The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 260 Those Are All Fate

“Your Majesty, I admit that I would never force a woman of good character into prostitution. It’s just that when I came to the capital, I wanted to do some business and invest in those brothels.

I really don’t know the inside story.” Zhu Youshu, the former Prince of Zhennan who was demoted to General Zhenguo, said aggrievedly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I don't know either." Another member of the royal family spoke aggrievedly.

Immediately afterwards, the other twenty or so members of the royal family spoke up one after another.

They have only been in Beijing for more than two years and have invested in many businesses, but most of them do not interfere in the operation and only take dividends.

But whether they know the inside story or not, only they themselves know.

Afterwards, everyone spoke up one after another saying that they had no knowledge of the situation beforehand.

Zhu Houzhao glanced around and saw that except for a few people, everyone lowered their heads and did not dare to make contact with his gaze which was as real as real.

Everyone was terrified and couldn't calm down.

Like heaven, like god, that's it.

In one word, they ran here and knelt down obediently.

One look made it impossible for them to calm down.

If their lives and property were not at stake, many people would confess on the spot.

"Very good." Zhu Houzhao spoke, his eyes became even colder and murderous.

The vast Mingshen true energy spread out, covering more than a hundred people. One after another, figures were caught by the golden true energy and thrown out, falling to the ground not far away.

"Ouch~!"

"Ah~!"

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There were screams and cries, and soon more than forty people were thrown out.

Three were members of the royal family, four were nobles, and the rest were officials.

Zhu Houzhao retracted his true energy and waved his hand at the frightened man who was kneeling obediently, "You can stand up. I believe your words for the time being."

He turned his head and glared at the people who fell to the ground, shouting angrily: "Do you think you can hide this from me?"

Those people were shocked and terrified.

They struggled to stand up, kneeled down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, spare my life. I confess."

"Your Majesty, I confess that I was wrong."

"I am innocent, Your Majesty. I really don't know. I just heard about it."

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The voices of fear rose and fell, and Zhu Houzhao no longer wanted to listen.

“Take them all down and investigate thoroughly.

Participating in it and knowing about it beforehand means acquiescence and complicity, and will be dealt with according to the law. "Zhu Houzhao said coldly.

"Yes."

The Jinyiwei rushed forward, took down these officials and made them shut up.

Everyone who stood up felt a mixture of fear and relief.

Fortunately, I really didn’t know about it in advance, otherwise, I would be in big trouble.

"If you didn't know in advance that women of good families were forced into prostitution, I will trust you for now." Zhu Houzhao turned and looked at them, his tone softened.

The next moment, a voice rose: "But, are your relatives and family members involved? We need to investigate thoroughly.

You guys just stay here for now and wait until we have thoroughly investigated the matter."

"Yes." Many people were afraid and worried, but they had to respond.

"Uncle, Lao Guo, and the two Caos are accompanying you, and you follow them." Zhu Houzhao said and walked into the Meridian Gate.

After the group passed the Meridian Gate.

"His Majesty."

The three elders of the cabinet, Gu Xichao, and Cao Youxiang came to greet them, and it was obvious that they had arrived a long time ago.

Zhu Houzhao did not leave either. He waved his hand to block out the sounds from the outside world and said firmly, "I have decided to immediately close down all brothels, prostitution houses, and gambling houses in the territory of Daming."

No one had any objection. Although this matter was a big deal, it was not a big problem for the Ming Dynasty and His Majesty, which were truly at their peak.

Although Guo Bujing, Cao Zhengchun, and Fu Tianjiao were surprised to see a new gambling house, they did not think much about it.

"From now on, there shall be no brothels or gambling houses in the territory of the Ming Dynasty. They shall all be banned." Zhu Houzhao continued firmly.

In an instant, everyone's expression changed and they looked at their Majesty in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, this..." Ma Wensheng said at a loss.

Why are they all going to be banned?
The same goes for everyone else.

It is okay to seal and investigate, it is not a big problem for the current court.

But if it is completely banned, that would be a big problem.

Not to mention that this has existed since ancient times.

There are so many people whose interests are involved behind brothels and gambling houses.

The local gentry, wealthy families, landlords, gangs, and major martial arts forces, including the righteous ones.

Even Shaolin and Wudang are related.

Because the beneficiaries of brothels and gambling houses must include those who are part of the Shaolin and Wudang interest chain.

Maybe it involves high-level officials.

There is no need to verify this.

It’s okay to seal it off temporarily, even if it takes a long time. Sooner or later, it will be returned to them. These people can only endure it.

But if we completely ban them, we can’t be sure what will happen. “Your Majesty, brothels and gambling houses have existed since ancient times. If we ban them hastily, it may affect people’s livelihood.

Moreover, they are all connected to various local forces. If we are not careful, the public will be excited." Liu Jian said solemnly.

"Just because it has existed since ancient times, does it mean it is right?

Brothels treat the women of our Ming Dynasty as commodities and allow them to be abused at will. What's the difference between this and slavery?
It must not exist in our Ming Dynasty.

My only regret is that I didn't realize sooner that most of them were poor women.

