Chapter 035 You come and I go
"Sir, Li Weihan personally took people to the military camp and took away several of our brothers." Qi Xianzong was a little anxious. He made a fortune with Chen Cao, but he was also on a pirate ship. Once the incident happened, he couldn't escape.
Chen Cao was making arrangements for Song Che and was not in a hurry: "Don't worry, we can test the training results of our brothers in the army to see if their psychological quality has passed the test during this period."
"Yao Zhong, is it safe to do this? If something happens in the future, it will be a major crime to destroy the nine tribes." Song Che spoke a little softly, but he was worried in his heart: "And I am also very worried about Zhao Tianlin. If he betrays us, we... ..”
Chen Cao was also worried about this. Zhao Tianlin had been at sea for many years. If such a person could reach the position of a pirate leader, he would not be easy to get along with. In addition, this person was also his new conqueror, so it would be hard for someone who was used to it. When the boss suddenly becomes the junior, the psychological gap is still huge.
"Actually, I'm not worried about whether Zhao Tianlin will rebel. As long as he leads his team to attack the ground in South Zhili, it will be enough. Once it affects the water transportation...hehe..." Chen Cao said with a bad smile: "He is afraid You never thought of what I would do.”
Song Che's IQ was definitely not as good as Chen Cao's, but his own opinions were sufficient, so he pointed at the map and said: "I know everything you said, but there are many inspection departments and preparations on the Yangtze River around Yangzhou Prefecture. Qianhu Station, and Hengzhou Qianhu Station on Jingjiang Island. If Zhao Tianlin wants to cut off the canal waterway, he must pass through Jingjiang Island."
Chen Cao shook his head helplessly, stood up and patted Song Che on the shoulder and said: "Shi Xiu, you are so young. It was a waste of time for you to be a soldier in Liaodong." Chen Cao made a look of hatred. He said with a steely look: "I have figured out this group of guard troops. There are 437 people in the Hengzhou Qianhu Station from Qianhu Officer Pang Zhifan on down. Among them, there are 120 young and strong soldiers, and the rest They are all auxiliary soldiers in their forties and fifties."
"Ah?" Song Che was a little surprised: "Is Pang Zhifan's drinking of soldier's blood scary enough?"
"So, there are only 400 people in Hengzhou, a place with thousands of households. How do the dozens of people in the inspection department along the way compare with the warships?" Chen Cao walked back and forth in the hall a few times: "As long as Zhao Tianlin leads his team through Yangzhong Shazhou, hey, the canal is right in front of you. It is a long and narrow waterway that is not very deep. You just need to sink some boats to get in... Hehe..."
Song Che felt that the old brother in front of him who had known him for many years was so extraordinary. His mind was not ordinary cunning, and he could even think of blocking the canal waterway.
"If the autumn grain from Southern Zhili cannot be transported to Tianjin, brother, if it is delayed for one day, prices in the capital will rise. Then I will send some people to spread rumors. Do you think Li Weihan is dead or alive?" Chen Cao said confidently.
Song Che was enlightened. It turned out that this was Chen Cao's careful plan, and he couldn't help but nod and applaud.
Three days later, Duke Baoguo ordered that Chen Cao be temporarily removed from the position of commanding the Nanjing right guard in Jinyiweinan Town. The Nanjing Ministry of War also suspended Chen Cao from his position as the Nanjing right guard, so that he could command Song Che, the colleague, to temporarily supervise the Nanjing right guard.
Another day, the censor, together with the Jinyiwei of Fusi in Beizhen, arrested Chen Cao in Chenjiazhuang.
"Master Chen, something happened to you. Please come with us. We are all from Wei Zhong. I hope you will be kind to me in the future..."
Fengtianmen Imperial Envoy Hall
Chen Cao is an official and does not need to kneel. Sitting on top is Duke Baoguo, followed by Duke Wei, then Li Weihan, and then the officials of the Nanjing Sanfa Division.
Zhu Yanrong was stunned and asked: "Chen Cao, I ask you, why did you lead the ship to sea to rob disaster relief supplies?"
Part of the supplies on Chen Qianshan Island were detained by Chen Cao in Nanjing Youwei, and the other part was taken to Caojiang Naval Camp in preparation for going out to sea to trade with Japan later in the year, but they were found out.
Although Chen Cao was dismissed from his post, it was only temporary. As a high-ranking official of the Jinyiwei, he could only leave his post with the emperor's edict and the command of the commander Luo Sigong. Therefore, when he appeared in court now, he was also wearing a red flying fish robe. He felt like Same as performing.
