As soon as dawn, news came from soldiers searching the Zeng clan's mansion that nearly one million taels of silver ingots, 20,000 taels of gold, and countless various jewelry and jade were found in the underground warehouse of the Zeng clan's mansion.

After dawn, Zeng Xiulin was arrested and the news of the investigation of the Zeng Mansion spread wildly. Zeng Xiulin was an official in Chengdu Mansion for many years, with soaring prices, heavy taxes from the people, and deep public resentment. The news of his arrest made everyone in Chengdu Mansion applaud, especially the huge wealth found was the focus of discussion among all parties in Chengdu.

Early in the morning, the transferee Zhang Ji rushed to the government office to surrender and confessed. Li Yanqing did not make things difficult for him and asked him to sit in the inner hall. Zhang Ji was originally the governor of Hezhou. He took over as the transferee of Chengdu Prefecture Road after Zhao Kai was dismissed two years ago. He had little to do with the case of Zeng Xiulin, but he covered up Zeng Xiulin and concealed the court for Zeng Xiulin. This was his major fault.

"Zhang Envoy Zhang did have a major dereliction of duty in the case of Zeng Xiulin's unauthorized tax collection. This is undeniable. We must admit certain guilty, but the size of the guilt depends on Zhang Envoy Zhang's attitude. If we can cooperate with the Legal Office to handle the Zeng case well, then I can plead for Zhang Envoy Zhang, even if we are lenient. Of course, if we continue to fight against the investigation of the case, continue to cover up Zeng Xiulin, and conceal the guilt for him, then Zhang Envoy will also become the main culprit in this case. Which is more important? Please choose by yourself!"

Li Yanqing spoke very politely and his tone was as gentle as possible, but the content of the words was very heavy. Zhang Ji wiped the sweat from his forehead and said sincerely: "I am not willing to be in love with Zeng Xiulin. I have done many things against my will before and were forced to do it. Zeng Xiulin's power in Bashu is too strong, and no one who dares to challenge him has endured the opportunity. I have to bear it and wait for the opportunity. I have long recorded in detail the various facts of Zeng Xiulin and the Zeng family wantonly occupying taxes and private property on Chengdu Prefecture Road in recent years. Please check it out."

After saying that, he handed over a thick stack of documents to Li Yanqing. Li Yanqing flipped through them, and Xu Qinghui also gave him a record of exposing Zeng Qinglin's crimes, which was similar to what Zhang Ji said.

Li Yanqing nodded and said to Zhang Ji: "Prime Minister Xu Tong also wrote a complaint against Zeng Xiulin's various crimes. I suggest that he change it to a memorial and report it directly to the court. The same is true for yours. It will be changed to a memorial to a memorial to the court. In this way, you can clear away many things. In addition, if you have any improper income involved in the sale of tea, wine and salt in the past two years, please hand it over to the government office immediately, and I will not pursue it."

Zhang Ji felt amazement in his heart. He suddenly understood Li Yanqing's real purpose. Zeng Xiulin was just a means. His real goal was to reform the tea and wine sales system. No wonder he brought Zhao Kai together.

"There is no improper income in Beizhi, but the brothers of Beizhi also opened a brewing shop and have made a lot of money in the past two years. What should we do?"

Li Yanqing pondered for a moment. Zhang Ji was a fellow villager of Deputy Prime Minister Zhu Shengfei, and the two were also relatives of children. Zeng Xiulin recommended Zhang Ji as the transferor to win over Zhu Shengfei, who was then the Minister of Personnel. If he wanted to achieve his goal, he could not put the attack too much. Moreover, Zhang Ji had quickly stood in line with him and helped him attack Zeng Xiulin. If he should protect him, he had to protect him.

Thinking of this, Li Yanqing smiled and said, "This income is not a greedy income, but a loophole in the system that has made some people get rich quickly. In the future, I will plug this loophole and let your brother improve his winemaking skills. In the future, you have to rely on skills to make a living."

