Judging from the results and evidence of the trial so far, it is Liu Kan and other second generations who led the case of kidnapping girls, and the accomplices were many gentry and wealthy business families from Taiyuan Prefecture and even Shanxi.
But from the beginning, Jia Cong had a vague feeling that there was a pair of black hands manipulating everything behind the scenes, perhaps the Pingyang Lu family.
However, Jia Cong still has a trace of doubt in his heart. Can the Pingyang Lu family have such great energy? What's the picture again?
The Princess Dai is from the Lu family in Pingyang, and the eldest son Liu Kan is Lu's nephew. As long as the Lu family controls Dai Wang's palace, which family in Shanxi can be better than the Lu family?
It doesn't make sense. Why would the Lu family plot against Dai Wangfu?
Jia Cong really couldn't figure out what Lu's intention was, so he didn't respond immediately after hearing Jia Shiyi's report, but thought about it carefully.
"Uncle Eleven, if your nephew is a definite future prince, will you destroy him?"
Jia Shiyi shook his head without hesitation, no normal person would do this.
"Most of Shanxi is almost overturned, and no evidence about the Lu family has been found, so the water is very deep!"
Jia Cong's fingers tapped on the table, and the thumping sound seemed to remind him that he must be cautious and not jump to conclusions easily.
He looked at the official documents spread out on the table and suddenly had an idea.
evidence……
This thing is needed by the Third Division and the Dragon Guard, but Jia Cong doesn't need it.
Who are the people from the Rongguo Mansion going to deal with? When do they need evidence?
No need to worry if you have too many debts, no need to worry if you have too many lice. Anyway, he had already gone on a killing spree in Taiyuan, so killing a few more people didn't seem like a big deal.
Sometimes it seems good to use a results-oriented strategy.
…
Lu Huan had not had a good night's sleep in recent days because he found that he had been cheated, and he climbed into the trap on his own initiative.
Especially after receiving the secret letter from Beijing yesterday, Lu Huan's mouth was covered with blisters overnight.
"Zhen'er, has there been no news from Prince Dai's Mansion yet?"
The figure behind the screen came closer, shook his head and replied: "Father, the palace of Prince Dai is surrounded by the imperial army, and our people can't get in at all. My son heard that the capital has sent King Liu Huai of Hebei to come, I'm afraid..."
"Oh, it was only after sending old guy Liu Huai here that I felt something was wrong."
Who is Liu Huai? The emperor's brother and the emperor's uncle.
If it was just to escort Liu Min and others back to the capital, any official from Zongzheng Temple would be fine. How could Ji Wang Liu Huai be sent to Beijing easily?
"Do you think the emperor knew anything? That incident back then..."
Lu Huan was only halfway through his words when he was interrupted by Lu Zhen yelling: "Father, it has been more than thirty years since that incident. Why do you still mention it?"
"But... yes, more than thirty years have passed, and everyone who knew it is dead."
Perhaps it was Lu Zhen's sharp shout that made Lu Huan calm down, and his originally somewhat distracted eyes slowly became clear but also cold.
He sat up straight with his hands and said to his son who was sitting by the bed: "You are right, no one will know about that matter. No matter who comes from the capital, our plan will be foolproof. Zhen'er, you Contact them now, the stage has been set up, it’s time to start singing!”
…
More than half of Shanxi's officials, big and small, were arrested and imprisoned by the Long Guards. Whether it was the Chief Envoys' Department, the Sentencing Envoys' Department, or the state and county offices, there was a large shortage of manpower.
Fortunately, Zhang Zhengju arrived in time. This old boy had really calculated everything he could. He had hired a lot of people from the capital before he came.
The Dragon Guards are still searching homes and arresting people, and Taiyuan Mansion is still in a state of panic. Jia Cong left the government affairs of Shanxi to Zhang Zhengju, and while rectifying the guards of Taiyuan Mansion, he waited for his opponent's move.
Liu Huai came with a large army, and he could travel thirty miles a day, which was considered a great speed. Jia Cong is waiting for this army to arrive. By then, whatever he wants to do will be much easier.
But some people are unwilling to wait. As soon as March arrives, chaos breaks out in Shanxi.
First, rumors spread, saying that the imperial court had sent cruel and corrupt officials, and that some officials and virtuous gentry in Shanxi were killed by them and their property was taken away.
Immediately afterwards, food prices throughout Shanxi increased three times a day, to more than ten times their original value in just two days. Immediately afterwards, the prices of salt, tea and other commodities doubled, shops in the city closed one after another, and cities of all sizes experienced a depression that only occurs during wars.
Originally, these were also what Jia Cong expected. If he wanted to reshuffle the forces in Shanxi, the other party would definitely take measures to deal with it, and controlling prices was also expected.
But what Jia Cong didn't expect was that the rise in food prices did not cause panic among the people. Instead, a rumor turned the whole of Shanxi into chaos.
"Have you heard? Xu Qingteng is coming to Shanxi!"
