Fu Song

The secret door was opened, and the light shone in through the small door, Zheng Qi couldn't help squinting his eyes.

"Duke Zheng, you have suffered!" A familiar voice came from outside.

It's Luo Xin.

Seeing Luo Xin, Zheng Qi knew that the situation should be under control.

He stood up, dusted off the dust on the sleeves of his robe, and walked out of the dark room.

This is his tenth day in hiding here.

"Where are Huang Dawei and the others?" After taking a breath of the long-lost fresh air, Zheng Qi opened his mouth, which moved Luo Xin a little.

Huang Dawei and the others are all officials and guards who followed Zheng Qi to Suzhou to handle the case this time.

"They are all gone!" Luo Xin's voice was full of pain, "The remains of all of them have been found, and their identities have been confirmed through their identification plates."

Zheng Qi's upright chest suddenly deflated, and his whole body seemed to be taken out of energy in an instant.

"No one escaped?" He still had hope in case.

Luo Xin shook his head.

"They, how dare they?" Until now, Zheng Qi still couldn't believe that such a thing would happen.

Although he was trapped for ten days, the news did not stop. Zhiqiuyuan's sitting tiger in Suzhou went out day and night to inquire about the news. Although it was not comprehensive, major events could still be found out.

"Besides you, who will the imperial court send to suppress this rebellion?"

"Duke Zheng, the lower officials are in charge of civil affairs, and the military officers are under the command of Yang Wanfu, the left servant of the Ministry of War. Two generals, Lu Duan and Shi Congming, are dispatched by land and water. I believe it will not take long for good news to come!" Fu With Zheng Qi, Luo Dao.

"Okay, okay, these rebels should be hacked to death!" Zheng Qi cheered up a little bit, but he became depressed in a blink of an eye: "It's a pity that all the physical and human evidence found in the past month or so is here. Lost in a mess, can't bring those moths of the country to justice, what can I do, what can I do!"

Luo Xin smiled and said: "Duke Zheng, sometimes a matter cannot be reached by this road, but it may be possible to reach the goal by changing another road."

"How to say?" Zheng Qi stood still and looked at Luo Xin.

"Cifu has already submitted a letter to the official, claiming that he is sick and old!" Luo Xin's eyes sparkled.

"that is it?"

"Snakes can't do without a head!" Luo Dao said, "Suzhou dared to act so boldly this time. It's because they feel that they have a backer and have nothing to fear. Once the backer is gone, how dare they still have the guts? Besides, the debt can be settled slowly, Mr. Zheng." Say it?"

"Wouldn't it be too cheap for them!" Zheng Qi said angrily.

"Zheng Gong, this time the matter has developed to such an extent that it was not just caused by some people for their own interests. It was later found out that the spies from the Liao Kingdom played a very important role in the attack on you. It was initiated by them alone." Luo Xin explained: "What do you think the Liao people's purpose is?"

Zheng Qi was stunned, and seemed to realize something: "They want us to have chaos inside."

"Yeah, they want us to fight internally first!" Luo Dao said, "Whether it's the recruitment law, the young crop law, or the new tax system, they have already greatly damaged the interests of the Jiangnan local faction. Prison, I'm afraid that the whole Jiangnan will be unstable. Although those people did deserve what they did, but at this time, the chief assistant thought it over and over again, and finally decided to let it go."

Unwillingness flashed across Zheng Qi's eyes, he hesitated to speak, and finally heaved a long sigh.

"The company's abdication, the young crop law, the recruitment law, and the new tax system will be implemented smoothly. We have achieved all the things we want to do. As for the lives and deaths of those people, why should we care?" Luo Dao said: "What if they If you are sensible, you should be able to make a cut yourself."

"That Shi Jie?"

"According to the latest information, this person should have colluded with Liu Yu of the Puppet Qi." Luo Dao said: "After the incident, Zhiqiuyuan discovered that his family had already sailed out to sea for the purpose of puppet Qi. country. That’s why this person launched a military rebellion recklessly.”

"Liao people, the heart of death will not die."

"It's not about your death, it's about my death." Luo Dao said: "The latest information shows that the Zhennan King of the Liao Kingdom has mobilized a large number of Liao Palace sub-armies and the Han army to enter the surrounding areas of Kaifeng. The backbone has been broken by us, the regime is in jeopardy, and the Liao people will end in person."

