novelSusiti Chapter 136 The Demise of the Li Family
Chapter 136 The Demise of the Li Family
Chapter 136 The Demise of the Li Family
Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
The main hall of the Dengzhou Prefectural Government Office.
Prefect Zhou Wenyuan sat in the hall, his face pale and his whole body trembling.
On the table in front of him lay a thick stack of documents, ledgers, letters, contracts, lists, and confessions.
These documents were just presented to me by Lu Yan.
"Lord Zhou," Lu Yan stood below the hall, his voice calm, "these are the evidence of the Li family's treason and betrayal. Account books, letters, prisoner confessions—the chain of evidence is complete, the proof is irrefutable."
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Zhou Wenyuan's hands trembled as he flipped through the documents.
With each page he turned, his face grew paler.
The ledgers containing lists of looted items, Li Shouzhen's handwritten instructions in letters, and transaction records showing dealings with the Later Jin dynasty —
Each piece of evidence is enough to bring the Li family to their doom.
"This—this—" Zhou Wenyuan's voice trembled, "Is this real?"
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"Absolutely true," Lu Yan said. "The prisoners have all confessed and are willing to confront us in court."
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Zhou Wenyuan put down the documents, his expression extremely complex.
Of course he knew the Li family's background—how much benefit he had received from the Li family over the years.
But he never expected that the Li family would dare to collude with the enemy and betray the country!
This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
If this matter is exposed, he, the prefect, will also be implicated!
"Prefect Lu," Zhou Wenyuan lowered his voice, "this matter—could it be—"
'
"Can't you do what?" Lu Yan looked at him, his gaze like a knife.
Zhou Wenyuan felt uneasy under his gaze and quickly changed his words: "Could we—discuss this further?"
'
"Deliberately consider this?" Lu Yan sneered. "Lord Zhou, the Li family is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, selling military supplies to the Later Jin so that the Later Jin can use these supplies to kill our Ming soldiers. Does such a thing need to be discussed at length?"
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Zhou Wenyuan's expression changed.
"Prefect Lu, you—"
"Lord Zhou," Lu Yan interrupted him, "I have already made three copies of the evidence. One is before you, one has been sent to the garrison eunuch, and one has been sent to the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou."
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Zhou Wenyuan's expression changed drastically.
"You—you already—"
"Indeed," Lu Yan said. "I always handle things meticulously. Lord Zhou, you now have only two choices: either immediately order their arrest to make amends, or continue to protect the Li family and go to hell with them."
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Zhou Wenyuan trembled all over, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.
He knew he had no other choice.
The evidence has been delivered to the garrison eunuch and the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou. Even if he wanted to protect the Li family, he couldn't.
If he continues to delay, and the higher-ups investigate, he, the prefect, will also be in trouble.
"Fine—fine—" Zhou Wenyuan gritted his teeth, "I will order the arrest of the man immediately!"
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He turned to the clerk beside him and said, "Immediately send men to the Li residence to arrest Li Shouzhen, Li Shouyi, and their cronies!"
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"yes!
'
The advisor accepted the order and left.
Lu Yan looked at Zhou Wenyuan, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Lord Zhou is wise."
Zhou Wenyuan gave a wry smile and remained silent.
He knew that from now on, as the prefect, he would have to act according to Lu Yan's wishes.
Half an hour later.
Li House.
A group of yamen runners stormed into the Li residence and took control of everyone inside.
"Where are Li Shouzhen and Li Shouyi?" the head constable shouted.
"Master and Second Master—" a steward said, trembling, "Master and Second Master—they passed away last night—"
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"Gone?" The constable was taken aback. "Where did they go?"
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"I don't know—"
The constable's expression changed, and he immediately sent men to search.
The search revealed that the brothers Li Shouzhen and Li Shouyi had sailed out to sea overnight and their whereabouts were unknown.
"They ran away?"
When the news reached the government office, Zhou Wenyuan's face turned ashen.
"Those two bastards actually ran away!"
'
Lu Yan stood to the side, his face expressionless.
He had long anticipated that the Li brothers would run away.
But this is not important.
"Lord Zhou," Lu Yan said, "Although the Li brothers have fled, their families, associates, and businesses are still in Dengzhou. Arrest those who should be arrested, confiscate those who should be confiscated; not a single one should be let go."
"Yes, yes, yes," Zhou Wenyuan hurriedly replied. "I will immediately issue an order to arrest the entire Li family and confiscate their property!"
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"Alright." Lu Yan nodded. "I will send someone to assist you."
That afternoon.
Dengzhou City, East Street.
The Li family's shops, warehouses, and residences were all seized.
The yamen runners went in and out, registering all of the Li family's property.
Gold, silver, jewelry, silk, porcelain, land deeds, house deeds —
The wealth accumulated by the Li family over a century has been completely exposed to the light of day.
"So much silver!"
