I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 520 Petition Group

Chapter 520 Petition Group

On the way from Miyun County to Beijing, thousands of people lined up in neat rows, carrying various flags and shouting slogans, heading straight for the capital with great pride.

"Wang Qingtian is a loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty!"

"All treacherous villains deserve to die!"

"May Heaven bless King Qingtian!"

The slogans of the group could be heard from afar, and the large flag at the front was very eye-catching, with the words "Miyun County Petition Group" written on it.

The head of the petitioning group was Zhao Zhengxi, the owner of Hanshan Supermarket in Miyun County.

Zhao Zhengxi came from a labor camp and later joined the sedan chair carriers. When Gao Yingxiang's army attacked Hanshan, Wang Wenzhou was being chased by Lin Qing. He stepped forward to shield Wang Wenzhou from the attack, and although he lost an arm for it, he gained the wealth and honor he enjoys today.

Zhao Zhengxi is now widely recognized as a high-ranking official in Miyun County, enjoying not only the basic necessities of life that ordinary people aspire to, but also the luxurious lifestyle that most people dream of. He could have avoided getting involved in this mess, but after receiving the order, Zhao Zhengxi carried it out without hesitation.

Zhao Zhengxi had put in a lot of effort for this petition. The people of Miyun County knew the name Wang Wenzhou, but they didn't know much about him. The reason they were able to come was because Zhao Zhengxi secretly gave them bonuses—one tael of silver per person per day, which was a high salary for ordinary people.

Magistrate Jiang Cai of Miyun County walked cautiously beside Zhao Zhengxi, earnestly advising him, "Brother, listen to my advice. Stop making trouble and quickly take everyone back. Miyun County has just been ravaged by the Tartars, and you are taking the people to the capital to plead for them. If the people cause a scene in the capital because of the humiliation they suffered at the hands of the Tartars, it will be a real problem."

Jiang Cai initially considered Zhao Zhengxi and his followers as rioters. He petitioned Zhu Youjian to send troops to suppress them. It must be said that although Emperor Chongzhen was stubborn and self-willed, he was truly a benevolent emperor. A more ruthless emperor, knowing the people wanted to cause trouble, would have already sent people to slap them. But Zhu Youjian specifically ordered local officials not to treat the petitioning people like rioters, but to appeal to their emotions and reason with them, persuading them to go home.

Jiang Cai had tried to persuade these people, but they wouldn't listen at all. With a daily wage of one or two taels of silver, only a fool would go home! Besides, this job was practically like a vacation.

Many impoverished residents of Miyun had never even left the county. This trip was a rare opportunity for them, and they were even receiving a salary. What made them even happier was the delicious food and drink they enjoyed along the way. There was a supply station roughly every 10 li (5 kilometers) where they could rest and eat, and the food was all free. They even got to eat Peking duck!

Zhao Zhengxi's left arm was bare. He waved his right hand and said with a smile, "Lord Jiang, you jest. When the people learned that Wang Wenzhou and Wang Qingtian were unjustly imprisoned, they spontaneously organized to go to the capital to plead for Wang Qingtian. I am just a small merchant; how could I possibly command them?"

Jiang Cai wished he could immediately order the yamen runners to arrest Zhao Zhengxi, but he not only lacked the ability to do so, he also dared not.

Zhao Zhengxi was accompanied by over a hundred security guards from Hanshan Supermarket, each one burly and strong, along with over two hundred Hanshan Supermarket salespersons. Even more terrifying were the three hundred-plus security guards from Miyun County's Hanshan Express, all fully armed. Jiang Cai was merely a county magistrate, with only a little over a hundred yamen runners in total; their armed forces alone were no match for Zhao Zhengxi.

At this moment, Zhao Zhengxi's security captain, Li Ming, rode up on horseback. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Master, Madam sent me to ask you whether the supply stations along the way should be withdrawn after we pass through?"

Zhao Zhengxi thought for a moment and then said, "This time, Lord Wang was unjustly imprisoned, and not only the people of Miyun couldn't bear to see it, but people from all over the country felt the same way. All supply points in Miyun County will continue to operate, and all people who go to the capital to plead for Lord Wang, regardless of where they are from, will receive free service!"

"Yes!" Li Ming accepted the order and rode off.

Jiang Cai was horrified. This mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, actually wielded such power. According to Zhao Zhengxi, this was happening all over the Ming Dynasty. With Wang Wenzhou so inciting the people, where was the court's authority?

“My dear brother! Please stop making trouble! Why do you, a high-ranking official, have to go against the imperial court?” Jiang Cai asked.

Zhao Zhengxi said with a smile, "Lord Jiang is mistaken. I am a law-abiding merchant. I not only pay my taxes on time, but I also often contribute money to repair bridges and roads. How could I possibly be at odds with the court? It is some treacherous villains in the court who are making trouble for Wang Qingtian."

Zhao Zhengxi thought for a moment and then said, "Lord Jiang, to be honest, before Lord Wang became the magistrate of Hanshan County, I was like many poor people, so poor that I couldn't even afford to get married. And I also had a blind old mother."

"After Lord Wang became the magistrate of Hanshan County, he devoted himself to serving the people. It was the government that paid for my mother's eye treatment. I had no way to repay him, so I joined Lord Wang's sedan chair carriers and became his personal guard. Later, I turned misfortune into blessing, which is why I am who I am today!" Zhao Zhengxi suddenly said in a heavy tone, "Without Lord Wang, there would be no Zhao Zhengxi as we know him. Anyone who wants Lord Wang dead, I will be the first to object!"

"Pfft..." Jiang Cai was so surprised she almost spat out blood. Judging from Zhao Zhengxi's tone, if Wang Wenzhou rebelled, he would follow him without hesitation. How could this mad dog Wang Wenzhou have so many people loyal to him? This was simply unbelievable!

At this moment, Li Ming rode up again, cupped his hands and said, "Master, we have reached the border of Huairou County. Boss Shao has prepared a banquet for you ahead. He asked me to come and inform you."

Zhao Zhengxi said irritably, "Go tell Shao Peng to have something important to do. What time is it now? He's the closest to the capital, and his petitioning group from Huairou hasn't even set off yet? It's outrageous! Tell him I'm not eating, and that his men should hurry up and come with us to the capital."

"Yes!" Li Ming spurred his horse and rode away.

Jiang Cai was completely dumbfounded. Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, had influence throughout the entire Ming Dynasty! Fortunately, he had no intention of rebelling. If he really wanted to rebel, the Ming Dynasty would be in imminent danger!

……

Heaven Prison.

Wang Wenzhou hugged Liu Hanxue and kissed her, laughing as he said, "Baby, baby, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and take off your pants!"

"Huh?" Liu Hanxue gave Wang Wenzhou a resentful look. You know I'm on my period, how can we have sex like this?

"Baby, hurry up!" Wang Wenzhou urged.

"Husband!" Liu Hanxue blushed deeply and said sweetly, "I'm having my period!"

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "I know! It's not about having sex with you, it's about borrowing your blood."

"Huh?" Liu Hanxue was completely confused.

Wang Wenzhou explained, "I need to show my loyalty to that pig. It would be too much if I didn't write it in blood. But biting my finger or something is too painful, so it's good that you're bleeding, it won't be a waste!"

"Sigh..." Liu Hanxue sighed softly, thinking that her husband was really unserious.