The eldest grandson of Emperor Ming Dynasty!

Chapter 375 Rumor Case

Ming Hongwu is now completely different from other dynasties, and the up and down traffic is very efficient.

It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang really controlled the entire Ming Dynasty, and the decree was truly implemented. Even if some nobles were corrupt, they had not yet formed a huge force, at least they did not have the intention to fight against the royal family.

The originator of this rumor incident is the northwest direction.

The Ming Dynasty's dominance over the entire northwest is much weaker than that of the south, and after hundreds of years of alien rule, it has only been 25 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Although there is no force on the surface that dares to contend, but behind the scenes, there are many people who dare to be careful.

It will take a long time, or several generations of enlightenment, to completely regain the hearts of the people.

That's why Shanxi merchants dared to provoke the court so much, and even ruined the grandson's reputation, slandered Zhu Di, and alienated the royal family.

To be able to come up with such a strategy, on the one hand, it shows that Shanxi merchants have a very large and extensive network of resources, not only involving the courts of the capital, but also the grasslands, and they are also closely connected.

Second, among them, it is natural that there are military advisers who come up with strategies and strategies. The strategy of alienating the royal family is something that ordinary people dare not even think about, let alone implement.

However, with Zhu Ying, they made a huge mistake.

That is to block almost all Shanxi merchants, except Shanxi merchants, or to kill them all.

This made Zhu Ying's subordinates, no matter whether it was the Qunying Chamber of Commerce or those other small chambers of commerce in vests, there was no news at all.

Immediately, Zhu Ying's gaze was fixed on Shanxi.

Even though they are spreading this rumor everywhere, the root cause has been thoroughly discovered.

Knowing that Shanxi merchants are behind the scenes, things will be much easier to handle.

These days, whether it is doing business, or going in and out of every pass, you need guides and household registration.

At this point, how can Zhu Ying care about so many innocence, some unjust cases, and there is no way to take care of them.

The Shanxi merchants' business gangs are very closely connected. No matter whether they are big or small, they are like brothers when they are doing business outside.

This is due to the ethos of the entire Shanxi merchants.

That is to say, killing a thousand Shanxi merchants may not be wrong. This one-thousandth probability is enough in today's era.

The entire capital began a large-scale search of Shanxi household registration.

As long as your household registration is in Shanxi, then no matter what, you should arrest them first.

Even if you have lived in the capital for several years, more than ten years, you will still be arrested. Who knows if there are secret passages in it.

Merchants from Jin land entered the prison of Masi, or were directly arrested in the barracks.

The people of Jin land went to the prison of the Department of Public Security.

Officials from the Jin Dynasty entered Jinyiwei Prison.

In less than two days, tens of thousands of Shanxi people were all arrested.

The entire capital changed color upon hearing 'Jin'.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
In Jinyiwei Prison, a man was being whipped, his chest and back were covered in blood.

Jin Yiwei's whips are all special rattans. These rattans have been soaked in salt water and are rich in salt. When the whip is lowered, the skin will be ripped apart, and the salt will also enter, causing pain.

In fact, whipping was banned after the Sui and Tang Dynasties because it caused too much damage, but this did not include special judicial institutions such as Jinyiwei Imperial Prison.

"Cao Zixing, Hubu doctor, Zhengwupin. In the 17th year of Hongwu, he served as the governor of Shanxi Salt Department for three years."

"Let's talk about it, this time there are rumors about the grandson, what is going on in it, explain it in detail, so as not to suffer."

"In our Jinyiwei Prison, this whipping punishment is only the most basic, and there are all kinds of other punishments. I don't think you really want to taste it."

Song Zhong looked at Cao Zixing in front of him and said with a sneer.

At this moment, Cao Zixing, after a morning of whipping, had long since lost the strength to howl. The burning pain tormented him all the time, and he was panting violently, and said with difficulty: "Water, water"

Hearing this, Song Zhong glanced at Baihu next to him, and Baihu immediately brought a ladle and poured it into Cao Zixing's mouth.

After a few sips, Cao Zixing recovered a bit, and said hoarsely, "If you want to commit a crime, there is no reason to worry about it."

"Since I was elected, I have been an official for thirteen years. I have never been corrupt, never offered bribes, and have never colluded with cronies. You and the other guards indiscriminate, without any evidence."

"Just because I am registered in Shanxi, I was arrested and tortured. You guys"

Song Zhong sneered, thinking about Cao Zixing's words.

