The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

After Zhu Youtang finished talking about his children's education, he invited Zhang Zhou to sit aside, and the two of them faced the military map.

"Bingkuan, I want you to investigate the mining tax. In addition to the mining tax, there are also officials who enrich themselves. I want to eradicate these parasites once and for all. Although I also know that doing so may make you offend many people, but apart from you, no one knows more about mining."

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou with an embarrassed expression.

Mingming was afraid that Zhang Zhou would offend too many people and wanted to protect Zhang Zhou, but he also felt that there were some things that Zhang Zhou had to do.

Zhang Zhou said: "There is indeed a lot of involvement behind the scenes."

Zhu Youtang sighed, "In fact, I care so much because I don't want to be branded as a warmongerer."

"Why does Your Majesty have such an idea?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Alas! War costs money and requires manpower and wealth. Since ancient times, kings who have accomplished great things will be discredited no matter how many contributions they have made. For example, Emperor Taizong was often criticized for his expedition to Mongolia." Zhu Youtang used Zhu Di as an example.

Zhang Zhou thought, this shouldn't be the reason why Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty was criticized, right?

"Besides, the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor were both heroes. They pacified the country, conquered the grasslands, and resolved border problems of their dynasties. They can be said to have left their names in history, but they are still criticized by people."

Zhu Youtang said earnestly, "If I can get a batch of silver and materials from overseas without using too much money from the court, and only rely on you and me to plan, and add the income from mining and farming, I can eradicate the grassland disaster, and no one will say anything about my merits and demerits."

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "Your Majesty's concerns are reasonable."

I don't want to spend the court's money on the war, but I want to spend my...

You are not anxious if someone is greedy for the imperial court's money, but you are more nervous than anyone else if someone is trying to secretly embezzle your private treasury.

"What belongs to me is also yours, Bingkuan. I feel that you and I are the ones who should work together on this matter." Zhu Youtang said with a smile, "Don't worry, no matter who we find, as long as he has profited from this, he is against my plan. I have already told Yang Peng to investigate thoroughly and count every one of them. You can be confident and convict them. Anyone you think is guilty will be punished!"

The implication.

Just watch the interrogation.

I fully support you in starting a major prison in the imperial court.

Zhang Zhou said: "I am afraid that I have wrongly accused some people, or that people will accuse me of deliberately escalating the situation and causing unjust imprisonment."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "How can I not understand your personality? Not to mention that you won't do it, even if you really can, and even take the opportunity to shut some people up, I still think it is necessary. If I think some people are useful to the court and the future of Pingcao, even if they do something illegal, I can temporarily forgive them. In the end... do everything according to your wishes. I am absolutely at ease."

……

……

Zhang Zhou saw that the emperor had full trust in him.

But this kind of trust... made him a little confused. He really was second to none and it seemed like he had lost his goal in life.

What's next?

Rebel and become emperor yourself?
Is that necessary?
Or should he continue to expand the territory, or cultivate Zhu Houzhao, or accumulate more wealth to help Zhu Youtang pacify the grassland?

Now facing the emperor's absolute trust, if he is asked to take charge of criminal justice affairs, he will feel that he is clearing trouble for the emperor.

Yang Peng was in charge of escorting Zhang Zhou out of the palace and reporting the case to him: "Sir, according to the previous plan, we will start with the unimportant Hanlin Academy. The attendant scholar Jiao has not been touched yet, but his son has been secretly detained. This man has connections in the capital. He relies on his father's power and Li Zhang's support. He has made many friends. He is the helper behind the trafficking of coal and pig iron, and even the oppression of the people."

"Really?" Zhang Zhou's expression was indifferent.

Yang Peng said: "This man's name is Jiao Huangzhong."

Zhang Zhou nodded.

Jiao Fang was a typical example of a man of low learning in history. It may also be because he was attached to Liu Jin, a eunuch party. Many scholars at that time despised him, but his son Jiao Huangzhong was also recognized as a man of low learning.
In the third year of Zhengde, Jiao Huangzhong took part in the imperial examination and, with the help of his father's power, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. Originally, Jiao Fang wanted to use Liu Jin's power to make Jiao Huangzhong the top scorer, but was stopped by Li Dongyang and Wang Ao, and finally he was only arranged to be the first in the second class.

This ranking is considered high, but Jiao Fang is still not satisfied.

