Zhao Han casually flipped through the manuscript of the novel and asked, "Who is the author of this novel, 'Hai Yong Sanren'?"
Huang Zundu answered in detail: "This person's real name is Shen Lu, and he is a descendant of the Shen family of the eight great families in Shangqiu. He joined Haijin Society in his early years, and Haijin Society was once merged into Fushe. The Shen family was still a military household in the early Ming Dynasty, and one branch of it moved to Shangqiu produced several Jinshi and dozens of Juren."
Zhao Han typed the manuscript: "Is the Shen family really as loyal and brave as written in the book?"
Huang Zundu replied: "It's specious, but it's all pieced together. When the bandits passed by Shangqiu, the Shen family did recruit troops to resist, and dozens of Shen clan members died. Because they couldn't defeat the bandits, the head of the Shen family fled with his family, and so on. The bandits left and returned to their hometown. Later, bandits were rampant in Henan. The Shen family formed a stronghold to protect themselves and even colluded with the bandits. When the Tatars came to Henan, the Shen family surrendered. Because the land was usurped by traitorous officials, the Shen family began to Secretly contacted our Datong Army. In the Henan War, the Shen family did contribute, but only to pass on some information. After the recovery of Henan, our court did not treat the Shen family poorly. Those who made meritorious services were rewarded, and there were ten official officials at that time. Multiple.”
"So all the Zhongyong characters in the book were made up?" Zhao Han asked.
Huang Zundu said: "They are all true, but they are not from the Shen family. Shen Lu copied some of the loyal and brave deeds of other wealthy families in Henan, and borrowed some from that family, and compiled them all into her own family. Moreover, Shen Lu is not Shen The head of the clan, he is just a branch of the Shen family. No one in his branch died for the country. When faced with the bandits and Tatars, they either ran away or surrendered. Moreover, the land that his family was divided from was due to the sharp decline in the local population. When the fields were divided, most of them were left uncultivated."
Zhao Han asked again: "Did he recruit it himself?"
Huang Zundu said: "It was his friend who confessed. His friend's surname is Ye, and he is also from the Eight Great Shangqiu Family. He is currently wandering around Nanjing, often participating in literary conferences, and often writing articles of grievance."
"This novel has not been published yet. How many people have read the manuscript?" Zhao Han asked.
Huang Zundu said: "At least twenty or thirty people have read it, and they all thought the novel was well written, and encouraged him to find a bookseller to print it. He went to several booksellers, but none dared to print and sell the book. Finally, he found "The Scholars" "Serialization. "The Scholars" has received its manuscript, but before it could be serialized, several shareholders were arrested."
"You go down." Zhao Han said.
Huang Zundu bowed and retreated. Zhao Han's face was gloomy, and the female officials and maids around him did not dare to speak.
For a long time, Zhao Han sighed: "Are you forcing me to create a literary prison?"
Zhao Han suddenly asked Ding Shijing: "How do you think we should deal with such shameless people?"
Ding Shijing was the only one who wrote notes on daily life. He did not want to get involved and responded tactfully: "Your Majesty is wise and has his own decision."
Zhao Han wrote: "The Ministry of Punishment is ordered to investigate this case strictly. Officials from all over the country are ordered to check the published novels, scripts, and the operas performed in the Goulan Wase Theater. However, there is confusion between right and wrong, and distortion and slander of Datong. The military, missionary groups, peasant associations, and officials who allocate land will all be dealt with strictly! The literati, actors, and merchants involved will be dealt with strictly! Those who have a very bad influence will be hanged. The next best thing is to be exiled! All of them will be exiled to Heilongjiang, where there is a shortage of people, wives. Let’s go into exile together!”
This time Zhao Han was really angry. The novel was so disgusting and it tried its best to confuse right and wrong.
In the novel, a branch of a large family that annexed land and exploited tenants became the head of a prominent local family. When the bandits and Tatars surrendered in the face of the wind, in the novel, it became a hero who killed the enemy and sacrificed his life for the country. Even the women of the clan were martyred. Committed suicide. He applied all the deeds of loyalty and bravery of others to his own body. He also said that he was a house of good deeds, and that he built bridges and paved roads and helped countless victims. It was all fucking bullshit!
They also used various insinuations to smear the land-dividing officials, turning the people's wishes into boiling public resentments.
Even if it is magnified this time and used by local officials to seek personal revenge, Zhao Han will investigate it nationwide. If this trend is not stopped, in the long run, the foundation of the country will be completely destroyed!
…
The emperor was angry and the world was boiling.
