The night was dark and the wind was blowing, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not allow the eunuch to close the doors and windows, and allowed the cold wind to hit his face. His resolute face was filled with a layer of indescribable anger.
Zhu Yuanzhang can attack those civil servants and powerful men at will. As long as the evidence is solid, he has nothing to care about.
After all, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, a person with a mud-legged background is not from the same world as those Confucian scholars who are corrupt. They are corrupt and pervert the law, so they just kill them.
But for those fellow countrymen, Paoze, and military lieutenant general Zhu Yuanzhang, their views were different.
The place where the big guy grew up with his bare buttocks is not a village, but a nearby villager.
Both of us know how our days are going.
Who didn't come from a poor family? He was bullied and looked down upon by others. He had to herd sheep for landlords at a young age and suffered all kinds of hardships. Finally, he got an opportunity, joined the army, and conquered the country with his life.
After so many years, countless soldiers have died in battles. How lucky they are to be able to survive, find wives and children, and live with their country.
But why don’t these people know how to cherish it?
Do you just have to put your own grace on the ground?
Do you really think we don’t dare to kill people?
You are wrong. There is no one here in Zhu Yuanzhang who dare not kill!
Old Zhu thought about it all night long and didn't sleep.
Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang directly issued an order to invite Lu Zhongheng and Tang Shengzong. When the following people went, Lao Zhu got some cold water, washed it casually, cheered up, and sat down in the main hall to wait for these two people.
The arrival of people.
Not long after, the two generals, who had been granted the title of marquis, came together to pay homage to Lao Zhu, and Zhu Yuanzhang asked someone to give them seats.
Then he said with a smile: "Lu Zhongheng, your son Lu Xian has performed well in martial arts. We heard from the second brother that he is extremely smart and a rare good boy. We are all fellow villagers and monarchs. Apart from those few boys, we
Besides, I also have several daughters. We want to get married to you!"
Lu Zhongheng was shocked, including Tang Shengzong next to him, who was a little surprised.
These two people usually have a very good relationship. Zhu Yuanzhang called them together and said that he was not afraid, which was a lie. They couldn't figure out why Lao Zhu wanted to find them. Could something have happened?
But now when they heard it, both of them were happy.
Most likely His Majesty wants to get married and then let Tang Shengzong be the matchmaker.
Lu Zhongheng immediately bowed and said politely: "Come on, my boy is not worthy of the princess!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "What is there to be unworthy of? We are all from the same hometown, how can our daughter be so noble!" When Zhu Yuanzhang said this, he paused for a while, and then sighed: "When we returned to our hometown to recruit soldiers, you all followed us.
Come here, in more than ten years, our monarchs and ministers have conquered the Ming Dynasty together! You all know how much effort has been put into this and how many brothers have died!"
The two of them were stunned and didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Lao Zhu continued: "From the bottom of our hearts, we are naturally willing to watch the Ming Dynasty prosper with you, watch our descendants, support each other, and keep going."
Lu Zhongheng said quickly: "The grace of superiority is engraved in my heart, and I dare not forget it day and night."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Lu Zhongheng and found that his face was still full of joy. No doubt that he was there, Zhu Yuanzhang simply looked at Tang Shengzong and whispered: "We heard that your family recently built an ancestral hall?"
Tang Shengzong was stunned and thought to himself: Does Your Majesty already know about this?
"When I came back to the throne, yes, I built an ancestral hall. I, I was honored by your majesty and honored my ancestors. The Tang family and the Tang family's ancestral graves all had green smoke, and the ancestors of the eighteen generations followed suit. Therefore, I built the ancestral hall to show that
celebrate."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and suddenly said: "Didn't that ancestral hall cost a lot of money?"
Tang Shengzong was stunned for a moment, and he didn't know how to answer!
Lu Zhongheng was also stupid. He had a very good relationship with Tang Shengzong and planned to build the ancestral hall to show his face in front of his hometown people. Therefore, Lu Zhongheng said: "Your Majesty, I heard that I didn't spend too much money, let alone to give my ancestors a raise."
The face is also what it should be."
Tang Shengzong also reacted at this moment and said hurriedly: "I spent less than three thousand dollars to build the ancestral hall. It was all my salary and the rewards from my superior. I definitely did not take bribes and pervert the law!"
Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, but remained silent. Time passed little by little, and Tang Shengzong simply swore, "I am grateful to the emperor for receiving the emperor's favor. I have never dared to take bribes, pervert the law, and enrich myself. I dare to swear to God!"
Lu Zhongheng also said: "I am willing to guarantee that everything Tang Hou said is true!"
Zhu Yuanzhang finally sighed, "Get up!"
The two men got up from the ground, but there was already sweat on their foreheads.
Zhu Yuanzhang added: "You, like us, all come from a poor background, and you should know the sufferings of the people. Those money are the people's fat and the people's life. They are squeezed out from the bones of living people! What we hate most is
Corrupt officials, especially those who come from poor backgrounds and turn against poor people, deserve to be despised and killed!"
