Dong Chengwu and Xu De were writing memorials to Zhu Yijun, while Zhao Lian's people were almost all arrested.
It wasn't that Zhao Lian really needed to arrest so many people, but he needed to summarize the information.
This was a major case of colluding with the Japanese pirates. This kind of case must be done beautifully. It was impossible to not know the actual situation.
The great interrogation began. Zhao Lian started from the periphery. He sorted out two lines, one was the fortune ointment, and the other was colluding with the Japanese pirates.
He couldn't forget about the fortune ointment because of colluding with the Japanese pirates. That was a major case of assassinating the emperor.
If he forgot about this case, then it would be useless no matter how beautifully he handled the case.
After being an official for so many years and doing so well, Zhao Lian knew one thing. That was, he couldn't do things by himself. Even if he worked himself to death, it would be useless.
Being able to do things was one thing, but the most important thing was to figure out his superior's mind.
The emperor would definitely be more concerned about the assassination case. Colluding with the Japanese pirates wasn't a rare case. How could it be rare in these years?
The emperor would probably put it down after taking a look. It was just colluding with the Japanese pirates. It wasn't a big deal.
However, the assassination case was different. This involved the assassination of the emperor. How could the emperor not be concerned?
How could he not be concerned?
He mustn't be confused by the appearance. He must directly look at the essence.
With the fortune ointment case as the main case, and the colluding with the Japanese pirates as a supplement. If the fortune ointment case was done beautifully, then the colluding with the Japanese pirates would be the icing on the cake. Naturally, he would enter the emperor's eyes. At that time, his meteoric rise was just around the corner.
Thus, Zhao Lian divided the merchants who were involved with the Zhen family into two categories. One was the ones who sold the fortune ointment for the Zhen family, and the other was the colluding with the Japanese pirates for the Zhen family.
Of course, there were many who belonged to both categories, but Zhao Lian was very clear about them.
The first case he wanted to investigate was the fortune ointment case. Most of the people were arrested, and the rest was to start the trial.
Behind the Second Hall of the Inspector-General's Yamen, Xu De was drinking tea from a teacup. Beside him, Dong Chengwu was looking at the Second Hall absent-mindedly.
Seeing Xu De's unperturbed expression, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Eunuch Xu, isn't this a little too much?" Dong Chengwu couldn't help but ask.
Hearing the screams coming from the second hall of the Inspector's Yamen, Xu De's expression did not change in the slightest. He said indifferently, "Some people are just itching for a beating. If you don't hit him, he won't tell the truth. It's as if he can hide it if he doesn't say anything."
"Lord Zhao is investigating a case. If Inspector Dong feels that it's inappropriate, you can go over and listen!"
Dong Chengwu smiled bitterly again. This Zhao Lian had indeed stopped arresting people. Instead, he was trying the case. He had borrowed the Second Court of the Inspector-General's Yamen to try the case.
From then on, the screams of the Second Hall of the Inspector-General's Yamen never stopped.
A few physicians were lined up there waiting to treat the injuries so that no one would die.
For the past two days, Dong Chengwu had only heard the screams. It was like a devil's voice piercing his ears. He couldn't sleep well at night. His mind was filled with screams.
Xu De turned a blind eye to this. Zhao Lian also didn't seem to feel anything. Like an iron man, he repeated the process of interrogating, interrogating, and interrogating.
At first, it was still fine. He questioned them one by one. However, when the testimonies of the two people didn't match, Zhao Lian's rage mode started.
Dong Chengwu really didn't know how to persuade Zhao Lian. Firstly, he didn't have the jurisdiction. This was a case decided by the Emperor. Secondly, these people really didn't tell the truth.
Since the testimonies of the two people were different, naturally, someone was lying.
After five days of surprise interrogations, Zhao Lian finally sorted out all the clues and evidence in the Fortune Longevity Ointment case and connected them into a single line.
Dong Chengwu and Xu De looked at Zhao Lian who walked in. Although his eyes were bloodshot, Zhao Lian's spirit was still good. Especially the gaze in his eyes, it was bright and full of expression. It made people not dare to look him in the eye. Perhaps it was because he had been through too much torture these days. Zhao Lian's body carried a murderous aura.
"Has Official Zhao finished?" Xu De looked at Zhao Lian and asked with a smile.
Zhao Lian nodded. "This official has sorted out all the clues and evidence of the Longevity Ointment case. The cause of the matter was the Zhen family. At that time, the Zhen family wasn't the largest sea merchant in Fujian. However, during the Jiajing period, the Zhen family obtained the Longevity Ointment."
"The Zhen family presented the Longevity Ointment to the palace, causing the value of the Longevity Ointment to increase greatly."
"At the same time, the Zhen family also used the Longevity Ointment to bribe officials and expand their own channels. They suppressed and roped in other merchants everywhere, helping the Zhen family sell the Longevity Ointment. At the same time, they embezzled other merchants' businesses."
