Chapter 330

Among the Twelve Marquises, the Pingyuan Marquis Jiang family, Dingcheng Marquis Xie family, Xiangyang Marquis Qi family, Jingti Marquis Qiu family, Jinxiang Marquis Han family, and Bailin Marquis Shi family.

These six families still hold military titles, while the remaining six families only have noble titles.

Among them, Qiu Liang, who served as Commander of the Five City Military Command in the Jingti Marquis's residence, had visited the master several times on his own initiative, and the master, upon receiving his promotion, had also sent generous gifts!

Of course, when it comes to who is closest to the master, it is still the Jinxiang Marquis Han family.

The Pingyuan Marquis's hereditary second-rank baron Jiang Zining, the Dingcheng Marquis's hereditary second-rank baron Xie Jing, and the Xiangyang Marquis's hereditary second-rank baron Qi Jianhui are closer to the Prince of Nan'an.

Xuanwu first briefly explained to Jia Jing the current situation of the founding lineage's martial merits from the perspective of relational closeness.

The twenty-four families of the founding lineage's martial merits are now basically divided into two camps.

In the founding period, naturally the two dukes of Rongning took the lead; later, the two Rongning mansions gradually declined.

Jia She and Jia Zhen only inherited noble titles without military command; the Prince of Nan'an began to rise, assuming the unique position of second-rank Grand General in the Da Han Empire.

Among the founding lineage's martial merits, many gradually came to follow the Prince of Nan'an as their leader.

Xuanwu then continued:

"Among these twenty-four families of founding martial merits, if one were to say which family is absolutely clean, with not the slightest violation of law and discipline, there would hardly be any."

"Even if the head of the family maintains personal integrity, it is hard to guarantee that among his descendants, servants, in-laws, or clansmen there are no bad apples!"

"The most major and widespread offense is still the encroachment upon garrison lands and the forcible seizure of civilian fields."

"Through forced purchase, tribute, litigation, etc., they have taken military and civilian lands as their own."

"In the vicinity of the capital, official lands, pastures, forests, and mountains are often seized by them under various pretexts to build manors and villas."

"Other offenses also include smuggling, monopolizing grain transport, usury, embezzling military supplies, and controlling markets."

"And also include trampling on lives, monopolizing lawsuits, abducting women, shielding servants and in-laws, extravagant excesses contrary to regulations, killing the innocent to claim merit, and colluding with foreign officials."

"Some households have committed several of these offenses, some only a few, but there is not a single household that has committed none."

"Not only the founding martial merits, but the Jingnan and New Noble martial merits also basically have these blemishes to some extent."

"However, what is most noteworthy is that some martial merits privately maintain close ties with the Retired Emperor."

"They collude with eunuchs, form factions for wrongdoing, obstruct the New Policies, and secretly engage in many coordinated actions."

Xuanwu recited these matters as if counting his own treasures, clearly having kept them firmly in mind behind the scenes.

Jia Jing, while looking at the document in his hand and listening to Xuanwu's report, wore a solemn expression.

Truly, one does not know until one learns, and upon learning, one is startled.

Originally, I thought that figures like Jia She and Jia Zhen were already rare degenerates among the martial merits.

After all, Jia She's bullying the weak, harming lives, smuggling, colluding with foreign officials, and monopolizing lawsuits are explicit sins in the original text.

Jia Zhen's arrogance, indulgence, moral corruption, improper mourning, and transgressing ritual law go without saying.

Unexpectedly, compared to some others, the actions of these two title-holders of the Jia family appear rather petty in comparison—like a minor witch seeing a great witch!

Among these are political crimes, economic crimes, military crimes, judicial crimes, and moral offenses too numerous to count!

No wonder Emperor Jing Sheng constantly says the founding lineage's martial merits are corrupt and unusable, and no wonder the Da Han Empire loses more than it wins in foreign wars.

With such a group of hereditary martial merits sharing the nation's fate, the Da Han Empire cannot avoid decline.

