668 collaborators and traitors, punish the nine clans!

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"Sir, my subordinates have already found out.

The theft of the flintlock pistol from the First Arsenal was committed by an intermediate craftsman from the Arsenal, and this intermediate craftsman Huo Ming was a member of the Huo family in Xuzhou.

The Huo family is one of the newly rising businessmen in Xuzhou, and the Qiao family in Shanxi Province married, and the people of the Tartars got hooked up with the Huo family, an intermediate craftsman, through the Qiao family, and bought him with 100,000 taels of silver.

Moreover, according to their confession, the two stolen flintlock pistols had already left Jiangbei through the Qiao family's caravan three days ago, and now that the time is calculated, it is estimated that they have already been out of the customs. ”

The next morning, Zhang Fugui, who did not sleep all night and interrogated the prisoner overnight, truthfully reported his investigation after meeting Li Zixiao.

"So, this flintlock theft was planned by the Tartars? Now those two flintlock pistols can't be recovered? ”

Li Zixiao didn't care at all, who did the theft of the flintlock pistol, and what he was most concerned about was whether the two flintlock pistols could be recovered.

"The subordinates have sent people to use 100,000 urgent channels to inform Leng Feng in Haizhou, hoping that Leng Feng can drive away the Tartar flintlock pistol and send it back to Shengjing more.

But if the Tartars have already sent the flintlock pistol to Shengjing City, then there is really nothing the subordinates can do. ”

Zhang Fugui said tremblingly.

"Hmph, then it's up to Leng Feng, in addition, Ergou, there are a lot of Tartar spies lurking in Jiangbei, this time I will clean up everything you know secretly.

At the same time, this incident also reminded Benjue, it seems that Benjue was too merciful to the merchants who came to Jiangbei to buy and sell. ”

Zhang Fugui heard Li Zixiao say this, and his heart was also gloomy, he knew that many businessmen who fornicated with Tartars were going to be unlucky.

"Ergou, those who are still in Jiangbei at this time, you should know a lot about those businessmen who secretly have transactions with Tartars."

"Yes, sir, according to your orders, we have been secretly investigating the secret transactions between those merchants and Tartars, and we have always recorded them, and we have not yet attacked them."

"That's right, let's take this opportunity to make an example of the chickens and monkeys. Arrest all the merchants who secretly have dealings with the Tartars. ”

"Yes!" Zhang Fugui answered honestly.

But at this time, Li Yan next to him couldn't help but speak: "Sir, if your order is implemented, it is estimated that more than half of all the businessmen who came to Jiangbei from other places at this time will not be spared!"

In this way, who will dare to come to our Jiangbei to do business in the future, please think twice. ”

Li Zixiao glanced at Li Yan and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, I have a number, I just asked Ergou to catch them, and I haven't said how to deal with them!"

This time it is still the old rule, kill chickens and monkeys, punish the main culprit severely, and punish the rest of the people lightly, and these people will not be beaten to death with a rod.

If Benjue doesn't teach them a lesson, these people will become more and more unscrupulous, not only these foreign merchants.

Even our local businessmen should be rectified, especially this Huo family.

According to our law, that middle-level craftsman Huo Ming is already considered a collaborator and traitor this time, what should we do with it? ”

Zhang Fugui raised his head and replied: "Those who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country will punish the nine clans!" ”

"Well, then this Huo family, let's do it!" Li Zixiao said lightly.

"Gollum!"

Zhang Fugui couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva, and his back was cold.

When he reported to Li Zixiao before, he said that the Huo family didn't know about Huo Ming's bribery by Tartars this time.

And now, because Huo Ming alone fornicated with the Tartars, he was going to punish the nine clans, even the ruthless Zhang Fugui was even more afraid of Li Zixiao.

"Sir, isn't this punishment too heavy?" Li Yan, who was next to him, also whispered.

"Is it heavy? Benjue doesn't think so! Since the law has been made, it must be carried out.

This can be regarded as our first case of treason with the enemy in Jiangbei, how can we do it without impressing the people at all!

In the future, Benjue will see who dares to collaborate with the enemy and commit treason. ”

Hearing Li Zixiao say this, Li Yan also shut up.

In the following days, the entire city of Xuzhou was full of chickens and dogs, and the officials in the city arrested people everywhere, and even because the officials were not enough, Zhang Fugui used the city defense army after getting Li Zixiao's authorization.

In the end, 38 of the more than 70 caravans stranded in Jiangbei were all captured by the city defense army and then imprisoned.

Of the 38 arrested merchants, 25 were from Jin merchants, and the rest were other merchants.

At the same time, the Huo family in Xuzhou also fell with blood mold, including Huo Ming, and the entire Huo family was uprooted by the city defense army.

Then, the Yamen of Xuzhou, on the grounds of Huo Ming's 'collaborating with the enemy and treason', sentenced the nine clans of Zhulian to be executed after the autumn.

For a time, the whole of Xuzhou was shaken, especially those Jiangbei businessmen who had secretly traded with those foreign businessmen who were arrested.

