After learning that the first batch of tribute tribute from the Li Dynasty was on the way, the Liaodong governors did not dare to neglect and sent out Qingqi outposts many times, but they did not see the tribute envoys from the Li Dynasty at all.

A few days later, Dandong and other officials discovered the headless bodies of the Li Dynasty envoy in a canyon, and the tribute items in the carriage had disappeared.

Dandong, Gaizhou and other government officials knew that this matter was important, so they sent Qingqi 800 miles overnight to rush the news to Liaoyang, the Liaodong administrative office, and handed it over to Ma Wensheng, the governor of Liaodong who had not yet left.

The Li Dynasty's tribute envoy was killed and all the tributes disappeared. When this incident came out, the whole Liao Dynasty was shocked.

In a wine shop on Yuan Street, Liaoyang, two people wearing coarse cloth were discussing the murder of the Li Dynasty envoy.

"I always feel that there is something fishy about this matter. Why are the envoys from the Li Dynasty all headless corpses? I'm afraid there is something ghostly and divine causing trouble in this matter."

After saying this, the man who spoke picked up the wine bowl, took a sip, smashed it in his mouth a few times, and said to himself:

“The wine in this wine shop is really good, so good!”

Hearing this, the strong man on the side also picked up the wine bowl, tasted it and said: "This wine is really strong! I said, Lao Liu, whether there is any ghost or deity involved in this kind of thing is not something that ordinary people like you and I can discuss. You still have to speak.

Be careful, be careful not to let the officials hear you and arrest you!"

The person who spoke earlier was disapproving, spread his hands, and talked eloquently: "Why are you so much bigger than me, but so timid? Isn't this kind of strange and inexplicable thing something we commoners talk about after dinner?

"!

"Have you all heard? The tributes given to our Ming Emperor by the Li Dynasty envoy suddenly disappeared."

"Isn't that right? I heard that even the head of the envoy from the Li Dynasty could not be found."

While the two ordinary people at the table were talking, they heard someone else discussing this matter. Looking back, they saw a few traveling merchants listening to the locals' stories.

"Are you guys from other places? This matter has spread throughout Liaoning." Old Liu stepped forward and asked.

"This matter is serious. I'm afraid Long Yan will be furious if His Majesty hears about it. It's a pity that Governor Ma is a good official. I don't know if His Majesty will blame him."

"We are from Suzhou, and we came here to sell some cloth. I only heard about this this morning."

"We have heard of Governor Ma for a long time. Do you know about this? You can tell me that we paid for your table of drinks."

Several traveling merchants came over, and one of them even took out a piece of silver and placed it on the table.

The rest of the people also came to see the excitement. Firstly, they wanted to hear what Old Liu said about the murder of the Li Dynasty envoys. Secondly, they saw that this merchant was very generous and gained experience.

Old Liu and the strong man looked at each other.

As long as you talk a little bit, you can eat and drink for free. This business is a sure profit!

"Waiter, please bring two more bottles of good wine, a plate of peanuts, a plate of side dishes, and two plates of pork knuckles!"

"Okay." The waiter was very happy when he saw a group of people gathered together. The more people they gathered, the more they would earn from this business today.

Old Liu drained a bowl of good wine, took a moment, and said: "I don't know if some servant in the government leaked the news about this matter. Anyway, it was spread from one to ten, and from ten to hundreds, it didn't take a few days.

The whole Liao Dynasty knows about it. I heard that when the Li Dynasty envoys were discovered, they were littered with corpses, and they were all headless corpses..."

"This matter must have been noticed for a long time, but these people are really bold if they dare to steal the things that were paid tribute to the Holy Emperor!" A traveling merchant stood up in shock and shouted.

"Brother, keep your voice down, the government won't let us discuss this matter." The strong man hissed.

When we were talking about the highlight, we saw a group of government officials coming from the east end. One of them shouted sharply: "It's an official. The official is here. Let's disperse quickly!"

The traveling merchants looked back after hearing this, and saw that a group of official officials had indeed passed by. They did not dare to stay at the moment, so they stood up and said goodbye: "In this case, it is getting late, so we will leave first. Today everyone's food and drinks are included in the money."

On us."

"Farewell, farewell!"

A few traveling merchants left two coins and headed west, leaving only a group of common people with mouths open. I have to say that these southern merchants are really damn rich!

Liaoyang, Jinglue Mansion.

Ma Wensheng summoned everyone to discuss countermeasures. He had trouble sleeping and eating these past few days, and had to postpone his planned departure to Beijing for his death for a few days.

These Li Dynasty envoys did not enter Liao early or late, but they chose to leave just when they were about to leave Liao and enter Beijing. If they did not handle this matter cleanly, they would not be able to give an accurate explanation to the emperor or give an explanation to the world.

, I am afraid that not only will my career in the future come to an end, but also that the emperor may accuse me, and even if I enter the capital, I will be scorned by my colleagues.

However, after thinking about it for several nights, he was still not sure who killed the Li Chao envoys? Why did he have to cut off all their heads, so cruelly? Ma Wensheng already had a suspect in his mind, so he summoned the generals today.

I'd like to ask their opinions.

The generals in Liaodong also didn’t want to let Ma Wensheng leave. Ma Wensheng had many strategies and was strict in running the army. If you follow this commander, you can win more battles, build military exploits, and get promoted and make a fortune!

