novelSusiti Chapter 36 The Great Fire of Shenjing
Chapter 36 The Great Fire of Shenjing
"Hulan! Have you gone mad?"
Erdu had lost his previous ferocity. He was completely dumbfounded when he saw Hulan, a remnant of the Ula tribe, laughing wildly at them.
"Haha..." Hulan's right arm was missing a section, and a horrific scar almost split him in two.
He coughed up blood, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Erdu: "I've gone mad! The Ula tribe is gone, yet you Jianzhou Jurchens still want to exterminate them? What's the point of the Jurchens existing then?"
"Cough cough..." He lay flat on the ground, seemingly thinking that this would stop others from putting out the fire.
"My lord, I have done my best..."
Before the equally stunned Yehe envoy could even ask any questions, Hulan stared blankly at the swirling snowflakes and fell silent.
"Quickly, put out the fire!"
Seeing that Hulan was dead, the Yehe envoy looked at the burning post station and glared fiercely at Erdu and his men.
"What? You're going to continue?"
"If you don't put out the fire quickly, and it spreads to other places, even if you kill us all tonight, do you think the Great Zhou will let you Jianzhou Jurchens go?"
"Fire!"
Erdu stared at the lifeless Hulan, tightened his grip on the long sword, and heard the commotion coming from the nearby post station street. Helplessly, he gave orders to the dozen or so followers who remained behind him.
This area is a post station district. If the fire were to spread and cause any accident to the envoys who came to pay tribute, not only would he, a mere servant, and Chu Ying be in danger, but the entire Jianzhou Jurchen would likely face the wrath of the Great Zhou.
"Sir, it won't work! The weather is too cold; almost all the water sources are frozen, and we can't put out the fire!"
"What?" Both Erdu and the Yehe envoy were stunned upon hearing their subordinate's report.
"It's over!" they both thought at the same time.
"Erdu, how dare you break into our post station and commit murder and arson?"
"Someone, stop them! Don't let them escape!"
Suddenly, the Yehe envoy shouted loudly.
"Da da da..."
No sooner had the Yehe envoy finished speaking than hurried footsteps sounded outside.
At the same time, the resounding sound of gongs echoed through the biting wind and snow.
"Fire! Fire!"
The watchmen in the post station area, which is adjacent to the market, saw the red light illuminating half the sky and started banging gongs and shouting.
"Those Jurchens are madmen, how dare they?"
Qi Qianhu, who had been feeling uneasy, had a few trusted men keep an eye on the city's movements. When he heard from his men that the city's post station area was on fire, Qi Qianhu felt a wave of dizziness and as if his world had collapsed.
If a fire breaks out, it means the Jurchens' operation has failed.
You must understand that this is the capital city. Even if he turns a blind eye, if a fire breaks out, the entire capital city will be alerted, and the Jurchens will definitely not be able to escape.
"Lord Commander, a group of Imperial Guards has stormed in without a word... Ah..."
Just then, another trusted aide burst in.
However, before the confidant could finish speaking, a tremendous force slammed him to the ground.
"You can't arrest me, my uncle is Steward Qi..."
Qi Qianhu was originally a good-for-nothing. If it weren't for the fact that the Nine Gates Commander was a eunuch and a local garrison commander, someone like him would have been dead long ago.
Liu Hu came in without saying a word, then the guy trembled and slumped to the ground, bringing out his backstage support.
Liu Hu gave him a cold glance: "Steward Qi is truly unlucky to have a nephew like you!"
Considering that Chief Eunuch Qi was, after all, a former retainer of Emperor Anping, holding such an important position as the Commander of the Nine Gates, he was quite impressed.
But it's because of this one cousin...
This is outrageous!
"Take him away and throw him in jail."
Liu Hu waved his hand dismissively, and several imperial guards immediately stepped out from behind, escorting Commander Qi out.
"His Majesty's oral decree!"
Liu Hu then produced Emperor Anping's golden edict: "Liu Hu is hereby ordered to take over all affairs of the Nine Gates. This is the imperial decree!"
"Your Majesty, we obey!"
Although these men were Qi Qianhu's confidants, now that Qi Qianhu has been arrested, they have to consider their own future, right?
Besides, looking at the words "As if I were personally present" on the golden edict and the group of imperial guards with murderous aura behind Liu Hu, who would dare to have the slightest objection?
It's only a few taels of silver a month, not worth it!
After taking control of the Nine Gates, Liu Hu discovered that apart from a few of Qi Qianhu's confidants, everyone else on duty tonight had been drugged by Qi Qianhu!
