Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Minister of Personnel Miao Yikui knew clearly that he was not a good commander, so he took the initiative to withdraw from military discussions to avoid blindly participating and causing trouble. He knew that the ever-changing situation on the battlefield and the profoundness of military tactics were beyond his control, so it was better to let those who really knew the business worry about it.

Li Banghua bowed his head and pondered for a long time, as if he had to think carefully before he dared to speak each word. Finally, he slowly said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the art of war is infinitely changeable and extremely mysterious. I really cannot agree with what Minister Fang and Minister Fan said."

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes, and he encouraged: "Oh? What do you think?"

Banghua continued, "Our country is weak in military strength and lacks generals. If the Jiannu want to enter the pass, we will find it difficult to stop them. Fighting head-on will only lead to losses. You see, since the departure of powerful generals like Huang Degong, Jiang Taiwei, Ji Zisheng, Bakeyong and others, no matter how they combine, are difficult to match Duoduo."

"Sending them to fight against Duoduo is like sending sheep into the tiger's mouth, just to die!"

"The most urgent thing at present is to protect the two important places of the capital and Shanhaiguan! As long as these two places are there, the court will be as stable as Mount Tai."

"When Huang Degong brings us good news, we will gather all our forces and drive the Jiannu out of the Great Wall in one fell swoop!"

After he finished speaking, silence fell in the hall, and everyone understood that this was a helpless act.

Looking back, in order to deal with Dorgon's 100,000 troops, they had to take into account the troops that were used to contain and block the enemy, and in fact, they could only barely win by fighting three against one. Now, facing Dodo's 50,000 or 60,000 elite troops, the sheer amount of troops required was a headache.

The king and his five ministers discussed for a long time and finally decided to avoid the attack for the time being.

Lin Xiaofeng immediately sent someone on a fast horse to Xuanfu Town to deliver a secret letter to Zhu Fenghui. He also sent an urgent document three hundred miles away to Dengzhou.

The other cabinet ministers dispersed one after another, leaving only Miao Yikui.

"Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?" Miao Yikui hadn't met the emperor alone for a long time and was very excited.

Lin Xiaofeng glanced at him calmly and asked, "How is the progress of the Beijing inspection that I asked you to be responsible for before, which is to inspect the performance of officials and the officials they recommend for external appointments?"

Miao Yikui quickly bowed and replied: "I have sorted out the performance evaluation and recommended officials since the first year and put them at home. I did not bring them into the palace. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"It's okay. I'm not in a hurry to check it out."

"Then I will immediately make three copies when I return, one for Gu Chaosheng, one for Your Majesty, and one for Lord Li."

When Gu Chaosheng was mentioned, Miao Yikui's heart tightened. Gu Chaosheng was ruthless and greedy. If he were to rectify the administration, it would probably cause a big mess.

After asking about some matters of the Ministry of Personnel, Lin Xiaofeng asked Miao Yikui to leave.

Back in the harem, Lin Xiaofeng hugged Queen Zhou, feeling mixed emotions, hesitant to speak. The Ming Dynasty is now facing internal and external troubles, wars are raging everywhere, it is not easy to resist foreign enemies and eliminate traitors!
Soon, Lin Xiaofeng fell into a deep sleep.

Zhu Fenghui, who was hundreds of miles away, was also tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Since Duoduo left Xuanfu, he had been sending people to secretly track his whereabouts.

"I heard that Duoduo slaughtered the Longmen guards and then escaped from Dushikou? Then he must have very little food left!" Feng Hui couldn't help but sigh when he heard the news.

Guerrilla General Ding Yi curiously asked the reason, but Feng Hui did not answer directly. Instead, he turned to Zhang Feng, a captain of the Imperial Guards, and asked, "Captain Zhang, is your information accurate?"

Zhang Feng sighed and nodded, his eyes filled with grief and indignation: "Yes, I went into the city to check, and among the dead there were men, women, old and young. This is a massacre!"

Feng Hui also sighed: "General Ding is the only one among my men who can still fight, but it is too late to rescue the Dragon Gate Guards."

"If it's true as Captain Zhang said, then the Jiannu's food will soon run out!" Feng Hui said to everyone, "The Jiannu entered the pass only for population, food and treasure. In the past, they robbed the people, killed the elderly and children, and captured able-bodied men to farm in Liaodong. Why are they massacring the city now? It's because the food is running out!"

Zhang Feng held a different view: "They were unable to capture Xuanfu and Juyongguan, so they were so angry that they massacred the city to vent their anger!"

Feng Hui shook his head. "The Jiannu are not stupid people. How could they kill all the farmers just because of a momentary anger? It is certain that the food will run out. Seeing that June is about to end, the Mongols should also take action, right?"

At first, it was Zhang Feng who was in charge of contacting the Mongols. He calculated the time and said, "Khalkha Zasaktu Khan Subadi has promised to send troops to help, but it is hard to predict whether he can fulfill his promise."

Feng Hui stood up and paced around the room in deep thought: "I defended Xuanfu and contacted Mongolia in order to contain Jiannu. Now Duoduo has given up Xuanfu. If Khalkha does not send troops, it will disrupt the deployment of the court and increase the pressure inside the pass!"

