"Um?"
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but snorted coldly when he saw that after he finished speaking, most of the Jinyi guards looked secretly at Luo Yangxing who was aside and did not take action to capture Wang Quede.
Luo Yangxing heard the sound and knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was warning him, but at this moment he did not dare to make the decision without authorization, so he had to ask Wei Zaode for help with his eyes.
When Wei Zaode saw this, he felt hesitant in his heart.
He has been following Chongzhen since he became the champion in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen.
He asked himself that he had figured out Chongzhen's character over the years, but Chongzhen's operation today made him a little confused.
But even though he didn't understand, he had to come forward, otherwise it would easily chill Luo Yangxing's heart, which would be detrimental to future events.
So he calmed down, slowly stepped forward and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, I don't know that Wang Jianjun..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang's cold eyes, and his heart froze, and he did not dare to say any more.
For a moment, the whole place was silent.
Even Wang Chengen, who had rushed over, stopped when he saw this and quietly stepped aside.
"The last general, Wang Shoulin, takes the order!"
Suddenly, Wang Shoulin, a member of the Jinyiwei Hundred Household, roared, walked out quickly from behind the ministers, and picked up Wang Quede like a chicken.
He carried Wang Quede and walked more than ten meters, threw him on the ground, took a spear from a soldier, and hit Wang Quede between the waist and hip.
"Ah! I know my sin, please live forever... Ouch!"
"Long live...my slave is wrong...ah!"
Wang Shoulin had just struck a few blows, and Wang Quede screamed and begged for mercy.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang signaled Wang Shoulin to stop, and shouted to Wang Guede: "You eunuch, how dare you embezzle our military pay, tell me quickly, where did you hide the military pay?"
Wang Quede heard this and begged for mercy repeatedly: "I don't have any slaves, slaves..."
"beat!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Wang Guede refused to confess, he shouted loudly.
"Master Wei, help!"
When Wang Quede heard that he was going to be beaten again, his face instantly turned green and he hurriedly asked Wei Zaode for help.
When Wei Zaode heard this, he secretly hated Wang Quede for being ignorant, and angrily shouted: "Wang Jianjun, your majesty asks a question, just answer it truthfully!"
As he spoke, he secretly winked at Wang Quede, telling him to deny him until he died.
Wang Quede was a rootless person, and he had no backbone. After this beating, he was already frightened to pieces.
At this moment, seeing that Wei Zaode was unwilling to save him and didn't want to be beaten again, he told the matter honestly.
It turned out that according to the regulations of the Ministry of War, Yongdingmen could have received thirty thousand taels of military pay, but when he went to receive it, he was told that many of his relatives had only reported the number and the money was not in place, so he was only given three thousand taels of silver. .
And with these three thousand taels of silver, he also needed to take care of the officials and eunuchs who paid military salaries.
After picking it up all the way, there was only one thousand taels of silver left in the end.
In order to get this job, he owed a lot of favors, so he paid back the favors with this thousand taels of silver.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that he didn't mention the firearms, he snorted coldly: "You are incorruptible. If you don't take it seriously, we will definitely kill you on the spot!"
When Wang Quede heard this, he kowtowed and said, "I am not honest. I am also greedy for thirty taels. Please forgive me!"
After that, he kowtowed again and again.
"boom!"
At this time, Wang Shoulin slammed his spear on the city wall, making a loud noise.
Then he yelled at Wang Quede: "Your Majesty asked questions, but you dare not answer truthfully. Do you really not want to live anymore?"
When Wang Quede saw the cracked bricks under the spear, his body trembled, and he cried again: "Long live the Lord, I'm here!"
"Because I lost money in gambling, I secretly sold some firearms to Shopkeeper Fan of Fude Tower in the city. Please forgive me!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he looked at Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, with a livid face.
When Zhang Jinyan confessed to receiving military pay from Wang Quede, he frowned and thought about how to deal with it.
Later, when I saw Wang Quede actually telling him about selling firearms, I wanted to go up and strangle him to death.
Fortunately, Wei Zaode beside him whispered a few words and he calmed down.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes at this moment, he immediately kowtowed and apologized: "Due to the complicated affairs of the Ministry of War recently, I have been negligent. Please give me some time. After the matter is found out, I will definitely bring these black sheep to justice." Law."
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Zhang Jinyan was trying to evade, but he was also reasonable, so he snorted coldly and said, "Okay, we will wait for your news."
"If you can't give us a satisfactory answer before sunset today, I will use your head to give an explanation to the soldiers in the city."
When Zhang Jinyan heard this, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Then he thought that His Majesty's attitude had been very weak in the past few days. How could he be so murderous today?
