Chapter 57

Wang Huazhen was not lying. He had just summarized the situation, and there were at least three major crimes that could not be avoided: the first was the poor resettlement of the returning people, the second was the improper use of personnel, with Xu Bangyan colluding with the Tartars and bandits, and the third was the poor defense, allowing the Tartars to invade.

Especially, the dispatch of Xu Bangyan to patrol the border was agreed upon by him. If it weren't for Zhang Ke protecting the people and defending Dachen Fort, he would be waiting to lose his position and be thrown into prison! However, even so, once the censors found out, as his superior, he would still face severe consequences, so it would be better to resign early!

When Wang Huazhen said this, Zhang Ke was stunned. His success in Dachen Fort largely depended on this man's support. Without this backing, he wouldn't even be a formal official, and anyone could crush him!

"Sir Wang, you must not resign. I believe you are not only innocent but have made great contributions!"

Wang Huazhen smiled sadly, "Yongzhen, I was ordered to settle the people returning from Mongolia. They were almost massacred by the Ming soldiers. Is that not a crime?"

"Sir, these people are now living happily in River Bend Village. A few days ago, they fought the Tartars with great passion, killing countless Tartars and beheading nearly a hundred. This is their loyalty to the Ming! Your arrangement was not wrong. Please do not blame yourself!"

Wang Huazhen, of course, knew that Zhang Ke was trying to exonerate him. Since the returning people were under Zhang Ke's command, as long as he was willing to help, no one could say anything. However...

"Yongzhen, what about the Tartar invasion? The court is trying to ally with the Mongols to fight the Jurchens. After the battle at Dachen Fort, I fear the Mongols will not let it go. The court will have to find someone to take the blame."

Zhang Ke smiled, "Sir, I believe the Mongols are the least of our worries."

"How so?"

"Ha ha ha, the old slave (referring to Nurhaci) rose in Liaodong, and our Ming has suffered defeat after defeat. It seems we need the Mongols' help. However, the Ming is the supreme empire, with vast lands and abundant resources, and can still hold on. But the Mongols? The Jurchens need to grow, which will inevitably lead to increased conflict with the Mongols. As the saying goes, two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain, unless one is male and the other is female... Is the old slave willing to be the female, or is Lin Danhan willing?"

Wang Huazhen laughed heartily, "Yongzhen indeed hits the mark. Both are formidable figures, and neither will be willing to yield."

"Exactly. The Jurchens are a new force, and the Mongols are powerful. To deal with the Jurchens, Lin Danhan will inevitably seek help from the Ming, as will the Chao Hua tribes. I believe sending a skilled negotiator to explain the benefits and increasing trade will make the Mongols submit willingly."

"Um, that makes sense, but what about Xu Bangyan? I sent him here, and this beast killed innocent people to claim credit, harmed the people, colluded with bandits, and bowed to the Tartars. His crimes are unforgivable, and I am also to blame!"

"Sir, allow me to speak from the heart!"

"Speak!"

Zhang Ke's eyes darted, and he clenched his teeth in his heart. Historically, Wang Huazhen only left a record of the Guangning disaster, where he lost his head. But now, he and Wang Huazhen are bound together. If Wang Huazhen meets the same fate as in history, he won't fare well either!

It all depends on whether he can listen!

"Sir, Xu Bangyan's actions are outrageous, but he is not alone. The Liaodong border commanders, from the lowest to the highest, are corrupt. From the lowest total flag and hundred-household, all the way up to the commander and even higher, all are the same!"

Wang Huazhen sighed, "Yongzhen, you are right, but someone like Xu Bangyan, who acts without restraint, is a lawless criminal. As a court official, I cannot allow such a criminal to go unpunished!"

"Sir, I admire your integrity, but I must disagree. In Liaodong, there are many who are even more daring than Xu Bangyan! Take the old slave, for example, from the uprising in the eleventh year of Wanli to the declaration of the Khan in the forty-fourth year, and then the capture of Qinghe and Fushun in the forty-sixth year, and the great defeat at Sarhū in the forty-seventh year, over thirty years, could it have happened without anyone's indulgence?"

Ah!

Wang Huazhen's forehead veins bulged, and his teeth ground together!

The old slave suddenly rose and swept through Liaodong, leaving the Ming court in disarray. Almost no one in the court had considered how the old slave had risen!

As Zhang Ke said, the old slave did not fall from the sky. He had experienced over thirty years of battles, unifying the Jurchen tribes, before daring to challenge the Ming.

For such a long time, who indulged the old slave, who watched the Jurchens grow...

Wang Huazhen's breathing became more rapid, his face flushed red, and all his long-standing doubts vanished. He stood up from his seat and said through gritted teeth, "Yongzhen, I understand. It's all the fault of Li Chengliang and his son. The Li family is the Ming's criminal, and they have nurtured a tiger to their own detriment! I will immediately write a memorial to the emperor, and even if Li Chengliang is dead, I will exhume his body and flog it!"

"Sir, hold on!"

Wang Huazhen immediately frowned and looked at Zhang Ke in surprise.

"Do you think I don't have the weight to bring down the Li family?"

