How did "Wild Notes" spread in Jiangnan?

"It is inconvenient for Lord Tai to investigate this matter, so His Majesty ordered me to come." Wang Zuo, the envoy of Beizhen, appeared in front of Zhang Zilin, and handed over a dossier, "I have obtained three clues." ”

Zhang Zilin received it awe-inspiringly: "Thank you for calming down, please sit, please advise." ”

The dossier should be read slowly, but there are some words that may not be convenient to put on paper.

After Wang Zuo thanked him, he sat down on the chair.

After looking at Zhang Zilin, he first smiled and greeted: "After returning from the inspection of Zhejiang and Fujian, I looked a little thinner." With a big responsibility, the body is important. ”

"I'm afraid I won't be able to worry about you as soon as possible." Zhang Zilin paused and then pondered, "After a detailed investigation of this case, it is not trivial, and there are many doubts. Jiangnan scholars circulated "Wild Records", and there were many people who talked about Taizong's old affairs. The earliest clue to this matter is still at the beginning of the year. At that time, the first emperor had not yet made a big move. ”

Wang Zuo nodded: "At the earliest, there were some more manuscripts, all of which were in the Taiwan Pavilion style. I found out that the first person who read this manuscript was in several buildings and boats in the Qinhuai River, saying that I don't know which princes and benefactors were left behind. Later, some booksellers heard that His Majesty had agreed to follow the heirs and publish it for profit, so it spread. ”

"If there is evidence of pacification, then there should be no falsehood." Zhang Zilin had a headache, "At the beginning of the year, thieves began to weave nets. The governor has verified that among the nine murders, Nanzhili and Zhejiang and Fujian have two counties and one prefect are indeed vendettas, and the Fujian patrol is killed by bandits who looted the salt pond while patrolling the salt, but the other five people are undoubtedly deliberately assassinated. The murderers of the three vendettas have been captured, but whether they have been instructed or provoked afterwards cannot be turned into tricks. ”

"It has nothing to do with the overall situation, and it is a fact that some people have taken the opportunity to add several major cases of killing officials in three places in a short period of time." Wang Zuo stared at him, "Besides, those mountain bandits, water bandits, and sea bandits all dare to kill officials, why don't they take advantage of the chaos to loot?" In such a big case, how could a small group of bandits dare to act without authorization, and how could they know the accurate whereabouts of those officials? ”

Zhang Zilin was silent for a moment: "The officials of the southeast, this governor has already checked it. Many new cases were revealed during the interrogation, but there was no real evidence to prove that they were involved in the case, and there was no reason for them to do such a major rebellion case. When the Governor arrived, everything was done with trepidation. ”

"There are too many gentry and officials, and the governor can't find out, and I can't find out either." Wang Zuo understood his dilemma, and then said, "Now it seems that the plan of the traitor is probably in the southeast of Dacha. The murder of an official is a big case, and His Majesty has to investigate. Nine officials in three places were assassinated within a few days, and "Wild Records" was weaving a net at the beginning of the year, and it seems that they were well planned. Actually, it's not difficult. ”

Zhang Zilin's eyes narrowed slightly: "How can you see it?" ”

Isn't it difficult to mobilize manpower and intelligence networks in different places in a short period of time to add a few more cases after learning that there is a vendetta somewhere?

Wang Zuo looked at him with a smile: "In the lobby of the Criminal Department, Governor Tai has also seen Yang Ge Lao advise His Majesty not to thoroughly investigate the officials involved in the Qian Ning and Jiang Bin cases. In this southeast, how many officials are honest enough? Since it had already been arranged in the southeast, several gangs of bandits made a brazen attack and arrested the official casually, and after a killing, it became suspicious. If you only want Your Majesty to investigate the southeast and kill a few officials within our capacity for no reason, it will not be easy for you and me to find out the real culprit. ”

Zhang Zilin asked in shock: "Feel free to ...... Kill? ”