However, he couldn't think too much at this moment, so he had to kowtow and accept the order.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's voice again: "Wang Shoulin, you immediately lead the Jinyi Guards to seal Fude Building for us, and take everyone to Zhao Prison for interrogation."
When Zhang Jinyan heard this, his expression changed drastically, and he looked at Wei Zaode in horror.
When Wei Zaode saw Wang Shoulin accepting the order, he hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, saying: "Your Majesty, please suspend your thunderous anger and listen to what I have to say."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard about the sale of firearms, he knew that there was someone behind the matter.
He originally thought that the man behind the scenes was Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, but he didn't expect that it was Wei Zaode who stepped forward.
So he pretended to be surprised and said: "Wei Qing, what's the matter with you?"
Wei Zaode was also in a hurry just now, so he spoke to stop it.
After calming down, I started to regret it.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang asking questions at this moment, he forced himself to be calm and said: "I know that Your Majesty is very angry about the sale of firearms. However, the rebels are besieging the city at the moment. If they continue to raid the merchants and cause panic among the people, it will be very detrimental to the defense of the city."
"Please, Your Majesty, temporarily suspend your thunderous wrath and wait until the rebels are defeated before dealing with these merchants!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he looked at Fan Jingwen and others without revealing his expression and said, "What do you think, sir?"
Everyone was silent when they heard this.
At this time, Zhang Jinyan knelt down again and said: "Master Wei is an experienced person who upholds the opinions of the country. I second my opinion."
As Zhang Jinyan spoke out in support, Luo Yangxing and others also knelt down to express their support.
Only Fan Jingwen, Ni Yuanlu and others looked suspicious, obviously they had not yet made up their minds.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Fan Jingwen again: "Fan Qing, what do you think?"
When Fan Jingwen heard this, he immediately knelt down and said: "I think the most important thing to defend the city is the unity of all people. At this critical moment, a wealthy businessman actually bought firearms. We should not be careless..."
"Master Fan, since you said that the most important thing in defending the city is unity of all people, if you spoil the people's hearts by arresting rich people, how can unity of all people be achieved?"
"How can such inconsistent statements come from the mouth of your cabinet minister? Please be careful what you say!"
At this time, the Ministry of War, who was kneeling on the ground, loudly retorted to Shi Zhongguang Shiheng.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Guang Shiheng, he felt a surge of hatred in his heart.
Then the image of him trying his best to prevent Chongzhen from moving south appeared in his mind.
"I see!"
Zhu Yuanzhang secretly sorted out the memories in his mind, subconsciously pressed the jade belt around his waist downwards, looked at Guang Shiheng and said, "Tell me your reason!"
When Guang Shiheng saw Zhu Yuanzhang's inquiry, he immediately shouted loudly: "Wei Chen thinks that Mr. Fan is insensitive to the situation and does not think carefully, so what he said is not enough to be adopted."
"According to Wei Chen's words, Your Majesty should suppress this matter and hand over Wang Jianjun to the Ministry of War for custody. After the rebels are defeated, it would be appropriate for the Ministry of War to conduct a detailed investigation."
Ni Yuanlu on the side saw Guang Shiheng attacking Fan Jingwen and immediately asked: "If you do nothing according to your words, and if they cooperate with the rebels to cause chaos in the city, wouldn't they also ruin the plan to defend the city?"
Hearing this, Guang Shiheng smiled and said, "Shang Shu Lu is overly worried. Those wealthy households just bought some firearms for self-defense, so how could they cause chaos? Besides..."
"How do you confirm that they are just defending themselves..."
...
For a time, there were constant quarrels on the city wall, like a vegetable market.
"enough!"
Zhu Yuanzhang roared angrily, and after quelling everyone, he angrily yelled: "Wei Zaode and Fan Jingwen are not doing their best, and they will be fined one year's salary!"
"Zhang Jinyan misunderstood first and made sophistry later. He was dismissed from the post of Minister of the Ministry of War and replaced him with the post of Minister of the Ministry of War!"
"Guang Shiheng disobeyed the emperor and was punished with a year's salary and thirty rods!"
"Luo Yangxing left his post without permission and was given thirty-year staff duties. He was demoted to the rank of Jinyi Guard Qianhu, guarding the Zhengyang Gate to see the effects!"
"Wang Quede was corrupt, perverted the law, and sold firearms. His crime cannot be forgiven. He will be beheaded immediately and his head will be passed down to the nine sects to promote discipline!"
...
As Zhu Yuanzhang issued a series of orders, the ministers who were originally blushing showed panic.
Wang Shoulin left quietly at Zhu Yuanzhang's signal.
