The entirety of Great Yu, nearly everyone is extremely attentive and concerned about the new firearms produced by the arsenal under Zheng Yi’s command.

Unfortunately, due to Zheng Yi’s strict orders and the investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, only a very few in the court have witnessed the might of the new firearms.

Moreover, as the New Army swept through Yongzhou, crushing the rebel forces, the discussion around the new firearms heightened once again.

Though the vicinity of the arsenal was already fortified and cleared, it couldn’t stop the infiltrating spies.

In just half a month’s time, the Eastern Depot caught over a hundred spies.

And because of the minimal casualties of the New Army, naturally, some firearms, bombs, and such, fell into civilian hands, acquired by those with intentions.

However, the quantity is extremely scarce.

Thus, these Bing Merchants are eagerly eyeing the new firearms.

Now having the opportunity, how could they not go to admire them?

Upon reaching the military camp, many already saw the flintlock guns carried by the New Army on their shoulders, their eyes were burning with desire, but without Liu Cheng’en’s secret, they dared not act rashly.

Meanwhile, Liu Cheng’en led them into the main tent, continued to serve dishes, and nodded towards Cui Xiawu who came to greet him.

Inside the military tent, Liu Cheng’en stated loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen, have you just seen the new firearms of our army?”

“These firearms can spew flames and steel columns from three hundred steps away, easily tearing apart human bodies and blasting down city walls, they are heaven-sent exotic treasures, a blessing for Great Yu!”

“This time, the reason why Great Yu was able to suppress the refugees swiftly and expel Wu Country is all thanks to Your Majesty and the firearms!”

“But…!”

Liu Cheng’en’s tone suddenly changed, gritting his teeth, “There’s another batch of collaborators, secretly colluding with Wu Country, selling salt, iron, weapons, armor, and other items to Wu Country!”

“These people deserve death!!!”

“Bang bang bang…”

As soon as he finished speaking, squads of Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly rushed in from outside the camp, like wolves and tigers, surrounding this group of landlords and big merchants in the camp.

The cold Brocade Spring Sabers pointed directly at the pale-faced crowd.

“Liu, Liu eunuch, what do you mean by this?!”

A pale-faced Wang Zhonghe stood up trembling.

He never imagined that Liu Cheng’en, who appeared friendly and amiable, was drinking and feasting with them just a moment ago, would change face so quickly!

“What do I mean?”

Liu Cheng’en retorted, “Why does Old Master Wang pretend not to know?”

“Hmph! If you want to accuse someone, there’s always a reason. Without evidence, how can you charge us? You’re slandering us, I want to see Your Majesty!”

Wang Zhonghe glared at Liu Cheng’en, eyes bloodshot.

If he didn’t know the true nature of this old man, Liu Cheng’en might almost be deceived by him.

At this moment, others reacted as well, though they dared not resist facing the glaring Brocade Spring Sabers, they started shouting: “It’s unjust, eunuch Liu, we are all good citizens!”

“Eunuch Liu, you’re slandering us, when did we collude with Wu Country?”

“Indeed! Evidence, where’s the evidence of our collusion with Wu Country?”

“Without evidence, this is false accusation!”

“Eunuch Liu, although we are just merchants, the court has loyal and righteous officials who will surely file a complaint against you!”

“Want evidence?”

Liu Cheng’en sneered, casually flicking a few envelopes onto Wang Zhonghe and the heads of several Bing Merchants present.

“Here, this is the evidence you want!”

“Inside are the letters of your correspondence with Wu Country, and the list of items sold, including salt, iron, weapons, armor, and more. Our place has hundreds more of these letters!”

“Do you…want to see them all?”

The heads of several families tremblingly picked up the envelopes from the table, and just a glance nearly made them faint.

No mistake.

These letters were indeed the ones they wrote to Black Mountain Pass’s Turga and the Mengg Family in Wu Country, along with transportation lists.

But…how did they end up in Liu Cheng’en’s hands?!

In fact, Xu Mujun only found a little over a hundred envelopes from Black Mountain Pass.

But perhaps out of interest or for seeking revenge on Great Yu.

When compensating for war expenses, Wu Country unexpectedly dumped all the letters, lists, and materials regarding their transactions with the Eight Great Bing Merchants over the years, entirely to Great Yu.

