The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 20 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Upon arriving in Yunhe, Tang Fan was met with an elaborate welcome from Ma Lin, who had been delayed but had prepared a lavish feast. Ma Lin, a connoisseur of fine dining, shared the intricate details behind exquisite dishes like the Chongyang Flower Rice Cake and Fire-Hock Immortal Duck. Tang Fan, impressed by Ma Lin’s passion for food, quickly developed a rapport with him.
Ma Lin presented Tang Fan with numerous gifts, including the authentic Calligraphy of Jushi, which Tang Fan initially declined due to its immense value but eventually accepted after Ma Lin insisted it was meant for him. Ma Lin then housed Tang Fan and his companions in a luxurious residence, which Tang Fan accepted as a loan.
Ma Rufu, the butler of the Ma mansion, provided Sui Zhou with a general token, granting Tang Fan and his entourage unlimited credit for any purchases within Yunhe, with all expenses covered by the Ma family. When Ma Lin inquired about Tang Fan's family, Tang Fan explained he was unmarried and that his parents had passed away, leaving only a sister in the capital. Ma Lin then introduced a group of female attendants to serve Tang Fan.
Despite the generous hospitality, Tang Fan's companions, Dora and Wuyun, expressed their displeasure regarding the sudden presence of the female attendants. Dora confronted Tang Fan, asserting their lack of a romantic relationship, and attempted to leave Yunhe with Wuyun, but Sui Zhou intervened, urging her not to let trivial matters cause discord and reminding her that Tang Fan had brought her joy. They ultimately decided to stay the night in Yunhe.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Wang Zhi of the Western Depot continued his investigation into the Yunhe case. He visited Mr. Wan, a senior official known for his integrity, under the guise of delivering a new official uniform. Mr. Wan initially feared Wang Zhi's visit was a prelude to a death sentence, but Wang Zhi reassured him.
During their conversation, Wang Zhi revealed that the three previous Yunhe governors had all died under mysterious circumstances, as had two officials from the Ministry of Revenue, one by hanging and another by drowning. Mr. Wan admitted the situation was suspicious and agreed to pay closer attention to any relevant information. Later, while receiving updates on the Yunhe investigation from his subordinates at the Huanyi Brothel, Wang Zhi was interrupted by a commotion outside.
Soldiers under General Chen Yue were causing a disturbance. Wang Zhi invited General Chen to a private room, where he learned that Chen Yue had returned to the capital to expedite the release of military pay. Chen Yue explained that his subordinate had been ill-treated by a minor official at the Ministry of War who demanded bribes, resulting in the subordinate's punishment back in Liaodong. Wang Zhi offered to resolve the issue, and Chen Yue gratefully accepted his help.
However, this assistance led to a joint memorial from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Personnel accusing Wang Zhi of falsely reporting and embezzling military funds. Wang Zhi later met with Mr. Wan again, who showed him the memorial. Mr. Wan revealed that General Chen Yue had falsely reported twenty thousand taels of military pay.
He advised Wang Zhi to quickly cover the deficit to maintain the Emperor's trust, and Wang Zhi asked Mr. Wan to temporarily withhold the memorial. The next morning, on Tang Fan’s first day as Yunhe magistrate, Ma Lin took him on a tour of the city. Their progress was halted by a large group of protesting silver miners demanding their wages. Ma Lin dismissed them as unruly rabble, claiming he had always paid them fairly and generously.
Tang Fan, without inquiring further, ordered Sui Zhou to arrest the ringleaders for obstructing the street, despite Sui Zhou's visible reluctance. To Ma Lin’s embarrassment, his own son, Ma Yuancong, was among the protesters, openly supporting the miners' grievances and being arrested. Later, Ma Lin hosted another banquet for Tang Fan, lamenting his difficulties and the miners' insatiable greed.
He explained that despite his apparent wealth, most of his earnings were used to bribe officials at every level, from local administrators to the six ministries in the capital, leaving him with very little profit. Tang Fan brought up the issue of silver mining rendering land infertile, but Ma Lin brushed it aside, stating that silver production was the court's priority, and environmental concerns were merely a cost.
He even mused that if a mine was depleted, they would simply move on to another location. Back at the mansion, Sui Zhou, with Dong'er's exceptional memory, meticulously mapped Tang Fan's tour routes of Yunhe. He discovered that Ma Lin had deliberately bypassed two specific areas, leading Sui Zhou to deduce that Ma Lin was only showing Tang Fan what he wanted him to see, likely concealing the silver mines and impoverished areas.
When Sui Zhou presented his findings to a seemingly inebriated Tang Fan, Tang Fan dismissed the analysis, leading to a heated argument between the two. Meanwhile, Sui Zhou, preparing for a dangerous mission, found Dora struggling to make mutton soup that tasted like home, telling her that its quality was more important than his own life. The following day, Ma Lin frantically sought Tang Fan's help, revealing that his son, Yuancong, had been kidnapped.
Tang Fan and Sui Zhou devised a rescue plan, including a three-layered encirclement of the ransom drop point. However, their initial confrontation with the kidnappers revealed them to be fakes, merely opportunistic extortionists, who were quickly apprehended. Upon returning to the Ma mansion, Ma Lin received another ransom note, which he was convinced was genuine, as it was written in Yuancong's own hand.
Ma Lin was distraught, fearing for his son's life, but Tang Fan and Sui Zhou carefully examined the letter. They observed its neat handwriting, consistent ink density, and the use of expensive Xuanzhou rice paper, all indicative of it being written calmly and deliberately, possibly in Yuancong's own study.
Furthermore, the letter demanded the release of all protesting silver workers, the cessation of mining, the return of land to farming, and payment of wages—but made no mention of ransom or a plea for rescue. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou concluded that Yuancong had orchestrated his own "kidnapping" as a ruse to advocate for the silver miners.
