Chapter 72

On the cobblestone street, a warhorse galloped, causing the pedestrians to scatter in panic. Everyone couldn't help but curse loudly, but when they looked at the rider, they were all frightened speechless.

On the horseback was a young eunuch, his hat gone, one boot missing, and his shrill voice like that of an owl.

"Quick, save me! Kill the rebels quickly..."

Xiaowuzi kept shouting, but Zhang Ke couldn't bear it anymore and swung his fist, striking hard.

The passersby on the roadside, seeing this, all opened their mouths wide in shock, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight!

Someone actually dared to hit a eunuch!

Do they want to die?

That's someone from the palace, imbued with the emperor's... no... dragon aura. Even a dog has to look at its master, is this young man crazy?

Everyone was talking, some cheering, others secretly reporting to the authorities.

Outside was in chaos, and inside the temporary headquarters, it was also bustling. Xiong Tingbi had given an hour, and it was almost over. He Shixian's subordinates had already brought the driver's family to the hall, dozens of people kneeling on the ground, some with bloodstains, clearly just tortured.

Xiong Tingbi's face was expressionless, like a poker face. The governor Zhou Yongchun, the vice inspector Ge Chunfang, and all the military officers had grim faces, some even glaring angrily.

He Shixian didn't care about their gazes and sneered, "General Xiong, please ask your questions in the hall. Let's see when their relatives really died!"

Xiong Tingbi pondered for a moment, just about to ask, when a sharp laugh came from outside.

"Oh, all the great officials are here. I came rashly, disrupting your meeting!"

As he spoke, a grand eunuch in a qilin robe walked in. He looked to be in his thirties or forties, with extremely well-maintained skin, even women would envy. He had fine eyebrows, long eyes, a slightly hooked nose, and his eyes often flashed with a cunning and sinister light.

This was the Liaodong supervisor eunuch, He Bian!

All the officials in the hall stood up, even Xiong Tingbi. His previously stern face softened.

"Supervisor He, what wind has brought you here? Please take a seat!"

"Hehe, Lord Xiong, you're too polite. I'm just a servant, unlike all of you, who are all graduates, bearing the responsibility of the state!"

Xiong Tingbi hurriedly smiled, "Supervisor He, you're too modest. You are the emperor's personally appointed supervisor. In Liaodong, big and small matters all rely on your help! Just a month ago, it was you who petitioned the emperor, leading to the allocation of 200,000 taels of silver, solving Liaodong's urgent needs!"

He Bian smiled slightly, "Lord Xiong, you have a good memory. Let's be frank, we are all the emperor's dogs. Whatever he commands, we must rush forward, even if it means losing our heads! If we make the emperor unhappy, we deserve to die!"

Xiong Tingbi quickly smiled, "We are all the emperor's subjects. It is our duty to share the emperor's worries, and we cannot shirk this responsibility!"

"Good!" He Bian clapped his hands and smiled, "General Xiong is indeed a capable official, I admire you. Let's talk about this: there are many merchants in Liaodong who are responsible for the emperor's affairs. Recently, some have been complaining to me that someone is allowing their subordinates to bully the merchants, making it harder for them to do business!"

He Bian said this, casting a cold glance at Hong Fuchao and He Shixian, then pursed his lips, "I don't care what a few merchants say, but they are responsible for the emperor's affairs. If they are neglected, I will lose my head! What do you all think?"

"Of course, of course!" Ge Chunfang eagerly agreed. He never thought He Bian would speak up for them, and he didn't know who had such power! Ge Chunfang didn't have time to think, but if Supervisor He stood with them, it would be a done deal!

Ge Chunfang waved his hands and laughed, "Supervisor He is wise, what you said is absolutely right. Some people like to make a big fuss, causing unrest. I believe such people must be thoroughly investigated to see their true intentions!"

Ge Chunfang said this, looking provocatively at Hong Fuchao.

Hong Fuchao never expected He Bian to intervene. He represented the emperor, the ultimate authority! Before he could figure out how to respond, Ge Chunfang had already launched an attack.

Hong Fuchao had to fight back. He smiled, "Lord Ge, if we are to investigate, there are many witnesses right here. Let's start with them! Supervisor He, some people claim that the convoy seized by Captain Zhang Feng was a grain convoy, but my investigation shows it was not. The real grain convoy is these people! Someone killed the real grain convoy and had Zhu Jinhai impersonate it!"

Hong Fuchao pointed at the family members, and He Bian's dark gaze swept over them, then he suddenly smiled, "Lord Hong, do you mean that Zhang Feng is innocent, and the ones lying are the Zhu family and the Liaodong merchants?"

"I dare not say for sure that Zhang Feng is innocent, but the facts are questionable. Indeed, someone had Zhu Jinhai impersonate the grain convoy. Since there is a real grain convoy, what did Zhu Jinhai bring? Could it be old iron and medicine? If so, Zhang Feng is not only innocent but should be rewarded!"

Everyone in the hall was silent, with the witnesses right there, no one could lie.

