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Volume 2: A Different Village Chief Chapter 778: Pursuing stolen goods and providing payment

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    On the 23rd, a dark crowd of hundreds of officials gathered outside the Meridian Gate, all wearing court uniforms and hats, and full of beasts and beasts, with more than a thousand people in total.  Among these people, there are college scholars Chen Shi, university scholar Wei Za De and other chief ministers, and also the old and expensive ministers such as Zhou Kui, the British public Zhang Shize.  There are also six officials, including the Minister of Dali Temple, who are assigned to the middle and lower ministers in each department.  There are also poets such as Wei Yunwen, Yang Changzuo and Lin Zengzhi.  They came to congratulate the court, and also to see if the new court would choose them.  In particular, Wei Zaode, Chen Yan and other bachelors are full of self-confidence. With their status as cabinet ministers and bachelors, they are all full of knowledge and can definitely be used by the new dynasty to seek wealth again.  Guang Shiheng also stood calmly during the incident in the military department. On that day, he tried his best to prevent the southward movement and said that the king should defend Sheji to the end. As a result, after the city was broken, the king really died in Sheji, but Guang Shiheng surrendered in the blink of an eye.  So what, if you surrender, you surrender, and he is not the only one who surrenders anyway.  Even though he was prosperous and promising, he could still accomplish something in the new dynasty and continue to speak impassionedly and passionately.  Seeing the strange looks from others, Guang Shiheng remained motionless.  The officials gathered together with great expectations. Unexpectedly, from the time they waited until noon, there was no movement in the Forbidden City.  They talked a lot. Whenever they met Dashun officials, they all forced a smile and bowed deeply, and asked probing questions.  At this time, Song Xiance, the short son of Song Dynasty, suddenly arrived. At that moment, several people knelt down and asked the new master if he would go to court?  Song Xiance yelled and scolded: "It's a blessing that we didn't kill you. How can we be impatient at this time?" Everyone agreed happily.  It was not until sunset, which was Shenshi, between three and five o'clock in the afternoon, that they were finally called in, but it was the Zhijianji Hall.  There are three main halls in the Forbidden City: Huangji Hall, Zhongji Hall, and Jianji Hall.  Because Huangji Hall was burned down and Zhongji Hall was the smallest, Li Zicheng placed it in Jianji Hall to start the dynasty.  The emperor often changed his clothes here before the grand ceremony in this hall. When the queen and prince were enthroned, the emperor also received congratulations in this hall, and sometimes officials also paid homage here.  When entering the magnificent hall, all the officials took a deep breath and decided that it was time to decide their own destiny.  When they entered the hall, they saw Li Zicheng sitting on the throne, wearing a pointed white felt hat and a blue cloth horse jacket. The two groups on the left and right were Niu Jinxing, Liu Zongmin, Li Guo, Yuan Zongdi, Liu Xiyao, Gu Junen, Song Xiance, Zhang Linran,  Song Qijiao and other officials sat in line.  When the officials came in, they all looked at each other with proud and high-spirited expressions on their faces, especially Niu Jinxing's face, which was full of arrogance.  They looked askance at the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty who came in, feeling full of emotion in their hearts. The so-called wealth and honor will not return to their hometown, just like walking in brocade clothes at night.  Although I haven¡¯t returned home yet, my feelings are deeper.  Thinking about the time when I was working hard in the countryside, forging iron and farming, I never thought that our old Liu family, old Li family, and old Niu family would have such a day, right?  This scene also made all the civil and military officials who came in have mixed feelings. In the past, those people and generals in the palace were just blacksmiths, carpenters, horsemen, farmers, etc., and even the man who occupied the dragon position was just a postman.  As for the civil servants, the highest level is no more than a civil servant. Most of them are shabby scholars and unlucky young men, but I become a king or lose a bandit. This is the reality, so I can only obey!  After taking a glance, all the officials did not dare to look or think too much. They lined up respectfully, knelt three times, kowtowed nine times, and shouted long live the three times.  