In fact, the order Zhu Ji received was only to search for stolen money, and no direct evidence about Gaobo's corruption was obtained.
Among the testimonies obtained by Cao Nai, including Gao Hub's nephew and some officials in Nanjing, these people all admitted to sending money to Gao Hub and how much they gave. The records were clear, but there was no such thing as Gao Hub's own.
Confession.
In other words, Gao Hub did not plead guilty.
All the testimonies are indirect, so they will strongly object and should not act rashly until the matter is cleared up.
Otherwise, if it is finally found out that someone was really wronged or even deliberately framed, then Jin Yiwei's actions will undoubtedly drive this veteran minister to a dead end.
How can a cabinet minister be allowed to be humiliated like this?
The impact of this incident will affect the face of the entire Ming Dynasty’s civil servants and even all scholars.
At the moment, Jin Yiwei really found no favorable evidence. After struggling for a long time, he only found a mere five hundred taels of silver. As a cabinet minister, this amount of money is really not enough.
Cao Nai was very angry, and Zhu Qiyu looked ugly. He wanted to suppress the matter because of the emperor's favor, but he didn't expect that he would not accept his favor at all.
Zhu Ji held the note tightly in his hand and said calmly: "It's not that far actually, it's just on the street behind."
There was such a big commotion in Nanjing, and the officials along the coast of Fuzhou even caught it with their own hands. He didn't believe that these people would use unfounded information to force the shit basin on the head of the boss.
This stolen money must be hidden somewhere, and it only takes some time to find it.
Even if he hasn't found anything yet, he firmly believes that he must have missed some important information.
But there was only one line written on the note just now, and there was a special symbol in the lower right corner of the note.
Absolute Sound Guard!
When Zhu Ji saw this symbol, all his worries and anxieties were immediately swept away.
The organization Jueshengwei is the most mysterious existence in the Ming Dynasty.
In the early years of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang employed the deaf counselor Lu Bufu and the mute general Yang Zhongkai to create the Jueshengwei. These two men were both civil and military, and were proficient in lip language, and they trained a large number of deaf and mute spies.
Since these people are born with disabilities, no matter where they are, they will not attract the attention of others.
In this way, the physical disability becomes an advantage.
During the early Ming Dynasty, the role of the Juesheng Guard should not be underestimated.
No matter who you are, no matter how secretive you are, as long as you are being targeted, what have you done at home, who have you met, what words have you spoken, what did you eat at night, and who did you sleep with?
Heaven, the small note will appear in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.
At that time, many people thought that Jin Yiwei had done these things.
Who knows, although the Jinyi Guards are all-pervasive, their ability to gather information is far inferior to that of the Juesheng Guards.
Because of this, Zhu Yuanzhang paid more and more attention to the Juesheng Guards and set a rule that no one except the emperor himself was allowed to contact the Juesheng Guards in private. Anyone discovered would be punished for treason.
Moreover, in order to maintain the mystery of the Juesheng Guard, Zhu Yuanzhang once stipulated that if the emperor's order puts the Juesheng Guards in danger of being exposed, then the commander of the Juesheng Guards has the right to decide whether to execute it based on the situation at the time. p>
Yes, the commander of the Juesheng Guard has the power to veto the emperor's orders.
In other words, people can resist and disobey orders.
Since then, all emperors have strictly abided by this ancestral precept. Even Wang Zhen, who was once the most powerful, never came into contact with Jueshengwei.
Before Zhu Qizhen's Northern Expedition, he revealed some information about the Juesheng Guards to Zhu Ji, but did not give him any power. He only said that if the Juesheng Guards came to visit, the Jinyiwei must cooperate unconditionally.
The man's movements just now were extremely secretive, and Zhu Qiyu and others' attention was not here. Of course, they didn't know that Zhu Ji already had a small note in his hand.
Based on this note, Zhu Ji believed that the truth of the matter would be revealed soon.
At this time, another person was seen rushing in. It turned out to be Gao Hub's two sons, Gao Zidong and Gao Ziliang.
Gao Zidong worked in the Hanlin Academy, and Gao Ziliang worked in the Yamen of the Ministry of Justice. When they learned that their home had been ransacked, they rushed back in a hurry.
Mrs. Gao Chen burst into tears when she saw her son coming back.
The two brothers Gao Zidong first saluted Zhu Qiyu, and then came to Zhu Ji angrily, looking like they were going to fight for their lives.
