Chapter 479: Kill Them All

"Investigate, investigate thoroughly their businesses across the realm, investigate thoroughly who they associate with, investigate thoroughly where the silver has flowed, and then wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"One fell swoop… the Ai family has been operating in Jiangnan for over thirty years, their business spreads nationwide, involving too many people; a one‑fell‑swoop might cause too much commotion…" Zhu Biao frowned and said.

"Brother, these people can't be left alive." Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

"Today they hoard grain, tomorrow they'll hoard salt, the day after they'll hoard tea, and the day after that they'll lend at usurious rates, seizing the people's fields and property."

"In a few years, the people of Great Ming will become their tenants, their debtors, their slaves."

"The hall fell silent for a moment."

"Zhu Yong turned around and looked at Zhu Biao."

"Brother, do you still remember Lv Ben?"

"Zhu Biao was startled: 'Lv Ben? Wasn't he executed along with the Nine Clans?'"

"Lv Ben is a visible enemy, tangible and easy to deal with; the Jews are hidden enemies, concealed among the populace, cloaked in the guise of merchants, hard to confront."

"Zhu Yong paused, then added: 'But their nature is the same; they all seek to drain Great Ming.'"

"Zhu Biao fell silent."

"He walked to the imperial desk, sat down, and lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers."

"Second brother, your words remind me of something."

"What is it?"

"In the tenth year of Hongwu, Jiangnan suffered a drought, grain prices skyrocketed; the court opened granaries to distribute grain, yet prices wouldn't drop. Later it was discovered that several major grain merchants colluded to hoard and manipulate the market."

"Among those men were members of the Ai family."

"Zhu Biao lifted his head and looked at Zhu Yong."

"At that time I sensed something was off, but didn't investigate deeply; now I realize it was my negligence."

"Zhu Yong shook his head: 'Brother, it's not your negligence; those Jews are masterful at disguise. On the surface they obey laws, but behind the scenes they pull small tricks, making them impossible to guard against.'"

"Zhu Biao nodded."

"Then how do you intend to investigate?"

"Send the Jin Yi Guard to investigate, start with the Ai family, follow the trail, uncover all their businesses across the realm, copy their ledgers, and see exactly how much silver they have."

"After the investigation is complete, then what?"

"Zhu Yong was silent for a moment, then said: 'Brother, I've thought about this all night.'"

"How shall we deal with them?"

"Kill them."

"Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow: 'All of them?'"

"All of them."

"Zhu Yong said word for word: 'The Jewish people are a scourge wherever they go; European nations expel them not for religion but because they lend at usurious rates, hoard to manipulate, and control the economy.'"

"If a country doesn't expel them, it will eventually be controlled by them—its economy, its politics—so that even the Emperor's words become less effective than theirs."

"Zhu Biao remained silent for a long while."

"Second brother, you're right; these Jews can't be left alive," he finally said.

"He paused, then added: 'But wiping them out entirely sounds terrible; we need a pretext.'"

"Brother, don't worry, there are plenty of pretexts—hoarding, price manipulation, usury—any one is enough to warrant execution."

"Zhu Biao nodded: 'Fine, have someone investigate, get the facts, and wipe them out in one fell swoop.'"

"Leaving Qianqing Palace, it was already noon."

"Zhu Yong walked along the palace corridor, his steps much lighter."

"Brother had agreed; the rest would be easy to handle."

"'Second brother!' Zhu Biao's voice came from behind."

"Zhu Yong turned and saw Zhu Biao stride out."

"Brother, anything else?"

"There's something I forgot to tell you: Imperial Father received a letter from Europe."

"Zhu Biao pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it over."

"Zhu Yong took it and unfolded it."

"Zhu Yuanzhang's handwriting was as rough and careless as ever, but the content made his brow furrow."

"'Yong Er, we've arrived in Europe and seen the territories overseen by your fifth and fourth brothers; they're fine, but there's one thing we can't be comfortable with.'"

"Guess what we saw in Paris? Jews… Jews on every street."

"They do business in Europe even more aggressively than in Great Ming—grain shops, cloth houses, pawnshops, money houses, everything."

"We asked your fifth brother; he said these Jews have been in Europe for centuries, can't be driven out, can't be killed, like locusts."

"Yong Er, what should we do?"

"Zhu Yong finished reading the letter, folded the paper neatly, and slipped it back into his sleeve."

"Europe also has Jews."

"And they can't be exterminated."

"'Brother, you saw it too; wherever Jews go they're a disaster—not just Great Ming, all of Europe is choked by them.'"

"Zhu Biao sighed: 'These people are indeed a trouble.'"

"'So we must kill them even more; wipe them out, and it will be clean.'"

"Zhu Biao stood, paced the hall for several rounds, then suddenly stopped."

"'Second brother, do you think other vassal lands also have Jewish influence?'"

"Zhu Yong was stunned for a moment, then understood."

Australia, South Sea, Tie Mu Er's residence—those places are vassal territories of Great Ming, and there are common folk living there.

If the Jews also went to those places and set up businesses in the vassal lands, that would be even more troublesome.

"Elder brother is right, we must investigate."

That afternoon, Zhu Yong returned to Wu Wang Fu and immediately summoned the members of the Brocade Guard.

Liu Zhen stood before him, clasped his fists and said, "Prince."

"Send people to Australia, South Sea, Tie Mu Er's residence, Goryeo, Japan, to check whether there are Jewish businesses there; once clarified, report back immediately."

Liu Zhen answered with a nod and turned away.

Zhu Yong sat in his study, a complete map of Great Ming spread before him.

From Yingtian Prefecture northward to Beiping, to Liaodong, to Nuergan Command.

Southward to Liangguang, to Yunnan, to Jiaozhi.

Westward to Huguang, to Sichuan, to Shaanxi, to Gansu, to the Western Regions, to Tie Mu Er's residence.

Eastward to Shandong, to Zhejiang, to Fujian.

Overseas to Australia, to South Sea, to Goryeo, to Japan.

The territory of Great Ming is now more than a hundred times larger than when he first crossed over.

But with a larger realm comes greater trouble.

The Jews are like cancer cells; wherever they spread, problems arise.

We must uproot them before they become entrenched.

Guanyin Nu entered carrying a bowl of soup and set it on the table.

"Prince, you have just returned from Jiangnan and have not rested yet; what are you busy with now?"

Zhu Yong took the bowl, took a sip—it was chicken soup, very fresh.

"I'm investigating the Jewish matter; elder brother said Imperial Father also saw Jews in Europe, and the situation there is even worse than in Great Ming."

Guanyin Nu sat opposite him, frowned and said, "Jews are those who wear black hats and sport long beards; I have seen them in Europe as well. In Constantinople they ran an entire street of shops, selling everything."

"Their business skills are indeed formidable, but their sabotage skills are even greater."

Zhu Yong set the bowl down, took her hand and said, "Guanyin Nu, do you remember? In the tenth year of Hongwu, Jiangnan suffered a drought, grain prices skyrocketed, and even the court's grain stores could not keep up."

"I remember. At that time you were fighting at Tie Mu Er's residence, while elder brother was swamped in Yingtian Prefecture."

"That incident was the work of the Jews behind the scenes."

Guanyin Nu was stunned for a moment.

"Them?"

"Yes, the Ai family pulled the strings, uniting several major grain merchants to hoard grain together and drive up prices."

Guanyin Nu was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Those people really deserve to be killed."

Zhu Yong nodded.

"So I'm investigating; once clarified, I'll catch them all in one net."