Zhang Pu was stunned when he shouted this. Even if he is a disciple of a saint, he can't help but want to curse. Did you ask him to shout this?
Fortunately, Zhang Pu is a man who does big things, he is decisive and reacts quickly. When the two bearers heard the sound and looked over, he pushed Zhang Zonglie away and shouted loudly: "Catch the assassin, catch this assassin." !”
Only then did Zhang Zonglie wake up, what happened just now? Did you shout the wrong thing?
"Dog... Dog officer calls for unpaid taxes, go to hell!" Zhang Zonglie shouted, turned around and ran away, but when he looked up, he discovered that there was a group of Dongchang servants coming towards the end of the street.
This time, he was so frightened that he almost lost his soul, turned around and wanted to run back to the house.
However, Zhang Zonglie saw Zhang Pu's eyes that were ready to spit fire again, and remembered that he had covered his face and pretended to be an assassin. So, as the two bearers approached timidly, they quickly ran around the wall of the mansion gate.
Fortunately, Zhang Pu's house happened to be on the corner of the street, otherwise, there would be no place to run.
But even so, Zhang Pu saw the sudden appearance of Dongchang's officers, three of whom were on horseback. Obviously, they all noticed the situation here and rushed over. At this moment, Zhang Pu felt in his heart that it was so painful. How could he not die? The Dongchang squadron just happened to pass by. It was early in the morning. Why did you get up so early?
There was severe pain in his legs, causing Zhang Pu to fall to the ground. Two bearers hurriedly came up to help him. This was what he had predicted. They would definitely not chase the assassin. However, what he didn't expect was that two mounted soldiers had already approached and quickly chased after him. The other rider on horseback, who was leading the team, got off his horse in front of Zhang Pu and asked hurriedly: "Mr. Zhang, what's going on?"
While talking, he saw the knife stuck in Zhang Pu's leg and immediately ordered: "Don't move, I'll take care of it!"
After he finished speaking, he immediately squatted down and tore open Zhang Pu's official robe, revealing his white thighs to treat his injuries.
Some of the guards who came running over immediately became vigilant, and some chased them into the alley. They all dealt with them in an orderly manner.
Zhang's mansion also heard the commotion, and many people came out. However, seeing that Dongchang's subordinates had appeared earlier than them, for a while, they were afraid of Dongchang's reputation and did not dare to come forward.
You know, at that time at the beginning of the year, Dongchang and Jinyiwei arrested countless people in the capital and ransacked many homes, but they remembered it very clearly.
This stall owner seemed to be very skilled in dealing with such knife wounds. In just a few moments, he had already pulled out the dagger, applied the wound medicine he had brought with him, and bandaged it. At the same time, he said to Zhang Pu: "Master Zhang, this injury is The medicine was passed down from my family's days as an escort, and it's very effective. Moreover, your incision is not deep, and it doesn't hurt your muscles and bones. You can recover after a few days."
This stall that used to be an escort was Jiang Dong.
Hearing his words, Zhang Pu felt regretful in his heart. If he had known this, he should have gone deeper.
At the same time, he was also very depressed, but he couldn't show it. Instead, he asked with gratitude: "I am really lucky. Fortunately, Jiang Baotou happened to pass by and saved my life!"
Unexpectedly, after Jiang Dong heard what he said, he said with admiration: "I was ordered to bring people here to protect you. The emperor said that your mission will offend many people. As for some rumors in the capital yesterday, the emperor said I already know it, so I will let my team of soldiers protect you personally and follow you to Jiangnan!"
"..." Zhang Pu was very surprised when he heard this. The emperor is so powerful. Can you guess this?
Of course he didn't know that Emperor Chongzhen sent Jiang Dong and others to protect him. In fact, they were also to monitor him and prevent him from disobeying the decree after receiving it. Of course, the original intention of protection is also there.
Zhang Pu forgot the pain for a moment and was very worried that the emperor might have guessed that he didn't want to do things. Oh, no, idiot Zhang Zonglie, don’t get caught by the Dongchang officers. If this were to happen, the emperor's suspicion would be confirmed and the emperor would be furious. All the efforts would be in vain!
Thinking like this, he felt a little restless. He couldn't imagine what would happen if Zhang Zonglie was caught and confessed.
In fact, Jiang Dong already felt something abnormal.
