Chapter 86 Confession
Everyone resigned.

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and played with the lead-glazed teacup in his hand.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, Deng Qianqiu simply remained silent.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said, "Deng Qianqiu, you are really weird. Where did you learn this so-called lead glaze?"

Deng Qianqiu couldn't answer, but still said: "I like to learn a lot, a little bit here and a little bit there, and over time, I remember a lot of random things."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and said, "Really? Then you are really capable. There are many people in the world who study miscellaneous knowledge, but people like you are rare. You are a rare person."

Zhu Yuanzhang's praise for Deng Qianqiu seemed to be generous.

Deng Qianqiu said timidly: "Your Majesty, could you please explain clearly to me? I feel nervous when I hear it."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes showed more admiration for Deng Qianqiu, and he laughed and said, "Haha, you have come to this day. Don't you usually like to tell half the story and keep the other half as riddles?"

Deng Qianqiu was ashamed.

Zhu Yuanzhang then asked: "Yiluansi...what do you think about this?"

Deng Qianqiu couldn't guess what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, so he gave a bland answer: "It is of course very good for the Yiluansi to protect Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled at Deng Qianqiu, but said meaningfully: "Really? It does have its advantages, but after this experience, I have to think more. For example, the lead glaze, no one in the Yiluansi knew about it. If you hadn't pointed it out, it would have almost caused a disaster. And the method of washing the lead glaze with vinegar, do I rely on the Yiluansi?"

After hearing this, Deng Qianqiu seemed to understand something and said, "Your Majesty, do you mean... that they are not... professional enough..."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Professional...what's the word?"

"Ahem, by humble I mean that I don't have enough expertise."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I meant. Well, I'll think about it again. I hope I didn't hurt you just now."

"I am injured, but this is not the time to worry about my own personal gains and losses."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Why don't I remember you were so loyal in the past?"

Deng Qianqiu was embarrassed. He began to rack his brains, trying to figure out what he had said to Zhu Yuanzhang. However, there was no time to think about it. Deng Qianqiu could only say, "Your Majesty, I... Actually... Actually, it's not good to appear too loyal in front of others. I am an introverted person, the kind who... hides things in his heart but uses nonsense to cover them up."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Really?"

At this time, can we still say no?

Deng Qianqiu then began to argue: "If not, how could I have sacrificed my life at that critical moment..."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was moved: "In fact, being disloyal and unrighteous is nothing..."

"what……"

Deng Qianqiu was a little confused. Your Majesty, is this what you should say to me?

Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "Do you really think I believe there are a few loyal people in this world? Of course, I'm not talking about you."

Deng Qianqiu said: "Your Majesty, you must not be so pessimistic. You must know that in the Central Plains, we always advocate loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Of course it is true, but I have lived to this age. From birth to now, I have seen people around me, from the Mongolian court to the local gentry and nobles, or even the people around me, all of them are fighting for power and killing each other. As long as there is the slightest chance, they will turn against each other and fight. I believe in my eyes, my ears, and my feelings."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words suddenly enlightened Deng Qianqiu.

Deng Qianqiu, after reading history, knew that the Ming Dynasty lasted for 300 years, although there were always treacherous ministers, powerful ministers, or jesters during these 300 years. But in the end, it seemed that no one had escaped from the framework of the Ming Dynasty, so he had a preconceived notion that there were no people like Cao Cao or Sima Yi in the Ming Dynasty, and that the succession of the throne, except for the Jingnan Rebellion, was generally orderly.

But don’t forget that Zhu Yuanzhang grew up in the Yuan Dynasty, which was in chaos for nearly a hundred years.

What people have seen and heard in the past hundred years is that since the Mongols entered the Central Plains, there has not been a single day of peace in the Yuan Dynasty, starting from the palace. Today, brothers kill each other, tomorrow, sons kill their fathers, and the day after tomorrow, powerful officials kill the king.

This was just the palace. When it came to the local areas, it was even more chaotic. For a whole hundred years, it was said to be ruled by the Yuan Dynasty, but in fact, it was almost no different from the chaotic times. The evil of human nature had long been released. This was the environment Zhu Yuanzhang grew up in. There were self-proclaimed kings everywhere. Everyone was selling out their brothers for wealth. Anyone who had a few men and horses wanted to satisfy his desire to be an emperor.

Even within the anti-Yuan rebel army, there were many who, with their strong men and horses, would immediately kill their own lords and jump around repeatedly.

What Zhu Yuanzhang least believed in was the so-called order!

But at the same time, what he desired most was precisely this kind of order.

At least in this era, no one would believe that the Ming Dynasty created by Zhu Yuanzhang could survive for hundreds of years, because people who have experienced too much chaos, although they yearn for peace, seem to have been implanted with the idea that the world cannot be at peace for long.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "The most important thing right now is to find out who is behind this. Go and transfer the captains of the Yiluansi to serve you."

