Chapter 134: A Major Breakthrough

When Lu Chengxiang heard Huang Yongfa say this, he hurriedly said: "Don't, don't tell me about it, I can't afford it." If that's really important, I'll introduce you to all of us. ”

Huang Yongfa said: "That's fine. ”

Lu Chengxiang said: "There is a four-wheeled carriage parked at the back of this restaurant, after you go downstairs, go to that car, close the door tightly, and they will send you to our host." After speaking, Lu Chengxiang got up and went downstairs first.

After a while, the two men also went downstairs, and came to the back of the restaurant, and sure enough, there was a four-wheeled carriage waiting there, and the two men got into the carriage, and the coachman waved his whip, and the carriage pulled the two and went away.

When the carriage came to the mouth of an alley, a person came up after the carriage stopped. The man said to the two proprietors, "I'm sorry, the proprietors, please cover your eyes for your safety." As he spoke, he handed each of them a black cloth.

These two are also figures with heads and faces in Zhangjiakou, but they are useless now, and at this time the two of them can only be obedient. They all took the black cloth and blindfolded them.

After watching the two blindfolded, the man who came up signaled for the driver to go. I don't know how many times it turned, and the carriage entered a courtyard. On the carriage, the people who came up later got out of the carriage first, helped the two men out of the carriage, and helped them into a room. Entering the room, they smelled a smell of candles.

When they were brought in, the man said, "You can take off the black cloth." ”

Only then did the two proprietors take off the black cloth that blindfolded them. They looked around, and it turned out that they had entered a room where there was no light everywhere, and there were a few candles lit in the room. These two people feel so uncomfortable in their hearts, they are both very wealthy, and they have never suffered such humiliation. But in order to find a way to survive, I had to endure it.

In fact, this is Sun Yujiao's backyard. I blinded them because I didn't want him to know where they were. Zhang Zhimu followed Li Zhi to come here in advance, and first met with the five people from Yaogang. Zhang Zhimu affirmed their work and encouraged them to continue their efforts. These kung fu were very common in previous lives, but for people in this era, they are unusual. When they saw Zhang Zhimu treating them so politely, they didn't know what to say about their gratitude.

Zhang Zhimu also told them about the recent changes in the kiln gang and the work carried out in Zhangjiakou. And encouraged them to say: "In the future, we will have greater investment in Zhangjiakou, and the scope of your work will also be expanded, and the number of personnel and so on will increase by then." Now Yujiao's main job is to train these people well, so that they all have the ability to work independently, and after your personnel increase in the future, everyone must have the ability to work independently. ”

Sun Yujiao and the others finally met Zhang Zhimu, especially in such a place. They seem to have endless words to say to Zhang Zhimu. In fact, when they were in the kiln, they didn't have many opportunities to talk with Zhang Zhimu.

Li Jing sent Lu Chengxiang back to the inn, and went straight to Sun Yujiao, interrupting Sun Yujiao's conversation with Zhang Zhimu. Seeing Li Jing, Zhang Zhimu and Sun Yujiao knew that everything was going according to plan, and the guests were about to arrive.

It's just that what Zhang Zhimu and Li Zhi didn't expect was that there was not only one guest here, but also one more Wang Dayu.

After the two guests arrived, Li Zhi told Zhang Zhimu to wait and then go to see them, this was to let them kill the fire.

This Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu are not idle people, once they calm down, they will know how to face the things in front of them. By the time Zhang Zhimu entered the house to meet them, they were already very calm. In fact, in this way, they can express their meaning very rationally. Zhang Zhimu and Li Zhi just wanted to see their true calm thoughts.

When he entered the house, Zhang Zhimu arched his hand and said, "The two of you have been waiting for a long time, don't blame!" It's also for the safety of the two of you here, if there is something inappropriate, please Haihan! ”

Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu also got up and gave up their hands, Huang Yongfa said: "Where is it, we took the liberty to disturb it." ”

After a polite exchange, the two sides took their seats. And the others went out and closed the door.

