Qian's mansion was surrounded on all sides, and soldiers with weapons crowded in from every door. Qian Qianyi did not escape after all.
Surrounded by the Dongchang fanmen, Zhang Pu appeared in the backyard of Qian's house and saw Qian Qianyi's mouth full of blood.
Looking at the marks on the ground, Zhang Pu knew what was going on. He couldn't help but sneer and said: "I said you are too old, but I still don't believe it. Look, let alone a woman, you can even fall when you walk!"
Qian Qianyi was so angry when he heard that he even scolded him again when he was older! Just when he was about to retaliate, Zhang Pu turned around and saw Hou Fangyu with his head lowered. After being stunned for a moment, he couldn't help but sneered and said, "I didn't expect that there is an unfaithful and unfilial little kitten here. Look. Come on, you’ve been involved in everything these days, right?”
Hou Fangyu was also furious when he heard this. He immediately raised his head and wanted to scold him back. When he saw Zhang Pu's cold eyes and several Dongchang servants nearby were still bandaging their injuries, he immediately turned around and felt cold in his heart. Dare to speak.
"What do you want to do when you break into my home?" Qian Qianyi came to his senses at this time, and immediately shouted with an inward look, "In broad daylight, under the bright sky, is there no king's law? Who led you? The soldiers came and they broke into people's houses wantonly? Who can lead the soldiers?"
He did not speak to Zhang Pu because he understood that it would be in vain if he spoke. Therefore, he said it to an officer. The only hope now is to have a direct or indirect relationship with the person leading the troops. If you can persuade him, things will not be too bad. Otherwise, Qian Qianyi himself knew that he would definitely be in trouble if he just listened to Zhang Pu's words.
Before the officer could speak, a soft voice came from outside the courtyard: "Why, what do you want from our family?"
While he was talking, he saw another group of people coming in surrounded by a man wearing a scarlet robe.
Qian Qianyi looked up. Although he didn't recognize it, he knew that he might not be able to escape the loss this time.
If the person who comes in is a civil servant, he can have connections with all kinds of people; even if it is just a military general, with his influence, he might be able to be useful. However, the person who came in was a eunuch, what he called a eunuch. Needless to say, you can know that the eunuch and the Donglin Party have not dealt with each other for many years. This time, there is no reason to help him.
At the same time, what also surprised Qian Qianyi was why a eunuch suddenly appeared in Changshu County with troops?
There were doubts in his heart, but he still said firmly: "I was sitting at home, and disaster fell from the sky. You led troops to break into my home. Shouldn't you give me an explanation? Otherwise, I am not someone to be bullied, and there are people in the court. An honorable man will defend me against injustice!"
Hearing this, Zhang Pu sneered and said: "Don't you have any idea why I and Governor Lu are here? Don't think that denying it will make it okay. Fortunately, Governor Lu arrived in time today. Don't worry, I will You will be convinced!"
Guard Lu? Qian Qianyi couldn't help being shocked when he heard this. Because if the eunuch is called a guard, as far as the surrounding area is concerned, there is only one guard in Nanjing. Nanjing is so far away from Changshu, how could the Nanjing garrison come here? Are you flying well? It's impossible that he just happened to lead an army passing by, right?
Naturally, he didn't know that Jiang Dong had sent his men to the Nanjing Factory Health Office to ask for help. By the time, Lu Jiude had already arrived. When he heard this, he immediately remembered what the emperor had told him before he left: "Changshu is under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, and there have been riots in Suzhou before, and Zhang Xun decided this time that Changshu would be the place for his first mission. Then you will definitely encounter obstacles, and maybe the Suzhou riot will happen again. After you take office, reorganize the army. If you find anything wrong, immediately lead the troops to support Zhang Xun. In any case, his errand is the first It must be done well this time!”
Therefore, after Lu Jiude heard the report from the Dongchang squadron, without saying a word, he immediately made an excuse to reorganize the army, led two thousand troops, took an official ship, went directly south along the river, and landed in Changshu, just in time to catch up with the Changshu riots. , saved Zhang Pu.
From this, Lu Jiude could not help but admire Emperor Chongzhen very much. I didn't expect that the emperor could predict the enemy's plans on the battlefield, and even the matters in the officialdom were so clear and he could guess so accurately!
As for Zhang Pu, when he saw that the leader of the army was not his mentor Zhou Yanru, but the Nanjing garrison eunuch Lu Jiude, he was very surprised and at the same time very emotional.
Thinking back to the first half of his life, he used eunuchs as his enemies, yelled and killed them, and wrote articles and rants, thus earning enough reputation; however, at the critical moment of life and death, he was actually saved by the eunuchs. He was really beaten to death. Something you can't even imagine!
Although Lu Jiude didn't say it explicitly, Zhang Pu knew it very well. Even if there is a report from Dongchang's subordinates, generally speaking, it is impossible for the Nanjing garrison eunuch to personally lead the troops to capture him and come to rescue him.
