The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 25 Blockade of the Docks
After hearing Ximen Da Guanren's instructions, Wu Tang turned his horse around and gave a wink to several trusted guards behind him. They immediately understood and followed Wu Tang closely.

The group pretended to be on a routine patrol and walked discreetly toward the large "Zhang Ji" ships, their figures quickly disappearing into the bustling crowd at the dock.

Looking at Wu Tang's retreating figure, Ximen Da Guanren felt somewhat relieved.

He Qianhu also happened to turn his gaze over.

Ximen Da Guanren flicked his folding fan.

Their eyes met briefly in the air, and He Qianhu nodded almost imperceptibly, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Ximen Da Guanren returned the same meaningful look.

Everything is understood without words.

The drums and gongs of this play should begin soon.
Commander He shouted sternly, his voice resounding throughout the hall:

"Everyone listen carefully and don't make a sound!"

"This is a matter of national importance, how dare you interfere! All of you, get off the ship and wait for the search. Any further disturbance will be considered disobedience and you will all be arrested! Men! Search thoroughly! Focus on those ships with deep drafts and large cargo holds! Don't miss a single one!"

His finger pointed clearly at the target.

The guards responded with a roar and pounced on the large ships like wolves and tigers.

The sailors and managers on these cargo ships wanted to stop them but dared not.

These guards have never been bandits, yet they are more like bandits than bandits.

If you dare to stop them, they'll slash you twice for nothing.

They had no choice but to stand aside, fearing they might delay their employer's business and also worried about whether their own ships carried any of these prohibited items.

They were all sweating profusely with anxiety.

The guards roughly pried open the hatches, kicked open the cargo boxes, and rummaged through the goods. Their actions were so rough that many sacks were torn open, and white rice and golden wheat spilled all over the ground, but no one paid any attention to it.

The ship owners and merchants were devastated.

The search had barely begun when a soldier's stern shout came from a large ship marked "Zhang's Freight": "Found it! It's here! There's a hidden compartment!"

Immediately afterward, someone on another ship with the same markings shouted, "There's one here too! Hidden behind the ballast! Sir, come quick!"

Several burly soldiers carried out several heavy, tightly sealed wooden crates from a hidden spot deep inside the cargo holds of the two large ships. These crates stood out starkly from the surrounding grain sacks.

When the box was pried open, there were neatly stacked packages of medicinal herbs, tightly wrapped in oil paper and moisture-proof cattail reeds!
Commander He and Deputy Commander Wu immediately dismounted and approached.

He Qianhu picked up a package of medicinal herbs, tore off the outer oil paper and cattail leaves, revealing the yellowish-white dried flower buds inside.

He picked up a few blossoms, smelled them, and noticed a slightly bitter aroma. He then handed them to the old military doctor accompanying him for examination.

The old physician, with his white hair and beard and rich experience, carefully examined the shape, color, and aroma of the flowers, and even broke open the buds to inspect them. After a moment, he bowed and reported in a loud voice, "Your Excellency! It is indeed top-quality honeysuckle. This is a commonly used medicine in the army for clearing heat and detoxifying, and is especially effective for treating boils, carbuncles, and epidemic fever! It is of superior quality!"

Commander He's face darkened further, turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He strode onto the boat.

He kicked over several sacks to examine them carefully.

He pointed to a clear mark on one of the burlap sacks of medicinal herbs and sternly demanded of the trembling boat owner kneeling at the bow, "Boatman! What is the explanation for this?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a large, square, vermilion seal stamped on the burlap sack containing the medicinal herbs!
The inscription is clearly legible, consisting of the four large characters "兵部军药" (Bingbu Junyao) in seal script! Next to it is a line of smaller characters: "甲字叁佰柒拾号" (Jiazi Sanbaiqishi).
This is precisely the marking of the medicinal materials approved by the Ministry of War and exclusively for use by the military!

Ordinary merchants would never dare to use this seal privately, let alone have the right to transport military supplies with this number! How could it possibly have ended up in the hands of an ordinary boatman?

This mark is irrefutable proof!

The guards rushed forward and overturned all the stacked sacks.

Several more military stamps were placed on the sack.

The boat owner was already paralyzed with fear, his face ashen, kowtowing repeatedly, crying out, "Sir! I'm innocent! I...I really didn't know! This...this cargo isn't mine! It...it's cargo from Zhang the wealthy man in Qinghe County! I was just the carrier; the owner is Zhang the wealthy man!"

"These goods were destined for Zhang the wealthy man's granary outside the city! I was only in charge of sailing the boat; how could I have known that such deadly things were hidden in the hold! It has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me! Please, sir, investigate thoroughly!"

Commander He glanced at the vermilion seal and serial number of the "Ministry of War Medicine" document, then swept his gaze across the terrified crowd at the dock. His face showed a mixture of sudden realization and uncontrollable rage. His voice boomed like thunder, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

"Well, well! Where did this audacious official come from! So this is the kind of shady business you've been up to! Listen up, all of you!"

He surveyed the entire scene, his voice filled with shock and anger: "I have long heard that bandits are rampant in the southeastern Zhejiang region. There is a traitor named Fang La who calls himself the 'Holy Duke,' who has gathered a crowd to cause chaos, attacking cities and seizing land, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of atrocities!"

"What's even more hateful is that they actually looted all the military medicines stockpiled by the Transport Commissioner's office! This is a grave crime that shakes the foundation of the nation and disrupts the morale of the army! The court is furious and has ordered all prefectures and counties to cooperate in the investigation and recovery of the stolen goods! Unbelievable!"

He pointed sharply at the large ship and shouted, "These military supplies and medicines, specially supplied by the Ministry of War and registered with serial numbers, have been sold here! They've appeared on your ship! You deserve to die! Come on! Lock up all these boatmen and managers! Take them back to the garrison prison and torture them severely! We must find out the mastermind and his accomplices!"

"These lost medicines from the military are crucial evidence of stolen goods. Immediately transport them back to the garrison's military depot and guard them strictly! There must be no mistakes!"

Just as the crowd was in turmoil!

A man dressed in a respectable silk robe, looking like a steward, was seen with his head down, trying to slip away quietly amidst the chaos! It was none other than the trusted steward of the Zhang family!
"Halt! Where do you think you're going!" Deputy Commander Wu, with his sharp eyes, shouted sternly!
Two fierce guards pounced on him immediately, pinning the steward down like an eagle snatching a chick, and twisting his hands behind his back!

The steward was terrified and struggled to shout, "Sir! Sir! I was just passing by! Just passing by! It's none of my business!"

Deputy Commander Wu sneered, "Just passing by? Sneaking around, running away at the sight of officials? I recognize you, you're the steward of that wealthy Zhang family, clearly you're guilty! Seize him!"

He turned to Commander He and said, "Sir, we've caught them red-handed, and the steward is trying to escape. The evidence is irrefutable! This wealthy man has some nerve!"

Commander He glanced at the vermilion seal and serial number of the "Ministry of War Medicine" document, then at the imprisoned steward and the limp ship owner, and snorted coldly:
"With witnesses and physical evidence, how dare you still try to deny it? What Zhang or Li tycoon! Smuggling lost military supplies is tantamount to aiding the enemy! Their crimes are unforgivable! Guards! Seize these criminals and the stolen goods! Take them back to the garrison for rigorous interrogation! Seize the relevant warehouses and ships! I will personally report this to the higher authorities!"

(End of this chapter)