At noon in early summer, the heat in the air intensifies.
There was a low pressure in the Qinzheng Hall.
Emperor Mu's face was cold and ugly, and he was no longer as happy as he had been at the Qianqiu Banquet: "So everything was done by the Gu family?"
Rong Cang nodded: "The Gu family now controls Jizhou, Shuozhou, and Liancheng. Not only did they take advantage of the disaster to embezzle huge sums of money, but they also secretly recruited troops and horses. They became the local emperor in Jizhou, and the governor of Shuozhou even became a pawn controlled by the Gu family. "
Emperor Mu was furious that a high-ranking local official of the second rank in the imperial court had become a pawn of the Gu family.
Does the Gu family want to subvert the imperial power and bring chaos to the court?
Are you still recruiting troops?
What a wolfish ambition, his heart is to be killed!
"This time, the head of the Gu family suddenly died suddenly, and the Gu family started fighting among themselves. It has helped us a lot. Otherwise, it is still unknown whether we can leave Shuozhou safely this time." Qi Jin frowned, "The power of the Gu family has exceeded our expectations. If it weren't for several young masters vying for the position of the head of the family and His Royal Highness the War King reaching a cooperation with the eldest son of the Gu family, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to leave so easily this time."
If the head of the Gu family is still there, there will be no fight for power and division in the Gu family for the time being. The head of the Gu family is a ruthless person. In order to avoid future troubles, he will most likely send people to assassinate them.
Although they may not be able to do it, it is not easy for them to escape unscathed.
Emperor Mu's face was as dark as water: "Rong Cang, you asked the Gu family for five million taels, and they agreed so easily?"
"The more money my son wants, the more greedy he appears, and Gu Chengye feels at ease." Rong Cang obviously knows human nature well, "If I pretend to ask for three to five million taels, he will be wary."
After all, for a big family like the Gu family, three to five million taels of silver is just an itch for them, and it doesn't hurt their muscles and bones. They will only think that Rong Cang is "not greedy enough", which makes them unable to feel at ease.
This is all human nature.
The more vulnerable a person is, the more people will think this person is easy to control.
"The Gu family can easily agree to give five million taels, which shows how rich their family is." Uncle Xie Xiaoguo stroked his chin, "His Royal Highness the War King has obtained five million taels, of which four million will be used for military supplies. I have no objection. , but I think that when I get the five million taels, I can ask for it again, and the Gu family will probably agree."
Qi Jin turned to look at him, and realized later that Uncle Xie Xiaoguo was also in charge of the Minister of Household Affairs.
"Your household department is short of money?"
Uncle Xie Xiaoguo shook his head: "The Ministry of Revenue is not short of money for the time being, but the more the better, right?"
Who would think too much money?
"There must be a reason for asking for money." Qi Jin frowned and thought, "And we must wait until the five million taels are completely obtained."
"I have an idea." Xie Lin looked at Rong Cang, "The Queen's 100,000 taels were taken from the five million taels, and the rest was put into the treasury. The War King asked the Gu family for another four million taels on the grounds of insufficient military supplies. Two, just say that the emperor does not agree that all this money should be used for military supplies."
Rong Cang glanced at him: "Do you think the Gu family are fools?"
It's okay for a lion to open his mouth once, but two times in a row will only make them suspect that they are greedy.
"Actually, there's no need to be too anxious." Qi Jin smiled leisurely, "Sooner or later, the Gu family's money will belong to the imperial court. I think we can first send a few top experts to Jizhou to pick off heads every now and then to play with, and wait for the Gu family. If they are almost dead, what will happen to those little minions below?"
The Gu family is indeed powerful.
It is not difficult to directly punish their crimes. What is difficult is that they will not obey the law obediently. If not, many lives will be lost.
Qi Jin felt that the life of the guard was also life, and there was no need to die unless necessary.
The imperial court has many masters, so it sent a few elusive shadow guard masters to Jizhou to wait. Anyway, there is no rush, just look for a suitable opportunity before taking action.
As long as he is not a familiar face, I don't think Gu's family is powerful enough to be able to guard against thieves for a thousand days.
