With a big wave of his hand, he said, "Please, gentlemen, please step back."
After saying that, he added: "Zhang Qing stays."
All the ministers nodded and bowed to leave.
Zhang Anshi stayed where he was.
Zhu Di, however, remained silent. He sat upright without saying a word.
When the ministers dispersed and the eunuchs seemed to have wisely retreated, Yi Shiha stood aside and brought a cup of tea to Zhang Anshi without Zhu Di's instructions.
At this time, Zhu Di suddenly raised his eyes, with a vague sharpness in his eyes.
A few days ago, Zhu Di was in poor health and looked a little haggard, but at this moment, there was an indescribable coldness in his eyes.
The murderous Zhu Di is back again.
"There is something fishy about this matter!" Zhu Di said in a deep voice, firmly.
After Zhang Anshi heard this, he said: "Yes, I have also noticed something fishy. Now that things have happened, I have many doubts...Firstly, the cost is too high, and secondly..."
Zhu Di interrupted him and said, "That's not what I'm talking about."
Zhu Di tapped the document gently with his fingers and said: "But... From the beginning to the end, there is an indescribable feeling that someone is planning behind the scenes!"
When Zhang Anshi heard this, he was shocked and said: "Really? Sir... would you like me to order the Jinyi Guards to investigate?"
Zhu Di shook his head and said, "No need to check."
Zhu Di stood up and continued quietly: "This is just a feeling of mine. I rely on this to check. When will it be checked?"
Zhang Anshi was puzzled and said: "Since your Majesty thinks something is fishy, why... did you allocate 500,000 taels of silver? Isn't your Majesty worried that meat buns will beat dogs..."
Zhu Di's face was gloomy and uncertain, and his eyes occasionally showed an elusive and dangerous aura.
He said slowly and calmly: "Having five hundred thousand taels of silver, what's the point of calming their minds? I've already given out two million taels of silver, so what's left of this?"
Zhang Anshi suddenly understood something, so he said: "Your Majesty, what you mean is...these five hundred thousand taels of silver are just to spread suspicion?"
Zhu Di said: "It's not just five hundred thousand taels of silver. Even Zhu Neng, the Duke of Chengguo, was ordered to conduct a thorough investigation and he also laid suspicion."
Zhang Anshi knew Zhu Di.
A stingy person like Zhu Di is willing to spend so much money. This money is really more precious than his own children.
Since he sacrificed all his own flesh and blood, then... there must be a deeper conspiracy.
The so-called reluctance to bear children cannot trap the wolf...
Zhang Anshi's curiosity became even more intense, so he said: "Your Majesty, please make it clear."
Zhu Di said: "In the past six months since the construction of the railway began, Jiangxi has been constantly pushing for money. First, people from the Third Division went to inspect, and then the Minister of Rites, but all the news sent from Jiangxi was good news.
Not a single bit of bad news."
Zhu Di paused, took a deep look at Zhang Anshi, and then said: "I'm thinking, if Xu Qi is just a mere person, if he really does something wrong, why is the whole court trying to protect him?"
Zhang Anshi frowned and said, "This is the crime of Jin Yiwei's negligence."
Zhu Di waved his hand: "What the Jin Yiwei can do is to ride and spy. It is like a lock on a door. It can only protect against gentlemen, not villains. If someone sincerely colludes and plots secretly, dozens of outsiders alone can How can Tiqi find out the truth? At most, they can only find out some superficial clues about thieves..."
Zhang Anshi said: "Your Majesty means... someone has planned this for a long time?"
Zhu Di pondered: "If there is really something wrong, Xu Qi doesn't have such ability."
Zhang Anshi said: "Your Majesty is suspicious of the Minister of Rites..."
Zhu Di said disdainfully: "Liu Guan? What is he?"
ah……
Zhang Anshi said: "Actually... when Jiangxi was building a railway, I... thought that I should give it a try. Although I knew... I might know that there would be big and small problems. But I was thinking, Your Majesty's attitude towards this matter With such a close watch, the Jiangxi Chief Envoy and the Minister of Rites must not dare to act recklessly. Of course... mistakes may happen, but it is hard for me to believe that they dare to be so bold in front of His Majesty..."
