Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 233: Confiscation of property and extermination of the clan

Handan, Qingshui County.

There is a Mr. Li here, his name is Li Qitang.

Li Qitang was originally the Minister of Rites. Later, when Zhang Tingzheng was in power, he was purging dissidents. He and others such as Cheng Fan were purged from office.

However, the difference is that Cheng Fan adjusted his dignity in time, went to Zhang's house to plead guilty, and was finally able to retire and return home.

However, Li Qitang failed to retire at the right time and was eventually found to have committed several crimes including corruption and bribery. He was dismissed from his official position and was never employed again.

However, even so, when it comes to ancient languages, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.

The Li family was a big family in Handan, and Li Qitang had been an official for decades, with countless students and former officials. Even though he was dismissed and returned to his hometown, no one dared to look down on him.

Qingshui County changes its magistrate every three years.

The first thing every county magistrate did after taking office was not to sit in the county court and investigate the grievances, but to go to the Li Mansion, identify himself as a disciple, and pay a visit to Master Li Qitang.

If they don't do this, they will not be able to continue to serve as county magistrates.

Under such circumstances, the Li family was almost no different from local tyrants in Qingshui County.

In terms of land alone, the Li family owns more than 40,000 acres in Qingshui County.

Most of the common people were tenants in their families.

The Li family set up a private court in their mansion, and the life and death of the people all depended on the Li family's decision.

His descendants often bully boys and girls.

Not long ago, he even kidnapped women on the street, and after having enough fun with them, he sold them to brothels. Such heinous acts are just a drop in the bucket.

Public resentment has long been boiling, but no one dares to intervene.

The Huaiyin army secretly investigated the people and asked them about the crimes of the Li family. The people knew everything about them, but when asked who could come forward to testify, no one dared to speak.

"Then don't testify, just confiscate the house!"

A Huaiyin soldier said.

Another Huaiyin soldier had some concerns.

"The crime..."

"It would be best if there is real evidence of guilt. If there is no evidence, we can just make up one!"

"Is that okay?"

"Let's get it ready. Pull up the artillery."

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the gate of Li's manor was blown into pieces by artillery fire.

The hidden Huaiyin troops set out directly, surrounded Li's residence, and quickly began arresting people according to the list.

Li Qitang stayed at home and had no idea what was going on.

The Huaiyin army acted too quickly and he had not received any news before that.

In fact, he was not stubborn and would rather die than give up the land.

It's just that his years of experience have accustomed him to thinking that this policy will be the same as usual and will not be implemented so thoroughly.

Even if it was really implemented, it would be impossible to implement it within two or three months due to the various wrangling and delays in the court. Therefore, Li Qitang has been reluctant to make a decision and has been waiting and watching.

Unexpectedly, the Huaiyin army suddenly took action.

Very quickly, very suddenly!
The home is gone.

The loyal old butler carried Li Qitang on his back and quickly hid in a secret passage that had been prepared underground.

However, Li Qitang's son and grandson were unable to extricate themselves because they were playing with the concubine together, and were eventually captured by the Huaiyin army.

When asked where Li Qitang was, the two were very stubborn and would rather die than betray him.

The Huaiyin Army lashed out with a steel whip, cracking Li Qitang's son's eggs.

His grandson was so frightened upon seeing this that he fell to his knees and told the location of the secret passage word for word.

Soon, Li Qitang and the housekeeper were arrested.

All of Li’s property was confiscated.

As for the charges, they were naturally quickly revealed through torture.

At the same time, similar house raids were taking place in other areas of Zhili.

Some of the targets of the house searches were retired senior officials like Li Qitang.

Some are from families of officials currently serving in the capital.

There are also noble families. There is also a prince consort.

A total of eight large families were uprooted by the Huaiyin Army within one day.

The whole court was shocked, and all the officials and noble families were terrified.

At the same time, Fang Yong ordered the Huaiyin Army to take good care of the remaining aristocratic families and strictly guard the border. If anyone dared to transfer property, they would be charged with treason and executed without reporting to the emperor later.

At night, Meng Mansion.

A young man named Li Jia knocked on the door stealthily and handed over the door sticker.

Li Jia was another grandson of Li Qitang. He originally studied at the Imperial College and had a promising career in officialdom.

The Huaiyin Army had naturally sent people to keep an eye on Li Jia, waiting for the operation to begin so that they could capture him together.

But it was also a coincidence that when the Li family got into trouble, Li Jia happened to find someone to take his place, and he went to Zuixian Pavilion to enjoy himself, so he escaped the disaster.

Now he is wanted by the Huaiyin Army and is fleeing around the city, acting very cautiously.

After a while, the door of Meng Mansion opened.

Li Jia entered and soon saw Meng Liang.

Li Jia immediately knelt down and shouted:

"Uncle Meng, you have to make the decision for my Li family!"

The Meng family and the Li family had a good relationship. Both families were disciples of Confucius and were also political enemies of Zhang Tingzheng back then. Therefore, after the Li family got into trouble, Li Jia came to the Meng Mansion to seek refuge as soon as possible.

Meng Liang comforted Li Jia, but he sneered in his heart.

Are you crying now?

What were you doing before?
Previously, in order to compete for the last two positions in the Grand Council, Meng Shen had personally come forward and written an article calling on everyone to respond to the military farming policy.

The result was mediocre, with only some ordinary middle-sized families responding, while big families like the Li family simply ignored it.

Now it’s been copied!
Meng Liang spoke gently to comfort Li Jia, and talked about the past, saying that when he was an official, he had been taken care of by Lord Li Qitang. In short, he said a lot, but he didn't mention the matter of making decisions for the Li family.

Because even a fool can see that it is obviously impossible for the Li family to be rehabilitated at the moment.

Old man Meng Shen also has to compete for a position in the Grand Council, so it is naturally impossible for him to speak for the Li family.

Li Jia is not a three-year-old child, so he naturally understands this.

In fact, he didn't expect the Meng family to make the decision for him.

Meng Shen has not shown up in public until now, which has made his attitude very clear.

All Li Jia wanted to do was use this as an excuse to seek refuge here.

But if he directly said that he came here to seek refuge, the Meng family would most likely make excuses and find all kinds of reasons to embarrass him.

But if he said he came here to ask the Meng family to make a decision for him, then the Meng family would agree to let him take refuge...

Li Jia planned to borrow some money from the Meng family after the storm died down and go to Changsha to join his uncle.

Meng Liang did not go too far and arranged a room for Li Jia to hide.

In the Qianqing Palace.

The main hall where meetings were held was lit.

Originally there were palace maids guarding inside, but now all the palace maids have been driven out.

Kong Zhaolin bit her teeth lightly, supporting herself with her slender arms on the table in front of her.

A pair of bright eyes were now filled with mist and grievance, and the body's resistance expressed its reluctance. There were palace maids cleaning outside at night, so Kong Zhaolin did not dare to speak loudly.

Fang Yong at the back was looking through the report in his hand intently. His face was stern and his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was dissatisfied with the contents of the report.

The prince consort was arrested.

The old princess of Daxi (Emperor Longqing's sister) angrily cursed Fang Yong as a traitor along the way, so the Huaiyin army blocked her mouth with a cloth.

As a result, the old princess couldn't catch her breath and died!

The imperial physician diagnosed that she died because of her old age and could not withstand the blow.

After all, the old princess is 68 years old this year.

But I'm afraid other people won't believe it.

There will definitely be traitors who will make use of this to make a fuss.

Thinking of this, Fang Yong became even more depressed.

I couldn't help but press hard on the report...

(End of this chapter)