I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

April 26th, at dawn.

In the inner city of Ningyuan, in a bedroom of an inn, Shen Nian was washing her face with cold water.

He barely slept a wink last night.

He had considered that Ningyuan City's disregard for etiquette and moral education led to a low overall moral standard, that the soldiers in Ningyuan City had a bandit-like and murderous aura, and that some generals would secretly engage in business and use the garrison soldiers as free labor.

Shen Nian could forgive soldiers who extorted money from her; she could also understand the difficulties faced by brothels in the city.

But the city was full of gambling dens, and the soldiers were involved in the human trafficking business, which Shen Nian could not tolerate.

Last night, Shen Nian spent five taels of silver to learn that there was a battalion in Ningyuan City that was specifically responsible for buying and selling the wives and daughters of low-ranking military households and low-ranking garrison soldiers.

this moment.

Shen Nian had the urge to kill Yuan Cheng, the commander of Ningyuan City Guard.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian and his group walked out of the inn.

He was shocked to find that some brothels and gambling dens had changed their signs to other ones, such as Liu's Silk Shop, Xu's Pastry Shop, and Wang's Shoe Shop.

Shen Nian understood that this was because she had come to Ningyuan City, and everything would return to normal after she left.

About an hour later, the sun was high in the sky.

Shen Nian and his group left Ningyuan City and returned to the main force. Next, he will reorganize Ningyuan City in his own way.

……

Around noon, Shen Nian and his group of over a thousand people arrived at the south gate of Ningyuan City.

Yuan Cheng, the Ningyuan Guard Commander (a third-rank official), wearing armor, saw Shen Nian, dressed in official robes, riding at the forefront. He immediately led two Deputy Commanders (third-rank officials), four Assistant Commanders (fourth-rank officials), and several commanders to greet him.

"Commander Yuan Cheng of Ningyuan Guard, Deputy Commanders Xu Jian and Sun Da of Ningyuan Guard, and Assistant Commanders Xia Sen, Zhao Rong, Xie Yanliang, and Hong Chun... pay their respects to Minister Shen!" The group knelt down in unison.

Within Liaodong territory, Shen Nian determines their future.

Shen Nian's face was grim. He waved his hand at Qi Hu and shouted, "Qi Hu, remove their armor, confiscate their weapons, and then tie them up!"

"Yes!" Qi Hu answered loudly.

Yuan Cheng and the others were taken aback, wondering what Shen Nian meant by this.

Before they could even speak, a group of Imperial Guards beside Shen Nian came up to them and pressed their muskets against their heads.

The guards behind them dared not move an inch.

Immediately, these people were stripped of their armor and weapons, then bound hand and foot and made to kneel on the ground.

Shen Nian beckoned again, and Qi Hu immediately brought over several Ningyuan City soldiers who had attacked them.

"Yuan Cheng, do you recognize these people?"

Yuan Cheng's eyes darted around, and he said, "Minister Shen, they are my soldiers. They were lost because of desertion, and I ordered them to bring them back. Is there a problem?"

"Bring back the deserters? Is that it? You didn't order them to kill the Imperial Guards who took the deserters away?"

"No...no! How could I dare kill a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? That was an imperial envoy; I wouldn't dare even if I had the greatest courage in the world!"

"Those deserters claimed that you treated all deserters as traitors, executed them, and falsely claimed military merits. Is that the truth?"

"No! How could I dare to do something that violates the law? Minister Shen, you...you...have you misunderstood?"

Shen Nian's eyes widened.

"Yuan Cheng, I am the acting governor-general of Ji and Liao on behalf of the emperor, yet you have not uttered a single truthful word!"

“Those deserters were rescued by me, and your band of bandits also wanted to kill me. Furthermore, yesterday I disguised myself as a merchant and entered the city. I was repeatedly extorted by your soldiers and guards. I also saw gambling dens and brothels in the city, and I know that you have a battalion of soldiers who are specifically responsible for buying and selling people. They even dare to sell the wives and daughters of low-ranking military households and guards. Do you know your crime?”

Shen Nian suddenly raised her voice.

Yuan Cheng was a little confused, and the people behind him were even more confused. They didn't expect Shen Nian to be so familiar with the situation in Ningyuan City.

If these charges were to reach the imperial court, they would be executed.

Yuan Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Minister Shen, you...you...I really don't know anything about these things you're talking about. I didn't do them!"

Yuan Chengzhu was stubborn.

"You didn't do it? As the highest-ranking military officer in Ningyuan City, don't you know anything about the situation in Ningyuan City?"

Shen Nian turned to look at Qianhu beside her.

"If you several commanders are willing to truthfully explain the situation in Ningyuan City to me and obey my orders, I will forgive your past crimes!" Shen Nian said.

"I confess!"

"I'll confess too!"

"I'll confess too!"

Immediately, three commanders raised their hands.

