Dugong

Chapter 124 A Pledge of Allegiance
News of the Li family's downfall spread rapidly throughout the capital.

A family with a thousand-year history, reduced to ashes.

Upon first hearing this news, the officials and nobles suspected it was a rumor, as the family was a prestigious clan that had survived three dynasties.

After confirming it wasn't a rumor, they were speechless with shock for a long time.

After regaining their senses, some immediately submitted memorials to the emperor, while others, who were lamenting the eunuchs' misdeeds, pondered whether they had any grudges against the Imperial Horse Administration.

He repeatedly warned his clansmen not to provoke Grandpa An, saying that a good person wouldn't argue with a madman!

Morning next day.

Qinzheng Hall.

As was customary for the officials, they shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times. Before the old eunuch in front of the Emperor could speak, Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward, his face pale and gloomy.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."

Emperor Yongning nodded and said, "Please speak, Minister Li."

"Your Majesty, my family has a long tradition of scholarship, producing scholars for three hundred years without a single successor. We are loyal to the nation and kind to the people..."

As Li Shilang spoke, tears streamed down his face, and his voice choked with emotion: "I never imagined that I would be framed by eunuchs, who burned down my ancestral home and killed my relatives. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me."

Emperor Yongning said, "I know that the Li family of Jiangnan is renowned, but Minister Li, please take a look at the memorial from Jiangnan first."

The old eunuch took out a scroll and handed it to Vice Minister Li.

The officials and nobles looked surprised. What kind of memorial was so thick, at least a hundred pages?

Vice Minister Li opened the book; the first page read, "The Li family's first crime is internal strife..."

Grand Secretary Yuan gave a signal, and Vice Minister Sun of the Ministry of Revenue, who was standing next to Vice Minister Li, stretched his neck and read aloud.

"According to investigation, Li Guangjun, the clan head, committed adultery with his cousin. His son, Zhenlin, was registered under the name of his cousin, Guangji. He was born mentally challenged, but passed the imperial examination in the second year of Yongning..."

After reading two lines, Vice Minister Sun deliberately asked, "Brother Zhenlan, is your brother an idiot? No, he's your cousin."

Li Shilang's eyes were bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Sun Shilang, then quickly flipped through several pages, all of which recorded Li's crimes.

Besides the ten unpardonable crimes, there were also charges of murder, arson, embezzlement of relief funds, selling titles and official positions, etc., which almost covered all the crimes under the Great Yong Law.

Vice Minister Sun clicked his tongue and said, "I had long heard of the depravity of powerful families, but I never imagined it would be so far beyond my expectations. The destruction of the Li family was not unjust!"

"These are all baseless slanders."

Li, the Vice Minister, wished he could tear the book to shreds and eat it. He knelt down with a thud and said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent. It must be a eunuch framing me."

Emperor Yongning said, "Whether it is a frame-up or the truth, we will wait until the Li family is escorted back to the capital and then order the Three Departments to investigate."

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Li breathed a slight sigh of relief. As long as his clansmen came to the capital, with the intricate network of relationships among powerful families, they would surely be able to clear their names.

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

As for the relatives who died at the hands of the eunuchs, their entire clan will be exterminated in the future to avenge them.

Grand Secretary Yuan stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, Lord Li is suspected of treason. Regardless of whether it is true or not, he should be temporarily removed from office.”

Emperor Yongning nodded and said, "Minister Yuan is right. Minister Li, take a few days to rest, and Minister Qiao will temporarily take over the position of Vice Minister."

Qiao Rubai kowtowed and accepted the order: "Your Majesty, this humble subject thanks you."

Li, the Vice Minister, glared venomously at Yuan, the Vice Minister. This old fellow came from humble origins and seized every opportunity to suppress powerful officials.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, commonly known as the "Little Heavenly Official," held a high position and wielded great power; once he left office, he could never return.

The officials and nobles watched a good show, thinking that the morning court would proceed as usual, but unexpectedly, Emperor Yongning took out a sealed memorial.

"The salt administration in Jiangnan is becoming increasingly corrupt. Minister Gao has submitted a memorial to reform the salt permit system. What do you all think?"

The officials and nobles looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering where this "Minister Gao" had come from.

The old eunuch, in his hoarse voice, read the memorial word by word, which was basically about changing "salt permits" to "salt tickets," allowing anyone to buy tickets and sell salt.

Only then did the officials and nobles realize that "Minister Gao" was actually a county magistrate, a worthless seventh-rank official.

