Zheng Haizhu looked at Boss Feng, and saw that he was kneeling on the ground. His body was not shrinking, and his breath was calm when he told the whole story. It was not like a panicked confession after being killed, but like an outsider analyzing the situation.
Since Mrs. Shen saw Boss Feng appear in the hall, her arrogant and fierce attitude has also faded by three to four points. She only turned her face slightly and stared at Boss Feng, with a look of sadness in her eyes.
When she heard that Boss Feng was about to take over the responsibility for the murder again, she suddenly seemed to wake up, gathered a wave of indifference and sadness, and raised her voice: "Master, don't listen to Feng Abao's urgent words. He didn't He has never received any favors from my family. He was just a neighbor of mine when I was young and had feelings for me. He was unable to marry my Shen family because of his poor family background. He went to Jingdezhen to be an apprentice and then came to Songjiang to make a living for many years. Everything he did was my fault. Forced by old feelings, I am the main culprit!"
Ouch!
The hearts of all the onlookers in the hall were roaring again.
Today's night trial is really better than the drama in the first month of the year.
Fortunately, the old man of the Gu family, Gu Mingshi, has already left Hexi.
Fortunately, the three masters of the Gu family are either working as officials or doing business outside.
Otherwise, if these powerful men, who are usually brilliant, elegant and respectable, were standing in the hall at this moment, and suddenly heard that their daughter was actually a murderer, a bandit, and a thief, doing everything they could. Okay, don't you want to be so angry that you faint on the spot?
Huang Zunsu slapped the wooden door in the hall, suppressed the restless noise, and prepared to end the trial: "Today's court hearing, the two parties gave various testimonies, and I have personally recorded them in the eucalyptus. Shen, Feng Abao, Han Xiying and others have been jailed until the master of the government returns. If convicted, if the sentence is to be hanged or beheaded, according to the law, the report will be sent to Yingtian Mansion for review."
He added: "All the silkworm farmers in the hall are the first to attack Han Mansion tonight. Wu Ah Pang and other six people will have the shackles on display for ten days."
"Master Huang!"
A bright but not sharp female voice sounded.
It’s Zheng Haizhu.
When she finally waited for Huang Zunsu's plan to deal with the silkworm households, she immediately stood up and said to Huang Zunsu according to what she had just discussed with Qian and Han Ximeng: "Mr. Huang, my mistress is magnanimous. I think Wu Ah Pang and the others are also neighbors." As a fellow countryman, and has not yet broken the door and hurt anyone, I beg Mr. Huang to avoid punishment."
When Huang Zunsu came from the mortuary an hour ago, Liu Captou had already quickly explained what Zheng Haizhu meant.
Huang Zunsu saw people in Songjiang being beaten up and almost burning down Dong Qichang's house last year. From the bottom of his heart, he believed that being simple-minded or living in embarrassment was not the reason for these big men to smash, loot, or even threaten to burn a weak woman to death.
He was a little unwilling both in public and private affairs, so he said to the audience: "The laws of heaven, the laws of the country, and the rules and regulations of the village and the people are just two words of 'fairness.' The suffering owner of the Han family came forward to intercede. Even if the shackles are shown to the public, I will be exempted." Nor can we turn a blind eye to the silkworm farmers' trip. The Han government's labor money must be converted into the working hours of these six people."
I heard Mrs. Miao step forward and say: "My parents are wise officials, but please allow me to come up with a solution. The poisoning of mulberry leaves is the work of my evil daughter-in-law. We, the Gu family, are willing to pay the silkworm farmers the money that can be used to offset the summer tax." . When they do corvee work for the Han Mansion, I will give them three cents of silver per day, old lady, for food."
The daily salary of three cents of silver is equivalent to the salary of a guard archer today.
Both Huang Zunsu and Zheng Haizhu understood at first glance that Miao Atai's words not only took into account the authority of the government's laws, but also expressed the guilt and sincerity of the Gu family. The method of "relief on behalf of others" has prevented their family from being devastated.
