Daming: After self-explosive time travel, Lao Zhu's mentality collapsed

As night falls, the Forbidden City is brightly lit.

Chu Ze stood in front of the window of the imperial study, with his hands behind his back, looking deeply at the capital city shrouded in darkness.

The entire capital seemed to have fallen into silence, but Chu Ze's heart was already surging.

He understood that a storm was brewing and he was the master of this storm.

“The situation in the southeast and southwest must be brought under control as soon as possible.”

"I can't give them any more chances to breathe."

"Anyone who dares to challenge my authority must pay the most painful price."

He whispered to himself, his tone cold, as if carrying an unquestionable majesty.

At this time, there were slight footsteps outside the door.

Eunuch Wang walked in quickly, his expression showing a bit of nervousness and urgency.

"Your Majesty, Lu Bing is here."

"He said he had important information to report to His Majesty."

Chu Ze frowned slightly, then said in a cold voice: "Xuan."

After a while, Lu Bing strode into the imperial study, his face looking particularly solemn.

"I see your Majesty."

Chu Ze looked at him coldly and said slowly: "What's the situation?"

"Has Liu Hong been caught?"

Lu Bing's expression changed slightly, and then he whispered, "Your Majesty, Liu Hong has not been caught yet."

"But I have blocked all possible escape routes and sent more personnel to search all over Jiangnan."

"Liu Hong's power has been completely destroyed. He must have nowhere to escape."

"But I am worried that this person will do something crazy out of desperation."

Chu Ze snorted coldly, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"A dog jumping over the wall in a hurry?"

"No matter how hard he resists, it's just a last-ditch effort."

"I have already laid a net of heaven and earth, there is nowhere for him to escape!"

"Continue the search and make sure he is brought to justice."

"I want to interrogate him personally to see what other tricks he can play!"

Lu Bing quickly bowed his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have arranged for all the Jinyiwei to search day and night and will not let go of any clues."

Chu Ze nodded slightly, then said coldly: "Except Liu Hong, how are the leaders of other salt gangs and gentry being captured?"

"Is there anyone trying to resist?"

Lu Bing whispered, "Your Majesty, most of the main leaders of the Salt Gang have been controlled."

"However, a few wealthy people relied on their wealth and local power to secretly bribe officials in order to escape punishment."

"I have already arrested those officials who accepted bribes and will not show any leniency."

"But I am worried that these local gentry in Jiangnan are deeply rooted in the local power. If we continue to take tough measures, it may cause instability in the local area."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ze frowned slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Cause local instability?"

"Lu Bing, my patience is limited."

"I have been letting them go all these years."

"What's the result? They become more and more rampant!"

"If I don't take action, where is the dignity of the court?"

"Remember, all local officials who collude with the salt gangs, pirates, and gentry must not be let off!"

"Whether in Jiangnan or Dongnan, anyone who dares to plead for them or make excuses will be arrested!"

"So what if the place is unstable? My cavalry is not just for show!"

"I will personally suppress all rebellions!"

Lu Bing quickly clasped his fists and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will strictly investigate all officials involved in the case and will not tolerate any leniency!"

Chu Ze smiled coldly, with murderous intent in his eyes.

"very good."

"Anyone who dares to challenge the court must pay the price."

"I want the entire Ming Dynasty to know that no local force can compete with the imperial court!"

"Lu Bing, you must immediately send orders to the governors and prefects of various places to closely monitor the situation in Jiangnan and the southeast."

"Report any signs of resistance immediately!"

"If any official dares to shield or condone this, they will all be executed on the spot!"

"I will never be lenient!"

Lu Bing's heart trembled, and he quickly bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will go and pass on the order right away."

Chu Ze nodded slightly, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

"Go." "Remember, this action must be swift and decisive. There can be no more delays!"

Lu Bing quickly clasped his fists in salute, turned around and quickly retreated.

Silence returned to the imperial study again.

Chu Ze stood in front of the window, looking into the distance, with murderous intent in his heart.

"I have tolerated these local forces for too long."

"You rely on your wealth and connections to think you can fight me?"

"I will let you know what it means to overestimate your own abilities."

He snorted softly, then turned back to sit at the desk, picked up another secret report and began to read it carefully.

This secret report came from the southwest, and it described in detail the activities of local bandits and the secret collusion between some local officials and the bandits.

"The bandit forces in the southwest must not be let go either."

"Over the years, they have been rampant, plundering the border, and even secretly colluding with foreign enemies."

"It must be eradicated in one fell swoop!"

Chu Ze's eyes were cold and murderous intent surged in his heart.

He quickly picked up a pen, wrote some comments on the secret report, and then handed it to the eunuch next to him.

"Send a message to the governor of the southwest to immediately dispatch troops to encircle and suppress the bandits."

"Any official who dares to collude with the bandits will be executed on the spot!"

"If anyone dares to protect or condone this, they will be eradicated!"

The eunuch quickly took the secret report and replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Chu Ze looked at the eunuch's departing back, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Southwest, Jiangnan, Southeast..."

"I will clean them one by one."

"All forces that refuse to submit will be eliminated!"

He swore secretly in his heart, with a determined light in his eyes.

……

At the same time, on a remote mountain path somewhere in Jiangnan, a team of Jinyiwei in plain clothes were marching quietly.

Their target is the last secret stronghold of the Salt Gang.

Liu Hong is hiding here.

"We must act quickly and not let him escape."

The leading Jinyiwei whispered the order, with a sharp look in his eyes.

Several men nodded and quickly surrounded them.

The night was as dark as ink and the entire mountain was silent.

Just as they were approaching the stronghold, suddenly, a low shout broke the silence.

"somebody is coming!"

The Jinyiwei's figure suddenly paused, then quickened his pace and rushed towards the stronghold.

"kill!"

The leading Jinyiwei drew his sword and slashed at the black shadow in front.

The shadow dodged nimbly and then sneered: "Want to catch me?"

"You're still far away!"

After saying that, he suddenly jumped up and rushed into the depths of the forest like lightning.

"Chase!"

Several Jinyiwei followed closely behind and quickly pursued him.

However, the black shadow was so fast that it disappeared into the vast mountains and forests in a moment.

The leading Jinyiwei had a gloomy expression on his face and shouted coldly, "Order everyone to seal off the forest."

"Liu Hong, he will never be able to escape from this mountain!"

"Today, we will never let him escape!"

Several men nodded, quickly dispersed, and searched around.

……

A few days later, in the imperial study.

Chu Ze sat quietly at the desk, looking calmly at the secret report handed over by Lu Bing.

"Your Majesty, Liu Hong has been arrested."

"He has confessed, and the secret bases of the Salt Gang in various parts of Jiangnan have all been exposed."

"The list of all the gentry and officials involved in the salt gang is also here."

Lu Bing handed over the secret report with a heavy look on his face.

Chu Ze took the secret report, glanced at it coldly, and then nodded slightly.

"very good."

"None of these people should think of escaping." (End of this chapter)