Chen Cao cupped his hands and said sternly: "Hui Bao Guo Gong, our Ming Dynasty has a clear rule since Emperor Taizu that no piece of wood is allowed to go into the sea. I don't know whether the adults here agree with what Xiaguan said."
Li Weihan was the censor of Youdu, and his eloquence as a public speaker was not ordinary. After hearing what Chen Cao said, he retorted: "Chen Cao, you are really interesting in what you say. How could you be so dull during the reign of Emperor Chengzu? Besides, Lord Longqing When he was in power, didn't a shipping company open in Guangdong? Don't disturb the public, and answer Bao Guo Gong's questions honestly."
"I am the commander of Jinyiwei, and everything I do is for the imperial court. If Mr. Li wants to ask, just go to the emperor and ask." Chen Cao said casually.
"Presumptuous..." Li Weihan scolded loudly: "You are so arrogant as a warrior. Don't forget that you have been dismissed from your post. You are not a member of the Imperial Guard. Before the matter becomes clear, you still have to figure out how to solve the current matter."
Zhu Yanrong also looked at Chen Cao with an unkind expression and said, "Chen Cao, I think you... had better answer honestly to avoid suffering the physical pain."
Chen Cao was shocked. The punishments of Ming Dynasty would not be used on officials, but now it may be his own wishful thinking or those who wrote novels deceived him.
"Chen Cao," Xu Hongji also said, "Just answer whatever Duke Bao Guo asks. Don't ramble."
Xu Hongji's words were thought-provoking, and Chen Cao was a little confused at this moment. At this moment, Li Weihan cupped his hands towards Zhu Yanrong and said: "Mr. Bao Guo, I think it is best to use torture to prevent this guy from thinking too much... "
Zhu Yanrong took a deep breath, but still looked at Xu Hongji next to him. Xu Hongji was not older than Zhu Yanrong. It was his first time to experience such a scene, and he couldn't help but feel a drum in his heart.
When Li Weihan saw Zhu Yanrong looking at Xu Hongji, he immediately became rude and acted like an official: "Mr. Bao Guo, please don't forget that you are an imperial envoy. This matter was decided by the Chief Minister's court."
Zhu Yanrong visibly straightened up. Chen Cao saw this and suddenly understood something. What's wrong, he had forgotten that the nobles of the capital were also involved in the sea trade business. Li Weihan, as the censor of Youdu, How could Ye Xianggao not know the truth about this matter? It is probably because he must have been involved, otherwise Li Weihan would not have put pressure on Zhu Yanrong.
Zhu Yanrong slapped the wall hard and scolded: "Come here, take off Chen Cao's robes and beat him twenty times with a stick, as a warning to others."
Xu Hongji didn't say a word from beginning to end. The Jinyi guards who carried out the execution were veterans of Fusi in Beizhen. These people knew one thing when they were on duty. If they didn't know that the other party would definitely be hopeless, they would definitely take a heavy blow. Although his Qianhu was a civil servant A group of people, together with the new commander, knew that Mr. Xu would not deal with him, but he was a royal guard after all. If he had someone to protect him, and he attacked hard, he would definitely not be able to bear the consequences when the fall was settled.
So the two executioners looked at each other with a tacit understanding and began to give Chen Cao a meal of stir-fried butt meat with a wooden stick.
Chen Cao frowned hard every time he was hit. The person who struck was very measured. Although the strike was heavy, it only hurt the skin and not the muscles and bones. Even so, after twenty battles, Chen Cao couldn't help it. passed out.
Li Weihan looked very comfortable. His purpose was simple, to defeat Chen Cao, and then ransack the house to get the money for himself. After all, it was his own property that was lost this time.
When the matter reached this point, the interrogation must be suspended, so Chen Cao was detained alone in a room in the palace, surrounded by royal guards.
Chen Cao had fought twenty battles, and his butt was almost rotten. But fortunately, Xu Hongji did not refuse to save Chen Cao. He used his own identity to vouch for Chen Cao and found Zhang Shenxian, a famous doctor in Jinling. The old guy had saved Chen Cao before. Shit, the first thing I said when we met was, 'Hey, isn't this the hanging general flag?'...
The news that Chen Cao was beaten quickly spread throughout Jinling. Who didn't know that Chen Cao was Nalan Rongruo? For this reason, a large number of Chen Cao's fans, instigated by thoughtful people, surrounded the imperial envoy's palace with only one purpose, to save Chen Cao...
