In the capital, it was originally very peaceful, as before, but as Jin Yiwei and Dongchang's gangsters continued to move around the capital, from time to time, big shots were caught in the streets and alleys of the capital.
Suddenly, the whole capital suddenly changed.
The entrance to Hanlin Wu Kuan's mansion.
Not long after Wu Kuan's morning court came, the Jin Yiwei broke in and surrounded the entire Wu Mansion. No one was allowed in or out.
Accompanied by the cries of women and the cries of children, Wu Hanlin, with disheveled hair, was escorted out by two guards wearing flying fish uniforms.
"I am Wu Kuan, and I am a member of the Hanlin Academy of the Han Dynasty. You guys dare to arrest me. I will definitely give you a copy later and make your heads fall to the ground."
Although he was caught, Wu Kuan was still struggling, and he roared loudly while struggling.
"Wu Hanlin, we don't know yet whether your head will fall to the ground. Your head will probably be moved soon."
The leader of the Jin Yiwei Baihu looked at Wu Kuan and said with a sneer.
These civil servants looked down upon them, the warriors, the most. They had never looked at them seriously, and even their titles were full of contempt. They were inferior in everything but educated, so these civil servants looked down upon them, the imperial guards, even more.
"The traitor is in power, the traitor is in power~"
When Wu Kuan heard this, he couldn't help but look up to the sky and sigh, with a steely look.
"The traitor is in power?"
"Where did Wu Hanlin, a noble Hanlin, get so much money?"
The leading Jinyiwei Baihu were like a cat catching a mouse, their eyes full of teasing.
It turned out that right after everyone, teams of Jin Yiwei came out carrying boxes one after another. The lids of the boxes were opened, and they were filled with gold, silver and jewelry.
Seeing the boxes of gold and silver jewelry, Wu Kuan suddenly felt like a deflated balloon, and his whole body drooped as if he lost all energy and spirit in an instant.
…
The residence of Xu Ziyuan, the imperial censor, was also tightly surrounded by a group of Dongchang fans. The whole Xu residence was filled with cries of women, roars of masters, and panicked slaves.
Xu Ziyuan was also stripped of his official title and escorted out by Dongchang Fanzi with his hair disheveled.
"Your Dongchang is simply lawless. I, Xu Ziyuan, am the censor. I will report everything to His Majesty when I turn around and make life worse than death for you lackeys of the Dongchang."
Xu Ziyuan was escorted out. Countless people were standing outside the Xu Mansion to watch the excitement. Seeing so many people, Xu Ziyuan seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw, struggling and roaring at the same time.
"The one I'm arresting is you, Xu Yushi. In the year of famine, you colluded with profiteers, stole the official grain from the official warehouse, and then raised the price of grain, causing the people to be poisoned and the ground to be starved. How can you still have the nerve to see His Majesty?"
When the leading Dongchang eunuch heard Xu Ziyuan's words, he also sneered and told Xu Ziyuan's crime very loudly.
"What?"
"This Xu Yushi actually colluded with those profiteers, stole official grain, and drove up the price of food. I asked how the food in the capital could rise to more than 200 yuan per catty. It turned out that these dog officials colluded with profiteers."
When the people around him heard this, they immediately became angry.
"Kill this dog official, kill this dog official~"
Some time ago, the two hundred cents per pound of grain really caused hardship to the people in the capital. Many people were starved to death, and many people even starved to death in their homes.
"Let me tell you, this little famine is nothing to begin with. It turns out that all the food in the imperial palace was stolen by these dog officials and profiteers."
"Two hundred coins per pound of grain, these people have dark hearts."
"Good catch~ Good catch~"
"Beat this dog officer to death, beat this dog officer to death~"
As someone shouted out, the people around him immediately began to throw rotten eggs, rotten vegetables, small stones, etc. at Xu Ziyuan, who was being held in custody. Xu Ziyuan, the handsome censor, suddenly became embarrassed and could only
Continuously struggling and dodging.
Also behind Xu Ziyuan, a fan from Dongchang came out carrying boxes of gold and silver. This made the angry crowd keep throwing things at Xu Ziyuan, wanting to eat him alive.
