Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 171: Buried with Others
After more than a month, the White Spear Soldiers arrived in Tongzhou outside Beijing in mid-October.

Those who came to greet them were Chen Ju, who replaced Cheng Jing and took charge of the Imperial Stables, as well as Xiliang Bodayun, the commander of the Yongwei Camp, Wang Zhizhen, the commander of the Jinyiwei, and Chen Qi, the Minister of Revenue.

Chen Ju came to receive the stolen money that should be transported to the imperial treasury, Dayun came to take other white-flag soldiers to the Yongwei Camp, Wang Zhizhen came to take Ma Qiancheng, Qin Liangyu, Luo Sigong and three criminals, Zhang Yi, Hao Jie and Geng Dingli, to see the emperor, and Chen Qi came to receive the rest of the stolen money and send it to the various treasuries.

After earning a sum of money from selling the coins, the Ministry of Revenue received another huge income.

All the taxes that hundreds of gentry families had been exempted from for many years were collected. How huge was the wealth accumulated by generations? Although many of them were land, houses and shops, there was also a lot of gold, silver and precious goods.

It is naturally just one theory that only hundreds of gentry families filled the debts that have not been forgiven, but the difference is not too big.

The annual banknotes, silver, and commercial taxes have not yet been collected and shipped, but the Ministry of Revenue's "increasing revenue" has achieved results, and this year's annual revenue is expected to increase by more than 1.5 million taels.

But the Ministry of Revenue only got a small share.

"This is the account book that Lord Xiao, Lord Zheng, and Lord Li have checked together." Luo Sigong handed the book to Chen Qi. "Except for the land, houses, and shops that are still waiting to be confiscated and sold, only 270,000 taels of silver have been transported in from the stolen goods, and the rest have been temporarily stored in the Nanjing warehouses."

Even if the warship was slightly larger, the additional cargo carrying capacity was only about ten to fifteen tons.

One tael of silver in the Ming Dynasty weighed about 40 grams today. If all of 270,000 taels of silver were made of silver, they could be transported on one ship.

Now there is not only gold and silver, but also other things, so Chen Qi has to take over the stolen money on the two ships.

The eunuchs brought by Chen Ju received another seven ships, preparing to transport the goods to Beijing via the Tonghui River.

Chen Lin asked a member of the Yangtze River Navy to stay here and lead the fleet south only after all the handovers were completed.

It was not until the next day when they arrived at the Qianqing Palace that Chen Ju gave a detailed report.

"Hero Xiao has already submitted a report," Zhu Changluo said. "Although it is the proceeds of corruption and punishment, all the money that should be used to replenish the treasuries in the two capitals will be replenished. The national treasury is not so tight, and we will be less cautious when doing things in the future."

Then he met Ma Qiancheng, Qin Liangyu and Luo Sigong first, encouraged them respectively, and rewarded them for their contributions while staying in Jiangnan.

"For this journey, the ordinary soldiers of the Baigan Camp will each be given three taels of silver. The rest of the officers will be rewarded according to their duties." Zhu Changluo looked at Ma Qiancheng and his wife, "I will grant you two a mansion, and you can settle down in the capital now."

Qin Liangyu was a woman after all. Although she could go to the Yongwei Camp for training, she mainly stayed at home. The official commander of the Baigan Camp was of course Ma Qiancheng.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

On the way to Beijing, they made some achievements. Every soldier had no worries about food and clothing along the way, and each of them received three or two taels of silver, so they naturally felt at ease.

"Qin Bangping knows where the mansion is and has already prepared it." Zhu Changluo looked at Luo Sigong again, "You two have become friends along the way, so transfer Qin Bangping to your Northern Pacification Division to serve you."

Luo Sigong's promotion has been very rapid, and the emperor has not given him any extra rewards now, but he has allowed him to deepen his relationship with the relatives of the general of the Yongwei Camp, which shows that he trusts and respects him.

Qin Bangping is Qin Liangyu's elder brother. He had been granted the privilege of reporting to the Beijing Jinyiwei, but now he is just an ordinary lieutenant.

