Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Dawn is approaching, but the sky is still dark. The cold moonlight barely penetrates the sparse clouds and falls on a remote alley in the capital. The alley is flanked by tall gray walls, with a few dry vines occasionally sticking out from the top of the wall, swaying in the wind, adding a bit of desolation. Zhu Fenghui, dressed in dark brocade clothes, has an upright figure and a resolute face. He stands in a corner of the alley, looking around with a sharp gaze. After a while, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night. Zhang Feng, a centurion of the Jinyiwei, hurried over, looking tired, but with determination in his eyes.

"How are things going?" Zhu Fenghui asked in a low voice. Although his voice was light, it carried unquestionable power.

Zhang Feng hadn't slept all night and his mouth was dry. He swallowed his saliva to moisten his throat before he spoke slowly: "After investigation, the eight businesses you mentioned have a close relationship with Wu Zhiyuan, the commander of the Wanquan Division. Before each shipment, they would ask Wu Zhiyuan for a warrant to avoid the checkpoints along the way. Although we don't know what they are transporting, the coachman of the caravan revealed that there must be ironware among them."

Zhang Feng paused and continued, "It is difficult to find other evidence at the moment. Please give me a few days!" There was a hint of helplessness in his voice. Obviously, the complexity of the case was beyond his expectations.

Zhu Fenghui shook his head slowly and sighed: "Even if the Jinyiwei has a large number of people, it is difficult to find conclusive evidence. These businessmen are cautious and capable. Once the news leaks, the witnesses will be silenced and the physical evidence will be destroyed." His eyes were deep, as if he could see through the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

"No need to look for evidence anymore, just have a good rest today and go all out tomorrow!" After saying that, he took out something wrapped in oil paper from his arms and handed it to Zhang Feng. This simple action revealed his care and consideration for his subordinates.

Zhang Feng thought it was important information, so he opened it and checked it. Unexpectedly, it was not information, but a roasted leg of lamb. The surface of the lamb leg was shiny and fragrant, and even in this cold morning, you could feel the warmth.

"This is the leg of lamb I roasted last night. Since it's inconvenient for you to show up, I left a piece for you. The meat is cold now and may be a little hard to chew. You can take it home and roast it again!" Zhu Fenghui's words were a little relaxed, as if he was talking about a trivial matter, but this thoughtfulness made Zhang Feng feel warm in his heart.

"Thank you, Commander!" Zhang Feng carefully put away the roasted lamb leg, his heart filled with gratitude. He waited for Zhu Fenghui's next instruction, his eyes full of determination.

"Go back and tell the brothers in Jinyiwei that they can only succeed tomorrow and not fail!" Zhu Fenghui's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to hit Zhang Feng's heart.

Zhang Feng nodded and disappeared into the darkness before dawn. The alley was once again silent, with only Zhu Fenghui's figure standing out in the dim moonlight, looking particularly resolute.

On that day, the soldiers of the Fifth Army Camp, under the command of Zhu Fenghui, firmly guarded the city gates and did not let anyone out of the city. On the city walls, the soldiers were on high alert, their eyes were sharp, and the weapons in their hands flashed coldly in the sun. Outside the city gates, the bustling crowds were stopped outside, and the noise and complaints were one after another, but no one dared to cross the line.

Finally, night fell. The caravan carrying food and fodder entered the city at night, and then split into three teams under the cover of night. One team went to the parade ground under the escort of hundreds of soldiers, one team parked the carriage on the street near the west city gate, and the personnel immediately evacuated. The last team went to the official warehouse in Xuanfu Town. In the night, the outline of the carriage was looming, and the sound of horse hooves and wheels intertwined, forming a tense and mysterious picture.

A quarter of an hour later, Cai Yuanxi appeared at the corner of the street. He was wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, with a gloomy face and a cunning look in his eyes. Behind him followed dozens of servants, all of whom were strong and powerful, holding weapons and looking around vigilantly.

"Go check what's on the car!" Cai Yuanxi ordered the butler beside him. His voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

The butler did not dare to neglect it. He first looked around and made sure that no one was paying attention. Then he rushed over at lightning speed. He took advantage of the situation to lift the tarpaulin on the carriage. Under the tarpaulin was a bag. In the moonlight, he could see that what fell out of the bag was not grain, but rice husks. He reached out and moved the bag full of rice husks. A huge object suddenly appeared in front of him - it was a cannon!
The butler was used to this kind of scene, but for the sake of caution, he checked the carriages nearby as quickly as possible. The goods carried by the nearby carriages were different. There were projectiles for artillery, including large solid bullets and hundred-shot bullets; there were Portuguese cannons, and several thick stacks of cotton armor. These were all materials that the Ming court prohibited from trading.