After all, when the report was made, the riot was only a speculation and had not happened yet. Just like the Suzhou prefect, he just sent some policemen to deal with it, and the reason was actually sufficient. The Nanjing garrison eunuchs can completely ignore it and let the factory guards take care of themselves.
However, Lu Jiude still led the army in person and rushed over as soon as possible. In this regard, even if he beat Zhang Pu to death, he would not believe it. If there was no instruction from the emperor behind this, would Lu Jiude defend him like this? Just because of the things he had done in the past, Lu Jiude might want him to die!
Thinking like this, Zhang Pu couldn't help but realize the emperor's wisdom again. He also understood that the emperor did not just let him go and do things, but had prepared a lot for him. Not only did he send the Dongchang squadron, but also Yang Tinglin, the censor of Zuodu, to support him, and the Nanjing garrison eunuch to escort him.
Thinking of these things, Zhang Pu suddenly had an impulse in his heart for the first time, that is, to be truly loyal to the emperor and serve the country, not for revenge!
With this in mind, Zhang Pu did not continue to bicker with Qian Qianyi. Because he knew that this matter was not over yet. After turning around, there must be some debate in the court. In order for the emperor to make a correct decision on this matter as soon as possible, evidence must be provided as soon as possible.
Therefore, Qian Qianyi, Hou Fangyu and others were taken away, and other arrested mobsters were also interrogated.
Zhang Pu was indeed a talented man, and with the help of Jiang Dong and other Dongchang servants, he quickly identified the thugs as servants of the Qian family.
They were incited by Qian Qianyi and said that if they did not hinder Zhang Pu, they would have to do hard labor. This was something they were not willing to do as slaves of wealthy families. In addition, being led by Qian Qianyi's confidants, he also heard that the rich man would vouch for the fact that when there was a riot in Suzhou, Ge Xian, the chief criminal who committed the same murder, had been imprisoned for several years, but was also released and was called a righteous man. Be respected.
Under all this temptation, the servants of the Qian Mansion became unscrupulous.
As for other families, including the Zhang family in Changshu, they were all afraid when they saw how powerful the Qian family was. They could only listen to whatever the Qian family said, and they also sent people to participate in the riot.
This riot included all the powerful landlords in Changshu County, and they all had their share.
Of course, Pan Xiuwen's testimony is also very important. It is said that after Zhang Pu came, he received the property and instructions from the Qian Mansion, and wanted to hinder Zhang Pu and so on.
Subsequent statistics showed that two people from the Dongchang squad were killed and six injured, one of whom was seriously injured; while the police officers from Suzhou Prefecture only injured three, and all of them were minor injuries. It can be seen that the mob's attacks are mainly aimed at people from the north.
One thing after another, things slowly emerged and were placed in front of Lu Jiude's case, making him secretly frightened.
In addition, with the assistance of the army and the best efforts of Pan Xiuwen and others, the tax situation of grain fields in Changshu County was quickly investigated.
The Qian family's grain fields accounted for more than half of all the grain fields in Changshu County. However, even when Qian Qianyi was an official, he never paid taxes, and no one in his government did any hard labor. According to one whip method, the taxes owed by Qian Qianyi were calculated. Over the years, the total tax owed to the court was more than one million taels.
Seeing this amount, Lu Jiude secretly smacked his lips. No wonder Qian Qianyi wanted to go all out to start a civil uprising.
While he was watching, Zhang Pu said: "I suggest that these memorials be reported to the Emperor secretly immediately and not be made public for the time being."
"Why?" Lu Jiude asked curiously upon hearing this.
Zhang Pu replied with a serious face: "Qian Qianyi formed a party for personal gain. His great power is the reason why he dared to do this. For my better plan, it is better to let all his comrades jump out, so that the emperor can recognize him." Qing, who are Qian Qianyi’s party members!”
Hearing this, Lu Jiude couldn't help but take a closer look at Zhang Pu, thinking, is this the beginning of revenge against Qian Qianyi? Or is it because he came up with this strategy in order to take revenge from Qian Qianyi's people in the future? Or is he sincerely thinking about the emperor and wants to severely crack down on the chaos caused by cliques and selfish interests?
If it had been in the past, he must have thought of the first two reasons. However, at this time, he had heard Jiang Dong tell him privately that Zhang Pu was not afraid of death and wanted to use his own life to severely punish Qian Qianyi. Therefore, Lu Jiude is not easy to grasp.
"Since you already have an idea, our family will naturally not have any objections, so let's do whatever you want." Lu Jiude nodded and replied, remembering that the emperor had given instructions that Zhang Pu would take the lead in everything.
Seeing that Lu Jiude was so easy to talk to, Zhang Pu became even more sure of his guess: Lu Jiude had definitely received the emperor's permission. From this, he couldn't help but feel full of confidence.
