Today, Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty is completely different from other dynasties, and the up and down traffic is very efficient.
It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang truly controlled the entire Ming Dynasty, and his decrees were truly implemented. Even if some nobles were corrupt, they had not yet formed a huge force, at least they had no intention of confronting the royal family.
The initiator of this rumor incident is Northwest.
The Ming Dynasty's ruling power over the entire northwest is much weaker than that in the south. Moreover, after hundreds of years of foreign rule, it has only been twenty-five years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Although no force dares to compete on the surface, there are many people who dare to do it behind the scenes.
It will take a long time, or several generations of education, to completely regain people's hearts.
This is why Shanxi merchants dared to provoke the court so much, and even ruined the reputation of the grandson, slandered Zhu Di, and alienated the royal family.
Being able to come up with such a strategy shows that Shanxi merchants have a very large and extensive network of people, not only involving the capital court, but also all the grasslands.
Secondly, among them, there are naturally indispensable military advisors and strategic talents. Most people would not even dare to think about such a strategy as alienating the royal family, let alone implement it.
However, with Zhu Ying, they made a huge mistake.
That is to block almost all the Shanxi merchant gangs, except Shanxi merchants, or to kill them all.
This left Zhu Ying with no news at all, whether it was the Qunying Chamber of Commerce or other small chambers of commerce wearing vests.
Suddenly Zhu Ying's eyes were fixed on Shanxi.
Even though they are spreading this rumor everywhere, the root cause has been completely discovered.
If we know that Shanxi merchants are responsible, things will be much easier to handle.
These days, whether you are doing business or going in and out of various passes, you need road guidance and household registration.
At this point, how can Zhu Ying still care about so many innocent and unjust cases?
The business gangs of Shanxi merchants are very closely connected. Regardless of their surname, they are like brothers when they are doing business outside.
This is the trend among Shanxi merchants.
In other words, even if you kill a thousand Shanxi merchants, not even one of them will be wrong. This one-in-a-thousand probability is enough in today's era.
The entire capital began a large-scale search of household registration records in Jin.
As long as your household registration is in Shanxi, then no matter what, arrest him first.
Even if you have lived in the capital for several years or more than ten years, you will still be arrested. Who knows if there is any secret communication involved.
Merchants from the Jin region entered the Bingmasi Prison, or were arrested directly into the military camp.
The people of Jin were sent to the prison of the Department of Public Security.
An official from the Jin Dynasty was imprisoned by Jinyiwei.
In less than two days, tens of thousands of Shanxi people were all arrested.
The whole capital's expression changed when they heard "Jin".
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
In Jinyiwei's prison, a man was being whipped, and his chest and back were covered in blood.
Jin Yiwei's whips are all made of special rattan. These rattans have been soaked in salt water and are rich in salt. When the whip is pulled down, the skin will be ripped open and the salt will also enter, stimulating pain.
In fact, flogging was officially banned after the Sui and Tang Dynasties because it caused too much damage, but this did not include special trial institutions such as Jinyiwei Prison.
"Cao Zixing, a doctor in the Ministry of Household Affairs, was ranked fifth. In the seventeenth year of Hongwu's reign, he served as the governor of Shanxi Salt Class Tiju Division for three years."
"Tell me, this time there are rumors about my great-grandson. What exactly is going on? Explain it in detail so that you don't get hurt."
"In our Jinyiwei Prison, this flogging is just the most basic one, and there are all kinds of punishments after that. I don't think you really want to taste it."
Song Zhong looked at Cao Zixing in front of him and said with a sneer.
At this moment, Cao Zixing, after experiencing a morning of whipping, had long since lost the strength to cry out. The burning pain tortured him all the time. He gasped violently and struggled to say: "Water, water."
Upon hearing this, Song Zhong glanced at Baihu next to him, who immediately brought a ladle of water and poured it into Cao Zixing's mouth.
After taking a few big sips and recovering a little, Cao Zixing said hoarsely: "If you want to impose a crime on me, why bother?"
"I have been an official for thirteen years since I was elected. I have never engaged in corruption, never offered bribes, and have never colluded with cronies. You and other guards in uniform are indiscriminate and there is no evidence."
"Just because I have a household registration in Shanxi, you will be arrested and sent to jail and you will be tortured."
Song Zhong sneered and thought about Cao Zixing's words.
