Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 130 A Major Case

Zhu Qiyu looked at the report that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just sent, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Five days ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was ordered to arrest the manager of Zhouji Trading Company.

This person was Zhou Kui's younger brother.

After two days of interrogation, he confessed to the involvement of Zhou Kui.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately arrested Zhou Kui.

After two more days of interrogation, twelve account books and a box of correspondence were seized.

Many of those letters bore the seal of the Duke of Cheng's mansion.

Xing'an stood respectfully to one side.

After Zhu Qiyu finished reading the secret report, Xing'an whispered, "Commander Lu personally interrogated them and uncovered a major case."

Zhu Qiyu raised his eyes: "Speak."

Xing'an then took out a confession from his sleeve: "Zhou Kui confessed that between the twelfth and fourteenth years of the Zhengtong reign."

Duke Chengguo utilized his network of businesses in the three towns of Gansu, Datong, and Xuanfu.

They smuggled 57,000 catties of ironware, 8,600 catties of gunpowder, 30,000 arrowheads, and 200 suits of armor to the Oirats and Tatars.

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Zhu Qiyu took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his chest: "Where did these supplies come from?"

Xing'an said: "According to Zhou Kui's confession, after the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign, Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo served as the commander of the Beijing Garrison for a long time and also commanded the Shenji Battalion."

The Shenji Battalion experiences annual losses of gunpowder and firearms.

Zhu Yong then took advantage of his position to secretly transfer out excess gunpowder and iron.

They transported goods to the border towns through their businesses in the capital.

They were then sold to Oirat merchants by trading companies in the border towns.

Zhu Qiyu closed his eyes: "Shenji Battalion—"

The Shenji Battalion was the most elite firearms unit in the Ming Dynasty.

Established during the Yongle reign, it was the world's first independently organized firearms unit.

The gunpowder formula and firearm manufacturing techniques of the Shenji Battalion were closely guarded secrets of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yong, this Duke who had received the emperor's favor for generations, actually sold these national weapons to the enemy!

"Is that the standard gunpowder used by the Shenji Battalion?"

Xing'an nodded: "Yes. Zhou Kui confessed that Zhu Yong once said that the gunpowder of the Shenji Battalion was the most powerful, the most popular among the Oirat people, and also the most expensive."

Zhu Qiyu's hand trembled slightly.

Last year, Esen went south, firing lead bullets from his artillery and cannons.

How many of them were powered by gunpowder from the Ming Dynasty?

How many of the Ming soldiers killed by the Oirat cavalry died from iron arrows forged by the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Qiyu suddenly recalled a detail from the defense of Beijing last year.

At that time, Zhu Qiyu noticed that many of the Oirat cavalrymen were wearing Ming army armor.

He initially thought it was captured by the Oirat people from the battlefield.

Looking back now, those stomach linings were probably bought!

"Besides Zhu Yong, who else from the Duke of Cheng's mansion was involved in this matter?"

Xing'an said: "Zhou Kui confessed that Zhu Yong's cousins ​​Zhu Min and Zhu Zheng were also involved."

Zhu Min was in charge of the transportation of supplies to the capital, while Zhu Zheng was in charge of the business operations in the border towns.

Furthermore, all twenty-three individuals from the Duke of Cheng's mansion—including the steward, accountant, and head guard—were either aware of or involved in the affair.

"Where is Zhu Yong's son, Zhu Yi?"

Xing'an hesitated for a moment: "Zhou Kui said Zhu Yi was unaware of this."

Zhu Yong was cautious in his actions and never mentioned these matters to Zhu Yi.

Zhu Yi has spent the last few years studying in the mansion and has rarely been involved in its affairs.

Zhu Qiyu sneered: "Unaware? How could he, as his son, be completely unaware of what his father did?"

Xing'an dared not respond.

Zhu Qiyu rose and paced around the hall.

Zhu Yong is dead, and there is no way to verify his testimony.

But Zhu Yong's cousins ​​are still alive.

The stewards and accountants involved in the incident are still alive.

Those account books and letters are still there.

