The next day,
Zhu Mo dispatched personnel—
Wu Ming and Wu Liang had been in Jiangnan for many years and knew many people in the martial world. Following Zhu Mo's instructions, they did not seek out the most wicked or those with criminal records. Instead, they found over fifty boatmen on the Grand Canal.
These men were not typically evildoers, but they frequently engaged in fierce conflicts over boats, berths, and business. This had led to the formation of numerous gangs, whose members were all formidable fighters. Furthermore, some of these boatmen had long been oppressed by gangs affiliated with the Yan family and were eager for revenge.
Once the manpower was assembled, Wu Ming and Wu Liang counted them and led them directly to the Grand Canal.
That afternoon,
Zhu Mo, along with Zhu Qi and Xiao Xiao Sheng, convened a meeting of officials at the Governor's Yamen. He specifically asked Zheng Bichang to bring the account books for Yan Maoqing's salt inspection.
With everything in readiness,
Zhu Mo, holding the account book, said to everyone with a half-smile:
"Esteemed officials, Eunuch Yang of the Directorate of Imperial Manufactories has received word that a group of bandits has somehow acquired a boatload of silver and is planning to travel north along the Grand Canal…"
Seeing everyone looking somewhat bewildered, he continued:
"Do you all understand? A boatload of silver? A boatload… do you understand? It's estimated to be at least one to two million taels…"
Hiss~~
A boatload?
Of silver?
At this declaration,
The officials were immediately stunned and exchanged bewildered glances.
Zhu Mo chuckled, "You heard correctly, it is indeed a boatload of silver! And it is of unknown origin! According to Eunuch Yang's informants, this group of bandits is not to be trifled with and has a significant background… Therefore, I wish to invite all of you to bear witness today, as we are going to seize this silver… to prevent anyone from making slanderous remarks about me later… Esteemed officials, please follow me! Let us go and see it on the Grand Canal?"
In the past few months, he had completely brought the officials of Jiangnan under his control. Moreover, seeing Zhang Juzheng heed his words, they felt compelled to comply. Though reluctant, they could only force a smile.
Zheng Bichang, as the leader, seeing everyone still hesitating, immediately called out:
"Stop dawdling! Let's go!"
With a cacophony of voices, they all headed out. At the entrance, over a hundred soldiers stood at attention, and more than ten carriages awaited them.
...
Meanwhile,
At a fork in the Grand Canal outside Hangzhou, the last batch of silver had been loaded onto a large ship.
The ship was exceptionally luxurious, with a golden embroidered character "Yan" fluttering on its flagpole, exuding an extraordinary grandeur!
Yan Maoqing, dressed in the attire of a second-rank official, sipped tea at the ship's bow, appearing leisurely but mentally calculating every detail: a total of one million six hundred thirty-six thousand five hundred forty-four taels!
He had reported one million to the Junior Grand Secretary. The remaining six hundred thirty thousand would first be transported back to his own home upon reaching Jiujiang, and the rest would be sent to Fenyi in Jiangxi.
These were all off the books.
The silver reported to the court was still in Hangzhou, totaling four million taels. Upon arrival in the capital, fifty thousand taels would be given to the Junior Grand Secretary, and the final reported figure would be three hundred fifty… This amount was the largest in the past twelve years.
Currently, with the disasters in Xuanda, Zhu Mo's funds could not be relied upon. In the end, wouldn't they still have to depend on someone surnamed Yan? This time, upon returning, they could surely regain the upper hand, right?
Yan Maoqing thought this, and a smile crept onto his lips—
When serving as an official in the Great Ming, one must never enter the Grand Secretariat. It is best to hold a position of neither high nor low rank, that is when one can truly profit! Anyway, there would be someone above to shield him, and those below feared him… If anything went wrong, wouldn't it be the Yan family to face the beheading and confiscation of property?
Yan Maoqing would at most be dismissed from office! Wouldn't he then return home to enjoy his riches? Let's see who the ultimate winner would be in the end!
Just then—
The boatman called out, "Your Excellency, shall we set sail?"
"Yes, let's go! First to Jiujiang!"
