Iron Dynasty Chapter 1096

Upon witnessing the arrival of the Imperial Secret Guards, Yu Zhiyong immediately prostrated himself on the ground, erupting into wails.

“Ge Yiren, I should never have succumbed to your deceptive words. Everything is ruined now, utterly finished.”

The captain of the secret guards regarded Yu Zhiyong with a frigid gaze. Simultaneously, the police accompanying them moved to cordon off Yu Zhiyong’s opulent mansion.

“Since you are aware of the circumstances, you must still accompany us,” the captain of the secret guards stated, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

When Ge Yiren had escorted both Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang to Qingzhou, they were subsequently summoned by the Emperor himself. Their task was to spearhead the promotion of New Confucianism.

Consequently, the trio had maintained an exceptionally close bond. While Ge Yiren found himself under surveillance, Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang were not spared watchful eyes either.

Yu Zhiyong continued his lament, striking the ground with his hands. Initially, they had harbored no desire to become entangled with Ge Yiren.

However, Ge Yiren possessed too many of their closely guarded secrets, leaving them with no alternative but to stand by him until the very end.

Now that their illicit activities had been brought to light, he had been consumed by anxiety. And now, the dreaded secret guards had finally appeared at his doorstep.

Observing Yu Zhiyong’s continued lamentation, seemingly oblivious to him, the secret guards captain promptly gave the order for his men to apprehend Yu Zhiyong.

Meanwhile, Ni Kuang, who was on the verge of departing, found his exit blocked. After being fitted with shackles, he was swiftly taken away without a word of explanation.

In addition to these arrests, the secret guards also made their presence known at the residences of several other officials and imperial relatives. With each appearance, influential figures who typically held sway in Qingzhou were taken into custody.

Such a widespread and coordinated operation quickly rippled through Qingzhou City, instilling a palpable sense of unease among its populace.

Zhu’s Mansion.

Peeking through a slight gap in his door, Zhu Wuliu watched as a certain merchant was led away, a shiver coursing through him. He swiftly retreated, securing the door before returning to the main hall.

There, Ding Wu awaited Zhu Wuliu. Following the unfolding events, he had sought out Zhu Wuliu, recognizing him as one of the most well-informed individuals among Qingzhou’s merchant class.

“What is all this commotion about? Which official has been apprehended this time?” Ding Wu inquired, his voice laced with anxiety.

The speed at which events had unfolded left everyone reeling, and many now feared being taken away without cause.

“This time, it’s not an official. It’s our neighbor, Han Dafeng,” Zhu Wuliu replied, his expression grave.

“Han Dafeng? I thought they were only arresting officials and nobles?” Ding Wu exclaimed, leaping to his feet as if startled. “ do you think this might extend to us?”

Zhu Wuliu appeared slightly perplexed himself. “It’s understandable that Ge Yiren, who betrayed the Emperor’s trust, would be arrested. But the apprehension of merchants seems less straightforward. I heard from Ge’s household that before Ge Yiren was taken away, he instructed his steward to eliminate Ren He, and this Ren He might have ties to the Merchant Parliament.”

“In that case, this operation involves two separate matters being addressed simultaneously?” Ding Wu asked, a visible wave of relief washing over him.

“Perhaps,” Zhu Wuliu mused. “This Han Dafeng also originated from the south. If so, it does align.”

“That certainly puts my mind at ease. At least it seems unrelated to us directly.”

However, Zhu Wuliu’s brow remained furrowed. “I’ve had some business dealings with Han Dafeng. I sincerely hope I won’t be implicated. After all, our interactions were purely business-related.”

Ding Wu regarded Zhu Wuliu with a degree of sympathy. Zhu Wuliu, who had risen from humble beginnings to become a prominent merchant, rivaling Ding Wu himself in Qingzhou, was indeed a figure of legend.

Yet, Ding Wu was aware that Zhu Wuliu’s current standing was inextricably linked to the royal family’s patronage.

