Cao Zixing recruited, but it seemed that his recruitment was not so complete.
However, the record of just the tip of the iceberg made Song Zhong's heart tremble.
How did Shanxi merchants allow a figure like Cao Zixing to reach the palace of the capital step by step?
From the beginning, Cao Zixing was trained by Shanxi merchants, and his past was hidden by the local residents.
People like Cao Zixing are not the only ones, but there are many. They are all selected from the Shanxi merchant families who are better at reading.
It's just that Cao Zixing is extremely good, so he can get to where he is today.
These people are the real nails. When they are in their official career, they do not need to give any help to the Shanxi merchants and they will be famous throughout their lives.
The only thing that needs to be done is for some information to quietly provide help.
Their families and all their expenses are provided by Shanxi merchants. They don't even have close contact with the clan members, and everything is done in secret.
In other words, regarding the rumor case, the reason why Shanxi merchants were able to obtain such accurate information from the capital was inseparable from Cao Zixing.
A little money spent is not harmful at all.
“What a profound layout.”
After Song Zhong heard this, he was amazed.
What kind of family would it take to come up with such a method? In this few words, Song Zhong could feel that not only the Cao surname, but other big surnames in Shanxi merchants had been carrying out such operations.
Continuously encroaching on the power in the court, paving the way for Shanxi merchants.
In fact, if Song Zhong knew that the eight great imperial merchants of the Qing Dynasty were well known in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, he would not be so surprised.
The long-term collusion with Jurchen, or Mongolian and other foreign nations, buying and selling iron tools and private salt, this is not just a matter of paying money for a few years, but a friendship that lasts hundreds of years!
It is longer than Guo Zuo of the Ming Dynasty.
Why has it taken so long without any cleanup?
The biggest reason is Shanxi officials like Cao Zixing who are lurking in the court and working silently to cover up.
There are also officials who are willing to spend a lot of money to win over.
This allowed such a huge cancer to continue to grow, and at the same time allowed all the tribes in the grassland to have enough iron tools and private salt to slowly grow stronger.
Until later, the Manchu Qing Dynasty took control of the Central Plains.
This resulted in the second time in Chinese history that China was under alien rule.
However, Jurchen culture was weaker than that of the Mongols. After taking over the Central Plains, except for some customs that were brought over, the rest were integrated with Han culture.
While being frightened, Song Zhong also realized that Cao Zixing still had many key points that he had not explained.
"Master Cao is quite happy, but now that we have reached this point, there is no need to hide it."
"Someone from the Song Dynasty would like to ask Mr. Cao to tell you how many of Mr. Cao's colleagues are in the capital. Among them, there are also those officials who have helped the Shanxi merchant gang and received benefits from them.
"
"As the highest-ranking official in the Jin Dynasty, I think it is impossible for Mr. Cao to say that he knows nothing about these things."
After Song Zhong came to his senses, he stepped forward to untie Cao Zixing and asked people to bring him stools, drinks, and dishes.
After asking Cao Zixing to sit down, he said with a smile.
In Cao Zixing's eyes, this smile was like an evil ghost, trying to devour him completely.
After a slight hesitation, Cao Zixing argued: "Master Song is unaware of something. What I just said is all I know. Because I am concerned that problems may arise in the capital, I don't know about other situations."
"Even the other officials from the same country in the court rarely interact with each other on weekdays. These Lord Song will understand after a little inquiry."
"The housekeeper at home is responsible for conveying information to me. I really don't know where he transmits it and who he communicates with."
Listening to these coherent words, Song Zhong did not make any move, but asked the Jin Yiwei Baihu next to him: "Where is the housekeeper of Mr. Cao's family being imprisoned? Let him come and sit down with us and have a chat."
When the members of the Jinyiwei family heard this, they replied with a somewhat ugly look on their faces: "Boss, the housekeeper of Mr. Cao's family had already committed suicide by taking poison when we went there."
Song Zhong said "Oh" without much reaction.
Out of the corner of his eye, he kept staring at Cao Zixing.
When Cao Zixing heard this, he lowered his head slightly and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
However, Song Zhong's next words made him tremble as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"Master Cao, don't blame me for not keeping my word. What I just told you, Master Cao, is indeed very good and useful. It can be regarded as a small achievement."
"but!"
"After such calculations, Mr. Cao's biggest mistake is even greater than before. This is not just involved in the rumor case, but he is clearly treasonous!"
"For such a big crime, usually everyone would be executed, but now His Majesty is furious, and Long Yan is furious."
"The files will be handed in according to the current situation. If nothing else, someone from Song Dynasty can guarantee that in the end all nine tribes will be executed and even exile will be impossible."
Song Zhong sighed with emotion and said.
