I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 222 Zhang Taiyue Shows His Strength

"The Crown Prince's Junior Tutor and Dongke Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng pays his respects to the Duke of Wei!" Zhang Juzheng bowed leisurely and made a long salute to Xu Pengju.

Xu Pengju's face turned ashen, and his rage was visibly about to burst out.

But facing an elder, he did not dare to vent his anger, and said angrily, "Elder Zhang, you came so quickly."

"Such a big thing happened in Nanjing City. I dare not be negligent." After saying this, Zhang Juzheng greeted the dukes including Zhang Tong, Marquis of Longping, and Zhao Zuzheng, Earl of Xincheng.

Then he bowed to Liu Cai and said, "Military Liu, thank you for your hard work."

Liu Cai's face turned pale, and he said sadly: "Such a big thing happened, I can't blame myself for it!"

Before Zhang Juzheng could answer, Xu Pengju said in a stern voice, "Lord Zhang, your method is too cruel. With so many casualties, I'm afraid there will be a big chaos."

Zhang Juzheng turned around and asked calmly, "A big turmoil? The Zhenwu Camp mutiny, harassing civilians and merchants, burning, killing, and looting, isn't that a big turmoil?"

Xu Pengju tried to explain himself, "The soldiers of Zhenwu Camp haven't received their pay for three to five months, so they are angry and are just making a fuss. They are just making a fuss for a while."

Zhang Juzheng's tone became grim: "Master Xu, do you think so?"

Liu Cai glared at Xu Pengju and said, "If you can't speak, just keep your mouth shut!"
You have the highest title, the highest rank, and the most distinguished status. But Zhang Juzheng is a cabinet minister and an imperial envoy, representing the emperor and the court, so his words carry the most weight.

You are in a hurry to characterize the Zhenwuying mutiny, but can you do it?
Xu Pengju hesitated, looked around, and didn't dare to answer directly.

Zhang Tong rolled his eyes, and stood up and said, "Lord Zhang, it is true that the Zhenwu Camp has been owed wages for half a year. Soldiers have to support their families, and it is natural for them to make a fuss when they are hungry.

I heard that some time ago, some officials in the capital were in a commotion over their salaries. We in Nanjing felt the same way. "

Everyone knows what kind of people are in Zhenwu Camp.

They ate empty salaries, resold military equipment, engaged in illegal smuggling, and sponsored prostitutes and gamblers. Most of them did not live on the little food and salary. They sneaked into the Zhenwu Camp just to get a skin.

Everyone knows these.

But this is what was said under the table, and I can't bring it out now without verification. On the contrary, it is natural for soldiers to eat food.

Zhang Juzheng refuted bluntly: "Zhenwu Camp is funded by the Nanzhili customs and the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue pays for its food and wages directly. It is so abominable that the officers and soldiers did not receive their wages in June. I am in the cabinet and have been ordered by the emperor to inspect Nanzhili. Of course, I must investigate this matter thoroughly."

Zhang Juzheng did not give Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong and others a chance to refute, and continued: "If you owe wages, you can take military equipment out of the barracks and go to burn, kill and loot? What dynasty's rules are these?

There is absolutely no such rule in our dynasty! This cabinet will investigate the matter of Zhenwu Camp and why the salary is owed. This cabinet will explain the whole story to the emperor, the court, and you all."

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong, Zhao Zuzheng and others became anxious.

We've said all this just to dissuade you from investigating further, but why do you still want to investigate further?
Can this be checked?

Zhenwuying is a huge cancer in Nanjing City. Why has it existed for more than 20 years?
Because some people in Nanjing need it to exist, and need to use it to do some secret things. If this cancer is cut open and investigated, the whole city of Nanjing will be turned upside down.

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong and Zhao Zuzheng looked at each other, swallowed their saliva, stepped forward and continued, "Lord Zhang, I am the garrison commander of Nanjing and the deputy governor of the Central Army. Zhenwu Camp should be under my jurisdiction.

Please let me handle his case, so as not to delay Mr. Zhang's important work of paying respects to the Xiaoling Mausoleum."

Zhang Tong and Zhao Zuzheng immediately echoed, "Yes, Lord Zhang has been exhausted all the way, traveling day and night. It's really too hard. Now that those bastards in Zhenwu Camp have been brought to justice, why not hand them over to the authorities for disposal."

"We have prepared a banquet on the Qinhuai River and invited many famous scholars from Jiangnan to welcome Mr. Zhang. Mr. Zhang is a child prodigy from Jiangling, a disciple of Mr. Shaohu, and a famous person in the world. Everyone is looking forward to seeing him."