After confirming that everything was correct, he did not have time to clean up the scene, and quickly returned to Cai Yuanxi to report the situation: "Master, I have checked five carriages and found a red cannon, a Portuguese cannon, six boxes of projectiles, several boxes of saltpeter and sulfur, and hundreds of sets of cotton armor."

Cai Yuanxi blinked his eyes and curled up a sneer at the corner of his mouth: "Retreat!" His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"Master... why retreat? These are the supplies needed in Liaodong. It will be profitable to transport them there!" The servant asked in confusion, obviously puzzled by Cai Yuanxi's decision.

Pah! Cai Yuanxi slapped the butler hard in the face: "Stop talking nonsense and leave!" His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty. The butler did not dare to say anything more and hurriedly left with the servants.

The group hid in the shadows of the wall and quickly left the scene. In the night, their figures were looming, as if they were a group of ghosts wandering around.

"Sir, has your plan been discovered by the man surnamed Fan?" In a dark corner, Zhang Feng squatted beside Zhu Fenghui and asked in confusion. There was a hint of anxiety and confusion in his voice.

Zhu Fenghui pursed his lips and replied in a low voice: "A dog can change its habit of eating meat, but it cannot change its nature of eating feces! Cai Yuanxi is a smart man, he will definitely not put himself in danger." There was a deep light in his eyes, as if he could see through the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

"These people are all death warriors trained by him. They would rather die than betray him. If we rush out to arrest them now, they neither stole nor robbed, they just violated the curfew." Zhu Fenghui's words were filled with helplessness and emotion.

"But...if nothing unexpected happens, they will be back soon." Zhu Fenghui's voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable firmness.

As expected. After waiting for another quarter of an hour, dozens of figures appeared stealthily on the street. They were dressed in black, with black veils covering their faces, revealing only a pair of flickering eyes. Seeing that there was no one around, they skillfully pulled the carriage away. In the night, their figures were looming, as if they were a group of ghosts wandering.

Zhang Feng knew it was his turn to act, so he clasped his hands to Zhu Fenghui and quietly moved over with a few Jinyiwei... Their figures shuttled through the night like black lightning.

the next day.

Cai Yuanxi paced anxiously in the yard. He was wearing a gorgeous brocade robe, with a gloomy face and a cunning look in his eyes. Although he didn't know what was going on in the court, based on his years of experience, he knew that there would be fewer and fewer days to make big money in the future. Although the timing of this batch of materials was a bit wrong, under the temptation of huge profits, he decided to take a risk. If he succeeded, then the source of money would roll in; if he failed, it would have nothing to do with him.

Just when he was getting a little impatient, the butler ran in hurriedly: "Master! The new Lord Yan is leading hundreds of people to the parade ground. All four city gates, east, west, south and north, can be used for entry and exit. I sent people to observe nearby for a while and found that the inspection is very strict." There was a bit of anxiety and tension in his voice.

"Okay, notify Team One, Team Two, Team Three, and Team Four to hang up our Fan family's flag and leave the city from the four gates." Cai Yuanxi's voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty. His eyes flashed with a cunning light, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

The butler responded and ran out. His figure shuttled through the yard like a black lightning.

Half an hour later, the butler came running back and said, "Master, except for the west gate, the other three gates are strictly checked." There was some anxiety and nervousness in his voice.

Cai Yuanxi nodded, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Notify the fifth team to leave the city from the west gate, and after leaving the city, separate from the other cavalry and head north, and get out of the pass as quickly as possible. There should be no guards near the pass, and even if there are, they are all our acquaintances, and they will not deliberately make things difficult for us." His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty and confidence.

"Yes!" The butler responded and left in a hurry. His figure disappeared without a trace in the yard.

A quarter of an hour later, the butler returned again and said to Cai Yuanxi, panting: "Master, the convoy has left the city!" There was some excitement and excitement in his voice.

"Good!" After hearing this, Cai Yuanxi breathed a sigh of relief. A satisfied smile appeared on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. As a man who makes money on the edge of a knife, he doesn't trust anyone except money. Not to mention Zhu Fenghui, even if the senior official of the court came in person, it wouldn't work. Be cautious where you should be cautious. Money is important, but life is more important. Once the truth is revealed, you can be safe as long as you clear your relationship. There was a cunning light in his eyes, as if he had made all preparations.

Cai Yuanxi rested for a long time on the stone bench in the yard. Seeing that the time was almost up, he ordered his attendants: "Come on! Prepare the car! I want to go to the lobby of Xuanfu government office to report to the authorities! In broad daylight, my cavalry was stolen! This is extremely abominable!"