"I didn't believe it at first," Zhu Di said with a stern face, "But now it seems that things are even more terrifying than imagined."
Zhang Anshi said: "It's just that your Majesty...what other plans do you have."
Zhu Di said: "Didn't I say that? Five hundred thousand taels of silver was used to raise suspicions. The Duke of the country, Zhu Neng, also used to raise suspicions. Zhu Neng was careful, but he couldn't handle such a big case. He didn't This ability."
Zhu Di paused and then said: "But I have made this decree to reassure people and teach them to be prepared for Zhu Neng's thorough investigation at this time. Only by letting their minds be focused on Zhu Neng, I Having a secret affair with Zhang Qing in Chen Cang, maybe... this matter can come to light."
After Zhang Anshi heard this, he suddenly realized, so he said: "I probably understand, then I will leave this matter to you, I will find a way..."
Zhu Di waved his hand and said: "I came in person, they took my money."
When Zhu Di mentioned the word "silver", his teeth were almost broken, and his eyes were filled with anger.
Zhu Di suppressed his anger and said immediately: "Zhu Neng goes to Nanchang Mansion, and you and I secretly go to Jiujiang Mansion. Jiujiang Mansion is only a short journey from the capital by water. Their focus must be on Zhu Neng!"
This was obviously too unexpected. Zhang Anshi was shocked and said: "Your Majesty is going to Jiujiang Mansion?"
"right."
"When will it be ready?"
"It's now."
Zhang Anshi said worriedly: "If your Majesty leaks the news, I'm afraid..."
Zhu Di said: "So, Yi Shiha will stay, and I will come with you early and late to catch them off guard. All the retinues will be the elites of the model battalion and the royal guards and cavalry selected by you, and the imperial guards in the palace. Not called."
Zhang Anshi couldn't help but feel that he couldn't laugh or cry at this moment.
To be honest, he couldn't understand why those people dared to defraud His Majesty of his money.
Even I, Zhang Anshi, don’t dare.
Zhang Anshi pondered and said: "Your Majesty...if you deploy manpower on a large scale, it will definitely arouse people's vigilance. The number of people that can be transferred is at most one or two hundred people. No matter how many more people are, it may be..."
Zhu Di calmly said: "That's enough. During times of crisis, it is common for me to lead dozens of troops to approach the camp of the 100,000-strong Southern Army as scouts."
Zhang Anshi still hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I think this is still inappropriate, why not just let me go?"
Zhu Di waved his hand: "I have to go! There should be an explanation for the money I lost."
Seeing Zhu Di's unquestionable look, Zhang Anshi had no choice but to say: "I'll go make arrangements."
Zhu Di nodded.
Zhang Anshi stood up and was about to leave when Zhu Di suddenly said: "Come back."
Zhang Anshi stopped and said, "Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?"
Zhu Di said: "Take your three brothers with you. In addition, there is also a thousand households from Jinyiwei. Is your surname Chen, is your name Chen Daowen?"
Zhang Anshi said: "Yes, there is a Chen Daowen."
"This person has meritorious service and is young and capable. He should be reliable."
Zhang Anshi said: "Yes."
"There are also a few shopkeepers from a trading company who need to be proficient in accounting. There are some things that we outsiders can't see."
"yes."
Zhu Di then waved his hand and said: "Let's go."
After receiving the decree, Zhang Anshi felt a little excited and a little uneasy, but he was busy saluting and then left.
As soon as Zhang Anshi left, Yishiha bowed down and said: "Your Majesty... you are old, why do you have to do this? I can just do it... slave..."
There was a look of worry on Yi Shiha's face.
Zhu Di's eyes were dark and he said in a deep voice: "What shocks me is that someone dares to act so boldly under my nose and with my gaze so tight. I ask myself that I am still a hero, too.
When Emperor Zu Gao was here, there were many such daring people. Taizu and I were already very vigorous and resolute, and even so, if we sit back and ignore this time. If the prince and the emperor's grandson are to succeed to the throne, these deceivers will be ignored.
People... I'm afraid they will become even more rampant."
Zhu Di paused here, took a deep look at Yi Shiha and said, "If I don't come to investigate in person, this matter is really disturbing. Okay, everything has been arranged, don't say anything more."
Yi Shiha had no choice but to say: "Yes, I obey your order."