Shen Nian said, "Release them!" Upon hearing this, the remaining four commanders quickly chimed in, "We'll confess too! We'll confess too!"

"Too late!" Shen Nian said.

What are your three names?

"Reporting to the Minister, my name is Wang Guang, my name is Bai Zhongxuan, and my name is Wu Xuan!" the three replied with utmost respect.

"Commander Wang, Commander Bai, Commander Wu, I hereby give you half an hour to cooperate with my guards and take control of all the soldiers in the city. Except for those on duty, all other soldiers must enter the city's military camps and are not allowed to leave. Anyone who leaves will be killed without mercy!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" The three commanders bowed in unison.

In Ningyuan City, the top official was the Commander of the Guard, the second-in-command was the Assistant Commander, and the third-in-command was the Vice Commander. Below them were several thousand households of officials.

Shen Nian directly arrested the top three leaders.

As the Minister of War and Governor-General of Ji and Liao, he could directly dismiss all officials in Ji and Liao. As for how to proceed afterward, he would have to report to the court.

Shen Nian chose to capture all these people outside the city because they were unsuspecting.

If Shen Nian enters the city, they might see the soldiers he has captured and, in doing so, collude with his personal guards to do something detrimental to him.

……

About half an hour later, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had completely taken control of Ningyuan City.

Each commander was accompanied by two Imperial Guards, who would immediately shoot them dead with muskets if they disobeyed.

In addition, all of Yuan Cheng's family members and personal guards were also detained.

Even those who escaped the net, though not detained, dared not resist. Shen Nian represented the imperial court and commanded thousands of Jinyiwei guards armed with muskets; if they dared to unite and rebel against him, Shen Nian could exterminate their entire families if they were captured.

Soon, Shen Nian and his group entered the city gate.

Shen Nian ordered the entire city sealed off to prevent the bandits who had been involved in human trafficking from escaping.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian and his party arrived at the General's Mansion in Ningyuan City.

He had already ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to interrogate Yuan Cheng and others. Once they confessed their crimes, Shen Nian would immediately write down their crimes in writing, sending one copy to the capital and another copy to Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, and Li Chengliang, the general of Liaodong, who were in Liaoyang.

Shen Nianyi intended to make an example of Ningyuan City, so that other border garrisons would know how to follow suit.

That evening, under the identification of several commanders and officers, Yuan Cheng, the commander of Ningyuan Guard, Xu Jian and Sun Da, the deputy commanders of Ningyuan Guard, and Xia Sen, Zhao Rong, Xie Yanliang and Hong Chun, all confessed to the evil deeds they had committed.

Shen Nian did not wrong anyone.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Qi Hu, three commanders of a thousand households from Ningyuan City, and more than ten commanders of a hundred households appeared in front of Shen Nian.

"Next, I will give you three tasks."

"First, you have three days to arrest and imprison all the managers of gambling dens and brothels in Ningyuan City, as well as the squad of soldiers involved in human trafficking. You must also properly resettle the prostitutes and restore their freedom once the city gates open."

"Secondly, post notices in the city to gradually publicize the crimes of these people. Also, tell the people of Ningyuan Guard that for at least the next month, I will be in charge of all military and political affairs in Ningyuan City. Anyone with grievances can go directly to the General's Mansion to file a complaint."

"Thirdly, the property of Yuan Cheng and others should be confiscated, and all problematic land, gold, silver, shops, and residences under their names should be seized!"

"Yes, sir!" The group hurried off to handle the matter.

……

A moment later, Shen Nian came to Hai Rui.

"Elder Hai, there are too many rogue soldiers in Ningyuan City who often bully the people and the strong prey on the weak. The main reason for this is that the local officials are not good at educating and reforming them. I would like to trouble you to give lectures to the middle and lower-ranking officers in the city for half a month, and then train some lecturers. Would you be willing?"

“Yes, very much so!” Hai Rui said with a smile, as etiquette and moral education were his forte.

……

On this day, everyone in Ningyuan City knew that Shen Nian, the Minister of War who was in charge of the Governor-General of Jiliao, had taken control of the entire city, and Yuan Cheng and others were directly imprisoned for their various acts of disrespecting the people.

……

Two days later.

After investigating the private silver, private grain, and private land in Ningyuan City, Shen Nian ordered the distribution of grain and land to the lower-level military households.

He also called on military households or garrison soldiers who should have lived in the city to return to the city.

After doing all this, Shen Nian first ordered the training, land reclamation, and arms manufacturing in Ningyuan City to return to normal, and then opened the city gates to resume normal entry and exit.

Finally, he went to Huaiyuan Prison in person.

He wanted to review nearly three years' worth of case files, clarify all the wrongful convictions, and release the unfortunate victims.

Once Shen Nian has brought Ningyuan City back on track, the commanders of the other garrison cities in Liaodong will surely know what to do next. (End of Chapter)