Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 141 Extreme Arrogance

The hall was completely silent.

Many officials who had not been impeached also lowered their heads, not daring to meet Zhu Qiyu's gaze.

The last time the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducted a large-scale investigation, the title of Duke of Cheng became history.

Now that His Majesty is going to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard again, who is he investigating?

Before long, Lu Zhong strode into the hall and knelt on the ground: "Your subject Lu Zhong, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Qiyu looked at him and said, "Lu Zhong, I have a task for you."

Send people to investigate those who are obstructing the implementation of the Sixteen Policies.

Regardless of their identity, they will all be arrested once verified!

Furthermore, I also need to find out for myself whether these kneeling people are related to those people.

"I want to see if you are truly speaking up for the court!"

The censors and officials who had impeached him were all prostrate on the ground, trembling.

Lu Zhong kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Qiyu then looked at his ministers and said, "I will say it again: Jin Lian's sixteen policies are approved by me."

Anyone with opinions may submit a memorial or present their views in person, and I will listen.

But if anyone obstructs the new policies for personal gain, don't blame me for being ruthless.

After saying this, Zhu Qiyu waved his hand and said, "Court is adjourned."

After returning, Lu Zhong found Dai Gao and Menda.

These two men are now both commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and are Lu Zhong's most capable subordinates.

Lu Gao was lean and wiry, with eyes like an eagle's, always looking at people with a scrutinizing gaze.

Menda was more robust-looking and always had a smile on his face.

But those who know him well know that the time when he smiles most amiably is often when he strikes most ruthlessly.

Lu Zhong cut to the chase: "His Majesty has issued an order."

Lu Gao and Menda immediately stood up and stood at attention.

Lu Zhong did not announce the imperial edict, but merely relayed His Majesty's message.

Finally, he added: "Investigate all the military garrisons that are obstructing the clearing of grain taxes."

Furthermore, those censors and supervising officials who impeached Minister Jin at the court assembly should also be investigated.

Lu Gao's eyes lit up: "Sir, are we about to do something big?"

Lu Zhong glared at him: "What are you doing?"

Investigating a case is not about causing trouble.

Remember this: we are the Embroidered Uniform Guard. We need evidence to arrest people and confessions to convict them.

Don't let anyone find fault with it.

Menda chuckled and said, "Don't worry, sir, we know these rules."

By the way, in Yongqing Guard, Zhou Ang is the brother-in-law of the Marquis of Wuqing.

Should he consult with Marquis Wuqing first?

Lu Zhong shook his head: "What's there to say?"

His Majesty did not allow us to greet him.

We'll handle our own case, and whoever we find will be the one we investigate.

If Marquis Wuqing were a sensible person, he would know that he should avoid suspicion.

Lu Gao stood up: "Then I'll arrange manpower overnight. Yongqing Guard is close to the capital, should we investigate there first?"

Lu Zhong nodded: "Go ahead."

The two accepted the order and left.

Yongqing County.

Yongqingwei was stationed outside the east gate of the county town, with barracks stretching for a mile.

As a strategically important location near the capital, Yongqing Guard was of a higher standard than ordinary guard posts.

Zhou Ang is also Shi Heng's brother-in-law.

He was the commander of Yongqing Guard a few years ago.

However, since Shi Heng was granted the title of Marquis of Wuqing last year.

He became even more reckless.

Now, in Yongqing County, Zhou Ang's words carry more weight than the county magistrate's.

The Imperial Guards entered the county town at noon.

The team was led by Lu Guo, who brought only about twenty people.

The group was dressed in plain clothes, posing as cloth merchants.

They found an inn in the county town to stay in, and then went to scout out the area around the county town and the garrison.

At this moment, Zhou Ang was drinking in the back room of the garrison.

The people accompanying them for the drinks were several commanders from Yongqing Guard and Magistrate Wang from Yongqing County.

Magistrate Wang came to ask Zhou Ang for a favor.

Several wealthy households in the county were sued for illegally occupying farmland.

The case was brought to the county government, but all those fields were located within the territory of the military garrison.

Zhou Ang needs to provide written proof that those fields are not military settlements.

Zhou Ang, holding his wine glass, smiled enigmatically: "Magistrate Wang, this matter is easy to handle. However—"

He dragged out the sound.

