Chapter 174 The Thief Deserves to Be Killed
Lawrence Lu was completely numb.

He found himself in a prisoner's dilemma.

But the most terrifying thing is that for him, if he doesn't speak up now, someone else might speak up.

From the many situations Deng Qianqiu had gathered, it was clear that someone had already spoken.

This forced him to confess in order to protect himself.

Therefore, he no longer dared to be negligent and began to tell everything he knew.

Zhu Di continued to record.

Deng Qianqiu sat upright, listening carefully to Lawrence Lu’s words, as if trying to judge Lawrence Lu’s true and false.

However... the result made Deng Qianqiu a little disappointed.

Because, at least from now on, this group of people are only at the stage of forming cliques and factions, and have not yet been involved in the so-called treason.

In fact, this is understandable. Now is the fourth year of Hongwu, and the ambitions of people like Hu Weiyong have not yet expanded.

However, many of the facts confessed by Lu Zhongheng still make people wary.

Of course, for Deng Qianqiu, his real entry point was the person from the Yiluansi.

Because even if there is no irrefutable evidence of treason.

But once they colluded with the Yiluansi, even if it was not treason, it was almost equivalent to treason.

In response to this, Lu Zhongheng said: "I vaguely feel that there may be people from the Yiluansi who are colluding with us, but I can't see it on weekdays. This is just a hunch. Mr. Hu... No, Hu Weiyong, if there is such a thing, he will definitely not tell me, Captain Deng, please understand..."

Deng Qianqiu was silent.

In fact, Lu Zhongheng’s words should not be false, because colluding with the Yiluansi is a crime so serious that it is unimaginable. How could Hu Weiyong completely trust Lu Zhongheng?
For things like this, the fewer people who know about it, the better.

Deng Qianqiu confirmed the confession and then took Zhu Di out of the cage.

As soon as he got outside, Zhu Di gnashed his teeth and said, "Is this Lu Zhongheng hiding something?"

Deng Qianqiu thought about it seriously and said, "Not really."

Zhu Di could not help but say: "I used to think he was a real man, but I didn't expect him to be such a coward! My mentor only said a few words to make him speak."

Deng Qianqiu pointed to his forehead and said, "Because we can't just act recklessly, we have to use our brains. If we want to deal with someone like Lawrence Lu, we must make him believe that we have a lot of information, and we must tell him indirectly that someone has betrayed him. Only in this way will he speak up."

Zhu Di said in a loud voice: "Ah... I am also curious, Master, those people you mentioned earlier, were they cheating?"

Deng Qianqiu thought to himself, of course it was a fraud. Having lived two lives, even a fool would know the main people involved in the Hu Weiyong case.

As long as he mentioned these key personnel, Lawrence Lu would realize that he already had a lot of information.

At this time, Deng Qianqiu smiled and said, "These are just some people I secretly investigated before. I didn't expect them to come in handy."

Zhu Di asked, "Then, my teacher said that Fei Ju slandered Lu Zhongheng for treason. Is this true?"

Deng Qianqiu shook his head: “For such things, there is no evidence after death, so it is just the last straw that breaks the camel’s back for Lawrence Lu, and at the same time it is to arouse Lawrence Lu’s hatred towards his accomplices.”

Zhu Di nodded and said, "What about the Yiluansi? How did Master know that there would be someone in the Yiluansi colluding with them?"

"Guess." Deng Qianqiu said firmly.

Zhu Di: "..."

Deng Qianqiu said, "Think about it. So many people are secretly forming a clique. There are the right prime minister, the imperial censor, meritorious officials, and many local officials. Some of these people are openly involved, while others are secretly carrying out their activities. Let me ask you, how could Your Majesty be completely unaware of this?"

Deng Qianqiu paused, then continued, "But if your majesty is aware of it, then... it should attract attention, and then they will have nowhere to hide. But the question is, why are these people still like in the clouds and fog, and have not completely surfaced? Then can I reasonably infer that someone must be protecting them? The Yiluansi has always been your majesty's eyes and ears, so... I have reason to believe that among these eyes and ears, there must be someone who is colluding with them and concealing some... information."

Deng Qianqiu said, "With these speculations, I mentioned it to Lu Zhongheng. Although Lu Zhongheng may not know the truth, he has such a close relationship with his accomplices on a daily basis, so he must know something! When I mentioned it, he fell into the trap and thought that everything was under my control. Naturally, in order to protect himself, he had to confess."

Zhu Di looked at Deng Qianqiu with a different look in his eyes, and couldn't help but say, "Master, you taught me by example today. I really admire you."

This sentence is a heartfelt emotion.

Deng Qianqiu said, "Stop talking nonsense. Tell me the confessions quickly and compile them into a book. Then go and interrogate Fei Ju. Now that Lu Zhongheng has spoken, it will be easy to get Fei Ju to speak. Submit the confessions to me later. I need to go to the emperor and report the details of the case."

