Yi Song

Chapter 163 Officials, I confess!

Liu Guozhang rode his horse into Chenzhou Gate at dawn.

At this time, Bianjing City was like a large pond that had been sleeping all night. Various smells such as fireworks, rouge, wine, and copper were mixed in it and fermented all night, forming a dense cloud that made people intoxicated and confused.

The morning sun jumped suddenly, its rays of light were like arrows all over the sky, pricking the huge group of beetles with holes, and all kinds of intoxicating breath suddenly flew away, leaving only the coldness, sweeping across the street.

Creaking, rows of tuberose cars have just left, leaving an unforgettable scent in the air.

The most beautiful is ugly, the most fragrant is smelly.

Perhaps this is the aftertaste of Bianjing's extremely prosperous night.

After crossing the Bianhe River, we walked to Bianyangfang, where it started to become lively. The vendors on the street shouted to each other.

"Wang San Po's Hu Pancake is full of sesame flavor after one bite."

“The chef of Meihui Lai Restaurant has not passed down the secret recipe, and the Bodhisattva cake is more authentic and delicious than that of Meihui Lai Restaurant!”

"The Hanjia buns with roast beef in sauce, I could eat three in one sitting. Served with hot soy milk, at half the price, you can enjoy the delicious food of Meihui Restaurant."

"Shaobing, Dalang Shaobing, delicious and filling."

"Golden lotus gourd juice, fresh and delicious."

Yu Wenxuanzhong, who was riding next to him, asked curiously: "Erlang, I heard that you came up with all the delicacies that Meihui came to the restaurant for?"

"Mr. Shutong is right, I am only responsible for thinking."

"Where do you get your fantastic ideas?"

“I’ve been to many places when running a boat, I’ve seen a lot, and I’ve thought a lot.”

Li Miao asked from the side: "Recently, many restaurants in Bianjing City are using the secret method of Meihui Lai Hotel. Why don't Erlang ask the Military Inspectorate and the Hongying Party to take charge of it?"

"Mr. Yansi, these hawkers are just making a living for their families, there is no need to kill them all. Meihui Lai Restaurant has a different customer base from them, so there is not much conflict.

Besides, by borrowing it like this, they are also advertising Meihui invisibly. The fake ones are so delicious, but I don’t know how delicious the authentic ones are. "

"Erlang always has such fantastic ideas."

Close to Caomen, it is even more lively.

Many officials, big and small, came out of the many alleys in the outer city, gathered here, passed through Caomen, and entered the various government offices inside.

When they saw Liu Guozhang and his party, they all showed curious eyes and saw the big flag held by the flag-bearing team.

"The governor of Mingzhou."

"The director of the Da Bian River in the capital was promoted."

"Huaibei seeks out thieves, arrests thieves, and establishes envoys."

The words on several flags showed his identity, which caused everyone to talk about it.

After entering Caomen, Yu Wenxuanzhong, Li Miao and Liu Guozhang said goodbye. They went back to Zhongshu Province and the Capital Water Supervision to report, while Liu Guozhang had to rush to Baozhuan Palace.

Arriving at the gate of Baozhuan Palace, Liang Shicheng was waiting early.

"Erlang, are you sure?" he asked anxiously as soon as they met.

"70% sure."

"Only 70%." Liang Shicheng hesitated.

"Isn't 70% enough? If there is a 30% chance of winning on the battlefield, I will dare to give it a try. Mr. Liang, nothing in this world is 100% sure. Sometimes the best thing to do is move fast."

Liang Shicheng glanced at Liu Guozhang and said, "Okay, let's go in."

Liu Guozhang waved his hand and signaled Zhou Juan, Zhang Meng, Yue Fei and others to wait at the door, and followed him into the palace gate.

After waiting in the Bian Hall for a while, Liang Shicheng came out and silently took Liu Guozhang into the Huixian Hall.

"Ah——!" Zhao Ji let out a long yawn before he could speak, "Erlang, didn't you take Tian Wenbao back to Beijing the day after tomorrow to present the prisoners? Why did you come back early? What happened? Could it be that Tian Wenbao ran away? ?”

"To return to Your Majesty, Tian Wenbao and other bandit leaders are all in the prison car, on their way back to Beijing. I came here in advance to apologize to Your Majesty."

"What's the crime?" Zhao Ji was puzzled.

"I sent people to arrest Zhu Meng and escort him back to Beijing."

"What!" Zhao Ji stood up suddenly, his eyes widened, and he looked at Liu Guozhang. The fingers he pointed at were trembling slightly, "You, you, you"

Liang Shicheng narrowed his eyes and asked in a pretentious manner: "Liu Erlang, the officials are asking you, what do you want to do! Zhu Meng is an official of the imperial court and a dignified defense envoy. How dare you arrest him at your request? Is there any royal law? There are court rules. Where is it?"

"To tell you your Majesty, I arrested Zhu Meng for a reason."

"what reason?"

"He plotted regicide!"

"Rebellion and regicide?" Zhao Ji was stunned, especially the word regicide, which struck his heart like a bolt of lightning.

The minister he trusted so much dared to kill the king!

"Where's the evidence?" Zhao Ji asked fiercely with a livid face. "Just outside the palace." Liu Guozhang replied.