Emperor Mu held on to the tea cup and looked at the three young people in front of him without saying a word, his expression a little subtle.
The anger built up because of the Gu family's ambition dissipated little by little.
To deal with an old fox family like the Gu family, young people really have to take action.
They have many ideas, are good at taking things unexpectedly, and do not follow the rules. Moreover, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers and are very courageous.
Much better than those pedantic veterans.
and……
These three people standing together in front of me are really eye-catching.
Qi Jin and Xie Lin are both so outstanding, bold and independent, and will not hold Rong Cang back.
Emperor Mu felt that assigning them to Rong Cang was the most correct decision he made.
"Rong Cang." Emperor Mu turned his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Do you have a plan in mind?"
"Let them fight on their own for a while first." Rong Cang said calmly, "There is a sixth son in the Gu family who is the daughter of his aunt, and he has an abnormal relationship with Mrs. Gu's nephew Yuan Xinheng. Yuan Xinheng holds the military power of Liancheng, and he can help , the Sixth Young Master of the Gu family faces off against the Eldest Young Master, the worst outcome would be for both sides to lose."
Civil strife in a country damages the vitality of the country, while civil strife within a family damages the foundation of the family.
There is no need for the court to intervene until they all come to a conclusion.
Emperor Mu understood what Rong Cang meant: "I won't bother you for the time being, but what about you? Who will you help?"
"I have left some in Shuozhou to help the Sixth Young Master." Rong Cang said, "The two younger sisters of the Sixth Young Master have come to the capital with me."
Emperor Mu was surprised: "Sister?" Two more?
Rong Cang hummed: "This is Gu Chengye's sincerity in cooperating with Er Chen, and it is also the spy he arranged around Er Chen."
Emperor Mu frowned when he heard this and wanted to say something, but felt that Rong Cang should be measured and must have already made a plan in his heart, so he didn't say anything more.
His eyes flickered to Rong Cang, Xie Lin and Qi Jin, and he suddenly asked: "Shuozhou is prosperous, why don't you have fun?"
"The three of us didn't, but the seventh prince and the eighth prince were having so much fun that they didn't miss Shu." Qi Jin pointed at the two silent princes next to him, "We spent the whole day walking around Goulan and drinking wine, and it was Mr. Chen who paid for the entertainment. , the two princes have enjoyed the life that they have not enjoyed for more than twenty years."
Emperor Mu's cold eyes instantly looked at his two sons.
"Father, I am wronged!" The Eighth Prince fell to his knees, "In order to confuse Chen Shan, I and Seventh Brother deliberately pretended to be romantic and lustful, and revealed some false news to them, and these were all Qi The prince signaled us to do this, but I thought it was the ninth brother’s intention.”
Qi Jin looked at them innocently: "The Eighth Prince has wronged me. Is there any evidence to prove that I instigated you?"
"Okay." Xie Lin said gently, "Prince Qi is teasing your two highnesses like this. Be careful that no one will help you next time."
The Eighth Prince muttered: "That's right, Uncle Xie Xiaoguo is sensible."
"Rong Cang." Emperor Mu looked at Rong Cang, "What do you think of their performance during this trip?"
Rong Cang nodded: "Remarkable."
As soon as the words fell, the seventh prince and the eighth prince breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, I will leave the whole matter of dealing with the Gu family to you." Emperor Mu waved his hand, "You are tired from traveling day and night. You go back and rest first."
"I can't rest yet." Uncle Xie Xiaoguo sighed, "Xu Teng has been imprisoned in the Criminal Department. I'm going to ask for some confessions."
Qi Jin's eyes suddenly showed some sympathy.
Uncle Xie Xiaoguo is not only the Minister of the Ministry of Husbandry, but also the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. He holds two positions in one person. This period of time is enough for him to be busy.
There is King Yu and the Duke Protector's family in the prison. Today there is another Xu Teng. Can't they be interrogated for a while?
"If Qi Jin has nothing to do, you can help Xie Lin." Emperor Mu glanced at him, and a heavy look fell on Qi Jin's face, "We will all be colleagues from now on, let's take this opportunity to establish a sense of collegiality."
