Early the next morning, the Shouning County government office gathered countless people to watch the excitement.
When the soldiers posted the notice last night, these people were still doubtful. They couldn't believe that those domineering gentry and landlords would one day end up like this. But when they saw the figures kneeling in the county government office, they couldn't believe it. The last trace of doubt in my heart was also eliminated.
After Li Jie and Zhang Er, the chief registrar of Shouning County, stated the crimes committed by these wealthy gentry in court one by one.
Hu Zongxian was wearing official uniform, sitting in the lobby of the county government office, and said loudly: "Rearing private soldiers, murdering imperial officials, collaborating with Japanese invaders, annexing people's land, taking human lives, bribing officials, can you deny your guilt for these crimes?"
"What an injustice! Please spare our lives, Lord Governor. We are willing to donate all our family property!"
"My Lord Governor, I still have an eighty-year-old mother who needs support! What will she do if I leave!"
"Sir Governor, I have never done these things. They forced me to do them. I didn't know about it!"
After listening to the charges stated by Hu Zongxian, the group of wealthy gentry suddenly panicked. Each of these crimes was a definite death penalty. If nothing else, just mentioning the Japanese, they would inevitably end up with a lot of people. The ending of copying and beheading.
"Huh, noisy! I will take you under arrest and chop them all, including their families! I will let your family reunite below, so that there will be no violation of filial piety." Hu Zongxian became a little impatient after hearing this. Then with a wave of his hand, he asked his soldiers to take action and escort them down.
Soon, these gentry and landowners and their families were all escorted to Caishikou in Shouning County. The people clapped their hands and applauded as they raised their knives and dropped their swords.
…
After dealing with the group of wealthy gentry and their families, Hu Zongxian called Chief Li and said in a deep voice: "You will still be in charge of Shouning County for the time being. The court will send a new county magistrate here soon!"
"I obey the order of the Governor!" After hearing what Hu Zongxian said, Li Jie hurriedly bowed and saluted, his face full of respect.
After all matters were handed over, the army immediately set off and marched towards Zhangzhou Mansion.
…
Capital City, Yan Mansion.
Yan Song put down the scroll in his hand and turned to his son Yan Shifan and asked: "Has the army set off?"
Seeing his father's question, Yan Shifan on the side quickly put down what he was busy with and responded: "Father, Hu Zongxian set out two days ago and was divided into three armies! The other two armies were Yu Dayou and Tan Lun, who went straight into the quilt. Zhangzhou Prefecture occupied by Japanese pirates."
"What is father worried about?" Yan Shifan couldn't help asking when he saw that his father was worried.
"I was thinking that if it were just to suppress Japanese pirates, we would not need so many troops. At most, only 4,000 people would be able to wipe out all the Japanese pirates entrenched in Fujian! But now we have sent out nearly 10,000 troops. , not only that, but also sent generals such as Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou, Tan Lun, etc. I suspect that this operation to suppress the Japanese was just incidental."
"Father is right. If it were just to exterminate the Japanese pirates, His Majesty would not have to take such pains. He even gave Xu Jie a hard beating in front of everyone to tell him not to do anything behind his back." Yan Shifan finished listening to his father. Yan Song couldn't help but think about his conjecture.
"What is the connection between all this? Hu Zongxian, Zhejiang, killing the smuggling family..." Yan Song frowned and thought for a long time.
After Yan Song connected all the clues he had recently obtained, he slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice: "I understand. Your Majesty is going to use the pretext of suppressing Japanese invaders to kill the disobedient gentry and landlords near the coast. Clean it all up!"
"Ah, what!" After hearing what his father Yan Song said, Yan Shifan's face was full of disbelief.
"By the way, has His Majesty sent Jin Yiwei to Zhejiang recently?" Yan Song then asked in a deep voice.
"According to the father-in-law in the palace, it seems that His Majesty recently sent a large number of royal guards to Zhejiang, as if to transport something." Yan Shifan pinched his chin and recalled.
