sovbooks Chapter 6: Beheading and public display of heads, execution of the entire family!
Chapter 6: Beheading and public display of heads, execution of the entire family!
While the Western Depot was investigating the truth behind the defeat at Yutailing with swift and decisive action.
Under Cao Zhengchun's leadership, the Eastern Depot also conducted a thorough investigation of military camps and granaries in the capital region.
On June 1st, the Eastern Depot investigated the granaries of Shuntian Prefecture and found that the whereabouts of 150,000 shi of grain were unknown. This involved four governors and censors in the capital and twenty-six local officials in Shuntian Prefecture.
On June 7, the Eastern Depot investigated the 12th Regiment under the Ministry of War and found that 170,000 shi of grain were missing and more than 16,000 people were receiving salaries without working.
On June 16th, when the Eastern Depot investigated the five military camps of the Beijing army under the control of the Five Military Commands, it discovered that more than 33,900 people were receiving salaries without working, and the discrepancy of 210,000 shi of grain did not match the reported figures.
On June 24, just as the Eastern Depot was about to investigate Miyun Guard, a sudden fire broke out, burning Miyun Guard's granary to the ground.
Inside the Miyun Garrison, flames soared into the sky.
A large number of soldiers rushed around the garrison to fight the fire, but the fire spread rapidly with the wind and could not be extinguished at all.
Cao Zhengchun, accompanied by a group of agents from the Eastern Depot, stood outside the Miyun Guard, his face extremely grim.
He had just arrived outside Miyun Guard with his agents from the Eastern Depot when he saw flames shooting into the sky inside the guard.
He came to Miyunwei to inspect the granaries, but the granaries were burned down. Even a fool could see the trickery involved.
Liu Yong, the commander of Miyun Guard, stood anxiously in front of Cao Zhengchun, stamping his feet and sighing repeatedly.
"Eunuch Cao, as you can see, the grain rations suddenly caught fire!"
"This is truly due to my mismanagement. I will immediately write a memorial to His Majesty and personally apologize!"
A fire turned a charge of corruption into a mere dismissal of mismanagement.
Liu Yong has come up with a good plan.
This was not without precedent; during Emperor Xiaozong's reign, such incidents of fires breaking out during audits were frequent.
With the combined efforts of the garrison commanders and cabinet officials, it was possible to minimize the severity of the situation through bribery and other means.
Unfortunately, the current emperor of the Ming Dynasty is Zhu Houzhao.
This time, he encountered Cao Zhengchun.
Cao Zhengchun clenched his fists, his old face no longer bearing the smile of the past, only deep anger.
Liu Yong's fire destroyed the granary, and without a proper accounting, how can he explain this to His Majesty?!
Thinking that His Majesty would punish him for his poor performance, Cao Zhengchun felt like tearing Liu Yong to pieces.
"Eastern Depot, listen to my order: immediately arrest all officers of the Miyun Guard. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes, Supervisor!"
Upon receiving the order, the members of the Eastern Depot immediately drew their swords and went to arrest all the officers of the Miyun Garrison.
Upon seeing this, Liu Yong, the commander of the Miyun Guard, was greatly alarmed and quickly took two steps back, drawing his own long sword.
"Eunuch Cao, what do you mean by this?!"
"We are all officials appointed by the imperial court. Without His Majesty's decree, what right do you have to arrest us?!"
Cao Zhengchun sneered: "You ask what qualifications our family has?"
"Let me tell you, the Eastern Depot operates with impunity, executing first and reporting later—it's all permitted by imperial authority!"
"Bring it all to our family!"
"yes!"
At Cao Zhengchun's command, hundreds of Eastern Depot agents stormed into the Miyun Garrison.
"Everyone, lay down your weapons immediately and cooperate with the Eastern Depot's investigation."
"Those who defy the investigation will be executed without mercy!"
Inside the garrison, ordinary soldiers were terrified at the mere mention of the emperor and the Eastern Depot.