In a desolate area outside the training ground, in an abandoned house, Wu Zhiyuan, the commander of the Wanquan Division, was waiting anxiously, looking nervous. His eyes kept looking out the door, as if he was expecting something. The light in the house was dim, with only a few rays of sunlight coming through the dilapidated window frames, barely illuminating this dusty space. On the wall hung a faded map, the edges of which had curled up, as if it had been forgotten by time along with this abandoned house.

"Sir!" A man in civilian clothes suddenly rushed in. He looked hurried, with some grass debris on his clothes. It was obvious that he had just come from the wild.

"What happened?" Wu Zhiyuan asked hurriedly, with a hint of anxiety and uneasiness in his voice.

"Lord Yan is on his way to the parade ground, followed by more than 500 people, all wearing armor and holding weapons. The four city gates have been opened, and the guards at each gate and on the city walls total about 4,000 people. There are also 500 government soldiers in the parade ground, guarding several large boxes, which seem to contain silver." The man reported the situation in one breath, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

Wu Zhiyuan calculated in his mind that Zhu Fenghui brought 5,000 men, 4,000 of them were used for the city defense, and the remaining 1,000 plus Ding Yi's 800 men, a total of only 1,800 men. If a conflict occurred, they would still have the upper hand in the short term. However, he frowned and suddenly thought of something: "Where are Ding Yi's 800 men?"

"In the parade ground, although they are wearing armor, their weapons are placed in the corner of the parade ground." The man replied with a hint of imperceptible worry in his tone.

Wu Zhiyuan was certain in his heart, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. As long as they separated Ding Yi's men and weapons when lining up, the plan would be successful. Even if they didn't win, they would still have time to escape. In such a big city, how could they find me if I changed into civilian clothes? Thinking of this, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he waved his hand: "Let's go to the parade ground to collect our salary."

More than 2,000 people marched into the parade ground and stood in line according to the pre-arranged deployment. Around the parade ground, withered weeds swayed in the cold wind, as if they were also witnessing the upcoming changes in the wind and clouds. The sky was gray, and occasionally a few jackdaws flew by, leaving behind a series of mournful cries.

"Lord Yan, please forgive me. I was busy with military duties and am late!" Wu Zhiyuan walked quickly to Zhu Fenghui and knelt on one knee. His face was full of apology and respect, but there was a barely perceptible cunning flash in his eyes.

Zhu Fenghui nodded expressionlessly: "It's okay, please stand up, Commander Lang." His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, making people dare not look directly at him.

The parade ground was crowded with people. Four people stood on the high platform, each with their own thoughts. Wu Zhiyuan stared at Ding Yi, afraid that he would take advantage of the chaos to escape. Ding Yi also stared at Wu Zhiyuan with the same eyes. Once he found that he made any unusual movements, he would rush up and capture him without hesitation. Jiang Yingkui, the lieutenant general of the Fifth Army Battalion, looked calm on the surface, but he was actually panicking inside. He was afraid that Zhu Fenghui's plan would fail, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his nails almost digging into the flesh.

Zhu Fenghui's expression was calm. Without any extra words, he said directly: "Someone, move the silver!" His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

The soldier guarding the silver received an order to move the silver box in front of Zhu Fenghui and then opened it. With a crash, the silver scattered all over the ground! The glittering silver light reflected the greed and desire on the faces of everyone present.

Almost everyone present held their breath at the same time, staring at the silver at Zhu Fenghui's feet. This was pure silver, the greatest treasure of the Ming Dynasty! For these soldiers who had been short of pay for a long time, this was undoubtedly a huge fortune.

"Guerrilla General Ding Yi and all the soldiers under his command are combat soldiers. The monthly salary for infantry is one tael and six cents, and the monthly salary for cavalry is one tael and eight cents, plus one tael of silver for fodder. The court owes you a total of ten months' salary. Now you line up and collect the amount on the list." Zhu Fenghui announced loudly, his voice penetrating the crowd and clearly reaching everyone's ears.

The parade ground was vast, and every time Zhu Fenghui said something, the soldiers in the army camp repeated it loudly, and the news quickly spread throughout the field. Ding Yi's 800 frontier soldiers were very excited to hear the news, and they strode up to the high platform to receive their pay. Because the silver had been divided in advance, it was distributed very quickly, and everyone's face was filled with satisfaction and joy.

After the soldiers in the camp received the silver, Zhu Fenghui picked up another military book and said, "The eleven garrisons under the jurisdiction of Wanquandusi have a hard time living because of rising grain prices. The court subsidizes them with two cents of silver every month. Because there are so many people in the garrisons, I will not distribute it one by one. The Lang commander will receive it on your behalf." His voice was calm and firm, as if every word contained irresistible power.

Wu Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and walked to Zhu Fenghui to receive the silver. At this time, he had completely let down his guard and was very happy about Zhu Fenghui's recognition. He thought his position was more stable, but he didn't know that all this was a carefully arranged trap by Zhu Fenghui.

