Swords into Plowshares Episode 17 Recap
> Swords into Plowshares Recaps
Currently, the Southeast Expeditionary Camp had no news, entirely due to continuous heavy rain and broken waterways. Qian Hongzuo sent two teams to make contact, but there was no response at all, leaving him with a heavy heart.
Hu Jinsi believed that since Qian Hongzuo had already granted Yang Renquan and Shuiqiu Zhaoquan the exclusive authority (the independent decision-making power for a general commanding troops outside), following the principle of "don't use those you suspect, don't suspect those you use," these two men, having been entrusted with such a heavy responsibility, would surely exert themselves to the utmost and fight to the death at the front line without retreating.
Qian Hongzuo, having no other recourse, simply declared the court adjourned. Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhaoyue suddenly knelt down, apologizing to Qian Hongzuo for the matters concerning Taizhou. This person was smooth-tongued, and with a series of words, he completely exonerated himself, as if all faults were due to an irresistible fate. Qian Hongzuo was not an unkind ruler to begin with, and moreover, his mind was entirely on military and state affairs, so he did not delve deeper.
Turning to Wenzhou, at the Six Prefectures' Transport Bureau, Qian Hongchu arrived with Cui Renji, Xue Wen, and their entourage to prepare provisions. Prefect Ouyang Kuan, accompanied by the Monopoly Tax Commissioner Sun Yu, Agricultural Reclamation Commissioner Zhang Wei, and Yongjia County Magistrate Wang Jian, came forward to greet them. Their words were respectful and earnest, pledging to serve the imperial court with all their might.
However, the conversation took a turn as they then claimed that all 78,000 hu of grain (approximately over 5,000 tons) in the prefectural granary had been transported to the front lines, with documents to prove it. On that official document, Cui Renji's signature was conspicuously present. Faced with this sudden accusation, Cui Renji was struck as if by lightning, completely unaware of it.
He hastily explained that he had indeed borrowed 1,800 hu some time ago, but compared to the enormous sum of 78,000 hu, it was merely a drop in the ocean and impossible to confuse. Moreover, 78,000 hu was like a mountain of rice; how could he be so negligent as to allocate it without authorization? Cui Renji's defense was well-reasoned, but the signature on the document was difficult to verify as genuine or fake.
Qian Hongchu keenly perceived the abnormality in the prefectural granary's reserves, and Ouyang Kuan and the others' statements were full of loopholes. To avoid alerting the culprits, he immediately ordered Cui Renji to be arrested and detained on the spot. On the way back, Wang Jian felt subtly uneasy, always feeling that things had gone too smoothly. If Qian Hongchu were to so easily believe hearsay, he would appear too incompetent. Ouyang Kuan was completely unconcerned.
In his opinion, the signed document was irrefutable evidence, and even if Qian Hongchu had doubts, he wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble. However, no sooner had they left than Qian Hongchu, avoiding all watchful eyes, went alone to the place where Cui Renji was detained. He believed Cui Renji was innocent, and a mountain of rice could not simply disappear into thin air; it must be hidden nearby.
Under their analysis, suspicion focused on the warehouse of the Boyi Bureau. To obtain irrefutable evidence, Qian Hongchu secretly dispatched Cui Renji to Yuhuan Mountain Water Village to borrow the naval infantry division from General Luo Sheng, who was stationed there. When the time was ripe, Qian Hongchu personally led the team and rendezvoused with Cui Renji, who had returned with borrowed troops, heading straight to the Boyi Bureau warehouse for a surprise search.
Ouyang Kuan rushed over in a panic upon hearing the news. Initially, he remained arrogant and argued relentlessly, until Qian Hongchu meticulously unveiled the findings of the investigation, uncovering the hidden grain. At that point, Ouyang Kuan's face turned completely ashen, and any further sophistry appeared pale and futile. Subsequently, Qian Hongchu, with swift and decisive action, executed Ouyang Kuan on the spot, severing the corrupt official's head with a single stroke, thus deterring local officials.
With the matter in Wenzhou settled, Qian Hongchu appointed Cui Renji to succeed as the Prefect of Wenzhou, to continue rectifying the local administration and consolidate the achievements. This action stirred up a thousand waves in the Wuyue imperial court. Ministers debated heatedly; Wu Cheng continued to strongly support Qian Hongchu, while Yuan Dezhao had other considerations. Hu Jing was utterly perplexed.
Qian Hongchu, a royal scion previously known for his naughtiness, was merely given the title of "Inspector of Military Affairs" during this campaign. Qian Hongzuo's original intention was simply to use his status to accumulate some experience for future distant governorships. Yet, unexpectedly, he had set up his own authority outside, actively taking charge and making bold moves.
Hu Jinsi, listening to Hu Jing's doubts, coldly pointed out that on the battlefield, it was not a matter of one person or one family's life or death, but a business of tens of thousands dying, hundreds of clans perishing, and one nation falling. Without a firm hand to stabilize the rear, the front line would collapse in an instant. Similarly, Qian Hongzuo deeply understood his younger brother's difficult situation.
To provide strong support, he not only promoted Cui Renji to a sixth-rank official but also personally dispatched Qian Hongzong to find the capable minister Shen Wenqi, who had been implicated and banished in the earlier Qian Hongyou incident. He ordered Shen Wenqi to be ready for deployment at any time, to assist Qian Hongchu. In contrast, at the front line beachhead, the small team led by Shen Yin was ambushed and surrounded, a perilous situation urgently requiring reinforcements.
Seeing this, Lu Yanzhu and others sat by the provisions cart, leisurely eating biscuits and watching the 'show'. This infuriated Shen Yin, who drew his saber and held it to his own neck, roaring that if they did not obey orders today, he would commit suicide right there, and see how they would explain themselves. As expected, this desperate move worked. Lu Yanzhu, with dozens of men, suddenly stood up and, blades in hand, charged into the enemy formation.
These "veteran soldiers," who usually seemed slippery, once they saw blood, became like tigers entering a flock of sheep. Where blades flashed, enemy leaders fell one after another, and in an instant, over seventy heads were taken. Qian Hongchu was overjoyed upon hearing the news, galloping back to Hangzhou to report the victory and request commendations for everyone.
