Chapter 1, Qizhou
The person referred to as Lord Shi, the mustachioed captain, is indeed Lord Shi Wei, a sixth-rank captain of the Jinyiwei in Qizhou. In the city, apart from the noble families associated with the Jing royal family, he cannot afford to offend anyone. Even the fifth-rank magistrate and the third-rank commander of the Qizhou garrison must give him some respect.
Then lowering his voice: "Moreover, that young man has fair skin, certainly not a vagrant who has endured hardships while preaching. His hands bear no calluses, he has never wielded a sword, and there is not a trace of humility in his demeanor, clearly indicating a noble background. As I approached on horseback, he remained calm and composed, exuding confidence. Hmph, it seemed he was quite reluctant to even bow to me... His fluent Southern Zhili dialect makes me wonder which prince, princess, or young master from the households of the General of National Defense or the General of State Support is out here causing a ruckus for fun!"
Qin Lin's heart tightened, yet his expression remained impassive. He simply crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the other person with a half-smile that carried a hint of mockery in his gaze
Seek a place to toil and manage with great effort, for his name is absent from the fish scale registers of all the provinces and counties under heaven, and he cannot settle down no matter where he goes
It turned out to be a portrait of the notorious criminals of the White Lotus Society, with a line of red characters inscribed: "The treacherous and evil leader of the bandits in Qizhou, Gao Fan Chai Yu, is to be captured alive or dead, with a reward of 800 taels of silver."
What astonished Qin Lin even more was that the woodcutters and villagers he saw from a distance were all dressed in ancient clothing
Vendors on both sides of the market are busy tidying up the obstructive items, such as baskets, bowls, pots, and stoves, along with spilled soup bowls and overturned steamers, creating quite a commotion
The mustached captain Qiu Ran, upon hearing Qin Lin speak in the dialect of Southern Zhili, was immediately taken aback, quickly stowed away the shadowy figure drawing, and turned his horse around to return to the main group
The leader, dressed in the uniform of a hundred households, was a burly man with a thick beard. Upon witnessing the scene in the southern market where people were panicking and horses were rearing, he furrowed his thick brows and shouted from a distance: "The brocade-clad imperial troops are leaving the city to apprehend the White Lotus rebels. Ordinary citizens need not be alarmed! Quickly make way for us!"
A sudden exclamation sounded like a thunderclap in midair, instantly throwing the bustling southern market of Qizhou City into chaos
Since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the practice of the Ming Religion and the White Lotus Sect has been strictly prohibited. Over the years, there have been countless uprisings by the White Lotus Sect. Qizhou is the center for the spread of the White Lotus Sect in the Jinghu region. Specifically in Qizhou, there was an incident in the sixth year of the Hongwu era where Wang Yu gathered people to burn incense and plotted chaos. In the fourth year of the Yongle era, a monk named Shouzuo gathered men and women to establish the White Lotus Society, mutilating their bodies and severing their fingers, pretending to be gods to incite unrest. Even to this day, there are still White Lotus adherents actively engaging in activities, and there are frequent reports of such occurrences in the community.
Thus, upon arriving in Qizhou City, he observed that there were sentries everywhere outside the city checking travel permits. Qin Lin was at a loss as to where to go next— the Ming Dynasty had laid a net to capture the insurgents of the White Lotus Sect in Jinghu, inadvertently trapping him within the city, making it impossible for him to escape.
Qin Lin did not even have the opportunity to slip away amidst the chaos, yet he seemed to have had a plan in place all along and was not in the least bit flustered
Without a travel permit and lacking any local acquaintances to vouch for him, Qin Lin boldly approached the city gate as if the guards did not exist at all
The Jinyiwei and the library are stationed in Qizhou City, with military salaries being distributed from the Ministry of Revenue to the Qianhu Office and then to the Baihu Office, each level extracting its share, leaving very little in hand. Moreover, the Jinyi officers stationed far from the capital, aware of their bleak prospects for promotion, inevitably resort to extorting money through corrupt practices, colluding with local ruffians and tyrants. The common people truly fear them like tigers, and the mere mention of the term "Tiqi" can silence a child's night cries.
