"His Majesty?"
"Are you the emperor?"
Cao San on the ground was stunned and fainted from fear.
Li Ruolian took the sealed box and quickly checked the paint seal. After confirming that it was correct, he took out the information and presented it to Chongzhen.
In just a moment, Chongzhen's face darkened and he handed the information to Li Ruolian, but the murderous intent in his eyes became even stronger.
After Li Ruolian and Cao Bianjiao read it, cold sweat broke out on Li Ruolian's forehead, but there was more doubt in his eyes.
This information was sent by Luo Sigong, who was secretly investigating Prince Jingjiang of Guilin Prefecture.
The general meaning is that after he entered Guilin City, he secretly investigated and found that the family members of the Jingjiang Prince's Palace had disappeared, and part of the treasures in the treasure house had also disappeared.
Later, Wang Zunde, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, mobilized troops to surround the city of Guilin and searched the city. He did not find the gold and silver treasures of the Jingjiang Palace, but he forced out the Yao spies lurking in the city, including a Yao village leader.
After being tortured, it was learned that the Yao people had connections with Suzhou, and based on the description of the village leader, the people who came into contact with them were suspected to be members of the Wenxiang Sect.
"Your Majesty, based on Mr. Luo's investigation, I concluded that the King Jingjiang who committed suicide in the Huangji Palace was probably a trap set up by the Yao people long ago, replacing the real King Jingjiang. The dead King Jingjiang was just a person cultivated by the Yao people on the surface. A pretense.
If His Majesty had not suddenly sent the vassal king to Beijing and killed the vassal king, the Jingjiang Palace would have always existed, obtaining countless silver taels for the Yao people, not only to provide them with shelter, but also to allow them to cultivate and live. "
Chongzhen nodded. He had guessed this reasoning before this message.
Now it's just confirmed.
After sighing, Chongzhen continued: "What is this Wenxiang Sect about? Why haven't I heard of it?"
"Your Majesty doesn't know that this Wenxiang Sect is normal. After all, Your Majesty was still young when this sect was wiped out!"
Li Ruolian shook his head and continued to explain: "In the early years of Shenzong, Wang Sen claimed at Shifo Village in Luanzhou that he had saved a fox. In order to thank the fox for saving his life, the fox cut off one of its tails and gave it to him. The severed tail had a wonderful fragrance. ,
This call for followers was called the Wenxiang Sect, with followers spread across eight northern provinces, with hundreds of thousands of followers.
The underlying organization of this sect is the 'hui'. Several nearby villages are organized into a branch, and above the branch is the general meeting. In the meeting there is a leader, head bearer, chapter leader, etc. The division of labor is clear and detailed.
Although Wang Sen was a cobbler by background, he was very smart. He used money to pave the way, made friends with eunuchs, and formed a clan relationship with Queen Wang's brother Yongnian Bo. "
Speaking of this, Li Ruolian said with a sneer: "A person who has been pretending to be a god for a long time thinks that he is a real god, so he starts to covet political power.
In the 23rd year of Wanli, he was arrested and sentenced to death, but he was released after accepting bribes.
After being released from prison, he refused to repent. He actually preached in Beijing and was arrested in the 41st year of Wanli. He died in prison in the 46th year of Wanli.
After Wang Sen's death, the third son Wang Haoxian came to power. He launched an uprising with Xu Hongru, Zhou Yin and others but failed. However, he took advantage of the bloody battle to flee south with his wife and children. He was arrested in Yangzhou in the winter of the third year of Tianqi, and at the beginning of the fourth year of Tianqi Killed. "
"So that's what happened!"
Chongzhen suddenly understood, but he wondered: "What methods did they use to confuse the people?"
"Your Majesty, Wang Sen has established a huge intelligence network. Everyone who comes to his house has been investigated in advance.
When he saw people, he would sit in the tent of the shrine and the pilgrims would kneel down to worship him. He would tell the pilgrims their general past, making the pilgrims think that he had a discerning eye and used deception to deceive people's hearts. "
Listening to Li Ruolian's explanation, Chongzhen fell silent.