"That's right. Hu Zongxian previously dispatched troops to kill all the smuggling families, but he did not mention the confiscated property. It must have been a huge amount, and he couldn't count it for a while! Now, His Majesty is sending Jin Yiwei to seize this money. Huge wealth was transported back to Beijing.”
"Hiss, Your Majesty is truly a wise man. His machinations are beyond our reach. No one could see His Majesty's true thoughts before!" After hearing this, Yan Shifan couldn't help but sigh.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Jiajing put on his robe under the service of the eunuch. After finishing dressing, Lu Fang walked in quickly and said softly: "Your Majesty, the Jin Yiwei has escorted the money back to the capital via the Grand Canal. Do you think?"
"Do you want to ask me about this kind of thing? Just send it directly to the treasury!" Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang and said calmly.
"This servant didn't think well. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." After Lu Fang said this, he quickly bowed and saluted.
"Is there anything interesting going on in the capital recently? I'm a little tired after staying in the Forbidden City day after day." After Jiajing finished speaking, he raised his eyebrows and asked Lu Fang.
"Your Majesty, I recently heard an interesting story from outside. I heard that someone dug up a dragon bone on the outskirts of the capital!"
"What's weird about digging out the dragon bones?" Jiajing rolled his eyes at Lu Fang and said.
"Your Majesty, this is not the kind of dragon bone with characters engraved on it, but the real dragon bone. I heard that the bone is exactly the same as the one described in myths and legends!"
"What? Such a thing could happen!" Jiajing said in surprise after hearing Lu Fang's words.
"Your Majesty, I don't know whether it's true or not. It's said that after digging out the dragon bones, the man went around hawking them for a good price, but he was regarded as a charlatan and was seriously injured."
"Send someone to take a look and buy the dragon bones. I'm quite curious about what the dragon bones look like when they are dug out of the ground."
"Yes." Lu Fang said, bowing and saluting.
"In addition, several very capable Taoist priests have recently arrived in the capital. It is said that their divination skills are extremely accurate. They can predict a person's future, determine life and death, and can also control wind and rain."
After hearing this, Jiajing lost interest and couldn't help but think: "I can call wind and rain, and I can also call thunder from the sky!"
"Oh, that's all, come with me to the cabinet." After Jiajing finished speaking, he strode towards the cabinet without looking at Lu Fang.
Seeing this, Lu Fang quickly walked a few steps to keep up with the emperor's steps.
…
"Your Majesty is here!"
Outside the cabinet, a high-pitched voice came.
After Jiajing took Lu Fang into the cabinet, he sat down in his seat.
"I see your Majesty, long live my emperor!" All the ministers bowed and saluted.
"Everyone, get up!" Jiajing glanced at everyone and said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone stood up and sat down in their respective seats.
"Your Majesty, Hu Zongxian's army attacked in three directions two days ago, heading straight into Zhangzhou Prefecture, which was invaded by Japanese pirates. They must soon be able to wipe out the Japanese pirates entrenched in Fujian! Our military department has sent warships to clear the Japanese pirates' retreat route. Cut them all off." Zhang Juzheng was the first to go out and report.
"Well, your military department has done a good job. We must cut off the retreat of this group of Japanese pirates and eliminate them all!" Jiajing nodded and said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, Taichang Shaoqing Li Chunfang has already published the test questions for this imperial examination. Please have your Majesty take a look at it!" Yan Song then came out and raised the test questions for this imperial examination high above his head. Lu Fang saw He quickly stepped forward, took the test questions, and handed them over to the emperor.
Jiajing just browsed through it twice and then stopped reading. Otherwise, the title above was too obscure and difficult to understand: "Sincerity is the foundation of heavenly virtue and the source of sanctity. Scholars are the first of the four peoples." , Scholars are accustomed to it and are sincere, it is related to the teaching and customs of the real world, governance should not be more important than winning people, and discussion must come before practical application..."
(End of chapter)