Neither Zhu Yanrong nor Li Weihan expected that Chen Cao was so famous in Jinling City. Due to the pressure of the people, and more importantly, the nobles in Nanjing, they had to temporarily return the seriously injured Chen Cao to the Chenjiazhuang Mansion, but the mansion was surrounded by Jinyi guards.
Li Xiang fainted from crying several times. She was still pregnant after all. She was not going to give birth in a few months. So, the task of taking care of Chen Cao was handed over to his own concubines, especially Zhang Chunyao. , the most caring.
"Shen Zhang used the best medicine, which he got from the Duke of Guo. He also said that it will take at least a month to fully recover, but you will be able to get out of bed and walk in more than ten days." Li Xiang saw it. Chen Cao was very happy when he woke up and kept asking about his well-being.
"Go and find Xin Zhao for me."
When Zhao Xin heard that Chen Cao had woken up, he rushed to Chen's house. He first asked for help, and then reported on the situation of the past few days.
"None of the brothers who were taken away from the army spoke ill of you."
Chen Cao nodded with satisfaction, thinking that his prestige had been completely instilled in the soldiers on the right guard: "What's the plan?"
This is Chen Cao's study. After being carried to bed by his servants, he has been lying down. Apart from himself, only Zhao Xin is there.
"Zhao Tianlin's former subordinates and your servants have already sailed into the Yangtze River on sea ships, and yesterday they captured Hengzhou Qianhu Station. Pang Zhifan was very sensible. After accepting the money, he expressed his willingness to obey your orders and prepare to return with the remaining troops tomorrow. Report from Yangzhou Prefecture," Zhao Xin said in a low voice: "There are only more than sixty people in the Yangzhong Shazhou Inspection Department, and there are only a dozen or so people with swords. It is estimated that tonight will become Zhao Tianlin's temporary residence. Before midnight tomorrow, it should be It can block the mouth of the canal.”
Chen Cao nodded, and then ordered: "You must pay close attention to the actions of Navy Commander Cao Jiang. Also, send people to Yangzhou to cooperate with Pang Zhifan in spreading the news. You can get the money yourself. I will take revenge this time. "
"Sir, I want to confirm something. After investigation, the Jinyi Guards Qianhu who came back to Jinling are not from Master Xu, but from Luo Sigong. That Luo Sigong is a member of the Donglin Party, hiss...this Li Weihan is also from Donglin. One of the lackeys." Xin Zhao said and handed over a letter: "This is verified information, please take a look."
"This group of people is already very good," Chen Cao didn't have time to pay attention to the letter: "Although the attack is heavy, it can't hurt the bones. By the way, is it you who put pressure on Li Weihan and others by the people?"
Xin Zhao shook his head: "No, if this matter gets serious, the court will think that you are trying to deceive the people of Nanzhili. Fortunately, do you know who is helping you?"
"Wei Guogong and the others?"
"No..." Zhao Xin also used the scholar's trick: "The person who is helping you is Bai Mengsheng, that Magnolia..."
"Is it her?" Chen Cao never thought it was this weak woman.
Zhao Xin nodded: "She wrote a lot of articles and distributed them, mobilizing the people of Jinling to plead for mercy. Not only that, but the reason why Baoguo Gong and others could not bear the pressure and let him go was because Tieling Township Lord found a group of people, and they Let me go, my lord."
"Li Waner..." Chen Cao felt moved in his heart. It had been a long time since he had seen that little girl: "How is the situation outside?"
"Li Weihan said that the trial will be held tomorrow regardless of whether you are awake or not. If you are still unconscious, you will be sentenced directly." Zhao Xin said with a murderous aura and said: "Sir, do you want this subordinate? Send someone to take him tonight..." He gestured at his neck.
Chen Cao felt funny: "You idiot, if Li Weihan dies, Wei Guogong and I will not be able to escape the relationship, and our skin will be peeled off if we die, but you can find some people tonight to disgust that bitch Li Weihan, and, Zhu Yanrong is not a good person either."
Zhao Xin smiled evilly: "I understand."
The next day, Chen Cao was carried on a stretcher to the Imperial Envoy's compound.
Li Weihan was in a bad mood, and Zhu Yanrong asked curiously: "Master Li, did you not sleep well last night?"