Zhu Yuanzhang almost said these words through gritted teeth. Lu Zhongheng and Tang Shengzong looked at each other, feeling uneasy in their hearts. They vaguely noticed that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have something in mind, but the two of them had a trace of luck.
"If you return to your superior position, the same will be true for me and others. Therefore, I will definitely not dare to engage in any bribery behavior. Please give me a clear warning from your superior position!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, his mood waned, and he said to the side: "Bring the gold cup here, we want to drink with them."
Soon three golden cups were delivered. Zhu Yuanzhang poured them a glass of wine with his own hands, and then filled a cup for himself. Then he said: "We have all remembered what you just said. It has been more than ten years, and we must be honest.
Words! If you tell the truth, we like to hear it and we are willing to believe it."
The two people's hearts moved again, but they still gritted their teeth and said: "If you return to the upper position, I will not dare to deceive you!"
"Okay then, let's have a drink!"
Zhu Yuanzhang raised the golden cup, drank the wine in the cup with the two men, and waved for them to go down.
Lu Zhongheng and Tang Shengzong said goodbye to Zhu Yuanzhang and walked outside step by step. Their emotions were surging. Lu Zhongheng turned back several times and looked at the main hall.
"Old Tang, tell me, what do you mean when you said that the superior wanted to get married, said those words, and drank with us?" Lu Zhongheng said worriedly: "How about we tell the matter to the superior?
…”
"Shut up!" Tang Shengzong was anxious, "Old Lu, are you crazy? Can you tell us about that? You don't want to live anymore? Even if the superiors want to spare us, there are so many civil and military ministers in the dynasty, how can they let us go?
?”
Lu Zhongheng still pondered, "Why don't we go to Prime Minister Zhang's place and have a talk?"
"No!" Tang Shengzong immediately shook his head, "Old Lu, this is not the way to seek death. Even if something happens, with our merits, can we still lose our heads? If you go now, not only will the title be gone, but our children will also be gone.
They will be implicated. Also, our subordinates have been suffering for many years, and it’s time to enjoy themselves. Again, there is a knife to kill the courtiers, but there is no sword to cut us!"
Lu Zhongheng thought again and again and had no choice but to follow Tang Shengzong to resist.
Almost at the same time, more and more news arrived in the hands of Zhang Ximeng and Zhu Yuanzhang... It was Miao Daheng's second son who helped Tang Shengzong build the ancestral hall. He spent at least 50,000 yuan on it, and it was magnificent inside.
Quite impressive.
Tang Shengzong was naturally very useful. With his help in the court, the Miao family could make great profits and be unscrupulous.
"Mr. Zhang, where do you think this case can go? Is it Tang Shengzong and Lu Zhongheng?" Zhu Yuanzhang considered: "Will it involve more? Higher?"
Zhang Ximeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, those who are higher than them are the governors. They all lead their own troops. It is absolutely impossible for them to do such a thing, and they will not be involved. But if time goes by,
If this kind of thing is allowed to spread, it will even become a habit. If you keep yourself clean, you will become an alien. In that case, I will have a hard time talking to you!"
Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth and said, "If that happens, our Ming Dynasty will be destroyed!"
Lao Zhu stood up decisively, "No matter what, we have decided to get to the bottom of it. Sir, you must also be prepared."
Zhang Ximeng can only nod. What preparations are there? Why don’t I just help you wipe your butt?
Zhang Ximeng simply said nothing more, and Lao Zhu immediately arranged for people from the Security Department to intensify the investigation.
The Miao family, Tang Shengzong, Lu Zhongheng, and others who were close to them also began to investigate.
Blood letters written against the common people must also be verified to see if they are true or false?
Lao Zhu is taking more and more actions and sending more and more people down. Obviously, he can't be as unnoticed as before.
After the people from the Guards Department found out something, they took two witnesses and took a boat back to Yingtian. When the boat reached the middle of the river, it actually leaked.
Three officers from the Public Security Bureau, plus two witnesses, all fell into the water.
The body was discovered by fishermen two days later. They fished it out and reported it to Guo Ying.
I just got the news that Guo Ying is stupid, is he so unscrupulous?
Do you even dare to kill people from my Imperial Guard?
You are so unscrupulous!
Also from Huaixi, Guo Ying treated these generals with courtesy and respect, but he never expected that someone would dare to kill someone from the Gongwei Division privately. This seriously challenged his bottom line.
Therefore, Guo Ying hurriedly came to see Zhu Yuanzhang and explained the matter.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face quickly darkened, and a strong anger surged from the bottom of his heart... It's not that he didn't give him a chance, but it was a pity that he didn't appreciate it.
We gave you a golden cup, but you treat us like this!
There is no other way, we can only show our strength!
"Guo Ying, your Guards Department has died, and now you are asked to select elite soldiers and generals. Can you find out this case?"
"Yes!" Guo Ying immediately replied: "Commander Mao Xiang was originally in the army to investigate lawlessness and take charge of military law. In the salt affairs department, he was responsible for the two thousand households. This person was careful and meticulous in doing things.
!”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Okay, let's go!"
Guo Ying hurriedly went down, and then Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the sword on the wall and pulled it out violently. The cold light flashed and captured the soul...