MTL - Poor Family-v2 Chapter 934 put all one's eggs in one basket

  Chapter 934 Desperate

  At dawn, the soldiers who searched the Zeng Clan Mansion reported that nearly one million taels of silver, 20,000 taels of gold, and countless jewels and jade were found in the underground warehouse of the Zeng Clan Mansion.

After daybreak, the news that Zeng Xiulin was arrested and Zeng Mansion was confiscated spread like wildfire. Zeng Xiulin had been an official in Chengdu Mansion for many years. Prices soared, people's taxes were heavy, and people's grievances were deep. The news of his arrest made millions of people in Chengdu Mansion Everyone clapped their hands and applauded, especially the huge amount of wealth that was confiscated became the focus of discussion among all parties in Chengdu.

Early in the morning, Zhang Ji, the transshipment envoy, rushed to the government office and pleaded guilty. Li Yanqing did not make things difficult for him, and asked him to sit down in the inner hall. Zhang Ji was originally the governor of Hezhou. He took over the post of Chengdu after Zhao Kai was dismissed two years ago As a transit envoy, he himself had little to do with Zeng Xiulin's case, but he shielded Zeng Xiulin and hid the court for Zeng Xiulin. This was his serious fault.

"Mr. Zhang did have a major dereliction of duty in the case of Zeng Xiulin's unauthorized collection of taxes. This is undeniable. He must admit to a certain degree of guilt, but the size of the guilt depends on Mr. Zhang's attitude. Okay, then I can intercede for Zhang Shijun, although I will give you a lighter sentence. Of course, if you continue to fight against the investigation, continue to cover up Zeng Xiulin, and hide his guilt for him, then Zhang Shijun will also become the main culprit in this case. Whichever is more serious, Let Mr. Zhang make his own choice!"

Li Yanqing spoke very politely, and his tone was as gentle as possible, but the content of the words was very heavy. Zhang Ji wiped the sweat from his forehead and said sincerely: "The humble job is not willing to be in cahoots with Zeng Xiulin. I did a lot of things against my will before. , Zeng Xiulin is too powerful in Bashu, anyone who dares to challenge him will end badly, and I can only patiently wait for the opportunity. I have already recorded in detail that Zeng Xiulin and the Zeng family have wantonly embezzled taxes and civil affairs on Chengdu Fulu in the past few years. Please go over the various facts about the property."

   After finishing speaking, he handed over a thick stack of documents to Li Yanqing. Li Yanqing flipped through them, and Xu Qinghui also gave him a record of exposing Zeng Qinglin's crimes, which was similar to what Zhang Ji said.

Li Yanqing nodded, and said to Zhang Ji: "Xu Tongjuan also wrote an indictment against Zeng Xiulin's various crimes. I suggest that he change it into a memorial and report it directly to the imperial court. The same is true for yours. Change it into a memorial and report it to the imperial court." Report it, so that you can clear up many things, and in addition, if you have any improper income related to the sale of tea, wine and salt in the past two years as a transfer envoy, please hand it over to the government office immediately, and I will not pursue it."

  Zhang Ji felt awe-inspiring, he suddenly understood Li Yanqing's real purpose, Zha Zeng Xiulin was just a means, his real goal was the reform of the tea and wine sales system, no wonder he brought Zhao Kai along.

   "There is no improper income in the humble job, but the brother of the humble job also opened a wine shop, and has made a lot of wine money in the past two years. What should I do?"

Li Yanqing pondered for a moment. This Zhang Ji is a fellow villager of Deputy Prime Minister Zhu Shengfei, and they are also relatives of his sons and daughters. Zeng Xiulin recommended Zhang Ji as a transshipment envoy in order to win over Zhu Shengfei, who was then Minister of the Ministry of Officials. It was too big, and besides, Zhang Ji had already quickly sided with him, helping him to fight Zeng Xiulin, and he had to be guaranteed.

