Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 142: Your Majesty, when investigating a case, has you ever asked for evidence?
The Tatar looked at the convoy behind Wang Yao and walked forward to check it out silently.

When the food and grass covering the top were lifted, tea, iron sheets, silk, salt and various daily necessities hidden in the cart were revealed.

Finally, the most important thing, of course, is the dozens of wooden boxes that Zhou Hongyi asked Wang Yao to take out of the city.

After opening the wooden box and seeing the weapons, armor and firearms inside, the Tatars in charge of the inspection were delighted.

After confirming that everything was correct, the Tatars lifted the sheepskin on the carriage behind them, revealing a mountain of silver underneath.

After both parties counted the accounts, Wang Yao moved the silver to his own donkey cart, covered it tightly with food and straw, and set off back.

Zhou Hongyi only gave him one day, so he couldn't stay outside for too long.

That night, Wang Yao returned to Xuanfu at the appointed time.

Then he drove the donkey cart non-stop to the garrison camp in Xuanfu.

After Zhou Hongyi finished counting the silver that Wang Yao brought back, he patted Wang Yao on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"As expected, heroes emerge from youth. You are as reliable as your father and you have done a very good job."

Wang Yao smiled flatteringly: "Thank you for your compliment, General. I will come back to bother you again after the spring."

"Okay, go ahead and say hello to your father for me."

"Yes, General."

Wang Yao left the garrison camp with a small amount of silver that belonged to them.

Afterwards, Wang Yao did not rest, but left Xuanfu overnight and returned to Puzhou.

As soon as Zhou Hongyi finished counting the silver, he went straight to the central military camp.

He was just a deputy general. He was in charge of this business, but he did not have control over it.

The only person who can control this business is the current commander-in-chief of Xuanfu, Yang Tong.

This Yang Tong was the nephew of Yang Hong and the descendant of Wuqiangbo Yang Neng.

He wanted to tell Yang Tong the whole story.

How all the silver is distributed shall be decided by Yang Tong.

……

Pingyang Prefecture.

Puzhou County.

Just when Wang of Puzhou completed his business in the north, the Jinyiwei led by Qinglong and Baihu also came to Puzhou.

At this time, there was a table full of banquets in the Zhang family compound.

Among them were the Zhang father and son, Wang Ze, the head of the Wang family, Hou Wei, the captain of the Puzhou Qianhu Office, and Wu Yong, the magistrate of Puzhou who had always claimed to be ill and had never shown up,.

The banquet was filled with clinking glasses, talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was extremely warm.

Hou Wei raised his glass and toasted Zhang Ning happily.

"Mr. Zhang, you are truly amazing!"

"Your plan really worked. The imperial envoy really retreated back to Pingyang Prefecture!"

"They will definitely not dare to check the farmland in Puzhou again. Our farmland is saved and we don't have to pay taxes anymore!"

"Mr. Zhang, I offer you a toast. I was able to pass this test thanks to your guidance!"

Hou Wei drank a few more glasses, his face turned red and his neck became thick, and his words were biased.

But everyone present was very happy and had drunk a lot of wine, so no one would blame Hou Wei at this time.

Zhang Ning also picked up his glass and clinked glasses with Hou Wei with a smile.

"Captain Hou, you are too kind. We all make a living on this small piece of land in Puzhou County. You and I are old friends. Helping you is also helping myself."

"County Magistrate Wu, isn't that right?"

"Yes, yes, everyone should help each other. Help each other."

Wu Yong quickly agreed with Zhang Ning, but the smile on his face was somewhat awkward.

The Shanxi merchants Zhang and Wang families, including Qianhu Hou Wei, are all old friends in Puzhou.

Their fathers had started doing business in Puzhou during the Hongwu period. Over the past hundreds of years, their families had become very powerful and influential in Puzhou.

It is no exaggeration to say that when they join forces, they become the local tyrants of Puzhou.

Even he, a county magistrate of the imperial court, had to be a little afraid.

You know, he is just a temporary official. After staying in this position for three years, he doesn't know where he will be appointed next.

He really couldn't afford to offend these local tyrants in Puzhou.

And he could not afford to offend the imperial envoy from the court.

After much thought, the best solution is to claim illness and not show up.

Unfortunately, loyalty is not absolute, that is, it is absolutely disloyal.

These local officials deal with the local landlords and gentry every day, and the landlords and gentry are never stingy with these officials.

In the past few years, the Wang family and the Zhang family have given Wu Yong at least several hundred taels of dirty silver.

As a result, at the critical moment, you claimed to be sick and did not show up, which seemed to be unhelpful to either side.

But in fact, from the perspective of the Zhang family and the Wang family, this is already a betrayal.

Zhang Ning's move was a warning to Wu Yong.

Fortunately, Zhang Ning also knows what it means that the people should not fight against the officials and what it means to stop at the right time.

Zhang Ning quickly changed the subject: "Everyone, although we succeeded this time, this matter is far from over."

"The imperial court must be still intent on plotting against our Pu County."

"But I believe that as long as we work together and unite as one, we will be able to preserve the land that our ancestors have worked hard to accumulate for generations."

"This cup is for everyone!"

Zhang Ning raised his glass, and everyone else at the table quickly stood up and raised their glasses.

