The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

Jin Yiwei ordered him to prison.

Zhang Jin, the general envoy, was lying on the straw covered in blood.

The commander of the Jin Yiwei, Mou Bin, looked at him with regret, and couldn't help but speak softly.

"Master Zhang, why are you doing this?"

"You have been known as a virtuous person for three dynasties, why do you have to do these things?"

Zhang Jin laughed miserably and said sadly: "Whether Tishuai believes it or not, this officer did not do this."

"The General Administration Department is the emperor's eyes, ears and mouthpiece. How could I deliberately withhold memorials to cause rebellion and such acts as a national traitor?"

Mou Bin frowned upon hearing this.

He really didn't believe that Zhang Jin did this.

Because this Zhang Jin does have a good reputation. He has served in three dynasties and has always been an upright official. He is a well-known talented and capable official!

But last time, Zhang Jin was instigated by Li Dongyang and Liu Daxia. When Huang Xingfu, Zhu Maogong and others plotted against the Marquis of Zhongshan, he played a role and strongly requested His Majesty the Emperor to send Zhongshan Marquis Tang Hao to immediately lead his army to Qingzhou to quell the rebellion.

Afterwards, His Majesty the Emperor came to his senses and realized that he and the Marquis of Zhongshan were being plotted against, so naturally he also focused on Zhang Jin.

But on the surface, there was nothing wrong with Zhang Jin's actions. After all, someone was rebelling, and the court should immediately mobilize troops and generals to quell the rebellion. He was just following the trend, and it was naturally not a fault.

Therefore, that time, His Majesty the Emperor was not in a hurry to take action against Zhang Jin, but only sent factory guards to keep an eye on this man secretly.

Until this time, someone in the General Affairs Department deliberately withheld the memorial of Xiong Xiu, the left minister of the Ministry of War, which caused the military situation to be delayed and the thieves rebelled. His Majesty the Emperor finally could no longer bear it. He justifiably suspected Zhang Jin, the General Affairs Envoy, and had him imprisoned directly. He was tortured in prison and tortured.

Last time, Zhang Jin seemed innocent of any crime, so it was difficult for His Majesty the Emperor to take action.

But this time, it was clear that someone had done it deliberately, and Zhang Jin, the general political envoy, was naturally involved.

However, after a series of severe torture, Zhang Jin never let go, and judging from his attitude, it seemed that he was really unaware of the matter.

For a moment, Mou Bin couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

After thinking for a moment, he asked a question.

"Master Zhang, why did you add fuel to the flames last time and plot against the Marquis of Zhongshan?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jin did not answer, but chose to remain silent.

"According to Jin Yiwei's investigation, Liu Daxia had a favor to recommend you in the past, right?"

"The reason why you did this last time was because you were instigated by Liu Daxia?"

"Or we can open the window and tell the truth: Did Liu Daxia and Li Dongyang, the Huguang Township Party members, participate in the case of colluding with Japanese pirates for smuggling and profiting?"

Zhang Jin trembled when he heard this, but still did not answer.

How should he speak?

Liu Daxia and Li Dongyang were very helpful to him!

The favor of career promotion is more important than Mount Tai, and it is not so easy to repay.

Since Zhang Jin became an official, he has never done anything illegal or disciplinary, but it was because of that wrong choice that he aroused His Majesty's fear and suspicion, laying the foundation for today's unwarranted disaster.

There is no doubt that after this incident, even if Zhang Jin was not dismissed from office, his career path would probably be cut off.

So, there's nothing more to say.

Zhang Jin just wants to be an upright person, nothing more.

"Tishuai doesn't need to ask anymore."

"Zhang just wants a clear conscience, that's all."

After receiving such an answer, Mou Bin couldn't help but feel a little angry.

"What a clear conscience!"

"But Zhang Jin, have you ever thought about it, are those bastards embezzling national interests, corrupting and accepting bribes, right?"

"It's so stupid, just wait..."

Before he finished speaking, someone hurried over.

"Sir, there is news from Dongchang that the person has been found."

"This person is a fifth-grade Councilor of the Department of General Affairs. After learning of the incident, he committed suicide out of fear of the crime and took the blame alone."

"In addition, there is news from the East Factory that Zhang Jin will be transferred to the right deputy censor of the capital. He will be responsible for supervising waterways to transport grain. He will also be responsible for exterminating Huainan bandits. He must leave Beijing immediately!"

