Originally, Xu De and Zhao Lian thought that it would be a simple matter. However, they didn't expect that Dong Chengwu wouldn't answer them after they finished explaining the situation. Instead, he fell into a long silence.
This made Xu De and Zhao Lian confused, and their expressions became serious.
From Xu De and Zhao Lian's point of view, although the Zhen family was powerful and wealthy, it wasn't a problem for a provincial governor like Dong Chengwu.
If it was in the past, Dong Chengwu might have had to worry about some things.
For example, the Zhen family was a big local family, and the Zhen family's prestige and power among the officials.
However, it was different now. The Zhen family was involved in such a big case. The Zhen family was definitely finished.
No matter how powerful the Zhen family was, no matter how many officials accepted money from the Zhen family, it was useless.
Since it was related to the assassination of the emperor, no one dared to have anything to do with the Zhen family. No one even dared to have any contact with the Zhen family. They couldn't wait to hide, let alone help.
Even if Dong Chengwu accepted money from the Zhen family, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, the Zhen family didn't fall because of bribing officials, but because of the assassination of the emperor.
Even if they found out that they had bribed officials, not many people would be implicated.
Moreover, now that Dong Chengwu was the Fujian provincial governor, it would be easy for him to cover up this matter. Zhao Lian and Zhao Lian didn't plan to pursue this matter.
After a while, Dong Chengwu slowly opened his mouth and said, "Eunuch Xu, Lord Zhao, do you know the owner of the Fifth Peak Shipowner?"
Xu De and Zhao Lian looked at each other and nodded at the same time. "Of course!"
The Captain of the Five Peaks was just a title for this person. His name was Wang Zhi, and he was the most famous leader of the Japanese pirates. In fact, he had a very good reputation in Zhejiang and Fujian because he represented the interests of a group of people.
Compared to the Wokou pirates, what Wang Zhi wanted was very simple. He wanted the imperial court's permission to allow him to open up the sea to trade with them.
It was for this purpose that Wang Zhi helped Hu Zongxian, the governor of the Southeast at that time, to suppress the Japanese pirates in the Southeast and even surrendered to Daming.
In Hangzhou, he was lured by the Imperial Censor Wang Bengu and later killed.
In reality, Wang Zhi didn't understand. The moment he chose to surrender, his fate was sealed. He had to die.
Perhaps Wang Zhi was a capable person when it came to being a pirate and doing business, but when it came to figuring out people's hearts, Wang Zhi was a noob in the officialdom.
At that time, Hu Zongxian and Wang Zhi's policies violated many interests.
Hu Zongxian and Wang Zhi thought that suppressing the Japanese pirates in the Southeast was a great achievement and that they were loyal to the country. However, they violated the interests of many people.
Hu Zongxian might have been forgiven. He was an official of the imperial court, and he had ambitions in his heart. He wanted to do something for the people and the country.
Wang Zhi was different. He just wanted an opportunity to open up the sea, an opportunity for normal trade.
However, there were people who were unwilling to give this opportunity. They were the big families in Zhejiang and Fujian, the big gentry.
These people controlled the sea trade in Jiangnan. They smuggled and even raised Japanese pirates. This was also the reason why most of the Japanese pirates were Daming's people.
These people hired the defeated warriors of the Japanese Empire to organize the fleets. They controlled the profits of the sea trade.
If Wang Zhi succeeded in opening up the sea, they would be the ones who suffered the most.
As for whether the Japanese pirates caused havoc in the Southeast, they didn't care. Therefore, there was Wang Zhi who was killed when he surrendered.
Not only was this matter not investigated by the imperial court, but it was also considered a great achievement.
Wang Bengu, who killed Wang Zhi, not only was he not removed from his post, but he also had a meteoric rise.
When Wang Zhi was killed, Wang Bengu was only a Inspecting Imperial Censor. After killing Wang Zhi, Wang Bengu's position skyrocketed. From Inspecting Imperial Censor to Shaanxi's Assistant Minister of Defense, Assistant Minister of the Supreme Court, Deputy Imperial Censor, Assistant Minister of Justice, Assistant Minister of Appointments, and finally, Minister of Appointments.
After Wang Zhi died, some of Wang Zhi's old subordinates also joined Wu Ping, Zhang Lian, and other pirates in the Fujian area.
It wasn't until the 44th year of Jiajing that Wu Ping was defeated by the troops of Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou, Liu Xian, and Tang Kekuan. In the end, he jumped into the sea and drowned.
This matter had passed for more than 20 years, but no one would forget it. Especially many people began to reflect on this matter.
Although many people praised Wang Bengu's contributions, there were also many people who scolded Wang Bengu.
If he hadn't killed Wang Zhi, the Southeast would not have continued to rot. Wang Bengu was the main culprit.
In Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang, it was common for commoners to go to the Southeast to run ships. Many people revered Wang Zhi and even prayed to the ship owners of the five peaks to ensure their safety.
This caused the commoners here, especially the commoners near the sea, to have a lot of distrust towards the imperial court.
Mentioning Wang Zhi at this time was obviously not just for fun. Dong Chengwu's words had a deeper meaning.
"Lord Zhao, Eunuch Xu, another Wang Zhi has appeared on the sea."
At this point, Dong Chengwu's face was full of bitterness. "This person is called Li Dan. He is a native of Fujian and is very famous in Fujian."
Xu De was stunned. He was a little regretful. Before coming to see Dong Chengwu, he should have gone to see the people in the inner factory.
