Chapter 513: Success

This round of salt allocation was overseen by Zhang Yue, the director of the Military Armory Department and governor of Xuanfu!

If the thorough purge of the Jinyiwei troops in Xuanfu was chilling, then the news coming from the general’s office was a great relief to all merchants. Along with this news came another message: any previous bribery cases would be overlooked. Although losing the money invested was painful for many, it was still better than having their assets seized by the new Jinyiwei and Eastern Depot officials.

Dozens of people gathered on either side of the eight-character wall in front of the general’s office. These merchants, even when their owners were present, ignored imperial bans and continued wearing luxurious fabrics. But now they dressed more modestly—removing their mink hats and fur ear warmers—some even standing bareheaded in the wind, carefully studying the detailed regulations. The empire held such allocations every year, but in varying quantities and durations. No one wanted to spend hard-earned grain only to wait years for salt, so the promise of “immediate salt distribution” was incredibly tempting.

“Sixty-six thousand five hundred units of salt—even if each unit is small, this amount is almost equal to the total output of the Huai region’s salt fields for two months. There’s more than just Xuanfu involved in these allocations. Besides Huai salt, I don’t want salt from anywhere else!”

“And this time it’s not scattered payments; it’s in batches of five hundred units. The base price is three dou and five sheng, but it’s actually a bidding process—higher bids win. That’s a ruthless tactic! What if everyone calculates the lowest possible price?”

“Don’t get too excited! We know exactly how much salt the imperial fields produce each year. Since the decree allows us to skip the usual order, we’re first in line, but there will still be a sequence among us. Those who bid higher will get salt first; those who bid less will wait. If you bid too low, you might wait two or three years without getting salt, which is like selling grain to the government. Would you really do that? With profit at stake, do you really think everyone will work together?”

“What should we do… This isn’t our first time with these allocations. In the past, so much grain was piled up that the government had to buy it back, barely covering costs. If prices soar this time…”

Everyone was discussing things in private, while Zhang Yue, who was in the general’s study at that moment, was carefully calculating based on the various data gathered. Since the kitchen staff continued to supply rice for production costs, the salt fields purchased the extra salt produced each month in exchange for rice, resulting in a significant increase in salt output. Moreover, the treasury bonds held for over five years were being repurchased by the imperial court, so there were more merchants this time than before. However, the credibility of the Ming court among merchants was quite low, which was why he had convinced Lu Feng not to pursue the merchants further. After all, military provisions were of utmost importance, and he had to be extra careful in handling things.

“In the third year of Hongwu, one dan of rice was delivered to the Datong granary, and one dan and three dou to the Taiyuan granary, along with a small amount of Huai salt. In the fifteenth year of Yongle, during the system of ‘opening stores,’ one dan of rice was delivered to the capital granaries, along with a small amount of Huai salt. In the seventeenth year of Yongle, the system was reinstated across all military garrisons; seven dou and five sheng of rice were delivered to the Xuanfu granary, along with a small amount of Huai salt. Yet merchants, finding it difficult to obtain salt, were unwilling to participate in this system…”

“That’s enough for now!”

Zhang Yue waved his hand to stop the clerk and continued writing and calculating on paper. Compared to when he first submitted a report on salt affairs, he now understood the flaws better. There was no proper plan for the system of ‘opening stores’ across military garrisons. Previously, people feared food shortages, but once the ban was lifted, they focused only on hoarding grain or embezzling funds, regardless of the salt fields’ output. The emperor kept waging wars, and areas like Datong and Xuanfu frequently implemented this system, selling salt that wouldn’t be produced for decades. Even though some treasury bonds were now being repurchased, it still reduced the burden on the salt fields, but many merchants suffered losses. The same was true this time—although he could use this system to secure enough grain, it would come at the expense of the interests of the merchants who had previously participated, much like drinking poison to quench thirst.

After this northern expedition, Zhu Di couldn’t keep leading military campaigns like this! Even if war was necessary, they couldn’t send armies of 300,000 at will—how much food and funds would that consume? No wonder people mentioned the Han Dynasty as the era of Emperors Wen and Jing, and the Ming Dynasty as the era of Emperors Ren and Xuan—after all, the common people didn’t want war. But without constant warfare, the military garrisons would decay and the military system would deteriorate…

“Sir, an urgent report from Kaiping!”

