"What?" Dengzhou Governor Yuan Shu was shocked. "You want to arrest the entire family of Duke Yansheng?"
“I guess so.”
"Why?" Yuan Shu asked puzzledly.
Zhang Rong replied calmly: "He surrendered to the enemy. According to Ming Dynasty law, at least his family should be punished, or even his entire clan should be exterminated!"
"The East Factory has the power to arrest people. If you want to arrest him, just arrest him directly. Why do you still need my arrest warrant?" Yuan Shu was even more confused.
"Strictly speaking, it's not about arresting people, but about telling those scholars who are crying in the temple in Qufu about the attitude of Dengzhou Prefecture." Zhang Rong said.
Seeing that Yuan Shu still didn't understand, Zhang Rong asked directly: "What do you think of the Duke of Yansheng's betrayal and aiding the enemy?"
"Since the court has confirmed the evidence, then this matter must be true." Yuan Shu answered seriously.
"So... do you support the imperial court or Duke Yansheng?"
"Of course it's the imperial court!" Yuan Shu answered again without hesitation.
Zhang Rong put away his smile and said, "Nowadays, many people, including those pedantic scholars outside, do not trust the court. Instead, they think that the court framed Duke Yansheng, which is why this incident happened."
"Since you support the imperial court, you must find a way to make your voice heard and tell the scholars and common people in the world that you, Yuan Shu, stand on the side of the imperial court."
"This arrest warrant is your voice, Yuan Shu, and your attitude!"
After listening to Zhang Rong's explanation, Yuan Shu was skeptical.
If it were anyone else, Yuan Shu would definitely not believe it.
But Zhang Rong is different.
Yuan Shu had dealt with him before and had a pretty good impression of him.
"You can write the arrest warrant, but you must not make it real and arrest Duke Yansheng's entire family!" Yuan Shu warned worriedly.
"Don't worry, we won't go to Qufu to arrest people in your name." Zhang Rong promised, "Besides... you are the governor of Dengzhou, and your order will be invalid once it leaves Dengzhou! The local authorities may not recognize your arrest warrant."
"That's right," Yuan Shu agreed to Zhang Rong's request.
Early morning of November 23rd.
Many pedantic Confucian scholars continued to gather outside the Dengzhou government office to watch and protest.
They have become accustomed to this.
Everyone thought Yuan Shu would respond with silence as before, but the result was beyond everyone's expectations.
The gate of Dengzhou government office was opened wide, and the bailiff came out and said to everyone, "Everyone, come in. Lord Yuan wants to close the case today."
"Good job on closing the case!" Sun Zhixie took the lead and walked into the government office, followed by the others.
In addition, some people sent a message to the gentry Han Yuan, asking him to gather at the Dengzhou government office immediately.
After Han Yuan arrived, Yuan Shu went to court.
"After investigation, I found that the defendant was a Ming soldier who stole the people's poultry while drunk. He should be caned 100 times and sentenced to three years in prison. However, Liaodong is in need of talents, so the sentence was changed to a fine of 10 taels of silver to be handed over to the plaintiff, and 20 canes as a punishment."
"Sir," Han Yuan, the plaintiff, said without waiting for the defendant to speak, "I think..."
"Shut up!" Yuan Shu suddenly raised his voice, "If anyone yells in court again, he will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane!"
Everyone present, including Han Yuan himself, was shocked by the change in Yuan Shu's attitude.
You have to know that Yuan Shu had always behaved very cowardly before.
Now he suddenly became tough, which made them very uncomfortable.
The bailiffs were well prepared and immediately dragged the defendant out to be beaten with a stick.
Amidst the wailing, Zheng Chenggong took out ten Ming Dynasty round coins and handed them to Han Yuan.
By the time they realized what was happening, the case was already closed.
"Sir, we want to follow the warship to Liaodong to find the Jiannu. We beg for your help!" Han Yuan and Sun Zhixie bowed at the same time.
"What if I just don't agree?"
"Then we will wait here until the adults agree."
"Haha," Yuan Shu sneered, looked towards the corner of the hall and said, "Admiral Zhang, it's your turn."
Under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Rong slowly stood up from the stool and walked leisurely to Han Yuan and Sun Zhixie.
Han Yuan and Sun Zhixie are both quite old.
I didn't hear clearly how Yuan Shu addressed Zhang Rong, so I didn't know Zhang Rong's background.
"Two old gentlemen," Zhang Rong said politely, clasping his fists.
"What is the name of this young man?" Sun Zhixie asked.
"My name is Zhang Rong."
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Sun Zhixie continued to ask.
"Of course," Zhang Rong said, looking at the scholars present: "You all want to go to Liaodong to find Jiannu?"
A scholar immediately shouted, "Yes, Duke Yansheng died in injustice and shame, we want to seek justice for him!"
"Get justice! Clear up the injustice!" The other scholars responded in unison.
"Aren't you afraid of death?" Zhang Rong asked seriously.
"Don't be afraid!" everyone responded in unison again.
"Well then," Zhang Rong nodded, "Since you are not afraid of death, let's test your courage and backbone first."
"Someone come here," Zhang Rong waved outside.
Five or six Dongchang guards in plain clothes came in carrying a table and two chairs.
They placed the table in the middle of the lobby of Dengzhou Prefecture Government Office and placed stools on both sides of the table.
There was nothing on the table except a bloody mace.
Zhang Rong sat on a chair and pointed at another chair and said, "Don't you all say that Duke Yansheng was wrongly accused? Who dares to sit here and argue with me about Duke Yansheng?"
Looking at the sharp iron nails on the mace, Sun Zhixie said tremblingly: "Since it is a debate, why... why is there a murder weapon?"
"In a debate, there are winners and losers, and the winner can beat the other to death with a mace!" Zhang Rong made a shocking statement.
"Beat...beat to death?" Han Yuan backed off after hearing this.
He did support Duke Yansheng, but it was limited to psychological and financial support.
He didn't want to support it if it might cost him his life.
Sun Zhixie had the same idea.
Seeing no one answering, Zhang Rong laughed out loud: "Hahaha, they say that the scholars of the Ming Dynasty have no integrity. Today I see that it is indeed true!"
None of the scholars present dared to respond, and the atmosphere suddenly became cold.
At this moment, someone in the corner shouted, "Mr. Sun, you are our senior and role model, why don't you go up and debate with him?"
Sun Zhixie was almost angry to death.
He looked up to find the person who was talking, and cursed in his heart: Who is it? Which bastard wants to harm me?
He wouldn't even have time to hide from such a life-threatening situation, so how could he take the initiative to face it?
The scholars present seemed to have suddenly realized something, and they all shouted, "This person is belittling scholars, why doesn't Mr. Sun refute it?"
"Yes, a man without ambition is not a man! What is Mr. Sun still hesitating about?"
"The emperor values heroes, and teaches you to write. All other things are inferior, only reading is superior. This person has devalued us scholars. Please, Mr. Sun, give us justice!"
Under the urging of a group of scholars, Sun Zhixie was forced to sit on the chair opposite Zhang Rong.
Looking at Sun Zhixie's face, the corners of Zhang Rong's mouth were harder to suppress than the Red Cannon.
He wanted to shout out loud: Sun Zhixie, Sun Zhixie, you finally got fooled!
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