Dong Ren had served in Yunnan for twenty years in criminal administration. He was on track to become Right Vice Commissioner and would not have followed You Jijing, but Mu Chaobi's reach was too long, and he had subdued every Governor-General he encountered. The previous Governor-General had been ruined by Mu Chaobi in a dispute over the profits from tribute items and private mining, which had also led to Dong Ren's demotion. Not only did he lose the chance to become Surveillance Commissioner, a position he had anticipated for ten years, but he was also suspended pending investigation. When You Jijing arrived, he acted with fairness, cleared Dong Ren's name, and released him. Although he was not reinstated to his former position, he was no longer a miserable soul caught between man and ghost. Later, grateful for You Jijing's help, he married his youngest daughter to You Jijing's second son, making them in-laws.
Actually,
When Wang Daren first arrived, the two were terrified. You Jijing had always maintained his integrity in court and never engaged in factionalism. Despite his excellent reputation, he had no powerful patrons. Having offended someone, he knew revenge was inevitable. Therefore, as soon as Wang Daren arrived at Yuantong Temple, Dong Ren had already planted three informants.
The password is five six three seven four three six seven five
As for Mu Chaobi, Dong Ren had spent twenty years in Yunnan and was aware of many of his secrets, but Mu Chaobi was the Duke of Qian, and no one dared to offend him.
Returning to the yamen that night,
He immediately laid out a strategy—
To investigate someone like Wang Daren, Zhu Mo's idea was correct: they had to start with secret arts and treasures. Only by catching him with the handle of deceiving the emperor could they deal with him without repercussions. As for dealing with Mu Chaobi, he could not think of any good method and indeed did not dare to think about it. However, since Zhu Mo dared to act, he likely had a plan; in any case, the arrow was already on the string and had to be shot.
He also decided to send three informants to Yuantong Temple and to retrieve all the case files from the past years where commoners and officials had accused Mu Chaobi, handing them all over to Zhu Mo.
By dawn, they had the first leads from Yunnan.
...
The next day,
Zhu Mo claimed that the commanders of the various guards had not yet assembled and postponed the meeting for a few days.
That night,
Reader ID-563743675
At the Mu Chaobi Royal Residence.
Wang Daren, Liu Ying, and several Pacification Commissioners were drinking and making merry.
These individuals were the foundation that Mu Chaobi had cultivated over many years, the steadfast Commissioners to the ever-changing Governors-General. No matter who took on the role of Governor-General, they could not implement policies without this core group. It was precisely because of this that Mu Chaobi's power was so immense.
Wang Daren had been secretly searching for the Treasure Scroll since his arrival. He had only obtained it in the last few days, and thinking that the Emperor would surely like it upon his return to the capital, and that Yan Shifan would likely bestow rewards, potentially even surpassing Lan Daoxing, he became more relaxed and drank to a slight state of intoxication.
Mu Chaobi quietly had a servant bring out a box, pulled Wang Daren into the inner chamber, and said with a smile:
"Shizhou, you have been in Yunnan for over two months, and I, your younger brother, have yet to fulfill my duties as host. I am truly ashamed. Please accept this token of my regard. Someone, open it!"
With a snap!
The candlelight in the room immediately dimmed. Inside the box were four fist-sized luminous pearls, and beneath the pearls lay a patch of dark red sand-like material. The stand that held the pearls was made of four agate carvings, and at each end of the box were a pair of rhinoceros horn cups, also inlaid with agate.
Wang Daren's eyes immediately lit up.
Mu Chaobi smiled and said,
"Shizhou, look, this is not sand, but Wild Boar Sand from U-Tsang. The agate is of good quality, and the carving is passable. Fortunately, the four rhinoceros horns are intact young rhinoceros horns, so it's a complete set... And don't discard the box either. Although it's not particularly valuable, it's fortunately carved from intact white sandalwood... Shizhou, this is a poor place, please do not disdain it..."
Wang Daren's eyes were gleaming. He closed the box and said with a smile,
"Your Grace, you jest. My eyes are dazzled. I have never seen such things in my life. You and I are like family, there's no need for such politeness. I am truly overwhelmed..."
Mu Chaobi nodded and said in a low voice,
"Shizhou, you must tell me if you receive any instructions from Grand Secretary Yan or the Junior Grand Secretary. What is the current state of the court? Here in my humble place, I am in the dark. Shizhou, as you can see, that Zhu Mo has inexplicably arrived again, is he trying to make things difficult for me? Alas, my life is not easy either..."
Haha,
Wang Daren laughed heartily and said,
"What else is there? Your Grace, to be frank, before I came, I met with Master Zhao Wenhua... Well, Master Zhao said that the Grand Secretary has asked everyone to be cautious. Although we have passed the treacherous shoals of the Three Gorges, from now on, we must endure hardship and wholeheartedly assist His Highness Prince Yu. Hmm, once Prince Yu ascends the throne, things will be stable... Heh heh, Your Grace, these are words spoken by Master Zhao himself. Are you reassured now?
Oh...
Mu Chaobi murmured, "The Grand Secretary is indeed wise... A few days ago, my heart was filled with anxiety..."
Wang Daren nodded and added,
"This Zhu Mo truly has some skill. The Grand Secretary is also wary of him... Zhao Wenhua told me, either don't provoke him, or if you do, be absolutely sure of your ground..."
Mu Chaobi, sensing that Wang Daren was still holding back, said with a stern expression,
"Shizhou, look at you, you still don't consider me a brother!"
Wang Daren pondered for a moment and said,
"The situation is as it is. Since you think highly of me, I cannot keep it from you. A month ago, I received a letter from the Junior Grand Secretary, detailing what should be done, but everything depends on your wishes..."
"Depends on my wishes?"
Mu Chaobi could not help but be surprised.
Wang Daren said,
"Your Grace, consider it. The situation is as it is. Mang Yinglong has suddenly revolted in Mubang and Lujiang, especially Lujiang. What does that imply? The Junior Grand Secretary's meaning, as I said earlier, is either not to provoke him, or to provoke him with absolute certainty."
Mu Chaobi knew perfectly well.
This was a new round of offensive.
But for the past few days, he had been hesitating whether to act against Zhu Mo. Ideally, it would be best to postpone it for now. After all, Zhu Mo had only reprimanded Guo Cong last time and had not targeted the noble officials. He had also conferred with several noble officials, and they all felt that as long as Zhu Mo was accommodating, they should not confront him. They, the noble officials, still had feelings for the Great Ming Dynasty and would not act recklessly like the Yan family.
But the current situation was different—
The Yan family was determined to bring down this You Jijing. If it were earlier, it would be fine. But now that Zhu Mo was in Kunming, if they moved against You Jijing, how would Zhu Mo think? Would he feel it was directed at him? Furthermore, he also recalled the things he had done over the past decade. Would Zhu Mo take him as an example?
Thinking of this,
He was once again in a state of disarray, sighing,
"Shizhou, I am also undecided. Let us wait and see what his intentions are..."
Wang Daren, however, smiled and said,
"Your Grace, both the Junior Grand Secretary and Zhao Wenhua have said that we must think broadly. Now we are all people of Prince Yu. Whatever His Highness Prince Yu likes, we must do. Moreover, Zhu Mo's reforms will eventually reach Yunnan and Guizhou. Heh heh, everything is for you to decide..."
Mu Chaobi sneered in his heart: You cannot defeat him, so you want me to clash with him? I am, after all, a person of the Great Ming, and different from your Yan family.