My father is Jiajing

Deep in the rockery of the Xu Mansion's back garden, there is a little-known secret room. At this moment, Xu Jie is sitting opposite his son Xu Fan in it.

The flickering candlelight cast their shadows on the stone wall, swaying like ghosts.

"Dad, all the account books have been copied."

Xu Fan took out a brocade bag from his bosom and presented it with both hands. "This is a detailed record of the Dong family's transactions with the Japanese pirates in the past five years, including the quantity and price of ironware, silk, and porcelain, as well as a list of the people who handled it."

Xu Jie took the brocade bag, his fingers trembling slightly.

He is sixty-eight years old this year, with white hair and beard, but his eyes are still as sharp as an eagle.

Xu Jie slowly opened the brocade bag and took out a stack of paper as thin as a cicada's wing, which was covered with densely written tiny regular script.

"Have you verified all of this?"

Xu Jie asked Xu Fan again in a low voice, since he had decided to use the Dong family as a token of his allegiance this time, he must do it thoroughly.

Otherwise, the truth that if you fail to kill the snake, you will suffer the consequences will happen to the Xu family again.

But now the Xu family can no longer afford any crisis or change.

Xu Jie must confirm this information as soon as possible to gain new trust and time for the Xu family from Zhu Zaigui.

"It's true."

Xu Fan was extremely nervous. He was still nervous and excited about this matter. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, as if he had Parkinson's disease!
Xu Fan suppressed his excitement and said to Xu Jie affirmatively: "I bribed the accountant of the Dong family a few years ago. These figures are copied from the original account books. In the first year of Hu Zongxian's appointment as the Governor of Zhejiang, the Dong family sold 100,000 kilograms of pig iron to the Japanese pirates, enough to make tens of thousands of swords!"

When Xu Jie heard this number, he couldn't help but gasp.

No wonder the Japanese pirates were so difficult to suppress, and even a governor was killed.

It turned out that someone had been so cruel as to sell out the interests of the country and the people. This time, Xu Jie no longer felt guilty about betraying the Dong family.

Although Xu Jie was pedantic and had let family affairs run their course, at least Xu Jie believed that he would not be so cruel as to do something so cruel.

Xu Jie sighed and put the account book into his sleeve: "Dong Ce is stupid! Smuggling some silk and porcelain is fine, but he dared to sell pig iron and Japanese pirates. This is a serious crime that will punish the entire clan."

Xu Fan hesitated for a moment, then looked at Xu Jie and whispered, "Dad, the Dong family is our in-laws after all. My younger sister has been married to the Dong family for more than 20 years. If this matter gets out."

Xu Jie's eyes changed, and he looked at Xu Fan fiercely, and continued: "That's why we must strike first!"

Xu Jie's eyes flashed with ruthlessness, and he continued slowly, "Prince Yu wants to lift the ban on sea trade, and the Dong family took the lead in opposing it, just to protect the smuggling route. Now the court has changed its direction, and if our Xu family is still tied to the Dong family, we will be dragged into the water sooner or later."

"What about my little sister?"

Xu Fan still couldn't bear the fate of his sister, and he looked at Xu Jie with pleading eyes.

After going through so much, Xu Fan is no longer profit-driven. He knows that the real foundation of the Xu family lies in his father.

If even his father could not live long, no matter how much wealth the Xu family had, it would be like rootless duckweed and would disappear in an instant.

Xu Jie's eyes turned cold again, and his voice became extremely cold.

"A daughter who is married off can be like water spilled. For the sake of the Xu family, what is the point of sacrificing a daughter? Moreover, since we took the initiative to expose this matter, Prince Yu will not implicate too many people because of my many years of assisting the government."

Xu Fan lowered his head and dared not say anything more. He was helpless in the reality and fearless in the cruelty of his father.

But now he had no idea what to do. How great it would have been if he had not listened to his father and returned home from the capital.

Even if things had evolved to this point, he wouldn't have to bear so much psychological burden and guilt.

The secret room was silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the candle wick.

After a long while, Xu Jie spoke again: "Fan'er, tomorrow you will personally deliver these account books to Ge Shouli of the Censorate. Remember, you must act in secret and not let anyone see them."

"My child understands."

Xu Fan put away his thoughts, took a deep breath, and agreed solemnly.

Then Xu Fan asked, "Dad, what will you do if the prince asks you why you have this evidence?"

"Just say that my Xu family's caravan was robbed at sea a few years ago, and I accidentally found it on a pirate ship."

Xu Jie had already thought of an excuse, and some things don't require a perfect reason at all, as long as the things and facts are true, that's enough.

