Chapter 241: The Shameless Mouths of the Base Scholars

Antonio brought his ship back to the Great Ming's home port as if returning to his own home. This was not just Antonio's feeling; it was the feeling of all the Westerners. Even the special envoy, Li Li Yashi, refused to set sail again to continue his work, preferring to stay in the capital all day, enjoying a life of luxury.

Life on the sea was truly too terrifying. The towering giant waves, the horrific storms, the fierce indigenous people, and the invisible, lethal plagues—life at sea was like struggling in hell, whereas arriving at Songjiang Port was like arriving in heaven.

People in heaven do not yearn for hell.

After the Japanese women's large ship arrived at the port, Sun Sun Kehong arranged for them to be sent to an academy to learn weaving and dyeing. For the Japanese women, the Great Ming was truly heaven; there was no war or military disaster here. This was heaven.

At this time, the land of the Southern Southern Yamen was not peaceful, because a document was circulating widely throughout the Southern Southern Yamen: the "Memorial Impeaching Zhang Zhang Juzheng." The person who wrote this memorial was named Hence Hai Rui.

In the sixth month, the version in the Southern Southern Yamen was clearly lagging behind the Northern Southern Yamen. This was a fragmentation of public opinion caused by the limitations on the speed of information dissemination in the Great Ming Dynasty.

The Northern Southern Yamen had already entered the version where all officials had to go to the Western Hills to request the protection of the "Buddha" Zhang Zhang Juzheng, while the Southern Southern Yamen was still clamoring in the version that Zhang Zhang Juzheng's father had died, that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was clinging to power, refusing to observe the mourning period, and was unfilial.

Falsely using Hence Hai Rui's name was a clever move by the forger, because Hence Hai Rui enjoyed an extremely high reputation among the common people. By using Hence Hai Rui's name to oppose Zhang Zhang Juzheng, they could make Hence Hai Rui and Zhang Zhang Juzheng appear completely opposed to each other.

In this way, if Hence Hai Rui was a good man, then the impeached Zhang Zhang Juzheng must be a bad man.

During the Emperor Wanli era, Hence Hai Rui could still be "taken" by the Pure Stream faction as a banner—a banner of moral spirit.

In this long article, it was claimed that Zhang Zhang Juzheng had colluded with Feng Bao, the Director of Ceremonial eunuch, to manipulate the "ticket-drafting and red-marking" state affairs approval process from the inside and outside; that he had used private letters to instruct his confidants to memorialize on certain matters, and then used his power of ticket-drafting to approve these suggestions; and that he had made hints about official promotions in his letters to gain their loyalty.

In short, in the memorial, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was labeled as the "Usurper of the Ming."

The circulation of this article exceeded everyone's expectations, and its momentum was unmatched for a time. The Jiangnan literati were filled with righteous indignation, as if Zhang Zhang Juzheng had to be toppled for the Great Ming to be clear and bright. Zhang Zhang Juzheng seemed to be the original sin of the Great Ming.

As long as Zhang Zhang Juzheng was toppled, the Great Ming would be fine.

Just like in the past, when people always believed that if Yan Song fell, everything in the Great Ming would improve—only for Yan Song to starve to death in a tomb hut, while Xu Xu Jie became even more unscrupulous than Yan Song.

Meanwhile, Luo Luo Bingliang, the Tax Inspection Commander of the Tax Inspection Institute, received an imperial edict from the Emperor. The Emperor's words were fierce, demanding that Luo Luo Bingliang arrest the culprits and bring them to the capital. No matter who was implicated, they were to be brought to the capital; even if they were people from the palace, there would be no leniency.

The imperial edict Luo Luo Bingliang received was written in the Emperor's own hand, and it also bore the private seal that the Emperor had specifically issued to the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The content was not very long.

"I have heard that a malicious memorial claims to represent Hai Jun. Hai Jun says no. I consider Hai Jun a man of worldly reputation; there is no need to cover up. Therefore, there must be petty, demonic villains who have used his name to stir up trouble and steal a false reputation, causing the Master to fall into a prison of madness."

"The Master has supported the state and exhausted his heart and blood. To seek fame and fail to obtain it is hateful; to display loyalty and promote the Way, only to seek glory and receive humiliation, is tragic."