Thinking of this, he hurriedly picked up the pen to write a letter. After finishing it, he checked it several times, stamped it with the seal, and said to Zhang Feng: "This matter is urgent. Captain Zhang, please go to Mobei again. The letter has detailed instructions. If Subadi breaks the contract, it is not your fault."

Zhang Feng accepted the task seriously. Feng Hui added: "What you said in the letter is limited. I have a few more words to say. Please tell Subati in person."

"Sir, please speak."

"The cold in Mobei is biting, especially in winter, when there is snow and wind, and countless cattle and sheep have frozen to death. If we don't store food in advance, we may not be able to survive the winter. There are hundreds of thousands of stones of food and various necessities in Xuanfu Town. If Subadi can come to harass Daning, we are willing to trade with him. There is no upper limit on the transaction amount, as long as he comes!"

"They can provide horses, cattle and sheep, and we can provide food, ironware, cotton and linen. Both sides can benefit. I hope he can consider it carefully!"

Zhang Feng memorized it several times in silence and nodded heavily: "I will definitely keep it in mind."

Feng Hui immediately ordered people to prepare horses, camels and necessities for the journey. Late at night, Zhang Feng, with two personal soldiers and carrying hurricane lanterns, first left the city to the west, and then galloped all the way north.

In the lobby of Shuntian Prefecture, Wang Tingmei, the prefect, opened his eyes wide, as if two pearls were about to jump out of his eye sockets. His eyes swept across the people in the hall, and his face instantly became full of surprise, just like a sudden dark cloud in summer, covering his originally peaceful face. He kept muttering in his heart, his thoughts were like bubbles in boiling water, chaotic and rapid: "What are you talking about? Our area is fine, where is the disaster that needs relief? Is it a disaster from heaven, or a hidden disaster from man?"

Looking again, oh, he is quite a person! Zhang Chenji, the chief steward of the Ministry of Revenue, is dressed in luxurious official uniform, with a stern face and a majestic presence; Ying Chengwen, the big shot in the Ministry of Justice, has sharp eyes, as if he can see through people's hearts; Gao Heng, who is in charge of personnel in the Ministry of Personnel, has a dignified face and his manners reveal unquestionable authority; Tian Jingyi, who does practical work in the Ministry of Works, has a burly figure and exudes a practical aura; and Cheng Wendong, the right assistant censor in the Censorate, who is in charge of supervision, has a barely perceptible sneer on his thin face, as if everything is within his calculations; even Gu Chaosheng, the head of the East Factory, is dressed in black and has a stern face, like a cheetah in the night, quietly but chilling. They all sat there with stern faces and menacing momentum, as if a storm is about to come.

Especially Gu Chaosheng, Wang Tingmei was nervous, thinking that she had to give him a seat, after all, he was a favorite of the emperor, ruthless, and famous, like a sword hanging over her head, which could fall at any time. But Gu Chaosheng didn't even raise his eyelids, he found a chair and sat down, his movements were quick and decisive, without any dragging, his eyes staring straight at Zhang Chenji, like a hungry cheetah staring at its prey.

This "disaster relief" matter was obviously led by the Ministry of Revenue, and other departments followed to help. Officials all knew that they had to be careful in what they said and did, not to talk too much, not to act recklessly, and to take every step steadily, as if walking on thin ice, for fear of being smashed to pieces if they were not careful. Gu Chaosheng's mind was like a mirror, and in such occasions, he would naturally keep silent if he could, and silence was his best weapon.

Zhang Chenji gently brushed the dust off his sleeves. His movement was elegant and calm, as if he was brushing away all the dust and worries. He said in a calm tone: "Lord Wang, just because you say there is no disaster, does that mean there is no disaster? The extent of the disaster can only be known after the court sends people to investigate." His voice was neither high nor low, but it carried an unquestionable power, as if it was the final word.

When Wang Tingmei heard this, he understood it in his heart and quickly responded, "Yes, yes, Lord Zhang is right. I am the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture and have the responsibility to defend my territory. If you have any instructions, just tell me. I will do my best to cooperate!" His attitude was sincere and humble, as if a devout believer facing his god.

Zhang Chenji looked around and finally stopped his gaze on Gu Chaosheng. There was both respect and temptation in his eyes: "Now that Dorgon and his men have been defeated, and we don't know where Duoduo has run off to. We have to be on guard against them attacking the Great Wall again." His voice was low and powerful, revealing a deep worry.

"Admiral Gu, where do you think we should start providing relief?" There was a hint of inquiry in Zhang Chenji's words, as if he was seeking strong support.

Gu Chaosheng was not vague and asked directly: "Lord Zhang, where do you think is suitable?" His voice was cold and crisp, like a piece of ice-cold stone, without the slightest warmth.

Seeing Gu Chaosheng asking this, Zhang Chenji said directly: "I think we should start from the periphery of the capital. This way we can respond quickly and set an example for other places." There was an unquestionable firmness in his tone.

"Admiral Gu, and everyone else, what do you think?" There was a hint of expectation in Zhang Chenji's words, as if he was waiting for a positive answer.

"Master Zhang is right. We have no objection." Everyone nodded, like a group of obedient lambs waiting for the guidance of their shepherd.