Therefore, this reason was just something Xu Jie said casually, without any careful consideration at all.

After all, even if he thought carefully and came up with a lot of excuses, no one would necessarily care.

After explaining to Xu Fan, Xu Jie looked at Xu Fan seriously and said, "Remember, although our Xu family and the Dong family are related by marriage, loyalty to the emperor and patriotism are the fundamental principles."

Xu Fan nodded in agreement, but he couldn't help feeling a chill in his heart.

His father was able to endure for many years when Yan Song was in power during the Jiajing period, and finally overthrow Yan Song in one fell swoop, thanks to his endurance of humiliation and ruthless means.

Now these methods are being used on former relatives and allies. How can Xu Fan not feel chilled?
"correct,"

Xu Jie suddenly remembered something, and he continued, "Although Zhang Juzheng and my father had a falling out, he is young and promising, and he is very popular with Prince Yu. You should spend more time with him, even if you have to be humble. As long as you can get in touch with him again and recall the old friendship, everything will be fine."

Xu Fan sighed in his heart again, his father would always give him difficult problems.

The Xu family and Zhang Juzheng are now almost incompatible, and now they have to humble themselves and beg others. What is this?
If they had known this, why did they attack Zhang Juzheng for suggesting that the three palaces and three cabinets' grand secretaries be separated from the Hanlin Academy?
Even if you don't support it, keeping silent is much better than what we are doing now!

But this was what my father meant, and Xu Fan had no way to refute it. He could only lower his head and reply: "I understand. I will definitely find a way to make friends with Zhang Juzheng again."

Xu Jie nodded with satisfaction and stood up: "It's getting late, go and get ready. Remember, this matter concerns the safety of the entire Xu family, and there must not be any mistakes."

"Kid, remember this."

Xu Fan bowed again and then left the secret room.

After Xu Fan left the secret room, Xu Jie stood alone in the candlelight, looking at his own shadow swaying on the wall, muttering to himself: "Dong Ce, Dong Ce, don't blame me for being cruel. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not knowing the current situation and blocking the court's way."

The next morning, just after dawn, Xu Fan changed into ordinary merchant clothes and quietly slipped out of the back door of Xu's residence. He held the stack of account books in his arms, his heart was beating like a drum, and his palms were full of cold sweat.

The streets were foggy and sparsely populated. Xu Fan walked along the alleys, making many detours to make sure no one was following him before arriving at the back door of the Censorate.

Ge Shouli, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, had already received the secret letter and was waiting in his study.

Seeing Xu Fan coming in, Ge Shouli immediately dismissed his attendants and closed the door.

"Mr. Xu, have you brought the things?" Ge Shouli was nearly sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, but he was energetic and his eyes were bright.

Xu Fan took out the account book from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "Uncle Ge, this is what my father asked me to deliver. Please take a look."

Ge Shouli took the account book and immediately put on his reading glasses to read it carefully.

As he read deeper, Ge Shouli's brows furrowed more and more, and finally he slammed the table and stood up: "How can this be absurd! How dare the Dong family be so bold!"

Ge Shouli was filled with righteous indignation, as if he really hated evil!
Ge Shouli looked at the account book which clearly recorded the transactions between the Dong family and the Japanese pirates:
On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, how many pounds of pig iron were exchanged, who was the person in charge, and where was the transaction made; on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, how many pieces of silk were exchanged for how many taels of silver from the Japanese pirates. The most shocking thing is that at the end of the account book there are several copies of Dong Ce's handwritten letters, which contain details of the transaction location and secret code agreed upon with the leader of the Japanese pirates.

After reading all this, Ge Shouli was even more frightened. He never expected that Xu Jie would throw such a big bomb in his way!
"Is this, this, this all true?"

Ge Shouli's voice trembled.

"It's true."

Xu Fan took a deep breath, looked Ge Shouli seriously in the eyes and replied.

Then Xu Fan whispered, "This is the evidence that my uncle accidentally intercepted from the Japanese pirates in his early years. Because there have been so many things happening recently, my uncle thought about it again and again and gave it to my father. After seeing these things, my father was also furious and filled with righteous indignation! So he decided to sacrifice his relatives for the sake of justice and report it to the court to correct the world's views!"

Ge Shouli looked at Xu Fan deeply, as if he saw through something, but did not point it out.

He solemnly put the account book into a brocade box, sealed it with wax, and stamped it with his own seal.

"Lord Xu is loyal to his country, and I admire him. Please tell him that I will go to the palace to meet the prince and will not allow these parasites to continue to harm the Ming Dynasty's sea borders."