With that shout, Xiang Long rushed into the room from outside, calmed himself down, and exclaimed, “Yu Qian, an imperial censor from the Censorate, has sent an urgent report over 800 li, stating that most of the grain reserves in Kaiping have rotted and can no longer be used!”

Due to the numerous complicated matters beforehand, Zhang Yue had almost forgotten that Yu Qian was also with him at the time. Upon learning this, he was initially surprised, but thinking that he was also dealing with grain storage issues and that Yu Qian had originally come to Kaiping to inspect the grain reserves, it wasn’t strange that this happened. Still, the timing was quite precise—his own plans to take action would start in about two days, yet Yu Qian had somehow arrived just in time, with no prior warning at all.

“Sir, Eunuch Lu has come to borrow soldiers from the imperial army!” Before Zhang Yue could recover from the shock of this news, Liu Bao rushed into the room, bowed deeply, and said excitedly, “Eunuch Lu has already borrowed five hundred men from Lord Meng at the general’s headquarters, saying he fears they won’t be enough, so he’s come to ask Lord Zhou for help!”

Without hesitation, Zhang Yue replied, “Give them as many as he wants… Wait, once the troops are assigned, you and Xiang Long should head to the eunuch’s residence right away. That Wang Guan might go crazy in desperation—don’t let him cause a big uproar! What’s needed now is stability, not chaos. This matter must be resolved as quickly as possible!”

Xuanfu City usually had well-ordered military presence, and it was not common to see soldiers everywhere. So when the city’s servants, cart drivers, and even merchants and peddlers saw groups of soldiers running down the main streets, they found it utterly bizarre. Many even mustered the courage to follow and watch. Soon, those following the troops discovered their destination, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t figure out the reason behind it. Only those who had witnessed the Jinyiwei detachment in Xuanfu being attacked in Flower Lane seemed to understand something, sparking endless discussions.

That Eunuch Lu had just cleaned out the Jinyiwei—now he wanted to deal with the eunuch in charge?

Wang Guan hadn’t slept all night. After returning from Zhang Yue’s place the previous day, he spent the entire night frantically moving his wealth, planning to destroy the evidence and leave the city early that morning. With fast horses, he would reach Tartar territory beyond the Great Wall, where he had already prepared a place to settle down. Yet he never expected that, after yesterday’s fierce crackdown, Lu Feng would come after him directly today, appearing utterly fearless. At that moment, he sent his messenger away, ignoring the chaos at home, and collapsed in a chair, utterly disheartened.

“Father-in-law, hurry and run through the secret passage. Didn’t we dig that passage just to prepare for this very day? As long as the mountains remain, there will always be firewood. Maybe if we delay things a bit, we’ll find a solution.”
“Run? The city must already be under martial law by now. Once a search starts throughout the city, there’s no way we can escape!” Wang Guan laughed nervously for a while, then had a crazy idea and shouted sharply, “Quick! Bring over all the kerosene we prepared earlier, along with dry wood. Hurry up!”
The attendants exchanged glances for a moment. Though they found it strange for their master to want dry wood and kerosene at such a critical moment, thinking of the army surrounding the city, they realized that even if Wang Guan escaped temporarily, he might not be able to escape forever. So they did as ordered. When the items were brought, they saw Wang Guan pour a can of kerosene over himself and then spread it all around in the large, spacious main room, his face twisted in a fierce expression. They finally understood that he was determined to make things worse.
The two attendants near the door quietly stepped back and then rushed out. The two inside, though they had accompanied Wang Guan out to meet Zhang Yue the night before, also instinctively stepped back. The Jinyiwei and Dongchang only wanted to capture Wang Guan; they certainly wouldn’t bother with such lowly figures. So why should they risk their lives by accompanying him in his madness? Wang Guan might not be able to escape from the mansion, but they were different!
Seeing two people run away first, and the two he considered his confidants suddenly turning and fleeing desperately, Wang Guan, drenched in kerosene, became furious. The pungent smell filled his nose, making him sneeze repeatedly.
Damn it! He had already moved all his valuables elsewhere. With just one fire, he could burn away the evidence here along with himself. Then he’d see how Lu Feng could explain that! But these damned servants, who he had fed with money all along, ran away at the critical moment? Did they even understand gratitude or loyalty? At the very least, two of them should have stayed to keep up appearances! Drenched in kerosene in the cold weather, he was already freezing to death—did he have to strike flint himself?
Before he could sneeze again, a figure flashed at the door as someone rushed in. Filled with frustration, he was about to shout insults, but then suddenly recognized those two people. The curses on his lips were forced back down. A glimmer of hope arose in his already desperate heart.