Packing everything up like this totally sold out the Bing Merchants!

From their perspective, with Black Mountain Pass occupied by Great Yu, they shouldn’t think about invading Great Yu for at least a hundred years.

Thus, why not sell out the Great Yu officials and merchants who secretly contacted them.

In doing so, not only did it relieve part of the compensation, but it also disgusted Great Yu, truly a win-win!

Therefore Zheng Yi, already held indisputable evidence of treason for some ministers, big merchants, and noble families in court!

If the Bing Merchants knew that Wu Country sold them out like this, wouldn’t they regret it so much their intestines would turn blue?

The masters they flattered and served reversed the situation, sold them out, and handed over all evidence of their crimes to Great Yu.

Henceforth, there is only one path awaited for them!

“Fake! It’s all fake!”

Wang Zhonghe shouted angrily, “These letters, they’re all fake, I want to see Your Majesty!”

The others promptly responded, echoing with shouts: “Indeed! These envelopes are fake, all fake!”

“We want to lodge a complaint!”

“Liu Cheng’en, you’re framing us!”

“Indeed! Unable to extort money from us, you devise ways to frame us, this is the usual tactic of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!”

“We want to see Your Majesty~!”

Liu Cheng’en chuckled, saying, “With you people, how could you possibly meet Your Majesty?”

“But…”

His tone shifted suddenly, grabbing the letter in hand and slowly tearing it.

Many merchants present were taken aback by Liu Cheng’en’s move, all subconsciously halted their actions.

What is Liu Cheng’en doing?

Why is he tearing those letters?

“Hee hee hee…”

Liu Cheng’en chuckled, “Your Majesty, though enraged by your actions, also knows this is a trick of using someone else’s knife to kill.”

“Moreover, Heaven possesses the virtue of saving lives, in recent months, under the enlightenment of Master Fayuan, Your Majesty has turned wholeheartedly to Buddhism, deciding to reduce slaughter.”

“Your secret collusion and suspected rebellion deserve death!”

“But Your Majesty understands righteousness, and considering your contributions to the nation, and since future construction of the Grand Canal cannot proceed without your support, has decided to pardon your death sentences!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the many merchants present collectively exhaled a sigh of relief.

Not going to die?

That’s the best outcome.

Yet more people had flickering gazes, secretly pondering if this was true or false.

Would Liu Cheng’en really make such a joke just for the sake of hoarding gold and silver?

“However, the death penalty can be remitted, but living crimes cannot escape!”

“For you, the Eight Great Bing Merchants, comprising the Wang, Qiao, Chang, Meng, Hou, Qu, Kang, and Fang families, each must submit one million acres of land as Punishment Field, only then can your death sentence be forgiven, otherwise the entire family will be executed!”

What?!

Upon hearing Liu Cheng’en’s words, everyone present was stunned.

One million acres of land?

Can such a large amount pardon the crime of colluding with enemy nations?

This is simply… too advantageous!

One million acres of land sounds like a lot, and indeed it is a vast amount.

It’s nearly seventy percent, even ninety percent, of the total land they possess.

But when compared with the lives of the entire family, it’s utterly trivial.

Moreover…

Several present had flickering eyes, fiercely determined inside, and quickly devised a scheme.

Qiao Maoyong suddenly stood up, saying: “Eunuch Liu, my Qiao Family accepts the punishment!”

“Please let me and my father return, within three days my Qiao Family will surely submit one million acres’ worth of land title deeds to your hand.”

In his heart, he was thinking, as soon as he returns, he would immediately contact those bandits and outlaws he had nurtured, and if necessary, even that ensemble of rebels to revolt.

He even planned to unite with the other seven families to stir a rebellion, inevitably causing chaos across Bingzhou.

Other families also realized this matter, and one after another shouted: “My Meng Family accepts, one million acres of land!”

“Eunuch, let me return, I can submit the title deeds to you by tomorrow.”

“Although I’m old, I can still ride a horse, let me return…”

At once, dozens of people competed fiercely to be on the list of those allowed to return, even some brothers came to blows.

Seeing this situation, Liu Cheng’en sneered: “Do you really think you can fool me like some idiot.”

He pointed at a few among them, saying: “Qiao Maoyong of the Qiao Family, isn’t the bandit leader Yue Ma Zi wandering in the territories of Qii County and Quanyang County one of your people?”

