Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 166 You think too highly of yourselves! (Third update)
"In the 13th year of Hongwu, Qiu Song, the son of Qiu Fu, raped a peasant woman in the countryside. After that, her husband wanted to report to the authorities, but his legs were broken and he has been disabled ever since."

"In the same year, some households whose land was occupied by the army filed a complaint and were buried alive by Li Bin and his men."

"In the 16th year of Hongwu, the Ma family paid 100 taels of silver to establish a secret relationship, and obtained 50,000 taels of salt permits for the next three years."

"Hongwu seventeenth and eighteenth years."

All the crimes were recorded in the book.

Seeing that Xia Zhibai was unmoved, Ma Wenhua said nervously: "Sir, we didn't mean to remember these, but they were really too much, and we were worried that something might happen in the future, so we wrote them down privately."

Xia Zhibai didn't say anything.

He just turned the pages one by one.

These cold words seemed to have warmth at this moment.

Becomes scorching hot.

Every word above seems to carry a lot of anger and hatred from the people.

a long time.

Xia Zhibai finished reading the account book.

He closed his eyes to calm his agitated emotions, but his hands holding the account book continued to tremble, and his eyes were filled with raging anger.

The prosperous era is filled with devastation. Can the people at the bottom of society living in darkness really see the dawn of prosperity?

I’m afraid I won’t be able to see it.

This is just what Ma Wenhua wrote down privately.

If the records of the other fourteen salt merchants were compiled, I am afraid that there would be only a handful of officials in Peking who could stay out of it.

He knew what Ma Wenhua was planning.

I just want to know these things myself and then drag myself into it.

But they didn't know that he would not be affected at all. Even if King Yan knew about this, he wouldn't be too embarrassed or even pay too much attention to it.

Ma Wenhua and his team made a wrong calculation.

But these 'account books' are indeed a hassle.

Ma Wenhua and the others wanted to force themselves together, and then rely on their identities to survive.

Moreover, if this account book fell into his hands, it meant that he already knew many secrets of Peking and could threaten many people. By using his identity, he could threaten these people and force them to make certain concessions and back off in the future. He could also use this to gain a firm foothold in Peking.

Ma Wenhua and others have good ideas.

If it were any other official, they would either feel extremely troubled or be ecstatic.

Yang Wensong and others also hurriedly handed over the account books in their hands.

They lowered their heads and did not dare to look directly into Xia Zhibai's eyes.

They naturally knew that they were plotting against Xia Zhibai.

But they had no choice.

If they don't plot against Xia Zhibai and don't drag Xia Zhibai into this, they will have no chance of survival facing these things on their own. In their hands, these things will only lead them to a dead end, and they will definitely be wiped out. When Xia Zhibai sees these things, he has only two choices.

Or send them out.

But Xia Zhibai already knew so many secrets, how could he not be envied by Qiu Fu, Li Bin and others?

How can I live in peace in the future?
Either they keep them and use these things as their trump cards to threaten other officials. Moreover, they handed over all the names of the clan to Xia Zhibai, so this token of allegiance was very important.

As long as Xia Zhibai comes forward, he will protect them.

From now on, they will all belong to Xia Zhibai, and these things are not known to the outside world.

Xia Zhibai will indeed pay a heavy price.

But the rewards are equally great.

Ma Wenhua and others were just gambling.

They bet that Xia Zhibai can't resist the temptation. Firstly, they control all the salt roads, secondly, the utilization value of these account books is too high, and thirdly, their own value. As long as Xia Zhibai is tempted, they will win the bet.

Ma Wenhua and others lowered their heads and did not make any sound.

It was quiet.

There was only the sound of flipping pages.

Xia Zhibai seemed unaffected and read all the account books handed over by Yang Wensong and others.

a long time.

Xia Zhibai closed the account book and threw it aside.

He sighed and said, "Your cleverness is misplaced. You thought you could trick me and drag me into this trap, and then use these account books as 'inducement' to make me step forward to protect you. I am the current top scholar, and rumor has it that I have a close relationship with the current crown prince. If I step forward, even if Qiu Fu, Li Bin and other generals are dissatisfied, they will not dare to kill me."

"You have also found a big backer through this."

"hehe."

Xia Zhibai shook his head: "I have read the account books you gave me. In the past few years, from what you have collected, nearly one or two hundred families in Beiping have been destroyed, and as many as a thousand people have been affected. You are also accomplices to the evil, and you have helped them do evil in private."

"They are all birds of a feather."

"I accept this 'gift'."

"But if you want me to protect you, you are thinking too much."

"Those who do evil should die!"

"I will deliver this account book to the King of Yan. When you return, you should also prepare well and send the clansmen, slaves, and servants who participated in the evil to the government. Anyone involved in these evil deeds should be punished by the government."

"I also accepted the other list you gave me."

"but."

“I only use clean people.”