Nowadays, all the pressure is on Zhu Ji. The scholars and common people at the scene have accused the Jin Yiwei of persecuting Zhongliang. It seems that all the Jin Yiwei are heinous people who bring disaster to the country and the people.
Zhu Ji smiled faintly and said, "You two came at the right time. Do you know who owns the house at the back?"
The two houses are next to each other, but the one where Gao Zhu lives is on the south side, and the gate faces south, while the gate on the north side is on the north, so it is equivalent to being separated by a street.
Gao Zidong was startled for a moment, then said angrily: "How do I know who it is?"
Immediately afterwards, Gao Ziliang said: "It seems to be a merchant from Nanjing. Why do you ask this?"
Zhu Ji said: "If you two are interested, how about we go and have a look together?"
Gao Zidong said dissatisfied: "You ransacked my house and found nothing, so you just want to leave?"
At this time, Li Linsheng also came over and said: "That's right, if Jin Yiwei doesn't give an explanation in front of His Highness King Xi today, no one will be able to leave this place!"
Facing the criticism from everyone, Zhu Ji waved his hand and said: "I didn't say leave, I just went to the house behind to have a look, how about it?"
"What... exactly do you want to do?"
"Just go and take a look and you will know!"
Zhu Ji couldn't help but lead the people to the back street.
Gao Zidong wanted to stop him, but saw his hand on the handle of the knife, so he had to ask Zhu Qiyu for help.
"Your Highness, I have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty all my life, but in the end I ended up in this situation. I am really unjust!"
Zhu Qiyu had no choice but to say: "If the Jin Yiwei doesn't find out again, I will make the decision for you!"
After saying that, he turned around and followed.
Cao Nai and others followed closely, and Gao Zidong, Li Linsheng and others also followed. The people were confused and naturally ran to watch.
Zhu Ji crushed the note in his hand, came to the house in the back street, and ordered someone to knock on the door.
Not long after, a concierge opened the door and revealed half of his head.
"Who are you looking for...?"
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Ji had already stepped forward, kicked the door open, and rushed in with his men.
At this time, Zhu Qiyu had just arrived and happened to see this scene and couldn't help but frown.
In broad daylight, this is too arrogant!
However, what he didn't expect was that something even more arrogant was yet to come.
The concierge covered his head and got up, shouting: "What are you doing? My master is..."
Zhu Ji pulled out the embroidered spring knife from his waist with a loud sound and put it on the concierge's neck.
"Now if I ask you what to say, just say what you said. If you have something to hide..."
The concierge's eyes widened and he hurriedly said tremblingly: "No... I dare not hide it..."
"Who owns this house?"
"This..."
The concierge said in embarrassment: "I don't know!"
"What?"
Zhu Ji's face was ashen, and he put a little more strength into his hand holding the knife.
"Don't... don't... I really don't know who the owner of this house is. You can ask Manager Li!"
"Who is Manager Li?"
"It's just...it's..."
At this time, a military captain in golden clothes grabbed a person and came closer. The concierge's eyes lit up and he said, "He is Manager Li!"
The man named Manager Li also had a knife held to his neck. He was so frightened that his face turned pale and his body was trembling.
"Father?"
Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, and Li Linsheng looked at Manager Li in surprise.
In the current situation of Manager Li, it’s neither a yes nor a no, the situation is a bit embarrassing.
Li Linsheng was greatly puzzled and asked: "Father, why are you here?"
The two brothers Gao Zidong also came up and asked: "Manager Li, what's going on?"
Manager Li lowered his head and said nothing. Zhu Ji immediately ordered: "Search!"
"Yes!"
Not long after, I heard someone shouting: "Found it, found it!"
Everyone followed the sound and saw a school captain running over and said excitedly: "Master Qian, inside!"
Zhu Ji was very excited, waved his hand and ordered: "Let's go!"
When Zhu Qiyu saw this, he vaguely felt that something was going on, so he followed him.
This is also a courtyard with two entrances. The front yard is ordinary and there is nothing much to see. However, when they arrived at the backyard, everyone was shocked by the scene in front of them.
Logically speaking, the back house should be where the family members live, but this place is densely packed with warehouses.
These warehouses are one after another. It can be seen that this house is basically used to live in people, and inside the warehouse...
Jin Yiwei had already opened the warehouse door. Zhu Qiyu came to the nearest warehouse door and took a look inside, only to feel that his eyes were almost blinded.
