"Tinglong has lived in Xuanhua for a while, and he knows a lot about border affairs. I wonder if he has any ideas to solve this crisis?" Niu Yuanyuan finally expressed his feelings and asked quickly.
"The lower official deeply suspects Governor Shi of being embezzled."
"How to say?"
"He said before that the Ministry of Revenue allocated cannon-casting fees to Xuanhua. The specific figure was not disclosed, but the amount was for forty cannons. I sent people back before, but most of them have left; but it doesn't matter. The prime minister can personally check with the Ministry of Household Affairs. If there is any discrepancy, he can ask Shi Yiyi about his crime of embezzlement. The evidence is solid, and the officials will have no reason to object." Ye Yongjia readjusted his original idea.
After hearing this, Niu Yuan's eyes froze for a moment, and then he smiled and said: "Tinglong's idea is brilliant, and I need to rely on you even more for the next work."
"Bring it in."
Tongpao Chen gave the order and saw two servants holding a short man and pulling him indoors.
"My lord, have mercy! My lord, have mercy! I am just a slave in Shi Yiyi's house and has nothing to do with the politics of this court. I don't know anything!" The servant knelt on the ground, wailing and wailing, waving to Chen Shilang again and again.
"Don't panic. I just heard that you are a subordinate of Governor Shi, so I intend to help. I was afraid that you would not submit, so I took this step. Don't blame me." Chen Tongpao motioned to others to help him up.
"You and them...are not the same group?" the servant gradually stood up and asked doubtfully.
Tongpao Chen shook his head slightly: "There is no such thing as a clique. Everyone wants to contribute to the court and hope for the good of the country, and they are not forming cliques. Some people may have different political opinions from me for the time being, but there are also changes. When it comes to attitude. Don’t take the truth lightly.”
"You are stupid." The servant felt that he had said the wrong thing.
"You go back and tell Governor Shi that Prime Minister Liu has repeatedly postponed the decision. There are many objections from the ministers. Ye Yongjia will not be able to leave for a while. Let him do things with peace of mind."
The servant muttered this sentence several times, then handed it over and said, "I will remember it firmly."
Chen Tongpao went to the Ministry of Revenue without stopping, met with Shangshu, and said: "Master Gao asked me to tell you that the Ministry of Revenue is always responsible for raising funds for the army. If there is a discrepancy in checking with the border customs, there will be disputes in the court. Come back again. Nowadays, the power of the prime minister is very strong. The minister should check the old text as soon as possible to prevent him from making trouble."
The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance snorted contemptuously, stroking his beard and smiling: "Master Chen is still young. We are quite comfortable with this, so we don't have to worry so much. How can Niu Yuan predict things like a god? We are not timid!"
Chen Tongpao had already made a plan in his mind and did not try to persuade him too much. He completely followed his wishes: "Your Majesty is so confident that I am really ashamed of my juniors. But it is best to be careful."
"Well, I don't have to. You can go back and do your work." After Shangshu invited the guests away, he was still muttering in the garden: "What a fuss..."
Before the sun set, the servant who was ordered to come to the capital galloped through the official roads in the city and rushed towards Xuanhua. In fact, he had a fellow traveler who arrived in Xuanhua before him. It turns out that this person is the confidant Ye Yongjia sent away before. By chance, he passed by Ye Yongjia and had already sent the things back.
Cai Xianqing took back his silver and opened the wooden box. There was a note inside, which wrote the evidence collected by the envoy: "The Ministry of Household Affairs urged Xuanhua to make cannons three times and allocated 8,612 taels of silver." , far exceeding the price of forty doors. In addition, Shi asked for the cost of replacing the armor and received one thousand taels of silver. '
He was overjoyed when he saw the letter, but he regretted that he could not tell Ye Yongjia in time, so he had to put the note on the bedside. He did not dare to misuse the new money, and gave it all to the soldiers who had made meritorious service in the previous period to encourage them to continue to serve the court. After he finished all this, the sky gradually turned dark - the servant of Shi Mansion returned.
Shi Yiyi is now living in the deputy governor's office. The servant came along the road from Suidi. As soon as his feet crossed the threshold, the inner courtyard was suddenly brightly lit, like daylight.
"How's it going? Can you get some results from your inquiry?" Shi Yiyi pulled on his shoes and walked up excitedly.
"Master, I have received some advice from Mr. Chen from the Ministry of Civil Affairs this time, so it should be of great use!" The servant gasped and looked disgraced.
"Speak quickly and let me listen!"
The servant said what Chen Tongpao had taught him in the courtyard, which made Shi Yiyi laugh out loud: "This is really great news! Our advantage is great, and I feel more at ease!"
"One more thing," the slave rolled his eyes, "I heard from the brother in Guanyi that a guard who claimed to be a new member of the imperial court came to the station to change horses and pull a three-horse cart. There was a big box in the cart. , very suspicious. I guess he went to Cai Xianqing’s place.”
Shi Yiyi tightened his eyebrows and made a snapping sound with his fingers: "Huh, I've been frustrated for so many days, and I can finally feel proud and deal with those bastards! Xiu Niuyuan is almost losing power, I take the opportunity to show off my power, who can control it? ? Immediately go to each barracks and call for people to forcibly search Cai Xianqing’s house for me!”
Cai Xianqing was about to take off his clothes and go to bed when he suddenly heard several hurried knocks on the door: "Cai Shilang! Cai Xianqing! Open the door quickly!" He was so frightened that the turban on his hand fell off.
He hurriedly went to the window to look and saw groups of soldiers holding open fire, like a winding fire dragon, reflecting the world outside the window in fiery red.
"What are you doing! Why are you disturbing Cai's rest!"
"We have been ordered to come here to investigate your suspicious objects!"
"I am a high-ranking official in the capital. Do you have any suspicious items hidden?"
"Open the door honestly! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!" The knock on the door became harder.
Cai Xianqing never thought that Shi Yiyi would use a forced search. He was not prepared at all and subconsciously wanted to hide the note. Unfortunately, it was too late.
Snapped! The door was kicked open by a soldier, and a dozen sergeants swarmed in and quickly blocked the door.
"Search!" An officer waved his hand, and several soldiers immediately looked around. One of them reached directly under the bed and touched a big thing from the dark space.
"Box! Box!" He shouted excitedly, attracting the attention of his colleagues, who all worked together to drag the box out.
"You still dare to quibble..." The officer casually opened the box and looked around with the dim light of the torch. There was nothing.
"Can you go?" Cai Xianqing's expression was slightly stiff.
"Let's go, let's go..." The soldiers behind were already greeting.
"Wait a minute," the officer glanced at the bed, "We searched the bottom of the bed, but what about the bed? Search it too!"
Cai Xianqing's face was livid, and he saw several soldiers gradually approaching the bed, seemingly ready to lift the pillows.
"Don't..." Cai Xianqing hurriedly pushed away everyone, rushed up to the general, and tried to pry the sergeant's hand away, but the latter did not move at all. He was pushed away and staggered to sit on the ground - he knew there was nothing he could do.
