Cyber ​​Daming

Chapter 646: Questioning the Xu Clan
Songjiang Prefecture, the main hall of Huating County Government Office.

Wu Cheng was kneeling on the cold floor tiles in a thin undershirt, his expression filled with shock and anger but also with a hint of ferocity.

It's like a vicious dog that has been skinned but still wants to bite people.

"The Wu family of Songjiang is a second-class family in the New Donglin Party. The head of the family, Wu Cheng, is a doctor in the Ministry of Works in the secondary capital of Nanjing. He has been taking advantage of his position to resell the quotas issued by the Ministry of Works and various new weapons for his own benefit, and has been corrupt and perverting the law."

"You have traded with gang leaders from the former criminal district, as well as barbarians from overseas and the rebellious Honghu. So you have another crime, aiding the enemy."

In front of the mural depicting the white sea and the red sun, the seat belonging to the chief official of the government office was empty.

A young official was sitting on the steps of the platform, resting his chin on his hand, smiling at Wu Cheng who was kneeling not far away.

"Master Wu, you have committed many crimes. I have only mentioned the main ones. Do you need me to list them one by one?"

"Yang Bai Ze, you wear green clothes, I wear red robes, and I am older than you in terms of official rank. You are just a small county magistrate, what qualifications do you have to interrogate me here?"

Wu Cheng bared his teeth and stared at the other person fiercely.

"You ordered the strong men to kidnap me from Jinling and bring me here for no reason, stripped me of my clothes, and wantonly humiliated me. This is a great disrespect to the court! Even if your teacher is Pei Xingjian, I will fight you to the end in this lawsuit! Even if it comes to the Prime Minister, I will still demand justice!"

"Hey, I originally thought that you were kneeling here obediently because you knew how to judge the situation and what kind of situation you were in. But now it seems that you are still pretending to be confused."

Yang Bai Ze sighed helplessly: "Since you want to sue, fine, I'll give you this opportunity. You can connect to the Huangliang Dreamland now, whether you report to the cabinet or contact your backers, the Xu family, it's up to you. As long as someone dares to stand up and say a word for you, I will respectfully send you back to Jinling today, how about it?"

"You and I."

Wu Cheng's face flushed, he hesitated for a long while, and then he said sternly: "Yang Bai Ze, I know who you are working for now, and you are eager to make achievements. But there are countless powerful families in the Ming Empire, why do you have to keep targeting my Wu family? I advise you to forgive others when you can, don't just see the spring breeze in front of you, be careful that people will leave and forget you!"

"It seems that you know a lot. That's right, there is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable, especially within our Confucian Order. Any disturbance will not escape the eyes of those who are interested."

Yang Bai Ze looked at Wu Cheng and said with a disdainful smile: "But Lord Wu, you have some means, but not much. You have some brains, but not much either. Since you know that I am in high spirits right now, you should worry about how to deal with your own bowl of cold tea instead of worrying about me."

"The Prime Minister gave you the power just to scare you, not to let you do whatever you want! Yang Baize, if you are so arrogant and look down on others, in the end, not only you but also your teacher Pei Xingjian will suffer!"

Wu Cheng was still shouting: "When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked. When the birds are all gone, the good bows are hidden. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

"Well, that's a very good point! You are indeed a loyal disciple of the Xu family. Not only are you sharp-tongued, but you are also very tough. There are very few people in the Confucian Order who are not afraid of death like you, Master Wu."

Yang Bai Ze clapped his hands and smiled, "Don't look at my government office as small and shabby, but during this period of time, the number of officials who have knelt here may be more than that in front of the Xu family's gate."

"Among them, quite a few began to tremble as soon as they arrived here, and were so scared that they couldn't even speak clearly. There were also many who cried and knelt on the ground begging for mercy. But you, Lord Wu, are the only one who can be so righteous and fearless. I admire you!"

Wu Cheng snorted coldly. Although he looked embarrassed, his temper remained unchanged.

