Chapter 66

Heshixian, known for his impetuous nature, took the lead and said, "Lord Hong, over the years, I have fought on the battlefield and have achieved considerable merit. I want to use my merit to save Zhang Feng's life. Do you think it's possible?"

"Alas, Commander He, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, military officers who commit crimes must be punished based on their merits. For example, Zhang Feng has killed enemies in battle, his deceased father fought against the Japanese in Korea, and Yongzhen has just achieved a great feat by slaying nearly a hundred Tartars. One could say that the family is loyal and brave. By all rights, Zhang Feng should not be executed. However, the current situation is very clear. From the governor Zhou Yongchun down to many of the generals, all want his life. It's unlikely that his merits can save him!"

"Is there really no way out? Can the Governor-General just watch a good person be framed?"

Hong Fugao shook his head slightly, "Commander He, as the saying goes, one must fight for justice. As long as there is a reason, I, Hong Fugao, will do everything in my power, even if it means losing my position. Even if Governor Xiong comes, I will stand firm! The only fear is that we have no evidence. The Governor-General will likely use the banner of the greater good, making it difficult to reverse the situation!"

"Ah!" Heshixian sighed heavily, "Solid evidence? Those scoundrels have already destroyed the evidence. What can we find in just two or three days!"

Everyone was immediately shrouded in a cloud of worry, thunder and lightning in their ears, at a loss for what to do.

Zhang Ke suddenly stood up from his seat. Hong Fugao looked up sharply, seeing that Zhang Ke's face was particularly calm, his dark eyes shining with confidence.

"Master, Uncle He, every step leaves a trace. It has been less than twenty days since the incident, so there must be some clues left. I have the confidence to find a way to clear the charges. Uncle He, Big Brother, please tell me the details. Have there been any unusual situations these days?"

"Right, Yongzhen is right!" Hong Fugao said, "It's up to us to find a solution. We must think hard, and there will be a way!"

Zhang Ke glanced at his elder brother Zhang Feng and asked, "Big Brother, according to Yang Long, you seized the convoy, which was supposed to be filled with old iron, but how did it turn into military rations?"

Zhang Feng frowned and sighed, "Little Brother, I don't understand it either. I followed Uncle He's orders and personally escorted the convoy back to Shenyang, where it was placed in a special courtyard for safekeeping. Uncle He immediately reported to the governor. Three days later, the governor arrived in Shenyang, and upon inspection, the convoy had turned into rations."

"Then someone must have switched it. Big Brother, did you ever leave?"

"I left once, on the second day. I thought I had achieved a great feat, so I took my men to celebrate with a victory drink!" Zhang Feng said, pulling at his hair in distress.

"It's all my fault for drinking too much. If I had stayed, they wouldn't have had the chance to switch it!"

Zhang Ke said, "Big Brother, this isn't the time for self-blame. Have you investigated any suspects?"

At this point, Heshixian spoke, "We did investigate. There was a captain named Jin Sheng who was guarding the courtyard with Zhang Feng."

"What about Jin Sheng?"

"He's dead!"

"Ah? What happened?"

Heshixian sighed, "When I discovered the switch, I investigated my subordinates. It turned out that Jin Sheng had fallen from a tavern and died the day before."

"Ah!" Zhang Ke clenched his teeth and asked urgently, "Uncle He, what happened to Jin Sheng's body? Can I see it?"

"It was burned!"

"What? How could such an important suspect be burned?"

Heshixian slapped his forehead in frustration, "Nephew, it's all my fault. I placed Jin Sheng's body in the camp, but it was burned that night. Not only that, but the courtyard where the seized goods were stored was also burned to ashes!"

Zhang Ke was stunned. The other side had indeed gone too far, cutting off the most important leads. Without knowing how the switch was made, how could he clear his brother's name?

Zhang Ke's headache grew worse, and Hong Fugao's frown deepened.

"Commander He, what charges were brought against Zhang Feng, and what other implications are there?"

"Lord Hong, on the day Governor Zhou arrived, the merchant Zhu Jinhai hanged himself and left a suicide note, saying that as a merchant, he had failed to deliver the military rations on time, disgracing the imperial favor and delaying military operations, so he took his own life!"

Heshixian cursed, "All lies! If he cared about the court, he wouldn't have smuggled iron to the Jurchens. It's utter nonsense!"