The first thing that started to boil over was Nanjing. The Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Rites, the National Security Bureau, and the Jinling Prefecture took their officials and seconded the police force to conduct comprehensive investigations inside and outside Nanjing.
The key targets of the investigation are bookstores, theaters, brothels and painting houses.
"What an injustice. I really didn't write that book. I just asked someone to copy it!"
"I originally wrote those words, but the owner of the theater asked someone to change them. The two parts of the play that slandered the court were all the owner's idea, and they were really not written by me!"
"Forgive me, sir, I will never write novels again!"
"..."
Literary men were arrested every day, including many opera actors, famous brothel prostitutes, and theater owners.
Many people feel that they are innocent. For example, opera actors, who only performed in a few questionable plays, were also arrested by the government. Their charges are very simple, distributing prohibited works and failing to report the knowledge. Some famous brothel prostitutes,
They also failed to report what they knew, and the guests they received often gathered together to criticize the land administration. Some famous prostitutes even played songs criticizing the land administration.
Qian Qianyi opened the sedan curtain and looked at the oncoming group of officials escorting more than a dozen tied up men and women. He couldn't help but sigh: "Why bother? The fields have been divided. I have to write an article."
Complaining. What's the use of complaining? Can we still get the land back? Your Majesty has tolerated it long enough, and he actually waited until this year to take action."
In half a month, more than 700 people were arrested in and around Nanjing alone.
There are definitely some who are unjustly accused, but they are not completely unjust. They are all related to the criticism of Tian Zheng.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man rushed to Qian Qianyi's sedan and knelt down: "Herdsman, please save my master!"
Qian Qianyi was a little surprised: "Wumei Village was also arrested?"
"I was just taken away this morning. I beg you shepherd to come into the palace and say a few kind words for my master." The man lay on the ground and kowtowed crazily.
Qian Qianyi said: "I will look for opportunities to help, but the matter is quite big and I may not be able to help."
"Thank you shepherd, thank you shepherd!" The man continued to kowtow.
Qian Qianyi asked the bearer to move on, but the man kept following him, obviously urging him to enter the palace to meet the saint.
Qian Qianyi was a little impatient, so he said to the bearer: "Go to the Forbidden City!"
This guy waited outside the palace for a long time and was finally summoned.
Zhao Han continued to review the memorial, not bothering to look at it, and asked: "Who are you here to intercede for?"
Qian Qianyi shrank his neck and said: "Those who were arrested are all responsible for themselves. How can I plead for mercy for this and others? I am asking to see you today to report to Your Majesty. The records and tables of "History of the Ming Dynasty" have been edited. What can I ask?
Will I send it to His Majesty for inspection?"
"Let someone deliver it tomorrow." Zhao Han said.
Qian Qianyi resigned immediately and did not dare to stay any longer.
After leaving the palace, he said to Wu Weiye's servant: "I have advised your Majesty, but your Majesty has not commented. You can go home and wait for the news."
The man knelt down and kowtowed again: "Thank you so much, shepherd, for your help!"
Another day later, Zhu Shunshui entered the palace to meet the saint, but he really came to plead for Wu Weiye.
Zhu Shunshui said: "Your Majesty, Wu Weiye only writes poems, not novels or scripts. Moreover, although Wu Weiye's poems seem to be nostalgic for the past Ming Dynasty, they do not criticize the land affairs of the new dynasty. Those who arrest people are really fooling around. Your Majesty
, there are many people like Wu Weiye who have been arrested. Please... Please don't build a big prison. There are many wronged people in Nanjing. When it comes to various provinces and places, there may be thousands or even tens of thousands of wronged people.
count!"
Zhao Han glanced at Zhu Shunshui and asked him, an old friend, to give him face: "If Wu Weiye is really fine, he can be released. As for the nationwide investigation, if we don't stop, thousands of people will be wronged, and this matter must be investigated to the end! Qing!
If you continue to persuade, Wu Weiye will be exiled to Heilongjiang together. Of course, I am not a tyrant. This case only involves his wife and children, and they will be exiled to Heilongjiang together. It does not implicate his parents, let alone his tribe and friends."
Zhu Shunshui had no choice but to shut up, sigh, and silently exit the hall.
A few days later, Wu Weiye was indeed proven innocent and had not written any poetry or articles criticizing Tian Zheng.
But there was a reason why he was arrested. In his poems and works, he often longed for the former Ming Dynasty, and there was a faint dissatisfaction with the new dynasty. Zhao Han could tolerate this situation, as long as he did not confuse right and wrong and throw dirty water.
After Wu Weiye was released, he learned from his servant that it was Qian Qianyi who came to the palace to intercede for him. After being moved, he prepared gifts and went to visit: "Thank you shepherd for your help!"
