Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

The next evening, Yang Zhenshan received a report from Wu Zheng.

In the study, Yang Zhenshan looked at Wu Zheng with interest, "How did it go?"

"Hehe, I saw it myself, Zhou Ningwei was beaten out with his bare butt, seen by many locals, and many even shouted out his identity!" said Wu Zheng with a sinister smile.

It must be said that Liu Dashan was very reliable in handling things. He not only waited for Zhou Ningwei to undress before catching him in the act but also specifically arranged for people outside to expose Zhou Ningwei's identity.

Without shouting out his identity, ordinary people probably wouldn't know this was Zhou Ningwei, but with the shouting, it became a different story. Just wait, when the sun rises tomorrow, this matter will spread throughout the Capital City, becoming a topic of conversation for countless people.

"Very good!" Yang Zhenshan nodded in satisfaction, then instructed, "You wait a moment!"

He searched through his desk for a document, then began to write.

Dare to impeach me?

Humph, I will impeach you too!

This old fellow comes from humble origins, yet he owns a luxury house and has a crowd of wives and concubines, obviously a corrupt official.

As for the evidence of embezzlement and bribery, do I need evidence to impeach him?

Besides, does Emperor Yanping not know who the corrupt officials are?

Secret Martial Guards are not just idling around, especially within Capital City. They are truly omnipresent.

Is Zhou Ningwei a corrupt official? Just ask Secret Martial Guards, they definitely can produce evidence.

"First thing tomorrow morning, submit this memorial to the Petition Office immediately!"

"Yes!" Wu Zheng took the memorial, laughing hehe.

...

The following day, in the Imperial Study Room of the Imperial City.

Emperor Yanping couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the memorial submitted by Yang Zhenshan.

"Your Majesty, why are you so pleased?" asked Zhang Mingzhong, who was standing by and serving, in a soft voice.

Zhang Mingzhong, previously the garrison eunuch in Chongshan Town, was reassigned by Emperor Yanping to Capital City two years ago, entering Ritual Supervision to serve as a senior eunuch, overseeing the Imperial Guard Department.

Of course, this was also Chen Zhongshu's intention, obviously intending to groom Zhang Mingzhong as his successor.

Before going to Chongshan Town, Zhang Mingzhong served Emperor Chengping, and he had been favored by Chen Zhongshu already. Later, his appointment as the garrison eunuch in Chongshan Town, was specially arranged by Emperor Chengping and Chen Zhongshu.

Now that Zhang Mingzhong has fulfilled his duties, he has been picked by Chen Zhongshu as his successor. His conduct in Chongshan Town has proven that he knows the big picture, when to advance or retreat, and the weight of matters. Over the past two years, Zhang Mingzhong has gradually gained Emperor Yanping's recognition.

"Come, take a look, haha, Marquis Jing'an is angry!" exclaimed Emperor Yanping, tossing the document to Zhang Mingzhong with a laugh.

Zhang Mingzhong opened the document, glanced over it, and his eyes settled on the last sentence, 'I believe City Patrol Imperial Censor Mr. Zhou is a corrupt official. Why not investigate him? The confiscated wealth could be used to enrich the state treasury!'

He chuckled, "Zhou Ningwei has brought this upon himself for daring to provoke Marquis Jing'an. He seems to have forgotten Marquis Jing'an is a bloodthirsty demon!"

Emperor Yanping shook his head slightly, "I feel that we should blame Marquis Jing'an instead. In recent years, he has kept to himself, not even willing to attend court regularly, causing people to forget his prowess."

Emperor Yanping had plenty of grievances about Yang Zhenshan. He was well aware of Yang Zhenshan's abilities and naturally wanted to make good use of him. Chongshan Town was not an easy place to assign, but other frontier posts could still be an option, and if not those, then even the imperial guard.

He had mentioned these opportunities to Yang Zhenshan before, but Yang Zhenshan currently only wanted to stay at the Martial Arts Pavilion, showing no interest in anything else, which frustrated him greatly.

But he had no way to force Yang Zhenshan either. Innate Martial Artists are Innate Martial Artists, even an Emperor cannot compel them.

Zhang Mingzhong naturally understood Emperor Yanping's thoughts, but this was not something he could meddle in casually.

"Your Majesty, shall we proceed with Marquis Jing'an's suggestion?"

Emperor Yanping waved it off unconcernedly, "Go ask Secret Martial Guards. If there is evidence, then proceed with the investigation!"

A mere City Patrol Imperial Censor was not worth his concern.

"Yes!"

Zhang Mingzhong accepted the order and slowly exited the Imperial Study Room.

Just as he left the Imperial Study Room, Chen Zhongshu happened to come by.

"Dad!" Zhang Mingzhong respectfully greeted.

Chen Zhongshu nodded slightly and looked at the memorial in his hand, "What is it?"

"It's Marquis Jing'an being dissatisfied with Zhou Ningwei; His Majesty has ordered me to handle his case!" said Zhang Mingzhong respectfully.

In the Imperial City, the eunuch community often used the terms foster father and son, though Chen Zhongshu used to be addressed as Ancestor previously.

"Then you go and handle it, the sooner you go the sooner you're back!"

Chen Zhongshu gave the instructions and entered the Imperial Study Room, approaching the imperial desk.

Emperor Yanping was still dealing with court memorials, and Chen Zhongshu respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the investigation into the Weaving Bureau has been clarified!"

"Any issues?"

"There are no major problems with the Weaving Bureau, but many silk merchants from Jiangnan have plenty of them," said Chen Zhongshu.

Emperor Yanping looked up at him, and Chen Zhongshu explained, "In the past two years, as the silk output of the Weaving Bureau has increased, the demand for raw silk has increased accordingly, causing the price of raw silk in Jiangnan to keep rising, leading to dissatisfaction among many silk merchants there."

The Weaving Bureau was specifically in charge of producing silk needed by the royal court, but it also supplied silk products for tribute trade.

If it were only for these reasons, the Weaving Bureau would not affect the price of raw silk in Jiangnan, but due to the establishment of the Imperial Commerce Bureau and the interference of the six major Imperial Merchants in the tribute trade, the scale of tribute trade had been expanding enormously.