…………
At this time, in a mansion somewhere in the capital.
Not long after the court ended, someone quickly entered the mansion.
Then, a man came out leading a horse.
This man is dressed in fine clothes. Although he is a slave, the horse he leads is extremely steed. Even an ordinary wealthy businessman may not be willing to buy such a horse.
Three days later.
When the horse reached the boundary of Nanchang Prefecture, it was almost useless.
But the slave didn't seem to care about the horse's life or death at all. He abandoned the horse without any regrets and went straight to the local inn to get a handwritten letter.
When the local postmaster saw this handwriting, he was immediately shocked and rushed to prepare a fast horse.
The servant only ate some dry food and then set off. At dusk, he arrived at the Chief Envoy's Office covered in dust.
The chief envoy Xu Qi came out in person, dismissed everyone, and then received the letter.
He looked at it carefully, looked solemn, and said to the slave: "Go back and tell your master, I understand."
The slave was so well trained that he resigned without saying anything.
Xu Qi took the letter and went to the mansion of Hou Yamen.
"Mr. Liu, Gong Liu...there is news in Beijing."
This Liu Gong is naturally Liu Guan who is here to supervise the railway.
At this time, Liu Guan was very frustrated and said angrily: "What's the matter again?"
Xu Qidao: "Your Majesty... seems to have doubts about our memorial."
Liu Guan was surprised: "What?"
"His Majesty allocated 500,000 taels of silver. In addition, he also ordered Duke Zhu Neng to come to Jiangxi for a thorough investigation."
Liu Guan stood up, put his hands behind his back, frowned, and paced back and forth, saying: "Those who come are not good, and those who are good will never come!"
Xu Qi said from the side: "Now life is at stake, Liu Gong has to think of a way."
Liu Guan's eyes widened and he said angrily: "From the beginning to the end, I haven't taken any money from this, but now you want me to take responsibility for it?"
"Mr. Liu... now is not the time to worry about this."
Liu Guan's face was filled with regret, and he murmured: "I shouldn't have built any railways, and I shouldn't have taken this job. No wonder there were so many people in the court at the time, but no one had such a problem.
Everyone was silent. When I recommended myself, everyone praised and applauded me. I thought they were stupid and didn't know the oil and water behind the railway. Who would have thought that I was the stupid man! I'm smart all my life, how could I get in?
Is this right?"
Xu Qidao: "Mr. Liu...when a disaster is imminent, what's the use of talking?"
"No." Liu Guan said painfully: "I want to say, five to six million taels of silver, up and down, and so many names, in the end... what did I get? I am the Minister of Rites, and I was in the eighteenth year of Hongwu.
At that time, Emperor Taizu Gao was so strict. When I was the county magistrate of Taigu County, I still got hundreds of taels of oil and water every month. Now, I am responsible for such a huge responsibility, and I have gained nothing. Nanchang
The singers in my house are not good either. They are not good at playing, playing and singing. I regret it."
Xu Qi simply said nothing and waited silently.
Liu Guan stared at him angrily at this time and said: "I didn't expect you to be such a person. They all said that I, Liu Guan, am not a thing, but you people are even more ruthless. I am greedy in the open. You...you...blame me for being stupid."
,I am confused..."
He beat his chest and feet with regret.
Xu Qi just stood aside and looked at him indifferently.
Liu Guan vented for a while, but finally regained his composure and said: "Zhu Neng is a person who cannot be underestimated. Although this person may be considered reckless, he is actually full of bad ideas. He is here to investigate and deal with it. How to deal with it?"
Xu Qi said calmly: "Everything from top to bottom is airtight, so nothing should be found."
Liu Guan then said: "Of course we can't find out the accounts, but what about the railway? So far, have you laid an inch of railway?"
"That's the problem." Xu Qi sighed: "If I had known this, I would have gritted my teeth and repaired it for several miles, but it wouldn't have been like this."
Liu Guan said angrily: "It's not them, these bastards..."
Liu Guan wanted to scold again.
Xu Qi said, "There is no benefit in talking about this now."
Liu Guanzheng opened his mouth, and finally swallowed back the curse words, and then said: "You can figure it out for yourself. I don't care..."