I heard that the emperor was going to transfer Qin Bangping to the most important Northern Pacification Division in the Jinyiwei. This was also a high position, and he might even be promoted to a small flag officer.

After meeting them, Zhu Changluo stood up and said: "Let's go to the Yangxin Palace."

This was Ma Qiancheng's first time to meet the emperor, so it was more solemn in the Qianqing Palace, which made it easier for him to feel that this was the right choice.

The Yangxin Palace area is now heavily guarded.

The throne was placed under the eaves outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, with three people kneeling between Yidexuan and Lurenzhai.

There were three soft stools in front of them on the right, on which sat the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was now acting Minister of Justice, Wen Chun, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Guo Zhengyu, who was promoted from the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Inside Yidexuan, three cabinet ministers and six of the nine ministers were sitting on a row of chairs.

It was even more unusual at Lu Ren Zhai, where Shen Honglin and several other well-known storytellers were sitting.

After the eunuch passed the message, they did not go out to greet them: this was what Tian Yi had instructed before.

The people from Yidexuan came out to welcome the emperor.

"The weather is good, so please take a seat nearby and listen."

As Zhu Changluo spoke, he also looked at the three criminals who turned to look at him.

They had never met each other, but Zhu Changluo only glanced at them coldly and walked towards the throne. Liu Ruoyu and his men brought soft stools and sat in a row in the yard to listen.

Everyone felt very complicated when looking at the two former Shangshu and Cao Jiangdu Yushi kneeling in front of them.

How difficult it is to climb to the rank of Shangshu? But the emperor did not give them respect and insisted on using this scene to warn everyone.

When Zhu Changluo said he wanted to ask Zhang Yi in person, he was simply asking for the attention of the important officials in the court.

It was good that he didn't ask at the court meeting. Last time, the court issued an order to eunuch some of them, some of whom were sons of court officials. He even forced an official to resign and return home to "concentrate on having another child."

"I only look at the numbers." Zhu Changluo sat there and spoke, looking at the three of them. "Just the three of you, the gold and silver found in the Nanjing official residence totaled more than 893,500 taels of silver, and the treasures, houses and shops in the city totaled more than 1.69 million taels of silver. The property in your hometown and other places has not been fully investigated. Who are you doing this for?"

The three of them were indeed unwilling and aggrieved, but they did not open their mouths to refute the emperor.

Why bother now?
"I know why you feel wronged." Zhu Changluo glanced at everyone calmly, "You are just unlucky. You studied hard and are now in a high position. You helped the court stabilize Jiangnan. You have made great contributions despite the minor flaws in your flawless work. Why do I treat you so harshly? Why do I only lend you your heads for use!"

The storytellers in Lu Ren Zhai's hearts were pounding as they listened to the noise outside. Could it be that the emperor wanted them to tell this story later?
Ever since the emperor looked at me differently, I have felt both happy and terrified.

"Geng Dingli's confession is the most interesting!" Zhu Changluo pointed at him. "The officialdom in Jiangnan and the local situation are vivid and profound! In the tenth year of Wanli, it was fortunate that Zhang Jiangling was seriously ill, and fortunately he died afterwards! And then he immediately attacked him in every possible way. How much did he find during the search of Zhang's house? Do you have the power he holds? Are you better at governing the country than he is?"

"Geng Dingli, you are even better at planning for the country than Zhang Jiangling, so you dare to instruct Cheng Bosong to pretend to be a Japanese pirate to rob the grain, reminding me that the stability of Jiangnan is more important than anything else? Zhang Yi, you didn't do it yourself, and you guys conspired and worried about it several times. You say you don't have this intention?"

Zhang Yi's face changed, and then he also risked his life: "Since Your Majesty knows about this, could it be that the person who confessed only mentioned three criminals?"

"What? The law shouldn't blame everyone? In the final analysis, it's you three who are unlucky?" Zhu Changluo looked at him coldly, then looked at the several people who were sitting on pins and needles, "You all heard it, this is a rebellious thought, and you still don't reflect on your sins."

