Chapter 229 The Zheng Family Uncle and Nephew Turn Against Each Other
At the dinner table, Magistrate Xing briefly explained his feud with the Xing family of Hanoi: "This enmity has lasted for three generations and nearly forty years. The culprit from back then is so old he's toothless; he could have fallen and died. It's not worth dirtying my hands for those old fogies. Your Excellency can rest assured that I will not do anything illegal. I only want the name of the Xing family of Hanoi to disappear from the public eye, and at most, I'll drive the entire Xing family away."
“That’s only right. The reputation of the Xing family of Hanoi wasn’t built by these thieves. It should disappear.” Du Min agreed.
"I concealed my relationship with the Xing family of Hanoi from the Ministry of Personnel before my transfer. Will this lead to a lawsuit from the censor?" Magistrate Xing asked.
“You two have been estranged for nearly forty years, and you will not be taking over the family business. You have no connection with the Xing family of Hanoi anymore. If any censor impeaches you, I will defend you,” Du Min promised.
That was exactly what Magistrate Xing wanted to hear, and he assured him, "This humble official will never take a single penny from the Xing family of Hanoi."
“I’m waiting to see you achieve the first merit,” Du Min said. “It’s just a pity that this is on Magistrate Gu’s territory, and you’re taking the lead for him.”
"The shock in Hanoi County will definitely affect the remaining four counties. This battle was worthwhile." Magistrate Xing also expressed his regret, but his words were magnanimous.
Du Min poured him a drink and asked, "When are you going back to Wen County? I'll arrange a carriage to take you. Although the Xing family of Hanoi has declined, they are still a powerful local force. Be careful, they might try something desperate to harm you. If they can create an accident that leaves you disabled, your career will be over."
"Your humble servant will keep that in mind." Magistrate Xing thought for a moment and decided to visit the Xing family again in half a month. So he said, "Your humble servant will return to Wen County today. I would like to trouble Lord Du to arrange a carriage for me."
After the meal, Du Min sent three guards from the governor's office to escort Xing Wudu away from Hanoi County on horseback.
That evening, Meng Qing brought her entire family back to the Meng family home for dinner, where she told Meng Chun the news that Magistrate Xing had revealed. Relieved, Meng Chun left the next day with Wang Bushang and others, who were eager to return home.
Du Min gave the letter he wrote to Magistrate Sun to Meng Chun, asking him to deliver it to the county government office when he passed through Heqing County.
Meng Chun and his group arrived in Heqing County by oxcart. After handing the letter to Magistrate Sun, the group checked into Tongfu Inn.
During dinner, they talked about the situation in Huaizhou. Meng Chun noticed that two people at the table to his left were eavesdropping. To avoid trouble, he interrupted Wang Bushang and the others and forced them to talk about the matter of Wang Bushang and Li Bushang moving their ancestral graves more than ten years ago.
The next morning, Meng Chun and the others paid their bill and left. As they walked out the door, he saw the two people who had been eavesdropping the night before riding north on horseback.
“Those two men were eavesdropping on our conversation last night. If I’m not mistaken, their destination is Huaizhou,” Meng Chun said. “Uncles, let’s make an agreement: for the rest of the journey, we will only discuss business and not anything related to Huaizhou or the redemption of the land.”
“Agreed,” Lu Bu was the first to agree.
The others had no objections.
"Get on the bus, it's time for us to set off," said Wang Bushang.
When Meng Chun and his group left Luoyang by boat, two men on horseback arrived in Hanoi County.
The following evening, as Du Min was preparing to leave his post, a guard from the backyard came to deliver a message: Shen Bie had poisoned the rats he kept in the dark room.
Du Min told Yin Caiwei to return to the manor first and not to wait for him. He hurriedly went to the secret room and asked, "Have you sent anyone to investigate?"
"We've found out. The problem was with the chicken. The cook bought a dead chicken because it was cheap, and it was poisoned." The incident happened at noon. Yang Duwei's men had traced the source before reporting to Du Min. "But we can't find the person who sold the chicken. The trail has gone cold."
