Envoy, is he a businessman? !
Xiao Cheng was stunned when he heard this.
Over the years, there are actually businessmen who have gone to Jinling to meet the emperor, fishing in troubled waters and pretending to be envoys?
Gu Zhengchen was not surprised by this result. Overseas countries were all overseas, and by recruiting hundreds of people, calling themselves kings, they could go to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute.
Ming Dynasty also didn’t know what was going on with them. He followed the principle of treating people from afar as if they were guests from afar. He would treat them with good food and drink when they came. Then he would escort them all the way to Jinling, give them your local specialties, and take away the gold. Silver, silk, ceramics, seals, etc., you can go back after eating for a while...
Zhu Yuanzhang and Ming officials have been keeping an eye on the Yuan Dynasty for these years. How can they bother to go to sea to conduct investigations? Annam, Champa, Siam, Korea, and Japan are all diligent. If you are familiar with it, how many others are there like Srivijaya, Balni, Java, etc. I have heard of it, but like Pahang and Baihua, what is it and where is it located?
Gu Zhengchen didn't know if Zhu Yuanzhang, who was in the seventh year of Hongwu, could figure out where these countries were. Anyway, he didn't know much about it.
Overseas countries send envoys, and these envoys are exchanged back and forth. This guy went there and gained five pounds by eating. This time it is our turn. Don’t you recognize the Ming Emperor?
It doesn't matter, I got to know him after just one visit. I also want to be an envoy, so I can eat and drink well. As for the contract documents being lost on the way to sea, it’s not our fault. The wind and waves are rough, and the emperor should be able to understand.
People have come and goods have been brought, so we can’t be denied an audience just because of some paperwork.
Really can't be accommodating?
Then why don't I take these boatloads of spices back?
Oh, you want it.
That works too.
In the name of envoys, based on the reality of maritime trade, this should be one of the biggest problems of the Shipping Department.
Since coming to Quanzhou Mansion, Gu Zhengchen has been busy fighting for control of the government office and reorganizing the officialdom. So far, he has not had time to go to the Municipal Shipping Department, and Zhao Yihui has not been free to investigate the matter.
Now looking at what Wu Kang means, the Bu family has considerable control over Shibosi.
Gu Zhengchen's face was a little solemn: "Wei Hong was promoted by the Quanzhou Bureau Chief. Is he a member of the Bu family?"
Wu Kang shook his head: "It's hard to say, but I'm sure that Wei Hong also took advantage of the Bu family. At the critical moment, the Bu family will definitely use this line to help them get out of trouble, don't you think so, Magistrate Gu?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Wu Kang who reminded him and asked, "Do you have anything else to explain?"
"Three feet of white silk."
Wu Kang requested again.
Gu Zhengchen still refused: "I will find the best corpse stitcher in Quanzhou Prefecture for you. In addition, I can make the decision to find a coffin and bury you in the wilderness."
Wu Kang looked deeply at Gu Zhengchen and said, "Thank you very much. There is one more thing, please ask Magistrate Gu to help you."
"What's the matter?"
“I want to watch Wu Yi’s head fall to the ground first!”
"No problem, he will die first!"
Gu Zhengchen agreed directly.
It can be seen that Wu Kang was so disappointed with his nephew that he wished he would die first.
Few people can be rational and tolerant towards those who betray themselves.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Li Chengyi and saw that his expression was almost the same as before, without any trace of nervousness or panic.
Obviously, the revelation that the Bu family was the Pu family did not make him uneasy. In other words, Li Chengyi is probably not aware of some secrets behind his father Li Zongfeng.
"The recruitment list has been written."
Li Chengyi put away his pen, sorted out a few pages of the recruitment book, and handed it to Gu Zhengchen.
After Gu Zhengchen looked at it and saw that there was no problem, he asked Wu Kang to take custody, and then said to Li Chengyi: "Prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone for Qin Xin and let him write the recruitment list."
Wu Kang looked at Gu Zhengchen leaving and bowed to see him off.
After returning to the second hall, Gu Zhengchen frowned and thought about countermeasures.
Xiao Cheng walked up to Gu Zhengchen and said in a deep voice: "What are you still hesitating about, Magistrate Gu? He should immediately send people to search Bu's house and arrest all his family! They dare to deceive the emperor. It is really heinous." !”
"Where's the evidence?"
Gu Zhengchen raised his head and asked.
Xiao Cheng pointed to the recruitment book on the table: "Wu Kang's words are evidence! The Bu family colluded with the Shipping Department, used the name of an envoy to do business, and even went to Jinling to see His Majesty..."
Gu Zhengchen picked up the recruitment book and asked: "Although Wu Kang said something, he didn't say which envoy the Bu family borrowed the name from, which time they followed the envoy team to Jinling, let alone who it was. ! It is obviously inappropriate to use this sentence without details as an accusation."
Xiao Cheng was unwilling to give in: "Then the Bu family can bribe a bunch of officials, can they do it right?"
Gu Zhengchen put down the call sheet, stared at the words on it, and said softly: "This is a reason to touch the fortune telling family, but the question is, should we touch them now."
"Why don't you move?".??m
It was difficult for Xiao Cheng to understand that these people had the blood of demons flowing in their bodies and they deserved to be captured and killed!
Gu Zhengchen looked at Xiao Cheng and smiled calmly: "This is the difference between reckless people and calm people. Reckless people only think about quick and easy things without considering the consequences. Xiao Cheng, have you ever thought about it? The Pu family is very He has long since become a cunning rabbit and has learned how to dig out three holes. How many holes does Bu Shou, an old fox, have now? What I want to do is at least uproot the Bu Shou lineage so that no one is left!"