Looking at the disappointed soldiers, Zhu Fenghui suddenly raised his voice and asked: "Soldiers of the garrison below the stage, are you envious when you see the silver in their hands?" His voice echoed over the parade ground like thunder, shaking everyone's heart.

The guards turned around and looked at the soldiers in the camp. Each of them had at least a handful of silver in their hands, some had more than ten taels, and some even had thirty taels. And what about them? Even if Wu Zhiyuan didn't embezzle, they could only get two taels of silver at most. The psychological gap between them can be imagined. They were full of resentment and envy, but because of face and military prestige, they could only stand there and say nothing.

Wu Zhiyuan thought Zhu Fenghui was going to speak up for them, so he stepped forward and whispered, "Lord Yan, the soldiers in the garrison have been soldiers from generation to generation. This is the rule set by our Hongwu ancestor and it is also their destiny. There is no need to..." Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Zhu Fenghui's cold gaze.

Zhu Fenghui ignored Wu Zhiyuan's words, but continued to raise his voice and asked: "Are you all deaf? Huh?" His voice exploded in the crowd like thunder, making everyone feel frightened.

"I ask you, are you envious when you see the silver? Are you envious?" His voice became more and more passionate, as if to arouse people's inner desires and dissatisfaction.

"If you are a man, say it out loud!" His words were like a sharp knife, cutting through the shackles and oppression in people's hearts.

At this point, the guards looked up at Zhu Fenghui. A few brave soldiers hid in the crowd and shouted, "We are not deaf! What can we do if we heard it?" Although their voices were not loud, they were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

"I'm more than envious, my eyes are almost red!" a soldier shouted, his face full of dissatisfaction and desire.

"Yes, I'm so envious! Lord Yan, are you going to give us money? As long as you dare to give it, we dare to take it!" Another soldier also echoed loudly. They were all veteran soldiers, and they only needed one person to take the lead, and the others would follow suit.

In the blink of an eye, the whole training ground was filled with noise and chaos. Seeing this, Jiang Yingkui gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, ready to protect Zhu Fenghui. He knew very well that the situation had become extremely tense at this time, and any small action could lead to unpredictable consequences. Wu Zhiyuan looked confused, not knowing what Zhu Fenghui wanted to do. He originally thought that Zhu Fenghui came to support him, but he didn't expect to cause such a big disturbance. Ding Yi was also confused and didn't know the situation. He only knew that his 800 border troops had received their salaries, and he didn't want to interfere too much in other matters.

"Quiet!" As the word "quiet" rang out, the noisy school field gradually returned to calm. Zhu Fenghui's voice was like an irresistible force, pulling people's thoughts back to reality.

He stepped forward and said seriously: "I came to Xuanfu Town to do three things!" His voice was not loud, but it was full of majesty and power.

"The first thing is to recapture Xuanfu; the second thing is to distribute military pay; the third thing is to implement new policies!" His words were like bombshells, exploding in the crowd, shocking and exciting everyone.

New Deal? Everyone was attracted by these two words, and they all held their breath, fearing that they would miss out on the good news. They knew that a new deal often meant change and opportunity, and for soldiers like them who had been oppressed for a long time, this was undoubtedly a chance to change their fate.

"I won't talk about the new policies that have nothing to do with you. I'll only talk about the ones that are related to you." Zhu Fenghui continued, his voice calm and firm, as if every word contained infinite power.

"First, I will abolish all the garrisons in Xuanfu Town. The military status of the garrison soldiers will also be abolished. From now on, there will be no more military status in the Ming Dynasty." His words were like a sharp knife, cutting through the shackles and fetters in people's hearts. There was a brief silence in the entire training ground, and then thunderous cheers broke out. The garrison soldiers had been oppressed for a long time, and the long-awaited moment had finally arrived. In other words, from now on, they no longer need to farm in their spare time, but only fight in wartime. They no longer need to pay imperial grain, let alone bring their own military rations to fight on the front line. At this moment, they finally became real people!
The soldiers of the garrison hugged each other and celebrated each other's new life. Their faces were filled with joy and excitement, as if they saw a better life in the future. However, after the revelry, their hearts were occupied by confusion. The military status was abolished and the land was lost. Where should they go? The capable people in the garrison had already fled the military and found other ways to make a living. Those who stayed behind would serve in the army all their lives, only knowing how to farm and fight!
"Everyone!" Zhu Fenghui stretched out his hand to signal them to be quiet. "His Majesty has taken this into consideration when formulating the new policy, so you have two choices in the future." His voice was calm and firm, as if pointing people to a bright path.

"Those who want to join the army can transfer to battalion soldiers, and their pay will be the same as other battalion soldiers!" His words were like a reassurance, making those who wanted to continue serving in the army feel at ease and look forward to it.