But the strange thing was that although he maintained his majestic appearance in front of Yang Bai Ze, he still knelt there motionless, with no sign of getting up.

"Someone, come and get a chair for our Lord Wu."

"Yes."

A black-robed judge came over from the corner and placed an armchair next to Wu Cheng.

As he approached, Wu Cheng's face suddenly turned pale, like a cat or dog being approached by a tiger or leopard, and he subconsciously lowered his head.

"Master Wu, what's wrong with you?"

Yang Bai Ze pretended to be puzzled and looked at him. He blinked and suddenly realized, "Ah, look at my memory. I actually forgot that someone like you, Lord Wu, who has a guilty conscience, can't even stand up in front of the law. Otherwise, how could they so easily bring you, the fourth of the Confucian order, from Jinling here?"

"Arrogant at first but respectful later, bullying the weak and fearing the strong"

Yang Bai Ze stood up leisurely, crossed his hands in his sleeves, and looked down at Wu Cheng with disdain: "You are as timid as a mouse in front of them, but you speak so arrogantly in front of me. What, do you really think I, Yang Bai Ze, am a soft persimmon to be squeezed?"

"Yang Baize, don't bully others too much."

boom!
Before Wu Cheng could finish his words, a foot stepped heavily on his face, and the second half of the sentence he was about to say turned into a muffled groan.

"You are said to be strong-willed, but you are powerless in the face of the Ming Dynasty law. You are said to have a conscience, but you have done so many despicable things that are against the will of heaven and earth. Wu Cheng, what kind of books are you people reading? Why can't I understand them at all?"

Yang Baize squatted down and looked at Wu Cheng, whose hair was messy and whose eyes were bloodshot.

"You are in a hurry to get on the road, and I am in a hurry to get on the road too. We all have little time, so there is no need to talk nonsense here. Let me be frank. I have killed five or six clan leaders of all sizes during this period, and it took me a lot of effort to dig you out."

"As for why I want to strip you of your clothes and hide, it's because I want to give you another chance to be a clean person again. As long as you tell me everything you have done for the Xu family, I will leave you a good reputation. How about that?"

"reputation?"

Wu Cheng showed a silent grin on his face: "Yang Baize, I don't think you are in a hurry, otherwise why would you still have the energy to tell me jokes here?"

"Is it a joke? I don't think so. Because you are definitely going to die this time. Apart from a reputation that your descendants will remember for a while, I really don't know what I can leave for you."

Yang Baize smiled and said, "Or do you plan to have the hundreds of people in the Wu family accompany you on the journey?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Cheng said disdainfully: "Yang Baize, you are now being used as a knife by others. A knife will eventually be blunted. Have you ever thought about what you will do when the day comes when you are abandoned and you and I are in different places?"

"I'll only give you three sentences, and that's the first one."

Yang Baize narrowed his eyes and slowly raised a finger in front of Wu Cheng.

"You can't chop off all the heads of the aristocratic families, and you won't have time to chop off all the heads of the people behind you. Why do you think he wants to target the Xu family? Let me tell you, the current head of the Xu family is Xu Haichao, and his background is deeper than you think. This is not a personal fight, but a party struggle! You have stepped into a pool of muddy water that is enough to drown you, do you know that?"

"The second sentence."

Yang Bai Ze gently shook two fingers and spoke calmly.

"Spring and Autumn Society! Xu Haichao is a member of the Spring and Autumn Society, and their power is not much inferior to that of the New Donglin Party. The Prime Minister used you as a weapon to test the bottom line of the Spring and Autumn Society for him. Once they shake hands and make peace, and reach an agreement to fight against foreign enemies together, you will be a discarded pawn! At that time, those powerful families you have persecuted will rush over and eat you alive, leaving not even a bone residue!"

"Third Sentence"

Yang Bai Ze stood up with his hands on his knees: "Master Wu, have a pleasant journey."

