It was the eighth day of the third month in the 16th year of Wanli's reign. It was supposed to be an ordinary day, but since the morning, the people in the capital felt that something was wrong. The people of the Five Cities Warden's Office swarmed out.
"The one in front, catch him!"
Qin He pressed the knife on his waist, pointed at a few gangsters on the street, and said loudly, "Lock them up!"
The gangsters were a little confused, but they quickly smiled and cupped their hands. "Sir, sir, we didn't do anything!"
Qin He didn't even look at them. He asked a man in black next to him, "Is it them?"
The man in black nodded and said, "It's them. The leader is Liu Si's younger brother!"
"That's good!"
Qin He waved his hand and said, "Let's go to Liu Si's territory."
Qin He didn't know the background of the man in black next to him, but he knew that this man was not simple. This was because he had a booklet in his hand, which was densely packed with names.
Many of them were reputable figures in the capital.
The Five Cities Warden's Office was mobilized and the whole city was searched. The arrogant gangsters were all arrested.
The casinos and brothels became the hardest hit areas, and countless people were pulled out.
At the same time, many rich families were arrested. It should be known that they had a good reputation.
For a moment, the whole capital was in a state of panic. No one knew what had happened. The first reaction of the ministers and Honours was that the Five Cities Warden's Office was crazy.
How dare they?
In the Cabinet Duty Room.
Shen Shixing looked at Yu Youding, who was walking in in a hurry. His expression suddenly became serious, and he looked at Yu Youding, waiting for him to speak.
"Minister, something happened!"
Yu Youding didn't let Shen Shixing down. He said these three words, "The Five Cities Warden's Office has arrested a lot of people in Dasuo. It's a mess outside."
Shen Shixing was stunned. "Did they say what they were going to do?
Who were they arresting? "
"They didn't say what they were going to do. As for who they were arresting, most of them were local gangsters, brothels, and casinos."
Yu Youding thought about it and said, "There are also some big families."
Nodding lightly, Shen Shixing said with a smile, "Patrolling and catching bandits is what the Military Department of the Five City should do. What does this have to do with our Cabinet?
Sit down, I have the Green of Bright Front bestowed by His Majesty, come and have a taste. "
Although Shen Shixing did not know what the Five City Warden's Office was up to, he could guess who had ordered it.
Who was the commander of the Five Cities Military Department?
If it was Fang Ming, then whose man was he?
They were His Majesty's men.
The superior yamen of the Five Cities Military Department was the Five Cities Imperial Censor Yamen. Who was the Five Cities Imperial Censor?
That was the famous Hai Rui.
Hai Rui was now the Emperor's confidant. Shen Shixing didn't believe that the Emperor didn't know what these two people were doing.
Since it involved the emperor, he had to be more cautious. Besides, there was nothing wrong with catching some ruffians.
Without them, things would be much better in Beijing. What the cabinet needed to do now was to stabilize the situation.
Seeing Shen Shixing's attitude, Yu Youding had an idea in his heart.
Although he had guessed what had happened, Yu Youding knew his peer very well.
If he wasn't so confident, he wouldn't be so calm.
While the two scholars of the Cabinet were drinking tea, many people in the capital began to worry.
These people were naturally none other than the people behind the scenes who had been arrested.
In the capital, it was impossible to make a name for yourself without the support of the powerful.
Whether it was a casino, a brothel, or even a street gangster, it was impossible.
Now that the Five City Warden's Office had put on a menacing posture, how could they not be anxious?
If they were implicated, it would be troublesome. Not to mention other things, their reputation would not be good!
The arrest operation lasted for a whole day. In the evening, the Five City Warden's Office finally issued a notice.
The content of the notice was very simple. In order to clean up the security of the capital and return peace and happiness to the capital, the Five City Warden's Office launched a one-month crackdown on the capital.
Oppressing good people, trafficking in human beings, stealing and raping, all of these were on the list of severe punishments.
The people could report it, and once it was verified, there would be a big reward. The notice was stamped with the seal of the Five City Censorate, which meant that this notice was endorsed by Hai Rui.
Hai Rui's reputation among the people of the capital was still very high.
For a time, the whole capital was talking about it, and everyone still didn't react.
But things were afraid of comparison. Without comparison, there would be no harm.
Since the start of the crackdown, the people of the capital found that the ruffians who bullied the good on the streets had disappeared, and the petty thieves had disappeared. The security of the whole capital was instantly improved, and people didn't close their doors at night.
The people who usually swaggered on the streets were all arrested.