"In recent years, the hearts of the people have been crooked, and evil doctrines have run rampant. How many are there who harbor malicious intentions and wish to harm the good and the upright? What is there to fear? Only strict laws and heavy punishments can hope to correct this."

"I have heard the Master's teachings: a ruler does not hold grudges against commoners. To kill the likes of lice is not a display of martial prowess. I believe this is true. However, I hate these people who wag their tongues and stir up trouble this time. They must be arrested immediately. Even if they are implicated with imperial relatives or palace walls, there will be no leniency."

"Respect this."

Zhu Zhu Yijun had personally asked Hence Hai Rui, and Hence Hai Rui said he did not write it.

Hence Hai Rui said he didn't write it, so does that mean he didn't? It is like this: if Hence Hai Rui said he didn't write it, then he didn't.

Given that Hence Hai Rui had used his "Memorial on Peace and Order" to scold the Emperor Jiajing Emperor—saying "Emperor Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing, every family is clean"—if it had truly been written by Hence Hai Rui himself, he would definitely have admitted it directly. Hence Hai Rui was that kind of person: unyielding.

Whether it was the Emperor or the Grand Secretary, if there was a mistake, Hence Hai Rui would point it out directly. This divine sword was extremely sharp, but this style of doing things made it really difficult to survive in the imperial court.

Since the "Memorial Impeaching Zhang Zhang Juzheng" was not written by Hence Hai Rui, someone had naturally used his name. How to correct the crooked winds of society? With cruel punishments and ruthless strikes.

Because of this matter, Zhang Zhang Juzheng specifically sent a memorial from the Western Hills to the court, requesting that the Emperor not make a big fuss. His reasoning was: "This is a disaster created by petty people; there is nowhere to assign the blame. However, for the atmosphere of great harmony in the universe, will it not be slightly damaged? A ruler does not hold grudges against commoners."

A ruler of a country, the master of the world, should be benevolent to the people, not hate any specific individual. Zhu Zhu Yijun felt that what Zhang Zhang Juzheng said was very good, but he did not agree with Zhang Zhang Juzheng's way of smoothing things over. He told Luo Luo Bingliang directly that he hated them greatly and that no matter who was involved, the case was to be investigated to the end and everyone was to be arrested to the end.

If Luo Luo Bingliang showed private leniency, then Zhu Zhu Yijun would beat Luo Luo Bingliang's son.

Luo Luo Bingliang put away the imperial edict and sighed. Could these scholars in the Jiangnan literati not just spend their time reciting poetry and painting in brothels? Weren't those "slender horses," Korean beauties, Japanese women, and pearl-diving girls specifically trained to serve people not fragrant enough? Why did they have to get involved in court affairs?

Luo Luo Bingliang had long since received the court gazette. To retain Zhang Zhang Juzheng, the Emperor had truly exhausted all his efforts. He had played every card he had, even putting the lives of the twenty-six censors in the capital on the line. Zhang Zhang Juzheng remained unmoved and insisted on leaving the court.

Because the Jiangnan literati were too far from the Northern Southern Yamen and the information they received had been processed many times, their judgment suffered a serious error. That was why they launched the divine plan of clamoring with public opinion—the "Demonic Book"—clamoring that Zhang Zhang Juzheng refused to observe mourning, that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was clinging to power, and that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was unfilial and a beast, etc. After all, there was the precedent of Senior Grand Secretary Yang Yang Tinghe observing mourning.

In this way, the Jiangnan literati directly became clowns, attacking a matter that did not exist at all.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's departure from the court was extremely resolute; he even refused to let the Emperor go to the Western Hills to see him.

This "Demonic Book" was like a punch hitting cotton, because it was rendering a matter that did not exist at all. As time passed, most people would know that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was observing mourning in the Western Hills.

Luo Luo Bingliang was the Commander of the Tax Audit Institute, but he was also the Commander of the Southern Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—in other words, the Southern Southern Yamen Commandant. Luo Luo Bingliang began to mobilize the scouts of the Southern Southern Yamen to investigate this case, and as he investigated, he stumbled upon an old case.

