Chapter Fifteen: No Gain from Stealing Chickens

  Cao Hua-chun, on the third day of the three-day deadline set by Emperor Chongzhen, felt that it was almost done and stopped. He brought the list of names of the assassins and their accomplices prepared by his subordinates and went to report directly to Emperor Chongzhen.

  Chongzhen Emperor saw that it was Cao Huazhun who came, and knew that it was an assassin's affair. This matter was naturally worrying, so he stopped his work at hand and let Wang Cheng'en bring it over to take a look.

  Just took a glance and was shocked, how come there are so many assassins and gangsters. Got angry, didn't know if I didn't investigate, only to find out that I'm living in such a dangerous environment, this is unbearable.

  He slapped the name list on the imperial desk and asked Cao Huachun: "Is what was investigated true?"

  Chao Hua-chun was startled by the Chongzhen Emperor, but he too had been through great storms and showed no surface ripples. He bowed his head and said: "Your humble servant started from the assassin Wang Heng's close associates and investigated the person who confessed afterwards."

  They are all old mixed ones. He didn't give a direct affirmative answer. What he said seemed to have answered the question of Emperor Chongzhen, but anyway, he didn't say die, always leaving one hand.

  The Chongzhen Emperor was furious, with severe consequences. He stood up, took the name list and prepared to throw it at Cao Huachun, saying: "You dare to deceive heaven and earth! Summon all the eunuchs and palace maids, and execute them publicly by caning, as a warning to others."

  Cao Huachun personally said: "Yes."

  After a while, still not seeing Emperor Chongzhen throwing down the name list, he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. He raised his head to look at Emperor Chongzhen and saw that he was browsing through the list of assassins again. His heart tightened involuntarily: "Won't there be any mistakes?"

  It turned out that Emperor Chongzhen was just about to throw away the name list in his hand when he suddenly saw a familiar name, a name that had only become familiar in recent days - Archie.

  The Chongzhen Emperor slowly sat down and then looked up and asked: "Are all the people on this name list verified to be correct?"

  Cao Huachun, upon hearing the emperor's tone and question, knew that something might have gone wrong. He hastily replied: "Your Majesty, I had just taken charge of the Eastern Depot, and when my subordinates presented me with this list, I verified it and said it was true."

  Chongzhen Emperor listened to Cao Huachun and said, "It seems that you are also listening to your subordinates, and you don't dare to confirm it yourself." Then he said, "The name on this list, Ah Qi, was awarded by me to Zhong Jinwei. When Zhong Jinwei saved my life and fainted, I ordered Ah Qi to take care of him. At that time, she was the first to shout and remind Zhong Jinwei, so it shouldn't be an assassin."

  At this time, Wang Chengen's mind also moved, his several confidants were also caught, but involving the assassination of His Majesty, although they knew they were innocent, they did not dare to plead. Now there is such a good opportunity, it would be a waste if you don't use it. So he pretended to be surprised and said: "Ah, how could Ah Qi possibly be an accomplice of the assassin? I saw her with a look of panic, failing to protect His Majesty, and was the first to speak up to remind him."

  What a load of nonsense. Wang Chengen had no idea at that time, and there was Aqi beside him, still with a look of panic on his face. What a lie, no need to draft, and yet he didn't blush or skip a beat.

  Chongzhen Emperor saw that one of the parties involved, Wang Chengen, also matched his own judgment, so he said: "Let Ah Qi come to see the emperor, I want to ask him personally."

  Cao Huachun silently cursed Wang Chengen in his heart and prepared to take orders.

  The Chongzhen Emperor suddenly thought that there might be some trick inside, so he ordered again: "Let Cao accompany you to rest for a while, and let Wang Da accompany you instead."

  Cao Huachun was speechless, without even a chance to make amends.

  Wang Chengen was secretly delighted and hastily led the order away.

  After a while, Wang Chengen led Aqi in.

  Aqi didn't suffer much in Dongchang because she wasn't the main target. She was just scared out of her wits and looked rather haggard.

