Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 179: A gentleman governs the country, and the Suzhou gentry suddenly appreciates the emperor’s grace!

After seeing these Jiangnan nobles being so generous, Zhang Wei, the Marquis of Hui'an, asked seriously, "Are you really so wealthy in Jiangnan?"

"I dare not hide it from Lord Hui'an. If we talk about the amount of silver, we can rival a country!"

"So, if you are willing to let us go, you will have wealth that rivals that of a country, and you won't have to worry about not having treasure to pass on to your descendants in the future!"

Ouyang Yu replied with a smile.

Zhang Wei asked, "Since you have so much silver, why are you so resistant to paying more to the court?"

"You don't know!"

"It is said that a gentleman pursues justice, while a villain pursues profit. Therefore, when a gentleman is in power, the court gives profit to the people, while when a villain is in power, the court seizes profit for the country! Since Sima Guang, the world has regarded this as the correct theory!"

"Of course, it is a small matter for us to benefit the country, but it is a big matter for us to allow treacherous officials to harm the country!"

Ouyang Yu replied.

Li Yi followed up, "That's right! The court should let gentlemen rule the world together, not let villains rule the world."

"You are a noble, you have no responsibility to govern the country, and taking profits does not harm the country's dignity, so we are naturally willing to give money to you, but we cannot give money to the treacherous ministers of the country and ruin the world!"

Xu Cheng also started talking.

"Detain them first! Do not bully or beat them without reason. If anyone dies, execute them immediately!"

After hearing this, Zhang Wei, the Earl of Hui'an, simply gave this order.

"Yes!"

then.

Ouyang Yu and others were taken away.

When they were being taken away, Ouyang Yu, Li Yi and others couldn't help but smile slightly.

They believed that Hui'an Earl Zhang Wei would definitely be tempted by their huge wealth and power, otherwise, he would not have strictly required his subordinates to guarantee their lives.

This also gave them some hope that they could get away with it.

After giving these instructions, Zhang Wei called the commander-in-chief Que Yong and others aside and asked, "What do you think of what those Jiangnan nobles said?"

"I feel like what they said seems to be right, but also seems to be wrong."

Que Yongxian replied.

Zhang Wei nodded and let Que Yong continue.

Que Yongze said: "I think they are right, because it seems that the court should not rule the country for the purpose of benefiting the people, but should give benefits to the people. This is the ethics that a gentleman should have when governing the country!"

"But I think what they said is wrong. Just because they think the rulers of the court are villains, they should not regard all those in power and all those loyal to the court as villains and treacherous ministers. They should kill their own soldiers and rebel against the court, or even really try to exterminate the nine clans of the court officials. Since ancient times, the decision to kill and punish has been made by the emperor. Even if Zhu Kunshan is an unforgivable criminal, it is Your Majesty who should decide how to deal with him."

"It turns out that the Duke only knows how to fight."

"When faced with the sweet words and money temptations of scholars and officials, it is still easy to be deceived."

Zhang Wei sighed.

Que Yongze bowed and said, "Please teach me, my lord!"

"There is no court that only gives benefits but does not take them, and there is no emperor that only gives favors but does not enrich himself!"

"Otherwise, who would be willing to work so hard to build an empire and become an emperor?"

"Our ancestors followed our great grandfather and great ancestor to build the country for the sake of wealth and glory for their descendants. We don't want the emperor to be a selfless saint!"

"Anyone who demands that the emperor be a saint or that others be saints is either stupid or evil!"

"Don't be fooled!"

When Zhang Wei said this, he reminded the generals.

Que Yong and others nodded as if they understood something.

"If what they are doing now is a foolish act, it is also because they have no other choice but to do so in a desperate situation."

"But the fact is, they have so much wealth, and they took the initiative to expose it, just like a child carrying gold through the market, people just want to take it all. How can we negotiate with them and take as much as they give us?"

After Zhang Wei said this, another commander, Sheng Yu, echoed:

"You're right, sir! It would be better to rob their entire home!"

"I listened to them and thought, since they are so rich and have committed crimes, why not just take all their money in the name of suppressing the rebellion?"

"You're not right either."

Zhang Wei replied.

