Daming heir

Chapter 373 Disaster Victims Petition
For no reason, Zhu Su felt that the night in late spring was slightly cool.

He walked back slowly to the white sheep mat soft couch that had not been taken down in the hall in the past winter, bent his knees and lowered his hips, and casually pulled a white woolen blanket on the soft couch to wrap around his belly.

Zhu Wei raised his head to look at the young man of the clan in the hall, his eyes flickered for a while, with fear and joy on his face.

This encounter is considered a discerning magistrate, fortunately he had visited Lanyang County before, otherwise, there might be no trace of the rich family's children in this old Song Palace Zhou Palace.

"Zhou Rong committed a crime in the sea of ​​fire, he..."

Zhu Yunxi groaned softly: "Zhou Rong's death was certainly not what my nephew wanted, but it was also his self-determination. The nine clans of the Zhou family can be spared the death penalty."

Zhu Huan lowered his head, feeling a wave of fear in his heart: "There are [-] hectares of fertile land under the name of King Zhou's mansion, and [-] mu of it is registered as Zhou's family."

Zhu Yunxi snorted softly.

The so-called policy at the top has countermeasures at the bottom. Since ancient times, there have been many good governments, but when they fall down to the localities, most of them will change.

Hongwu 25 years began to implement the trial of land-to-mu, and the implementation of Liudaofu counties around Zhili. Although the imperial court’s revenue increased, after the local people gradually became familiar with and mastered this new policy, they would inevitably use it spontaneously. Countermeasures, so as to avoid the collection of taxes by the court.

Zhu Yunxi turned around and looked at Zhu Xi who was sitting on the soft couch: "Uncle Wu, the officials from the two yamen of Henan Province and the officials from the yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture are all being interrogated by Jin Yiwei in the yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture. Uncle Wu has been in Kaifeng for a long time. , The feudal kingdom has been in existence for fourteen years, and my nephew wants to hear from countless people, what do these people do?"

In the front hall of Prince Zhou's Mansion, there was a sound of movement.

Zhu Yunxi pulled a chair, and walked slowly step by step in front of Zhu Huan. The back legs of the chair fell to the ground, and he also waved his robe and sat on it.

The corners of Zhu Xi's eyebrows twitched a few times.

The elder nephew in front of him, the nephew of the clan, the grandson of the Emperor Jian Guo of the Ming Dynasty, had a clear meaning in his words.

Officials in Henan Province are all being interrogated tonight. He is a vassal state in Kaifeng, and he has lived in Kaifeng for 14 years. At this moment, it is only because of the dignity of the clan that no Jin Yiwei comes to question him, but the grandson of the emperor himself. .

This is affection.

Zhu Lu tightly clenched the wool pad with both hands, looked out of the hall, and saw the figures of officers and soldiers in brocade clothes clearly imprinted on the window paper by the light of the fire.

He whispered: "Since the 24th year of Hongwu in Zhejiang Province, the country has experimented with the allocation of pedestals to mu, and it has been quite effective. In 26 years, Liudaofu County implemented the integration of officials and gentry, and the people saw it in the newspapers, and they all liked to run." Tell each other, please say that the country is good in government, benevolent and righteous.

By the end of 26, the prefectures and counties had donated acres of land to the Taoist Temple of Fangwai Temple, and the amount was so large that it seemed vast.The prefectures and counties are afraid that the country will know it, and the court will be furious, and they will take multiple measures to deceive the country and the court.

The law changed the acres of land into canals and ditches, wiped the number of yellow books, and turned a hundred acres of fertile land into waterlogged land. When the emperor left, the water was pumped to clear the silt as before.The method of transforming acres of land into a land of tombs is actually a deception by building up soil. Once succeeded, the soil will be spread and leveled, just like the original state.It is even more encircling to occupy the upper fields and exchange them for the lower fields for the common people. In this way, the two taxes will be paid in real terms, and the family will hide but there will be no reduction, even more than the past income.

Tired of all these things, the whole palace cannot be seen, but it is known that under good governance, there are so many snakes, rats and moths, it can be said that it is full of devastation, and there are too many books to describe it. "

Zhu Huan's voice trembled a little. He really couldn't believe it. The country has only been established for 28 years, and those people can think of so many methods, so many that it is difficult to repeat them in detail, to deceive and blind the court's sight for the self-interest of the family.

And myself...

I had no choice but to go along with the flow for the sake of one person's selfishness, and even rely on things to cover my left and right.

Zhu Yunxi's breathing became quieter, and there was no wind or waves on his face, but his hands on his knees were already clenched into fists, with all his veins exposed.