Since everyone agreed, Zhang Chenji ordered Wang Tingmei: "Sir Wang, please bring the household registration books and land registration books of each state in Shuntian Prefecture. I need to check them." There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice, as if a general was ordering his soldiers.

This household registration book records population and taxation. Every page is densely written with names and numbers, as if a vibrant life is beating there. The land registration book records plots of land and owners. Every piece of land has its owner and story. These two things are made by the county and then sent to the Ministry of Household Registration layer by layer. They are like two lifelines that maintain the operation of the country.

Upon hearing this, Wang Tingmei quickly sent someone to fetch the booklet and then compared it one by one with the one stored in the Ministry of Revenue. This was a very tedious matter, so naturally, it was not for the high officials like them to do it themselves, but for the clerks under them to do it. They were like industrious bees, shuttling through the vast pages of the booklet, looking for every clue.

After two days, after checking and confirming that Duoduo and his men had not broken in, everyone packed up and prepared to go to Tongzhou. Tongzhou was less than fifty miles away from the capital, so if there was any disturbance, they could get there in half a day. It was like a barrier to the capital, guarding this prosperous land.

Tongzhou Governor Wang Aoyong had received the news long ago. He stood outside the city gate, his figure upright, like an old pine tree that had experienced wind and rain. Before dawn, he led his men to wait outside the city, with a humble smile on his face, like a host waiting for a distinguished guest to arrive.

Wang Aoyong was an old Jinshi. He used to be a county magistrate in Yicheng, Hubei. Later, he was dismissed because of some things. That period seemed to be the lowest point in his life, but he did not sink. Instead, he quietly accumulated strength. Later, he rose again and became the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Later, he became the governor of Tongzhou, responsible for the military affairs of Tongzhou. To put it bluntly, he was the military and political leader of Tongzhou, holding a large number of troops and guarding the safety of this land.

"Tongzhou Governor Wang Aoyong greets all the gentlemen." Wang Aoyong bowed his hands with a humble attitude, as if a devout believer was facing his god. His voice was deep and powerful, revealing a deep respect.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, the governor was a second-rank official. If he was given the title of assistant minister of the Ministry of War, he would be a second-rank official. Although Wang Aoyong did not have a title, he was in charge of military affairs in Tongzhou, which was actually almost the same as a second-rank official. Let's look at Zhang Chenji and his group. The highest-ranking official was Zhang Chenji, who was a third-rank official. The others were all below the fourth rank. The level of their official positions seemed to be a symbol of their status and a manifestation of their power.

However, although Gu Chaosheng of the East Factory could not compare with the officials of the imperial court, his power was terrifyingly great, and he looked down upon all the officials he met. His existence was like a shadow, shrouding everyone's heart.

Wang Aoyong's greeting was meant to make him feel close to everyone, but he didn't expect Cheng Wendong from the Censorate to not appreciate it and even pick on him. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if he could see through all the secrets of people's hearts.

Wang Aoyong was not angry. He smiled and said, "What Censor Cheng said is not right. You are the imperial envoys sent by the emperor! When I meet an imperial envoy, I naturally have to call you Sir. Isn't this the rule?" His voice was calm and composed, as if a wise man was facing an unreasonable provocation.

Cheng Wendong also replied with a smile: "What Governor Wang said is not right! Although we are imperial envoys, you are also an imperial envoy! We are all imperial envoys. Whoever has a higher position can be called the adult." There was a hint of teasing and provocation in his voice, as if a naughty child was teasing an old cat.

Wang Aoyong was stunned when he heard this, thinking: When did I become an imperial envoy? Who gave me the title? Why didn't I know about it? His heart was filled with doubts and puzzles, as if a fog was shrouding his heart.

Zhang Chenji saw this and quickly came out to smooth things over. He then understood what Cheng Wendong meant. It turned out that there were two types of imperial envoys in the Ming Dynasty. One was temporary and acted on behalf of the emperor with the imperial sword; the other was fixed, such as the governor, governor-general, governor of the grain transport, and the governor of the East Factory. These were not local officials but were part of the Beijing official system. Especially the governor of the East Factory, the title clearly stated "Imperial Envoy, Governor-General, East Factory, Official School, Eunuch", which was simply the governor of the East Factory or the governor of the East Factory. He was a formal imperial envoy!

Thinking of this, Wang Aoyong understood his embarrassment and said with a smile: "Oh, I am ignorant. Please forgive me." There was a hint of self-mockery and humility in his smile, as if an old man was asking a young man for advice.

"It's okay, it's okay. We just found out about this too." Everyone echoed, as if a group of kind neighbors were comforting a lost friend.

"Yes, yes, I've learned something new!" someone joked, and the atmosphere suddenly became relaxed.

Everyone laughed and let the matter go. However, Cheng Wendong did not forget about it. He said calmly, "Governor Wang, you need to study the etiquette more, otherwise you will make a fool of yourself in the future. I have made a note of this and will report it to you later." There was a hint of threat and warning in his voice, as if a strict teacher was teaching his students.

