Chapter 339: Confession and Arrests

After receiving the news, Xu Xianchun had already walked out from inside.

Seeing Huang Kezuan, Xu Xianchun hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Why has the Grand Secretary come here?"

Looking up at Xu Xianchun, Huang Kezuan, though he held Xu Xianchun in low regard, knew that now was not the time to quibble over such matters.

So Huang Kezuan said, "I just learned of Your Majesty's assassination attempt. Grand Secretary Xu and I, along with the Duke of Ying, entered the palace together. Your Majesty had already gone to sleep, so we did not disturb him. Grand Secretary Xu asked me to come here and inquire about the specific situation."

Hearing Huang Kezuan's words, Xu Xianchun's mind immediately began to churn, and he understood what was meant.

Clearly, news of Your Majesty's assassination attempt had caused quite a stir. Three great figures had formed a provisional tribunal. Two Grand Secretaries and one Duke of Ying — this combination was not something he could afford to offend.

So Xu Xianchun said, "The man is already being interrogated. Would the Grand Secretary care to take a look?"

At this moment, there was naturally no way to stop Huang Kezuan. If he tried to block him, who knew what trouble might arise, so Xu Xianchun simply decided to let Huang Kezuan go see for himself.

Since he had already come this far, there was naturally no reason not to go look. So Huang Kezuan nodded and said, "Then let us go take a look together."

"This way, Grand Secretary." After saying this, Xu Xianchun turned and led the way with an extremely respectful demeanor.

The two walked one after the other into a room.

After stepping inside, Huang Kezuan discovered that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already converted this place into a dungeon. Clearly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard moved quickly.

Burning braziers occasionally emitted crackling sounds, and the already red-hot branding irons seemed to carry the smell of roasting meat. All manner of brand-new torture instruments hung on the walls, each one ready to be consecrated with blood.

A man had been stripped of his outer garments, leaving only an undergarment whose original color could no longer be discerned, tattered and hanging like a pile of rags from a rack not far away.

Iron hooks were embedded directly into his jaw, and his entire body was covered in crisscrossing whip marks with flesh hanging open, a pool of blackened blood beneath his feet. The sight was enough to make anyone shudder.

Clearly, once the man had arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had not hesitated in the slightest and had immediately resorted to their methods.

Huang Kezuan glanced at Xu Xianchun and asked with a frown, "Who is this man?"

Although the Ministry of Justice also used torture when interrogating cases, it was not as severe as the Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods, so when Huang Kezuan saw this scene, he felt somewhat unsettled.

However, this was a major rebellion case involving an assassination attempt on Your Majesty. Even if the methods were somewhat harsher, there was nothing to be said about it — as long as they didn't kill the man.

Besides, this case had been assigned to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for investigation, which was also Your Majesty's order. Since he had not received an imperial edict from Your Majesty, he naturally could not rashly interfere.

Asking about the interrogation process and viewing the prisoner was already the extent of what he could do. If he interfered too deeply, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would certainly be displeased.

Right now, things were fine for everyone involved — there was no need to stir up trouble. If Your Majesty learned that he had clashed with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, especially while Your Majesty was under assassination threat, then clashing with them would make him look inconsiderate.

Hearing Huang Kezuan's question, Xu Xianchun said with a smile, "Chen He, the chief eunuch of the Prince of Lu's household."

Huang Kezuan had naturally heard of the name Chen He. Before coming to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had already determined who the two assassins were. Now hearing that it was Chen He, he felt no surprise.

Looking up at Xu Xianchun, Huang Kezuan asked, "Could I see the confession?"

"Of course, no problem." Xu Xianchun said with a smile as he reached over and retrieved Chen He's confession.

There was nothing wrong with the confession — Xu Xianchun wasn't afraid of Huang Kezuan finding any problems in it.

Reaching out to take the confession, Huang Kezuan quickly began to read it.

In this confession, Chen He gave a detailed account of why he had wanted to assassinate Your Majesty. The reason was also very simple — they were afraid. They were afraid that Your Majesty would trace the matter back to them.

During the day, Your Majesty had met with the Prince of Lu and asked him about certain matters. After the Prince of Lu returned, Chen He went to see him and asked what Your Majesty and the Prince of Lu had discussed.

The Prince of Lu told Chen He that Your Majesty had brought up the matter of embezzled disaster relief grain funds. Upon learning this, Chen He was filled with terror.

According to Chen He's confession, the Prince of Lu knew nothing about the embezzlement of grain funds — all of it had been done by him and the household's senior administrator Zhou Yi. That was why they were afraid.

