Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

"How could this happen?"

Wang Zhongkuan, Cui Wei and others suddenly looked surprised and suspicious.

"You are all well-read people. Could it be that you are not familiar with the history books of past dynasties?"

Guo An sneered and continued: "If you are not familiar with the affairs of the previous dynasties, the end of the Yuan Dynasty, you must be familiar with it, right?"

"At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, how much suffering did these gentry families like us suffer?
When you think about the situation at that time, you can't still naively think that those people are a group of weak and bully lambs with no ability to resist, right? "

"It is not difficult to drive them into a hurry and subvert the country!
When they became furious, they plowed through all the gentry families in the Ming Dynasty and destroyed them one by one. It was not difficult at all! "

"Your Highness's words must be a bit exaggerated!"

Winn was a little dissatisfied, "We, the gentry family, control the most food, the best weapons and equipment, and the strongest slave guards!"

"Your food is grown by the common people, your weapons and equipment are made by the craftsmen, and your slaves and guards are all the untouchables you look down on!"

Guo An had a sneer on his face, "They will only tolerate your bullying if they can survive now.

But what if you can't bear it anymore? What do you think will happen?
The number of common people is hundreds of times that of gentry? Even thousands of times? "

Winn continued to speak harshly: "How can a group of untouchables achieve anything?"

"Where is Emperor Taizu Gao?"

Guo An smiled faintly, stared at Wen En and asked, "Tell me, what was the household registration before Emperor Taizu Gao was the earliest?"

"And Zhang Shicheng, Chen Youliang, Xu Shouhui, these people, tell me, which one of them belongs to the gentry or the official family?"

Wen En's face immediately stiffened.

On the side, Wang Zhongkuan, Cui Wei and others also changed their expressions.

Guo An continued, "You can be blinded by profit and your desires can overcome your rationality, but my rationality is above my desires.

Those common people are just honest and honest, and are used to being bullied.

However, if they are forced to wake up, you can experience what kind of backlash you will encounter, but you are not allowed to drag me or the Guo family in.

If not, don’t blame me for disregarding our fellow countrymen’s feelings!”

Wang Zhongkuan and Cui Wei's expressions changed again. After hearing so much, they completely understood.

This time, the Shunde County Prince is too incompetent and will never save them!
Thinking about it, Wang Zhongkuan couldn't help but said tentatively again: "Your Highness, we once had good intentions and wanted to be sincerely good to those people.

However, as gentlemen, we cannot help ourselves! "

"not my business!"

Guo An looked cold.

"I have said all that I need to say. After explaining so much to you, it is still important to consider that you are holding my father's token and that all of you are also northern gentry.

If they were those southern gentry, I would have already ordered them to be beaten out, and even directly ordered people to find Wang Zhen..."

The expressions of Wang Zhongkuan and Cui Wei changed slightly again.

However, he quickly handed it over with gratitude on his face.

"We also know His Highness's heart."

As he said that, Wang Zhongkuan couldn't help but look sad, "It's just that now that things have reached this point, we are waiting for hundreds of people in the gentry's family, or thousands of clan members.

The entire northern gentry totaled tens of thousands.

If we are all killed like this, it will be a huge loss to Ming Dynasty. "

"Your Highness, please save me!"

"Yes, Your Highness, we can hand over the culprit..."

As he said this, Wang Zhongkuan's eyes flashed with determination, "We can even donate our family's belongings!"

"Brother Wang?"

Hearing this, Cui Wei, Wen En and others were shocked, and then their eyes were filled with distress.

The property in their home is the property that their ancestors have worked hard to accumulate for generations.

These properties are also the confidence that a family of gentry like them can provide for so many clan members to study.

Without these possessions, few of the next generation in their family would be able to afford education, and their family fortunes would begin to decline!
Wang Zhongkuan said helplessly: "Everyone, if we don't hand over our belongings and plead guilty to His Majesty for mercy, then when those group of royal guards come to ransack the house, we won't even be able to save anyone!"

Hearing this, Cui Wei, Wen En and other gentry were paralyzed and their energy was gone.

Wang Zhongkuan ignored these people and continued to look at Guo An.

"I wonder if Your Highness can ask for a favor? We are willing to donate all our money and land, and we can report all our crimes. We can even report and confess some corrupt officials and evil gentry!"

