When Li Xun was escorted to the main hall of the governor's office by the Jinyi guards, Zhao Junchen was sitting in Li Xun's usual seat, reading the official documents of the Shanxi governor's office.
But obviously, nothing fishy can be found in the official documents.
Then, Zhao Junchen raised his head and looked at Li Xun, the governor of Shanxi, with an expressionless face and cold eyes.
After seeing Zhao Junchen, although Li Xun was panicked in his heart, he pretended to have a clear conscience on the surface, and was the first to attack, loudly accusing Zhao Junchen: "Your Excellency, you are the imperial envoy Zhao Junchen?! You
Why are you so domineering? I am the second-rank Shanxi governor of the imperial court! This is the Shanxi governor's office! Even if you are an imperial envoy, you are not qualified to do whatever you want!"
After hearing Li Xun's accusation, Zhao Junchen was not very angry. He just asked in a calm voice: "Why didn't Governor Li ask me the reason why I blocked the governor's office? Instead, he questioned my authority. Is it Governor Zhang?"
I feel guilty because I already know the reason why I am here?"
This simple sentence immediately suppressed Li Xun's arrogance.
Li Xun's expression froze, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, but he still asked cooperatively: "Master Zhao, you suddenly blocked my governor's office and asked the Jin Yiwei to bring me here. What is your intention?
"
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "That's right. Now that the situation is urgent, it is more time-saving to talk according to the process... The court received news that there were loopholes in the disaster relief matters in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu. It seems that there is something wrong.
Officials were corrupt in private, and the disaster relief money and food received by local governments was only about 30% of what was stated in the accounts, so the imperial court appointed me as the Imperial Envoy to investigate the truth and be responsible for disaster relief in the northwest provinces..."
Having said this, Zhao Junchen looked closely at Zhang Xun and asked: "After I came to Shanxi, I found that the news was true. For example, the disaster relief money and food in Taiyuan Prefecture was only about 40% of the court's accounts, while Lu'an Prefecture's
You misappropriated all the disaster relief money and food...Does Governor Li have any explanation for this?"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Li Xun's face flashed with relief.
Zhao Junchen's investigation into the shortage of relief money and food is certainly a problem, but as long as Zhao Junchen doesn't discover the plan, everything will be fine.
Thinking that Zhao Junchen had not discovered the truth of the matter, Li Xun calmed down a little and his attitude softened a little. He explained to Zhao Junchen: "It turns out that the imperial envoy is responsible for this matter! I hope the imperial envoy understands that although the imperial court
Shanxi has been allocated a sum of money and food for disaster relief, but considering the actual situation, the governor's Yamen and the Sansi Yamen will not directly hand over all the money and food to various state governments. Not only is it prone to errors, but there are many things in Shanxi that require money and food.
turnover, so the disaster relief money and food are only distributed in batches and timely. The disaster relief money and food distributed now is enough to guarantee the expenses of the victims in various places for two months. The remaining money and food can be allocated to various prefectures, governors' yamen and three months later in two months.
Si Yamen temporarily withholding a batch of money and grain can solve many imminent problems... Mr. Zhao, you are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so you naturally understand the benefits of this method. Although it is somewhat against the rules, this is the case for all Yamen in the imperial court.
Shanxi is not an isolated case."
After a pause, Li Xun continued: "As for Lu'an Prefecture...it's not that they haven't received the disaster relief money and food. It's because Lu'an Prefecture still has the ability to maintain the livelihood of the victims, so Sun Miao, the prefect of Lu'an, sent
Lu'an Prefecture's disaster relief money and food support has been given to other places, and I hope the Imperial Envoy will take notice."
Zhao Junchen nodded, looking noncommittal, and just asked: "In that case, I don't know where the disaster relief money and food that were privately intercepted by the Shanxi Governor's Yamen and the Sansi Yamen are now? Or where they were used? Do you have any details?
Account numbers? Who can prove it?"
