Wang Qinghai hesitated for a moment, only to feel a tightening on his neck, and the blade of the knife had already embedded itself in his flesh.
"Don't, don't...I said...I said!"
When his life was at stake, he dared not hide anything and shouted quickly: "It's for the cabinet minister Gao... Mr. Gao!"
The other party slowly put down the knife and asked again: "How much did you give?"
"The little one...the little one has the bill, it's in his pocket!"
Wang Qinghai carefully took out the bill and handed it over.
After the other party took it, he took a look and asked: "How long have you been doing this kind of thing? Do you come to the capital often?"
"About... six or seven years ago..."
Wang Qinghai thought for a while and said: "I come to the capital at least twice a year. In addition to the ice and charcoal ceremonies in summer and winter, sometimes... there are also some regular ones..."
"Last question!"
The other party raised the knife again and said slowly: "What is the relationship between your Master Mei and the three-headed dragon?"
"Ah..."
The muscles on Wang Qinghai's face twitched obviously.
The three-headed dragon Shen Lang is a famous sea thief. There is indeed a relationship between Master Mei and Shen Lang. However, this kind of thing is extremely secret. I only heard some rumors. How did these people know? p>
…………
Forbidden City, Royal Study.
Zhu Qizhen looked at the information in his hand, and his face became increasingly gloomy.
He slammed the table and said angrily: "These are the things you eat inside and outside!"
Yuan Bin said: "Your Majesty, do you want to arrest someone?"
"Don't move yet!"
Zhu Qizhen thought for a while and then asked: "Is there any news from Zhu Ji?"
"Back to the emperor, according to Zhu Ji's investigation, a total of thirty-seven officials, led by Mei Linrong, the right minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Industry, were involved in smuggling. Moreover, these people had more or less private contact with Japanese pirates."<
/p>
"What happened to Mei Linrong's domestic slaves?"
"Temporarily detained in Zhao Prison."
"This man cannot be imprisoned. He must be put back. Otherwise, he will be alerted!"
"Put it back... I'm worried that he will tell the truth..."
"Tell him that this is a crime committed by the Nine Clans. If you want to survive, the only chance is to pay for your crime and perform meritorious service!"
"Yes, I will do it now!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and continued: "The capital is watching carefully. When the day comes, the evidence must be solid. I don't want to see them have another chance to stand up!"
"Your Majesty..." At this time, Jin Ying was heard asking cautiously outside the door, "Prince Jing'an, please see me!"
"Xuan!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Fu pushed the door open and entered, kowtow and saluted.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Fu, comes to see the Emperor!"
"No gifts for the Qing family!"
Zhu Qizhen winked at Yuan Bin. Yuan Bin understood and briefly told Zhang Fu the current situation.
After Zhang Fu heard this, he was so angry that his beard exploded.
"Your Majesty, if you haven't caught and beheaded such disloyal and unjust people to rehabilitate the government, what are you waiting for?"
"I came to you to discuss this matter!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said: "Don't be impatient, sit down and talk!"
Zhang Fu angrily pulled up a chair and sat down, then stood up again and said, "Your Majesty, just leave this matter to the old minister!"
"I asked you to sit down!"
Zhu Qizhen said impatiently: "Catch them and chop them up. Who can't do it? Do I need you to teach me?"
Zhang Fu didn't know why, so he had to sit down obediently.
"If I could catch them, I would have done it a long time ago. The problem now is how to use these people to lure the Japanese pirates out, and then kill them all in one fell swoop!"
Zhang Fu was stunned for a moment and then reacted immediately.
"The old minister is being rude. Please tell me, Your Majesty, what should we do when we come down?"
"I have already thought about it. I will issue an edict tomorrow and order you to join the feudal clan!"
Zhang Fu scratched his head and said in confusion: "But, these people..."
Zhu Qizhen said straight to the point: "You go to Nanjing first, and then I will send Wei Guogong to lead Nanjing soldiers and horses to escort you to Yunnan. It will take at least a month for these troops to go back and forth. During this period, the Japanese pirates will definitely be unable to restrain themselves."
Stay, if I try to seduce you a little bit more, they will all come out in force."
Zhang Fu suddenly understood and said: "Old minister, I understand, the emperor wants to eradicate the roots!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and said: "The problem now is that those people will definitely obstruct it, so we need to think of a perfect strategy!"
Zhang Fu said excitedly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will work hard to overcome all opinions and ensure that the Emperor's plan is implemented!"
…………
Beizhen Fusi, Zhaoyu.
The dark cell was filled with the smell of blood. Wang Qinghai huddled in a corner of the cell, unable to help but tremble.
The reason why Zhao Prison makes people change their minds after hearing about it is because there is no way to get in or out.
Once you're here, don't even think about leaving.
In other words, if you come in vertically, you can only go out horizontally.
He has confessed everything he knows. Although he escaped a torture, he doesn't know if he will ever see the light of day again.
When I think of my wife and children at home, I can't help but burst into tears.
Kara!
There was a sound from the cell door.
"You, come out!"
Wang Qinghai raised his head in astonishment, astonished. Was he going to be beheaded?
Even if you have to be beheaded, you still have to have a good meal, and then choose a time to hit the road...
What about it in the middle of the night?
"What are you still doing? Hurry up, the commander wants to see you!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Qinghai felt that it was not a beheading, so he felt a little relieved and followed the captain out of the prison to a torture room.
Under the firelight, various torture instruments were displayed around, many of which were unnamed.
Just by looking at these things, you can imagine what it would be like if you tried them one by one...
"Your name is Wang Qinghai, right?"
When Wang Qinghai raised his head, he realized that there was a person standing inside. At the same time, the captain had already retreated and the door was closed with a bang.
He only felt that his knees were weak and he knelt down unconsciously.
"Little... little Wang Qinghai, I have met... met... sir!"
Yuan Bin looked at him and said expressionlessly: "Do you know where this place is?"
"I know... I know!"
"Then do you know why we wanted to arrest you?"
"Because... because I... give carbon tribute to the adults in the capital, no, I give... money!"
Yuan Bin looked at him coldly and said: "Even if it is bribery, it is your master's business. You are just an errand boy. You lost your life for this, and may even implicate the nine tribes. Don't you feel wronged?" p>
"The little one...please...please have mercy on me, the little one has a child, he is only...only three years old..."
For some reason, when it comes to his family, Wang Qinghai feels despair.
At this moment, he hated Mei Linrong to death.
If it weren't for this person, I wouldn't be in this situation.
"The emperor knows everything about you!"
"Ah?"
Wang Qinghai thought he had heard wrongly. For a little person like himself, the emperor would know?
"Do you know who the emperor hates the most?"
"It must be...corrupt...corrupt officials..."
Wang Qinghai's mind went blank and he could no longer speak.
Yuan Bin smiled indifferently and said: "Which of the officials in the imperial court doesn't make money? Regarding this kind of thing, as long as it is not too excessive, the emperor will turn a blind eye. However, Mei Linrong colluded with the Japanese pirates. This is
For treason, death is not a pity, and all nine clans will be buried with him!"
Hearing this, Wang Qinghai suddenly realized that maybe... he still had a way to survive!
"The young one is willing to cooperate with the adults to collect evidence that Mei Linrong is a thief. I just want... to atone for my crime!"