Jia Jing's face sank like water; after a moment's thought, he took a vermilion brush and circled the several families in the document whose founding lineage martial merits were riddled with crimes.

Then he returned the document to Xuanwu and ordered:

"First, gather all the evidence against the families I have circled; then organize the intelligence on the Jingnan side and the New Noble martial merits, and send it to me as soon as possible."

Although the founding lineage's martial merits more or less all have violations of law and discipline, Jia Jing cannot possibly act against all of them at once.

Even if his military achievements are outstanding and his prestige towering, there is no reason for him to do so.

Rectification cannot be rushed; it must always proceed according to priority, uniting one batch to overthrow another.

Then unite another batch to overthrow that batch, like slicing sausage—steady progress, not seeking quick gains.

The first batch of martial merits to be rectified is undoubtedly those few families with grave offenses and deep harm.

For example, those who are close to the Retired Emperor, those who obstruct the New Policies, and those with many cases involving loss of life.

Of course, there are also those who are not eager to align themselves with Jia Jing.

In officialdom, failing to discern the situation and picking the wrong side is forever the greatest sin!

As for those with minor offenses, first give them a warning to observe the outcome.

Seeing Xuanwu put the document away, Jia Jing lifted the tea cup on the table, took a sip, pondered, and then spoke in a low voice:

"There is one more matter; remember to handle it!"

Xuanwu clasped his hands and said:

"As the master commands!"

"The senior maid beside me, Xiangling, was kidnapped as a child; her family originally lived at Renqing Alley, Ten Li Street, Changmen, Suzhou City."

"Her father is surnamed Zhen, named Fei, courtesy name Shiyin; her mother is Lady Zhen Feng; her maternal grandfather is named Feng Su."

"Send people to find her parents and bring them to Shenjing! If Zhen Shiyin cannot be found or refuses to come, you may bring only his mother, Lady Zhen Feng."

Jia Jing carefully recalled the original work's description of Xiangling's hometown.

Fortunately, the names "Power Street" and "Human Relations Alley" are relatively easy to remember; otherwise he might not have been able to recall them.

With a concrete address and names, the other Embroidered Uniform Guard agents can naturally follow the vine to investigate.

However, Zhen Shiyin drifted away with a monk and a Daoist, so he may not necessarily be found.

On the other hand, Lady Zhen Feng, ever since losing her beloved daughter Zhen Yinglian, has remained confined to her natal home, washing her face with tears all day; she should be relatively easier to find.

The reason Jia Jing had people look for Xiangling's parents.

First, to reunite the separated mother and daughter.

Speaking of which, Xiangling and Lady Zhen Feng are also pitiful; originally a happy family was torn apart by kidnappers.

After being abducted at age four, Xiangling grew up amid the beatings and scoldings of traffickers.

And after the Zhenfeng clan suffered the loss of a daughter and her husband taking monastic vows, they could only endure daily hardship at the house of their natal father, whose household was powerful and greedy for wealth.

All that can be said is that Jia Yucun really is a bit too heartless and ungrateful!

Secondly, it's for the matter of Xue Pan; since we've decided to clear away the hidden dangers in Xue Pan's case, we naturally need to find the right point of entry.

The case in the original work is as follows: the kidnapper first sold Xiangling to Feng Yuan, Feng Yuan paid the money, and agreed to pick them up three days later.

The kidnapper, unsatisfied with greed, also sold Ying Lian to Xue Pan.

Finally, the two buyers bumped into each other; Xue Pan ordered the brave slave to act, unexpectedly beating Feng Yuan to death.

According to this fact, Xue Pan is guilty of letting slaves commit murder.

According to the provisions of the Da Han Empire Statutes·Criminal Law·Assault: "Whoever kills someone in a fight, regardless of whether they used hands and feet, other objects, or blades, shall be strangled and await execution."

That is to say, Xue Pan, relying on his strength, ordered the brave slave to beat Feng Yuan to death, which counts as murder with intent; according to the Da Han Empire Statutes, the instigator shall be beheaded and await execution.