Moreover, the father and son later worked for Liu Jin and did many things such as bullying and framing loyal officials. However, because Jiao Fang asked to return home in May of the fifth year of Zhengde, he escaped the collapse of Liu Jin's eunuch party in August. Although the civil officials requested to hold Jiao Fang accountable, Jiao Fang was a cabinet minister and had a certain reputation during the Hongzhi period, and did not rise to power by relying on Liu Jin, so he was spared.

When Liu Jin was in power, Jiao Fang and Jiao Huangzhong attached themselves to Liu Jin and became the backbone of the eunuch party.

"Where is the person?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Yang Peng said, "We didn't take it to the Jinyiwei Beizhenfu Division because we were afraid that it would be known. We are still keeping him in secret custody. Although he has been interrogated, he did not name the officials he had dealings with, nor did he confess to any corruption. Without him speaking, it would be difficult to move against Scholar Jiao."

If you want to take advantage of me, you have to pry open my son's mouth first.

Zhang Zhou also discovered that Yang Peng was quite resourceful. Although Jiao Fang was a cautious person, his son did not know what restraint was. This could also be considered a resource.

Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "Then take me over to have a look."

"Please."

Yang Peng smiled and made a gesture to lead the way.

……

……

There is a secret courtyard in the capital, which is where the East Factory holds prisoners. Zhang Zhou is also familiar with this place. After Ning Tong was transferred out of the imperial prison by Yang Peng, he was held in this courtyard.

But Jiao Huangzhong obviously did not receive the same treatment as Ning Tong.

All kinds of torture instruments were used, and after only one or two days, the man was beaten beyond recognition. When Zhang Zhou entered the torture room and saw the charred body hanging on the wooden rack, he realized that the man was breathing more than he was breathing in, and most of his life was gone.

This also shows that Yang Peng will do whatever it takes to get things done.

If Jiao Huangzhong didn't speak, he would have a bad start in the investigation. Yang Peng was very afraid that the emperor would think he was incompetent.

"Eunuch, someone fainted again." Someone came to report to Yang Peng, and then the criminal officer saw Zhang Zhou and was frightened to death.

Yang Peng did not speak to the judge. He smiled and said to Zhang Zhou, "Sir, how do you think the trial should be conducted?"

Zhang Zhou said, "Bring the case files and other things here so I can take a look. Let's talk somewhere else." Zhang Zhou seemed to be uncomfortable with the bloody smell in the torture room, so he walked to the next room. Yang Peng then personally handed Zhang Zhou a booklet, which listed everything that Jiao Huang had confessed after being detained.

"Didn't they confess a few people?" Zhang Zhou said.

Yang Peng said: "Sir, you may not know, he only confessed some lower-level officials, but he didn't say anything about officials in Beijing or local officials. There was already evidence, but he still refused to admit it."

Zhang Zhou sighed, "The so-called empirical evidence actually still lacks more evidence to prove it, doesn't it?"

"This... is it." Yang Peng had no idea what Zhang Zhou was up to.

Zhang Zhou said, "If Eunuch Yang wants to connect all those people he mentioned to me before through the son of this Hanlin Academy scholar, wouldn't it be too difficult?"

"Sir, do you mean to let him go first?"

Yang Peng was a little surprised.

From what Zhang Zhou said, there is no need to go to great lengths on Jiao Huangzhong.

Or maybe they thought that Yang Peng was too eager to succeed, and he actually arrested Jiao Huangzhong and wanted to bring down all the people involved in the case, as if to implicate someone who should not be wrongly imprisoned.

Zhang Zhou said: "Of course we can't let him go, but we have to know the limits. I think we can negotiate with him and make some deals. For example, if he gives out some people, he will get some benefits. Extorting a confession by torture alone is useless."

"Haha." Yang Peng obviously did not agree with Zhang Zhou's method of inducement.

Given Yang Peng's personality, he would definitely not show mercy if he could be ruthless.

This is also where Yang Peng and Li Zhang have similar personalities. If Yang Peng was not so ruthless, Zhu Youtang would not have allowed Yang Peng to take over from Li Zhang as the head of the East Factory, because the person Zhu Youtang needed to be in charge of the East Factory at this time was not a good person, but a ruthless person.

Someone is needed who can do all the bad things for Zhang Zhou. The previous Li Zhang was sent out because he offended too many people, and then he was replaced by the seemingly gentle Yang Peng, but the emperor knew that Yang Peng was not a good person either.

"Send the man over here and see if I can talk to him."

"Yes, I'll bring him over to you right away."