Hearing Zhao Junchen's questioning, Li Xun's expression froze again.
For any lie in this world, we are most afraid of getting to the bottom of it and tracing it back to its origin.
Because to make up for a lie, more new lies are often needed, but the more lies there are, the more loopholes there are.
Now, Li Xun can naturally continue to fabricate lies, but the governor's office has been blocked by the imperial guards. He has lost the opportunity to communicate with his colleagues and make confessions. Even if he continues to fabricate lies, it will be easily exposed by Zhao Junchen.
Then, Zhao Junchen's next question made Li Xun feel nervous.
Zhao Junchen asked coldly: "All the money and food intercepted by the Shanxi government were given to Wang Zheng, the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, right?"
After Li Xun hesitated for a moment, he gritted his teeth and replied: "That's right. The situation in Shaanxi and Gansu is even worse. I have a close relationship with Wang Zheng, the governor of the three sides, so I gave the disaster relief money and grain allocated by the court to Shanxi to Shaanxi and Gansu."
Part of it, but the money and food will be returned soon, and it will never delay the relief work in various parts of Shanxi."
Zhao Junchen was still noncommittal, but changed the subject and asked: "As far as I know, your local government offices in Shanxi have been intercepting and arresting victims fleeing famine. So far, more than 30,000 victims have been arrested. But,
Now, except for the two thousand victims in the camp outside Taiyuan City, most of the victims fleeing the famine have disappeared. Where have these victims gone? But also to Shaanxi and Gansu? Since the situation in Shaanxi and Gansu is so bad
, and even need Shanxi to support money and food, so why should Shanxi send all the famine victims within the country to Shaanxi and Gansu? Doesn’t this further increase the pressure on Shaanxi and Gansu?"
Hearing this question, Li Xun's heart tightened again, and the luck in his heart disappeared.
He discovered that Zhao Junchen might have discovered the plan!
However, Li Xun would not admit it under any circumstances.
So Li Xun quickly shook his head and denied: "Yamen across Shanxi are indeed intercepting victims everywhere, but they are also to prevent the victims from escaping from famine, causing emptiness in the place, and do not want the fleeing victims in Shanxi to affect the stability of surrounding state capitals, but Shanxi
After the government intercepted the victims fleeing the famine, they were sent back to their hometowns based on their place of origin. The victims in the camp outside Taiyuan City just had not had time to be repatriated! Of course, some of the victims were indeed sent to Shaanxi and Gansu.
, but those victims themselves came from Shaanxi and Gansu, and there is nothing wrong with sending them back to Shaanxi and Gansu. The things here are absolutely upright, and I hope the imperial envoy will see clearly!"
Zhao Junchen sneered: "Really?"
Then, Zhao Junchen turned to a Jin Yiwei beside him and asked, "Is Mr. Bao here?"
The royal guard nodded and said, "He's already here. He's changing his clothes now. He also brought two witnesses."
Zhao Junchen ordered: "Let Mr. Bao come in with witnesses and confront Governor Li!"
Following Zhao Junchen's instructions, Bao Wenjie, who changed into official uniform, quickly led two witnesses into the lobby of the governor's office.
One of the two witnesses was a young man who looked like a disaster victim, apparently from a disaster camp outside the city, and the other was an official guarding the camp.
After entering the lobby, Bao Wenjie first saluted Zhao Junchen, then glared at Li Xun, and then said to the two witnesses: "Now that the Imperial Envoy is here, it is as if His Majesty is here in person, telling me what you told me.
Report everything to the Imperial Envoy!"
After hearing Bao Wenjie's order, both witnesses knelt in front of Zhao Junchen with a respectful attitude.
The official did not dare to look at Li Xun, the governor of Shanxi next to him. He just lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, after the governors intercepted and arrested the victims who were fleeing famine, they did not repatriate them to their place of origin. In fact, the governor did not even
It doesn’t matter where the victims are from, but when the number of victims in the camp reaches 3,000, they will send them all to Shaanxi and Gansu, where there will be a special army to receive them. It has been sent ten times to the victims in Shaanxi and Gansu.
