Chapter 203

Xie Heng looked at Hai Rui with a heart full of pain and sighed.

"My lord Hai, there are things you do not know."

"Does my lord know for what reason the Japanese chieftain Wang Zhi submitted to the court?"

Hai Rui raised his head in confusion and asked Xie Heng.

"What reason?"

"Because Minister Hu promised that once Wang Zhi set foot on shore, the Great Ming would abolish the sea ban and open trade, allowing the Great Ming to exchange goods internally and externally; moreover, since Minister Hu and Wang Zhi were fellow townspeople, Wang Zhi thus came ashore!"

"Does my lord know how the common people of Liangzhe and Fujian viewed Wang Zhi when he set foot on shore?"

"Can my lord imagine what a sight it was when the people of entire prefectures and counties suddenly had a goal and hope overnight?"

Hai Rui was stunned upon hearing this.

The people of entire prefectures and counties suddenly had hope overnight?

Was that not the very thing he had dreamed of?!

Speaking to this point, Xie Heng could not help but choke up.

"But, only a few days later, that Wang Zhi was, was, executed on the streets of Yu Hang!"

"Yes, this junior knows that the sea ban is an ancestral institution of the Great Ming."

"This junior also knows that Wang Zhi deserved to die."

"But this junior begs My Lord Hai to save those common people who cannot survive and are forced to take desperate risks."

"They are all truly poor and suffering people!"

Having said this, Xie Heng knelt down before Hai Rui once again.

Hai Rui looked numbly at Xie Heng kneeling before him.

For the first time, he began to doubt the things he had done.

Could it be that the things he did

were truly wrong?

Just at that moment.

The main door of the restaurant behind him was kicked open from the outside with a "Bang!"

A squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard burst into the restaurant on their own.

The flag officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the head looked at Xie Heng kneeling on the ground and shouted in anger.

"Xie Heng! Do you know you have already committed the grave crime of colluding with the Japanese?"

"Now, I can, by the mandate of Heaven, throw you directly into the Imperial Prison!"

Xie Heng, kneeling on the ground with tears and snot flowing endlessly, stared fixedly at the flag officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and growled through gritted teeth.

"I plead for the people; what do I have to fear!"

The flag officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was too lazy to waste words with Xie Heng.

He waved his hand behind him.

Two squads of the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately stepped forward and dragged Xie Heng up.

"My Lord Hai, the clothing and food of the common people in Liangzhe and Fujian are all in your hands; My Lord, save the common people!"

"Xie's life is not worth sparing; My Lord, do not forget the words of Heng!"

"..."

What is the ultimate art of lying?

It is to mix falsehoods into the truth.

The best method is to have nine and a half sentences out of ten be true.

Only the half sentence that can determine the outcome of the matter needs to be false.

After Xie Heng was taken away.

In the vast restaurant.

Only the flag officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who summoned Hai Rui to Yu Hang and Hai Rui himself remained.

Hai Rui looked blankly at the restaurant before him.

His heart asked a question again and again.

Everything I have done.

Is it truly right?

Those Grand Councilors and the Son of Heaven of the Great Ming.

The judgments made in the court.

Are they truly what the common people of the world crave?

When Hai Rui walked out of the restaurant, the empty street was devoid of anyone.

But Hai Rui seemed to see all the common people of Liangzhe and Fujian.

He even began to worry about Xie Heng.

At this moment.

Hai Rui forgot many things.

He even forgot that Xie Heng was a descendant of the Dongshan Xie family; in the tenth year of Jiajing, his great-grandfather Xie Qian was posthumously granted the title "Wen Zheng"; at this time, the court and the country were filled with Xie Qian's students and old acquaintances; no matter what, Jiajing would not and could not truly punish him, Xie Heng, for these few words.

An upright person can be used by the Son of Heaven.

Similarly, he can also be used by others.

Because this world contains not only foolish people and upright people, but also those with ulterior motives.

129, Jiajing: Does my Great Ming Dynasty still have a sharp sword?!

Hai Rui stepped out of the tavern, remounted his horse, and headed toward the Zongduya.

After returning to the Zongduya, Hai Rui found Wang Bengu poring over ledgers.

At this moment, Wang Bengu, staring at the ledgers before him, could no longer suppress his fury.

"My lord Hai, you're back?"

"Look, look at these accounts! It's utterly outrageous!"

"Where have these people placed the imperial laws?"

"Tomorrow we shall begin arresting them by name—there will be no mistake!"

"…"

Watching Wang Bengu, eyes blazing with rage.

Yet Hai Rui's heart remained utterly still.

He merely bowed slightly and nodded.

"My lord Wang, I believe this matter can wait."

Wang Bengu looked up in confusion, studying Hai Rui and asked:

"How so?"

Hai Rui looked at Wang Bengu and whispered:

"Tomorrow, my lord Wang, please accompany me on an outing. When we return, we may proceed with the investigation without delay."

Wang Bengu stared at Hai Rui, utterly baffled.

He could only agree.

After all, Hai Rui was the imperial appointee commissioned by Jiajing—he had to be given some deference.

Yet Wang Bengu clearly sensed that Hai Rui's demeanor was unusually off.

Back at the Zongduya, Hai Rui spent the night awake.

He sat motionless on his bed until dawn.

Only when dawn came and Wang Bengu knocked on the door did Hai Rui slowly return to awareness.

"Oh, it's my lord Wang. I apologize for my rudeness."

Hai Rui struggled to rise from his bed, while Wang Bengu regarded him with some puzzlement and asked:

"My lord Hai, what is so urgent today?"

Hai Rui frowned deeply and whispered:

"I wish to visit the homes of those accused."

Wang Bengu stared at Hai Rui in confusion.