"Those who don't want to be soldiers can become farmers. Your original land will be taken back by the court. Those who want to farm can buy it from the court.

The training ground was completely silent, so silent that even the dust in the air seemed to freeze, making people feel creepy. The sun shone through the sparse clouds, scattering on the ground in patches, but it could not dispel the depressing atmosphere. The change happened too quickly, like a sudden storm in summer, beyond everyone's expectations. Most people seemed to be struck by a sudden thunder, at a loss, at a loss, with doubts and fear in their eyes.

Just now, the governor personally handed out rewards to Wu Zhiyuan, and his words were full of praise and encouragement. The glory at that moment seemed to make Wu Zhiyuan feel like he was on top of the clouds. However, the next moment, the governor's face changed like a book, and it was so gloomy that water could drip out of it. He wanted to capture him and question him. This sudden change caught everyone present off guard.

"Master Yan, this is not the time to joke!" Wu Zhiyuan took a half step back vigilantly, holding the hilt of the knife tightly with his right hand, his eyes revealing vigilance and confusion. His heart was full of doubts, and he didn't understand why the situation suddenly reversed. Seeing this, Jiang Yingkui and Ding Yi drew their knives at the same time, their eyes were like torches, and they locked onto Wu Zhiyuan tightly, like two beasts ready to pounce on their prey at any time. Their eyes were full of determination and coldness, as if they had already judged Wu Zhiyuan's guilt.

"You don't deserve it!" Zhu Fenghui said coldly with his hands behind his back, his voice full of disdain and disgust, "Do it!" Before he finished speaking, Jiang Yingkui rushed out like an arrow, at a speed that was astonishing.

Wu Zhiyuan was shocked and quickly waved his knife to block. He was filled with panic and confusion, not understanding why things had developed to this point. Others retreated one after another, fearing that they would be affected, and their eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.

While Wu Zhiyuan was dealing with Jiang Yingkui, he was thinking about countermeasures quickly. He knew that begging for mercy was useless, because Zhu Fenghui was obviously well prepared and must have already obtained evidence of his collusion with the enemy. His heart was filled with regret and anger, regret for his momentary greed and anger at Zhu Fenghui's insidiousness and cunningness.

At this moment, Wu Zhiyuan suddenly had an idea. He raised his arms and shouted to the soldiers in the audience: "Brothers, the court is treacherous and wants to catch us all in the name of paying salaries!" His voice was full of grief and indignation, "In order to protect ourselves, we rebel!"

However, the reality was cruel. Wu Zhiyuan's call did not attract any response, but made the atmosphere even more awkward. Not only did the guards not respond, but even his generals had no intention of taking action. Their eyes were full of hesitation and confusion, as if they were facing a difficult dilemma.

Several generals in the audience loudly urged: "Lord Wu, surrender!" Their voices were full of helplessness and pleading, "The court has abolished the military system, and has already done a good enough job of distributing money and food! We are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty, why should we be enemies of the court?"

"Yes, Lord Wu, stop it!" another general also advised, his voice full of fatigue and weakness.

Wu Zhiyuan felt a chill in his heart. He had never expected that someone who was usually respectful to him would actually turn against him at a critical moment. His heart was filled with loss and despair, as if he had been abandoned by the whole world.

In fact, it was not their fault. It was because of Lin Xiaofeng's strategy that the military system was abolished, which greatly reduced the burden on the guards. After they were transferred to the camp soldiers, their income doubled and their lives were greatly improved. Even if they did not want to be soldiers, the court would prepare land for them so that they could live and work in peace. Therefore, they were grateful to the court, let alone rebel.

"Master Yan, do you want Wu Zhiyuan to be captured alive or dead?" Seeing that the two were evenly matched, Ding Yi stepped forward and asked. His eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if he had already determined Wu Zhiyuan's fate.

"Capture him alive!" Zhu Fenghui said hurriedly when he saw Ding Yi's aggressiveness. A trace of sinisterness flashed in his eyes, as if he had seen the miserable state of Wu Zhiyuan after being captured. Wu Zhiyuan couldn't die yet, he needed to dig out the necessary information from Wu Zhiyuan's mouth to uncover the whole conspiracy of treason.

"Okay!" Ding Yi rushed forward with his sword in hand. His figure was like a flash of lightning, breaking the silence of the training ground. As an elite of the border army, his strength and assassination skills were better than Wu Zhiyuan's. Especially the murderous aura, which made Wu Zhiyuan tremble with fear before fighting with him.

"Wu Zhiyuan, I'll give you a chance! If you surrender, I won't torture you; if you don't surrender, I will make you suffer!" Ding Yi threatened, his voice full of coldness and cruelty.

