Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 272 Suppress the rebellion and kill them all!

No one present expected the imperial edict to arrive at this time.

But they were not surprised by the appearance of the imperial edict.

Because Wu Tingju had impeached Prime Minister Fei Hong not long ago.

In the eyes of Yang Hong and others, it was normal to have an imperial edict, and it might even be an imperial edict to remove Wu Tingju from his official position or to promote him in public but demote him in secret.

After all, the emperor did not depose Fei Hong because he was impeached for taking bribes.

In their opinion, the one who was deposed must be Wu Tingju!

Wu Tingju also felt uneasy and thought it was an imperial decree that was unfavorable to him.

But soon, Wu Tingju discovered that it was Guo Xun, Marquis of Wuding, who came to announce the imperial edict.

Following Guo Xun in came a large number of the emperor's personal troops, all armed to the teeth.

These personal troops of the emperor poured in from the central gate like a tide, and scattered on both sides of the important roads and doors. It was obvious that they were better equipped and more skilled in fighting than the garrison troops.

After all, although the imperial court gave the garrison troops a lot of silver dollars to strengthen their military strength, due to the greed and selfishness of the officers, most of them were naturally like farmers, and only their servants looked slightly better.

Therefore, the garrison troops could not compare with the emperor's personal army.

boom!
boom!
When Guo Xun came with his personal troops, the sound of cannons rang out.

Everyone's heart couldn't help but tremble.

Wu Tingju, along with Yang Hong and others, came over first and knelt in front of the imperial edict.

Guo Xun then said: "This is a secret decree and cannot be read aloud. It can only be opened and read by Wu Dutang himself."

After hearing this, Wu Tingju said yes, took the imperial edict and stood up.

Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and other garrison officers also stood up along with Yang Hong and Zhang Kui, but they all frowned.

After all, Guo Xun, who was supposed to be at the Qingjiangpu Shipyard, suddenly appeared with his troops, which made them feel something was wrong.

After reading the imperial edict, Wu Tingju's worry turned into joy, but suddenly his face darkened again and he glanced at Yang Hong and Zhang Kui.

then.

Wu Tingju looked at Guo Xun again and said, "Marquis Wuding, according to the imperial decree, Yang Hong and Zhang Kui should both obey my orders as the Chief Censor, but they just disobeyed my orders. I intend to deprive them of their official positions, detain them in prison, and wait for the court to deal with them. What do you think?"

"We will follow your orders and assist you."

Guo Xun replied and waved his hand.

then.

A team of military cadets came out from Guo Xun's direct guard corps, walked up to Yang Hong and Zhang Kui, and surrounded them with guns.

Yang Hong and Zhang Kui were shocked when they saw this.

"You are my wise judge. Although I am a coward and selfish person, I had to disobey your orders just now because I was afraid that you might make a mistake!"

Yang Hong hurriedly began to explain himself.

Zhang Kui also said, "Du Tang, I was indeed confused just now. Please have mercy on me!"

Wu Tingju simply said, "If you have anything to say, go to the Three Judicial Departments and talk! If you don't want to be labeled a traitor and implicate your family, then cooperate!"

After hearing this, the two men didn't say anything more and just followed the military schools obediently to the prison of the Caoyun Yamen.

Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and other garrison officers were also horrified when they saw this.

Wu Tingju also looked at these people at this time, and said to Guo Xun: "Marquis Wu Ding, they left their post without permission and surrounded the governor's office with the intention of rebellion. I think they should be arrested and punished immediately. If they resist, they should be killed without mercy!"

"As it should be!"

Guo Xun replied in a deep voice and waved again.

A team of firearms soldiers who had been prepared long ago stood in front of Guo Xun and Wu Tingju, holding lit matches.

Simultaneously.

Guo Xun added: "You should surrender obediently, otherwise, don't blame the fire gun for being blind!"

Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and others looked at each other.

"Damn it, who betrayed us and made the imperial court mobilize troops in advance!"

Ma Yue even cursed at this time.

Lu Cheng even knelt down and said, "Please let me go, Du Tang and Marquis Wu Ding. I will repay you generously!"

"We do too!"

Ma Yue and other garrison officers also knelt down.

"If we let you go, where will the order of the world be?"

Wu Dinghou smiled faintly and waved his hand: "Catch him!"

Afterwards, these people took control of Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and others.

At the same time, Guo Xun also asked the firearms team to extinguish the fuse and just walk outside.

At this time.

The trusted officers and servants of the garrison officers outside who were about to follow the orders of Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and others to rush into the governor's office, kill Wu Tingju and seize Huai'an City, did not restrain their domineering attitude after seeing the appearance of the emperor's personal troops. They stared at these emperor's personal troops in a daze, and were at a loss for a moment.

Boom!

It was not until Guo Xun ordered the emperor's personal troops to take action that they hastily responded and were shot to the ground one after another. "Don't spare any! Kill them all!"

After the smoke cleared, Guo Xun issued new orders.

Then, the sword and shield soldiers under Guo Xun came over, slashed these servants with their swords, and cut off their heads, which piled up like a mountain.

Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and other garrison officers who were being escorted out were heartbroken when they saw this scene.

After all, these were their most loyal officers and servants, many of whom were their relatives and children.

Afterwards, Wu Tingju and Guo Xun jointly submitted a long urgent memorial, in which they wrote about how Yang Hong and Zhang Kui disobeyed orders, and how Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and others led officers and soldiers to desert their posts and plot rebellion.

Moreover, Guo Xun was ordered to send troops and horses to escort these people to Beijing.

