My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 143 A shocking conspiracy

When Mao Xiang heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat. After thinking about it carefully, it was entirely possible!
It was only a few hundred miles from Shaoxing to Hangzhou, and the radio only needed two or three relays to contact the Hangzhou Garrison.

The speed is so fast that it can be completed almost in an instant. During this process, it is impossible for the Japanese pirates to get any information!
Besides, military radios are dedicated lines, so outsiders cannot know about it, unless...

Mao Xiang didn't dare to think about it further, because the only possibility was that there were accomplices of the Japanese pirates in the government offices in Hangzhou or Shaoxing, or perhaps in both places!
Otherwise, the Japanese pirates would not have retreated so quickly when the official troops of Hangzhou Garrison set out!
If this is true, then it would be a dereliction of duty for him as the commander of the Jinyiwei. The Jinyiwei supervises all civil and military officials. Now, there are spies from the Japanese pirates in the government offices in Hangzhou and Shaoxing, but he is completely unaware of it. It was Your Majesty who thought of it first.

How can he explain this to His Majesty?

"His Majesty!"

Mao Xiang fell to his knees and said with a determined look, "I beg Your Majesty to allow me to find out who the traitor is and make amends for my crime!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Mao Xiang expressionlessly, but his eyes were so sharp that they made him feel uneasy.

Your Majesty is a great leader who is decisive in killing people. You don’t know what kind of punishment you will receive?
However, what Zhu Yuanzhang was considering at this time was not how to punish Mao Xiang. He had a bad feeling in his heart. The Japanese pirates invaded just when the maritime trade had just started. This matter was definitely not a simple one!
As for Mao Xiang, he is a capable man with rich experience and is loyal to me. He is easy to use. However, it would be good to scare him so that he would work harder.

Only when Mao Xiang was stared at so hard that he was sweating profusely did Zhu Yuanzhang speak. However, he did not speak to Mao Xiang, but to the eunuch waiting outside the door:
"Announce Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Li Min, and Zhu Di to the emperor, use the radio, and be quick!"

Soon, Li Min was the first to arrive, panting, and before he could catch his breath, he spoke:

"Your Majesty, the Radio Department has just received news that the Japanese pirates invaded Shaoxing Prefecture, burned, killed and looted along the way, but retreated before the garrison troops arrived. I was just about to come and report, but I didn't expect Your Majesty to summon me to see you first!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "I already know about this matter. Minister Li, please take a rest for now. We can discuss this matter after Xu Da and others arrive! Come, give Minister Li a seat!"

The eunuch brought a chair and Li Min was about to sit down when he saw Mao Xiang kneeling on the ground. He couldn't figure out the situation for a while. Since this matter concerned the Jinyiwei, it was better not to ask too much.

So he sat down and took a breath.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang said to Mao Xiang: "Commander Mao, you should get up first!"

Mao Xiang then stood up as if he had been pardoned, and said respectfully: "I, your Majesty, thank you!"

Sinner?

Li Min was stunned. What kind of evil thing had Mao Xiang done to make His Majesty angry?
But it’s better for him not to know about this. As a subject, he should just do his own job well and not ask about things that are not his business!
After a while, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong and Zhu Di also arrived one after another. When they saw the scene in the hall, especially when they saw Mao Xiang, they were all a little surprised.

As long as the Jinyiwei are there, it means that things will never be simple, especially since this person is the commander of the Jinyiwei!

"Your Majesty, what's going on?"

Xu Da couldn't help but ask, and the other two also showed inquiring looks.

Zhu Yuanzhang signaled to them not to be anxious, and then said to Mao Xiang: "Commander Mao, you are the first to know about this matter, so you will explain it to everyone in detail." Mao Xiang did not dare to be negligent and recounted the incident of the Japanese pirates' invasion of Shaoxing in detail from beginning to end, not daring to leave out anything.

"What? The Japanese pirates dared to invade Shaoxing Prefecture?"

"Are there Japanese pirates in Shaoxing and Hangzhou?"

After hearing this, several people were all shocked. You know, since the establishment of the radio communication line, the speed of message transmission and the degree of confidentiality have been many times higher than before.

But once a traitor appears in this message transmission line, the consequences will be unimaginable!
"Your Majesty, these Ming Dynasty traitors and scum must be completely eliminated, otherwise there will be endless troubles for the Ming Dynasty!"

Xu Da said loudly, "Moreover, the Japanese pirates must be eliminated as quickly as possible to prevent them from harming the coastal defense of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops to wipe out the Japanese pirates to restore the dignity of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops to wipe out the Japanese pirates and boost our country's prestige!" Li Wenzhong also clasped his fists.

Zhu Di looked eager to try, "Father, me too!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, signaling them to stay calm, and ordered people to bring a topographic map of Jiangnan.

Several people looked at the topographic map in confusion, but Zhu Yuanzhang said to Li Min: "Minister Li, before the New Year, you told me that the productivity of the Yingtianfu shipyard can no longer keep up with the development of shipbuilding speed, but it lacks a deep-water dock. Yingtianfu is not suitable for expanding the shipyard."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have also investigated various ports along the coast and found that Songjiang Prefecture has a good natural harbor with a suitable depth of water. It is perfect for building a shipyard and a dock. I have reported this to you and Your Majesty also approved it at the court meeting."

Li Min pointed out the location of Songjiang Prefecture on the topographic map with his finger. "There are several natural harbors here, including Wusongkou, Luchao, Zhoushan, etc. The construction of a shipyard in Songjiang Prefecture is already in preparation, and construction can begin as early as this month."

"Who knows about this?" Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask.

Li Min touched his chin and thought for a while, "Building a factory and expanding the port is not a secret, and it involves many government offices and people. It is not easy to keep it secret!"

At this point, Li Min's mind suddenly shuddered, and his scalp went numb. He seemed to understand why His Majesty wanted to inquire about the preparations for the Songjiang Shipyard!

Not only Li Min, but the others also took a deep breath. Looking at the map, they also figured out the key to the problem!
Why did the Japanese pirates choose to attack Shaoxing Prefecture at this time!

The location of Shaoxing Prefecture is so critical!

"Shaoxing Prefecture is adjacent to Songjiang Prefecture in the west and Hangzhou Prefecture in the east, and is the strategic point between the two places. Hangzhou Right Guard is responsible for protecting Shaoxing, Jiaxing, Songjiang and other places.

On the occasion of the Ming fleet's first long voyage, and the Songjiang Shipyard was about to start construction, the Japanese pirates attacked Shaoxing at this time. This was not only a warning to the Ming Dynasty to lift the maritime ban, but also aimed at the Songjiang Shipyard!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the crowd with an extremely sharp look in his eyes. "Some people don't want to see the Ming Dynasty become a powerful country through maritime trade! These people are so cruel and crazy that they are colluding with the Japanese pirates. They should be killed!
Everyone, do you know who these people are?"

Several people looked at the topographic map of Jiangnan, and the answer was already obvious. Who else could it be except the Jiangnan aristocratic group?
(End of this chapter)