readytorunbook Chapter 765 Evidence of crime
Chapter 765 Evidence of crime
Chapter 765 Evidence
“That’s right!” At this moment, Yang Changsi’s youngest son, Yang Shanxin, stepped forward, pointed at his father’s nose, and loudly proclaimed, “You corrupt official Yang Changsi, from this day forward, I sever all ties with you. With such an unfaithful and unfilial father, I have no face to face the people of the Ming Dynasty!”
Yang Changsi was so angry he almost spat out blood. "You unfilial son! How could you be so disrespectful? Even if I am guilty, it is not your place to blame me! Don't you understand the importance of protecting the dignity of the elders?"
Just as Yang Changsi was about to unleash a torrent of curses, his sons and nephews stepped forward one by one, pointing at them and launching into a tirade of insults.
"Shameless and immoral Kong Zhenyun, from this day forward, you are no longer my grandfather!"
"Qian Shisheng, from this day forward, I will treat you as a complete stranger!"
"Pfft..." All the civil and military officials were furious. What on earth was going on? Had these children gone mad? Had their consciences been eaten by a mother dog?
Wang Wenzhou shook his head with a wry smile. It was all his fault for being so foolish. He had drunk too much that day and tricked Zhu Youjian. The two of them worked together, with him looking for a breakthrough from the civil and military officials, while Zhu Youjian looked for a breakthrough from their sons and nephews.
As long as we can find fault with the civil and military officials and find evidence of their crimes, then the Donglin Party will be at our mercy and no longer pose any threat.
Wang Wenzhou was actually setting a trap for Zhu Youjian. Even if he found a breakthrough and obtained evidence of the officials' crimes, he wouldn't hand it over to Zhu Youjian. Wang Wenzhou understood these young masters; he believed Zhu Youjian wouldn't find a way to break through. These young masters were fearless, and Zhu Youjian couldn't very well kill them.
When the officials go out and see this, they'll realize, "You, Zhu Youjian, have actually targeted our families!" The officials will surely become disloyal, and Zhu Youjian's reign as emperor will be over.
Wang Wenzhou was surprised that Zhu Youjian actually managed to win over this group of young masters.
"Sigh..." Wang Wenzhou sighed. He had brought this upon himself. He had been completely defeated in this confrontation. Zhu Youjian had obtained evidence of the Donglin Party's crimes, which meant that he could kill whomever he wanted whenever he wanted. The Donglin Party could only obediently serve as loyal subjects of the Ming Dynasty.
"Fellow colleagues!" Wang Qiang roared, taking a stack of documents from the guards and saying, "These are the evidence of your crimes of embezzlement and corruption! Considering that you have also contributed to the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor will grant you a pardon as long as you confess your crimes and hand over the proceeds of your embezzlement!"
"Distribute these incriminating documents and have them sign and affix their fingerprints!" After Wang Qiang finished speaking, the guards distributed the documents one by one according to the names on them.
Kong Zhenyun looked at the evidence against him, shook his head with a wry smile, and thought to himself, "This rascal of mine, he really says everything!" Of course, Kong Zhenyun also understood that Zhu Youjian was only doing this to deal with the Donglin Party, and it had little to do with him. At most, he could be considered an innocent bystander.
"Alas..." Kong Zhenyun sighed and said, "I confess my guilt!"
After Kong Zhenyun finished speaking, he took the brush from the guard and signed and sealed the document.
In the past few days, Kong Zhenyun had been contacting ministers who were not members of the Donglin Party and had revealed to them that Zhu Youjian was targeting the Donglin Party. So soon, those who were not members of the Donglin Party signed and sealed their documents.
The Donglin Party members looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering what to do.
"Sigh..." Zheng Sanjun sighed, slowly got up from the ground, and said helplessly, "I confess my guilt!"
When the Donglin Party members saw that their leader had confessed, they figured there was no point in continuing; besides, it was pointless. Their own son had gone awry, even betraying his own father and grandfather! Who could they blame? Outsiders might not know their own family's affairs, but how could they not?
Members of the Donglin Party signed and affixed their fingerprints.
Wang Qiang smiled slightly and said, "Fellow colleagues, the plague has now been eradicated. Please hurry home! Remember to attend the morning court tomorrow."
"Assemble!" Hou Fangyu commanded, and the constables quickly lined up in formation.
"Right dress! Attention! Right turn! March!"
Hou Fangyu led the newly formed Jinyi Army, composed of yamen runners, and ran away in neat formation, just as they had arrived.
Zheng Sanjun walked to Wang Wenzhou's side and whispered, "Boxin! What should we do?"
Wang Wenzhou said with a wry smile, "Old Zheng, it's not that I don't want to help! You saw it yourself, how can you blame me? Your kids are all stupid. If they were home, I'd just kill them!"
"Sigh..." Zheng Sanjun sighed and said helplessly, "I didn't expect this either! His Majesty's move to cut off the enemy's supply line is truly brilliant!"
"Pat pat!" Wang Wenzhou patted Zheng Sanjun on the shoulder, comforting him, "Don't worry, as the saying goes, the law doesn't punish the masses. There are so many of you in the Donglin Party, Zhu Youjian won't kill you all! Since he has evidence that can kill you, you should keep a low profile for now. We'll find a good opportunity to take him down!"
"Depose Zhu Youjian?" Zheng Sanjun shook his head with a bitter smile. "I don't have that chance. As the saying goes, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Now I am the leader of the Donglin Party in the court, and Zhu Youjian will target me first."
"Boxin!" Zheng Sanjun thought for a moment and said, "My granddaughter is betrothed to you, so we are family. If anything happens to me, please take good care of my family!"
Wang Wenzhou nodded and said, "Old Zheng, don't worry! I'm not the kind of heartless bastard."
"With your words, I am relieved! Farewell!" After saying this, Zheng Sanjun didn't exchange any pleasantries with his colleagues and staggered away.
Wang Wenzhou hugged Gao Guiying and kissed her, saying, "Babies, let's go too. Zhu Youjian played a brilliant move this time; I should go congratulate him and flatter him! It seems we'll be holding hostage in the palace for a while longer!"
Wang Wenzhou was right. He had just taken a few steps with the babies in his arms when Wang Qiang caught up with him.
Wang Qiang cupped his hands and said, "Young master, please wait. His Majesty has issued a decree summoning you to the palace for an audience."
Wang Wenzhou curled his lip, glanced back at Wang Qiang, and said sarcastically, "Lord Wang, you're too kind! I'm not your young master! Please don't address me like that!"
"Sigh..." Wang Qiang sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Young Master, it's all my fault, please forgive me! I only found out a few days ago that you didn't kill my grandfather!"
"Heh!" Wang Wenzhou sneered, "Did Zhu Youjian tell you that?"
"Okay!" Wang Qiang nodded.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Lord Wang, you must heed your grandfather's words and become a loyal and patriotic minister and general! You can continue to be an accomplice to evil and recognize a thief as your father!"
After Wang Wenzhou finished speaking, he ignored Wang Qiang and left with the baby in his arms.
"Hmph!" Wang Qiang snorted coldly, looking at Wang Wenzhou's back, and thought to himself, "Your Majesty, why did you spare Wang Wenzhou's life? The Donglin Party is no longer a threat, but the mad dog Wang Wenzhou is full of evil intentions. With him around, the Ming Dynasty will never be at peace!"