Killing people, or rather, killing the salt merchants, was not his goal. His goal was to make the salt merchants listen to him and make them obediently do as he wished.
As for his goal, Zhu Yijun was very clear. However, he also knew that if he didn't fight or kill, it would be impossible to make people listen to him.
These Jiangnan salt merchants had almost forgotten about the Daming Emperor's sword these past few years.
"In the future, there's no need to send over any impeachment memorials against Zhang Jing!" Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang He and opened his mouth to speak.
"Yes, Imperial Majesty!" Zhang He replied and quickly took away the memorials.
Zhu Yijun stood up and walked to the side of the large map. The expression on his face was unusually serious. His gaze was focused on the northwest.
Compared to the northwest, the Yangzhou salt merchants were nothing. This battle would completely solidify the Daming Emperor's power in the northwest.
"Do a good job!"
Zhu Yijun was also extremely nervous. If he lost this battle, his 10 years of hard work and Zhang Juzheng's many years of hard work would all be wasted.
This time, he was using the national treasury in this battle. At the same time, he was prepared to fill in the palace treasury.
After fighting this battle, he probably wouldn't even be able to take out the silver that was rewarded. This was also the reason he sent Zhang Jing to Yangzhou. He still had to harvest chives!
Yangzhou, imperial envoy's residence.
Zhang Jing glanced at Li Zhonghang and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Is this the name list that Chief Li drafted?"
Li Zhonghang hurriedly smiled and said, "Sir, this is the name list that I drafted."
To be honest, when faced with Zhang Jing, Li Zhonghang always had a feeling that he lacked confidence.
Although he was now the chief of the inner palace, this chief did not have any power at all.
When faced with a powerful eunuch like Zhang Jing, he was naturally a head shorter.
Picking up the list from the table, Zhang Jing flipped through it and said with a smile, "Thirty-six. Steward Li is quite ruthless!"
Hearing Zhang Jing's words, Li Zhonghang smiled awkwardly, "Eunuch Chang, this is according to His Majesty's orders. These people are all peddlers of illicit salt who bully the good. Basically, their families have people's lives at their hands."
Although Li Zhonghang said so and even mentioned Zhu Yijun, he still felt a little guilty.
Raiding thirty-six families in one go was not a small scapegoat, and Zhang Jing was the one to take the blame!
Zhang Jing nodded. He looked at Li Zhongxing and said with a smile, "I'll send someone to investigate. If there's no problem, then we'll search the house according to Steward Li's list!
But if there's a problem, then Manager Li will have to give us an explanation. "
In fact, Zhang Jing wasn't worried that any of the 36 families would be wronged. Instead, he was worried that Li Zhonghang would cover up for them.
At the end of the day, Li Zhonghang was a salt merchant from Yangzhou. It wouldn't be strange for him to cover up for someone.
However, Li Zhonghang knew his own family well. This time, the Emperor had made a move, and to be honest, Li Zhonghang was quite frightened.
With Li Zhonghang's shrewdness, he naturally wouldn't do something stupid at this time. Cover up?
Cover up for who?
Who was worth the risk of having their entire family wiped out to cover up for?
"This lowly official chose according to the files given by the inner factories. There is absolutely no cover up." Li Zhonghang's words were powerful and full of confidence.
Glancing at Li Zhonghang, Zhang Jing nodded, "That's good. I'll find the inner factories to verify it."
Li Zhonghang smiled and nodded, "Of course, of course. If there's nothing else, this lowly official will take his leave."
Zhang Jing nodded and didn't stand up to send him off. After Li Zhonghang left, Zhang Jing sighed and looked at the list. He handed it to the little eunuch beside him, "Compare it with the list given by the inner factories."
"Yes, godfather!" The little eunuch agreed and took the list to compare.
Just as Zhang Jing was waiting, Xu Xiti walked in from outside. She shook her head and looked like a playboy.
Seeing Zhang Jing, Xu Xiti smiled and cupped his hands at Zhang Jing, "Eunuch Chang!"
"Little Duke!" Zhang Jing stood up with a smile and politely invited Xu Xiti to sit down.
After the two of them sat down, Xu Xiti glanced at Zhang Jing and said with a smile, "Is Eunuch Chang going to make a big move?"
"What big move? It's just the final wrap-up!" Zhang Jing said with a smile, "After this, our matter will be over.
The rest will be the matter of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It has nothing to do with us. "
Xu Xiti nodded and said with a smile, "That's good. Let's finish this quickly and return to the capital as soon as possible."
"Little Duke, has the matter on your side been taken care of?" Zhang Jing looked at Xu Xiti and asked hesitantly.
"It's been taken care of!"
Xu Xiti said with a smile, "My father personally came out and captured three commanders. In two days, they will be beheaded.
I really didn't think that the Qi family would have such great ability to stretch their hands into the local Defense Department. "
Hearing Xu Xiti's words, Zhang Jing let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It's good that it's been taken care of, it's good that it's been taken care of!"
"Once this matter is taken care of, there will be no hidden dangers."
Zhang Jing said with a smile, "The rest will depend on the internal factory. They will probably take action tonight. I believe it won't be a problem."
