoming more and more aggressive, and the Ming Dynasty was struggling to cope. It was only natural to ally with the Mongols, or at least not to fall out with them.

However, this was something that even a three-day stay outside the pass could make clear, but it was impossible to convince the wooden heads in the court. In their view, all the Tartars were the same, and none of them could be trusted. The calls to close the Guangning horse market were constant, and Wang Huazhen's burden was not light.

Even without the matter of Eunuch Hong, a single conflict between the Han and the Manchus would be enough to deal him a fatal blow. The more he thought about these things, the more Wang Huazhen appreciated Zhang Ke.

But this kid was good in every way, why did he have to cause trouble at such a critical moment!

"Zhang Ke, Ji Da, and others are understandable, and I think they don't need to be punished."

"No!" Zhang Ke shook his head firmly. "Sir, while understandable circumstances can reduce the punishment, they cannot be exempted. Rules are more important than anything. With our great Ming Dynasty under the rule of a wise emperor, governing the nine provinces and ten thousand directions, only fairness can win the hearts of the people. Han people who commit fraud should be punished severely, and Mongols who do not abide by the law should also be dealt with. Only then can we demonstrate the grandeur of our empire and make all the people submit!"

Wang Huazhen nodded in agreement with Zhang Ke's words. They were correct, but don't forget that Eunuch Hong was still in their hands. Was he going to make things even more complicated!

Wang Huazhen frowned, and Zhang Ke suddenly placed his right hand across his chest, making a beheading gesture, and then winked.

This action did not escape Wang Huazhen's notice. He immediately understood that this was a serious move. Indeed, it was a good plan, and Wang Huazhen's face regained its confidence.

"Wang Huaisun has committed numerous crimes, repeatedly committing fraud on a large scale, and disrupting the horse market. Even more despicable, he forged silver bills, losing all sense of humanity. According to the law, he should be reported to the court and sentenced to immediate execution!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Huaishui almost collapsed on the ground, his nose and eyes streaming with tears.

"Sir, I am innocent. How could I have the ability to forge silver bills? Don't believe that boy's one-sided words, sir..."

Wang Huazhen ignored him and continued, "Wang Huaisun's crimes are clear and have endangered the horse market trade, affecting the purchase of military horses. As the saying goes, a general far from the capital can act without the emperor's orders. Guards, execute Wang Huaisun immediately and hang his head at the entrance of the horse market to warn everyone."

"Understood!"

The guards nodded, and a burly soldier with a large executioner's sword stepped forward, stomping on Wang Huaishui's back. Before he could say a word, the blade flashed, and his head rolled away.

Killing Wang Huaishui on the spot, Zhang Ke felt a weight lifted from his heart. He wasn't just killing him out of spite; the man had mentioned arson and murder, clearly hinting that he might have guessed that Zhang Ke had set fire to the Jin family. If he wanted to die, there was nothing to be done. It was a good opportunity to eliminate the trouble through Wang Huazhen.

Wang Huazhen, of course, didn't know Zhang Ke's ulterior motives, only thinking that he was acting in the public interest. He nodded in approval.

"Ji Da, I have executed Wang Huaisun, and the silver he defrauded is here. What do you think?"

Ji Da looked at the head, then at Wang Huazhen, and suddenly knelt down.

"Sir, you have acted with fairness, and we, the people from beyond the border, are convinced!"

Wang Huazhen suddenly glared and said sternly, "His case has been dealt with, but your crimes cannot be forgiven. Gathering to cause trouble, smashing shops, and even taking hostages, do you still respect the Ming Dynasty?"

This question was powerful, and Ji Da prostrated himself on the ground, followed by many Mongols, their eyes filled with fear.

"Considering the circumstances and the fact that no major disaster has occurred, I will punish you lightly. Ji Da will receive forty strokes, the other leaders twenty, and a fine of fifty taels of silver to compensate for the damage to the shops and the hostages. Are you satisfied?"

Hearing that they would be beaten, many Mongols were not happy, and Suri Ge ran to Ji Da's side.

"Brother, you can't agree to this. If they beat you to death, what will we do?"

Ji Da's eyes darted around, and he gritted his teeth, taking a gamble.

"Brother Suri Ge, Wang Da has already cut off a head. What's a few strokes to us?"

Ji Da took off his fur coat, revealing his muscular body, and bowed to Wang Huazhen. "Sir, please proceed with the punishment!"

"Good man!"

Wang Huazhen waved his hand, and several executioners rushed forward, pinning Ji Da down. Suri Ge and the others were treated similarly, and the beating began with a loud crack.

Beating people is a skill. Some could take a hundred strokes and be back on their feet in a few days, while others could be crippled or even killed by twenty strokes. It all depended on the skill of the executioner.

Punishing Ji Da and the others was clearly just for show. The executioners knew this, and while the beating looked fierce and bloody, it was actually just superficial.

In less than a quarter of an hour, it was all over. Wang Huazhen had already called for a doctor to check them and apply medicine. He then smiled and said, "I am enforcing the law, but the law also has a human side. Here is a hundred taels of silver for your medical expenses."

