Jin Yiwei took Gu Zuo away, causing a commotion at the dock.
Jiang Yong, Xing Guan, and Song Wen were inexplicably surprised. They were just ordinary people, so they were naturally afraid of the famous Jin Yiwei.
What's more, what they didn't expect was that the so-called Zhan You was simply a fake name, and they didn't expect that the person they met on the boat turned out to be Gu Zuo, Gu Liqing, the Minister of Household Affairs and the Commander-in-Chief of the Shaofu!
This is a high-ranking official in the court who can be named by his name!
After people die and things calm down,
Jiang Yong still found it unbelievable, "Listening to his words and observing his actions, he is a loyal minister who is dedicated to the country. How come he ended up in prison?"
"Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. This is the truth that has not changed since ancient times."
Compared with them, Zou Cheng was much more comfortable transporting salt from both Huaihe River to Huaihe River.
The emperor captured Gu Zuo so quickly because he was suspicious of him. In this way, no matter what he found in Yangzhou, no matter how convincing he was, if the superiors didn't believe him, he would be as safe as a rock.
Unlike some other officials, Zou Cheng was, after all, a salt transport envoy, or a salt transport envoy to the Huaihe River, so he did not need to rent temporary accommodation in the capital. He himself had a residence in the west city of the capital.
The house was not big, only two people had entered it. He was greedy and not very courageous. Several salt merchants wanted to give him big ones, but he didn't take them. Just this small and quiet place.
Zou Cheng was also arty and named it Xiyuan. He would stay here for a few days every time he came to Beijing.
As soon as he entered the garden this time, the housekeeper who had been responsible for sweeping the west garden was called over by him.
One girl washed the fruits for him, another girl rubbed his head, and the housekeeper bent over him obediently.
"It's been several days. Have you found out why Master Xuan, Supervisor of Ceremonies, and I came to Beijing?"
The housekeeper was a middle-aged man with a low-pitched face and a protruding mouth, like a basin. He said carefully: "I forgive you, sir. This matter... is still not clear at the moment."
Zou Cheng's expression immediately changed, "How old is it in May today? It's already June, and you still don't know?!"
"This..." The housekeeper smiled as if he was crying, "The Chief of Ceremony must mean the Emperor's intention. Master, what is the Emperor and his elders thinking in their hearts? You guys... there is really nothing you can do."
Zou Cheng was a little angry, but he was in a good mood today when Gu Zuo was arrested, so he didn't care too much.
"What about the others?"
"The others are...those gentlemen felt that something was wrong with the situation. In order to avoid causing trouble, they asked the gentlemen not to wander around for the time being after entering the capital. No one knows whether there will be Jin Yiwei watching."
In fact, this was Zou Cheng's original plan.
He is not an idiot. Why would he go around visiting others at such a sensitive time?
No one wants to talk to him at this time.
It’s not the first day he has become an official, so he still knows this.
It's just that the feeling of doing many things by himself is completely different from that of others asking him to do it.
Now that these people are saying these words, it seems that they want to hide away from him. Oh, when they take money, they are all good to you and me, but now they want to distance themselves from him again?
Zou Cheng was very angry.
Narrowing his eyes, he said leisurely, "Being an official in the same dynasty is like riding on the same boat. If I fall into the water, who can escape?"
Two days later.
Mao Yuwen entered the palace.
The emperor was practicing archery in a short outfit. He took aim and said: "So, after our Lord Transporter arrived in the capital, he didn't go to see anyone, and no one saw him. He just stayed in his house every day. ?”
"Yes, even if the servants in the house go out to buy food, everything else is normal."
"Is everything normal?" Zhu Houzhao sneered, "Apart from him, is there anyone else in the capital who behaves like this?"
Mao Yuwen said thoughtfully, "Your Majesty's meaning...it is precisely because of this that it seems abnormal."
"Don't do evil things, and don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door."
"Your Majesty is holy."
"Where's Gu Liqing? How is he doing in prison?"
Mao Yuwen reported truthfully: "Gu Shilang asked for paper and pen and was writing an article. He also said that he had important things to report to His Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao didn't know what Gu Zuo saw on the ship, so he subconsciously thought that the important thing Gu Liqing said was the Lianghuai salt policy, and he didn't take it seriously. He already knew most of it.
"You can hold your temper, then let him write. As for that Zou Cheng, you keep watching him secretly. Doesn't he never go out? Then suffocate him to death!"
"Yes. But in this way, there are no flaws, and it will be difficult to investigate further."
"Will not."
rub!
The emperor shot an arrow and hit the target!
Then he turned sideways and said, "Gu Liqing was arrested and Zou Cheng entered the capital. Now there must be many people in the court guessing what I mean. Do you have any thoughts about the Salt Law? In this case, two things will definitely happen. .”
"First, there will be people who can't help but be worried every day and have the impulsive idea of killing Gu Liqing. Maybe it won't happen in a day or two, but as time goes by, it's hard to say."
"Secondly, there will be officials all over the world who have doubts, and some of them will definitely complain to the public."
Furthermore, Han Wen also took over the task of secretly investigating, and maybe he will gain something as time goes by.
