"King Shu, please!"
Yuchi Gong personally led the team, and the prince was treated as he deserved, and a team of black-armored warriors personally opened the way. The Tang Dynasty did not like the festive red as much as later dynasties, because red can still be blood red.
Li Ke put on the royal robes of the King of Shu. The golden clothes looked like a golden dragon falling into the world, but he was not the only one in the palace at this time. The foxes were watching, the tigers and leopards were waiting..., It's like a new Shura field.
"Please take your seats, everyone!"
The prince was dressed in black, no different from the emperor. The interrogation was held in the royal study. On the surface, it was a gathering, but privately, it was a closed trial. The procedure was changed because of the feudal lord. Only the four major Only important ministers can ask questions to the King of Shu.
Everyone took a deep breath before settling on the chair like dust. After that, their eyes glanced at each other, with almost no humanity visible.
"King Shu, this is the fifteen million silver collected from Qizhou a few days ago. Can you explain why this is like this?"
It was Yuchi Gong who spoke. He could be relied upon for military matters, but it would have been too straightforward and cold to use as an opening statement. It was Changsun Wuji who opened the subject of the interrogation.
Even if you ask questions knowingly, even if you submit the accounting books for tax collection, people who are interested will naturally make a big fuss. It doesn't matter whether you look at the accounting books recorded according to the actual situation, because this is an excuse.
Fortunately, Li Ke found a good official who had prepared the entire account book, and felt that he had a clear conscience, and repeatedly emphasized that the taxes were paid back by the Qizhou merchant family.
"Your Majesty, according to the account records sent by Qizhou, in addition to the taxes paid, your house also has a total of 20 million silver. Why are these not reported?"
This was said by Wei Zheng. In addition to being at odds with the prime minister, he was too careful to see the accounts clearly.
Twenty million silver, a prince being supported by the court only costs ten million taels a year, and he doesn't have to pay any taxes.
"Your Highness, you are supported by Qizhou's taxes and the imperial court's special funds, why do you still raise so much money privately? It is nominally a donation from local tyrants and evil gentry, but that may not be the case!"
Yuchi Gong also appeared, and he almost shouted the word "rebellion" first. He was a military general and naturally knew that money and food could expand the army. Twenty million, no more, no less, could raise an army of tens of thousands of people.
Changsun Wuji pinched his beard and never looked at Li Ke. Li Ke knew that he was up to something. Although two of the four important ministers were neutral, after some misinterpretation, they directly interpreted the money as funds for rebellion. Even if Li Ke The Tang Dynasty was too lenient, and it was a serious crime to support troops with self-respect. Most of Qizhou's troops and horses were in the hands of Qin Zaiming.
Before Li Ke could explain, the 'witnesses' from Qizhou arrived one after another. Qi Yuanshou and the four major families did not dare to come forward directly, so they sent the housekeeper and cronies of the family to give evidence. They were all typical wall guards. He acted carelessly and did not dare to offend the prime minister of the dynasty. He was also afraid that the King of Shu would return to Qizhou safely, so he had to find a few scapegoats.
Twenty million taels of silver were obtained from Qizhou merchants and four major families for the purpose of using it for local infrastructure construction. Li Ke naturally wanted to get some oil and water. He took care of the cement and labor and made money from it. It is possible to spread the price, but this little idea has been taken advantage of.
"So you were unwilling to hand over the money? Why didn't you protest at that time or sue directly to Chang'an City?!"
Changsun Wuji looked righteous and awe-inspiring, but in fact he was trying to anger Wei Zheng, thinking that it was really Li Ke who forced Qizhou merchants and gentry to donate money for his own selfish desires.
But he didn't see Li Ke being too calm and composed. When setting off from Qizhou to Chang'an City, he would definitely pass by sentries along the way. In fact, some people have become Li Ke's spies. There has not been any confession against him yet. After all, they all understand that this is a dispute made out of nothing.
"Second brother, this is your fault. If you want the extra money, you just need to pay for it, and the court will naturally evaluate it. If you empty out the people's wealth in Qizhou, you will only cause trouble, and you will lose the 20 million silver." Send them all together and let this matter go!"
Li Chengqian spoke at this moment, as if he was protecting Li Ke. In fact, every word he said brought Li Ke closer to the charge of rebellion. He was indeed not stupid, but just not cruel enough.
"Everyone, this money is not squandered by me alone, but used to repair the official roads and bridges in Qizhou and do some good things that are convenient and beneficial to the people. Twenty million taels is really nothing."
"Just to build roads, we have to save money. I also reported to the court for funding, but there was no news at all. I could only mobilize local goodwill donations. At that time, the patriarchs and bosses who donated money were all voluntary."
Li Ke deliberately stared at Changsun Wuji and said, at that time, he really had no choice but to force the wealthy businessmen and gentry in Qizhou to donate money. He did not expect that good deeds would be regarded as a crime. There was no twinkle in his eyes. It seemed that he had already done everything to frame others. Very familiar and inhuman.
He said that he would not turn over his own money, because this would only make people lie. If he wants to have money to start a career, I am afraid that the people of Qizhou will not believe it.
"The National Treasury and the Ministry of Revenue have their own rules. If you really want to do such a good thing, you just need to wait a little. The approval will not be..."
Wei Zheng suddenly became speechless because he just remembered that the people in these two departments were all sons-in-law of the Changsun family. It was very easy to embarrass the King of Shu. All he needed was a reason not to go to trial. He did not dare to openly accuse the prime minister now. No.
Those who don't have money in Qizhou really don't have money. Those who have money are all extremely rich. Li Ke has a clear conscience. It's easiest to take money from them. It's a bit like robbing the rich to give to the poor, but it was written as "coerced donation" ', 'Impure motives'... Changsun Wuji united all the people who had a problem with Li Ke. Such an Avengers alliance began to take the wrong direction.
From morning to night, we were discussing whether Li Ke's 20 million taels should be turned over to the national treasury. Naturally, I was unwilling. Changsun Wuji was suppressed by Wei Zheng and did not dare to bring any charges against him. Yuchi Gong was still a security guard. The same character, but Li Chengqian's expression is slightly complicated.
This discussion surrounding Qizhou's 20 million silver has been endless, but Li Ke's account books are written in great detail, and anyone with a little bit of savvy may not tamper with them.
"Everyone, let me first ask for a personal witness. He can naturally explain the source and movement of the 20 million silver and see if it is really used for good things!"
Li Ke thought it was Changsun Wuji's false accusation until he met his accountant, Gu Shiniang's young husband, who was secretly brought to the court.