Qian Qianyi did not explain, but held Wu Weiye's hand with sincerity and said: "Meicun, today's emperor is a sage, and Chongzhen is a mediocre person. Even if you don't praise the prosperous times of the new dynasty, don't write poems to yearn for the ignorant emperor of the previous dynasty.
ah!"
Wu Weiye said: "The person I long for is not the foolish emperor Chongzhen, but the three hundred years of the Ming Dynasty."
"Confused," Qian Qianyi scolded, "Now the people live and work in peace and contentment, the generals go out and win every battle, and the new dynasty of Datong is catching up with the prosperous days of the Han and Tang Dynasties. What is there to miss about the decayed and weak Ming Dynasty? If you miss the old dynasty, why not praise the new dynasty?
towards."
Facing his "savior", Wu Weiye was not able to refute, he only said: "The shepherd taught you the right lesson."
Qian Qianyi put on a high profile: "Since ancient times, there is no benevolent monarch than Your Majesty. Even if he insults the emperor, he will only be whipped for the first time, imprisoned for the second time, and exiled for the third time. When encountering such a benevolent monarch, he should be punished
You have sworn to serve the imperial court to the death, but you still have the heart to criticize? In my opinion, your majesty is right to arrest people, and the traitors should be arrested! Kill a few more and exile a few more to correct the atmosphere in the government and the public!"
After some agreement, Wu Weiye resigned and walked to the street in despair.
The arrest operation continued, and after walking only two streets, Wu Weiye saw someone being arrested again.
Harem.
Liu Rushi was scolding the palace maid loudly: "You dared to ask me to plead for someone else because of your courage. Do you know what it means once I plead for mercy? Someone bribed the guards and palace maids and passed the message to the harem.
!I don’t know how many palace people are implicated!”
The palace maid was so frightened that she trembled all over: "Your Majesty, she is... one of my sisters. She is working outside (outside the harem, inside the Forbidden City). When she was out of the Forbidden City on business, she was entrusted by a relative and descendant..."
"Don't say it again," Liu Rushi warned, "don't mention a word about this matter again. If you accept the money, pay it back immediately!"
The palace people in the Forbidden City, no matter which dynasty they are, will definitely have contact with the outside world. This time, someone actually stuffed money into the Forbidden City.
Even a few people who wrote notes on daily life were asked for help with money because they often saw the emperor.
Except for Zhu Shunshui, no one dared to talk.
Although Wu Weiye was acquitted, the famous Mao Bijiang was actually found guilty of writing poems alluding to Tian Zheng. Because many people were arrested, the case was decided quickly. Mao Bijiang, his wife, concubines and children were collectively exiled to Heilongjiang to serve the people.
, he paid for the food along the way, and the Heilongjiang side only provided basic daily necessities such as cotton clothes.
Of course, these exiles will not be deliberately made difficult, because there is a serious shortage of Han people in Heilongjiang. In the past, they could divide their fields and settle down, but the weather is very cold, so I am afraid that many people will get sick.
This time the case spread across the country, and also implicated wives and children. It is estimated that the number of exiles will exceed 10,000, and the headquarters of the Anton Protectorate (Heilongjiang Dusi) finally became popular.
Even the three writers of "The Scholars" were all sentenced to exile in Heilongjiang for accepting banned novel manuscripts and obviously planning to publish them. This was obviously illegal because they had not published it yet, so they could not be called "attempted murder." But he was treated as a murderer.
But he did something special, so he was exiled!
After being pushed to board the ship, Zhai Wenben was about to cry but had no tears. He said to Zhang Tianzhi next to him: "Brother Zhang, I have been harmed by you. Why did you accept that novel manuscript?"
Zhang Tianzhi was crestfallen and was too lazy to defend himself.
There were not just the three of them on the ship, but more than 200 people with their families on board. This was only the first batch of people to be exiled.
Soon someone recognized them and looked at them angrily.
It was these three guys who were fooling around and provoked the emperor to raise the prison. Unfortunately, they were all educated people, and they all came from rich families. They didn't know how to farm at all, let alone farming in the cold and remote Heilongjiang!
If it weren't for the small population of Heilongjiang, and the Anton Governor's Mansion would definitely prepare enough food and clothing for them in order to enrich the Han people, then at least half of these guys would freeze to death and starve to death if they were exiled there!
This is the first time since Zhao Han came to the throne that he has been arrested and sentenced without reason.
The emperor owns the world, holds great power in his hands, and can take life and death. He cannot be restrained all the time. Zhao Han thinks that he is very restrained, but there are always people who force him to act recklessly.