The governor of Tongzhou, Wang Aoyong, had a complexion that changed like a palette, sometimes blue, sometimes red, and his mouth twitched involuntarily, and even his sparse beard trembled, looking particularly embarrassed. His eyes roamed around, as if he was looking for a way to escape from this embarrassing situation, but he had no way to hide under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

At this time, Cheng Wendong stepped forward, his voice was loud and clear, and every word was like an arrow, directly hitting the pain point of Governor Wang, making him lose face. A trace of anger and helplessness flashed in Wang Aoyong's eyes, but he could only swallow this emotion back into his stomach.

"Alright, alright!" Gu Chaosheng interrupted coldly. His voice was like a chilly winter breeze, which made everyone present shudder. "We are here to resolve the disaster. Let's put other trivial matters aside for now." His eyes were sharp, and he swept across everyone present, as if silently reminding them where the focus of the moment was.

"If the problem cannot be solved, then we can each do our own thing. Censor Cheng will take care of the impeachment, so I don't need to say much." Gu Chaosheng's tone was full of unquestionable majesty, but also a bit of impatience. Obviously, he had other plans in mind and was eager to end this dispute.

"As for Governor Wang, either he should be fined as a warning, or he should go home and read more books to gain some knowledge." There was a hint of joking in Gu Chaosheng's words, and it seemed that he did not really care about Wang Aoyong's situation. He was just going through the motions according to the established procedures.

"Let's decide it this way!" Gu Chaosheng pretended to ask, "Does anyone have any objections?" There was a hint of urgency in his words. Obviously, he couldn't wait to end it all so that he could devote himself to his more secret plan.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Chenji hurried out to smooth things over. He had a smile on his face and spoke in a warm tone: "Yes, yes, Governor Wang, thank you for your trouble. Please take us to find a place to rest first. We are all tired after such a bumpy journey." There was a soothing look in his eyes, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Wang Aoyong glared at Cheng Wendong fiercely, his eyes full of resentment and helplessness, then he forced out a smile that was uglier than crying, and led everyone forward. His back looked a little lonely, like an old tree eroded by wind and rain, losing its former majesty.

Along the way, Zhang Chenji secretly wondered why Cheng Wendong had to pick a fight with Wang Aoyong. Was there any personal grudge between the two? He thought about it carefully, but he did not find any intersection between the two, which made him more confused.

Suddenly, Zhang Chenji had a flash of inspiration and suddenly realized it! It turned out that all this was caused by party disputes. Wang Aoyong belonged to the Qi Party, while Cheng Wendong was a capable general of the Chu Party. The two parties fought openly and secretly in the court, like black-eyed chickens, and even the merchants below followed suit. The Qi merchants and Chu merchants fought fiercely for food quotas.

Zhang Chenji sneered in his heart: "Isn't this a typical case of 'while the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman gains'? The many ills of the court are mostly the product of these party struggles. The more fiercely they fight, the more opportunities Your Majesty will have to rectify the government and clean up the house." There was a calculating gleam in his eyes, as if he had already seen the opportunity behind this struggle.

After arriving at the post station, everyone had a simple meal and then hurried to the Tongzhou government office. The first thing to do was to check the account books to see what was recorded in the yellow book and the fish scale book.

While flipping through the account book, Zhang Chenji asked casually, "Governor Wang, has there been any disaster in Tongzhou recently?"

Wang Aoyong shook his head, with a bit of confidence in his tone: "No, Tongzhou relies on the canal, the waterway is unobstructed, and things like drought are out of the question."

"What about the tax situation last year?" Zhang Chenji continued to ask.

"They have all been confiscated and delivered to Shuntian Prefecture on time." Wang Aoyong's answer seemed quite straightforward.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Zhang Chenji frowned, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, "Although the total number is large, there must be something fishy, ​​such as increase, decrease, exemption, etc."

When Wang Aoyong heard this, his face immediately turned displeased: "Absolutely not! I have always been fair and selfless in my work, how could this be possible?" There was a bit of anger in his tone, and he was obviously dissatisfied with Zhang Chenji's questioning.

As he was speaking, an officer came running over with two books in his hands and put them on the table: "Sir, the fish scale books from the Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture have been checked and found to be correct, but there are some problems with the one from Tongzhou Prefecture."

Zhang Chenji took a closer look and found that there were actually two hundred acres of land. The Ministry of Households' booklet recorded that it had changed from fertile farmland to wasteland. However, although the text on the Tongzhou Prefecture's booklet was the same, there were obvious traces of erasures next to it.

"What's going on?" Zhang Chenji's tone was a little stern.

Wang Aoyong looked confused and said he had no idea. He hurriedly shouted outside the door, "Call the chief clerk to ask!"

The chief clerk came in a hurry, took one look at the situation, and immediately explained, "My Lords, one of my men accidentally dropped some ink on it, and it got dirty."

"Then why don't you change to a new one?" Zhang Chenji asked.

"Tongzhou is very busy, with the need to transport grain and handle other matters. We really have no time to take care of this matter." The chief clerk's explanation seemed a little pale and powerless.

"What nonsense!" Zhang Chenji was furious when he heard this. Everyone around him was shocked by his aura. Wang Aoyong's face turned pale. "Master Zhang, what are you doing..."

Zhang Chenji ignored him and took out a booklet with a golden cover from his arms and put it on the table.