"Wake them up immediately!" Liu Hu gave a deep look at the arrogant and obsequious confidants of Commander Qi, and made up his mind to send them in to keep Commander Qi company later.
These audacious fools dared to drug the Nine Gates soldiers on duty. If they really cause a major disaster, they won't have enough heads to chop off.
After waking everyone up and getting them to understand what had happened that night, they all glared hatefully at Qi Qianhu's confidants.
"Take them away!" Liu Hu waved his hand, and immediately several soldiers rushed forward and tied up Qi Qianhu's trusted confidants.
Qi Qianhu himself was no good person, and his confidants were thugs and ruffians recruited by him after he took office.
They usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly behind Commander Qi, and the soldiers had long disliked them.
"Immediately notify all city gates that from this moment forward, without His Majesty's decree, no one, regardless of their status, may leave the capital!"
"yes!"
After dealing with Qi Qianhu, Liu Hu immediately gave an order.
Meanwhile, the quiet capital city began to bustle with activity. Commoners and high-ranking officials alike emerged from their beds to inquire about the news.
"A big fire broke out in the post station area. I heard it was set by foreign envoys."
"Once this fire starts, I don't know how many people will suffer. It's freezing cold, and the water is all frozen solid. There's no water to put out the fire!"
"What a tragedy! These barbaric foreigners..."
The people from other neighborhoods just discussed it briefly, then went back to their rooms to wait for news.
The area where the post station is located, Shangqingfang, is now in complete chaos.
"No, sir! You're tearing down my house! In this freezing weather, my whole family will freeze to death!"
A family living near the post station area grabbed the imperial guards and pleaded.
"Let go!"
A centurion stepped forward, pulled the man away, and scolded him, "If we don't tear down your house, the whole neighborhood will be in trouble when the fire spreads."
"As for your family, find a relative to stay with for a few days. The court will give everyone an explanation afterward."
"Xiang-ge'er, just listen to this soldier. Even if they don't raid your house now, you won't be able to protect it when the fire comes."
"That's right, if we don't tear down your house, everyone will be in trouble if a fire breaks out."
Other neighbors also offered their advice.
"Relationships aren't about tearing down your house..."
Because the water was frozen, and the fire was fanned by the wind, it spread very quickly even with heavy snowfall.
The imperial guards who came to put out the fire could only dig out a firebreak; otherwise, the entire capital city would have burned down.
The cries of the people, the sounds of collapsing houses, and the flames shooting into the sky made this cold night exceptionally noisy.
"These must be envoys from the Jianzhou Jurchens?"
On a street right around the fire site, the area had now been surrounded by agents of the Eastern Depot.
Dai Quan stood on the street, staring at the firelight ahead, his face ashen.
"Reporting back to the Prime Minister, one of these two is Chu Ying, the chief envoy of the Jianzhou Jurchens, and the other is his deputy, Erdu."
"We beg the Minister of the Interior to uphold justice for our Yehe tribe!"
"Tonight, Erdu led dozens of men and broke into our inn under cover of darkness. Without saying a word, they started killing and burning, leading to this tragedy. Dozens of lives in my Yehe tribe were lost at the hands of these two."
The Yehe envoy's face was covered in soot, and he had several deep wounds that exposed the bone. His pitiful appearance would make anyone feel sorry for him.
"Hmph!" Chu Ying's hands were tied, and he was forced to kneel on the ground by several eunuchs from the Eastern Depot.
Upon hearing the Yehe envoy's words, he scoffed disdainfully, "Don't you know who set the fire tonight?"
"You should know that the Grand Chancellor is supposed to report to the Emperor about tonight's events. Aren't you afraid of deceiving the Emperor?"
"presumptuous!"
"shut up!"
"I put it there!"
Upon hearing Chu Ying's words, the expressions of Dai Quan, the Yehe envoy, and Erdu all changed drastically, and they immediately shouted to stop him.
Almost everyone present knew who started the fire.
But even if you know something, you can't really say it in this kind of situation. Even if Da Zhou is unwilling, he has no choice but to express his opinion.
After all, the fire tonight has already burned down most of the post station area.
Envoys from various vassal states and tributary states suffered casualties.
The three tribes of the Red-haired Barbarians were particularly noteworthy. Among them, the Dutch tribes' inn was right next to the Yehe tribe's, and their chief envoy was burned to death in his own inn before he could escape.