The young ruffian, swaggering with his shoulders squared, scurried back into the corner like a mouse. Such individuals, who today might scrape together three copper coins from a tofu vendor and tomorrow pilfer a couple of silver coins from a drunken man's pocket, are hardly worthy of associating with the likes of a well-dressed constable.
Then the people were enraged and were about to scold, but they were stopped by a military officer dressed in a flying leopard uniform. The officer spat and said: "Get out of the way! You foolish ox, can't you see this young master? He is handsome and extraordinary, how could he possibly be a white lotus rebel?" — It turned out that this officer had a stutter.
During the Ming Dynasty, there was a strong emphasis on civil affairs over military matters. The garrisons in the interior had long since fallen into disrepair. The Qizhou garrison primarily engaged in the transportation of goods along the Yangtze River, which was not much different from the work of laborers. The ordinary military households in the garrison lived in great hardship, and the lower-ranking military officers were treated with contempt.
In such a chaotic situation, naturally no one noticed a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy dressed in a gray linen robe. He was originally hurrying towards the south gate when he suddenly stopped in his tracks upon hearing the words "Tiqi." He quickly covered his face with his hat and hid in the shadow of the small alley next to the butcher's shop. Under the hat, his youthful face bore an expression of helpless amusement as he muttered to himself.
However, he soon became depressed again: In the sixth year of the Wanli era, within the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, where exactly could he find a place to call home
The elderly, the weak, women, and children are all fearful of being struck by galloping horses, calling out to each other to be cautious and avoid danger. It is important to understand that the mounted riders gallop at great speed, and for ordinary people, being struck is akin to a senseless tragedy. Just a few days ago, an unfortunate peddler, lacking awareness, was struck and had three ribs broken. Had it not been for the kind-hearted Li family clinic offering free treatment, he would likely have already met the King of Hell.
Jin Zhenfu awkwardly cleared his throat a few times, while Niu Dali, from the side, glared at Qin Lin with indignation as if he wanted to say something, but several companions had already covered his mouth.
Just as people speculated whether the Spring Knife would be drawn in the next moment, and as blood spouted into the sky with heads rolling to the ground, a sudden sound was heard as the mustached captain unfurled a scroll
Brewing wine, making glass, crafting firearms, claiming kingship and dominance... It seems that the fortunate life of a time traveler is about to unfold. However, Qin Lin soon realizes that as a time traveler, suddenly arriving in this era makes it exceedingly difficult to make any progress
When the general flag inquired about that young man in the hemp robe, Shi Wei laughed boisterously and said, "Damn it, he is far from resembling the image!"
In Qin Lin's palm, a cold sweat had long since formed. After the Jinyiwei had disappeared from sight, he finally let out a sigh, lowered his hat slightly, paused for a moment, contemplated, and then also set off towards the southern gate.
From the direction of Beicheng and the Wangfu of the Library, the sound of thunderous hooves rolled in, gradually approaching the South Market. The brocade-clad officers, adorned in flying fish attire, with phoenix belts at their waists and embroidered spring sabers hanging by their sides, rode tall and strong steeds. They truly resembled tigers in human form and dragons in equine form. Although there were only over thirty riders, they charged forth with the imposing momentum of a great army gathering.
At the city gate, there are soldiers stationed from the Qizhou Wei Commander's jurisdiction, as well as local militia sent by the prefectural office. They conduct inspections of individuals entering and exiting the city. Local residents, who are familiar with one another, form groups of ten to vouch for each other, while visitors from outside must present travel permits for inspection
Several onlookers who were close to the young man noticed that before leaving, the adult from the Bai household actually nodded slightly at the young man, a hint of a smile appearing on his ugly face covered in a thick beard
Qizhou City is located by the Yangtze River, not only controlling Kuanglu to the left and connecting to Dongting to the right, but also serving as a battleground for military strategists throughout the ages. It was the residence of the Ming royal family, specifically the Prince of Jing. From the first Prince of Jing, Zhu Zhan'gang, during the Zhengtong period to the current Prince of Jing, Zhu Changli, in the Wanli period, seven generations have thrived and multiplied. Within the city, there are numerous princes, princesses, generals of the state, and generals assisting the nation. "The mansions and towers rise from the ground, majestic and comparable to the imperial capital." Consequently, the court established a hundred households of the Jinyiwei here, ostensibly to protect the royal family, but with an underlying intention of surveillance.