Xu Qi then said: "If Liu Gong doesn't care, Liu Gong will not be able to escape the blame when the time comes. Now that things have happened, we can only help each other in the same boat."
Liu Guan snorted coldly and said angrily: "I have no money, and I have committed many crimes. For corruption alone, I have been investigated twice, impeached by the censor more than ten times, dismissed from office and imprisoned.
Two or three times! Not to mention, the Crown Prince personally criticized him and was demoted to a staff member of the headquarters. It’s not like I haven’t experienced it before. Are you trying to scare me with this?”
Xu Qi said calmly and calmly: "If you are convicted of a crime by the imperial court, at most you will be dismissed from office and punished, or there may be hope for recovery. But Mr. Liu thinks that if the incident fails this time, will Mr. Liu be able to leave Jiangxi alive? What will Mr. Liu's family do?"
Liu Guan shuddered after hearing this. His eyes widened and he gritted his teeth and said, "Are you threatening me?"
Xu Qi still said calmly: "No, who dares to threaten Liu Gong? It's just... that's the thing. Liu Gong is extremely smart, so he naturally knows where to go."
Liu Guan's face turned green and white. Finally, like a frustrated ball, he said: "Zhu Neng is also quite greedy for money, but... his family has a lot of wealth, and it is really difficult to bribe him. What's more...
... You are absolutely reluctant to buy it off. Haven't I received a penny until now? And the singer..."
Liu Guan glared at him again, and then said: "This person is His Majesty's confidant, and that's the difficulty. If you want him to return with satisfaction, Nanchang Mansion must make thorough preparations, and don't let the trap slip."
If I remember correctly, the Chief of the Jiangxi Command Office... was also from Jingnan, and once served under Zhu Neng, right?"
After hearing this, Xu Qi nodded and said, "Yes, there is such a thing."
So Liu Guandao said: "This is easier to handle. Let these people entertain, accompany them day and night, and reminisce about old friendships. Officials from all over Jiangxi have to visit every day, and they must be treated with utmost courtesy. These warriors Qiu Ba, the good thing is
To save face, to show their respect for him, they all brag about their initial military exploits."
After a pause, he thought of something, and then said: "Of course, other things should be done as well. At that station, you should hurry up and lay one or two miles of railway track urgently. They say that if the geese are plucked, you will cook them.
After cooking, leave some hair for others. You are still not human, are you doing human affairs?"
Only then did Xu Qi show a sad expression and said: "Mr. Liu... these... are indeed ways to deal with it. I will also find a way to make some arrangements."
Saying that, Xu Qi also sighed and said: "Why don't I understand Liu Gong's mood? What benefits do you think I have gained? How dare I neglect the matter that your Majesty personally told me? How can I dare to reach out? I really don't hide anything from you.
Since I became the chief envoy of Jiangxi Province, I dare to say that I have a clean mind and never dare to engage in illegal activities. Alas..."
Liu Guan waved his hand and said angrily: "Come on, come on, who doesn't know that you are an honest official? But you have not benefited. At least you have gained a reputation of being honest and honest. I just want to take advantage of it and don't care about my reputation. Old face
We’ve all come down, but we’re not as good as one, can we compare?”
Xu Qi showed a sad look, just smiled, cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Liu, sit down for a moment while I go and arrange the arrangements."
He turned around and left. After taking a few steps, Liu Guan suddenly said: "Come back."
Xu Qi stopped, turned around and said, "Do you have any other advice from Mr. Liu?"
"What if these methods fail?" Liu Guandao said: "What if Zhu Neng's oil and salt cannot come in?"
Xu Qi pondered for a while and said: "It should be polite first and then attack. If this doesn't work, then if Zhu Neng is really determined to find out something, he should..."
Liu Guan took a breath and said in shock: "You really dare to do this?"
Xu Qi said quietly: "It's not that I dare to do this, but... well... people's fate is like this. After one wrong step, the next step may be wrong. But in order to make up for the mistake, or to cover up the mistake,
Then...from now on, there will be nothing in this world that I dare not do."
Liu Guandao: "You are still ruthless, I am willing to give in."
………………
The first chapter has been delivered, and there will be more to come. Try to update two more chapters. Of course, you may only be able to update one more chapter. Depending on your physical condition, please ask for a monthly pass.