030 Censor Jiang’s Prestige Sweeps the Capital

After returning to his mansion, Fan Wencheng was heavy-hearted. He summoned his son, Fan Chengmo.

"Mo'er, you cannot remain in the Censorate any longer."

"Father, what has happened?"

Fan Wencheng calmly recounted the events that had transpired in the Hall of Literary Brilliance from beginning to end, without omitting a single word. He spoke as if he were a detached third-party observer, showing neither anger nor joy. Then, he asked:

"Do you see the problem here?"

Fan Chengmo nodded, his expression grave.

"...Jiang Qingyun wants to climb the ladder, and to do so, he must trample over the heads of others. Wuer'te, Adam Schall, Li Zubai, and Korkun are all his stepping stones. I suspect he will eventually step on you to ascend."

"I have always been cautious, Father, and I have no taste for wealth; I have given him no leverage."

"Mo'er, you are greatly mistaken. Using leverage to attack others is a common tactic, but masters of the officialdom do not need leverage to kill their enemies in the void."

Fan Chengmo opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Fan Wencheng stood up and gazed at the scattered shadows outside the window. His voice remained calm:

"This man’s greatest trait is his ability to leverage influence. With a palace coup imminent, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor need officials who are willing to charge into battle to help consolidate imperial power. Although the Prince Regent is gravely ill, he is not yet dead. If the imperial court were to move against the Two White Banners now, the action would be too drastic and likely to incite a mutiny, which would be counterproductive. However, the court has no such concerns regarding the Plain Blue Banner. Moreover, Korkun is a man full of grievances and is known for his loose tongue. Whether he is falsely accused or not, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor must now encourage Jiang Qingyun; otherwise, they would chill the hearts of others who wish to protect the throne."

"Remember what I am about to say! I will secretly pull strings to get you transferred to a ministry. If that is not possible, remember: for the next two years, do not have any conflict with this man. If he strikes your left cheek, offer him your right. If he is still not satisfied, offer him your entire face to slap. Do not fight him; you are no match for him. Even I, your father, fear him by three points."

"The world thinks it is difficult to advance in one's career, but they do not know that retreating is even harder."

"Jiang Qingyun’s way of governing dictates that he can only move forward; he has no path of retreat. If he takes one step back, he is a dead man."

...

Chongwenmen Inner Street.

"Brothers of the Five Cities Military Patrol, when I give the command, arrest whom you must, and strike whom you must. We have the imperial decree and military orders; no one needs to be afraid!"

"Understood."

Having been promoted to Censor of the Zhili Region and commander of the Five Cities Military Patrol, Jiang Qingyun naturally had to redouble his efforts to suppress the Plain Blue Banner.

Three hundred soldiers marched imposingly into Tiemen Alley. Outside the residence of the Zhangjing Korkun, white mourning banners hung, and several coffins were placed silently at the entrance.

"Advance!"

The patrol soldiers rushed through the gates. There was a flurry of activity and clattering. Then, a roar was heard: "What are you doing?!"

...

"My lord, Korkun is resisting arrest. He is wearing heavy armor and holding a tiger spear, confronting our brothers."

"Send some crossbowmen to watch him, but do not shoot yet."

Jiang Qingyun looked around, as if expecting someone to appear.

Sure enough, before even the time it takes to burn an incense stick, many members of the Plain Blue Banner arrived on one side of the alley. Every one of them wore an expression of fury with cold eyes; many were armed with sabers and spears.

"My lord, it is dangerous."

"It is fine. Form up, stay alert."

Heavy infantry in the front, crossbowmen behind them, and cavalry in the rear.

...

"Listen well, you men of the Plain Blue Banner! Zhangjing Korkun is suspected of hiring assassins to kill an imperial official. There is sufficient evidence, and I am here to make an arrest."

The men of the Plain Blue Banner instantly grew restless.

"You are slandering him!"

"This is unfair! We will go to the Forbidden City to seek justice!"

