Chapter Five: A Small Ripple

  In the following days, Chen Xin sent his men out to gather information again. He himself went to the courtyard he had bought and carefully observed the surroundings. Indeed, as Qin Lüfang had said, there were alleys both in front of and behind the courtyard, and more than half of the residents were outsiders, with many doing business near Chongwen Gate, mostly from Zhejiang Province (Note 1). According to Qin Lüfang, the neighborhood relationship was relatively distant, with little interaction between each other. The outside street of Chongwen Gate was crowded with people, and Chen Xin was very satisfied with the environment around the courtyard. He walked around the nearby area twice and memorized the roads.

  At other times, he took Lu Zhu Zi to stroll around the Ducha Yuan and the Ministry of War, and also looked at some shops around Chongwen Gate. Hai Gou Zi and Zhang Da Hui were inquiring about news near Qipan Street. Song Wen Xian had waited for several days and was getting impatient, urging Chen Xin to hurry up with the matter of paying taxes.

  It wasn't until October 15th that Chen Xin was still in the inn and hadn't gone out yet, when Zhang Da rushed back and said to Chen Xin: "Chen, big brother Chen, yesterday someone named Yang Weiyuan submitted a memorial impeaching Cui Xingxiu."

  "Where did you hear the news?"

  "The twenty taels of silver you gave me, I gave them all to a eunuch who came out of the palace to make purchases, and he told me."

  Chen Xincheng thought for a moment and said: "Is what he said reliable? What is his position in the palace?"

  "Should be accurate. Only recognized him yesterday, he was originally a leader of the kitchen under Wang Tiqian, previously several eunuchs took turns to provide meals for Emperor Xi Zong, now with the new emperor entering the palace, it has been changed to Shang Shi'an providing meals, what the new emperor wants to do, everyone is still not very clear, he said that people are afraid of following the wrong person, so they are always inquiring about the situation, so if there is any news, it's not hard to know."

  Chen Xinzan said: "This matter is well done, but have you inquired about the content of the impeachment?"

  Zhang Da said with difficulty: "This is not clear, he is also unclear, only knows this matter, and Yang Weiyuan is the imperial historian."

  Chen Xin really wanted to say "reinvestigate", and his hands were about to move hastily. But he knew it was impossible, with the current resources, it's hard to accurately know the content of those petitions. But as long as it's impeachment, that would be good enough.

  "What identity did you ask with when you asked him, and did he suspect anything?"

  Zhang Da Hui smiled and said, "I told him I also wanted to enter the palace as a eunuch, and asked him to ask around about which emperor was better. Then slowly asked about Cui Xing."

  Chen Xin also laughed: "You entering the palace is pretty good too, there are many white chests inside, feel free to touch."

  After a moment's thought, he said to Zhang Da Hui: "We won't wait any longer. No matter what he impeaches, let's just find him and take action. You go to the vicinity of the Ducha Yuan first, follow Yang Weiyuan, and come back to inform me as soon as you find his home."

  "I understand."

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  On the afternoon of October 17th, in Fangjia Hutong, Beicheng District, two sedan chair bearers were slowly carrying a small sedan chair, accompanied by a steward. Yang Weizhen, the surveillance commissioner of Yunnan, was sitting in the sedan with a solemn expression. He had impeached Cui Chengxiu on the 14th and was rebuked by the emperor. As one of Wei Zhongxian's henchmen, he was well aware of the subtlety of the current situation. If Cui Chengxiu remained in his position as the commander of the imperial guards, the emperor would not truly trust Wei Zhongxian. Therefore, when Wei Zhongxian told him to impeach Cui Chengxiu, Yang Weizhen understood his intention.

  The emperor rejected his own memorial, possibly to calm the mind of Chang Men or suspected that it was just a test by Chang Men. Now Chang Men has decided to sacrifice Cui Xingxiu and informed him to submit another memorial, letting Cui take all the blame.

  He rubbed his forehead, since Chongzhen came to power more than a month ago, only Yang Suoxiu submitted a memorial, criticizing Cui Xingyu for not following the rules, and Yang Weiyuan's memorial on the 14th was the most important, criticizing Cui Xingyu for appointing himself as the commander of his own troops, and his brother as the commander-in-chief of Zhejiang, which touched on sensitive content, and many people in the court admired him greatly, earning a lot of reputation.

  Today, the second impeachment memorial against Cui Chengxiu was submitted again. Yang Weigong was very happy to do this thing, and no matter which side won, it would be beneficial to himself. Thinking of this, a sly smile appeared on his face. "This head is secure," Yang Weigong sighed contentedly in his heart.

  "Kill!" A sudden loud shout.

  Yang Weigeng suddenly felt a jolt, the steward outside the sedan chair let out a loud cry, followed by the sound of something falling to the ground. Yang Weigeng hastily lifted the curtain, and the two sedan bearers also let out two cries of pain as the sedan chair crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

  Yang Weiguan's head hit the wooden frame, and a cry of surprise came from outside. Yang Weiguan crawled out of the sedan chair with a dizzy and swollen head, and at a glance, he saw that the sedan bearer in front was lying on the ground groaning, surrounded by fleeing pedestrians.