"So that's the case. No wonder the first assistant wants to compromise with the thief. Is this a direct confrontation with the Liao people?" Zheng Qi revealed excitement in his words.

"Last year, the north had a warm winter. According to the analysis of records over the years, the north is bound to suffer from a drought this year. It just depends on how long the drought will last." The people are struggling again, and in order to divert conflicts and obtain more supplies, they must come out to rob. In addition, we have formed a huge threat to Kaifeng, so the Ministry of War estimates that there will be a big war in May or June at most break out."

"So that's how it is!" Zheng Qi finally understood why Xiao Cheng had to compromise and deal with the Suzhou matter in a low-key manner. If the problems he investigated before were followed, there would be few people in the entire Suzhou mansion who would be able to get away with it. outside.

In the face of a great enemy, we can only let go of these internal contradictions first, even if we want to let go of some bad guys because of this, it is a last resort.

If these bad guys can be consistent with the outside world, and even make some contributions in the process, then it is not impossible to let go of certain things and not pursue them in the end.

Only in this way can all the strength be gathered together.

These are internal contradictions!

In order to defend against external insults, internal conflicts can be put aside and discussed.

Unite all the forces that can be united, first seek survival, and then seek development.

In his mind, he couldn't stop thinking about what Xiao Cheng had said to him.

Things that I didn't quite understand in the past, after this life and death disaster, it seems that I have some new understandings.

"Have Huang Dawei and the others been buried? I'm going to toast them!" He was a little depressed.

Considering the overall situation of the imperial court, many things can only be left at this point,
But those who died because of this incident, presumably would not forgive these people.

He was going to offer three sticks of incense, drink a glass of wine with them, and say sorry to them.

Things are so helpless sometimes.

"I will keep an eye on them!" In front of the tomb where more than a hundred people were buried together, Zheng Qi swore to the sky: "If these people have the slightest clue in my hands, I will make them pay the price. "

Zheng Qi was hit hard by the trip to Suzhou.

He didn't want to go back to Jiangning.

For him, returning to Jiangning like a failed dog will only make his enemies laugh.

And Xiao Cheng also gave him a new task.

To inspect the implementation of the new law in various places.

The original intention of the new law is naturally excellent, and each item can be said to be in line with the current disadvantages of the Song Dynasty.

But no matter how good the policy is, it may be misrepresented by some crooked monks.

If you don't use people well, or if someone deliberately thinks about bad things, it's too easy for a good thing to turn into a bad thing.

The Overwatch Council, the Taxation Office, the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Dali Temple quickly formed a huge joint team, and in a very short period of time, they entered the former Jiangnan Lianglu jurisdiction and began to supervise the popularization and development of the new law.

And Zheng Qi is in charge of controlling these people.

Anyone below the fifth rank, this joint team has the right to deal with it first, and directly take off the official hat.

Si Junchao's resignation and return to his hometown, and the silencing of other Jiangnan faction leaders all sent an obvious signal, that is, those who still want to fight against the court should think carefully about what the consequences will be.

In a series of successive court struggles, so far, the Jiangnan faction has suffered a disastrous defeat. First, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang Liu Mingyi went to the field, then Xu Xiangqi added a tax office to the household department, and now the sub-auxiliary army Ultra step down.

Although Liu Mingyi and Xu Xiangqi were still in Jiangning, they were speechless.

It can be said that Xiao Cheng has already grasped an overwhelming advantage above the temple, and there will be no obstacles to the policies he wants to implement.

From Xiao Cheng's point of view, if this goal is achieved, then all the previous sacrifices will be worthwhile.

If you want the Northern Expedition, want to regain your homeland, want to compete with the Liao Kingdom, and compete in the world, this is a necessary prerequisite.

If you don't sweep a room, why sweep the world?

If you haven't figured out the internal affairs of your own family, how can you compete with outsiders?

Zheng Qi cheered up and threw himself into the important task of investigating the world with a hundredfold enthusiasm. Under his staring eyes, officials at all levels in the south of the Yangtze River were trembling, for fear that he would find any mistakes.

If the crime falls into Zheng Qi's hands now, it will definitely end badly.

Everyone knew that the boss of the Overwatch Council was forced to stay in a secret room for more than ten days, and none of his more than a hundred subordinates survived. He must be in an extremely bad mood.

And they no longer have a backer.

Second Assistant Secretary Junchao used his resignation in exchange for the imperial court not to hold some people in the south of the Yangtze River accountable, but there is obviously a time limit for not holding people accountable.