With such a simple deception, people were willing to fall for it and mistakenly thought it was a god.
This further determined the idea of killing the Confucius family and promoting new learning.
"Your Majesty, Wang Haoxian was killed in the fourth year of Tianqi, but there must be people from the Wenxiang Sect left, lurking in the dark.
Since his father, Wang Sen, could bribe the government to be released, he might do the same. Maybe it was him, or his descendants, who the village leader of the Yao tribe mentioned was the Wenxiang Cult.
The enemy of an enemy is a friend. Both were besieged by the imperial court. The Yao people had fighting power. Although the Wenxiang Sect was destroyed, they had money and charisma. The two hit it off. "
"I think Commander Li makes this inference very reasonable. The interests in Jiangnan are more complex and complex. There is collusion between officials and businessmen, collusion between officials and bandits, and collusion between bandits and merchants. Everything they do is for profit.
However, the Wenxiang Sect had money and seduced some gentry and wealthy businessmen. The money opened the way and these few provided cover for them.
In other words, these gentry and wealthy businessmen may not necessarily know that the people they have been in contact with are people from the Wenxiang Sect. "
"It's true that the flowers planted with intention do not bloom, but the willows with unintentional planting create shade!"
Chongzhen sighed.
I originally wanted to investigate the affairs of the Jingjiang Prince's Palace, but ended up implicating the Yao people and the Wenxiang Sect. I originally wanted to investigate the officialdom in Jiangnan, but ended up bringing out the Cao Gang, the Boat Gang, etc.
This Ming Dynasty was far more eroded than he imagined, with holes everywhere.
"But it's okay, since everything has been exposed, let's solve it all at once!"
After muttering to himself, Chongzhen placed the tea cup in his hand heavily on the table and stared at everyone: "Li Ruolian, send an order to the Yanshan Guards stationed in Shangyu and ask them to rush to Suzhou as soon as possible.
Secondly, let Jinyiwei secretly arrest these officials based on Cao San's confession, conduct surprise interrogations, obtain more evidence, and see if they can find clues to the Wenxiang Sect from them.
Third, notify the Jin Yiwei of the Eighteen Prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River to investigate the affairs of the Wenxiang Cult. As long as the leader is found, he will be killed without mercy!
Fourth, go contact the senior officials of the Cao Gang in Suzhou, identify yourself, and bring them to see me!
Fifth, send an order to Wang Zunde, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, to deploy troops in Guilin, waiting for my orders at any time to surround and kill the Yao rebels.
Post notices, those who voluntarily surrender will be put aside and if they dare to continue causing harm to Guangdong and Guangxi, they will be massacred;
Sixth, order Luo Sigong to find out who the King of Jingjiang has colluded with in Guangdong and Guangxi, and to find out the leader of the Yao rebels, and kill him without mercy! "
Having said this, Chongzhen paused for a while: "Sun Chengzong should have returned to Beijing from Guihua City, right?"
"Back to Your Majesty, there is no news for the time being, but according to Your Majesty's arrangement, Mr. Sun Ge will stay in Guihua City for three months. At this time, returning to Beijing will also happen in the next few days!"
"Send a letter back to Beijing. First, inform the cabinet of the situation here and ask Yuan Keli to prepare alternate officials. Second, if Sun Chengzong returns to Beijing, let the cabinet Li Biao and Li Guopu come to Suzhou."
"I will make arrangements now!"
After Li Ruolian responded, he hesitated and said softly: "Your Majesty, the court is busy with the frontline and the vassal affairs, and also has to preside over the affairs of the court.
If two elders are asked to come, there are only elders Yuan and Sun in the capital, so they may not be able to handle it. Should we reconsider? "
Chongzhen shook his head slightly. He didn't know it, but now things are crowded together, and there is nothing that can be done.
"What do you think?"
