While the emperor still has real power, while the army is still in the hands of the emperor, let's do it across the board and avoid future troubles forever.
Even if a new aristocratic family is born in the future, it will definitely not have such a strong foundation.
As soon as Li Qing had this terrifying and cruel thought, he could no longer contain it.
At this time, a scream suddenly came: "Dead people, dead people..."
Li Qing stood up suddenly and saw the Jin Yiwei guard who had been guarding Jin Chun running out in fear. When he saw him, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Master Hou, that criminal bit his tongue and committed suicide."
Damn it!
Li Qing ignored the Jin Yiwei and rushed towards Zhao Prison where Jin Chun was imprisoned.
The person hasn't died yet, but it's almost there.
A large amount of blood poured into the respiratory tract. Jin Chun was suffocated and his face was red from holding back.
Even so, he still felt that his death was slow and struggled to hit the wooden stake that fixed him with the back of his head.
It's really...hateful and pitiful.
The dignified minister was forced to go to this step, and Li Qing couldn't help but feel a chill.
"Master Marquis, if this official was not careful, he...he bit off his tongue. It's really not my fault!" The Jin Yiwei caught up with him and kowtowed to Li Qing. He was so frightened that his soul almost flew away.
Li Qing was silent and his mood was extremely complicated.
"Okay, please step back!"
"Thank you, Lord Marquis, for not killing me." Jin Yiwei shed tears of gratitude and retreated tremblingly.
Li Qing didn't save Jin Chun. In fact, he didn't have the ability.
In less than half a quarter of an hour, Jin Chun died.
Li Qing looked at the miserable death of Jin Chun, with a wry smile on his lips. Yesterday he was a glorious Minister of Rites, but today he is... pitiful, but not worthy of sympathy.
…
Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Di was enjoying the flattery of his eldest grandson. When he saw Li Qing coming over, he smiled and said, "The case was handled well. Is that Jin Chun still unwilling to confess?"
"He is dead. He bit his tongue and committed suicide." Li Qing lowered his eyes.
Zhu Di frowned: "What's going on?"
Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief and elaborated on the information he received from Wang Zhong.
After listening, Zhu Di also fell silent.
"What do you think?" Zhu Di asked.
Li Qing was murderous: "Kill them all!"
"Kill?" Zhu Di laughed angrily and cursed: "You have lived such a long life, and you have to live on a dog?"
Zhu Zhanji also said: "The state has national laws. Those aristocratic families are like officials in the court. Before the evidence is found, they are all good people. How can they be killed?"
If you really do that, everything will turn upside down in an instant!
Furthermore, with their energy, there is a high probability that they can destroy the evidence before finding it, or arrest someone for scapegoating, Uncle Qing... Ahem, Li Qing, are you confused?"
Li Qing was bitter. He knew that his idea was too crazy and too naive, but he had no other choice.
The capitalists of this era are much more powerful than those of later generations.
In this era when imperial power did not go to the countryside, the local wealthy families were simply like local emperors.
Moreover, they know how to behave and do things well, adhering to the principle that everyone makes money together, and collude with local officials. Over time, local officials have completely become their mouthpieces.
They even reached out to the capital.
In the court, many officials spoke out for these wealthy families.
Li Qing sighed: "The Aristocratic Family is like a pile of rotten flesh, sucking the flesh and blood of the Ming Dynasty like parasites. One day, the Ming Dynasty will be overwhelmed."
"But this mass of carrion is too big." Xiaopang walked in and continued: "If it cuts across all the corpses, the Ming Dynasty will die first."
Zhu Zhanji was stunned: "Dad, what are you talking about?"
"Grandpa, don't be angry..."
"Your father is right!" Zhu Di sighed and remained silent for a long time, "Li Qing, in comparison, your previous method of weakening the family is more feasible."
Li Qing smiled bitterly: "Although the method is good, it may not really work. There are policies from above and countermeasures from below. Those individuals are smart."
"Then there's nothing I can do."
The hall is silent.
After a while, Xiaopang broke the silence: "It's actually very good. Compared with previous dynasties, the power of the Ming's aristocratic families has been weakened a lot."
Xiaopang is an optimist: "As long as we keep it up and work more on the people, the Ming Dynasty can still prosper."
"As for your virtue, can you maintain it?" Zhu Di hummed: "Zhan Ji is at this level, so forget it."
Fatty felt wronged, but Fatty didn’t say anything.