Thinking of this, Li Yanqing said with a smile: "This income is not obtained from bribery, it is just a loophole in the system that makes some people get rich quickly. I will plug this loophole in the future and let your brother improve his wine-making skills. In the future, you will have to rely on craftsmanship." time to eat."

Li Yanqing's implication was not to pursue the past. Zhang Ji heaved a sigh of relief. He knew in his heart that it was because he took refuge in Li Yanqing in time. return.

  At this time, the soldiers reported in the hall: "Report to Dutong, General Yan has urgent news to report."

   "Let him in!"

Li Yanqing said to Zhang Ji again: "Write the memorial immediately when you go back, the sooner the better, it is best to make two copies, one to the court, and the other to Zhang Yushi, I will intercede for you in the final report, try to Let you be exonerated."

Zhang Ji was very grateful in his heart, and thanked him a thousand times before leaving. At this time, Yan Qing hurried up to the hall, knelt down on one knee and saluted, and said, "Report to Dutong, the brother who monitored the Zeng family sent a message, Zhuang Ding of the Zeng family They are gathering quickly, and I am afraid they will come to Chengdu to **** people."

  Li Yanqing sneered, the Zeng family is full of talents! Fearing that Zeng Xiulin would not die, he was still considering an excuse for the Jingzhao army to go south, wouldn't this just come to his door?

  He immediately said to Yan Qing: "Let them come, and I will annihilate them in one fell swoop after they reach the city of Chengdu."

Yan Qing immediately understood that Dutong hoped that the Zeng family would make the matter worse, and he said in a low voice, "Why don't you spread the word for them in the city and let the people know that the Zeng family's army is going to kill them?" coming."

  Li Yanqing shook his head, "This is not your business. You just need to deliver information in time and prepare for battle. The affairs in the city will be arranged by the government."

  Yan Qing knew that she had been reckless, and quickly admitted her mistake, "I know my mistake!"

   "Go! Keep me informed of their movements."

   "Follow the order!"

  Yanqing left in a hurry, Li Yanqing immediately ordered: "Please come and see me, Xu Tongjuan!"

   Not long after, the general judge Xu Qingwei hurried over, saluted and said: "Please give me your instructions!"

   "Xu Tongpan, I'm afraid something is a little troublesome, and I may need your assistance."

   "What is it? Please do as you please."

  Li Yanqing sighed and said: "I didn't expect the Zeng family to be so mad. I just got the news that the Zeng family is gathering Zhuang Ding. I'm afraid they will kill and rob people in Chengdu."

"What!"

  Xu Qinghui was stunned, "Is the Zeng family crazy?"

"The Zeng family is not crazy. They probably trained a large number of Zhuang Ding for this day. Now the Xiang army on Chengdu Fulu is going north to deliver food. I only have 500 soldiers under my command. The situation is very critical. I want to recruit 10,000 soldiers in the city immediately. I don't know if it is feasible for the militia to defend the city?"

Xu Qinghui is so shrewd. He immediately realized that Li Yanqing was going to make a fuss about this matter. Once Zengjiazhuang Ding was killed, the Zeng family would be convicted of rebellion. The army went south to find an excuse.

   "There should be no problem. There are millions of people in Chengdu alone, and almost every household has a sword hidden in it. As long as the economic plan recruits those who have military experience, let them bring their own weapons."

   "Then this matter will be handed over to the various security officials in the city. They are familiar with the situation of each family and will be able to complete the recruitment soon."

   "Your Majesty, let's make arrangements!"

  Xu Qinghui hurried down, Li Yanqing came to the steps of the lobby with his hands behind his back, looked at the gloomy sky, and said to himself: "Let the storm be more violent!"

Zeng Xiulin was arrested, and the news of the confiscation of the Zeng family's mansion in Chengdu was spread to the Zeng Clan Mansion in Chongning County an hour later through the pigeon letter, causing the Zeng Mansion to explode. , Zeng Huaiqiang, Cihu, and Zeng Huaibiao, Sanhu strongly demanded to lead Zengjiazhuang Ding to Chengdu to rescue Zeng Xiulin, while another group headed by Zeng Xiulin's cousin Zeng Huaiyu advocated transferring property and rushing to the capital to open up relations.