"Come on, these words are useless to deceive people. Do you know why there are so many officials with household registration in Jin area? You alone can enjoy the personal interrogation of me."
"That's because among all the court officials with registered residence in Shanxi, you, Cao Zixing, have the highest rank."
"What is this officer asking you about? It's about the grandson's rumors, slandering the royal family. This is a heinous crime of disrespect, but you answered the question incorrectly. What kind of corruption and bribery are there? It's really funny, you are deceiving a fool."
"Oh, it's a good thing you are like this. Otherwise, when I checked your file, I would really think that you were innocent all your life and that you were a good official."
Hearing this, Cao Zixing lowered his head slightly. Regardless of whether he was looking at Song Zhong, a trace of panic and fear flashed deep in his eyes.
The dungeon of the imperial prison was very dark, and Cao Zixing's heart felt even colder.
He didn't expect that with just one word, the Jin Yiwei in front of him would catch him.
He wanted to explain, but at this moment Cao Zixing also understood that no matter how he explained the problems that had been exposed, the people in front of him would not choose to believe it.
He has been hiding for more than ten years, because one sentence went wrong, and he is not willing to accept it!!!
Song Zhong looked coldly at Cao Zixing in front of him. He was able to rise from a humble guard to the current rank of governor. The sacrifices involved in this are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Apart from anything else, when it comes to observing words and analyzing words, Song Zhong has already maxed out his talents.
How could such an obvious loophole not be noticed?
The reason why Cao Zixing has not been severely punished, only whipped, is because there is currently no evidence to prove that Cao Zixing had any collusion with Shanxi merchants.
The records in the file are very clean. Even when he was a salt officer, there was no trace of corruption.
On the contrary, in some detailed records, there are signs of being ostracized by colleagues.
At first glance, although Cao Zixing was registered in Shanxi, he had almost no contact with Shanxi merchants.
The reason why Song Zhong dared to whip Cao Zixing when he was arrested was entirely because of the information provided by the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.
It's just because Cao Zixing's surname is Cao, and his place of residence is no more than ten miles away from the Cao family of Shanxi merchants.
This alone is highly questionable.
Because the north was ruled by foreigners, in the imperial examination, or the examination of the Four Books and Five Classics, the gap between all the northern talents and the southern talents was not just one level.
This also leads to the fact that Cao Zixing, the fifth-rank official in Shanxi, is currently the highest-ranking official registered in the capital.
His resume seems clean, but in fact there are still many doubts.
A poor scholar from a poor family has had smooth sailing in his endeavors and is not as good as those of the noble class. However, his promotion is extremely stable without any setbacks.
It can be said that Song Zhong had done his homework well before coming, and he could recite the records of Juanzong Mountain in detail.
After struggling and hesitating for a while, Cao Zixing still didn't speak.
Song Zhong said softly: "You have to think clearly. If you don't explain, with the ability of our Jin Yiwei, there will be absolutely no problem in solving a solid case for you. Can the evidence be completely forged?"
"The rumor case has shocked both the government and the public. Without the death of a few officials, how can it be possible to calm the anger of His Majesty and His Highness the Grand Sun, let alone that I already know that you have a problem."
"We Jinyiwei have nothing to do on weekdays. Do you know where you like to go most? It is to listen to books in the teahouse."
"We've heard this story so many times that we can make up a few."
After hearing this, Cao Zixing sneered: "Isn't it just death? There's nothing to be afraid of. After entering your prison, I have no intention of getting out alive. If you have the ability, give me a good time."
Song Zhong smiled and burst into laughter. He laughed for a long time before stopping.
He said to Cao Zixing: "I'll give you a good time, okay, I have the final say on this matter, no problem."
"Well, you are happy here, but have you ever thought about your wife and daughter?"
"As far as I know, you don't seem to have any sons, just two unmarried daughters. I don't know if you are pretty or not."
"A few days ago, the Jiaofang Division was still complaining, saying that there have been no newcomers in the past few months. For a long time, Xungui said that he was a little tired of it. I believe Master Cao's wife and daughter should make many people happy.
Get up."
When Cao Zixing heard this, his eyes turned red, he glared at Song Zhong and said fiercely: "Despicable, shameless, and obscene!!!"
Hearing this, Song Zhong felt a little bored.
This scholar's scolding is so poor. He kept saying these words over and over again.