"Ah? It's impossible. Isn't he in Nanzhili?"
"You are stupid. Jia Cong killed so many people in Shanxi, not just to stand up for her teacher? When you talk about redressing justice for the people, isn't it just to take away the land in our hands?"
"Hiss! What should we do then? We can't just hand over the land we saved so hard for in vain."
"What else can I do? I want land or my head, I can only choose one."
Similar dialogues were staged in various state capitals in Shanxi, and the gentry and wealthy businessmen throughout Shanxi became active.
Unlike before, when the gentry and wealthy merchants in Shanxi felt that their fundamental interests were threatened, they were no longer afraid of the knife in Jia Cong's hand.
In Taiyuan Mansion alone, there were thousands of distinguished gentry gathered. They rushed to the Yamen of the Chief Envoy and attacked the Yamen despite the obstruction of the imperial army. They insisted on Jia Cong coming out to make a clarification and guarantee.
Clarify what? Will Xu Jin come to Shanxi?
As for the guarantee, it is whether Jia Cong can guarantee that the imperial court will not implement land clearing in Shanxi and will not deprive officials of their tax-free benefits.
Clarification is easy to say, but I guarantee Jia Cong will do it. Land clearing was one of the most important policies of the New Deal, in order to limit land annexation.
His teacher Xu Qingteng refused to give up despite the difficulties in Nanzhili. As a disciple, how could Jia Cong cause trouble to his teacher.
Jia Cong's face was as dark as water. He didn't expect that the other party's moves would be so tricky.
Zhang Zhengju boiled tea leisurely and said with a smile: "Being able to mobilize so many people in such a short period of time has turned the whole of Shanxi upside down. It seems that we have underestimated the Pingyang Lu family."
Jia Cong was a little irritated. He leaned on the door frame and listened to the noise outside. He snorted coldly: "I didn't expect that the other party's chess would fall on the matter of Qing Zhang's land. Could it be that the Pingyang Lu family had done so many things and even sold their relatives? Nephew, just to protect their property? Mr. Zhang, do you believe it?"
"Of course I don't believe it, but judging from the clues we have so far, their goal is really to protect the land."
Zhang Zhengju shook his head and raised his hand to signal Jia Cong to sit down and drink tea.
Jia Cong sat down and said angrily: "To be honest, I can't bear it anymore. Or I should use my trick and catch him first, so that the Lu family can continue to stir up trouble."
Zhang Zhengju poured a cup of tea for Jia Cong: "Don't worry, don't worry. Shanxi is not the private property of the gentry. After all, it is still the majority of ordinary people. Uncle Yongfeng's potatoes and corn are widely distributed in Shanxi, and things like rice are in short supply. The people cannot starve. The same goes for those people outside the government. No matter how fierce they are, they cannot shake the foundation of the imperial court."
"I know that, I just find it annoying."
"Haha~ But Lu Huan doesn't know."
Zhang Zhengju smiled disdainfully: "Lu Huan thought he was smart. He wanted to use the new law to re-establish the prestige of Fanyang Lu's family, and wanted the world to return to the rule of the family with five surnames and seven hopes. But he forgot that the reform and new policies , they may not all fail, and the people will not always be fooled and manipulated by them."
A century-old dynasty and a thousand-year-old family, the Pingyang Lu family had such a beautiful idea.
Daxia is not the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the Pingyang Lu family is not the Fanyang Lu family.
The people of Shanxi filled their stomachs by growing high-yielding crops such as potatoes and corn, and their trust in the court and the emperor reached an incredible level.
Even if Pingyang Lu's prestige is very high in Shanxi, he cannot use public opinion to influence people's thoughts.
The price of rice in Mipu has increased tenfold? Oh, then I won’t eat rice anymore, and I’ll eat potatoes and corn to get through it for the time being, since I’m not hungry anyway.
As long as you can fill your stomach, what can you eat? You want me to follow you to attack the government office? Go crazy!
As for clarifying land ownership, resetting the tax system, and abolishing the tax exemption system for officials and gentry, that has nothing to do with me, a common man.
Therefore, Lu Huan miscalculated this time.
Shanxi is in chaos and has become a pot of porridge. This is only chaos at the top and has little to do with the tens of millions of Shanxi people.
Zhang Zhengju opened the paper fan in his hand with a snap, narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "The only thing I'm curious about now is that I can't figure out where the Pingyang Lu family got the courage to defy the imperial court. Just because he is the direct descendant of the Fan Yang Lu family ?That’s too arrogant.”
Five surnames and seven hopes have long been a thing of the past. The rise of imperial examinations has basically hollowed out the foundations of aristocratic families. The most important thing in the country is scholars.
Lu Huan is also a great scholar in the North. Could he not see this clearly? Zhang Zhengju didn't believe it.
Jia Cong didn't believe that Lu Huan didn't understand the passage of time, but he was more curious.