Li Zicheng didn't say anything, but Niu Jinxing walked down. He suddenly touched the heads of each official with his hand and read: "One pair, two pairs, three pairs, four pairs" He muttered words, one by one from the top of each official's head.  He touched them to check their number, and finally counted them, and found that there were more than 1,300 people.  Li Zicheng looked at the crowd below and sighed: "How can the world be peaceful if this generation is so unjust?" He also frowned when he saw that some people inside had clean shaven hair and looked like monks.  He said to Liu Zongmin, Li Guo, Gu Junen and others next to him: "Every official who died in the city is considered a loyal minister. If your body is hairy and skinned, your parents will not dare to damage it. People who shave their hair are even more unfaithful and unfilial. They will leave  What's wrong with him?" Niu Jinxing also saw that these people who had shaved their hair were all Ci ministers, such as Song Zhisheng, Lin Zengzhi and others. He roared: "Why sign up if you have already shaved your head?" He shouted angrily.  These people were so frightened that they were trembling all over. Niu Jinxing especially refused to give up and ordered the hairless people to pluck out all the rest of their hair.  Then he threw the roster on the ground and used the pen to do whatever he wanted. Anyone who dared to respond late would use his military stick, beating some people until they screamed in agony, and all the officials looked at each other with pale faces.  " Then Niu Jinxing asked Honglu to roll his name again, and he came out to meet with the officials. He laughed, cursed, or was cold, graceful and proud, and showed off his unfulfilled emotions.  However, all these officials obeyed orders obediently, and no one dared to say a word, let alone express their dissatisfaction.  Li Zicheng became more and more disgusted when he saw it, and murderous intent emerged in his heart.    At this time, the roll call came to Wei Zaode, the bachelor of Dongge University and the cabinet minister. He straightened his imperial crown, slowly came out of the procession, and paid homage with the best manners and the most magnetic voice: "Wei Zaode, the bachelor of Dongge University and the cabinet minister, pays homage.  Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you have set things right in the troubled times, and you are so virtuous and majestic. You are holding the talisman of the emperor, and you are like God. Now you meet His Majesty, looking up at the sky, and all the ministers are so frightened that they are bowing their heads.  After a moment of silence, he said, "The emperor is the ruler of the country. He should serve as a minister of all nations, and he should practice benevolence. He will use his great sacrifices to enlighten and help us, and we will build up the power of Yao Ren again." As he spoke, he kept kowtowing.  It took Li Zicheng a long time to understand what Wei Zaode was saying. It turned out that he was asking for help.  He looked at the person below and said coldly: "Wei Zaode? Bachelor? Cabinet minister? It seems that the emperor treats you well. Since you are favored by the emperor and you should die for the country, why do you live in an ignoble way?" Wei Zaode was wrong to listen to this.  , all his previous words were in vain, he guessed Li Zicheng's psychology, kowtowed quickly and said: "If your Majesty forgives me, I will repay you with loyalty and loyalty."  Wait, how can we not die? Get out!" Wei Zaode was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and quickly retreated.  Chen Yan, a bachelor, originally wanted to ask for help like Wei Zaode, but when he saw this scene, he did not dare to say anything.  ¡­ After the roll call was completed that day, Niu Jinxing pulled out ninety-two people and sent soldiers to escort the officials to the Song Qijiao office for help. Guang Shiheng of the Military Department was also among them.  Not only were the number of people small, but civil and military officials of third rank or above were not hired at all.  Those who are not selected will be escorted by two horsemen and soldiers for each officer, holding swords. While the officers are panicking, an imperial edict suddenly comes: "Be escorted to the West Fourth Archway." Immediately, they are chained together, one for every five people.  , everyone's face was earth-colored, even the bachelors Chen Yan, Wei Zaode and others, their bodies were trembling like chaff.  Then the soldiers galloped away, driving the officials away like sheep and hogs. If they moved a little slower, the backs of their swords immediately fell, beating the officials until they howled incessantly. Some even fainted and were trampled to pieces.  