A trace of surprise flashed in Guo An's eyes, "You are quite good!"

On the side, Cui Wei, Wen En and others also nodded subconsciously.

They were able to be sent by their families to the capital to intercede with Guo An. On the one hand, they had no personal crimes, and on the other hand, they were all very smart.

Now that we have reached this moment, we can only make the best choice.

If you can protect some tribesmen, then protect some tribesmen.

They also studied the behavior of His Majesty, Guo An and others very clearly.

Although His Majesty and Guo An seemed to be acting very ruthlessly, they still had a trace of life left.

Surrendering yourself, plus reporting others, can give you a slight chance to get rid of the crime and make meritorious service.

Guo An couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"Did you all discuss this matter together and make a decision?"

"Back to Your Highness, this matter is just a helpless solution that the few of us in the capital came up with when you went to Kaifeng Mansion!"

"I see!"

Guo An nodded slightly.

"In that case, then you should go back and come to find me after discussing with all the gentry families of your faction!"

"Your Highness, don't be anxious!"

Wang Zhongkuan said hurriedly, "Your Highness, this matter does not need to be discussed further, it is settled like this!"

Guo An asked with a doubtful look on his face: "A few of you can make decisions on behalf of all the gentry?"

Wang Zhongkuan's face was full of ruthlessness.

"Back to Your Highness, although we are not the head of the family, we can still make some decisions within each of our families.

We have already made up our mind on this matter. If they don't agree, we can't control them.

Anyway, we will plead guilty to His Majesty, voluntarily donate all our property, and report all the guilty officials we know in order to atone for our sins! "

Cui Wei and Wen En didn't raise any objections, but nodded repeatedly, "The same goes for me!"

This time.

Guo An understood that they were really a bunch of foxes. These old thieves had this plan from the beginning.

I had been arguing with him for so long before, just because I wanted to find a better way out. When I saw that I couldn't do it, I immediately told him about it.

And this is also the reason why his father is willing to give tokens to these people.

"We underestimated you!"

Thinking about it, Guo An smiled lightly and was not angry.

Wang Zhongkuan said with an apologetic smile on his face: "Your Highness, please forgive me. There is a big family behind us, and we need to find the best way out for them.

Your Highness, please accept these books written by Grand Historian Guo as our apology!"

"Ok!"

Guo An nodded slightly and did not refuse.

Since they all came with his father's tokens, they either have connections with the family or the character of these people is pretty good.

We are both gentry from the north of the Ming Dynasty. If we can help a little, that's all.

Moreover, the final verdict must be based on Boss Zhu’s wishes.

"If you want to plead guilty to His Majesty, offer all your family property, and report some criminals, just stay at home these days!"

Wang Zhongkuan, Wen En and others were immediately overjoyed.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" "I have been staying in the Sanshan Street Courtyard for the past few days!"

"Yes! Tomorrow, I will enter the palace and report to His Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Your Highness is so kind to you. I will definitely repay you generously after I survive!"

"..."

Day two.

In the morning, Guo An got up and, escorted by Xu Yong, entered the palace to have an audience.

Hearing that Guo An actually took the initiative to ask for a meeting, Zhu Di couldn't help but look surprised, and then summoned Guo An directly in the Wen Building.

After the ceremony, Zhu Di asked curiously: "But what happened, and Guo An actually took the initiative to enter the palace and ask to see me?"

"Reporting to your Majesty, they are a group of gentry from the north..."

Guo An told Zhu Di everything about his visit to the north yesterday. He didn't even hide anything about his old father's token.

After listening, Zhu Di narrowed his expression slightly, obviously thinking extremely.

After a long while, Zhu Di asked: "Guo Qing, how do you think we should deal with these gentry?"

Guo An quickly looked panicked.

"Your Majesty clearly knows that those gentry brought Wei Chen's father's tokens and presented so many gifts to Wei Chen. It is inconvenient for Wei Chen to give His Majesty advice!"

"Hmph, just tell me what kind of person you are, Guo An, I don't know!"

Zhu Di looked displeased and stared at Guo An closely.

Guo An smiled coquettishly and said, "Your Majesty has an order. I have the courage to tell you what is on your mind for your Majesty's reference!"

