Chapter 165: Security Bureau’s Liu Changge Betrayal

Zhu Yunwen’s voice was calm and gentle, as indifferent as water.

However, at this moment, Liu Changge trembled all over, looking at Zhu Yunwen with fear. He quickly knelt down, and his head collided with the ground, making a dull sound. “Your Majesty, I am guilty!”

Zhu Yunwen glanced at Liu Changge from the corner of his eye, then looked at a cloud in the sky resembling a horse. He said, “The one at fault is me. I trusted all of you too much, and in turn, each of you deceived me. Haha, I, as an emperor, am like a deaf and dumb man.”

Listening to these heart-wrenching words, Liu Changge knocked his head on the ground, his forehead already stained with blood. He kept kowtowing and shouted, “We were wrong. Please punish us, Your Majesty!”

Zhu Yunwen frowned, looked at Liu Changge, and coldly said, “Speak up, confess everything!”

Lowering his head, Liu Changge struggled before saying, “Two months ago, I received eight thousand taels of silver from the Jin merchants. They hoped to use the Security Bureau to pass through Datong and enter the northern regions.”

Zhu Yunwen squinted his eyes slightly and asked, “Eight thousand taels are enough to bribe you for passage. If they give you another eight thousand taels, can you then take away my head?”

“Your Majesty, I have no intention of rebelling. I would never dare to offend your sacred presence. It was just a momentary lapse in judgment, unable to resist temptation…”

Liu Changge’s face turned pale, filled with remorse and fear.

Zhu Yunwen chuckled, “Just silver? Is that all?”

Liu Changge looked at Zhu Yunwen in surprise, lowered his head, and said with difficulty, “There’s also a woman.”

“A woman? What’s her background, and why are you afraid to speak of it?”

“Yes, she is a courtesan.”

Liu Changge said with some pain.

In the Ming Dynasty, if you just visited a brothel, drank some wine, listened to music, and had a wild night, no one would bother you. But if you wanted to redeem a woman as your wife, it was better to be mentally prepared to resign from your official position.

In the Ming Dynasty, officials were prohibited from marrying women from brothels. However, many high-ranking officials still liked to bring them home as concubines. Yet, the fate of these concubines was usually not good—they had a lower status, were often bullied, and after two or three years, left alone in an empty house, lonely in the deep autumn.

This was why many courtesans preferred to live alone for a lifetime or commit themselves to humble households rather than enter the homes of officials.

Liu Changge, as the Commander of the Ming Dynasty Security Bureau, held a high position. He had many sycophantic officials seeking his favor, even some officials who came to him in the middle of the night, swearing allegiance.

While these officials could offer Liu Changge their loyalty, loyalty was intangible, colorless, and tasteless. It was unstable; what was solid today might evolve into air tomorrow.

Liu Changge was somewhat disdainful of these people. However, considering the cost of raising a dog was just a steamed bun, and it could help guard the door, Liu Changge, after initially rejecting them firmly, eventually tacitly allowed it.

The Security Bureau was frequently accused. Some magistrates in the South Zhili region accused the Security Bureau of lacking supervision, stating that they “filled their pockets, framed gentry with criminal charges, and forced them to surrender their land.” This infuriated Zhu Yunwen, who ordered a thorough reform of the Security Bureau. The troublemakers were apprehended and handed over to Liu Changge for disposal.

Liu Changge was ruthless, directly beheading two individuals. He then had their heads pickled in lime and sent to Security Bureau branches everywhere. He warned everyone that if they didn’t follow the rules, this would be their fate.

However, with power in their hands and lacking supervision, relying solely on these people’s high moral character to resist various temptations was somewhat unrealistic.

A person as clean as water could only drink water; they couldn’t drink wine a few times.

However, those who worked for the court were mostly men who enjoyed drinking.

In less than a year, the Security Bureau faced increasing problems, leading to deception and manipulation. Eventually, Zhu Yunwen learned that even Liu Changge, his most trusted subordinate, was involved!

Both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot had a bad reputation. Ultimately, this was directly related to the lack of checks and balances on power.

Zhu Yunwen didn’t want the Security Bureau to rot to the core and decided to eradicate the vermin sooner rather than later.