Song Zhong didn't care at all about this angry and cannibalistic look. Seeing this, the hundreds of households next to him gave him a slap in the face.
Phew!
Cao Zixing spurted out a mouthful of blood, and several teeth were knocked out.
Not just anyone can become a member of the Hundred Households of Jinyiwei. Even in the army, they are elite soldiers.
The strength of this slap can be considered to be restrained, otherwise a civil servant like Cao Zixing would most likely be slapped to death.
"Master Cao really has a good idea. He only cares about his own happiness and does not care about the misery of his family."
"But having said that, as Lord Cao, you can enjoy more than just these things. As the most hidden chess piece of Shanxi merchants in the capital, Lord Cao's treatment must be much higher."
"I and the Jin Yiwei will definitely compile a set of stories for Master Cao. In any case, we can help Master Cao win a quota to kill the Nine Tribes."
Song Zhong said lightly, saying such things in his mouth was just like ordinary chatting.
Cao Zixing froze when he heard about the execution of the Nine Tribes.
On the surface, he has no sons, but in fact, he has two sons.
And these two sons were already there before he took the imperial examination.
However, when his second child was born, his first wife died in childbirth. Due to some special relationships, his two sons were adopted to his cousins before going to the imperial examination.
At that time, the founding of the Ming Dynasty was not long ago, so the village kept this matter a secret.
When the government checked the household registration, it was naturally not recorded.
Song Zhong didn't know this.
But it doesn’t hinder the execution of the Nine Tribes, and they are also included in it.
"If I tell you, can you just kill me and spare my wife and daughter?"
After a long time, as if he had admitted defeat, Cao Zixing said slowly.
But when Song Zhong heard this, he was not excited or happy, but instead frowned.
Something is wrong.
Having been exposed to interrogations for many years, Song Zhong immediately noticed something was wrong.
Because Cao Zixing's compromise was too sudden.
However, it was naturally impossible for Song Zhong to guess the reason at once.
He pondered for a moment and said: "Master Cao will not be able to get out of this prison alive. If I can get some credit for what Master Cao told me, maybe my family members can survive."
"Of course, if Mr. Cao's explanation is of great use and can be of great merit, I can give a few words to His Highness Taisun regarding matters related to his wife and daughter."
"His Royal Highness Taisun is kind and kind, I believe Lord Cao also knows that."
Hearing this, Cao Zixing's heart dropped and he breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, the life and death of his wife and daughter, or being sent to the Jiaofang Division, made Cao Zixing angry at best, but it was absolutely impossible for him to compromise.
Only his two sons are his lifeblood.
It sounds a bit unhuman, but this is the way the world is today in the Ming Dynasty.
Furthermore, his wife was not from Shanxi at all, but was a wealthy woman who had passed the imperial examination.
At this time, Song Zhong, who had been staring closely at Cao Zixing's facial expression, felt something in his heart.
He was aware of what just happened.
What Cao Zixing cares about seems to be someone in the clan.
He did not say that his wife and daughter could escape from Jiaofangsi, but Cao Zixing did not pursue this issue.
So looking back just now, what made Cao Zixing change his mind and compromise was because of the sentence of "killing the nine tribes."
In fact, no matter who they are, people are selfish.
In the eyes of many prisoners, there is not much difference between the execution of the whole family and the execution of the nine clans. It is just that others think it is very miserable, and it is mostly used to frighten the clan.
Anyway, the incense has been cut off, and the life and death of the clan members are not that important.
This is what most people really think.
However, Cao Zixing's behavior was the opposite, and something was wrong.
Song Zhong was keenly aware that there was definitely someone in Cao Zixing's family whom he cared about very much.
Some details of the dossier flashed through Song Zhong's mind.
Cao Zixing was not very fond of women. Apart from the wife of the capital, he did not have any side wives or concubines.
After giving birth to two daughters, there has been little movement in recent years, and it seems that she has no idea of continuing to have more children.
There is a saying from ancient times: There are three types of unfilial piety, the greatest of which is not having offspring.
Cao Zixing, who has no male partner, doesn't seem to be in a hurry.
This goes against common sense.
Unless, he already has a son, but no one knows about it.
Thinking of this, Song Zhong's eyes flashed and he felt confident.
As long as you know the prisoner's weaknesses, you won't be afraid of him not confessing everything honestly.