In the 34th year of Emperor Jiajing, Wang Wang Yangming's disciple, the then-Minister of War Nie Bao, defied the imperial decree and was dismissed.

In the 29th year of Emperor Jiajing, because of the Altan Khan's invasion, the Great Ming had a fierce border conflict with the Northern Hu in the northwest. In the same year, the Zhejiang Provincial Governor Zhu Wan achieved a great victory against the Japanese pirates but was forced to commit suicide. The Japanese pirate threat in the southeast of the Great Ming had become an unstoppable force.

These two events happened in the same year. To avoid fighting on two fronts, the court engaged in fierce debate and confrontation over opening maritime trade.

Those who advocated opening the seas were not necessarily good people, but at that time, opening the seas was the only way to alleviate the contradictions in the southeast. The later Emperor Longqing opening of the borders proved this point.

From the 30th to the 34th year of Emperor Jiajing, there were many who advocated opening the seas. Because the Emperor Jiajing Emperor was practicing Daoism, they even moved the Emperor Jiajing Emperor's Daoist teacher—the "True Man of Loyalty and Filial Piety, Who Transmits the Law and Penetrates the Truth, the High Scholar Who Promotes the Religion and Protects the Country of the Divine Empyrean," Tao Zhongwen—to advocate for opening the seas.

The Emperor Jiajing Emperor issued an edict to the Grand Secretariat, demanding the opening of the seas. The Senior Grand Secretary Yan Song issued an edict to the Ministry of War to take note. The then-Minister of War, Nie Bao, read it but did not reply.

The Emperor Jiajing Emperor issued an edict of reprimand. The Minister of War, Nie Bao, lowered his head and admitted his mistake, trembling with fear.

The Emperor Jiajing Emperor issued another edict to supervise the implementation. The Ministry of War refused to execute it again, highlighting a stance of: "I was wrong, but I just won't change it. Do whatever you want. Anyway, this matter can be summed up in two words: not doing it."

The Emperor Jiajing Emperor issued an edict to dismiss Nie Bao and replaced him with someone else, then issued another edict to supervise the implementation. The Ministry of War remained the same, reading but not replying, refusing to handle the matter, and not giving a reason.

The Daoist Master knew that this matter could not be handled. He couldn't even handle Nie Bao; he could only dismiss him. Because Nie Bao was Wang Wang Yangming's direct disciple, and the terrifying influence of Wang Wang Yangming's School of Mind among the common people and the court made the Daoist Master hesitate to act. In the end, it was left unsettled.

Taking the court as an example, the Xu Xu Jie who handled affairs in the Grand Secretariat was Nie Bao's direct disciple.

Nie Bao defied the decree and refused to open the seas, not even giving the Emperor Jiajing Emperor a reason. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been defying the decree, but rather blaming Chen Shan.

The reason this old case was uncovered was entirely because the root cause of this slander case attacking Zhang Zhang Juzheng was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's New Policies, which harmed the vested interests, especially the opening of the seas.

Although the Emperor repeatedly issued edicts—opening the seas, maritime transport of grain, etc. —these were all the Emperor's clear edicts. However, in everyone's eyes, it was Zhang Zhang Juzheng who had bewitched the Emperor and drafted the edicts on his behalf. These government decrees made the meat-eaters of Jiangnan feel like they had a fishbone stuck in their throats. Now that Zhang Zhang Juzheng was in trouble, they naturally came to help and participate in the grand event of toppling Zhang.

The Emperor Longqing opening of the borders was a hesitant opening of the seas; it only opened the Grandmaster Yue Port. But the opening of the seas presided over by the Emperor involved building an army, the Shipping Office, shipbuilding, and a series of other measures. The continuous success of opening the seas caused the interests of the original vested interests to be damaged.

The "Memorial Impeaching Zhang Zhang Juzheng" was the result of the New Policies.

The investigation also led to the School of Mind. Measuring fields, returning land, farming, settling vagrants, the Songjiang Prefecture Shipping Office, the Songjiang Shipyard, the Songjiang Navy, and rectifying the academic administration—every move was fatal, harming the various factions of the School of Mind that used Wang Wang Yangming's School of Mind as their banner.

