Chapter 802
Treason and Collusion with the Enemy
Chapter 802 Treason and Collusion with the Enemy
Yang Ji then looked at Sun Xin and said, "Then I must ask Lord Sun to intercede for me with the Crown Prince."
"Such a trivial matter is nothing more than a word to Lord Yang; why should our heir be involved?"
Yang Ji's voice was gloomy, suppressing his anger as he said, "Sun Xin, if you want to die, just tell my father. He's not like the Prince of Lu, who doesn't tolerate injustice. If he knew about these things, none of us would escape, not even the Prince of Lu and his heir."
Sun Xin was silent for a moment, and even Jiang Fangzheng remained silent.
After a long pause, Jiang Fangzheng smiled and said, "We naturally know that Lord Yang is selfless. Lord Sun was just joking. Why should Young Master Yang take him so seriously?"
Sun Xin also changed his tune, saying, "Our Prince's Mansion has been cooperating with Young Master Yang for a long time, so we are naturally willing to help. We were just joking earlier."
He said, "Those Japanese are all despicable villains. They can be driven by self-interest. The Matsuura family of Kyushu wants to seize more power in Japan, and they need a group of ruthless swordsmen..."
"A horizontal sword?" Yang Ji asked, puzzled. "Isn't a Japanese sword better?"
"Japanese swords are only good in terms of materials, but their craftsmanship is far inferior to that of our Ming Dynasty's horizontal swords. Moreover, the major daimyo of Japan are restricting the Matsuura family from purchasing ironware. The Matsuura family has no choice but to try to buy horizontal swords from the Ming Dynasty."
Yang Ji looked at Jiang Fangzheng.
Jiang Fangzheng said, "The horizontal sword is a knife used by the government. If it is discovered, it is a serious crime of treason."
Yang Ji remained silent.
Sun Xin laughed and said, "We'll just prepare the swords and let them come in and take them themselves. Even if we're discovered, if you don't say anything and Young Master Yang doesn't say anything, who will know that we prepared them?"
Seeing that Jiang Fangzheng still refused to agree, and Yang Ji remained silent, Sun Xin said meaningfully, "Isn't cooperating with the Japanese safer than cooperating with the north? Even if His Majesty knew, he would only think we were after money and wouldn't think much of it. But if he knew that military equipment had been shipped to the north, what do you think the emperor would think?"
Chiang Fang-cheng: "Are you threatening me?"
Yang Ji frowned as well: "That matter is in the past, and you were also involved. Sun Xin, are you planning to kick me while I'm down?"
Sun Xin: "I was just telling the truth. What's the difference between doing the same thing twice and doing it once? Besides, cooperating with the Japanese would have brought in more money, and the charges wouldn't have been as serious..."
After pondering for a long time, Jiang Fangzheng finally relented and asked, "The Japanese who came in..."
“They will absolutely not implicate us, because they don’t even know who we are.” Seeing that he had given in, Sun Xin immediately affirmed, “Those who know us won’t come to the Ming Dynasty. No matter how powerful the Embroidered Uniform Guard is, they can’t find us.”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Fangzheng asked, "How many do they want?"
Sun Xin held up a number, and Jiang Fangzheng said, "Too many."
Sun Xin said meaningfully, "There aren't that many. When our ships pass through their territory, I'm afraid we'll have to leave two behind. Young Master Yang, it's not worth it."
Yang Ji immediately said, "Lord Jiang, please agree to his request. If your son doesn't want to stay in Datong Prefecture, why not go to Xuanfu? I am on good terms with Yang Hong's son, Yang Jun. If he goes to Xuanfu, he will be taken care of by Yang Jun, which is much better than being taken care of by a eunuch in Datong Prefecture."
Chiang Fang-cheng was deeply moved.
Although he was promoted to the position of commander of Quanzhou Guard by Wang Zhen, he did not want his son to rise to power through the influence of eunuchs like he had.
His reputation was too bad, and the risks were too great. Historical experience told him that eunuchs who held power never had a good ending, so he had to remove his son from the picture.