"I will not use those who have the blood of innocent people on their hands and participate in evil." "I also cannot tolerate any grain of sand in my eyes."

"And you really think too highly of yourself. This world lacks everything except people, especially those who do manual labor."

"You should have known something recently. I have recruited a lot of Mongolians and Semites to work for me. Their knowledge and abilities are indeed not as good as those of the Han people, but they are barely enough for business."

"You are not indispensable."

“It’s not that valuable.”

Xia Zhibai sneered and handed the account books to Heiwa, asking him to deliver them to Prince Yan's Mansion.

See this.

Ma Wenhua and others' expressions changed completely.

They didn't expect Xia Zhibai to be so decisive. He didn't think too much and directly expressed his attitude.

And is Xia Zhibai really not afraid of being retaliated against?
Knowing so many secrets, you still dare to hand these things over. Aren't you afraid of causing dissatisfaction from King Yan?

These people are all close confidants of King Yan.

Ma Wenhua and others looked at each other, still somewhat incredulous.

They hesitated for a moment, and then they panicked when they saw Heiwa really holding the pile of "account books" and walking out the door. Ma Wenhua said, "Sir, are you really going to be so ruthless? These things will be very useful for you to settle down in Peking."

"Those involved here are all close associates of the King of Yan."

"With these evidences in hand, many things in Peking will no longer be affected by you, sir."

"Your Excellency, when you open up your trade routes in the future, they will be even smoother."

"My Lord, I don't understand."

Ma Wenhua looked puzzled.

Xia Zhibai looked Ma Wenhua up and down, glanced at the other salt merchants, shook his head and said, "There is nothing to be confused about. You think this 'account book' is priceless, but you don't know that in my eyes, it is just a pile of waste paper. I don't need these unorthodox methods in my business, and I don't bother to use them."

"You are so short-sighted."

"To be so short-sighted that one can only see the pros and cons of one's own gains and losses."

"In your eyes, these account books will be a handle on many officials in Peking. With these handles, you can move around Peking with ease. But this is the view of businessmen, and it is also the vulgar knowledge of businessmen. To me, and to many officials in the Ming Dynasty, these ideas of yours are ridiculous."

"Do you think cats are frightened by mice?"

"You have never recognized your own identity and status."

"These things are only evidence if the government recognizes them. If the government doesn't recognize them, they are just waste paper."

“But will the government’s recognition really depend on these account books?”

Xia Zhibai sneered and shook his head.

Businessmen like Ma Wenhua have been around officials for too long. Although they do not have the status of officials, they have picked up their habits. They think they can easily threaten officials with some evidence in their hands. However, they do not understand that the officials get into trouble not because of these "evidence", but because they have committed political problems.

These pieces of evidence will only become evidence of guilt after an official has made a mistake and has been convicted by the court.

They have put the cart before the horse.

Ma Wenhua's mind was blank and he felt a little confused.

He didn't understand.

Xia Zhibai did not explain further.

Today, the political ecology of the Ming Dynasty is based on rule by man.

Personal will is above the law, and the chief officer has absolute control.

It is simply wishful thinking for a few businessmen to threaten and overthrow the officials of Prince Yan's Mansion with some so-called "evidence of guilt".

Ma Wenhua and other salt merchants couldn't understand it, but he saw it clearly.

Although he was also dissatisfied with this, he still knew the priorities. Since Zhu Di was willing to rectify the situation, he would let Zhu Di do it. When the court would attach importance to "governing the country according to law" again in the future, he would correct the wrongs in the world.

This is Beiping, the fief of King Yan.

Since the people involved are the retainers of Prince Yan, it is natural that the matter should be handed over to Prince Yan to deal with.

He had explained this to Zhu Di before.

Will not be involved in the political and military affairs of Peking.

Xia Zhibai said: "You don't have to think too much, you just need to figure out one thing."

"You have to admit when you are wrong, and you have to stand upright when you are beaten."

"Since your own hands and feet are also not clean, don't think about threatening others. You can't escape the rectification of Peking this time. No one will protect you, and no one can protect you. My advice to you is that if you are innocent, stay and work under me. As for those who are not clean, you should make arrangements for your affairs as soon as possible."

"When you participated in the evil, you should have expected this day to come."

Ma Wenhua's expression changed.

He opened his mouth, seemed to be about to say something, and finally sighed.

He had seen it.

Xia Zhibai had no intention of getting involved at all.

He didn't take what happened in Peiping seriously at all.

He vaguely understood something.

They thought that Xia Zhibai had been humiliated in Peking and would hold a grudge, and when he saw them hand in the "charges", he would be ecstatic and feel like he had found a treasure, using this to wipe away the haze of the past, but they overlooked one thing.

Xia Zhibai is an official, not a businessman.

It is not feasible to speculate about Xia Zhibai with a businessman's mindset.

The same thing looks completely different in Xia Zhibai's eyes and in their eyes.

This is the gap caused by status.

(End of this chapter)