"Sir, you just said they nurtured a tiger to their own detriment. I must respectfully disagree. It's more like a tail too big to control, or even aiding the tiger! The Li family has been controlled by the tiger they raised! Illness comes like a mountain, but leaves like a thread. Now, we must proceed cautiously."

Wang Huazhen stood stiffly, silent for a full fifteen minutes, before sitting down dejectedly.

"Yongzhen is right. What does this have to do with Xu Bangyan?"

"Sir, it has a lot to do with it. If you expose Xu Bangyan's collusion with bandits and Tartars, and the court investigates, it will uncover a web of corruption. After the recent defeat, the emperor might initiate a major investigation, which could lead to chaos in Liaodong!"

After these words, Wang Huazhen deflated like a punctured balloon, all his previous resolve and impulse gone, leaving only a sigh.

Wang Huazhen smiled at Zhang Ke and sighed, "Yongzhen, I often hear people say that some are born with talent. I didn't believe it before, but today, I see that you are a natural for office!"

Wang Huazhen walked to Zhang Ke's side, patted his shoulder, and said meaningfully, "The two lists of scholars are all local favorites. Yongzhen, you should continue your studies. If you enter the court, I might need your help!"

Zhang Ke smiled bitterly, "Sir, with the current situation in Liaodong, how can I focus on my studies? There are over a thousand people in River Bend Village who depend on me! If it's convenient for you, please provide more money and grain, and allocate the surrounding land to me. Also, these people are not officially registered as Ming citizens. Please consider..."

Wang Huazhen laughed, "Yongzhen, rest assured, I will take care of it. But I must remind you, not just River Bend Village, but Dachen Fort! You are in charge of it all!"

As they were talking, the sound of hooves came from outside. Ma Biao stood at the door and shouted, "Sir, General Sun has returned and has captured Xu Bangyan!"

"Good!" Wang Huazhen said through gritted teeth, "Let's go out and see this scoundrel!"

Wang Huazhen and Zhang Ke walked out, and Sun Degong strode in, carrying a man in one hand. He threw the man to the ground in front of Wang Huazhen.

"Sir, I have captured Xu Bangyan!"

Wang Huazhen looked down and saw Xu Bangyan, whose face was bruised and swollen, and two front teeth were missing.

"General Sun, how did you capture him?"

"Sir, I chased him all the way to Zhenyi Fort. Xu Bangyan and his remaining troops were hiding in a valley, and I dragged him out!"

"Good, very good!" Wang Huazhen looked at Xu Bangyan coldly, "Do you admit your crimes?"

"I admit it. What choice do I have when I'm in your hands?" Xu Bangyan sneered, "I admit it, but I doubt you have the courage to punish me!"

Wang Huazhen's eyebrows shot up, and Zhang Ke quickly smiled, "Sir, let me take Xu Bangyan to talk. Please wait a moment."

"Alright, I'll leave it to Yongzhen."

Zhang Ke waved his hand, and Ma Biao took Xu Bangyan to a side room. Sun Degong, holding his sword, looked unhappy. Xu Bangyan was his capture, so why should a nobody take him away? Who gets the credit?

He wanted to protest, but seeing Wang Huazhen's approving face, he dared not say more and swallowed his words.

After a full fifteen minutes, Zhang Ke came out of the side room, smiling and walked to Wang Huazhen's side.

"Sir, Xu Bangyan has hanged himself. Here is his confession."

Dead?

Sun Degong's eyes widened. He never imagined that Zhang Ke, who looked so refined, would be so ruthless, hanging a living person in a moment! Yet, he did it with a calm demeanor. Sun Degong thought to himself, "This guy is not to be underestimated!"

Wang Huazhen appeared calm, but his heart was in turmoil. He glanced at Xu Bangyan's confession, which stated that he had failed to suppress the bandits, and the bandit leader, Xishanhu, had colluded with the Tartars to invade, surrounding Dachen Fort. He left the fort and was defeated, causing many casualties, disgracing the Ming, and hanging himself in shame.

Xu Bangyan's collusion with bandits and Tartars was not mentioned, nor was the resettlement of the returning people. He only admitted to the defeat and hanging himself in shame. Fortunately, Dachen Fort was defended, so the crime was not too severe.

"Ah, Xu Bangyan was a man of principle. His family should be well-compensated!"

A major case that could have led to many losing their positions and heads was quietly swept under the rug. Wang Huazhen felt lucky to have kept his position.

Zhang Ke smiled, "Sir, with Xu Bangyan's case settled, should we discuss the rewards?"

"Right, right!" Wang Huazhen laughed, "We should reward the contributors!"

Everyone was excited, even Sun Youguang's face was flushed. During the cleanup, he found twenty-seven Tartar bodies and thirty-two bandit bodies. To claim more credit, he cut off the heads of over ten of Xu Bangyan's subordinates, making it about seventy heads in total.

As for Sun Degong, who pursued Xu Bangyan, he killed forty to fifty people, and their heads were also cut off.

Ironically, Zhang Ke, who had the greatest contribution, had no heads at all, and Sun Youguang felt a bit embarrassed.

"Brother, how about I give you ten heads? That's enough for you to be promoted to a hundred-household!"

Zhang Ke laughed, "No need, Sir Sun. I don't lack heads!"