After Zhu Youtang finished talking about the education of his children, he immediately invited Zhang Zhou to sit aside, and the two of them were facing the military map.
"Bingkuan, I want you to investigate the mining tax. In addition to the mining tax, there are also officials who are lining their own pockets. I want to eradicate these moths at once. Although I also know that if I do this, it may You will offend a lot of people, but no one knows more about mining than you."
Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Zhou with an embarrassed expression.
Obviously he was afraid that Zhang Zhou would offend too many people, and wanted to protect Zhang Zhou, but he also felt that there were some things that Zhang Zhou had to do.
Zhang Zhou said: "The involvement behind the scenes is indeed not small."
Zhu Youtang sighed: "Actually, the reason why I care so much is because I don't want to be known as a belligerent."
"Why does Your Majesty have such thoughts?" Zhang Zhou asked.
"Alas! War costs money and requires people and money. Kings who have achieved great things since ancient times will be discredited no matter how much credit they have. For example, Emperor Taizong was often criticized when he went to Mongolia. ?" Zhu Youtang took Zhu Di as an example.
Zhang Zhou thought to himself, this shouldn’t be the reason why Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty was criticized, right?
“Let’s talk about Emperor Qin and Emperor Wu of Han. Who is not a heroic figure? He conquered the grasslands and solved the dynasty’s border troubles. It can be said that his name will go down in history, but he is still criticized by others.”
Zhu Youtang said earnestly, "If I don't need too much money from the court, just relying on my planning with you to get a batch of money and materials from overseas, plus the income from mining and farming, we can eliminate the dangers of the grassland." If you remove me, no one will make any remarks about my merits or demerits."
Zhang Zhou nodded and said, "Your Majesty's concerns are justified."
I don't want to spend time fighting. The imperial court's money, but they want to spend it on me...
Don't worry if someone is really embezzling the imperial court's money. Someone wants to secretly embezzle your private treasury. You are more nervous than anyone else.
"My, that is, yours, Bingkuan, I feel that we can work together with you on this matter." Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Don't worry, no matter who is found, as long as he is Those who profit from this are those who are against my grand plan. I have told Yang Peng to investigate carefully, and every one of them will be counted. You can go and convict them boldly. As long as you think they are guilty, you will be punished. He is beyond redemption!"
The implication is.
Just watch the interrogation.
I fully support you in setting up a big prison in the imperial court.
Zhang Zhoudao: "I am afraid that I will wrongly accuse some people, or that I will be accused of deliberately exaggerating the situation and causing unjust imprisonment."
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "Your Can I still not understand temperament? Don’t say you don’t know it. Even if you really know how to do it, I still think it is necessary to shut up some people. If I feel that some people are useful to the court and the future plains Yes, even if they do something illegal, I can temporarily forgive them... I will definitely do everything according to your wishes.rest assured. "
...
...
Zhang Zhou saw that the emperor fully trusted him.
But this trust... He was also a little confused. He had really become one person and more than ten thousand people. It seemed that he had lost his goal in life.
What is the next step to rebel and become the emperor? ?
Is it necessary?
Either continue to expand the territory, or cultivate Zhu Houzhao, or accumulate more wealth to help Zhu You Zangping Grassland?
Now that he is faced with the emperor's absolute trust, if he is asked to set up a prison, he will feel that he is eliminating trouble for the emperor.
Yang Peng was responsible for sending Zhang Zhou out of the palace, and was also responsible for reporting the case to Zhang Zhou: "Sir, as previously agreed, we will start with the insignificant Hanlin Academy. The bachelor's degree scholar Jiao has not moved yet, but his son, Someone has been sent to secretly guard him. This man can be said to have great hands and eyes around the capital. Relying on his father's power, Li Zhang once supported him. He made many party members, related to the trafficking of coal, pig iron, and even fish. He always acts as a helper behind the scenes for the common people. "
"Really? "Zhang Zhou's face was neither cold nor hot.
Yang Peng said: "This man's name is Jiao Huangzhong. ”
Zhang Zhou nodded.
Jiao Fang is a typical example of vulgar learning in history. It may also be because he is attached to Liu Jin, the eunuch, and many literati at that time despised him. , but it is generally recognized that his son Jiaohuangzhong was uneducated and unskilled
In the third year of Zhengde, Jiaohuangzhong took part in the examination, and with the help of his father's power, he became a high school Jinshi. Originally, Jiaofang wanted to use Liu Jin's power to win the imperial examination. Jiao Huang was the top pick, but was blocked by Li Dongyang and Wang Hao, and was only ranked first in the second class.
This ranking is considered high, but Jiao Fang is still not satisfied.
