Chapter 117

As soon as Zhu Xizhong's words fell, the people in the hall turned pale.

What does it mean to borrow your head.

Who dares to borrow it here? Who is willing to borrow it?

Moreover, where is the need for the situation?

Liang Menglong said in astonishment: "Why does the Duke of Cheng say this!?"

"Where is the time to need the Duke's life to give an explanation?"

Although he came late and didn't know much about the situation, he had been an official for many years and had seen all kinds of storms.

In this situation, the worst is to calm it down—what intentional abolition of fiefs, what forcing the Commandery Prince to death, there is no such thing; look at me being calm and composed, where is the appearance of wanting to abolish the fiefs?

As long as they don't mess up, the imperial clan can at most make trouble; can they really do anything?

It's just the story of the Prince of Xiang; who is qualified to be the Emperor Chengzu now?

At most, it's just that the central government is under some pressure; it's just right to see to what extent the Emperor supports them.

Even if the imperial clan and the Huguang officialdom join forces and make trouble to the Emperor, the pressure is on the Emperor, and they won't be punished.

At worst, wait for people to finish making trouble, and then continue to investigate the case and settle the score.

Where is the need to make a Duke "commit suicide"!?

A mere Commandery Prince, how is he qualified to let the imperial envoy pay with his life to appease the situation?

Zhu Xizhong shook his head and laughed when he saw everyone's reaction.

He coughed lightly and explained: "It's not specifically to give an explanation for the Jing mansion."

"It's just that the matter in Huguang has dragged on for too long; rather than entanglement and pulling back and forth, it's better to cut the mess with a sharp knife."

"Now my stature is enough to come forward and end this matter quickly, which is also to prevent changes."

If the matter in Huguang is pulled back and forth so frequently, I don't know what kind of trouble will be caused.

Since this is the case, it is better to take this opportunity to end the matter.

Anyway, I won't live for a few months less; since I want to be a Zhu Wan once, I might as well be thorough.

It is also good to make his stature in the Emperor's heart heavier—ministers who die for the country and live in the Emperor's memories are the most impeccable.

This is called being in the Emperor's heart!

After Zhu Xizhong finished speaking, several people were slightly relieved.

If he really drew his sword and committed suicide to give an explanation to a mere Commandery Prince, that would be losing face and making people say that the central government was just strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

However, what does Zhu Xizhong mean by this?

Liang Menglong is the Governor, not the imperial envoy; as the only minister who has to stay in Huguang to clean up the mess, he is most afraid of Zhu Xizhong messing around.

His expression was suspicious, and he said: "What does the Duke intend to do?"

Zhu Xizhong did not answer directly, but looked at Li Shidi and said: "Supervising Secretary Li, tell Governor Liang the origin of the matter first."

Li Shidi heard this and did not shirk.

He stood up and picked up a stack of case files from the table.

He looked at Liang Menglong and bowed: "Governor Liang, the Zhang Chucheng case involves many people, so please allow me to tell you one by one."

Liang Menglong returned the courtesy politely and made a gesture of invitation.

Li Shidi opened a page and said slowly: "In the sixth year of Longqing, before the Emperor ascended the throne, the court discussed the mining tax eunuchs who were doing evil in Huguang."

"After the Emperor ascended the throne, he often thought of this matter, fearing that it was not an isolated case, and worried that the eunuchs in the inner court would make trouble in Huguang and harm the locality."

"So he sent Zhang Chucheng, who was then the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, to patrol Huguang and examine the mining and tax supervisors."

This was last June.

At that time, the inner court mining tax eunuch was sent back to the capital on the grounds of molesting women and having his tongue bitten off.

After the Emperor asked about the mining tax eunuchs over the years and learned that there was a big trick in it, he let Zhang Chucheng go to Huguang to investigate this matter secretly.

Only Li Shidi knew the reason.

Now, for the sake of the officialdom's appearance, it is natural to change to a decent statement that everyone can accept.

Li Shidi continued: "After Zhang Chucheng arrived in Huguang, he once communicated with the Left Administration Commissioner Tang Bin to patrol the locality."

"In February of this year, the Supervising Secretary Zhang finished his patrol and wanted to return to the capital, but on the way, he found clues and said that someone in the locality was privately casting weapons and coins, so he checked the files again and visited the prefecture and county."

Liang Menglong listened carefully, followed Li Shidi's words, and turned the case file to the corresponding place.

Privately casting weapons and coins... he quickly turned to the corresponding place.

Wuchang Prefecture, Fanshan, Chu fief stealing copper mines.

