Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 52 Result
The envelope for the report was made of military-grade cowhide soaked in tung oil, making it waterproof and moisture-proof.

At the seal, on the wax that looked like congealed blood, was a shocking character: "urgent".

This is a top-level military report delivered by urgent courier! It must not be used except in matters of national importance or the fall of the border!

Zhu Youjian's pupils contracted sharply the moment he saw the three feathers and the word "urgent".

These are the other two answers he's been waiting for for two days!
It was Wei Zhongxian, Sun Yingyuan, and Tian Ergeng who submitted their answers!

His heart began to pound uncontrollably at that moment, as if it wanted to burst out of his chest. The anxiety that had been suppressed for two days was replaced by an even more intense anticipation.

"Send it up."

Wang Chengen hurriedly got up from the ground, not even bothering to brush the dust off his body, and respectfully presented the two reports, still bearing the dust and warmth of the messengers' bodies, to the imperial desk.

Zhu Youjian reached out and, instead of using the gold-inlaid paper cutter specifically for opening sealed envelopes, roughly tore open the oil-soaked cowhide cover with his fingers.

The ripping sound was particularly jarring in the quiet, warm room.

Inside were Sun Yingyuan's vigorous and powerful handwriting, each character as if carved with a knife, its force penetrating the paper and carrying a chilling aura.

The report was concise and clear, without any unnecessary words.

First, they reported the results of the battle.

Tian Shichun, the military commander of Xuanfu Town, Li Zonghan, the guerrilla general, and others, along with the thirteen other traitorous generals listed on the roster, had their crimes verified two days ago in front of the Governor's Mansion. In accordance with Zhu Youjian's decree, they were executed in front of tens of thousands of soldiers in the entire town, their heads displayed to the public!
His head has been hung at the gate of Xuanfu City as a warning to others.

All seventy-four of his close associates were dismissed from their posts and imprisoned, awaiting the emperor's judgment.

The defense of Xuanfu Town has been rearranged by Wei Zhongxian, and the morale of the troops has stabilized.

Then there is a list.

A list of confiscated property from the residences of those thirteen generals.

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept across the lines of evidence composed of cold numbers, like that of a hawk.

"Current silver: 150,000 taels of silver and 8,000 taels of gold."

"Real estate: He owns a total of 15 residences in Xuanfu, the capital and other places, with an estimated value of 60,000 taels."

"Land: Private farmland under my name, verified to total approximately 8,000 mu, valued at 64,000 taels."

"Hidden stockpile of military equipment: A search of his private quarters revealed armor, muskets, swords, etc., enough to equip a battalion of soldiers, valued at 10,000 taels."

"Luxury goods: twelve lean horses from Jiangnan, eight pairs of luminous cups from the Western Regions, and various kinds of precious silks and jewelry, valued at 20,000 taels."

……

At the end of the report, Sun Yingyuan wrote a total with even heavier strokes.

"The total amount of silver seized from the thirteen border generals is approximately 320,000 taels."

Three hundred and twenty thousand taels.

Zhu Youjian gently placed the report on the imperial desk.

There was no joy on his face.

There was only a coldness, like a harsh winter in the northern frontier.

Three hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver.

These generals, who should have risked their lives to defend the Ming Dynasty's borders, instead amassed a bloody fortune for themselves by embezzling military pay, reselling weapons, and selling off official seals.

He could almost see those ordinary soldiers, dressed in thin clothes in the freezing cold, carrying rusty weapons, eating military rations mixed with sand, and ultimately freezing to death or dying silently beneath the border wall.

Their lives, their loyalty, their blood and bones became the fine wine in the cups and the beauties in the arms of these generals, and the cold silver ingots in the cellar.

"Deserves to be killed!"

Zhu Youjian squeezed out two words through gritted teeth, words colder than the chilling wind outside the warm pavilion.

He suppressed his murderous intent and picked up the second report.

This report was much thicker and heavier.

It was as if what was wrapped inside was not paper, but heavy gold.

On the cover, the handwriting was even more somber and restrained than Sun Yingyuan's—"Jinyiwei, Beizhenfusi".

It was Tian Ergeng's report.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath and tore open the seal again.

An even stronger, more pungent stench of money and the stench of sin seemed to burst forth from that small envelope and assault my senses.

Tian Ergeng's report was far more detailed and bloody than Sun Yingyuan's. He clearly knew better how to use words to please his master and how to use details to highlight his achievements.