"This Li Dan is from Quanzhou. When he was young, he went to the Southeast to do business. Later, he was captured by the French in the Sulu Sultanate (Philippines) and was a slave for a few years. Later, he escaped from the Sulu Sultanate and went to the Japanese Empire.
"After arriving at the Japanese Empire, Li Dan quickly united the Daming people there. With their support, Li Dan built a fleet.
"He befriended the ministers of the Japanese Empire, hired Japanese pirates, built a fleet, and started trading between the Daming Japanese Empire and the Sulu Sultanate," at this point, Dong Chengwu sighed. "Over the years, this Li Dan has become more and more powerful.
"It is said that he befriended someone from the Japanese Empire called Tokugawa Ieyasu. He is now fighting a war with the Japanese Empire and is preparing to unify the Japanese Empire."
Zhao Lian and Xu De were both shocked. There was such a thing?
Xu De looked at Dong Chengwu and asked with a serious expression, "Inspector Dong, have you reported this to the imperial court?"
Glancing at Xu De, Dong Chengwu smiled and said, "How do you think I should report it to the imperial court?"
"Mention a big Japanese pirate?
This Li Dan has never attacked the Daming. Although everyone in Fujian knows about this, there is no concrete evidence. It is not even known if this Li Dan exists! "
When Dong Chengwu said this, Xu De and Zhao Lian did not understand. How could they report this to the imperial court?
If they reported it, they might even be reprimanded. Why bother?
Only Xu De knew that if Dong Chengwu reported it to the imperial court, not only would he not be punished, but he would also be put in an important position.
His Imperial Majesty was very interested in these things, but it was meaningless to talk about it now.
After thinking for a moment, Xu De asked again, "What is the relationship between this Zhen family and Li Dan?"
"It is said that this Li Dan is from the Zhen family. Some people say that Li Dan's mother is from the Zhen family. No one knows the details, but everyone knows that the Zhen family has a close relationship with Li Dan.
The families in the southeast that are related to the sea trade follow the Zhen family's lead. "
"Once the Zhen family is touched, I'm afraid that the southeast will be shaken, and the disaster of the Japanese pirates will repeat!"
Hearing this, Xu De and Zhao Lian were silent. No one could bear this big hat!
Once the southeast is shaken, and the disaster of the Japanese pirates will repeat, then things will be troublesome.
Xu De was very clear about his Imperial Majesty's plans. In the past few years, the Imperial Majesty had been reorganizing the army, but his main focus was on the north.
The Imperial Majesty's intention to conquer the Mongols could be said to be very clear, especially after defeating the Wala. No one in the imperial court had any doubts about this.
But if something happened in the southeast, then it would disrupt the Imperial Majesty's plan to conquer the Mongols.
The Japanese pirates were in the southeast, and the Mongols took the opportunity to invade the south. That would repeat the events of the Jiajing period.
The invasion of the Khan had always been seen as a disgrace by the current Emperor. Because of this, he scolded Yan Song for harming the country, and even criticized his own grandfather. But this was only heard by Xu De, and he never dared to tell anyone else.
That battle was known as the 'Rebellion of Gengxu'. Xu De still remembered that after defeating the Wala, the Imperial Majesty was drunk and brandished his sword to kill Chou Luan.
If the Japanese pirates were to appear in the southeast at this time, how would the Imperial Majesty feel?
But let the Zhen family go?
Xu De subconsciously shook his head. At this point, if he let the Zhen family go, not to mention the Imperial Majesty, even he himself would feel sullen.
Especially when he knew that the Zhen family colluded with the Japanese pirates, and even dared to assassinate the Imperial Majesty.
"Eunuch Xu, should we report this matter to His Majesty?" Dong Chengwu looked at Xu De and asked hesitantly.
As a Daming official, it was his responsibility to protect the land and kill the pirates. But Dong Chengwu did not want to be tricked. If the Japanese pirates were to appear in Fujian, he would be the first to bear the brunt, and the people who would suffer would be the people.
This matter was too big, so he had to ask for instructions first!
"We can send people to monitor the Zhen family and not let them escape."
Seeing that Xu De was looking at him, Dong Chengwu hurriedly added.
At this moment, Zhao Lian's face was gloomy as he directly said, "This official feels that this is not appropriate. Now that we have found out that the Zhen family are the main culprits of the plot to assassinate His Majesty, being overcautious and indecisive is not the way of an official.
"Not touching the Zhen family because of some rumors will damage the dignity of the imperial court. This cannot be done."
Xu De glanced at the righteous Zhao Lian and sighed in his heart. This fellow's words were pleasant to hear.
Dong Chengwu's face also darkened. "Lord Zhao, why do you turn a blind eye to the people of the southeast?
Although the Zhen family is hateful and should be killed, we cannot kill them so rashly.
When the imperial court is prepared, we can kill them. "
Seeing that the two of them were about to argue, Xu De hurriedly interrupted them.
"This matter is of great importance, and it is not something we can make a decision on."
Xu De directly said, "I will immediately write a secret memorial and send it to the capital at top speed. Everything will wait for the Imperial Majesty's decision."
As for whether the Zhen family would escape, Xu De was not worried at all. With the internal factories, it would not be easy for them to escape.
As for the Zhen family receiving the news, if he was smart, he would pretend that he did not know. If the Zhen family tried to escape, then he would be forcing them to make a move.
Hearing Xu De's words, Zhao Lian did not speak, tacitly agreeing with Xu De's words. It was fine as long as there was an attitude, but there was no need to argue.