Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Chapter 114 Jingzhou Encounters Difficulties

Huang Zongxi suddenly picked up his brush and dipped it heavily in the inkstone:

"Your argument, sir, is arguably the most stirring and impactful manifesto concerning the people's livelihood since the publication of the *Discourses on Salt and Iron*!"

"Tangible constraints are like a knife on a chopping board, while intangible shackles are worse than chains!"

He rolled up his sleeve with his left hand and held a pen in his right.

"The gaping maw of land annexation, the impenetrable wall of corruption in the imperial examination system, and the soft knife of double standards in etiquette and law are all laid bare under the sunlight."

"Such a deep-seated ailment can only be cured through radical surgery, and cannot be healed without a complete overhaul!"

Before the words were even finished, a large sheet of Xuan paper had already been laid out.

The rustling sound of the wolf-hair brush sweeping across the Xuan paper was like silkworms eating leaves, or night rain tapping on the window. The river breeze passing through the hall fluttered the hems of everyone's clothes, intertwining the fragrance of ink with the fishy smell of the river.

Chen Zisheng strode forward and grabbed Zhu Cilang's sleeve:

"May I ask, young master, where should this bone-scraping knife enter the flesh?"

"What medicine should be used to cure this century-old ailment?"

Seeing Chen Zisheng's despairing face, Zhu Cilang's indignation suddenly faded, replaced by a bitter smile typical of a businessman:

"I don't know either... I'm just a silk merchant, how would I know about these things..."

Another sigh of disappointment escaped the crowd, the sigh falling heavily to the ground and shattering into a suffocating silence.

Huang Zongxi's brush tip hovered in mid-air, and a drop of thick ink fell onto the last stroke of the character "檄".

A series of hurried footsteps came from the stairwell, accompanied by the crisp clinking of abacus beads. Zhang Youyu emerged from the corner of the stairs:

"Master, the rice, salt, and medicinal herbs have all been purchased, and the customs pass for Wuchang Garrison has been verified. It's time to set off!"

Zhu Cilang bid farewell to everyone, cupped his hands in greeting, and moved backward toward the wooden stairs.

Just before descending the stairs, he suddenly turned around and grabbed the railing:

"Gentlemen, there is no need to worry. I have heard in Nanjing that the Holy Emperor has already prepared the methods for creating a new world."

"When the dragon's energy re-condenses, it will be the time for the creation of heaven and earth!"

Outside the Yellow Crane Tower, the Yangtze River surges, its turbid waves crashing against the rocks, the splashing water droplets refracting a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.

The sails of the cargo ship were billowing in the wind, and the tattered flags at the top of the masts fluttered in the wind, making them look like countless broken command flags.

"When the universe is reborn!"

The low murmurs echoed among the beams and pillars behind Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang strode into the corridor, the sunlight casting a long silhouette behind him.

A few willow leaves twirled and fell onto his shoulder, their edges already turning yellowish-brown.

The veins between the leaves resemble cracked riverbeds on a map—a map of survival that has been devoured by elites over the past two centuries.

......

a few days later.

In Jingzhou Prefecture, at dawn, thick fog shrouded the river.

Zhu Cilang's merchant ship bound for Chongqing slowly entered the Jingzhou Water Gate.

"Hiss hiss hiss—!"

A dozen or so burning rockets suddenly lit up in the thick fog, and the pungent smell of sulfur filled the cabin.

Immediately afterwards, several warships burst out of the fog like ghosts, instantly blocking the way.

"Your Majesty, Hao's centipede speedboats have latched onto the stern!"

Zhang Youyu, the Vice Minister of Revenue, stumbled into the cabin, his blue cloth robe already soaked with sweat.

"Commander Zhang and Lieutenant General Wang are leading their troops at the forefront!"

In a low, hissing growl.

Zhu Cilang was intently peeling a lotus seed with a dagger, the blade reflecting the flickering firelight outside the porthole.

He slowly lowered the dagger in his hand:

"What's the panic? Quickly go and find out the truth!"

"As you command!"

Zhang Youyu dared not delay and turned around to rush out of the cabin.

A fishy smell filled the air on the deck, and the river water churned.

Three warships surrounded the merchant ship in a triangular formation, with the large "Hao" flag at the bow fluttering in the river wind.

A dozen armed soldiers had already stepped onto the deck on the gangplank, their gun tips gleaming with an eerie blue light in the mist.

Zhang Wu and Wang Jing, leading the Beijing garrison soldiers, dressed in coarse cloth short jackets, stood across the deck in front.

His muscular arms were pressed against the iron hooks, and at first glance he did look like a boatman who had been sailing for many years.