"Come on, these words are useless to deceive ghosts. Do you know why there are so many officials with household registration in Jindi, and you alone can enjoy the interrogation by this official?"

"That's because you, Cao Zixing, have the highest grade among all the court officials with Shanxi household registration."

"What is this officer asking you about? It's about the grandson's rumors and slandering the royal family. This is a heinous crime of disrespect, but you don't answer the question. It's really funny to try to corrupt and bribe you. You're fooling a fool."

"Oh, it's also fortunate that you are like this, otherwise, when I checked your file, I would really think that you have been innocent all your life, and you are a good official."

Hearing this, Cao Zixing lowered his head slightly, no matter how he looked at Song Zhong, there was even a hint of panic and fear flashing deep in his eyes.

The dungeon of the Imperial Prison was very dark, and Cao Zixing's heart became even colder.

He didn't expect to be caught by Jin Yiwei in front of him with just one sentence.

He wanted to explain, but at this moment Cao Zixing also understood that no matter how he explained the problems that had been exposed, the people in front of him would not choose to believe them.

After hiding for more than ten years, he was not reconciled to a problem with a sentence! ! !
Song Zhong looked at Cao Zixing in front of him coldly. He was able to grow from a small banner of Jinyiwei to the current level of a town care envoy. The sacrifices involved are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Among other things, when it comes to observing words and expressions, and analyzing words, Song Zhong can be said to have already maxed out his talent.

How could such an obvious loophole not be noticed.

The reason why Cao Zixing has not been severely punished, but only whipped, is because there is no evidence at present to prove that Cao Zixing has any collusion with Shanxi merchants.

The records on the dossier are very clean, even when he was a salt official, there was no trace of corruption.

On the contrary, some minor records show signs of being squeezed out by colleagues.

At first glance, although Cao Zixing is registered in Shanxi, he has almost no contacts with Shanxi merchants.

The reason why Song Zhong dared to whip Cao Zixing when he was caught was because of the information provided by the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.

It's just because Cao Zixing's surname is Cao, and his domicile is no more than ten miles away from the Shanxi merchant Cao's family.

This alone is very doubtful.

Because the north was ruled by a foreign race, in the imperial examinations, or the examinations of the Four Books and Five Classics, all the northern talents were not just one level behind the southern talents.

This has also led to the fact that Cao Zixing, the official fifth-rank official, is the highest among the officials with Shanxi household registration in the capital.

His resume seems to be clean, but in fact there are many doubts.

A poor scholar from a poor family has smooth sailing in his career, which is not comparable to that of the noble class, but his promotion is extremely stable without any twists and turns.

Before Song Zhong came, it can be said that he had done his homework a long time ago, and he was able to recite the records in Juanzong Mountain in detail.

After struggling and hesitating for a while, Cao Zixing finally did not speak.

Song Zhong said softly: "You have to think about it clearly. If you don't explain it, with the ability of our Jin Yiwei, there is absolutely no problem in closing an iron case for you. Evidence can be completely forged."

"The rumor case has shaken the government and the public. How can the anger of His Majesty and His Royal Highness be appeased if you don't kill a few officials. Don't say that this official already knows that you have a problem."

"Our Jinyiwei is fine on weekdays. Do you know where we like to go the most? It's listening to books in a teahouse."

"We've heard a lot of this story, and we can make up a few."

After Cao Zixing heard this, he sneered and said, "Isn't it death? There's nothing to be afraid of. After entering your prison, I have no intention of getting out alive. If you are capable, let me have a good time."

Song Zhong laughed, laughed loudly, laughed for a long time, and then stopped.

Said to Cao Zixing: "I'll give you a good time, that's fine, I've decided on this matter, no problem."

"However, you are happy here, but have you ever thought about your wife and daughter?"

"As far as I know, you don't seem to have any sons, only two unmarried daughters. I don't know if you look juicy or not."

"A few days ago, the Secretary of Jiaofang was still complaining, saying that there were no newcomers in the past few months. For a long time, Xungui said that he was a little tired. Presumably Mr. Cao's wife and daughter should make many people happy. Get up."

When Cao Zixing heard the words, his eyes turned red, and he glared at Song Zhong fiercely and said, "Despicable, shameless, indecent!!!"

Hearing this, Song Zhong felt a little boring.