Wu Zhiyuan did not dare to fight, as he knew that he was no match for Ding Yi. He took the opportunity to escape outside the training ground, but Ding Yi had expected him to escape, so he quickly chased him and captured him by surprise.

"Master Yan! I was wrong, please show mercy and spare me!" After being captured, Wu Zhiyuan begged for mercy with a sad face, his eyes full of fear and despair. However, Zhu Fenghui just sneered and ignored him, and stood on the high platform to order the next action. His eyes were full of indifference and ruthlessness, as if he had regarded Wu Zhiyuan as a dead man.

He ordered Ding Yi to lead 800 soldiers and 1,000 guards at the west gate to intercept the caravan outside the city, and told him that the specific intelligence would be reported to him by the Jinyiwei outside the west gate. Then he ordered Jiang Yingkui to personally lead 500 people and Zhang Feng, a hundred households of the Jinyiwei, to capture the traitor Cai Yuanxi and his housekeeper who were colluding with the enemy, and emphasized that the housekeeper must not die. At the same time, he also ordered the guards at each city gate to immediately close the city gates, and no one was allowed to enter but not leave without his order. Under the military orders, the entire Xuanfu Town began to get busy, as if a huge machine was suddenly started and began to run.

In the afternoon, in the hall of the government office, Zhu Fenghui sat high in the hall, with Ding Yi and Jiang Yingkui on his left and right. He planned to try the case publicly, only in this way could the people of Xuanfu be convinced and win their hearts. His eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

The hall was crowded with people, and the onlookers and gentry all wanted to see the excitement. Since Li Zicheng entered Xuanfu, except for a few businesses such as Cai Yuanxi, all other wealthy families were plundered. Now that Cai Yuanxi finally got his comeuppance, they all wanted to see this scene. Their eyes were full of anticipation and excitement, as if they had already seen the scene of Cai Yuanxi being punished.

There was a man kneeling in the hall. He was Cai Yuanxi's housekeeper. He was pale, and his eyes were filled with fear and despair. Cai Yuanxi stood beside him, his face calm, as if this was not the hall of the government office, but his home. There was a flash of disdain and indifference in his eyes, as if he had seen through it all.

"How dare you! You don't even kneel before Lord Yan!" Jiang Yingkui shouted at Cai Yuanxi when he saw him being so arrogant. His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he could no longer tolerate Cai Yuanxi's arrogant attitude.

"I have a reputation, so I don't need to kneel when I see an official!" Cai Yuanxi said calmly, his voice full of calmness and confidence. According to the system of the Ming Dynasty, people with a reputation did not need to kneel when they saw an official. Even ordinary people only needed to bow and kowtow when they saw an official. Only criminals needed to kneel in the courtroom where "a bright mirror was hanging high". Similarly, when officials of the Ming Dynasty met, they did not need to kneel, but only bow and kowtow.

Zhu Fenghui smiled and waved his hand to signal Jiang Yingkui to leave. He knew how arrogant Cai Yuanxi was now, and how miserable he would be later. A trace of sinisterness flashed in his eyes, as if he had already seen the scene of Cai Yuanxi being punished.

"Cai Yuanxi, you sold military supplies that were strictly prohibited by the imperial court, and you are suspected of treason. Do you plead guilty?" Zhu Fenghui asked sternly. His voice was full of majesty and coldness, as if he had already judged Cai Yuanxi's guilt.

Cai Yuanxi bowed deeply with an expressionless face and said, "I am innocent! Please, Lord Yan, look into this matter." His voice was full of helplessness and pleading, as if he had seen that his fate was controlled by Zhu Fenghui.

"Clear inspection? Now my people have found the forbidden red cannons, projectiles, gunpowder, and armor in your Caishi business's convoy. Do you have anything to explain?" Zhu Fenghui questioned. His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he could no longer tolerate Cai Yuanxi's sophistry.

Cai Yuanxi blinked his eyes, finally realizing that the truth had been revealed. In fact, if there was no solid evidence, Zhu Fenghui would not try the case in the lobby. But... those things were provided by Zhu Fenghui, isn't he afraid that I will bite back? No! When he received those materials, Zhu Fenghui did not show up. If I fail to bite back, I will be charged with false accusations. He pondered for a moment, then said: "Your Excellency is wronged! Our Cai-style company is engaged in legal business. If you don't believe it, you can ask Commander Lang." His voice was full of pleading and helplessness, as if he had seen his end.

"Oh, by the way..." Cai Yuanxi suddenly kicked the butler, then bowed to Zhu Fenghui and said, "An hour ago, the butler and I came to the government office to report that we lost dozens of carriages this morning. It should be those who stole the carriages and used the name of our Cai-style business to commit treasonous acts." His voice was full of sophistry and shirking of responsibility, as if he had pushed all the blame on those unknown carriage thieves.

