"Niu San, is he your brother?"

"Brother or younger brother?"

Zhu Changzi asked two questions in succession. Niu He raised his head in shock and looked at the expressionless vassal king in front of him with disbelief.

Yes, Niu San is his third brother, his biological brother.

There are six brothers and sisters, and the only ones alive now are themselves and their third brother.

My parents also starved to death in the paddy field of Wei Guogong's house.

That was originally their home land!

The whole family almost risked their lives for his eldest brother to study and become an official. At first, they could barely survive on seven or eight acres of fertile land.

Later, when the farmland was occupied and turned into tenants, my parents worked day and night.

My third brother cannot afford to go to school, so he can only farm at home.

Later, the land was gone and it was impossible to support him, so he was forced to join the army just to fill his stomach.

It is much better for a soldier to die of hunger in front of the battle than to die of hunger at home.

With the hope of the whole family, he studied everywhere, hoping to change the fate of the whole family through the imperial examination.

However, God did not fulfill people's wishes and the country was in pieces, so where could there be any imperial examination?

Niu He, who was living in Nanjing, lost all hope and spent all the money his parents had earned through frugality and life.

He had no shame to go back, and he had no food to eat when he returned, so he worked as a tenant and starved to death.

I remember that day, he and a group of beggars huddled on the street corner of Nanjing, watching the luxurious carriages rushing towards the city gate.

Duke Xu Yunjue of Wei State led the way, followed by countless other princes and princes.

"Longping Marquis Zhang Gongri...Linhuai Marquis Li Zushu...Lingbi Marquis Tang Guozuo..."

Niu He leaned against the wall dejectedly, counting silently.

There are dozens of these noble frames alone.

That day is May 15th.

The night before, the Qing army had garrisoned at Tanmen in the outskirts of the city. A large number of officials, such as University Scholar Wang Duo and Nanjing Minister of Rites Qian Qianyi, came out of the city to kneel down to greet him, and held a brief surrender ceremony.

On this day, it was the official surrender to the Qing army!

Nanjing’s Hongwu Gate opens.

Princes, princes and uncles are scrambling to be the first.

In Niu He's eyes, it looked very ridiculous.

He wanted to be an official and be named on the gold medal list, but the fastest runner in front of him was Wang Duo, a scholar of the current dynasty, and Qian Qianyi, the leader of the scholar forest.

How ironic!

At that moment, a little beggar patted him from behind and took him to a darkroom.

There, he saw the land deed of his home and the ashes of his parents.

When he left there and headed out of the city to Hangzhou, he saw Wei Guogong Xu Yunjue's arrogant appearance from a distance.

Those who are covered with silkworms are not sericulture people.

The change of king's flag did not seem to affect their prosperity.

......

"What my brother did was all under my command. Everything has nothing to do with him. Please spare his life!"

Niu He came to his senses and hurriedly begged Zhu Changzi for mercy.

"How did you send Ruan Dacheng out of the city?" Zhu Changzi did not answer. The so-called elimination of thieves was completed, and Ruan Dacheng could leave the city. In addition to using Zhu Dadian as a cover, it was also necessary to find out who sent the escort.

After Niu San was arrested, Niu He kept thinking about how to save his younger brother.

He did kill the little beggar to silence him, not only for himself but also for his brother.

Because the little beggar knows their brotherly relationship.

I didn't expect that someone would find out. The King Lu in front of me is really awesome. Unless he has three tricks...but this is absolutely impossible.

"I bribed Zheng Hongkui's lieutenant, and the people he arranged to handle it." Niu He replied.

"Shi Lang?" Zhu Changzi knew that on the night when he went to Fengshan Water Gate for inspection, when Ruan Dacheng came out of the city, Niu San had already confessed the matter.

That night, not only Zhu Dadian appeared at Fengshan Gate, but also Shi Lang who came to the city to deliver a letter.

In this case, it should be Zheng Hongkui's deputy general who gave Shi Lang the order to pick up the people.

"No, it's just a deputy general named Zheng." Niu He answered truthfully.

Zhu Changzi was relieved. Now that Niu San was in his hands, he thought Niu He would not tell lies.

