The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 490 Semi-Alliance

A group of eunuchs from the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed into the imperial prison and searched the prison from top to bottom under the pretext of investigating the death of Liu Dafa, the prison cook.

Wang Zhen did not leave empty-handed, and took advantage of the situation to pull out the two nails he had found.

They were all placed there by the clean officials in the court.

Pan Hong's cell was under close guard.

Guo Jing walked slowly over with a handkerchief covering his nose. As soon as he stepped into the cell, he couldn't help but frown and ordered the jailer with a look of disgust: "Why don't you deal with the filth on the ground?"

The jailer quickly agreed and went to get a broom.

Seeing him approaching, Pan Yue and Pan Yu stood in front of Pan Hong and glared at him.

Guo Jing snorted coldly and said in a shrill voice: "You ungrateful thing, if the seal holder hadn't spoken personally, I wouldn't have come to this sour cell."

He looked around and asked, "Where's Yin Song? Where did he go?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Yin Song trotted in and said with a smile, "I didn't expect that Master Wang was so fast. I went back to the Imperial Observatory to get something, but I didn't expect to fall behind Eunuch Guo."

"It's good that Lord Yin is here. Take these two fools out," Guo Jing said meaningfully, "This is the imperial prison, not a place for playing house."

Yin Song agreed, walked forward and pulled Pan Yue and Pan Yu aside, then stuffed a bottle into Pan Hong's hand and whispered, "Master Pan, this is a fasting pill. You take one every two days. There are three pills in it. I will send you another bottle in five days."

Pan Hong was stunned: "There is such a pill?"

Yin Song: "Yes, it's fine as long as you don't get greedy."

After saying that, he took Pan Yue and Pan Yu away.

Pan Yue looked back at his father, followed Yin Song, and waited until they were outside the prison before asking, "Have you threatened Wang Zhen? Does that mean we can also threaten him to back down and settle my father's case?"

Yin Song gave him an approving look: "Smart, I have already threatened him."

Pan Yue's eyes lit up: "So he agreed?"

Yin Song: "He didn't say yes, nor did he say no. Wang Zhen is a cunning bastard. He must still see what Your Majesty thinks."

Pan Yue lowered his eyes and said, "I have two friends who I have never visited. One of them has a father who is a doctor in the Ministry of Justice, and the other has a father who is a censor in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. I will ask them for help."

Pan Yu also immediately said: "I will go and ask my friend for help too."

Yin Song thought for a moment and said, "Although it may not be necessary, there is strength in numbers, so let's all ask for it."

When Pan Yue heard this, he immediately asked, "Who do you want to ask for help, Second Senior Brother?"

"Of course it's the person who is in the emperor's heart at the moment," Yin Song said complacently, "Do you think it was my idea to threaten Wang Zhen?"

"That is……"

Yin Song tilted his chin forward and motioned for him to look: "Xue Shao."

Pan Yue turned his head and saw Xue Shao standing at the street corner with his hands clasped. When he saw the three people coming out, he smiled and gave them a slight smile.

Pan Yue hurried forward and bowed to express his gratitude.

Xue Shao said: "It may not work. My uncle said that if it doesn't work this time, we have to make a choice."

Pan Yue: "What choice?" Xue Shao: "Is it to impeach the faction and suggest that Your Majesty thoroughly investigate the collusion between the six ministries, the Censorate, the Imperial Guards, and the officials of the East Factory? Or is it to stop here and write to Your Majesty to prioritize the current spring ploughing and temporarily detain Mr. Pan in the Dali Temple cell?"

When Pan Yu heard this, he was immediately unhappy and shouted, "Do I even need to choose? Of course I'll choose the first one. If I choose the second one, won't my father have to spend his whole life in prison? He's in prison, and I'll be at the mercy of others. I won't even know how he'll die."

Pan Yue's face was also ugly, but he pulled Pan Yu and pursed his lips and said, "Master Xue wants us to pay for our sins later?"

Xue Shao nodded: "Although it's confusing, it's still a good method."

He said: "Your Majesty is ambitious. Not only should you check the account books submitted, but you should also check the newly opened silver mines. Jiangnan alone accounts for 37% of the taxes in the country. In addition to the regular taxes, there are also labor service, donations and miscellaneous taxes. Officials and gentry can be exempted from labor service, and some donations and miscellaneous taxes are exempted. Big merchants are also unwilling to serve.

They were unwilling to serve themselves, nor did they want their families and friends to serve, so all the extra labor, miscellaneous contributions and taxes fell on the ordinary people.

"I came all the way from Jiangnan. People say that Jiangnan is rich, but ordinary people don't have an easy life," Xue Shao said. "Your Majesty should also know this, so he wants to fill the national treasury with silver mines and private salt."

Pan Yue was in a trance for a moment, and muttered: "They just handed over so much money to make up for part of the deficit. They must feel that they have paid a lot, and they must be unwilling to hand over the income from the silver mine... My father has become the chess piece in the middle of the party struggle. It's like tug-of-war. Whoever is stronger can pull him over. He has no control over himself. No matter whether he wins or loses, he will fall to the ground in the end..."

"Yes," Xue Shao said, "If we allow the factional fighting to continue, the first person to be sacrificed will definitely be Lord Pan."

Pan Yue clenched his fists, his eyes reddened: "Your Majesty, doesn't he know this?"

Xue Shao paused and said sadly: "For those in higher positions, if the sacrifice of one person can improve the overall situation, they will not be lenient."

Pan Yu's eyes also turned red: "I thought he was a good emperor. After all, he pardoned my younger sister and sent her away early to avoid disaster..."

Pan Yue pinched his palm with his nails and said coldly, "That's because sending my little sister away is harmless. He won't suffer any loss, and he can also appease the Mu family and gain their loyalty."

He sneered: "The emperor is indeed ruthless!"

Xue Shao whispered: "He is willing to take this trouble, he is more sentimental than most emperors."

Pan Yu was not convinced and wanted to curse the dog emperor twice, but was stopped by Pan Yue.

He said in a deep voice: "If my father was sent to the Dali Temple Prison, how sure are you that the court would allow us to pay for redemption?"

Xue Shao: “Eighty percent!”

Pan Yue gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, then send my father to the Dali Temple Prison."

Xue Shao asked: "Should we ask Lord Pan?"

Because if it were his uncle, he would rather die than atone for his sins.

Pan Yue lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. When he raised his eyes again, he was much more resolute. He waved his hand and said, "No need. I will take charge of this matter."

He bowed solemnly to Xue Shao and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for taking care of this matter, Master Xue."

Xue Shao quickly returned the greeting: "It's my job."

He paused and said, "Don't be too pessimistic. These two options are the worst outcomes. I will try harder before that. Maybe Wang Zhen is willing to take a step back and take the initiative to end this party dispute."

Pan Yu muttered: "Wang Zhen is willing, is the emperor willing too?"

Xue Shao said: "That depends on how cruel your majesty is."

In fact, in the eyes of Xue Shao and Xue Xuan, this is indeed a rare opportunity.

(End of this chapter)