Huang Zunsu did not change his stern expression, but nodded slightly: "Yes."
The silkworm farmers also woke up. After Huang Zunsu retreated, they all came forward and bowed to Zheng Haizhu and other women: "Thank you, Miss Zheng. Thank you, Miss Grandma."
Zheng Haizhu was neither embarrassed nor ridiculed towards them. He just stared at the silkworm farmers who threatened to burn him to death in the evening and said: "Brothers, I won't say anything about the wheel. I just want to help you. Just help our Han family these days."
"Miss Zheng, just ask."
"In three days, acquaintances of Chen and Ji, you will gather at the entrance of Han Mansion. Lao Peng, the manager, and I will give you instructions."
The silkworm farmers agreed one after another and followed the common people who were driven away by the official servants to go out.
Over there, seeing Feng Abao, Shen and the scoundrel who wanted to humiliate Han Ximeng being shackled to the back by the government officials, while her own wrists were also cuffed, Han Xiying finally burst into tears.
"Second aunt, I don't want to go to jail. Big sister, big sister, it's my fault. I've deceived my heart with lard. Miss Zheng, Miss Zheng, if you can beg Mr. Huang for Canhu, you can also beg Mr. Huang for me. First, Let me go home, there is no place for people in prison. My mother, my mother was given medicine by me, and I don’t know if she’s awake yet.”
Mrs. Qian ignored her misguided, evil and stupid niece and only gave Zheng Haizhu a wink.
Zheng Haizhu looked solemn and walked over and handed a bunch of copper coins to the yamen officer: "Excuse me, sir, find her a cooler cell and give her two more toilets. My master will return to Songjiang in a few days, and we will visit the prison again."
The waiter agreed tactfully: "Don't worry, I'll put another cat in to prevent the mouse from biting the lady."
"I don't want cats, I'm most afraid of cats," Han Xiying continued to cry while trembling, "I want to go home, I want to go home!"
…
On this day, at nearly noon, on the north bank of the Yue River in Songjiang Fucheng, on a street lined with shops and bustling with pedestrians, four sturdy men from silkworm households carried a carriage and sat on it the most famous storyteller in the city.
Behind the shoulder carriage, there are several other men, either holding a long embroidery scroll stretched on a sandalwood frame, or carrying a load. There are velvet handkerchiefs and cotton clothes in the basket.
The storyteller started from the Japanese invasion of Hongwu to Jiajing, to Longqing's switch, to Wanli's permission to allow the three weaving public merchants in Jiangnan to sell silk fabrics to foreign merchants, and to Yuegang's sea trade where "the people became their own city" Prosperous, let’s talk about the fact that the Han family not only customized silk cloth goods for export to the imperial court, but also the eldest lady personally embroidered the anti-Japanese scrolls of Songjiang Prefecture over the years.
Of course, the storyteller also added all kinds of "baggage" to the scam of Concubine Silkworm's confession and what Gu's eldest daughter-in-law, Shen, had done, and told the people watching along the way.
In the sedan chair not far away, Han Ximeng opened the curtain and watched the scene for a while, then turned to Zheng Haizhu and said: "Many people followed, and they were more flattering than chasing the dragon and lion dance on New Year's Day."
Zheng Haizhu said: "The dragon and lion dances are also beautiful, but they are not as fresh as this scene. We just want to put the word 'new' in everyone's heart."
She paused and then said: "Today's big fanfare is not only to clear my name, but also to take advantage of the sinister Shen family to publicize several things we are doing. Let the whole Songjiang mansion, Whether they are illiterate traffickers, peasants, or scholars who have read poetry and prepared for scientific examinations, they all know that a place where the fight against Japanese pirates and pirates was quite brutal in the past can also be a place where the government and the people are now open for business and maritime trade. A place where you can make a fortune. Moreover, if you have a strong army like Grandpa Qi back then, we, the Ming Dynasty, should still support and treat you kindly, and we, the people of Ming Dynasty, should still support and love you."
