The person who spoke was silent for a moment, and a look of anger flashed across his face.
“Since we as individual businessmen cannot stop us, let’s unite more people and form a united front.
Over the years, officials from various prefectures have feasted on us. It’s time to repay us by explaining the pros and cons to them clearly.
If they don't form a united front with us, then expose their evil behavior of asking for bribes, accepting bribes, corruption and other evil behaviors. If we don't have a hard time, we must also make it hard for them. "
"Would it be too noisy..."
"Too what?"
The person who spoke coldly interrupted the others: "In the past, we begged them and served them like masters.
Now they have the leverage on us. With the emperor's current personality, let alone tens of thousands of taels of embezzlement, even if it is a thousand taels, they will probably be cut down directly and then the house will be ransacked.
At this point, they have no choice but to cooperate with us. "
“After everyone leaves for a while, go find the officials you contacted, and don’t be indignant if you don’t agree!
I give you five days, don’t wait until the time comes, decide for yourself whether you want to continue to enjoy the glory and wealth, or become a puppet on strings at the mercy of others.
Anyone who dares to think of going to Beijing to betray us in exchange for wealth will be killed by us first!
Okay, it's all gone. "
Everyone left the lobby with solemn expressions and left through the back door, blending into the darkness.
Only the person in the front seat sat quietly for a while, then went to the room, changed into black night clothes, wore a fang mask, and climbed out from the wall on one side.
Two-quarters of an hour later, they entered a remote small courtyard. After waiting for a stick of incense, four people wearing black night clothes and covering their faces entered the lobby. They stretched out their hands to the person in the first place and quickly said: There are complicated handprints.
"Leader!"
Seeing the four people sitting down, the person in the first seat said calmly: "You all know the situation. These businessmen are unreliable. If we want to keep our glory and wealth, we can only rely on ourselves.
Send someone to inform Huang Taiji and Matsudaira Tadaki, telling him that if the emperor's son is allowed to implement it, they will have no chance anymore.
In the next half month, move all our money to a safe place, just in case,
Stop all actions and wait for notification. You are not allowed to come to see me privately without my summons. Go! "
The four of them stood up and left without saying a word.
After arranging all this, the person known as the leader left the courtyard and disappeared into the night.
On the other side, in an official office in Nanjing, several people gathered together. If there were any acquaintances there, they would definitely recognize that these people were officials from the Six Ministries of Nanjing and several nobles.
"Everyone has seen the situation. The emperor may really change the tax system and rectify the officialdom. If the emperor is allowed to control Jiangnan, the capital may be revoked.
By then, if we fail in the political battle, we will only be reduced to civilians. If we also rectify the officialdom, we will be dead! The emperor must be prevented from taking control of Jiangnan. "
…
Zhu Changxun, the King of Fortune, who was far away in Luoyang, was taking a walk in the back garden, with his son Zhu Yousong behind him.
"Father, news came from Beijing a few days ago that the Jiannu army broke through Longjing Pass and besieged Zunhua. If the army besieged Beijing... the little emperor has no heirs, you..."
"Shut up!"
Zhu Changxun shouted angrily, interrupted Zhu Yousong's words, and stared at Zhu Yousong coldly.
"Zhu Yousong, if you want to die, I can help you now, lest you risk the lives of hundreds of people in the entire palace!"
"Father, this..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... something big has happened!"
Before Zhu Yousong could say anything, Chen Chang'an, the left chief of the palace, and Xue Minghai, the right chief, came hand in hand. There were beads of sweat on their foreheads.
The expression on his face was very strange, a mixture of shock, excitement, worry, etc.
"What happened?"
"Your Majesty, these are the three edicts just sent by the imperial court!"
Zuo Changshi Chen Changan handed over the three edicts in his hand, and then quickly explained the contents of the edict.
Zhu Changxun's eyes flashed with excitement, and then he looked at Chang Shi: "What do you think?"
The two looked at each other, and Zuo Changshi Chen Changan said solemnly: "We all agree that the battle report is true.
Because this is so easy to verify. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers participated in the war, logistics, etc. cannot be blocked. The Jiannu side can also be verified.
The court would rather not issue a false battle report than issue a false battle report at this juncture! "
"As for the scope of the amnesty, there is only one possibility. His Majesty ascends the throne to rectify the military affairs and return the land to the people. This is all reform.
If the Ming Dynasty wants to create a prosperous age, commercial taxation must be implemented. Only in this way can the Ming Dynasty's treasury be enriched and more things can be done.
I guess this edict is a way to ask for directions, or to scare the snakes, to test the reaction of the gentry and wealthy businessmen, or to see if anyone jumps out to cause trouble.
Taking advantage of the great victory, cutting down a few will not only scare the monkeys, but also clear up some areas in advance. "
"It's hard to judge whether the Holy Son of the Kong family is collaborating with the enemy, having impure blood, etc., but one thing is certain, His Majesty is suppressing the Kong family!"
"I also believe that Master Chen's analysis is correct. If the casualty data in this battle report is true, it means that His Majesty has a strong army in his hands. Although he cannot control the entire Ming Dynasty, he can at least be invincible. "
Without waiting for Zhu Changxun to speak, Zhu Yousong read out three edicts: "Nonsense, we surrounded and killed 65,000 slaves, and only 101,000 of our army died. This is impossible, absolutely impossible.
Jian Nu is not a fool. He goes deep alone thousands of miles away and knows how to mobilize a large army to encircle and kill him. Why doesn't he withdraw?
What about commercial taxes? Although our dynasty emphasizes agriculture and suppresses commerce, there are so many merchants, how dare the emperor? "
Looking at the crazy Zhu Yousong, King Fu's eyes were full of coldness, and he slapped Zhu Yousong to the ground.
"Come here, take out all the charlatans the prince has befriended, chop them up and feed them to the dogs!"
"Lock the prince to the courtyard. No one is allowed to visit him without my permission."
"Pan Minghai, you personally guard Zhu Yousong if he dares to step out of the courtyard. Break his legs, step out of the palace gate, chop him up and feed him to the dogs, and eliminate the genealogy of Prince Fu's palace!"
"Your Majesty, this, this..."
Pan Minghai was stunned, first took action, and then imprisoned the prince.
Zhu Yousong on the ground covered his face with a look of disbelief. This kind of punishment had never happened to him since he grew up.
"Father, I, I...why, all I said was..."
"What are you still doing? Drag it on!"
"If I find out that Zhu Yousong has contact with the outside world, I will kill all three of your clans! Get out!"
Only then did the guards in the distance react and rush forward. Regardless of Crown Prince Zhu Yousong's identity, they grabbed his limbs and carried him away.
Looking at the captured crown prince Zhu Yousong, left eldest son Chen Ping'an and right eldest son Pan Minghai looked at each other, full of doubts.
Chen Pingan said softly: "Your Majesty, although the Crown Prince is a bit naughty, is this punishment too severe?"
King Fu Zhu Changxun looked at the disappearing figure and snorted coldly, with a trace of helplessness and fear flashing in his eyes.
"Humph, I don't believe you haven't heard any gossip!"