Xu Xiti nodded. "Eunuch Chang, how does Eunuch Chang plan to deal with the Yangzhou prefectural magistrate, Qin Hewen?"
"Little Duke wants to protect him?" Zhang Jing looked at Xu Xiti and didn't beat around the bush.
Xu Xiti was stunned. She didn't think that Zhang Jing would be so direct. She said with a smile, "Eunuch Chang must be joking. The Duke of Wei Manor guards Jiangnan and commands military generals. It's the local Defense Department. How can it be considered protecting a civil official?"
Although she said this, Xu Xiti was cursing in her heart. This Zhang Jing really turned his back on her.
For so many days, she had worked so hard to help, but he even shirked this small matter.
In Xu Xiti's opinion, it was enough for the Yangzhou officials to remove Transport Commissioner Yan Huaiyuan. Qin Hewen was an unimportant minor character. They could let him go easily.
But since Zhang Jing directly exposed it, he didn't give her face!
Xu Xiti cursed in her heart for giving all the benefits to the dogs. Zhang Jing also cursed in his heart.
What kind of place was this? This was Yangzhou. Could the Imperial Majesty's eyes leave this place when things had become so big?
How daring was it to do this kind of thing at this time?
If the Duke of Wei Manor dared to do it, then a eunuch like me wouldn't dare.
Zhang Jing naturally knew what the Duke of Wei Manor was thinking.
Although Yangzhou lost more than half of the officials this time and the salt merchants were greatly weakened, this was still Yangzhou. This was still the center of the two rivers salt transportation. The position of the Yangzhou magistrate was very important.
If they protected Qin Hewen at this time, then Qin Hewen would definitely follow the Duke of Wei Manor's lead.
The entire Jiangnan salt transportation might not all fall into the hands of the Duke of Wei Manor, but at least half of it would fall into the hands of the Duke of Wei Manor.
In Zhang Jing's view, the Duke of Wei's Mansion was courting death. The Emperor had spent so much effort to make arrangements in Yangzhou for so many years, and a great deal of energy from the Inner Factory had been invested in Yangzhou. How could they let the Duke of Wei's Mansion pick this peach?
If they dared to reach out, the Imperial Majesty wouldn't mind cutting off one of their arms.
Although Zhang Jing also wanted to see the Duke of Wei Manor suffer a setback, Zhang Jing knew that if he dared to open his mouth, the Duke of Wei Manor would lose an arm, but he would lose his head.
This matter couldn't be done without hesitation. It was better to be decisive.
Although the two of them laughed and drank tea, the atmosphere gradually became awkward and they didn't have anything to talk about.
Li Ji Pawnshop.
"Commander, the imperial envoy's office sent a message. The people from the guard station have all been arrested. None of the three commanders are missing. They've all been arrested."
Pigeon came in front of Qi Ying and said in a low voice.
Qi Ying nodded and let out a sigh of relief. "That's for the best."
"Who would have thought that Qi Heng would be so daring and actually bribe three commanders." Qi Ying sighed. "Fortunately, we discovered it early. Otherwise, it would be bad this time."
?
Pigeon nodded. "Sir, those three commanders weren't bribed by Qi Heng. They were arranged by Qi Heng."
"They were originally from the Qi family. This is the news that Xi Que just sent."
Pigeon handed a piece of information to Qi Ying and said with a smile, "Our Xi Que is very capable to be able to get this kind of information."
After looking at the information, Qi Ying sighed. "They're really deeply rooted!"
"If we really let them attack the prefecture, we'll be in big trouble. The entire Lianhuai will be in chaos. At that time, we won't even be able to keep our heads."
Qi Ying said with lingering fear. "Alright, there's still one last step. Once we're done, we can leave this damn place."
"The manpower has been gathered. We can leave at any time!"
Pigeon said with a smile. Her eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty light.
Qi family.
Qi Heng sat in the study with a somewhat ferocious expression. The old butler beside him served him respectfully.
"Master, our manpower is in place. We'll attack Yangzhou City tomorrow night.
Han San and the others will bring people to open Yangzhou City's gate. When the time comes, we'll work together from the inside and outside to take down Yangzhou City in one fell swoop. "
Qi Heng nodded. "This time, our Qi family's business is finished."
"Master, as long as there's life, there's hope."
The old butler comforted him. "This time, we'll rob Yangzhou City. It'll be enough for us to make a comeback.
Once we leave Yangzhou City, we'll be like a dragon in the sea. The imperial court won't be able to do anything to us. "
"Tell the people in the mansion to get ready. We'll charge out tomorrow!"
Qi Heng said fiercely.
"Yes, master!" The butler replied and turned around to make the arrangements.
Qi Heng was very confident in his plan because he had troops in his hands.
After occupying Yangzhou City, they would plunder for a while and then take a ship out to sea.
As for after going out to sea, they would be able to fly freely.
"Yan Huaiyuan, Zhang Jing, I told you to investigate me. Just wait, I'll personally cut off your heads."
Qi Heng was different from other salt merchants. The reason why the Qi family could become so big and grow so fast was mainly because of smuggling.
Smuggling salt, colluding with Japanese pirates, the Qi family had done all of these.
The Qi family even had a fleet in the open sea. This was also where the Qi family's confidence came from.