"The bandits have been lurking in their permanent places of residence, and for months or even years, how can they not know which officials often go where? When the letter arrives, squatting somewhere, killing when you see it. How difficult is it to strike suddenly for no reason, without defense? Didn't there be three guards with them, a cold arrow, and they were killed if they couldn't prevent it. Wang Zuo looked at him, "Lord Dutai, if there is a dead soldier who has been practicing his skills for many years, and he has no grievances with you, and he hides in the dark and shoots an arrow when he sees you walking into the street, how can you prevent it?" ”

Zhang Zilin only felt a chill in his neck: "...... The magistrate of Kunshan was an assassin who cut his throat in close quarters. ”

He used to go to the Qingyun Pavilion and only took the sedan chair man. If you are a magistrate, and most of your rulers are obedient to the people, can you guard against thieves every day? Wang Zuo's eyes flashed, "This gang of traitors must have only lurked in those places, and they were in the market, and they had been for a long time. I have arranged to visit only those who have recently been known to those who have disappeared. Governor, you should also look in this direction! ”

He stood up: "If there is a suitable reason to leave the area, there are only a few ways: to travel, to travel, to trade, to socialize with the master's family. Since before and after the incident, the road guide is the clue. ”

Zhang Zilin watched him say goodbye and leave, staring at his back for a long time.

Is this the envoy of Jinyi Weibei Town?

It's still different from a criminal trial. What they pondered the most was to search for incriminating evidence, as for the edict and torture...... That's the best way to do it.

Solemnly opened the file, Zhang Zilin read it seriously.

In addition to the results of the investigation on how the "Wild Records" began to circulate, the second part is the merchant houses and clans of Nanzhili, Zhejiang, and Fujian who often traveled across the provinces.

Before and after the incident, the caravans and fleets that entered and left the area of the crime were vividly remembered.

Zhang Zilin took a deep breath, he knew that he still had to investigate two other aspects: which local scholars and gentry had taken people out of the country before and after the crime, going on study tours, visitors, and relatives.

"Gui Zishi." He called Gui Cao in, "You said that the person who weaves the net is outside the southeast, that's right. It's just that the cases of killing officials in the southeast must be solved, you go to Fujian on behalf of the governor, and tell them to investigate in this direction! ”

……

At the end of November, winter has arrived in the southeast, and it is even colder in the northwest.

Li Long, the chief military officer of Ganzhou, took a few personal soldiers and came to the yamen of the governor of Gansu Town with a cold face.

After breaking in all the way, he didn't care that anyone was there, and he raised his voice in a questioning tone: "Lord Futai, all the commanders of the guards under my command have come to report that this month's salary will be halved?" ”

Xu Ming, the governor of Gansu, frowned and said to the others, "You go down first." ”

After only himself, Li Long and his personal soldiers were left in the hall, Xu Ming said indifferently: "This year's harvest is good, and the rice is cheap at this time, what's the problem?" ”

Li Long stared at him with a calm face: "One stone of monthly food, there should be seven coins in silver, but Lord Futai only sends three coins and three, I would like to ask Futai, do you think it's okay?" ”

Xu Ming looked at him fearlessly: "As far as Benfu knows, there is a lot of old grain in Ganzhou, and new grain in Shaanxi has arrived. The price of rice has been halved, and the depreciation of silver has been halved. Three dollars and three are enough to buy one stone of rice. ”

Li Long's eyes widened angrily, and he stared at him for a while before he said: "Gansu Zhangye Wuwei, Suzhou Wei, Xining Wei, Jinzhou Wei, so many generals flocked here, and the price of grain rose. If you don't have enough food, how can you be satisfied? Can't be hungry, how can the soldiers guard the northwest. Lord Futai, if something happens, can you bear it? ”

Xu Ming glanced at him and sat leisurely behind the desk: "Benfu has allocated enough silver to buy one month's grain and rice according to the book, and now Mr. Li has enough money in his hand, and enough grain in Ganzhou." If something happens, can Mr. Li bear it? ”

Li Long looked at him with a gloomy face.