  As soon as he came in, Archie hastily knelt down on the ground and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, please save the young master, no one has taken care of him for a whole day."

  Chongzhen Emperor was shocked and immediately ordered: "Quickly summon the imperial physician." Wang Chengen also panicked, hastily rushing to the door to arrange for someone to go find the imperial physician.

  Cao Huachun was puzzled on the side: This Zhong Jinwei is so important in the emperor's heart, why haven't I heard of it before? In fact, if you want to blame someone, you should blame him for going out to handle some business a few days ago. He had just returned when Emperor Chongzhen was assassinated and hadn't had time to hear any gossip yet.

  After Chongzhen Emperor finished his instructions, he asked Ah Qi: "The list of assassins presented to me by the Eastern Depot has your name on it. Is this true?"

  Who would be foolish enough to admit it, besides, Archie isn't either.

  Originally, Ah Qi was going to see the imperial physician on behalf of Emperor Chongzhen, and now he heard Emperor Chongzhen's question, hastily kowtowing to the ground, replied: "Your servant is innocent! That day, your servant was taking care of the young master, two barbarians suddenly broke in saying I was an accomplice of the assassin, they wanted silver, it was a misunderstanding, your servant had no choice but to give them all the silver, who would have thought that they found your servant's silver too little and took me as an accomplice. Your Majesty, your servant is really innocent, please do justice."

  Wang Chengen arranged things and heard Archie's grievances on the side, his heart couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

  Chongzhen Emperor's face sank as he listened, and he looked at Cao Huaichun.

  Cao Huachun never instructed to hit Aqi, and Aqi was not even in his eyes. The affair was done privately by someone under him.

  Now seeing the gloomy face of Emperor Chongzhen, he knew in his heart that Emperor Chongzhen had believed Aqi's words, and hastily knelt down, saying: "Your Majesty, I will go and investigate immediately."

  The Chongzhen Emperor was very unhappy in his heart, knowing that what Qi said was eight or nine out of ten true, and also took the opportunity to make a fortune on matters involving my safety. This list is feared to have a large water content. It's too disappointing for me.

  Chongzhen Emperor thought for a moment, then said: "Cao Binbin, you are an old man of my imperial court. I have been thinking that you have always been loyal and dedicated, so I let you take charge of the Eastern Depot. But when it comes to matters concerning my safety, you handled it perfunctorily and even took advantage of the situation to embezzle money. I think you are not suitable for taking charge of the Eastern Depot. You should focus on your work in the Imperial Guard instead."

  Cao Huachun was heartbroken. The position of the Eastern Depot's commander had not even warmed up yet, and he was about to come down. He also felt helpless and could not oppose it, so he said: "I deserve to die, I didn't do well with the task entrusted by Your Majesty."

  After Zhong Jinwei's account and the recent series of events, Wang Cheng'en has become very important in Emperor Chongzhen's heart. Now that Cao Huachun is not doing a good job, let's give this opportunity to him instead. Emperor Chongzhen thought so and said to Wang Cheng'en: "Wang Daiben, from now on you will be in charge of the Eastern Depot."

  Wang Chengen was overjoyed and quickly knelt down to thank him.

  Chongzhen Emperor continued to say to Wang Chengen: "The people on this list, you review them again for me, who are the ones who are wrongly accused. In addition, the people of the Eastern Depot should also be cleaned up, let them remember who is being worshipped in the Eastern Depot!"

  Wang Chengen hastily said: "Yes."

  After handling these matters, Emperor Chongzhen remembered Zhong Xingwei and hurriedly set up his carriage to visit him in person.

  When Huang Yu Yi arrived at the side hall where Zhong Jin Wei lived, Zhong Jin Wei was originally on a liquid diet and had severe poisoning, with a weak body. Now he had been starving for a day and his breathing was already shallow.