All the heads of the family couldn't sit still, and they all handed over invitations, hoping to meet Li Zixiao, and the fate of the Huo family made them feel terrified.

But Li Zixiao never showed up, but just sent someone to tell those Jiangbei businessmen that the main thing was that they did not collaborate with the enemy and treason, so there was no need to be nervous, what should they do when they go back.

Most of the out-of-town businessmen who are locked up in the government prison have behind-the-scenes bosses, and they are just minions.

It was precisely because of this that Li Zixiao knew that even if he killed them, it would not make a big difference.

Li Zixiao locked them up just to let the boss behind the scenes send someone over.

Li Zixiao also used this incident to tell all the merchants who came to Jiangbei to do business that on his territory, merchants who fornicated with Tartars were not allowed to come.

What do you do in other places, he Li Zixiao can't control it, but as long as it is on his territory in the future, if you dare to fornicate with the Tartars and be found out, just wait for the Zhulian Nine Clans.

In the end, the behind-the-scenes bosses of those arrested businessmen from other places sent people to Jiangbei to meet Li Zixiao, honestly admit their mistakes, and promise never to do it again.

For the assurances of these merchants, Li Zixiao only smiled in his heart, wanting this group of guys to give up trading with the Tartars, such a big profit, he didn't believe it.

But it's a pity that these businessmen are no longer on his territory at this time, and Li Zixiao wants to deal with them, but he can't hurt their foundation, so it's irrelevant.

In the end, Li Zixiao asked these foreign businessmen to pay a fine of 50,000 taels each, and then released those who were arrested.

"Hmph, for those merchants who don't give up, Ben Jue will clean you up sooner or later.

Ergouzi, you inform Leng Feng and ask him to continue to collect information on all the merchants who went to trade with the Tatars outside the Guanxi and the merchants in the Guanzhou.

When there is time in the future, Benjue will slowly settle accounts with them. ”

And four days later, Leng Feng also sent back the news from Haizhou, and when they received the news, it was too late, and the two flintlock pistols were still sent to Shengjing City by Tartar.

"Forget it, even if the Tartars get the flintlock pistol and want to build it on a large scale, it won't be possible in a short time.

Even if the Tartars can make a flintlock pistol, it is estimated that Benjue's new gun will come out by then. ”

Li Zixiao didn't pay much attention to the Tartar in the end, but he still got a flintlock pistol, he still had a lot of hole cards in his hand, and the flintlock pistol was nothing.

"By the way, Lu Yuan sent someone back?"

This flintlock theft incident, even if it ended like this, Li Zixiao's energy was transferred to the sea again.

"Yes, sir, a day ago, General Lu Hai led fifty warships and returned to Haizhou Port, and he just came to Xuzhou today, waiting for the summons of the sir."

Li Yan reported.

"Well, let him come."

Li Zixiao had already received Lu Yuan's good news in Ryukyu, and knew that Lu Yuan had forced the Zheng family to make concessions, quit the chicken coop, and gave them the entire northern part of Ryukyu.

"My subordinates meet the lord." Soon, Lu Hai came to Li Zixiao and knelt down.

"Get up, Captain Lu has worked hard to come back this time, have you ever returned to the country?" Li Zixiao smiled and asked Lu Hai.

"Thank you for your concern, my subordinates haven't gone home yet, I'm here to see the lord first, and business is important."

"Well, you're good. Tell me what news Lu Yuan asked you to bring back this time. ”

"Yes, sir. General Lu asked his subordinates to come back, and there were two main things to report to the lord.

First, we and the Zheng family have officially divided the defense zone on the sea, with the north coast of the Ryukyus as the line, and the north and east sides are under the jurisdiction of our fleet.

The western strait of the Ryukyus, as well as the southern seas, are under the jurisdiction of the Zheng family fleet, and at the same time, the jurisdiction of our other fleets, the other fleets can also pass, just send someone to report.

In other words, according to the order of the general, we have opened up the sea route to the South Seas this time.

In addition, according to the previous order of the lord, General Lu has already built two ports of Tamsui and Jicoong in the north of the Ryukyus, and at the same time, two-thirds of the port of Shuri in the Ryukyus has been built.

Our fleet was previously divided into two, one stationed at Shuri Port and the other stationed at Tamsui Port, and this time our subordinates returned with the detachment stationed at Tamsui Port.

At the same time, when his subordinates came back this time, General Lu also hoped that the lord could transport a batch of grain to Ryukyu and move more people to Ryukyu. ”

"Well, Lu Yuan did a good job, you guys went on this expedition, and the task was completed very well. The food and the relocated population that Lu Yuan asked for, I will let the people in the government arrange it.

The officers and men of the fleet you have returned this time have all worked hard, and this lord will give you a week's vacation, and reward you with fifty thousand taels of silver. ”

"Thank you, sir."

"The sea route to the south is opened, and our fleet may go south to the South Seas."

After Lu Hai left, Li Zixiao said softly with a satisfied smile on his face.

"Is the lord planning to let our naval fleet go south to the South Seas next?" Li Yan walked over, offered Li Zixiao a cup of tea, and asked softly.