"After so many years of development, the Zhen family has become what it is today."
After hearing Zhao Lian's words, Xu De said with a mocking tone, "They really are unwavering. Generation after generation, they do things that harm others."
Zhao Lian didn't respond to Xu De's words. Instead, he said, "This official interrogated the other members of the Zhen family and obtained a confession from them. The Zhen family's Longevity Ointment came from a merchant ship overseas."
"Basically, the goods were transported at night. Then, the merchant ship docked and unloaded the goods."
"The people who received the goods were all Zhen Zhijing's trusted subordinates. However, they weren't familiar with the people on the ship. They only exchanged the goods with the token. Then, the two parties exchanged the goods."
After saying this, Zhao Lian paused and then said, "The next exchange is in three days."
As he said this, Zhao Lian took out a semi-circular jade. "This is the token that the Zhen family used to receive the goods."
Xu De and Dong Chengwu weren't stupid. Of course, they knew what Zhao Lian meant. He was going to pretend to be the Zhen family to receive the goods and then capture all the people on the ship.
No matter who the other party was, they wouldn't be able to escape this time.
"With such a big movement in Fuzhou, they probably received the news a long time ago."
Xu De said faintly, "However, it's still worth a gamble. If they come, we'll capture them. If they don't, we'll just treat it as training." As he said this, he turned his head to look at Dong Chengwu. This matter still required him, the Fujian Inspector-General, to take action.
Although Zhao Lian and Xu De were imperial envoys, they couldn't do this.
Seeing the two of them look at him, Dong Chengwu smiled and said, "This official is naturally duty-bound. I'll go and arrange it now!"
After Dong Chengwu left, Xu De looked at Dong Chengwu and said, "Sir Zhao, have you interrogated Zhen Zhijing?"
"Not yet!"
Zhao Lian shook his head and said, "I want to wait until the Japanese and assassination cases are gathered before interrogating Zhen Zhijing."
However, Xu De shook his head and said, "Interrogate him now. Ask him about receiving the ship. This is not a small matter, we can't take the risk.
If something goes wrong and the ship escapes, we'll have made a big mistake. "
Zhao Lian immediately understood. "Eunuch Xu is right. I'll go and interrogate Zhen Zhijing now. Does Eunuch Xu want to come along?"
Nodding, Xu De stood up and said, "I'll go as well!"
Seeing Xu De's actions, Zhao Lian couldn't help but curse in his heart, "Old man, you came at this time. Why didn't you come before?"
However, he could only curse in his heart and not say it out loud.
For Zhen Zhijing, the past few days had been difficult. After living a life of luxury for so many years, how could Zhen Zhijing endure this kind of life?
In just a few days, he was a little out of shape.
When Zhao Lian and Xu De saw him, Zhen Zhijing seemed to be dumbfounded and did whatever he was told.
"Zhen Zhijing!" Zhao Lian slammed the gavel and shouted.
Zhen Zhijing raised his head and glanced at Zhao Lian, then at Xu De. Then, he lowered his head and didn't speak.
There was nothing sadder than a dead heart. This time, Zhen Zhijing knew that he was finished, and so was the Zhen family.
Just as Zhao Lian was about to order his men to torture him, Xu De waved his hand and interrupted him. It wasn't a good idea to torture Zhen Zhijing.
Once he was injured or disabled, it would be very troublesome.
Glancing at Zhen Zhijing, Xu De said faintly, "Zhen Zhijing, aren't you curious? It's just a case of colluding with the Japanese. Why am I here?"
"I'm the eunuch of the Department of Rites. Do you know what that means?"
He raised his head and looked at Xu De. He really didn't see Xu De just now, but now that he did, his mind started to work.
The eunuch of the Department of Rites was definitely not here for the colluding with the Japanese. Even if the colluding with the Japanese was a big case, there was no need for the eunuch of the Department of Rites to come here personally.
The eunuch of the Department of Rites was the emperor's personal attendant. He was a senior eunuch appointed by the emperor.
"Why?" Zhen Zhijing's voice was a little hoarse.
Seeing that Zhen Zhijing had spoken, Xu De smiled faintly and said, "Because of the Zhen family's rebellion."
Saying this, Xu De stared at Zhen Zhijing and saw him suddenly become excited. He suddenly jumped up from the ground, but he was immediately pressed back down by the people behind him.
"I didn't, I didn't, the Zhen family didn't rebel!" Zhen Zhijing loudly said.
Xu De looked at Zhen Zhijing and said with a smile, "The Zhen family had people offer the Longevity Ointment to the Imperial Majesty. This Longevity Ointment is poisonous. Trying to poison the Imperial Majesty, how is this not rebellion?
