Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Zhizhizhi...

The wheels rolled forward through the brick streets, and the prison car made a noisy sound.

The escorting team walked through Qingzhuan Street and headed towards the Sixi Archway, but many people had already gathered on both sides of the street to watch.

Lingchi, this is the most cruel torture.

The number of Lingchi in the Hongzhi Dynasty increased significantly. The first person to be Lingchi in the first year of Hongzhi was Li Guangdu, the Annan envoy, and then the eight Shanxi merchants who tried to buy 10,000 horses and camels from Mongolia last time.

Nowadays, Sun Jiao and Sun Bao, who are obstructing the imperial abbot, are also subjected to the most severe torture and are about to be cut into pieces by a thousand cuts.

In the capital, the struggle on the surface has slowly disappeared, but the secret intrigues have always existed.

Hongzhi is no longer the virtuous ruler and wise king he once was in history. Due to the large number of killings, he has even been silently labeled a tyrant by the scholar-bureaucrat class.

In fact, they privately belittled Hongzhi's frequent executions, but this voice did not ferment at all.

Whether it was Li Guangdu, the Annan envoy, or the eight Shanxi merchants who rebelled against the country and sought wealth, or even if Yangzhou killed hundreds of officials in one day, these people were all responsible for themselves.

As for Sun Jiao and Sun Bao, since they had committed the evil act of assassinating the imperial envoy, especially since they were both officials of the imperial court, it was impossible to support them without being punished.

"If you dare to assassinate an imperial envoy, this royal food will really feed the white-eyed wolf!"

"They actually want to stop Qingzhang. There must be hundreds of acres of hidden land hidden in the family!"

"Hundreds of acres of farmland? Not to mention Huguang, even some of us in the capital have a thousand acres of farmland!"

"The Qingzhang is targeting the officials, gentry and local big families, so the court should kill all those who stand in the way of the Qingzhang!"

…

The people in the capital looked at the appearance of Sun Jiao and Sun Bao who were locked in the prison car, but they showed no sympathy or mercy at all, and they all condemned them.

The officials and gentry really wanted to do everything possible to prevent the imperial court from clearing the land, but ordinary people actually supported the clearing of the land. After all, let alone hiding their fields, they were thankful that the local officials did not deliberately exaggerate the area of ​​their fields.

As for whether Hongzhi was a tyrant in executing Sun Jiao and Sun Bao, if he was such a tyrant, then he hoped to fight again.

When the prison car arrived at the Sixi Archway, there was already a sea of ​​people here, and it also seemed very lively.

Although this time it is not like Li Min who killed the Ming Dynasty's most corrupt person, nor is it like Li Guangdu who was the first envoy to be punished, but it is the nature of Chinese people to love to join in the fun.

Sun Jiao and Sun Bao were placed under the Nanpai Building. Several government officials opened the prison cart and took the people down, and then forced them into large baskets.

Facing death, and it was the cruelest way to die, the two of them were already trembling with fear.

"The emperor was entrusted with the mission of heaven, and the edict said: Because the Sun family in Anlu had a large amount of hidden land, they were unwilling to register and pay taxes to the court, so they instigated the family members and unruly people to obstruct them in every possible way, and also collaborated with them. The commander of the Zhongzhou Guards sent Sun Bao and other branches of the Sun family to plot against the imperial envoy in order to block the land... It is now clear that the actions of the Sun family are outraged by both humans and gods. They are an evil clan in China. The male members of the Sun family must be beheaded. Sun Jiao, the minister's foreign minister, and Sun Bao, the commander of the Zhongzhou Guards, executed Ling Chi. According to the law, they should be chopped into pieces with 3,600 knives. I commend you!" Officials from the Ministry of Punishment stood on the execution platform and read loudly to the people who were watching.

On the execution platform, the ones who were executed this time were Du Ming, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and Wang Xiang, the Minister of Jinyi and Wei of Beizhen Fusi, but there was not much joy on their faces.

They all knew very well that although Sun Ming had reasons to prevent the court from clearing his father's land, but he dared to do such a bad thing, and even almost succeeded, there must be a bigger figure behind it.

It's just that Sun Jiao's two sons are nowhere to be found, and Sun Jiao seems to be threatened, but he still refuses to reveal the person behind it. In addition, Zhu Youtang did not agree to make a deal with Sun Jiao, so there was no substantial breakthrough in this case.

When things developed to this point, Emperor Hongzhi seemed to have lost all patience. He chose to massacre the Sun family and identified Sun Jiao and Sun Bao as the masterminds of the assassination of the imperial envoy, bringing this incident to an end.

Du Ming and Wang Xiang knew that now that Sun Jiao had been killed, this clue was completely broken.

The two of them saw that it was a done deal, and that this incident really needed to be explained to the world, and at the same time, the Sun family needed to be killed to clear away the obstacles to their husband's land, so there was nothing to complain about.