Sheng Yu couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Wei said, "If it is really a wealth that rivals that of a country, wouldn't it be like a child carrying gold through the market if five thousand of us took it?"

"You don't really think there are no Jinyiwei in the army, do you?"

Everyone was speechless.

"When you encounter something like this, don't be blinded by greed!"

“Always stay sober. There is no huge wealth in this world that comes to your doorstep for no reason. If there is, it will also be accompanied by disasters.”

"You haven't made many mistakes yet, unlike me, who was imprisoned for this during the Wumiao Dynasty."

Zhang Wei said earnestly.

Que Yong asked: "What does the gentleman mean?"

Zhang Wei asked in return: "Is there any need to ask this? We are all tempted by such wealth, how can Your Majesty not be tempted?"

"Once your majesty is moved, won't you think we are very loyal? At that time, we will certainly get benefits. Even if there are no direct benefits, there will be indirect benefits!"

In Zhang Wei's opinion, if the emperor did not lose himself in the wealth, he would reward his personal army generously.

If the emperor loses himself and becomes prosperous and has no ambition to make progress, it will be a good thing for these noble officials who have also experienced a stable life.

because……

In this way, they can enjoy the peaceful and prosperous times with the Emperor in the name of loyal subjects who would not betray the emperor even if faced with huge profits, have concubines, enjoy music, and play with grandchildren, without having to work hard to achieve achievements.

Que Yong and others also understood what Zhang Wei said.

then.

Everyone said they would listen to Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei then truthfully reported to Zhu Houcong the attempt of Ouyang Yu and others to bribe the Yanshan Guard.

When Zhu Houcong learned about this, he was indeed very tempted.

This made him lick his lips involuntarily, and he secretly thought that if all these Jiangnan nobles who could easily pay millions of taels of silver were confiscated on suspicion of treason, at least tens of millions of taels of silver would have to be deposited into the treasury.

In this way, if we want to reshape the money system, take back the currency power, and stimulate the economy, are we still worried that there won’t be enough silver?

Of course, there is no need to be afraid anymore!

The thought of this.

Zhu Houcong instructed the eunuch Gu Dayong, who held the seal of the Imperial Household Department, "Tell Zhang Wei that I am very happy that the Yanshan Guards have successfully suppressed the rebellion. Tell them to keep up the good work and catch all the rebels and accomplices. Let them concurrently serve as the Left Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, grant them the royal flag, and confiscate all the property of the rebels and accomplices. If necessary, torture them and tell them that this is to suppress a rebellion, so there is no need to tolerate the rebels! It is better to implicate them than to let their accomplices go! Order the local government offices, the Yongwei Battalion, and the farmers, workers, and merchants to assist."

Gu Dayong was horrified after hearing this and hurried to convey the order.

Let’s talk.

In Suzhou, Jiangnan, after Zhang Wei reported the matter to Zhu Houcong, he brought Ouyang Yu, Li Yi, Xu Cheng and other scion of Jiangnan aristocratic families here.

Ouyang Yu was quite expectant and thought that Zhang Wei was going to let them go, so he asked, "What does Earl Hui'an think?"

"Who will pay for your redemption? What families are you from? What are your names? Tell me the truth!"

Zhang Wei asked.

Ouyang Yu, Li Yi, Xu Cheng and others felt something was wrong and couldn't help but look surprised.

Ouyang Yuxian said: "Just collect the money, why do you need to know who gave it to you?"

"I told you to answer, not to ask me!"

Zhang Wei said in a deep voice.

"What do you mean, sir?"

Li Yi asked with great vigilance.

Zhang Wei gestured to Que Yong.

So, Que Yong slapped Li Yi on the back.

"what?!"

Li Yi screamed and glared at Zhang Wei with anger in his eyes.

"answer!"

Zhang Wei shouted again.

Li Yi just gritted his teeth, as if trying hard to suppress his anger.

Ouyang Yu, who was standing by, responded directly at this time: "Sir, you want to take away all our silver. If that's the case, we would rather die than give it to you!"

"You are not in a position to bargain now."

"Whether you live or die, it is not up to you to decide."

Zhang Wei said this in a cold voice and ordered a group of captured slaves and militiamen from the noble families to be brought over.