…
All over the capital, ministers who had just come down from the morning court were arrested one after another. There were dozens of them, including censors, officials, officials, and the lowest ones were all fifth-rank officials.
Such large-scale arrests of court officials have not happened for a long time. Even during the Ming Xianzong period, dozens of court officials were rarely arrested at once. Only a few big officials at the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China were arrested.
Only then would there be such a huge movement in the case.
Suddenly, the entire capital was filled with panic. The bustle and bustle of the past was gone, but there was more of a chilling atmosphere.
In the study room of Yangxin Hall of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Hongzhi was still discussing national affairs with Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Zhou Jing, Ma Wensheng, Zhang Mao and others.
"Liu Jin has given me the method of firing this cement. I have already seen it. It is not difficult to make cement. Most of the things needed are very common. The cost of this cement is not too high. It can be done."
Large-scale promotion, but the second son has his own views on the promotion of cement."
What Emperor Hongzhi and others were discussing was naturally how to promote cement and use cement to build the Great Wall and build city walls and roads.
When Li Dongyang, Zhou Jing, and Zhang Mao came back, Liu Jin had already handed over the cement manufacturing method. Zhou Jing, as the Minister of Household Affairs, naturally had to calculate the cost of cement in order to calculate the cost of cement. Let's see.
Is it suitable for large-scale production use?
"Oh, what does this guy have to say?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he couldn't help but smile and asked.
"This man believes that although cement is a sacred weapon of the country, it is best to make the method of making cement known to the world."
Zhou Jing nodded, and then told what he and Liu Jin had discussed that day.
"How can it be announced to the world? How can everyone know about this country's sacred weapon?"
When Ma Wensheng heard this, he immediately said quickly, and his words made the people present nod their heads.
Cement is so important. It is the true artifact of the country. The first thing they think of is to keep the method of making cement a secret. In this way, the cement will naturally be firmly in the hands of the imperial court.
Emperor Hongzhi also had the same idea. He took cement very seriously. In his opinion, this production method could not be made public and must be firmly in his own hands.
"The second son said that this cement is an artifact that benefits the country and the people. If it is only in the hands of a few people, it can only benefit a few people. Only by announcing it to the world and letting everyone know about cement can it truly benefit
To the people of the world."
"Only when everyone in the world knows how to make cement, and more people produce cement, can we build more spacious roads with cement."
Zhou Jing looked at Ma Wensheng, smiled slightly, and continued.
When everyone heard this, they thought about it carefully and nodded. At the same time, they were impressed by Liu Jin's big heart. He actually thought of making such an artifact public to the public instead of hiding it as a family heirloom.
"This method should indeed be made public to the world so that more people can benefit."
Liu Jian seemed to have figured out the key points and said very solemnly.
"But if the Tatars also know how to make cement, wouldn't it be..."
When Ma Wensheng heard this, he immediately said anxiously.
"So what if they know?"
"Will they build a tall city wall on the grassland? Or will they build a spacious cement road?"
Li Dongyang naturally knew what Liu Jin was thinking and asked with a smile.
Hearing Li Dongyang's rhetorical question, Ma Wensheng was speechless for a moment. Then he thought about it, his eyes widened suddenly, and he immediately understood the reason, and said: "Haha, that's it, that's it, that's true.
It should be announced to the world and let more people know."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at their expressions, and began to think rapidly in his mind. He soon figured out the reason, and couldn't help but smile and said: "I see, so it is indeed the case, it should be announced to the world.
.”
Just when everyone was discussing happily, Xiao Jing walked in, holding a booklet in his hand.
"Your Majesty, the case of the theft of the official warehouse has been basically investigated."
Xiao Jing held up the folding paper with both hands and said very respectfully.
"How fast?"
"How can it be?"
When Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Zhou Jing and others heard this, they all widened their eyes. Emperor Hongzhi asked Xiao Jing to investigate this case during the morning court. It has only been two hours now.
In just a matter of time, this case has already been discovered.
This speed is too fast and too unbelievable.
However, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others are all human beings. After thinking about it for a moment, they immediately understood. It is estimated that Emperor Hongzhi had asked Xiao Jing to investigate this case long ago. Everything has been cleared up, otherwise it would be impossible.
It only took a little effort to find out.
Liu Jian and Li Dongyang couldn't help but look at each other, and then looked at the Emperor Hongzhi in front of them. They felt that he was so strange, and he was no longer the Emperor Hongzhi they were familiar with.
The former Emperor Hongzhi would discuss everything with them and relied heavily on the power of civil servants. He would definitely not rely on the power of factory guards like his father. Unexpectedly, he had asked Xiao Jing to investigate in advance.
The official warehouse was stolen.
"Well, tell me."
Emperor Hongzhi nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes~"
Xiao Jing said respectfully, then stood up straight, slowly opened the memorial, and began to speak slowly.
The origin of the matter is actually very simple. At the beginning, Hu Wanan and others were only jealous of the huge profits of the glass factory. A small mirror was sold for thousands of taels of silver. In a short period of time, the amount of money earned by Gujinlou
They are all calculated in millions of taels.
Such a speed of making money and such huge profits have naturally made countless people jealous and want to grab this business into their own hands.
It's just that this glass factory is a joint venture between the prince and Liu Jin. There is no stronger backend than this in the world. Even if Hu Wanan and others are jealous, there is nothing they can do for a while. There is no way at all.
However, the famine that occurred in the first half of the year immediately made Hu Wanan and others see an opportunity. In addition, some ministers in the court wanted to limit the imperial power, control Emperor Hongzhi and his son, and firmly grasp the power of the Ming Dynasty in their own hands, so both sides also
Hit it off immediately.
First, they emptied the grain from Dezhou Warehouse and Linqing Warehouse, then began to short the grain of the three northern provinces, and controlled the grain of the entire three northern provinces, and then used the famine to not only sell all the profitable businesses such as the glass factory, Xishan Coal Industry, etc.
Taking it away was also intended to drain away the internal funds of Emperor Hongzhi and his son, thereby achieving the purpose of restricting imperial power.
After all, if the emperor is empty of internal funds and the treasury is empty, nothing can be done without money. In the end, everything must be listened to by civil servants like them.
After listening to Xiao Jing's narration from beginning to end, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Zhou Jing, Ma Wensheng, Zhang Mao and others all widened their eyes, and Ma Wensheng and Zhang Mao even opened their mouths, all in disbelief.
all of these.
"Someone actually wants to limit the imperial power~"
"It's really audacious. He even plotted against His Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhang Mao's mind went blank. He didn't even dare to think that there were such bold people in this world.
"That's it, that's it. No wonder His Majesty's temperament has changed drastically. Someone actually wants to target the imperial power and His Highness the Crown Prince. Such deep love makes Your Majesty become stronger even if your temper is weak."
"What a good plan. What a good plan. I knew His Majesty's temperament clearly and calculated everything. If it weren't for the sea fish in Tianjin, they might have succeeded."
Li Dongyang thought rapidly in his mind and figured out everything in an instant, and he couldn't help but admire it.
"No wonder His Majesty's temperament has changed drastically. His Majesty has always trusted us and other civil servants, but he did not expect that such a person would appear among the civil servants. He wanted to restrict the imperial power, and even the prince was involved in the plot."
Liu Jian couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He now understood why Emperor Hongzhi had such a huge change.
"After investigation, 54 officials of the fifth rank or above from the DPRK were involved, as well as canal transportation envoys, Shandong chief envoys and other local dignitaries..."
Xiao Jing ignored the expressions of Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others, but slowly read out the situation of his investigation. When he said that fifty-four ministers in the court were involved, and even local dignitaries were involved,
Everyone couldn't help but their eyes darkened.
So many officials were involved, and the matter involved was as serious as rebellion. The temperament of Emperor Hongzhi, a good old man, changed drastically. You can imagine what will happen next.
When an ordinary man got angry, his blood splattered three feet. When the emperor got angry, he laid down millions of corpses and bled for thousands of miles.
