Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 623 Repair

The Songjiang Prefecture case seemed to involve many officials, but in fact most of them were middle and low-level officials, and most of those in high positions were not involved.

Meng Jun felt somewhat comforted by the fact that the important officials of the imperial court were not involved. If it were not for the last resort, Meng Jun would not be willing to take ruthless action.

Meng Jun also knew that it was unfair for Yang En to be involved in this. Although he did not participate in Yang Zhongliang's affairs, Yang Zhongliang did use his banner to do evil.

Since his southern tour, Meng Jun has observed the appearance of the people passing through the county town. Compared with the chaotic times at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the people's living standards have improved a lot. The imperial court has been newly established, and although local officials have become increasingly slack, overall, the local officials still carry out the imperial court's will and policies.

For example, Meng Jun ordered the construction of cement roads between major cities across the country. After a few years, the roads have taken shape. Although horses cannot run on cement roads, they are very convenient for caravans to travel, and at least they won't become muddy when it rains.

During the time he stayed in Jinling, except for the fact that the memorials from the officials in the capital ruined his mood, Meng Jun felt quite comfortable the rest of the time. The air in the south of the Yangtze River was more humid, while the air in the north was too dry, and from time to time, winds carrying sand blew into the capital.

Although Nanjing was a good place, the southern tour was not over yet. Meng Jun arranged officials in Nanjing to fill the official positions at all levels of Songjiang Prefecture, and ordered the whole country to ban the longevity cream and arrest the foreigners who sold it. Then, in mid-August of the seventh year of Zhaowu, he set out again for the south.

Shortly after Meng Jun set out, the new prefect of Songjiang Prefecture sent someone to report urgently that a group of barbarians, claiming to be from Yingleng, wanted to release the captured merchants. They also said that they had already discussed with the Yang family and signed a contract allowing them to sell the longevity cream.

The prefect of Songjiang felt that this was a matter with other countries and he did not dare to make a decision on his own, so he urgently sent Meng Jun to request a judicial decision.

After reading the urgent report, Meng Jun was stunned. It made Meng Jun feel like he was dreaming back to the Qing Dynasty. It was a bit absurd and ridiculous. The Britain today is not the British Empire during the Qing Dynasty.

In Meng Jun's impression, it seems that the Dutch were still the strongest at sea at that time, and it would take decades or even hundreds of years for Britain to take the lead.

Meng Jun casually wrote: "If the barbarians break the law in our dynasty, we should apply our laws. I hate Fu Shou Gao very much and I will punish him severely and severely."

During the Qian Dynasty, Meng Jun abolished most of the corporal punishments, especially lingchi, beheading and other tortures. The general death penalty was execution by shooting, and even beheading was rare.

However, Meng Jun still retained a few crimes, including lingchi and beheading. For example, those who cut living people into pieces or abducted and sold children would be sentenced to lingchi, have their property confiscated, and their families exiled.

Now, Meng Jun issued an edict, ordering the Ministry of Justice in the capital to add a clause that anyone who sells Fu Shou cream and other drugs that cause addiction will be beheaded, no matter who they are.

As for Daying's request, Meng Jun just treated it as a dog's fart and did not take it seriously at all, and did not even reply.

However, Meng Jun also knew that Britain would become very powerful in the future and would infiltrate India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Therefore, Meng Jun subsequently issued an imperial decree, ordering the Burmese general Wu Sangui to investigate intelligence on the Western barbarians in the Bengal area. As for sending troops to the southwest, Meng Jun had no such idea for the time being. He just asked Wu Sangui to learn more and report in detail later.

………………

After Meng Jun left the large group and ran to Songjiang Prefecture and swept the Songjiang officialdom, countless officials in Jiangnan were trembling with fear, fearing that the emperor would find some big problem in their rule again.

Meng Jun also felt that he was now too big a target, and someone might be watching him secretly, so Meng Jun no longer went on incognito visits.

The emperor's carriage was on a southern tour with great momentum. The vanguard was wearing shining armor and helmets. Wherever they passed, their shouts were deafening. The imperial guards were densely deployed along the way and were on high alert.

By the end of August, the emperor's carriage arrived at the outskirts of Suzhou. Meng Jun parked his carriage on the outskirts of Suzhou and looked into the distance. He saw that the mountain where he had started his rebellion in the past was still standing quietly between heaven and earth.

"Success or failure is all in vain, but the mountains and green hills remain!" Meng Jun suddenly said with some emotion.

Shen Congwen, who was standing by, also said with some emotion: "Your Majesty, it has been seventeen years since we started the rebellion."

Meng Jun slowly walked forward a few steps, his eyes fixed on the mountain. His expression was somewhat complicated. The breeze blew past, his clothes fluttered, and his thoughts surged like the tide.

"Yes, thinking back to the past, I raised my arms and called for heroes to gather under this mountain, and raised the banner of justice. At that time, I was in my prime and wanted to repay the world with my death, but I didn't expect that I would create such an unprecedented achievement."

Meng Jun stood with his hands behind his back, feeling a mixture of emotions. He started his military career at the age of twenty-one and is now nearly forty. The ancients said that one is free from doubts at forty, and he felt that deeply.

"Now, the four seas have been united, and the world has been unified. However, along the way, many heroes have been buried and much blood has been shed."

Shen Congwen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, since the reign of Emperor Chongzhen, the world has been in turmoil. Bones have been exposed in the wild, cities have collapsed, and refugees have blocked the roads. Fortunately, Heaven has sent heroes and Your Majesty has raised an army to sweep away the decadent situation. Now a peaceful and prosperous era has arrived. In the annals of history, Your Majesty will surely be listed at the top."

Meng Jun laughed loudly upon hearing this, shook his head and said, "You have no say in this matter, and neither does mine. Only the words of people five hundred years later will count!"

After Meng Jun finished speaking, he looked at the Henggang Mountain and thought of the scholar again. After so many years, the scholar's appearance had gradually become blurred in Meng Jun's mind.

"Time flies, the mountains and rivers remain unchanged, but the people are gone!"

After saying that, Meng Jun took a deep breath, then gave an order and led a team of people to Henggang Mountain. He wanted to see the scholar again.

So many years have passed, and the wooden sign that Meng Jun had erected with his own hands has become rotten and fallen to the ground. The grave mound is no longer raised.

Meng Jun took some effort to finally find the grave. Just seeing the scholar's grave did not move his heart much. Looking at the grave, Meng Jun knew that he would probably never come here again in this life.

After entering Suzhou City, Meng Jun wrote "Tomb of an Unknown Scholar" in his own handwriting and instructed the Suzhou prefect to repair the tomb, with the money to be funded by the palace.