"Golden Book!" Wang Aoyong was so frightened that he almost fell off his seat. "That's right," Zhang Chenji pointed at the book and said, "It records the land that the princes and nobles begged from the emperor and the land that the emperor awarded. The emperor has already given the two hundred acres of land to Yangwu Hou Xue Lian, how can it be written as wasteland?"

Wang Aoyong defended himself, "It was precisely because it was a wasteland that Marquis Xue begged the emperor for it. Otherwise, how could the emperor give it to him so easily?"

(During the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court encouraged land reclamation, and new land was exempted from tax for the first three years.)
"I'll give you another chance!" Zhang Chenji's tone was threatening.

"Everything I said is true. If you don't believe me, check it out yourself!" Wang Aoyong still insisted.

"Okay, let's check it out!" After Zhang Chenji finished speaking, he ordered Gu Chaosheng to take people to investigate on the spot.

Gu Chaosheng knew that this matter was not a simple one, so he immediately mounted his horse and headed straight out of the city with the people from the East Factory.

Soon, they arrived at their destination. After comparing the records in the fish scale book, they found that it was indeed correct. Gu Chaosheng dismounted and saw that it was midsummer, and the farmers were busy harvesting wheat and sowing soybeans. The fields were full of busy figures.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass here!" As soon as Gu Chaosheng got off his horse, he heard an angry shout.

He looked back and saw a young man in gorgeous clothes riding a tall horse rushing towards him with a whip in his hand, followed by twenty or thirty thugs, looking very aggressive.

"Who are you?" Gu Chaosheng asked coldly.

"You don't even know me? Today I'll let you know who I am!" said the young man, and he pulled the reins hard. The horse raised its front hooves and rushed towards Gu Chaosheng.

Gu Chaosheng moved his body to the side, moving swiftly and gracefully, like a dancing cheetah, and lightly avoided the danger that might be brought by the galloping horse's hooves. His right hand stretched out like lightning, and he pulled the boy on the horse to the ground. His movements were so fast that it was astonishing. His left hand immediately pulled out a sharp knife, and the blade flashed coldly in the sunset, and it was placed across the boy's neck, with an imposing manner, like a cold judge who was about to pronounce a fate.

"Hmph! Let our young master go!" a thug shouted loudly, with a hint of fear and unwillingness in his voice.

"Brothers, hurry up and get the young master back!" Another thug waved the sword in his hand and called his companions to surround him. The scene was chaotic for a while, with dust flying and the sound of swords clashing one after another.

But the elite soldiers of the East Factory stood behind Gu Chaosheng, and they were no pushovers. With their weapons unsheathed and flashing coldly, they quickly formed a circle, ready to defend against the attacks of the thugs. Their eyes were firm and their steps were steady, like an insurmountable iron wall.

The two groups stood face to face, their weapons clashed, sparks flew, and both sides were surprised at the other's background. On Gu Chaosheng's side, except for the two guards holding muskets, everyone else was equipped with double swords specially made by the East Factory. The blades were narrow and long, shining with cold light, revealing an indomitable murderous aura. On the other side, there were swords, spears, swords, halberds, and muskets. It was so lively that it was like a small armory.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty law had a relatively loose control over civilian weapons. As long as they were not military firearms and armor, general weapons were not prohibited. Therefore, ordinary people could keep a few bows, swords, guns, crossbows, etc. at home in case of emergency. Even if someone privately kept prohibited items such as firearms, the punishment would be at most a hundred strokes of the cane and exile for three thousand miles, but they would not lose their lives. By the time of Lin Xiaofeng, civilian firearms were even more rampant and became amulets for some local forces. However, in the capital, even those powerful nobles did not dare to carry firearms openly. Most of them were secretly hidden in the mansion just in case.

The thugs felt strange at first and whispered to each other: "Brothers, look at this knife, why does it look so familiar?"

"Yeah, it looks like he's from the East Factory!" a thug whispered, with a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.

"Yes, it's definitely from the East Factory!" another thug said affirmatively, with a tremor in his voice.

After hearing this, they dared not act rashly, fearing that they would get into trouble. The reputation of the East Factory was not just for show, they were the emperor's trusted eyes and ears, who would dare to provoke them easily?
The guards of the East Factory, although they were also afraid of the firearms in the hands of the enemy, did not intend to retreat. They showed their badges one after another, which shone with golden light in the sun, as if representing supreme authority. They shouted loudly: "The East Factory is investigating the case, surrender quickly!" The sound was like thunder, shocking everyone.

"Dongdong Factory?" The captured boy was so frightened that he trembled all over when he heard this. He never thought that he would be related to the Dongchang. His face was pale, and his eyes were full of fear and confusion.

He asked again in confusion: "But don't eunuchs not grow beards? Why do you all have beards?" There was a hint of childishness and confusion in his voice.

It turned out that Gu Chaosheng and his men had disguised themselves for the convenience of handling the case, so it was difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. They wore ordinary clothes and had fake beards on their faces, looking no different from ordinary people in the underworld.

Gu Chaosheng smiled and shook his head, saying, "What else do you have to doubt?" His smile was a bit teasing and helpless. As he spoke, he started chatting with the young man, as if he was chatting with an old friend.

The young man collapsed on the ground and said in a trembling voice: "I was ignorant and offended the officials from the East Factory. Please forgive me!" His eyes were full of begging and despair.

