Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 507: The Arrogant Ouyang Lun (Subscribe!!)

Ouyang Lun called Li Shanchang and others trash, and Li Shanchang and others were naturally angry. What made them even more crazy was that Ouyang Lun actually admitted all the accusations in front of them.

Arrogant!

Arrogant to the extreme!
Li Shanchang was extremely angry. He, Li Shanchang, had followed Zhu Yuanzhang when he just started the rebellion. Over the years, he, Li Shanchang, had worked tirelessly to give Zhu Yuanzhang advice, which led to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty!

But now in Ouyang Lun's mouth he has become a waste. How could Li Shanchang accept this?

Just when Li Shanchang was about to speak out and refute Ouyang Lun, Ouyang Lun spoke again, but this time he did not talk to Li Shanchang, but turned to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, you should know very well what kind of person your son-in-law is."

"I heard that hundreds of officials have signed a petition to accuse me. Although I disdain these people, I still sent people to investigate. I made a rather shocking discovery. Among these officials who signed a petition to accuse me, more than 70% were demoted by me for failing to implement reforms, and more than 60% were punished for having chaotic private lives and oppressing the people!"

"In addition, at least 50% of the officials were originally under the command of Hu Weiyong, Wang Bi and others!"

"Your Majesty, no matter what these people are, they all harbor hatred towards me, so their motives in jointly impeaching me and my son-in-law are questionable!"

"As for the crimes they accused me of, I did commit them... but I do not admit my guilt, because I am innocent!"

"If this son-in-law had really done something treasonous, Your Majesty would have already started with me, and there would have been no need to wait for these corrupt officials to impeach me!"

amount……

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Ouyang Lun's words, he was speechless.

Good brother Ouyang Lun, just say what you want to say. Why are you so blunt? Li Shanchang and his people already think that I am biased towards you, Ouyang Lun.

Now you don’t even pretend!
For a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang felt like he was being plotted against by Ouyang Lun and then dragged onto Ouyang Lun's pirate ship.

The key is that he cannot jump ship now. After all, Ouyang Lun is too important to the Ming Dynasty today.

The construction of the prosperous Hongwu era is at a critical juncture through several attempts, such as letting Li Shanchang run the four southern provinces, and letting Li Shanchang take over the Ministry of Revenue!

But the result made Zhu Yuanzhang speechless. Both the four southern provinces and the Ministry of Revenue were in chaos and falling apart!
Another thing is to let Crown Prince Zhu Biao study with Ouyang Lun. To be honest, during this process, Zhu Biao and Ouyang Lun cooperated well, and Ouyang Lun was also teaching Zhu Biao seriously. Although Zhu Biao made great progress, he was still far from Ouyang Lun. Zhu Biao still needed to continue learning. If Ouyang Lun was killed, what would happen to Zhu Biao in the future?
If they really wanted to kill Ouyang Lun, they would have to wait until the prosperous Hongwu era and when Zhu Biao was able to take charge of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang cannot die, at least not now. Even if Ouyang Lun is more arrogant, Zhu Yuanzhang cannot be angry.

Of course, in addition to blaming Ouyang Lun, Zhu Yuanzhang also praised Ouyang Lun quite a bit. This time, Li Shanchang came with the idea of ​​"taking advantage of your illness to kill you."

Before stepping into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Ouyang Lun was completely unaware of this matter.

If it were someone else, they would have been frightened by Li Shanchang's display and fallen into his trap.

However, Ouyang Lun remained calm and composed throughout the whole process. His seemingly crazy speech interrupted the plans of Li Shanchang and others, making it difficult for them to capture Ouyang Lun.

Ouyang Lun's methods are really becoming more and more mature. Even the "cunning and treacherous" Li Shanchang has been repeatedly frustrated in front of Ouyang Lun!

Seeing how well Ouyang Lun handled the situation, and how he fought Li Shanchang and others without any preparation, Zhu Yuanzhang felt relieved. As an emperor, he would naturally not step down if he could avoid it.

Zhu Yuanzhang is now very clear that Li Shanchang is waiting for his statement.

Since Li Shanchang returned to the court, the Huaixi Party's behavior has become more and more outrageous, and it is a good opportunity for Ouyang Lunlai to govern them.

So this time Zhu Yuanzhang simply did not express his opinion and continued to watch how Ouyang Lun and Ouyang Lun argued.

In the end, it will be up to him, the emperor, to make the final decision!