Zhu Zhanji came to the rescue and said, "Grandpa Huang, my father is actually very powerful."
"What a hammer." Zhu Di hummed, "I'm a coward."
"..." Xiaopang sighed, "Father, when are you going to fight?"
"What? You can't wait to supervise the country?"
Xiaopang got a little angry: "I'm just asking, if you think I think this way, then don't go!"
"I won't go if you don't let me go?" Zhu Di laughed angrily, "You are the emperor and I am the emperor?"
"You are." Xiaopang cupped his hands and said, "I suddenly remembered that I still have some official business to deal with, so I'm going to leave."
After saying that, he turned around and left with a groan.
Zhu Di was stunned and angry: "No, what's his attitude? Does he still have me as the emperor in his eyes? How can this be unreasonable? How can it be unreasonable..."
Li Qing didn't want to spoil him, so he cupped his hand and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll leave."
"Wait a moment."
"Is there anything else, Your Majesty?"
Zhu Di's expression became solemn: "Zhanji, please stay away for a while."
"Ah? Yes..." Zhu Zhanji was a little hurt, glanced at Li Qing, and turned around.
Zhu Di waved his hand again, and the little eunuch waiting on the side also withdrew.
Li Qing asked curiously: "What's going on?"
"Hu Hu is back." Zhu Di looked at Li Qing steadily.
"Hu Hu?" Li Qing had forgotten such a person, "Who is he?"
"Aren't you tough?" Zhu Di was a little angry.
Li Qing said speechlessly: "I really don't remember that there is such a person in the court."
"Do you remember Immortal Zhang Sloppy?" Zhu Di asked.
"ah?"
Li Qing's heart suddenly flashed, and he finally remembered who Hu Hui was.
Not long after Zhu Di ascended the throne, he appointed Hu Hui to look for the immortal Zhang Sulu. In fact, he was looking for Jianwen.
"I remember," Li Qing said in surprise, "He found my master's grave?"
Zhu Di looked at him coldly, "Your master is not dead."
"Dead." Li Qing affirmed.
"Hu Xi said he was not dead."
"Hu Hui lied to you." Li Qing said, "Or he was deceived."
Zhu Di said angrily: "Li Qing, I will be alive in a few days, can't you tell me the truth?"
"I'm telling the truth!" Li Qing said innocently.
"You...ahem..." Zhu Di was so angry.
"Your Majesty, please don't get excited." Li Qing hurriedly stroked his chest and explained: "I really don't know Jianwen's whereabouts. Besides, there's no point worrying about this now!
The overall situation has been decided for a long time. Even if Jianwen is not dead, there will be no trouble, so why should you be so worried about it?"
"This is my knot." Zhu Di grabbed his hand and promised: "Li Qing, if you tell me the whereabouts of Jianwen, I can promise not to kill him."
Sure enough, you still lied to me, and Hu Hui was not found at all... Li Qing said seriously: "Your Majesty, I really don't know."
Li Qing knew the temper of the fourth child. If he knew Jianwen's whereabouts, he would definitely chop Jianwen into pieces, not overnight.
"Li Qing, do you really want me to die in peace?" Zhu Di asked.
"Your Majesty, I am really..."
"Okay, please step back," Zhu Di waved his hand: "You don't have to go on this Northern Expedition, just enjoy yourself at home."
"The emperor's dragon body is not in good condition, I dare not not go."
"Go away...!" Zhu Di roared: "Even if I am half dead or die of illness tomorrow, I will never let you treat me."
Li Qing threw his hands angrily: "I retire."
…
Of course Li Qing had to follow him, because this was Zhu Di's fifth Northern Expedition.
As far as he knew, Zhu Di died of illness in Yumuchuan during the Fifth Northern Expedition in history.
Although the battle of Jingnan was shortened by one year, Zhu Di's health was really bad, and it would not be unusual to die on the way.
To be on the safe side, he had to follow.
As for Jianwen's whereabouts... Li Qing doesn't plan to tell Zhu Di. If he does, Jianwen will die.
Zhu Yunwen had no interest in power and just wanted to live his life peacefully. Li Qing didn't want him to take his life.
However, Li Qing also knew that Jianwen was Zhu Di's nightmare. If he really kept it from him until his death, Zhu Di would really die with regrets.
After much deliberation, Li Qing decided to settle for the middle.
When he came back from the Northern Expedition, he went to find Jianwen and asked him to write a letter of forgiveness or something. This was considered to be the end of Zhu Di's knot.