Those who were not arrested didn't even dare to stay in the capital. The next day, when the gate of the capital opened, they directly ran out of the city, causing the gate of the capital to be congested. However, there were also people from the Five City Warden's Office at the gate, and many people were arrested at the gate of the capital.
The Five City Warden's Office was very sinister. The people who helped them identify were all arrested the day before.
The people who were identified scolded them for not being loyal, while the people who identified them knew that they were suffering.
The prison of the Five City Warden's Office was not a place for people to stay. Those people were not people at all.
After they were pressed in and their identities were confirmed, they were given 20 lashes. The leather whips were dipped in salt water, and they would be interrogated after the whipping.
Seeing the miserable state of their companions, they were instantly terrified and did whatever the Five City Warden's Office told them to do.
When the people realized that the Five City Warden's Office really dared to arrest them, they began to report it.
There were people who abducted and trafficked women, children, and forced prostitution. Anyway, as long as they did something bad, someone would report it.
The brothels were the hardest hit, and many brothel girls ran to report it themselves.
The whole capital was in chaos.
Hai Rui and Xu Wenchang also set out with the patrolling Censorates. Their mission was very simple, and that was to investigate the case.
The people who were arrested were brought to be interrogated. If there were any human lives, they would be beheaded.
The rest was to be sentenced, and the punishment was very simple. They would be sent directly to the cement factory to dig stones.
Now, the whole capital knew that pounding stones in the cement factory was tiring work. Every day, the cement factory would carry corpses out.
The people who worked in the cement factory all knew that, but the people who worked there were slaves bought by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Although digging stones did not kill people, it was the most bitter and tiring work!
Now that they heard that these people were going to be sent to dig stones, the people immediately clapped their hands and even wanted to send these people to grind stones.
However, Hai Rui knew that the Emperor strictly prohibited Daming people from grinding stones.
Even criminals were not allowed. Once this opening was opened, there would definitely be loopholes. There would be people who would send Daming people in for all kinds of reasons.
Although criminals deserved to be punished, this opening still could not be opened.
The other yamens in the capital basically held an attitude of watching a show.
After all, this matter was caused by the people of the Five City Warden's Office. It was impossible for other yamens to interfere.
However, there was one yamen that could not stand it. This yamen was the Shun Tian prefecture.
As the magistrate of the Shun Tian prefecture, Zhang Guoyan quickly understood what was going on.
The Five City Warden's Office was so high-profile, and the patrolling censors came on the scene. Where did they put the Shun Tian prefecture?
Therefore, Zhang Guoyan could not stand it anymore. The Shun Tian prefecture went to work on the third day.
To put it bluntly, they were fighting for work. They also issued a notice, and the content was similar to that of the Five City Warden's Office.
Compared with the Five City Warden's Office, the people of the Shun Tian prefecture were the real local bullies. With Zhang Guoyan's anger, the efficiency of the Shun Tian prefecture was instantly shown. They arrested people ruthlessly.
Originally, with the conduct of the petty officials of the Shun Tian prefecture, they would not do something that would offend people.
However, the new civil servants were different. What they had been instilled in the civil servant school came into play at this time. Therefore, the whole capital's crackdown entered the second stage: deep digging!
In the yamen of the Five City Warden's Office.
Hai Rui sat in the main hall. He slammed the gavel and said loudly, "Someone, let him sign!"
The person who knelt down signed with a dejected face. Hai Rui continued, "This case involves Wang He, the steward of the Ding Public House. Officer Zhao, take this official's invitation to the Ding Public House and bring people to capture Wang He for this official."
A young officer in the main hall said with a serious face, "Yes, sir!" After saying this, Officer Zhao turned around and walked out.
After leaving the Five City Warden's Office, Officer Zhao's face instantly collapsed. He was complaining in his heart. What kind of job was this?
Going to the Ding Public House to ask for someone was no different from courting death.
What was the status of the Ding Public House?
He was a mere officer. If he went to the Ding Public House, he probably wouldn't even be able to enter the door.
If he didn't have Hai Rui's invitation, Officer Zhao wouldn't dare go no matter what. He braced himself and went to the Ding Public House. Officer Zhao directly handed Hai Rui's invitation to the gatekeeper and waited outside the door.
The gatekeeper of the Ding Public House was naturally arrogant, but they didn't dare to hold onto the invitation and not send it in.
Soon, the invitation was in the hands of the Ding Public House's housekeeper, Xu Qian.
