Wang Fangangsong immediately raised his breath again, and he complained secretly in his heart.

However, Zhu Yicheng was not wrong. Compared with the Bao family, the Yan family's actions were much worse. Bao Honghui sent his father and younger brother to the Jinyiwei himself, and even admitted that he was guilty and moved directly into prison.

Bao Honghui's actions seem to be a refusal to recognize his relatives, and it can even be said to be a dead end. But in fact, Bao Honghui is a truly smart person. After learning about the causes and consequences, he realized that this matter cannot be good, and there is only the only way to survive in death.

He handed over all the initiative to Zhu Yicheng, pleaded guilty unconditionally, and expressed his attitude of being loyal to Zhu Yicheng to the Ming Dynasty. Only in this way can the Bao family have a way to live. Even if Zhu Yicheng eventually punished the Bao family severely, because of his love for Bao Honghui to be a contribution to the Ming Dynasty, he might also give the rest of the Bao family a chance.

The Yan family is different. Yan Zhichuan has always had a fluke mentality. After Zhang Ran went to Ningbo, the Yan family not only denied the matter, but instead transferred property privately and secretly sent several children of the Yan family out of Ningbo City.

But the Yan family didn't know that all this was under the surveillance of the Jinyiwei. When Bao Honghui surrendered with his father and brother, Zhang Ran did not attack the Yan family immediately. It was not until two days later that the Jinyiwei was officially dispatched. In one day, all the main figures of the Yan family were arrested and imprisoned, and were taken to Nanjing together with the Bao family and others.

"Old Master Yan, Mr. Yan, you are so smart and confused for a lifetime!" Wang Fan couldn't help but complain about Yan Zhichuan. In the past, Yan Zhichuan was smart and capable, but why did he get lard at this time?

With heavy steps, Wang Fan had no choice but to leave the palace. Zhu Yicheng obviously wanted to kill the chicken and scare the monkey this time, but the Bao family and Yan family themselves hit the gun.

The Bao family is better, and Zhu Yicheng's tone is still a lifelong journey, but the Yan family is different. A business that is famous in Ningbo and even in the Ming Dynasty will come to an end. Although the Yan family is self-defeating, Wang Fan, who is also a Ningbo businessman, feels a little sad in his heart.

In fact, the reason why Zhu Yicheng did not decide on the affairs of the Bao family and the Yan family these days was not only because he had to deal with the official duties with the British envoy first, but also thinking about how to deal with this matter in the end.

The Bao family's attitude was quite satisfied with Zhu Yicheng. At least Bao Honghui's actions showed the attitude of the Bao family. Moreover, the Bao family's importance in the Ming Dynasty was not low. In terms of maritime trade, although Zhu Yicheng's Ningbo trading company ranks among the top, the Bao family's share was not small. Now the Bao family's merchant ships are spread all over the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and the farthest part has reached the Indian Ocean.

In addition to the investment of the Bao family in Hong Kong, although Hong Kong is not as good as Shanghai, with the rise of Hong Kong, the Ming Dynasty's trade routes in the south have become more and more prosperous. Every year, the Bao family contributed 10 million in commercial taxes to the Ming Dynasty, not to mention the profits derived from various industries.

Once the Bao family falls, it will not only cause a series of chain reactions, but will also cause a severe blow to the Ming Dynasty's finances. Moreover, Zhu Yicheng's national policy of always supporting business will be criticized. Those Neo-Confucian scholars who were originally suppressed by Zhu Yicheng will inevitably criticize the strategy of opening up the four people, thereby reversing history.

This is a result that Zhu Yicheng is absolutely unwilling to see. Once such a result is caused, the Ming Dynasty's reform may be interrupted, and Zhu Yicheng will also suffer various obstacles, which will cause the Ming Dynasty's development to stagnate.

Now, the Bao family's attitude has given Zhu Yicheng an excuse to be lenient, which can not only ensure the continued advancement of the Ming Dynasty's policies, but also use it to attack these self-inflated businessmen. In this case, the Yan family, which is weaker than the Bao family, has become the chicken, and it is the best chicken.

A few days later, the Three Laws formally sentenced the Bao family and Yan family under the instruction of Zhu Yicheng. The Bao family was severely punished for this matter. At the same time, Bao Hongwei, the second son of the Bao family, was sentenced to ten years in prison. Bao Yangsheng, the former head of the Bao family, considered that he had a good attitude of admitting guilt and was older and weak, was sentenced to three years and was out of prison, which is commonly known as the "circle ban".

Bao Honghui took away the position of Hong Kong Maritime Supervisor and demoted to the seventh-rank governor because of this matter. However, his title is still there, and Zhu Yicheng has not deprived the trade authority of Hong Kong. He just sent someone else to serve as the Hong Kong Maritime Supervisor to weaken the Bao family's privileges in Hong Kong.

It can be said that this is a blessing in disgrace. Although the Bao family has paid a huge price, the foundation of the Bao family is still there and it will not be a disaster.

The Yan family was not very good. Yan Zhichuan's Yan family, led by Yan Zhichuan, was directly executed in the name of acquaintance with the enemy chief and spying on the secret stolen country in the Ming Dynasty. Most of the Yan family's property was confiscated by the Ming government, and the rest of the property was divided by each house and branch of the Yan family. In one day, if the Yan family was big, it would become a flower of yesterday and would no longer be prosperous again.