"I don't know who the killer was. Last night he climbed over the wall into the inn and threw a bucket of shit at the window where I was sleeping. Hey..." Li Weihan said through gritted teeth, then stared at Chen Cao and said with an unkind smile. : "It seems to me that only scoundrels like the Capital Master can do the dirty tricks used by these thieves."
When Zhu Yanrong heard this, he was about to order someone to investigate, but was stopped by Li Weihan: "Don't worry, Duke, I have already ordered someone to investigate."
After speaking, Li Weihan stared at Chen Cao again and scolded: "Chen Cao, you are so bold, you should hurry up and get the real deal, so as not to suffer further punishment."
Chen Cao laughed twice, and then said: "My lords, Duke, do you know about Zhejiang Huiyuan Trading Company?"
When Li Weihan heard this, he immediately shuddered. Then he looked at Chen Cao with a murderous expression and said in a cold voice: "Chen Cao, the case is about Cao Jiang Navy. What does Zhejiang Commercial Bank have to do with it? You'd better not do it." I'm just rambling here and there, so as not to..." He looked around at the officials sitting there and said, "It will bring harm to others..."
Zhu Yanrong knew what Chen Cao meant, but in fact he was more or less involved in it and couldn't make a choice at all, so he nodded and said: "Master Li is saying, Chen Cao, I am now asking you about Jiang Navy." Question, you’d better not say anything else.”
"What do you think, Duke Wei?"
Xu Hong basically felt guilty about Chen Cao's beating. Now Zhu Yanrong looked at him again, and Chen Cao also looked at him. Obviously, he was now involved in the decision-making part.
Chen Cao was not a fool. He was resentful for not saying anything to save himself when Xu Hongji was beaten that day. He did this today just to see who Xu Hongji was helping so that he could get along with him more easily in the future.
Xu Hongji pretended to cough twice, and then said seriously: "I am the admiral of the Jiang Navy. Chen Cao led the team to exterminate pirates and Japanese bandits. I was also transferred to the Nanjing Military Department. If anything happens to Chen Cao, it will be difficult for me." To abdicate the blame, His Majesty clearly stated that Chen Cao was not allowed to participate, but he did not say that I was not allowed to participate. Today, I am sitting here, thinking...
I thought... Chen Cao had to explain clearly what he wanted to say, otherwise it would be difficult to resolve the case if there was anything hidden in it. What do the other adults here think? "
"Wei Guogong..." Li Weihan called Xu Hongji with some dissatisfaction.
Zhu Yanrong also looked at Xu Hongji with some unkindness. Xu Hongji resisted the pressure of the two people and spoke again: "My lords of the Nanjing Law Division, this matter is a military matter. It should be tried by the Fifth Army Governor's Office. Nanjing The Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army has not sent anyone here yet, so I feel that something is strange, maybe you want to reach an agreement in private."
"The Duke of Wei is worried too much," Zhu Yanrong said with a grim look on his face, but it was hard to break his face: "I didn't inform the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army. This matter may be big or small, it all depends on what Chen Cao himself says."
"Everyone here is a high-ranking official from Nanjing." Chen Cao looked around. Officials from the Nanjing Criminal Ministry, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Dali Temple were all there. The highest one was Qiao Yunsheng, the Minister of the Nanjing Criminal Ministry. This old guy had dealt with Chen Cao before. Now everyone is here regardless of whether they have a grudge or not, so naturally they have to talk about it: "I would like to ask all the adults here, what do you think should be used to help the refugees?"
They didn't speak, just looked at Chen Cao quietly. When Chen Cao saw this, he stared at Zhu Yanrong and said, "What do you think Duke Baoguo should use to help the refugees?"
Zhu Yanrong seemed to sense that something was wrong and did not speak. Li Weihan sensed something and scolded: "Chen Cao, if you dare to talk nonsense again, it will not be a matter of twenty battles."
Chen Cao ignored Li Weihan and looked at Wu Chun who was behind Zhu Yanrong: "What do you think Eunuch Wu should use to help the refugees?"
Li Weihan turned to look at Wu Chun and said coldly: "Eunuch Wu, you should be careful what you say..."
"Oh..." Wu Chun joked: "It's not Mr. Li's turn to intervene in our family's affairs."
"You..." Li Weihan felt like he had suffered a big blow...
Wu Chun said loudly in Yin and Yang dialect: "We are Wu Chun, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and your Majesty's domestic slave. Whatever you do or say, you represent the Heavenly Family." Then he looked at Li Weihan and said, "Why, Mr. Li, a foreign minister, wants to criticize His Majesty on how he disciplines his slaves? Don't forget, our family will remember every word you say, whether it is good or bad, we will have to tell Eunuch Wei when we return."
