Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 18: Execute First, Report Later, Imperial Authority Granted!

Zhu Youcheng dismissed the attendants, leaving only him and Wang Zhi in the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youcheng picked up a memorial from the dragon desk and handed it to Wang Zhi.

"I know you have traveled a long and tiring journey, but I have no time to let you rest."

"In the court meeting a few days ago, after I announced the reopening of the West Factory, I was met with strong opposition from the officials, their attitude was fierce and resolute."

"After I insisted on reopening the West Factory, a total of one hundred and seventy-nine Beijing officials submitted their resignations, including three Grand Secretaries, four Ministers, and other officials of various ranks."

"I order you to start immediately and investigate these retired officials."

"Investigate their land! Investigate their industries! Investigate the source of their wealth!"

"If there are any who have committed wrongdoing or embezzled my silver, arrest them all!"

"I grant you the authority to execute first and report later, allowing you to act at your discretion!"

Wang Zhi was excited after hearing this and knelt down to accept the order.

"Your subject, Wang Zhi, respectfully obeys the holy order and will never fail to live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

Only then did Wang Zhi realize how much pressure Zhu Youcheng had endured to reinstate him.

This filled his heart with gratitude.

Moreover, Zhu Youcheng had granted him the greatest authority.

At this moment, Wang Zhi felt Zhu Youcheng's deep trust in him.

Even when the late emperor was alive, he had not enjoyed such privileges.

Wang Zhi was even a little flattered, and he became even more grateful to Zhu Youcheng, willing to dedicate himself to Zhu Youcheng and spare no effort.

Zhu Youcheng smiled with satisfaction and immediately issued an imperial decree.

"Wang Zhi, listen to the decree."

"Promote Wang Zhi to the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Directorate, and the director of the West Factory, to immediately begin investigating the retired officials in Beijing!"

"Your subject, Wang Zhi, thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

Wang Zhi was shocked again, feeling that he was deeply favored by the emperor and had no way to repay it.

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Directorate not only controlled the Teng骧 Four卫 and the Three Thousand Feathered Forest Guards of the Beijing garrison, but also managed the emperor's private treasury.

The emperor's private treasury, pastures, royal estates, royal shops, and other properties were all managed by the Imperial Horse Directorate.

It can be said that the military and financial power within the Forbidden City were under the control of the Imperial Horse Directorate.

When Emperor Xianzong was alive, he was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Directorate for Emperor Xianzong.

Now that Zhu Youcheng has ascended the throne, he has become the new emperor's eunuch in charge of the Imperial Horse Directorate.

This honor was enough for Wang Zhi to die for him.

After handing the list of retired officials to Wang Zhi, Zhu Youcheng waved his hand: "Go, go to the West Factory and take a look."

"There, there is a gift I have prepared for you."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhi respectfully withdrew from the Qianqing Palace.

After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Wang Zhi's face slowly darkened.

Looking at the list in his hand, a murderous aura appeared on his face.

The corrupt officials who harmed the Ming Dynasty, just wait to die!

Wang Zhi turned around with murderous intent and walked towards the West Factory outside the palace.

On the way, he met Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, who had come to meet the emperor.

Liu Jian and the other two had already entered the court as officials in the early years of Chenghua, and they were no strangers to Wang Zhi, who made hundreds of officials tremble with fear.

Liu Jian was stunned for a moment, then took a breath of cold air, and took the initiative to bow and salute: "Eunuch Wang."

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian also bowed and saluted.

Wang Zhi glanced at Liu Jian and the others, did not respond, and walked straight past them without saying a word.

Wang Zhi's cold eyes made Liu Jian and the others feel a chill all over their bodies.

It was not until Wang Zhi disappeared behind the Qianqing Palace that the three of them felt warmth on their bodies again.

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang were a little angry: "What an impolite fellow, we three took the initiative to ask for a salute, but he didn't even stop."

"Wang Zhi, this person, is really arrogant and extremely arrogant."

Liu Jian frowned: "Yu Qiao, Binzhi, be careful with your words!"

"Let's go, don't delay the audience with the Emperor."