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, Li Shanchang felt a pang in his heart.

At this moment he did not dare to give up, because once he gave up, not only would his reputation be ruined, but Ouyang Lun would definitely launch a counterattack, which was something Li Shanchang absolutely did not want to see.

Since Your Majesty the Emperor won’t speak, I will force you to speak.

Thinking of this, Li Shanchang did not delay any longer and immediately stood up again.

"Your Majesty, what Ouyang Lun just said is complete nonsense!"

"Since Ouyang Lun has already admitted to those acts of corruption and abuse of power, Your Majesty, please order Ouyang Lun to be arrested and interrogated!"

After Li Shanchang finished speaking, the other ministers immediately echoed him.

"Your Majesty, Ouyang Lun's crimes are no less than those committed by Hu Weiyong and Yang Xian. We must put an end to them!"

"Your Majesty, Ouyang Lun is now in a high position of power. If he has any rebellious intentions, I am afraid that my Ming Dynasty will be in great trouble!"

"Ouyang Lun and his followers have controlled many key positions and important materials in the Ming Dynasty over the years! If they want to target someone, who will resist?"

"Now the truth is clear, even Ouyang Lun himself knows it, he must be severely punished!"

……

As Zhu Yuanzhang listened to the words of Li Shanchang and other officials, his expression gradually became ugly.

"Humph, Li Shanchang, what do you mean by this?"

"Are you trying to force me to abdicate?"

Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

amount……

Li Shanchang and others were stunned by Zhu Yuanzhang's yelling.

They never expected Zhu Yuanzhang to react like this.

Just when Li Shanchang was about to explain.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not give them a chance to explain, and continued: "You just kept asking me to severely punish Ouyang Lun. I might as well tell you that I also know everything Ouyang Lun did. Why... do you want to take me down as well?"

"Charge me with the crime of harboring a criminal?"

amount……

Li Shanchang and others were dumbfounded again. They were shocked when Ouyang Lun admitted it just now, but now that Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to protect Ouyang Lun, they were extremely shocked.

The emperor and his consort are in the same boat, how can I speak?
Seeing that Li Shanchang and the others were speechless, Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "I have already asked the Jinyiwei to record all the things Ouyang Lun has done over the years. Whether it is Ouyang Lun's own earnings or others' money, it is all recorded clearly. In addition, where the money was used is also recorded clearly!"

"Ouyang Lun did collect the money, but most of it was deposited into the anti-corruption fund in the silver cabinet. The money was used to support national construction, provide living allowances for officials, and to provide loans to government offices at all levels."

"You can all look at it if you want!"

After saying that, Zhu Yuanzhang took out the small notebook and asked Wang Zhong to take it down to show Li Shanchang and others.

After reading the book, Li Shanchang and the others were silent. However, he dared not speak again, "Your Majesty, even if Ouyang Lun did not put the embezzled money into his own pocket, he was actually embezzled. In addition, Ouyang Lun's crimes of persecuting officials and oppressing the people are still facts, and he must be severely punished!" Hearing what Li Shanchang said, Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes, "Li Shanchang, you have lived so long, you really live in your ass!"

"Who is Ouyang Lun? He is my son-in-law, the consort of the Ming Dynasty! He is of the first rank!"

"Some officials do not do well. Can't they be educated? And you call this persecuting officials? That's simply ignoring the truth!"

"As for oppressing the people? That's nonsense. Go ask the people yourself what they think of Ouyang Lun!"

"I have been too indulgent towards you!" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and his tiger eyes kept scanning the people in the hall, and finally his gaze fell on Feng Degui and several other merchants who had filed a complaint.

"Humph, you few worthless businessmen, do you think that just because you beat the drum to report the wrongs, you are the ones who are wronged?"

"The Jinyiwei has already found out that you were all treacherous merchants who bullied men and women and refused to cooperate with the government. You even incited the people to fight against the government. After being punished, you regarded yourselves as victims. You deserved this fate!"

“Tell me! Who instructed you to come and frame Ouyang Lun this time? If you tell me, I might leave you a way out!”

Faced with Zhu Yuanzhang's murderous words, merchants such as Feng Degui were terrified.

Feng Degui and others subconsciously looked at Li Shanchang.

Li Shanchang hurriedly shouted: "Why are you, the cheap merchants, looking at me? If you really framed and slandered an important official of the court, you will definitely not survive!"