Once Your Majesty learned that the two of them had deceived the Prince of Lu and used his name to embezzle disaster relief grain, what kind of fate could the two of them possibly expect?

So Chen He went to consult Zhou Yi about this matter. After hearing about it, Zhou Yi proposed the idea of assassinating Your Majesty.

According to Chen He's confession, Zhou Yi had long been colluding with the White Lotus sect. Much of the disaster relief grain that Zhou Yi had embezzled under the Prince of Lu's name had been sold to the White Lotus sect.

The White Lotus sect was also amassing grain on a large scale, to be used for rebellion and as military provisions. At the same time, the White Lotus sect had existed for several decades and had grown very powerful.

Zhou Yi wanted to use the assassination of Your Majesty to throw Jining into chaos, then have the White Lotus sect storm the city. After accomplishing these things, they would jointly support the Prince of Lu as emperor.

At that point, Zhou Yi and Chen He would both be founding ministers of a new dynasty. The reason the two of them were so confident was that selling grain was not something only the two of them were doing — they had many partners in the endeavor.

These included officials at all levels in Shandong, especially the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner — these two were also their partners. There were even people from Qufu.

Everyone would be afraid of the embezzlement of disaster relief grain being exposed, so as long as Your Majesty died, when they raised their arms and called out, these people would inevitably follow them in rebellion.

After reading this confession, Huang Kezuan was furious. He slammed the confession onto the table and said, "Utter delusion! Reckless audacity! These people truly deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Listening to Huang Kezuan's words and watching his reaction, Xu Xianchun smiled faintly.

This confession was naturally half-truth and half-fiction, but some things could withstand investigation. As for the things that couldn't withstand investigation, there was no way to investigate them anyway.

Selling grain and embezzling disaster relief grain — these matters all had evidence. The officials involved and the people from Qufu also all had evidence that could be investigated.

As for their collusion with the White Lotus sect, such matters were naturally extremely secretive and difficult to investigate. But if given time, evidence could certainly be found.

"Does the Grand Secretary have anything else he wishes to ask?" Xu Xianchun looked at Huang Kezuan and asked with a smile.

Xu Xianchun was very confident that no matter what Huang Kezuan asked, he could provide an answer.

Huang Kezuan simply shook his head and said, "Nothing more to ask."

Huang Kezuan could tell that not everything in the confession was true, but he had no way to verify it. Interrogating these two men here was impossible — although he was a Grand Secretary, he still did not have that authority.

"Your Majesty assigned the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate this matter, so this case necessarily belongs to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

If he wanted to stick his hand in, that would be overstepping his authority. The Embroidered Uniform Guard would not agree, and Your Majesty would not agree either.

He wasn't that foolish — he wouldn't get involved in this matter for the sake of two rebels.

Whether Your Majesty wanted to use the rebels' hands to deal with certain people, or whether someone truly wanted to rebel, it had nothing to do with him. Why bother dragging himself into it?

Judging from the current situation, perhaps there was some truth to it after all.

During his days in Jining, Huang Kezuan had not been idle either. He had investigated up and down, even looking into Zhang Shun of Jining, and had obtained some useful information.

In this confession, many of the statements could be corroborated. For example, the resale of disaster relief grain, and Shandong officials dipping their hands in the till.

Only the matter of the White Lotus sect had yet to be confirmed, but that wasn't too difficult either — once word was sent out, it would certainly be confirmed.

"Commissioner Xu has worked hard." Huang Kezuan said with a smile, "I shall take my leave now."

"Grand Secretary, go slowly." Xu Xianchun also said with a smile, "Allow me to see you out."

The two of them walked out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's compound together.

Huang Kezuan returned directly—he had gone quickly, and come back just as quickly.

Upon seeing Xu Guangqi, Huang Kezuan recounted everything that had happened in full detail.

After hearing Huang Kezuan's account, Xu Guangqi slammed the table hard and said angrily, "These people truly have nerves of steel!"

"Indeed." Huang Kezuan echoed from the side: "Truly audacious beyond measure! Selling off disaster relief grain without a shred of remorse; and when the matter was exposed, they actually thought of rebellion—truly a crime beyond forgiveness!"

Xu Guangqi glanced at Huang Kezuan and said, "The most urgent task is to find the White Lotus rebels. Have your men investigate and root out the White Lotus rebels in Jining."

Listening to Xu Guangqi's words, Huang Kezuan nodded.