“Two brave men, it’s Lord Xiao Zhang… Ahchoo… Lord Xiao Zhang sent you to help… Ahchoo, ahchoo…”
“It indeed was our lord who sent us here. Good thing we arrived in time.” Xiang Long gently stroked his left arm, which still ached from the arrow wound, and smiled with narrowed eyes. Then he and Liu Bao stepped forward, holding Wang Guan firmly on either side. “Our lord said to come and see that things don’t get out of control. The situation isn’t settled yet—why would you think of self-immolation? One must be responsible for their own actions. If you burn down the Eunuch Guard Mansion, how can you expect others not to be implicated?”
“You… you guys…” Wang Guan, already shivering from the cold, became even more speechless under this further shock. “He clearly promised… Could it be he plans to take all our family’s wealth and even our lives…”
“Pah! Who cares about your filthy money!” Liu Bao, known for his hot temper, couldn’t hold back and cursed loudly. “We almost lost our lives in Xinghe—can your money buy back our lives? If not for the young master’s order, I would have slit your throat right then! A few of your subordinates still have some courage; they’re already ready with weapons at the second gate. If it weren’t for mentioning our lord’s name, we wouldn’t have been able to enter. Now, you’d better rest!”
As he spoke, Liu Bao delivered a fierce punch to Wang Guan’s abdomen. Seeing the man sway and pass out, he raised his head and said, “Brother Long, this guy must now understand everything. If we take him to the capital, he’ll probably start spouting nonsense…”
Xiang Long helped Wang Guan sit down on a chair and laughed mockingly. “Eunuch Lu still hopes for his wealth. Why would he keep him alive and take him to the capital? Our lord has already planned everything. Once Eunuch Lu reports it, the emperor will surely order a public execution right here in Xuanfu with just a little effort. His death will deter the scoundrels, and this farce will reach its climax. By then, we can focus on opening the vault.”
By midday, the last traces of resistance from the servants guarding the Eunuch Guard Mansion had completely ended. Lu Feng returned here with great arrogance. Remembering how he had been embarrassed at Wang Guan’s banquet last time, hearing the cries and pleas everywhere, and seeing the servants kneeling on the ground trembling, he felt immensely satisfied. But as he walked along the bluestone path to the main building, he smelled a pungent odor. Frowning, he soon turned pale with shock.

“How could it be kerosene! Damn it, are those two good for nothing?” He rushed forward and lifted the door curtain. There, he saw Wang Guan sitting softly in the armchair, with Xiang Long and Liu Bao standing beside him. He also noticed piles of dry wood and two boxes soaked in kerosene throughout the room. Seeing the two bowing in greeting, he sighed in relief and said with a smile, “It seems we didn’t bring the wrong person in. Luckily you two arrived in time. If Wang Guan had set the house on fire by himself, things really wouldn’t have ended well. Go back and tell Lord Xiao Zhang that we owe him a huge favor this time. We won’t interfere in his plans—let him do as he pleases!” Xiang Long and Liu Bao had been waiting for this. After responding, they didn’t even glance at the still-unconscious wretch. After bowing, they strode out of the room. As soon as they left, Lu Feng ordered two of his attendants to help lift Wang Guan up. After examining him from head to toe, he suddenly slapped him hard across the face. Ignoring the pain in his own hand, he struck him several more times. When Wang Guan finally began to stir, Lu Feng narrowed his eyes and revealed a sinister smile. “Eunuch Wang, welcome to the Jinyiwei… By the way, the Jinyiwei of Xuanfu these days is not the same as before. They’ll treat you well!”