"Isn't Mr. Zhang curious about why Lu Huan sold his daughter and grandson? Is it really just to disrupt Shanxi and pave the way to regain the glory of the family?"
Zhang Zhengju blinked at Jia Cong and smiled: "Who said I'm not curious? But, one thing is for sure, the grudge between Lu Huan and Dai Wangfu is not as simple as it seems. I just don't know what Dai Wangfei will do. When did you speak?"
…
The acting princess, Lu, was a very tough-talking woman. Even though she had been imprisoned for more than a month, she never said a word.
It wasn't until Liu Huai arrived in Taiyuan with 10,000 imperial troops in mid-March that she walked out of the dim room and looked at the warm sun in the sky with slightly squinted eyes.
In a blink of an eye, the cold winter has completely passed. It was supposed to be the spring outing in March, but she has gone from being a high-ranking princess to being a prisoner. Even her son was cut into pieces...
"Ms. Lu, I would like to ask you, do you and your father Lu Huan have any unethical relationship?"
Lu Huan?
Hearing this name from Liu Huai's mouth, Lu's expression became ferocious.
Although Liu Kan was not her biological son, she had already treated Liu Kan as her own flesh and blood after raising him.
"Since Prince Ji knows everything, why do you need to ask me?"
Bang!
Liu Huai slapped his hand on the table and shouted angrily: "I am asking you, not asking you to ask me! Tell the truth quickly, Lu Huan, who are you?"
If it weren't for the secret interrogation, the royal family would have lost face.
Liu Huai was certain that Lu, a slut, had an affair with Lu Huan, but he also had doubts about the father-daughter relationship between Lu Huan and Lu.
The people of the Central Plains are not Japanese or Tatars, so how can ethical matters be so absurd?
but……
Lu suddenly sneered: "It seems that Prince Ji does not believe that I and the old thief are father and daughter. In other words, Prince Ji cannot believe that such ridiculous things can happen in the world. Unfortunately, everything is true. of……"
She is really Lu Huan's biological daughter, but she is a concubine, and her biological mother is a lowly prostitute.
More than thirty years ago, when she quietly paid homage to her biological mother who died tragically in a corner of a deep house compound, she was actually defiled by her biological father, whom she had only met once.
The drunk biological father slept with his own daughter in a daze. This was like a big joke, but it really happened to Lu Huan, who was a self-proclaimed Neo-Confucian master.
What's ridiculous once will lead to a second time. Lu Huan, a pervert, actually fell in love with his daughter, and secretly ran to Lu's small courtyard again and again...
Until that year, war broke out again in Datong, and the legitimate daughter of the Lu family who had married into the Dai Wang's palace returned to visit her relatives. The Dai Wang's concubine, who was almost 90% similar to the Lu family, died in the Lu family's palace in Pingyang.
At that time, the Lu family's legitimate daughter was already two months pregnant.
In order to prevent the powerful Dai Wangfu from retaliating, Lu Huan gritted his teeth and called out the concubine he had planned to hide, and Li Daitao was sent to Dai Wangfu.
Fortunately, Liu Min was a person who liked the new and disliked the old. When the old king passed away and the couple separated and kept filial piety, Lu succeeded in replacing the legitimate daughter and became the "real" acting princess.
As for Liu Kan, he was just a baby that Lu Huan found from among the people.
Therefore, Mrs. Lu is really Lu Huan’s daughter. But Liu Kan has no bloodline from the Lu family. Lu's only biological child had been killed by a bowl of medicine when she was pregnant.
The ferocity and sneer on Lu's face slowly disappeared when she told these old things, and was replaced by a plain and indifferent look, as if she was not telling her own story.
Jia Cong, who was sitting with her, couldn't help but feel a little touched in her heart, and felt a little pity for the Lu family, but then disappeared without a trace.
This person is indeed a pitiful person, but if she can follow Lu Huan's wishes and let Liu Kan do things that are worse than a beast, there is no need to pity her.
"Prince Ji, I also know a secret. I wonder if you want to hear it?"
Lu suddenly changed the topic: "But before I say anything, I want to ask Prince Ji for something... Don't worry, I will never embarrass Prince Ji."
Liu Huai frowned, but finally nodded in agreement.
Lu Shi smiled sarcastically and said slowly: "Prince Ji must be thinking why I will tell these secrets without reservation today. That's because I hate Lu Huan, and I hate everyone named Lu, including Myself."
Lu became hysterical again, laughing like crazy and cursing...
"The Lu family of Pingyang claims to be a wealthy family with an heirloom of poetry and etiquette, but they are so dirty that it makes you want to vomit. They colluded with the Tatars, smuggled contraband, and delivered information for the Tatars. The Datong border was besieged several times, and Lu was there. The credit of the Lu family. The most important thing is that there is another person behind the Lu family. That person’s surname is Shui. The Shui from the Beijing County Prince’s Mansion..."
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
Thanks to book friend 7829 for the tip.
I’ll stop updating here tonight and continue tomorrow. Good night!
(End of chapter)
