Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

The tax was indeed paid, and it was much more than the previous population tax.

"Ok!"

"Not bad!"

"You guys are pretty good."

“Keep working hard!”

"This is the duty of our subjects."

Zhu Xiongying nodded.

"very good!"

"Nothing, I'll leave first."

"You continue to implement the new policy and implement it throughout Huguang as soon as possible."

"I will speak for you in front of Grandpa Huang."

Upon hearing this, the officials' eyes lit up.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. We will definitely work hard."

"I will definitely not let your highness down."

"That's right! We will do our best."

"..."

Officials expressed their views one after another.

"Your Highness, are you leaving now?"

"Stay for dinner!"

"You haven't had your meal yet?"

"You are at the age when you are growing up. You need to eat well to stay healthy!"

"Only when you are in good health can you govern the Ming Dynasty better in the future!"

"The Ming Dynasty will also be more prosperous."

As expected of a person who can sit in the position of Chief Secretary, he always cares about the health of his leader.

There is nothing wrong with what he said.

"Need not!"

"I'll just go back to the inn and eat."

"Just work hard for the court."

"that's it."

After that, Zhu Xiongying stood up and left.

..........................................

Night is falling!

Inside the inn!
Zhu Xiongying sat at the coffee table drinking tea.

Yuan Tiangang's figure appeared beside him.

"How is it?"

"Your Highness, the water here is quite deep. I'm afraid it will take some time."

"But! It is basically certain that they are colluding with officials and businessmen."

"They concealed the amount of land for the landlord or gentry and took bribes from them."

"There are also cases where officials collect taxes in disguise, using the collected taxes to offset the taxes the court requires them to pay."

"Those landlords also increased the rents of their tenants."

"That's right! This is a notice from the government."

"They wanted to burn it, but they didn't have time. My people took it down."

As he unfolded the notice, Zhu Xiongying took a look and found that it was exactly the same as what the old man said.

"Humph!"

"How brave you are!"

"Grandma Empress has always wanted me to be a benevolent and holy ruler. I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint her."

"Keep checking!"

"Yes!"

......................................................

Shao Jinpeng’s residence!
"Sir, why did His Highness come here alone?"

“Is there any trick in this?”

"Could it be that he wants to go on a secret visit?"

Zhao Yushan said with a slightly frowned brow.

"If that's the case, I'm afraid we're in danger."

"Besides, as the crown prince, he can't possibly come alone."

"Maybe the Jinyiwei is hiding in the dark."

When Right Councillor Fu Yanghua said this, everyone frowned.

"If that's the case, then he's already doubting us."

"Sir, we have to think of a solution."

"Otherwise we'll all have to move our heads."

"Yes, sir!"

"..."

The officials looked worried.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Don't we all pay taxes already?"

"I've shown him the account book, so what are you afraid of?"

"However, even though we have done almost everything, we still need to be careful."

"Now that we have cancelled those miscellaneous taxes, I believe they will not be able to find out."

"Oh, right! We also need to warn those noble families to hide their land holdings."

"Give those landless tenants a holiday, and the rent will remain the same as before."

"In this way, isn't it perfect?"

"As soon as he leaves, hehe..."

When everyone heard this, they nodded.

"Your Excellency is right."

"Your Excellency is wise!"

"..."

Everyone started to flatter him.

"During this period of time, you all need to take care of yourselves and your subordinates."

"If you have shit on your butt, wipe it off and don't rub it on others."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"It's my lord!"

Shao Jinpeng nodded with satisfaction.

"My Lord! I heard that our prince really likes to listen to music. Should we arrange some for him?"

"This might also reduce his concentration, and maybe we can get through this."

"Hmm~"

"This is a good idea. Although it won't play a key role, it will be good to confuse him a bit."

"You are responsible for this matter. If you do it well, you will be rewarded!"

"Don't worry, sir. I will make sure it is done beautifully."

"it is good!"

................................................

next day!

Before Zhu Xiongying woke up, there was a knock on the door.

"Shit! Who is it?"

"Sir, there is a gentleman outside who wants to see you."