"Sir?" Gu Chaosheng sneered, "We are all rootless people." There was a bit of sarcasm and helplessness in his voice. In this world full of power and desire, what can these rootless people do?

"Eunuch, please spare my life! I know I am wrong!" The young man was so scared that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. The sweat on his forehead mixed with dirt, making him look extremely miserable.

Seeing this, the thugs also dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground begging for mercy. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if they had seen the end of their lives.

The reputation of the East Factory is well-deserved. It is so powerful that no one dares to provoke it. In this world full of power and desire, the East Factory is the emperor's trusted eyes and ears, representing supreme authority and power.

Gu Chaosheng switched the knife from his left hand to his right hand and continued to hold it across the boy's neck. His eyes were cold and firm, like a cold judge who was about to pronounce a judgment on his fate. He asked, "I ask you questions and you answer them."

"Yes, yes." The young man nodded rapidly, his eyes filled with fear and despair, as if he had already seen his own end.

"What's your name? How old are you? Where do you work?" Gu Chaosheng's voice was cold and majestic, as if a high and mighty king was interrogating a humble subject.

"My name is Jiang You, and I'm nineteen years old. Since my father is in charge of the farmland in the Yangwu Marquis Mansion, I also work in the mansion." Jiang You answered very fluently, with a hint of cunning and uneasiness flashing in his eyes.

Gu Chaosheng understood immediately. No wonder this guy was so arrogant. He turned out to be from the Marquis' Mansion. There was a hint of sarcasm and helplessness in his eyes, as if he had seen through the hypocrisy and cruelty of this world.

He pointed at the fish scale book on the ground and asked, "This used to be fertile land, how come it has become the farmland of the marquis's mansion now? Where have all the people gone?" There was some anger and dissatisfaction in his voice, as if he was speaking up for those innocent people.

Jiang You was silent, his eyes flickering with panic and anxiety. He knew that this question was not easy to answer, and if he answered it wrong, it might cause more trouble.

Gu Chaosheng was not in a hurry. He signaled the guards behind him to take action. The guards immediately rushed forward and captured all of Jiang You's followers. Their movements were swift and powerful, like a group of hungry cheetahs hunting prey.

The thugs wanted to resist, but when they saw Jiang You's expression, they gave up the idea. They knew that the East Factory was the emperor's eyes and ears, and although the Marquis' Mansion was powerful, they didn't dare to go against the emperor. Their eyes were full of fear and despair, as if they had seen their own end.

After the situation stabilized, Gu Chaosheng said coldly: "Leave one alive for questioning, and kill the rest." His voice was cold and firm, like a cruel judge who was about to pronounce a fate.

When Jiang You heard this, he was so scared that his soul left his body: "Father-in-law, please spare my life! We have something to discuss!" There was a hint of crying and despair in his voice.

"I'm investigating a case and you refuse to arrest me, so I kill someone. Isn't that reasonable?" Gu Chaosheng said coldly, his eyes flashing with mockery and helplessness. In this world full of power and desire, what else can he do?

"But...but we didn't resist arrest!" Jiang You argued, his eyes full of begging and despair.

"If I say resisting arrest, it means resisting arrest!" Gu Chaosheng's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a fierce expression rarely seen in the palace. His eyes flashed with madness and determination, as if he had already decided everything.

"Eunuch, what did you say about resisting arrest? " Jiang You completely collapsed. His eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if he had already seen his own end.

"That's right! If I say resisting arrest, it means resisting arrest!" Gu Chaosheng gave the order after saying this. His voice was cold and firm, like a cold judge who was about to pronounce a sentence.

Under the setting sun, a knife flashed, a head fell to the ground, and blood splattered everywhere. Jiang You fainted from fear, and the surviving thugs were incontinent from fear. The stench was overwhelming, and everyone covered their noses and retreated. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if they had seen the end of their lives.

The people in the distance were so frightened at first that they fled, but later they stopped and cheered when they saw Gu Chaosheng killing people. There was a flash of excitement and excitement in their eyes, as if they saw the embodiment of justice eradicating the bully for them.

"Well done! These guys are always rampant and domineering, and today they finally get their retribution!" A citizen shouted loudly, with some excitement and excitement in his voice.

"It's really gratifying!" another citizen echoed, his eyes flashing with joy and satisfaction.

"What a pity! Why didn't they kill them all!" a young citizen said regretfully, with anger and dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Keep your voices down! We are the tenants of the Marquis' Mansion, and those who died were all members of the Mansion. Although we are not of the same mind, we cannot gloat over other people's misfortune at this time!" An elderly citizen warned in a low voice, with a hint of worry and uneasiness in his eyes.

Gu Chaosheng ignored the people's discussions. He asked someone to wake Jiang You up and continued to ask, "Who was the previous owner of this place?" His voice was cold and majestic, as if a high and mighty king was interrogating a humble subject.

Jiang You collapsed on the ground, looking at the corpses and the pungent smell of blood, his stomach churned and he kept vomiting. His eyes were full of fear and despair, as if he had seen his own end.

Gu Chaosheng stepped back in disgust and tapped his face with the tip of the knife, his eyes flashing with mockery and helplessness. In this world full of power and desire, what else can he do?