Exterminating the entire family would be considered a light punishment. "
Hearing Xu De's words, Zhen Zhijing turned pale with fright and quickly said, "Eunuch, the Zhen family didn't rebel, they didn't rebel!"
Zhen Zhijing kowtowed while begging, "The Longevity Ointment can be addictive, but it won't kill you and it isn't poisonous!
The Longevity Ointment can make people feel no pain and can make people become immortals! "
"We offered the Longevity Ointment to the Imperial Majesty in order to please the Imperial Majesty. Eunuch, please investigate!"
"Although the Zhen family colluded with the pirates, it was only business. How could I dare to murder the Imperial Majesty?" While saying this, Zhen Zhijing knelt and crawled a few steps forward, "Please investigate!"
Although colluding with the pirates was a serious crime, there was still a chance if there was someone to protect them. Moreover, Zhen Zhijing had something that could be protected.
Perhaps he wouldn't survive, and the Zhen family would be finished, but they wouldn't be executed. The Zhen family wouldn't die out. As long as there was someone, there would be a chance to make a comeback.
However, it was different now. Once the Zhen family was convicted of rebellion, no one would dare to speak up for him.
Xu De straightened his body and said lightly, "Whether this is the case or not depends on the truth."
After saying this, Xu De walked back to his seat and said, "I'm afraid we won't be able to find out the truth without your cooperation."
Zhen Zhijing hurriedly said, "I'm willing to cooperate, I'm willing to cooperate!"
Glancing at Xu De, Zhao Lian sighed in his heart. He was still not good at interrogating. He still had to learn.
Clearing his throat, Zhao Lian said, "Then tell me about the origin of the Longevity Ointment!"
Zhen Zhijing didn't dare to hide anything at this time. He poured out the origin of the Longevity Ointment.
"Most of the coastal tribes do sea trade, but what they do is similar. Basically, they sell the products of the Daming Ointment, such as silk and porcelain.
Silk, porcelain and the like, and the barbarians give us silver. "
"There are many barbarians who do sea trade with us. There are French, Japanese, and our own people who run ships outside."
"This Longevity Ointment belongs to the Red Barbarians."
Zhen Zhijing said, "Originally, we didn't have much to do with the Red Barbarians. Most of our business was with the French.
Later, the Red Barbarians came and fought with the French a few times. "
"I don't know the details, but I know that the Red Barbarians came to do business later. The French probably lost."
Xu De and Zhao Lian looked at each other. Of course they lost. Otherwise, the French wouldn't have given up this place.
Zhen Zhijing continued, "We didn't care whether they were French or Red Barbarians. As long as they had silver, it would be fine.
In the beginning, there was no problem. We sold the goods and they paid the silver. "
"But one time, the Red Barbarians took out the Longevity Ointment and wanted to exchange it with us."
"At that time, we didn't know what it was, but they said it was black incense from Java. When Java paid tribute, they even offered black incense to the emperor.
We thought it was good stuff, so we bought some and sold it. "
Zhen Zhijing cried, "At first, we didn't know it was addictive, but everyone liked it and it sold well."
"Gradually, the business grew and the reputation of the Longevity Ointment spread. Someone offered the ointment to the World Emperor.
The World Emperor liked it very much, so the reputation of the Longevity Ointment grew and the sales grew. "
At this point, Zhen Zhijing sighed, "But unintentionally, we found out that the Longevity Ointment could make people addicted. The consequences of not being able to consume it were very terrible.
But it was too late. The World Emperor was already using it. "
"If this were to spread, the entire Zhen family would be executed!"
In reality, Xu De knew that it wasn't just the guards who were too fake. The ministers and generals all racked their brains to collect all kinds of medicinal ingredients and offer them to the palace.
It wasn't strange that the Longevity Ointment could enter the palace.
"After the late emperor ascended the throne, he chased all the necromancers out of the palace, so the Longevity Ointment was no longer needed. Why did you still offer it to the palace this time?" Xu De looked at Zhen Zhijing and asked loudly.
Zhen Zhijing hesitated for a while before saying, "Eunuch, I had no choice!"
"This wasn't my idea. This was the idea of those Japanese pirates."
At this point, Zhen Zhijing said loudly, "They forced me to offer the Longevity Ointment to the Emperor."
"But although the Longevity Ointment is addictive, it's not fatal!" Zhen Zhijing said loudly, "I would never dare to assassinate the Emperor. Eunuch, please investigate clearly!"
Zhao Lian and Xu De both became serious. The Japanese pirates had the ambition of wolves and the Zhen family was helping the evildoer. They probably wouldn't have a good ending.
They looked at each other and Zhao Lian continued to ask, "Will there be a ship that will deliver the Longevity Ointment to you in three days?"
"Yes, yes. Zhen Zhijing hurriedly said," A batch of Longevity Ointment will arrive in three days. "