However, Zhu Fenghui was not fooled by his sophistry. He slammed the gavel and shouted angrily: "You still don't tell the truth when you are about to die! Those horsemen and porters pointed out your steward, saying that he was instructed by you to transport these materials to Zhangjiakou Fort and then replaced the horses with camels in the fort.

Under the majestic gaze of Lord Yan, I, a small and insignificant person, felt a surge of fear in my heart. I spoke boldly, and although my voice was as soft as a mosquito, it was full of sincerity: "The family business is huge, and there are many trivial matters. It has always been managed by the housekeeper. Now everyone is accusing my housekeeper. I hope Lord Yan can inquire in detail, investigate everything, and clear my name!"

Seeing my obvious attempt to shirk responsibility, Jiang Yingkui and Ding Yi were like being burned by a raging fire. They were so angry that they could hardly hold back and drew their swords against me. The tense atmosphere was like an arrow on a string, ready to explode at any moment. The scene was tense and suffocating.

Zhu Fenghui, the wise man in the government office, looked calm, as if he was detached from the troubles of the world. He nodded slightly, his eyes deep, as if he could see through the essence of everything in the world. At this moment, his eyes fell on Cai Yuanxi's housekeeper, a gaze that could penetrate people's hearts.

The government offices, like the imperial court, have their own unshakable rules. Everything must be based on evidence, and only when there is solid evidence can a conviction be made. This is the cornerstone of government operations, as solid as a rock and unshakable.

Upon seeing this, the housekeeper hurriedly explained, "I have never met the villain that Lord Yan mentioned, and I don't know why he wants to pin the blame on me. Everything I have done is legal. How dare I violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty?" There was a hint of panic and innocence in his words.

However, Zhu Fenghui remained unmoved. He gave the order: "Take the prisoner to identify the traitor." His voice was calm and firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Soon, several prisoners wearing heavy shackles staggered into the hall, pushed by the yamen runners. Some of them had despair in their eyes, while others revealed a hint of subtle cunning.

"Is it this person who ordered you to transport the supplies to Liaodong?" Zhu Fenghui's voice echoed in the lobby with an irresistible force.

"Yes, it's this person." The prisoners' answers were like thunder, exploding in the hall.

The butler looked up in astonishment, looking at these so-called "death warriors" in disbelief. They were all raised by him and Cai Yuanxi with a lot of money, and they should not fear life and death, so why would they betray them? His heart was full of doubts and confusion.

Things seemed strange and unusual, as if there was an invisible force controlling everything in secret.

"Take them away!" Zhu Fenghui gave an order, and several prisoners were expelled from the hall. Their figures gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.

"I'll give you a chance, will you confess or not?" Zhu Fenghui's voice was like ice, piercing and cold.

The butler held his head high and nodded heavily to Zhu Fenghui, then turned to Cai Yuanxi, his eyes revealing determination and resoluteness. He seemed to have made some kind of decision at this moment.

"I feel so ashamed to have done this to Mr. Fan. I will repay you for your kindness in my next life..." After saying this, he stretched out his tongue with all his strength, wanting to bite it off to commit suicide and die to show his determination.

However, at this critical moment, there was a loud bang, and the butler was kicked to the ground just as he was about to bite his tongue.

Zhang Feng, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, the legendary master of the prison, skillfully took out a wooden stick from his arms, stuffed it into the butler's mouth, and tied it tightly with a rope. His movements were crisp and neat, without a trace of drag. Then, he bowed to Zhu Fenghui and said, "Zhang Feng, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, greets Lord Yan!"

As soon as the three words "Jinyiwei" came out, everyone looked at them sideways. In the past, Jinyiwei were just gangsters wearing court robes, or even worse than gangsters, cowardly and fearful of death, and with bad discipline. But Zhang Feng in front of them, with a burly figure, agile movements, and full of energy, was very different from the Jinyiwei that everyone imagined. His appearance seemed to add an unusual color to this interrogation.

"Okay, then I'll trouble Captain Zhang to interrogate this steward in front of all the villagers!" Zhu Fenghui's voice was filled with expectation and trust.

Professional matters should be handled by professionals, this was Guo Tianyang's advice before he left. And the Jinyiwei were experts in prison matters, specializing in dealing with those stubborn criminals.

After receiving the order, Zhang Feng ordered someone to bring a bench and a hammer. Under the suppression of two Jinyiwei, the butler's hand was pressed on the bench. His fingers trembled slightly, as if telling of his inner fear and anxiety.

Zhang Feng stroked the hammer affectionately and asked softly, "Butler, what do you have to say?" However, before the butler could respond, Zhang Feng had already raised the hammer and smashed it hard on the little finger of his right hand.