Tian Ergeng described in detail how the Embroidered Uniform Guard, like ghosts crawling out of hell, silently surrounded the eight fortress-like, high-walled courtyards of Shanxi merchants in Zhangjiakou on a snowy, stormy night.

It describes how Fan Yongdou and other leading Shanxi merchants were dragged out of their warm beds, awakened from their decadent dreams, and then turned ashen-faced and limp as mud in front of the Imperial Guards.

It describes how the managers of those merchant houses who usually bullied the government in Zhangjiakou and treated the government with contempt, along with their vicious thugs, resisted to the bitter end, only to be beheaded and their blood flow like rivers by the ruthless embroidered spring knives of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The latter part of the report was also a list.

A long, densely packed list that even made Zhu Youjian's heart tremble.

He saw the Fan family's part first.

As the leading family among the eight prominent Shanxi merchants, the Fan family is of paramount importance in this operation.

"The list of confiscated items from the Fan family, the leading Shanxi merchants, is as follows:"

"Cash: A total of 280,000 taels of silver and 12,000 taels of gold were found in his cellar, hidden walls and secret rooms."

"Real estate: One Fan family compound in Zhangjiakou, with five courtyards and five exits, covering an area of ​​100 acres, with pavilions and towers comparable to a prince's mansion, valued at 30,000 taels. Two residences in Mao'er Hutong in the inner city of Beijing, valued at 50,000 taels. Owns 37 shops and warehouses in the nine border towns of Datong, Taiyuan, Guihua and other prefectures and counties along the way, valued at 120,000 taels."

"Land: He owns verifiable fertile land in Shanxi, Hebei and other places, totaling 18,000 mu, valued at 144,000 taels at a market price of 8 taels per mu."

"Antiques and paintings: a high-quality replica of Fan Kuan's 'Travelers Among Mountains and Streams' from the Song Dynasty, twelve pieces of calligraphy by Zhao Mengfu from the Yuan Dynasty, and various bronze and jade artifacts from previous dynasties, valued at 15,000 taels."

"Jewelry: various Hetian jade, East China Sea pearls, and Western gemstones, filling three boxes, valued at 20,000 taels."

"Commercial assets: The warehouse contains a large quantity of tea, silk, ironware, and medicinal herbs prepared for export to the area outside the pass, as well as furs, ginseng, pearls, and other goods exchanged from the area outside the pass. Together with the caravans, camels, and horses under his name, the estimated value is 80,000 taels."

……

"The Fan family's assets, in small amounts, amount to approximately 750,000 taels of silver."

750,000 taels!
The Fan family alone has obtained more than the total amount of money confiscated from the homes of the thirteen corrupt officials in the capital!

Zhu Youjian felt his breathing become heavy, and he could even feel his blood flowing faster, with his temples throbbing.

He forced himself to look away from the glaring number "750,000 taels" and continued reading.

Next are the other seven major families.

Unlike the Fan family, Tian Ergeng did not list out all the details, which would have made the report too lengthy. Instead, he cleverly provided only a total amount calculated overnight by the Jinyiwei Accounting Department.

"The Qiao family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 450,000 taels of silver."

"The Tian family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 380,000 taels of silver."

"The Jin family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 420,000 taels of silver."

"The Huang family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 350,000 taels of silver."

"The Wang family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 410,000 taels of silver."

"The Zhai family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 330,000 taels of silver."

"The Liang family's property, confiscated, amounted to approximately 360,000 taels of silver."

A string of cold names.

A series of alarming figures.

Zhu Youjian's gaze was fixed on the report, his mind racing.

750,000...450,000...380,000...

He didn't even need to calculate it; a vague yet enormous outline of wealth, enough to suffocate anyone, had already slowly emerged in his mind like a mythical beast.

At the end of the report.

Tian Ergeng wrote down a final total in vigorous handwriting.

"The total amount of silver seized from the eight major Shanxi merchants in Zhangjiakou this time is equivalent to 3.45 million taels!"

Three million four hundred and fifty thousand taels!
When these seven words, like seven towering mountains cast in gold and silver, crashed into Zhu Youjian's eyes.

He felt his mind go completely blank with a "buzz".

Zhu Youjian suddenly took a step back, his body slamming into the armrest of the throne behind him, which symbolized supreme power.

The hard rosewood made his back ache.

But the physical pain was nothing compared to the shock he felt inside!
(End of this chapter)