“And the old man of Taigu, the bandits of Qinglang Mountain in Yuxiar County, the Blood Saber Gang in Yuanping County, and even the martial monks of Nanwu Temple on Wutai Mountain, aren’t they all under your wing?”

“If I let you return, then half of Bingzhou would rebel by tomorrow!”

“I worked hard to bring you all together, how could I let you go so easily?”

Wang Zhonghe frowned saying: “What does Eunuch intend to do?”

“It’s simple, each of you will write a letter, and I will send people to collect the land title deeds.”

“As soon as I have those one million acres of land title deeds in hand, you will be freed immediately!”

“Otherwise, obediently stay by my side.”

“Come, take all these noblemen away, prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone for them, and determine who writes first!”

“I can decide that the first merchant to write will only need to pay sixty thousand acres of land, the remaining forty thousand acres will be covered by others!”

“Understood!”

Like wolves and tigers, the Embroidered Uniform Guards at once rushed in, binding the merchants one by one, pushing them out.

“I’ll write! I’ll write first!”

“I, Meng Family, will write first!”

“Move it! It’s my Fang Family that writes first!”

“I, Chang Family! Quickly…”

Several rushed over frantically, continuously pushing and shoving to seize the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, while Liu Cheng’en waved his hand to dismiss the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

He grinningly said: “That’s right, as long as you obey, I, Eunuch, will surely not fail you!”

Soon, the Patriarchs of Meng Family, Fang Family, and Chang Family finished writing their letters and handed them to Liu Cheng’en.

These three families in the Eight Great Bing Merchants are the weakest in power and wealth, which is why they compromised so quickly.

Liu Cheng’en carefully reviewed the letters in his hand, smiling: “Excellent, excellent, these three are indeed enlightened noblemen. I hereby decide to reduce the punishment field quota for these three families to sixty thousand acres.”

“The remaining forty thousand acres will be borne by the last three to write.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Patriarchs of the three families’ eyes lit up fiercely.

“Thank you, Eunuch! Thank you, Eunuch!”

The remaining five families were also in great distress, and eventually, the Patriarchs of Qu Family and Kang Family hurriedly wrote as well, paying the million sum.

Finally, only Wang Family, Qiao Family, and Hou Family were left.

These three families are the strongest and wealthiest, especially Wang Family.

Wang Zhonghe stood trembling, glaring at Liu Cheng’en, saying: “Eunuch Liu, aren’t you afraid of dissent in the court by doing this?”

“Dissent in the court?”

Liu Cheng’en sneered: “I am wholeheartedly devoted to public service, wholeheartedly for Your Majesty, and such sincerity is honest before heaven and earth!”

“What does court dissent matter? As long as Your Majesty trusts me, I’m willing to sacrifice myself completely!”

“Therefore, I advise Old Master Wang to write. This place is guarded solely by Embroidered Uniform Guards, loyal to Your Majesty, with not a word leaking out.”

“Write to your family and tell them to open the doors willingly, handing over the title deeds, and I’ll be off immediately!”

“Otherwise, there will be entire family execution with no chickens or dogs spared!”

“You…!”

Wang Zhonghe glared at Liu Cheng’en, eyes almost bursting into flames.

“Honestly, I’ll tell you this, the court is restarting the Military Merit System, with so many new soldiers having accomplished feats, yet nothing to reward them with; this is the will of Your Majesty.”

“However, I changed it into another form.”

“Old man, you should appreciate what’s given to you!”

Under Liu Cheng’en’s coercion and threats, the remaining three families had no choice but to pick up the pen to write, instructing family to open the door and surrender the land title deeds for the sake of their family’s survival.

“Ah yes, doing this earlier would have been better.”

“You’ve written it wrong here, it’s not one million acres, it’s one hundred and forty thousand acres!”

“Young and old gentlemen, each promise is a bolt; your three families each owe one hundred and forty thousand acres, now write!!!”

Watching Liu Cheng’en confidently walk out with his sealed letters, Wang Zhonghe’s eyes nearly spouted flames with rage.

“Good! Good! Very well!”

“Eunuch Faction Liu Cheng’en! My Wang Family will remember this, once I’m out, we’ll fight to the bitter end!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep