Chapter 5: Responding to Challenges

Just now, when he saw Zhang Huangyan stop Gui Zhuang, he still felt that the situation was under control, mainly because he had never heard of such an unknown person as Gui Zhuang

However, after Gu Jiang made his appearance and refuted Zhang Huangyan, Shen Shuren immediately felt that something was amiss

What Zhang Xiandi said is quite enlightening. I am Gu Jiang from Kunshan. I foolishly believe that although Xiong Wencan deserves his punishment, the court's handling of the matter is indeed not a strategy for the benefit of the country

After approximately half an hour had passed, Shen Shuren noticed that his attendant Shen Fu had hurriedly returned, signaling to him at the stairway. He understood the hint and made an excuse to go change his clothes, leaving Zheng Hongkui to chat with Zhang Huangyan.

The scholar was approximately twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and he was also waiting for a boat here. Upon seeing Zhang Huangyan, the host of today's gathering, he did not act rudely; he merely greeted him with a cold gesture of clasping his hands together.

Zhang Huangyan cooperatively said: "Alright, then I won't see you off. In the future, do make an effort to visit more often"

Shen Shuren nodded slightly: "That's good, you prepare the car first, and we will leave once this piece is finished."

Thinking of this distant and inexpensive cousin, he can also be considered a national hero in the future. After an initial period of unfamiliarity, Shen Shuren quickly adapted.

After Zhang Huangyan descended the stairs, he cupped his hands towards the scholar who had just been speaking eloquently and said: "I am Zhang Huangyan from Yuyao. May I ask your esteemed name? I found your earlier discourse somewhat perplexing and would like to seek your guidance."

Unexpectedly, Shen Shuren suddenly made his point clear, and he became somewhat uncertain. He had thought that Shen Shuren was truly uneducated and indeed reacted so slowly

Shen Shuren's eyes shifted, pretending to have just thought of something, and lowered his voice to exclaim: "Since you are also under the patronage of Xiong Wencan, then according to what Mr. Gu said, you should be careful recently, and be more cautious and humble, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the court

When Zhang Xianzhong kidnapped Luo Rucai and the Fifth Battalion of Ge Zuo, I do not know the exact words he used to coerce them. However, based on common reasoning, it is likely along the lines of the above rationale. Therefore, I assert that the court's recklessness has exacerbated the power of the bandits

Zhang Huangyan was momentarily taken aback. Although he did not understand what the Shen family was up to, he was quite intelligent. Moreover, having received prior instructions to assist in holding back Zheng Hongkui, he was prepared to act.

Zhang Huangyan was unaware of any plans that his uncle and cousin had; he had merely received a last-minute request from the steward of the Shen residence, asking him to assist in delaying his cousin and Zheng Hongkui for a while.

Certainly, none of this news will be immediately known to Zheng Hongkui or the Zheng family members far away in Fujian, as they will have to wait for this Zheng family's ship to arrive in Nanjing and then return to Suzhou before this news can be brought back, which will take several days to calculate.

I have already fallen ill. If my nephew continues to delay, it may not reflect well on the Imperial Academy. Alas, I originally wanted to study alongside Brother Zheng, but unfortunately, I cannot let go of the women here in Suzhou.

Shen Shuren, seeing that the situation was under control, finally relaxed. Subsequently, out of curiosity from his first visit to the theater, he was quickly captivated by the Kunqu opera on stage and began to appreciate it with great interest

Shen Shuren said this and returned to the private box on the second floor to continue listening to the opera

I never expected that my first foray into entertainment venues during the Ming Dynasty would be due to such a fortuitous coincidence; truly, human plans cannot compare to the designs of heaven. In the future, when devising strategies, I must leave a little more room for contingency.

However, during the Ming Dynasty, there was no practice of "selling tickets to watch performances"; such gatherings required a benefactor who was willing to pay for the venue and organize the event. Then, through literary gatherings, others were invited to enjoy the performances.

A gentleman speaks of righteousness, not of profit; selling tickets is vulgar

He is unaware that everything he sees and hears is what Shen Shuren wants him to see and hear

Zheng Hongkui, feeling somewhat cornered by such a straightforward remark, gritted his teeth and said: "How could that be? My nephew has practiced martial arts since childhood and is in excellent health. I have heard that arrangements have already been made for him to head north shortly. However, southerners are not accustomed to the northern climate and environment, so before going to Nanjing, he is likely to linger in Suzhou for a few days to acclimatize. At that time, he should spend more time with my esteemed nephew."