"Do you think the person who poisoned the food is still in the city?" Du Min asked.
Shen Bie nodded. "I've already arranged for someone to spread the word that the other side knows they didn't succeed and won't leave."
"What do you need me to do?" Du Min asked.
"Cut off the opportunity to poison the food and force the other party to find another way," Shen Biejiang said.
“From now on, I will bring your three meals a day from my residence,” Du Min said.
"Your cooks haven't been bribed, have they? I've heard about what's going on outside. You'd better protect your life," Shen Biejiang reminded him.
After thinking for a while, Du Min arranged for someone to find him two dogs that very night. The next day, he spread the word that the criminal he had arrested had confessed to his master after he was nearly silenced. The mastermind behind the crime was Zheng Chang, the Minister of Justice.
*
Upon receiving the news, Minister Zheng was so angry that he tore up the letter and berated the two men who had gone to silence him for their incompetence, for not only failing to kill them but also forcing them to confess.
Minister Zheng was not the only one to receive the news; all the families that had planted spies in Huaizhou received the message, and Prime Minister Zheng naturally knew as well.
"Master, the Prime Minister has arrived." After finishing his shift that day, Minister Zheng had just arrived home and hadn't even changed out of his official robes when he heard the servant's announcement. Before he could even go out to greet him, the Prime Minister had already entered.
"Is the news true?" Prime Minister Zheng asked coldly.
"Yes." Minister Zheng's face was ugly. In terms of age and seniority, he was the elder, but because of his official position, he was inferior to Prime Minister Zheng. Now, being questioned like this, he couldn't save face.
"Are you senile? Have you had too many good days? How could you do such a stupid thing?" Prime Minister Zheng held back for a while, but still couldn't help but speak sarcastically, "What were you thinking? At this critical moment, you made a move against him, and you even left him with a handle."
"It's all because of you! You let that treacherous beast trample on the reputation of the Zheng family of Xingyang, making us a laughing stock among the aristocratic families. I can't stand it!" Minister Zheng also got angry.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Zheng was furious. This man had been blinded by his smooth career. "Didn't you ever think about why he would so openly turn against me? What is he after?"
"Isn't it just a difference in political views? Either the female saint forced him to try and win you over, or he failed to get your protection."
“His attempt to seek asylum failed, but that doesn’t mean he’ll turn against me. He can only threaten me if he turns against me, so he won’t be branded as ungrateful. But you, you personally handed him leverage to threaten me.” Prime Minister Zheng was furious. “What can I say to you? Why didn’t you think more at this crucial moment? Even if you wanted to vent your anger, you shouldn’t have done something so violent.”
Prime Minister Zheng thought to himself that if this man had any ruthlessness and managed to poison Du Min's rice bowl, he would have given him a good compliment. He had gone to great lengths to poison Du Min twice, but not only had he failed, he had also targeted the wrong person.
Minister Zheng was disheartened. "It was precisely because it was at this critical juncture that I was worried that his death would enrage the two emperors and bring trouble upon myself. That's why I only sent someone to beat him up to vent my anger."
Prime Minister Zheng was speechless. "Just to vent your anger? I'm the one who's been vented on, and I haven't even said anything. Why are you in such a hurry? What kind of anger are you trying to vent?"
Minister Zheng did not want to argue any further. He humbled himself and asked, "Do you have any solutions? A letter from Huaizhou said that Du Min has imprisoned my men in a dark room in the governor's mansion, guarded by more than twenty men, including soldiers from the Zhechong Duwei's office. Ordinary people cannot get close."
Prime Minister Zheng sized him up. If Du Min were to impeach him, his uncle would undoubtedly be demoted. But more than half a month had passed, and Du Min hadn't taken any action. Clearly, he was waiting for Zheng's statement. He knew what Du Min wanted, but he didn't want to give it to him, much less compromise in this coerced manner.
"First, submit a memorial to plead guilty; second, sell the excess land under your name," Prime Minister Zheng probed.