Ge Shouli also took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. This matter was obviously beyond his control, so it would be better to report it as soon as possible.

Otherwise, when things get out of control and he still has this thing in his hand, he might even be blown to pieces!

Xu Fan bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Uncle Ge. My father also said that this matter is of great importance, so please present it to the prince in person and don't let anyone else do it."

Ge Shouli laughed in his heart, how the hell can I delegate this to someone else?

"I understand!"

Ge Shouli collected his things and sent Xu Fan away. Then he called the servants loudly, "Prepare the sedan chair. I want to go to the palace immediately!"

Xu Fan was standing outside watching everything. He watched Ge Shouli's back as he hurried away, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew that from this moment on, the fate of the Dong family was sealed, and the Xu family would also have a chance to survive in this political storm.

In the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Zaigui was reviewing memorials. When he heard that Ge Shouli had an urgent secret report, he put down his red brush, winked at Meng Chong, and had Ge Shouli summoned into the hall.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

As soon as Ge Shouli entered the room, he knelt on the ground and presented the brocade box with both hands!

The scene was just like the scene in the movies where a loyal minister goes to the Golden Palace to file a complaint with the Emperor.

Zhu Zaiqi looked at Ge Shouli and said calmly, "What's the matter, Mr. Ge?"

Ge Shouli suppressed his excitement and said quickly, "This is evidence sent by Xu Fan, the son of Xu Ge Lao. It is related to the serious crime of the Jiangnan Dong family colluding with Japanese pirates and smuggling contraband!"

A gleam of light flashed in Zhu Zaigui's eyes. He didn't expect Xu Jie to play such a trick of surrendering himself!
It seems that Xu Jie is really anxious!

Zhu Zaigui gave Meng Chong another look.

Meng Chong immediately went over and took the brocade box from Ge Shouli, then examined it briefly and presented it to Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaigui opened the brocade box and looked at the thick stack of evidence inside, and some emotions could be seen in his eyes.

Then he took out the evidence and looked through it slowly. When he saw the contents clearly, his face suddenly became as gloomy as water.

"What a great Dong family! What a great Dong family!"

Zhu Zaigui laughed in anger, "Before, he kept saying in the court that opening the sea would encourage the Japanese invasion, but secretly he sold pig iron to the Japanese pirates to make weapons! He is really a good and loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. I don't know how to reward him."

Zhu Zaigui spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Ge Shouli fell to the ground without saying a word. He knew that Prince Yu was furious at the moment, and any words he said might add fuel to the fire.

Zhu Zaigui paced back and forth in the hall and suddenly stopped: "How did Lord Xu get this evidence?"

"Your Highness, according to Xu Fan, the Xu family's merchant caravan was robbed at sea, and the items were accidentally found on a pirate ship."

Ge Shouli answered cautiously.

Zhu Zaigui sneered and said, "What a coincidence. Elder Xu has worked really hard."

After Zhu Zaigui made a sarcastic remark to Xu Jie, he turned to Ge Shouli and asked, "Mr. Ge, what do you think should be done with this matter?"

Ge Shouli pondered and said, "Your Highness, the Dong family is a prominent family in Jiangnan, with deep roots. Dong Fen is the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate, and has many followers in the court. If we act rashly, we may alert the enemy."

"What do you think, Mr. Ge?"

Zhu Zaigui asked Ge Shouli in return.

Ge Shouli took a deep breath and said, "I think we can let Zhang Juzheng, the Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Justice, preside over this case. Let him secretly collect more evidence in the name of investigating other cases and catch the Dong family and their followers in one fell swoop."

Zhu Zaigui nodded and said, "Mr. Ge is right. It is exactly what I want. How about this? You send a letter to the Nanjing Censorate, and then get in touch with Zhang Juzheng. Finally, quietly hand over the evidence and let Zhang Juzheng deal with it properly."

Ge Shouli immediately bowed, "I obey your order!"

Zhu Zaigui waved his hand and let Ge Shouli go.

At this time, Zhu Zaigui looked at the evidence in the brocade box again, and a cold smile appeared on his face.

Zhu Zaigui said to himself: "It is true that dog bites dog, that is the cruelest thing!"

Zhu Zaigui folded the evidence together again and handed it to Meng Chong, "Find someone to make two copies."

Meng Chong took the brocade box respectfully and bowed to Zhu Zaigui, "I obey your order."

After finishing all this, Zhu Zaigui stood up and stretched his body, then walked to the steps outside the Wenhua Hall. Zhu Zaigui looked at the scenery outside and said with emotion, "It's getting more and more interesting."

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