Magistrate Wang quickly replied, "Rest assured, Commander, I have already sent the necessary arrangements to your residence."

Zhou Ang laughed heartily: "Magistrate Wang is a straightforward man. Come, let's drink!"

While they were drinking, a guard suddenly came in and whispered a few words in Zhou Ang's ear.

Zhou Ang's expression changed slightly.

Magistrate Wang, observing the situation, asked, "Commander, is something the matter?"

Zhou Ang waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing."

They said some unfamiliar faces had arrived in the county town, probably merchants passing through.

Magistrate Wang, your county government officials must be extra vigilant and prevent any scoundrels from infiltrating.

Magistrate Wang nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, yes, I will explain when I get back."

After drinking a few more cups, Zhou Ang excused himself and ended the banquet.

After everyone had left, he called the guard over: "Did you see clearly? Who were they?"

The guard replied, "Sir, I have sent someone to keep an eye on things at the inn."

Those people claimed to be cloth sellers, but the tools they carried didn't look like those of cloth sellers.

Some people saw that they had short knives tucked into their waistbands.

Zhou Ang frowned deeply: "They've come with ill intentions."

However, Zhou Ang did not act rashly before figuring out the background of this group.

Lu Gao and his men have been infiltrating Yongqing County for three days now.

Over the course of three days, more and more things were discovered.

Zhou Ang seized 4,300 mu of farmland.

This is the part that didn't match up during the Ministry of Revenue's accounting process; now it all matches up.

All those lands were under Zhou Ang's name, managed by his servants, and rented out to the people for cultivation. All the rent collected went into Zhou Ang's pocket.

More than a thousand people were found to be embezzling funds.

The original quota for Yongqing Guard was 5,600, but the actual number of registered personnel was less than 4,000.

In the first half of the year, the Ministry of War required the garrisons in the capital region to replenish their ranks with soldiers.

For this reason, Zhu Qiyu specifically instructed the Ministry of Revenue to prioritize the allocation of funds.

Yongqing Guard is currently understaffed.

The whereabouts of the funds allocated for recruiting soldiers are self-evident.

In addition, the three largest silk shops, grain shops, and pawnshops in Yongqing County were all owned by Zhou Ang.

The shopkeeper was his servant, and the staff were all soldiers from the garrison.

The soldiers didn't train; they spent their days standing at the counter, running errands, and delivering goods in the shop.

And those tenant farmers who settled there were half of the soldiers of Yongqing Guard.

Zhou Ang instructed them to cultivate the land, and to sell 70% of the harvest while keeping 30% for himself.

Soldiers who were farming were starving, so they borrowed money from Zhou Ang's pawnshop at exorbitant interest rates.

Many people accumulate more and more debt, never able to recover in this lifetime.

Lu Gao sneered: "This Zhou Ang really treats Yongqingwei as his own estate."

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He secretly marveled at Zhou Ang's audacity.

Zhu Qiyu has been carrying out a swift and decisive overhaul of the military garrisons this year.

In Gansu, Datong, and Xuanfu, more than ten officials with a thousand-household rank or above have been beheaded.

Zhou Ang, instead of showing restraint, arrogantly beat up the Ministry of Revenue personnel who had been sent to him.

A centurion standing nearby whispered, "Sir, I've also learned that Zhou Ang has connections with several censors in the capital."

He sent people to the capital several times after the Lunar New Year this year.

No one knows what was given; the recipient was said to be from the Censorate.

Lu Gao's eyes lit up: "Which ones?"

Baihu shook his head: "This hasn't been found out yet."

The person who gave the gift was tight-lipped, only saying it was an important official in the capital, but refusing to reveal his specific identity.

Lu Gao pondered for a moment: "Continue the investigation. Keep a close eye on those servants who gave gifts, and find an opportunity to pry them open."

Two days later, things made progress.

Zhou Ang had a servant named Zhou Fu, who was one of his most trusted confidants.

This person was in charge of Zhou Ang's accounts and handled all the money transactions.

Most importantly, this person has a problem: he's a gambler.

He spent all his monthly allowance on gambling dens in the county town.

If you lose, you borrow money; if you can't repay it, you take money from your account.

Zhou Ang was unaware of this; if he had known, Zhou Fu's legs would have been broken long ago.