Zhang Zhimu asked, "I heard Mr. Lu tell me that you have something to ask me?" Let's see if I can help. ”

Hearing Zhang Zhimu's question, the two got up together and knelt down for Zhang Zhimu with a plop. Zhang Zhimu was not prepared at this time, and he couldn't see others kneeling for him. Hurriedly got up and helped the two of them up: "The two of you have something to say, don't do this." But these two couldn't afford it, Huang Yongfa said: "Ask Zhang Dongjia to save the lives of hundreds of our people." If Zhang Dongjia doesn't agree, we will kneel and die here. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Hurry up, two of you, please stand up and talk about something." As long as I can do it, I will do my best. If you don't get up, we can't say anything, can we? ”

As soon as the two of them saw Zhang Zhimu say this, they had no choice but to stand up. Zhang Zhimu asked them to sit down again.

Huang Yongfa said: "Zhang Dongjia, we can't hide our affairs from you. We know what our situation is, and we are also blinded by the silver, and we have done sin. Please also ask Zhang Dongjia to reach out and help us. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Say it slowly, don't worry. It's safe here. ”

Huang Yongfa said: "We have told us that we have handed over our net worth and life to you, and you must help us." We have a letter that we want to ask you to play to the emperor, and now only the emperor can save us. ”

"It's not a trivial matter to report something to the emperor. I don't know if I can do it, you better talk about it, I use my credibility to promise, if I can't help the two, I will never say it, just because we haven't seen it today, I will send you back safely. Zhang Zhimu said.

Huang Yongfa sighed and said, "Alas! Several of us have been doing business in Zhangjiakou for several lifetimes. There have always been business dealings with the Mongols and Jurchens. Even the Jurchens and our Ming Dynasty went to war, and we didn't cut off trade, and we didn't think it was the same thing at that time. But then I found out that we are an enemy. But which merchant in Zhangjiakou can take care of this, and we don't care about anything for the sake of a lot of silver. Because the more you go to war, the more money you earn. By the time we tried to converge, things were out of our way. Fan Yongdou directly partnered with the people of the Khan King to control us to death. If we don't do it, the emperor won't be able to spare us if he knows about it, and the people of the Khan King won't let us go. ”

Zhang Zhimu interjected and asked, "What is the name of that Manchu envoy from the Fan Mansion?" ”

Zhang Zhimu's question almost scared these two to death. Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu glanced at each other, hurriedly got up and knelt down again. Wang Dayu said: "Zhang Dongjia saved us, and we will repay your great kindness by making cattle and horses." Zhang Zhimu's sudden attack made the two of them collapse at once.

Zhang Zhimu didn't stand up this time, and said, "Stand up and answer my question." ”

The two had no choice but to stand up, and Zhang Zhimu said again: "Sit down and talk." ”

The two sat down again. Huang Yongfa said: "That person's Chinese name is Yan Jinghua, and Fan Yongdou is also very afraid of him. He can represent the Khan. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Do you know how the Manchus treated the Han people? ”

Huang Yongfa sighed and said, "How can I not know." So Fan Yongdou said that we should prepare to flee to the Manchus with him, but we said that we didn't want to go at all. I discussed with the Daewoo brothers, even if I was caught by the emperor to light the sky lantern, I would definitely not go to Manchu. I'm sorry for the ancestors and ancestors, we are also ghosts of the Ming Dynasty when we die. We also know that our sins are deep, and we want to ask the emperor to forgive our family's sins and let us bear them. No matter what the emperor does with us, we are willing. ”

Zhang Zhimu deliberately asked: "You also know that you are guilty of destroying the nine clans. Why would the emperor be gracious? Zhang Zhimu knew that the way they had drawn out had not yet been spoken.