Xingguo Prefecture, Huanggu Mountain, Chu fief stealing lead mines.

Daye Prefecture, Baizhi Mountain, Chu fief stealing copper mines; Weilu Mountain, Jing fief stealing iron mines.

Macheng Prefecture, Guifeng Mountain, Jing fief stealing sand mines.

Southeast of Huangmei Prefecture, a certain mine, Jing fief stealing iron mines.

Xinning County, Kuangkeng Ridge, Min fief stealing copper mines.

Guiyang Prefecture, Tanliu Ridge, Min fief stealing silver, lead, and sand mines.

Xuanping... Gaogao Mountain... Xiang fief...

All kinds of things, it was a thick stack of case files.

Liao, Min, Chu, Jing, Ji, Xiang, almost none were missed, all in it.

The purpose was clear.

Casting weapons and coins!

As for the destination, it was also listed; it seems that these imperial envoys had also seriously investigated the case during these days.

Weapons were sold to Miao and Yi people by the Min and Xiang fiefs.

From Guzhou Barbarian Chief Office, Tanxi Barbarian Chief Office, to Hu'er Barbarian Chief Office, Sizhou Barbarian Chief Office.

These places were even partially cleared by the Governor Wang Daokun in the past two years.

Liang Menglong was shocked!

Li Shidi explained: "The accounts attached to the back of the case file were all bought from the Yi people, and there are witnesses, who are placed in the Wudang Palace."

The Yi people had no gentleman's friendship, and the heart of confidentiality was just a saying.

As long as you find the head and the money is in place, there is no partner who cannot be betrayed.

At this time, Zhu Shitai behind Zhu Xizhong whispered: "There are also other weapons that were cast by local wealthy families. I saw them in the fortified village, and some of them were purchased from various Prince's mansions."

As for why he only saw them instead of seizing them... uh, he sold them.

Liang Menglong flipped through the case files, and the names of major Prince's mansions appeared repeatedly.

He looked at them, slowly digested them, and reached out to ask Li Shidi to continue.

The latter nodded and said: "Most of the privately cast copper coins circulate in the hands of the common people, especially in Wuchang Prefecture and Changsha Prefecture, where the shapes are different, but they circulate widely."

Making copper coins can only be done in prosperous places like Wuchang and Changsha.

In other places, the common people would rather barter than use these.

Liang Menglong also saw the names of the Chu fief's Empress Dowager Wu, the Ji fief's General Zhu Changwen, and others.

Li Shidi continued: "After Zhang Chucheng had clues, he investigated the patrol on one hand and prepared to submit a memorial, and on the other hand, he was entrusted by the former Administration Commissioner Tang Bin to reprimand the various fiefs involved."

"Zhang Chucheng patrolled the border for a month from the Min fief, through Changsha, Yueyang, etc., and prepared to return to the capital in March."

"During this period, the Ji fief's General Zhu Changwen was dissatisfied and was reprimanded by Zhang Chucheng, who ordered the Prince's mansion's long history to punish him."

"Later, Zhang Chucheng returned to Wuchang and handed over with the Governor Zhao Xian, mentioning in his words that after he reprimanded the Chu fief on the way, he would go back to the capital and report the Huguang matter to the Emperor."

He paused here: "But, after visiting the Chu mansion, Zhang Chucheng seemed to have unfinished business and then turned back to find Tang Bin who was patrolling the border."

"When the two returned to Wuchang from Changsha, they passed through Linxiang County and encountered mining bandits attacking the county office, and both died."

Liang Menglong put his hand on his tongue and licked it, and turned to the next page.

Hearing this, he said in a deep voice: "Before I came, I heard that it was Zhu Yingyan of the Prince of Yueyang's mansion who secretly did this?"

Li Shidi shook his head: "The Military Preparedness Assistant Ji Ruzhi, on the excuse of suppressing water bandits, held the Governor's office's order and transferred Tang Bin's personal guards."

"Dongting Garrison Commander Qiu Qiao controlled the Yueyang Guard and let the bandits cross the border."

"Zhu Yingyan, the Commandery Lieutenant of the Prince of Yueyang's mansion, came forward, coordinated all parties, connected with water bandits, and commanded mining bandits."

As soon as the words fell.

Zhu Shitai interjected at the right time: "The water bandits were raised by the Min fief, and the physical evidence and confessions point to the Prince of Lishan's mansion."