Luo Luo Bingliang investigated the case very quickly. He had received the Emperor's clear edict. Because his son, Luo Luo Sigong, had no submissive heart and beat the Emperor in the palace every day, Luo Luo Bingliang had a very submissive heart, so he handled things very efficiently.

Soon, the clues pointed to a student named Wu Yang Shiqi.

This person was a government student of Ningguo Prefecture. After hearing the news of the death of Zhang Zhang Juzheng's father, Zhang Wenming, he immediately gathered the students of Ningguo Prefecture and jointly submitted a memorial to the prefecture office, becoming the vanguard against Zhang's New Policies. The Prefect of Ningguo Prefecture, Long Zongwu, had already detained Wu Yang Shiqi and the other students.

Luo Luo Bingliang took three hundred Zhao Tishuai and rushed to Ningguo Prefecture overnight, entering the prefecture office to have a secret discussion with Prefect Long Zongwu.

The next day, the student Wu Yang Shiqi was released from prison.

Wu Yang Shiqi walked out of the prison. He stood in the sunlight, looking at his own hands in disbelief. After being arrested, he thought he would surely die, because the Emperor's words, "Those who speak of the Master's faults shall be beheaded," had already reached the Southern Southern Yamen.

So Wu Yang Shiqi thought his life would not last long, but he was released, which made Wu Yang Shiqi ecstatic.

The Zhao Tishuai's actions were extremely confidential; very few people knew that Luo Luo Bingliang had already arrived in Ningguo Prefecture.

Wu Yang Shiqi was a breakthrough point. Luo Luo Bingliang was playing a game of "letting the enemy go to catch them later," casting a long line to catch a big fish.

"Zhao Tishuai, is it really useful for us to follow this guy?" a Criminal Inspection Company Commander asked, looking at a private room, feeling very puzzled.

They were in a brothel, not to listen to singing, but to watch Wu Yang Shiqi. They had been watching him for more than ten days with no results.

Luo Luo Bingliang shook his head and said, "If His Majesty did not wish to implicate many people, we could just beat Wu Yang Shiqi to death and pin all the blame on him, and this matter would end in a whimper. But since His Majesty wants to implicate many people, we must release Wu Yang Shiqi and follow the vine to pluck all those dogs out."

"Pin all the blame on Wu Yang Shiqi?" The Criminal Inspection Company Commander's eyes widened. This was not a bad way to smooth things over.

"Yes," Luo Luo Bingliang nodded and said.

This was a very common practice. In various major cases, because the people involved were difficult to deal with, the blame was pinned on small characters. It was a good practice. For example, when the Altan Khan invaded and the capital region reported losses, the Altan Khan was like a god of war. Even in Shandong, where the Altan Khan had never been, the losses were heavy. Everyone used the Altan Khan's invasion to settle old scores, letting the Altan Khan himself bear the burden of those "administrative losses."

This technique was called: "Clearing Old Accounts."

It meant that some old accounts were really difficult to deal with, so they were pinned on one person, letting him die in shame while everyone else lived cleanly.

The Great Ming Emperor's imperial edict was truly too clear: do not smooth things over, but implicate many people. Use strict laws and heavy punishments to achieve a deterrent effect. Borrow the heads of these base scholars to show the Emperor's determination to continue the New Policies, and at the same time, fulfill his promise.

"He's here," Luo Luo Bingliang said with a smile.

"Where?" The Criminal Inspection Company Commander looked confused.

Before the words fell, a slip of paper was thrown into Luo Luo Bingliang's private room. On it were four words: "Jingde Hu Shi."

Clearly, Luo Luo Bingliang had his own channels to obtain information. After Wu Yang Shiqi was released from prison, he became low-key. Most of the time, he stayed at home to study. Because he had been in the lockup and the situation was still unclear, most people avoided Wu Yang Shiqi and did not contact him. Only on very rare occasions would he go to a brothel to relax a little.

Brothels have been money-burning caves since ancient times. No matter how much silver is sent here, it is never enough. Wu Yang Shiqi was not born into a wealthy family. Before this case, he had never entered a brothel. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he didn't have silver in his pocket. These prostitutes only recognized silver, not talent. If you have silver, you are a master; if you don't, you are worse than a dog.

Of course, if you have silver and talent, that is even better.