Li Yanqing's implication was to not pursue the past. Zhang Ji breathed a sigh of relief. He understood in his heart that this was because he defected to Li Yanqing in time, and the Zeng family would not be so lucky. The benefits they received in the past would probably have to be recovered with capital and profit.

At this time, the soldiers reported in the hall: "Report to the governor, General Yan has urgent news to report."

"Let him come in!"

Li Yanqing said to Zhang Ji again: "When you go back, write the memorial immediately. The faster the better. It is best to report one to the court and the other to the imperial censor Zhang. I will plead for you in the final report and try to save you from punishment."

Zhang Ji was very grateful and thanked him for his gratitude. At this time, Yan Qing hurriedly walked into the hall, knelt down on one knee and bowed: "Report to the governor, the brothers who monitored the Zeng family sent a message that the Zeng family's Zhuang Ding is gathering quickly, and he is afraid he will come to Chengdu to grab people."

Li Yanqing sneered. The Zeng family is really talented! I am afraid that Zeng Xiulin will not die, but he is still considering the excuse of Jingzhao Army going south. Isn’t this delivered to the door?

He immediately said to Yan Qing: "Let them come and wait until they reach the city of Chengdu before annihilation."

Yan Qing immediately understood that the governor hoped that the Zeng family would make things bigger. He whispered: "Why not be a humble official in the city and then spread it for them, so that the people would know that the Zeng family's army was coming."

Li Yanqing shook his head, "This is not your business. You just need to pass on information and prepare for battle in time. The affairs in the city will be arranged by the government."

Yan Qing knew that he was reckless and quickly admitted his mistake, "I know my mistake in my job!"

"Go! Report their movements to me at any time."

"Abide by the order!"

Yan Qing hurriedly left, and Li Yanqing immediately ordered: "Please come to see me!"

Soon after, the magistrate Xu Qingwei hurried over and saluted, "Please give orders to the master!"

"Prime Minister Xu Tong, there is something that may be a bit troublesome and may need your help."

"What's the matter? Please give me the instructions."

Li Yanqing sighed and said, "I didn't expect the Zeng family to be so crazy. I just got the news that the Zeng family is gathering Zhuang Ding, and I'm afraid they will come to Chengdu Prefecture to grab people."

"What!"

Xu Qinghui was stunned, "Is the Zeng family crazy?"

"The Zeng family is not crazy. They trained a large number of Zhuang Dings for this day. Now the Xiangjun army on Chengdu Mansion Road has gone north to deliver food. I only have 500 soldiers under my command. The situation is very critical. I want to recruit 10,000 militia groups in the city to defend the city immediately. I wonder if it is feasible?"

Xu Qinghui was so smart that he immediately realized that Li Yanqing was about to make a fuss about this matter. Once the Zengjiazhuang tribe came, he confirmed the Zeng family's rebellion. The so-called recruitment of militia was just a matter of making excuses, or to make excuses for the Jingzhao army to move south.

"It should be no problem. There are millions of people in Chengdu alone, and almost every household has swords and swords. The strategy allows them to recruit those who have military experience and bring their own weapons."

"Then let this matter be done by the city guards. They are familiar with the situation of each family and will be able to complete the recruitment soon."

"There is a plan now!"

Xu Qinghui hurried down. Li Yanqing came to the stairs of the lobby with his hands behind his back, looked at the gloomy sky, and said to himself: "Let the storm come a little more violent!"

.........

Zeng Xiulin was arrested, and the news that the Zeng family's house in Chengdu was seized was spread to the Zeng Clan Mansion in Chongning County one hour later through the Gexin, causing the Zeng Mansion to explode. Zeng Huaiwu, the first tiger among the ten tigers of the Zeng family, Zeng Huaiqiang, and the third tiger Zeng Huaibiao strongly demanded to lead the Zengjiazhuang Ding to Chengdu Prefecture to rescue Zeng Xiulin. Another group of people led by Zeng Xiulin's cousin Zeng Huaiyu advocated transfer of property and rushed to the capital to establish relations.