It can only be said that the enemy is too cunning. They have obviously found out the key figure Sun Jiao, but in the end they were unable to find him as well.

Since Ling Chi did not need to check the time, when he saw Sun Jiao and Sun Bao being led to the execution platform, he was ready to order the execution of these two men by a thousand cuts.

The two executioners were already in place. They placed all the knives they needed in a bamboo basket and were silently sharpening their knives on the gravel.

The knife was not big, but it looked very sharp, which made the people watching secretly feel scared.

When Sun Jiao was about to be stuffed with peach seeds, he saw the sharp knives on the bamboo basket, and the desire for survival surged in his heart. The miserable scene when Li Guangdu was tortured came to mind, but he suddenly changed his mind and said: "I'll do it, I'll do it all, as long as Your Majesty can let me go!"

When Wang Xiang heard this seemingly acceptable condition, he couldn't help but feel a little moved in his heart, and cast an inquiring look at Du Ming, the Minister of Punishment next to him.

Du Ming, the Minister of Punishment, was unmoved and said calmly: "It is impossible for your Majesty to negotiate terms with a treacherous and evil person! Come, stuff him into a net bag and prepare for execution!"

"Du Shangshu...I...Xiaguan said that I will punish all of you, but please suspend the sentence immediately and take Xiaguan back to prison first!" Sun Jiao's heart had already collapsed, but he compromised again.

At this moment, he no longer expected to escape unscathed, as long as he could survive. Even if he could only live for one more day, it would be better than being executed by Ling Chi now.

Seeing that Sun Jiao was willing to confess, and knowing the importance of finding out the mastermind, Wang Xiang turned to Du Ming and said, "Du Shangshu, he seems to be really willing to recruit!"

"Sun Jiao, do you really want to do it all?" Du Ming was not in a hurry to make a decision, and asked Sun Jiao righteously, who was full of desire for survival.

Sun Jiao looked at the extremely sharp blade in Xi Zishou's hand, and nodded hurriedly, crying, and said sincerely: "I am willing to serve as a witness, please stop the execution!"

Du Ming, the Minister of Justice, had a serious expression on his face, and he looked seriously at Sun Jiao, who was full of pleading.

In fact, there are certain risks in this matter. As the Minister of Punishment, he can certainly stop the execution, but if Sun Jiao regrets it again and refuses to kill him, then he will easily be blamed for disturbing the emperor.

Du Ming thought for a moment and then made a decision: "I will trust you for now!"

puff!

At this moment, the situation on the execution platform suddenly changed, and a stream of blood spattered.

Tens of thousands of onlookers stared in disbelief. No one expected that the executioner in charge of the execution suddenly slit Sun Jiao's throat.

Sun Jiao's eyes were wide open, looking at the assailant in front of him in disbelief. At this time, his hands and feet were tied, and he only hoped that the wound on his neck would not be too deep.

"What's going on?"

"Why did the executioner kill Sun Jiao?"

"Is there a blood feud between this gangster and Sun Jiao?"

…

After seeing the executioner unexpectedly slit Sun Jiao's throat with the sharp weapon in his hand, everyone present never expected that such an incident would happen, and they couldn't help but make speculations.

thump!

After Sun Jiao was stunned for a second or two, his throat moved but no sound came out. His whole body fell heavily on the execution platform, but his open eyes were full of unwillingness.

Prime Minister Wang was the first to react, pointing at the soldiers below and angrily ordering: "Quickly, take him down!"

After committing the murder, the executioner seemed to have already thought of the passage, and rushed towards the south archway, intending to escape through the narrow alley in front.

A soldier holding a spear saw the executioner running towards him, and unexpectedly stabbed the executioner.

puff!

The executioner's body was penetrated, and a trace of blood spilled from his mouth.

"Dead!" Wang Xiang came to Sun Jiao's body. He originally held on to the last glimmer of hope, but after using his fingers to detect the breath, he shook his head and said bitterly.

Du Ming glanced at Sun Jiao's body, and then turned his gaze to Xi Zishou's body. The executioner's vitality was obviously more tenacious, but after holding on for a few more seconds, he also fell into a pool of blood.

Du Ming and Wang Xiang looked at each other silently and realized that the mastermind behind the scenes was more difficult to deal with than they thought. They had already been wary of Sun Jiao changing his mind at the execution platform.

In fact, in view of the earlier poisoning incident, they just waited and waited in the prison of Beizhen Fusi. As a result, people seemed to have known about it for a long time, and no poisonous food was ever sent to them.

But no one thought that on this execution platform, the mastermind behind the scenes had anticipated this situation in advance and actually prepared a backup plan here.

But everything was too late. Although Sun Jiao changed his mind temporarily and they were once very close to revealing the mastermind behind the scenes, Sun Jiao has now been successfully silenced.

On the execution platform, Sun Bao suddenly looked at the executioner next to him in fear.