This is the result of Zhu Yicheng's mercy. If it were a different emperor, such as Kangxi in the north, it would be the most normal for the Yan family to send all their children to Huangquan. As for those women, children and young children, they were either sold to the churchyard or exiled to the armored people for thousands of miles as slaves, how could they still be in this situation?

Now, although a few people died in the Yan family and a large number of property have been seized, the rest of the Yan family can at least ensure that they have no worries about food and clothing. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty will not be implicated now. If the descendants of the Yan family can be shamed and brave, the Yan family may have one day to reorganize that day.

At the same time, the propaganda machine of the Ming Dynasty was also starting. The main content of the propaganda was the patriotic spirit and legal concept of the people of the Ming Dynasty for the country, and at the same time, they tried their best to downplay other impacts against the two major merchants in this incident.

In addition, under the instruction of Zhu Yicheng, the Jinyiwei directly uprooted the Fan family's power in the Ming Dynasty. The Fan family thought that the retreat they left in the Ming Dynasty was secret, but they did not expect that in just one day, the Jinyiwei would wipe it out with thunderous force.

"The criminal Bao Honghui has met the emperor..."

After the dust settled, Zhu Yicheng called Bao Honghui into the palace. When he saw Zhu Yicheng, Bao Honghui, who had lost a lot of weight these days, quickly fell to the ground and called him a guilty minister.

"Get up." Zhu Yicheng looked at him and raised his hand.

Bao Honghui kowtowed and then got up from the ground. Zhu Yicheng asked him to sit down and talk. Bao Honghui sat down nervously after thanking him.

I looked at Bao Honghui and found that compared to what I saw before, he not only lost a lot of weight, but also had a little bad spirit. It seems that it is not easy to worry about being afraid of these days.

"You don't have to be guilty. The three courts have made a judgment, and you still have an official position now, just give in."

"I am grateful to you, but I am very grateful to you. Although the emperor told me not to be guilty, I still have to be guilty, but I am really frightened..."

Zhu Yicheng sighed and said, "It is a good thing that you can think of this. Have you read the article written by Wang Jingqi of the Propaganda Department?"

"I have read it back to the emperor, and I have copied the article and made the descendants of the Bao family read it carefully and remember it, and take it as a warning, and use it as a training!"

Zhu Yicheng nodded with satisfaction: "Bao Honghui, you are a smart person and a capable person. You should know that I have no prejudice against merchants, otherwise I would not abolish the Four People and promote business. But people in this world, especially merchants, need to know the origin of the word "country".

"What the emperor said is very much. The emperor once said that the word "country" is in front and the family is behind. There is no such thing as a country. This family will be destroyed! Now I remember the golden and jade words in my heart and I will never forget them!"

Originally, Bao Honghui only wanted to have a way out for the Bao family, but he did not expect the final result to be better than he expected. Although Bao Hongwei was sentenced to ten years, he at least did not lose his life, right? Besides, there was still a general amnesty in the Ming Dynasty during these ten years, and maybe he could get out after sitting for a few years.

As for Bao Yangsheng, now he is banned from home, which can be regarded as retirement early, which is a great thing for him. Moreover, although Bao Honghui lost his position as the Hong Kong Maritime Procuratorate and was demoted to governor, he should know that Hong Kong local officials are governors, which means that his rights in Hong Kong have not been greatly reduced, but he has lost some privileges.

More importantly, Zhu Yicheng did not take away his title, which was enough to make Bao Honghui completely relieved. As long as the title is there, nothing else is important. As for the losses of money, based on the financial resources and scale of the Bao family, it can be easily earned back in less than a year.

Now, after the verdict, Zhu Yicheng personally summoned Bao Honghui, which was equivalent to giving him a reassurance. In contrast, in the Yan family, Bao Honghui sighed in secret. If it weren't for his quick decision, the Bao family might be the same as the Yan family.

"I know your loyalty. In fact, you have suffered an unrestrained disaster this time." Zhu Yicheng said in a slow tone: "You have been in the south for many years. This family has grown up, so naturally there will be all kinds of things. There is no way to ignore one or the other. But since you are the head of the family, the affairs of the Bao family are your own. I hope you can learn from it and manage the family well. I don't want to see anything similar happen again..."

Bao Honghui hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, I will make a family precept when I go back this time. I will be loyal to the Ming Dynasty and the Emperor!"

Waving his hand, Zhu Yicheng said: "These are your own business, so I won't ask more. After leaving Beijing, you go back to Ningbo to comfort the Ningbo merchants and tell them that as long as I keep my words in mind, I will still give you wealth and honor. Do you understand?"

"I understand, I must do this!" Bao Honghui stood up and replied.

Zhu Yicheng explained some things to Bao Honghui, not only comforting him, but also asking him to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible after handling Ningbo. As the comprehensive cooperation between the Ming Dynasty and the East India Company was about to be launched, Hong Kong, as an important port city in South China, will have great development in the future, and the importance of the Bao family in it is also irreplaceable.
Chapter completed!