Zhu Yanrong frowned. He didn't like eunuchs, let alone Wei Zhongxian, but Wu Chun's mission on this trip was indeed to record what they said and did and then tell the emperor. Now that Li Weihan is so aggressive, it is a bit too covert: "Eunuch Wu, please don't We need to rectify the situation with Mr. Li, Mr. Li also thinks about the people."
"Really?" Wu Chun said, glancing at Chen Cao, and then said: "Relief for the refugees is naturally provided with food and clothing, otherwise how can the people live?"
Li Weihan was discouraged. His performance was in the eyes of everyone in the hall, and some people showed an expression of hatred for steel.
Chen Cao nodded: "Eunuch Wu is right, food and clothing are needed to help the people, but does Eunuch Wu know what those things Chen Cao seized?"
"tell me the story..."
Wu Chun and Chen Cao seemed to have agreed upon it. They were talking to each other one by one, as if they were performing cross talk. When Zhu Yanrong heard this, he finally couldn't sit still, so he interrupted the two of them: "Sorry Eunuch Wu, I want to take a rest, how about we have some tea and then ask?"
Wu Chun looked at Zhu Yanrong seriously, and then looked at Chen Cao's slight shake of his head, and knew what to do: "That's not possible. We should finish the matter earlier, and our family has to go back to Beijing to report."
"Eunuch Wu, how about..."
"Report..."
Just as Li Weihan opened his mouth, he was interrupted by an urgent report. The person who came in was none other than Xin Zhao.
Zhao Xin cupped his hands towards Chen Cao and said, "Your Majesty, please report urgently."
"Who are you?" Zhu Yanrong looked at Xin Zhao coldly.
Zhao Xin handed over his hand and said: "The Duke of Huibao, my subordinate is Zhao Xin, the envoy of Fusi Town in Jinyiweinan Town. If there is any urgent report, please let me know."
"Presumptuous," Zhu Yanrong scolded him coldly: "I am the Imperial Envoy. In the name of the Imperial Envoy, I have dismissed all his positions. Even if you have something to report, you have to find someone else."
A faint smile appeared on the corner of Xin Zhao's mouth, and then he handed over his hand again: "Then I will report it directly to the Duke of the State," Xin Zhao said loudly: "To the Duke of the State, I just received the urgent report from Tiqi. A group of pirates sailed into the Yangtze River via the estuary of the Yangtze River. Last night, they broke into Qianhu Station in Hengzhou, Jingjiang Island. Qianhu Pang Zhifan fought to the death, but was defeated by the ferocious weapons of the pirates and was forced to evacuate after hundreds of casualties. Now this The pirate industry has broken into the Yangzhong Shazhou Inspection Department."
"These pirates are really brave," Zhu Yanrong said and looked at Xu Hongji: "Wei Guogong, Yangzhou Prefecture is on the southern border of Zhili. This matter is under your jurisdiction. It is inconvenient for me to interfere."
Just as Xu Hongji was about to answer, Gao Chong quickly ran into the lobby, cupped his hands towards Zhao Xin and said: "Sir, something bad happened. Yangzhou Tiqi urgently reported that pirates sank several ships at the mouth of the canal and destroyed the mouth of the canal. It was blocked. At that time, a tax grain ship in Zhejiang Prefecture happened to be hijacked by pirates at the entrance of the canal. The gang set fire to the tax grain shipped to the capital..."
"ah..."
Duke Bao Guo and Xu Hongji both shouted in unison, and then hurriedly stood up. Xu Hongji was the most responsible, and immediately ordered his men: "Quickly go to Cao Jiang to send the order, and the warships will attack and destroy them." This pirate."
"yes..."
"Mr. Baoguo, is my case still going to trial?" Chen Cao asked jokingly.
Zhu Yanrong was a little annoyed with Chen Cao. Before he came back, he said that Chen Cao was not easy to get along with. Now it seems that this is really the case. The key is that Wei Zhongxian had secured this guy's official position at the time, which means that Chen Cao was out-and-out. Eunuch, no wonder Wu Chun helped Chen Cao speak, and Xu Hongji seemed to be helping Chen Cao, so Zhu Yanrong thought that he should talk to Chen Cao alone.
"The trial, but the trial is suspended now, wait until Wei Guogong comes back." He then ordered: "Come, bring Chen Cao in, I want to question him."
