Chapter Seven The Last Straw

  The rooms around the Ministry of War's main hall all poked their heads out, astonished to see a broken hundred households' aura standing in the middle of the main hall, proudly facing the second hall and scolding loudly. Cui Chengxiu's office was located in the second hall.

  "Chui Chengxiu, you are a high-ranking official of the imperial court, but your younger brother is a general. Why don't you resign and take command of his troops? This has never been done in our dynasty's 200-year history. How dare you! Furthermore, as a scholar-official, you acknowledge a eunuch as your foster father. Today, the morale of scholars is declining, and their integrity is being compromised, all starting with you." Chen Xin mixed up the information he had collected over the past few days, not caring whether it was true or not, and simply hurled abuse at Chui Chengxiu. The crowd of onlookers grew larger, and everyone knew that Chui Chengxiu might fall from power at any moment. No one wanted to speak out for him, especially since he had suddenly appeared in the Ministry of War's great hall to berate Chen Xin, with no one knowing what his background was or who had instigated him. If it turned out that he had been backed by the emperor himself, wouldn't anyone who tried to stop him be in trouble? As a result, although there were many onlookers, not a single person stepped forward to stop Chen Xin. It seemed that Chen Xin was the first person to ever berate someone in the Ministry of War's great hall without being stopped.

  "It is already improper for the three halls to be supervised by a person with an inauspicious fate, and now that the major work of the three halls has been completed, he still occupies the position of Left Censor-in-Chief, using his power as a high-ranking official to suppress the speech of lower officials. As a result, recently, no one dares to speak out against evil and corruption, except for Censor Yang Weigong, who upheld justice and spoke out. Who would have thought that just after he submitted his memorial, he was stabbed? It is clear who was behind it.

  Chen Xin bowed to the people around him: "I am Chen Xin, a hundred-household leader from Weihaiwei. Yesterday, I coincidentally encountered Yang Weigong being stabbed outside the National Academy in Fangjia Hutong. I was driven by righteous indignation and fought off the thugs, but was also slashed multiple times by several of them."

  Chen Xin rolled up his sleeves, revealing the blood-stained gauze, and a chorus of gasps erupted around him. Several people who were dissatisfied with Cui Chengxiu began to curse "Traitor!" "All virtues are lost!" Others cheered for him "So you're the hundred households who saved Yang Weigong, good man!" Cui Chengxiu had been in office at the Ministry of War for just over a month and hadn't had time to plant his own people, but he was repeatedly impeached, so his support rate was very low.

  At this time, the sound of footsteps rang out, and several soldiers stationed at the gate rushed into the hall, shouting to catch Chen Xin. However, by then Chen Xin had already stirred up the emotions of some people, and several civil officials blocked those soldiers, waving their hands for them to leave.

  Chen Xinyan saw the soldiers coming in and quickened his pace: "At that time, I personally heard a thug interrogating Yang Weigong, asking him who had instructed him to impeach General Cui. Later, he shouted 'Kill the traitor!' If I hadn't arrived in time, Yang Weigong would have been killed on the spot. Such actions not only intimidated officials, but also showed cruelty that surpassed that of Daji."

  A man who looked like a steward shouted loudly: "This Chen Bailiu, since he is so vicious, why does he dare to scold here?"

  "Tigers and wolves devour humans, but even if one is unarmed, they should still be fought against. If the whole court does not speak out, then the grass and weeds will do so, regarding it as the advocacy of loyal ministers and righteous scholars. Even in death, what regret is there!" Chen Xin copied down the words he had heard from Qian Jiazheng, turning them into his own declaration of loyalty.

  "If I were an official, I would impeach him today. Unfortunately, I am just a military officer and do not have the right to submit a memorial to the throne. So I can only express my indignation here. Yang Weigong was seriously injured, with his hands and feet all cut off. What kind of cruel person could commit such a heinous act? If people like this are allowed to hold high positions, how can the common people live in peace? You officials have all read extensively in literature and history, can you just stand by and watch as wolves occupy the road?"

  Many onlookers shouted loudly: "Well said!"

