Traveling through the late Ming Dynasty to promote Chinese civilization

Chapter 494 An Assassination That Is Hard to Prevent

In the elegant room.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhang Pu and his companions, slightly tipsy, began to engage in lively discussions and critique the current political situation. When they discussed the widespread warfare and the court's strained resources in supplying the border troops, Hou Fangyu, emboldened by the alcohol, slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "Agriculture is the foundation of the nation, and the affairs of state cannot be separated from the land. When my father was still the Minister of Revenue, I submitted a proposal for him on behalf of the government to establish military farms, dividing them into ten categories: official farms, military farms, civilian farms, merchant farms, inland farms, border farms, land reclamation, performance evaluation, and trusteeship. If His Majesty adopts this proposal for land reclamation, what need is there to worry about food?"

Liu Ye's drinking capacity, honed through years of baijiu (Chinese white liquor), was simply too weak for this soft, sweet wine. Everyone around him was drunk, but he remained sober. Hearing this scholarly, idealistic statement, he couldn't help but sneer in disdain; it was remarkably similar to Emperor Hui of Jin's "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"

Hou Fangyu had always looked down on this military man who had been ennobled through merit. The fact that the man was not much older than himself was even more glaring. In comparison, he himself was only twenty years old and had yet to achieve anything, still struggling for the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). After hearing this cold laugh, he tilted his head and, reeking of alcohol, said, "Why is the Earl of Pingnan laughing? Do you think there is something wrong with my memorial? Could it be that besides wielding swords and spears, the Earl of Pingnan also understands the current situation?"

Liu Ye initially dismissed the matter with a laugh, not intending to argue with this young master. However, upon hearing the other's sarcasm, his face darkened. "I have hundreds of years more experience than you. I not only understand the current situation, but I even know when you died." He coldly said, "Young Master Hou is still young and has been studying behind closed doors. He is inevitably inexperienced. This statement is somewhat like armchair theorizing."

Hou Fangyu's face turned bright red. At his age, he hated it most when people said he was young and inexperienced. It was no different from pointing a finger at him and saying, "A young man with no experience is unreliable."

Zhang Pu and the others also became interested and asked, "What insightful opinions does the Earl of Pingnan have? We would like to hear them in detail."

Liu Ye glanced at Hou Fangyu and replied disdainfully, "The situation is now in a state of utter chaos and decay. There's a folk poem about the word 'field,' which says, 'What was once the foundation of wealth has now become a burden.' Those who own land would rather wander the streets and beg for a living than return to their hometowns to cultivate the land, in order to avoid additional taxes. Under these circumstances, what is talking about land reclamation if not empty talk?"

The lively room fell silent instantly.

Liu Ye pointed out a fact that some people might not understand, or might understand but pretend not to: due to severe land consolidation, farmers, who own only one-tenth of the country's land, bear the entire nation's tax burden, as well as increasingly heavy "additional levies." Land has become a shackle around their necks, and the more they farm, the poorer they become—a widespread phenomenon. Meanwhile, the members of the Fushe Society present were all wealthy and powerful, owning large amounts of fertile land, and none of them had to pay taxes—this was one of the root causes of this strange phenomenon.

Although Zhang Pu and others didn't understand the principles of class antagonism and land annexation, they were still aware of these facts. However, their positions were determined by their own circumstances, and they couldn't possibly stand up and agree with Liu Ye's views to overthrow their own regime. Only Hou Fangyu spoke up, breaking the silence: "This is utter nonsense! My father was once the Minister of Revenue, and he strongly agreed with my memorial. He was in charge of the nation's taxes; is he less sensible than a mere military man like you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Pu wanted to stop him, but it was too late. He glanced at Xu Hongji with concern.

Xu Hongji's face darkened as expected. He could tolerate Liu Ye's earlier mockery of only knowing how to wield weapons, at least it hadn't affected him personally. But now, with his constant use of the term "mere warrior," it was incredibly offensive. He himself was a nobleman and a military officer, and this sweeping generalization included him as well. However, out of consideration for his status, he didn't want to reprimand a junior as a Duke, and thus forcibly suppressed the urge to curse.

Liu Ye was somewhat surprised, "Your father is the Minister of Revenue?"

Hou Fangyu proudly puffed out his chest. Xu Hongji coldly said from the side, "It's the former Minister Hou Xun. He was impeached last year for 'wasting public funds and harming the country,' and has already been dismissed from his post and imprisoned."

Liu Ye suddenly realized: "So he's the son of the former Minister of Revenue, my apologies. But with his father still in prison, his son still has the leisure to frequent brothels, what a good attitude! I admire him!"

Hou Fangyu blushed furiously, almost losing his temper. The two of them, speaking in unison, had touched on the very thing he least wanted to talk about.

Just as he was about to unleash his tirade, the half-closed door was kicked open with a bang, and several dark figures rushed in. They kicked Hou Fangyu, who was blocking the doorway, so hard he fell face-first into the mud. Then they leaped high over the table and slashed down at Liu Ye with their knives.

The discordant debate that broke out at the celebration for the Earl of Pingnan was already unexpected, but now, in a dramatic turn of events, an assassin has appeared. Before anyone could react, it seemed that Liu Ye was about to lose his life.

In a flash, Shimazu Chiyo, who had been sitting motionless like a stone statue behind Liu Ye, suddenly leaped up and drew her katana in mid-air.

With a clang, a sound like a dragon's roar as a sword was drawn rang out. A flash of light streaked through the air, and before anyone could see what was happening, Shimazu Chiyo and two dark figures landed on the ground simultaneously.

Shimazu Chiyo stood with her sword raised, maintaining the posture she had used to wield it, while the two dark figures fell heavily to the ground, both with deep cuts on their necks, bleeding profusely, and were already dead.

Three figures rushed in. The remaining one, seeing his companion killed in one move, knew that the woman blocking Liu Ye's way was an opponent he could not defeat. He gritted his teeth, changed direction, and charged towards Duke Xu Hongji of Wei.

The rapid changes in events caught everyone off guard. Why did the assassin who was after Liu Ye end up trying to assassinate the Duke of Wei?

Chiyo Shimazu hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should stop him, since her duty was to protect Liu Ye.

Xu Hongji, after all, came from a family of generals and was not a weak scholar. With the buffer of the two assassins being killed, he had already reacted. Seeing the remaining assassins rushing towards him, he roared, picked up the table in front of him, letting the wine and snacks spill all over the ground, and then smashed it at the other party.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the assassin who was trying to kill Xu Hongji, and almost no one saw that the little girl sitting next to Liu Ye quietly pulled out her hairpin and plunged the long, sharp spike into the side of Liu Ye's neck.

At such close range, without any warning, Liu Ye had no idea that someone was attacking him from behind. Just as the hairpin was about to pierce his flesh, a hand reached out and blocked it, allowing the sharp thorn to dig deep into the back of his hand, drawing blood.