Daming: My boss Zhu Yuanzhang

In Yangzhou, after Li Wei stabilized the situation, he immediately started the arrest operation.

Although Zhang Cheng died, he was not the only one who was confessed by Wu Xing and the Yue family, and there were also many other officials involved.

This time he didn't hold back any more. No matter who it was, he would be imprisoned immediately and he would be merciless during the interrogation.

Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to one's own people. He will never make this mistake again!

Due to Li Wei's rough handling, the storm of Japanese pirate attacks on the city had just calmed down, when Yangzhou officials fell into a new whirlpool, and people were panicked for a while.

In the prison, screams could be heard one after another. Li Wei remained unmoved and quietly waited for the outcome of the interrogation.

Beside him, the famous military commander who was promoted to Qianhu for his merits in the rescue stood beside him.

Of the dozen or so guards who had followed him from the capital, only three including Wu Yong died. For his own safety, he specifically asked Wu Changming to lead a group of soldiers who had actively rescued him as temporary guards.

On the other side of him were the anxious Tian Qing and the envoys from the capital city.

Tian Qing was not involved because of his disagreement with Zhang Cheng, but he was frightened when he saw Li Wei's series of actions.

The other envoy looked anxious and kept persuading:

"Sir, your Majesty's decree is to escort these officials back to the capital. Your harsh interrogation is against the rules!"

Li Wei held the soldering iron in his hand and put it on the charcoal fire for a while, then took it out and scalded the pork, then burned it again, and then scalded it again. From time to time, the pork made a sizzling sound and a puff of smoke came out.

Don't tell me, it smells really good!

After having enough fun, Li Wei threw the iron into the charcoal fire and said calmly: "His Majesty's decree is that I will escort these people back to the capital, but he did not say that he will not let me interrogate them. Don't worry, they will naturally do it after I finish interrogating them." Send them back to the capital."

"This..." The envoy from Xingrensi was suddenly speechless.

His Majesty's decree did not say that he would not be allowed to be tried, but there is no need to say this, because it is clearly written in the Ming Dynasty Law.

No matter what, Li Wei insisted on finding the mastermind behind the scenes, otherwise he would have trouble sleeping and eating.

As the saying goes, it is easy to hide from an open gun but hard to avoid a hidden arrow. This time he was lucky enough to escape. If these people do it again, he will be strong enough.

After a while, Wu Yong came over with someone and said, "Sir, these people have been interrogated. Except for the corruption and perversion of the law that Wu Xing confessed before, there is nothing unusual."

Li Wei bowed and frowned: "Where are the others? Did the servants in Zhang Cheng's house say anything?"

"Yes, I heard they said that a counselor came to Zhang Cheng's house before. He stayed for a while and gave him advice. He ran away before anything happened. We couldn't catch him."

"Counselor?" Li Wei's eyes suddenly condensed and he said in a deep voice, "Has anyone else seen this person?"

"Yes, according to Wu Xing, he has also seen this person. Zhang Cheng calls him Mr. Jingju. This is his portrait."

Wu Yong presented Li Wei a portrait drawn by the artist based on the description. Li Wei opened it and looked at it, and was speechless.

This painting was drawn with a brush, and the artist was pretty good, but if you were to arrest people based on this painting, you'd probably be able to pick one or two similar ones out of ten people.

This kind of portrait arrest cannot be said to be useless. It is just like finding a needle in a haystack. If Mr. Jingju is still in Yangzhou City, maybe we can try this method. But since this person ran away before the accident, he must have left the city. It’s hard to catch.

This person can plan so carefully, and can make the guard commander and his colleagues murder him regardless of their lives. The energy behind it must be very great, and there is no way for a simple road guide to stop such a person.

At this point in the interrogation, Li Wei could only give up. Although this person could not be caught for the time being, he had a target at least.

Li Wei handed these people over to the envoy of the Xingren Division and asked Tian Qing to cooperate with him in escorting these people back to the capital, and then he left the prison.

Because of this incident, half of the officials in Yangzhou City were emptied. Some of the remaining people had low status and had no chance to be involved. Some were newcomers like Tian Qing and had not yet had time to take bribes and pervert the law. Of course, there were also a few who were really honest officials. , but only a minority.

Li Wei's rough treatment came to an end, and the remaining officials in Yangzhou City finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, more brutal treatment is still on the way.

On the Yangtze River, the personal guards and the Shenji Battalion led by Mao Xiang sailed into the canal by boat and headed straight for Yangzhou!

The envoys from Xingrensi came because of Li Wei's memorial, while Mao Xiang's army set out after receiving news of the Japanese pirate attack. However, even so, they only arrived later than the envoys from Xingrensi. Just one day.

At Anlemen in Yangzhou City, the soldiers guarding the city saw hundreds of warships approaching from the south in a distance. They were suddenly shocked and hurriedly went to report to Ji Gui, the temporary commander.

After Ji Gui got the news, he ordered someone to notify Li Wei and hurried to Anjiangmen.

