The civil officials of Jianwen revered Zhang Juzheng. Though it had its own consequences, the immediate problem was solved.
The next day, Zhu Mo asked Li Zhi to stay behind. You Jingren granted him an appointment to handle the aftermath of the pacification of Burma, making it official.
Wang Daren had already found prisoners ready for action, but since Mu Zhaobi had abandoned the idea and Wang Cai had changed his tune, Hu Rulin returned home, and the matter naturally dissolved. He realized that Zhu Mo's investigation was aimed at Mu Zhaobi and his associates. Now that they had reconciled, he, Wang Daren, had lost his value.
Reader ID - 563743675
That night,
He secretly found Zhu Mo, and Nie Nuo said,
“Scholar Zhu, is that Liu Wenbin still in Kunming Prefecture? Now, this, is it?”
Zhu Mo found this person amusing. A perfectly good Jinshi, yet he insisted on studying esoteric arts, leaving him with no companions. Moreover, the relationship between a mystic and a monarch was always dangerous; a single misstep could lead to a silent death.
Thinking this, he smiled and said,
“True Master Wang, I advise you to cease. That thing you found is utterly fake! Who is the Emperor if not a man of great insight? Even if the Emperor cannot see through it, does Lan Daoxing not understand? I suggest you do not present it. That Liu Wenbin is a lama, which makes him even more perilous. You need not concern yourself with him…
Ah, since you are a Censor of Inspection, I will give you something. Take it to the Emperor, and this trip, even if without merit, will not be without its advantages…”
Saying this,
He produced the confession written by Duan Kui of Wusa, saying,
“True Master Wang, this confession clearly details the sacrificial text and ceremony for worshipping Emperor Jianwen from three or four years ago. Take it back to the Emperor and say that I gave it to you.”
Site^: Tap-Read Novel*, . Welcome to download <
This?
There might be trouble…
Wang Daren hesitated. By doing this, wouldn't he be implicating himself? But as a Censor of Inspection, if he saw this and said nothing, the Emperor would surely become suspicious…
Resignedly, he said,
“Very well, Scholar Zhu, let us call it even?”
Mm-hmm,
Zhu Mo smiled, “We are all practitioners of the Way. We have no enmity, do we?”
He paused and then added,
“The sacrificial text mentioned in the confession was written by Yang Shen. But as you saw last night, Yang Shen was reluctantly drawn into this. If the Emperor asks, you must speak truthfully, won’t you?”
Wang Daren sighed,
Book first<published: Tap>Read Novel App——-Free without <ads <pop-ups, and you can interact with fellow book lovers. -
“I am also a Jinshi. That Yang Shen is truly pitiful. I will not harm him…”
…
Thus,
This trip finally came to a satisfactory conclusion.
Zhu Mo and Mu Zhaobi returned to Kunming Prefecture, bypassing Wusa and heading directly to Anshun. That evening, they stayed at Xu Wei’s residence.
They chatted for a while about pacifying Burma. Xu Wei was deeply engrossed, sighing, “Zi Xuan, your accomplishments are remarkable. Yet, here in Anshun, I am at a loss. I am truly ashamed… For nearly half a year now, I have not uncovered anything. Even if I obtained some materials, they are useless now that the Yu family understands.”
Zhu Mo was concerned about the extent of the collusion between the Jianwen officials and the Yan family. Moreover, he remained wary of people like Yu Chaosheng, who were often fickle. If Prince Yu sent someone in a few days, they would likely waver again…
Thus, he said,
“Brother Wen Chang, Mu Zhaobi has decided to prohibit land donations, starting with himself… He has over a hundred estates, which truly sets a bad precedent. With land being donated layer by layer, it forms an impenetrable bloc, making it impossible for the government to administer. Once this is rectified, the problems in Yunnan and Guizhou will naturally be resolved… However, it is difficult to say about the Marquis of Yuexi. The smuggling of ebony is connected to the Imperial Textile Bureau and Yan Shifan. Even if he wants to sever ties, it is not that easy. Since you have evidence, we must keep a plan in reserve.”
Mm-hmm,
Kou Kou Five Six Three Seven Four Three Six Seven Five
Xu Wei, being older, was even more prudent in his observations. “Indeed, how could Yan Shifan let Yu Chaosheng off the hook? He cannot afford to offend Mu Zhaobi because the Mu family is a true feudal lord. However, the Yu family of Yuexi is not the same. Without the Governor-General of Sichuan and Huguang, Dong Wei, they are nothing, and they cannot even acquire much ebony.