Jiang You trembled all over, his face turned pale, and he replied weakly: "The tenant in the distance is the former owner." There was a hint of crying and despair in his voice.

Gu Chaosheng gave a wink, and the two guards immediately put away their swords and walked towards the tenants. Their steps were steady and powerful, like two warriors about to carry out a just mission.

The people were so frightened that they fled in all directions, but the old, weak, sick and disabled could not escape far and were soon caught by the guards. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if they had seen their own end.

Gu Chaosheng's tone became gentler, and a kind smile appeared on his face. He asked, "Are you all tenants who rent Yang Wuhou's land?" There was some care and warmth in his voice, as if an amiable elder was asking
"Let me be fair!" Seeing the murderous look on Gu Chaosheng's face, his eyes were like sharp blades in the ice, flashing an unquestionable light, ready to take action. The two old farmers were so scared that they fell to their knees with a thud. The sound of their knees touching the soil was particularly harsh in this silent field. They kowtowed repeatedly, and their foreheads hit the ground, making a dull sound, as if they were begging for forgiveness from the earth.

How dare they doubt Gu Chaosheng's words? In their eyes, Gu Chaosheng's figure was like a judge from hell, exuding an irresistible majesty. You know, just now, Gu Chaosheng had mercilessly killed nearly thirty people in front of them! The bodies of those people were lying on the ground in all directions, the blood dyed the soil red, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of blood, which was disgusting.

What was even more shocking was that all those who were killed were from the Yangwu Marquis's mansion! Yangwu Marquis was a big shot in the court, with tremendous power. Anyone who could go against Yangwu Marquis must be an extraordinary person! The two old farmers muttered to themselves, but did not dare to speak out loud.

Not long after, Gu Chaosheng got the answer he wanted from them. It turned out that many years ago, Yangwu Hou Xue Lian colluded with local officials and forcibly occupied their land. They had no way to sue the officials, so they could only swallow their anger and continue to cultivate the land and pay rent to Xue Lian. The bitterness in their hearts was even more bitter than coptis chinensis, and they couldn't even cry! Whenever it was late at night, they could only shed tears silently and bury this pain in their hearts.

"How many households like you are there?" Gu Chaosheng asked. His voice was cold and firm, as if it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Oh, there are so many! I'm afraid there are hundreds of households!" an old farmer answered in a trembling voice.

"That's about the number, at least 700 to 800 households," added another old farmer, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and despair.

At this time, the two old farmers were no longer so scared and began to confide their suffering to Gu Chaosheng. They told how they were bullied by the government and the people of Yangwuhou Mansion, how they were forced to hand over the crops they had worked so hard to grow, and how they watched their families die of hunger and illness. Although they were still worried that Gu Chaosheng would continue to kill people, it was precisely because of the large number of victims that they had the courage to resist. They knew that if they did not speak out, they and their descendants would live in darkness forever.

Gu Chaosheng didn't care about these trivial matters, he just wanted evidence: "Stop plowing the fields for now, come back with me and sign." His voice was cold and resolute, as if he was issuing an order that could not be disobeyed.

"But...if we don't plow the fields, they will become barren. What should we do?" an old farmer asked worriedly.

Gu Chaosheng smiled coldly, and that smile was full of sarcasm and disdain: "When this is done, I promise that you will have more food than you can eat for the rest of your life! Come back with me quickly to sign and seal the agreement, and then gather the other people whose land has been occupied, and go together to settle accounts with Xue Lian!" His voice revealed an unquestionable firmness and determination.

After hearing what Gu Chaosheng said, the two old farmers followed him to Tongzhou City without hesitation. They knew that this was a rare opportunity and they must seize it to seek justice for themselves and all the suffering people.

With the witnesses and evidence, Wang Aoyong's argument was useless. But he was not afraid at all, because he believed in Xue Lian's strength! Xue Lian was the left governor of the Central Military Governor's Office. Although he had no real power, his network of relationships in the court was intricate. He established relationships with many people in the court through marriage, bribery and other means. Among the six ministries, there were more than a dozen officials who were on good terms with him. Not to mention the royal family and nobles, their relationship with Xue Lian was even closer. It can be said that Xue Lian's network of relationships was like a big net, and a single move could affect the whole body.

Zhang Chenji, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, came to Gu Chaosheng with the evidence, his eyes revealing a hint of hesitation and uneasiness. He knew that this evidence was enough to bring Xue Lian down, but he also knew that Xue Lian had great power in the court and it would not be easy to bring him down. He looked at Gu Chaosheng and asked carefully, "Admiral Wang, the evidence is ready. Do you want to present it to His Majesty?"

Gu Chaosheng glared at Zhang Chenji. His eyes were as sharp as a tiger's, as if they could see through people's hearts: "Now there are bandits in the south and the Jiannu invaders in the north. His Majesty is very busy. Do you want to cause more trouble for him?" His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Zhang Chenji was frightened by Gu Chaosheng's eyes and tone and took a step back. He calmed himself and continued, "But Xue Lian has a title. Even if he doesn't present it to Your Majesty, he should hand it over to the Cabinet or the Ministry of Rites. After all, the affairs of the nobles are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites." There was a hint of pleading in his voice, and he hoped that Gu Chaosheng would listen to his advice.

