Chapter 118 Casting a Net to Fish
"Uncle, this is the Di newspaper that just arrived..." Zhao Xin handed the Di newspaper to Chen Cao, and then said: "For news about Bei Division, the people over there have begun to take action. In addition to arresting Gu Dazhang, they have also begun to arrest him. We have arrested various Donglin Party censor officials from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and now we have arrested four or five, and Qianhu Yang Huan wrote a letter asking his subordinates to prepare our evidence for him."
Chen Cao squinted at the official newspaper on the table, and then sneered: "Tian Ergeng is taking himself more and more seriously. Even a servant dares to be so presumptuous."
"Yang Huan is Tian Ergeng's confidant. Uncle, are you offended?" Zhao Xin was also a little unhappy.
Chen Cao shook his head: "Everything is harmonious, so it doesn't matter if he has to bear the burden. But judging from this matter, Wei Zhongxian is becoming more and more powerful in the capital."
"Uncle, what should we do here?"
Chen Cao flipped through the official documents boredly, and then sneered again: "Except for money, you can give them whatever they want to satisfy them."
Xin Zhao raised his eyes, then nodded: "I'll save it for you."
"By the way," Chen Cao stood up and walked around the study: "Is there any news from Wanqing?"
"According to the instructions, his family has been brought from Huguang to Jinling for resettlement. Our contact with him is one line. As long as there is news, it will be sent directly back from Shandong." Zhao Xin said seriously.
"It is a top-secret matter for us to bring him under our command. We must not let the news leak out," Chen Cao said, turning around with his back to him and saying, "Do you have any clues about the matter of asking you to monitor Zhao Tianlin?"
As soon as he mentioned this matter, Xin Zhao became serious and his voice immediately became much softer: "That guy is very cautious. There is no action at the moment."
"Well, if he has contact with Ke Guangxian, no matter what, we must find out." Chen Cao instructed.
"Province from my subordinates."
"Where's Liu Kongzhao?" Chen Cao turned around and asked Xin Zhao to pour him tea.
Zhao Xin poured the tea in the cup, and then said: "That guy went back as soon as he left the Zhenfusi Yamen, and then sent several teams to the capital and Nanzhili. I don't know what he is going to do."
Chen Cao took a sip of tea with great interest, and then said: "I'm afraid he won't make a name for himself. Have you figured out his family property?"
Xin Zhao nodded: "Taking into account all the house deeds and land deeds, it is initially estimated that the man's wealth is no less than 30 million taels."
"Well," Chen Cao nodded, put down his tea cup, and said with some joy: "Yes, 30 million taels can support the Dingwu Army for at least ten years. If it is used in the navy, ten thousand large ships with three thousand materials will have to be built. ..”
"Uncle," Zhao Xin said slightly worriedly: "Liu Kongzhao is a founding figure of the nation. If he is touched, my subordinates are worried that the retired dignitaries in Nanjing will fight back. This may very well cause trouble for the founders of the country and peace. The chain reaction of Xungui.”
"Well..." Chen Cao drawled the old man's voice, and then shook his head: "As far as I know, there are no founding nobles living in the capital now. They are all from Jingnan or later. Only Nanjing is here. Only the founding nobles and the nobles from the early period of Jingnan;
Besides, Liu Kongzhao's ancestor was deprived of his title. If Emperor Sejong had not come to power and needed to consolidate the government, the group of people who would be restored to their title later would never even think about it. "
"Uncle, I think it's still inappropriate." Zhao Xin then expressed his worries.
Chen Cao nodded with a pout, and then spoke leisurely: "If I hadn't thought of the scruples you mentioned, I wouldn't have tried every means to get Feng Kelie and the others to my name."
Xin Zhao raised his eyebrows: "Is it possible that Uncle still wants to bribe some of them?"
"No, they are only temporary." Chen Cao shook his head: "My ultimate goal is Liu Kongzhao. They are just killing chickens to scare monkeys. If they dare to rebel in the future, hehe, it will be a good opportunity to eradicate them."
"What's the time to take action?" Xin Zhao asked again.
Chen Cao thought for a while and then said: "Don't be anxious. As the saying goes, you can catch big fish only by taking a long-term approach. These people can do whatever they want. Liu Kongzhao is just the first step..."
"Uncle..." The maid's voice sounded outside the study: "Uncle, the steward of the Duke of Wei and Mr. Xu from the Zhenfu Division are here and are waiting outside the lobby."
Chen Cao and Zhao Xin walked to the lobby together, and then they met the steward of the Duke's Mansion.
"I've seen Uncle Dingwu." The person who came was not the chief steward: "My lord, please invite Uncle Dingwu to the garrison Yamen to discuss matters."
If it were a normal matter, he would usually be at home, but now he is guarding the Yamen. Things should be different. Chen Cao did not dare to be careless, so he handed over his hand and said: "Thank you very much. Go back and reply to the Lord. I will go right away."
After the housekeeper left, Chen Cao asked Uncle Chen to give him the reward, and then looked at Xu Kaixian: "But it has something to do with Wei Guogong?"
Xu Kai nodded first and then handed over the official document: "This is a newspaper sent from Jiangxi. At the end of April, the barbarians under the rule of Guixi County, Guangxin Prefecture, Jiangxi Province rebelled and plundered the entire Guixi County. The prefect of Guangxin could not suppress the news. It has been reported to the governor of Jiangxi, who also sent the official document to Nanjing as soon as possible."
Chen Cao touched his smooth chin: "This kind of thing should be reported directly to the court. What does Wei Guogong want from me?"
