"You don't need to have any burdens, and don't worry about the gossip in the court. I asked you to rectify Wude Si, just to do something! With me here, Wude Si doesn't need to look forward and backward, and will investigate when it is necessary, and arrest when it is not allowed. Have mercy!" Tokyo in early winter was already shrouded in a chill. What was even more chilling in Chongzheng Hall was the instructions given by Emperor Liu to Li Chongju.
The moral envoy Li Chongju, who was wearing his old waist, only briefly reported the situation in the northwest after entering the palace, heard Emperor Liu's indifferent attitude.
"I understand!" Li Chongju responded, but still warned Emperor Liu: "Your Majesty, according to the reports reported by Wang Xuanzhen during this period, the severe rectification in the northwest has caused instability and deep resentment in many states and counties. If government affairs are neglected, ministers will be afraid."
Before he could finish his words, Emperor Liu interrupted him almost arrogantly: "What are you afraid of? I have been through ups and downs in the past few decades. I have never seen any battles. I am old, but I am not old enough to be timid. situation.
Some people remonstrated with me about the chaos in Shu, as if the northwest was in danger, as if if we didn't change our policies and calm down the troubles, the imperial rule over the northwest would collapse!
You know me well. I cannot listen to threats, and I will never succumb to those monsters and monsters. In the early days of the country, the imperial court was troubled by warriors and regarded them as the source of trouble. I think those corrupt officials are no less harmful than arrogant and powerful generals.
Civil servants can abuse the people and govern harshly, deceive the emperor and harm the country, but they are still far from being able to rebel and cause chaos and harm the world! "
Emperor Liu's voice was not high-pitched and his speaking speed was not fast, but it was really deafening and enlightening to Li Chongju's ears. The emperor expressed his attitude again, so he could no longer pretend to be conservative. He could only solemnly respond: "I will obey the imperial decree!"
"Looking at Wang Xuanzhen's report, in the northwest, the situation in Yanzhou is the worst?" Emperor Liu nodded with satisfaction and asked.
Mentioning this, Li Chongju became serious and explained: "During his tenure, Zhizhou Liu Fang indulged the barbarian people and powerful people under his rule, so that the government could not go to the villages and towns, and the authority of the imperial court fell.
According to Wang Xuanzhen's investigation, the governance of Yanzhou was limited to the state city and salt fields, and the rest were indifferent, allowing the rise of powerful powers and independent party affairs. This is especially true of Minghu Township. The mayor of Minghu Township, Yuan Ke, recruits bankers and colludes with party members. He is actually a local tyrant and is widely praised as a hero. The local Hu and Han people only know the Yuan family but not the government. Moreover, he is related by marriage to Liu Fang, and Liu Fang often protects him."
"Haha!" Hearing this suddenly, even though Emperor Liu had been mentally prepared, he still couldn't help but be angry: "Okay! After so many years of preparation, this kind of situation still inevitably happens! The government, the powerful, the country squires, these local gangsters are colluding and colluding with each other. It’s so hard to guard against!
What does that powerful man named Yuan want to do, to attract customers and buy people's hearts? Do you want to be Lord Mengchang, or do you want to gather people to plot chaos? How can it be possible to allow such people to occupy the place without causing disadvantages! Where is the person? Have you ever captured him? "
Li Chongju lowered his head and reported in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Wang Xuanzhen entered Yanzhou and detained Liu Fang. After that, he sent people to Suo Na. However, seeing that the situation was not good, he escaped early! Even if In this way, some abnormal clues were also discovered during the search of Yuan's house!"
"Speak!" Emperor Liu also felt something unusual from Li Chongju's words.
Li Chongju paused and continued: "Based on the interrogation of the villagers, servants and villagers, we learned that the local situation is far more serious than imagined.
For a long time, Yuan Ke has been trying to win people's hearts. He has kept hundreds of followers on his farm. In the past few months, he has been practicing regularly, called "Defending Dangxiang and Defending the Hometown". However, his reputation among the local Dangxiang tribe is extremely high. He is so tall that he is said to be able to respond to a hundred calls."
Following Li Chongju's report, Emperor Liu's brows became tighter and tighter. Li Chongju raised his eyes and looked at Emperor Liu carefully, and then said: "In addition, my subordinates found a large amount of property from Yuan's house, as well as hidden swords, bows and crossbows, and even dozens of armors!"
When he said this, Li Chongju stopped, and Emperor Liu was also stunned for a moment. What this situation means is too obvious.
In the Han Dynasty, armor was always a sensitive material. Unlike ordinary swords, it was strictly forbidden to be circulated except for those who were qualified to use it in the army and some special departments.
Even the guards and retinues of some high-ranking officials and nobles would not dare to go beyond the limits without the emperor's reward. Once violated, they would be beheaded at every turn, and this situation can basically be regarded as treason.
There is no need to doubt that if a place is powerful and powerful, and it is not just to support the villagers and warriors, but also to secretly hide armors, dozens of them at a time, it is treason. What's even more surprising is that he was able to obtain weapons and armor and was able to operate for such a long time without being noticed by the police.