  "Kill!" A lean figure flashed out beside him, swinging a broadsword and slamming it onto Yang Weiguan's hand holding the sedan pole. With a cracking sound, Yang Weiguan's finger bone broke, he let out a blood-curdling scream, suddenly summoning strength from nowhere, leaping up and dashing towards the direction of his home.

  He had just run a dozen or so steps when the sound of footsteps rose up behind him, and another carrying pole struck his back. Yang Weiguan's feet were unstable, and he fell to the ground. He turned around, looking at the three people rushing towards him with fear in his eyes. All three of them covered their faces with black cloth, only revealing their eyes. The two people on either side held carrying poles, while the person in the middle held a snow-bright short knife, exuding an aura of murder as they pressed forward.

  "What are you trying to do? I am an official appointed by the imperial court. I am from the Censorate... Ah!"

  Yang Weiguan had not finished speaking when a man holding a carrying pole next to him smashed it onto his leg, instantly fracturing the bone. Yang Weiguan's words of pain were unclear, "Don't, gentlemen don't kill me, kill me".

  The man in the middle with a knife squatted down and looked at him, saying: "If you don't want to die, answer honestly. You impeached Director Cui a few days ago, who instructed you?"

  "No, no, I didn't shoot... Ah..."

  The man with a knife kicked him in the broken leg, and Yang Weiyuan's eyes flowed with pain.

  "I said it's a factory, a ministerial factory..."

  The knife holder sneered and said, "Chang Chen, who are you deceiving? Cui is Chang Chen's adopted son. Will Chang Chen cut off his own arm?"

  A man holding a carrying pole next to him looked around at the dispersing crowd and reminded, "Brother, hurry up and finish him off quickly, if it takes too long, people from the garrison command will arrive."

  The knife holder nodded slightly, and in Yang Weiguan's terrified appearance, he suddenly raised the sharp blade in his hand and shouted: "Traitor deserves death..."

  "My goodness!!!" Yang Weiguan shrieked in a high-pitched voice, closing his eyes.

  In a flash of lightning, all that was heard was a loud crash, followed by the sound of the knife-wielder's muffled groan. Footsteps echoed several times as he retreated backwards, then he asked: "Who are you!"

  Yang Weiguan narrowly escaped death, opening his eyes to a slit, and saw a pair of black boots beside him. He lifted his head again, and a man wearing the uniform of a hundred-household official stood proudly there.

  He calmly said: "In broad daylight, under the emperor's feet, how can you allow these petty thieves to commit murder?"

  The three people opposite each other looked at each other and rushed up with a loud shout.

  Yang Weiyan's heart rose to his throat again, fearing that Bai Hu might not be a match for him. He hastily shouted: "Be careful, sir!"

  "Oh no!" "Ah!"

  Who would have thought that Bai Hu would lightly swing his fist, beating the knife-wielding murderer back three steps? Bai Hu's figure flashed by, barely dodging two clubs. He then suddenly appeared in front of the club-wielding murderer, engaging in close combat and punching fiercely, causing the three men to retreat repeatedly.

  "Good heavens!" Yang Weiguan exclaimed. The hundred households didn't stop, chasing after the three men and beating them severely. The three masked men rolled and crawled away, dropping their carrying poles and fleeing in disarray.

  "This noble lord, quickly capture a live mouth." Yang Weiguan saw that the situation was favorable and put forward new demands.

  "Alright." Bai Hu loudly responded and chased after the three. Yang Weiguan's leg was broken, unable to move on the spot. The housekeeper and two sedan chair bearers slowly got up at this time and came over to prepare to help Yang Weiguan up.

  "Get out, useless trash! Master Yang almost got killed because of you guys. If it weren't for that hundred households being there, Master Yang would have been beaten to death by now. Get out, get out!" Yang Weiguan cursed loudly at the few people, while the housekeeper nodded and apologized, not daring to argue back or come over to help him.

  Yang Weiguan had just finished scolding when the bailiff returned, his hand still bleeding from a cut, with a red stain on his sleeve. Yang Weiguan endured the pain and carefully examined the bailiff, seeing that he was tall and majestic, with bright eyes and beautiful eyebrows, wearing the official uniform of a bailiff, exuding an air of authority.

  The hundred households came to the front of Yang Weiguan and said: "This official, those few murderers still have people supporting them, I was unable to capture a single one. Please forgive me."

  Yang Weijian saw that he was injured and didn't dare to blame him, so he hastily said: "Sir, thank you for saving my life. I'm sorry to have caused you injury. How can I apologize? I haven't even asked your honorable surname yet."