A little flesh wound certainly didn't require a hundred taels, and Wang Huazhen was clearly compensating for the fine. Ji Da understood this and hurriedly bowed, expressing his gratitude.

Ji Da turned and returned to the front of the shop, glaring at his subordinates.

"Sir Wang is fair and upright. Are you still不服? Release the hostages immediately!"

In fact, when the beating was over, these Mongols had secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that they were tough, but they were afraid of being held accountable later. With the punishment out in the open, they felt more at ease.

With smiles on their faces, they released Qiao Fu, the shopkeeper, Eunuch Hong, and the others.

These people slowly returned to the Ming army's side, and Wang Huazhen's heart finally settled. A major crisis had been averted!

"Report, sir, a large number of Mongol cavalry are gathering outside the city, threatening to attack the horse market!"

"Ah!"

One crisis had barely ended when another began. Wang Huazhen groaned and led everyone, including Zhang Ke and Qiao Fu, to the city wall.

Looking down, the area outside the city was densely packed. The sky was already dark, and the area outside the city was lit by torches. In the distance, more and more Mongols were gathering, like fireflies.

"Brother Ke, look, it's a woman!" Qiao Fu exclaimed.

Qiao Gui, standing next to him, glared at him. "You just escaped death, and you can't be serious?"

"Brother, it's not my fault. She's really beautiful, more beautiful than..."

"Stop talking, or I'll lose my appetite!" Zhang Ke knew Qiao Fu had no good comparisons and curiously looked down. Indeed, among the many Mongol riders, a young woman sat on a chestnut horse. She wore a fox fur coat, carried a bow, and had a sword at her side. In the light of the torches, her face was fair and delicate, and her black eyes were bright and spirited.

The woman on the chestnut horse shouted loudly, "Hear me, Han people on the wall! Release our Chao Hua warriors immediately, or we will break into the city and kill every last one of you!"

Hearing "Chao Hua," Zhang Ke was a bit confused and quickly turned to look at Yu Weiliang.

Yu Weiliang chuckled, "You don't know? Originally, most of the trade in Guangning was with the Wulangha Three Guards, also known as the Duoyan Three Guards. Later, the Wulangha Three Guards declined, and now the Chao Hua tribe is the most common outside the Great Wall. In recent years, they have come to trade more often, and they are more barbaric than the Wulangha."

Zhang Ke immediately recalled his previous knowledge. The Chao Hua tribes were actually the Inner Khalkha Five Tribes of Mongolia, a formidable force that had conflicts with Wild Boar Skin, making them both enemies and allies.

Wang Huazhen shouted loudly, "I have never imprisoned your warriors. Instead, you gather here to cause trouble. Do you want to taste the might of our Ming army?"

The woman laughed, "What a show of power! Are all Han people so shameless? Clearly, more than a hundred Chao Hua warriors entered the city this morning to trade, and they haven't returned. In the afternoon, you closed the city gates. Isn't that just a way to kill them?"

Hearing this, Wang Huazhen secretly sighed in relief. A small matter had caused so much trouble. One wrong step could mean death, but he now felt confident.

"I never lie. I will show you immediately."

The woman's face showed a hint of surprise. She had expected these people to be either dead or imprisoned. But the sight before her stunned her. Ji Da led more than a hundred Mongols up to the city wall, all of them in good condition.

Seeing the woman below, Ji Da was also surprised and hurriedly bowed.

"Miss, we are all fine. Thank you for your concern!"

The woman frowned and pointed at the city wall with her whip. "Tell the truth, did the Han people coerce you?"

Ji Da waved his hands. "Absolutely not. Sir Wang is fair. He just executed a fraudster, and we are all grateful!"

"Really?"

"Indeed!"

The woman finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Sir Wang, I have offended you. I hope you can be magnanimous and not hold it against me!"

"Hmm," Wang Huazhen nodded reluctantly.

"Since you are not angry, will you release my people?"

Wang Huazhen frowned. "Lady, have your people retreat five miles, and I will release them."

The woman hesitated, and Ji Da quickly shouted, "Miss, don't worry, Sir Wang is a good man!"

The woman finally nodded, and the four to five hundred Mongol riders dispersed. The city gates opened, and Ji Da and the others marched out, disappearing into the night.

"Phew!" Wang Huazhen wiped the sweat from his brow, sighing, "Finally, it's over!"

Thinking of Zhang Ke, the top contributor, he smiled and asked, "Zhang Ke, you handled the situation well and spoke eloquently. Have you read books?"

"Sir, I studied for five years at the Yizhou Guard School, but I am not very talented and have not achieved any titles."

"Ah!" Wang Huazhen nodded. "Ten years of hard study, everyone has to endure. By the way, at the Yizhou Guard School, do you know Hong Fu?"

"Hong Sir is my teacher. He went to the capital half a year ago and left me a message, 'Yongzhen.'"

Wang Huazhen's eyes lit up, and he stroked his beard, laughing. "Ke means respectful, and Zhen means the essence of things! Your teacher has high hopes for you. Yongzhen, I am from the same batch as Hong, so I am your senior!"

Zhang Ke quickly dusted off his clothes and bowed. "Junior greets Sir!"

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