"With a sudden attack now, Bu Shou, Bu Zhongsheng, Bu Suanzi and others can be caught in one fell swoop, but what about these people who are all above the light and hiding in the dark? They will be frightened and will definitely go dormant completely and escape. The most important thing is Yes, where is the unknown property of the Bu family? There are not many people who hold this secret. If Bu Shou and others don't open their mouths, where can we find it because Quanzhou Prefecture is so big?"
"Quanzhou Prefecture has been in trouble for a long time. If I want to open up the sea and develop ocean trade, I always need money and food to support it. The money and food that Qin Xin, Wu Kang and others embezzled need to be returned to the people through reconstruction, corvee, etc. As for the voyage, In the future, we will build ships, build coastal defense stations, repair Quanzhou Port, etc. These will cost countless money and food, and I hope the Bu family can provide them."
Xiao Cheng looked at Gu Zhengchen in surprise. Do you need to think so much before doing something?
Zhang Pei chuckled.
No matter how smart I am, I don't even ask questions. I just do whatever the master tells me.
Gu Zhengchen thought for a while, then stood up and said, "After I came to the government office, who has been to Bu's house the most?"
"Zhang Jiujing!"
Zhang Pei replied seriously.
As Tang Xian's master, he had a lot of information, so much so that after Tang Xian's death, the Bu family still wanted to get rid of Zhang Jiujing to avoid future troubles. When it was inconvenient for Tang Xian to leave the government office, Zhang Jiujing usually went to Bu's house to deliver messages.
Gu Zhengchen stepped towards the door: "Let's go and meet this person."
The carriage drove slowly, stopped for a moment in a quiet alley, and then moved forward again.
Duan Shimin welcomed Gu Zhengchen into the courtyard, and sergeants such as Lin Shannan and Huang Yang stepped forward to salute.
Gu Zhengchen waved his hand and asked, "How about Zhang Jiujing?"
Duan Shimin chuckled, scratched his head and said, "I can't die."
The door opens.
Gu Zhengchen walked in, looked at Zhang Jiujing who was sitting on the bed and was confused, and said with a smile: "Master Zhang, we meet again."
Zhang Jiujing bit his lip secretly to make sure he wasn't in a trance.
Facing Gu Zhengchen, Zhang Jiujing's mood was very complicated. He was the one who sent Tang Xian to the prison cell, which led to Tang Xian's death. He felt the danger and wanted to escape, but was almost killed by the Lu brothers sent by the Bu family. Fortunately, Gu Zhengchen's people appeared in time and saved him.
"I've met Magistrate Gu!"
Zhang Jiujing saluted sadly.
Gu Zhengchen sat down and said bluntly to Zhang Jiujing: "I haven't come to see you during this period because I am worried about leaking your whereabouts and letting the Bu family know that you are not dead. By then, they may take action again."
Zhang Jiujing looked sad: "Then why did Magistrate Gu come today?"
Gu Zhengchen knocked on the table: "Because I know the secrets of the Bu family, the source of their power, and their original sin. The most important thing is that I want to fish, so naturally I came here to find bait. .”
Zhang Jiujing looked at Gu Zhengchen in shock: "Where did you learn these things? Who can and who dares to say it?"
Gu Zhengchen didn't hide anything: "Wu Kang said it."
"ah--"
"Qin Xin also said it."
"this--"
"Of course, you can say it, but your testimony doesn't seem to be important. Zhang Jiujing, you can leave here in the future."
"The day after tomorrow?"
Zhang Jiujing stared at Gu Zhengchen and asked, "What are you planning today and tomorrow? If you let me go at this time, you might as well kill me directly."
If you want to release someone, just release them. You have not committed any crime, and there is a clear period of detention. It was obvious that Gu Zhengchen needed two days to arrange something.
And this arrangement must be for the Bu family.
Think of what Gu Zhengchen just said about fishing, and he is the bait. You caught a fish while fishing, but who cares about the fate of the bait being eaten...
Gu Zhengchen saw that Zhang Jiujing was very smart, so he simply said directly: "You have helped Tang Xian do evil things over the years. I will give you a chance to reduce your sentence and atone for your sins. Help me once, and you can at least live."
Zhang Jiujing's hands were shaking a little.
There is no need to reduce the sentence and atone for the crime. I am not the culprit. At most, I can get some benefits from it, which can be regarded as remuneration for Tang Xian's work. I am not a court official, and there is no corruption. The art of skinning and lingchi has no use for me.
But Gu Zhengchen was unreasonable and dared to arrest people privately.
Some time ago, there were four friends living in this courtyard. They were sergeants of the Quanzhou Guards. They were later taken away. I don’t know if they are still alive.
If you don't cooperate with Gu Zhengchen, you may be in danger.
You know, Zhang Jiujing is apparently dead. It would be easy for Gu Zhengchen to die again, to die in earnest.
Zhang Jiujing hesitated again and again, and asked in a deep voice: "What do you need me to do?"
Gu Zhengchen snapped his fingers, stood up and said, "Simple, come with me for a meal."
"It's that simple?"
"That's right."
“Where to eat?”
"Bu family."
Gu Zhengchen pointed out the location.
Zhang Jiujing took two steps back, raised his finger and pointed at Gu Zhengchen, and said tremblingly: "You, you are messing around. If Bu Shou sees me next to you, he will go crazy. No one knows what he will do by then. If you take one step forward, the situation may get out of control!"