At this time, I saw Pan Xiuwen hurriedly looking for him, holding a letter in his hand. After giving Lu Jiude a gift first, he said to Zhang Pu: "Master Zhang, this is the reply from Yixing."
As soon as Zhang Pu heard that it was Zhou Yanru's reply, he immediately started reading it. Although it's late, at least the letter is back, right?
However, after he read it at a glance, his face suddenly became extremely ugly.
Lu Jiude was a little strange, so he asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhang Pu crumpled the letter into a ball with one hand, and at the same time turned to look at Lu Jiude and said: "I want to take advantage of the guard's presence to check the surrounding prefectures as quickly as possible. In order to avoid long nights and dreams, let them And he came up with a way to prevent me from running the emperor's mission!"
"That's no problem!" Seeing his expression, Lu Jiude knew that he was probably stimulated, but he didn't take it seriously and just checked it if he wanted to.
After he agreed, he heard Zhang Pu say in a cold voice: "I am loyal to the emperor and serve the country, but this matter is of great importance. Therefore, to show my determination, I will start from Changzhou Prefecture."
Yixing is under Changzhou Prefecture. He did this obviously because he was going to Zhou Yanru. To put it nicely, he should be going to exterminate relatives for justice and let other officials see his determination. To put it harshly, I am afraid that the content of this letter stimulated him and made him make this decision.
Lu Jiude didn't care about the unlucky things that happened to civil servants, so he just followed Zhang Pu's actions.
On his side, he teamed up with Zhang Pu, Pan Xiuwen and other people with official positions to jointly write a public memorial, saying only that the Changshu mob killed officials and rebelled, and all the criminals who participated in the riot had been arrested if they had not been suppressed on the spot.
As this memorial was sent to the capital through public channels, the news in Changshu also spread. Suddenly, just as Zhang Pu expected, all kinds of voices started to appear in the officialdom.
Some people say that there is no rebellion in the south, maybe there is something hidden!
Some people say that everything was fine before, but suddenly it happened after Zhang Xunjian went there. Could it be that Zhang Xunjian's excessive methods in doing things triggered the civil uprising?
Some people say that the Nanjing garrison eunuch suddenly led his troops to Changshu, which was against etiquette. Did he know that such a thing would happen in Changshu? Did he know that Zhang Xunpian's cruel methods of doing things, so he prepared in advance?
…
Anyway, in the officialdom of Jiangnan, everyone questioned Zhang Pu. They all accused Zhang Pu of improper behavior, which was the reason for this civil uprising. Many people also wrote letters asking for Zhang Pu's transfer. Otherwise, more civil unrest will be triggered and the world will be in chaos?
Then, when they learned that Qian Qianyi's family had been arrested, there was even more excitement in the official circles. Everyone is saying that Qian Qianyi is the leader of Qingliu, with both ability and political integrity. How could he do such a shocking thing? There is definitely something wrong in this!
The Minister of War in Nanjing and the Nanjing garrison, two people who had the same power as the military, also began to put pressure on Lu Jiude, asking him to withdraw his troops.
With these things, news came that Zhang Pu arrived in Changzhou without stopping and vigorously investigated the quotas of preferential exemptions for officials and gentry and the payment of arrears. Even his mentor Zhou Yanru investigated the time mercilessly, causing trouble. It was even worse. On the Jiangnan side, they could no longer stop Zhang Pu, the "mad dog", from handling the case, so they sent memorials one after another. The memorials gathered in the capital like snowflakes.
Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but sneer when he looked at the secret memorials sent by Lu Jiude and Zhang Pu, and then looked at the memorials on the imperial court that almost unanimously impeached them both.
In fact, without this secret memorial, Emperor Chongzhen already knew what happened through the Class A eavesdropping seeds on Zhang Pu, so how could he be confused by these memorials!
Those civil servants, whether they knew the truth about Changshu or not, were all trying to impeach Zhang Pu and protect Qian Qianyi. Even Lu Zhenfei, the Guanglu Shaoqing of the capital, and Zhang Guowei, an assistant minister far away in the southwest, were also included in the memorial. I don’t know where they learned the truth from, or whether they and Qian Qian just relied on them. Is a good friendship meant to help relatives or not?
Is it possible that if you talk to too many people, I will be shaken and doubt Zhang Pu?
The so-called three people become a tiger, haha, it is impossible here!
In fact, by this time in the late Ming Dynasty, land annexation across the country was already very serious. Most of the land and grain fields in the country have been concentrated in the hands of the officials and gentry. If these grain fields are not cleared out and taxes are imposed on ordinary people, no wonder more and more people will rebel because they cannot survive!
Over in Jiangnan, it must have been too long. If you don't get a beating, you won't know the rules and will lose your memory!