"I beg the prison country to spare my brother's life! I will tell you everything!" Niu He finally lost his arrogant expression before and knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to beg for mercy.

"You two brothers, only one can live." Zhu Changzi said without thinking.

"Kill me! Kill me! I want to die!" Niu He shouted excitedly.

For a moment, expressions of unbearability appeared on the faces of the students around him. Even Liu Zongzhou opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but Zhu Changzi saw it.

"Sir, are you going to say the word 'benevolence and righteousness' again?" Zhu Changzi's face was extremely cold.

Liu Zongzhou swallowed what he wanted to say instantly and did not say it out.

Zhu Changzi raised his hand to Li Bao. Li Bao understood, stepped forward, helped Liu Zongzhou up, and stepped aside.

"You died because of the law, and your brother's life is because of benevolence. If this king does not strictly abide by the law, what difference will he have from the previous dynasty?"

Zhu Changzi's words made everyone in the courtyard lower their heads in fear. Only he could say these words.

After all, who can say that one’s own products are not good?

But who was the First Emperor? A king who could bend his knees to admit his mistakes to Wang Jian. He knew right and wrong, right and wrong, merit and demerit.

How could we unify China without extraordinary magnanimity?

Those who dare to face their mistakes are bound to make progress.

The laxity of laws and regulations and the chaos of the previous dynasty are irrefutable facts. The common people feel it clearly, so why bother to whitewash it in words?

Niu He quietly looked at Zhu Changzi in front of him. He felt that this King Lu was indeed different.

His eyes are like the stars in autumn, containing thousands of things, deep and firm.

It was completely different from the other princes and nobles he had seen. Their eyes were dim and full of confusion and confusion.

"Thank you, Ming Dynasty Supervisor!" Niu He solemnly bowed in admiration.

Seeing King Lu nodding, the guards led Niu He and walked out of the courtyard.

Outside the door, Lu Ruoteng and Zhang Yin immediately saw the spy leader arriving at the case, and hurriedly took Niu He back to the Yamen for trial.

In the courtyard, Liu Zongzhou felt lost and kept sighing.

He could see clearly that King Lu personally came to fetch someone today to give Liu Zongzhou face.

He did not show any extra mercy because of his fame, but to show the world that court laws and regulations should not be ignored!

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!

This matter will definitely be publicized by the cabinet to show the atmosphere of the new dynasty!

"Mr. Niantai, there is no need to blame yourself." Zhu Changzi explained.

"Thank you very much, Supervisor. This old man doesn't know people well and almost caused a disaster. Alas!" Liu Zongzhou felt a chill in his heart.

Zhu Changzi looked around at the scholars in the courtyard. Each of them held the Four Books and Five Classics in their hands, chanting benevolence, righteousness and morality. For some reason, he always felt a little uncomfortable.

A little eunuch with a hurried expression came in outside the door. He whispered a few words to Li Bao and then turned around and left.

Li Bao hurriedly reported to Zhu Changzi in a low voice, saying that Zhu Dadian, the Minister of War, took the initiative to confess to the cabinet about his bribery, and asked the court to punish him.

The cabinet was unsure and sent someone to ask for instructions.

"He realizes that it's just right. Let him go to the Chief Envoy's Yamen to help Lu Xianzhi carry out land clearing matters in the rear area!"

Zhu Changzi originally wanted to dismiss Zhu Dadian directly and investigate, but after thinking about it, he found that Zhu Dadian was still somewhat capable, and his greedy habit could be useful.

For example, wouldn't it be nice to let his greedy hand reach into the pockets of the wealthy gentry in those places?

Li Bao quickly sent someone to the cabinet to convey King Lu's wishes.

Seeing that everything was done, Zhu Changzi bid farewell to Liu Zongzhou.

Before leaving, Liu Zongzhou saw him off personally.

"Mr. Jishan, I have a question in my mind. I wonder if you can answer it?"

"Please speak to the supervisor!"

"The Rites of Zhou states that strong medicines can be used to remove illnesses and that laws and regulations can be used to control chaos, while Confucianism advocates benevolent government and moral governance. Sir, you believe that we should look beyond the horizon, follow the learning of Yao and Shun, and practice the ways of Yao and Shun, based on benevolence and righteousness."To be continued...