  Huang Yu rushed to give water, feed porridge, hang old ginseng, acupuncture, and use all emergency measures. After busy for a while, Zhong Jinwei's pulse was still very weak, but it had stabilized.

  Just put down the carried heart, and then heard the emperor's arrival, hurriedly knelt down to welcome him.

  The Chongzhen Emperor rushed in and asked urgently: "Huang Qing, how is Mr. Zhong?"

  The imperial physician Huang knelt down and replied to Emperor Chongzhen, "Your Majesty, if I had been delayed for a few more moments, I would have been powerless. The situation is now stable, but after this ordeal, I really don't know when he will wake up." Dr. Huang knew that Emperor Chongzhen was concerned about when Zhong Junwei would regain consciousness, so he spoke first.

  Chongzhen Emperor breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Zhong Xue had been brought back from the Ghost Gate Pass; it was truly a narrow escape. However, after several days, he still hadn't woken up, which was troublesome. I have many things to consult with Mr. Zhong.

  Thanks to Archie's loyalty, as soon as he saw me, he asked me to come and rescue Mr. Zhong first, otherwise, if we delayed any further, it would be a mistake. So, I said to Archie who came with me: "Thanks to your timely reminder, Mr. Zhong was able to turn danger into safety, I want to reward you, what do you want?"

  "Aqi hastily knelt down and said: 'Your Majesty, rescuing the young master has already made me happy beyond words. I don't ask for rewards, I only hope to continue taking care of the young master.' Unbeknownst to her, Aqi's heart had already been captured by Zhong Jinwei. Perhaps it was that night's conversation, an unprecedented experience that made her, a lone person in the palace, feel a warmth in her heart."

  The Chongzhen Emperor nodded in approval, extremely satisfied with Aqi's response, and said: "Then take good care of Mr. Zhong, your reward I will note down first, if you need anything later, you can come to me."

  After some thought, he turned around and said to Wang Chengen: "Investigate clearly which two killers came to capture Aqi, and execute them first."

  Wang Chengen didn't mind dealing with those two people at all, and nodded his head saying: "Yes."

  In August of the second year of Chongzhen, Houjin completed its assembly and divided into two routes from Dazhenbao. One route went straight to Jinzhou from Xingshan Gaqiao, while the other route went from Songshan.

  Zu Dashou, who was garrisoned in Jinzhou, had already received Yuan Chonghuan's reminder and made preparations. He increased the defensive divine artifact - the Hongyi cannon, stored more grain and fodder, and scattered them widely at night without collecting them. The Later Jin's sneak attack did not succeed.

  For the Hongyi cannons, Houjin had already learned a lesson and did not dare to launch a strong attack. They left one unit to watch Jinzhou, while the other troops dispersed and implemented a scorched earth policy, killing everything in sight and burning everything to ashes.

  Here has long been the front line, so there is basically nothing to be looted. Only some wheat near Jinzhou City was cheaper than gold.

  After helping the Ming dynasty to complete the wheat harvest, Hou Jin saw that there was nothing else to gain and withdrew from Shuangtai Fort. As he passed by the rivers of Da and Xiao Ling, he also dismantled the Youfangwei City. After finishing his work, he returned home to harvest the grain in his own fields.

  As usual, report victory.

  The Chongzhen Emperor was both delighted and disappointed upon hearing this. He was delighted that the Jurchen army did not take a detour to attack, as Zhong Xiang had said, which meant that other things Zhong Xiang had said, such as the fall of the dynasty in over ten years, might not be true. He was disappointed because the Jurchen army did not take a detour to attack, and his own idea of engaging the Jurchens in a decisive battle at Zhuozhou could not be realized.

  The news reached Zhuozhou, and Governor Wang Yuanye listened to it. It turned out that the emperor had made a mistake. He immediately sent someone to inform several generals that the landlord's family no longer had surplus grain and would not supply them anymore. The previous agreement could only be suspended, and even if they didn't stop, it didn't matter. In any case, the salary, silver, and fodder would not be issued, so let them practice or not, just watch.