“Impossible.” Minister Zheng refused outright. “I am the Minister of the Zheng family, representing the Zheng family of Xingyang. How could I betray a powerful family? This would be condemned by everyone.”
Prime Minister Zheng withdrew his gaze and said, "Then you should submit a memorial to plead guilty."
Minister Zheng was also unwilling. "I plan to go to Imperial Censor Dou. I heard that he has a cousin who works under Du Min. This person can move around freely in the governor's mansion."
Prime Minister Zheng instinctively tried to stop him, but Du Min was clearly on guard. He hadn't succeeded in poisoning, so how could he have let his subordinates succeed? He even suspected that the person imprisoned in the secret room had been replaced.
"Have you ever dealt with the Commandant of Huai Prefecture?" Minister Zheng asked again.
"You don't need to get involved with him. He's from the Yang family of Hongnong, which is related to Empress Wu's maternal clan." Prime Minister Zheng stopped interfering. If Dou could get involved, he would be happy to see it happen. If it didn't, he, as her cousin, would be demoted... No, would he follow in the footsteps of Prime Minister Lu and Prime Minister Xu and be demoted for failing to manage his family properly?
"You should submit a memorial to apologize, lest I get dragged into this as well," Prime Minister Zheng couldn't help but say.
"I waited eight years in the position of Governor of Luozhou before finally getting this position. If I miss this opportunity, I will never enter the court again." Minister Zheng refused, regretting his rash decision. "Prime Minister, could you send a letter to Du Min and have him propose a deal?"
"He asked you to sell off the excess land under your name?"
"Anything else is fine except for this condition."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Zheng knew there was no need to waste words. "I will give you ten days. If there is no progress, I will choose to put righteousness before family."
Minister Zheng stared at him in shock.
Prime Minister Zheng said nothing more and turned to leave. It was impossible for the Zheng family to produce both a prime minister and a minister simultaneously. The Emperor's promotion of Zheng Chang to Minister of Justice was intended to incite conflict between the uncle and nephew. A minister's next step was prime minister, and Zheng Chang was eyeing his position. Sooner or later, a choice had to be made; it was better for him to decide for himself.
*
The next day, Minister Zheng went to see Imperial Censor Dou, who refused without hesitation, saying, "My cousin is not capable enough to shoulder this great responsibility."
"Du Min's goal is to force our Zheng family to submit to that decree. Once the Zheng family of Xingyang sets this precedent, the remaining aristocratic families will be caught in a dilemma," Minister Zheng threatened.
“You do not represent the Zheng family of Xingyang. Even if you have done something, we will not accept it. Besides, before you take any action, I will accuse you of plotting to harm an official of the court.” Imperial Censor Dou said mercilessly, “Minister Zheng, I hope you will think twice before you act.”
Zheng Shangshu was extremely embarrassed. "Fine, I brought this humiliation upon myself. Imperial Censor Dou, I'll remember your words."
After saying that, he left quickly.
*
In Hanoi County, a hundred or two miles away, Yang Duwei's men, after being identified by the cook, caught the man who sold him the dead chicken.
When the men were handed over to Du Min, Du Min imprisoned one and released another. "Go back and tell Prime Minister Zheng that he knows what I want. He has made his decision, and I will release the men immediately."
The entire Huai Prefecture has received 180 hectares of redeemed land, and the government's policies have already had some effect locally. If the powerful families are willing to lend a hand, the local resistance will be much less.
"Quickly, quickly! Magistrate Xing and Magistrate Gu have gone to the Xing family's old residence with their yamen runners. Let's go cheer them on!" The landless men wandering the streets shouted.
Upon hearing this, Du Min led his guards and headed southeast.
Less than half a month had passed since Magistrate Xing left Hanoi County, but Magistrate Gu could no longer contain himself. In the past few days, the Xing family of Hanoi had sold off fifty hectares of land, but there had been no further activity for three days. Magistrate Gu seized the opportunity and invited Magistrate Xing to come and give them another scare.
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