In short, this time it was a dull knife,
It's so blunt that it will torture the people behind it crazy!
Mao Yuwen frowned, seeming thoughtful.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Just tell me what you have to say, don't be coy."
"Yes. I am considering... If a person like Zou Cheng is content with enjoying himself every day, wouldn't it be..."
"Then he must be so lucky." Zhu Houzhao turned his eyes and said, "I am the emperor. If the emperor doesn't agree, he still wants to enjoy himself every day?"
He is so beautiful!
Just make some moves and you can scare him so much that he can't sleep!
Suicide out of fear of crime is not a very distant word.
"Wei Chen understands."
Mao Yuwen was convinced. It was Zou Cheng who was unlucky when he met this master.
There is nothing that can be done about it. The emperor has the initiative many times and can fight in whatever way he wants.
Moreover, Zou Cheng is currently in a sensitive period.
For example, the Ministry of Personnel announced on the second day that since Gu Liqing's tenure as salt patrol censor was too short and he was now imprisoned, they could only re-dispatch the salt patrol censor of Lianghuai River.
Positions like this are generally held by high-ranking officials with the rank of minister.
But this time, the emperor chose Zhao Shen, the minister of punishment!
As soon as the name came out, Zou Cheng was in panic all day long in the house.
Zhao Shen was an official who had just been promoted by His Majesty, and he was clearly a member of the Emperor's staff.
And he was in the emperor's heart because he was good at investigating and arresting people.
What does it mean to send such people to patrol salt at this time?
Moreover, Zou Cheng himself was not in Yangzhou. No matter what the relationship is on a daily basis, who knows what will happen when the critical moment comes?
This is just a matter of time. Seeing that the situation is not right, no one can even see him!
This is called the real cold shoulder in front of the door.
In this situation, who wouldn't be afraid?
So he was restless and scratching his head. In the face of death, even the girl's beauty lost its charm. "Old Fu, go and see if there is any news outside?"
The housekeeper was helpless. He went out many times a day and was not allowed to have real contact. What could he hear on the street? Rumor? !
"Master, why don't you wait any longer. From what I see, everything is normal outside and no one is doing anything."
"Why not? Your Majesty arrested Gu Liqing but did not try him. If this person is not dead, I will not be able to live in peace for a day. Are they all scared to death? Do they not understand such a simple truth? Just let him spend time in prison. day?"
One of the staff he brought back from Yangzhou was also a little restless, "Envoy Zou, it must be wrong to continue like this. Gu Liqing is His Majesty's favorite. If he cannot be killed at the beginning, once His Majesty's anger gradually subsides, it will be over. . Besides, Gu Liqing also has colleagues in Beijing who can speak well. As time goes by, there are more people interceding on his behalf."
"Who says it's not?!" Zou Cheng was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot!
But right now, he can't do anything. He can't discuss it with someone, let alone go to the supervisor himself, because it's too obvious. Faced with such an obvious move by this smart emperor, it's easy for him to suspect that he has ulterior motives. Isn’t it time that all previous efforts have been wasted?
compared with him,
Even in prison, Gu Zuo was much more relaxed.
There was insufficient light in the cell, so he borrowed a kerosene lamp and leaned on the table to write something under the weak light.
Sometimes I can write vigorously for a long time, and sometimes it is difficult to start writing. During these intervals, I either sit and meditate, or stand facing the wall and mutter to myself.
The claustrophobic environment seemed to give him a boost, allowing him to devote himself wholeheartedly to his own thinking, so that every time he wanted to eat, he found that the food he brought in was already cold.
After a few days of this, his hair was already disheveled, his hands, face, and body were covered with greasy black ash. He looked as miserable as a beggar. Where could he still have the air of a favorite of the emperor?
I don’t know the time in prison. Maybe three days have passed, maybe five days have passed, and I don’t know if it’s morning or afternoon. Just for a moment, the door of the dungeon is opened.
What the people at the door saw was Gu Zuo's back, and what they heard was him mumbling something. His voice was very small, but he was indeed talking, but he didn't know what he was talking about.
"It was okay when he first came in, but now it's getting worse. No matter what others say to him, he can't listen to it."
When Han Wen heard this explanation, he felt great pain in his heart.
When he promoted Gu Zuo from a small household manager to the present day, had he ever thought that he would end up like this?
"Prince Li!"
"Li Qing!
"
After shouting twice in a row, the disheveled man seemed to have heard it, and turned his head slightly, his eyes still a little blurry, and it took him a while to react.
Then he hurriedly wanted to salute Han Wen, but he was probably weak and his movements were too hasty, so he fell to the ground, and then got up and knelt down.
"I've met Da Situ."
"How are you?"
"Thank you, Great Situ, for caring about me. Everything is fine with the guilty officer." Suddenly he seemed to have thought of something, raised his head and begged: "Great Situ, the guilty officer is writing a book, and it will be completed in a few days at most. Great Situ If it is available, can I forward it to the Emperor?"
Han Wen is also a sweet-tempered person. When he heard this, he couldn't help but be in awe. At this time, the size of the official position no longer matters!