The six tigers Zeng Huai were killed, three hundred Zhuang Ding were slaughtered by the Song army in their deep sleep, fifty thousand taels of gold were taken away, everything broke through the bottom line of the Zeng family, and finally the Zeng clan reached a consensus , Rescue Zeng Xiulin in the least influential way, so as not to be murdered by Li Yanqing, and at the same time let Zeng Huaiyu rush to the capital with 10,000 taels of gold to open up relations.

The ten tigers of Zengmen are not all of the same generation. The first three tigers are the elders, and the last seven tigers are the juniors. The Xiaotian tiger Zeng Huaiwu, the sea tiger Zeng Huaiqiang and the cloud swallowing tiger Zeng Huaibiao are the dominant ones among the ten tigers of Zengmen, and they are also the armed servants of the Zeng family. of the command.

For the three of them, the family's elders' meeting was meaningless. Before the elders' meeting made a decision, Zeng Huaiwu ordered the servants of each manor to gather in Chongning County urgently. Regardless of whether other members of the family objected, they had to Take someone there, Patriarch Zeng Xiulin, and grab it back.

  But the only thing they need to convince is Zeng Xiulin's third brother, Zeng Xiufang. Zeng Xiufang controls the Zeng family's financial power.

"Third Brother, I am calmer than ever now. No matter whether we fight or not, Li Yanqing will never let the Patriarch and the Zeng Family go. The killing in Minghe Villa has already proved his strength." determination."

  Zeng Huaiwu was about forty years old, and he was the actual master of the Zeng family's armed servants. The reason why Zeng Xiulin asked him to control the Zeng family's armed forces was mainly because of his decisiveness. He could make major decisions at critical moments.

  Of course, Zeng Xiulin’s major decision refers to Zeng Huaiwu’s ability to firmly support himself in establishing the Zeng Dynasty in Bashu after the Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Kingdom of Jin.

   In fact, Zeng Huaiwu is not stupid, he knows that the head of the family will definitely not survive, and the Zeng family will also be deprived of everything. Instead of surviving humiliation, the Zeng family might as well fight to the death, so that there may be a chance of survival.

   "Third brother, now is our only chance. Li Yanqing only has a few hundred people in his hands. As long as we can regain the master and get the support of the Supreme Emperor, our Zeng family still has a chance to come back. Otherwise, you and I will end badly."

   Zeng Xiufang sighed, "Do you know what it means to lead troops to Chengdu?"

   "I know that the winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit. If we win, it will be the Qing emperor's side, and the Patriarch will become the new Sanchuan economic envoy."

   "But what if we lose?"

   "Third brother, even if we don't send troops, the result will be the same. We have a thousand soldiers and so many armored soldiers and crossbows. This is evidence of treason. In Li Yanqing's eyes, what is the difference between sending troops and not sending troops?"

Zeng Xiufang was shocked, and Zeng Huaiwu said again: "We are not without chance of winning, third brother, don't forget, we still have a secret army in Chengdu Mansion, led by Uncle Ning, they are currently hiding in the city, and they will cooperate with us inside and outside. I believe there must be a chance."

   After a long time, Zeng Xiufang finally nodded, "Okay! I don't care about you, you can ask for as much money as you want. If you want to take a risk, go for it!"

   This is what Zeng Huaiwu wanted. If he wanted the soldiers to work hard for themselves, monetary incentives were indispensable. "I want seventy thousand taels of silver!" Zeng Huaiwu said.

  Zeng Xiufang took out a jade token and handed it to him, "With this jade token, you can withdraw one hundred thousand taels of silver."

   Zeng Huaiwu took the jade tablet and turned around and left quickly.

   In the afternoon, Zeng Huaiwu rewarded 700 fully armed servants, and then led the other Zengmen Eight Tigers and 700 soldiers to kill in the direction of Chengdu.

  (end of this chapter)