Xu Ming bowed his hand to the other side again: "Even in front of the master of the stage, Mr. Li can't talk about the reason that he can't win." The change of the yuan is imminent, Qian Ning and Jiang Bin have been awarded the head, and Ben Fu advises Li Zongbing to still focus on side affairs. How much silver can buy enough grain and rice, Ben Fu knows, and Li Zongbing also knows. ”

Although Li Long was the highest military general in the border town of Ganzhou, Xu Ming's duties and powers included building cities, managing money and grain, training soldiers, casting tools and armor, restraining the feudal department, governing trade, and supervising the local officials.

"Since Futai insisted on this, he had no choice but to go to the book making station first, and then explain his matter to Dong Gonggong." He squinted his eyes slightly and looked at Xu Ming, "Futai arbitrarily folded half of the salary silver, if the general mutinied, it would be impossible to blame the general!" Futai is good for itself! Let's go! ”

He turned around and waved his hand, and several of his own soldiers also glanced at Xu Ming with hatred before leaving.

Xu Ming waited for them to leave, but showed hatred: "I don't want to serve the country, I only know how to fill my own pockets!" ”

How many people are there in the Ganzhou border army, which is known as more than 40,000 people?

Wages are paid in full.

This year's bumper harvest grain prices plummeted, and he no longer knew how much to hoard.

If the silver is still given according to the past grain price, and the price of grain is raised under the flock to buy grain, and the military households are willing to take this opportunity to stock up on more grain, Li Long will naturally make a lot of money.

At present, if the silver is discounted by half at the market price, then Li Long will not be able to sell it at a higher price for a profit.

Although the military households could not take this opportunity to stock up on more food, they would cut off Li Long's way of eating empty salaries and hoarding grain to deduct the sergeants!

Xu Ming continued to call people back to deal with official business in such a different way.

And after Li Long left the governor's yamen, he went straight to Dong Wenzhong, the eunuch in Gansu, the main town.

"Father-in-law Dong, your majesty had a long life before, and my father-in-law and others wanted to purchase a tribute, and my Gansu Zhuwei gave more than 6,000 taels. Now that the monthly silver is half off, won't Gonggong Dong tell Futai about the difficulty of soldiers? ”

In front of Dong Wenzhong, Li Long said very bluntly.

Dong Wenzhong was frightened, and persuaded with some flattery: "General Li Bing, the situation is different this year. That's how you sell your rice grain! As long as Ganzhou is stabilized, we will talk about it in the future, and we will talk about ......it in the future."

Li Long stared at him: "My father-in-law has been in Gansu for so long, and he can't suppress Xu Xiangfeng, who has not been here for a long time?" He checked the guards, how much salary has he cut me? Now I still fold half of the silver, how can I defend the country up and down in Ganzhou? ”

"He will give half of the silver and deduct the military salary, and I will play it myself. Rest assured, rest assured, he won't stay long......"

"Two months ago, my father-in-law said the same thing." Li Long's eyes showed a fierce light, "The New Year is approaching, and now we have to watch out for captives every day." Soldiers cannot have a full stomach, and there will be changes. Does my father-in-law really care? ”

If it was in the past, of course Dong Wenzhong would have taken care of it.

But when the news came from the palace, Dong Wenzhong was extremely scared now, so he stretched out his hand and grabbed him: "Mr. Li, don't mess up at this time!" Yang Zhitai knows about border affairs, and Xu Xiangfeng gave half of the silver to the border army. Since this matter is concerned, Yang Zhitai also knows that Ganzhou must be stable at this time and will definitely deal with this matter. Don't worry! ”

Seeing his posture, Li Long thought for a moment in his heart and said, "Seven days, I only have to wait for seven days!" If Futai doesn't change his words, I can tell my father-in-law with certainty that something will happen! ”

After that, he just walked away to the eunuch in Gansu, the head town.

