Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 109 The culprit
Inside the West Factory Prison.

There were bursts of cursing and screaming.

"We didn't violate the laws of Ming Dynasty, why did you arrest us!"

"We don't accept it, we want to play and sue the imperial court!"

"We are innocent citizens of Daming, why do you want to arrest us?"

Two or three hundred merchants shouted loudly.

Not long after, Liang Chu, Shangshu of the household department, came to the prison with his hands behind his back.

"What? You refuse to accept? Do you want to sue?"

"Bribing court officials, driving up prices, everything is a capital offense!"

"If you want others to not know, unless you have done nothing, don't you know what you have done? Don't pretend to be wronged here!"

"Say, who is behind your back who instructed you to do this?"

Those wealthy businessmen looked Liang Chu up and down without any sign of fear. In their eyes, they were rich, and only high-ranking officials of the court were qualified to question him, and the old man in front of him was definitely not a high-ranking official of the court.

"Don't tell me, if you don't tell me, I'll leave. To tell you the truth, no one can save you."

"You people in the court should pay attention to evidence when you do things, right? Has any of you seen us bribing officials in the court?"

Liang Chu seemed to have known for a long time that these merchants were colluding, and he had colluded with the confession, so he had hidden the accounts in his long sleeves early on, but now it came in handy.

"The Jinyiwei of the imperial court are not for vegetarians." Liang Chu held the account memorial high above the country's head, making the merchants dumbfounded.

"Why, what else do you have to say now?"

The merchants all had a flash of panic in their eyes, but having money can strengthen one's waist. They quickly pretended to be calm and said: "No one instructed us to do this. It was all because of the hateful imperial court that forced me to wait." This is the only way we can do it!”

Liang Chu laughed loudly, and then said coldly: "Humph! It seems that you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. You have all heard of Governor Cao's methods. Since everyone has discussed it, I will just go on this trip. You’re here in vain, you’d better take care of yourself!”

After Liang Chu finished speaking, he was about to get up and leave.

Suddenly, someone in the cell saw that the situation was not good. Maybe this Liang Chu could save his life. He could not let this savior leave. Anyway, he would die anyway. Instead of being angry with those Xichang fanatics, it was better to confess truthfully. Maybe there was also A glimmer of hope.

"Master Liang, let's say, let's say, someone secretly gave us benefits, saying that as long as we drive up prices, they will promise to give us benefits."

Liang Chu paused when he heard the words, and Zhu Houzhao told him that these people must be beheaded under any circumstances. Since they said so, they would save themselves a lot of trouble.

"My lord, it is Shen Wanqian of the world's No. [-] estate. He wants us to destroy His Majesty's new commercial tax rate order as soon as possible, so that he can profit from it."

Hearing this, Liang Chu was slightly shocked, but he felt that this matter was very strange. Didn't Shangguan Haitang, the owner of the No. [-] villa in the world, and Shen Wanqian, the richest man in the world, have died?

Why, could their souls be resurrected?

"Could this be true?" Liang Chu pondered in his heart for a long time.

"Hmph, don't lie to me, I still know that Shen Wanqian was bombarded to death a few days ago, how could he secretly encourage you to do such a thing? Hahaha, you really treat me like a three-year-old child After speaking, Liang Chu flicked his sleeves and walked out of the cell.

"My lord, what we said is always true. That Shangguan Haitang knew how to disguise herself, and she was not the one who died in the bombardment before. What we said is true."

Liang Chu didn't want to compete with these people. He said that they were driving up prices, which was a capital crime. It was just nonsense to hope that His Majesty could bypass them.

However, the last words of those merchants deeply shocked Liang Chu's heart. This No. [-] village in the world is really terrifying, and there are so many experts in various industries there. Such a trivial matter can't trouble them.

His Majesty quickly reported this matter to His Majesty, asking His Majesty to make up his mind.

When Liang Chu left the prison, Cao Zhengchun just arrived.

Hubu Shangshu Liang Chu appeared in the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a confession.

In Nuo Da's Yangxin Hall, Liang Chu bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said: "Your Majesty, I have found out that the culprit of this price hike is Shen Wanqian from the No. [-] village in the world!"

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao stared at Liang Chu slightly, and whispered in his mouth: "A mere businessman can bounce like this. There must be someone behind him. The world's No. [-] village, isn't it?"

Zhu Houzhao thought of someone, yes!That beautiful Shangguan Haitang, who was drunk that day, seemed to have done something he shouldn't have done.
However, that Shangguan Haitang was said to have left the palace later, and Cao Zhengchun also said that she was dead. A series of questions appeared in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

Liang Chu seems to have seen Zhu Houzhao's question. As a courtier, he is good at trying to figure out the king's mind. This is a skill.

"Your Majesty, as far as I know, the No. [-] Manor in the World hides an expert. A few days ago, Xichang led people to bombard the No. [-] Manor in the World, but that Shangguan Haitang was good at changing appearances, and she and Shen Wanqian had already changed her appearance. After fleeing No. [-] Manor in the World, they all hid in Tiedan Shenhou’s Mansion, and this incident of price gouging was originally the idea of ​​these people.”

After Zhu Houzhao heard it, he chuckled and said, "What a Shen Wanqian, he really has the guts to fight against me?"

Liang Chu dared not give an affirmative answer without authorization.

Right now, Tie Dan Shenhou is still living in the capital, and the personal relationship between Tie Dan Shenhou and Shen Wanqian is quite close.

As for whether Shen Wanqian wanted to strike a stone with an egg, or was God Hou Tie Dan wanting to challenge the imperial power?The meaning behind this is hard to judge.

Once he made a slight mistake, the consequences would be far beyond what a meager Hubu Shangshu could bear.

"Tell Jin Yiwei Shen Lian to investigate this matter thoroughly for me!"

"Before you find out that this matter has something to do with Tie Dan Shenhou, you must not act rashly. After all, he is my uncle, and I don't want this matter to affect the relationship between the royal family!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Hearing this, Liang Chu bowed and bowed, hesitantly asked: "Then, Your Majesty, what are the prices around the capital?"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liang Chu, which made Liang Chu feel a little embarrassed. Zhu Houzhao said majestically: "As the Minister of the Household Department, if you can't handle this matter well, your seat should be vacated."

"Now that the matter has been clarified, then the price will be lowered as soon as possible. This matter cannot be delayed!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Liang Chu bowed and finished his answer to Zhu Houzhao, but he didn't intend to withdraw.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at him and said, "Why, I didn't say it clearly enough?"

"No, Your Majesty, I have something to say, I don't know if I should say it or not?"

"Okay, tell me!"

The words of the emperor.Sharp and decisive.

Liang Chu bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, apart from the price, I have seen that the taxes collected by the court in the recent period have greatly improved compared to before. The accumulation during this period has already surpassed the previous The sum of half a year, but the money has been accumulated in the national treasury, I am afraid it is not a good thing."

"If things go on like this, it will affect the foundation of Daming."

Zhu Houzhao felt that Liang Chu's proposal was very good, and he felt calm in his heart, and said, "You don't have to worry about this, I have my own solution."

"From now on, we must stabilize the overall situation, this is the key!"

Liang Chugong cupped his hands and withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

(End of this chapter)