At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 138

After returning to the palace, Huai En came to report that Yuan Bin, the Commander of Jin Yiwei, asked to see him, and had been waiting in the imperial study for a long time.

Zhu Qizhen seemed to think of something, and asked, "How is Miss Song?"

Wynn said: "Go back to the emperor, the imperial doctor has seen it, and the recovery is not bad."

Zhu Qizhen nodded, turned around and came to the imperial study room.

Yuan Bin hurriedly saluted: "My minister Yuan Bin greets the saint!"

"I'm safe, excuse me!"

Zhu Qizhen sat down and asked, "What's the matter?"

Yuan Bin said: "Report to the emperor, Zhu Qianshi reported some things to the minister, and the minister felt that the matter was too important, so he didn't dare to neglect it, so he rushed over immediately."

Zhu Qizhen nodded. Before going out for the expedition, he did explain some special things to Zhu Ji.

"Where's Zhu Ji, why didn't he come with you?"

"Go back to the emperor, he is not in the capital now."

"Oh?" Zhu Qizhen questioned, "Where is it?"

"Fuzhou!"

"Fuzhou?"

Zhu Qizhen was puzzled, asked you to check a few people, why did you go to Fuzhou?
Yuan Bin took out a list and handed it over, and then said: "During the time the emperor was on the expedition, Zhu Qianshi found some clues by investigating some merchants who came and went, and then went to Fuzhou in person."

Zhu Qizhen opened the list and took a look, dissatisfied: "Do these people feel that the salary of the imperial court is too low, and they are still doing business secretly?"

There are not only merchants on the list, but also many court officials.

According to the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, officials of the fourth grade and above are prohibited from doing business, and if they embezzle 60 taels of silver, they will be stripped for public display.

However, no one in this world has trouble with money. Most of the officials in the court have more or less contact with merchants, so they start to turn a blind eye and turn a blind eye. alright.

As a result, the situation where officials and businessmen dared not raise their heads due to torture of officials in the early Ming Dynasty gradually became useless.

With the passage of time, all the high-ranking officials and ministers saw that there was an opportunity to take advantage of it, and they disregarded the rules set by Ming Taizu and let their family members go into business, thus forming a unique phenomenon of border bans and border merchants, so that officials and merchants Rampant, rich and powerful.

Yuan Bin explained: "Your Majesty does not know that the list of officials compiled by Zhu Qianshi has unusual business activities, but...maritime trade!"

Zhu Qizhen's complexion began to turn ugly. Although he also has plans to open the sea, it is my business to open the sea. If you go to the sea privately, then you don't take me as the emperor seriously!

"Zhu Qian's investigation followed the line of merchants and found that some people were closely related to court officials. After further investigation, one of the merchants in Fuzhou was buying silk, porcelain, cotton cloth and other goods in the south, but he could not find out. It seemed that he could only get in and out. He personally went to Fuzhou, followed day and night, and finally tracked down the way those people shipped the goods. It turned out that they were all shipped to Japan, North Korea, Luzon, Annan and other countries."

Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen was actually a little hesitant. It seemed unnecessary to arrest these officials and smugglers according to the ancestral system.

Right now, the Ming Dynasty is waiting to be rejuvenated, and the development of industry, commerce and maritime trade is the general trend.

If we take care of all the people now, and change hands before announcing the opening of the sea and encouraging business, wouldn't it be a slap in the face?
"Actually, I have heard for a long time that some people have been sneaking out to sea. Since it is the will of the people, I am also considering whether the sea ban should be lifted. As for those officials who secretly colluded with merchants, they should be punished appropriately."

"Your Majesty, things are not that simple."

Yuan Bin shook his head and said with a wry smile: "In order to investigate the case, Zhu Qianshi disguised himself and sneaked into one of the fleets, only to find out that those people have connections with Japanese pirates!"

"Japanese pirates?"

Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but change his face. If it was just smuggling out to sea, he could be dealt with lightly, but colluding with Japanese pirates is another matter!

"Not bad!"

Yuan Bin nodded and said, "Zhu Qian was worried about arousing the other party's suspicion, so he didn't write a letter. He just asked someone to bring out a sentence, saying that the Japanese pirates might have made some big moves recently. He is currently inquiring further."

These words are consistent with what Song Guxi said, and it further confirms that the fact that the White Lotus Sect colluded with the Japanese pirates to plot wrongdoing is true.

Zhu Qizhen thought for a long time, and asked, "Can I contact Shi Heng? What's the situation with this person?"

Yuan Bin shook his head and said: "After Shi Heng left, there has been no news. I am worried that he has already rebelled, so I dare not let Zhu Qianshi go looking for him."

Zhu Qizhen's expression was a little disappointed. Although Shi Heng was reckless, he carried a bit of arrogance. Could it be that he really misjudged him?
If this chess piece can play a role, it will be very important.

However, at the moment, this situation can only be deeply regretted.

Zhu Qizhen thought about it, and said: "These people on the list, don't act rashly, send people to spy on them, and all those who deal with them, no matter officials, merchants or ordinary people, must be investigated to the end!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

After Yuan Bin left, Zhu Qizhen also left the Imperial Study to visit Song Guxi.

She is still recovering from her injuries. In this era, there are no surgical conditions and no antibiotics, so she can only rely on her physique to hold on.

"Your majesty...you are here..."

Song Guxi struggled to sit up, Zhu Qizhen pressed her shoulders and pushed her back on the bed.

"Lie down and don't move!"

Song Guxi nodded lightly, her face full of comfort.

"I'm asking you something!"

"The emperor... what do you want to ask?"

"Did your White Lotus Sect take rebellion as its mission in all dynasties?"

"The emperor joked..."

Song Guxi smiled awkwardly, and said: "The White Lotus Sect originated from the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism. It requires believers to recite the Buddha's name and keep the precepts in order to be reborn in the Western Pure Land."

Zhu Qizhen asked again: "Then why, since the Southern Song Dynasty, no matter which dynasty or generation, you have to rebel?"

The Ming emperors of all dynasties were no strangers to the White Lotus Sect, because the establishment of the Ming Dynasty and the White Lotus Sect are inextricably linked.

The White Lotus Sect originated in the Southern Song Dynasty, and its most prosperous period was in the Yuan Dynasty.

The Mongolian and Yuan dynasties were brutal, and the people were in dire straits, which eventually led to the flames of war in the Central Plains, and uprisings all over the world.

The most famous one at that time was the Han Shantong uprising. Because his grandfather was punished for propagating the concept of the White Lotus Sect, Han Shantong proposed when governing the river: "Proclaim that the world will be in chaos, and Maitreya Buddha will be reborn."

Especially after getting to know Liu Futong, the two of them increased their efforts to publicize Maitreya's birth and King Ming's birth. Not only that, they also secretly formed a Red Turban Army to prepare for an uprising.

The famous folk song about the stone man with one eye provoking rebellion in the Yellow River was composed by these two people.

Later, Han Shantong was defeated, captured and killed, and his son Han Lin'er was made King Xiaoming by Liu Futong.

This Xiao Ming Wang is Zhu Yuanzhang's nominal master.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's recollection, he originally wanted to support King Xiao Ming and proclaim him emperor, and he specially sent General Liao Yongzhong to pick him up. Unexpectedly, when the boat sailed in the Guazhou River, it accidentally leaked and sank...

Come to think of it, all of this is God's will!

(End of this chapter)