The executioner responsible for Sun Bao's execution suddenly found that everyone was looking at him. He swallowed hard and looked innocently at Du Ming, the Minister of Punishment, and the Prime Minister of Jin Yiwei.

"What are you doing there? Hurry up and execute me!" Du Ming didn't understand why the executioner didn't take action, so he ordered in a deep voice.

In fact, Sun Bao is about to face Ling Chi now. He is afraid that the knife in Xi Zi's hand is actually wrong. On the contrary, he should hope that Xi Zi's hand will give him a good pleasure with that knife.

With 3,600 cuts, Sun Bao's body was dismembered one by one under the witness of everyone, and he suffered the most cruel torture in the world.

"Since he has been silenced, the Ministry of Punishment and Beizhen Fusi will stop here!" Zhu Youtang seemed very calm after learning about the execution ground.

While it's important to clear away internal cancers, it's time to focus on dealing with external events.

The Mongolian mission has arrived in the capital. In addition to paying tribute to Dayan Khan and Manduhai, it also wants to make Yikesi his concubine, thus ensuring that the north can have peace for a few years.

As for the southwest, he now wants to find out the specific situation of the granaries in various places as soon as possible to prepare for the conquest of the Li Dynasty.

In fact, what concerned him the most was the opening of markets on Shenzhi Island by the Ming Dynasty and North Korea. This was the first step for China to become a textile center, so there was no room for anything.

In the Duke Dingguo's mansion, there was a feeling of separation and sadness.

Xu Shiying has accepted the appointment from the imperial court and became the first governor of the East China Sea in the Ming Dynasty.

Today is the day of departure. He handed a crystal clear jade pendant to his wife and said: "You will keep this jade pendant well! If the transaction of joining the cotton cloth to go to Shenzhi Island this time does not go smoothly, then you will take this jade pendant with you." Sell ​​it and use it to maintain the expenses of our Duke’s mansion!”

The Dingguo Duke's Mansion is actually only superficial. Not to mention that the current Dingguo Duke Xu Yongning was almost convicted due to madness, and the previous Dingguo Duke Xu Xianzhong also did not get a real job.

Wu Xun's status is actually closely related to his favor. Since they have not served in the military for decades, Dingguogong's family has not served in the military for decades, and this situation will last for more than ten years. Therefore, Dingguogong's mansion is now more like a symbol. .

Although the 2,500 shi of rice a year in the Dingguo Duke's mansion is not too much, the Dingguo Duke's mansion also has to eat and drink. In addition, the Dingguo Duke Xu Yongning went to the streets to break things and demanded compensation, so he was already unable to make ends meet. .

Since Dingguo Gongfu used most of the fields to grow cotton this year, this batch of cotton became the raw material for the United Weaving Factory. The preparation for the joint weaving factory had already been emptied by Xu Guogong's family.

Who would have thought that the majestic Ming Dynasty Duke's Mansion now only has expenses for more than half a month.

It would be fine if they used the United Cotton Cloth to exchange for a large number of valuable goods from North Korea and sell them in the capital, but if things don't go smoothly, not only will their United Weaving Factory lose everything, but their Dingguo government will also be left without rice. .

That's why, for the sake of the wealth and livelihood of the entire Dingguo Palace, when I came to participate in the trade with North Korea this time, I was only allowed to succeed and not fail.

"Yes, I understand!" The beautiful woman took the ancestral jade pendant and nodded gently.

The motorcade at the gate of Duke Ding's Mansion has been prepared. After all, it is a majestic Duke's Mansion. Among the entourage are several highly skilled guards and a very shrewd old butler.

The old housekeeper will follow them to Shenzhi Island this time, and comforted Xu Shiying, who was looking sad: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much! As long as the trade with North Korea goes smoothly this time, we can use our cotton cloth in exchange for their ginseng, Chinese medicine, leather goods and other goods, we will definitely make a lot of money when we bring the goods back to the capital!"

Xu Shiying looked at the old butler, then reluctantly smiled and said: "With Butler Sun here this time, everything will go smoothly!"

Since his father got mad, the huge Dingguo Palace has been in chaos, and the Dingguo Palace once fell to the point where there was no rice to cook. Fortunately, Butler Sun stepped forward.

It was under the stewardship of Steward Sun that not only did the Dingguo Palace avoid selling off its ancestral property, but the stores under its name are now running smoothly.

This time the emperor called on the Dingguo Palace and the Ministry of Industry to set up a joint weaving factory. This old housekeeper was the first to stand up and express his support, so it also increased the confidence of everyone in the Dingguo Palace.

When Xu Shiying passed by West Chang'an Street, she also looked in the direction of Xiyuan, feeling very grateful to Emperor Hongzhi for giving her such an opportunity.

Whether it was for the reputation of his ancestors or to repay Emperor Hongzhi's trust, he went to Shenzhi Island this time to break a new world for the Ming Dynasty no matter what.