"No! Let him go!"

Zhu Xiongying hated being disturbed when he slept the most. In the past, in the palace, only Zhu Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang would disturb him, and no one else dared to do so.

Now I'm outside. If I disturb his sleep, he must be angry.

Commonly known as grumpiness when waking up!
Hearing this roar, the waiter was so scared that he left quickly.

"how's it going?"

"Sir, you better go!"

"The guest doesn't want to see you. He said...said..."

"What? Just tell me!"

"He told you to get out, and he was very angry."

Hearing this, the official frowned.

Very angry?
Did you know something?
When I thought of this, I immediately turned around and left in a hurry.

..........................................

The Governor's Office!
"What did you say?"

"You didn't see it?"

"And Your Highness is still very angry?"

"Yes!"

Shao Jinpeng frowned.

"Sir, do you think he discovered something?"

"Is that why you're so angry?"

"impossible!"

"We did it so perfectly, there's no way he would find out."

"There must be some misunderstanding here."

Shao Jinpeng waved his hand.

"Is there any misunderstanding?"

"After all, he was fine yesterday, and he hasn't come out since he returned to the inn yesterday."

"Our people are watching!"

"Then has he met anyone?"

The official thought for a moment and said, "No!"

"According to our people, he has been in the room since he returned to the inn."

“Not coming out!”

"That's weird!"

"Did you discover something before you came here?"

Shao Jinpeng frowned, puzzled.

"Sir, what should we do now?"

"Let everyone go to Lingxi Villa immediately!" "Yes!"

......................................................

Lingxi Villa!

All officials above the fourth rank in Huguang were present, as well as the heads of major families.

"Sir! You called us here so urgently. Has something happened?"

Zhao Yushan looked at Shao Jinpeng in confusion.

Shao Jinpeng told everyone what had just happened.

Everyone present was shocked when they heard this.

"Sir, could it be that he discovered something?"

"Should we make any other preparations?"

Everyone looked at Shao Jinpeng, waiting for him to make a decision.

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"At this point, we don't know if he has discovered anything."

"Even if he finds out something, we have to keep calm and take care of ourselves."

"As long as he doesn't have evidence, he can't do anything to us."

Shao Jinpeng said with a serious expression.

"Sir, what if he really finds out something?"

"After all, the Jinyiwei are not here to eat and do nothing."

"Yes, sir!"

"The power of the Jinyiwei is not something that ordinary people can stop."

"Even Hu Weiyong couldn't stop it back then!"

Everyone was still a little worried. After all, the Jinyiwei were very famous and most people were no match for them.

"The Imperial Guards also need evidence, so you all just need to take care of yourselves."

"Sir, the Jinyiwei are in the dark, and we are in the light. This... is hard to guard against!"

"And we must always prepare a way out!"

"We need to prepare for the worst. If they find out something, we won't be left with no way out."

"Yes, sir!"

"There must always be a way out!"

"..."

Everyone said something to me.

"A way out?"

"What other options are there?"

"Do you still want to kill him?"

"Don't you know he's the crown prince?"

"Want to fight against the court?"

As soon as Shao Jinpeng said this, everyone suddenly quieted down.

Are you going against the country because you are afraid that you won’t die fast enough?
"But are we just going to sit there and wait for death?"

"If he can't find it, he won't leave. We have to be careful every day."

"If this continues, everyone will make mistakes."

"Problems must be solved!"

Lin Decheng, the head of the Lin family, said helplessly.

"Yes, sir!"

"Mr. Lin's words make sense!"

"Over time, they will definitely find some clues."

"Then, it will be the end of the world I've been waiting for!"

"Sir, you don't want your bright future to be ruined just like this, do you?"

"Moreover, considering your majesty's character, I'm afraid that all of our nine clans may not be safe."

"..."

Hearing these words, Shao Jinpeng's face became very solemn.

"So what do you think should happen?"

"Sir, I think he should be removed from here as soon as possible."

"Let him leave without a doubt and willingly."

"That's how we can escape."