  What Chen Xinyu said was roughly the same, and he didn't even know if Cui Chengxiu was in the second hall, but those weren't important. Chen Xinyu and Cui Chengxiu had no grudges or grievances, and the people who replaced Cui Chengxiu and Wei Zhongxian were not necessarily more virtuous or capable of governance. So Chen Xinyu didn't actually have much resentment towards the eunuchs; he just wanted to gain benefits from this case. Now, for him, the greatest benefit was to get a good reputation, so that Chongzhen would know, and his future career path would be smoother.

  Chen Xin was about to leave after bowing in all directions, when he suddenly remembered something and loudly said towards the gate of Wu Xuan's residence: "Magistrate Qian, I'm taking my leave."

  The money Yuanheng hid inside and didn't come out, this broken hundred households said to himself before leaving, others thought he was called to scold him. If Cui Chengxiu is fine, in the future, he will definitely be made to wear small shoes. But he also dared not come out to argue, if Cui Chengxiu can't hold on, his argument now would make him be considered as one of Cui's party, he was so angry that his face turned red and white alternately.

  Chen Xin dragged Yuan Xun down to the water, not premeditated, but a sudden idea. After finishing this, he didn't stay any longer and walked out of the hall with his head held high. The people surrounding him subconsciously followed him out. The soldiers at the door hadn't received any orders and didn't know anything about this person. Who had ever heard of a hundred households daring to come to the Ministry of War to scold someone? Even if it were the commander or deputy general, when they came to the Ministry of War, they would still have to kneel down and listen to the six-grade official in charge. This man must have some big shot backing him up, that's why he dared to come to the Ministry of War to scold the Minister. None of the officials said anything, so the smaller soldiers didn't dare to say anything either.

  Like this, Chen Xin walked out of the Ministry of War with a proud and majestic appearance. In fact, he was worried in his heart. The eunuchs still controlled the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. If these soldiers caught him and sent him to the Northern Patrol Office, before Cui Chengxiu and Wei Zhongxian ascended to heaven, he would have ascended first. So he also arranged for Zhu Guobin and Dai Zhenggang to wait at the gate. These two men were not clear what Chen Xin had done inside, according to Chen Xin's arrangement, they both pretended to be pedestrians on both sides of the street.

  Two men saw Chen Xin come out, but they didn't go up to talk to him. Chen Xin didn't dare to head directly east towards Chongwen Gate, so he hastily headed west instead, with Dai Zheng following closely behind him about twenty steps back. Zhu Guobin waited for a while before the gatekeeper called over a soldier and whispered something in his ear. The soldier immediately followed quickly after Chen Xin. Two men who looked like bookkeepers also followed them. The rest of the people from the Ministry of War stood at the gate, not hurrying to leave, and started discussing what had happened. Some curious ones had already gone off to other departments, preparing to gossip a bit.

  After the few people who were following had passed by, Zhu Guobin finally got up and followed them from behind. When they arrived at a place with fewer people in Yangmao Hutong, he easily shook off those tails. Then he continued to follow the figure of Dai Zhenggang in front of him. Chen Xin stopped in an alley in Songshu Hutong and waited for Dai Zhenggang and Zhu Guobin to catch up. After they arrived, Chen Xin changed out of his official uniform, took a set of straight clothes from Dai Zhenggang's bag, put on a square scarf, and transformed into a scholar. He then took a folding fan in hand and strolled leisurely from Xuanwumen to the outer city.

  Like Lu Zi and the others that day, Chen Xin and his three companions dispersed after arriving at the outer city, wandering around the commercial district outside Zhengyang Gate to confirm there were no tails before returning to their lodgings.

  "Alright, Guobin, you two pack up your things, we're changing accommodations today." Chen Xinyi instructed the two as soon as he entered the room. He himself picked up a teapot and gulped down its contents. Today, from the inn to Qipan Street, then back around from Xuanwu Gate, was at least over ten miles of road.

  "Yes, I'll go collect it." Zhu Guobin didn't ask anything else and turned back to his own room.

  Dai Zhenggang was slightly puzzled: "Chen Ge, what did you come to the Ministry of War for today? Is someone going to arrest us?"

  Chen Xin put down his teapot. "I went and scolded the Minister of War, and if things don't go well, the Imperial Guards might come to arrest me. Otherwise, why would I be so careful?"

  "Ah, scolding the Minister of War..." Just then, Song Wenxian also arrived at the entrance of Chen Xing's house. Upon hearing this, both of them were stunned.