Liu Jian continued to walk towards the Qianqing Palace, and Li Dongyang and Xie Qian quickly followed.

At this time, Liu Jian's heart was far less calm than it appeared on his face.

His Majesty has really recalled Wang Zhi and reopened the West Factory!

Now that the two factories and one guard are all in His Majesty's hands, and the other two Grand Secretaries of the cabinet are officials who have been directly promoted from the Hanlin Academy to the cabinet, without any foundation.

The power of the cabinet has been extremely limited, and more veteran officials with real power, foundation, ability, and qualifications must be recommended to enter the cabinet!

After Wang Zhi left the palace, he quickly walked towards the old site of the West Factory located at Xizhimen.

Dozens of loyal old West Factory subordinates followed closely behind.

Along the way, Wang Zhi was thinking about how to quickly rebuild the West Factory.

The last time the West Factory was restarted, it was only closed for two months.

The West Factory's spies were still there, and as soon as the West Factory's sign was re-hung, they would be able to handle major cases for His Majesty Xianzong.

Now the West Factory has been closed for five years, even if the old subordinates are re-recruited, plus the expansion of new spies, and then training and rectification...

After all this tossing, it will take at least six months for the West Factory to return to its previous glory.

But time waits for no one.

Wang Zhi was a little anxious, and his feminine and handsome face was covered with gloom.

But when Wang Zhi came to the front of the West Factory yamen, he found that the inside and outside of the West Factory were as clean as new.

The plaque of "West Investigation Factory" was as bright as a mirror, how could it look like it had been abandoned for five years?

Wang Zhi was puzzled, stepped forward and pushed open the gate of the West Factory yamen.

Suddenly, a deafening shout came from the West Factory.

"Greetings, Factory Director!"

The spies densely packed in the West Factory respectfully saluted Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi's originally stern expression had a hint of emotion.

He never expected that the gift Zhu Youcheng was talking about would be such a great gift.

Tens of thousands of well-trained West Factory spies were waiting for his command.

Your Majesty, you are truly treating him with the actions of a confidant!

With so many spies, from this moment on, the West Factory can monitor hundreds of officials for His Majesty and clear up the court!

"The West Factory listens to the order, immediately investigate the retired officials in Beijing!"

"Anyone who is found to be corrupt or accepting bribes will be immediately arrested and brought back to the West Factory prison, severely tortured, and forced to reveal the source."

"Anyone who disobeys will be executed first and reported later, with imperial authority granted!"

"Yes, Factory Director!"

The West Factory spies clasped their hands and obeyed the order, and no one disobeyed.

In order to speed up the West Factory's efficiency, Wang Zhi personally appointed three old subordinates.

He appointed them as the first, second, and third leaders of the West Factory, each leading thousands of West Factory spies to handle cases separately.

Ten years ago, when Wang Zhi first took charge of the West Factory, he was less than twenty years old.

At that time, he had already personally concocted more than a dozen major cases, killing hundreds of officials with fear.

Now Wang Zhi is nearly thirty years old, more experienced and more sophisticated!

After taking charge of the West Factory again, Wang Zhi's name will stop hundreds of officials from crying at night.

With Wang Zhi's order, the three leaders of the West Factory led the West Factory spies and began to appear in Beijing.

...

The Wan family's residence.

Wan An, the former Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, had already packed all the things in the house and loaded them into the carriage.

Thinking of his decades as an official in Beijing, Wan An's heart was filled with mixed feelings, and he was quite reluctant to leave.

But when he thought of Wang Zhi, the murderer, Wan An couldn't help but shudder.

"Move faster! Everyone get in the car quickly!"

Wan An urged his wife, children, and old people to get into the carriage.

Then he urged the coachman: "Hurry! Hurry up! Get out of the city quickly!"

"Yes, sir."

The coachman was about to whip the horse, but the carriage had already been surrounded.

"Grand Secretary Wan, why are you in such a hurry to leave the city? Where are you going?"

Wan An took a closer look and was immediately horrified, dumbfounded, and exclaimed in shock.

"Wang Zhi!"

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