The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Episode 7 Recap
> The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty Recap
Tang Fan returned home covered in injuries, much to Dong’s dismay. Despite his wounds, Tang Fan remained defiant, insisting that the "wild woman" had cheated by striking first and catching him off guard. He declared that once his injuries healed, he would challenge her to another fight. Meanwhile, Sui Zhou and his subordinates arrived in Ji'an City. Local residents boasted about the remarkable public order under the local ""Prefect"", Huang Jinglong, claiming that doors could be left unlocked at night.
As Sui Zhou's group regarded these claims with skepticism, they witnessed several yamen officers apprehending a petty thief and attempting to inflict severe punishment. Unable to bear the brutality, Sui Zhou intervened, only to be arrested himself along with his men. The group was taken to the local ""Prefect's"" office where Huang Jinglong interrogated the thief, Nie Ping. Nie Ping confessed he stole medicine because his mother was gravely ill and his family had no money.
Huang Jinglong, while sentencing Nie Ping to one year in prison according to Ming Dynasty law, personally modified the costly prescription to be more affordable by substituting expensive ingredients with common ones. He also lent Nie Ping five taels of silver to ensure his mother had enough medicine for a year, instructing him to settle his mother before returning to serve his sentence.
Witnessing Huang Jinglong's handling of the case, Sui Zhou and his men were initially convinced of his impartiality and integrity, believing he could not possibly be an abuser of prisoners. They then revealed their identities, with Sui Zhou stating his purpose was to investigate the alarmingly high number of prisoner deaths in Ji'an. He requested five years' worth of prison files, which Huang Jinglong readily agreed to provide.
Back in the capital, Tang Fan, still nursing his wounds, plotted his revenge. He meticulously recreated the layout of the Iron Market and identified an ideal ambush spot. Armed with a slingshot, he returned to the market and launched a stone at Duo Er La. His attempt failed, and he was once again defeated by her.
He returned home injured, and Dong, disheartened, urged him to defer his revenge until Sui Zhou returned, or seek help from the Shuntian Prefecture, though Tang Fan dismissed the latter as a misuse of public resources. Sui Zhou visited the Ji'an prison for an on-site inspection, discovering that the number of inmates, 514, far exceeded the prison’s capacity of 200.
He confronted Huang Jinglong about the overcrowding and the severe treatment of prisoners, arguing against the ""Prefect's"" philosophy that all criminals, regardless of the severity of their misdeeds, deserved to suffer equally. Huang Jinglong maintained that his actions were rooted in justice and law, for which he had no shame. Sui Zhou’s investigation gradually revealed that Ji'an's seemingly tranquil atmosphere was, in fact, maintained by the populace's profound fear of Huang Jinglong's harsh punishments.
Meanwhile, on his journey to Liaodong, Wang Zhi inquired about the relationships among the various tribes. He learned that the Three Guards—Doyan, Fuyu, and Taining—had served the Ming Dynasty since the Yongle Emperor's reign, with the Doyan Guard being the most powerful. He also discovered that recent horse markets, opened across Liaodong, had inadvertently led to the resurgence of the nearly extinct Jurchen tribes.
As Wang Zhi discussed these matters, tribal leaders, including an envoy from the Three Guards named Jia Kui, arrived to welcome him. However, Guangning General Chen Yue was conspicuously absent. The leaders hosted a lavish banquet, attempting to curry favor and offer bribes to Wang Zhi. Chen Yue eventually arrived late and displayed blatant disrespect, questioning Wang Zhi's presence and refusing to drink.
Wang Zhi, unfazed, used the opportunity to subtly address the issue of officials embezzling military funds and exploiting the populace. He then declared that all the valuable gifts received would be meticulously recorded by Ding Rong and deposited into the national treasury, ensuring transparency and asserting his authority. After this exchange, Chen Yue, recognizing Wang Zhi was incorruptible, became more cordial. He discussed the volatile situation in Liaodong, explaining that while the tribes appeared obedient, undercurrents of discontent ran deep.
Each tribe coveted the lucrative horse market for their own territory. Chen Yue argued that opening the market in Guangning, which was closest to the Jurchens, would undoubtedly provoke the jealousy of the Three Guards and was thus ill-advised. Wang Zhi clarified that the reopening of the horse market was the Emperor's express wish, emphasizing that the Emperor's judgment was paramount.
Chen Yue, understanding the profound implications, requested that Wang Zhi, in his capacity as an imperial commissioner, issue a strict order prohibiting any tribe from carrying weapons into the horse market. After a brief consideration, Wang Zhi readily agreed to this crucial security measure. Tang Fan, still undeterred in his quest for an apology, positioned himself outside Duo Er La's residence, vowing not to leave until she yielded.
Duo Er La, through Aha, refused to apologize but offered him three chances to hit her with his slingshot to settle the matter once and for all. Tang Fan, conflicted, aimed his slingshot at the sky but, by an unforeseen stroke of luck, his projectile accidentally struck Duo Er La. The unexpected hit caused her pain, leaving Tang Fan pondering why he was upset despite achieving his aim, as all he truly desired was an apology for her past actions.
Sui Zhou's subsequent conversations with Huang Jinglong solidified his conviction that the ""Prefect"" was indeed responsible for abusing and killing prisoners. Despite his profound disagreement with Huang Jinglong’s methods, Sui Zhou acknowledged the ""Prefect’s"" unwavering commitment to his own skewed definition of justice. Sui Zhou proposed that Huang Jinglong accompany him to the capital to allow the Ministry of Punishments to evaluate his conduct.
However, on the day of their planned departure, Huang Jinglong reneged on their understanding, arresting Sui Zhou and his men on fabricated charges of impersonating imperial officials and imprisoning them in the Ji'an jail. News of Sui Zhou's predicament reached Tang Fan through routine reports, revealing that his friend was now in serious trouble.