"Very good!~~"
...
As the sun began to set,
The boatman's voice sounded particularly resonant.
Yan Maoqing felt a surge of poetic inspiration and was about to recite a couplet when he saw dozens of sturdy men faintly appearing on the shore. He vaguely heard shouts:
"Steward Shou! That's the bandits' ship…!"
Steward Shou?
Yan Maoqing frowned!
Wasn't that a characteristic appellation of the Yan family?
Steward Shou referred to Yan Shou, and Steward Fu referred to Yan Fu. These were nicknames used by their subordinates in private, while they, the high officials, called them by their names.
But today, why was Shou's name being uttered on Jiangnan territory?!
As he pondered in confusion, a thought surfaced—
What were they doing?
Why were they all carrying weapons?
Who exactly were they?
But in his panic, the approaching figures were too swift, leaving him no time for further thought. Just as he was about to question them, forty to fifty men had surrounded the still-unbound large ship.
A lean man leading seven or eight others leaped onto the bow of the ship and shouted at Yan Maoqing, "Who are you bandits? Why are you flying my Yan family's flag? You! Who are you? In broad daylight, you dare to impersonate a second-rank official? Speak! Speak quickly! And I might spare your life!"
This?!
What the hell!!
Damn it!!
Yan Maoqing heard this and was stunned for a long moment. Then, an unprecedented righteous fury erupted from within him. Both surprised and horrified to the extreme, he immediately flew into a rage, stood up abruptly, and cursed, "You motherf***ers! Who the hell are you? Do you think you can mess with your ancestors? Get down on your knees before this official! And I might spare your life!"
The leader paused for a moment, then burst into boisterous laughter, saying:
"You f***ing idiot! I am a subordinate of the Junior Grand Secretary Yan Shifan from the capital! No wonder Steward Shou said you bandits are audacious? It turns out you are truly bold! Dare to act tough in front of the Yan family? Men! Tie this idiot up first!"
Two men quickly came forward and, in a flash, bound Yan Maoqing. Because Yan Maoqing had always been arrogant and accustomed to being greeted with prostration wherever he went, there were hardly any men on the ship, and he was immediately put at a disadvantage.
"You motherf***er! I am the one from the Yan family! Who the hell are you people! I am Yan Maoqing! Yan Maoqing! Have you heard of me? Yan Maoqing, the Grand Minister of Rites of the Imperial Court! You morons! Untie me quickly! Otherwise, your entire families will be executed! Yan Maoqing keeps his word! You motherf***er! This is a ghost sighting!"
Yan Maoqing had never suffered such humiliation in his life, nor had he ever witnessed such an event. In his anger, his whole body trembled, and he continued to curse, proving to be even less dignified than a village scoundrel and showing no trace of the demeanor of a high court official.
Unexpectedly, when he announced his name, thinking it would intimidate them, the leading man burst into another round of laughter and cursed:
"Yan Maoqing? You must be dreaming! With your looks, you dare to impersonate our third master? Say that again, you f***er!"
Slap!
Yan Maoqing's face stung as he received a loud slap!
He had never endured such humiliation. Suddenly, with a strength he didn't know he possessed, he wrenched himself free and swung a fist at the lean man.
However, his right hand was suddenly firmly gripped. The opponent's large hand was like an iron clamp, firmly holding his arm, rendering him completely immobile…
Slap!
Slap! Slap!!
The lean man slapped him three times in quick succession, then spat a mouthful of phlegm, cursing:
"You little punk! Dare to lay a hand on me? Let me tell you! I am from the Yan Mansion! If you don't behave, Steward Shou will report it to the Junior Grand Secretary, and you'll be executed along with your entire family! I curse your ancestors…"
Yan Maoqing had never endured such humiliation in his life. Now completely flustered, his cheeks burning, his mind reeling, he finally broke down and burst into tears, saying:
"You, you… where is your Steward Shou? Can you call him out to confront me? I, I, I am truly Yan Maoqing, Yan Maoqing, the Grand Minister of Rites of the Imperial Court… your third master… sob sob sob…"