After hearing this, Mou Bin was secretly stunned. His Majesty the Emperor didn't even send a eunuch, but gave him an oral order. He obviously had deep opinions on Zhang Jin.

Moreover, he was demoted from the general political envoy of one of the Great Nine Ministers to the right deputy censor of the capital. This punishment is not too severe. At least if Zhang Jin cannot make any outstanding political achievements in the future, then he will stop at this level in his life. That’s it.

"Master Zhang, did you hear everything?"

Zhang Jin struggled to get up and knelt on the ground, then kowtowed respectfully to thank him.

"The guilty minister Zhang Jin...accepts the order!"

At the same time, inside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Houzhao was still very unhappy.

"A mere fifth-rank official, is he crazy or stupid to commit a serious crime such as detaining a memorial and decapitating him?"

"Da Jue, Master Yang, tell me, who did this?"

Chen Kuan remained silent because Yang Tinghe was present and there was no need for him to speak.

Yang Tinghe thought for a moment and finally gave an ambiguous answer.

"Your Majesty, since this person committed suicide out of fear of crime, it means that all the clues have been cut off here."

"And the forces behind it can make a fifth-grade official commit suicide to bear the responsibility, so naturally it cannot be underestimated, even... many forces."

"At present, there are rebels in Zhili, and everyone in the capital is in danger and uneasy. I think it is best not to cause trouble."

Yang Tinghe was Zhu Houzhao's imperial teacher. After so many years of teaching, he naturally understood Zhu Houzhao's temper. To put it bluntly, Zhu Houzhao just couldn't swallow this bad breath, and he wanted to let the factory guards continue to investigate, and even made a move to start a big prison.

Zhu Houzhao frowned after listening to Yang Tinghe's advice.

The rebellion of bandits was a sensation, and even if the court wanted to conceal the news, it couldn't hide it at all.

After all, Zhili was next to the capital, and those rebels killed officials and rebelled. How could such a shocking event be concealed?

Therefore, the entire capital is indeed a little uneasy now, and they are quite concerned about this rebellion.

And this also brought a lot of pressure to Zhu Houzhao, because the wild man Tang Hao was deliberately delaying time at this moment!

"Speaking of which, what do you think of Tang Hou's approach?"

Zhu Houzhao spoke again and asked the opinions of two confidants.

Chen Kuan whispered: "Your Majesty, this move by Marquis Tang may cause controversy, and there will inevitably be a large number of court officials impeaching and attacking him!"

His words were a bit inexplicable, but he was expressing his attitude indirectly, that is, supporting Tang Hao's cruel practice, using this anti-thief to purge the gentry and gentry in Zhili, and redistributing the land they annexed to the people!

Why?

Because Chen Kuan is a eunuch, and eunuchs are the emperor's servants, naturally all actions must be based on the interests of His Majesty the Emperor.

What can Marquis Tang Hao of Zhongshan get by doing this?

In addition to bearing more infamy and being attacked and impeached by gentry all over the world, what else can he get?

After all, he is loyal to His Majesty and to the Ming Dynasty!

Why not support it?

After Chen Kuan expressed his position, Zhu Houzhao turned his head and looked at Yang Tinghe.

This newly promoted cabinet chief minister has shown quite superb means in a short period of time. At least according to the information obtained by the factory guards, many court officials have already respectfully called Yang Tinghe "Yuanfu".

Yuanfu is a respectful title for the cabinet chief minister. For example, Liu Jian, the chief minister of Hongzhi, was even called "Yuanfu" by Zhu Houzhao.

And Li Dongyang, who relied on colluding with eunuchs to become the cabinet chief minister after Liu Jian, but the court officials did not buy it at all and directly called him "Li Xueshi", which is the best proof.

Not all cabinet chief ministers can get the honorific title of "Yuanfu".

And Yang Tinghe was able to subdue some court officials in such a short time, which shows his ability and means.

Yang Tinghe thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Although Tang Hou's move is a bit cruel and ruthless, it is beneficial to the country and the people, and your majesty should naturally support it!"

The first sentence directly stated that Yang Tinghe also supported what Tang Hao did.

They don't care about themselves. They would rather bear the infamy, the hatred and revenge of the gentry, and be loyal to the country and His Majesty. Such loyalty and virtue, Yang Tinghe naturally supports.

However, support is support, and some problems still need to be solved.

"But if so, then this rebellion will last for a long time. If some means are used, I am afraid it will shake the foundation of the country's rule."

This is also inevitable.

Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao is not busy suppressing the bandits, but deliberately chases this group of rebels everywhere, allowing them to harm the gentry in Hebei. Once the news spreads, the common people will only feel that the court is becoming more and more powerless, and even the rebels cannot be directly suppressed, while the gentry will think that His Majesty the Emperor is tyrannical and unjust, and they are bent on fighting against them!

This is naturally not a solution.

The will of the people is the kingly way. Any court that loses the will of the people will eventually collapse!

Zhu Houzhao naturally understood this truth, and he was also troubled by this matter at the moment.

Damn savages, instead of suppressing the rebellion properly, they had to chase this rebel bandit to harm the gentry everywhere. He was having fun, but Zhu Houzhao was under great pressure!

Those gentry were not fools, how could they not see the sinister plans of the savages? At that time, Zhu Houzhao would face even greater pressure.

And the key is that the court could not eliminate the rebels in time, which was the best evidence of weakness. If it took longer, I am afraid that those people with ill intentions all over the world would follow suit and rise up, not to mention the professional rebels such as the White Lotus Sect!

Zhu Houzhao didn't want to play around and play away the Ming Dynasty, and the country would fall into the hands of others. At that time, he would really be ashamed to meet his ancestors!

"Master Yang, do you have any good ideas?"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Yang Tinghe with hope on his face.

The latter obviously prepared a plan, so he gave a solution.

"First, the Tongzheng Division should vigorously publicize the results of Tang Hou's suppression of the bandits. The rebels dare not fight against the king's army and roam around. This is also the truth. It is best for Zhongshan Hou to kill a few bandit leaders from time to time, so as to calm people's hearts."

"Second, publicize the fact that the people of Zhili are deeply harmed by the horse policy, and behead the corrupt officials of the Imperial Household Department such as Wu Tinghuan and others as a public punishment. In this way, the people and scholars can understand the cause of the rebellion, and beheading these culprits can better appease people's hearts."

"Third, the court's measures for the reform of the horse policy should be implemented as soon as possible, and the reform of the horse policy of the country should be completed with the help of this incident..."

With the help of Tang Hao, the future Ming Dynasty wise minister Yang Tinghe became the chief minister of the cabinet one step ahead of time, and he was still in his prime.

Therefore, the chief minister of the cabinet, who was deeply stimulated by the appointment of Marquis Zhongshan, is now eager to realize his political ambitions. He joins hands with Marquis Zhongshan and His Majesty the Emperor to work hard to revive the Ming Dynasty!

After Yang Tinghe's measures were discussed, Zhu Houzhao immediately issued an official decree.

As a result, the common people's scholars truly understood the whole story of the rebellion, and they hated corrupt officials such as Taipu Temple Minister Wu Tinghuan.

After learning that the imperial court would punish these corrupt officials in ten days, the entire capital was immediately rejoiced. The common people and scholars were looking forward to it, but they directly ignored the rebels who were running around at the moment.

Well, after all, the Marquis of Zhongshan is chasing these Bazhou rebels, so what else could go wrong?

Just need to wait quietly for some time, and there will definitely be news that the Bazhou rebels have been wiped out.

At this moment, the Bazhou rebels, who have been forgotten by the common people and scholars, are hiding in the deep mountains and forests in embarrassment. The 30,000 rebels who used to be huge in strength now only have more than 3,000 people, and most of them are ragged and skinny.

There was no way, they suffered a fatal blow!

Just after Fan Wen became a rebel and laid out a grand plan for hegemony, and Qi Yanming led his people southward in high spirits, an army appeared inexplicably behind them. They did not take the initiative to attack them, but waited for them to break through a city before attacking them. , chasing them around.

The rebels were chased all the way from Bazhou Prefecture to Hejian Prefecture, and then to Zhending Prefecture, Shunde Prefecture, Guangping Prefecture...

These damn officers and soldiers are obviously frighteningly powerful in combat. They also possess a terrifyingly sharp firearm in their hands, the kind that can penetrate armor. However, they refuse to annihilate them in one go. Instead, they deliberately chase them around, as if A cat catches a mouse.

It was a battle in Jingzhou. Qi Yanming's troops once reached 50,000, so he felt that he had the strength to compete with the officers and soldiers behind him.