"Bring it in!"

"Yes!"

After a while, a small box was brought in. After Liu Guozhang took it, he placed it on the imperial desk, opened the lid, and took out a few letters from inside.

"what is this?"

"This is the correspondence between Cai Chi and Zhu Meng in the Fifth Office of Grand Master Cai. Please read it."

Zhao Ji took it and looked at it, and the hand holding the letter couldn't help but tremble.

"Bang!" Zhao Ji slapped the letters on the table, "Are there any more?"

"Your Majesty, yes!" Liu Guozhang took out a few items from the box and placed them in front of Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji stared at these objects with extreme disgust and hatred. He wanted to touch them but didn't want to.

"Your Majesty, I also found a large amount of evidence in Zhu Meng's residence, including account books. In the past ten years, Suzhou and Hangzhou Yingfeng Bureau spent a total of 11.6 million yuan from the treasury for the mining and transportation of flowers and stones.

It is well documented that only 3.12 million yuan was spent on purchase, transportation and other expenses, and the rest was all pocketed. "

"What? This bastard Zhu Meng, under the guise of buying a flower bed for me, withdrew 11.6 million yuan from the treasury and was just greedy."

"Eight, four hundred and eighty thousand strings."

Zhao Ji covered his heart and fell on the throne in despair.

His heart was really broken.

I understand that it is not easy to do things below. Turning a blind eye and being greedy are just trivial things. As long as you get things done, it will be fine. In his opinion, I don't blame you if you want to spend one to two million yuan out of a ten million yuan expenditure.

As a result, you took the big head and only gave me the small head.

Now Zhao Ji somewhat understands why many ministers say that the people in the southeast are filled with resentment. These bastards have taken most of the benefits, but I have to bear the blame.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ji became even more angry.

He prides himself on being a benevolent king who treats his subordinates generously, but he never expected that these bastards would not only be greedy and greedy, but they would also plot rebellion afterward!

And regicide!

It is tolerable, but what is unbearable!

"These beasts, beasts worse than pigs and dogs!" Zhao Ji cursed uncontrollably, and with a wave of his hand, he swept away everything on the imperial desk. Still not satisfied, he grabbed the Ru kiln Han jade bottle next to him and smashed it to the ground with a clang.

Liu Guozhang and Liang Shicheng looked at each other silently. The matter was half done and they continued to add fuel to the fire.

"The officials should calm down and don't be angry with the dragon body." Liang Shicheng quickly stepped forward to support Zhao Ji and stretched out his right hand to gently caress his back vest.

"Liu Erlang, tell me, how did you find the evidence of Zhu Meng's crime?"

Zhao Ji was excited, pointed at Liu Guozhang and asked, "Yes, how did you find the evidence of his crime?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, this matter starts from Manjintang."

Liu Guozhang said that he met Fengcheng in Manjintang and was told a secret before he died. At that time, I didn't take it seriously. I was busy competing with Cai Laowu in a battle of wits and courage.

"I have never understood why Cai Wulang has been targeting me. Now that I think about it, it turns out that the root is here."

Zhao Ji had heard about the grievances between him and Cai Wei, and couldn't help but nod when he heard this.

"Later, I recognized my ancestor and returned to my clan, and was granted an official position by the official family. So I went to Tianqing Temple to fulfill my vow, remembering Fengcheng's last words."

Liu Guozhang didn't want to make the matter so complicated or involve too many people, so he changed Zhongxin Bookstore to a corner of Tianqing Temple, got tips from there, and sent people to dig out the evidence from somewhere in Yangzhou.

"After I got the evidence, I couldn't believe it, and I was worried that the news would be leaked. After Zhu Meng heard the news, he left. So he sent his confidants to Gaoyou to escort a sum of food and grass with the imperial pen given by his majesty. The cavalry troops asked them to arrest Zhu Meng.

I know I am reckless, but I have such a reckless temperament. When I saw someone dare to harm the official, I became angry and furious. I asked the official to forgive me for doing this wrong thing. "

Zhao Ji waved his hand, "Erlang is impatient, but he is loyal to the emperor. I will not blame you. The most urgent task now is how to deal with this matter? Erlang, how do you think we should deal with it?"

"I only know how to arrest people, but I don't know how to deal with them. On such a big matter, I ask Qian Gang to make his own decision." Liu Guozhang glanced at Zhao Ji and glanced at Liang Shicheng when he saw that Zhao Ji was hesitant.

Liang Shicheng advised from the side: "The official family involves the three kings and Taishi Cai. It is of great importance. I think that Taiwei Gao should be found first."

"Why are you looking for Gao Qiu?" Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment, then understood, "Yes, call Gao Qiu to come and change the defenses of all the forbidden troops in the city, especially the Fourth Army. Erlang, you will temporarily command the envoy in front of the palace and guard the imperial city. Take on the dual role of guard."

"Yes!"

"Master Cheng, go and call Zheng Juzhong, Bai Shizhong, and Wang Fu immediately."

"Yes!"

Liu Guozhang and Liang Shicheng looked at each other, and the officials shouted that they were not in the same group as Cai Taishi, and the matter became two-thirds.

Keep up the good work!

(End of this chapter)