Han Ximeng nodded and asked, "When will we start our visit to Zhenjiang General Qi's office?"
The Commander-in-Chief Qi she was talking about was Qi Jin, a descendant of Qi Jiguang, who is now the Deputy Commander-in-Chief in Zhenjiang, South Zhili.
According to the real historical process, a few years later in the Northeast, thousands of Zhejiang soldiers led by Qi Jin and Shilichuan soldiers led by Qin Liangyu fought a bloody battle with Nurhaci's Later Jin army at the Hun River.
Due to her lack of knowledge, Zheng Haizhu didn't know whether Qi Jin would be transferred to another province in the Ming Empire during the bloody battle in Hunhe, so she was anxious to see Qi Jin now.
She said to Han Ximeng: "A bank note from my fellow countryman Brother Yan has been cashed out in Suzhou. The official day for the Gu family to welcome the lady is the eighth day of May. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, Magistrate Zhuang should return to Songjiang , Mr. Huang will take me to ask for instructions. After that, we will set off. "
"Okay, then, you will bring the money, I will bring the embroidery of the Chronicle of the Anti-Japanese War, and Brother Gu will bring his fame. Oh, and there is also the friendship that General Ma was dispatched by the Ministry of War to train cavalry in Zhenjiang. In general, It shouldn’t be difficult to enter the military mansion’s door, right?”
Zheng Haizhu looked at Han Ximeng, pursed his lips and said: "The main thing is silver. If you have enough money, it will not be difficult to enter any door. Miss, in the past few days, A-Zhu has sorted out what he was thinking in his mind. I will go there again. Talk to Mr. Qi about a new deal."
Han Ximeng was curious: "What kind of deal?"
"He opened a shipping insurance company."
“Marine insurance, what is this new thing?
Just as Han Ximeng showed an expression of willingness to hear the details, the sedan suddenly stopped.
Zheng Haizhu opened the curtain and saw Lao Peng, the housekeeper of Han Mansion, catching up panting.
"The eldest lady, Miss Zheng. The third lady has been sent back to the house."
"Why?"
"Oh, the old lady in the Gu family, Mrs. Shen, committed suicide this morning by hitting the wall, right in front of the third lady. The third lady was scared crazy. Someone from the Yamen said that the third lady was not like Mrs. Shen and Boss Feng after all, and would be sentenced to death. Yes, if something goes wrong in prison, I can’t afford it, so let us take him back home first. Miss, do you want to go back and take a look?"
Han Ximeng thought for a while and said, "Listen to the second aunt. At worst, she will be tied up and two more women will be sent to watch her to prevent her from hurting herself. I want to follow the embroidery screen with A-Zhu to the school."
Lao Peng was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I won't delay Miss's business."
The sedan continued to move forward.
Han Ximeng said slowly: "Azhu, I will also feel sad these days, thinking of Aying's milky and milky and distressing appearance when she was a child."
Zheng Haizhu asked: "Has your heart softened towards this girl?"
Han Ximeng shook his head: "I was just wondering why she was like this."
Zheng Haizhu said: "Then Shen and Feng Abao, why are they like this? Obsession, obsession makes them unable to distinguish right from wrong until they fall into hell."
Han Ximeng sighed: "How to avoid it?"
"Don't just focus on yourself, don't be obsessed with power, love, and unique secrets. Look at the wider world and think more about the well-being of all people."
Han Ximeng stopped talking and fell into silence, but it could be seen that she was not really disturbed by the news just now.
Zheng Haizhu said softly: "Young lady is right not to rush back immediately. These people, whether they are crazy or dead, have chosen their own path of no return. And we cannot teach such people People are delayed.”
…
One month later.
Zhenjiang, Beigu Mountain.
It's the summer solstice.
