Although Lu Zhengfang's tone was calm, Zhang Yanling's heart was actually as clear as a mirror. Lu Zhengfang was asking him to choose between life and death.
If you don't choose to compromise, the opponent is setting up an ambush with hundreds of people here. Even though the dozen or so people around you are highly skilled in martial arts and have powerful firearms, it will be of no use. After all, the opponent has a large number of people. Dozens of archers and fire muskets.
With a volley of fire, I was afraid that I and my brothers would be destroyed on the spot.
It seems that I have no choice but to submit.
However, this so-called written guarantee is actually to leave a written handle for them to hold on to. With this guarantee, I will be controlled by them in the future and become an accomplice of this gang.
Not to mention, this will make you a handle for Ning Wang Zhu Chenhao and become his pawn. And Ning Wang Zhu Chenhao is very ambitious. Once you come under his control, you will inevitably be at his mercy in the future and be forced to serve him.
The consequences of that would be even more unacceptable.
"Master Zhang, one life is as long as the grass and trees are in autumn. It is as short as a white horse passing by, and it is fleeting. In this case, why not enjoy yourself in time, enjoy the glory and wealth, and indulge in joy? Why make yourself uncomfortable? The darling wife of the Marquis family.
My beautiful concubine, you have a new son, and you are proud to be a high-ranking noble.
Obviously, the future is even brighter. Why bother here and lose everything for such a small thing? This is so worthless. In fact, we didn't do anything harmful to the world, we just wanted to get some money.
Just live a good life. Why should Mr. Zhang be reluctant and unforgiving?"
Seeing Zhang Yanling frowning and thinking, Li Siming persuaded him with serious words.
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "But the money you made came from an improper way, colluded with outsiders to smuggle, and ignored the suffering of the people. As officials of the imperial court, you don't want to serve as a shepherd for the imperial court and benefit the people, but you are the accomplices of the tiger..."
"Come on, Mr. Zhang, don't act like you are worried about the country and the people. Which of your noble families in the capital is not amassing money like wolves and tigers, and cutting off their heads for profit? You, Mr. Zhang, are relying on the late emperor.
During his reign, he was favored and rewarded with a large number of acres of land and manors. Now he owns more than 100,000 acres of manor.
Garden, are those names justifiable? We are just drinking some soup with Prince Ning, but our origins are not right? Then you nobles in the capital are stealing the wealth of the country and directly cutting off the flesh from the imperial court. But you come to accuse us, it is really heavenly.
What a big joke." Li Siming interrupted coldly.
Zhang Yanling frowned and was speechless.
Li Siming said solemnly: "Master Zhang Hou has nothing to say. You are allowed to eat meat, but we are not allowed to drink soup? We people have spent ten years studying in a cold window and becoming officials, serving the imperial court loyally, and working hard. In the end
, but we didn’t get any benefits. The benefits are all yours. Is this reasonable? Prince Ning found this
Road, lead us to make a fortune together, and our life will be easier, so it is so annoying to you? Smuggling? If Prince Ning doesn’t do it, and we don’t do it, then no one else can do it? Over the past hundred years of maritime ban, foreign goods have been in our hands
When did the Ming Dynasty end? Did it all fall from the sky? Others can do it, but we can’t?"
Li Siming was obviously very angry. When he talked about his excitement, his beard flew up.
"We think about the court, but when will the court think about us? I also have wives, concubines, and children who need clothes, food, transportation, and a house to live in. Is my meager salary enough? Governor Kang is the magistrate of Guangzhou, a fourth-grade grandmaster.
A few years ago, a family of more than ten people lived in three small courtyards.
The imperial court spends money like water. Your princes and princes live in high houses and courtyards and eat delicacies from the mountains and seas. Have you ever thought about us people? The imperial court just doesn’t give it to us. We can find ways to get some money ourselves without having to pay for it from the imperial court. This is useful.
What's your fault?" Li Siming was very angry and said gesticulating.
What he said is not too exaggerated. The salaries of officials in the Ming Dynasty were indeed too meager. Compared with the previous dynasties, officials in the Ming Dynasty were the worst paid. However, the families of the royal family members were all extremely rich. It is no wonder that these
People's mentality is unbalanced.
The treatment of officials in the Ming Dynasty was really poor, and the finances were too poor. When they became officials, they had power, but they did not have enough food and clothing. Officials would naturally be tempted. Therefore, although the anti-corruption efforts of the Ming Dynasty were strong, officials
Corruption may be the worst among all dynasties.
Zhang Yanling turned to look at him, looking at a group of officials beside him who had the same angry expressions as him. He suddenly felt quite sighing in his heart. In such an era, many people studying to become officials may be just a means, rather than for a certain purpose.
A belief, for a certain belief.
Perhaps these people once had ideals and ambitions. However, today, they have long been obsessed with greed and have surrendered to the big dye vat of reality.
They no longer have the slightest sense of self-reflection and shame. All they think about is money and power. Instead, they plausibly believe that what they do is not wrong. When they become corrupt and mediocre, they become a pile of maggots.
Throughout the ages, this may be a kind of reincarnation that ordinary people cannot get rid of, and it is also the biggest bad habit in human beings that cannot be solved. Thinking about it this way, those rare people who never forget their original aspirations and strive for their ideals all their lives are unswerving characters.
What a precious existence.
Those people are the most noble human beings.
