With a loud bang, the gate of Taiyuan City was slammed shut.
Hao Tianting turned around with a stern expression and issued one order after another.
In fact, he took the threat of the Tang army very seriously, and had long said that Taiyuan City would be completely closed. However, Ahema had always opposed it, saying that he would transport Qiangu to Yanjing.
The difference in their thoughts is that Hao Tianting is more concerned about holding on to Taiyuan, while Ahema is more concerned about transporting Qiangu away as soon as possible.
Because as long as the money and grain are transported away, even if the war is not going well, Ahema can run away at will.
The original words are: "You don't have to care about the gains and losses of a city or a place. As long as you don't give Li Xia money, grain, and population, the more cities he captures, the less powerful he will be and the heavier his burden will be."
Fortunately, Ahema was finally assassinated.
Hao Tianting sometimes wondered if he had done this.
Warehouses in the city were sealed off, and the civilian laborers who were originally called to transport grain were all taken over by Hao Tianting to increase the defense of Taiyuan City.
"If it were off by just that little bit, it would be bad."
"Finance Minister, this..."
He was just making an excuse, and he knew very well that Ahema's assassination was his own plan.
"What?"
Following these last somewhat profound words, Sang Ge smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Also, with such a big incident happening in the city today, there must be people from the Military Intelligence Department rushing out of the city. Unfortunately, I came a little late. You can send someone to investigate, and you can trace Hao Tianyi from here."
The two of them entered the courtyard where Ahema was resting. After waiting for a while, they saw a doctor coming out, carrying a medicine box and shaking their heads.
Even if Kublai Khan wanted him to pay, he would not. He felt that he had already made enough money for Kublai Khan.
The Hao family is different from the Zhang family. Zhang Wulang's surrender to the Tang Dynasty can be said to be the Zhang family's two-legged advantage. This time Zhang Wulang came back as the ancestor of Guangzong. The eldest son of the Hao family, Hao Tianyi, was almost killed by several brothers at that time.
He has already figured out many things. This is because he was suppressed by others.
He wanted Sang Ge, the newly favored financial minister, to suffer a big setback in Shanxi and let Kublai Khan know that Sang Ge was not enough to replace him, Ahema.
After a short pause, before Ahema's anger surged, Sang Ge threw out a name.
Soon, Brother Sang entered the room, but he glanced at Yidu Martin and hesitated to speak.
Brother Sang couldn't help but look embarrassed. He refused twice, but failed and had no choice but to accept.
Hao Tianting obviously wanted to move the food and grass in the city, so for the time being, he had to rely on Martin to keep an eye on him.
He actually knew very well that the Great Khan only sent Sang Ge and had no intention of dealing with him.
"Sure enough." Ahema asked: "Have you collected all the account books, seals, and documents?"
Ahema smiled.
Therefore, Ahema personally planned the assassination.
"What?" Hao Tianze was shocked and said, "He still dares to come back?"
~~
"Finance Minister, Hao Tianting left Sang Ge and went away on his own."
"He came back this time to kill some of our brothers." Hao Tianting whispered: "Do you remember the death of third brother? The assassins of the Military Intelligence Department did it. Who knows who will be next, Ahema, or you and me?
"
"Um."
Hao Tianting was thoughtful.
People like them always speak very directly, and when it came to this, Sang Ge simply said it clearly.
"But……"
He calmed down and tried to suppress the fear in his tone.
Hao Tianting understood the threat in this sentence, and his tone softened, and he responded: "I was just worried about whether the Tang army wanted to attack Taiyuan because of the assassination of Cai. What if Taiyuan was mistaken and lost this batch of money and grain?
Your Majesty’s important business.”
Ahema knew as soon as he heard that Sang Ge was here to subdue him, and said: "Let him come in."
He understood what Sang Ge meant, but he had no intention of abandoning Yidu Martin, who had been following him, to accept Sang Ge.
"Let's wait until King Shifting Brother captures Baozhou."
