Invincible Zhengde

Chapter 113 Don't Dare to Spend a Penny
Qi Zhong and Mou Bin quickly said: "The minister is ready, and it is up to His Royal Highness to order!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded with a smile, and then said: "Then let's go!" He said and walked forward first.

For these two people, Zhu Houzhao never thought of wooing or getting close to him. He Zhong, this person, Zhu Houzhao didn't like, let alone whether he has the ability, this person is an old official.Of course, after being an official for a long time, it is inevitable to be tactful, but tactful and pretending to be stupid are two different things.But Zhu Houzhao won't do anything to him, as long as he doesn't get in the way.

Mou Bin, commander of Jin Yiwei, Zhu Houzhao didn't know him very well, but he knew that he was capable, but Zhu Houzhao didn't want to use him, because Zhu Houzhao didn't trust him, as long as these two people didn't make trouble.

A group of people came to the front hall. At this time, there were already many people waiting here. All the officials and generals from Yangzhou were there. They came to pay homage to Zhu Houzhao.

His eyes swept over everyone's faces, Zhu Houzhao sat on the chair, and these people knelt down to worship, Zhu Houzhao nodded, and then said: "Let's get flat!" Zhu Houzhao didn't speak until everyone stood up. He continued: "I came to Yangzhou today to investigate the case of Dongchang Yang Lian bullying Liangshan and extorting salt merchants in Yangzhou under the imperial edict of my father."

Everyone was stunned, but no one spoke. The news from the capital did not say so, but Zhu Houzhao, the crown prince, said so, and these people naturally did not dare to refute.

"Yang Lian, I'm giving you a chance to defend yourself, let's talk about it!" Zhu Houzhao looked at Yang Lian, and said slowly, with a bit of indifference in his tone.

Yang Lian walked out quickly, knelt down on the ground, and said: "Return to Your Highness, the servants came to Yangzhou because of the private salt case in Yangzhou. Dongchang received a secret report from Yangzhou that the Lianghuai salt merchants and officials of the salt road colluded with each other. Turn official salt into private salt, and then sell private salt as official salt, making huge profits. Saltway officials participated in this, not only accepting bribes, but also participating in the sale of private salt.”

"The officials involved include not only Yandao officials, but also officials from Nanzhili, and even officials from the Sixth Ministry of Nanjing and Beijing Central."

"After learning about this incident, the servant's godfather asked the servant to secretly investigate the case in Yangzhou. After the investigation by the servant, there was a case of illegal salt in Yangzhou." Yang Lian said in a low voice: "After the investigation by the servant, During the process of this case, Lord Qi, the magistrate of Yangzhou, handed over all the evidence and testimony to the slaves, and Lord Qi has been secretly investigating the private salt case in Yangzhou for so many years."

"It's just that I don't know who is involved behind the private salt case. Lord Qi dared not speak rashly. After the slaves arrived in Yangzhou, Lord Qi came forward."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, then turned to look at Qi Huan, the magistrate of Yangzhou, and asked, "Is there such a thing?"

"Returning to Your Highness, there is indeed such a thing!" Qi Huan nodded quickly and said: "Since Eunuch Yang's investigation of the smuggled salt case began, Jin Yiwei's Nanjing Town Fu Siqian came to Yangzhou in person, intending to arrest Yang Bin, a thousand households of Jin Yiwei Yangzhou, and wanted Yang Everyone in Yangzhou knows that Eunuch let go of the arrested salt merchant, if Eunuch Yang was not vigilant, the evidence would have been annihilated by now."

"Besides, there are Nanjing guard eunuchs who intend to intervene in the investigation and clear the offender's name. The inscription handed over by the minister is like a stone sinking into the sea, and there has been no news so far."

What Qi Huan said was very sad, and he vividly interpreted the appearance of being determined to serve the country but unable to return to heaven, but the people present were not fools, the people from the capital were all old fritters, and these people in Yangzhou were well understood by Qi Huan. , who doesn't know the virtues of his own magistrate?So Qi Huan performed very well, but the live effect was not very good, and the audience's reaction was mediocre.

On the other hand, Mou Bin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. At first, Mou Bin didn't think that he could be involved in this matter, and he planned to take a look first. If His Royal Highness made any omissions, he would take action, but he just arrived in Yangzhou. It burned to his own body. If Mou Bin had a good face, he would be a ghost. Now Mou Bin can't wait to take his Xiuchun knife to chop those idiots with a knife.

Zhu Hou looked at Qi Huan, stood up directly from his seat, and then stretched out his hand to help Qi Huan up: "Qi Zhifu, please hurry up, I will never forget everything you have done for Daming, and my father will not forget it." I will never forget it, and the people of this world will never forget it.”

Everyone felt as if they had eaten flies, and at the same time they were very jealous. Qi Huan can be treated like this, why can't people like himself?
Qi Huan stood up from the ground, with a look of gratitude, and tears came down. Zhu Houzhao comforted Qi Huan. Others could not join in this performance, but Zhu Houzhao had to.After sitting back on the chair, Zhu Houzhao turned his head to look at Liu Qi, and then asked, "Master Liu, as a transfer envoy of Yangzhou, how can you explain this?"

Liu Qi directly killed him from the crowd, and then knelt on the ground with a plop: "Your Highness, I'm guilty!"

As soon as Liu Qi said this, everyone present was stunned. Is this a confession?This confession is too easy, right?

Among the entourage who came with Zhu Houzhao, many people's faces changed, they were ugly, and at the same time, they looked at Liu Qi with a bit of unkindness.No matter whether it was Hubu Shangshu Zhong Zhong or Jin Yiwei Commander Mou Bin, they were all surprised. At first, everyone thought that Liu Qi would be a tough nut to crack.After all, it is not an exaggeration to say that he was the capital of the whole salt smuggling case, but why did he plead guilty like this?

"Then tell me!" Zhu Houzhao also looked surprised, but he quickly recovered, nodded and said.

Many people admired in their hearts that although the prince is young, he behaves calmly and looks like a general!
"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi said, and then took out an account book: "Your Highness, this is the account book of bribes that I have accepted since I served as the Yangzhou transit envoy, including three sets of houses, three pieces of calligraphy, painting and antiques, and money. Total 760 130 two -seven dollars, all registered in the book. In recent years, the money has not dared to spend money! "

Looking at Liu Qi who was kneeling on the ground crying and crying, Zhu Houzhao once sighed, this is an old drama!Not the slightest hint of acting.

However, this Liu Qi did not lose money, and he received so much just from receiving gifts. Of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that this was not Liu Qi's net worth, but the bribes he accepted, and the big ones were not here.The real big head is the Liu family's business under the protection of Liu Qi, including his uncle Liao Yuan's salt business, and his family is also a big head of smuggling salt. Zhu Houzhao knows this very well.

"Bring up the account book!" Zhu Hou looked at Liu Jin and ordered.

(End of this chapter)