"Your Majesty, these three people are obsessed with greed and disregard the laws of the country. Their crimes are unforgivable! We believe that the canonical punishment should be announced to the world to warn all officials not to forget the teachings of the sages and live up to the grace and trust of the emperor. In the future, they should work hard, love the people, and be loyal to the country."

Minister of Rites Zhu Guozuo was under a lot of pressure because there were so many "typical education meetings" now. The ministers felt that the emperor looked at him differently, and they always asked him to speak out at such times.

What don't these people here understand? There's no need to educate them like this.

"Let's not talk about what I did. Your Majesty is right, I was wronged! I confessed everything, but why are you only interrogating three of us and only investigating those gentry families where no one has served as an official?" Geng Dingli did not sympathize with Zhu Guozuo and others' embarrassment, and said stubbornly, "Your Majesty and the court know what is more important, so what virtue and ability do we have? Are the heads of just three people enough to warn all officials? I don't accept it!"

Shen Yikuan and Shen Shixing's heads are as big as buckets.

Is it because he has been in Jiangnan for too long that he has become so confused? Or is it because he feels that his family is already vulnerable and he is too lazy to take care of his entire clan, so he has to make everyone else suffer?

"You two are also not convinced?" Zhu Changluo asked.

Hao Jie just lowered his head, and Zhang Yi wanted to say something but stopped himself and pursed his lips.

The one who personally instructed the Cheng family in Jiangyou to rob and destroy the grain was Geng Dingli, and he was also the first one to start making crazy confessions.

"This is an important official who has been selected for his moral character and ability in all the previous selections, and then he was promoted to this high position step by step." Zhu Changluo provoked Geng Dingli, "You dare to speak out and disagree, why don't you teach me again, what is more important? How should I govern the Ming Dynasty?"

Shen Yikuan wanted to stop him because he felt that Geng Dingli had gone crazy and dared to say anything.

The gap in Geng Dingli's ability was indeed too great. He was first instigated by Zhang Yi and others, then sold out by them, and then after he revealed everything, the Nanjing officials finally only arrested three of them.

He was still in his prime and had a bright future, but when the new emperor ascended the throne, everything suddenly turned out like this.

So Shen Yi Guan didn't have time to stop him, he had already started to speak: "It is the officials and people of the world who respect Your Majesty as the emperor. What is more important? Why do you need the criminals to remind you? Broadcast grace and recuperate. It is better to be quiet than to move after the war. It is Your Majesty and the court that are disturbing the hearts of the people, not the officials and people of the world who have committed treason! Now that the three criminals have been executed and announced to the world, it only lets the officials and people of the world know that a great change is coming. Your Majesty is just talking about seeking governance and stirring up the foundation of the country!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Shen Yikuan, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue: "Wen Yanbo dares to speak out, the three of you are ashamed to sit in the cabinet and watch your Majesty act rashly, and the world will fall!"

Shen Yikuan cursed in his heart: Is this guy trying to drag more people to his death?
I can't think of any other possibility!
It doesn’t matter. The emperor said it more bluntly. He already knew that the world was about to fall.

Zhu Guozuo also sat down and lowered his head: Accept re-education, it is inevitable.

"Wen Yanbo..." Zhu Changluo laughed, "To rule the world with the literati? After Wen Yanbo said this, how long did it take for Zhao Song to have the Jingkang Shame?"

Shen Shixing sighed, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, these officials are now hoping that the Ming Dynasty will be in chaos. Why ask more questions? We are all the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and the gentry have been blessed by the emperor for generations. We need to help Your Majesty love the people and keep them safe."

"No, that's the problem." Zhu Changluo's eyes turned cold. "It's because only the gentry can help the royal family govern the world, and they feel that they are irreplaceable. Over time, they rely on themselves as the foundation of the country. The more preferential treatment they are given, the more their salaries are increased, and the more they respect themselves. There is indeed a big problem with the culture and education of the Ming Dynasty! What do you think, Grand Master of the Imperial Clan?"

(End of this chapter)