After hearing the memorial, Minister Lu immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the salt certificate system has been in use for more than three hundred years and is related to the tax revenue of the nation. It should not be changed lightly."

The Lu family owns a large share of the salt fields in the three prefectures, and the Li family, in particular, is declining and will earn even more money in the future, so they are naturally unwilling to reform.

"Your Majesty, if the people are allowed to buy tickets for salt trading, they will all go to trade salt, causing the fields to be abandoned." Grand Secretary Yuan rarely praised Minister Lu. He did not think the reform was wrong, but was dissatisfied that an official was bypassing the cabinet to submit a memorial.

If everyone did this, wouldn't the Grand Secretary become a joke?
The leaders of both the aristocratic families and the upright officials jointly rejected the reform, and the officials and nobles, knowing that the salt certificate system was difficult to reform, all jumped out to voice their opposition.

The reasons may seem varied and strange, but in reality, they all boil down to not affecting the salt merchants' ability to make money.

Emperor Yongning knew that many high-ranking officials in the court were involved in the salt industry, and he had anticipated this situation. He spoke calmly.

"In that case, let's discuss it again another day!"

……

Guanyun County.

The streets are bustling with pedestrians, and the tranquility of the past has been restored.

Previously, the people thought it was good to have the Li family in charge, but now that the Li family's ancestral home has been burned to ashes, it does not affect their lives at all.

Especially after the government announced that the house deed could be purchased at half price and that loans could be taken out if the silver was insufficient, the people of the county immediately forgot about the Li family.

It would be better if they all died, so they wouldn't have to take the house back.

The Li family's other businesses, such as farmland, workshops, docks, and mines, were all sold off at 20% of their original price. Borrowing was also permitted, and cash was even cheaper by 10%.

As for those who owe money and don't pay it back, then confiscate their property and sell it again.

Not long after the news of the sale was released, ordinary merchants came to inquire about it, and soon powerful families arrived.

What are marriage alliances and family friendships compared to fields and mines!
It was noon that day.

Li Ping'an practiced calligraphy at the front office and found many rare copies of running script in the Li family's collection, which he used to imitate.

Your Majesty enjoys running script calligraphy, so you must practice diligently.

The young servant entered and announced, "Sir, Wang Zhishang, an elder of the Wang family, requests an audience, saying he wants to buy several mines."

Li Ping'an didn't even look up: "Let him go find Eunuch Xia."

After accepting the bribe from the Wang family, the young man bowed and said, "Wang Zhishang heard that you, sir, are skilled in martial arts and brought with him an ancestral secret manual, which he claims to have innate insight into."

"Quickly, go and invite the royal elders!"

Li Ping'an spent more than a month searching in the Sanqing Temple, making considerable progress in his martial arts, but without any clues to break through to the Innate Realm.

The Wang family has a thousand-year-old tradition, collecting ancient books and scrolls throughout the generations, perhaps knowing the secrets of the innate.

……

Shihu County.

Magistrate Gao also had someone requesting an audience. The visitor claimed to be the master of the Tianjian Sect in Quzhou and the father of Xiao Yuanqiu, the military commander of the Duwu Guard.

The first name can get rid of him, but the second identity will get him immediately.

They arrived at the back office and took their seats.

Magistrate Gao ordered his servants to bring tea and refreshments, and asked with a smile, "Young Master Xiao, may I ask what brings you to see me?"

Xiao Ying glanced at the servants who were attending to her, and Magistrate Gao understood and dismissed them.

"Lord Gao, I have come to borrow your armor and bow and arrows."

Magistrate Gao frowned and refused, saying, "The armory is related to the safety of the county government. Young Master Xiao, please don't joke around."

Xiao Ying took out a token from his pocket, on which were written the three seal characters "Imperial Horse Administration". He said in a deep voice, "Three days later, the prison cart carrying the remnants of the Li family will pass through Shihu County. We are ordered to ambush and plunder it!"

Magistrate Gao immediately understood that lending out the bow, arrows, and armor was a pledge of loyalty, and any future betrayal would be a capital offense.

"What are the chances that Swordsman Xiao is confident he can silence them?"

Xiao Ying said, "About 70-80%. Those involved in the assassination were all skilled martial artists, but the Zhenfu Division is not to be trifled with either."

Magistrate Gao closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before speaking softly.

"The official road in Shihu County passes through Shepan Mountain, and there is a narrow mountain stream in the middle, which is long and narrow, making it perfect for a sneak attack..."

(End of this chapter)