Because he was from a bodyguard agency, he had seen a lot of wounds, so when he was treating Zhang Pu's wounds, he discovered that the knife wound seemed to have been stabbed by Zhang Pu himself. If someone else stabbed it, the wound would not look like this.
However, it was not about this matter at this time. Jiang Dong just kept it in his heart and ordered the people of Zhang Mansion to carry Zhang Pu back to the manor. Then, he personally went to inquire about the capture of the assassin.
Zhang Pu didn't know how much he was suffering. He was afraid that Zhang Zonglie would be caught. After entering the house, he quickly asked: "Where is Zhang Zonglie? Where is he?"
If Zhang Zonglie went back through the back door as planned, then this matter would be seamless, thank God.
However, no one said they saw Manager Zhang, and Zhang Zonglie did not show up himself, which made Zhang Pu very worried.
When he knew that Jiang Dong was questioning the bearers and others and investigating the assassination, he was worried that Jiang Dong would find some clues. At this time, he suddenly regretted it again just like when he faced the emperor before. If he had known this, he would have prepared well and not done it in a hurry.
Not to mention, after Jiang Dong investigated the scene, he found more doubts, especially that the assassin seemed to have shouted such strange words as "catch the assassin". Vaguely, he had a guess in his mind, but he didn't show it. He just asked two of his subordinates to guard Zhang's mansion, and then he personally led the others to chase the assassin.
Zhang Pu's assassination was a big news in the capital, especially when it was linked to what he had done before. Therefore, it spreads very quickly.
Some people were shocked and felt that some black-hearted people were so arrogant that they dared to assassinate people in the capital. And some people just take pleasure in others' misfortunes. Look, this is what happens when you offend someone!
After Emperor Chongzhen heard the news, he couldn't help but cheer loudly in his heart!
He knew that whether it was checking the quota of privileges and exemptions for officials and gentry, or collecting unpaid taxes, he would definitely encounter great resistance. If you want to touch their cake, or let them spit out the benefits they have eaten, you will definitely encounter resistance, or even more serious, who knows what trouble will happen.
But now, luckily, this man was assassinated before he even left the capital. The assassin even shouted, "The dog official calls for unpaid taxes," which was obviously related to these two things. With everyone under the emperor’s feet so arrogant, it’s only natural that the emperor would be furious!
Therefore, as everyone thought, Emperor Chongzhen immediately showed a furious attitude. He issued a strict decree to the world, and the quotas for officials and gentry were clearly stipulated in Ming law. Before the spring of next year, all those who exceeded the quotas would be exempted. Officials and gentry all voluntarily reported to the court and paid taxes and served. Otherwise, if they are caught by the imperial envoys, the court will be short of money and food, and the people affected by the disaster will be crying out for food, so they will raid their homes and behead them to feed the people and serve as a warning to others.
It is natural to pay back debts. If you owe taxes to the court, but have not paid them yet, those who have more than a hundred acres of grain fields will have their homes confiscated and their taxes will be low. We will not tolerate it!
At the same time, along with this decree, which was announced to the whole country, different rewards were given to those people who paid taxes on time and had a good record of paying taxes.
For example, those who have paid taxes on time for more than two years can get a 1% tax refund; those who have paid taxes on time for more than three years will be given a plaque by the local government and hung in front of the door, and matters related to the government can be prioritized. Those who have paid taxes on time for more than five years will refuse to bow before the official and go to court. Unless the local procuratorate approves, they will not be punished.
Moreover, rewards and punishments related to these two matters must be included in the assessment of local officials. For example, whether a local official's jurisdiction pays more taxes or owes more taxes is an indicator of the local official's ability.
As soon as this decree came out, the world was shocked again.
Some people feel that the emperor seems to be too strict. Although there is no problem in legal principles, there is nothing more than human feelings outside the legal principles. The emperor always ransacks his house. Isn't he too ruthless?
However, some people think that since this purpose is good, they should confiscate their homes! The money obtained from confiscating the house is all used for disaster relief, and it is not used by the emperor for personal enjoyment! This is for the public good!
As for who feels good about it and who feels bad about it, it all depends on where their butts are sitting. In terms of numbers, there are definitely many people who support this will. Even among some scholars, some knowledgeable people think it is good. They feel that the emperor's decree is a powerful response to the current disasters in the Ming Dynasty.