The nobles of the Ming Dynasty were "granted titles without land, conferred ranks without governing the people, and received stipends without managing affairs." In simpler terms, the court supported them financially while not allowing them to wield power or engage in politics. These princes and young lords spent their days idly, often wandering about in disguise.
The local militia was dispatched by the prefectural office and did not fall under the jurisdiction of the military garrison. Although Jin Zhenfu was a sixth-rank military officer from the left division of the Qizhou garrison, responsible for guarding the southern gate, he had no authority to punish Niu Dali under military law. The soldiers and archers from the garrison merely pulled him away in a half-hearted manner, which served to save face for Jin Zhenfu.
After the Yongle period, the system of travel permits gradually fell into disuse; however, once social conditions became chaotic, strict regulations would be reinstated. In the sixth year of the Wanli era, the White Lotus Society uprising in the Jinghu region prompted local garrisons, the Jinyiwei, and the patrol offices, as well as local militia, to implement stringent precautions. Travelers were required to present their travel permits for passage.
When Qin Lin was in university, he had a close friend who was a native of Nanjing. Imitating his friend's accent, he spoke in a Nanjing dialect to the captain of the Jinyiwei, saying: "My lord, do you suspect that I am a rebel of the White Lotus Society?"
Upon learning of his return to the Ming Dynasty, Qin Lin did not feel disheartened. Before his time travel, both of his parents had already passed away, and he had devoted himself entirely to work, leaving no time for romance. Having grown up without a girlfriend, he was truly unencumbered.
The foolish ox, however, had a certain bull-like demeanor, and he argued in a loud and boisterous voice: "Lord Jin, this person does not have the support of ten local villagers, nor does he present a travel permit. If he escapes, fearing that the magistrate will impose punishment for the White Lotus sect's offenders..."
It is quite common for the imperial troops to leave the city in search of the White Lotus rebels. Given the urgency of the military situation, the brocade-clad officers had no time to disturb the merchants, which naturally put the common people at ease. The chaotic situation was alleviated, and in a moment, the road was cleared for the team of cavalry from Hetushu.
If an ordinary person does not carry a travel permit and is temporarily detained while waiting to have it reissued from their place of origin, they can be released. However, Qin Lin, in this era, has no place of origin at all. Once captured, regardless of what he claims about his identity, the authorities will find no record of him upon investigation. Consequently, he would undoubtedly be treated as a member of the White Lotus Society and face execution.
Outside the city lies a vast expanse, with fields interspersed nearby, and distant green mountains resembling dark ink. Qin Lin's mood is also uplifted by this scenery
Suspicion suddenly arose, the mustached captain turned the horse's head, lightly squeezing the horse's belly with his legs, and circled towards the young man in the coarse cloth.
Capturing the White Lotus Sect rebels is urgent, as the Imperial Guards let out a sharp whistle, and dozens of riders galloped swiftly towards the southern gate, exiting the city.
It is indeed strange that when the esteemed "noble" Qian Lin speaks, Jin Zhenfu does not stutter at all
The Jing Wang Mansion in Qizhou City has a history of seven generations, spanning over one hundred years. Currently, there are dozens of princes and princesses in the city, and the number of generals serving to defend the nation and assist the state is in the hundreds. There are countless princes and grandsons of kings of similar age to the young man in a coarse robe, making it impossible for Shi Wei, as the captain of the city’s Jinyiwei, to know them all.
Everyone's faces became relaxed, yet the boy in the coarse cloth standing at the alley next to the butcher shop still kept his head lowered, appearing particularly out of place among the crowd
Qin Lin, speaking in the dialect of Southern Zhili, asked nonchalantly, "Aren't you going to check the travel permits?"