"Well, Benjue has that idea." Li Zixiao nodded and admitted.

"But sir, according to the knowledge of his subordinates, the current Nanyang has long been occupied by the red hairs (here generally referring to Westerners), and if we want to intervene, I am afraid that we will encounter the obstruction of those red hairs."

"Of course Benjue knows, huh."

Saying that, Li Zixiao snorted coldly, his eyes were cold, and he continued: "But Nanyang is my Ming domain, how can I allow those red hairs to dominate all the time."

It's just that now the court is worried about internal and external troubles, and it is unable to take care of Nanyang, so it gives those red hairs an opportunity.

In fact, Benjue is not able to go to Nanyang to expel those red hairs now, and this time Benjue is just laying out in advance.

Benjue plans to let our caravan go down to the South Seas to trade with the red-haired people there, and then clean them up when we solve the domestic problems. ”

"That's good, it's good for the lord to prioritize."

Li Yan heard that Li Zixiao's thinking was very clear, and he still focused on China, so he said with confidence.

Half a month has passed, and the time has come to August of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen. On this day, Li Zixiao received an urgent report again, this time sent by Xu Wei from Nanyang Mansion.

"Li Zicheng's army is rushing to attack Xiangyang?"

After Li Zixiao read the news sent back by Xu Wei, he also exclaimed.

Originally, Li Zixiao thought that after Li Zicheng withdrew from Henan this time, he would loot around and then return to Shaanxi, but he didn't expect Li Zicheng to want to capture Xiangyang before returning to Shaanxi.

"Yes, Li Zicheng bought 60,000 soldiers from me, which is enough for him to equip 100,000 rogues.

Conquering Xiangyang is no worse than Li Zicheng laying down Luoyang before, and when Li Zicheng gets Xiangyang's money and food, he will be able to gain a firm foothold when he returns to Luoyang. ”

"Sir, my subordinates think that Li Zicheng probably not only wants to take Xiangyang, but he also wants to besiege the city and send reinforcements."

Li Yan, who was next to him, also expressed his opinion at this time.

When Li Zixiao heard this, his eyes lit up, and he looked at Li Yan and said, "You mean, Li Zicheng wants to attract Sun Chuanting, the governor of Shaanxi, and eliminate Sun Chuanting in Huguang?" ”

"Yes. At least from the information sent back by General Xu Wei, his subordinates felt that Li Zicheng had this intention.

For example, Li Zicheng ordered his general Song Xiance to seize Zhechuan County in Nanyang Prefecture, which was a small poor county with little oil and water to fish.

It is said that Li Zicheng should not be in his eyes, unless Li Zicheng is planning to wait for Sun Chuanting to lead the army to Xiangyang, and then let Song Xiance when necessary.

Advancing westward from Zhejiang and Sichuan, seizing Xunyang, and completely blocking Sun Chuanting's back road back to Shaanxi. ”

"Hey, really." After Li Zixiao heard this, he also gasped and was shocked.

"Sir, we have to deal with the entry of the Tartars next, and it is impossible to focus on the thieves, if we really let the thieves take Xiangyang and annihilate Sun Chuanting.

When the time comes, the lord will not be afraid that they will not lose their tails and become another henchman after the Tartars!

Should the lord inform the old general Xu Wei, let him remind Sun Chuanting when necessary, and help him with all his might, and not let Li Zicheng eliminate Sun Chuanting. ”

"What, you're not optimistic about Sun Chuanting? He is a veteran of the imperial court, and he may also be able to see Li Zicheng's intentions. Li Zixiao looked at Li Yan and said.

"Sir, Li Zicheng's move, even if Sun Chuanting sees through it, Sun Chuanting can't help it, at least it is impossible for the saint to watch Li Zicheng conquer Xiangyang.

Therefore, it should be inevitable that Sun Chuanting will support Xiangyang at that time.

As long as Sun Chuanting arrives in Huguang, even if he is a veteran and has rich combat experience, it is estimated that the soldiers in his hands will not be able to defeat the thieves.

We can't let Sun Chuanting be eliminated by Li Zicheng too early, at least for a while. ”

"Well, you have a point."

The more Li Zicheng listened to Li Yan's analysis, the more he felt that it made sense.

Li Zixiao almost forgot that Sun Chuanting was on top of his head, but there was still a Chongzhen, with Chongzhen's virtue, Li Zicheng would never be allowed to conquer Xiangyang.

Immediately, he picked up a brush and wrote a letter to Xu Wei, asking Xu Wei to help him with all his might after Sun Chuanting led his army into Huguang, try to keep Sun Chuanting, and delay Li Zicheng's time to conquer Xiangyang.

Li Zixiao wants to say that he is not afraid of Li Zicheng, but it is false.

Regarding Li Zicheng's invasion of the army, Li Zixiao's purpose was that the invasion army was too strong, so he united with the Ming army to suppress it.

When the Chuang army was weak, he secretly funded Li Zicheng to ensure the development of the Chuang army at all times, which was in Li Zixiao's expectations.

(End of chapter)