Chapter 105: You Ask Me What the Western Depot Is?

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The West Depot guards filed in from both sides, taking control of the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants, who were trembling like leaves.

Eunuch Wang Cheng'en wore a cold expression. Clad in the Chief Eunuch's embroidered bullfighting robe adorned with horned beasts, he strode into the spacious hall.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he lowered himself into an empty seat.

One of the depot guards skillfully crawled beneath the Chief Eunuch's legs, bent over, and knelt on the floor to serve as his chair.

Fan Yongdou's heart pounded. He forced out a strained smile and fawned, "E-Eunuch Wang, your presence truly brings glory to this humble residence!"

"Slap him!"

Smack!

"E-Eunuch Wang, what are you doing?" Fan Yongdou demanded, clutching his face in shock and fury.

In the capital, even Prince Dorgon treated him as an honored guest. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? Rage boiled in his chest, scorching his heart and lungs.

"Do I need a reason to hit you?"

When Fan Yongdou saw the long firearm being drawn, he inexplicably calmed down. His fury vanished in an instant, and he put on a sycophantic grin.

"No reason needed, no reason needed. This face of mine exists precisely for Eunuch Wang to hit!"

Smack!

A heavy palm struck the other half of his face.

"Much more pleasing to the eye."

Wang Cheng'en nodded in satisfaction. "Everyone heard him. He asked me to hit him, so I did."

"Chief Eunuch, we all heard him. I've never encountered such a peculiar hobby in my life," one of the depot guards said with a laugh, eagerly playing along.

Fan Yongdou's beard and hair trembled with fury. He stared at the rifled musket twice before finally managing to suppress his rage.

Wang Cheng'en glanced at him. "Who was the one speaking just now?"

"Lord Commissioner, it was this humble servant."

Chang Wei stepped forward.

Hmm?

Seeing the man's bulging muscles, Wang Cheng'en raised an eyebrow. Then he instructed the guards beside him, "You three, stand like this."

"Yes!"

The guards complied respectfully, without the slightest objection.

Wang Cheng'en felt considerably more at ease. "His Majesty said that triangles are stable. From now on, whenever you stand beside me, arrange yourselves like this."

The three men were overjoyed. "Thank you for promoting us, Chief Eunuch! We would gladly give our lives for you!"

Wang Cheng'en's expression changed dramatically. He barked, "Nonsense! Everything comes from His Majesty's boundless grace. If you say such thoughtless things again, do not blame me for being ruthless!"

"This subordinate knows his crime!"

From that day onward, the West Depot adopted an unwritten rule: flatter the emperor, and Eunuch Wang would be delighted. He was never stingy with high office or generous salaries.

Wang Cheng'en's expression softened. Only then did he turn his attention back to the muscle-bound tough and say with a mirthless smile, "Judging by your appearance, you know martial arts."

"To answer your question, my lord, I have practiced martial arts since childhood. I know a little of the Chang Family Fist and Iron-Breath Qigong. I would not dare claim that I can tear tigers and leopards apart with my bare hands, but ordinary men have no chance of getting close to me in groups of five or six." Chang Wei hurriedly smiled and confessed everything as readily as beans spilling from a pod.

Damn it!

This was what you called not knowing martial arts?!

Fan Yongdou ground his teeth in secret.

Five or six men could not even get close to him?

Without needing a reminder, the depot guards beside Wang Cheng'en very consciously increased their number to seven.

Wang Cheng'en's eyes curved into crescents as he asked softly, "Tell me, what did you say was in this man's residence?"

What was in it?

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Chang Wei froze for a moment, then answered without hesitation, "A secret chamber! Fan Yongdou has collaborated with foreign enemies and betrayed the nation. A guilty thief always has something to hide. Every one of his homes must have a secret chamber. There may even be a hidden passage for escape!"

"Search!"

Wang Cheng'en gave a cold laugh and fixed his gaze on Fan Yongdou. Word by word, he said, "If you cannot find one, dig for it right here. If you dig yourself to death, I will have your entire clan come and dig. Do you understand?"

Fine, fine!

So that was how he wanted to play it!

Fan Yongdou glared viciously at Chang Wei, then took a deep breath. "Eunuch Wang, as the Commissioner of the West Depot, you cannot simply disregard the laws of the Great Ming. My family possesses a copy of the Great Proclamation. Under Ming law, we have the right to submit a direct appeal to the emperor—"

Before Wang Cheng'en could say anything, several guards who had gone to search the house returned shortly afterward and reported, "Chief Eunuch, there is no copy of the Great Proclamation in this residence."

"I hate liars most of all!"

Bang!

The Head of the Kong Clan's eyes flew wide. He toppled stiffly to the ground. His final thought before death was:

He said it. Why did you shoot me?!

Did I even say a word?

Wang Cheng'en blew on the muzzle, calmly reloaded another round of gunpowder, and said indifferently, "I hate people who say nothing while pretending to be experts even more."

The remaining seven great Shanxi merchants shuddered and rushed to speak over one another.