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"The Li family is truly richer than a country!"
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"No wonder they dared to collude with the enemy and betray their country; it was all for money!"
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The people gathered on the street, discussing the matter animatedly.
Lu Yan stood aside, watching all of this with no expression on his face.
"Master," Shen Qing walked to his side and said in a low voice, "a preliminary count shows that the Li family's assets are about 300,000 taels."
"Three hundred thousand taels?" Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "That's more than I expected."
"Yes," Shen Qing said. "The Li family has been operating in Dengzhou for three generations, monopolizing maritime trade for many years, and has accumulated astonishing wealth."
Lu Yan nodded.
"These valuables, according to regulations, should be handed over to the imperial court. But—"
He paused, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"But before handing it over, we always have to 'count' it first."
Shen Qing understood and nodded.
"Understood."
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evening.
The magistrate's office, the study.
Lu Yan sat behind the desk, with a list in front of him.
The list detailed the Li family's assets: "150,000 taels of silver, 3,000 taels of gold, 50,000 taels of jewelry, 30,000 taels of silk and cloth, 20,000 taels of porcelain and antiques, and 50,000 taels of land and real estate."
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"A total of approximately 300,000 taels."
Lu Yan nodded after reviewing the list.
"Shen Qing," he said, "these valuables will be stored in our warehouse for now. We will deal with them after the imperial decree is issued."
"Yes," Shen Qing said. "I have already made the arrangements."
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"Furthermore," Lu Yan paused, "we must take over the Li family's ships, docks, and warehouses. These are the foundation of the Li family's maritime trade business and cannot fall into the hands of others."
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"Understood."
Lu Yan stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the sun was setting, and the sky was a golden red.
The Li family was wiped out.
This powerful clan, which had dominated Dengzhou for three generations, was overthrown and wiped out in a single day.
"Master," Zhao Changying walked in from outside, "the entire Li family has been arrested, a total of 137 people."
"Where are they locked up?"
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"He's locked up in the government jail," Zhao Changying said. "Prefect Zhou said that we'll deal with him after the imperial decree comes down."
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Lu Yan nodded.
"What about Li Shouzhen and Li Shouyi? Any news?"
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"Not yet," Zhao Changying said. "My men went to chase them, but they're moving too fast; they've probably already gone out to sea."
"Going to sea?" Lu Yan sneered. "They're going to join the Later Jin."
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"To defect to the Later Jin?" Zhao Changying was taken aback. "Would they dare?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Lu Yan said. "They've been doing business with the Later Jin for so many years, they're practically in the same boat. Staying in the Ming Dynasty means death, joining the Later Jin means survival. If you were in their shoes, what would you choose?"
Zhao Changying remained silent.
"However," Lu Yan said, "it's good that they ran away."
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Why?
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"Because they ran away, the charge of treason and collusion with the enemy is confirmed," Lu Yan said. "If they had stayed, they could have argued, recanted their confessions, or asked someone to intercede for them. But since they ran away, it's considered fleeing from justice, and they have no way to defend themselves."
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Upon hearing this, Zhao Changying suddenly understood.
"The employer is very capable."
"What's so clever about it?" Lu Yan waved his hand. "It's called 'don't pursue a desperate enemy.' It's more advantageous for us if they run away."
He turned and walked back to the desk, where he sat down.
"Next, all we have to do is wait for the imperial decree."
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"Imperial decree?"
"Yes," Lu Yan said. "The Li family's treason is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family. The prefect cannot make such a decision; it must be reported to the imperial court for a final decision."
"And what about us?"
"Us?" Lu Yan smiled slightly. "We have rendered meritorious service in suppressing bandits and exposing those who colluded with the enemy. Once the imperial decree is issued, we will certainly receive a reward."
Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Zhao Changying's eyes.
"The boss is wise."
Lu Yan shook his head.
"It's not brilliance, it's planning," he said. "From the first day I arrived in Dengzhou, I've been planning this day. The Li family is a cancer in Dengzhou; if I don't get rid of them, I won't be able to gain a foothold in Dengzhou."
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"Now that the cancer has been removed, Dengzhou is my domain."
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He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant sea.
The sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only a faint crimson glow on the horizon.
The Li family was wiped out.
But this is only the beginning.
Dengzhou's maritime trade, navy, and shipyards —
These are all legacies left by the Li family.
Now, they all belong to Lu Yan.
"Zhao Changying," Lu Yan said, "starting tomorrow, we will take over the Li family's businesses. Ships, docks, warehouses, shops—not one can be missing."
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"Yes."
"Also," Lu Yan paused, "have Hu Jingshui come over. The Li family's accounts need to be sorted out."
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"Yes."
Zhao Changying turned and left.
Lu Yan stood by the window, watching the sky gradually darken.
The Li family's century-old legacy was destroyed in a single day.
For Lu Yan, however, this is just the beginning.