Moreover, business with the north was indeed coming to a halt. Although he had Wang Zhen as his backer, he still felt a sense of danger.
Going to Xuanfu is a good idea; it allows us to escape Wang Zhen's sphere of influence and also gives us the opportunity to make a difference.
Yang Ji was after money, and Jiang Fangzheng was after power; both compromised and agreed to Sun Xin's request.
Sun Xin picked up her wine glass, about to clink glasses, when Chao Yan, who had slowly moved up the steps, stepped on a small pebble. The sharp pebble pierced the wound on the sole of her foot, embedding itself in the flesh and reopening the already stopped bleeding wound...
Asagao let out a muffled groan and staggered, almost falling. She hurriedly grabbed the pillar for support, but still managed to make a faint sound.
She hoped the people inside hadn't heard, but a moment later, the study door was slammed open.
Xiao Hong refused to admit defeat. Even if she died, she would never let them go. She resented everyone who had tried to harm her!
Xiao Hong raised her bloodshot eyes, tears of blood streaming down her face, and asked Pan Yun, "Will you avenge me?" Pan Yun nodded resolutely, "Yes!"
The cold wind paused slightly before bypassing the three people standing there and whistling through the trees.
Xiao Hong spun around in place, still unable to release the resentment in her chest.
Pan Jun saw through her at a glance. Her good friend was so depressed, and if she kept it inside for too long, it would only hurt her.
She then asked Wu Zhihong, "Magistrate Wu, is there someone within a hundred miles whom you hate so much that you grit your teeth, yet you have no way to deal with him?"
“Yes,” Wu Zhihong said through gritted teeth, “like the new prefect.”
Pan Yun was intrigued: "Did he offend you as soon as he arrived?"
Wu Zhihong: "In the past, I thought that as long as the prefect did not deliberately hinder me, I would be grateful. But when it came down to it, I found that for an official, inaction is an obstacle. Alas, you do not know the helplessness I felt when my official documents could not be delivered to the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review."
So lately, anger has been a constant worry in my heart.
Wu Zhihong increasingly felt that he was an honest official, completely different from himself six months ago.
You have to understand, just six months ago he was a county magistrate who drifted through life by flattering his superiors and trying not to make mistakes by following the rules. Now...
Wu Zhihong can shamelessly say that he can barely be considered a good official.
Pan Yun pondered for a moment: "So when pushed to the extreme, one is either the greatest villain or the greatest loyalist. The old saying is truly true."
Wu Zhihong asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly ask about this, Master Pan?"
Pan Yun turned to look at Xiao Hong and smiled.
Xiao Hong has already invited Hong Yan, and the ghost and fox have gone out to play.
Wu Zhihong froze, his voice trembling: "Where are they going?"
Xue Shao glanced at him and said, "I went to vent your anger."
Wu Zhihong's mouth opened slightly, his voice hoarse: "If I said what I just said was a joke, Master Pan, could you call them back?"
Pan Yun shook her head: "They are free, I can't control them."
Wu Zhihong: "Could you tell them not to reveal our relationship?"
Pan Yun: "This matter has nothing to do with you."
Wu Zhihong breathed a sigh of relief, his heart not pounding as much anymore. "That's good, that's good."
Xue Shao reminded him, "It's time to go see Sun Xin."
After a moment's thought, Wu Zhihong realized that since he was going to use coercion and enticement, it would be inappropriate to arrange for the person to stay in a guest room.
Wu Zhihong forgot about his superior and waved his hand, ordering the county constable to drag the still unconscious Sun Xin to the prison and hang him up.
The prison has torture chambers.
Wu Zhihong disliked using torture. In his daily trials, he would only lightly lash out with a cane or whip when he encountered the most stubborn and unyielding cases. He rarely even pinched their fingers, so the torture chamber was even less of a use.
Sun Xin was hanging there, and the three of them sat opposite him waiting for him to wake up. The air was filled with the lingering, musty smell of the past.
(End of this chapter)