Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 740 A Big Gamble

Even though Cui Chengxiu was far away in Zhejiang, he could always learn about the various developments in Beijing in the shortest time possible.

Cui Chengxiu was extremely determined. If he wanted to gain a firm foothold in officialdom and continue to climb up in officialdom, he had to stick closely to the center. If he stayed away from the center, no matter how capable he was, he would ultimately be making wedding dresses for others!
"Can we continue chatting now?"

After a cup of tea, Cui Chengxiu came out from the back hall, looked at Tian Ji, Li Kuilong and others who knew everything, and asked with a calm expression.

Tian Ji and his companions did not speak.

Their mentality now is completely different from before.

They understood why Cui Chengxiu acted like that before.

There is no such thing as empathy in this world. We grew up differently, experienced different things, faced different things, and carried different things. It would be ridiculous to just say "I understand you" casually.

"These are the southeastern provinces right now."

Cui Chengxiu leaned on the official hat chair, pointed at the chessboard beside him, glanced at Tian Ji and others, and then picked up a chess piece from a chess box. "This is because our Integrity Bureau was ordered to go south to investigate the grain transport in Zhejiang... But on the way south, Zhejiang began to resist taxation, and before that, banditry broke out in Lianghuai..."

While Cui Chengxiu was talking about this, he kept picking up chess pieces and placing them on the board. Tian Ji, Li Kuilong and others had gathered in front of Cui Chengxiu, staring at the chessboard in front of them.

"While investigating the tax resistance in Zhejiang, we learned about and verified many of the hidden problems in the grain transport industry." Cui Chengxiu continued to place the chess pieces.

"When we arrested and investigated those treacherous people, we found out that they were involved in smuggling in the Yangtze River, the occupation of government farmland, the misappropriation of textiles, and the smuggling of salt and iron. What does this mean?"

"It represents the central government, the noble officials in Nanjing, and the gentry in the southeast, and many of them are involved."

As Cui Chengxiu continued to talk, a chess piece appeared on the chessboard, which made Tian Ji, Li Kuilong and others show complicated expressions.

"Lian Xian, I understand what you mean."

Wu Chunfu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Cui Chengxiu and said, "You want to use the Zhejiang tax resistance incident to extend to other things step by step, so that my Integrity Bureau can use these major cases to continuously uncover treacherous officials for Your Majesty and the court, and then achieve the goal of clearing up the accumulated malpractices."

"But you, Lian Xian, also know that the southeastern provinces are deeply rooted in the system. Judging from the above findings, they have long been intertwined. Now that the Zhejiang tax resistance incident is under investigation, many people have not chosen to cause trouble. That's because what you said before, Lian Xian, and the current investigation have not really affected them."

"But once their interests are threatened and their foundations are shaken, I really can't imagine what kind of storms will be set off in the southeastern provinces!"

"Yes, Lian Xian."

Li Kuilong followed closely and said, "I am not afraid of offending people. Since I entered the Anti-Corruption Agency, I have offended countless people."

"But the difficulty of the problem now is not anything else, but how to gradually achieve our desired goals in a situation where we are surrounded by enemies. This is too difficult."

If you have not been in the environment of the southeastern provinces, you will not feel the despair at all. When you want to do something, there will always be some people who interfere, and the key is that they can really influence you. Even Wu Chunfu and Li Kuilong know some secrets, that is, under the rule of the southeastern provinces, there are several very secret organizations and forces. They have great power, and someone will come forward to take charge at regular intervals. These forces are not something you can join just because you want to. Instead, you have to go through internal inspections and invitations, stay on the periphery first, and pass the test with practical actions before you can get to the core step by step.

Of course, Cui Chengxiu also knew this.

After all, when an important case was being investigated, Cui Chengxiu was a direct participant, and that group of merchants from all over the country confessed a lot of secrets.

But even so, these organizations have not been found, as if they do not exist in this world. Cui Chengxiu has always kept this in mind.

"I understand your worries and concerns."

Cui Chengxiu was playing with a chess piece in his hand, and smiled at Li Kuilong and the others, "But we have no way out. You should know what the emergence of the Procuratorate means. The emperor's rectification of the officialdom has reached an unbearable point. We have been enduring it in the past because the court has more important things to do!"

"But now, there is no external threat to the imperial court. The arrogant Jianlu has been defeated. Yes, the imperial court still has a lot of things to do, but don't forget, without the threat from the border, other things are nothing! !"

"The establishment of the Procuratorate has made clear your majesty's will and determination. Starting from the third year of Tianqi, I am afraid that a large number of people in the Ming Dynasty will be arrested and killed. This is an indisputable fact!"

Snapped!
When Cui Chengxiu said this, he slammed the chess piece in his hand heavily on the chessboard, which made Tian Ji, Li Kuilong and others feel nervous.

"As for what you are worried about, it may be worry for us, but for the emperor, it means nothing!" Cui Chengxiu said coldly with sharp eyes looking at the few people whose expressions changed slightly.

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"If the southeastern provinces really start to riot, then can the threat posed by the southeastern provinces, which have been peaceful for a long time, be greater than that of the Jianlu? Don't forget that since the emperor ascended the throne, he has trained many strong armies that are good at fighting!!"

Wow~
When he said this, Cui Chengxiu suddenly overturned the chessboard, and the chess pieces scattered all over the floor. This scene made Tian Ji, Li Kuilong and others open their eyes wide.

Everyone immediately understood what this meant.

If one day, the situation in the southeastern provinces gets out of control while they are investigating a case, the emperor, who has always been powerful, may not mind sending a large army south!
It all makes sense.

"We are already on this chess game. Retreating means never being able to get onto the chessboard." Cui Chengxiu stood up and stared at several people with different expressions.

"This is the worst-case scenario. If this situation really happens, then we will end up in a miserable state. This is a gamble that can only succeed, not fail!"

"As early as when we were ordered to go south, our fate was already determined. In the past, you thought there was still room for mediation, but at this moment, I tell you clearly that there is no room for mediation!"

"It has been gone since the emperor set up the special procuratorate. What we have to do next is to make sure that the emperor still trusts our Integrity Bureau."

"At the same time, while ensuring that there is no chaos in the southeast, we will pull out those treacherous villains hiding in the dark, chop off their heads, and confiscate their wealth!!"

(End of this chapter)