Across from them, the leading lieutenant, his eyes sinister, scanned the crowd, and coldly shouted:

"Who is in charge? Answer me immediately!"

"Sir, please calm down. I am just the ship's tent clerk..."

Zhang Youyu immediately hunched over and squeezed forward, his voice trembling.

"I don't know... I don't know what happened?"

"By order of General Hao!"

The lieutenant snorted coldly, his sword hilt striking the deck.

"Imprison all merchant ships. Detain all passengers and cargo in the city. If you utter another word, I'll stab you!"

His spittle flew everywhere, reeking of alcohol from the previous night.

Zhang Wu watched the situation nervously from the side, his right hand quietly retracting into his sleeve, gripping the hilt of the concealed short blade.

Zhang Youyu, with a bent back, took two steps forward. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and his withered hand pulled a silver ingot from his sleeve.

A fawning smile spread across his face:

"Sir, you've worked hard..."

He pretended to stuff the silver into the officer's hidden pocket in his armor, his left hand cupping it as if to cover it.

"This little bit of tea money is for the brothers to moisten their throats..."

The lieutenant's Adam's apple bobbed as he swept his gaze across the silver ingots, his peripheral vision quickly sweeping over the armed soldiers on the deck.

His deliberately lowered curses, mixed with the smell of alcohol, escaped:

"That old bastard's asking for it!"

The moment Zhang Youyu stuffed the silver ingot into his hidden pocket, his tense jawline relaxed slightly.

The two men leaned close to each other, and Zhang Youyu feigned fear, probing the general with subtle questions. After a few moments of whispering, as if he had drunk a few cups of wine, the general finally let slip what he had said.

Then, impatiently, he raised his voice, as if to save face:

"Half an incense stick's worth!"

"If you disobey General Hao's orders, I'll string you all together like bait for a river turtle!"

"The general is magnanimous!"

Zhang Youyu's back hunched even further as he quickly replied:

"Don't worry, sir, I'm very quick and efficient; I guarantee there won't be any problems!"

He turned around, his right hand behind his back making a secret signal with two interlaced fingers.

He lowered his voice and said to Zhang Wu and Wang Jing through the gesture:

"Take the guys back to the cabin!"

Wang Jing immediately understood. He pulled Zhang Wu back and shouted:

"Alright! I'll go right now!"

More than ten "shipworkers" turned around in unison, their footsteps making the deck tremble slightly.

Inside the cabin, Zhu Cilang's dagger hovered over the freshly peeled lotus seed.

"Your Majesty, it's confirmed!"

Zhang Youyu pushed open the door, bringing in a wisp of river breeze, and spoke extremely quickly.

"The rebel Liu Fangliang has over ten thousand troops who have arrived in Jingzhou and are locked in a stalemate with Hao Xiaozhong's forces. Now, the rebel leader has sent a fake envoy into Hao's camp, intending to force him to surrender the city."

Zhu Cilang's sword tip slightly congealed:

Who is Hao Xiaozhong?

"This man was originally a hereditary commander of the Xiangyang Guard, and in the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign, he was transferred to the command of Zuo Liangyu."

Zhang Youyu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly stated the key point.

"In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, when the bandit leader Xian attacked Xiangyang, this man took advantage of the fact that the commander-in-chief was fighting the main force of the bandits to lead his troops to loot Qiliting in Longzhong, kill civilians and claim military merits, and was even promoted by Grand Secretary Yang in an extraordinary manner."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Cilang's eyes, and he murmured in a low voice:

"Yang Sichang..."

Just then, the sound of armored vehicles clashing against each other brushed past the porthole.

Zhang Youyu's back straightened instantly, and he continued only after the sound faded into the river's roar:

"The title of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Jingzhou was privately bestowed by Zuo Zhen, and was actually a reward for maintaining a private army."

"His troops, known as the Three Thousand Iron Cavalry, were actually a mix of bandits and starving people from Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Half a month ago, they sent their troops to plunder the Jianli County government office, and the elders of the nineteen counties in western Hubei hung up a blood-written petition at the governor's office to appeal for justice."

Zhu Cilang's knife, which was slicing lotus flowers, suddenly stopped.

Zhang Youyu lowered his voice even further:

"Last night, the rebel Liu Fangliang sent a message into the city with a whistling arrow."

"If the city is not surrendered within three days, all of Hao Ying's officers and soldiers will be torn apart by chariots and their heads hung at the Jiangling Gate after the city is breached."

Zhu Cilang immediately understood—the rebel general Liu Fangliang was leading a large army to the city gates, intending to force Hao Xiaozhong, the garrison commander of Jingzhou, to surrender.

Although Jingzhou City was nominally still under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty, it had long been a chaotic place where military leaders carved up the territory.