Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Call to Action-The Last Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty(A few words, full of meaning.)

[Thank you to the reader: I Lost Death for the reward~]

"The Tax Division is coming!"

"These lords have finally appeared. Are they going to clash with the Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau? Let's hurry and step aside before we get caught in the crossfire!"

A tumultuous noise erupted ahead, and Hou Fangyu immediately saw the crowd surging forward, retreating en masse.

Pressed by the throng, despite Hou Qisheng, Hou Qishu, Luo Da, and Zhang Xiaonan's desperate efforts to protect him, Hou Fangyu was still jostled about, his hair disheveled, and his once pristine, neat round-collared robe now wrinkled and filthy.

"This is infuriating!" Hou Fangyu was beside himself with frustration.

But at that moment, no one spared him a glance.

Yan Wei, leading a dozen men, strode up to the gate of the Ministry of Works' Linqing Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau. Yan Wei, visibly enraged, stepped forward to knock on the bureau’s door.

Before he could do so, a burly man with a scarred face blocked his path.

Hou Fangyu, standing at a distance, could only watch; the din around him was so loud he couldn't hear what was being said upfront.

He saw Yan Wei, agitated, demanding the scarred man step aside.

But the scarred man suddenly roared, "Isn't it your Tax Division that keeps us from peacefully paying our bamboo and timber dues? You want me to move? Never!"

Suddenly, dozens of robust men surrounded them, and behind them, over a hundred more glared menacingly at Yan Wei.

Seeing this, Yan Wei drew his sword and glared back, while his dozen constables brandished iron rulers and clubs. Yet, hemmed in by two hundred angry faces, only Yan Wei managed to keep a semblance of composure.

The entire scene fell silent in an instant.

Everyone exchanged wary glances, holding their breath, dreading anything that might endanger themselves.

At this moment, Hou Fangyu stepped forward, grinning slyly, and fixed his gaze on Yan Wei. "Well, well, I was troubled about how to find Qin Xia to rebuke his outrageous actions, but now the Tax Division has come to me, saving me the trouble!"

"Step aside, step aside! This is Young Master Hou Fangyu of the Guide Hou family, a renowned scholar of Jiangnan, a recently elevated scholar, destined to ascend north and claim the top laurels!" Luo Da timely shouted.

Seeing this, the other shipowners and merchants quickly parted.

In this world of scholars, peasants, artisans, and merchants, even the wealthiest merchants felt humbled before a man of letters.

Yan Wei, upon hearing this, wore an expression impossible to decipher.

Yet the other thugs from the Wanquan Trading Company cleared the way at Luo Da’s shout, except for the burly Liu Yongquan, who frowned slightly.

Yan Wei stared at Hou Fangyu. "Is Young Master Hou acquainted with my lord?"

Only such acquaintance could explain Yan Wei's confusion—for Hou Fangyu did not seem to be causing trouble, but rather, trying to help Yan Wei out of a predicament.

Hou Fangyu, however, looked utterly disgusted. "How could I befriend such a villain? I have heard of Qin Xia’s reckless misconduct at the Household Ministry Tax Division, and today I must admonish him to mend his ways!"

"Firstly, Qin Xia should not tamper with the tax rate! The thirty-to-one levy was decreed by Emperor Taizu, a legacy handed down—how can a mere common official dare to alter it?"

"Secondly, he should not arbitrarily abolish the Pre-Collection Clause! The Pre-Collection Clause is the foundation for all customs tax along the Grand Canal, binding all customs offices under the imperial court. Qin Xia canceled it, shattering the unity of the customs system. Such actions harm the realm for the benefit of the Linqing Division—if this is not reckless misconduct, what is?"

"Thirdly—"

Just as Hou Fangyu was about to continue, Liu Yongquan interrupted impatiently, "You scholars are so troublesome. Enough, enough, your reputation is big—take your people and go! However you want to find trouble with Qin Xia, hurry up!"

Hou Fangyu was dumbstruck, rendered speechless. After a long pause, he fixed his gaze on Liu Yongquan, his eyes tracing the scar across Liu’s face, then looked back at the Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau. "Is it possible that this righteous man will not join me in denouncing Qin Xia’s misconduct?"

"Is there not a single upright soul within the Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau?"

"Is it—"

Just as Hou Fangyu was building up his momentum, Liu Yongquan turned away and shouted again, "I want to pay my bamboo and timber dues! Someone, come!"

...

"Pff..." Hou Fangyu nearly coughed up blood in outrage.

Liu Yongquan, having shouted, cared nothing for Hou Fangyu's indignation, and simply moved on.

Inside the Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau, a door was cracked open, and someone nodded fiercely at Liu Yongquan, "It’s done!"

Within the bureau, the robust Liu Pei looked at the grinning Chu Lushan and said, "You really are something. Now all the shipowners and merchants in Linqing have made Qin Xia their enemy."

Chu Lushan snickered, "Not just that. Look at Hou Fangyu—he’s surely a scholar who’s read himself silly. In short, we’ve blocked the canal and pinned the blame on Qin Xia. Let’s see who can keep their composure."

Leaving aside the gloating inside, outside, Hou Fangyu, seeing no one emerge from within, could only turn around. He gazed at the sweaty, sun-baked crowd behind him, their faces etched with resentment, indignation, helplessness, and hatred, and shouted, "Who dares join me in seeking out Qin Xia!"

"Only by making Qin Xia realize the gravity of his mistakes can the Bamboo and Timber Extraction Bureau reopen its doors!"

"I am from the Guide Hou family, and my father was Minister of the Household Ministry in the sixth year of Chongzhen! I go now to aid the Grand Secretary Zhou. If I, Hou Chaozong, had not witnessed Qin Xia’s misconduct, it would be one thing. But now that I have seen it, I will not allow Qin Xia to disgrace the nation!"

"Can you tolerate Qin Xia’s actions, which have blocked the canal?"

...

Hou Fangyu’s repeated shouts stirred unrest among the crowd.

"Punish Qin Xia, and restore the heroic deeds of the first year of Tianqi—now is the moment!"

As Hou Fangyu nearly finished shouting this, Luo Da stepped forward, "I will go with Young Master Hou!"

Zhang Zinan followed suit, "I am willing to go as well!"

Hou Qisheng and Hou Qishu joined in, "We will follow Young Master and punish the wicked!"

Hearing this, others finally began to shout one after another, "Let’s go to the Tax Division and punish the wicked!"

"Punish the wicked! Rid the people of harm!"

...

Soon, a mighty procession of two or three hundred people surged toward the city.

At that moment, a side gate was opened beside the Water Gate, allowing the group to pass directly through, heading straight for the Linqing Household Ministry Tax Division visible ahead.