Zhenjiang Prefecture is close to the Yangtze River and the canal widened in the Yuan Dynasty, with abundant water vapor. During the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River, everywhere in the city is hot and humid, making it very stuffy.
Only the top of Beigu Mountain has a high terrain, the breeze brings coolness, and the open view of the river flowing eastward in front of you immediately makes people feel refreshed.
Zheng Haizhu sat in the Beigu Pavilion and couldn't help but laugh at himself. Even if he couldn't be the "Xin Qiji" who recited "Through the ages, there is no hero to be found, Sun Zhong is looking for a place", he could at least be the "Zheng Bure" at this moment.
Opposite her, the newlyweds Gu Shouqian and Han Ximeng were indeed a top-notch couple. They didn't look like you feed me a piece of fruit and I feed you a sip of tea.
The two only reviewed various nostalgic poems and songs, and then reviewed the literati landscape paintings of the previous dynasty, such as the mountains of the Yanjiang River and the Fuchun Mountain Residence, looking for big rivers such as the Han River and the Qianjiang River, and the water in front of them. What the vast Yangtze River has in common is the same color as the sky.
There were also Lu Xiangsheng and Fan Polu in the pavilion.
Zheng Haizhu naturally wanted to bring them too.
Lu Xiangsheng studied the art of war and firearms intensively and was an avid fan of Qi Jiguang's "New Book of Performance". He must have something in common with Qi Jin, the adopted son and authentic successor of the Qi family.
As for the little girl Fan Polu, starting from the first piece of quilted Songjiang cotton dark armor for Ma Xianglin, she has been thinking about how to starch the fabric to increase its hardness, prevent rain and mildew, how to hide the connection of the iron plates under the fabric, how to Improve the convenience of removing stitches and manicure.
Later, Lu Xiangsheng joined in the research and development. They brought Qin Liangyu and his son to the capital for ten pieces of dark armor made of Songjiang cotton mixed with Jiading yellow grass. According to a letter from General Ma, they were indeed better than the cotton armor of the low-level soldiers in the Beijing camp they had seen. .
It should be noted that the greedy and stupid mason grandpa of today's emperor received an order for military uniforms as a relative and made a batch of tofu-like cotton armor that was guaranteed to be replaced. The soldiers who froze to death were Qi Jiguang's soldiers in Jizhou.
So Zheng Haizhu was going to ask Fan Polu to show Qi Jin what it means to be "professional, you deserve it."
Again, you can have it for free.
Because the first batch of military uniforms, Xiao Zheng, I can donate to you.
"Dear guests, I have been waiting for a long time, and Qi Mou apologizes!"
A loud male voice came from under the pavilion.
Everyone hurriedly stood up and looked around, but they saw no one on the pebble path under the dancing shadows of the trees.
Qi Jin, who was escorting Zheng Haizhu and others up the mountain outside the pavilion, said respectfully: "It's our General Qi who is here."
After a few more pauses, a tall old man wearing a gray cloth shirt appeared on the stone path in the mountain.
Qi Jin was followed by three people, one young man also dressed in regular clothes, and the other two were sergeants wearing back armor and carrying swords at their waists.
Lu Xiangsheng was close to Zheng Haizhu, and with a volume within the polite range, he sighed: "It's true that I heard his voice before I saw him, and the sound was like a loud bell shaking the mountains."
Zheng Haizhu smiled and said: "Different from General Qin and General Ma, my Ming generals are as bright as stars."
Lu Xiangsheng said sincerely: "Sister led me to meet them. I am very grateful."
After two months of getting along, Zheng Haizhu and Lu Xiangsheng, who is four years younger than her, have become like siblings.
Zheng Haizhu lost no time in encouraging the second younger brother after Zheng Zhilong: "In time, you will also be a good general, just like the Tang War God I admire most, Wang Zhongsi."
She thought to herself, don't worry, Little Brother Lu, I will create a circle of friends for you, and one day, you will be the leader of the circle.
