The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 609 Insatiable Greed Leads to the Execution of Nine Generations
Around 7 PM, the night was already deep.

The main hall of the residence of Li Sancai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was still brightly lit.

The hall was not full of Donglin students this time.

Li Sancai then ordered someone to summon Dong Lin from the court for a gathering.

The problem is, only Han Kuang came.

They also want to drag other Donglin members down with them.

The other members of the Donglin Party were not fools.

As soon as the rumor spread that the remnants of the three powerful clans of Puzhou and the remnants of the Zhejiang faction had joined forces to instigate the rebellion in Chu, these guys realized what was going on.

This means that the remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou are still around, and they are still causing trouble.

Han Kuang was undoubtedly a remnant of the three major powerful clans of Puzhou. Did Li San not know that?
Li Sancai clearly knew that Han Kuang was a remnant of the three major powerful clans in Puzhou, yet he still invited them to discuss the matter together. This was clearly not right.

They even followed those two guys to "conspire"—wasn't that just courting death?

The hall, which was once filled with distinguished guests, is now empty except for Li Sancai and Han Kuang.

The two sat in silence for an unknown amount of time before Han Kuang finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother Daofu, what do we do now?"

You ask me what to do?
How would I know?

Li Sancai said with a hint of despair, "You and I both know very well that the Chu Fan Rebellion has nothing to do with us."

Back then, we were sworn enemies with the Zhejiang faction, so how could we possibly plot against the Chu state together?

The young emperor surely knows we weren't involved, yet he's sending this rumor; he's probably about to take action.

I know all of that.

The key question is, what should we do?

Can't you think of a solution?

Han Kuang asked with a hint of panic, "Brother Daofu, why don't we go to the Jin Prefecture to hide for a while?"

You still want to run?

Li Sancai shook his head in despair and said, "I'm afraid we can't escape. Since the young emperor dared to send someone to say this, he must be wary of us."

"If you don't believe me, go try it. If you go out and don't come home obediently, you'll definitely get caught."

Who would dare to try that?

Han Kuang couldn't help but say with a look of despair, "Then we're doomed. Rebellion means the extermination of nine generations of your family."

People who are too greedy will ultimately harm themselves.

Li Sancai sighed slightly and said, "We shouldn't have listened to them for the sake of power, wealth and glory, and even married into their family."

We both know perfectly well what they're doing. Those things absolutely cannot be exposed, or it will lead to the extermination of nine generations of their family.

It's too late to say anything now. Don't even think about running to Jin Fan. Wherever you go, you'll implicate a bunch of people.

"Alas, if only you had known this would happen, you should have gone back and settled your affairs. Thankfully, few of our relatives are still with us."

It was too late for them to say anything now.

The secret guards have been keeping a close watch on them. There are guards not only outside, but also inside Li Sancai's residence, and even more inside Han Kuang's residence.

If they get away again this time, Luo Sigong will probably be ashamed to death.

Fortunately, they didn't waste their time trying to escape.

After leaving Li Sancai's residence, Han Kuang went straight back to his own residence by carriage.

The next morning around 7 a.m., Luo Sigong came to the Imperial Study again to request an audience.

After the emperor and his minister exchanged greetings, Luo Sigong cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Li Sancai convened another Donglin gathering last night, but only Han Kuang attended."

The two of them held a secret discussion in the main hall of Li Sancai's residence for over an hour, after which Han Kuang went home to make his final arrangements.

The three powerful clans of Puzhou are indeed very cautious.

The reason he didn't arrest Li Sancai and Han Kuang at the same time the rumors were spread was that he was setting a trap.

He originally thought that these two baits would still be of some value to the three powerful clans of Puzhou. If they spread the rumor that the remnants of the three powerful clans of Puzhou and the remnants of the Zhejiang Party had joined forces to instigate the Chu rebellion, it would be a clear indication that they wanted to deal with Li Sancai and Han Kuang.

Under such circumstances, the three powerful clans of Puzhou would very likely risk their lives to come to the rescue.

Unexpectedly, none of the three powerful clans in Puzhou took the bait.

There's no point in dragging this out any longer.

Wanli nodded slowly, then said coldly, "The remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou are plotting a rebellion."

Go tell Lu Yi to immediately imprison Li Sancai and Han Kuang.

These are two separate things, not one.

Lu Yi was in charge of arresting people.

He was in charge of continuing to spread rumors.

Upon hearing this, Luo Sigong bowed and said, "I understand."

Having said that, he strode away.

The remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou are plotting a rebellion!

As soon as the news spread, the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites and arrested Li Sancai and Han Kuang, throwing them directly into the imperial prison.

Upon hearing the news, Dong Lin from Chao was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

It turns out that not only Han Kuang was a remnant of the three major powerful clans in Puzhou, but Li Sancai was too!
No wonder Li Sancai, knowing full well that Han Kuang was a remnant of the three major powerful clans of Puzhou, still invited them to discuss matters together.