They didn't even reach for their knives; they simply crouched down, covering their heads, indicating that they had no intention of resisting.
The officers of those garrisons, who were corrupt and lawless, were not about to sit idly by and wait for their deaths; they all drew their swords and resisted.
Moments later, the agents of the Eastern Depot and the officers of the garrison were locked in battle.
Seeing that Liu Yong and the others were still putting up a futile resistance, Cao Zhengchun couldn't help but sneer and leap onto the branch.
"All rivers flow into the sea!"
A powerful burst of internal energy erupted from Cao Zhengchun's body, striking precisely the resisting officers.
The next moment, dozens of officers coughed up blood and exploded to their deaths, their bodies blasted into countless pieces of flesh.
"ah?!"
Liu Yong was taken aback and retreated in fright.
Cao Zhengchun noticed his movements and, with a flash of lightness, arrived in front of Liu Yong.
The next moment, a powerful suction force surged from Cao Zhengchun's hand, and Liu Yong's head was grasped in Cao Zhengchun's hand.
With just a little force, Liu Yong's head would explode like a watermelon.
"Do you still want to resist the Eastern Depot?"
Cao Zhengchun's casual remark sent Liu Yong and the others' legs trembling.
"I won't dare, I won't dare! Please spare me, Father-in-law! Please spare me, Father-in-law!"
Liu Yong was completely terrified. He wanted to fight the Eastern Depot to the death, but he never expected that Cao Zhengchun would crush them as easily as crushing an ant.
Faced with such overwhelming strength, Liu Yong couldn't muster any will to resist.
In no time, all the officers of Miyun Guard had been captured by the Eastern Depot.
When Cao Zhengchun sent men to escort these officers back to the Eastern Depot prison, he received news that filled him with shock and anger.
The granaries of sixteen garrisons, including Jinghaiwei, Daxingwei, Ninghewei, and Wuqingwei, simultaneously caught fire, and all the granaries were burned to the ground.
Cao Zhengchun dared not delay and immediately returned to the capital overnight to report the matter to His Majesty!
……
Forbidden City.
Qianqing Palace.
Just as Zhu Houzhao was about to rest, Liu Jin bowed and entered, respectfully announcing his arrival.
"Your Majesty, Cao Zhengchun, the Director of the Eastern Depot, has an important matter to report."
At this time, Liu Jin was still the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, holding a high position and great power, and was the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace.
However, Cao Zhengchun, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and head of the Eastern Depot, held immense power and paid no heed to Liu Jin.
Yu Huatian, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration and head of the Western Depot, disregarded Liu Jin and never gave him a kind look.
With two disobedient eunuchs under his command, Liu Jin, the chief eunuch, was truly frustrated in his job.
Moreover, the emperor was already suspicious of him, and those hundred lashes on his buttocks shattered his dream of becoming emperor.
At this moment, he was Zhu Houzhao's dog, and dared not have the slightest thought of disrespect.
"Let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A moment later, Cao Zhengchun entered the Qianqing Palace and immediately knelt before Zhu Houzhao.
"Your Majesty, the granaries of seventeen garrisons, including Miyun Garrison, Jinghai Garrison, Daxing Garrison, Ninghe Garrison, and Wuqing Garrison, suddenly caught fire and were all destroyed."
"This old servant has failed in his duty; please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao's previously calm heart was immediately filled with boundless rage.
"A fire broke out as soon as the accounts were checked?!"
"These garrison officials are truly lawless! Do they even respect me, the emperor?!"
"They think they can get away with it by burning down the evidence? They're dreaming!"
"Cao Zhengchun!"
"This old servant is here."
"There's no need to investigate these seventeen garrisons. All officials of the fifth rank or above, along with their entire families, shall be executed!"
"The commanders of all garrisons shall be beheaded and their heads displayed in public, and the results shall be sent to all garrisons in the region!"
Cao Zhengchun felt a chill run down his spine and quickly bowed, accepting the order: "Yes, Your Majesty!"