"My lord! The Chang family has colluded with foreign tribes. Their treachery deserves death!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

"My lord, please judge fairly. Which person here has not colluded with foreign tribes? Why single out the Chang family?"

The Young Master of the Chang family panicked and shouted his rebuttal.

Silence!

The Shanxi merchants collectively froze.

You... You shot everyone dead outright just to stop us from committing suicide?

Wang Cheng'en turned his head in surprise. "Very well. Since you have confessed so clearly, I will spare your life."

Chang Wei was about to curse him when he abruptly changed his tone.

"You s... smart and quick-witted good boy! You certainly know how to speak the truth!"

He was secretly overjoyed. Whatever happened today, and whether or not it implicated his entire clan, at least the Chang family would have a surviving bloodline. He would not have failed his parents and ancestors.

Even after being cured, this fool would still drool.

He would probably choke to death on a drink of water. Perfectly reasonable.

Wang Cheng'en paid him no attention. He turned to Fan Yongdou and aimed the rifled musket at his forehead.

"Bang!"

"Mother of mercy!"

Fan Yongdou was terrified. His mouth went dry, and his breathing quickened.

He touched his head and, realizing he was still alive, shouted in lingering horror, "Eunuch, please don't shoot! I will immediately give Eunuch Wang—"

"No need!"

Wang Cheng'en waved his hand.

"What?"

Fan Yongdou froze. His thoughts raced, and he instantly put on a smile.

"Rest assured, Eunuch. Spare my life today, and name the place. By noon tomorrow, I will personally present you with one hundred thousand taels of silver."

"My Cao family will offer two hundred thousand taels!"

"Hey, are you trying to outbid me? Rest assured, Eunuch, I will deliver three hundred thousand taels in full!"

"…"

"All of you, shut up!"

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"Fools! Even if I kill you, everything you own will still belong to me!"

After scolding them, Wang Cheng'en paused and continued, "When I said there was no need, I meant that I have suddenly decided to exterminate the entire clans of all eight great Shanxi merchants, cut off their bloodlines, confiscate their estates, and exile all relatives by marriage beyond the nine degrees of kinship to Lingnan."

"W-What?"

Fan Yongwen and the other six great merchants froze, their smiles stiffening as their minds crashed. For a moment, none of them could react.

Cao Sanxi flew into a rage. "What does the West Depot think it is? How dare you decide who lives and dies while disregarding the law!"

"You ask what the West Depot is?"

Wang Cheng'en rose to his feet and gave a cold laugh.

"Then I will tell you. Cases the East Depot cannot solve are solved by the West Depot. Those whom the East Depot dares not kill are killed by us. Matters the East Depot dares not handle are handled by us!"

"In one sentence: matters the East Depot can control, the West Depot will control as well. Matters the East Depot cannot control, the West Depot will control even more! We may execute first and report afterward, with the emperor's express authorization! That is the West Depot. Is that clear enough?"

"Do it!"

The depot guards moved as though guided by his hands, blades flashing from their sheaths!

Before the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants could utter another word, their heads were rolling across the floor. Even the already-dead Head of the Kong Clan received several additional slashes.

"You bastard eunuch! You were just toying with me?" Chang Wei was shocked and furious. He nimbly dodged the guards' blades, rose to his feet, and prepared to fight.

"Is that your son?" Wang Cheng'en glanced at him. Then, as an idea struck him, he asked with a beaming smile.

"He is... or is he not?"

Chang Wei blinked. Then he suddenly pointed at his eldest son and flew into a rage.

"What a fine case of replacing the young master with a cat! I said long ago that Laifu was suspicious. You really are Laifu's bastard!"

Laifu was a dog, Father!

The Young Master of the Chang family suffered a complete mental shutdown. Fortunately, he was not a complete idiot. He feigned shame and anger.

"I shall confront Laifu immediately!"

He stormed out.

"Wait. Let him go."

Wang Cheng'en raised a hand and spoke a single sentence.

People had to be given a little hope. This man knew martial arts, after all. If driven to desperation, he might fight and create unnecessary complications. This was much cleaner.

Beyond seven paces, the gun was faster.

Within seven paces, the gun was both faster and more accurate.

But this room was less than two meters across. There was not enough space even to extend the barrel of the rifled musket properly.

"Thank you, Eunuch!"

Chang Wei was ecstatic. He knelt and repeatedly knocked his head against the floor, then said with heartfelt sincerity, "From today onward, you are my adoptive father!"

"Shut your mouth!"

For the first time, Wang Cheng'en lost his composure.

The extermination of nine clans was a genuine imperial decree!

If word of this got out, you would get me killed!

"Eunuch, shoot me. If I manage to dodge it, just pretend I am already dead, all right?"

Chang Wei's eyes darted about as greed overcame him.

Bang!

Chang Wei toppled stiffly to the ground. His final thought was:

What incredible marksmanship!

…

(I'm completely finished. In two more chapters, we will open the Chenghua-era storyline and add some wild twists. Please support me, dear readers, and watch two advertisements so I can have a little fun. Then the quality of the chapters will improve!)

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