……

……

Yang Peng went to the next room personally and had Jiao Huangzhong untied from the shelf. Then he made him appear in front of Zhang Zhou dragging heavy shackles.

Jiao Huangzhong's eyes were dull. Even though he saw a man in official uniform sitting in front of him, he didn't recognize Zhang Zhou and didn't know who Zhang Zhou was... This is to say, Zhang Zhou was a mysterious figure in the court. Naturally, Jiao Huangzhong, who hadn't even become an official yet, didn't know him.

This kind of second-generation official is equivalent to a white glove between officials and businessmen. Most court officials know him, but when it comes to Zhang Zhou, his logic of doing things is no longer applicable.

"Do you know why we are here?" Yang Peng asked.

"I don't know." Jiao Huangzhong spoke weakly.

Yang Peng laughed and said, "You are really courting death. You thought your father could come to save you? I am Yang Peng, the commander of the East Factory. You know your situation, right?"

"Eunuch Yang, help me." Jiao Huangzhong knelt there and kowtowed to Yang Peng. "I have made some mistakes, but I have never harmed the court or you. If you have any needs, please tell me. I will do my best to get it done, and my father will also get it done for you."

"It's too late." Yang Peng said, "Let me put it this way, if I ask for your head, will you give it to me?"

"Cough cough..." He was coughing in the scorched yellow state, but there was blood at the corners of his mouth. It was obvious that he had suffered some internal injuries.

Zhang Zhou sat there, looking very comfortable, and said, "Your father is just a scholar in the Hanlin Academy, a noble official, but your family is quite well off. I heard that you drive luxury cars and have many followers. You are even very generous when you go to the Jiaofang Bureau. You are also a frequent visitor to some brothels and spend money like water."

"Sir, that's not true." Jiao Huangzhong said, "It's just some malicious slander."

Zhang Zhou said: "I know what kind of person you are. Let me put it this way. Theoretically, all the money you spend is mine."

"what?"

A look of surprise on the scorched face.

All the money I spent was yours? Who are you?

Then his sallow face showed some fear. Although he didn't know Zhang Zhou, from the official uniform on Zhang Zhou, and comparing Zhang Zhou's age, and the fact that he could sit there while Yang Peng was standing... he had already guessed who this was.

Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "Haha, why are you surprised? Tell me, is it easy for me to open a mine? From east to west, I have opened dozens of mines, right? Including the mines that are affiliated with and dependent on the court, and the mines that the court has already opened, it can bring the court an income of two to three hundred taels of silver every year. Although most of it is used in border administration and the construction of Binhai City, there are still many... that have been robbed."

No words spoken in the scorched yellow.

"That's what I said. My wallet has never been full. Even when I go out, I can only bring the Jinyiwei arranged by the court with me. I can't spend money lavishly anywhere, but there are people who spend money for me. I am unlucky. I don't get any rewards for my work. Don't you think it's a pity?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.

Yang Peng smiled and said, "Sir, you are too polite. If you want to spend money, who can stop you? That's because you are frugal. Everyone in the court should take you as a role model."

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "In fact, I also want to spend money lavishly. I also want to be a master in a brothel and have all the top girls come to my room, but the conditions do not allow it. What I have to do is to save military funds for your majesty, fight for the court, and plan so many things. Outsiders think I live a good life every day, but your majesty knows that I have a few silver coins. I am also half a poor person... but I can't say I can't make ends meet. I can only say... I am not as rich as this Mr. Jiao."

Jiao Huangzhong had no idea how to deal with it at this moment.

He never thought that he would meet Zhang Zhou, the famous Ming Dynasty, in such an occasion today.

This is someone he can't afford to offend.

If he had known before that this was the territory of the Eastern Depot, he would have thought that his father would be able to make progress and get him out.

But when he met Zhang Zhoulai, he felt that his life was over.

Zhang Zhou said, "Ninety thousand taels of silver. This is the amount that Eunuch Yang gave you and your son. I think it's too much. You and your son should not be able to get so much silver."

"That's true." Jiao Huangzhong hurriedly explained, "I hope you can understand, Master Zhang."

"You took my money, so I must investigate it, but I haven't figured out how to investigate it. His Majesty said that this case is mine, and I will decide whether to kill as many people as possible, but he didn't set any standards for me. I can't just kill your father casually. After all, we are both scholars, so I still have to give him face. But if you..."

"I know my crime, I know my crime." Jiao Huangzhong seemed to be unable to do anything except kowtow. (End of this chapter)