A hint of surprise suddenly flashed in Zhang Shi's eyes, and then he calmed down.
He looked at Chen Hong and said seriously: "Have you read carefully? This is not a trivial matter! The regulations on trade between us and Beirong include iron ore, but we are afraid that there are strict restrictions on Beirong's growth! If Fang Zhengyi really has a secret To communicate with Beirong is to communicate with foreign enemies! This is treason!"
Chen Hong lowered his head and quickly read through it several times, with a troubled expression on his face: "It can't be wrong! It definitely can't be wrong!"
Zhang Shi breathed a sigh of relief and slowly put his hands behind his back: "I didn't expect...this person would be so greedy! Fortunately, he was discovered early, otherwise there is no telling what kind of disaster it would cause in the future!"
Chen Hong shook his head, put down the booklet in his hand, and rearranged the box.
Looking at Zhang Shi, he said seriously: "Master Zhang, I think it would be too hasty to draw a conclusion on this matter now."
"Looking at the account book just now, Paba is very meticulous, how could he easily miss so many items?"
"What's more, it also contains Utu's edict and his personal belongings. There may be fraud in it. What if it is to sow discord?"
Zhang Shi nodded: "Yes, what you said makes sense."
"But...did Paba personally inspect the goods before the mission left?"
"No, it was someone else who checked. Paba was talking to people in the yard at the time."
Zhang Shi spoke and began to pace around the room. Just as he was about to speak, there was a sudden knock on the door.
The voice of the clerk outside the door came: "Master Chen! The people from the Beirong Mission are here! They are here to pick up the missing things!"
"Invite people in!" After saying that, Chen Hong opened the door and walked out.
When they reached the courtyard, a member of the Beirong Mission was waiting anxiously.
When he saw Chen Hong, he immediately said loudly: "Master Chen, there are some goods missing from our mission, so we came here to pick them up."
The two of them watched the expressions of the Beirong envoy carefully.
It looked like he was really anxious, he was sweating profusely... his nervousness was palpable.
Chen Hong and Zhang Shi looked at each other, then looked at the messenger and said, "Where is it? Why are you so negligent? Go and have a look."
The envoy bowed again and ran quickly to the guest house, followed by the two men.
Returning to the dim cabin, the envoy suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Chen Hong with a smile and said, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, that's all."
Chen Hong observed his expression and said with a smile: "Hey! You're welcome. This is also the dereliction of duty of Honglu Temple. I should have checked and informed you early. Have you come back to prepare your carriage and horses? If not, I will send someone to help you. Prepare."
"Thank you, sir! Ready!"
After another struggle, this time all the goods were completely transported.
Chen Hong and Zhang Shi stood outside the courtyard, watching the mission's carriages and horses leave.
"I think... this matter does not seem to be a forgery. In any case, I should have reported it to His Majesty earlier."
"Yes...this is a serious matter. Mr. Chen, why don't I report this matter to His Majesty, so I won't bother you."
Chen Hong looked at Zhang Shi, constantly weighing in his mind.
It seems like he wants to take revenge on Fang Zhengyi! If you add anything to the memorial, you will have to enlist me as a witness.
It's not okay to cause trouble if you don't do anything good! We can't let him get involved!
"No need! Since this matter happened in Honglu Temple, I think it would be more appropriate for me to report it to His Majesty." Chen Hong said calmly.
Not cooperative? Zhang Shi frowned slowly.
"The mission was able to leave a whole room of goods. Could it be that the layout of the guest house is too bad? I just saw that the lighting in the room is really not good."
"It seems a bit disrespectful to use it to receive foreign missions. Even the placement of goods should be perfect."
"?!"
Chen Hong rolled his eyes and complained: "Yes! Our Honglu Temple has been in disrepair for a long time, so we can only look down on foreign guests."
"But there's nothing we can do about it! After all, the treasury is tight..."
"No matter how hard it is! We can't hurt the foreign guests!" Zhang Shi said loudly: "Otherwise, how can I lose my dignity? Next year, in the spring of next year, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate 100,000 taels of silver to Honglu Temple to renovate it. What do you think? ?”
Chen Hong nodded repeatedly, feeling very happy: "Okay! Very good! I would like to thank Master Zhang!"
"The Beirong delegation has just left, and I still have to sort through the official documents below. I am really busy."
"I would like to ask Mr. Zhang to report to His Majesty the matter concerning Fang Zhengyi."
"This is what you should do, don't be polite." Zhang Shi smiled slightly: "Then you go about your business first, I'm leaving."
"Hey, walk slowly, I will see you off..."
.........
Inside the Prince Wu's Mansion.
Zhang Shi sat on the chair with an indifferent expression and took a sip of tea.
"Your Majesty, this is basically what happened. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
King Wu sat on the main seat, flapped the fan in his hand, and after a long time he slowly said: "I think... maybe there is a fraud in it."
Zhang Shi looked at King Wu and asked, "Why do you see it?"
"Sixty thousand taels... is too little." King Wu smiled contemptuously.
Paba's skills are okay, but his eyelids are too shallow.
Sixty thousand taels? When I placed hundreds of thousands of taels in front of Fang Zhengyi, he didn't even blink!
Sixty thousand taels of benefits, who are you looking down on?
"But...the profits from iron ore and iron tools are far higher than this! Maybe Fang Zhengyi is looking at future profits?" Zhang Shi asked rhetorically.
King Wu nodded: "Yes... what you said makes sense, but this kind of thing is too risky. There are many ways to make money, and Fang Zhengyi is already rich enough. Why does he have to take such a risk?"
"In my opinion, it's just Nappa's plan to alienate you."
Zhang Shi nodded slightly: "Your Majesty is wise, should I report this to Your Majesty? Fang Zheng is a holy family member. If Your Majesty wants to win over him, it is better to suppress him."
King Wu was silent for a moment: "I also have this intention. There are recent rumors among the people that the textile factory is run by the fifth princess. Have you ever heard of it?"
"I've heard of it, but it's actually Fang Zhengyi who is behind it. Why this matter is related to the princess, I don't understand."
King Wu sneered: "Fang Zhengyi once diagnosed the princess, and after the establishment of the textile factory, he entered the harem many times at night. I suspect that the two of them have an affair!"
"This matter... the emperor's brother must have known about it, but he did not stop it. He must have acquiesced. If the emperor's brother grants the marriage, it will be troublesome to win over him later."
Your Majesty wants to betroth the princess to Fang Zhengyi?
Zhang Shi looked shocked, but that was not what shocked him.
"Your Majesty, has he placed some personnel in the palace?"
King Wu waved his hand: "It's just a eunuch, just an old man, not worthy of much use."
Zhang Shi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
King Wu sneered when he saw this: "What? Do you regret following me? It doesn't matter if you regret it. You can go and tell the emperor, but don't forget, where does your Zhang family get the two million taels of silver every year... .”
Zhang Shi swallowed hard, gritted his teeth and said, "I don't regret it, but I want to know if the prince wants to..."
King Wu shook his head and said: "It's not time yet, it's still far away! Brother Huang's hand is very tight... only silver is not enough."
"Don't worry, I won't do anything without absolute certainty."
Zhang Shixuan's heart suddenly dropped: "In the past two days, His Majesty has sent people to the Ministry of Household Affairs to check the accounts of salt affairs in various places, but everything is normal and there will be no problems."
"Oh, I see."
"Then...impeach Fang Zhengyi..."
King Wu suddenly smiled contemptuously: "I don't believe it, do you think my brother will believe it?"
"It's still far from enough to suppress Fang Zhengyi with this alone. You can handle this matter yourself. I will not interfere!"
"However, you can ask Mr. Yan..."