Zhang Feng smiled bitterly, "Although it's nonsense, the next events were too coincidental. The soldiers at Fengji Fort mutinied due to a lack of food, and the Jurchens took advantage of the situation, killing over a thousand innocent civilians that day. When the merchants in Shenyang heard that Zhu Jinhai was dead, they jointly petitioned the governor to punish the responsible parties. If not for Uncle He's protection, I would have been executed ten days ago."

Heshixian slammed the table, furious, "I can't understand why all these things happened at once. Jin Sheng died, the courtyard burned, Zhu Jinhai hanged himself, the soldiers mutinied, and the Jurchens invaded. One thing after another, it's clearly a plot to force me to my death!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Fugao and Zhang Ke exchanged a glance, both feeling a chill. They had expected the case to be complex, but it seemed even more intricate than they had imagined!

These people could even manipulate the Jurchens to help them, making them a transnational criminal organization!

Even though Zhang Ke was prepared, the thought of the opposition still made his head ache. If they weren't careful, they could be utterly destroyed!

As everyone racked their brains for a solution, Zhang Feng suddenly stood up.

"I have something to say to my younger brother alone!"

Heshixian frowned, displeased, "Zhang Feng, I am your father's sworn brother. Why must you hide things from me?"

On the other side, Hong Fugao smiled, "Commander He, let them have their private conversation. I have some ideas, and we can discuss them."

Zhang Ke noticed his brother's unusual expression and quickly stood up, following Zhang Feng to a nearby room. Zhang Feng checked the room several times before sitting down opposite Zhang Ke.

Looking at his brother, Zhang Feng suddenly reached out and patted Zhang Ke's shoulder.

"Ah, Little Brother, I never thought that in just a few years, you would grow into such a capable young man, able to save your useless older brother!"

Zhang Ke smiled, "Big Brother, it's just the two of us. Don't waste time with sentiment. Speak your mind, and I'll think of a way to save you."

Zhang Feng suddenly smiled at the slightly immature face, "Little Brother, I want to tell you not to waste your time. Big Brother has encountered something he can't touch!"

"Nonsense, even the Son of Heaven can't stop me from saving you. Speak quickly, what are you hiding?"

"Ah, Little Brother, look at this."

Zhang Feng took off his left shoe, and an overwhelming stench filled the air, almost knocking Zhang Ke out.

Zhang Feng looked embarrassed, "Wait a moment!"

Rip, Zhang Feng tore the shoe sole and pulled out a red wooden token.

Zhang Ke, ignoring the stench, quickly took it, his eyes almost popping out as he read the inscription. Gradually, the veins on his hands bulged, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

He stood there, as if made of wood.

Weaving Bureau, Number 117 of the Chou character...

It was a palace waist token!

This case had actually involved the palace, a matter of the highest level!

Zhang Feng smiled bitterly, "Little Brother, I'm content to see you one last time and speak to you. Take good care of Mother and continue the family line..."

"Shut up!" Zhang Ke suddenly slapped his thigh, a rare smile breaking out. "Ha ha ha, Big Brother, you're saved!"

Zhang Feng's eyes widened, looking at his younger brother as if he had taken the wrong medicine. Offending the palace, they could crush him with a finger. Which official would dare to intervene?

Zhang Ke held the waist token, his smile growing wider.

"Big Brother, how did you get this waist token?"

"It was the day Governor Zhou inspected the goods. I found it in a snow pile at the courtyard's entrance. I intended to give it to Uncle He, but they immediately arrested me. In a panic, I hid the token in my shoe."

"Big Brother, why didn't you show the token?"

"I'm not stupid. It's a palace item. Would an official dare to call a eunuch for questioning? If I showed it, they would immediately accuse me of framing the inner court and execute me!"

Zhang Ke listened, and a smile finally spread across his face. He grabbed his brother's shoulder and said, "Big Brother, although you and Uncle He have made a mess of the case, you're not completely foolish. You knew to keep such an important item."

Zhang Feng rolled his eyes, weakly saying, "Little Brother, don't comfort me. Big Brother is probably doomed."

Zhang Ke's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Big Brother, I'm not comforting you. There is real hope! Sometimes, the bigger the issue, the more chance there is for a solution. If it really involves the inner court, the Emperor cannot ignore it and must investigate thoroughly. Then you will be saved!"