Xu Kai first thought for a while: "Should it be related to Longhu Mountain?"
"Longhu Mountain?" Chen Cao was curious.
Xu Kaixian added: "It was reported that the magistrate of Guixi and a group of people were chased by the barbarians and hid in Longhu Mountain. Hundreds of local households did not dare to rescue them, so they could only follow them and hide in Longhu Mountain. Fortunately, Longhu Mountain There are many disciples, relying on these people to guard the mountain gate, Zhang Tianshi has asked Wei Guogong for help."
Chen Cao thought about the relationship between the little heavenly master and Xu Hongji, and then nodded to understand the reason for this matter: "Well, okay, Zhao Xin comes with me, and you go back to do things. Let's go to the garrison office right away. .”
When Chen Cao arrived, Xu Hongji was already discussing matters with a group of generals from the garrison. Seeing Chen Cao coming, he greeted warmly: "Yaozhong, come here quickly."
Chen Cao saluted Xu Hongji, and then a group of generals also saluted Chen Cao. After all, he was an earl.
"Master, why did you call me here?" Chen Cao asked.
Xu Hongji pointed to the sand table, and then said: "I guess your news has also arrived, so I won't repeat it too much. Zhang Xianyong and I have a close relationship. If something happens to their family, I will naturally save them, but I can't go. I want to come." If you want to go, I still have to send you to Longhu Mountain. I can trust you to handle the rescue."
Sure enough, Chen Cao was sure of this matter, so he nodded and said, "I will definitely comply with your father-in-law's orders, but I don't know the specific situation there?"
Xu Hongji quickly pulled him to the sand table, pointed to the flag of Longhu Mountain and said: "The cause was a conflict between the Yao and She people in the local Xuxi and Luxi mountains over a cow, and the Guixi magistrate favored Xuxi. The Yao people in Luxi were dissatisfied with the Yao people. In addition, the government officials who went to deal with the matter oppressed the She people and sought benefits. The She people of the local ethnic group killed the government officials involved on the spot, and then led their tribesmen to break through Guixi City. door, and ran away with great plunder;
After hearing the news, Shi Gui, the prefect of Guangxin, sent troops to encircle and suppress him, but was defeated by the She people. He and the magistrate of Guixi and others were trapped in Longhu Mountain. Zhang Tianshi felt that something was not good, so he quickly sent eight hundred people. Riga came in a hurry. "
Chen Cao nodded repeatedly, and then asked: "I wonder how many men and horses this group of She people have, and how many weapons they have at hand? By the way, does Guangxin Mansion still have guards?"
One of the generals handed over his hand: "Uncle Dingwu, the She people in Luxi are reported to have more than a thousand people. However, they act like the local chieftains in Guizhou. They are all in the mountains. The local guards have not been trained for a long time. Once the muskets arrive, The mountains were damp and useless, and the nearby Jianchang Guard sent 2,000 reinforcements, but they also returned in defeat."
"Master, I understand. I'll go back and make arrangements right away and set off as soon as possible." Chen Cao said and handed over.
Xu Hongji quickly took his hand and pulled it aside: "I have to tell you something. Today's Zhang Tianshi's biological sister is my aunt."
Chen Cao frowned, then nodded and handed over his hands: "It's easy to save, we must make arrangements."
After leaving the yamen, Chen Cao quickly turned around and asked Zhao Xin behind him: "Wei Guogong said that Zhang Tianshi's biological sister is his aunt."
Zhao Xin thought for a while before saying: "Zhang Guoxiang's sister Zhang Mincheng married Xu Xi, the current Duke of Dingguo."
"Oh..." Chen Cao suddenly realized that there were two Dukes in the Ming Dynasty, the Xu family: "No wonder it is so, the relationship is related to the Xu family. Come on, let's go to the military camp immediately."
...
"The fastest way to Longhu Mountain is by water." Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangsheng pointed at the map together, and then Sun Chuanting said: "Board on the boat from Longjiang River, go down the river to Poyang Lake, and board the boat on the shore near Yugan County. Shore, this stage can take up to three days, and then quickly march, and the vanguard can take up to two days to reach Longhu Mountain."
Chen Cao felt that it made sense. He would not be very relieved if Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangsheng were to lead the troops. After all, Xu Hongji asked him to go there in person. After thinking about it, he said: "Just don't move the right guard. Most of the right guards are now there." They are all new soldiers, and the veterans are all in the new army. Since there is this opportunity, let the new army show its face and check the results of this training;
After the order was sent, the guard regiment directly under the army was dispatched and immediately packed up and headed to Longjiang Ferry, striving to set off in the evening. "
"So urgent?" Sun Chuanting asked.
Chen Cao's time waits for no one. Although he can go to Longhu Mountain quickly, he doesn't know how long the process will take. Even if all his men are firearms troops, if he encounters She people fighting for their lives, he will have to think about it himself: The sooner the better, it’s already mid-May, and I’ll leave for Japan at the end of next month, time waits for no one.”
Huang Degong was very excited when he heard that he was going to Longhu Mountain to quell the rebellion. After receiving the order, he immediately ordered the entire regiment to assemble, then packed up and sent people to pack the cans and transport them to the navy camp.
Chen Cao also hurried back to his house, hurriedly told Li Xiang that he would be back in half a month, and then rode away.
It wasn't until Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangsheng boarded the warship that they looked at the river on the deck and sighed: "I have seen so many guard posts. This is the first time in my life that I have ordered to set off at night at noon."