He then remarked, “Our Emperor is exceptionally wise; he would not arbitrarily arrest individuals. Since it appears to have no bearing on us, let us discuss business matters. Now that the court has sanctioned the transfer of steam engine technology overseas, what are your intentions?”

Zhu Wuliu concurred, adopting a cautious stance on sensitive matters, particularly given his elder brother, Zhu Sansi’s, influence.

His apprehension eased, he stated, “I am making arrangements to transport the older steam engine equipment to Southeast Asia. The indigenous populations there will readily work in exchange for basic sustenance.”

“Even so, Southeast Asia is considered uncivilized. Will those natives truly labor diligently? I am considering a venture into Japan. Reports suggest the situation there is gradually stabilizing, and it’s geographically proximate to our homeland,” Ding Wu commented, seeking to glean further information.

Zhu Wuliu chuckled upon hearing this. “Brother Ding, heed my counsel. Refrain from venturing to Japan at this juncture. You may consider it for mining operations, but establishing factories there is premature.”

Ding Wu's understanding emerged. This was his secondary motive for his presence. With electricity supplanting coal, both he and Zhu Wuliu found themselves possessing substantial steam engine equipment.

Allowing this machinery to remain idle would constitute a considerable waste. Consequently, the idea of venturing overseas formed in everyone's minds.

As their conversation unfolded, sporadic bursts of gunfire erupted, causing a shift in their expressions. It was evident that the situation was rapidly deteriorating.

Imperial Study.

A grim expression settled on Li San's face following a telephone call from the side hall. He hurried to Xiao Ming, reporting, "Your Majesty, a firefight erupted during the apprehension of Commerce Chamber remnants in the industrial zone. One of the secret guards sustained an injury."

"A firefight!" Xiao Ming's brow furrowed. "The Empire strictly forbids citizens from privately owning firearms. How could these merchants possess such weaponry?"

"The secret guards discovered a concealed chamber beneath a textile factory, containing imitation firearms," Li San stated.

Xiao Ming's countenance hardened. This event was unearthing numerous underlying issues. Undeniably, the most lucrative enterprise of this era was armaments.

This particular incident served as ample proof that Cao Kun had been orchestrating a long-term scheme, making thorough preparations. This discovery only strengthened his resolve to eradicate the parliament's remaining elements in a single, decisive action.

After a brief period of contemplation, he declared, "I shall dispatch immediate notifications to the six major military regions, requesting their soldiers to collaborate with the secret guards. This time, we must extinguish the problem at its root! No future repercussions shall be permitted."

"With the army's involvement, there shall be no issues whatsoever," Li San responded with evident relief.

With that, Xiao Ming seized the telephone and contacted Cui Shang'an, instructing him to relay the order to the military regions.

Having completed this, Xiao Ming felt it was still insufficient. He mused, "It is also time to allow certain individuals to witness the fruits of my reforms throughout the years and to impress upon them the true might of the Empire."

Qian Dafu instantly grasped Xiao Ming's intention. He had employed a similar tactic previously when purging the powerful families within the six prefectures.

"Qian Dafu, tomorrow, reveal the roster of apprehended individuals through the newspaper. To bolster our efforts, we will initiate a nationwide campaign against the malevolent forces sowing discord within the Empire. I shall personally pen an article to set the narrative straight," Xiao Ming declared with a cold, derisive smile.

Li San couldn't help but gulp. The Wang family had not escaped their fate during that period. Once Xiao Ming initiated this move, a storm of rectification, poised to engulf the entire Empire, would truly commence.

Yet, a sliver of concern lingered within him, a fear that such an action might prove excessive, inadvertently harming innocent lives. However, the prevailing corruption within the Empire seemed to necessitate such a drastic measure.

Otherwise, even if a group like Ge Yiren were eliminated, the entrenched old nobility, still secure in their positions, would persist in their oppressive rule over the common folk. It was far more advantageous to leverage this incident to curb their overwhelming arrogance.