Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 171 I, Zhu Di, also love my people like my own children! (Second update)

Peace has returned to the city.

But the lights in Prince Yan's Mansion were still on.

Zhu Di took off his armor, changed into cool and breathable casual clothes, sat on a chair with his horse and sword, waiting for Zhang Yu and other generals to report on the situation.

Zhang Yu, Zhu Liang and others entered the hall wearing armor. Their water-soaked cloth shoes left a trail of water stains in the hall. They looked solemn and looked a little tired, but their eyes were still bright.

Zhang Yu knelt on one knee, bowed and said, "Your Highness."

"During this investigation, all the officials, tyrants, and merchants on the list have been arrested."

"Please take a look at it, Your Highness."

Zhang Yu took out a list from his arms and held it above his head.

Zhu Di reached out and took the list. He only glanced at it briefly and his eyes became colder.

Nearly three hundred of his soldiers committed crimes.

This number is shocking.

At this time.

Zhu Liang said, "Your Highness, there is one thing I have not reported to you yet. This investigation involves many merchants. When we were arresting them, some salt merchants seemed to have known the news in advance and actually sent one of their children to Xia Zhibai's residence."

"I dare not act rashly. Your Highness, please make the decision."

"Salt merchant?" Zhu Di frowned.

Zhu Liang said: "They are the salt merchants who run salt business in the city. They had contact with Xia Zhibai some time ago."

"Earlier today, they went to Xia Zhibai to plead for mercy. According to Ma Wenhua and the others, they wanted to ask Xia Zhibai to save them, but Xia Zhibai ignored them and only advised them to surrender. Ma Wenhua and the other salt merchants finally listened to Xia Zhibai and took the initiative to surrender to the government."

"only."

Zhu Liang's eyes turned cold, and he said in a cold voice: "These salt merchants are not honest. They did not hand over all the people, but secretly sent one of their children to Xia Zhibai. I think they must have paid a heavy price to Xia Zhibai, otherwise why would Xia Zhibai protect these merchants' children?"

"I think we can't take it lightly."

"Merchants have always been evil and corrupt. They still have some money in their hands. If we let these people escape, there may be some trouble in the future. I suggest that you take people to Xia Zhibai's residence to arrest him. Bring all these fleeing merchants back to justice without sparing a single one."

A hint of murderous intent flashed across Zhu Liang's eyes.

He had no good feelings towards these merchants.

Now, Your Highness is unwilling to let go even the military officers, so why would he let go of the sons of merchants?

Yao Guangxiao lowered his eyebrows and glanced at Zhu Liang, then looked at Zhu Di whose eyes were uncertain, and continued to recite the Buddhist scriptures with his head down. He recited very devoutly and solemnly, as if he was explaining to the Buddha why there was killing today, and also begging for the Buddha's forgiveness.

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and suppressed his anger.

He said calmly: "Where is Xia Zhibai? Didn't he give me an explanation?"

Zhu Liang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head decisively, saying, "I haven't heard of any movement from Xia Zhibai yet. Your Highness, why don't you let me go there in person, first to check on Xia Zhibai's situation, and second to see what these salt merchants are up to."

Zhu Di looked a little hesitant.

He didn't really want to have too much contact with Xia Zhibai.

He was somewhat intimidated by this person and couldn't really control himself.

At this moment, a guard suddenly ran up and said, "Your Highness, Xia Zhibai's follower brought a letter."

Zhu Di said, "Bring it here."

He reached out to take the letter and glanced at it.

"This Xia Zhibai is really arrogant. Without explaining anything, he just wrote eight words to me: labor reform, and make a new life." Zhu Di slammed the letter on the table and snorted: "Tell me, what is Xia Zhibai thinking?"

Zhu Liang and Zhang Yu looked at each other.

How could they understand this?
Yao Guangxiao smiled and said, "I have guessed a little bit. Xia Zhibai wants Your Highness to show some leniency and give them a way out. He guarantees that these people will not hate Your Highness and will never engage in corruption and abuse of power again."

Zhu Di glared at Yao Guangxiao and said coldly, "You guessed it? Tell me, how did you guess it?"

Yao Guangxiao laughed and said, "Xia Zhibai is an intelligent man. He knows the character of His Highness. He hates evil and does not tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes. Once he makes up his mind to do something, he will not leave any room for maneuver. The reason why he dares to do this must be because he is confident that he can 'reform' these people."

"If I'm not mistaken."

"Most of the children sent by the salt merchants did not participate in many clan affairs, and rarely did anything illegal."

"They have been to school for a few years and know a few words, which is what Xia Zhibai lacks at the moment."

"These salt merchants are indeed quite clever. They know how to 'give in their favor' and also know how to 'help when it's time to help'. If these people were not innocent, Xia Zhibai would definitely not keep them. This was evident when Xia Zhibai took the initiative to send the account book to Your Highness."

"Xia Zhibai sees far ahead."

"It's simply beyond the reach and calculation of these salt merchants."

