Volume One, Chapter 37: Taken Away

The sailors immediately sprang into action.

From afar, the sound of the night watchman’s clapper signaled that it was the third watch. Lights flickered in every corner of the city. Agents of the Eastern Depot moved back and forth, escorting prisoners in chains. Among those captured, some wore expressions of deathly despair, while others gnashed their teeth in fury.

The city gates were bolted shut, with the garrison standing in strict formation. Along the ramparts, torches formed a continuous line of fire. Sun Chanting stood upon the wall, gazing into the distance at the night scenery.

"Sir," a soldier ran up, "we have discovered a group attempting to scale the wall to escape."

"Have they been caught?"

"They have already..." Before the soldier could finish, a shrill scream pierced the air from the distance.

"Another one who took poison," Sun Chanting sneered.

He turned to his subordinates and commanded, "Pass the word: tighten the security."

"Yes!"

The search within the city lasted until dawn. The Eastern Depot’s prison was packed with captives. Some wept, some cursed, and others prayed. Wei Zhiren walked before the cells, observing the detainees.

"Take them to be interrogated," he said coldly.

The agents moved at once. In a single night, the faction of Wen Tiren had been almost entirely swept up. Merchants, gentry, and officials—all had fallen into the vast net. Some had tried to flee, some had consumed poison, and some had confessed. Yet, many more remained in the shadows, waiting and watching.

The horizon began to pale with the first light of dawn. Zheng Zhilong stood at the bow of his ship, surveying the chaos on the docks.

"Sir," a sailor approached, "should we continue the search?"

"Of course," Zheng Zhilong sneered. "Not a single ship is to be spared."

The sailors continued their work. The city began to stir with the sound of human voices. In the streets, the common people whispered, all discussing the great roundup of the previous night. Some claimed Wen Tiren was planning a rebellion; others said the captives were spies for the Manchus. No one knew the truth.

The agents of the Eastern Depot continued their search, leaving no corner unturned. Among the captives, some had already confessed, while others continued to offer stubborn resistance.

The city gates remained shut. The garrison stood ready, preventing anyone from slipping away. Outside the walls, a few who had tried to escape were dragged back; some had died by their own hand, while others were led into the city in shackles.

Inside the Eastern Depot’s prison, the interrogations continued. Unable to withstand the torture, some began to spill their secrets. These testimonies revealed numerous illicit plots. Wen Tiren’s faction was spread throughout the court and the countryside, having infiltrated every corner. They had colluded with the Manchus, planning to strike from within while the enemy attacked from without. With weapons, gunpowder, and secret letters, the evidence was ironclad.

Those involved were captured one by one. Some confessed voluntarily, while others denied everything to the death, but the outcome was always the same.

The search in the city continued unabated. The Eastern Depot agents went from door to door, leaving no stone unturned.

At the Qingyun Temple, the monks knelt on the ground, trembling. The cellar was pitch black, and several monks huddled on the floor, shaking with fear.

"Speak," an agent said coldly. "Where did these weapons come from?"

"I... I do not know, benefactor," a young monk stammered.

"You don't know?" The agent sneered. "Then what about this gunpowder?" He pointed to a pile of gunpowder in the corner. Under the flickering torchlight, the black powder cast an eerie glow.

"This..." The monks looked at one another, afraid to speak.

"Audacious!" The agent kicked one of the monks over. "You still dare to hide the truth!"

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside.

"Sir," an agent ran in, "we have discovered a secret passage."

A flash of intensity appeared in the leader's eyes. "Where?"

"Behind the Buddha statue."

Several agents stepped forward and pushed the statue aside. Sure enough, a dark opening was revealed behind it.

"Go in and take a look."

The agents lit torches and crawled into the passage. A moment later, shouts echoed from within.

"Sir! We found it!"

The leader strode inside. The passage was short, leading to a stone chamber. The room was piled high with weapons and gunpowder, and documents lay scattered on the floor.

"This is..." The agent picked up a document, inspecting it by the torchlight.

"Give it to me!" The leader snatched the document and examined it closely.

After reading it, he let out a cold laugh. "Splendid. It is a secret letter from Wen Tiren."

He turned to the monks and barked, "Are you going to tell the truth now?"

The monks were so terrified they collapsed to their knees. "Benefactor..."

Before they could finish, a commotion erupted outside.

"We caught them!" someone shouted.

Several agents brought in two men. They were dressed in monk's robes, but it was clear at a glance that they were not true monks.

"Sir," an agent reported, "these two tried to escape through the back mountain."

The leader stepped closer, sneering, "So, they are Wen Tiren’s trusted henchmen."

The two men kept their heads bowed, silent.

"Search them!" the leader commanded.

The agents immediately frisked them. Soon, several letters were pulled from their garments. The leader unfolded them, his eyes gleaming with cold intent. "Excellent. This is all the evidence we need."

He turned to the monks. "Now, will you speak?"

The monks trembled. "Benefactor..."

"Audacious!" the agent roared. "Still trying to hide the truth!"

Suddenly, an old monk spoke up: "Let us tell them everything. These items were indeed hidden here at Wen Tiren’s command."

The other monks were so frightened they fell to the floor.

The old monk continued, "Every month, someone would bring items here. We... we were forced..."

"Continue!" the leader shouted.

"Wen Tiren said... he said he was going to rebel..." the old monk trembled, "...that he would coordinate with the Manchus from within..."

Before he could finish, another monk lunged forward: "Master!"

The old monk pushed him away. "Let them have it. It cannot be hidden anymore." He continued, "Wen Tiren and the Manchus have long been in collusion. These weapons were meant for the Manchus to use."

The leader sneered, "What else?"

"There are... there are several other hidden caches in the city, where weapons are stored..."

"Where?"

As the old monk was about to speak, he suddenly clutched his throat, blood streaming from his seven orifices.

"Not good!" the agents shouted. "He’s been poisoned!"

The old monk collapsed to the ground, convulsing a few times before breathing his last. The other monks were paralyzed with terror.

The leader sneered, "Search his body!"

Soon, a small paper packet was found in the old monk's sleeve.

"Arsenic," the agent said with a cold laugh. "These people, they truly keep poison on them at all times." He turned to the other monks. "Who else wants a taste of this?"

The monks bowed their heads repeatedly. "We will tell you everything we know..."

"Speak!"

"The... the Jubao Pavilion in the south of the city..." a monk stammered.

"And where else?"

"The... the one in the west of the city..."

Before he could finish, a monk suddenly bolted up and slammed his head against the wall. With a dull thud, blood splattered everywhere.

The remaining monks collapsed, trembling. The leader sneered, "It seems they are all fanatics." He turned to his men. "Take them all back. Not a single one is to be missed!"

"Yes!"

The agents stepped forward and bound the remaining monks. The two fake monks were also dragged away. The leader carefully searched the cellar and the secret passage again to ensure nothing had been overlooked.

"Sir," an agent approached, "we found this." He handed over an iron box.

The leader opened it to find a stack of documents.

"Secret letters from the Manchus..." he sneered. "Now we have truly seized Wen Tiren by the throat."

He tucked the iron box away and ordered his men, "Keep searching! Do not leave a single corner unexamined!"

The agents immediately set to work. Soon, they discovered a hidden compartment under the base of the Buddha statue. Opening it, they found a map. The leader unfolded it, his eyes flashing with intensity. "This is..."

The map was marked with several red dots, each indicating a location where weapons were hidden.

"Take it all!" he commanded with a wave of his hand.

The agents began hauling out the weapons and gunpowder. They worked until dawn before the cache was finally cleared.