But after all, some people are still unconvinced and don't want to pay for it. However, the emperor was heaven, and they could not directly object, so they had no choice but to cast their resentment on the assassin. If the assassin hadn't suddenly made such a move, he wouldn't have angered the emperor with such a severe decree!
"Who dares to assassinate an official of the imperial court at the feet of the emperor? Are you crazy?"
"You said it was an assassination, just do it. If you insist on shouting something, aren't you asking for it?"
"..."
While they were complaining, some people, those who liked conspiracy theories, couldn't guess which family was so stupid. When they did such a stupid thing, they secretly wondered whether the emperor had sent someone to do it. ? Otherwise, why would the banya happen to be passing by?
No matter what they did, they never expected that this matter would be written and directed by Zhang Pu. Otherwise, they would have taken advantage of Zhang Pu, and they would have done something like this before they even left the capital!
As for Emperor Chongzhen, he actually knew the truth of the matter that afternoon, because Jiang Dong finally caught Zhang Zonglie.
At that time, the Dongchang policemen were chasing him in a hurry, and Zhang Zonglie was in a hurry. He did not dare to run back to Zhang's house, so he kept hiding. In the end, Jiang Dong and his men were caught.
However, Jiang Dong had already deduced that something was fishy, so he took Zhang Zonglie directly back to Dongchang without announcing the situation.
At the beginning, Zhang Zonglie gritted his teeth, didn't do anything, and didn't answer any questions.
But Jiang Dong already had a lot of evidence and probably guessed the truth of the matter. Under the torture and the psychological offensive, Zhang Zonglie finally knew that he could not hide it, so he resorted to all means. Even at the end, Zhang Zonglie was unable to attack his own master. It was his own master who snatched the knife and attacked him. All recruited.
After listening to Jiang Dong's report, Emperor Chongzhen contacted Zhang Pu's actual attitude and immediately deduced that the reason why he did this was that he actually still didn't want to go to Jiangnan.
So Emperor Chongzhen sneered and said: "The more he doesn't want to go, the more he has to go!"
At this point, he told Jiang Dong: "Escort him south immediately. As for his injury, it will definitely be healed by the time we get to Jiangnan. Monitor him closely and don't let him do anything wrong again. As for this matter, we will let it go for the time being. Don’t let others know, just pretend that the assassin hasn’t been caught yet.”
Seeing Zhang Pu's true face as a hypocrite made Jiang Dong extremely disgusted with him. While responding to Emperor Chongzhen, he made up his mind that even if Zhang Pu went to the toilet, he would send someone to keep an eye on him to see what else he would do.
On the other side, where Wu Changshi was, of course he was reluctant, but before anything happened, something happened on Zhang Pu's side first. Therefore, he didn't do anything extra. However, he had a team of Jinyi guards on his side for personal protection. They were as skilled as Zhang Pu and immediately attacked the capital and headed south with a bitter mood.
After handling this matter, Emperor Chongzhen returned to the harem to see Queen Zhou. After he dismissed everyone, he showed her information about the backgrounds of Zhang Pu and Wu Changshi, including the fact that they controlled the imperial examinations and were known as "civilian emperors".
Queen Zhou was shocked, or rather shocked. She often didn't expect that two people with such good reputations would actually be such people. They were trying to shake up her husband and her son's country and the country. This was incredible!
Emperor Chongzhen naturally expected her anger after feeling that she had been deceived, and said to Empress Zhou: "Although you are the prince's mother and you are doing it for his own good, the prince is the crown prince of the country, and you must be careful about matters related to him. That’s it. Don’t interfere with matters related to foreign court, so as not to be fooled by foreign ministers again, do you understand?”
At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, it was established that the harem and eunuchs were not allowed to interfere in politics. However, rules are meant to be broken after all. Although there are few, there are always some harems and eunuchs involved in politics in the Ming Dynasty.
As for Queen Zhou, she is basically very rule-abiding. However, Emperor Chongzhen did not abide by the rules and would probably have to leave the capital many times. Therefore, he used this matter to let Queen Zhou know that even if he was not in the capital, the emperor still had to make the decision.
In addition, Emperor Chongzhen actually had some ideas about the education of the prince and other princes. However, if it had been proposed before, the Queen might object. But if it were brought up at this time, I believe the queen would not dare to say anything more.
Therefore, taking this opportunity, he decided to tell Queen Zhou.
