Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 275 Handling the Situation, Stirring Up the Grass to Alert the Enemy

If things were like this in Yan'an Prefecture, then Datong Prefecture was also not peaceful.

Many people believe that although the Secret Guard has a notorious reputation and Zhu Jinzhen has a large power base, he is strict in disciplining his troops and did not commit any acts of looting, burning, or killing that are comparable to bandits after entering the city.

Therefore, many powerful families believed they could rest easy.

Unexpectedly, the secret guards came knocking on their door.

Datong Prefecture, the prefectural government office.

Yan Yimei's gaze swept over the aristocratic families of Datong Prefecture in front of her. No one would have guessed the filth beneath their fine clothes and gentle demeanor. They thought they could deceive everyone, but little did they know that their actions had already been exposed to the secret guards.

Looking at the tense and reserved crowd in front of her, Yan Yimei didn't waste any words. A faint smile appeared on her face as she said, "Since everyone is here, I won't waste any more words. I'm sure you all know what my purpose is."

"Yes Yes."

"We will do our utmost to meet Your Highness and General Yan's needs and will not dare to shirk our responsibilities."

The prefect of Datong and several representatives of prominent families wore obsequious smiles.

Yan Yimei glanced at the prefect and looked at the group of people behind him. She said coldly, "The Zhao family smuggles military equipment, such as forging armor. During wartime, they substitute inferior food for superior food for soldiers. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, they should be executed."

"The Zhao family was exiled to Qiongzhou or Lingnan as soldiers."

"thump."

Zhao An, the head of the Zhao family, who was frantically wiping away cold sweat, suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"The Zhou family, under the guise of Zhou Xian being the deputy general of Datong, sold official positions and titles to amass wealth. Over the years, they fabricated merits for many new recruits who had neither military achievements nor accomplishments, killed innocent people to claim credit, and the highest rank reached was Wei Zhenfu. They also colluded with the Zhao family to smuggle weapons."

"According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, Zhou Xian and all members of the Zhou family should be executed."

“The clansmen were exiled three thousand miles away.”

The Zhou family patriarch's face turned pale and then blue, and finally his eyes rolled back as he fainted.

"The Zhang family..."

"The Huang family..."

As Yan Yimei announced each name and charge, those present turned pale, fainted on the spot, or wept uncontrollably, lamenting their regret. The secret guards' investigation was extremely thorough, and the numerous pieces of evidence they presented were irrefutable, leaving them no room for excuses.

"My lord, my lord, I'm innocent!"

“My Zhou family has been loyal for generations and has shed blood for the Ming Dynasty. You cannot do this.”

"Commander Yan, my Zhang family has never betrayed us. Please investigate thoroughly."

“You have used torture privately without the review of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. We do not recognize the crimes you have convicted.”

"I want to see Prince Su, I want to see Prince Su in person."

Yan Yimei watched coldly. She knew that these people were not regretful or afraid; they simply knew that they were about to die, and they would not have the slightest sympathy.

"Noisy."

"laugh!"

The flash of the blade swept across the main hall of the government office. The family heads who were still crying and shouting felt death rushing towards them. The next moment, they suddenly felt their hair being cut off, their scalps itching, and their hair was already disheveled.

Those who cried out the loudest were beheaded with a single stroke.

"You have as much evidence as you want. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review? You'll see them when His Highness ascends the throne."

The secret guard beside Yan Yimei slowly and methodically sheathed his blade.

Seeing the bodies of those who had been dismembered, the rest of the people were terrified and huddled together, not daring to utter another word.

Hearing the secret guard's words, everyone felt even more desperate.

The reason they were so unscrupulous in the past was simply because they had connections in the court. As long as they offered a little tribute, they would only be punished with a beating or even just a banquet to apologize. They never dreamed that Zhu Jinzhen would be ordered to quell the rebellion and would not play by the rules.

He treated ordinary people with great care, but for aristocratic families, he convicted them of their crimes and executed them without hesitation. He was extremely impartial and showed no mercy whatsoever.