During the late Ming Dynasty, the entertainment venues were categorized into nine ranks. Those that closed their doors to perform private plays had looser standards and often engaged in illicit transactions. In contrast, the venues that welcomed literati for public performances resembled the theaters of later generations

In a situation where the truth is laid bare, everyone decided to speak openly, even compelling the Zheng family to express their stance, which was that they would not directly refuse the imperial summons.

Shen Fu replied while pouring water to wash his hands: "It has been arranged, we can go at any time"

By the way, my little nephew recently read the letter from the Guozijian inviting me to study in Nanjing. It also mentioned the nephew of Governor Zhu and your nephew Zheng Sen. I wonder how you have arranged for your nephew's studies

At that moment, Gui Zhuang was momentarily at a loss for words when he heard him bring up the cautionary tale of Chen Qiyu, unable to think of a rebuttal.

Why does Uncle Shi feel so indignant about Xiong Wencan's misfortunes? Ah! I remember now, it seems that your Zheng family also relied on Xiong Wencan for support back in the day, right? No wonder, it is indeed righteous to feel aggrieved when seeing a benefactor in distress

At this point in the conversation, Shen Shuren's mind raced, and his brain calculated rapidly, ultimately resolving to take a firm stand

Zhang Huangyan had clearly heard of the other party's name, and he returned the greeting with cupped hands: "So it is Brother Tinglin, just the person I wanted to consult for your esteemed opinion."

Shen Shuren's temples glistened with a slight sheen of sweat, fearing that the situation might completely spiral out of control

Zheng Hongkui was momentarily taken aback

This play is actually well-known, titled "The Tale of the Phoenix." It was created by the local scholar Wang Shizhen during the early years of the Wanli era, and thus it is performed very frequently in the local area

Shen Shuren, feeling helpless, had no choice but to remain silent and watch the show in order to maintain his persona, allowing his cousin to deal with those scholars.

He realized that continuing to play the fool would seem too contrived, so he put on an expression as if he had just suddenly understood

Shen Shuren listened for a while and discerned that it seemed to be a satirical song about the deceased treacherous minister Yan Song of the current dynasty

Shen Shuren also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, unexpectedly turning harm into benefit, seizing the opportunity to refute his cousin Zhang Huangyan through Gu Yanwu, and instead clarifying the matter and advancing it a step further

The current situation of rampant banditry is alarming. The bandit Li and the rebel Zhang have repeatedly surrendered and then rebelled again, suffering defeat yet remaining unscathed. The court, upon dispatching troops, immediately holds them accountable after a single defeat. If this continues, how can one not feel disheartened? The great Ming dynasty is likely to face its end

If Shen Shuren had continued to feign ignorance just now, he would have had to be more vigilant towards the Shen family

... ...

As he spoke, he allowed the messenger to board the Zheng family's ship

Especially in a serious gathering of literati like today, it is inappropriate to sing lewd verses and suggestive songs, thus it is even more preferable to select plays that critique the current political situation

The captain of the Shen family, with a troubled expression, said that during today's pre-departure inspection, it was just discovered that the procedure for applying linseed oil during the last maintenance was not properly executed. He feared that the areas where the oil was applied might leak, and it was likely that the departure date would be delayed.

Gu Jiang shook his head. He had an extraordinary memory and confidently recounted: "You do not read the official reports carefully. It clearly states, 'Xian Zhong rebelled in Gu Cheng, seized your talents in Fang County, and thus all nine battalions rebelled.'"

Shen Shuren's cousin, who can be considered a prominent figure, is named Zhang Huangyan, with the courtesy name Cangshui, hailing from Ningbo Prefecture. He is a distant relative of Shen Shuren's late mother, Zhang. Therefore, when Shen Shuren introduced him to Zheng Hongkui earlier, he referred to him as "Zhang Cangshui"

He is meticulous in his thinking and knows that if he suddenly leaves after changing clothes halfway through listening, it will easily alert Zheng Hongkui. Anyone with a bit of knowledge about intelligence work understands that at such times, one must at least listen to the entire piece in a discreet manner.