"Master Li, was your purpose in studying for the imperial examination back then just to become the person you are today?" Zhang Yanling asked slowly.
"What?" Li Siming was stunned on the spot.
"Master Li, what was the purpose of your ten years of studying hard in the cold window? To cultivate yourself, manage your family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. What have you achieved now? If you turn back time, you will regret being like this, ignoring the people for some personal conveniences, and even condoning it.
Someone who harms the common people?" Zhang Yanling sighed softly.
Li Siming's face turned pale and his mouth moved, but no words came out.
"Zhang Yanling, what nonsense are you talking about? You only talk about how you make choices. It's not your turn to teach us a lesson." Zhou Guangquan shouted sharply.
"Yes, what nonsense are you talking to him about? It's a waste of time. If he refuses to write a letter of guarantee, he will let them all die here." Wan Fengnian shouted.
Lu Zhengfang also said in a deep voice: "Master Zhang is indeed very eloquent, but now is not the time for you to talk. Where to go, please let Master Zhang decide. Don't waste our time."
Li Siming's momentary feeling of shame quickly disappeared, and the disappointment and guilt he felt deep in his heart, and the little remaining conscience was quickly submerged in the darkness.
"Marquis Jianchang, I would like to give you my final advice: Those who know the current affairs are heroes..."
Zhang Yanling waved her hand and interrupted him: "Well, there is a saying that you can never wake up a person who is pretending to sleep. I am honest about this statement. You all know it in your heart, but you are unwilling to wake up. That's not the case.
The last chance was lost."
Zhang Yanling took out a roll of yellow silk from his arms, slowly unfolded it, and read loudly: "The emperor's decree. Today, Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang, is going to Guangdong on official business according to my decree. Officials from all over the country have received orders to help him do things conveniently. I appreciate this!"
"
Li Siming and others looked at each other in astonishment, looking horrified.
"Did you hear it clearly? This is an imperial edict. Mr. Li, Mr. Wan, and Mr. Zhou. Do you want to resist the edict or obey it?" Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
"Where did the decree come from? Let me see." Li Siming frowned.
Zhang Yanling unfolded the imperial edict and displayed it in public.
Li Siming and others squinted at the imperial edict, and suddenly laughed and said: "Where is this imperial edict? It doesn't even cover the jade seal. Don't fool people. Zhang Yanling, you dare to falsely pass on the imperial edict, you are really lawless. We are not even close to you."
"
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "I knew you would be like this, so you would naturally ignore the emperor's private seal. Because I came incognito, the emperor did not want to make it public, so he did not issue a formal edict, but wrote this secret edict. However,
This is no longer important, and I am not announcing this decree to you. I want others to know that I am here under the decree, and I represent that the current emperor is standing here to do things."
Li Siming and others couldn't understand what Zhang Yanling was talking about.
Zhang Yanling's face became solemn, and she shouted loudly: "Where is Wang Hong? If he doesn't show up now, what are you waiting for?"
"Your Majesty Wang Hong is here!" Among the dark soldiers, a man spoke in a deep voice and stepped out with a long sword in hand.
"Wang Hong? Why are you here?" Zhou Guangquan shouted in shock.
"Lord Zhou, Wang Hong is here to arrest the criminal as ordered by the Marquis. He didn't report anything beforehand, so I hope Lord Zhou will forgive me." Wang Hong said with a sneer.
Zhang Yanling laughed loudly and said: "Master Wang, it seems that everything is arranged well. Where are the other personnel?"
Wang Hong cupped his hands and said, "Report to the Marquis, everyone here is ours. Qin Qianhu, haven't you seen the Marquis yet?"
A general walked out slowly, saluted Zhang Yanling and said: "The last general, Qin Yong, is here to meet the Marquis of Jianchang. The last general will lead all the brothers in the thousand households of the Nanhai Weidong Camp to be dispatched by the Marquis."
Sun Guangzu, the commander-in-chief of Guangdong Dusi, shouted in shock: "Qin Yong, are you crazy?"
Qin Yong said in a deep voice: "My lords, by acting on the orders of Lord Zhang, I am acting according to the emperor's imperial decree. I am not crazy. As officials of the imperial court, you have set up the decrees of the court for your own selfish interests, and the common people
The disregard for life is simply outrageous. You are the crazy ones."
Zhou Guangquan looked at Sun Guangzu in shock and asked, "What's going on? Bastard, is this the manpower you arranged?"
Sun Guangzu's face was ashen, and he murmured curses: "That bitch has betrayed me. I wasted my trust in him. He deserves to die."
Li Siming, Lu Zhengfang and other officials were also shocked, their faces turned ashen. They also realized that Zhang Yanling had taken over today. The elite Nanhai Guard manpower arranged in this building seemed to belong to Qin Yong and Wang Hong
These two men have turned against each other and are Zhang Yanling's men.
"Wang Hong and Qin Yong will listen to the order and immediately arrest the relevant persons and bring them to justice. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy." Zhang Yanling shouted in a deep voice.
Wang Hong and Qin Yong promised solemnly, and they issued orders continuously. The bows, arrows and firecrackers in the hands of hundreds of soldiers immediately turned towards Li Siming and others. Dozens of soldiers, led by Qin Yong, swarmed up and attacked Li Siming and more than a dozen officials.
And Andala and others quickly captured them. Li Siming and others knew that the situation was over. Although they yelled and threatened, they did not dare to resist at all.