When he boarded the city gate and saw the Forbidden Army flag flying on the ship, he was immediately shocked!

The Japanese pirates attacked just the day before yesterday, and the imperial army arrived the next day. This means that His Majesty sent the army almost without hesitation. What is this for?

If it was for the Japanese pirates, then there would be no need for the Imperial Guard to be dispatched, just send the guard troops. Now the Imperial Army's visit is obviously for the Prince Consort!

He really didn't expect that the consort in the city would hold such an important position in His Majesty's heart! Thinking of the crisis situation at that time, he couldn't help but secretly wipe his cold sweat. Judging from this situation, if something happened to the prince-in-law, then they would not only lose their heads, but they might also be executed by the nine tribes.

"Fortunately, fortunately..." Ji Gui couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

The soldiers on the city couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as they looked at the approaching army.

A moment later, Li Wei, Tian Qing and others who learned the news also came to Anjiangmen. Seeing hundreds of warships forming a long queue on the canal, Li Wei couldn't help but be a little surprised. He didn't expect Zhu Yuanzhang to do so for him. To mobilize troops and mobilize people.

As for Tian Qing and the others, as well as the envoy from the Pingren Division, they were even more shocked and speechless.

The warships arrived at the Anjiang Gate and docked one by one. Mao Xiang and Jiang Long from the Shenji Battalion took the lead in leading some soldiers to disembark.

Li Wei also led Tian Qing, Ji Gui and others to greet them.

"Master Li!"

"Sir Admiral!"

Mao Xiang and Jiang Long first greeted Li Wei, and Li Wei nodded in response: "Why are you here?"

"Your Majesty asked me to escort you back to the capital." Mao Xiang said softly.

Jiang Long also nodded in agreement, and glanced unkindly at the many Yangzhou officials behind Li Wei.

In his opinion, these officials are either incompetent or have ulterior motives, which is why the Admiral is in danger here. If the Shenji Battalion is here, not to mention a few hundred Japanese pirates, even tens of thousands of them will be confident to wipe them out and keep the Lord safe!

Li Wei was a little stunned: "You want me to go back now?"

"Yes." Mao Xiang nodded lightly.

Seeing that Li Wei seemed to be hesitant, Mao Xiang said softly: "Your Excellency has been away from the capital for a long time, and there are some matters in the capital that I still need to handle when I return."

Li Wei frowned slightly. He didn't have much time to leave Beijing. Mao Xiang's reason was obviously false.

"Sir, please board the ship." Mao Xiang raised his hand and signaled.

Although Li Wei was confused, he didn't hesitate anymore. Anyway, Yangzhou and the capital were very close to each other, and the trip back and forth only took a day, so he just had to go back and have a look.

After Mao Xiang boarded the ship, Caitian Qing, Ji Gui and others greeted each other. There was a long delay. After the pro-combatants on the ship disembarked in order, Mao Xiang's face suddenly changed and he said seriously: "Master Ji, Your Majesty ordered me to I hope you will cooperate with me when we change defenses with you!"

Ji Gui's expression suddenly changed when he heard this, and he felt very unhappy. However, facing the emperor's own army, he did not dare to complain at all. He cupped his hands and said, "Since it is His Majesty's holy will, I should cooperate with you."

Mao Xiang nodded lightly, and then ordered his troops to enter the city and take over the city defense. The original officers and soldiers of the Yangzhou Guard were driven off the city wall.

After taking full control of Yangzhou, Mao Xiang suddenly changed his face and shouted sternly: "His Majesty has ordered that all the generals above the Yangzhou Wei General Banner should be arrested and returned to Beijing to await trial!"

Ji Gui was shocked: "Master Mao, what do you mean?"

Many officials who had just stepped off the city wall were also in a commotion.

The Yangzhou Guard has five thousand troops and hundreds of generals above the general banner. Mao Xiang's words basically killed all the generals in their guard!

"Master Ji, this is the edict. Master Ji, did you not understand it, or are you planning to resist it?" Mao Xiang condensed slightly and said coldly.

"I don't dare, but why is this?"

Mao Xiang glanced at him and said coldly: "The prince-in-law is in danger here, do you think you are all blameless?"

"But……"

"Needless to say, His Majesty will have his own Holy Judgment when he arrives in the capital!"

Mao Xiang waved his hand to interrupt him, and directly ordered all the generals to be disarmed and arrested, along with the officials who were escorted back to the capital by the Xingren Division, and brought aboard the ship. All the generals and officers of the Yangzhou Guard were replaced by the personal guards left by Mao Xiang. Take over.

The army came in a hurry and returned in a hurry. Although there was no fighting, the impact was huge.

After Mao Xiang brought many generals from Yangzhou Guard back to the capital, Qianhu Offices and inspection officers from various inspection departments along the river were also arrested one after another. For a time, the civil and military people in all places along the river were shocked by Li Wei The influence of this upstart in the court.

Because of one of his dangers, His Majesty was furious, and hundreds of civil and military people from various places were arrested. (End of chapter)