The people outside were insensible, but it didn't mean that Xu Qian was insensible. To be able to become the housekeeper of the Ding Public House, it definitely wasn't because of seniority.
After receiving the invitation, Xu Qian ran to the back like a wisp of smoke.
"High Duke, High Duke!" Xu Qian ran to the back and said anxiously.
When the Ding Public House's Xu Wenbi heard Xu Qian's shout, he frowned. When Xu Qian came in, Xu Wenbi didn't put down the brush in his hand and continued to write.
"High Duke, the patrolling censor, Sir Hai, has sent someone with an invitation." Xu Qian stood still and said slowly.
Xu Wenbi was stunned. Patrolling censor, Sir Hai?
After thinking about it, Xu Wenbi remembered. Wasn't that the old coffin ladle, Hai Rui?
He quickly put down the brush in his hand. "What's the matter?"
Hai Rui wasn't someone to be trifled with. Everyone knew this. He was a person who was half buried in the soil and didn't have any descendants. He was someone who didn't care about his life.
In addition to the Emperor's favor, it was best not to provoke this kind of person.
So what if you killed him? If you didn't kill him, he wouldn't have many years left to live.
But if you were bitten by him, it would probably hurt to the bone.
"It's said that it's because of a case. It seems to involve someone in our house."
Xu Qian thought about it and said, "It's Wang He. It involves Wang He. Sir Hai sent someone to ask for him."
Xu Wenbi was stunned and asked hesitantly, "Wang He?
Which one? "
"It's the brother of Second Young Master's concubine. He has a housekeeper in the house." Xu Qian quickly said.
"Nonsense!" Xu Wenbi slammed the table and said angrily, "What kind of place is our Ding Public House?
Can anyone come in?
Take some people and capture that Wang He. I want to personally escort him to the Imperial Censor's Office. "
"I want to make it clear to Sir Hai. This Wang He is a person who fawns on the rich and powerful. Our Ding Public House was deceived by him and didn't investigate.
No matter what mistakes he has made, Sir Hai must punish him severely. "
"Find the victim's family and bring them to me. Compensate them with money and gifts if they need to."
"Our Ding Public House is the Daming's Honours. How can we allow a small fry to tarnish our reputation?
You must explain it clearly to the victim's family. The compensation must be generous. "Seeing Xu Qian staring at him, Xu Wenbi suddenly became angry." Look, do you hear me? "
Xu Qian quickly bowed and said, "Yes, High Duke. Don't worry. Old Slave will definitely take care of this matter."
Xu Wenbi nodded in satisfaction and said, "Then go and do it!"
As Xu Qian walked out, he pondered in his heart. What was wrong with his High Duke?
These words were not like what his Old Master would say. 'How can a small fry tarnish our reputation'? You didn't even splash dirty water on me. '
Xu Wenbi didn't know what Xu Qian was thinking, but he knew what he had to do.
Taking a memorial, Xu Wenbi began to write a memorial to ask for forgiveness.
"Hai Rui, you want to use my Ding Public House to establish your authority? Dream on!"
As he spoke, Xu Wenbi began to write the memorial. His words were very sincere and his attitude was abnormally proper.
The more Xu Wenbi wrote, the more satisfied he was. He felt that his memorial had been written with some literary talent.
"If he didn't want to inherit the title of Duke, he might even be the top scholar!"
Xu Wenbi looked at the memorial he had written and shook his head. "What a pity, what a pity. There is one less top scholar in this world!"
After praising his literary talent, Xu Wenbi put the memorial aside and then asked people to prepare a carriage. He was going to send the memorial to the palace first, and then take people to the Imperial Censor's office.
It was impossible for Xu Wenbi not to know that the Admiral's Office and the Imperial Censor's office of the Five Cities Military Office had made such a big fuss.
In this kind of matter, whoever stood out was stupid. Hai Rui did not have good intentions in finding the Ding Public House.
If they resisted, then they could argue in front of the Emperor. Xu Wenbi did not think he could argue with Hai Rui.
At that time, he would definitely lose face. Maybe he would be despised by the Emperor, and the punishment would definitely be heavy.
If he admitted defeat, Hai Rui's goal would also be achieved. The Ding Public House was afraid, so who would dare to disobey?
Even if he knew that Hai Rui had this purpose, Xu Wenbi had to choose so.
However, Xu Wenbi was naturally unwilling to suffer a loss. Once the memorial to ask for forgiveness and the attitude of compensation were presented, he would play the role of a loyal and patriotic Ding Public House, a Ding Public House who loved the people.