“The Security Bureau bears great responsibilities, and you are well aware of it! When I initially selected you as the commanding historian, I valued your benevolence and loyalty! But you’ve shown me that benevolence and loyalty can change! You’ve disappointed me!”

Zhu Yunwen’s face darkened. He beckoned, and the Security Bureau’s commanding deputy, Gu Sanshen, and Xiong Wucheng, walked forward and knelt behind Liu Changge, paying their respects.

“Liu Changge!”

Zhu Yunwen shouted coldly.

“I’m here!”

Liu Changge replied with a bleak expression.

Zhu Yunwen sternly said, “Liu Changge, as the Commander of the Security Bureau, you abandoned the emperor’s favor and the laws of the country. You sought money and women for personal gain, and now you will face the consequences. You are removed from the position of Commander and demoted to the position of registrar of registry. You are transferred to Daning, and your task is to investigate the smuggling activities of officials and merchants in Daning. If you find nothing, you will stay in Daning as a soldier and will not return.”

“Gu Sanshen will temporarily assume the duties of the Commander, and Xue Xia will be promoted to the position of commanding deputy. From top to bottom, the Security Bureau will be rectified. Once corruption, collusion with officials and merchants, and malicious oppression of gentry are discovered, they will be immediately expelled from the Security Bureau and handed over to the Ministry of Justice or local office for punishment according to the laws of Ming.”

Having said that, Zhu Yunwen swept his sleeves and left.

Liu Changge knocked his head forcefully and shouted, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life!”

Gu Sanshen and Xiong Wucheng waited until Zhu Yunwen’s figure was out of sight before helping Liu Changge up.

“Big bro Liu, back then, I advised you. That woman was just a trap set by the merchants. You didn’t believe it, and now, being scolded by the emperor, not losing your head is already a great mercy.”

Gu Sanshen sighed.

He was promoted by Liu Changge, and although he now held power, he showed no arrogance. He remained as he was in the past.

Liu Changge took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood from his forehead, grinned, and said, “Brother, am I the kind of person who can’t resist when he sees a woman? Of course, I knew that woman was a scheme by the merchants! But I have my reasons for keeping her.”

“What reasons?”

Xiong Wucheng quickly asked.

Liu Changge sighed and said, “Twelve years ago, during the Battle of Buir lake, a brother blocked a blade for me and died in the northern regions. I only knew he came from the Weihai garrison in Shandong, named Li Dawu. After the battle, I went to Weihai garrison, only to learn that his family had returned to Yanzhou. I pursued them to Yanzhou and searched for months, but there was no news.”

Gu Sanshen nodded understandingly and said, “No wonder. Among the people in other branches, you inquire only once or twice a month, but about Yanzhou, you frequently ask. It seems you never gave up finding his family.”

Liu Changge nodded slightly and said solemnly, “That’s right. Li Dawu saved my life. His family is my family. I have the responsibility to take care of them in their old age and support his children.”

“But it can’t be that coincidental. That woman is actually?”

Xiong Wucheng asked in disbelief.

Liu Changge chuckled, his face lightening. He took out a rolled-up piece of paper from his sleeve and said, “It’s a coincidence. Her name is Li Xiaowu, and her family is also in Yanzhou. Brothers from Yanzhou found Xiaowu’s mother, who drew a portrait of Li Dawu. It’s undoubtedly him.”

“I have ordered Xiaowu’s mother to be transferred to the capital. Now, Xiaowu is my adopted daughter. I just need to go to Daning. In the future, brothers will need to take care of them, making sure they don’t suffer any grievances.”

Gu Sanshen and Xiong Wucheng respectfully saluted Liu Changge.

Gu Sanshen sighed, “The emperor is magnanimous. If you had reported truthfully, he wouldn’t have investigated your actions. At least, you could have stayed in the capital. Daning is too far away.”

“Xiaowu’s deed of sale is in the hands of the merchants, and although I am the commander, I can’t do anything to them. I’ve finally agreed to their terms: three times of customs clearance in exchange for canceling the debt. I’m guilty, betraying the emperor’s grace, and the emperor spared my life. I am grateful, so how dare I speak of anything else?”

Liu Changge looked at the two, and at this moment, his heart was incredibly calm.