There are also gambling houses. How many people have lost their families because of them? They have sold their wives, children and daughters. "Zhu Houzhao's tone was full of undisguised anger and unquestionable.

The killing intent was even stronger: "As for the public outrage, let them be angry. I want to see how many people dare to jump out."

After the words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

Fu Tianjiao and Hua Zhenzhen's eyes sparkled, and they looked at their husbands tenderly, with excitement and excitement.

But the one who was even more excited than them was Gu Xichao.

His whole body was trembling slightly, but he managed to control it and looked at His Majesty with a fiery gaze.

“Your Majesty, if you want to ban brothels and gambling dens, you must strike down the people behind them.

Most of these people are local gentry and gangs.

On the contrary, those major forces of the righteous path will not be directly related.

If we don't pursue the matter thoroughly for the time being, the major forces of justice should not overreact.

In this way, we can proceed step by step, first cracking down on brothels and gambling houses in various places, and at the same time cracking down on the gangs, gentry, etc. behind them.

Then deal with all the gangs that oppress the people in towns across the country. "Guo Bujing suppressed the same excitement and said directly and solemnly.

“Old Guo, the order of attack you mentioned is correct, but we need to swat flies and hit tigers as well.

What about the right path?
I will ask Zhang Sanfeng and Monk Wuji to personally support you, so don't worry.

No matter who is involved, I will investigate to the end this time and kill them all." Zhu Houzhao said coldly.

Everyone's expressions changed again.

This is really equivalent to cleansing the Ming Dynasty martial arts world.

This is because whether it is brothels, gambling houses, or gangs in towns, they are all part of the martial arts world and have extensive connections.

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty's guards have not yet been completely reorganized, and the Martial Arts Hall has not yet reached the expected state. If such a large-scale purge is carried out, it may cause unrest.

How about waiting a little longer?
Wait until the remaining Daming guards are rectified and the martial arts hall is stronger before taking action." Liu Jian suppressed his excitement, sighed secretly, and spoke solemnly.

"No more waiting." Zhu Houzhao did not hesitate at all, and his voice was a little regretful. He gritted his teeth and said, "I also thought about waiting before, and I would take action as soon as I was ready.

But today, looking at those teenage girls, I suddenly realized that every day I wait, I don’t know how many good people of the Ming Dynasty are bullied and their families are broken up.

They were all waiting for me to save them, but they never got to wait.

How many more people will I disappoint? How long will I be late?
I tell you, those are not numbers, they are the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty."

With a snort, he continued, "I am very calm now. I know that the court is not fully prepared yet.

But it doesn’t matter. Now is not the time to attack the entire Ming Dynasty martial arts world and all classes.

Just knock off a part of it.

Now the Ming Dynasty is well prepared.

Of course, it will definitely cause some unrest, more people from the Ming Dynasty court will die, and even innocent people will be implicated.

But since you are a member of the Ming Dynasty court, you should understand that you should die for the people.

As for innocent people, I would rather have them implicated when the evil is being strangled than see more victims continue to suffer.

A real man must never be soft-hearted or hesitant.

There is no need to say more, I have made up my mind. "

Everyone listened quietly, and unconsciously, they all felt their bodies getting hotter and hotter.

"Yes."

Everyone spoke in unison, and they all became firm and stopped trying to dissuade others.

"Okay." Zhu Houzhao nodded, looked at Guo Bujing and Cao Zhengchun, and said solemnly: "After nearly four years of development, do you have the confidence to do a good job in the factory guards?"

“Your Majesty, with the current strength of the factory guards, coupled with the cooperation of the local martial arts hall and government offices.

As long as the righteous forces do not act rashly and we mobilize the experts in the court, I am confident that we will not cause too much unrest and will gradually eliminate the people behind the brothels and gambling houses, as well as all the gangs that oppress the people in the town." Guo Bujing said firmly.

"Your Majesty, the same is true for the Eastern Depot." Cao Zhengchun immediately followed.

"Okay, the Martial Arts Hall and the government will fully cooperate with you. If you need any more experts, just tell us.
Duke Zheng and I can take action at any time.

There is no need to worry about anything." Zhu Houzhao agreed immediately.

"Yes, Eunuch Cao and I will come up with a comprehensive plan and formally implement it within one day." Guo Bujing said solemnly.

Cao Zhengchun glanced at Guo Bujing and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes." Zhu Houzhao nodded, and then said: "After destroying the brothels, how to place the women inside is also a problem.

I think Xiuxiu might have a good idea about this, and I will ask her about it, but no matter what, the factory guards must not harm innocent people."

"I understand." Guo Bujing and the other two responded immediately.

"Also, from now on, all the indentures of selling bodies in the Ming Dynasty will have no legal effect.

People cannot be bought and sold, even their own parents.

Both buyers and sellers will be charged with serious crimes.

All the wealthy families changed to hiring out workers, and paid them according to the length of employment.

The employee can regret the job at any time and just return the wages to the employer..."

(Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 will be updated around 10 o'clock.)
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(End of this chapter)