"Ah!" The butler held the stick in his mouth. Although his cry was not harsh, the shrill and dull cry of pain instantly filled the entire hall. His little finger had been smashed to pieces, bloody and mangled, which was shocking.

Zhu Fenghui, Ding Yi, and Jiang Yingkui, even though they were used to seeing bloody scenes on the battlefield, could not help but be shocked when they saw this scene. The reputation of Jinyiwei's prison was indeed well-deserved. After just one encounter, they were impressed.

The onlookers, the common people and the gentry, all swallowed their saliva, and looked at Zhang Feng with eyes full of fear and awe. This man... was too terrifying, and his methods were chilling.

Zhang Feng reluctantly took back the hammer and wiped the blood off it with his sleeve, as if it was a precious work of art. His eyes revealed an indescribable enthusiasm and persistence.

"Butler, what do you have to say?" After Zhang Feng finished speaking, the hammer in his hand was already pointed at the butler's left little finger, as if it would fall at any time.

"Huff...Ah, wuwu!" Although the butler's words were unclear, you could tell from his expression that he was cursing. His eyes were filled with anger and unwillingness.

Zhang Feng sneered and began to count down in his mind. Hitting at intervals would maximize the pain, which was his creed and also his method.

Bang! This time, the butler fainted before he could even scream. His face was as pale as paper, and his body was trembling slightly, as if he was experiencing endless torture.

Zhang Feng ordered his attendants: "Come here, wash the housekeeper thoroughly." His voice was cold and ruthless, as if he was talking about something insignificant.

A Jinyiwei brought a basin of water and dipped the butler's hands in it. At that moment, the butler's cry of pain rang out again, it was an indescribable pain and suffering.

Everyone knew that the basin was filled with salt water. The stimulation of the salt water doubled the pain of the housekeeper. His face turned pale and his eyes were dodging, fearing that Zhang Feng's hammer would fall again.

"Butler, what do you have to say?" Zhang Feng dipped the hammer into salt water and cleaned it carefully, as if it was a precious treasure.

"If you have, nod your head! If not, I'll give you a thumbs up this time!" Zhang Feng's voice was cold and ruthless, as if he was talking about something unimportant.

If it was just torture, the butler might be able to hold on. However, the psychological pressure Zhang Feng put on him was too great. The first time, before he could respond, he had already swung the hammer! After the second salt water wash, the pain doubled; the third time... he was told that he would smash his thumb. This kind of psychological pressure instantly broke his psychological defenses.

The butler nodded heavily, indicating that he had something to say. His eyes revealed a kind of helplessness and determination, as if at this moment, he had made some kind of decision.

Zhang Feng said with regret: "Alas, I haven't had enough fun yet!" His voice was filled with regret and reluctance. After saying that, he looked at Cai Yuanxi, his eyes full of expectation and amusement.

Cai Yuanxi was frightened by Zhang Feng's eyes and took a step back. He stood there in a daze, and even forgot to use his eyes to remind the housekeeper not to betray him. His heart was filled with fear and anxiety, as if there was an invisible force pushing him into the abyss.

"Come here, give the butler paper and pen, and tell him to write down everything he knows!" Zhu Fenghui gave an order, and the yamen runners fetched paper and pen, surrounded the butler, and watched him write. Their eyes revealed a kind of indifference and ruthlessness, as if they were watching an insignificant drama.

Two quarters of an hour later, the butler endured the severe pain in his fingers and wrote down the evidence of Cai Yuanxi's crime. His handwriting was crooked, but it revealed a kind of determination and firmness. It was his betrayal of Cai Yuanxi, but also his redemption of himself.

Zhu Fenghui ordered the yamen runners to read the testimony in public. When they read the part about Cai Yuanxi transporting supplies to Liaodong, the common people and gentry in the hall all glared at him, wishing to tear him to pieces on the spot. Their eyes were filled with anger and hatred, as if they wanted to devour Cai Yuanxi.

In the seventh year of Lin Xiaofeng, Huang Taiji entered the pass and looted Datong and Xuanfu before returning to Liaodong. The Jiannu looted, killed people, set fires, and committed all kinds of evil! The people hated the Jiannu to the core, and Cai Yuanxi's treasonous behavior made them extremely angry.

"Cai Yuanxi, we have all the evidence, you have collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, what else can you say to deny it?" Zhu Fenghui's voice was like ice, piercing and cold. His eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness and determination.

"I..." Cai Yuanxi was about to speak, but he saw Zhang Feng standing beside him. His eyes revealed an indescribable fear and uneasiness. He suppressed his inner fear and said stubbornly: "My housekeeper was tortured into confessing, and I was also wronged. Please understand." Collaboration with the enemy and treason is a serious crime that will kill all nine generations of the family. Naturally, he could not admit it.

Zhu Fenghui was so angry that he laughed. (End of this chapter)