Daming, originally wanted to destroy it, but the system came

Chapter 335: Will you shed tears without seeing the coffin?

It was chaos, the whole Liyang County was in complete chaos.

It was already midnight, and it was time for every household in Liyang County to rest, and the whole city fell into a quiet atmosphere.

But suddenly, the city gate was opened, and more than 15,000 troops stationed outside the city rushed into the city in an instant.

When Li Yang heard the sound of horse hooves, he simply fell off the bed.

"Master? What's wrong?" Li Yang's wife Zhang exclaimed.

It turns out that Li Yang's wife is the daughter of the Zhang family, and he is related to the Zhang family by marriage.

"I don't know, I don't know either," Li Yang felt a tightness in his chest, as if something was about to happen.

And more than 10,000 cavalry were like a torrent, directly surrounding the Zhang family's residence from top to bottom.

"What's going on? What's going on?" Zhang Haoling got the news and didn't bother to get dressed. He came out wearing only a pair of obscene clothes. He looked at the army outside the house with a puzzled look on his face.

Given the Zhang family's status in Liyang County, the entire land around here is their private property and is his family's property. Who doesn't know?

But at this moment, the entire Zhang family's territory was surrounded. What happened?

At this moment, Zhu Haoling walked up to Zhang Haoling unhurriedly.

"Your Highness, look at why there is such a big fuss. If you like my two little daughters, just tell me and I will send them to you." Zhang Haoling was still thinking about using his two daughters to win over Zhu. What about the matter?

Zhu Chu raised his eyebrows, raised his hand and swung it round, and it turned out to be a big mouth.

There was a "snap", and poor Yuanwai Zhang, who was also very old, was whipped around three times and finally sat on the ground with a "pop".

His whole body was stunned, blood flowed down the corner of his mouth, and when he opened his mouth, a tooth came out.

"You're such a beast-like thing, look at the good things your Zhang family has done over the years," Zhu Chu shook a book with his other hand.

Just one Jin Yiwei had already investigated a lot of things in less than a month.

Even if you know that the aristocratic family's accumulation methods are only a few, either knowledge monopoly or land annexation.

But the Zhang family's methods were still too cruel.

"Not to mention that Zhang Zhan of your Zhang family killed innocent people indiscriminately, and even dared to kill people in the street. There were also several Zhang family children. Some of them just kicked in the door in the middle of the night and harmed other girls because they liked other people's daughters. In the end, they forced the whole family to The young man hanged himself."

“Because I fancy a few acres of fertile land, I burn every house to death.”

"During a flood a few years ago, we took advantage of the natural disaster to issue loan sharks at high interest rates, which resulted in the destruction of more than a dozen families."

"How many families of ordinary people not only want to sell their fields to you, but they even want to work as tenant slaves for you in return."

They should have been tenant farmers or households, but according to the investigation of the Jinyiwei Institute, those people who farmed the land for the Zhang family, after working hard for a year, could only make ends meet. All other food had to be handed over to the Zhang family, and even taxes were not paid in the end. It's up to them.

This is simply more terrifying than the oppression of the Yunnan chieftain family.

"You are just beasts in human skin," Zhu Ming cursed angrily. This is only one or two out of ten. In the years when the Zhang family is domineering in Liyang County, there will only be more evidence of crimes.

Zhang Haoling was speechless for a long time. What was even more unbelievable to him was how did Zhu Zhen know these things?

Because he thought that even if he couldn't do it perfectly, Zhu Zhen had just entered the city today and had been living in their Zhang family's villa. When would he have the opportunity to go out and investigate and find out so much information? ?

How did he know that Zhu Min had secretly sent Li Gui and a Jin Yiwei from the Hundred Household Office to investigate their family more than half a month ago.

Although Liyang County is a county, it is too close to the capital after all. Not to mention that caravans pass by every day, but it is normal for a few foreigners with unfamiliar faces to appear.

It is precisely because of Jin Yiwei's secret investigation that he has obtained a lot of evidence of the Zhang family's crimes.

"What else do you have to say?" Zhu Zhen shouted.