It seemed that he wanted to help Cao Zixing, but what he just explained was not helpful.
Cao Zixing still had the time to drink and eat. He ignored the hunger in his belly and said hurriedly: "Sir Song, that's not what you said just now. You promised me that you would help me."
Song Zhong said with helplessness on his face: "Song didn't know that Master Cao's crime was so serious. Now that it has been recorded in the files, what else can be done? It seems that Master Cao's nine tribes cannot be saved!"
Cao Zixing immediately panicked. Because he didn't have any bracelets or shackles, he wanted to snatch the record of the imperial guard's work next to him.
"presumptuous!!!"
Song Zhong kept staring at Cao Zixing. Although he did not expect that he would suddenly take action, Song Zhong's skills were not comparable to that of a civil servant like Cao Zixing.
Snapped!
He slapped Cao Zixing directly in the face, knocking him to the ground and causing him to do somersaults.
"If you don't drink a toast, you'll have to drink wine as a fine. What kind of place is this? How dare you be so presumptuous."
"I think you not only want to kill all the nine clans, but you also want to try the Lingchi execution yourself, skinning and filling it with grass."
Song Zhong scolded him, stood up, and stepped on Cao Zixing's forehead.
Song Zhong, who had been having fun talking over wine just now, suddenly turned ruthless.
"Sir...Song...help...help me. What do you want to know? I...I said..."
Cao Zixing said with difficulty. At this moment, he was already in a state of confusion and his mind was blank.
After a lot of fighting, he was convicted of killing the Nine Clan. At this moment, his intestines were filled with regret.
Song Zhong let go of his feet and said to the Jin Yiwei Baihu next to him: "Why are you still cold? Hurry up and help Mr. Cao up. All the credit of our brothers belongs to Mr. Cao."
Song Zhong felt very happy at this moment.
According to what Cao Zixing said now, this is a big case, even more serious than the rumor case involving His Highness the Grand Sun.
This is serious treason.
And being able to interrogate him by yourself is definitely a first-rate achievement. If nothing else, at least he will be truly stable in the days to come.
The future is promising.
"Sir Song, if I tell everything, can I not blame the nine tribes?" Cao Zixing asked hesitantly.
Song Zhong laughed, patted Cao Zixing on the shoulder and said, "Master Cao, keep your heart in mind. No one in the Jinyi Guards knows that I, Mr. Song, are the most honest person."
"As long as Mr. Cao explains in enough detail, Song will give you a guarantee that Dingtian will kill everyone and will never bring harm to the Nine Clans."
Cao Zixing thought of his two unborn children in his hometown. He gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely: "I can certainly trust Mr. Song's character. Okay, I'll tell you everything."
After a pause, he added: "I beg you, Mr. Song, to give me a happy life after this."
Song Zhong smiled and narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Cao, Mr. Song will do what he says."
Cao Zixing nodded again, and then began to talk about the parts that were not covered before.
Among them are those in the court.
Not only those from Jin, but also some other comrades also told the story in detail.
Many other matters, including planning and cooperation with Shanxi merchants, were also informed.
As for the list, according to Jin Yiwei's internal rules, if it is repeated three times and there are no mistakes or omissions, it will be considered correct.
After receiving the dossier, the corners of Song Zhong's mouth turned up involuntarily.
Cao Zixing, who had confessed everything, shouted with pleading in his tone: "Sir Song."
Song Zhong had already stood up and was about to leave. He wanted to hand this file into the hands of his majesty or grandson.
Hearing Cao Zixing's voice, he turned around and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Cao."
At the same time, he explained: "Master Cao cooperates with our errands, and the punishment will be waived later. Good wine and food will be prepared for Master Cao, and it will be regarded as a last journey for Master Cao."
After finishing speaking, he turned around and left without hesitation.
Looking at Song Zhong's back and the instructions just now, Cao Zixing felt relaxed.
He secretly said: If you don't take care of yourself, you will be destroyed by heaven and earth. Don't blame me.
After leaving the imperial prison, the Jin Yiwei Baihu next to Song Zhong asked with some confusion: "Boss, do we really want to help this Cao Zixing?"
Song Zhong grabbed the file tightly, glanced at the hundred households with disdain, and said, "You are out of your mind. How will Cao Zixing's crime be judged? What does it have to do with our Jin Yiwei? In the end, it doesn't depend on what the superior wants."
"To offend His Majesty for such a traitor to the Ming Dynasty, I'm afraid you may have had too much wine."
The Jinyiwei Baihu were trained to lower their heads and muttered: "That's not just now. Boss, you acted so realistically that I even believed it."
Song Zhong turned around and glared, and Baihu didn't dare to say anything more.
He was in a very good mood at the moment, too lazy to care, and went straight to the palace.