The two new laws that had been implemented in the original Jiangnan in a strange manner, or even not activated at all, began to be implemented at an extremely fast speed.

Suzhou Fu'an Temple.

The morning bell had just rang, and when a group of monks were gathering in the main hall to start their morning class, an army arrived here in full armor. After the believers who came to offer incense and pray were dispersed immediately, a The officer stretched out his foot and kicked open the door with a bang.

Fu'an Temple was confiscated because of collusion with the puppet Qi and Liao.

The abbot Yuankong and many other monks were all arrested and imprisoned, while the rest of the monks were confiscated and ordered to return to secular life.

All the property of the temple was confiscated and sold, and the proceeds were used to compensate the common people who died in the riot.

The government didn't even spare the temple itself.

The Buddha statue was pulled down, and even the gold powder was scraped off and confiscated. Afterwards, this beautiful temple covering an area of ​​[-] acres was announced by the government to be confiscated by the government. A new official school in Suzhou will be built here for students to study.

This operation immediately blocked the mouths of the local scholars who wanted to say a few words for the monastery.

Speaking of which, the government schools in Suzhou are really dilapidated, cold to death in winter and hot to death in summer.

It is also very beautiful to be able to read and chant poems in such a picturesque place as Fu'an Temple.

As for monks?
Well, Fu'an Temple has no monks anymore.

The newly appointed magistrate of Suzhou prefecture acted vigorously and swiftly, arresting Yuankong and others only two days later, and sentencing them to trial.

A group of scum who colluded with the puppet Qi and Liao people were taken to the vegetable market and executed directly.

On that day, a total of dozens of people were executed.

"Have you caught the Liao man who planned all this?" Zheng Qi, who had personally watched the beheading, asked Luo Xin.

Luo Xin shook his head regretfully.

"I just found out the identity of this person. This person is called Sun Chun. He is a Han from the Liao Kingdom. He is a Jinshi. He is a confidant of the Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao Kingdom. He is now in charge of spying for the entire Liao Kingdom. Unfortunately, this person has already fled. You are such a big fish, but it is a pity that he slipped away. Both Wu Ke and Liu Fengkui were scolded bloody by the chief assistant!"

"It should be scolded!" Zheng Qi said angrily: "Such a big fish has slipped into the territory of our Great Song Dynasty to stir up wind and rain, and they don't know anything about it. Where do they spend so much state money given to them every year? ?”

Luo Xin said with a smile: "Wu Ke became angry after being scolded, and decided to go to Liao Kingdom in person. If he fell down there, he would like to get up there."

"If he can also start a rebellion in the Liao Kingdom, what's the point of letting him sit in my position as Zhengqing of the Overwatch Council?"

"Zheng Gong said seriously, Wu Ke, if you want him to come to the scene, he will almost be crowned with a monkey. The flag of the Overwatch Council, besides you, there is really no one else who can support it now! Luo Xin smiled and praised Zheng Qi.

Although this person would make trouble for Shoufu from time to time, but sometimes, he was an extremely useful sharp blade.

In Taihu Lake, hundreds of warships meander forward.

On the flagship in the middle, Shi Congming was fully dressed, staring at the hazy Taihu Lake with piercing eyes.

In the eyes of literati, Taihu Lake at this time is undoubtedly the most beautiful, but at this moment Shi Congming can only smell blood and fire from it.

All over the land were strictly defended, blocking any possibility of the opponent going ashore to plunder or flee to the shore. Immediately, the navy was dispatched, and within half a month, the position of the rebels had been locked.

Dongting Mountain became the opponent's last nest.

A rebel army of [-] land divisions led by Shi Jie and more than [-] navy divisions totaling [-] people is now hiding in Dongting Mountain.

It can be destroyed in one battle.

Staring at the four bronze cannons that had just been installed on his flagship, Shi Congming was full of confidence.

The sharp weapon of the country that has just been forged from the general prison.

Originally, these four cannons were to be transported to Shangqiu and handed over to Wei Wu's Baiyu Army. Because they wanted to wipe out the Taihu rebels, Lu Shangshu allocated them to himself first.

This is of course meat buns beating dogs, so you don't have to go back when you come.

There was a long sound of horns above Diao Dou, and Dongting Mountain was already in sight.

It's just that I don't know how many opponents on the island are willing to follow Shi Jie to fight to the end.