Shao Jinpeng glanced at Zhao Yushan and asked, "How?"

"As long as I feel like we're okay."

"Are you taking me too lightly?"

"I'm just small, not stupid."

"He could refine refined salt at the age of eight, and could find loopholes in the national policy set by Your Majesty at the age of ten."

"At the age of thirteen, he swept across the grasslands and defeated the enemy's 20,000 cavalry with only a few hundred men."

"Do you think someone like this would leave so easily?"

"The more we acted like there was nothing wrong with us, the more he thought there was something wrong with us."

"This will only make him more suspicious of us. Do you have a pig brain?"

Shao Jinpeng couldn't bear to look at his subordinate. He really didn't know how he got to this position.

"Sir, how should we deal with this?"

"You can't just do nothing, right?"

"This is no different from waiting to die!"

"Yes!"

"..."

Everyone frowned, their faces filled with worry.

Shao Jinpeng lowered his head in thought, and suddenly a bold idea came to his mind.

"Master Zhou, what did you say just now?"

Zhou Jiaren was slightly stunned: "Ah? What did I say?"

"You said that given your majesty's personality, we might not be able to protect our entire clan?"

"Oh yeah! What's wrong?"

"Look at Hu Weiyong, isn't that what happened to him?"

"If the Crown Prince really finds out, His Majesty hates corruption the most. Do you think our nine clans can be saved?"

Everyone nodded.

"That's right!"

"Since we can't protect the Nine Clans, let's rebel!"

hiss~
Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

"Big... lord!"

"Are you telling the truth?"

"You can't joke about this!"

Zhao Yushan's eyes were filled with fear.

"Don't you have to have a way out?"

“This is the way out!”

"Patriarch Zhou is right. Once Zhu Xiongying finds out something, our entire clan will be exterminated."

"If you rebel, your entire clan will be executed. If you are found out, your entire clan will also be executed."

"They are both going to kill nine clans, so why don't you rebel?"

"Rebellion still has a glimmer of hope. If you do nothing, you will die."

Shao Jinpeng's face was full of madness.

"Sir, the imperial court is now strong and powerful, I'm afraid we are no match for them!"

"Yes, sir!"

"I'm afraid we have no chance of winning!"

"..."

There was fear in everyone's eyes.

"Then I ask you, are you kind enough to just wait to die?"

"All your properties will eventually become someone else's."

"And you, the inheritance left by your ancestors will become someone else's."

"When you are in the underworld, how will you face your ancestors?"

"We are the highest officials in a province and we control the resources of the province."

"And you great families, with money and food, why can't you succeed?"

"At the beginning, Zhu Yuanzhang was a beggar, but we are officials."

"If he can do it, why can't we?"

"As long as you, the major families, can provide money and food, recruit soldiers, buy horses, and build equipment."

"What else is there to be afraid of?"

"Besides, don't forget that we still have Zhu Xiongying in our hands."

"If he is controlled, Zhu Yuanzhang will not dare to act rashly."

"In this case, what are we afraid of?"

"Then! You will all be founding fathers."

"They all have endless wealth and splendor, bringing honor to their family."

"Why not?"

"It's not that we don't have any advantages. On the contrary, our advantages are huge."

"You want to bring honor to your family, or you want to die with all your nine clans."

"Think about it for yourselves!"

When Shao Jinpeng said this, everyone frowned.

Start weighing the pros and cons in your heart!
"Sir, do we really have a chance of winning this?"

Lin Decheng's face was full of worry.

"That depends on whether you, the major families, will do your best."

"If you all join forces, your influence in Huguang will be huge."

"With the addition of us, how could we not have a chance of winning?"

"Instead of sitting and waiting for death, it is better to give it a try."

Everyone bowed their heads in thought.

"Well, if you are really scared."

"We can go and test Zhu Xiongying's situation first, if he really doesn't know."

"Then we'll just play along with him, and once he leaves, we'll be safe."

"But don't be prepared. After all, if he really knows, we won't stand a chance of winning."

"After all, it's better to be safe than sorry!" (End of this chapter)