Furthermore, the father and son later worked for Liu Jin and did a lot of things to bully the market and frame Zhongliang. However, because Jiao Fang invited herself back to her hometown in May of the fifth year of Zhengde, she escaped Liu Jin's eunuch party in August. Although the civil servants requested that Jiao Fang be held responsible for the collapse of the group, he was spared death because Jiao Fang was a cabinet minister and had a certain reputation during the Hongzhi Dynasty, and did not rely on Liu Jin to gain power.
When Liu Jin gained power, Jiao Fang and Jiao Huangzhong were attached to Liu Jin and were the backbone of the eunuch party.
"Where are they?" "Zhang Zhou asked.
Yang Peng said: "I didn't get the Jinyiwei North Town Fusi because I was afraid of being known. I am still in secret custody. Although I have been interrogated, he did not tell me a few things. The ministers who had dealings with him did not confess any corruption or perversion of the law. Without him opening his mouth, it would be difficult to touch Academician Jiao. ”
If you want to operate on me, you must first pry open my son’s mouth.
Zhang Zhou also discovered that Yang Peng is still very capable. Although Jiao Fang is cautious, he But his son didn’t understand what restraint was, and it was considered a means.
Zhang Zhou nodded and said, “Then take me over and take a look. "
"Please."
Yang Peng smiled and made a gesture of leading the way.
...
...
A secret house in the capital is where Dongchang detains prisoners. Zhang Zhou is also familiar with this place. Ning Tong was previously imprisoned. After Yang Peng was transferred out of the imperial edict, he was detained in this courtyard.
It’s just that Jiaohuangzhong obviously didn’t receive the same treatment as Ning Tong.
The torture instruments and other equipment were all served. After only a day or two, the person was already beaten into a human shape. When Zhang Zhou entered the torture room and saw the scorched yellow corpse hanging on the wooden shelf, he was shocked. The person is already breathing too much out and not breathing in enough, and most of his life is gone.
This also shows that Yang Peng will do anything to achieve success.
If Jiao Huangzhong does not speak, then he will have a bad start in investigating the case. Yang Peng is afraid that the emperor will think he is incompetent.
"Father, I fainted again." Someone came over to report to Yang Peng, and then the executioner was so frightened when he saw Zhang Zhou.
Yang Peng did not speak to the criminal officer, but smiled and said to Zhang Zhou: "Sir, how do you think the trial will be carried out?"
Zhang Zhou said: "Bring the case and so on, and I will do it again. Look. Let’s talk in another place.”
Zhang Zhou didn’t seem to adapt to the bloody smell in the torture chamber, so he immediately walked to the next room, and then Yang Peng personally handed Zhang Zhou a booklet with the list listed on it. The things he was told after being taken into custody were revealed.
"Didn't they also recruit a few people?" Zhang Zhou said.
Yang Peng said: "Sir, you may not know that he only recruited some lower-level officials. As long as it involves Beijing officials or local officials, he will not say anything about it. It is obvious that some of them have already There is evidence, but he still refuses to admit it."
Zhang Zhou sighed: "The so-called evidence actually lacks more evidence to prove it, doesn't it?"
"This... ...Yes." Yang Peng didn't know what medicine Zhang Zhou was selling. < /p>
"Sir, what do you mean, let him go first?"
Yang Peng was a little surprised.
From what Zhang Zhou meant, there was no need to spend a lot of time on Jiaohuang Zhong.
Or maybe they think that Yang Peng is too eager for success. He actually arrested a Jiaohuang Zhong and wanted to pull out all the people in the case.
Zhang Zhoudao: "Of course you can't let people go, but you have to be reasonable. I think we can discuss it with him and make some deals, such as surrendering some people, and we will get some benefits. , Extorting a confession through torture alone is useless."
"Haha." Yang Peng obviously didn't agree with Zhang Zhou's method of inducement.
With Yang Peng's character, he will never show mercy if he can be ruthless.
This is also where Yang Peng and Li Zhang have very similar temperaments. If Yang Peng hadn’tWith such ruthlessness, Zhu Youtang could not let Yang Peng replace Li Zhang in charge of the East Factory, because the person Zhu Youtang needed to take charge of the East Factory was not a good man, but a ruthless person.
We need someone who can do all the bad things for Zhang Zhou. The previous Li Zhang was sent out because he offended too many people, and then he was replaced by the seemingly gentle Yang Peng. , but the emperor knew that Yang Peng was not a good person.
"Call the man over here and see if I can talk to him."
"Yes, I will get the man over here for you."
...
...
Yang Peng personally went to the next door and asked someone to untie Zhuhuangzhong from the shelf, and then asked him to drag the heavy shackles and appear in front of Zhang Zhou .
