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Seeing people all over the streets shouting "Stop the reforms, unite against the enemy!"
Zhu Mo truly understood—
This was the ultimate move by Yan Song and his son!
Very powerful, truly powerful, it had immediately dragged him back into the eye of the storm. While no one dared to say it, everyone shared the same sentiment: Zhu Mo's reforms had led to the decline of the Great Ming! The common people were simple; when swept up in something, they would think: Reforms are good, but they're useless!
However,
Since Yan Song and his son had unleashed their ultimate move, a countermeasure was naturally in order.
Returning to the Cizhou Ci (Poet's Shrine),
He immediately summoned Lü Kun and Li Zhi. Taking them along, he headed directly to Guanyin Temple. As they mounted their horses, he said, "Zhuowu, Shujian, from now on, let's all keep a low profile! I fear they might resort to underhanded tactics, and it wouldn't be worth it if they really did something to us."
Lü Kun had seen his share of incidents in Datong and the capital, but facing so many innocent commoners being manipulated was a first for him. He felt a sense of dread, as if black and white were being reversed. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Zi Xuan, what... what do you think we should do about this?"
Li Zhi was a pure scholar, having never witnessed such blind and ignorant mob mentality in his life. He felt his strength rendered useless, not knowing where to direct it. He could only follow silently and hurriedly.
Seeing Li Zhi catching up, Zhu Mo smiled and said,
"What else can we do? Their fox tails are showing, so let's cut them off quickly!"
...
Zhu Mo led the two into the temple, where Wu Ming had already come out to greet them.
Without a word, Zhu Mo entered the inner hall, instructed the door to be closed, and then said,
"Wu Ming, last time the merchants caused trouble, it was indeed difficult to investigate. Even with the workshop burning down, it was hard to find proof... But now, their fox tails are showing. Didn't you see? Behind the merchants on the streets, many of the hired laborers and indentured servants were their own household guards!
Wu Ming, you will investigate immediately. Find Xu Yang's trusted indentured servants and arrest them directly, making them confess about the fire. Second, you will go to Qiantang and find people to bring those remaining members of the Yan faction here. Also, arrest a few of those salt merchants and silk merchants with criminal records! Third, you will send people to investigate the merchants who are causing the most trouble and staging market closures. Arrest all those who accepted money and bring them here!
Zhuowu, Shujian, we will go to the training grounds now! Also, Wu Ming, send someone to Governor Zhang Han's office to requisition five hundred soldiers to surround Guanyin Temple. Without my explicit order, no one is to be allowed to leave!"
Mm-hmm,
The two immediately nodded.
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Wu Ming had never seen him so serious. He knew that this formidable Young Master Zhu was about to unleash his ultimate move, and he said joyfully, "To be honest, Young Master Zhu, we've already found some clues. If you say these three things, we will have them done by noon tomorrow."
Zhu Mo knew these two were extremely capable. If they said they could do it, they likely had the confidence, and he felt greatly relieved. He patted Wu Ming's shoulder and said, "You brothers are truly reliable! I, Zhu Mo, am deeply grateful!"
Wu Ming smiled, "Young Master Zhu, you are reforming for the Great Ming and for the good of all the people. We've seen many officials, but none are like you!"
Mm-hmm,
A surge of shared passion welled up in the four of them.
...
Yan Maoqing and Luo Longwen stationed themselves in Qiantang, compiling public opinion daily and formulating strategies overnight, which would then further inflame public sentiment the next day.
In the streets and alleys, the common people had been idle these past few days. They gathered in small groups, all discussing how the Great Ming was in mortal danger and that even an ordinary man should serve the country. The best way to serve the country, they believed, was to call for the cessation of reforms and to dedicate all national strength to resisting foreign enemies.
The next day, the momentum intensified, and vandalism and looting began to appear.
Inside the Cizhou Ci,
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Zhang Juzheng was furious. He immediately ordered people to summon Zhang Han and Liu Yingjie and, in his capacity as Minister of War and Grand Secretariat advisor, explicitly ordered the Governor's Yamen to immediately dispatch soldiers into the city to maintain order.
It should be known,
Zhang Juzheng was not someone to be trifled with; he hated troublemakers his entire life.
Thus,
He issued three more decrees, which were posted all over the city—
First, all heads of merchant guilds must report to the Cizhou Ci within three days to discuss measures for calming the situation. Failure to do so will be punished by immediate arrest.
Second, anyone engaging in vandalism, looting, or arson will be executed on the spot.
Third, a city-wide curfew will be imposed. No one is allowed to leave their homes after the hour of Xu (7-9 PM). Violators will be punished.
These three measures,
Were the only options left, as the current chaos was, at least on the surface, legitimate. After all, what crime was there in the common people being patriotic? What crime was there in merchants willing to contribute to defending the territory? Could this be suppressed by force?
After completing his arrangements, Zhang Juzheng felt mentally and physically exhausted and slumped down with a sigh, "Yan Song, oh Yan Song, why must you do this? If this continues, who will benefit?"
Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, and the others finally understood the entire scheme at this point. While their hearts pounded with fear, they were also filled with burning anger.
Gui Youguang, being the most passionate and straightforward, declared angrily at this moment,
"Detestable! Yan Song deserves death a thousand times over for his crimes!"
"What 'diplomatic incidents'? He caused all of them himself!"
"Knowing full well the court has no immediate capacity, he incited merchants and the common people to cause trouble. Is this not inviting disaster from heaven!"
The others echoed his condemnation.
Shen Shixing, the most thoughtful, sighed,
"My Lord, you are right! The Yan father and son are already harboring malicious intentions... If the Japanese pirates attack again, if Mang Yinglong and Zheng Jian invade the border, if the Portuguese, Koreans, and Japanese cause trouble again, and if all the scholars and gentry in the land unanimously oppose the reforms, the Great Ming dynasty will immediately be thrown into turmoil..."
These words plunged everyone into deep thought—
Yes,
The Yan father and son no longer considered themselves subjects of the Ming dynasty.
This was clearly an attack on their own country alongside foreign enemies!
Zhang Juzheng had no mood to listen to further discussions. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly asked, "Where is Zhu Mo? Why haven't we seen him these past few days?"
It was then that everyone realized: Zhu Mo indeed hadn't been seen for two or three days. Had he fled? Or was he preparing a new strategy?
...
At this very moment, Zhu Mo,
Was meeting with a mysterious figure.
That figure was Oda Nobunaga.
Upon receiving the letter, this person had wanted to come immediately, but with the country newly established, there was still considerable unrest. He had handled matters for over a month before finding time.
He had traveled with Wang Ruxian's grain transport fleet, disembarked in Jiangsu, traveled south through Anhui, and it took him more than ten days to reach Hangzhou. Upon arriving in Hangzhou, he encountered this turmoil.
Wang Ruxian spent money daily to inquire, and finally found a minor official in the Governor's Yamen, who sent people to bring them to the South Training Grounds. Otherwise, this trip might have truly been in vain.
But as the two were about to enter, they were stopped by Zheng Qin. Wang Ruxian explained for a good while before Zheng Qin finally escorted them to the main hall.
When Zhu Mo, Li Zhi, and Lü Kun first saw this person, they were all taken aback.
Zhu Mo smiled and asked, "Who are you?"
The person replied, "I am Nobunaga... Lord Zhu Mo, message...?"
He could speak a few words of Han, but his speech was muddled. The three did not understand.
Beside him, a servant took off his hat, suddenly knelt down with a thud, and cried out, "Scholar Zhu, it's me, it's me! Wang Ruxian! The guide under General Qi... Scholar Zhu sent me to Wokoku..."