Seeing Hai Rui said in a deep voice: "Dongting Garrison Commander Qiu Qiao accepted bribes and has been executed by Zhao Xian. However, the merchant who bribed him has been arrested and confessed that he was instructed by the Ji fief's General Zhu Changwen."

Li Shidi nodded and looked at Liang Menglong: "The matter was arranged so meticulously because the Xiang fief and the Jing fief colluded with the Surveillance Commissioner Du Si and found out Tang Bin's whereabouts and accompanying officials in advance."

"As for Zhu Yingyan and the mining bandits, they should be dominated by the Prince of Dong'an, Zhu Xianhuai; it's just been investigated halfway and hasn't been concluded yet."

After saying this, Liang Menglong finally had a general outline in his heart.

The subsequent events were naturally as he saw today.

The imperial envoy's investigation became more and more urgent, and the Min fief's Prince of Lishan, the Chu fief's Prince of Dong'an Zhu Xianhuai, the Ji fief's General Zhu Changwen, and the Surveillance Commissioner Du Si all surfaced.

Even the old accounts of stealing mining mountains were turned over.

Some people had to jump over the wall like a dog, playing a trick of damaging eight hundred friendly troops and killing one thousand enemy troops.

Attempting to use this to create public opinion that the Emperor was abolishing fiefs and forcing the imperial clan—erasing the legitimacy of investigating the Zhang Chucheng case, and then smearing the Emperor as sinister and vicious, bullying relatives, and even constructing a drama of the Emperor forcing the Prince to rebel.

While drumming up the Huguang imperial clan to connect, it also made the princes of other provinces, such as the Prince of Shu and the Prince of Jin, feel the rabbit dying and the fox grieving, and submit memorials to support them.

At the same time, this matter also involved officials like Surveillance Commissioner Du Si and the Dongting Lake Garrison Commander, so the officialdom might not be willing to see it continue to be investigated.

After listening to Li Shidi, Liang Menglong finally had a spectrum in his heart.

After sorting out the general situation, he asked curiously: "The order of the Military Preparedness Assistant Ji Ruzhi was from the Governor's office; did Zhao Xian not get involved?"

Li Shidi stopped talking.

Seeing Hai Rui saw this and interjected bluntly: "This is the work of the Administration Commission borrowing small officials; the person has disappeared. Governor Liang might as well ask Chen Rui if he knows."

The matter of the Administration Commission naturally has to be asked by the Administration Commissioner.

The two Administration Commissioners at that time, Tang Bin died, so naturally, only Chen Rui could be asked.

Li Shidi stopped talking because Liang Menglong and Chen Rui were both scholars of the 32nd year of Jiajing, and they were of the same subject.

And they happened to be recruited by Zhang Juzheng, the same teacher and student, and also classmates.

Some words were not easy to say too clearly.

But Seeing Hai Rui had no such concerns and stated bluntly that he suspected Chen Rui.

Liang Menglong was silent.

He couldn't take this either.

After all, Chen Rui was Zhang Juzheng's student and the Huguang Administration Commissioner—Zhang Juzheng was from Huguang.

In this situation, anyone with an extra heart would think more.

Moreover, the central government sent him to Huguang, and the new Administration Commissioner Xu Xuemo was also under Zhang Juzheng's door; this meaning was too obvious.

The central government gave Zhang Juzheng so much face without any suspicion.

As a student, he was even less able to point fingers at Chen Rui to prevent anything unfavorable to his teacher.

So he could only be silent.

Liang Menglong shifted the topic without a trace: "Then the top priority in Huguang now is to calm the Jing mansion matter and confirm the evidence of the Prince of Dong'an, Zhu Xianhuai?"

He didn't mention Chen Rui's matter; since there was no evidence and it couldn't be investigated clearly, why not be confused? Anyway, it was just a matter of forging seals, which wasn't a big deal.

After all, he was the Chief Grand Secretary's student; if something really happened, and he handed a knife to an outsider, affecting the court situation, that wouldn't be good.

He was not in the central government, but he understood a truth—prioritize the big picture!

As soon as the words fell.

Zhu Xizhong spoke again, attracting everyone's attention.

He looked at Seeing Hai Rui, Li Shidi, and Liang Menglong, shook his head and said: "I'll handle the Jing mansion matter; you just need to verify the Prince of Dong'an matter, and the Zhang Chucheng case can be concluded, and you can return to the capital to report as soon as possible, and you can still catch up with the Emperor's Longevity Festival."

Zhu Xizhong looked at Wu Jinghe, and the former continued: "I'll clean up the rest of the mess together."

(End of chapter)