The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were responsible for the investigation and conviction.
Zhu Jinzhen is the one who will rule the world. What crimes they want to be punished is just a matter of a word from Zhu Jinzhen.

Not to mention, the secret guards have already uncovered their entire secrets, and the evidence is irrefutable.

"Take them away. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, those who should be exiled will be exiled, and those whose property should be confiscated will have it confiscated." Yan Yimei waved her hand and led a group of secret guards away from the government office with light steps, leaving behind a crowd full of despair.

Liu Fuchen, the prefect of Datong, felt a pang of unease as he watched the pleading eyes of the many surviving noble families. He quickly signaled to them with his eyes to remain calm and not to reveal their presence.

"Damn, damn."

"Why would Prince Su suddenly launch an attack, and target the local powerful families? Isn't he afraid that if such actions get out, they will cause an uproar among the powerful families of the world?"

The prefect of Datong looked extremely grim. Yan Yimei's move caught him off guard and caused him a sense of panic. At present, the secret guards were only investigating the disorderly conduct and illegal activities of the major families.

If found...

"No, I cannot sit idly by and wait to die." The prefect of Datong hardened his heart. If the plot to murder Zhu Jinzhen were exposed, he would probably not only lose his head, but his entire clan would be wiped out.

Assassinating the king is a capital offense, no matter where it is committed.

Judging from Yan Yimei and the secret guards' actions today, if he were to fall into Zhu Jinzhen's hands, the lightest punishment would be the exile of his entire family, and in more serious cases, the complete annihilation of his three clans.

But saving lives...

Liu Fuchen's gaze swept over the anxious and pleading faces of several trusted aristocratic families, some of whom even showed a threatening expression. He fell into deep thought: how to save someone from the secret guards?
It wasn't that Liu Fuchen was belittling himself; even if Prince Su hadn't removed him from his post as the prefect of Datong, there was nothing he could do!

"Don't blame me, I was truly powerless to save someone from the clutches of the secret guards!"

"In that case... I have no choice but to ask you to die."

A sinister glint flashed in Liu Fuchen's eyes, but he disguised it well, leading many family heads present, who had done many dirty things for him, to believe that he would really help them.

However, Liu Fuchen thought he had covered it up very well.

Little did he know that the guards around him had seen his reaction.

Outside the government office, Yan Yimei stood with her hands behind her back. Her secret guard asked curiously, "Commander, since Liu Fuchen is problematic, wouldn't it be easier to just arrest him and interrogate him rigorously?"

"This Datong Prefecture is rife with undercurrents and unpredictable events."

"Why not just stir up the water and let the undercurrents gather together, then burst it open when the pressure is at its maximum, sweeping away all the silt and filth that have settled at the bottom?"

Yan Yimei watched Liu Fuchen leave in a hurry and said calmly, "Sometimes, stirring up trouble is not necessarily a bad strategy. No matter how well you hide it, when he is forced to the point of desperation, all his secrets will be revealed."

"And that's exactly what I wanted to see."

The hidden mastermind behind the scenes, the scheming and plotting against the Prince Su's mansion lurking in the shadows, disgusted Yan Yimei. Although these people posed no threat to her prince, they were like toads crawling on her feet—they didn't bite, but they were still disgusting and repulsive.

Moreover, even Yan Yimei had to admit it.

Those people may not be very strong, but they are very cautious in their actions. The secret guards have repeatedly caught them in the act, but as soon as they went out to investigate, all the clues were cut off in an instant.

The clues discovered by Datong Prefecture this time involved the participation of the garrison commander and the prefectural magistrate.

And they were all silenced.

That's why Yan Yimei ignored the remaining people who had found clues and instead openly used the laws of the Ming Dynasty to pressure them and make them reveal their true colors.

If they do not save themselves, all those suspected by the secret guards in the government office today will only face the fate of having their homes confiscated and being exiled.

If it's about saving yourself...

Let's see if they're better at hiding their true intentions, or if Yan Yimei's blade is faster!
(End of this chapter)