Everyone was scared to death, and many people even cried.  Before they reached the West Fourth Archway, another imperial edict came: "All the guilty officials from the previous dynasty will be sent to General Liu's Mansion for execution." Immediately, the cavalry turned around and drove the officials to the Harada Emperor's Mansion. The officials were again attacked.  A previous sin.  "But when they were taken here, Liu Zongmin was holding a prostitute and cheering. He had no time to pay attention to it. He still ordered his soldiers to keep watch in anticipation of his arrival.  At the same time, on this day, the Shun army also filled the streets and cities with literati and officials, and even detained them while walking on the road, like chicken in a pot.  Not only that, many distinguished eunuchs who had not gone to pay their respects were also driven over, such as Wang Dehua, Wang Zhixin, Wang Xiangyao and others who had taken refuge.  They were all put into prison uniforms, and all the powerful officials were locked in a dark room. The guards did not give them food, so they were starved for a day and a night.  Day and night, countless officials and soldiers collapsed and just wanted to escape from this hellish place.  On the 24th, the "Rate Town Fusi" was formally established to pursue stolen goods and support salaries. Liu Zongmin was in charge of it, Li Guo, and Liu Minzheng were in charge.  Li Guo was Li Zicheng's nephew, and Liu Minzheng was Li Zicheng's childhood friend and was a blacksmith.  Of course, Li Zicheng trusted both of them very much, so he placed them in a high position below Liu Zongmin.  On the same day, Liu Zongmin tried out the new clamp stick with a human, and clamped it with the two book servants in Tianjie. They died the next day, which made him very satisfied.  On the 25th, Liu Zongmin came out in the afternoon. The civil and military officials who had been locked up and hungry all day and night were called to roll call. Liu Zongmin called the names one by one and ordered all officials to help pay and redeem themselves.  The amount of silver offered in exchange for official status should not be less than 10,000 taels for a first-grade official, and the amount should not be less than 1,000 taels for minor officials such as ministers. If the silver is available, the person will be released. If the silver is not offered, the person will be punished and served with severe punishment.  At the same time, on this day, the Ministry of Payroll, with its famous thorns, summoned the Beijing gentry Liu Yuyou, Sun Chengze and others and asked them to donate silver, such as Liu Yuyou forty thousand taels and Sun Chengze twenty thousand taels, and threatened: "It should be sooner rather than later. If it is two days late,  "Wang Dehua was the first to offer silver, and the amount was 50,000 taels. Among the eunuchs, he was the most clever. When Li Zicheng entered the city, he was the first to lead 300 people to Deshengmen to greet him.  As expected, Liu Zongmin was very happy and released him immediately.  Li Zicheng was very pleased to hear this, and still appointed him as the chief eunuch in the palace. At this time, Li Zicheng had dismissed the eunuchs in the palace, leaving only more than a hundred people. Wang Dehua took charge of these more than a hundred people.  With Wang Dehua taking the lead, various officials donated silver one after another. The former abbot and the Marquis of Jiading, Zhou Kui, were so frightened that they even donated an astronomical amount of silver, five hundred thousand taels.  You must know that on the tenth day of March, when his son-in-law, Emperor Chongzhen, asked Zhou Kui to help pay his salary, he repeatedly issued an edict for help. Zhou Kui was only willing to give 10,000 taels, and also wanted his daughter, Empress Zhou, to beg for mercy. Now he actually gave out five taels in one breath.  Ten times as much silver.  Liu Zongmin smiled happily when he saw more and more money being paid to officials. However, things suddenly changed after the bachelor Chen Yan presented him with 40,000 taels of silver.    It turns out that in order to avoid missing out on the pursuit of stolen money, the "Fusi Bureau of Pay Rates" secretly reported that for each case, the reward ranged from fifty cash to fifty taels. Chen Yan's servants wanted to reward Chen Yan, so he  Reported.  Liu Zongmin was dubious and sent people to dig at Chen Yan's mansion. As expected, there was gold and silver everywhere, and a mere 40,000 taels was just the tip of the iceberg.  