He Bian looked at the confident Hong Fuchao and suddenly smiled, "Lord Hong, from my perspective, these are two separate cases, don't mix them up. I just want to ask, did Zhang Feng seize Zhu Jinhai's convoy and force him to death?"

"Supervisor He, Zhang Feng did seize the convoy, but Zhu Jinhai might still... no, Zhu Jinhai is not dead!" Hong Fuchao said through gritted teeth. Honestly, he wasn't sure if Zhu Jinhai was really dead, but he couldn't back down now!

"Ha ha ha ha, Lord Hong, you say Zhu Jinhai is not dead. Where is he?"

"This... still searching."

"Searching? When did Lord Hong gain the ability to catch people from hell?" He Bian suddenly became stern, his sharp voice echoing in the hall.

"The Zhu family is a royal merchant in Liaodong, helping the palace acquire furs and medicines, supplying the Imperial Wardrobe, Cap and Hat Bureau, and Imperial Medical Bureau. If Zhu Jinhai was forced to death, it would discourage those working for the emperor. Lord Hong, what's the point of arguing about the authenticity of the grain convoy? Even if the mutiny wasn't caused by Zhang Feng, he should still die!"

Zhou Yongchun, listening beside him, gave He Bian a thumbs up. Truly, someone who had been in the palace knew how to handle things!

"Supervisor He is right, Lord Hong. You shouldn't be sidetracked, confusing the issue. The most urgent matter is to give the Liaodong merchants a fair resolution. Otherwise, if they are frightened and delay the palace's affairs, how can we, as officials, face the emperor?"

By involving the palace and the emperor, all the civil and military officials were energized, each one spitting venom at Hong Fuchao without mercy.

Ge Chunfang even said, "Supervisor He, I believe Zhang Feng should be immediately arrested and beheaded!"

He Bian nodded in satisfaction, rising and smiling, "Lord Xiong, I've said my piece. You know what to do. I'll take my leave!"

Xiong Tingbi finally nodded, "Supervisor He, rest assured, I will order Zhang Feng's execution immediately!"

As soon as the words were out, He Shixian couldn't hold back. He suddenly lifted a chair and smashed it on the ground, sending pieces of fine red wood flying, shocking everyone.

"Lord He Shixian, do you want to rebel?" Zhou Yongchun shouted.

He Shixian suddenly laughed loudly, "General, Governor, Supervisor He, you all talk about giving the merchants a fair resolution, but have you thought about giving the soldiers a fair resolution? Captain Zhang Feng has served in the army for many years, repeatedly earning merit. Not long ago, he personally beheaded two Jurchen rebels! Is his life worth less than a corrupt merchant's? With so many doubts, you want to execute him. Is there still law in the Ming Dynasty? Is there still a place for loyal and capable generals?"

He Shixian, usually clumsy with words, spoke with force and clarity, and the generals like Li Huaxin in the hall felt a deep resonance!

After all, they were all military men, risking their lives, and finding out their lives were so cheap, no one felt comfortable.

The old general Li Huaxin couldn't help but say, "General, can we consider his merits to offset his crimes?"

"Enough!" Xiong Tingbi suddenly waved his hand and shouted, "Murder must be punished, and debts must be repaid. Moreover, a crime in the army is a greater offense. Since you say Zhang Feng has merits, I will leave him a full body!"

What a great favor! Zhou Yongchun and the others were almost jumping with joy, the Governor was truly wise! Zhang Feng would finally die, and their worries would be gone, allowing them to have a peaceful year!

Just then, a small eunuch rushed in, panic-stricken, and seeing He Bian, burst into tears.

"Father, something terrible has happened! Someone has attacked the supervisor's office and taken my senior brother away!"

"It's Xiaowuzi!"

He Bian was so shocked he cried out, his limbs turning cold! Who dared to take his subordinate? Could it be someone from the capital, sent to investigate him?

"Who took Xiaowuzi? Speak the truth quickly!"

Before the small eunuch could speak, there was a commotion outside the headquarters.

Hong Fuchao and He Shixian rushed to look outside and saw a group of soldiers escorting a young man into the hall!

"Yongzhen!" Hong Fuchao's face showed surprise and joy. In just a few days, Zhang Ke's ability to handle affairs had impressed him greatly, and he had unknowingly placed all his hopes on this disciple. Zhang Ke's appearance made Hong Fuchao feel as if a heavy burden had been lifted!

At this moment, Zhang Ke had already brought his people to the entrance of the hall. His position as a guard had not been confirmed, so he had no right to enter.

Zhang Ke stood respectfully at the door and shouted loudly, "I, Zhang Ke, a commoner, beg to speak for my brother Zhang Feng. I have found the merchant Zhu Jinhai, who faked his death. My brother did not force anyone to death. On the contrary, someone faked their death to frame him. I humbly request that you, the great officials, give my brother a fair judgment!"

Each word, clear and resounding, like a thunderclap, stunned the powerful officials in the hall!