"So these salt merchants finally gave up struggling and surrendered themselves to His Highness, handing over all their money, just to leave a little bloodline for their family. Only if they are clean and innocent, will Xia Zhibai be willing to take them in. I can understand this, and these salt merchants who are about to die must be able to understand it, too."

"And this is why Xia Zhibai is willing to stay."

"He wrote this letter."

"The main purpose is to tell His Highness that these people have completely drawn a line between themselves and the former salt merchants."

talking.

Yao Guangxiao looked at Zhu Liang and said, "Captain Zhu, you are in charge of investigating the salt merchants. Please tell His Highness about these people who escaped."

Zhu Liang nodded and said, "Your Highness, from the information we have gathered from all sides, those who escaped are only in their teens, and the oldest is only 17 or 18 years old. They have been living a pampered life at home and have not been out to the public much. They are indeed innocent and clean."

"But it's not absolute." "I have only just started collecting information, so it may not be complete."

"Please forgive me, Your Highness."

Zhu Di waved his hand, "Since Xia Zhibai wants to stay, then let him do as he pleases."

Zhu Di said again: "Okay."

"There's no need to take these little things too seriously."

"Tomorrow morning, remember to send someone to post notices in the city, telling the people of the city that I, Zhu Di, will personally execute these officials who have committed crimes."

"At the same time, it will be announced on the spot that the land occupied by these corrupt officials will be returned to the military households and civilians who were occupied, and some of the remaining land will be distributed to beggars and refugees who have been in the city for a certain period of time."

"I, Zhu Di, was simply careless in the past, not that I didn't care about the people."

"do you know?"

"I, Zhu Di, also love my people like my own children!"

"in addition."

Zhu Di glanced around the hall, and his eyes finally fell on Yao Guangxiao and Zhang Yu. After thinking for a while, he still set his eyes on Zhang Yu.

Zhu Di said, "Zhang Yu, go back and write a memorial for me. Start with Xia Zhibai's arrival in Beiping and the difficulties he encountered from Qiu Fu. Write about how I noticed the laxity of military discipline in Beiping, and then there was this thorough investigation in Beiping."

"Remember to write down the details of this thorough investigation more clearly."

"You need to clearly state that I am impartial and will not give in to personal feelings. You also need to write the results of this thorough investigation in more detail."

"Especially how many military officers I killed, how many evil-doing soldiers I beheaded, how much occupied land I counted and voluntarily returned to the military households and civilians, and distributed land to refugees and beggars. You must write down these 'benevolent actions' in detail for me."

“Nothing can be left out.”

"As for the praises from the people later, you can do whatever you want with that."

"This king is not someone who takes all the credit."

"Remember to add a few words about yourself and mention your contributions. You can do whatever you want."

Zhang Yu and others looked at each other and grinned.

This disturbance was quite big, and many vacancies were left in Prince Yan's palace.

The King of Yan wants them to fill it up.

At this time.

Zhu Liang suddenly said, "Your Highness, we collected a lot of money and grain this time. How about writing that down as well?"

Zhu Di glared at him in dissatisfaction and said unhappily, "You don't know how to talk. You can keep silent. You just give bad advice. That is my money from Beiping. What does it have to do with the court? If the court knows about it, how can I keep the money?"

"Not even a copper penny of the money and grain seized from the house can be recorded."

"There can only be fields on it!"

Zhang Yu nodded.

He naturally understood Zhu Di's thoughts.

It means to seek credit from the imperial court.

The King of Yan got the job done, and he did it very well, and the people all praised him.

In this situation, Your Majesty cannot continue to dwell on Your Highness' past mistakes, right?

immediately.

Zhang Yu said, "Your Highness, we are now at the end of the autumn harvest. Many of the military officers' fields still have some unharvested grain. Should we collect this grain ourselves? Or should we give it directly as a reward from Your Highness to the people who were allocated those fields?"

Zhu Di said: "Give it to the people."

"It's just a little bit of leftover night food. I won't be stingy with it."

Zhang Yu nodded.

Zhu Di thought about it and decided that there was nothing else he had to say. He waved his hand and said, "It's getting late. You should go back and rest early. Tomorrow, you will finish this drama with me. You must cheer up and make it a glorious and beautiful one."

"This king also wants to experience the joy of sharing with the people."

"Haha."

There was a burst of laughter all around.

The gloom of the past few days disappeared without a trace along with the bursts of laughter.

The next day.

The sky cleared.

The sky after the rain seems to be washed clean and ethereal.

Spotless.

The air is filled with the aroma of earth.

Early in the morning, a notice was posted in front of all the major city gates and market entrances in Peking.

As the content of the notice was widely publicized, Peking, which had been dull for a long time, finally saw an outburst of public opinion. Countless people walked through the streets and alleys, happily spreading the content of the notice throughout Peking.

The King of Yan is dead, and the lawbreakers will be severely punished!!!
(End of this chapter)