...
Lan Yu was furious.
He took a few brothers and went straight to the Jinyiwei Yamen.
The people next to him were either Hou, Bo, Cao Zhen and others.
Two hours ago, Lan Yu came back from arresting someone at the dock, and only then did she find out from her subordinates.
Jinyiwei Song Zhong led his men to arrest a group of officials affiliated with Shanxi and send them to prison.
Lan Yu didn't think much about it at first, but after Cao Zhen's prompting, she suddenly realized it.
This is to grab credit!
Who are these merchant gangs in Shanxi? They have already killed thousands of people, and there is currently no very useful information.
Some of the things that came out of torture are already known. There is no news about the truly valuable and meritorious information yet.
This made Lan Yu a little irritable.
I just hope that I will make great achievements this time and go to the battlefield to kill the enemy after spring, and then I can have more trust.
Apart from anything else, if I can please His Highness Taisun, there will naturally be more firearms newly developed by the Gunpowder Department.
When the matchlock gun was first developed, Lan Yu was involved.
Lan Yu, who has been leading troops in wars for many years, understands the huge damage caused by firearms, especially matchlocks, which are really powerful weapons for killing enemies.
As long as this new type of fire gun is equipped with enough equipment, wouldn't it be easy to achieve great success?
In front of the Jinyiwei Yamen.
"Where is Mr. Song Zhong? Let him come out quickly to see me."
Lan Yu casually caught a Jin Yiwei and scolded him.
Liang Guogong's Ming Dynasty, the whole Jinyi Guards are like thunder, who can not recognize him and know about him.
The little flag officer of Jinyiwei didn't dare to resist, so he hurriedly said: "Report to the Duke of Liang, Song Zhenfu should be interrogating the prisoners in the imperial prison at this moment."
It's not that this little flag officer is talking nonsense, it's just that Song Zhong just went out in a hurry. He just came here and didn't know the news.
Besides Xiao Qi, it was naturally impossible for him to ask the envoy of Jinyiwei Town, so this misunderstanding was caused.
The actual situation is that Song Zhongcai went out with less than half a stick of incense. If Lan Yu chased him now, he might really catch him in front of Fengtian Gate.
Just when Lan Yu was talking to Xiaoqi Guan.
Beside the gate, hundreds of households who had followed Song Zhong were quietly hiding.
The purpose of Duke Liang's grandiose effort to mobilize troops to come to Jinyiwei Yamen is easy to imagine.
After hearing the words of the little flag officer, I finally let go of my worries.
Lan Yu didn't think much about it. He didn't think Xiaoqi, a Jin Yiwei, dared to deceive him, and he didn't expect Song Zhong's interrogation to be so fast.
The only idea was to snatch the person away and take him to the dungeon of the Public Security Department.
Seeing Liang Guogong and his entourage heading straight for the imperial edict, the hundreds of Jin Yiwei guards turned around and started running.
Although Song Zhong's pace was fast, it would take a while to pass through Duanmen and Fengtianmen according to the normal review process.
However, the royal guards, including some yamen, have emergency privileges and can quickly arrive at the palace under the supervision of the guards.
In front of Duanmen.
Song Zhong is waiting.
Although he is the governor of Jinyiwei Town, it is impossible for him to enter just when he wants.
Even if you are the guard at Duanmen, you can't let him go just when you want.
Entering the palace during non-court meetings or within specified times requires approval, or an oral instruction from Your Majesty or the Grand Sun before you are allowed to enter.
Now it's time for the eunuch to go in and report.
Jinyiwei Baihu looked at the familiar figure in front of them and ran over quickly.
Hearing the noise, Song Zhong turned around and saw Baihu.
When he arrived, Baihu held his breath and said quickly: "Boss, Duke Liang has brought his people to the Yamen, and is now going to the imperial prison to find you."
Song Zhong was shocked and understood immediately.
He gave Baihu a look and quickly said to the guard: "Involved in a major treason case, Jinyi Guards Governor Song Zhong must meet with His Majesty immediately."
When the guards heard this, they looked at each other, and without asking why they didn't say anything just now, they immediately walked in and passed the news.
Then a line of twelve guards appeared.
Song Zhong hurriedly stepped forward, and the twelve imperial guards surrounded him, and then they ran quickly together.
When the Jinyiwei hundred households saw the city gate closed, they finally breathed a sigh of relief and gasped for air.
He said smoothly to the guard just now: "Thank you, brother."
The guard didn't say anything, just nodded, and then guarded the door again.
And at this time.
Lan Yu, who had already arrived at the imperial prison, learned that Song Zhong had just entered the palace with the file.
Not long after they found out, Lan Yu shouted: "Chase!!!"