Zhu Su headed to Xi Ping Palace, the residence of General Mu Ying. General Mu Ying was the Hongwu Emperor's adopted son who made a great contribution by helping the Ming army defeating Basalawarmi. When Lan Yu and his other colleagues returned to Central Plain, Mu Ying chose to stay in Yunnan. It was evidently Mu Ying who had sent Wu Qi to be Zhu Su's assistant.
What Wu Qi said was undeniably correct. Along his way to Xi Ping Palace, Zhu Su found more sick people, what they could do was only moaning in pain without getting any significant treatment. Nearer to downtown, the number of sick people jumped drastically. Those who appeared to be healthy were behaving in a fatigued manner, their movement was lethargic as if they would collapse to the ground at any time. Such a different condition if compared to Kaifeng. By perforce, Zhu Su asked himself, Why do so many people get sick here? Perhaps what Wu Qi has said is correct, then?...
When Zhu Su arrived at Xi Ping Palace, he directly got a warm welcome from General Mu Ying.
"Oh my, I've bothered you of making you come here by yourself! I'm just about to visit you... but there are still a whole lot of things to do..." Mu Ying shook Zhu Su's hands tightly, face gleamed with happiness.
Zhu Su shook his hand back, "Long time no see, Brother! Since you've decided to stay here. And I should stay in Kaifeng, too. If I'm not being exiled here, we won't meet each other!"
Mu Ying's facial expression changed. "Ah... why is it you the one being told by Fu Huang to come here?"
Mu Ying's question sounded like something was out of place right now, yet Zhu Su was not clear about it. His mind was into a mess since Mu Ying's question reminded him of the tragedy he must endure. With face turning cloudy, he told everything to Mu Ying.
"Recently Fu Huang is indeed very sensitive. Since the incident caused by that traitorous chancellor Hu Weiyong, he is enormously cynical, believing that everybody only uses flattery and licks his boots in front of him and at the same time attempts to stab him from his back. A few weeks ago when I was passing through a neighboring prefecture, I found military forces were murdering hundreds of people in an esplanade," Mu Ying sighed. "But it's really beyond my expectation, you are his own son after all, and moreover, that's all no more than a joke..."
"Fu Huang is evidently suspicious of my father-in-law, only God knows the reason. It makes me involved in their problems, since I am very closed to him."
"I think General Feng should be alert. It is he who has the biggest contribution to founding this country. And that is why I immediately choose to stay in Yunnan which is only a remote area, to prove my loyalty to Ming. I don't prefer to live in a big city, even more showing the desire for power which is too conspicuous, and by then let Fu Huang be suspicious of me."
"I don't get any news from my father-in-law. And neither from my wife or my children. I've lost all contacts about Kaifeng and Central Plain..." Zhu Su propped his chin up. "Ah, back to topics then, as my main intention to come here is another topic. Brother, is it true that there is an outbreak in Yunnan?"
"Oh, it sounds like you've been informed about the Witchcrafts of Xie Wang?"
"You then believe that it's caused by a curse?"
"In a certain sense. All people in Yunnan believe in those rumors. The smoke won't appear if there's no fire, will it?"
"You have investigated that?"
"I have, but I failed. My army never finds Xie Wang's hideaway."
"That indicates, whether Xie Wang exists or not, no one can prove it?"
"Why can you get such thought?"
"Because to tell the truth, I don't trust that rumor."
"Yeah... I have conveyed to the public that the Witchcrafts of Xie Wang is no more than a deception, but they still repudiate me."
"The public repudiate you?"
Mu Ying shook his head. "Yuan still has strong domination here. And besides, there is a separatist movement from the ethnic minority. There are a number of guerrillas hiding in mountains, ready to attack us. Yunnan society themselves are divided into three groups; pro-Ming, pro-Yuan, and those who intend to reestablish the Dali Kingdom." The Dali Kingdom was the Bai people kingdom situated in modern Yunnan province from 937 until 1253 until it was conquered by the Mongols.
"Wow, what a hard task, Brother! The difficulty you're facing is greater than mine. Kaifeng is quite easy to be managed after all."
"Those who live in Kaifeng are entirely Han ethnicity, same with us. Conversely, in Yunnan, not only there are many kinds of ethnic minority, their cultures and mindsets are also different from us. This is cultural diversity which makes the problem get worsen. As you can see, many people live in hardship here, right? It's not the government ignore them. It's them who can't believe us - moreover, the separatists always spread propaganda continuously."
"Although we are the same Han ethnicity, yet you've figured out that even the Han is truly difficult to be managed. Just like that corruption case in Yingtian, which even worsens since it spreads to Hangzhou, Guangdong, and the other cities. Clearing it up needed even one decade, and also involved those who are maybe innocent..."
"But finally it finished, right? Corruption can be cleared up to its roots."
"With an iron fist. The blood should soak the earth."
Mu Ying pursed his lips. "Should I use such that brutality? So that we can resolve this problem?"
Zhu Su turned silent for a few moments. "Can't give any comments. What I can say is, I don't use such an authoritarian way when governing Kaifeng..."
"And for the people, you are a lenient leader."
"But that principle causes me to get exiled here."
Now both of them turned silent.
"Well... Fu Huang has his own problems. The former Yuan government left this land in exceedingly rotten and corrupt condition, just like a house which almost collapses due to too many termites there. If the termites aren't eradicated, the house will be destroyed. And to eradicate those termites, we are often forced to destroy walls, doors, or windows, then rebuild it. Innocent walls, doors, and windows thus become the victims. By then, we now have a beautiful and safe home to settle in. I think maybe the principle is the same as that."
"It means you agree with Fu Huang's principal." Shrugging, Zhu Su made his conclusion. "Then... you'd better ask for help from the central government to solve this problem. Even if you have to create a sea of blood, as long as the problem can be solved, there's no problem, right?" He was aware of his sarcastic tone as he asked that question, and felt quite uneasy about it, but his bitter feelings towards his father prevented him from blaming himself.
"As a result, he sends you here."
"Huh?..." Zhu Su's eyes went round, he could not believe what he heard just now.
"Well, that's what I've heard before. Fu Huang plans to form a Fan Wang Guo here like he has formed in other areas. But because Yunnan is still unfamiliar to him, he must send the person he trusts the most - in this case, his own son. By then, Fu Huang chooses you."
If Zhu Su had been shocked before, this time his surprise was doubled.
"B... but... He didn't tell me about this... He even confiscated my Fan Wang title, and now I only get a rotten house to live in!..."
Now it was Mu Ying who turned to surprise.
"That's the order we get anyway. And the reason why you can get Wu Qi to serve you. An outcast wouldn't live that well." Mu Ying smiled. "No need to surprise, Brother. Fu Huang's thoughts are often unreached by our minds. I often get wrong when guessing his way of thinking, too."
"So, then, it means I have the right to govern... no... to help you govern Yunnan?" Worried that wrong words could break up his relationship with Mu Ying, Zhu Su asked carefully.
"More than merely having rights. You should govern Yunnan. In my opinion, you will be transferred from Kaifeng to govern Yunnan."
"Then let me solve the Witchcrafts of Xie Wang!"
Zhu Su said firmly, his eyes sparkled enthusiastically. Responding to him, Mu Ying smiled broadly. "These are the words I've been waiting for, Brother! Come on, let's put our energy and effort to destroy the Witchcrafts of Xie Wang. For the sake of our beloved Ming!"