It’s all shining silver, filling a warehouse to the brim.
Preliminary estimate is no less than one hundred thousand taels!
A school captain came to Zhu Ji and reported: "Your Majesty, there are seventeen warehouses here, twelve are filled with silver, three are filled with gold, one is filled with antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and one is filled with jewelry and jade.
”
Hearing this, everyone's eyes widened, their mouths opened wide, and their faces looked incredulous.
Now that things have reached this point, it has become very strange.
Zhu Ji came to Manager Li and said, "Let me ask you, who is the owner of this house?"
Manager Li looked pale and hesitated to answer.
Zhu Ji didn't want to talk nonsense with him, so he said coldly: "Cut off one of his hands!"
"Yes!"
Someone immediately came forward and held down Manager Li's arm, while another person raised the knife in his hand.
"Father, what are you doing..."
Li Linsheng rushed forward with all his strength, threw himself on him, and used his body to protect his father.
Zhu Ji sneered and said: "It seems that your son doesn't know about it?"
Manager Li smiled bitterly and said: "He doesn't know anything, please sir... let him go."
"Oh? You finally spoke?"
Zhu Ji slowly took a step forward and asked, "Are you making terms with me?"
Manager Li looked extremely frightened, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. After a long while, he said, "I'll tell you everything. Is it okay to let my son go? He really doesn't know anything!"
Li Linsheng's expression changed drastically and he asked: "Father, what did you say?"
"You...don't worry about it. In short, this matter has nothing to do with you..."
Zhu Ji suddenly said: "Whether it matters or not, it's not up to you. Someone come and take it!"
"Yes!"
Two people immediately stepped forward and held Li Linsheng down.
Manager Li's face was ashen, he spread his butt on the ground, and begged: "I say, I say it all, please... don't hurt my son..."
Zhu Ji squatted in front of him and said expressionlessly: "You are not qualified to negotiate terms now. If you have a good attitude towards pleading guilty or provide any useful information, your family may still have a chance of survival, so tell me!" p>
Manager Li glanced at Li Linsheng, then at brother Gao Zidong, and then said: "This house belongs to... Mr. Gao Ge..."
Buzz!
As soon as this statement came out, the scene immediately exploded.
The two brothers Gao Zidong pushed forward with all their strength, but were stopped by Jin Yiwei. They shouted: "Manager Li, don't talk nonsense. What does this place have to do with my family?"
Gao Ziliang came to Zhu Qiyu and said in a panic: "Your Highness Mingjian, this is obviously another family's mansion and has nothing to do with me!"
Compared with Zhu Qizhen, Zhu Qiyu is relatively kind, but kindness does not mean stupidity.
At this point, he knew in his heart that even if this house was not owned by Gao, it still had something to do with the Gao family.
Just listen to him slowly say: "What Gao Qing's family means is that there is someone who happens to hide so much gold and silver next door to your house, but why is your housekeeper here?"
Gao Ziliang hurriedly defended: "It must be Manager Li who is in charge of him... He has wronged me, I have wronged... I have wronged..."
"Why did he wrong your family?"
"He...he...this may...be framed by Jin Yiwei. Please be aware of it, Your Highness!"
As soon as he said this, he was completely at odds with Jin Yiwei.
Who knows if the money in this mansion was secretly hidden by Jin Yiwei?
After all, my father is notoriously honest.
But in the eyes of many people, Jin Yiwei's reputation is not very good.
When Zhu Ji heard this, he stepped forward with a dark face, saluted Zhu Qiyu, and then kicked Gao Ziliang away with a fierce kick.
"Now that people have gained both the stolen goods and want to bite back, I will let you know how to kill me today!"
He turned around and said to Zhu Qiyu: "Your Highness, it is not difficult to prove the owner of this house."
Zhu Qiyu asked: "How to prove it?"
Zhu Ji replied: "When I was searching the Gao family's residence just now, I discovered a problem."
As he spoke, he pointed to the courtyard wall behind him.
Zhu Qiyu looked at the courtyard wall and asked: "What does this courtyard wall mean?"
Zhu Ji said: "Your Highness, please see, this wall is shared by two mansions, but it is not high."
Hearing this, Zhu Qiyu stared at the courtyard wall for a long time, still a little confused.
In the capital city, due to the cramped space, it often happens that several mansions share the same wall. This does not mean anything.
Could it be that there is some mechanism behind this wall?
He came forward and walked along the courtyard wall, but did not find any secret passage.