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

"Sea ban?"

The four major families of Xuzhou Prefecture didn't actually have a deep understanding of the origins of the sea ban policy.

Firstly, because Xuzhou Prefecture was not near the sea, and there were no goods within its borders that needed to be smuggled, Xuzhou Prefecture had basically not participated in the smuggling activities of Jiangnan.

Secondly, although the four major families of Xuzhou were famous within Xuzhou Prefecture, they were not considered anything in the whole of Jiangnan, or even Southern Zhili.

Simply put, their capital was insufficient, and they were not qualified to participate in smuggling.

Therefore, seeing Tang Fang adamantly refusing to budge on the sea ban issue, their hearts were filled with doubt.

But even with their doubts, they didn't voice them, because this matter had little to do with them; as long as the land issue could be resolved, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Good! Then these two conditions are our bottom line. If His Majesty doesn't meet these conditions, we will never give up!"

After the Zhou family head finished speaking, he added, "Besides these two conditions, what else?"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I think we can ask for a few more conditions, don't you think?"

The Zhou family head looked at everyone, a trace of excited smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

The other three family heads exchanged glances, and then also revealed smug smiles.

"This is also good, add another one: in the future, the imperial court is forbidden to send people to Jiangnan to investigate accounts!"

"Good, good, good, this condition is very important!"

"..."

Just as the heads of the four major families were immersed in the sweet dreams of their own fantasies.

Suddenly, a steward of the Sun family rushed into the room in a hurry, his expression terrified, his eyes filled with despair.

"Master! Something bad has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

The old steward's flustered expression caused the Sun family head to frown in dissatisfaction.

After Tang Fang's explanation, he believed that he already had victory in his grasp. The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty had no other choice but to negotiate.

Seeing the old steward so flustered at this time, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, making the other three family heads laugh at him.

"What's the matter? Why are you so flustered? Where are your manners?!"

"Is this how I usually teach you to do things at home?"

"Look at yourself now, what could possibly happen in Xuzhou Prefecture now that would make you panic like this?!"

"You're not just losing your own face, you're losing my face!"

"..."

The Sun family head scolded him for a long time, causing the old steward to apologize repeatedly in fear: "I'm sorry, Master, I lost my composure."

The Sun family head's expression improved a little after hearing this: "Speak, what exactly is it?"

"Reporting, Master, the imperial court... the imperial court's army has attacked!"

"Ah?! What! ! !"

As soon as these words came out, the whole room was shocked!

The heads of the four major families widened their eyes, unable to believe what their ears had heard.

Tang Fang was also shocked by this earth-shattering news, and the wine in his mouth was choked out.

"Cough cough cough... What did you say?!"

"His Majesty has sent troops to Jiangnan?! Are you sure?!"

Tang Fang was lying on the table in front of him, his eyes fixed on the old steward in front of him.

His hair stood on end, his eyes were bloodshot, and he wished he could swallow the old steward in front of him alive.

"I... I'm sure."

"They... they are about to attack Xuzhou Prefecture!"

"What?!"

Tang Fang's pupils shrank suddenly, and he seemed to have been drained of his strength in an instant, and he slumped back in his chair.

"Impossible... This is impossible... How could His Majesty... How could His Majesty send troops to Jiangnan?!"

"Does he really want to kill... kill everyone in Jiangnan?!"

Tang Fang's legs trembled non-stop, and he felt weak all over. He felt extremely frightened, and an uncontrollable urge to defecate came from his lower body.

The performance of the heads of the four major families was exactly the same as Tang Fang's.

They were all swallowed by the great fear, as if they were in an abyss, their bodies falling endlessly!

...

The border between Luzhou and Southern Zhili.

120,000 troops marched south, the earth shaking and dust flying all the way.

In just a few days, the 100,000 troops led by Gao Shun set off from the capital and rushed all the way to Southern Zhili.

On the way, the 20,000 troops sent by Xuanfu and Datong, the two border towns, successfully joined forces with Gao Shun.

The 120,000 troops marched south, and the momentum was so great that it was impossible to hide it.

And Gao Shun didn't want to hide it at all. He wanted to lead the army to flatten Jiangnan with an unstoppable force.

"General Gao Shun, Xuzhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili is ahead."

Xu Chang cupped his hands at Gao Shun and reported: "According to His Majesty's previous orders, the garrison troops in Luzhou have blocked all the post roads connecting Luzhou to Southern Zhili."

Gao Shun sat on his horse and looked ahead.

Indeed, he could see several chevaux-de-frise placed on the post road ahead.

Next to the post road, there were also patches of garrison troops.

Gao Shun nodded, turned his head to look at Wang Zhi beside him.

Gao Shun was not arrogant, he cupped his hands at Wang Zhi and said very politely: "Director Wang, which people are we going to clear out in Xuzhou Prefecture ahead?"

Wang Zhi did not answer directly, but reined in his horse.

"General Gao Shun, please wait a moment."

Gao Shun nodded and did not object. He raised his hand backwards, and the flag soldiers spread the signal to stop the army throughout the six armies behind him.

The 120,000 troops slowly stopped, like a sword in its sheath, retracting all its sharpness.

"Still have to wait a while? Wait for what?"

Xu Chang asked curiously beside him.

After a while, suddenly several horses' hooves sounded.

Xu Chang looked up and saw more than twenty fast horses galloping towards them on the post road ahead.

And these twenty-odd riders who came were all dressed in the uniform attire of the West Factory spies.

Waiting for the twenty-odd riders to rush to the front of the army, the twenty-odd West Factory spies dismounted in unison and saluted Wang Zhi on horseback.

"This subordinate, Qin Lu, has met Director Wang!"

Wang Zhi looked at Qin Lu and nodded with some relief: "Qin Lu, you have worked hard during this period."

"Give me the accounts of Southern Zhili."

Qin Lu immediately took out an account book from his arms and handed it to Wang Zhi.

"This subordinate is ashamed, Southern Zhili has only counted Fengxian and Peixian."

After Wang Zhi quickly flipped through the account book, he already had a count in his mind.

"That's enough, you've already done a good job."

Putting away the account book, Wang Zhi looked at Gao Shun beside him and said without any emotion: "General Gao Shun, within the entire Xuzhou Prefecture, the Sun, Wang, Zhou, and Li four major families, leave no one alive."