When we think about Yuan Ke's behavior, his connection with the party, and his relationship with the state capital, and link these situations together, an anti-thief group emerges.
"Haha." Emperor Liu suddenly laughed, and the laughter made Li Chongju feel even more palpitated.
"It seems that this Yuan Ke is very extraordinary!" Emperor Liu's voice was almost emotionless.
"In addition!" Li Chongju bent even lower and said: "Based on the investigation and analysis of the Yuan family, Wang Xuanzhen guessed that Yuan Ke may be related to the 'Mingsha Bandit'!"
"Oh?" Emperor Liu's indifferent face showed a bit of surprise: "What's going on?"
Li Chongju: "According to the investigation and interrogation, the Yuan family developed and expanded in Yanzhou, which probably started when Liu Fang was promoted to magistrate, and also after the Mingsha bandits emerged.
Last year, Yuan Ke also went out several times, and he went out for months, without knowing where he was or what he was doing. At the same time, before and after the Helan Mountain Bandit Village was discovered last year, Yuan Ke went out again, and many people from other places later returned to Yanzhou and were placed in the Yuan family's house.
Although their whereabouts are secretive, they will inevitably reveal their faults. It is said that a banker once drunkenly raved that he followed Yuan Ke to do a big thing. After that, this person disappeared and his life and death are unknown.
The Department of Wude's investigation into the mission case and the Mingsha bandit has not stopped. It was once suspected that there was support and protection from local forces.
This incident in Yanzhou strongly supports this point, and Yuan Ke's reaction to flee in panic, as well as the many evidences found in the search, are worthy of making a judgment that he is related to the Mingsha Bandits."
After Li Chongju finished speaking, he breathed a sigh of relief. Emperor Liu was silent for a while, and then he said leisurely: "I am becoming more and more curious about this Yuan Ke. Where did he get the ambition and courage to carry out this conspiracy to reverse the rebellion?" Whether he is related to the Mingsha Bandit or not, it can be said that this is a traitor hiding somewhere, even within the government!"
"Yes!" Li Chongju answered affirmatively.
"Haha!" Emperor Liu smiled again and said coldly: "You see, where is the source of the rebellion in the northwest? It's not just those party members, but also these rogue parties with ulterior motives and hidden plots. The thieves are here Where? Inside the imperial court!"
As he spoke, Emperor Liu's voice suddenly rose, and the solid palace beams seemed to tremble: "For such a arrogant and rebellious act, you Wu Deshi were not aware of it before, and the government did not react at all, and even provided protection!
Who promoted Liu Fang, and who protected him? Traitors like Yuan Ke should be punished, and traitors like Liu Fang should be punished even more! What are the officials, censors, and Yulin inspectors doing? If they were not derelict in their duties, how could they be allowed to flourish to this day? "
Hearing this, Li Chongju hesitated for a moment, and tried his best to report in an impartial manner: "Your Majesty, Liu Fang has been an official for many years and has made many achievements, so he is called a cadre. In addition, he is the king of the northwest transfer envoy. You's old subordinate, Wang Shijun attaches great importance to him."
As soon as these words came out, Emperor Liu fell silent, but anger quickly flashed across his face, and he said solemnly: "Okay! I keep Wang You in the pass because I want to use his talents and prestige to stabilize the northwest. Now I think Come on, I don’t know whether he is blind or I am blind!”
Emperor Liu still relied heavily on Wang You, but the more he did, the stronger the anger in his heart was at this time. Of course, Emperor Liu did not believe that Wang You was also suspected of treason, but the dissatisfaction of being let down still filled his mind uncontrollably.
"If the northwest is not rectified, can it be done? If the problem is not solved at its root, can peace be achieved?" Emperor Liu thought for a while and said sadly.
"Your Majesty, calm down!" Li Chongju consoled him.
"Angry? Why should I be angry?" Emperor Liu sneered, his gray beard trembling: "Shouldn't we be happy that these prostitutes have been exposed? When they were hiding in the dark corners of the sewers, the imperial court had nothing to do with them. Now they are revealed Bi Lu can wipe them out in one fell swoop!"
Li Chongju hurriedly said: "Although Yuan Ke escaped with his close associates, the local people in Yanzhou have stepped up their pursuit. Wang Xuanzhen analyzed that this person is likely to be hiding among the local party members. Now, the Yanzhou party is unstable and ready to make a move. The situation is serious. If If thieves like Yuan Ke collude with them, chaos will inevitably occur. Yanzhou has already implemented martial law. To prevent any unexpected events, Wang Xuanzhen has asked the border troops to cooperate and eliminate the rebellion."
"Wang Xuanzhen did a good job this time. You have hired the right person!" After hearing this, Emperor Liu had already regained his composure and calmly instructed: "Send the order to him. Since the snakes, insects, rats and ants have appeared, give him the order." I will wipe them all out!"
"yes!"
"I also need Wang You to give an explanation about Liu's visit." After thinking about it, Emperor Liu said softly.