Zhang Juzheng's eyes suddenly became fierce and swept across the faces of Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong and Zhao Zuzheng, making their faces change and they became frightened.

Xu Pengju mustered up his courage and asked timidly, "Master Zhang, what's wrong?"

Zhang Juzheng asked, "Master Xu is the garrison commander of Nanjing? Master Zhang and Master Zhao are also serving in the army?"

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong, and Zhao Zuzheng exchanged a glance and answered nervously, "That's right." "You three are in charge of Nanjing's military affairs and various camps in Nanjing, but you caused such a big mess in Zhenwu Camp. Don't you feel any remorse at all?"

Xu Pengju swallowed his saliva and laughed as he replied, "The soldiers are just making a fuss over the pay. It happens all the time. Your Excellency has never led an army, so you don't know the hardships involved. These soldiers act like masters, and at the slightest slackness, they jump up and curse, throw down their armor and quit their jobs."

Zhang Juzheng replied grimly: "I have inspected the Nine Frontiers twice. The heads of soldiers like those from the Zhenwu Camp would have been hung on the key passes of the Nine Frontiers long ago."

"Haha, Jiubian is Jiubian, and Nanjing is Nanjing. They are different, very different."

"What's the difference? Aren't they all from the Ming Dynasty? Aren't they all subject to the military law of the Ming Dynasty?"

Xu Pengju was also annoyed and said angrily: "Why is Mr. Zhang so aggressive? We are all officials in the same court, why do we have to be so estranged?"

Zhang Juzheng smiled. He knew exactly what kind of people he was facing. Looking at the sky, he felt that time was almost up.

He turned to Li Guoan and other Marine Corps commanders and said, "Has the main culprit been caught?"

"In reply to your words, I have sent out soldiers to hunt him down, and they should be back soon."

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong, and Zhao Zuzheng immediately felt something was wrong and their faces changed drastically.

Xu Pengju turned his face and said sternly, "Uncle Zhang, what do you mean? This is Nanjing City. If you dare to act recklessly and cause a bigger mess, let's see how you will report it to me."

Zhang Juzheng sneered, "A bigger mess? How big will it be? Lord Xu, tell me! I need to quickly dispatch troops here. Governor Cao is in Shanghai. He has gathered more than 20,000 land and sea troops. I wonder if they are enough!"

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong, Zhao Zuzheng and others looked gloomy.

Liu Cai also understood, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.

The sharp blade that the imperial court sent flying towards Nanjing was not aimed at the officials of the six ministries in Nanjing, but at the nobles.

At this time, a pair of soldiers from the Marine Corps came over with a group of people.

"Report! I was ordered to arrest the wanted criminals. Now I have captured them all and am here to report."

Everyone turned around and saw that the most conspicuous person among the group of people who were arrested was Xu Pengju's eldest son Xu Bangrui, who had a pale face and looked dejected.

One of them was Xu Pengju's illegitimate youngest son Xu Bangning. His face was ashen and he was struggling desperately. When he saw Xu Pengju, he immediately shouted, "Daddy, save me! Daddy, save me quickly!"

Behind him stood Liu Shiyan, the Earl of Chengyi who had been stripped of his title. He had an unwilling look in his eyes, like a wolf trapped in despair.

Xu Pengju was furious, "Uncle Zhang, what are you doing? Why do you want to capture the two sons of Duke Wei?"

Zhang Juzheng replied calmly: "Xu Bangrui is suspected of instigating the Jiang bandits to cause chaos and wipe out the entire Han family, a salt merchant in Yangzhou; Xu Bangning is suspected of instigating the Zhenwu Camp to cause a mutiny."

"Nonsense, this is a false accusation! A naked false accusation! My youngest is well-educated and sensible, how could he do such a thing! Uncle Zhang, please stop accusing my youngest! Even if I have to risk my life, I will fight you to the end!"

Zhang Juzheng looked at Xu Pengju who was like a mad dog, snorted and looked at him with disdain.

Liu Cai also glanced at Xu Pengju coldly, walked up to Zhang Juzheng, and said softly: "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Xu and others are in charge of Nanjing's military preparations. If they resign according to the rules because their family members are involved in the case, who will be in charge of Nanjing's defense?"

Zhang Juzheng replied calmly, "Liu Bingbu is an experienced and capable person, but please rest assured that we have already invited a pillar of the sea. Lord Tang, please!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a general in military uniform stepped out from among the soldiers escorting the prisoners. It was Lingbi Marquis Tang Shilong.

Xu Pengju, Zhang Tong, Zhao Zuzheng and others were all stunned.

Liu Cai and others understood everything clearly, it was all a trick!

(End of this chapter)