Huang Yongfa said: "Zhang Dongjia, we know that the imperial court is now suffering from internal and external troubles, and there is a shortage of silver everywhere. Can you tell the emperor that as long as the emperor can spare our family, we are willing to sell all the family property and make up one million taels of silver per person to give to the court. I just ask the emperor for mercy. ”

Zhang Zhimu thought to himself that this is about the same, the emperor is most lacking now is silver. Zhang Zhimu asked again: "If, the emperor sent someone to arrest Fan Yongdou and others." Can you come out and point out Fan Yongdou's crime? ”

Huang Yongfa said: "Before we came, we discussed it, as long as Zhang Dongjia can play our affairs with the emperor, we are willing to come out to testify." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "In this case, I can work hard." I will personally write a secret recital to the emperor and tell you about it. In order to show your sincerity, you have to sign and draw a document that proves that Fan Yongdou collaborated with the enemy. I'll play it to the emperor together. As for whether the emperor can play accurately, we can only wait for the emperor's letter. ”

Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu were about to get up and kneel again, but Zhang Zhimu stopped and said, "You are still very wise, otherwise when the emperor gives the order, will you still be able to run?" Even Fan Yongdou can't leave now if he wants to. The emperor almost knows what their family eats every day. The funny thing is that these obsessive people still have illusions when disaster comes. ”

Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu are really glad that they came one step earlier, otherwise there would be no hope at all.

Zhang Zhimu said: "Let me introduce you to someone, and this person will keep in touch with you." I will also be responsible for your safety. ”

Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu hurriedly said, "Thank you." ”

Zhang Zhimu got up and went out for a while, and then came in with Li Zhi. Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu hurriedly got up and stood up. Zhang Zhimu said: "This is Li Zhi, director of the intelligence department of our kiln gang, Director Li. If there is something specific in the future, you can keep in touch! ”

Li Zhi, Huang Yongfa, and Wang Dayu arched their hands.

Zhang Zhimu said: "You talk about the specific things first, and I will go back first." ”

Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu arched their hands to each other, and Huang Yongfa said: "Thank you, Zhang Dongjia's great kindness." We will not forget that you helped in times of crisis. ”

Zhang Zhimu, dressed in civilian clothes, left the back door of Sun Yujiao's inn accompanied by Li Jing, and as soon as he waved, one or two four-wheeled carriages came over in the distance. Zhang Zhimu and Li Jing boarded the carriage.

Zhang Zhimu hadn't been alone with Li Jing for a long time, and he asked Li Jing: "How are your special forces recently?" ”

Li Jing said: "Our people are very good, but I feel a little energetic and can't do it." It's uncomfortable. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "This shows that you still lack exercise. A qualified special forces soldier should be as calm as water at all times and not be moved by his emotions. ”

As soon as Li Jing heard it, "Oh, why didn't I think of this layer." This also needs to be exercised, and it seems that we need to exercise anytime and anywhere! ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Are there any people around our inn who are watching? ”

Li Jing said: "I didn't find it, maybe I didn't, maybe we didn't find it." ”

"Pay more attention, if there is Fan Yongdou, it is normal for them to have people, and it is also normal for people to have Jinyiwei. It's not normal if you don't, and we have to pay attention when we go in and out. Zhang Zhimu said.

Back at the inn, Zhang Zhimu asked Lu Chengxiang if there was anything serious, Lu Chengxiang shook his head and said, I'll go to you if there's something. Zhang Zhimu said to Yang Yulin: "Don't let people disturb me if you have nothing important." After speaking, Zhang Zhimu entered his room, took out a fountain pen dipped in water, and prepared to write a letter to the emperor.

But Zhang Zhimu sat down and thought about it for a long time, and he didn't know what kind of format this letter to the emperor should be, and it was not easy to ask others about it. After worrying for a while, Zhang Zhimu had an idea, thinking that what I wrote was a secret letter. You don't have to follow any rules, as long as the emperor can understand it. As long as the emperor can be interested in what I say, nothing else matters. Maybe the emperor hasn't seen a letter written with a fountain pen dipped in water.

Zhang Zhimu wrote after a little contemplation:

Xiurong businessman Zhang Zhimu played:

I am an ordinary businessman in Xiurong, and I have made a modest contribution to the needs of the imperial court. By the emperor's grace, I was given a bronze medal, and I am grateful. I recently learned that there were unscrupulous businessmen in Zhangjiakou who used food and material resources to support the enemy, which filled me with righteous indignation. I am determined to do everything in my power to stop these things that endanger the safety of the Imperial Court. Now that I have come to Zhangjiakou, I have found important clues after careful investigation. We could have captured the Manchu envoy who was hiding in the home of the merchant Fan Yongdou, but considering that the merchant Fan Yongdou had a wide range of contacts and henchmen, it was difficult to convict him in one fell swoop without ironclad evidence. If you act in a hurry, it is like riding a tiger. Therefore, no action has been taken, and after a period of hard work, we have come to know a certain amount of about these merchants who collaborated with the enemy.