But after Wu Yang Shiqi was released from prison, he began to frequent brothels, and every time he spent a great deal, extremely luxuriously.

Where did the silver for such luxury come from? This was a question.

The Prefect of Ningguo Prefecture, Long Zongwu, issued an order yesterday to dismiss Wu Yang Shiqi as a government student and ordered him not to participate in the provincial examination. That is to say, Wu Yang Shiqi could never take the imperial examination again in his life. Long Zongwu issued this order at this time at the suggestion of Zhao Tishuai Luo Luo Bingliang. According to Luo Luo Bingliang's judgment, this kid was almost out of silver.

Without silver and without his official status, his future was cut off. This made Wu Yang Shiqi panic. Today, Wu Yang Shiqi went to the brothel again, and Luo Luo Bingliang received a small slip of paper: "Jingde Hu Shi."

The meaning of this slip was: the person who contacted Wu Yang Shiqi today was a merchant from the Jingde Hu Shi, and the message was passed through a prostitute, rather than the Hu family coming in person.

"But no one went in!" The Criminal Inspection Company Commander looked at the slip of paper, completely confused. Zhao Tishuai's way of handling cases was truly something.

Luo Luo Bingliang put away the slip of paper and said with a smile, "Learn a little. These guys are very cunning."

The powerful and influential families of the Great Ming were extremely cautious and careful in their actions. Wu Yang Shiqi was a dangerous person and would not be easily contacted unless it was absolutely necessary. Clearly, Wu Yang Shiqi also held onto something extraordinary.

"He's out, Wu Yang Shiqi is out," the Criminal Inspection Company Commander reminded the Zhao Tishuai. Wu Yang Shiqi was leaving.

The surveillance ended. Luo Luo Bingliang and the two Criminal Inspection Company Commanders walked out of the private room, preparing to go downstairs, while Wu Yang Shiqi had already walked out of the brothel.

Just when Luo Luo Bingliang and the Criminal Inspection Company Commander thought this matter was about to end, they saw Wu Yang Shiqi staring with wide eyes, clutching his chest, collapsing to the ground, blood flowing profusely. Blood slowly gathered under Wu Yang Shiqi.

Pedestrians on the street screamed and fled.

Wu Yang Shiqi lay in the pool of blood with a ferocious expression, watching the crowd screaming. He reached out as if trying to grab something. He used all his strength and said weakly, "Save... save..."

Wu Yang Shiqi wanted to grab onto hope. As the crowd fled, Luo Luo Bingliang and the Criminal Inspection Company Commander rushed toward him.

Wu Yang Shiqi couldn't even finish a complete sentence before his hand went limp on the ground. Luo Luo Bingliang intended to stop his bleeding, but upon touching his neck, he found there was no heartbeat.

"He's already dead!" The Criminal Inspection Company Commander checked the wound and shook his head at Luo Luo Bingliang.

Just now, the Criminal Inspection Company Commander saw Wu Yang Shiqi bump into someone, and then it became like this. This was murder in broad daylight, and the strike was steady, accurate, and ruthless. It only took one strike to pierce Wu Yang Shiqi's heart and lungs. In just a few breaths, Wu Yang Shiqi was dead beyond a doubt.

"Ruthless. What exactly did this Wu Yang Shiqi possess?" Luo Luo Bingliang stood up, looking at Wu Yang Shiqi's state.

This kind of murder in broad daylight was clearly the work of a repeat offender. Not only was there no hesitation in the strike, but he was able to escape immediately after succeeding right under the noses of the Zhao Tishuai and Zhao Tishuai cavalry, without even being noticed.

Luo Luo Bingliang still managed to catch this murderer. If Luo Luo Bingliang couldn't even catch a murderer who killed in broad daylight, he might as well quit being a Zhao Tishuai and go home to grow sweet potatoes.

This kind of ruthless person was a well-known figure in the underworld. In an era where people didn't move around much, it was very easy to track down a murderer.