There are already more than 30,000 people, and the villain has been in charge twice!"
The witness of the disaster wailed and said: "Master Imperial Envoy, you have to make decisions for the common people! The common people are from Xiangxiang in Taiyuan Prefecture. They are only twenty miles away from Taiyuan Prefecture. After escaping from the famine, they were imprisoned.
The government arrested the people in a camp outside the city. The government said that they would repatriate the people to their place of origin, but the villain's hometown was clearly not far away. However, the government officials refused to let the people leave the camp, nor did they allow the village elders to come.
He led people and even injured Xiaomin’s old mother..."
After hearing what the two witnesses said, Li Xun couldn't help but swayed slightly and looked extremely pale.
He found that he was beyond defense.
Zhao Junchen stared at Li Xun with an even colder look, and said slowly: "Governor Li, let me tell you one more thing. I interrogated your staff member and clan brother Li Qian yesterday overnight.
I’ve told you everything I know! Now, do you still want to quibble?”
Li Xun swayed again, his expression vaguely desperate, but his lips were pursed tightly, as if he had made up his mind not to tell the truth.
Zhao Junchen sneered again and said: "Governor Li, I care that you are a veteran of the imperial court and a high official in the border area, so I have always treated you with courtesy. During the interrogation, I only looked for evidence and told the facts, but I am patient.
It’s limited, if you still want to quibble, or if you keep silent, I, the Imperial Envoy, will torture you if you can’t!”
Li Xun's expression changed drastically, and he said urgently: "I am a second-rank official of the imperial court, a high-ranking official in the border areas, and cannot be punished as high as a senior official. Even if you are an imperial envoy, you are not qualified to torture me!"
Zhao Junchen said in a calm voice: "This imperial envoy is indeed not qualified to torture you, so Governor Li can rest assured. After using torture tools on you, this imperial envoy will definitely plead guilty to your majesty in person."
Li Xun looked at Zhao Junchen in horror. He did not expect that Zhao Junchen's attitude would be so decisive.
Seeing that Li Xun still didn't speak, Zhao Junchen nodded slightly to a guard in uniform beside him and ordered: "Since Governor Li still doesn't intend to tell the truth, let's use torture."
The Jinyi guard took out a handful of bamboo sticks from his sleeve, bowed to Zhao Junchen and explained: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Envoy, was not prepared in advance. I only found some bamboo sticks in my humble position, so I can only use the punishment of inserting a needle."
Zhao Junchen asked: "What is the punishment of inserting a needle?"
Jin Yiwei introduced with a calm expression: "Insert these bamboo sticks into Governor Li's nails one by one, and then let him scratch the hard soil on the ground. As the saying goes, ten fingers are connected to the heart. This kind of punishment will definitely make people hurt.
Life and death."
Zhao Junchen nodded and sighed: "This criminal law is quite good and will not harm Governor Li's life."
Jin Yiwei shook his head and said: "That's not the case. There are also many people who died of pain after being tortured."
The conversation between Zhao Junchen and Jin Yiwei easily destroyed Li Xun's psychological defense.
Li Xun stared blankly at the bamboo stick in Jin Yiwei's hand, the look of panic on his face getting heavier and heavier.
Then, Li Xun fell to the ground and said with despair: "Don't torture...I, I said!"
*
After everyone left, Li Xun finally told the truth about the strange situation in the northwest provinces and the true plans of several governors in the northwest officialdom.
"Since this year, the border defense situation between Shanxi and Shaanxi-Gansu has become increasingly severe. From time to time, Mongolian tribes will invade southward. These Mongolian Tatars are all strong and crazy, and are not afraid of casualties. They are like tigers and wolves at the end of their lives. Shanxi and Shaanxi-Gansu have each
Although Dajun Town repelled the invasion of these Mongolian tribes and killed more than a thousand enemies, the soldiers gradually became panicked and the pressure became increasing..."