The bearded captain of the Jinyiwei looked somewhat surprised and turned his gaze towards Qin Lin
Due to Qin Lin's calm and composed demeanor, even when facing the formidable Jinyiwei captains, his attitude remained neither servile nor overbearing, which led Shi Wei to suspect that he might be a prince or nobleman from a prominent family
Qin Lin, hailing from the 21st century, is a master detective known for solving major cases and a highly skilled forensic expert. He completed a four-year undergraduate program at the Criminal Investigation Technology Department of the People's Public Security University of China. After starting his career, he furthered his studies at the Chinese Criminal Police Academy, obtaining a master's degree in forensics. During his tenure, he has repeatedly cracked significant cases supervised by the Ministry of Public Security, and within just a few years, he has risen to the rank of second-level police supervisor
Unexpectedly, during a mission, a car accident occurred, causing both the person and the vehicle to plunge down a hundred-meter cliff. Upon regaining consciousness, they found themselves lying naked in a desolate wilderness, and astonishingly, their body had reverted to that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old.
Qin Lin smiled faintly and stepped out towards the city.
Although the Jinyiwei are fierce and domineering, they are dwarfed in stature when facing the royal relatives of the Ming Dynasty. It is important to understand that the power of the various houses of the Jing royal lineage in Qizhou City is deeply intertwined. When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Offending even one of these families means offending a prince, dozens of princes and princesses, and hundreds of generals who stabilize the nation and assist the state. Let alone the mere hundred households of the Jinyiwei, even the commanding officer Liu Shouyou in the capital must weigh his actions carefully.
During the Yongle period, the Jinyiwei originally had fourteen Qianhu offices, which had increased to seventeen by the Wanli period. In addition to guarding the capital, there were also various Qianhu offices stationed in the jurisdictions of the provincial administrations, with numerous Baihu offices located at key thoroughfares in various prefectures and states.
The brocade-clad officer had set his sights on the young man, causing the idle bystanders who had originally stood beside him to quickly retreat, their faces displaying expressions of "this has nothing to do with me, I am just passing by". Not far away, the soldiers stationed at the southern gate also began to pay attention to this direction, nervously picking up their weapons.
Qin Lin seemed to sense that something was amiss. He reached up to lift his hat, only to collide with the piercing gaze of the mustachioed captain. After both were momentarily taken aback, he nonchalantly shifted his gaze away.
The burly captain of the Jinyiwei rode his horse to the front of the young man, looking down from his elevated position with a cold stare. However, the young man did not exhibit the expected fear; instead, he regarded the captain, a figure one would typically only see in movies, with curiosity. His expression remained calm, and the corners of his mouth gradually turned upward, forming a standard smile that revealed four teeth. He raised his hand in a respectful gesture towards the captain, yet his back remained straight, not bending even slightly.
He was originally an exceptionally intelligent person, and with a flash of insight, Qin Lin instantly understood the underlying principle. Therefore, at this moment, he had no choice but to take a gamble.
The travel permit, established by the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, required that any citizen traveling more than one hundred li from home must obtain a travel permit from the local government for inspection along the way. This travel permit was equivalent to a combination of a modern transit pass and an identification card.
In Qizhou City, ordinary people predominantly speak the Huguang dialect, while only the noble families of the Tianhuang lineage converse in the official language of Nanjing. In this era, there were no radios or televisions, and the transmission of accents was relatively fixed, serving as a label for people's origins and social status, making it difficult to feign. As soon as Qin Lin spoke, it was evident that he spoke pure Nanjing official language, which further confirmed Shi Wei's previous judgment.
The hundred-household officer with a twisted beard was greatly astonished, for one must know that the Jinyiwei's mounted guards exuded a fierce aura, instilling great fear in ordinary citizens. Encountering a high-ranking official like him would surely terrify anyone, causing their hearts to race with fear. How could this young man act as if nothing were amiss?
"No way, as a dignified and upright protagonist, adorned with the halo of a main character and treading on a bright future, how could I, Qin Lin, be this unfortunate?"
Wandering recklessly across the land, I have already encountered five checkpoints in Qizhou City that inspect for "travel permits" since walking from the wilderness. Although I managed to get through relying on the reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance experience from later generations, there were two instances where I almost revealed my true identity
The Tiki has arrived
In the cavalry, a tall, thin-faced flag officer slightly bent his waist and, with a smiling face, asked: "Lord Shi, your wisdom is unparalleled. I also noticed that the path seems incorrect. Should we leave a few people to keep an eye on the rear?"
