Chapter 491: Destroying the Family
Just a few dozen breaths after the shouting, the sound of gunfire rang out.
Screams and exclamations were heard one after another.
Old Henry understood instantly that this was not a strong man coming to his house, but the imperial army that was coming to destroy his family.
Although he had been mentally prepared for this smuggling business, he still couldn't calm down when the time came.
He only regretted that he had not made preparations earlier and that his direct descendants had not been evacuated.
As for the bloodline of the Henry family, there were also a few who were living outside, so they were not really gone.
"Well... without money, it might be a good thing to live well."
Old Henry picked up the pistol and wanted to pull the trigger several times, but he didn't do it in the end.
Although Old Henry was also a ruthless man who traveled the sea with a steel knife before the New Year, he had lost his spirit after rolling in the gentle land.
Even if he knew that living was even more miserable, he couldn't do it.
Until the agent of the Eighth Investigation Department broke open the door, Old Henry had thrown the pistol on the ground.
The cautious agents rushed in and found no resistance as expected.
One of them took a photo and compared it with the real person.
"Catch him."
Several agents, who were as fierce as wolves and tigers, pressed old Henry on the table with their own hands, and it was useless for him to shout and beg for mercy.
The leading agent looked down on him and said, "I thought that the one who dared to evade His Majesty's taxes was some kind of hero, but I didn't expect it to be this kind of stuff."
It's ridiculous that he dared to do a business that would cost him his life, but didn't have the courage to commit suicide.
Old Henry had given up struggling. At this time, he was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and chained with his feet, like a pig or a sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
He was usually a hero of the time, and now this kind of treatment was extremely uncomfortable.
He listened to what the agent said, and he felt uncomfortable in his heart.
It's fate, and heroes can't be free when their luck is gone, let alone an old thief?
These lackeys of the Eighth Investigation Department were dark and accurate.
Since they were targeting the Henry family, they would not let any of them go.
The main branch of the Digen Port was arrested, and none of the clan members outside were spared.
Even the clan members who were stranded outside were on the arrest list.
The prisons in Digen Port were as large and numerous as this city.
The port was rich, and the departments below naturally had a lot of funds.
The elite of the Eighth Investigation Department came out together, first arrested the Henry family, and then tortured them overnight.
These wealthy merchants who were rampant on weekdays suddenly became fish and meat, at the mercy of others.
When the wealth and power brought by order are lost, it is the most cruel.
The maritime merchant families are connected with each other.
What the Henry family did, other families did not do a lot.
It is difficult for outsiders to know the inside story, which is covered up by them.
They also trained the children of the family to enter the officialdom, funded and bribed officials to cover up, thus forming a deep-rooted big network.
In time, it may not be impossible to use this as a foundation to push a group of spokespersons into the center and pass it on.
But now, this network is a death warrant.
As the Henry family was arrested, they continued to blame the suspects under torture. The Eighth Investigation Department did not show any mercy and started arresting people after getting the list.
As for arresting the wrong person? They were not afraid at all.
Such a trend became stronger day by day, and the Eighth Investigation Department was like a hungry wolf, biting wildly.
First, the merchants, then the officials and nobles, with Degen Port as the center, all the coastal ports were implicated.
Almost everyone in the customs was questioned, and half of them were arrested.
The entire empire's maritime trade suffered a heavy blow.
At first, Commissioner Andrew could sit on the Diaoyutai and let the Eighth Investigation Department conduct a large-scale search.
But as the customs gradually became paralyzed, everyone was worried, and he could no longer sit still.
Even his men were reduced by one-third, and some familiar faces entered the prison of the Eighth Investigation Department and never came out again.
The blood in the sewers of the Eighth Investigation Department every day could feed half of the flies in the city.
Andrew dared not let these jackals continue to run rampant, otherwise the good city would really be ruined.
However, he sent more than a dozen people to the Eighth Investigation Office to communicate, but they didn't even get in.
Peter was submissive in front of him, but his true colors were revealed as soon as he turned around.
His Majesty's second uncle?
His Majesty's second uncle is not good either, maybe he will fall into his hands one day.
Andrew was angry and scolded Peter, but it didn't help the situation.
Finally, he had to telegraph to the Daxia Center, saying that the Eighth Investigation Office was reckless and implicated innocent people.
Derek has been waiting for this telegram for a long time.
There are many connections between the customs, and no one would accept that Andrew has no responsibility at all.
But if you say that Andrew is involved, then it's really not.
It's just that he is used to stability, so it's inevitable that he will be lazy, and it's not new to be deceived by those below.
Besides, he is old, so he should retire.
But after becoming an emperor, family affection is a luxury.
Derek is still a little nostalgic, and it's best to find a good opportunity.
Finally, he received this telegram, and he immediately ordered: "Eunuch, issue an edict to promote the titles of several cousins of my second uncle's family!"
My second uncle Andrew has many children, and even a child was born in recent years.
According to the rules, they are usually given the title of knight.
Derek simply promoted them all this time. Although they are only court nobles, it is also a favor. As long as they don't mess around, they can still live a life without worries.
The eunuch quickly issued an edict, and after Derek's confirmation, it was kept on file and stamped.
"Send another telegram to Peter...say that he killed too many people, and there are good people, punish him...fine him a year's salary."
This telegram was forwarded to Andrew as a response to his report.
As for the edict of conferring the title, it will take some time to know.
No matter what Andrew thought, Peter understood it instantly after seeing the telegram.
What does it mean to be a good person? If it is just similar, it means it is not.
As for the fine of one year, it is even more ridiculous.
A dignified spy chief still needs to rely on salary to support himself?
There are rewards in the palace every festival, which is far more than ten or a hundred times the salary.
Peter clearly saw that His Majesty was saying that the killing was not enough, and he should keep doing it.
Of course, he accepted the order respectfully on the surface, found some people who were really irrelevant and released them, and then continued as usual.
Andrew was angry at first and scolded Peter for not obeying the emperor's orders.
But when the news came that the emperor conferred the title to his son, he understood what the emperor meant.
To be honest, this matter was getting bigger and bigger, and he had expected that he would be implicated.
But when it really came to this, it was not so easy to think about it.
In charge of customs, holding great power, how glorious is it?
Andrew was not willing to accept it until his son sent a telegram.
"...Since ancient times, it has never been heard of a father and son holding great power and being a minister. Your Majesty misses the family affection, and we cannot ignore the affairs of the state..."
So... retire.