He took a deep breath, slightly circled his mouth into a hole, and exhaled the stale air from his chest in a long and long way.

After sighing softly, Zhu Yunxi said in a deep voice, "How many countries are like this?"

Zhu Wei raised his head and stared at Zhu Yunxi, and shook his head with a wry smile: "There are so many, countless..."

"Government by officials is the foundation of a country's prosperity."

Zhu Yunxi smiled lightly and shook his head: "Governing the country is governing the people. The people are herded by the prefectures and counties, and they become my family. I will never compromise with the prefectures and counties. I will be an official of the prefectures and counties. Limin."

It is better to make enemies with the officials of the world than to let the people of Li live in resentment.

Zhu Xi looked at Zhu Yunxi who spoke calmly about the fundamentals of governing the country, and the light and shadow in front of him began to become a little blurred, as if he saw the appearance of the old man above the court.

It's so similar.

For a moment, Zhu Wei was full of emotion in his heart.

He whispered: "Two days ago, I came back from Lanyang. In Kaifeng alone, there were more than a dozen people from other places. There were more than [-] farming, studying and academic families, more than [-] businessmen, and countless officials and family members in various departments. Please come in."

"Oh?" Zhu Yunxi leaned back and looked at the old fifth uncle in front of him with ambiguous eyes: "Are they looking for fifth uncle to protect themselves, or to let fifth uncle come forward to mediate?"

As the King of Zhou, Zhu Sui had been in this city of Kaifeng for almost ten years, except that he committed crimes in those few years and was driven to Yunnan by the old man.

The officials of Henan Province will naturally take up the pole as if smelling fishy, ​​and use all means to drag this clan and vassal king of the Ming Dynasty into trouble.

They don't want to stop, but want to drag everyone into the water as much as possible.

It's also ridiculous.

When there is only one person in the water, he will be extremely terrified that he will be submerged and washed away by the flood.

But when everyone on the shore falls into the water, the fear in these people's hearts will become very small again, because death means death, and there is no one on the shore to dry out.

At this time, Zhu Wei laughed mockingly: "They are betting that you dare not be cruel, and dare not change the entire Henan Province. They are even more betting that you and the imperial court dare not put millions of people in Henan Province in a trap. In charcoal."

Zhu Yunxi also laughed out loud: "Unfortunately, I let them lose the bet."

Find out how Henan Province deceived the imperial court, extortionately expropriated the local people, and fished the common people. The thick fog in front of Zhu Yunxi's eyes a few days ago is gradually becoming clearer.

"The two divisions are gone today, and there are no officials in the prefecture and county. The emperor's grandson's handwriting tonight will soon spread throughout the Kaifeng mansion. Tomorrow, the city will naturally panic, and those families will even move around, colluding with each other in private, in order to respond to the imperial envoy's investigation. .”

Zhu Wei revealed the possible situation in Kaifeng Mansion and Henan Road after tonight.

Zhu Yunxi snorted coldly: "It's best for them to move."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi suddenly looked at Zhu Xi with a worried face with a smile on his face.

Being stared at, Zhu Huan's heart was frightened, and he only felt that something bad would happen to him.

At this time, there were footsteps outside the hall.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Zhu Xi couldn't help but feel relieved.

Zhu Yunxi also turned his head to look at Tian Mai who came in from outside the hall.

Tian Mai came to him, clasped his hands together and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, Shangguan Wenhu, the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, committed suicide. Before the self-determination, he had confessed what he knew and committed crimes. He prostrated himself on the ground and begged His Highness to forgive his family. There were also seven officials from Henan Province. , and took their lives before and after the confession.”

Zhu Yunxi's eyelids tightened.

The people who interrogated the officials of Henan Province tonight were all members of Jinyiwei. According to common sense, Jinyiwei was very disciplined during the interrogation, and those people were interrogated individually.

Under such circumstances, eight officials, including Shangguan Wenhu, the prefect of Kaifeng, chose to commit suicide by self-determination.

They are clear that what they have committed is a capital crime.

Zhu Xi let out a sigh, and under Zhu Yunxi's curious eyes, he said softly: "Shangguan...Wenhu, in fact, originally wanted to make a difference. I still remember when he wanted to clear the names of temples and Taoist temples around Kaifeng. There are many obstacles in the fields under him. He went to the two yamen, but no one cared, and then he found me somehow."

Zhu Yunxi looked sideways at the old fifth uncle: "I'm afraid that at that time, the fifth uncle had already seen clearly what happened in Henan Road, so there was nothing he could do about his plea for help."

