About a quarter of an hour later, Li Ruolian walked into Dongnuan Pavilion under the leadership of the young eunuch.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw the strangeness of his arrival, and after questioning, he found out that Wang Chengen had only been ordered to retrieve Li Mou. Li Ruolian felt that Li Mou was too important and was afraid that there was something wrong, so he came to inquire.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and told Li Ruolian that it was indeed his decree.
After listening to his words, Li Ruolian felt relieved and hurriedly bowed and left.
Seeing that he was in a hurry, Zhu Yuanzhang asked him about the arrest of the rich man.
When he learned that when Li Ruolian came, only a dozen households had not been arrested, and they did not cause any commotion, his face could not help but darken.
Because he knew that people usually avoided snakes and scorpions when they saw Jin Yiwei. Such a large-scale arrest today would definitely cause panic among the people.
Especially in such a tense atmosphere now, the slightest disturbance will cause an uproar. How could there be no turmoil?
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang looked suspicious, Li Ruolian explained in detail.
It turns out that these wealthy households often exploited the common people. When the common people saw them being arrested, not only were they not afraid, they also took the initiative to provide clues to Jin Yiwei to round up these wealthy households and servants. Therefore, Li Ruolian and the others made rapid progress.
The reason why Li Ruolian left in a hurry just now was to interrogate Fan Defu to see if he could find a breakthrough for Li Mou.
Zhu Yuanzhang felt relieved after hearing his explanation.
Then he spoke again: "When you arrested these rich people, did you announce their charges?"
Li Ruolian nodded and said: "While we were arresting them, we announced their charges, and the people present heard them."
"And the head of the Criminal Department has arranged for someone to write down their charges, and they will be announced one by one when they are beheaded!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Li Ruolian handled things so appropriately, he admired him even more.
So he smiled and said: "Okay, in that case, you can come with us to Gaosheng Teahouse!"
Li Ruolian was stunned for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to go to the execution ground, right?"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "We don't have so many taboos, and Li Mou has already been taken away. If we don't go, we will make him laugh."
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang had made up his mind, Li Ruolian stopped trying to persuade him. When he was about to turn around and make arrangements, he was stopped by Zhu Yuanzhang again.
He smiled and said: "As long as you accompany us, it will be fine. Besides, Cheng En must have arrangements at Gaosheng Teahouse, so you don't have to worry about it anymore."
After hearing this, Li Ruolian had no choice but to take a few personal guards with him and accompany Zhu Yuanzhang to the Xisi Archway.
When they were still more than a hundred meters away from the Xisi Archway, they heard bursts of cheers.
"Hu Dali, for the sake of wealth and unkindness, robbed Cuihua, Queen of the People, in January this year, and maimed his father. He will pay a hundred taels of silver as compensation... For having an affair with the rebel Li Mou, he shall be executed for the crime and will be executed immediately!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
As a loud voice fell, another burst of cheers came from the crowd.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the verdict, he happily patted Li Ruolian on the shoulder and said: "Li Qing, you have done this very well. When you are done, we will reward you heavily!"
When Li Ruolian heard this, he said humbly: "The general is just doing his duty, how can he deserve your majesty's praise?"
"As for the plan to announce the crime, Lord Meng, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishments, reminded the general. If your Majesty wants a reward, please reward Lord Meng!"
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Master Meng that Li Ruolian was talking about was Meng Zhaoxiang. Remembering that he had also taken the initiative to ask for help when he was in Hongde Hall today, and now he could take the initiative to assist Jin Yiwei, he remembered this name in his heart.
Then, accompanied by Li Ruolian, he slowly walked up to Gaosheng Tea House.
As soon as he arrived at the teahouse, Wang Chengen greeted him and led him into a spacious room.
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang entered the room, he saw a burly, dark, and tied-up man standing stubbornly in the corner.
Although his face was covered in blood, his clothes were in tatters, and his body was shaking from being tied too tightly, he still insisted on standing.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw the unruly look in his eyes and knew that if he could not capture his spirit, all his persuasion would be useless.
At this time, Li Mou happened to see Zhu Yuanzhang, and he immediately spat and shouted: "Why, if those bird eggs in Jinyiwei can't do it, then the bird emperor will send you, a bird man, to persuade me to surrender?"
"Bah, you birdies don't take a piss to look after yourselves. You birdies, whose legs tremble when you go to the battlefield, are you qualified to speak in front of me?"
"How dare you..."
"Stay back!"
Li Ruolian saw Li Mou talking so dirty and wanted to stop him, but was stopped by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Then Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked over, pulled Li Mou to the window, pointed at the people living or dead on the execution ground, and said calmly: "Look at the heads on the ground, do you recognize them?"
Li Mou looked around and saw that the execution ground was already covered with blood, and many corpses and heads were piled up in disorder.
Some of those people lived and died with him, and some were his fervent admirers.
They were the bravest warriors and had a bright future, but now, they can no longer see it.
"ah!"
Suddenly, Li Mou roared.
When Li Ruolian saw this, he was about to step forward to protect him, but was stopped by Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.
Fortunately, the execution ground was very noisy at the moment, and Li Mou's roar did not attract anyone's attention.
After Zhu Yuanzhang waited for Li Mou to vent, he said coldly: "If you are really as brave as you said, I think it should be us lying there now, not them."
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Li Mou's body immediately started to tremble.
Then he forced himself to be calm and said: "I am not wrong. If not... If you think you are really capable, let me go. I will challenge you one on one. Whoever asks for mercy will be my grandson!"
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said: "A duel, is your King Chuang planning to challenge our Majesty to decide who belongs to the world? It's a joke!"
As he spoke, he deliberately showed contempt and said: "We thought you were a hero, but now it seems that you are just a bear who can't afford to lose."
When Li Mou heard this, he immediately jumped and shouted: "You fart, I have gone through hundreds of battles since I joined the army, and I have never taken a step back. If you dare to say that I am a bear, I will kill you!"
With that said, Li Mou bumped towards Zhu Yuanzhang regardless.
"boom!"
Zhu Yuanzhang slapped Li Mou with his backhand and instantly knocked him over.
Then he said disdainfully: "It seems that we came here in the wrong place, you are just a mad dog!"
"Do you think we really want you to surrender? Let me tell you, you are wrong."
When Li Mou heard Zhu Yuanzhang's words, his struggling body suddenly stopped.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he knew that he had hit Li Mou's vital point.
So he continued: "You should also have thought of it. Regardless of whether you surrender or not, as long as we announce the news of your surrender, your family and your brothers will be dead immediately!"
"You fart, my brother is the military advisor of King Chuang, and he has won the trust of King Chuang. How can your slander be able to influence him!"
Hearing this, Li Mou stretched his neck and retorted.
However, although he spoke righteously, his eyelids were already trembling, and there was a hint of panic in his originally unruly eyes.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he felt even more certain and said unhurriedly: "From being a general to a military advisor, do you think this is trust?"
"And you, you are a general who charges into battle, are you a spy?"
As Zhu Yuanzhang's words sounded, Li Mou suddenly collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.
