HLnovel Chapter 764 Severing the Father-Son Relationship
Chapter 764 Severing the Father-Son Relationship
Chapter 764 Severing the Father-Son Relationship
In the farmland of the imperial estate, civil and military officials, dressed in rags like poor peasants, worked barefoot in the fields.
Zheng Sanjun looked up and saw that it was still early, with more than an hour left before they had to finish work.
"Sigh..." Zheng Sanjun sighed, noticing the foreman glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. He quickly picked up a hoe and began to carefully turn the soil.
The civil and military officials have been staying at the imperial estate and in the stables for over half a month now. Many of them have gone from having a fuller figure to being emaciated. Zheng Sanjun is no exception; he estimates that he has lost at least 60 pounds, and his old life is practically over.
Zheng Sanjun sought help from Wang Wenzhou, but Wang Wenzhou was also helpless. Although Wang Wenzhou no longer had to work in the fields and could still enjoy drinking and carousing with his baby, he had lost control of the imperial estate a few days ago, and control was now in Wang Qiang's hands. Wang Qiang was determined to go all the way and was not afraid of offending the civil and military officials. He now only wanted to be a loyal minister devoted solely to Zhu Youjian.
"Clang, clang, clang..." Suddenly, the sound of a gong rang out.
Zheng Sanjun frowned. Why were they finishing work so early today? Had Wang Qiang had a change of heart? Or had Wang Wenzhou persuaded him to abandon his evil ways?
"Colleagues, line up quickly!" Kong Zhenyun shouted.
The civil and military officials had already developed the habit of quickly lining up and, led by Kong Zhenyun, heading to the canteen to prepare for their meal.
The group arrived at the canteen, where they saw Wang Wenzhou and Wang Qiang already waiting.
Wang Wenzhou was still the same as before, holding a baby in each arm, but his expression was cold and stern. Zheng Sanjun was startled; what had happened?
Wang Qiang shouted, "Attention! Right dress!"
"Swish, swish, swish..." The civil and military officials stood tall and straight, taking small steps to adjust their positions.
"At ease!" Wang Qiang said loudly, his hands behind his back, "Fellow colleagues, I have good news to tell you all: the plague in the capital is about to be eradicated, which means you will soon be able to leave the imperial estate!"
"Wow..." Everyone's faces immediately lit up with smiles.
But Zheng Sanjun remained worried, because he kept a close eye on Wang Wenzhou, who was still the same as before, clearly preoccupied with something.
Wang Qiang continued, "There is also good news: His Majesty has granted permission for your families to come and visit."
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
"His Majesty is truly a wise and benevolent ruler!"
The officials, both civil and military, immediately began to flatter him.
Taking the opportunity, Zheng Sanjun winked at Wang Wenzhou, "Boxin, what exactly happened?"
Wang Wenzhou shook his head with a wry smile. "Old Zheng, you'd better be careful."
"Clap clap!" Wang Qiang clapped his hands, and everyone immediately quieted down.
It must be said that Wang Qiang learned a lot from Wang Wenzhou. These officials, both astronomical and military, were trained by him to be very obedient, not only in neat formations but also in discipline.
Of course, for the civil and military officials, these days have been like purgatory. In just over half a month, a total of 6 senior officials committed suicide, 8 officials attempted suicide but failed, and 4 people who tried to escape from the imperial estate were discovered by the guards and had their legs broken.
In Wang Wenzhou's words, this was not an imperial estate at all, but a concentration camp.
Wang Qiang beckoned to the guards and said, "Bring your family members over!"
"Yes!" the guard quickly accepted the order.
“1、2、1、2、1……”
In no time, a group of people, lined up in neat rows and shouting slogans, hurried over.
This unit was the newly formed Embroidered Uniform Guard, whose soldiers were all sons and nephews of civil and military officials. The leader of the unit was none other than Hou Fangyu.
"stand at attention!"
At Hou Fangyu's command, the troops stopped.
"Huh?" All the civil and military officials were stunned. They never expected that their own troublemaker could be like this. Now, they were simply the elite of the elite.
"Xin'er!"
"Fly!"
Many people called out the names of their loved ones with tears in their eyes.
"Quiet!" Wang Qiang shouted, and the civil and military officials immediately fell silent.
Wang Qiang cupped his hands in greeting to Hou Fangyu and said, "Lord Hou, the rest is up to you!"
Hou Fangyu nodded, looked at the young men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and said, "Fellow soldiers, the parasites of our Great Ming are right before our eyes. The time to expose them has come!"
"Huh?" The civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment. What was going on?
Zheng Sanjun's son, Zheng Daozhi, was the first to step forward and say, "Everyone, I'll go first!"
After Zheng Daozhi finished speaking, he took a few steps forward, pointed at Zheng Sanjun's nose, and said sternly, "Zheng Sanjun, I ask you, do you know your crime?"
"You unfilial son!" Zheng Sanjun was furious. He didn't care about discipline anymore, and quickly stepped forward, raising his hand to slap his unfilial son.
"Bang!" Zheng Daozhi kicked Zheng Sanjun, and the old Zheng was kicked to the ground by his son.
“You unfilial son! How dare you treat me like this! I…” Zheng Sanjun lay on the ground, pointing at his son, so angry that he could barely speak.
Zheng Sanjun's anger was not without reason. In ancient times, filial piety was considered the most important virtue. Not only would a son be punished for hitting his father, but he would also be severely punished for failing to support his parents. Even cursing one's parents would result in being beaten with a hundred strokes of the cane.
In Zheng Sanjun's view, a son daring to hit his father is a capital offense punishable by heaven and is unforgivable!
"Hmph!" Zheng Daozhi snorted coldly and said irritably, "Lord Zheng, stop talking nonsense. I have already severed my father-son relationship with you. If you dare to insult my unfilial son again, don't blame me for being merciless with my fists!"
"Pfft..." Zheng Sanjun spat out a mouthful of blood in anger. Is this still his son? He doesn't even recognize his own father? Are you stupid?
Wang Wenzhou shook his head with a wry smile. He admired Hou Fangyu for his skill in brainwashing.
In fact, Hou Fangyu learned all his skills from Wang Wenzhou; his time as an undercover agent in Hanshan was worthwhile.
Zheng Daozhi asked sternly, "Zheng Sanjun, do you plead guilty or not?"
"Bah!" Zheng Sanjun cursed, "You unfilial son, you betray your master and ancestors, you are disloyal and unfilial! What crime have I committed?"
Zheng Daozhi said angrily, "You old scoundrel, you still dare to deny it now? Where did your three million taels of silver come from? Wasn't it embezzled?"
"Pfft..." Zheng Sanjun spat out another mouthful of blood. He sighed inwardly, "It's true what they say, you can guard against a thief within your own family, but it's hard to guard against one day and night!" Had his own son gone mad? What kind of son forces his own father to die?
"You, you..." Zheng Sanjun was so angry that he fainted.
"Hmph!" Zheng Daozhi snorted coldly, looked at the civil and military officials, and said, "Gentlemen, I remind you, quickly confess your crimes! Stop resisting! My great Ming Dynasty has become like this because of you parasites! My Ming Dynasty is riddled with problems, and the people are suffering. Do you have the face to not confess your crimes?"
All the civil and military officials were dumbfounded. Was this boy from the Zheng family really Zheng Sanjun's biological son? Or had they found someone who looked like Zheng Daozhi to impersonate him?