"Chen Zhuang, from Dengzhou, Shandong. In the 39th year of Emperor Jiajing, he joined Tang Tang Shunzhi. After Tang Tang Shunzhi died of illness, he followed Tang Tang Kekuan to suppress the Japanese pirates, beheading four. In the 44th year of Emperor Jiajing, the guest troops were disbanded, and since then he has been active in the various prefectures of the Southern Southern Yamen, committing crimes for decades." Luo Luo Bingliang personally interrogated the murderer Chen Zhuang. There was a hint of sadness in his tone. A good man who suppressed Japanese pirates had become a gambler who killed for money.

Chen Zhuang was pinned down by the Zhao Tishuai cavalry in a gambling den. He was addicted to gambling, and every time he committed a crime, he would spend the money on gambling.

Chen Zhuang was a fierce villain with a face full of flesh, but upon hearing about his achievements in suppressing Japanese pirates, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch. He lunged forward violently and shouted loudly, "Caught by the government, I admit defeat! I killed Wu Yang Shiqi. No one instructed me. I was just stealing his money, and he discovered me, so I killed him directly."

"I am Luo Luo Bingliang, Commander of the Southern Southern Yamen's Pacification Division. I am not here to interrogate you," Luo Luo Bingliang put down Chen Zhuang's file. He thought for a moment and said, "The Hu family is already on the list. Whether you say it or not doesn't matter for the case, as I'm going to raid the Hu family's home after I finish talking to you."

"Ah?!" Chen Zhuang's eyes widened. So these eagle dogs already knew who the mastermind was? Then why see him? Just give him a quick death; why all the nonsense?

Luo Luo Bingliang looked at Chen Zhuang and said very calmly, "The guest troops of the Great Ming now have completely different destinations than before. Previously, after the guest troops finished fighting, the court would disband them on the spot. The result was that after suppressing the Japanese pirates and pacifying the bandits, there were many fierce criminals. The guest troops killed enemies for the country on the battlefield, but ended up in such a plight. This was the court's fault."

"Now, the guest troops have several destinations. First, go to the various police inspection offices to serve as inspectors and lead archers to pacify bandits; second, go to the various county and prefecture offices to serve as assistant magistrates or constables, specifically to investigate cases and arrest criminals; third, although it's not a good place, it's still a way to make a living, which is to be a jailer or guard prisoners."

Chen Zhuang's expression was fierce. He clenched his fists tightly, then slowly relaxed them. His eyes looking at Luo Luo Bingliang became complicated, and then became a bit more relaxed.

"Is that so? Now you arrange destinations for the guest troops? That's pretty good," Chen Zhuang's fists slowly relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, sneered at Luo Luo Bingliang twice, and said, "The court finally did something human."

Luo Luo Bingliang continued, "In the underworld, you might not have heard, but the case of Hu Ling Bu Tang dying in prison has finally been overturned through the efforts of Shen Shen Yiguan and his son, Wang Daokun, the Grand Marshal Tan Lun, and others. The injustice has been redressed, his achievements in suppressing Japanese pirates have been recorded, and the court has given him the posthumous title of Hu Xiangmao. As for that Xu Xu Jie, he has also been investigated by the court. The money he embezzled to build the Jinze Garden is now the Songjiang Town Regional Commander's office, and those fields are all Songjiang Town's government-farmed land."

"Oh, right, last time I received the imperial order and went to Gui'an County, to the home of Hu Ling Bu Tang's aide, Mao Kun. Master Lumen is doing well, so don't worry."

The reason Luo Luo Bingliang mentioned Hu Hai Zongxian was because the disbandment of Chen Zhuang's batch of guest troops was due to Hu Hai Zongxian dying in prison.

Hu Hai Zongxian's death was definitely not him starving or thirsting to death in prison, dying in pain. The impact was far more serious than everyone thought. To prevent trouble, after Hu Hai Zongxian died, the guest troops originally formed to suppress the Japanese pirates were all disbanded.

Only a few were retained, such as the Southern Troops led by Qi Qi Jiguang. This was still preserved by Zhang Zhang Juzheng in his capacity as Xu Xu Jie's student.

Therefore, the suppression of Japanese pirates in Guangdong and Guangxi didn't finish until the 5th year of Emperor Longqing. It wasn't entirely Zhang Zhang Juzheng's fault for transferring Qi Qi Jiguang to the north. Many guest troops were formed to suppress the Japanese pirates, but after Hu Hai Zongxian died, these guest troops were disbanded, which left a tail of Japanese pirate threats that lasted for six years.