"Wait a minute," Zhang Haoling got up, raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and glared at Zhu Xi. At this time, he was as brave as a trapped animal, and said, "Your Highness, although you are a prince, but what you said Those things you said are all baseless. Even if the lawsuit is brought before His Majesty, I am not afraid. Unless we can find witnesses and physical evidence, unless we can confront you in court, we will not accept it."

"Huh?" Zhu Zhen's eyes widened. He dared to speak harshly even when he was about to die?

"It seems that you have something to rely on. Is it because Magistrate Li Yang is your son-in-law?" Zhu Zhen sneered, thinking he didn't know?

Li Yang came to Liyang County as the county magistrate in place of Yan Shitai, and he only married after he came, and he married the daughter of the Zhang family.

It seems that County Magistrate Li often helps the Zhang family to do evil things.

Zhang Haoling was shocked, but he gritted his teeth and still refused to let go.

"Okay, okay," Zhu Xi nodded, pointed at Zhang Haoling's nose, and said, "Originally, I just wanted to kill you and the other culprits, but you have to force me to kill your whole family, right? Since you don't see the coffin. If you don’t shed tears, it’s easy to handle. If you are willing to die, I will be willing to bury you.”

"The whole army obeys the order and completely seals the entire Zhang family. No one is allowed to come in or out. Anyone who disobeys the order will not be punished," Zhu Zhen shouted.

The whole army sang in unison, with such force that the Zhang family trembled in fear.

Zhu Ming went on to say to Wang Fu specifically in front of the Zhang family: "Pass this order, the king will personally sit in the government office hall tomorrow and inform the villagers that I will provide them with justice and take revenge if they have any complaints or grudges. I am here to appeal to them."

"Here."

Wang Fu immediately took the order and left.

Zhu Ming called Peng Yue over again: "Peng Yue, take a team of people to control the Li Yang County Magistrate, and all the county government officials. No one is allowed to go."

Zhu Ji didn't dare to let Niu Sheng go to this stupid cow, lest he kill everyone.

Peng Yue also took the order and left.

Zhu Ming glanced at the pale Zhang Haoling again, sneered, turned and left.

It’s not that the Zhang family was in trouble, but that Zhu Min had heard about their family for a long time. After all, he had known about the Zhang family when he took a fancy to Yan Shitai’s ability and knowledge in Yongchang Mansion. .

Originally, Zhu Xi was a little at a loss at first, because the two aristocratic families in Zhenjiang Prefecture, the Song family and the Ding family, seemed to be pretty good, and even Shen Wang praised them.

Zhu Ming also didn't know how to carry out his work for a while.

As for now, Zhu Chu is confident. How can he defend himself in the face of overwhelming evidence?

But many times, things backfire and even exceed Zhu Zhen's psychological expectations.

Starting from the next morning, as soon as it was dawn, Zhu Chu sent people to inform the people in the city, and personally sat in the lobby of the government office, telling the whole city that he would severely punish the Zhang family, and asked them to come and report any grievances they had. .

However, the lobby of the government office has been quiet all morning. Not even a goose passed by, let alone those who came to complain.

Zhu Ming was the only one sitting there stupidly, still waiting.

It was not until noon that Zhu Ming even started to question his life before he called Wang Fu over.

"Wang Fu, have you really conveyed my order?" Zhu Ming asked Wang Fu, questioning Wang Fu for the first time.

Wang Fu said aggrievedly: "Your Highness, has anything ever gone wrong in your humble position?"

"Then why is there not even one person who beats the drum to complain? Not even one person who sues the Zhang family?" Zhu Ming looked at the deserted street outside. Today, there are no pedestrians on the street. It is terrifyingly empty. It was as if the entire Liyang County had turned into a ghost town.

In fact, Zhu Zhen knew that the people were hiding at home and did not dare to come out.

After all, Zhu Chu's army suddenly entered the city last night. No one knew what happened, and who dared to come out to watch the fun. Although ordinary people like to watch the fun, if the fun involves themselves, it is not fun anymore.

That's the trouble.

"Because they are afraid," a voice sounded, and Xu Miaojin and Tang Xin suddenly walked in from outside.

When Zhu Ming saw them, especially Tang Xin, he couldn't help but frown.

Again, Tang Xin only knew that Zhu Chu wanted to patrol the coastline, but he didn't know that after Zhu Chu left the capital, he would first suppress the Jiangnan family.

