“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!” Seeing that Wang Zhixin was going to kill people, the two farmers knelt on the ground and kowtowed at the same time.
They didn't dare to doubt Wang Zhixin's words.
After all, half a quarter of an hour ago, Wang Zhixin killed nearly thirty people in front of them!
The most important thing is that all these dead people were from Yangwuhou Mansion!
Anyone who can go against Yang Wuhou must be someone powerful!
A quarter of an hour later, Wang Zhixin got a satisfactory answer.
Two years ago, Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, colluded with local officials and forcibly seized their land.
With no way to appeal, they could only accept the situation of cultivating their own fields and paying rent to Xue Lian.
I feel like crying but I have no tears!
"How many households are there like you?"
"Oh, that's a lot! There must be hundreds of households in total!"
"About 800 households, if not a thousand."
The two common people no longer had the fear they had before and complained to Wang Zhixin.
They were afraid that Wang Zhixin would continue to kill people, but it was precisely because so many people died that they had the courage to expose the truth.
Wang Zhixin didn't care about these messy things. He only cared about the evidence: "Stop farming and come back with me to sign and seal."
"But...what if the crops are left to waste?"
Wang Zhixin sneered: "If this is accomplished, it will be enough for you to live on for the rest of your lives! Come back with me immediately and sign the seal, then gather all those whose land has been occupied together and demand the debt from Xue Lian!"
After getting the guarantee, the two old farmers no longer hesitated and followed Wang Zhixin to Tongzhou City.
Faced with witnesses and evidence, Wang Aoyong's explanation seemed pale and powerless.
But he was not panicked at all because he believed in Xue Lian's ability!
Although Xue Lian, the Left General of the Central Military Commission, had little real power, he had complex relationships in the court.
Marriage! Bribery!
He would do anything to win over people as long as it was possible.
I dare not say how many more there are, but among the six departments, there are at least more than two dozen people who have a good relationship with Xue Lian.
Not to mention the other royal family members and nobles.
How to describe it?
The relationship is so complicated that one move can affect the entire body.
Zhang Chenji, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, came to Wang Zhixin with the evidence and asked, "Admiral Wang, the evidence is all here. Next...should we present it to His Majesty?"
Wang Zhixin glared at Zhang Chenji and said, "There are bandits in the south and the Qing army in the north. Your Majesty is busy enough with all kinds of affairs, and you still want to cause trouble for him?"
"Yangwu Hou Xue Lian has a title, so even if he doesn't present it to Your Majesty, he has to pass it on to the Cabinet or the Ministry of Rites. After all, noble affairs are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites."
Wang Zhixin asked back: "How should the official document be written? Although the evidence is solid, Xue Lian has not yet confessed! This job is either done or not done! A half-finished job is a hot potato no matter where it is handed over!"
"We are here to relieve the worries of the court and His Majesty, not to cause troubles to them! Only when we get things done well will the court and His Majesty recognize our abilities."
Zhang Chenji looked up at Wang Zhixin and began to look at the East Depot commander with new eyes.
No wonder he is so valued, his ability is no worse than those old foxes in the cabinet!
"But...even if Xue Lian is convicted, won't he still be presented to His Majesty in the end?" Zhang Chenji expressed the last bit of doubt in his heart.
Wang Zhixin laughed out loud: "Master Zhang, Master Zhang, how did you become the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue? You can't even get around this kind of thing!"
"If Xue Lian hands over the official document without admitting his guilt, then your majesty will have the choice of whether to convict Xue Lian or not!"
"If Xue Lian confesses his guilt and hands over the official document, then your majesty will have the choice of whether to pardon Xue Lian!"
"One word difference, a world of difference!"
"Everyone in the world is guilty. Choose those who disobey and punish them."
"All you and I have to do is convict others! It's up to your majesty to punish them or not. Do you understand?"
Zhang Chenji suddenly felt enlightened.
So this is the way to be an official!
No wonder the extremely greedy Wang Zhixin was able to secure the position of the governor of the East Factory.
He deserves it!
"Thank you, Admiral Wang. I'm grateful for your advice!" Zhang Chenji bowed to the eunuch whom he once despised the most.
Wang Zhixin waved his hand nonchalantly and looked towards the capital: "The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Marquis Yangwu must come and confess his guilt in person."
"How about I write you a letter?" Zhang Chenji asked tentatively.
"No need," Wang Zhixin shook his head slowly, "If I'm not mistaken, someone has already sent the message to Xue Lian."
Zhang Chenji widened his eyes and asked, "Then... doesn't that mean he won't come?"
Wang Zhixin sneered: "Not really! Xue Lian will not only come, but he will also bring money!"
......
The capital, the Duke of England’s Palace.
"Here, some newly picked oolong tea from Jiangnan." Duke of England Zhang Shize said, pointing at the teacup in front of Xue Lian.
After being polite for a while, Xue Lian picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Hmm... good tea! Good tea!"
He gave a thumbs up and was very satisfied with the taste of the new tea.
"The rewards from His Majesty are all top quality! It's only for you. I would never be willing to use this tea to entertain others!" Zhang Shize took a deep breath towards the teacup in his hand and said intoxicatedly.
Xue Lian saw that the time was almost right, so he asked in a low voice: "Brother Shize, I have something to ask you, but I don't know if I should ask it."
"Oh?" Zhang Shize said without hesitation: "There are no outsiders here, please speak if you have anything to say."
"Ahem..." Xue Lian cleared his throat, "The emperor summoned you to the palace a few days ago. What was the matter? Why did you ask people to waive half of the rent for the tenants of the farmland after you left the palace?"
"Is this what your majesty meant?"
Zhang Shize did not hide it: "Yes."
"Did your majesty say anything?"
"Your Majesty said that the people are suffering. As a first-class duke of the Ming Dynasty, I should follow the example of the imperial court and exempt the tenants of the farms from rent."
"That's your fault!" Xue Lian sighed and shook his head, "The first bird to stick its head out gets hammered! This time I asked you to waive the rent, next time I asked you to donate money, will you donate or not? Serving Qin with land is like putting out a fire with fuel. If the fuel is not exhausted, the fire will not be extinguished."
Zhang Shize didn't know what to say and could only smile awkwardly.
"Brother Shize, did His Majesty say anything else?" After Xue Lian finished drinking the tea, he looked at Zhang Shize meaningfully.
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