Qin Lin then recalled the solar eclipse and the transit of Venus that seemed to be occurring at the moment of his fall from the cliff. Could it be that this celestial phenomenon opened a temporal vortex, causing him to return to the Ming Dynasty, with his body also affected by some aspect of the time tunnel, resulting in him becoming ten years younger? The answer remains unknown
The common people regard the imperial guards with fear akin to that of snakes and scorpions, yet you alone appear utterly unconcerned; is this not exceedingly conspicuous?
In Qizhou, everyone knows that Lord Shi possesses exceptional intelligence and strategy, akin to a rough yet meticulous Zhang Yide. Since he has stated this, no one dares to doubt it. Regardless, as long as there is any connection to the Jing Wangfu, it is merely a matter of a Jinyiwei that cannot be provoked by a mere hundred households.
It was only when they heard that this team of cavalry was sent out of the city to hunt down the rebel bandits of the White Lotus Sect that the citizens of the southern market finally let out a long sigh of relief
At that moment, a burly man with rough hands and a stocky build approached, his large hands resembling fans gripping a jujube wood stick as thick as a bowl, and he blurted out, "Who goes there? Stop!"
Here we encounter the infamous Jinyiwei, known for their cold-bloodedness and cruelty, is it not a case of misfortune compounding upon misfortune
Upon careful comparison, the likeness of the wanted criminal in the shadowy image differs greatly from that of the youth, leading the hundred households to shake their heads in disappointment, though it was within their expectations
At this time of year, only the shopkeepers of large businesses with intricate connections to the city's Jinyiwei, the proprietors of brothels, the managers of gambling houses, and the local bullies walk about as if nothing is amiss, even displaying a hint of pride in their expressions. They are either closely tied to the local hundred households or backed by the Jing royal residence, using the common people's fear of the Jinyiwei to further highlight their elevated status
Qin Lin wore a bitter smile and murmured in a low voice words that those around him could not understand: "What bad luck, I never expected that the counter-surveillance experience from later generations would yield completely opposite results when applied to the Ming Dynasty..."
Taking advantage of the noon hour when families were out working in the fields, Qin Lin sneaked into a seemingly affluent household, stole a set of hemp clothing, gathered some loose silver coins, and discovered an old imperial calendar on the Eight Immortals table in the main room, which surprisingly bore the inscription of the sixth year of the Wanli era
Even the prominent figures from the dental shops in the southern city are no exception. Just a moment ago, they were leisurely strolling along the street with folding fans tucked behind their collars, not even batting an eye at the flattering smiles of the small vendors lining the streets. At this moment, they hurriedly seek refuge in a shop, standing at the threshold with a slight bow, wearing smiles directed towards the sound of hoofbeats—if by chance they encounter a well-dressed officer they have met before, and he nods slightly in their direction from his horse, it would be a tremendous boost to their prestige
A group of soldiers and local strongmen all looked at the "foolish ox" and laughed. They had witnessed the situation where Lord Shi Wei, a hundred households of the Jinyiwei, was interrogating Qin Lin. The Jinyiwei had always acted with arrogance and tyranny, yet this young man in a coarse garment dared to be so haughty and disrespectful towards Lord Shi. If it were not for the prince and nobleman traveling incognito, how could Shi Wei have let this matter rest?
However, this was directed at the officials and gentry; when a commoner boldly spoke out, Lord Jin immediately turned hostile: "Stop... stop... stop your nonsense! Niu Dali, how dare you, a mere commoner, be disrespectful to me, the esteemed town pacifier! The heavens have turned upside down! Someone, drag him away and give him twenty military lashes!"
The counter-surveillance capabilities required by future generations demand that one remain calm and composed when facing inquiries, without panicking. Qin Lin managed to pass through several checkpoints using basic counter-surveillance skills, but this approach proved ineffective when confronted with the Jinyiwei.
There are indeed some ignorant individuals! Jin Zhenfu continued to scold without pause, then turned around, forced a smile, bent slightly, and said to the composed Qin Lin: "I apologize for making the young master laugh; I truly regret delaying the esteemed guest's journey"