Gu Chaosheng asked back: "If it is put in the official document, what should be written? Although the evidence is conclusive, Xue Lian has not confessed yet! This matter must be either successful or abandoned. If it is abandoned halfway, it will be a problem for anyone!" His voice revealed an unquestionable firmness and determination. He knew that this matter must be completed in one go, otherwise all the previous efforts would be wasted.

Zhang Chenji couldn't help but secretly admire Gu Chaosheng after hearing what he said. This man's ability is no less than those old foxes in the cabinet! He looked up at Gu Chaosheng, with a hint of admiration and awe in his eyes. He knew that he had followed the right person.

"So... after Xue Lian is convicted, it will eventually be presented to His Majesty, right?" Zhang Chen asked hesitantly. He was still a little worried that this matter would anger His Majesty and bring trouble to himself and Gu Chaosheng.

Gu Chaosheng laughed loudly, and his laughter was full of confidence and arrogance: "How can Lord Zhang be so confused! Don't you understand the ins and outs here?" He paused and continued, "If Xue Lian submits the official document without confessing his guilt, His Majesty will convict him based on the evidence; but if he confesses and then submits it, His Majesty will consider whether to pardon him. The difference of just one word makes a world of difference! Everyone in the world is guilty, and His Majesty will only choose to punish those who are disobedient. Our responsibility is to convict; as for whether to punish or not, that is His Majesty's business! Do you understand?" His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and confidence.

Zhang Chenji suddenly realized, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. So this is the way to be an official! He used to look down on Gu Chaosheng, who was born a eunuch, but now he has to admire Gu Chaosheng's wisdom and skills. He knew that he would definitely learn a lot from Gu Chaosheng.

"Thank you, Admiral Wang, for your guidance! I have learned a lot!" Zhang Chenji bowed to Gu Chaosheng to express his gratitude, his tone full of sincerity and respect. He had completely put aside his prejudice and discrimination against Gu Chaosheng, and sincerely wanted to follow Gu Chaosheng to learn how to be an official.

Gu Chaosheng waved his hand to show that he didn't care, and then looked towards the capital with a firm gaze: "The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. We must make Yang Wuhou come and confess his guilt in person." His voice revealed an unquestionable firmness and determination. He knew that only by making Xue Lian come and confess his guilt in person could he be completely overthrown.

"How about I write a letter to him?" Zhang Chenji asked tentatively. He wanted to share some of the pressure with Gu Chaosheng, after all, this matter concerned their future and destiny.

"No need," Gu Chaosheng shook his head slowly, "I think someone has already passed the news to Xue Lian." His eyes revealed a kind of depth and wisdom. He knew that Xue Lian had a huge influence in the court and was well-informed, so he must have known about this matter.

Zhang Chenji widened his eyes and asked, "Will he come?" He was still a little worried and uneasy. After all, Xue Lian was a big shot in the court, with great power, and it was not easy to bring him down.

Gu Chaosheng sneered, "Not only will he come, but he will also bring money!" His voice was full of confidence and arrogance. He knew where Xue Lian's weakness was, and he also knew how to use this weakness to bring him down. He had laid a net, waiting for Xue Lian to fall into it.

……

In the mansion of the Duke of Ying in the capital, there is a peaceful and tranquil scene. In the garden, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, competing for beauty, as if it is a beautiful painting of nature. Duke of Ying, Zhang Shize, is sitting in the pavilion in the garden, sipping tea and enjoying this rare leisure time.

"Come and try this new tribute of oolong tea from Jiangnan." Zhang Shize pointed at the teacup in front of Xue Lian and said. His tone was full of enthusiasm and hospitality. He knew that Xue Lian was a big shot in the court and had great power, so he wanted to make friends with him and gain more benefits for himself and his family.

After a few polite words, Xue Lian raised his teacup and took a sip: "Hmm... good tea! Good tea!" He gave a thumbs up and praised. He was secretly proud of himself, knowing his status and influence in the Duke of England's mansion. He came here not only to drink tea and chat, but also to gather information and seek help.

"The teas His Majesty bestows are all top-quality! I'd only be willing to serve them to you if you come!" Zhang Shize took a deep breath and said intoxicatedly. There was a hint of pride and boasting in his tone. He knew that Xue Lian liked to taste tea, so he specially prepared this new tribute of oolong tea from Jiangnan to treat him.

Xue Lian saw that the time was right and whispered, "Brother Shize, I have something to ask you, but I don't know if I should say it or not?" His tone was hesitant and tentative. He wanted to find out something about Gu Chaosheng and the land in Tongzhou, but he didn't want to say it directly, fearing that he would arouse Zhang Shize's vigilance and disgust.

"Oh?" Zhang Shize said without hesitation, "There are no outsiders here, just say whatever you want to say." There was a hint of boldness and sincerity in his tone. He thought Xue Lian just wanted to chat with him, and did not expect Xue Lian to inquire about the news.

"Ahem..." Xue Lian cleared his throat and said, "Why did His Majesty summon you the day before yesterday? Why did you announce a rent reduction of half for the tenants of the farmland after you left the palace? Is this what His Majesty meant?" His tone was filled with a hint of urgency and curiosity. He wanted to know why Zhang Shize suddenly announced a rent reduction. (End of this chapter)