The evidence is irrefutable, and they have no room for denial.

The problem is that Zhu Yong is a Duke.

His cousins ​​also held official positions.

Zhu Min was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Zhu Zheng was the commander of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard.

If the arrests and interrogations are carried out in a high-profile manner, it will inevitably provoke a strong backlash from the Xun Gui Group.

Those veteran nobles who already harbored resentment towards Zhu Qiyu were just looking for an excuse.

But if he doesn't arrest him, what kind of emperor is Zhu Qiyu?

Zhu Qiyu thought of the border townspeople who were massacred by the Oirat people, and of the hundreds of thousands of innocent souls who perished in Tumu Fortress.

How many of these people died from weapons sold by Zhu Yong?

Zhu Qiyu stopped in his tracks, his gaze turning cold and sharp: "Issue the decree."

The Imperial Guard was ordered to seal up Zhouji Trading Company and all its branches in Beijing.

Lu Zhong was ordered to lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot to surround the Duke of Cheng's mansion, Zhu Min's residence, and Zhu Zheng's residence.

The five city garrisons were ordered to coordinate the operation and block off the relevant streets and alleys.

All those involved in the case have been apprehended and brought to justice.

Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!

Furthermore, I have summoned Zhu Yi to the palace; I wish to question him personally.

Xing'an kowtowed: "As you command."

An hour later, at the Duke of Cheng's residence.

This mansion, covering an area of ​​more than 30 acres, was bestowed upon Zhu Neng, the first Duke of Cheng, by Emperor Taizong.

Zhu Neng was a great contributor to the Jingnan Campaign. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Dongping and was honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

His son, Zhu Yong, inherited the title and then repeatedly expanded the estate.

The mansion was filled with pavilions, towers, and carved beams and painted rafters, displaying extreme luxury.

Today, however, this mansion is plunged into unprecedented panic.

Three hundred Imperial Guards surrounded the mansion.

Lu Zhong stood in front of the mansion gate, coldly staring at the tightly closed vermilion gate.

The area inside the door was in complete chaos.

The servants fled in panic.

The maids cried and ran into the room.

Several guards stood inside the second gate, armed with knives and guns, but none dared to step forward.

Zhu Yi stood on the steps in front of the main hall, his face deathly pale.

Since his father Zhu Yong died in battle last year, he has been waiting for the imperial court to issue an edict allowing him to inherit the title.

He knew that many people in the court were impeaching his father, saying that his father was a major cause of the defeat at Tumu Fortress.

So more than a year has passed and the imperial decree has still not been issued.

But he never expected that His Majesty would send the Imperial Guards to surround his home.

The old steward beside him asked in a trembling voice, "Young Master, what should we do?"

Zhu Yi took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm: "Open the gates of the mansion, I'm going to see Commander Lu."

The mansion gates slowly opened.

Zhu Yi stepped forward and bowed to Lu Zhong: "Commander Lu, what has the Duke of Cheng's mansion done to warrant the presence of the Imperial Guard?"

Lu Zhong looked at Zhu Yi carefully.

He had worked in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, interrogated countless prisoners, and was able to distinguish between truth and lies.

Zhu Yi's expression at this moment was genuine; he was truly panicked and bewildered.

Unfortunately, he has to bear the consequences of what his father did.

Lu Zhong's tone was still relatively polite: "Young Master Zhu, I have been ordered to invite you to the palace. His Majesty wishes to see you in person."

Zhu Yi was taken aback: "Enter the palace? His Majesty wants to see me?"

"Yes, please come with me, Prince Zhu."

Lu Zhong waved his hand, and two Imperial Guards stepped forward, standing on either side of Zhu Yi.

Zhu Yi's expression changed: "Commander Lu, what does this mean? I—what crime have I committed?"

Lu Zhong did not answer, but simply looked at him: "Young Master Zhu, please."

Soon, Zhu Yi was put into a carriage by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and headed towards the palace.

The gates of the Duke of Cheng's mansion were also wide open, and the Imperial Guards poured in like a tide.