Deng Qianqiu thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I do need some manpower, but... can we not transfer them from the Yiluansi?" Zhu Yuanzhang did not ask why, but only said, "Then where do you want to transfer them from?"

Deng Qianqiu said: "Five Cities Military Command."

Zhu Yuanzhang showed a strange expression and glanced at Deng Qianqiu.

The Five Cities Army was mainly responsible for catching thieves, putting out fires, clearing drains, cleaning up feces, and prison guarding in the capital. In the entire capital, from the Yiluansi to the Gongweisi, and then to the ordinary Five Military Governor's Office, the Five Cities Army was naturally at the bottom of the contempt chain.

It can even be said that if a dog from the Yiluansi or Gongweisi ran into a captain from the Wucheng Bingmasi, the captain would have to take a detour.

After all, the Yiluansi, or the Gongweisi, was the garrison in the palace, and it was an imperial mission. Those who needed to enter and leave the palace were all children of meritorious officials. Whether it was their future or their status, they were all extraordinary.

There are still quite a few people in the Five Cities Military Department, all of whom are conscripted clerks, and their identities are very different from each other.

Zhu Yuanzhang said straightforwardly: "Everything is up to you. How many you need? I will order people... to send them directly to the Yiluansi."

Deng Qianqiu didn't expect Zhu Yuanzhang to be so generous. He said hurriedly, "You don't need so many. Five or six will be enough."

Zhu Yuanzhang took out his red brush and immediately wrote a decree, saying, "Give me ten. You go and select them. Submit your names. I will approve them all."

Deng Qianqiu was very impressed by Zhu Yuanzhang's generosity and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled faintly and said, "Thank yourself. Now I am counting on you to find out who is behind the rebellion. This is a serious matter, so don't take it lightly. If you can find them out, it will be a great achievement. If you just do it perfunctorily, I will not blame you. I will send all the people you selected back to the Five Cities Military Command."

Deng Qianqiu agreed and left.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered something and said to the people around him, "I will go to the trial later."

I was stunned at first, and didn't know what to do.

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly: "This matter is of great importance, I have to be on guard..."

He originally wanted to pick up the memorial on the desk and read it, but he was upset at the moment, so he threw the memorial away, looking annoyed.

"I will not be able to sleep or eat peacefully until the rebels are eliminated."

In fact, there was a reason why Deng Qianqiu wanted to recruit people from the Wucheng Bingmasi.

He had experienced the people from the Yiluansi before. Each of them had a background and acted like a big boss. How could they be willing to be controlled by a young man like him?

On the contrary, this lowly Wucheng Bingmasi captain suddenly became a superstar because of Deng Qianqiu. For them, it was simply pie in the sky. Such people cherished their hard-earned status even more.

What's more, they have no background and the only one they can rely on is him, Deng Qianqiu, so Deng Qianqiu is not worried that they will pretend to obey.

However, the most urgent matter at the moment is to interrogate Jin Si.

Jin Si had been imprisoned. Deng Qianqiu was going to go to the prison by himself, but with an oral order, Zhu Yuanzhang, in plain clothes, came to the prison with Deng Qianqiu one after the other.

And here, Captain Zhou has already begun the interrogation.

Seeing Deng Qianqiu coming, Captain Zhou had a cold expression on his face, and the other captains also came to greet him reluctantly.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not go with Deng Qianqiu, but directly summoned a captain from the imperial prison. He did not appear in the torture room, but just drank tea in the ear room nearby.

Of course, nothing that happened in the torture room could be hidden from Zhu Yuanzhang next door.

Captain Zhou did not expect His Majesty to come, but when he saw Deng Qianqiu, he looked indifferent.

Deng Qianqiu ignored them and just moved a chair and sat down in the torture room.

Jin Si was already tied up. He no longer had the ferocity he had in the hall. Instead, he was indifferent. He just let others manipulate him without saying a word. Even when he met Deng Qianqiu, he didn't show any emotion at all.

Captain Zhou shouted, "Jin Si, who ordered you to do this?"

Jin Si kept his head down and ignored him as usual.

Captain Zhou frowned and shouted sternly, "Come here, torture him!"

Deng Qianqiu said, "I don't think it's necessary. Even if you force someone to confess, the things you get will be useless."

After hearing this, Captain Zhou's face changed slightly. "If you don't torture a murderer like this, do you think he will confess? Time is running out. If I miss the opportunity, the person behind the scenes will probably have already run away! By then, where can I find him in such a vast world with so many people?"

Deng Qianqiu said calmly, "I have my own way. I guarantee that within an incense stick, I will teach him to speak."

(End of this chapter)