"Xu Xu Jie is still alive! He still has ten thousand acres of land at home! Such a great nobleman, even if he committed a crime against heaven, can still live decently, right! What kind of dog-shit world is this!" Chen Zhuang smashed the table with both fists, stood up, and roared at Luo Luo Bingliang, "Good people don't live long, bastards live for a thousand years! This dog bastard Xu Xu Jie hasn't died yet!"

"He hasn't died yet!"

After Chen Zhuang finished shouting, he sat down somewhat dejectedly, leaning back in his chair. With a wooden expression, he said, "In the 2nd year of Emperor Longqing, I heard that after Xu Xu Jie returned to his hometown, a few of us brothers prepared to assassinate him. But, several brothers died, and we didn't succeed. Mere brute courage? We couldn't even splash blood three feet."

"You've read books?" Luo Luo Bingliang said with a look of surprise.

"General Tang gave us lectures," Chen Zhuang nodded. He had read, but not much. After failing to assassinate Xu Xu Jie, Chen Zhuang began the life of a powerful man's dog and didn't read anymore.

"General Tang died in battle at Gubeikou. They had actually won, and General Tang wanted to share some pressure for General Qi who was fighting at Daning Guard. He took the initiative to attack, but was ambushed and died for the country," Luo Luo Bingliang said with great emotion.

"Dead?!" Chen Zhuang's brows knitted into a knot, then slowly relaxed. He shook his head and said, "General Tang was hot-tempered; he still hasn't changed."

Recovering Daning Guard, everyone saw Qi Qi Jiguang's invincibility, his aggression like fire at Daning Guard. Even the court and the Emperor saw Qi Qi Jiguang's prowess. Tang Tang Kekuan's death, however, did not cause much of a stir, because the base scholars wanted to push Tang Tang Kekuan's death onto Qi Qi Jiguang's poor command. Tang Tang Kekuan even died somewhat shamefully.

This is the base mouth of those base scholars.

"Xu Xu Jie can live because Zhang Zhang Juzheng, this student, is not easy to move against his teacher. Now, Mr. Zhang has left the court," Luo Luo Bingliang revealed a cruel smile at the corner of his mouth.

"I've finished speaking. I'm going to raid the home," Luo Luo Bingliang stood up. After speaking, it was time to send Chen Zhuang back to the capital. After re-examination, he couldn't escape the death penalty. Chen Zhuang didn't just kill Wu Yang Shiqi in broad daylight; in the years he served as a dog for the powerful, he had more than fourteen lives on his hands.

A fierce villain must be executed. His Majesty would absolutely not show mercy.

Luo Luo Bingliang walked to the door of the prison, turned his head to look at Chen Zhuang, and said, "If the guest troops hadn't been disbanded so rashly back then, you might not have picked up the bad habit of gambling, and you might not have ended up like this. If the court could have measured the fields and returned the land earlier, you might have had a wife, children, and a warm bed, and could have boasted to your children and grandchildren about suppressing the Japanese pirates."

"I only hate that I couldn't kill this dog bastard Xu Xu Jie!" Chen Zhuang curled his lips into an indifferent smile, as if this life wasn't his own. He answered Luo Luo Bingliang. He was just a damned fierce villain. With disaster imminent, he was still a murderer thinking about killing. Luo Luo Bingliang didn't need to pity him; the road of no return was one he walked himself.

Luo Luo Bingliang walked out of the Ningguo Prefecture prison, reached out, closed his eyes, and felt the warmth of the sun. He said to the Criminal Inspection Company Commander beside him, "The scorching sun is in the sky."

"Zhao Tishuai, are we going to raid the home now?" the Criminal Inspection Company Commander asked carefully.

Luo Luo Bingliang opened his eyes, his gaze carrying a fierceness several times stronger than Chen Zhuang's. He moved his fingers and said, "Go! Raid the home! If there is any resistance, kill without mercy! Dig three feet into the ground, and raid the old Hu family until it's completely clean!"

"Raid it until it's completely clean!"

Begging for monthly tickets, Awooooo!!!!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 242 =====