After writing the memorial, Wu Tingju, in his capacity as the new governor-general of the river and governor of Fengyang, summoned the prefect of Huai'an and asked him to prepare to recruit strong men, renovate the city, and strengthen vigilance in case of lawless people trying to seize Huai'an. At the same time, he wrote to the governors of Shandong and Nanzhi, ordering the families of the officers in the garrisons suspected of treason to be confiscated and awaiting the court's decision.

Guo Xun brought most of the emperor's personal troops back to Qingjiangpu to continue guarding the shipbuilding.

After receiving the joint memorial from Wu Tingju and Guo Xun, Zhu Houcong said to Fei Hong happily: "Xu Jie has made great contributions this time. I cannot reward him openly, but I can tell him secretly that I remember him and appreciate his positive attitude!"

Fei Hong nodded in agreement.

then.

Zhu Houcong glanced at the memorial in his hand again and said, "Let the three judicial officials immediately conduct a strict trial on Lu Cheng, Ma Yue and other traitors! And Yang Hong and Zhang Kui should also be strictly interrogated. I want to know who are the ones who intend to cause trouble in Huai'an!"

Fei Hong said yes again.

Let’s talk.

Soon after Wu Tingju and Guo Xun's joint urgent memorial was sent to the capital, the news quickly spread in the capital that many officers from Huai'an Wei, Pingzhou Wei, Haizhou Wei and other garrisons, as well as Yang Hong and Zhang Kui, were sent to the capital in chains.

For a time, the government and the country were shaken and people were in panic.

Even the Imperial Academy Editor Yao Lai was now worried, and said to his father, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War Yao Tan:

"I don't know who leaked the secret, but the plan they had planned in Huai'an failed, and they got into trouble!"

Yao Tan said: "It's hard to know, but if these people are escorted to Beijing and their backgrounds are revealed through interrogation, I, the father, will not be able to escape responsibility!"

"My son is also worried about this."

Yao Lai replied.

Yao Tan looked at Yao Lai and said, "Go and contact Zhang Tan and ask him if he can think of a way to get these prisoners into the hands of the East Factory and silence them again. After that, we will give you 50,000 taels of gold!"

Yao Lai bowed and said yes.

After Zhang Tong said that he must give him 200,000 silver dollars in order to silence Liu Yinghuai, Yao Lai informed his father Yao Tan about this. Soon after, he learned from his father that the person behind his father agreed to give money, and first gave Zhang Tong 100,000 silver dollars. Now there is still a shortfall of 100,000 silver dollars to be paid, and it was agreed that the money would be paid after confirming that Liu Yinghuai had really died suddenly.

Yao Lai had already prepared to give Zhang Tong the last 100,000 silver dollars because Wang Ao had reported that Liu Yinghuai had died suddenly in the imperial prison.

So, after his father Yao Tan said this, Yao Lai immediately made an appointment with Zhang Tan that night and asked, "Where is Liu Yinghuai's body?"

Zhang Tong had a cloth bag dragged out from the dark curtain and opened it: "I asked my brothers in the Imperial Guard to steal this from the mass grave, just to show you! Check it out!"

Suddenly, a strong stench rushed into Yao Lai's nostrils.

Yao Lai immediately felt nauseous and wanted to vomit, so he had to pinch his nose and took the torch from his servant to take a look. He saw that the head was covered with corpse spots and there were active maggots in the place where he was tortured. He didn't dare to look any further, so he quickly withdrew his head, turned his back to the body bag and said:
"It's indeed him!"

"Here's the remaining 100,000 silver dollars!"

Yao Lai immediately gave 100,000 silver dollars to Zhang Tong.

After Zhang Tong took it, he had the body bag dragged aside for cremation.

Yao Lai stopped Zhang Tong when he was about to leave.

Zhang Tong asked, "Anything else?"

Yao Lai expressed his father Yao Tan's thoughts.

"That can't be done!"

"I am only a criminal officer in the East Factory now, I can't make the decision!"

Zhang Tong rejected Yao Lai's proposal without thinking.

After hearing this, Yao Lai had to return home disappointed and told Yao Tan about it.

After hearing this, Yao Tan paced on the carpet in the room for a long time, and then said to Yao Lai: "Go directly to the Eunuch Qin of the East Factory, or the new General Shi Ti of the Pacification Division! As long as they are willing to see you, it means there is hope. If they are unwilling to see you, you don't have to tell them your true intentions."

Yao Lai nodded and said, "Okay!"

Zhang Tong reported the matter to Zhu Houcong that night.

Zhu Houcong smiled after hearing this and said, "It seems that Yao Tan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, is really anxious!"

"Pass on my order, and have the East Factory and the Pacification Office agree to his request first to calm his heart. After these people successfully enter the capital, the East Factory and the Pacification Office will directly expose the matter to me!"

Zhu Houcong ordered.

Zhang Tong nodded and said yes, then he received the secret order from Huang Jin.

Qin Wen, the governor of the Eastern Depot, and Shi Bao of the Pacification Office followed Zhu Houcong's instructions and met with Yao Lai first, promising to do this for them. They also took half of the gold offered by Yao Tan and received the receipt.

Yao Tan, who was desperate to find a cure, didn't care whether there was any fraud or not. He just felt relieved afterwards and said to Yao Lai:
"At least we'll be safe this way."

Yao Lai smiled and said, "Yes! Now we just have to wait for the emperor to issue an edict to have these people go directly to the Imperial Prison instead of being tried in the Metropolitan Censorate Prison!"

(End of this chapter)