This literati swears at the street, it's too low-level, and he keeps saying these words back and forth.

Song Zhong didn't care about the angry and cannibalistic eyes. Seeing this, the hundred households next to him slapped him with a slap.

Pfft!

Cao Zixing spat out a mouthful of blood, and a few teeth were knocked out along the way.

There are hundreds of Jinyiwei, not just anyone can become an elite soldier, even in the army.

The strength of this slap was somewhat restrained, otherwise a civil official like Cao Zixing would very likely be slapped to death.

"Lord Cao is really thinking about it. He only cares about his own happiness, and he doesn't care about the misery of his family."

"But having said that, as Mr. Cao, you don't just enjoy these things. As the most hidden pawn of Shanxi merchants in the capital, Mr. Cao's treatment must be much higher."

"We will wait for the Jinyiwei, and we will definitely compile a set of stories for Mr. Cao. After all, we can help Mr. Cao win a place in the Zhujiu Clan, right?"

Song Zhong said lightly, such things in his mouth, just like ordinary chatting.

Cao Zixing froze when he heard Zhu Jiu Clan.

On the surface, he has no son, but in fact, he has two sons.

And these two sons already existed before he took the imperial examination.

However, when he had his second child, his original wife died of dystocia. Because of some special relationship, before he went to the imperial examination, his two sons were adopted to his cousins ​​at home.

At that time, it wasn't too long since the founding of Daming, and the village kept this matter a secret.

When the government checked the household registration, it was naturally not recorded.

Song Zhong didn't know about these.

It doesn't hinder the Zhu Jiu Clan, it is also included in it.

"If I say so, can you just kill me and let my wife and daughter go."

After a long time, Cao Zixing said slowly, as if he had confessed.

But Song Zhong, who heard this, was not very excited, but frowned.

Not right.

Having been exposed to interrogation all year round, Song Zhong immediately noticed something was wrong.

Because Cao Zixing's compromise was too sudden.

However, it is naturally impossible for Song Zhong to guess the reason for this all at once.

After pondering for a while, he said, "Master Cao will not be able to escape from this prison alive. If Mr. Cao has given you some credit, maybe your relatives can save their lives."

"Naturally, if Mr. Cao's explanation is of great use and meritorious service, I can say a few words to His Highness Grandson about the matter of his wife and daughter."

"His Royal Highness is kind and kind, and Master Cao must also know it."

Hearing this, Cao Zixing's heart sank, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

In fact, the life and death of his wife and daughter, or being sent to the Jiaofang Division, Cao Zixing is at most angry, but it is absolutely impossible for him to compromise.

Only his two sons are his lifeblood.

It sounds a little unreasonable, but Daming's current world is like this.

Furthermore, his wife was not from Shanxi at all, but a wealthy woman who had become strong after the imperial examination.

At this moment, Song Zhong, who had been staring at Cao Zixing's expression closely, felt his heart move.

He noticed the situation just now.

What Cao Zixing cared about seemed to be someone in the clan.

He didn't say that his wife and daughter could leave the Jiaofang Division, but Cao Zixing didn't pursue it instead.

Then think back to just now, what made Cao Zixing change his mouth and compromise was because of the sentence of Zhu Jiuzu.

In fact, no matter who they are, people are selfish.

In the eyes of many prisoners, there is not much difference between copying and beheading the whole family and punishing the nine clans, but others think it is miserable, and it is mostly used to deter the clan.

Anyway, the incense has been cut off, and the life and death of the clansmen don't care that much.

This is what most people really think.

However, Cao Zixing's behavior was the opposite, something was wrong.

Song Zhong was keenly aware that among Cao Zixing's relatives, there was definitely someone whom he cared about very much.

Some details of the dossier flashed in Song Zhong's mind.

Cao Zixing was not very feminine, and apart from the capital's wife, he didn't have any concubines or concubines.

After giving birth to two daughters, there has been little movement in recent years, and it seems that there is no idea of ​​continuing to have children.

There is a saying since ancient times: There are three kinds of unfilial piety, and the greatest is to have no descendants.

Cao Zixing, who doesn't have a male, doesn't seem to be in a hurry.

This is counterintuitive.

Unless, he already has a son, but no one knows about it.

Thinking of this, Song Zhong's eyes flashed, and his heart was settled.

As long as you know where the prisoner's weaknesses are, you won't be afraid that he will confess all of them dishonestly.

(End of this chapter)