Yuan Keli couldn't sit still when he learned that Mao Wenlong had done so many things privately and even dared to directly threaten and force the king of Korea.
"Park Chengzhong, everything must be based on evidence. Although it has been confirmed that you are indeed the personal envoy of the King of North Korea, I cannot easily believe your words."
"Everything the lower official said is true, and there are witnesses and physical evidence. If the superior official doesn't believe it, he can send someone to Korea to collect evidence and investigate."
Seeing that he spoke so confidently and resolutely, Yuan Keli found it hard to stop. After all, this Mao Wenlong was a person valued by His Majesty, and he should not do such a bold and sinful act.
Seeing Yuan Keli sitting there deep in thought, Pu Chengzhong continued:
"I have something to report."
"After going to sea, Xiaguan once encountered a fleet pretending to be our Korean merchants. After Xiaguan's observation, it was believed to belong to Mao Wenlong's command."
"The lower official thinks that Mao Wenlong took so many ships, grains, rice, clothes, cloth and other items from our country for smuggling."
"Through my investigation in North Korea and the suspicion of the lower official, the lower official believed that Mao Wenlong was suspected of collaborating with the enemy. He was secretly negotiating a peace with Jiannu and wanted to help the bandits to respect themselves."
"After my subordinates coordinated the intelligence from all parties and carefully speculated, Mao Wenlong should have been smuggling and selling around Pidao Island in Zhenjiang as a transit point between North Korea, Jiannu and the Ming Dynasty."
This is really life-threatening. If it is true, Mao Wenlong's nine tribes will not be saved.
Your Majesty will never show mercy to such people who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country. What's more, Mao Wenlong has greater ambitions. Even nine lives are probably not enough to kill him.
Although Yuan Keli doesn't say that listening to the wind means rain, he also knows that there can be no waves without wind.
The Korean monarchs and ministers did not have the courage to make false accusations out of thin air against a general whom the emperor trusted.
Therefore, in his opinion, Park Chengzhong's words are extremely credible. He also knows a little bit about Mao Wenlong. He is indeed a person who is somewhat disobedient to discipline and restraint.
"You guys go down and have a good rest first. I will investigate the situation you said carefully. If it is true, I will personally write a memorial for him to refer to."
With Yuan Keli's character, if Mao Wenlong really committed these many crimes, he would never tolerate it.
But regarding Yuan Keli's plan, Park Chengzhong and Jin Zhiwang had different opinions.
"The lower official thinks that the two of us can go to the capital to meet with His Majesty the Great Emperor first and report the situation clearly. The superior official can seize the time to conduct an in-depth investigation and reduce the verification time."
"Our country in North Korea is weak and has been riddled with plunder by the slaves. Now Mao Wenlong is still extorting money. My king is almost unable to support it."
Seeing the grievance he expressed, Yuan Keli thought about it carefully and felt that this was a solution, so he approved it.
He selected 300 people from his own camp to escort the two of them to Beijing.
After the two of them left Penglai, Yuan Keli did not return to the government office, but rode a fast horse straight to Weihai.
At the Weihai Navy Fleet Base, Zhang Du was leading his soldiers to drill. When he heard that the governor was coming in person, he immediately ran to greet him.
"General Mo has seen Futai. Futai is here in person. I don't know what is going on?"
Yuan Keli came galloping all the way without stopping for a moment. As soon as he got off the horse, he felt his legs were so weak that he almost lost his balance.
Although he knew military strategy, he was still a civil servant in the final analysis, and riding horses and marching was not his advantage.
"This is not the place to talk. Take me to your general's mansion quickly."
As soon as he heard this, Zhang Du realized that something big was going on, so he stopped pretending to be polite and immediately went to the general's mansion.
"You put all the sergeants and ships that can be mobilized to the sea and head towards North Korea in a circular formation. If you encounter any ship, whether it is North Korean or Ming Dynasty, stop them all and investigate them carefully."
"The fleet must not be dispersed and must strictly follow the tactical formations and combat arrangements of daily drills."
Zhang Du was confused at this time and had no idea what Yuan Keli's military order was.
You must know that his naval fleet is still immature, and many fleets have not yet formed effective combat capabilities. It is extremely risky to venture out to sea.
Seeing his confused expression, Yuan Keli did not explain too much, but said seriously:
"Why don't you ask any more questions? There is an emergency in North Korea and the sea routes between North Korea and Liaodong and Shandong must be blocked."
"You have to remember that if you encounter someone who claims to be under Mao Wenlong's command in Zhenjiang, you will be escorted back to me, including people and boats. Don't take action on your own initiative, otherwise I will not spare you."
Zhang Du was Yuan Keli's trusted general, and he naturally followed his military orders to the letter.
After bidding farewell to Yuan Keli, Zhang Du immediately arranged for the food supplies, gunpowder, bows and arrows needed for the entire fleet to sail to sea.
In the early morning of the next day, under the watch of Yuan Keli, Zhang Du waved the flag in his hand, and more than two hundred ships in the port set out to sea in a mighty manner.
Zhang Du, a naval officer, also personally boarded a lucky ship and set off with the most combat-effective fleet in the entire navy.
"Mao Wenlong, I hope you will not disappoint me and His Majesty."
Yuan Keli stood on the port base and murmured.
Mao Wenlong's Zhenjiang is particularly critical to the situation in Liaodong, and is a sharp blade that threatens the rear base camp of the Jiannu slaves.
Moreover, Mao Wenlong was indeed good at fighting and was better than many Ming army generals. This is why he has always been relied on.
…
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Capital, inside the Huangji Hall.
Zhu Youxiao held another court meeting for the first time, for this year's imperial examination.
Zhu Youxiao still attaches great importance to the imperial examination. Although most of them are people who study hard, these people are indeed the smartest top elites.
This is also the best time for him to absorb new blood.
There is not only a shortage of officials in the imperial court, but many official positions have been vacant for a year.
There were already many vacancies during the Wanli period. After he ascended the throne, he killed several groups of civil servants. Although he supplemented them twice, there are still many vacancies now.
He does not want to work with people whose ideological dimensions have been completely solidified and who stand opposite to him.
In his opinion, using these people is just adding to his troubles, so it is better not to use them.
He could only use this imperial examination to set the questions properly, change the system, and select and promote a group of talented young people to better run the country and consolidate his imperial power.
If he remembers correctly, Lu Xiangsheng, who will be famous in later generations, took the imperial examination this year and passed the Jinshi examination in one fell swoop and entered the official career.
This man is an outstanding man, both civil and military, loyal and courageous. In his own era, he believes that Lu Xiangsheng can give full play to his talents.