Mao Xiang, courtesy name Pijiang.
Historical records state that in the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, which is next year, he would become engaged to Chen Yuanyuan.
However, due to a death in his family, he was unable to fulfill the engagement as he observed a period of mourning. Chen Yuanyuan was then abducted to the capital by the powerful courtier Tian Chun, who later gifted her to Wu Sangui.
Later, Mao Xiang took Dong Xiaowan as a concubine, arranged through Liu Ru Shi.
These are not the main points. The crucial detail is that Mao Xiang was a leading figure of the Fu She society during the late Ming dynasty, and was later known as one of the Four Young Lords of the late Ming.
When the Ming dynasty fell, he spoke out against the prevailing ills but achieved nothing constructive.
Fang Er glanced at him dismissively. "So it's young Master Mao. I hear you've been participating in the provincial examinations since the seventh year of Tianqi."
"By now, you must have participated five times, correct?"
"May I ask what official rank young Master Mao has attained?"
These words caused Mao Xiang's face to flush crimson. Five consecutive failures in the provincial examinations, a fact that was hard for him to swallow, given his self-proclaimed vast knowledge.
Anger flared, and he retorted, "Hmph! Mao is merely out of luck. In the next examination, I shall certainly achieve the top rank!"
"Is that so?" Fang Er's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "I've heard you are a leader of the Fu She. Can you explain to Fang why so few of the scholars from the Fu She manage to pass the examinations?"
Mao Xiang was rendered speechless again, stammering a feeble excuse.
"We, we, we Fu She scholars, merely lament the darkness of the court, where the ruler fails to recognize his ministers. Therefore, we disdain entering officialdom!"
"Is that so?" Fang Er mocked again. "But Fang does not believe so!"
At this point, he suddenly raised his voice, addressing everyone present.
"Esteemed scholars, do you know what the Great Ming lacks most today?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a scholar emerged from the crowd. Upon reaching Fang Er's opposite, he unfurled his fan with a crisp snap, his expression one of supreme arrogance. "Though I don't know your esteemed name, I believe everyone here can offer some insight into your question."
"Oh? Then please, elaborate."
Fang Er gestured for the scholar to speak, feigning eager anticipation.
The scholar seemed spurred by the invitation, puffing out his chest as he declared.
"The Great Ming has an abundance of soldiers and generals, and no shortage of willing warriors!"
"The four seas pay homage, and the empire's might is respected. There is no shortage of imperial authority!"
"What is lacking is righteousness! The righteousness of old, like that which filled the court during the previous dynasty!"
"It is a disgrace that the traitorous eunuch Wei, who slaughtered the entire Donglin lineage, has thus incurred the wrath of heaven and the enmity of the people, leading to endless conflict!"
"If our Donglin were to rise..."
"And if your Donglin were to rise, what then?" Fang Er interrupted him. He could no longer stomach such hollow pronouncements. "If you cannot even see the fundamental issues plaguing the Great Ming, what good would your Donglin rising achieve?"
After addressing the scholar, Fang Er looked at the others and declared loudly.
"What the Great Ming lacks today is money! The soldiers on the nine frontiers fight valiantly, yet their due salaries are delayed. Why is this?"
Someone from the crowd responded, "The military commanders are greedy and deserve to be killed! The military funds are surely being siphoned off by them!"
"Foolish!"
Fang Er cursed without politeness. "You all claim to speak for the people and to cherish the common folk. Yet, with wars raging everywhere and refugees rampant, how many of you self-righteous scholars have aided even a single refugee?"
"When the emperor levies taxes, you claim he is competing with the people for profit!"
"Now that salaries cannot be paid, you say the money has been embezzled by the military commanders."
"What? Is it that whatever happens, you scholars are always right?"
"Let me ask you, how much land do you own, and have you paid even a single grain of tax?"
"The court cannot collect agricultural taxes, nor can it collect commercial taxes. Come, tell me, with what can the soldiers be paid?"
At this point, he looked back at Mao Xiang.
"Young Master Mao's attire, I presume, is not cheap?"
"I wonder, if converted into grain, how many refugees could be saved?"
"You claim to possess great righteousness. Must this righteousness only be displayed when one holds an official position to save the world?"
"Fang is untalented and holds no official position in the Great Ming. However, before coming south, I helped the Emperor raise ten million taels of silver."
"May I ask what Young Master Mao has done for the Great Ming, for this world?"
Mao Xiang was once again rendered speechless, his face red with shame, unable to utter a single word.
He felt as though his usual proud silk robes were now covered in thorns, piercing his heart.
Fang Er unceremoniously snatched the folding fan from his hand. The handle bore a piece of jade green emerald, clearly an item of considerable value.
"What are you doing?"
Mao Xiang, caught off guard by the sudden snatch, instinctively exclaimed.
"Heh heh..."
Fang Er responded with a cold chuckle, then beckoned Chonglou, who had followed him ashore, to his side.
"See how much this is worth," he said, handing the fan over.
Chonglou took it, examined it for a moment, and then said, "It's worth at least fifty taels of silver!"
Fang Er nodded slightly, then scrutinized Mao Xiang from head to toe again.
Mao Xiang felt as if he were a prostitute stripped bare, meeting Fang Er's naked gaze, and was deeply uncomfortable.
He quickly asked, "You've stolen my fan, what else do you want?"
"Heh heh, nothing else! Don't you always take responsibility for the common people? Now is your chance to show it!"
Having said that, he turned to Li Tai, who was beside him.
"Qingque, strip him of his fine attire!"
"Hahaha, Master, I like this task!"
Upon hearing this, Li Tai's face lit up with joy. He rubbed his hands together and strode towards Mao Xiang.
"How dare you!" Mao Xiang cried out in alarm, pointing a finger at Li Tai while backing away repeatedly.
*Clang*
A crisp sound came from Chonglou's direction.
Everyone instinctively looked towards the source of the sound. They saw a brass waist token fall to the ground. In the firelight by the shore, the inscription of the character "Jin" (錦) was clearly visible to those nearby.
"Uh, my hand slipped..." Chonglou explained innocently to Fang Er, quickly picking up the waist token.
"You, you, you, you are the Embroidered Uniform Guard?!" Mao Xiang, having also seen the waist token, instantly became tense.
Fang Er did not respond to him but said to Li Tai, "Why are you still standing there?"
"Got it!"
Li Tai stepped forward, grabbed Mao Xiang, and began to strip his clothes.
The scholar, lacking any strength, was no match for him.
In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to wearing only his undergarments.
Holding Mao Xiang's clothes, he approached Fang Er and said with a smile, "Master, the remaining piece is too flamboyant, I can't bring myself to touch it."
And Mao Xiang, left with only his undergarments, looking at the gazes of everyone around him, in his shame and anger, actually leaped into the Qinhuai River!