Zhu Huan nodded: "I remember that at that time, there were already registered donations under the name of King Zhou's Mansion. At that time, I only thought about compiling medical books. I felt that as long as I was busy with these things, I could temporarily forget other things. So Shangguan In the end, Wenhu can only return without success."

"One wrong step is a wrong step. If you tell a lie, you need countless lies to make up for it. Once you corrupt the ink and break the law, it will be difficult to stop."

Zhu Yunxi was a little emotional.

Then he looked at Tian Mai, who was bowed to the side, waiting for him to speak.

He smiled: "Carefully collect the remains. Those who have committed suicide will be treated kindly by their families and nine families. If there is no self-incrimination, the nine clans will arrest and bring them into the case according to the law."

Tian Mai took the lead, coming and going in a hurry.

Zhu Yunxi withdrew his gaze from the dark night outside the hall, and once again looked at Zhu Xi who was still sighing about Shangguan Wenhu's self-determination.

And Zhu Xi, who was still immersed in the regret of being a good friend for many years, suddenly committed suicide by being involved in the case, suddenly felt a chill down his back.

Zhu Xi turned his eyes hesitantly, looking at Zhu Yunxi who was staring at him eeriely, and couldn't help swallowing.

Without waiting for Zhu Xi to speak.

Zhu Yunxi then said with an inexplicable smile: "Uncle Wu, my nephew is going to apologize to you first."

Before Zhu Xi could react.

Zhu Yunxi had already stood up, but the chair under him fell to the ground with a clang.

In just a short while, Zhu Yunxi's eyes were full of indifference and his face was gloomy.

Zhu Wei opened his mouth blankly, looking at Zhu Yunxi.

"Come on!"

Zhu Yunxi let out a low drink.

Soon, outside the hall, a group of Jin Yiwei who had been ready to go rushed into the hall.

Zhu Yunxi swung his robe fiercely, staring sideways at Zhu Huan who was still in a daze, and snorted coldly: "The family member Zhou Fan has committed crimes for many years. He will be imprisoned together with the present prisoner of Henan Province, waiting for the order of the imperial court to be dealt with."

Suddenly, Zhu Xi, who was imprisoned, was completely dumbfounded.

He blinked and looked at Zhu Yunxi standing in front of him, blocking a piece of light, completely lost the ability to think.

Say yes, aren't you an ally?
Why now, his majestic clan lord has become a prisoner?
The script that was agreed in Lanyang County that day was not written like this.

However, Zhu Yunxi did not stop, and continued to say in a cold voice: "All the family members and family members of Zhou Wangfu will be detained and guarded in place. There is no single warrant document, and no one else is allowed to come near!"

All Jin Yiwei agreed coldly.

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Wang Zhu Wei had his arms clasped by two Jin Yiwei.

At this time, Zhu Xi finally came to his senses, and stared at Zhu Yunxi with a gloomy face, dumbfounded.

"Brother Xi!"

"Brother Xi, what are you doing!"

Zhu Yunxi's face was indifferent, his brows were tightened, and he waved his hand: "Press it down."

Zhu Huan froze for a moment, his chest rose and fell several times.

However, this gang of Jinyiwei didn't care that he was the prince of the Ming Dynasty, and it was not uncommon for him to be able to capture a vassal king. After returning to the Jinyiwei command yamen, he might be able to show off in front of his colleagues a few times.

Said: "How do you feel about capturing the king?"

He smiled and replied: "It's not human."

Zhu Lu's head was dizzy for a while, and he didn't dare to struggle under Jin Yiwei's capture until he was led out of the hall.

The night wind outside blew onto Zhu Xi's face, causing him to pause suddenly, and a shiny light suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

He turned his head abruptly, and started roaring towards the hall.

"Zhu Yunxi! You are ungrateful!"

"This king swears that I will never die with you!"

"When the king enters the capital, I will ruthlessly give you a book in front of the old man."

"What authority do you have, dare to detain the clan and kill the clan prince, who gave you the courage!"

"The king is innocent."

"This king is innocent."

"This king shed blood for Daming! This king was wounded for Daming!"

"This king is innocent!"

Outside the hall, Zhu Huan's curses and roars could be heard everywhere in the dark night.

Zhu Yunxi in the hall smiled slightly and shook his head helplessly.

"Those who ride horses are human beings!"

Soon.

In Song Palace Zhou Palace, the news that the prince of the Ming clan, Zhou Wang Zhu Wei, was questioned and detained in the prison of Kaifeng Mansion, spread out of the palace from the darkness in the blink of an eye, and drifted towards various parts of Kaifeng Mansion.