"More than a month ago, the newly appointed governor of the three sides, Mr. Wang Zheng, was inspecting the border defense. When passing by Guyuan, he suddenly encountered an attack by a group of Mongolian horsemen. Although the generals of the Guyuan Guards repelled the Mongolian horsemen,
He even captured the leader of the Mongolian cavalry, but when Master Wang Zheng saw the Mongolian cavalry’s strength and madness, risking their own lives, he was frightened and fell ill..."
"Next, Master Wang Zheng also felt that the situation of today's fire screening was a bit strange, so he sent people to torture the leader of the Mongolian cavalry. The news he received made Master Wang Zheng even more panicked, and his condition became more serious...
"
"It turns out that due to successive years of natural disasters, various Mongolian tribes in the grassland have had countless large-scale conflicts in order to compete for pasture, resulting in countless casualties. And at the end of last year, there was an extremely powerful Mongol Khanate in the Western Regions.
Beginning to expand eastward, this Mongol Khanate is called the Junggar Khanate. It is known as the most powerful Mongolian tribe since Genghis Khan. It has destroyed countries and massacred countless cities in the Western Regions, but it also moved eastward because of natural disasters..."
"After moving eastward, it only took the Junggar Khanate more than half a year to defeat all the tribes that resisted it on the grassland. More than twenty tribes have been annexed by the Junggar Khanate. It is said that the Junggar Khanate is now
There are already more than 70,000 elite soldiers and cavalry, and their firearms are extremely sophisticated... And the Mongolian tribes that have been invading south this year are mostly lost dogs expelled by the Junggar Khanate... Moreover, the next target of the Junggar Khanate is
, that is, the northwest provinces of the Ming Dynasty. Now they have gathered their troops and are ready for a large-scale invasion..."
"After receiving this news, Mr. Wang Zheng fell ill. The several invasions by the Mongolian tribes this year were just the defeated generals of the Junggar Khanate. They were just lost dogs on the grassland. The maximum number of troops was only more than 2,000.
, has turned the situation in Shaanxi and Gansu upside down. Once the more ferocious Junggar Khanate sends tens of thousands of cavalry to invade, how can Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi resist? If they cannot resist, not only will the city be destroyed and people will be killed, but also several people in the northwest will be killed.
The provincial governors will also be questioned by the court..."
"At this moment, one of Lord Wang Zheng's staff suddenly came up with an idea. After Lord Wang Zheng heard the idea, he summoned several governors from Shaanxi and Gansu and me to discuss it..."
*
In the lobby, after hearing Li Xun's explanation, Zhao Junchen looked solemn.
Junggar Khanate, Galdan...
In this historical time and space, because Emperor Chongzhen's methods were slightly more sophisticated, the Ming Dynasty still continued, and the national destiny was forty or fifty years longer than that of Zhao Junchen's previous life.
The Kangxi Emperor Xuan Ye in the previous life was still just the Great Khan of the Later Jin Dynasty, and he still stayed in Liaodong peacefully. In these years, he had been focusing on developing the Northeast and developing production, and was secretly working with the Liaodong military town and certain people.
The businessman who is unscrupulous for profit carries out the smuggling business, slowly but surely increasing his strength, and there are not many changes for the time being.
But Xuan Ye's lifelong enemy, Geer Dan, seems to have risen again, and has begun to expand towards southern Xinjiang just like it did in the historical time and space of the previous life.
In the historical time and space of the previous life, Xuanye spent decades to quell the Junggar Rebellion!
But now, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has not appeared. Xuanye is still trapped in Liaodong, but he wants the Ming Dynasty to directly face the Junggar Khanate!
Thinking of this, Zhao Junchen felt a little solemn.
However, the more important thing now is what the real goal of the northwest governors is!
Therefore, after sorting out his thoughts for a while, Zhao Junchen asked: "So, what plan did Wang Zheng's staff propose?"