Dong Wenzhong hated itchy, but he was terrified.

This killing will deduct some money from the killing, and after it is sent to the soldiers, how can there be three coins and three?

In the bitter cold of winter, which family will not leave some silver for the New Year?

Xu Ming, a pedantic nerd, only knows how to act impartially, and it is impossible for the soldiers to buy enough food, don't you understand?

Li Long...... Dong Wenzhong now regrets dying.

But what if he is already on his thief ship?

His Majesty said that the Wanshou Festival was simple, but the money he Dong Wenzhong received from Ganzhou was still handed over to be counted, otherwise he could have escaped the turmoil when Fu Lun committed suicide?

It is impossible to take out more than 10,000 taels of silver from the salary and send it to each soldier!

Dong Wenzhong was still in a hurry and couldn't do anything, but Li Long had already returned to the General Military Mansion and called several henchmen over.

"The two masses killed and killed, and there were people in the southeast who rebelled." Li Long felt that he had no last resort, "The border town must not change again!" Xu Ming's dog must take this opportunity to drive him away completely! ”

Thinking that the food he had hoarded was only half rotten this time, Li Long gritted his teeth.

"General, how?"

"Tell the soldiers below that this salary must rise! Three money and three money, who can eat enough? This time he was not going to say that the price would be lower, "Before the payout, we have prepared enough food for three days." If Xu Ming's dog doesn't rise to seven dollars, it will make trouble! Whoever takes the lead in going back will be killed! ”

“…… General, in case ......"

Li Long said with certainty: "There is no case! Either Xu Ming will back down, and this Ganzhou will still listen to Lao Tzu in the future! Or, sit on the charge of deducting military rations and provoke a mutiny, and drive him away! In a word, three dollars and three can't live! ”

In the governor's yamen, Xu Ming arranged the distribution of this month's salary and said lightly: "Go to the grain stores in advance to post notices, if anyone increases the price, this Futai will be strictly handled!" Those who have food and do not sell hoarders, behead! ”

He had no idea what his forge ahead in Ganzhou had ignited.

The convoy departing from Guangdong is continuing its march northward, and the supervision of the major case of killing officials in the southeast has entered a new stage.

In the city of Beijing, since Yang Shen went to Guangdong, Yang Tinghe felt a lot lonely.

The second son is preparing for the annual meeting after preparing for the exam, and the third and fourth sons are still young.

It was only after His Majesty proposed to choose a young son from his clan to be passed on to Emperor Daxing, not only did none of the ministers participating in the national policy meeting give their opinions on the spot, but they also did not talk about this matter again after that.

But everyone knows the deep meaning and how dangerous it may be.

Yang Tinghe didn't know if this was another temptation by the emperor, but he knew that the suspicion that might be caused by the southeast killer to the monarch and the minister still existed in fact.

There will be a final discussion, and when the heir is proposed, and when the land of the feudal domain is really discussed.

The eldest princess of Yongkang felt that Cui Yuan was brave and unmatched in the first few days, and then gradually became more and more preoccupied.

As he said, maybe that national focus meeting is really not a place for people to stay.

"It's not that ...... Is it possible to go south before the end of the year? The eldest princess of Yongkang pushed him who was tossing and turning, "Are you still going?" ”

Cui Yuan thought about Guo Xun, who was "suppressing bandits" in Zhending Mansion, and sighed lightly again: "I don't know." ”

The Marquis of Funing also suppressed bandits in Haiphong, Guangdong. With just one order, he can "kill" Fujian.

The facts of the Southeast case have basically confirmed that someone did it deliberately.

Even if the incumbent officials are not involved, some of the big families may just be used, but since someone does it deliberately, it means that someone is plotting rebellion.

Someone is plotting rebellion!