After coming out, Brother Sang was in a dilemma, and finally asked: "Marshal Hao, I heard that you have recruited all the civilians who went north to Yunqian Valley?"
"Finance Minister." Sang Ge put on a flattering smile and knelt down beside Ahema's couch, looking very pious, "Martin Yidu has done a great job. I am different from him. I am smarter than him. Unlike him, I am not like him."
He is so greedy, I hope I can learn from you in the future."
Hao Tianting took Hao Tianze two steps forward, lowered his voice, and said: "I have always had doubts before, but now that the assassination of Ahema has come out, I am even more convinced..."
"Hao Tianyi is back."
~~
Brother Sang's cleverness allowed the storm in Taiyuan City to pass like this.
"Finance Minister, your injury must have improved a lot these days, right?" Sang Ge asked.
"What?!" Ahma said: "Those are the grains of money that are to be given to the Great Khan. How dare he take action without my permission?"
However, Sangge has handed over an account.
Ahema thought about it for a long time, but in the end he was unwilling to let Hao Tianting use the hard-earned money and grain for meaningless defense, and then ordered: "Go and warn Hao Tianting that this batch of money and grain is what the Khan wants. Follow him every day,
Watched..."
Ahema then began to think that it was almost time to end.
"Martin Yidu. It turns out that it was Martin Yidu who stole countless wealth behind your back. Reporting his illegal actions to the Khan will clear your suspicions..."
"Finance Minister, Brother Sang is here to ask for an audience."
Sang Ge stood there alone, smiling more and more bitterly.
Brother Sang really suffered a serious setback. He was left alone in Taiyuan and could do nothing. Seeing that the time to transport grain and grass to Yanjing was getting closer and closer, he was running around anxiously.
He was standing in front of Ahema.
~~
"Dashuai Hao is here."
"That's good."
"Be careful with your ten thousand year ship." Hao Tianting said: "Fifth brother, there is something I want to leave to you."
"These are all Shanxi civilians."
"Tang Army?" Brother Sang asked, "Have you read the message Brother Yixiang sent? The Tang Army has already retreated, so Liu Yuanli is said to be stuck by mountains and dangerous passes. Can he attack Taiyuan?"
"Marshal Hao, these civilian men were recruited by the Prime Minister to transport money and grain to Yanjing for His Majesty. Can you afford to detain them?"
Brother Sang then said: "I'm just wondering, how did those rumors spread? Why would anyone accuse the Minister of Finance if he is so clean? I've been checking here and there in the past few days, and I've found it out."
The difference between the prince of the world and the minister of finance is vividly reflected at this moment.
"The war is imminent, and this is also out of helplessness."
Ahema reluctantly opened his sick eyes and took a glance, his expression froze.
"He must be contacting the old department." Hao Tianting said: "Fifth brother, go find him."
"The situation is not good. It is not good."
"Prime Minister of Finance, you'd better say less." Yidu Martin stepped forward to persuade him, and then said to Brother Sang: "The Prime Minister of Finance is seriously injured. Fortunately, Brother Sang is here. It's better to leave the transfer of Qiangu in Shanxi to Sang.
Brother Shangshu?"
Hao Tianting was still thinking about how to take advantage of the opportunity to fully control the defense of Taiyuan City. Ahema and Sang Ge were already standing opposite him in unison.
Ahema was still unhappy.
Yidu Martin came up to Ahema and said this.
"Collect them all, just under the bed of the Prime Minister of Finance. No matter how capable Brother Sang is, no one in Shanxi will listen to him."
"And you?"
"good."
There was a strong smell of medicine in the room, and Ahema was lying on the bed, looking dying.
~~
In the following days, although Ahema continued to pretend to be ill, he kept staring at his colleagues in Taiyuan City.
Ahema's situation made it inconvenient for him and Hao Tianting to stay any longer, so they quickly withdrew.
"Qi Lang." Hao Tianze said, "Are you too careful? After all, when the news came, even the King of Shifting Brother said that Li Xia had withdrawn his troops."