"We cannot let them take Zhangjing Korkun away. We cannot lose the face of the Plain Blue Banner."

Watching these grief-stricken fellows, Jiang Qingyun felt a secret joy, though his face remained stoic.

An official from the Office of the Commandant nearby whispered a plea: "Lord Jiang, do not escalate the situation. It is better to appease them for now. If a real fight breaks out in the inner city, no one will be able to answer for it."

"Fine, I will give you face."

Jiang Qingyun stepped down the slope, taking the opportunity to stop while he was ahead.

"I, Jiang Qingyun, have been trusted by the Emperor and now serve as the Censor of the Zhili Region. I can give you a promise: I will not kill Korkun, nor will I use torture. His case is very complex and requires a slow investigation."

"You must trust the imperial court. Justice will surely arrive, and fairness will not be absent."

"I will count to three. Put down your weapons, or it will be considered treason."

"Three, two, one."

With a clatter, the men of the Plain Blue Banner collectively dropped their weapons.

Jiang Qingyun smiled. He had gained a deeper understanding of the nature of the bannermen in 1649: fierce, elite, and highly organized, but even more obedient.

...

Korkun, dressed in blue cotton armor, holding his tiger spear and wearing a sidearm, stood alone in the middle of the courtyard.

"Giddy up!"

Jiang Qingyun spurred his horse across the threshold and raised his whip, pointing at Korkun: "I will count to three. If you resist arrest, you will be executed on the spot."

Four crossbowmen stepped forward, half-crouching, their fingers on the triggers. They waited only for the word to riddle Korkun with holes.

"Three, two..."

A voice shouted from the gate: "Zhangjing, do not give him a reason to shoot you!"

Awakened as if from a dream!

*Clang!* Korkun dropped his beloved tiger spear, removed his ancestral helmet, and fell to his knees in grief and anger. He let out a roar:

"Your Majesty, your servant is innocent!"

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand, and a group of men rushed forward, kicking Korkun to the ground, binding his hands and feet, and running a wooden pole through the bindings. "Lift!" they shouted.

Korkun was hoisted up, legs in the air, like a slaughtered pig.

...

The gates were sealed by the Five Cities Military Patrol. The members of the Plain Blue Banner watched silently, utterly helpless.

Suddenly, a group of women appeared. They blocked the way, wailing and screaming, leaving the patrol soldiers somewhat at a loss.

"My lord, it seems these are relatives of Korkun's wife."

"From which banner?"

"The Plain White Banner."

*Hiss.*

Jiang Qingyun gasped. *Remnants*, he thought, *these are definitely remnants.*

"They are just women, so don't hit their faces. Brothers, use your fists and feet—beat them hard!"

Half an incense stick later, the street was littered with women who could no longer stand.

Once power was in his hands, he struck the bannermen down! Censor Jiang’s fearsome reputation shook the capital.

...

*Drag!*

A plain, unremarkable character, yet it shone brightly in the officialdom.

Korkun was a hot potato; he could neither be killed nor released. The only option was to bypass the Commandant's Office and have the Three Judicial Offices take over. They would lock him up and hold a perfunctory trial every few days just to go through the motions.

If he was not compliant, they would beat him.

Behind this lawsuit was a struggle for imperial power. Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also wanted to use this opportunity to test whether the Plain Blue Banner belonged to the Aisin Gioro or the Dorgon clan. By framing him, she tested his loyalty.

Jiang Qingyun was a veteran of the bureaucracy; he understood perfectly. This case boiled down to one word: *Drag*.

Drag it out until Dorgon died and imperial power returned to the hands of the Shunzhi Emperor. Then, the Three Judicial Offices could pass judgment, and Korkun’s fate would likely be demotion and exile to a garrison in the provinces.

Because,

Rule of Officialdom #1: The superior is always right.

Rule of Officialdom #2: If the superior is wrong, refer to Rule #1.