There were eight merchants in Zhangjiakou, who monopolized all the lucrative businesses in Zhangjiakou and transported grain to the Manchus for a long time. During the Songjin War, the Manchus were short of food, so they made a detour to the Mongolian steppe and sent grain to them. My soldiers are bleeding and sweating in front, but these rebellious businessmen are so ignorant of their conscience that they can't get rid of their hatred even if they kill them with a thousand knives.

After repeated pressure and deterrence, these unscrupulous businessmen were already panicked, and Fan Yongdou was ready to organize these businessmen to leave Zhangjiakou and defect to the Manchu Qing Dynasty. But some of them have a clear conscience after all. At this juncture, businessmen Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu decided that they would rather die under the laws of the country than do treason and go to the enemy to be sorry for their ancestors.

But they knew that the sins they had committed were unforgivable, and they were willing to accept whatever they wanted in order for the emperor to be merciful and save the lives of their innocent families. In order to show their sincerity and true remorse to the imperial court, they were willing to sell the family business they had accumulated for several generations into silver, strive to collect one million taels per person and donate it to the emperor, and came out to personally correct the crimes of the merchant Fan Yongdou.

I thought that the crimes committed by Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu were unforgivable, but it was really commendable that they could find their way back at the critical moment. If each of them could really raise a million taels of silver, it would be a considerable amount of silver. Otherwise, they will be punished directly, their family property will be confiscated, and they will get hundreds of thousands of vehicles at most, plus other losses, and the court will not get much real profit. Because as long as they are still there, their shops are worth a lot of silver, and they can be exchanged for a lot of silver. If they are caught first, their shop will at most sell for a real estate price. This is the difference between a dead horse and a live horse. I think the emperor should like live horses.

The emperor can give them a chance to mend their ways, and he can also appear to be magnificent. In this situation, the internal innovation still exists, and the stability of such a border in Zhangjiakou should also be a national policy. Grass people fight on the grass.

Attached to the letter are the handwritten confessions of Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu and the letters of correcting Fan Yongdou.

Knock on the Holy Judge

Xiurong businessman Zhang Zhimu

Late October

After writing this letter, Zhang Zhimu thought to himself, how would Emperor Chongzhen feel after reading this nondescript letter. No matter what he thought, he could still read my letter. No matter how Emperor Chongzhen dealt with this matter, I would have succeeded in preventing the eight merchants of Zhangjiakou from sending grain to the Manchus. But how can I get this letter to Emperor Chongzhen as soon as possible? If you are in Yaogang, you can go to Gonggong Li, but where to contact Jinyiwei in Zhangjiakou. Zhang Zhimu couldn't think of a way for a while. He thought of Jiang Jiu's general soldiers and garrison Li Qing, but they all denied it. Because they are also local officials, they can report something to the Ministry of War, and if they want to report it to the emperor, they can't do it.

At this time, Zhang Zhimu heard the voice of Yang Yulin and Li Zhi talking outside the door, and he could hear that Yang Yulin did not let Li Zhi disturb Zhang Zhimu. While they were talking, Zhang Zhimu pushed the door out and let Li Zhi in.