After the generals arrived in batches and took their seats, they bowed their heads and remained silent at this moment. Everyone knew that all the tribute items for the emperor were mysteriously missing. This was not only a slap in the face of the Liaodong generals, but also a challenge to the authority of the Ming Dynasty.

"Are you all here? You have all heard about the matter, and I would like to hear your opinions." Ma Wensheng said with a sad face.

"Taitai, I will see at the end of the day that someone must have leaked the information about the tribute route of the Li Dynasty envoys. And the only people who knew the tribute route of the Li Dynasty in advance were the Li Dynasty himself, us in Liaodong, and the capital. But the capital is far away from here.

It takes more than ten days to go back and forth, so it is unlikely that the news leaked from the capital. The most likely person is either our own people in Liaodong or the Li Dynasty!" The person who spoke was Liaodong General Yuan Guang.

Ma Wensheng nodded and said: "What you said coincides with my general. The reason why the Li Chao envoys were killed was because someone leaked the news. Their tribute route was known in advance, and an ambush was set up in advance. Yes.

Who is so bold as to rob His Majesty’s belongings?”

"They must be those horse bandits from Liaodong. Please give me 5,000 troops. I will definitely wipe out these horse bandits!"

Yuan Guang shook his head and said: "Impossible. The horse bandits in our territory in Liaodong have been eliminated a few years ago. Even if there are still some lucky ones who survive, they are not so bold!"

Hearing what Yuan Guang said, Yan Chun, who had just made a noise, complained: "Then who the hell could have done it? If the carriage beam is not there, then he did it!"

Yan Chun's words with tilted head instantly awakened Ma Wensheng and Yuan Guang. They both shouted in unison: "Jurchens!"

Yuan Guang suddenly realized: "The general will remember that Cheliang once rescued a Jurchen during the war a few years ago, and the Jurchen has been working under him since then. The method of killing the Li Dynasty envoy this time was cruel, and the Jurchen Just within the territory of Liaodong, this matter was most likely done by the Jurchens!"

Yan Chun slammed the table and shouted: "These dog slaves, I'm going to kill them right now!"

"Stop! These are just guesses. You may be so impulsive as to alert the snakes, causing those Jurchens to take precautions in advance and flee into the deep forest to the north." Ma Wensheng knew that Yan Chun had a simple mind, well-developed limbs, and was easily impulsive. I was afraid that he would do something bad, so I quickly ordered him.

Yuan Guang patted Yan Chun on the shoulder and said comfortingly: "Brother Yan, don't worry, I'll let you kill me as soon as I find out which Jurchen department did it!"

"Send an order for Che Liang to return home quickly. If he really leaked the information, I won't be able to spare him!"

…

Beijing, West Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

When Zhu Youtang learned that the envoys of the Li Dynasty had been killed and the tribute had been looted, Long Yan was furious.

At this moment, the eunuch Huaien, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, the eunuch He Ding, the eunuch in charge of the imperial horse, Li Guang, the eunuch of the capital, and Yan Hai, the eunuch in charge of the Qianqing Palace, all knelt on the ground to persuade Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty, please calm down, the dragon body will not be well if you are angry." He Ding said.

"Your Majesty, the beauty that the Li Dynasty paid tribute to is still in the country. We only lost some gold, silver and jewelry this time. I have everything in the Ming Dynasty. It won't hurt if I have less of those things." Li Guang said this instantly. It touched Zhu Youtang's heart.

Indeed, the tributes that Zhu Youtang cared about this time were the great beauty that King Li claimed to have selected throughout the country for a year, and some of the war horses that would be used to form a new cavalry in the future. As for other so-called gold and silver treasures, Zhu Youtang Do you not care at all? The Ming Dynasty had everything and what was missing?

After hearing what Li Guang said, Zhu Youtang felt better and said, "You all get up! There is a problem with the tribute this time. The Li Dynasty cannot shirk its responsibility. I want to see a reasonable explanation from them."

Zhu Youtang yawned and asked tiredly: "How to deal with this matter? Let the cabinet come up with a charter. By the way, has Ma Wensheng, the governor of Liaodong, left?"

"Back to the Emperor, cough... cough, before this happened, I was supposed to leave yesterday, cough... but after it happened, I think Ma Wensheng may have to stay for a few more days." Wynn said while coughing a few times. .

Zhu Youtang thought for a while and said: "Yan Hai, go and carry out my oral instructions and ask someone to notify Ma Wensheng to come to Beijing immediately. There must be no mistakes! Let the next governor Xu Guan handle the matter of Li Chao's tribute." "

Zhu Youtang felt that the matter behind the murder of the Li Dynasty envoy was not that simple. Zhu Youtang knew that Xu Guan was a ruthless man, so he let him handle it, and by the way, he could find out all the ins and outs of the matter. In the end, The main thing is that the elite troops from all over the country will be transferred to Beijing soon, and Zhu Youtang urgently needs Ma Wensheng to quickly train a new army that is invincible and invincible."

Seeing Huaien's constant coughing, Zhu Youtang asked with concern: "Huaien, are you suffering from cold? Have you ever seen an imperial doctor?"

Seeing that Zhu Youtang cared about him, Huaien said excitedly: "Ahem...I've already seen it when I go back to the emperor...I think it will be fine after a few doses of medicine...Ahem, this old slave is old and no longer useful..."
Chapter completed!