This guy just wants to drag them down with him.

They even foolishly went to Li Sancai's residence to hold gatherings and discuss things several times.

What to do now?
Li Sancai is a real killer! This scoundrel is on trial now.

The presiding judge was the current emperor, Wanli, while the future crown prince, Zhu Changxun, sat beside him as usual.

Wanli stared at Li Sancai for a while before coldly saying, "Li Sancai, do you know your crime?"

You have no evidence whatsoever.

I have not violated any laws or regulations of the Ming Dynasty.

If it weren't for the connection with the three powerful clans of Puzhou... sigh.

Li Sancai sighed inwardly, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, I dare to say that I have always been honest and upright, and have never been corrupt or lawless, much less committed any crimes."

Are you still pretending with me?
Wanli said with a hint of disdain, "Do you think I don't know about your relationship with the three powerful clans of Puzhou?"

"I'm asking about the three powerful clans of Puzhou, not whether you've engaged in corruption or bribery. Tell me honestly, who among the three powerful clans of Puzhou is in contact with you, and how?"

Can I tell the truth?
If I confess honestly, wouldn't that confirm my relationship with the three powerful clans of Puzhou?

Li Sancai hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Yang Bo and Zhang Siwei have long since passed away, and Wang Chonggu has already been brought to justice. The three great clans of Puzhou have vanished without a trace."

Are you still pretending to be confused with me?
The three powerful clans of Puzhou did not disappear; they simply went into hiding.

You know this very well.

You're still pretending to be confused with me.

I'm too lazy to pretend with you anymore.

Emperor Wanli coldly said, "I'm just asking you, will you confess or not?"

So you're going to torture me if I don't confess?
It seems that once the young emperor has made up his mind, no amount of sophistry will work.

My relationship with the three powerful clans of Puzhou is inextricably linked.

Alas, I regret my actions. Since I was already doomed, why suffer any more physical pain?

Li Sancai's face slowly turned ashen. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Your Majesty, you should know the methods of the three powerful clans in Puzhou."

It has been a very long time since I have seen any of the three powerful clans of Puzhou, and they never appear when they contact me.

Every time my servants go to buy groceries, extra groceries inexplicably appear. That's how they contact me.

"Your humble servant retrieved the message hidden in the vegetables, then wrote a reply and instructed the servants to take it with them when they went to buy groceries. Someone will naturally steal it from the servants."

The three powerful clans of Puzhou, what shrewd tactics they employ!
When Wanli heard this, he was stunned.

It seems there's nothing left to interrogate about Li Sancai.

He thought about it carefully, then waved to the person who had copied the confession.

The witness hurriedly brought his confession and signed documents to Li Sancai.

Li Sancai's actions are completely inexplicable.

He thought the young emperor would interrogate him for a long time and ask many questions.

Unexpectedly, that was the end of it.

He carefully examined the confession, then signed and affixed his seal.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Wanli waved his hand and ordered his men to drag him out.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun couldn't help but ask, "Father, is the trial over already?"

Of course, a retrial would be a waste of time.

Emperor Wanli glanced at the confession presented by the witness and gave a strange smile.

Immediately afterwards, he ordered his men to bring Han Kuang over.

Han Kuang was not as composed as Li Sancai; he was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Wanli showed no pity and coldly asked, "Han Kuang, do you know your crime?"

How could I be unaware of my guilt?

Everyone knows I am Yang Bo's grandson-in-law and Zhang Siwei's son-in-law.

Han Kuang thought for a moment, then said in a trembling voice, "This humble subject knows his crime."

This guy hasn't yet grown into a powerful official who controls the court like in history; he's still very green.

Wanli thought for a moment, then asked, "Have you maintained contact with the three powerful clans of Puzhou all these years?"

Han Kuang shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, Your Majesty, really no."

It seems the three powerful clans of Puzhou really don't dare to contact you.

You're just a useless piece of trash.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then waved to the person copying the confession.

He quickly brought the confession and signed documents to Han Kuang.

Is that all?
Han Kuang stared blankly at the few sentences of his confession for a long time until his assistant shoved a pen into his hand, at which point he hurriedly signed and sealed the document.

Seeing this, Wanli waved his hand again and ordered his men to drag him away.

Is that all?
Xiao Zhu and Chang Xun originally thought there would be a big show, but unexpectedly, they interrogated the two people and didn't even ask them ten questions in total!

He asked, somewhat incredulously, "Father, are we not going to conduct a trial?"

What else is there to review?

Wanli took the confession, glanced at Han Kuang's signature, and then said solemnly, "Li Sancai and Han Kuang have both confessed, so we naturally don't need to interrogate them."

The remnants of the three powerful clans in Puzhou plotted a rebellion. Li Sancai and Han Kuang confessed without hesitation, and according to the law, their entire families were executed.

(End of this chapter)