Zi Xuan, I have actually investigated some matters… That Boss An who is responsible for digging up the ebony is not actually a member of the Yu family, but a descendant of the Xiang Shi line… These Great and Small Liang Mountains are also not simple. Once Dong Wei arrived, he replaced the local officials. For those he could not replace, he instigated internal strife, causing their brothers and nephews to attack each other. Years ago, the fighting was so fierce it turned the heavens and earth dark! This Boss An intends to contend for the position of Commander with his elder brother. The reason he works for Dong Wei and Yu Chaosheng is to curry favor with Yan Shifan…”
That is true, that is true,
Zhu Mo sighed,
“This is indeed similar to Yunnan and Guizhou… However, Yunnan and Guizhou are fortunate to have Mu Zhaobi, but this place lacks a backbone. It seems it will be truly difficult to handle…”
Xu Wei said,
“It is indeed difficult… Zi Xuan, the situation I have investigated is quite unusual. Boss An is responsible for digging up wood every year, but he cannot touch what he digs up. Every year, they wait for Liu Boyue and the eunuch Li Bin to divide it. Liu Boyue takes half, and Li Bin takes half to the Imperial Textile Bureau. What Liu Boyue takes is for procurement, but what Li Bin takes is unclear… However, it is certain that after the Imperial Textile Bureau takes it to sell, many people receive a share, and sometimes it is used to balance accounts. The surplus that Liu Boyue takes is simple: it all goes to Yan Shifan.”
Zhu Mo listened intently and murmured, “This is troublesome…”
Xu Wei then said,
Password 563743675
“After I investigated these matters, the Yu family sent people to watch me and tried to block me, intending to throw me into the Dadu River… Haha, luckily, I impersonated Shen Yishi’s elder cousin and spoke many intimidating words. The money you left me was substantial, and I used some of it to bribe a few of the Yu mansion’s guards. They then informed me that the Yu family was just a facade. The Yu family came forward to seize the wood, but it was Li Bin and Liu Boyue who divided it in the end. Haha, Zi Xuan, these places are truly strange. The Yu family, with such a prominent name, turned out to be merely a facade, a public figurehead in this ebony smuggling… Boss An, outwardly, is his subordinate, but regarding the ebony, he directly obeys Dong Wei. The Yu family has no way to control him…”
Haha,
That is only natural,
What is ebony? How could Yan Shifan let others have it?
“Brother Wen Chang, that Boss An also pretends to be a lackey, obeying the Yu family in every way. Outsiders all say that all the ebony from the Dadu River belongs to the Yu family, right?”
Eh?
Xu Wei asked curiously,
“Zi Xuan has indeed hit the mark! That Boss An is very wicked. He directly obeys Dong Wei, the Governor-General of Sichuan and Huguang. Outsiders do not know this, but he always claims to be acting on the orders of Marquis Yu, going around hitting and killing people, making everyone fear the Yu name. At first, I didn't realize it. Later, when I found out the truth, I gasped in disbelief. It was too malicious, enough to make one's scalp tingle…”
Of course!
Zhu Mo thought: This is the usual tactic of the Yan family. When I went to Jiangnan, if I had made any mistake, I would have been blamed for the entire four provinces of Jiangnan… That Yu Chaosheng, blinded by ambition and willing to be a pawn, will naturally not come to a good end…
First published: Tap&Read Novel
Recalling Yu Chaosheng at this moment, he suddenly thought of something—
Yu Chaosheng spoke very imperiously. If he were just a facade, he wouldn’t have such a personality… Behind that eunuch Li Bin, there are likely some high-ranking officials, like Li Tingzhu? Of course, it could also be Mu Zhaobi himself? With confidence and backing, he dared to confront Yan Shifan’s envoy, Wang Cai…
In this light, it is impossible for the Yu family to clear their names, as they themselves are nothing. They completely speculated between Yan Shifan and Mu Zhaobi to rise gradually. Before, they were just disappointed defeated generals of the Jingnan campaign. How could they have even a drop of soup from this ebony trade?
At this thought,
Zhu Mo deeply felt that Guizhou and southern Sichuan would need swift and decisive action. After all, at Yongchang, he had only made promises to Mu Zhaobi, not to Yu Chaosheng. At that time, they couldn’t say he was turning his back on them.
He immediately said gravely,
“Wen Chang, Mu Zhaobi is not the issue, but the Yu family is a major problem. They cannot be treated the same. When we reach Hangzhou, let us first hand over this evidence to Grand Tutor Zhang and see what he does. When someone is sent, how will they be dealt with? We shall not wade into this muddy water.”
Zhu Mo thought: Mu Zhaobi wants to align himself with Zhang Juzheng’s reforms, so won’t Zhang Juzheng become increasingly powerful? I did all these things; I can’t let him reap all the benefits. This way, I’ll give him a hot potato and see how he handles it.