However, it was ultimately too late. Zheng Hongkui had already been drawn in by the discussions of those scholars and said in a cold tone: "There is no rush. We have been chatting for so long, a little more time won't matter. It is also good to hear their insights."

The moment he stepped into the theater, Shen Shuren felt a slight sense of unreality within himself

After some self-reflection, Shen Shuren finally managed to adjust himself and, with the introduction of his cousin, got to know some scholars who gathered together for social events

Kunshan Guizhuang! I am honored by your guidance! I thought that although Xiong Wencan was rash and credulous, Zhang Xianzhong's feigned surrender had already been over a year, and during this time, the court had taken no action to remedy the situation. Is this really the fault of Xiong Wencan alone? If ministers are to make many mistakes by doing more, and not make mistakes by doing less, and are not even given the opportunity to atone for their sins and achieve merit, who would dare to offer strategies and plans for the court in the future?

Shen Shuren clasped his hands and said: "It is only right, it is only right. One should aspire to be like the virtuous. I seek it but cannot attain it."

Shen Shuren took a handkerchief and carefully dried himself: "What about the sailor who caused the trouble? How has he been dealt with? After all, he didn't do anything wrong; it was just unfortunate circumstances."

The court fails to distinguish between merit and fault, and the loyal and good are wronged, which is both lamentable and detestable! Since the defeat of Zuo Liangyu by Zhang Xianzhong at the beginning of the month, it has been heard that Your Majesty has dismissed and imprisoned General Xiong Wencan, who was in charge of the six provinces.

Zheng Hongkui raised his hand in a feigned gesture of reassurance and smiled benevolently, saying: "I understand, I understand. Nephew, why must you be overly concerned? No one doubts that the Shen family has many ships. It is merely a matter of a letter, a trivial effort."

Shen Shuren then returned to the appearance of "his self-esteem has been satisfied": "In that case, I shall trouble you."

Zhang Huangyan, upon hearing this, was momentarily at a loss for how to refute it, and even neglected the hints from his cousin regarding his task.

Today is Zhang Huangyan's event, so they are all in the private room on the second floor, while those who are just spectating are in the lobby downstairs

More importantly, this is the great philosopher who will be remembered in history—Gu Jiang is indeed Gu Yanwu

Historically, Zhang Huangyan has also made a name for himself. In the battle of the second year of the Yongli reign, when Shen Tingyang was defeated and chose to die for his country, Zhang Huangyan and another general, Zhang Mingzhen, were both in Shen Tingyang's army. However, they disguised themselves as ordinary soldiers and successfully broke through to save their lives—of course, their escape was not solely for the sake of survival, as they continued to lead their troops in resisting the Qing.

After all, the current Ming Dynasty is also facing multi-front warfare. Many civil officials supervising the military have been condemned by Chongzhen, and this plotline resonates deeply with the scholars, who have begun to express their outrage, believing that the emperor should not indiscriminately execute the gentry.

Thus, he pondered briefly and realized that the topic Shen Shuren wanted to stop was most likely related to the Zheng family

Beside him, Zheng Hongkui also wore an increasingly grim expression, ultimately adopting a demeanor of resignation. Suddenly, he spoke out, criticizing: "This scholar downstairs indeed has insight; isn't the court just like unloading a millstone to kill a donkey, and accompanying a ruler is akin to accompanying a tiger!"

After getting on the vehicle, we arrived at the dock in no time. The subsequent plans finally went smoothly.

Everything that followed was, of course, a natural progression. After the letter arrived on the Zheng family's boat, it was not long before it was opened and examined, and the content indeed was a request from Shen Tingyang for Shen Shuren to take an extended leave.

Shen Shuren was troubled by the need to pretend to be naive and ignorant, unable to speak up and persuade directly. In a moment of desperation, he could only quietly kick his cousin Zhang Huangyan under the table, giving him a glance to suggest that he should stop the scholars downstairs who were making a scene

It is suggested that Brother Zheng Zhilong promptly send his nephew Zheng Sen to Suzhou, at least to present a gesture of cooperation with the court and give the court some face

He is in poor health and will not be able to register at the Imperial Academy before this year's provincial examination. After missing the registration period, it does not matter when he enrolls in the next three years, so there is no need to rush.

