Chapter 9: Trial of Bandits
Every day, Zhu Yuhuan not only had to look at the registration results of the officials, but also had to look at Zhang Puxiang's confession. He did not find anything unusual at first. Zhang Puxiang also insisted that he was using the name of Buddhism to cheat some people of food and drink, inquire about some people's gossip on the streets, and then run to these people's homes to draw lots and interpret the hexagrams, etc. It was natural that his words came true. Gradually, he became famous, was sought after everywhere, and had many loyal believers. He also made friends with Zhang Yu, Chai Wang and others.
However, it became increasingly difficult to cheat people out of their money, so Zhang Puxiang created the so-called "Heavenly Book" to deceive others into believing in the White Lotus Sect and the "Seven Buddha Patriarchs."
Zhu Yuhuan originally felt that this reason was not convincing, but after listening to the confessions of these two people, Zhu Yuhuan suddenly understood that Zhang Puxiang's unclear reason for the rebellion was probably closely related to himself.
Zhu Yuhuan immediately ordered one of the two people who tried to assassinate him to be handed over to Xu Gong, and asked him to make sure to get a result as soon as possible.
I didn’t expect that “you don’t know until you try it, and you’ll be shocked when you try it”, this matter does have something to do with Zhu Yuhuan.
At the beginning, Zhang Puxiang still had some "guts", but Xu Gong used some tricks and Zhang Puxiang immediately "surrendered" and told the whole story.
Zhang Puxiang had originally intended to launch a rebellion at the end of the previous year, but the emperor had issued an edict ordering Princess Shunde to be ordained as a Quanzhen Taoist priest. Many of his followers hesitated, and he hesitated to take the initiative. Unexpectedly, the emperor's death shortly afterwards presented him with a "god-given opportunity." He immediately used this as an excuse, claiming that the emperor had been seduced by evil ways, and that Princess Shunde was the embodiment of evil. Only Zhang Puxiang, a Seven-Dharma Master, was the divine deity destined to save the people of the Ming Dynasty.
He was originally wandering around the northern Zhili area, where there were also many refugees who had left their homes because their land was occupied by princes and nobles. After Zhang Puxiang spread the word, more people responded and he soon formed a team.
When Zhang Puxiang saw the large number of people, he was overjoyed and immediately decided to rebel. With the support of the officer Yong, a centurion, in the city, he was able to successfully capture several small cities and later even entered Cizhou.
Zhu Yuhuan originally did not intend to participate in the interrogation, mainly because she took into account that Zhang Puxiang himself, his accomplices Chai Wang and Yong were all soldiers or officers, and it was inevitable that they had colluded with the officials of Zhangde Prefecture. Zhu Yuhuan knew too many details and it was inevitable that people would talk about it. It was just a good opportunity for Xu Gong to be in the spotlight. Anyway, she could directly ask Xu Gong for other details when the time came.
But now that he himself is involved, and even Yang Shiqi's son Yang Ji is also involved, Zhu Yuhuan must give Zhang Puxiang a thorough trial.
Liu Yongcheng and Xu Gong, who were participating in the trial, knew that this matter was of great importance, involving the late emperor and the current Princess Shunde, and must be strictly interrogated. Therefore, they specially found a spacious room and had Zhu Yuhuan's personal guards guard it to prevent any unauthorized news from leaking out.
In order to prevent Zhang Puxiang's appearance from scaring Zhu Yuhuan, the prison guards specially cleaned and groomed Zhang Puxiang and changed him into a new prison uniform.
Zhu Yuhuan glanced at Zhang Puxiang in the hall and then said, "Are you Zhang Puxiang?"
After the government troops entered the city, they quickly captured Zhang Puxiang. He had no idea that Princess Shunde was there. When he heard that the voice interrogating him was actually a woman, Zhang Puxiang quickly looked up to get a clear view. The jailer beside him had already kicked him and scolded him, "How dare you look up to the princess?"
Zhang Puxiang had tried all kinds of punishments in the past few days. Realizing that the person before him was the eldest princess whom he had slandered countless times with excuses, he subconsciously trembled and begged for mercy, "I won't dare to do it again! I won't dare to do it again!"
Zhu Yuhuan looked at him coldly and said, "Who taught you to slander my father?"
When she said this, Liu Yongcheng and Xu Gong looked at her sideways.
The confessions of the two people who had previously assassinated Zhu Yuhuan were handed over to Liu Yongcheng and Xu Gong. At this moment, they both understood that the meaning behind Zhu Yuhuan's words was obviously to protect his deceased father Zhu Zhanji, and he was undoubtedly trying to take as much responsibility as possible on himself.
Zhang Puxiang had been tortured thousands of times by the Jinyiwei. Even if he hadn't lost his mind, he was close to collapse. He didn't know what he was saying, but he just shouted, "I admit my guilt!"
Zhu Yuhuan asked with a half-smile, "Who is this witch?"
"Witch... Witch..." Zhang Puxiang kept muttering for a long time, not daring to say a single extra word, and could only kowtow in the end.
Seeing his expression, Zhu Yuhuan raised his hand and rubbed his brow. He said to Liu Yongcheng and Xu Gong beside him, "Don't tell Censor Wang anything about Yang Ji. I will secretly report this to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty and leave it to them to decide."
This matter could be serious or minor. If Zhu Qizhen had been an adult, Yang Shiqi would have resigned. But now that Zhu Qizhen was still young and in need of guidance and assistance, Empress Dowager Zhang would most likely not punish Yang Shiqi and his son.
Liu Yongcheng had a good relationship with Zhang Fu and the Three Yangs, so he naturally agreed.
Xu Gong noticed Zhu Yuhuan's gaze and said, "I will also report this matter to Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuhuan was pleased and nodded slightly, saying, "It is handled impartially. This is very good."
Liu Yongcheng couldn't help but ask, "That day, Li Chu was shouting in the street. I'm afraid many people heard it. What does Your Highness plan to do?"
Xu Gong immediately said, "I will deal with this together with my colleagues from the Imperial Guard..."
When Zhu Yuhuan mentioned this, he smiled and waved his hand, saying, "After pacifying Cizhou, there should be a commemoration. I have already made plans."
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