"Of course, if you take the initiative to confess, perhaps you can save your wife and children from being implicated!"

"You are in front of His Majesty, you must think carefully before speaking!"

After hearing what Li Shanchang said, Feng Degui and others showed despair on their faces.

Of course they understood what Li Shanchang said just now. On the surface, he asked them to reveal the person behind the scenes, but in fact he was threatening them. If they dared to confess, not only would they die, but their entire family would also die.

You should know that when Li Shanchang asked them to come out and sue Ouyang Lun, he had his men arrest the entire family of Feng Degui and other merchants.

What we are trying to prevent is that if the truth is exposed, these businessmen will turn against us!

Li Shanchang's words were indeed very useful.

Feng Degui said in despair: "Your Majesty, Ouyang Lun has really driven our families to ruin! No one gave us any instructions!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had already anticipated Feng Degui's reaction. He first gave Li Shanchang a meaningful look, then said in a deep voice: "I have brought out all the evidence, but you guys are still quibbling. I have lost my patience!"

"Here comes someone!"

"Your Majesty!" Several guards walked in.

"These merchants slandered the current emperor's son-in-law and even beat the drum to report their crimes. They are really guilty of heinous crimes. Take them out and chop them off. Hang their heads on the city gate to serve as a warning to others!"

"Yes!"

As Zhu Yuanzhang gave the order, the guards rushed in and carried Feng Degui and other merchants directly out of the hall.

When they heard that it was beheading, several businessmen fainted from fright.

Feng Degui looked at Li Shanchang with the last glimmer of hope, but the latter just turned his head away, as if he was too lazy to even look at them again.

Only then did Feng Degui realize that they, Ruci, had worked hard for the Huaixi Party and Li Shanchang, but in Li Shanchang's eyes, they were nothing and could be abandoned at any time.

Feng Degui's heart was filled with regret. If he had known this would happen, he would never have stayed with the others to beat the drum for reporting!
At this moment, Feng Degui really wanted to shout out loud that Li Shanchang was the person giving the instructions behind the scenes!

But Ye just thought about it. After all, although they knew that it was Li Shanchang who instructed them, Li Shanchang had never met them from beginning to end, and they had no evidence to prove that Li Shanchang had any relationship with them!

More importantly, if Li Shanchang was angered by this, his wife, children and parents would all die. The Huaixi Party was extremely cruel in punishing traitors.

Feng Degui didn't dare to gamble and could only close his eyes and accept his fate. The same was true for other businessmen.

But at this time.

"Your Majesty, please wait. I have something to say!"

Ouyang Lun said.

As Ouyang Lun's words rang out, everyone turned their eyes to Ouyang Lun.

Even the guards temporarily stopped pulling Feng Degui and other merchants out.

"Ouyang Lun, what are you going to do now?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to release these merchants!"

As soon as Ouyang Lun said this, the scene suddenly became silent.

Everyone was stunned.

No one expected that Ouyang Lun would actually plead for Feng Degui and others.

"Ouyang Lun, are you serious? These profiteers have gone to great lengths to slander you, which shows how deep their hatred for you is. If you let them go today, there's no guarantee that they won't slander you again or even murder you in the future!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

“Your Majesty, I thought that after what happened today, these merchants would never trouble me again. On the contrary... they might even reform themselves and make their own contributions to the economic development of Ming Dynasty! If there really is a mastermind behind these people, they must hate him to the core now!” Ouyang Lun spread his hands, “Now everyone can see that these merchants are just pawns of others, and they are flags that can be discarded at any time!”

"There is another benefit to keeping a few merchants. They will become the eyesores of the masterminds. It won't be long before they take action against them. After all, only the dead can shut up forever!"

"Your Majesty, don't you think what your son-in-law said is right?"

"Well, that makes sense!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly.

At this moment, Li Shanchang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this cannot be done! Since it has been confirmed that these merchants beat the drum to frame Prince Consort Ouyang Lun, this is a serious crime that cannot be pardoned!"

"I think we should do as Your Majesty just said and behead these merchants and hang their heads on the city walls for public display. This will deter those scoundrels with ulterior motives!"

Li Shanchang stood up and said loudly.

amount……

After hearing Li Shanchang's words, the businessmen such as Feng Degui had the most intense reaction.

Ouyang Lun pleaded for them, giving them a glimmer of hope, but Li Shanchang stood up and tried to completely extinguish their last hope...

(End of this chapter)