Shen Fu: "Rest assured, he has already been transferred. To the other sailors, it was said that he was on sick leave, and secretly, a few coins were rewarded to him as a token of appreciation for his loyalty to duty"

Shen Shuren also took the opportunity to respond: "Since that is the case, we still have matters to attend to at the dock, so let us conclude here for today"

Thus, Zhang Huangyan stood up to apologize, saying: "Brother Zheng, I am someone who cannot tolerate discussions about the affairs of the court; as soon as I hear them, I cannot help but feel the urge to debate with others. You all continue your conversation; I will go down and take a look."

Zhang Huangyan listened quietly and then casually retorted: "Brother Gui, your words are misguided. The treachery of Li, Zhang, and others is well-known to all. Back in the seventh year of Chongzhen, Chen Qiyu in Shaanxi suffered this loss, having been deceived by a false surrender, allowing the bandits to escape from Chexiang Gorge, and subsequently faced repeated treachery. Xiong Wencan has already had this lesson from the past, yet he still repeats the same mistake; being imprisoned and questioned for his crimes cannot be considered unjust."

Indeed, Zheng Hongkui's expression subtly changed as well; the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly returned to normal, clearly aware of the underlying intricacies.

Gu Yanwu's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he expressed that he would definitely seek further guidance next time when the opportunity arises

Zheng Hongkui was not particularly cultured and was impatient with the scholars who flaunted their knowledge. This arrangement suited him perfectly, so he followed Shen Shuren to the second floor to watch the performance from the railing.

He adjusted his expression, seemingly robustly stroking his steel needle-like beard, and laughed heartily, saying: "It has been noticed by my virtuous nephew. Indeed, our Zheng family was also granted peace by the bear governor in those years, hence there is some righteous indignation.

Zhang Huangyan is two years older than Shen Shuren, just turned twenty, and holds the title of a scholar.

The only thing he could do was to hold onto Zheng Hongkui: "Since Uncle Shi is interested, it wouldn't hurt to listen, but I am unlearned and untalented, so I won't go down and embarrass myself."

However, Shen Tingyang is known for his righteousness and generosity, and he enjoys supporting the younger generation. He sees that the distant nephew of his deceased wife is both cultured and skilled in martial arts, possessing considerable talent. Not only does he excel in his studies, but he is also proficient in horseback riding and archery, and he has provided substantial assistance to him over the years

However, beside him was another scholar, who appeared to be of similar age and had a slender appearance, yet he took over the conversation and spoke eloquently

A scholar threw a handful of copper coins onto the stage, slammed the table, and said with righteous indignation

Shen Shuren put on a face that sought to maintain dignity: "How could I possibly accept this? Our Shen family is also a prominent household with hundreds of sea vessels. In fact, on any given day, there are at least five or six large ships docked at this Liu family port. Today is truly unfortunate, as just yesterday a large batch of ships set sail loaded with Su embroidery. However, by tomorrow, other ships will be returning."

Zheng Hongkui, upon hearing this, couldn't help but brighten his eyes and took the initiative to take charge: "Oh, it's nothing serious, it's just that we need a passing ship to deliver a message. We have a ship going to Nanjing today, dear nephew, why not let your messenger take our ship?"

This was originally not related to Shen Shuren, but when he heard the scholar mention the case of Zeng Xian's murder during the Jiajing period and associated it with Xiong Wencan, he immediately felt a sense of foreboding in his heart. He hurriedly cast a sidelong glance at Zheng Hongkui, fearing that the Zheng family might overthink the matter.

He could tell that Gu Jiang possessed profound knowledge and approached issues with a dialectical perspective, not someone easily comparable to others

From this perspective, the court's urgent desire to apprehend Xiong Wencan, does it not increase the fear of other bandits who were pacified by Xiong Wencan?

Before leaving, Shen Shuren also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Zhang Huangyan, and then briefly acquainted himself with Guizhuang and Gu Yanwu, who were engaged in a discussion and exchange of ideas with Zhang Huangyan, sharing a few of his own viewpoints.

Gu Jiang was also straightforward and analyzed directly: "Xiong Wencan has indeed harmed the country, this is indisputable. However, upon careful examination, it is not difficult to find that in the past two years, he has successfully persuaded several bandit groups to surrender, totaling seven or eight in number.

... ...