  They hadn't finished yet, when Chen Xin's door creaked open and Zhu Guobin was already standing at the entrance with his bag packed. Chen Xin didn't expect him to be so quick either, and asked in surprise: "Guobin, how did you get ready so fast?"

  "I have only one small package, and I pick it up every day."

  Chen Xin nodded in agreement, and said to Dai Zhenggang: "Zhenggang, you also hurry up and gather your things, we're leaving soon. Let's split up and leave separately, Guo Bin will bring up the rear, hurry."

  After Dai Zheng just left, Song Wenxian locked the door and asked anxiously: "Brother Chen, didn't you say you were going to pay respects this morning? Why did you have a falling out with Minister Shang?"

  Chen Xin didn't have time to explain, and simply said: "Cui Chengxiu hired someone to kill him, but I ruined his plan, so we got into a fight. The Imperial Guards might come for me. Brother Song, will you help me hide out for a while?"

  Song Wenxian's forehead was already slightly sweaty. The provincial governors and coastal defense officials he normally met were already high-ranking officials, but these high-ranking officials became like mice seeing a cat when they saw the Minister of War and the Imperial Guards. Who knew that Chen Xin was so ignorant of the heights and depths, daring to quarrel with him? Song Wenxian regretted it deeply. If he had accompanied him today, it would never have ended up like this.

  "You, Chen brother, such a clever person, how can you be so muddled at this time."

  Chen Xin picked up the small bundle that had been packed and placed at the head of the bed, and said to Song Wenxian: "Mr. Song, let's temporarily avoid this place first. If I get caught by the Beizhen Fu Si, I'm afraid it won't just be a matter of scolding the Minister, other things will probably have to be confessed together too."

  Song Wenxian knew he was talking about Hai Mao's case, and if he really confessed, he would not be able to escape himself. The Embroidered Uniform Guard could not help but make a big deal out of this, no amount of silver could satisfy these people. Song Wenxian thought of the various rumors in the Beizhen Fu prison and shivered with fear.

  "Go, go." Song Wenxian hastily returned to the house, quickly packing his bags in a flurry of activity. Chen Xinyi had already sent Da Zhengtuo and the others back to their rooms, then waited with Song Wenxian in the room for half an hour, so as not to arouse the shopkeeper's suspicions that they were together. During this half-hour, Song Wenxian was restless, constantly sneaking glances out the window at the street below, all the while silently cursing Chen Xinyi's rashness.

  "Brother Chen, this is the territory of the Imperial Guards in the capital. We can't stay in an inn, where else can we hide? Unless we leave the city now."

  Chen Xin was also uncertain in his heart, but he put on a calm face and narrowed his eyes, imitating the manner of Qian Zhuo, saying: "Brother has his own arrangements, but leaving the city is not urgent, my affairs with Na Ji are not yet settled."

  Song Wenxian was furious and almost jumped up: "Brother Chen, you're being unreasonable. You scolded our troops and still want to be a commander..."

  Chen Xin smiled silently, and before he left, he specially pulled down the money master, just to prevent this money master from being in the same camp as the eunuch party, so that his own affairs could still be handled. However, in these two days before the situation becomes clear, I estimate that the money master will not be able to sleep well.

  He mentally calculated the time, and if he walked in the direction of Xuanwu Gate, he should be able to mislead the five battalions of the Imperial Guard. In this era without telephones, it would take at least half a day for the Imperial Guard to report back to the Ministry of War and investigate. For the time being, they wouldn't be able to catch up with him, but yesterday's fight was still unresolved. If the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Guard investigated the guest house, they would find out about this side within a day or two. The power of the Imperial Guard in the capital was still strong. The torture instruments in the imperial prison, such as the cannonball and the flesh brush, were indeed frightening, but they wouldn't be able to enjoy themselves for long. As soon as Cui Xingzhi fell, the eunuch party would lose momentum, and he just needed to hide out for these last few days, and then he would be safe.

  About half an hour later, Chen Xin brought Song Wenxian to settle the room fee. At the teahouse, they called Zhu Guobin and Dai Zhenggang. They didn't dare go directly to Zhengdong Alley, but instead went south for a while before heading west through the alleys, finally turning north back to Zhengdong Alley, entering their hiding place.