"Qilang, he is unkind, so don't blame us for being unjust. Let's kill him?"
He was a dowry slave of Chabi. As for the days before becoming a slave, he didn't remember much. He only knew that his tribe was defeated and he became a trophy. Later, he was exchanged for a sheep.
"Sang Ge Shangshu, it's been a long journey, please rest early." Hao Tianting said calmly and walked away.
Ahema then asked Yidu Martin to go out with his eyes, and then he lay there and began to meditate with his eyes closed.
When he grew older, someone bought him for five coins, and he remembered that he was worth five coins.
Hao Tianting was originally polite and treated Sang Ge with a hospitality attitude. At this moment, his aura changed and his eyes became cold.
"I just arrived." Brother Sang raised his hand with a smile and said, "Shall we go in together?"
"It would be good for you and me to deal with Yitu Martin and let him hand over all his property. His Majesty will also be happy. How wonderful."
"call."
"This is the amount I found embezzled by Yitu Martin. I guarantee it is completely true. Please take a look at it."
"Now he just found an excuse. He could say that the war was urgent and the finance minister was seriously injured and couldn't speak. He directly transferred the money and food and passed it on to Brother Sang."
After arranging all this and watching the civilians arrange fortifications on the city in an orderly manner, Hao Tian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "After half a year, I feel a little more at ease today."
"When I set out, the Great Khan kept telling me that you are from the tribe of Ketun. He has always trusted you very much, but there are always people who secretly say that you are greedy for military supplies. Let me check the account books to find out.
If you are innocent, you will shut up those people."
He felt that Sang Ge was very smart and solved his test skillfully.
Ahema didn't answer, as if he was still seriously injured.
Brother Sang continued: "When I arrived in Taiyuan, I saw that you are indeed the finance minister that I respect, and you have not done anything greedy."
"..."
Ahema smiled.
"But it's not yours." Sang Ge sarcastically said.
Ahema had already bandaged his wound and was sitting on a chair despite his injury, looking like he was loyal to his country.
Hao Tianting sighed: "I still have to deal with those lustful people."
Hao Tianting watched the doctors leave with side eyes, and then entered the room with Sang Ge.
"I looked around the city and found that the Finance Minister is indeed a capable minister. He has collected so much money... much more than I expected before coming here."
"The war is so urgent. Even the King of Shifting Brother said that Li Xia has already withdrawn his troops!"
Brother Sang stepped forward, heartbroken.
By now, he owned far more than this amount. He had so much money that his descendants would not be able to spend it all for several generations, but he just didn't want to spend it, he just wanted to watch it grow more and more.
"I have to deal with some military affairs and I will come over immediately. How is the Finance Minister doing?"
Ahema finally opened his eyes and nodded slowly.
He murmured: "Ahma, the Great Khan has no intention of punishing you, as long as you come up with some stolen money..."
Regardless of the seriousness of his injury, Ahema murmured: "The national affairs... are critical... and are left to... you... you..."
"You, be careful."
He had always known that Yidu Martin was greedy, but he never expected that he could be so greedy.
"It can be described as a narrow escape from death..."
But Brother Sang came here to get some money from Ahema, and Ahema knew that, but he didn't want to and felt very uncomfortable.
Originally, no one's interests were involved, so we could still be polite. Once there was a conflict of interest, even a strong dragon could not overpower a local snake.
Hao Tianting couldn't help but ask: "I failed to entertain you well. Where did the minister go just now?"
"However, there is one bad thing." Yidu Martin added: "Hao Tianting sealed several warehouses, as if he wanted to take the opportunity to supplement his military supplies."
Hao Tianting had nothing to say in reply.
When the situation was more critical before, Ahema was still transporting money to Yanjing Valley. Now that the situation has indeed eased, he has no reason to object.
It was only when he left Ahema's residence that day that Hao Tianting spat heavily that he had anything to say.
"Oh, it's only been a few years since the founding of the country, and a bunch of beetles..."