As a result, no one expected that the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty who had seen them weak and begging for mercy, turned out to be so strong that people were desperate. It was simply a one-sided massacre, and the 50,000-strong army was killed by 10,000 soldiers. Qi Jia cried for his father and mother, especially the strange firearms in the hands of the soldiers, which directly destroyed the morale of the rebels. Even Liu Liu and Liu Qi, who were brave and good at fighting, were so frightened that they fell off their horses and fled without fighting.

In that battle, the 50,000-strong army fell apart, and in the end only these more than 3,000 people were left loyally following Qi Yanming and Liu Liuliuqi.

But what's the point?

The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty are simply impossible to defeat, especially the terrifying firearms in their hands!

Qi Yanming sat on a big tree in despair, staring at the surviving rebels in a daze.

He just couldn't understand why those imperial soldiers were so terrifying and their fighting power was so amazing.

Liu Liu carefully came over and took out a moldy wotou from his arms.

"Brother, eat quickly without being looked at."

When Qi Yanming heard this, he glanced at Liu Liu who was covered in blood. He was so shocked that he couldn't help but burst into tears and burst into tears.

He was just a failed scholar. He never thought that one day he would start a rebellion, but he was beaten by the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty and fell into such a desperate situation!

A few months ago, he was the leader of the righteous and ruthless horse thieves. When he raised his arms, a crowd of responders gathered, setting off a great chaos that overthrew the Ming Dynasty!

Today, he has become a notorious rebel leader, running away in a panic, and will be reviled for eternity even after his death!

The huge gap is enough to make people despair.

"it's all my fault!"

"It was me, Qi Yanming, who harmed my brothers!"

"It's all my fault, Qi Yanming. I'm sorry, brothers!"

Qi Yanming's cry resounded throughout the audience. Hearing his words, the rebels felt sad and started sobbing unconsciously.

At this moment, an angry scolding sounded.

"Why are you crying?"

"Aren't we all still alive?"

"There is still a chance! We still have a chance!"

Everyone looked for the voice and saw that the person speaking was none other than Fan Wencheng.

This Mr. Fan is also quite embarrassed at the moment, with disheveled hair and no longer calm.

In fact, Fan Wencheng was really shocked by the generosity of Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao, or he never thought that this damn reckless man could be so cruel and ruthless.

The Jiangnan gentry behind Fan Wencheng wanted to delay time and make the Marquis of Zhongshan fall into the quagmire of counterinsurgency, so that he could not escape and take care of the Qinghe Shipyard, thus giving the Jiangnan gentry an opportunity to take advantage of.

Faced with this conspiracy, Tang Hao, a damned thief, actually did the opposite. He deliberately chased the rebels around to kill the gentry and gentry, and deliberately used this rebel force to cleanse the big gentry households in Zhili. Killed until rivers of blood and heads rolled in!

On the other hand, at the Qinghe Shipyard, Zuo Yidao, a member of the Jinyi Guard Qianhu, was personally in charge. He also had 3,000 Imperial Guards and 2,000 soldiers from the Beijing Army under his command. The Jiangnan gentry could not spy on them at all. No matter what methods they used, they were blocked by Zuo Yidao. return!

If this continues, who can guarantee what this beast Tang Hao will do?

What if he really goes south after chasing this rebel and enters Jiangnan?

Then it will really be a disaster!

So at this moment, Fan Wencheng felt extremely regretful. After all, the gentry were one, and the gentry in Zhili were bloodbathed, and the gentry in Jiangnan would also be implicated, and the loss of profits was simply immeasurable!

Not to mention that they have no countermeasures at the moment, and there is nothing they can do against this damn beast Zhongshan Hou!

The only measure is to force Tang Hao to send troops to strangle this rebel immediately, otherwise the gentry will suffer greater losses!

Fan Wencheng thought about it and finally could only think of one place, where these three thousand rebels could be driven to!

So Mr. Fan looked at Qi Yanming with a ferocious face, and then shouted in a low voice.

"General, it is impossible to go south!"

"We will change our route to Dezhou and enter Shandong, and attack Qufu by surprise!"

"What? Qufu? You mean... Kong family?" Qi Yanming was shocked.

He subconsciously wanted to refuse, but Fan Wencheng had already prepared the words.

"Only by taking Qufu can we have the qualifications to negotiate with the court and have the hope of survival!"

"After all, Qufu is..."

Three days later, Tang Hao looked at Leng Hantie with a strange expression.

"You mean, these rebels fled to Shandong and went straight to Qufu?"

Leng Hantie nodded, the intelligence was like this.

Tang Hao was silent for a while.

What is this?

A little surprise?