Li Zhi entered the house and said: "It's all done, both of them have written the documents by themselves, signed and signed them." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Okay, we have completed more than half of our business in Zhangjiakou. The rest is to see what we get. I'm going to have to cut some of these fat cows. ”

Li Zhi said: "If they really give the court a million taels of silver, they will be left with a shell, and there will be no oil and water." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "You are wrong, it is impossible for them to take out all their property." They have been in business for generations, and a million taels is a lot for them, but they are not going to collapse immediately. Besides, we don't have to just stare at these people, but also at Fan Yongdou and others, and it's best for us to take action before the imperial court makes a move. After Zhang Zhimu finished speaking, he took the documents handwritten by Huang Yongfa and Wang Dayu handed over by Li Zhi, and said: "The key now is to find Jinyiwei as soon as possible, so that they can send these to the emperor as soon as possible." ”

Li Zhi said: "Aren't you on a good relationship with the garrison, you can ask the garrison, he must have a way to find the people of Jinyiwei, this side is important, and Jinyiwei in the east and west factories are indispensable." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Okay, I'll go to Li Qing tomorrow to ask." ”

The next day, Zhang Zhimu and Chen Yufeng took Yang Yulin to eat early in the morning, and then sat in a four-wheeled glass carriage, accompanied by Li Jing and others, to the garrison yamen. When the door army saw that the glass carriage was coming, he hurriedly went to report it, and after a while, the door army came back and said, "Your Excellency, please." Then led Zhang Zhimu and the others to the guarded lobby.

As soon as Zhang Zhimu entered the lobby, he felt that the atmosphere was wrong.

When Li Qing saw that Zhang Zhimu had arrived, he hurriedly retreated left and right, and said to Zhang Zhimu in his ear: "I just got a report from the chief soldier that the missing Manchu army has appeared, and they have conquered several county towns. The report said that the combat power of these Manchu troops was very strong, so let us be careful. ”

Zhang Zhimu asked: "They must have a purpose in hiding during this time." Where can their brigade hide? ”

"It's not clear," Li said. However, I don't dare to let you enter the city because of the large number of people outside the city, and you will be in danger if you enter the city. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "I understand this rule, and I won't break the rules." ”

Chen Yufeng said: "I'll go out of the city in a while, stay with Liu Yun and them, and it's easier to do anything." ”

Li Qing said: "I must have something to do here so early." ”

Seeing that there was no one around, Zhang Zhimu whispered, "Lord Li, I really have something important to ask for today." I don't know if adults can contact Jinyiwei or the people from the East Factory and the West Factory? I have something important to do. ”

Li Qing asked: "Can you tell me what is the matter?" ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "I have a letter that I want to send to the emperor immediately, I think only they can have this magical power." ”

Li Qing didn't answer Zhang Zhimu's question, but just asked again: "Is it about the grain that those merchants sold to the Manchus?" ”

Zhang Zhimu had no choice but to say: "Exactly." ”

Li Qing said: "That's easy." You wait here first. "Say that you Li Qing got up and went back to the back hall, and brought someone over in a while.

Li Qing introduced: "This is the prince sent by the emperor himself, who has been waiting for you here for a long time." ”

The prince said to Zhang Zhimu: "Zhang Dongjia is good, the emperor ordered when I left Beijing, when you arrive in Zhangjiakou, if you need help from Zhang Dongjia, you want me to help with all your strength, and the emperor gave me a tiger talisman, which is the power to mobilize troops, and this is to help you." This has never happened in the Ming Dynasty. The emperor also asked me to tell you that he knows everything you reported. I don't know what it is. Listening to the eunuch's tone, Zhang Zhimu was a little uncomfortable, but he could only endure it. I thought to myself, this Emperor Chongzhen is really not simple, he can just judge that I will definitely be able to make a difference in Zhangjiakou. But with the prince here, things will be easy to do.

Zhang Zhimu said: "It would be great to have the prince here. I have an urgent matter now, and I want to send a letter to the emperor urgently, and this matter will trouble the prince. ”

Wang Gonggong said: "Where, I came to Zhangjiakou to cooperate with you." Give you a sheepskin bag, put your letter in it, and I will send someone to the emperor at once. It is estimated that the emperor is waiting anxiously for your news. ”

Zhang Zhimu asked Yang Yulin to take out a sealed paper bag, put it in the sheepskin bag of the prince, and handed it to the prince.

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By the way, I recommend "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty", similar to this article, it is also a "technology flow" through the novel, but it takes place in the Southern Song Dynasty, Yashan, Anti-Yuan, Restoration, and European World Wars.