Six tigers and Zeng Huai were killed, three hundred Zhuang Dings were slaughtered by the Song army while sleeping, and 50,000 taels of gold were stolen, and everything broke through the bottom line of the Zeng family. In the end, the Zeng clan reached a consensus to rescue Zeng Xiulin with the least influence, so as not to be killed by Li Yanqing to silence him. At the same time, Zeng Huaiyu brought 10,000 taels of gold to the capital to open up relations.

The ten tigers of the Zeng family are not all of them. The first three tigers are elders, and the last seven tigers are juniors. The roaring tiger Zeng Huaiwu, the sea tiger Zeng Huaiqiang and the cloud tiger Zeng Huaibiao are the leaders of the ten tigers of the Zeng family and the commander of the armed servants of the Zeng family.

For the three of them, the clan elders' association of the family actually had no meaning. Before the clan elders' association made a decision, Zeng Huaiwu ordered the servants of each manor to gather in Chongning County urgently. Regardless of whether the other clan members of the family oppose it, they will take people to the head of the family Zeng Xiulin to grab it back.

But the only thing they need to convince was Zeng Xiulin's third brother Zeng Xiufang. Zeng Xiufang held the financial power of the Zeng family. Zeng Huaiwu needed silver to reward the army, so he had to get Zeng Xiufang's support.

"San brother, I am more calm than ever. Whether we fight or not, Li Yanqing will never let the head of the family go, and will never let the Zeng family go. The killing in Minghe Villa has proved his determination..."

Zeng Huaiwu was about forty years old and was actually in control of the armed staff of the Zeng family. The reason why Zeng Xiulin asked him to master the armed forces of the Zeng family was mainly because he was obsessed with his decisiveness, and he was able to make major decisions at critical moments.

Of course, what Zeng Xiulin believed to be the major decision that Zeng Huaiwu could firmly support his establishment of the Zeng Dynasty in Bashu after the Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Jin Dynasty. However, today Zeng Huaiwu's decision was to mobilize all the forces of the Zeng family to confront Li Yanqing.

In fact, Zeng Huaiwu is not stupid either. He knew that the head of the family would definitely not survive, and the Zeng family would be deprived of everything. Instead of surviving in humiliation, the Zeng family would be better at fighting to the death, as there might be a glimmer of hope.

"San brother, now is our only chance. Li Yanqing only has hundreds of people. As long as we can regain the head of the family and get the support of the Supreme Emperor, our Zeng family will have a chance to turn the tables. Otherwise, we will have a miserable end to you and me."

Zeng Xiufang sighed, "Do you know what it means to lead troops to Chengdu?"

"I know that the winner is the king, the loser is the enemy. If we win, that is, the clan of the king, and the head of the family will become the new Sanchuan Strategic Envoy."

"But what if we lose?"

"San brother, even if we don't send troops, the result will be the same. We have 1,000 soldiers and so many armoured crossbows. This is evidence of rebellion. In Li Yanqing's eyes, what is the difference between sending troops and not sending troops?"

Zeng Xiufang was shocked, and Zeng Huaiwu said again: "We are not without a chance of winning. Third brother, don't forget that we have a secret army in Chengdu, led by Uncle Ning. They are currently hiding in the city and will work with us inside and outside. I believe there will be a chance."

After a long time, Zeng Xiufang finally nodded, "Okay! I don't care about you anymore. You can speak up as much as you want. If you want to take a risk, then go!"

Zeng Huaiwu wanted this sentence. If you want the soldiers to work hard for themselves, money incentives are indispensable. "I want 70,000 taels of silver!" Zeng Huaiwu did.

Zeng Xiufang took out a jade token and handed it to him, "This jade token can be used to withdraw 100,000 taels of silver."

Zeng Huaiwu took the jade token and turned around and left quickly.

.........
Chapter completed!