Everyone immediately looked at each other.
Zheng Bichang and He Maocai exchanged glances, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding.
Wu Ming, his round face chubby and expressionless, produced a slip of paper and showed it to everyone in turn, starting with Zheng Bichang.
Zheng Bichang took a look and saw that the note read: "To Lord He Maocai: The eleven ships of grain have been received, and the banknotes have been deposited into the Wanyong Bank. This is the receipt. Fourteenth Lord thanks you."
Among these words, on "Lord He Maocai," there was a thumbprint—He Maocai's own!
Ah?!
Zheng Bichang exclaimed, his face turned ashen, and he slumped back into his chair. He cast a bewildered glance at He Maocai, then stared at Zhu Mo with a look of sheer terror, a fear that sank to the very depths of his being. His entire body instantly turned cold.
He Maocai asked in surprise, "Old Zheng, you? What are you doing?"
Before he finished speaking, Wu Ming held the note out in front of him.
He Maocai had barely read the first two words, "Lord He," when he almost cried out in anguish—
What is this?
"You! Where did you get this... What are you trying to do?"
His voice was hoarse and mournful, like a wounded beast struck at its vital point.
"Old Zheng! They—!"
Seeing that Zheng Bichang hadn't recovered, he couldn't help but look at the note again. When he saw the words "Watanabe, Fourteenth Lord," he was utterly despairing—
They actually got this...?
It's over...
With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning. His body went limp, and he didn't even have the strength to close his eyes.
Then,
Wu Ming, with a cold smile playing on his lips, showed the note clearly to each of the twenty-odd people. He then collected the paper and strode into the rear hall, disappearing from sight.
At this moment,
There was no longer any sound in the hall. All the Jiangnan officials present had faces as pale as paper. Many pairs of eyes, filled with utter venom, stared at Zhu Mo, as if they were about to tear him to shreds and devour him alive.
As for Zhu Mo, he merely smiled calmly, said nothing, and took a sip of his tea.
Seeing this, the resentment in everyone's hearts immediately intensified tenfold—
How detestable!
This brat is simply a devil~
How could anyone be like this?
What the hell...
This is unbelievable~~
The more relaxed Zhu Mo appeared, the more terrified everyone became.
Finally,
Zheng Bichang couldn't bear it any longer and said with a trembling voice, "Young Master Zhu, we implore Young Master Zhu to consider the greater good... If the Junior Grand Secretary knew he had offended Young Master Zhu, we would be in deep trouble... Young Master Zhu, we will draft a new proposal for your perusal, how about that?"
Heh heh,
Still trying?
Not giving up yet?
Zhu Mo didn't necessarily want to see them ruined. As long as they were willing to work hard, he would naturally let them go. He immediately said, "What proposal? There's no need for lengthy discussion. Lord Zheng, why don't you tell me first..."
Zheng Bichang looked at He Maocai. He was slumped on the ground, his eyes bulging, his mind clearly wandering. His body was still trembling, indicating he was incapacitated. Looking at the others, they were either dejected, pale-faced, or with their mouths agape. There was no trace of fighting spirit left.
With a sigh, Zheng Bichang had no choice but to drag his trembling body closer to Zhu Mo and whisper in his ear, "The eight major banks will establish an officially managed bank and issue bonds for anti-Wokou contributions. We will withdraw half of it, leaving half for Young Master Zhu... In this way, can Young Master Zhu give the Junior Grand Secretary some face...?"
"What else? What about the common people...? I said it was issuing bonds, not donations! Why are you still talking about donations? It's borrowing money, and interest must be paid to the people..."
Zhu Mo couldn't help but remind him.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Bichang replied, "Young Master Zhu, whether it's the common people or the merchants, who takes it seriously anymore? When you achieve great success in the future, you will still need everyone's support, won't you? If it's taken too seriously, then it's no... no fun..."
Huh?
No fun?
You actually say that considering the common people is no fun?
Damn it!
Zhu Mo had read many historical web novels. Hearing this sentence, he thought he had misheard. A surge of blood rushed to his head.
He knew that since arriving in the Great Ming, Zhu Mo had always lived among the common people and was deeply aware of their hardships. He greatly admired the Ming Taizu's governance through severe punishment. Yet, this man, a provincial governor, uttered such heartless words?
Can he tolerate this? Even if he could, could Heaven tolerate it? He hadn't intended to be too ruthless, but reality was proving more bizarre than imagination. At this moment, a single thought flashed in his mind: Since you are heartless, do not blame me for being unrighteous!
With this thought, he hardened his heart and said to Zhu Qi behind him, "Tell them to come out and do their work!"
As soon as the words fell, Wu Ming and Wu Liang emerged, bringing six other men. They were all clad in straw cloaks and wore straw sandals. Their clothes were made of patched-up rags, making them look like beggars. This attire only accentuated their stern expressions, making them appear even more intimidating.
Ordinary folk, upon seeing them, might mistake them for beggars. Lesser officials, not knowing their true identity, wouldn't know what to make of them. Only those of the sixth rank and above, especially those of the fourth rank and above, would be so terrified that they would wet themselves on the spot!
One must know,
This attire was established by the Taizu himself back then!
The Taizu had been a beggar, and his family members had all been forced to their deaths. No one understood the suffering of the common people better than he did. Therefore, after ascending the throne, he ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to wear the most tattered clothes in the world and the straw sandals of the poorest people. They were to secretly travel all over the empire, specifically investigating corrupt officials and cruel administrators. Since the founding of the Great Ming, very few people had seen this attire and not trembled in fear!
What's more, the last two men were escorting a middle-aged, corpulent man. Zheng Bichang, He Maocai, and the others immediately recognized this man as the Wokou Watanabe, Fourteenth Lord!
Zheng Bichang instantly felt his entire body go limp with fear. He could no longer stand and slipped down beside his grand tutor's chair with a thud. He Maocai, whose mind had not yet recovered, was completely broken at this point, murmuring, "It's over, it's over... I'm dead, dead..."
The other officials of the fourth and fifth ranks also trembled uncontrollably, not daring to even lift their heads.
...
Zhu Mo stood up from his grand tutor's chair on the right, paced back and forth a few steps, and then spoke:
"Do you have anything else to say?"
Silence...
Absolute quiet.
After a prolonged silence, none of the officials dared to utter a single word in response.
Zhu Mo then gave Wu Ming a look.
Wu Ming announced loudly, "Upon investigation, officials of this province, He Maocai, Yang Hengchang, and others, have colluded with the Wokou Watanabe, Fourteenth Lord, and have been long supplying the Wokou with smuggled grain. The Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau, on the Emperor's order, investigates all corrupt practices to showcase His Majesty's sagacity. According to the Great Ming Law—"
Before he could finish speaking, a voice suddenly roared—
"Ah?!"
"Framed!"
"I am framed!"
"I am innocent!"
He Maocai, with some unknown surge of strength, suddenly stood up and bellowed.
The others were also extremely shocked and stood up one after another. Some immediately thought of fleeing towards the exit, but upon reconsideration, they realized such an action would be utterly useless...
Zhu Mo did not wish to kill anyone, but the crime committed by the person before him was a capital offense... If it were someone else, they might have been executed along with their entire family. For them to fall into his hands, they were rather fortunate.
He immediately waved his hand and asked Wu Ming:
"According to the Great Ming Law, what is the penalty?"