"Okay." Zhu Di agreed with great energy and went to work in a hurry.

……

Within twelve hours, Deng Qianqiu had entered the palace for an audience.

At this time, in the Secretariat.

Hu Weiyong sat upright in his public housing, but began to feel uneasy.

Things developed too quickly, and when Hu Weiyong learned that Deng Qianqiu had entered the palace for an audience, he was caught even more off guard.

At this moment, a man came to pay his respects with a grim look on his face.

This person is the Imperial Censor Chen Ning.

Chen Ning's face turned pale as he asked, "Mr. Hu...what should we do next?"

"Why are you panicking?" Hu Weiyong took a deep breath, his eyes were dark and dark, and his face was hesitant. Chen Ning was his confidant, Hu Weiyong thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, the Yiluansi... has made all the preparations. But... I didn't expect that those two rubbish Lu Zhongheng were so useless. It really can't work..."

He continued to hesitate, and after a long period of deliberation, he looked up and said, "Go to the Li family quickly and ask Mr. Li to come..."

"Mr. Li has already summoned the scholars... He really doesn't want to... be involved in our affairs anymore." Chen Ning looked as pale as death.

Hu Weiyong sneered: "Really? Not entirely. Don't worry, I know our Lord Li, he will come out."

Chen Ning looked at Hu Weiyong doubtfully, but still said, "Yes, I'll do it right away."

Hu Weiyong just nodded. After Chen Ning left, he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and his expression began to become distorted. Then he sneered and muttered to himself: "Deng Qianqiu... I never thought that I would be almost killed by a small captain like you because of my carelessness! In this case... now that things have come to a point where we cannot stop until one dies, then..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and a hint of murderous intent flashed across his eyes.

…………

Yiluansi.

Someone hurried into the public housing and carefully handed a note to the person sitting there.

The man had a grim expression on his face. He glanced at the note quickly and then threw it into the charcoal basin at his feet. At this moment, the red-hot charcoal suddenly burst into flames.

"Understood, you go down."

"Here."

…………

Zhu Yuanzhang chose to summon Deng Qianqiu in a side hall.

He stared at Deng Qianqiu, looking very surprised, and asked, "So fast?"

"Your Majesty, I... have always been very fast." Deng Qianqiu said.

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, then asked, "How is it?"

Deng Qianqiu took out the thick confession and said, "Your Majesty will know it at a glance."

The confession should also be presented to Zhu Yuanzhang first.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked solemn and started looking immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang could tell at a glance that his handwriting was Zhu Di's. He couldn't help but smile, as if he couldn't imagine that his son with such an impatient temper could actually do the work of a clerk.

But soon, Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer laugh.

His face was solemn and uncertain.

A pair of thick eyebrows frowned even deeper.

…………

Li family.

Li Shanchang has been claiming to be ill and unable to go out for many days.

He closed the door and refused to see any old friends.

The servant came to report: "Master, the Imperial Censor Chen Ning wants to see you."

Li Shanchang took a sip of tea and said expressionlessly, "No, tell him that I'm ill recently and the doctor said that I need to rest and cannot see guests right now."

The servant hesitated for a moment, but did not leave. Instead, he continued to look at Li Shanchang.

Li Shanchang showed an unhappy look: "What?"

The servant said, "The Imperial Censor Chen Ning said that he has something very important to tell you, and he wants you to see him no matter what..."

Li Shanchang remained calm and said, "I understand."

He closed his eyes and lay in the rocking chair, but he was still unmoved: "Tell him, there are some things that I know a little about. If I had known this would happen, why did I do it in the first place? Everything in the world, once done, will definitely have a response. As the saying goes, good is rewarded with good, and evil is punished with evil, this is the truth. And now that something has happened, what's the point of looking for me? Tell Chen Ning, no, let Chen Ning go back and tell Hu Weiyong, let him reflect on himself. A gentleman reflects on himself three times, so that he can be prepared for danger in times of peace, and live a long life."

The servant stood still and said, "Mr. Chen said...if Mr. Li still doesn't show up, he has a note for Mr. Li..."

Li Shanchang opened his eyes suddenly, as if he realized something. He looked at the servant with an intriguing look: "Chen Fu, you have followed me for so many years. I never thought that you have been won over by them. Even you are like this, then..."

Li Shanchang showed a painful expression: "Then, is there anyone else in our Li family who is like you?"

The servants immediately prostrated themselves and said, "I will die with you."

Li Shanchang sighed, "Everyone is drunk but I am sober. What a pity! What a pity! You don't need to read this note. I understand. Let him come in."

"Here."

…………

Snapped……

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious at this moment. He slammed the table and stood up. He said angrily: "The thief deserves to be killed!"

(End of this chapter)