He naturally understood Xu Guangqi's meaning—on the surface it was about investigating rebels, but in reality it was to verify Xu Xianchun's words, to verify that confession, to see whether someone truly intended to rebel.

If someone truly intended to rebel, then there was nothing more to be said. If it was a hat Xu Xianchun had pinned on them, seeking to launch a mass purge in Shandong, then this matter might well need to be reined in.

But this could not be said openly—they could only investigate the matter thoroughly first.

"I'll have people investigate immediately." Huang Kezuan nodded and said.

In a place like Jining, the Embroidered Uniform Guard naturally had their fingers in every pie. Qi Jin's men guarded Jining city; as for Huang Kezuan, he commanded the government offices of Jining.

Every office, large or small, answered to Huang Kezuan—he had plenty of men under his command.

"There's no time to lose. I'll hold the fort here—don't worry." Xu Guangqi also nodded and said: "Make sure you find them before dawn."

"I'll go at once." Huang Kezuan nodded as well.

After Huang Kezuan left, Xu Guangqi sat in his chair, turning over today's events in his mind repeatedly, contemplating the various possibilities of this matter, and how to handle the aftermath tomorrow.

For Xu Guangqi, no one in this affair was innocent. Whether it was the people of the Lu Prince's manor or the officials of the Great Ming at every level in Shandong, all of them deserved death.

The only thing that worried Xu Guangqi were those people in Qufu. They were descendants of Confucius—the venerable Duke Yansheng.

Although Xu Guangqi did not believe in Qufu, or even looked down on Qufu, the attitudes of the empire's scholars—who all styled themselves disciples of Confucius—meant that if this truly stirred up trouble, there would likely be difficulties.

At that point, it might well affect Your Majesty. But regarding this matter, he could only ponder it—the final outcome would depend on what Your Majesty said, and the decision would have to come from Your Majesty.

The next morning, the rising sun emerged in the east, and sunlight bathed the city of Jining.

When the common folk opened their doors that day, they discovered that Jining was under martial law—soldiers were everywhere in the streets.

These soldiers wore grim expressions, radiating murderous intent. This sight naturally frightened many people into not daring to leave their homes.

But no matter the time, there were always the bold and the well-informed. Some went out to probe for news, while others went straight into the streets to ask questions.

And so the news spread.

Your Majesty had been attacked in Jining! Someone in Jining was planning rebellion!

When this news came out, everyone was stricken with terror.

This was Your Majesty—the Great Ming's own sovereign!

To assassinate Your Majesty—who had such audacity?

Even more people were afraid—cases of rebellion could be blown up or played down, and if a real investigation and prosecution were launched, who knew how many people would be dragged in.

Though there was no further news, it was already frightening enough.

Meanwhile, Huang Kezuan led his men to the door of a household.

Huang Kezuan glanced back at the man beside him who was bowing with a fawning smile, and asked directly, "You're certain this is the place?"

"To answer Your Honor, this is the place." The man quickly assented.

This man was none other than the former secretary of Zhang Shun.

After returning yesterday, Huang Kezuan had immediately interrogated these people, asking about this matter to see who among them might know something.

As it turned out, this Zhang Shun's grain and finance secretary, Wang Ke, actually knew something.

According to him, there was a branch of the White Lotus sect within Jining city. A portion of the disaster relief grain had indeed been bought by them. In their words, they were saving the people and saving their own followers.

This matter had been handled by Wang Ke himself, so he knew it inside and out—when Huang Kezuan questioned him, Wang Ke spilled everything directly.

So Huang Kezuan brought him along to make arrests without a moment's hesitation.

After hearing Wang Ke's words, Huang Kezuan nodded and said, "Go straight in and arrest them. If anyone resists, kill them all without exception."

The soldiers following behind him heard this and did not hesitate in the slightest—one of them stepped up and delivered a heavy kick to the door.

Unexpectedly, the door was bolted tightly, and a single kick could not break it open.

Several men hurried forward together to ram the door, but still could not force it open.

Huang Kezuan's face immediately darkened, and he said directly, "Fight your way in!"

A dozen or so soldiers surged to the wall.

The first row knelt with their hands braced on their knees, assuming a half-crouched horse stance.

Another man stepped directly onto their hands—the two crouching men pushed up together, and he vaulted onto the top of the wall.

But what no one expected was that the moment he reached the walltop, he was caught off guard by a blow from a club and knocked straight back down.

Clearly, those inside had been prepared—seeing someone mount the wall, they used clubs to knock him down.

Seeing this, Huang Kezuan's face grew even darker—clearly there were people hiding inside.