If Chu Ying were to reveal that tonight's fire was set by the extinct Ula tribe, then in order to give an explanation to the various countries, the Great Zhou would likely target the entire Jurchen people for revenge, and the Jianzhou Jurchen people might even become the next Oirat.
If Erdu set the fire, and he was right here, then as long as the Great Zhou didn't want to immediately start a war, Erdu's life would be enough to at least give the other countries a semblance of closure.
As long as the Great Zhou does not immediately retaliate, the Jianzhou Jurchens will have a few more years.
With the leader's great talent and strategy, it won't be long before he can unify the Jurchen tribes. Even if the Great Zhou wants to settle scores later, they will not be without the power to fight back.
Although Erdu was Chuying's father-in-law, he absolutely did not want the Jianzhou Jurchens to become the next Oirat.
So he wanted to use his own life, and even Chu Ying's, to buy some time for the Jianzhou Jurchens.
The Yehe tribe was simply caught in the crossfire this time. After all, the Ula tribe and the Yehe tribe both belonged to the Haixi Jurchen. They had come to them for help, so they couldn't very well refuse.
But who could have imagined that Hulan was a madman? He not only wanted to die himself, but also wanted the entire Jurchen tribe to be buried with them on his deathbed.
He certainly enjoyed the fire, but he also utterly humiliated the Great Zhou Dynasty!
"Minister, the firebreak hasn't been completely cleared yet, and the fire has already spread over there. We need to continue expanding the firebreak."
Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard ran over to report to Dai Quan.
"What's going on? Your commander might as well just tear down the entire capital! If you expand the firebreak zone any further, there won't be anything left of Shangqingfang!"
How far is it from Yong'an Warehouse?
"The journey to the inner court is less than two li!"
"Immediately order your commander to expand the firebreak zone; you must protect Yong'an Warehouse!"
At this moment, Dai Quan was also quite frustrated. Everything was under his surveillance, and he thought he could control everything. Who would have thought that a madman would suddenly appear and burn him with a fire?
Even if we catch some corrupt officials tonight, I'm afraid we won't be able to explain it to His Majesty!
If I really burn down Yong'an Warehouse, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my head.
Dai Quan knew that besides the parties involved, he bore the greatest responsibility for what had happened today. All he wanted to do was put out the fire as soon as possible, otherwise his guilt would be even greater.
"Minister, my ambassador was burned to death in your capital. We demand an explanation."
Seeing that Dai Quan seemed a little anxious, a Dutch envoy immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, our post station was also burned down. According to our local customs, the post station is our territory, and we also need an explanation."
When the Portuguese and Spanish saw the Dutchman step forward, they followed suit and spoke to Dai Quan.
"What explanation do you want?" Dai Quan glanced at the three red-haired barbarians and said disdainfully, "Don't talk about your people's rules. This is the Great Zhou Dynasty, and our rules are the only rules."
"We didn't invite you to this grand court ceremony; you came on your own."
"Even the inn you're staying in was arranged by us. When did it become your territory?"
"roll!"
Dai Quan was so annoyed that he had no time to pay attention to the nonsense from these foreigners.
It's one thing for the leaders of vassal states and tributary tribes to be appointed by His Majesty, but what are you red-haired barbarians?
"Prime Minister, is this how your country treats its guests?"
The Portuguese envoy continued his unreasonable demands, but Dai Quan simply waved his hand, ignoring him completely: "Take him away!"
Immediately, several agents from the Eastern Depot "took" the envoys of the three Red-haired Barbarian tribes away.
"this……"
The Korean envoy, seeing that someone had stepped forward, was also thinking about whether he could take advantage of the situation, since his own post station had also been burned down.
But seeing that Red Hair Sanfan was being "led" away, he quietly took a few steps back and lowered his head.
"No, what makes you so arrogant, you eunuch? When the grand court ceremony is held on New Year's Day, I will ask His Majesty to personally intervene and make decisions for us."
Standing on the city wall, Liu Hu looked at the crimson sky in the distance and the several huge black shadows that could be vaguely seen in the firelight. He couldn't help but think, "This fire won't be so easy to put out!"
Although the civil and military officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty have not yet fallen to the level of the former Ming Dynasty, some things are unavoidable no matter when.
As the only internal granary in the capital, Yong'an Granary was relied upon by countless court officials and nobles for their livelihood. The relationships within it were so complex that it has probably become a tangled mess long ago.
If this fire can be extinguished tonight, all debts will be settled.
Liu Hu didn't believe those people would give up such a good opportunity.