"Your Majesty," Wang An said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, you don't know. Dongzhu and ginseng are both products of Liaodong. If the company named Tiger Flag can get these things, it naturally has to go through Donglu. Ordinary people Even if the merchants have money, they can’t buy it.”
Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao frowned deeply and looked at Wei Zhongxian with a cold face.
Wei Zhongxian said eagerly, "Your Majesty, there are more than one shop selling these things in the capital. Just because of this incident, we cannot conclude that the store called Tiger Flag is collaborating with the Donglu. It cannot be proved that the slaves are also liaising with the Donglu. Please tell me." .”
Zhu Youxiao nodded.
Although he never leaves the palace, he also knows that no matter how fierce the fight between the Ming Dynasty and the Donglu is, some Liaodong specialties will always flow to the capital.
Businessmen pursue profits, and some smuggling businessmen specialize in doing these things for personal gain.
However, it does not mean that he will tolerate such things happening around him. If the tiger-character flag is really smuggling with Donglu, then he will show no mercy. Such businessmen will definitely confiscate their homes and exterminate their families to serve as a warning to others.
"You don't have to quibble." Wang An pointed at Wei Zhongxian and scolded, "Huziqi is a Datong business, so it's okay to get some leather goods, but Dongzhu is a specialty of Liaodong, how can they get it, and they say it's not Tonglu .”
Zhu Youxiao picked up the tureen at hand, took a sip of tea, and then asked Wei Zhongxian, "Wei Daban, what Wang Daban said is not unreasonable."
At this time, he was not as angry as when he first heard about Wei Zhongxian's capture of the prisoners, because there were many loopholes in Wang An's words. After listening carefully, he was not so credible.
If it was said that Wei Zhongxian was a traitor, he didn't really believe it. If it was said that he would get some benefits, it would be possible. On the contrary, it was the businessman named Hu Ziqi who was a traitor, which was more credible.
"This slave is unjustly accused!" Wei Zhongxian cried, "Your Majesty, this slave really has no captives. Even if I buy some fur goods, I can't say that I am a slave to the captives! There are many people in the capital who buy fur goods, even the prince himself. purchase."
"Your Majesty." Wang An bowed to Tianqi and said, "I can't keep such a second minister. Please punish Wei Zhongxian."
Wei Zhongxian knelt and crawled forward a few steps, lying at the feet of Tianqi, and said in a tearful voice, "Your Majesty, this servant has been wronged."
Zhu Youxiao put down the bowl of tea in his hand and said to Wang An, "Daban, this alone cannot prove that Wei Daban Tonglu, maybe it is just the store called Tiger Flag, Tonglu. Wei Daban is just as he said, he just bought some fur."
"Your Majesty, if you want to know whether Wei Zhongxian has any accomplices, it is not difficult. You just need to hand him over to the Zhenfu Division and hand him over to Mr. Luo for interrogation. I believe the result will be available soon," Wang An said.
Wei Zhongxian, who was kneeling on the ground, was trembling with fear.
Knowing that he fell into the hands of the Zhenfu Division, it didn't matter whether he was a Tonglu or not, because the other party would definitely pin the Tonglu charges on him. He knew very well that although Luo Sigong, the commander of the Jinyiwei, was not a member of the Donglin Party, , but has always been on good terms with the Donglin Party.
With all the methods used by the Suppression Division, he didn't think he could withstand the torture inside.
"Leave it to the Zhenfu Division?" Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Zhongxian and said immediately, "I think it's better to forget it!"
"Your Majesty," Wang An said, "It has to do with Donglu, we have to guard against it! Wei Zhongxian is also the eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, and is always with the emperor. If he is really a spy of Donglu, then for our Ming Dynasty, Wei Zhongxian will definitely It’s a disaster.”
Zhu Youxiao shook his head slightly and said with a smile, "What I said is serious."