"Cheers to Mr. Zhang!" After a glass of wine, everyone sat down again.

Wang Ze, the head of the Wang family, asked Zhang Ning with some worry: "Brother Zhang, you just said that this matter is not over yet, so what should we do next?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhang, please tell me quickly so that I can have some idea about it." Hou Wei also urged.

Zhang Ning did not keep the secret: "The Puzhou uprising is no small matter. The emperor will definitely ask the ministers in the court to discuss how to resolve this matter."

"I have already contacted Yang Ying, the current Criminal Department Censor. He is also from Puzhou and was a Jinshi during the Chenghua period."

"When the emperor discusses this matter in the court, Yang Ying will write a letter to request that the land survey in Puzhou be suspended and that the land survey in other places be started first."

"You know, the entire Ming Dynasty is so big."

"As long as we can delay this matter, we will naturally have a chance and take our time."

"Let the imperial court and the local areas forget about our small Puzhou."

After hearing Zhang Ning's words, everyone felt a surge of excitement in their hearts.

If things could really develop as Zhang Ning said, it would be perfect.

"Mr. Zhang is so meticulous in his calculations that he is like Zifang reincarnated or Zhuge Liang reborn!"

"Mr. Zhang, I'll toast you another glass!"

Hou Wei excitedly raised his glass again, and everyone toasted Zhang Ning.

"Brother Zhang, that's a great idea. I'll toast to you again!"

"It is a real loss to the Ming Dynasty that Mr. Zhang does not enter the official career!"

"I admire you from the bottom of my heart, and I want to offer a toast to Mr. Zhang!"

"hehe."

Zhang Ning held the wine glass, smiled without saying a word, and clinked glasses with everyone in turn.

Just when the guests and hosts were having a great time, there was a sudden knock on the door outside the Zhang family compound!

The knock on the door was so loud and urgent that it seemed very abrupt in the quiet night.

All of a sudden, the harmonious and happy atmosphere in the Zhang family compound was disrupted.

Everyone at the table looked at each other, and then looked at the Zhang father and son.

Zhang Ning and Zhang Yi, father and son, frowned at the same time, feeling offended.

In Puzhou, no one dared to knock on the Zhang family’s door like this.

"Agan, go and see who dares to be so presumptuous in front of my Zhang family!"

Zhang Yi's mentality was the most inflated at this time, and he could not bear the anger.

Facing everyone's gaze, he felt a little embarrassed.

"Yes, Master!"

Agan, a servant of the Zhang family who was waiting nearby, responded quickly.

A-Gump also felt angry. As a servant of the Zhang family, he was deeply proud of the Zhang family and was extremely proud of his identity as a servant of the Zhang family.

Seeing someone offending his master at this time, he became extremely anxious and couldn't wait to vent his anger for his master.

Forrest Gump took two steps at a time, quickly came to the door, and pulled it open.

"Who is looking for death outside the door?! You can't knock on the Zhang family's door like this..."

The words in Forrest Gump's mouth became weaker and weaker, and his voice became smaller and smaller until it was inaudible.

He stood at the door in a daze, his expression dull, and kept trying to open the door, without moving a muscle.

Zhang Ning and his son in the yard felt very strange looking at Forrest Gump's motionless figure.

Zhang Ning asked, "Agan, who's outside?"

A-Gump came back to his senses and looked at the densely packed Jinyiwei outside the door, with solemn faces and murderous auras, and his legs suddenly went weak.

He took a step back, trying to make way, but his legs had no strength at all and he fell to the ground.

The Jinyiwei commander outside the door, Tongzhi Qinglong, led the Jinyiwei behind him and walked into the Zhang family compound.

Zhang Ning and his son and everyone else at the banquet saw the Jinyiwei people wearing Feiyu uniforms and holding embroidered spring swords walking into the yard. How could they not know their identities?

Puzhou County Magistrate Wu Yong was so frightened that his face turned pale and he screamed, "Jinyiwei?!"

Hou Wei and Wang Ze turned pale, stood up in horror and took two steps back.

Zhang Ning and his son Zhang Yi were equally frightened and extremely shocked.

Zhang Ning stretched out his hand, pointed at Qinglong tremblingly, and said tremblingly: "You... why are you here?!"

Qinglong drew out the Embroidered Spring Sword in his hand, his tone was cold and without a trace of emotion.

"Your Majesty has ordered that the Wang and Zhang families of Puzhou be taken to the capital, their property confiscated, and their executions be conducted."

"Puzhou County Magistrate Wu Yong and Puzhou Thousand Household Officer Hou Wei will be brought to the capital together for execution!"

"Someone, arrest them all!"

"Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"

At Qinglong's command, the Jinyiwei behind him immediately drew their swords and pounced towards them ferociously.

"and many more!!!"

Zhang Ning screamed in horror: "Why are you arresting us?!"

"The Puzhou uprising has nothing to do with us. You don't have any evidence at all!"

Qinglong sneered: "Your Majesty, when have you ever asked for evidence when handling a case?"

"Besides, when did I ever say that we came here because of the Puzhou uprising?"

"You are just insects. Your Majesty can kill you if he wants to. What other reasons do you need?"

"Do it!"

(End of this chapter)