In the side hall of the Ministry of Works, Fan Jingwen sat on the chair in the middle.
There were eight people standing in front of him.
Four of them are student representatives and the remaining four are people's representatives.
"Students pay their respects to Lord Fan!" The four students were the first to salute.
The four representatives of the people also followed their example and saluted Fan Jingwen.
"No need to be polite, everyone," Fan Jingwen waved his hand, "Please tell us your names."
After they said their names, Fan Jingwen got straight to the point: "What do you want to do?"
A student representative said: "Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi surrendered to the enemy and assisted the enemy. His crime is unforgivable. Please ask the court to execute him immediately."
"What about you?" Fan Jingwen looked at the people's representatives.
A representative of the people who had read books said: "Since...since it is a fact that Duke Yansheng surrendered to the enemy, it means that our relatives did not spread rumors. Please...please order Shuntian Prefecture to release him immediately."
"I will answer your questions first!" Fan Jingwen looked at the student representatives and said, "Mr. Yansheng is on his way to Beijing. Whether there is evidence or not, he must be given a chance to confront you. After all, this is a right granted to him by the Ming Dynasty law."
"So, everything will have to wait until he arrives in Beijing."
"You are all educated people, you should understand the truth behind this. If you don't, then you have read those books in vain."
The student representatives looked at each other and lowered their heads at the same time.
Before this, they only wanted to vent their emotions, but threw the rules out of their minds.
Thinking about it now, it’s really hard to justify.
Seeing the ashamed looks on the students' faces, Fan Jingwen did not relax.
As long as you speak reasonably, everything will be easy to deal with.
I’m afraid that they will be unreasonable, especially the people at the scene.
Fan Jingwen said to the people's representatives: "Do you want the government to release the people?"
"Yes, as long as the government releases us, we will leave immediately."
"What if I don't let it go?"
"We will stay here until the authorities release us."
Fan Jingwen said solemnly, "Did you hear what I just said? Lord Yansheng is on his way to the capital, and we need to confront him face to face before we can convict him."
"The Duke of Yansheng has not been convicted yet, but your relatives are saying that he is collaborating with the enemy. Isn't this just spreading rumors or something else?"
"This..." The four people's representatives looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.
Seeing this, Fan Jingwen pressed the issue: "Also, the man was arrested by the Pacification Office. You should go to the Pacification Office to petition, not the Ministry of Works!"
"But the person is locked up in the prison of Shuntian Prefecture. You are the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty and you are in charge of Shuntian Prefecture. Can't we ask you to solve the problem?"
"Of course!" Fan Jingwen did not refuse: "But I can only negotiate with the Pacification Office, but I have no right to release him directly."
......
After communication, both the people's representatives and the student representatives were convinced by Fan Jingwen.
The student representatives left first.
The people's representative also received Fan Jingwen's promise: the people would be released tomorrow at the latest. If the Zhenfusi did not release them, he would take the lead in going to the Zhenfusi to "petition".
This news quickly reached the ears of every citizen present.
The people did not leave immediately, but waited until dark before slowly dispersing.
As soon as the people left, Li Ruolian arrived.
"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Fan!" Li Ruolian walked in holding a paper bag.
Fan Jingwen didn't say anything, but rolled his eyes at him.
"Don't get me wrong, Lord Fan. I'm not avoiding you. I'm just busy with official duties." As Li Ruolian spoke, he placed the paper bag in his hand on the table next to Fan Jingwen.
Fan Jingwen recognized it as a pack of cigarettes at a glance.
Fan Jingwen took the paper bag in his hand and squeezed it gently. After confirming that it was not empty, he slowly said, "You still have some conscience."
"Lord Fan, you have misunderstood. I have been busy investigating the smuggling case in Liaodong recently and cannot spare the time." Li Ruolian replied.
"Oh?" Fan Jingwen blinked: "Has the smuggling in Liaodong not been thoroughly investigated yet?"
"It's not important, it's not important!" Li Ruo Lian began to laugh. "No matter how important the smuggling case is, it's not as important as the war in Liaodong and the affairs of Duke Yansheng."
"Alright, I'll take what you said as the truth." Fan Jingwen temporarily forgave Li Ruolian, "The man was arrested by the Pacification Division, and now the people are making trouble and demanding his release. Will you release him or not?"
"Let it go! Let it go early tomorrow morning."
"How dare you release him without His Majesty's order?" Fan Jingwen said with hidden meaning.
If the person was arrested by Chongzhen's order, then Li Ruolian had to get Chongzhen's consent if he wanted to release him.
Li Ruo Lian certainly would not reveal that Chong Zhen was the mastermind behind the incident. He said carelessly, "It was my own idea to arrest people. I don't need your Majesty's order to release them."
"That's good." Fan Jingwen nodded: "The sooner we release them, the sooner we can put this matter to rest."
The two chatted for a while, and then Li Ruolian stood up and said goodbye.
The next morning, Shuntian Prefecture began to release people.
After this lesson, the people in the capital no longer dared to talk about this matter in public.
It can only be discussed privately with relatives and friends in the spare time after meals.
The students also returned to the Imperial College to continue their studies.
The matter seemed to have passed just like that.
But everyone knew it wasn't over yet.
Especially Chongzhen and the cabinet.
Chongzhen wanted to make a big deal out of this matter, but the cabinet wanted to make the matter smaller.
They were all waiting for an opportunity: Duke Yansheng would come to Beijing.
On the last day of September, Chongzhen once again received an official document from Wang Yongji requesting reinforcements to Liaodong.
Chongzhen had received a similar official document half a month ago, but he did not respond at that time.
It's not that he disagrees with sending more troops, but he is hesitating about who to send.
The troops available now include Lu Daqi and Gao Jie's border troops, as well as the Sichuan Army.
Considering that the Xitumed and Ordos tribes were undergoing the garrison reform, some big and small troubles occurred during the period.
Therefore, Lu Daqi's troops could not move.
The Sichuan Army was too far away from Liaodong, and it would take at least half a year to walk from Sichuan to Liaodong.
Then the only troops that could be mobilized were Gao Jie from Miyun, Jizhou.
But the problem is...
Gao Jie was devastated after his nephew drowned and his general Li Chengdong surrendered.
At first it was just pretending to be sick, but then it became a real illness.
Of course, he could be allowed to recuperate in Jizhou and his troops could be transferred to Liaodong.
But the combat effectiveness will definitely be affected.
The result is that it can be used, but cannot be given important tasks.
Who should be transferred to Liao?
After hesitating for a while, Li Ruolian walked into the hall and bowed: "Your Majesty, there is some progress on the smuggling in Liaodong."
"Oh?" Chongzhen was excited. "Tell me who is the mastermind behind this."
"The mastermind behind this is not just one person." Li Ruolian hesitated to speak.
"How many people are there in a group?" Chongzhen narrowed his eyes and asked, "Twenty? Thirty? Or fifty?"
Li Ruolian thought about it and didn't know how to start.
"Go ahead, I've already prepared myself mentally." Chongzhen said calmly, "I won't be surprised no matter how many people there are."
"Your Majesty, it's half of Jiangnan!"
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