Liu Zongmin was furious and decided to torture him severely. Some of the people who were released were captured again, such as the head of the country Zhou Kui and others.  At the same time, he increased the amount of silver redemption on a large scale, announcing that the cabinet ministers would ask for 100,000 taels of silver, the ministries and court officials would ask for 70,000 taels of silver, the ministers and ministers would ask for 50,000 to 30,000 taels of silver, the Hanlin officials would ask for 10,000 taels of silver, and the ministers would ask for thousands of taels of silver.  There are differences between each other, and there is no definite number of merits and deeds.  ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Ah¡­¡± A scream of agony rang out, and Grand Bachelor Chen Yan, who was holding the stick, suddenly fainted.  At this time, he was impaled on the clamping stick. The clamping stick was more than three feet long and made of poplar wood. It was more than five inches deep and penetrated with iron bars. Each rod was tied with three pairs of clamps.  When you want to clamp someone, hold the stick upright, hold it by one person, and place it on the toes of the victim. Use another stick and cross it to the left side of the foot so that the victim cannot move.  Then use a large pole six to seven feet long and more than four inches in circumference to hit the shin hard from the right side, causing the foot to bleed on the ground.  People say that ten fingers are connected to the heart, and the same is true for toes. Moreover, there are various combinations of super sticks, which can clamp hands, feet, and thighs. The most torture is nothing.  At this time, Chen Yan had been tortured. The bones of his fingers, toes, and thighs had been broken everywhere, and his whole body was covered in blood. Drops of blood gushed out from the wounds and flowed all over his body.  Yes, shocking blood marks.  Especially the clothes on his body were all red, and his thighs were even red.  He hung limply, and then a basin of cold water was poured over him, waking him up again. The sharp pain emerging from the wound wished that he could not die on the spot, or faint directly, but this was just an extravagant wish.  The former cabinet minister, a bachelor, had tears rolling down his face. He sobbed and begged: "I really have no money. Please forgive me." Liu Zongmin jumped up when he stared at him, and he roared angrily: "Donkey  Qiuzi, you corrupt officials of the Ming Dynasty are the most dishonest. You said you had no silver, but in the end, you produced five hundred taels of gold and two large dendrobiums of pearls There must be some silver, so I will continue to torture you" It was sad again  With howling sounds, the torturer hit his shin with a big bar. Chen Yan just wished he could die on the spot.   The No. 1 Yuanlang, the university scholar Wei Zhande will never think that there will be today. If he knows that today, he will not escape from the Beijing division early, or resolutely keep the city to the end. It is all in a dream.  However, the severe pain on his fingers told him that this was not a dream.  He screamed miserably, while listening to Liu Zongmin on the opposite side roar and ask him: "As a cabinet minister, why did you bring chaos to the country to this point?" Wei Zaode instinctively replied: "I am a scholar, not familiar with political affairs, and the late emperor was ignorant, so I ended up like this.  " Liu Zongmin said angrily: "You are just a scholar, and the emperor promoted you to the number one scholar, and you were promoted to cabinet minister after three years of service. How can the emperor be sorry for you, and dare to accuse him of being an unjust and ignorant king? " He went to court in person.  Wei Zaode was slapped dozens of times in the mouth. When the execution soldiers saw this, they clamped their sticks and pulled violently. Wei Zaode screamed and all ten of his fingers were severed.  Liu Zongmin asked him for silver again, and Wei Zaode cried: "It's too late to be an official, and there is no time for corruption. Except for 10,000 taels of silver, there is really no silver." He offered advice to Liu Zongmin, and the emperor had a lot of money.  If you search, you will definitely find something. Liu Zongmin was furious: "I searched the palace and found that the emperor only had three hundred thousand taels of gold and silver left, not as much as Chen Yan. He died bravely. We all admire him you treacherous minister."  , first falsely accused him of being immoral, and then accused him of being greedy, he is really crazy, come here, give me a slap in the face" " The sound of burning skin and flesh was heard, Jiading Marquis and the head of state Zhou Kui opened his mouth in pain.  , behind him was a copper pillar heated by hot oil. At this time, he was tied to the copper pillar, but he was tortured with a cannon.  Blood and tears flowed from his eyes. Everything was over. In the past two days, he watched his wife and daughter-in-law hang themselves after being tortured.  His eldest son, his second son, and his nephew died after being tortured.  He handed over a total of 700,000 taels of silver, which was his entire family property. However, Liu Zongmin was still not satisfied and continued to torture him.  All of this was really ironic, and seemed to be mocking his stupidity. He recalled the day when his son-in-law sent the eunuch Xu Gao to seek help from him, saying: "The big thing is over, what's the use of accumulating more and being more productive?" At that time, he didn't think so, but now he only feels deep regret  , should not be stingy with donations and even allow thieves to enter the city.  His tears rolled down and he murmured: "Your Majesty, I regret this.Ah" When he was dying, he vaguely heard Liu Zongmin's roar: "It's already 700,000 taels, and there must be some silver left before the execution By the way, his skin and flesh have been cooked with an iron comb!  " "Your Majesty, I regret this.  " Wang Zhixin's leg bones were snapped. When he fainted in agony, he just thought with regret. As the eunuch who commanded the East Factory, he punished unjust crimes and got his nephew, Jin Yiwei, to guard hundreds of households. Wang Zhixin's home  Although he was originally rich, he was stingy about donating money. The emperor asked the distinguished eunuchs to donate their salary, but he barely scraped together 10,000 taels of silver. Now Liu Zongmin asked him to pay 300,000 taels of silver, and he had already paid 200,000 taels.  There was really nothing he could do. Perhaps what awaited him was to be crushed to death. The cry of "wuwuwu" sounded in the dark room, and the cry was filled with the deepest pain and despair. The British prince Zhang Shize curled up.  On the ground, he was no longer human. As the Duke, he was the target of Liu Zongmin's greetings. He had been beaten with sticks, burned, and even had red embroidered shoes that cut off people's limbs. This made his whole body  And before that, his wife, his son, and his daughter had all been tortured to death. What awaited him was the same fate of being beaten to death. He, Zhang Shize, was a hereditary duke.  Zhang Yu was a famous general in Jingnan. After Chengzu ascended the throne, he was called the first hero of Jingnan, and he was granted the title of Duke of Rongguo and King of Hejian. Then his ancestor Zhu Neng led tens of thousands of troops to quell the Annan rebellion, and was granted the title of Duke of England, which was inherited hereditary from generation to generation.  According to legend, even if Liu Jin and Wei Zhongxian were in power, the family would be safe and secure, and no one would dare to move. But now Zhang Shize sobbed, and he whispered: "I should have died fighting when defending the city, and I should have died when the city fell."  The emperor is martyred, and the humble ministers are ashamed of themselves.  " "I am ashamed of myself.  " "Ashamed of me" He murmured, still with his eyes wide open when he finally died.  Liu Zongmin's "Comparing Pay Rates to Suppress the Fusi" achieved fruitful results, and the amount of stolen money was rising steadily, and soon exceeded  Seventy million taels of silver, this is an astonishing number. In fact, it is far more than that, because not all of them are caught up in Liu Zongmin. Many officials are either trapped in various camps or in prisons, and everyone is detained.  It is difficult to say how much of the silver was hidden. Under torture, many officials and nobles were tortured to death, such as the death of Zhou Kui and his family, and the death of the British Duke Zhang Shize and his family.  The great eunuch Wang Zhixin was tortured to death, and the great scholar Wei Zaode was tortured with brains and his brain fluid leaked out to death. His son was also captured and tortured to death, and his daughter was used as a prostitute in the camp. In order to avoid disaster, many officials sacrificed their wives and daughters to sing songs.  For example, Yang Rucheng offered a beautiful maid and was spared, but Zhang Xin punished his wife and lost ten thousand taels of silver.  From the fifth day onwards, the users wore high hats and fresh clothes and paraded on the Chang'an road. The users were extorting money and crying, and the streets were filled with misery. Officials were honored and their wealth was wasted. (To be continued.)
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