  Chen Xin put on a martial air, and with a flourish of his hands said: "I am Chen Xin, a hundred officer of the Left Thousand Household Guards of Weihaiwei. I have come to the capital to pay my respects."

  Yang Weiguan listened and found out that this person was from Shandong. Although he didn't think much of martial artists, since the man had just saved his life, he was grateful. He invited him, saying: "I am Yang Weiguan, the surveillance commissioner of Yunnan circuit in the Censorate. My humble abode is not far from here. Commander Chen, would you like to follow me there? I can also invite a doctor to treat your injuries."

  Chen Xin looked at his leg and said with a smile, "It's just a flesh wound. As a martial artist, I'm not afraid of it. However, I worry that those bad people might come back, so let's escort the master back to the mansion first."

  Yang Weiyuan was in unbearable pain, lying on the street with his hands and feet broken. The steward and sedan chair bearer were unreliable, and he was also afraid that the murderer might have other accomplices. So he agreed, and Chen Xin and the steward together helped Yang Weiyuan up and carefully put him into the sedan chair.

  The sedan chair swayed and swirled, with Yang Daren humming and groaning inside, all the way to Yang Weiguan's mansion. To say that the imperial historian's salary is not high, but the mansion is still pretty good, the gate looks very bright and shiny.

  The housekeeper was shouting from afar, and two doorkeepers ran out to take a look at the situation. One of them immediately went back to call for help, and soon two or three more servants came out. Together, they lifted Yang Weiguan inside.

  Chen Xin fell behind, and the housekeeper hastily went out to invite a doctor. He grabbed the housekeeper and said to him: "You quickly go to the Beicheng Bingma Si to prepare, just say that someone wants to kill your master, let them come to protect the master." The housekeeper repeatedly promised, and went out the door.

  When Deng Xin caught up, Yang Weigeng was loudly reminding several servants not to touch his wound.

  "Easy, ah, I told you not to touch my leg, you damn dog, don't even touch with your fingers... Ah. Slow down, slow down."

  In Yang Weigong's curses, it was easy to put him on the bed. Chen Xin followed and came in all the way. The three-entry courtyard was very spacious and could no longer be considered a traditional Chinese quadrangle dwelling. It was a luxurious mansion. In the garden of the three entries, there were artificial hills, fish ponds, and flowers and trees of different heights. It can be seen that Yang Weigong had made a lot of extra money by following the eunuchs' party, otherwise, with his salary as an imperial historian, he would not have been able to afford such a good mansion.

  Yang Weijian had just put it down when several of his wives and concubines rushed in, surrounding Yang Weijian and wiping away tears.

  "Get out of here! Can't you see we have guests? If it weren't for Chen Baihu, you would be in trouble." The several wives and concubines then hurriedly thanked Chen Xin.

  After Yang Weigeng lay down and panted for a while, he instructed the servant: "Quickly arrange a seat for Director Chen. Today, we owe it to Director Chen. Just now, Director Chen said he came to pay his respects. This official still has some connections in the Ministry of War. If there's anything difficult, just tell this official. Ah..."

  His legs hurt badly and he would moan again after saying a few words.

  "Your Excellency, please rest and recover from your injuries. It's not worth troubling you with my trivial matters," Chen Xindao said. He took a look around and saw that things were almost done. Yang Weiguan's role was just like this - all he needed to do was spread his own name.

  Chen Xin said to Yang Weigong: "Just now, sir, you said that you are the imperial censor Yang Weigong of the Office of Scrutiny?"

  Yang Weigong nodded with difficulty, and Chen Xin suddenly stood up excitedly and said loudly: "So you are Yang Weigong, the imperial censor who impeached Cui Chengxiu. Junior is so lucky to be able to help your lordship."

  "Ah?" Yang Weiguan looked at Bai Hu in a daze of excitement.

  "Director Yang is fearless of power and corruption, impeaching Cui Chengxiu, everyone in the capital says that Director Yang can be compared to the six gentlemen of Donglin."

  Yang Weiyuan immediately sensed something was amiss and hastily stopped Chen Xindao: "Chen Bailiu, the matter is like this..."

  Chen Xin said resolutely: "General Yang, there's no need to say more. Today is definitely that Cui Chengxiu taking revenge and finding someone to secretly harm you. As a military officer, I also know the great justice of the world and will certainly help you get back what is rightfully yours."

  Having said that, he didn't wait for Yang Weigeng to speak and strode out of the door in a few big steps.

  Yang Weiguan was stunned for a moment, but unfortunately couldn't get up, so he shouted loudly: "Chen Baihu, it's not like that, don't be rash!"

  "General, rest assured, I'll send word back..."

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  Note 1: During the Wanli era, Yu Shenxing wrote "Gushan Bicheng", which described the composition of Beijing residents: people from all over the country accounted for six or seven out of ten. Among them, people from Huiji (now Zhejiang Province) accounted for four or five out of ten. It can be seen that at that time, among the outsiders in Beijing, people from Zhejiang Province occupied more than half.