They all looked down on Zhu Yuanzhang, and the civil servants in the court had strong resistance to Zhu Yuanzhang's inspection of the world on behalf of the emperor. This also represented the attitude of the Jiangnan family.

You look down on me, why don’t I punish you to death?

Originally, Zhu Zhen didn't want Tang Xin to get involved.

But she came with Xu Miaojin, so it was hard to drive her away.

Xu Miaojin walked over with gentle steps. Seeing the depressed look on Zhu Chu's face, she couldn't help but said funnyly: "You are too anxious. This is not a war. It does not mean that you can make the enemy surrender through force because you are strong. How could you be so anxious that you surrounded the Zhang family as soon as you received the news?"

Zhu Miao squinted at Xu Miaojin, where are you from?

Xu Miaojin came behind Zhu Chu, squeezed his shoulder with her hand, and then said: "It's hard to ride a tiger now. It seems that you have a handle on the Zhang family, but there is no witness. Even if you want to deal with the Zhang family, there is no one." Justifiable reasons, who can recognize obedience? Even if you can eradicate the Zhang family, what about the opinions of other Jiangnan families? You have to give a valid reason that everyone can recognize."

That's what he said. That's why Zhu Zhen asked Wang Fu to inform the people in the city. Isn't he just waiting for them to accuse the Zhang family of their crimes?

But the problem is, now that the whole city is hiding in their homes, what can he do?

"Because they are afraid," Tang Xin turned to look at the deserted street outside and sneered: "It would be better to say that they have lost confidence in your old Zhu family."

Zhu Ming frowned and stared at Tang Xin with an unhappy expression. He knew that she had always been resentful towards her family, but she couldn't talk nonsense in the face of such a big deal.

"It's true," Xu Miaojin also sighed and said, "Even animals know how to seek good luck and avoid disaster, let alone humans? This Liyang County was originally under the direct jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture in the capital, and this is still the case under the emperor's feet. That Zhang Relying on the intricate relationship between the Jiangnan aristocratic families, we can deceive the superiors and deceive the inferiors, dominate here, and do all kinds of evil without being punished. "

"Even girls, I have heard that the previous magistrate of Liyang County was impeached and exiled to Yunnan because of his treatment of the children of the Zhang family. Who dares to deal with it? Who dares to sue the officials?"

"Today you are sitting here, saying that you want to avenge the people. But tomorrow you leave? Who can afford the revenge of the family?"

Zhu Xi fell into deep thought.

Liyang County is still under the emperor's feet. Tang Xin is actually right. Maybe the people are really losing confidence in the imperial court.

Previously, Yan Shitai punished Zhang Zhan severely without fear of power and gained the love and support of the people. But in the end, wasn't Yan Shitai exiled?

This is more than chilling the hearts of the people.

Suddenly Zhu Chu stood up and said with excitement: "We must not let the people of the world lose confidence. The general trend is the will of the people. Rulers are like boats, and people are like water. Water can carry a boat or capsize it."

As he spoke, Zhu Min called Wang Fu: "Old Wang, go out with me. I will personally call out the people. I will make them regain their confidence in us. The Zhang family is destined to be destroyed by me." .”

Tang Xin opened his eyes and looked at Zhu Chu. Can water carry a boat or capsize it? Do you really want to offend aristocratic families for the sake of the common people?

Many people understand this saying, and even Li Shimin has used it as a warning many times and often reflects on himself.

But how many people can actually do it?

Didn’t Li Shimin finally compromise with the family?

But Zhu Chun rushed out of the government office gate, took out his long-lost loudspeaker, and started shouting along the street: "Folks, this king is Zhu Chun, the King of Dian. His Majesty's eighteenth son is now the imperial envoy of the imperial censor." . Your Majesty and I both know that you have suffered. You can rest assured that I am here to severely punish the Zhang family this time. Even Yan Shitai, the good official you loved at the beginning, is now in my Yunnan in front of me. The prefect is here. So don't be afraid, I will make the decision for you. Tell me how the Zhang family bullies you on weekdays, and I will provide you with justice."

"The king is here today only for one thing, fairness, fairness, fairness for the special mother. I promise to return the land that belongs to you to you, and to punish the sins that the Zhang family has committed against you one by one. Return it."