Cui Yuan, who sat in the imperial study on behalf of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, was still interested in thinking about the real princess?

Wang Qiong was visiting Yuan Zonggao.

Recently, the "intensity" of the national policy meeting has decreased, and Yuan Zonggao also fell ill after the winter.

"Zhong Degong, there are some things that are convenient for you to say." Wang Qiong sighed, "But now you are sick again......"

Yuan Zonggao lay on the bed and smiled bitterly: "Dehua, Your Majesty is majestic and strategic, and has something to say...... Ahem...... I don't just say it casually. ”

Wang Qiong wanted to come and discuss with him, after all, Yuan Zonggao "vouched" for him that day, and it is reasonable to visit him now when he is sick.

He just didn't expect Yuan Zonggao to be really sick.

"Well, after the heir is elected, it will have to be discussed again. Zhong Degong, you have a good life and recuperation. The climate of this capital is not better than Jiangxi, I have a little experience, and the famous doctor who is often invited by the family, I also invited him to come. ”

“…… Thanks a lot. Yuan Zonggao felt that something seemed to be wrong with his body.

I don't know if it's because I've been thinking too much about it this year, and the slight wind chill is getting heavier and heavier.

It is the wax moon of the sixteenth year of Zhengde, and the first year of Jiajing is after the Zhengdan Festival.

After the New Day Pilgrimage, there will be a holiday.

The ministers of state policy felt that although the emperor had confirmed that someone had deliberately plotted rebellion, he had now calmed down.

On the second day of the lunar month, after the court meeting, the emperor did not summon the ministers who participated in the national policy meeting.

Everything was very relaxed.

On the third day of the lunar month, today is a meeting.

The charcoal stove was burning in the imperial study, and the emperor looked relaxed.

"Your Majesty's Mandate of Heaven has been included in the succession to the Great Unification, and this year is a bumper year." Yang Tinghe thought about how to say some things, but he opened his mouth but was a sycophant, "Fortunately, Your Majesty has strategized, although there is a matter in the southeast, but the governor has taken measures, and the luck is unhindered, and now most of the autumn grain has been put into storage." It is the grain of the border towns, and it is generally appropriate. With Yang Zhitai in charge, there is no obstacle in the border town. Just wait for Fu Rui to capture the head of the rebellion in the southeast, and there will be no major events this year. ”

After that, he looked at the emperor: You won't talk about the matter of the first emperor's heir again, right? The Zongren Mansion and the Ministry of Rites know the importance of the matter, and the procedures and official letters can be dragged as long as they can.

If you want to lure the snake out of the hole, it's enough to release the news, don't really implement the matter of succession and feudal king!

Before the emperor could say anything, Gao Zhong's somewhat panicked voice sounded outside the Zhongyuan Palace: "Your Majesty, the Ganzhou Military Report, Yang Zhitai Eight Hundred Miles Urgent Report!" ”

Everyone in the imperial study changed color together: one of the nine sides, it was the middle of winter, could it be the north of the Koubian?

Zhu Houxi's expression was solemn: "Bring it in!" ”

Sixteen pairs of eyes watched Gao Zhong walk quickly to the throne with two copies of the recital in his hand, and the emperor began to open it when he got it.

His expression was relaxed at first, then visibly angry, and his face turned pale.

“…… Your Majesty, what happened? ”

Zhu Houxi finished reading one copy and then reading another, and then took a deep breath to calm down.

"Huang Jin, let the Zhongqing circulate it." He reported the report to Huang Jin before he looked at everyone, "Ganzhou mutinied, and Xu Ming, the governor of Gansu Town, was burned to death on the spot. ”

The stone shattered, and everyone in the imperial study who was already worried suddenly felt a chill.

Guangzhou, Southeast and Northwest ...... Is it really such a coincidence?

But if it weren't for the coincidence, it would be really hard to imagine who in the Ming Dynasty today could have this strength and do this.

And this time, it was the border army that had an accident!