Shang Lu's figure appeared silently behind Wu Cheng, and an irresistible fear exploded in his heart.

This feeling is like being exiled to a desert thousands of miles away with shackles on your back, or like being covered in a fishing net and waiting to be cut into pieces by a thousand swords.

In a trance, Wu Cheng seemed to see countless people in black, whose faces could not be seen, crowded around him, with their steps tightly closed, shouting in unison four words that seemed to have the power to capture one's soul.

"What crime should be committed?!"

"What crime should be committed?!"

Wu Cheng collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud, his eyes moving around in a daze with fear and helplessness. Finally, before his vision was about to be completely submerged in darkness, he saw Yang Bai Ze's back.

Just like a drowning man seeing a life-saving straw floating by, Wu Cheng grabbed it into his arms without any hesitation.

"I can give you evidence of the Xu family's crimes!"

The voice was as sharp as a knife, cutting through the mask of unyielding determination on Wu Cheng's face. His wet hair stuck to his forehead and his bloodless lips trembled constantly.

"I can betray the Xu family, but I can't die. I absolutely can't die!"

"You are worthy of being a member of Ruxu. You always come to your senses at the last moment. All these favors and righteousness are bullshit. The most important thing is your own interests."

While Yang Bai Ze was talking, he glanced at Shang Lu, only to see that he had no expression on his face, as if he had expected Wu Cheng to be like this. "What do you want me to do?"

Wu Cheng accepted his fate so smoothly that he actually took the initiative to speak this time.

"Two things."

Yang Bai Ze said softly: "First, write down everything you know and send it to all government offices in the empire through the Yellow Millet Dream to make it known. Second, come with me to Songjiang and confront Xu Haichao face to face."

Wu Cheng was stunned when he heard this and blurted out, "Is it that simple?"

Yang Bai Ze looked at him with a half-smile: "Sir Wu, do you think your evidence is important? Or do you think your life is important? You just said that this is a bloody party struggle!"

Wu Cheng slowly pulled up a bitter smile and closed his eyes.

Indeed, it doesn't matter whether he says it or not.

What Yang Bai Ze wanted was not ironclad evidence, but just a legitimate excuse.

If you don't cooperate, naturally many people will cooperate.

The Confucian order has never lacked talented people who know how to adapt to the changing times.

"Brother Shang, it seems that you see things clearly. I have completely lost this bet."

Yang Bai Ze bowed to Shang Lu, his voice full of self-mockery.

During the process of collecting evidence of the Xu family's crimes, Yang Bai Ze and Shang Lu had a small gambling game.

The content of the bet is naturally life and death and morality.

Yang Bai Ze believes that there will always be people who would rather die than surrender for the Xu family, but Shang Lu is certain that no one will remain steadfast and stick to the end.

"It was just a joke, Sir Yang, you don't have to take it seriously."

Shang Lu did not look down on Yang Bai Ze just because he was ranked third. Instead, he said solemnly, "The news leaked so easily this time. There must be a traitor in the Three Law Departments. Lord Yang, please give me some time. I will catch the person as soon as possible."

"Brother Shang, don't take this little thing to heart. The problem with our Ruxu is that you are in me and I am in you. Rather than catching a traitor, I am looking forward to the Xu family's reaction."

Yang Bai Ze pulled his hands out from his sleeves, and his plain clothes instantly turned into a dark blue official robe.

"Let's go. It's time for us to go to Songjiang and sound the final note of this new policy for the Prime Minister."

"Haichao, Yang Bai Ze is already on his way to Songjiang."

On the top of the Xu family building, Yan Dongqing and Xu Haichao, who appeared as projections, stood side by side.

"But you don't have to worry. Although the master forbids the Chunqiu Society to interfere, I, Yan Dongqing, will never sit idly by. I have already arranged for the people. It is up to you to decide whether to kill Yang Bai Ze or let him go. I will just have to inconvenience you and ask you to leave the empire for the time being."