Zhu Zhen actually shouted along the street like this. He wanted to regain the people's lost confidence in the court.

At first, the people were unmoved, but when he mentioned Yan Shitai, someone finally poked his head out of the house.

"Is Lord Yan Shitaiyan really still alive?" someone couldn't help but ask.

"Of course he is still alive. Not only is he alive, but he is also living well. He even became a magistrate in Yunnan and was promoted several levels in a row," Zhu Ming said loudly.

The man was so excited that he burst into tears of joy and cried: "Sir Yan is a good official. He is Master Qingtian. For us people, he was protected by those noble families and dog officials in the court and was exiled to Yunnan. We thought he was dead. .”

"Don't worry, Your Majesty is not old and stupid yet, how can you let a good official who serves the country and the people die unjustly?" Zhu Zhen said righteously: "It's just that those guys are very cunning, and it is difficult to catch evidence of their crimes. Now that I have come here with the responsibility of being an imperial envoy, I will punish those who are punished severely. If you have any grievances, you can come forward one by one. If I don’t give you justice, you will kill my head. Take it.”

In order to gain the trust of the people, he did not hesitate to use his own head to issue a military order. This family will definitely die.

With Zhu Ming's efforts, the people finally came out bravely.

However, Zhu Chu felt that it was mainly because of Yan Shitai's reputation that the people were willing to believe in him again.

If he disappoints the people again this time, I'm afraid the people here will never trust their old Zhu family and the Ming Dynasty court again.

Yan Shitai, Yan Shitai, I really saw you right back then.

Unexpectedly, Yan Shitai's reputation can still be used in Liyang County today.

It is also enough to show that Yan Shitai has been exiled to Yunnan for so long, and the local people still miss him very much. Yan Shitai is indeed a good official.

Tang Xin and Xu Miaojin also followed out, but they did not come forward, but stood far away on the other side of the street, watching Zhu Chu finally slowly move people's hearts, and the people gradually walked out of their homes and gathered around him.

Tang Xin said with emotion: "I finally know why he can easily convince the soldiers of Prince Qin's Mansion in Xi'an. He loves the people like a son and the soldiers like a son. I'm afraid even the original Crown Prince couldn't do it, right?"

Prince Zhu Biao?

Xu Miaojin turned her head and glanced at Tang Xin.

Tang Xin shrugged and said, "Aren't we also farmers? Aren't we also common people?"

Xu Da, Tang He, and even Zhu Yuanzhang all started from the common people. They were all farmers, and they were scorned as bastards by aristocratic families.

"But the original prince was too benevolent and righteous. However, many times, he was too benevolent and righteous to those ministers and aristocratic families, but too cruel to the people," Tang Xin said with regret.

Unlike Xu Miaojin, Tang Xin has stayed with Tang He in his hometown of Fengyang over the years. Perhaps it was because he was far away from the court and the prosperity of the capital, which made Tang Xin even more emotional when he saw the scene in front of him.

Looking at Zhu Chu, this situation makes him quite nostalgic. When he implemented the reform of native land and return to local people in Yunnan, it did not go well at the beginning. In order to win over the hearts and minds of the local people as soon as possible, he spent a lot of time and effort .

But things are different now.

Zhu Ming brought all the people to the government office lobby and interrogated them one by one, recording the crimes committed by the Zhang family.

At the same time, Zhu Ming did not forget to ask Wang Fu to re-measure the land in Liyang County and the household registration of local people as soon as possible.

At first, even Xu Miaojin and Tang Xin didn't know why Zhu Chu did this. It wasn't until Zhu Chu finally took out the comparison booklet that he discovered his intention.

"Liyang County has hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and a population of over 200,000. As a result, one family cannot even get one acre of land. Almost all the land belongs to his Zhang family," Zhu Xi narrowed his eyes and sneered: " This is still under the emperor's feet, but this Liyang County already has the surname Zhang. It's really ridiculous."

Zhu Ming didn't even need to get the Zhang family's account books. He only needed to compare the fields in Liyang County and the land in the hands of the people to find out.

Over the years, the Zhang family has used all possible means to annex the huge Liyang County land. .

"They deserve to die."

(End of this chapter)