The burnt yellow eyes were dull. Even when he saw a man in official uniform sitting in front of him, he didn’t know Zhang Zhou. He didn’t know who Zhang Zhou was... Let’s talk about Zhang Zhou. Zhou is usually regarded as a mysterious figure in the court, and someone like Jiao Huangzhong who has not even become an official yet, naturally does not recognize him.
This kind of second-generation official is equivalent to the white gloves of officials and businessmen. Most courtiers know him, but when it comes to Zhang Zhou, his set of logic does not work.
"Do you know why you are here?" Yang Peng asked.
“I don’t know.” Jiao Huangzhong was weak when he spoke.
Yang Peng smiled and said: "You are really looking for death. Do you think your father can come to save you? Our family is Yang Peng, the admiral of Dongchang. Do you know your situation?"
p>"Eunuch Yang, help me." He knelt there in the scorched yellow color and kowtowed to Yang Peng, "The villain has made some mistakes, but he definitely did not endanger the imperial court, nor did he endanger you. If you have any needs, please feel free to ask. "If you try your best, my father will do it for you." "It's too late," Yang Peng said, "Let's put it this way, will you give me your head?"
"Ahem..." Zhuangzhong coughed, but there was blood at the corner of his mouth. It was obvious that this person had also suffered some internal injuries.
Zhang Zhou sat there with a very comfortable look on his face and said: "Your father is just a bachelor's degree student at the Hanlin Academy. He is a noble official, but your family background is quite good. I heard that you come and go. They all have luxury cars, and they have many followers. They even spend a lot of money when traveling to and from the Jiaofang Department. Even some Qin Lou Chu Pavilion are frequent visitors, and they spend a lot of money." "My lord, there is nothing wrong with it," Jiao Huangzhong said. He said, "It's all malicious slander by some people."
Zhang Zhou said, "I know who you are, so let's put it this way, all the money you spend is theoretically mine."
"Huh?"
Jiao Huangzhong looked surprised.
All the money I spend is yours? who are you?
Then his face was a little frightened. Although he did not know Zhang Zhou, from the official uniform of Zhang Zhou and the age of Zhang Zhou, he could stand up to Yang Peng. When I was sitting there... I already guessed who it was.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Haha, how can I feel thatAny surprise? Tell me, is it easy for me to open a mine? From east to west, I have dozens of mines, right? In addition to the affiliations and dependencies, as well as the ore veins originally opened by the imperial court, they can bring an income of two to three hundred taels of silver to the imperial court every year. Although most of them are used for border affairs and the construction of coastal cities, there are still many Shao... was hacked. "
He was speechless.
"Let me just say, my wallet is never full. Even when I go out, I can only take the royal guards arranged by the court with me. I can't be lavish, but someone is spending money on my behalf. I'm also not lucky enough to do things but don't get anything in return. Don't you think it's a pity? Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.
Yang Peng said with a smile: "Sir, you are too polite. You want to spend money. Who can stop you?" That is your frugality, and everyone in the government should follow your example. "
Zhang Zhou shook his head and said: "Actually, I also want to spend money lavishly. I also want to go to the Qinlou Chu Pavilion to be a master. All the top girls will greet me in my room, but the conditions do not allow it. . What I want to do is to accumulate military expenses for Your Majesty, fight wars for the court, and plan so many things. Outsiders think that I live a good life every day, but Your Majesty knows best the few coins around me, and I can be considered half a poor person... ...But it's not that the blame cannot be revealed. It can only be said that...he is not as wealthy as Mr. Jiao. ”
Jiao Huangzhong had no way to deal with it at this time.
He never expected that he would be able to see the famous Zhang Zhou of the Ming Dynasty on such an occasion today.
p>
This is someone he can't afford to offend.
If he had known that this was Dongchang's territory before, he would have thought that his father would be able to get him out.
< p>But when he met Zhang Zhoulai, he felt that his life should be over.Zhang Zhou said: "Ninety thousand taels of silver, this is the number that Eunuch Yang has set for you and your son. I think it is too much. You father and son should not be able to get so much money. ”
“Indeed. "Jiao Huangzhong hurriedly defended, "I hope you will be more aware of this, Mr. Zhang. ”
“You are taking my money. I know that I must check it, but I have no idea how to check it. Your Majesty said that this case belongs to me, and I have not set a standard for who will die or who will live. I can't kill your father casually. After all, we are both scholars, so I still have to give him face, but if it were you..."
“The villain knows his sin; "In addition to kowtow, Zhuangzhong doesn't seem to do anything else. The transcoding has been serious recently, which makes us more motivated and updates faster. Please move your little hand to exit the reading mode. Thank you