Xu Haichao looked out at the myriad lights under the night sky and chuckled, "I understand. All of this is for our grand cause. The death of a few people in the Xu family is nothing."

"I hope you can understand my difficulties. But I will not let the Xu family die in vain."

Yan Dongqing held the railing with both hands, his slightly bent back like a tiger about to leap over a ravine.

"Once we have overthrown the New Donglin Party and killed that old monster, I will give you a chance to come to the capital and speak to the master face to face."

Xu Haichao laughed: "That's not necessary. I have nothing to say to him. And you know my personality, brother. I'm afraid I won't be able to help but kill him."

"You finish your song and I come on stage, the king's flag changes on the city wall."

Yan Dongqing said in a deep and deep voice, "The country has no master, it just depends on who can sit on the highest position. When that day comes, he will no longer be the king, and you will no longer be the subject. If you want to kill him, then kill him."

"Brother Haichao, I will definitely help you get back today's humiliation a hundredfold and a thousandfold in the future. The Nanzhili under your feet will become your Xu family's Confucian country in the future."

The voices in my ears gradually became empty and distant, disappearing in the increasingly noisy wind.

"Yang Bai Ze, I want to see how sharp your knife is and whether it can force me to leave my hometown!"

Xu Haichao stood alone on the tall building, with an indifferent expression, quietly waiting for the storm to come.

Boom!

A loud thunderclap illuminated the heavy clouds in the sky. The night was as deep as an abyss. In the blink of an eye, the sound of rain became one and the roar was deafening.

A large group of people stood in front of the Xu family's door, allowing the heavy rain to wash over them.

All the male descendants of the powerful families in Songjiang Prefecture were present at the order of the Xu family. They were like silent soldiers and mercenaries, guarding the almighty head of the Xu family.

The chilly air grew heavier in the rain, making people feel suffocated and their eyes fixed on the end of the long street.

I don’t know how long it took, but a carriage broke through the rain and came slowly.

The passenger door slowly opened, and a middle-aged man in black stepped out of the car.

Shang Lu stood beside the car and frowned slightly when he saw the scene.

"It doesn't matter. The more people come, the better. Let them take a good look and think carefully about which foot they should put forward first when they walk from now on!"

Yang Bai Ze stepped out from the back of the car, Shang Lu opened a black umbrella and followed behind him. His pair of black and white eyes swept around, and no one dared to look him in the face wherever he passed.

Under his gaze, the group of Confucian members who had been waiting for a long time in the heavy rain spontaneously parted to the left and right, revealing the vermilion lacquered gate that was nearly two meters high.

"The rich are feasting and drinking, while the poor are freezing to death on the streets. But now it's not the common people who are freezing to death, it's these gentlemen's turn."

Yang Bai Ze walked towards the valve building with a smile on his face, his steps steady and unhurried.

"Xu Haichao from Songjiang Prefecture respectfully welcomes the Imperial Envoy, Lord Yang."

A wild and uninhibited laugh floated down from the sky, like a pot of hot oil poured on the crowd that was as wooden as wax figures.

In an instant, Ruxu, who were originally frightened by Shanglu, came back to their senses and found their backbone again. Countless fierce gazes surged from all directions like a tide, trying to drown the young official standing under the umbrella.

"Songjiang Prefecture Confucianists respectfully welcome Imperial Envoy Yang!"

The words are a welcome, but the meaning is to draw the sword.

Yang Bai Ze was surrounded by invisible swords and axes, but he remained calm. He stretched out his hand to stop Shang Lu who was about to walk around him.

"Let them shout. It would be best if the entire Songjiang Prefecture could hear them and come join in the fun!"

Yang Baize strode out from outside the umbrella and pressed the tightly closed vermilion lacquered door with both hands.

"Yang Baize, the magistrate of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture, Ming Empire, is hereby ordered by the Prime Minister today..."

With force from his arms, the gate of Xu family suddenly opened.

"Punish the Xu clan!"

(End of this chapter)