In the middle of the night, there was a series of loud commotions in the back house of Prince Zhou's mansion. Countless family members and clan members of the palace began to curse and scream, and the voices could not be subdued for a long time.

However, Zhu Yunxi, who had been busy all night and roasted in the middle of the night, took a bath comfortably, and lay down on the soft bed with his clothes on.

In the darkness, the noise outside the house did not stop.

In Kaifeng Mansion tonight, probably not many people can really fall asleep.

Lying in the dark night, Zhu Yunxi's eyes were bright, and he couldn't fall asleep for a long time. With the light of the fire outside the window, his eyes looked at the carved beams on the roof.

"I don't know what Yingtian City is doing now."

"Girls should probably show their pregnancy..."

"What will Fourth Uncle think when he receives the transfer order? What will he do when the Nine Frontier Army horses go south?"

"..."

That night, Zhu Yunxi thought about many, many things, but he alone stopped thinking about Henan Road.

The night is like rain, and the stars are twinkling.

At sunrise, orange red dyed the hinterland of the Central Plains, and Zhu Yunxi, who hadn't closed his eyes for a long time, was awakened amidst the noise.

Zhu Gaochi had dark circles under his eyes, and he was wearing yesterday's robe, which showed that he hadn't rested all night. He hugged several documents, and followed Zhu Yunxi who was washing himself with his breath.

"Everyone didn't close their eyes to sleep all night, and finally sorted out the criminal officials in the two yamen of Henan Province and the yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture."

"Henan Road has indeed done everything that the imperial court has issued in the past two years. It's just that... what we hope to see is actually backfired."

"I still admire it now. Under such circumstances, Henan Province can still pay the summer and autumn taxes in full in the past two years, and even has a lot of increases."

"Just thinking about it, the people of Henan Province in the past two years may have been more sad than in previous years."

"Then this involves the failure of the Yellow River embankment and disasters for the people."

"According to what Gao Guang said last night, since they entered the surrounding areas of Kaifeng Prefecture in disguise, they did not see any traces of the victims. According to the explanation given by Kaifeng Prefecture at the time, those victims were all working for relief to clean up the flood victims. silt up, restore the acres, resume production, repair the houses."

"However, at that time, Gao Guang and the others came here with Jinyiwei. The Jinyiwei they sent out also traveled a lot at that time, and indeed found that the victims of the disaster were doing work for relief."

"Furthermore, the Kaifeng Mansion released enough food in accordance with the imperial court's order to help the people."

"That's why I think that even if all the officials from the two departments of Henan Province and the yamen of Kaifeng Prefecture are arrested now, the situation on Henan Province may still be complicated and the future will be uncertain."

Zhu Yunxi wiped his face and put the towel on the side of the basin.

Turning around, he opened his arms to Zhu Gaochi.

Zhu Gaochi sighed helplessly, took the jade belt beside him in his hand, and tied the belt on the guy in front of him.

Zhu Yunxi said, "When you came here, what was the current situation in the city?"

Zhu Gaochi picked up the documents that had just been put aside, picked out one and handed it to Zhu Yunxi: "This was recognized by Yu Ma and the guards in Jinyi, and they are all gentry from Kaifeng Mansion who have shown their faces since last night. People."

Zhu Yunxi held the document in his hand, opened a corner but closed it again: "What's the situation outside the city now?"

"We sealed the gate of the city last night and couldn't enter or leave it. However, I think the news in the city was released last night. It's just that there is no response yet, but if our guess is correct, there may be action soon. gone."

"After all, people like them cannot be captured willingly. Even if they are put to death, they will still think about fighting to the death."

Zhu Gaochi looked a little tired, coupled with worry, it made people feel that he might fall down at any time.

Zhu Yunxi nodded: "All of these things can happen. Yuma's people have also entered the city now, and Tang Bi's Yulin Guard Ma will also be here today. Unless the people in Henan Province really go all out, what else can they do?"

The brothers discussed softly.

At this time, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside.

He was detained in the Kaifeng government office for many days, and he was finally freed last night. He was transferred to the Henan Province chief envoy Si Yamen overnight. He walked in hurriedly under his gaze.

Gao Gaoguang's complexion is also like Zhu Gaochi's at this moment, looking extremely haggard.

Higher Light seemed to have forgotten to say hello.

When Zhu Yunxi was in front of him, he cupped his fists and said, "Your Highness, there are thousands of disaster victims gathered outside the city to petition."

Zhu Gaochi opened his mouth and said, "The disaster victims petition?"

Gao Guang looked a little ugly, nodded and said: "The victims of the disaster will petition the officials of Henan Province to offend."

With just this one explanation, the room fell into silence for an instant.

(End of this chapter)