Fortunately, he is also a clever person, and does not ask too many questions. Soon, he and Zheng Hongkui were engaged in lively conversation, greatly alleviating Shen Shuren's pressure from social interactions

After draining the water, Shen Shuren took the opportunity while washing his hands to quietly inquire, "Has everything been tidied up over at the dock?"

He listened to the Kunqu opera in a casual manner, taking a break for quite some time, during which he secretly glanced out at the street several times.

Currently, the only one who has rebelled and then returned is Zhang Xianzhong; the other bandits initially sought to maintain a semblance of order. This indicates that Xiong Wencan's insight was at least seventy to eighty percent accurate

Especially Zhang Huangyan possesses some martial skills, and when conversing with military officials like Zheng Hongkui, he does not adopt the airs of a scholar, which allows Zheng Hongkui to feel a sense of recognition and appreciation

Not long after sitting down again, the performance of "The Tale of the Phoenix" reached its climax. The plot roughly revolves around "Zeng Xian, a renowned general and Deputy Minister of War during the Jiajing era, who was harmed by Yan Song and ultimately had his grievances avenged"

Shen Shuren pretended to be angry and reproached: "How could this cause such a delay? Never mind, fortunately, this letter is not urgent. You can keep it for now, and take it to Nanjing when you set sail in a couple of days"

On the other hand, upon confirming the cooperation with the Shen family, Zheng Hongkui reported the situation of the Shen family back overnight, and also included some of his own observations, thoughts, and rumors circulating in the community.

Unfortunately, Shen Shuren lacks sufficient cultural knowledge and is not very familiar with these anecdotes

Meanwhile, Shen Shuren, who was observing from the railing on the second floor, felt his mood increasingly sinking.

Have you noticed the problem? Luo Rucai indeed rebelled, but there is a difference in sequence and causality, and the key lies in the word 'disaster'. If the court were clear and not prone to arbitrary suspicion and resentment, those who surrendered would not necessarily have thought, 'Since the other bandits who were also granted amnesty alongside me have rebelled, will the court suspect that I will rebel as well?' Ultimately, mutual suspicion led to a situation where they were forced to rebel.

Zhang Huangyan persisted for another seventeen years after the death of Shen Tingyang, holding on until even Zheng Chenggong succumbed to illness. Only then did he realize that the situation was hopeless and, not wanting his subordinates to die in vain, he disbanded the remaining troops. However, he himself continued to refuse to surrender to the Qing dynasty, choosing instead to live in seclusion on overseas islands. Ultimately, he was captured by the Qing army and, refusing to yield, was executed.

Those who take advantage of the performance do not completely do so for free; they will give some money as a tip to the performers, but it is not mandatory

This year marks another year for the provincial examination, and he should go to Nanjing to take the exam. Therefore, he arrived at his uncle's place in Suzhou a few months in advance, waiting for a boat in Taicang while also seeking to rent a venue for gatherings and connecting with other candidates waiting for the boat.

Zhang Huangyan furrowed his brow and corrected, "What Brother Tinglin said seems to be inconsistent with the facts, does it not? The court's official report clearly states that Luo Rucai, the three camps of Junzhou, and the five camps of Gezuo have all rebelled, and the regions of E, Yu, and Wan are in complete disarray. How can it be said that only Zhang Xianzhong died unrepentant?"

Three days ago, when Shen Shuren had just crossed over, Suzhou had not yet received the news of Xiong Wencan's imprisonment, but as time passed, the situation was clearly deteriorating day by day

The relationship between Zhang Huangyan and the Shen family has actually become quite distant, and in terms of closeness, it is said that not much resources can be obtained from the Shen family.

As soon as Shen Shuren got off the car, he summoned the captain of a Shen family passenger ship and formally handed him a letter, requesting him to deliver it to Nanjing

The scholars downstairs, who were watching the performance for free, all cheered and could not help but engage in high-minded discussions criticizing the state of the government

At this moment, several young women downstairs are singing with great effort. Their figures and appearances are average, but their singing style is quite melodious and poignant, indicating that the quality of this venue is not very high

The subsequent arrangements followed naturally, as the segment of "The Tale of the Phoenix" on stage had already concluded. Zheng Hongkui and Shen Shuren boarded the vehicle one after another, heading straight for the dock

He thought long and hard, and for the time being, could only express his great admiration for Gu Jiang's insights. He wanted to invite him for a few drinks and have a good discussion behind closed doors.