"Please, Your Majesty, please hand Wei Zhongxian over to the Zhenfu Division for interrogation." Wang An knelt on the ground and begged.
Wei Zhongxian had such hatred in his heart that Wang An was determined to kill him.
At this time, he knew that he could no longer hide it, so he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and said, "Say."
Wei Zhongxian kowtowed to Tianqi and then said, "Your Majesty, I asked the shopkeeper of the Tiger Flag Shop. He said that these Dongzhu and other things were obtained from the horse market. There is a horse racing center opened by the imperial court in Datong." city."
Nowadays, the horse market is still there, but it has been reduced in scale. It was not until the Donglu captured Liaoyang and occupied the middle of Liaocheng that the Ming Dynasty completely banned the horse market. But that will be after next year. Now there are horse markets in the two towns of Datong Xuanfu. Still, merchants from the Ming Dynasty could still trade with Beilu through the horse market.
"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian's words are not credible." Wang An said hurriedly, "Dongzhu is a specialty of Liaodong. It is only found in Donglu. How can it appear in the horse markets of Datong and Beilu."
Zhu Youxiao's face darkened, and his eyes turned cold when he looked at Wei Zhongxian.
Although he did not think that Wei Zhongxian was a traitor, it did not mean that Wei Zhongxian could deceive the emperor.
Wei Zhongxian defended himself and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't believe it at first. Later, I asked some merchants from Xuanfu and Datong to ask, and then I found out that there were indeed things like dongzhu and ginseng in the horse markets of Ming Dynasty and Beilu. As for leather goods, There are even more, Beilu itself produces leather goods."
"Impossible, you are deceiving me." Wang An pointed at Wei Zhongxian.
Wei Zhongxian said hurriedly, "Please give me a warning, Your Majesty. The Tiger Character Banner store is in Datong, and the horse market there is on Datong East Road. As long as the Emperor sends someone to ask the general in charge of the horse market, he will know whether the slave is lying."
Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly.
At this time, he had already believed it 70%, because this matter could not be concealed at all, and there must be many people who knew about it.
Wang An's head sank.
Originally, the owner of the Tiger Flag in the capital was not caught, and Wei Zhongxian was not able to get the handle. One of his internal supervisors came up with the idea of passing the prisoners to attack Wei Zhongxian. As long as Tianqi was suspicious, no matter whether Wei Zhongxian had the prisoners or not, he would Will be alienated by Apocalypse, and in that case, his goal will be achieved.
Now it seems that Tianqi still believes in Wei Zhongxian and is no longer as angry as when he first heard that Wei Zhongxian had surrendered.
"Okay, buddy, that's it for now. I'm tired. You can go down!" Colonel Zhu You said to Wang An who was kneeling on the ground.
Wang An was unwilling to give up, so he said, "Your Majesty, it would be better to hand Wei Zhongxian over to the Zhenfu Division for interrogation. If he has no prisoners, I believe Master Luo will give him justice."
Zhu Youxiao frowned and said, "I told you, this matter ends here, please step back!"
An internal eunuch on the side came up and said to Wang An, "Eunuch, the emperor is going to rest, so you should retreat first!"
Wang An opened his mouth, and finally had to say, "My slave, please leave."
After saying that, he stood up, bowed and walked out.
As soon as Wang An left, Colonel Zhu You said to Wei Zhongxian who was kneeling on the ground, "Get up too!"
"yes."
Wei Zhongxian stood up with his hands on his knees and stood respectfully next to Zhu Youxiao.
Zhu Youxiao picked up the lidded bowl and took a sip of tea, and said in a calm tone, "I thought about it. Even a wise and decisive man like Taizu did not let anyone build four chariots. This shows that there must be something undesirable. In the future, four chariots will be built." Don’t mention it again.”
"Yes, this slave accepts the order."
Wei Zhongxian knew that Tianqi didn't like the tiger-character flag, and it probably had something to do with Dongzhu.