"Say!"

Zhu Di stared at Guo An.

Guo Andao: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I think we can refer to what happened in Kaifeng Mansion a few days ago!"

"Ok?"

Zhu Di said thoughtfully, "Keep talking!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Guo An said again: "Your Majesty, if the court wants to govern the world, it cannot do without the gentry and officials from various places.

However, they colluded with each other and weaved a large network with each other, allowing officials from various places to act based on their looks. This was a great harm to Ming Dynasty.

And now.

Wei Chen feels that the trust between them should be destroyed, especially the sense of trust that they collude together and do bad things.

When they want to do something illegal or oppress the people, they will think that there will be merchants supervising them, as well as the squires from the next village and the officials from the next county who will be watching them.

He would always report their affairs to the court and use them in exchange for credit. "

"Ok!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly again.

"Also, Wei Chen feels that among the many squires in the Ming Dynasty, there will be evil gentry!

But there will also be some conscientious gentry.

The court should kill or exile those evil gentry.

Let the conscientious gentry go and help the court govern the world! "

"Ok!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly again, "Guo Qing's intention is to suggest that I allow those gentry to surrender and plead guilty, so that I can accept their property and recommendations!
And the crimes of those gentry were classified according to the example of Kaifeng Prefecture.

In serious cases, be beheaded directly.

Those who are average are exiled!

For the lighter one, let them go and experience it on the head stake, and then let them go back? "

I didn't ask you to take over the property of those gentry!

Guo An complained in his heart, but his face was full of compliments.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"This method is very suitable for me!"

Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction, and then gave instructions to Yishiha who was standing aside.

"Summon Wang Zhen quickly!"

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Yi Shiha responded and hurriedly walked out.

Inside the palace.

Zhu Di asked curiously: "Guo Qing, how many gentry do you think should be killed in the northern provinces?"

"..."

Guo An was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Your Highness, I think that at least 20% of them should be killed!"

"Twenty percent!"

Zhu Di sighed slightly, "I didn't expect that even Guo Qing would have such no hope for the gentry in the north!"

Guo Andao said: "Your Highness, you can make them so scared that they all come to the capital to look for their ministers, which is enough to prove how deep the crimes they have committed are!"

"Tell me, these gentry are already kings and hegemons in various states, counties, or villages. Why do they still bully the people like this and are so unsatisfied?"

"Maybe it's selfish desires, or maybe they feel that no matter how they bully the people, the people will just have to endure it, and no one can cure them!"

"Huh, they all deserve to be killed!"

"..."

About two quarters of an hour later.

Wang Zhen walked in quickly from outside.

"The humble king really comes to see His Majesty!"

"I have met His Royal Highness the Prince of Shunde!"

"Get up!"

Zhu Di waved his hand slightly and said quietly: "Wang Zhen, what happened in the capital these days?"

A trace of surprise flashed in Wang Zhen's eyes, and he hurriedly replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there seems to be nothing abnormal in the capital!"

Zhu Di asked again: "Gentlemen from several northern provinces such as Shanxi, Shandong, and Henan have been coming to the capital for more than ten days to plead with the king of Shunde. Do you know about this?"

"Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Wang Zhen knelt down to plead guilty, his face full of fear.

"This matter is really the negligence of Weichen Jinyiwei!"

Zhu Di scolded angrily, "Humph, you Jin Yiwei investigated so many corrupt officials and evil gentry outside last year, but are you a little complacent?"

Wang Zhen said with a serious face: "Your Majesty has taught you a lesson. The humble minister and his subordinates have indeed made a big mistake!"

"..."

Zhu Di's tone was stagnant, he was stunned for a moment, and he glared at Wang Zhen fiercely.

"The gentry from the north all live in the other courtyard on Sanshan Street.

They want to surrender to the court to plead guilty, and are willing to donate all their property and belongings, and report the corrupt officials they know! "

Wang Zhen couldn't help but widen his eyes. Are those gentry going crazy?
“You take people there, ask them to write down all their crimes, and then ask them to self-examine and confess!

At the same time, send people to keep an eye on the families behind them to prevent anyone from hiding, transferring property, or escaping! "

"The minister obeys the order!"

...(End of chapter)