Zhang Wei then asked these slaves and militiamen: "Can anyone tell me who ordered you to rebel? Whose slaves and militiamen are they? Whose children are they?"

"Which of you dares!"

At this time.

Ouyang Yu turned around and shouted at the captured slaves and militiamen, "If you want to save the lives of your wife and children, don't say anything!"

Ouyang Yu said as he looked at Zhang Wei viciously: "Since you are so greedy and want to take all our property, we would rather die than let you get even a penny!"

Zhang Wei ignored him. He was already immune to attacks from literati like Ouyang Yu, and just waved his hand.

Que Yong, who had already received relevant orders from Zhang Wei, understood and immediately ordered the one kneeling on the far left among the group of domestic slaves and militiamen to be dragged out.

Click!

The man was beheaded on the spot.

Ouyang Yu and other sons of the Jiangnan gentry and other servants and militiamen could not help but turn pale.

Click!

And then.

Another household slave or militiaman was dragged out and beheaded on the spot.

Amid the roar of killing, Zhang Wei said, "Whoever tells me who ordered you to rebel, whose slaves and militiamen you are, and whose children they are, as long as you tell me what you know, you will be rewarded and spared from death!"

"If you are not afraid of death, just shut up and wait to be chopped off."

"After all, I am suppressing a rebellion now, and you are all traitors. If I execute you in the name of suppressing a rebellion, it won't be considered killing innocent people!"

"Even if some censors want to impeach me for this, I can refute that the censors are in the same party as the rebels, so they speak for the rebels and harm me, a hero who suppressed the rebellion."

"I say this to make you understand. Don't think I will be lenient out of consideration for anything!"

"To tell you the truth, as long as the imperial court determines that you are rebelling, then even if I kill people in Jiangnan, at most they will say that I was too harsh, but they will not say that I deserve to be punished!"

As Zhang Wei spoke, he drank tea as he listened to the sounds of beheadings.

As soon as he took a sip, one of them couldn't hold it in any longer. When he was dragged over, he immediately shouted, "I'll tell you! I'll tell you! I'm a servant of the Ouyang family, the former Shaoqing of the Imperial Household Department of Yingtian Prefecture. I came here with my second master. It was my second master who said that you, sir, wouldn't get a penny. He has been his servant since he was a child. If he wants to come, I have to follow him!"

"Woo!"

The man started crying as he spoke.

Zhang Wei looked at Ouyang Yu, smiled faintly, then waved his hand and had someone put the handcuffs back on the boy.

Ouyang Yu couldn't help but take a deep breath: "You bastard! I treated you so well!"

"The court treats you, the Ouyang clan, well, but aren't you also ruthless and heartless?"

Zhang Wei couldn't help but say something, and then he ordered Que Yong: "Immediately send a general to Yingtian Prefecture with troops, and write to the officials for assistance, saying that the Ouyang family is suspected of treason, so the Ouyang family should be arrested and their mansions should be sealed so that they can be confiscated and punished in the future!"

Que Yong nodded and said yes.

Looking at this situation, Li Yi realized that his plan to bribe the Yanshan Guards with money had failed, and that they might end up being tortured to death. He was very disappointed and looked depressed for a while.

Xu Cheng started to smile foolishly because of this.

Let’s talk.

After learning that there really were rebels coming to Kunshan, the Suzhou gentry did not dare to be careless and hurriedly began to investigate the city. Together with the government, they found out the traitors who had sneaked into Kunshan County with armor and weapons. They also interrogated Zhang Wei, who was dying if he didn't tell, and found out that the Nanzhi gentry in other prefectures wanted to exterminate the entire Zhu family and put the blame on the Suzhou gentry.

Qin Jin, the retired Minister of Personnel, was furious and had to visit Wang Ao, the retired Grand Secretary, to talk about the matter and said:

"Lord, the nobles in Yingtian, Songjiang and other prefectures have gone too far! In order to avenge the Zhu family, they even went so far as to implicate and frame our Suzhou nobles, causing the court to hate our Suzhou nobles from now on!"

"They are willing to sacrifice my entire Suzhou gentry just to stop the new policy. This is so despicable and shameless!"

"So, Your Majesty saved my Suzhou nobles this time?"

(End of this chapter)