Chapter 53 Corruption and Conspiracy
The boat sailed slowly on the Qinhuai River outside. The city of Nanjing is in sight.
He Xi looked at the city of Nanjing, and suddenly felt like he was in another world.
When he was in Hangzhou, he reported the situation of Guo Huan's case to Nanjing. Nanjing's first reaction was not to send someone to replace Tang Shengzong to manage Zhejiang, but to order He Xi to come to Beijing immediately. As for things in Hangzhou, they don't seem to be as important as what happened on Friday.
It didn't take long to leave Nanjing. Even including the time of traveling, it was only more than a month. When I left, Nanjing was still lingering in autumn. It is already winter in Nanjing. The cold air from the north floated southward, enveloping the city of Nanjing.
It turned into light snow and sprinkled into and around Nanjing.
This light snow is so fine that even if it falls on the ground, it will melt in an instant. No snow can form. It fell into the river and was immediately washed away. Only among some calm currents. There are traces of solidified ripples on the water.
He Xi stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the boat move slowly. As soon as he opened his mouth, he let out a sigh of relief. Like a white rainbow.
"Sir, look, that's the prince's guard of honor. The prince has come to pick you up." Xu Baoer pointed it to He Xi from a distance.
He Xi looked over from a distance and saw a group of people waiting at the pier, probably several hundred people. Judging from the color of his clothes, he is from the East Palace.
Upon seeing this, He Xi immediately ordered the ship to dock.
As soon as they docked, someone immediately ushered He Xi into a carriage.
There is quite a lot of space in this carriage. There is a brazier in the middle. The one in the back was the prince. The prince was reading a file and said calmly: "Sit down."
He Xi immediately felt that something was wrong with the atmosphere around the prince.
He Xi immediately saluted and sat down at the bottom. Then he couldn't help but put his hands on the brazier. Make a good fire.
I don’t know if the degree of coldness in winter is different in ancient and modern times, or if there were simply too few means of keeping warm in ancient times. In short, winter has just entered, and there is still some time before the twelfth lunar month, but He Xi already feels that she can't stand it anymore.
It seems that things like braziers and hand stoves have been left behind. He Xi himself turned into an ice cube.
Anyway, He Xi felt that even though she was bulging, she had worn a lot of clothes. But it doesn't seem to work at all.
For a moment, no one spoke in the carriage, but suddenly there was movement outside and the wheels were rolling.
Perhaps the vehicle was bumpy and the prince couldn't stand it anymore. He put the file in his hand away and said, "Do you know you were wrong?"
He Xi immediately said: "I know I was wrong."
The prince said, "What's wrong?"
He Xi reflected on what he did in Hangzhou and said: "The mistake was that I was too impatient. Guo Huan had his thoughts revealed from the beginning. Although he made amends later, Guo Huan was on guard. It almost led to a catastrophe. disaster."
The prince said: "That's all?"
He Xi said: "There are still many things that are not done well-----"
The prince sneered, interrupted He Xi's words, and said, "You think there is something wrong with Guo Huan, why don't you capture Guo Huan as soon as you get off the ship?"
He Xi was stunned and said, "Is this okay?"
He Xi felt that Guo Huan was also the chief envoy. Not an ordinary official. How could He Xi directly take down Guo Huan without any evidence? This is how he became arrogant and domineering.
The prince sneered and said: "Why not? It's just a wrong investigation. Let him go and make amends to Guo Huan. The worst is to shut him up. What kind of identity do you think I, Zhu Biao's brother, am? You'd better learn how to confront him in person and go deep. The tiger's den is so majestic and domineering. Don't you know that a son of a rich man cannot sit down in court? Do you really not take your own life seriously?"
The prince's words moved He Xi a little in her heart. Apart from being moved, she also had an indescribable feeling.
To be honest, when He Xi confronted Guo Huan, he never thought it was that dangerous. There was also fear afterwards. Although he was scolded by the prince at this moment. It feels really good to be cared about. However, He Xi still had to defend himself a few words.
He Xi said: "Your Highness, the situation was critical at that time. Guo Huan ran away if he failed to handle it."
The prince said: "So what if he ran away? The whole world is not the land of the king. Even if he escapes overseas, do you think the court will not be able to catch him? Even if Guo Huan seizes the city and rebels, he will not deserve a thunderous blow from the court." This is not a big deal. Only your life is the most important."
"My father is very worried when I learn that you have done such a risky thing. You must never do this again in the future."
The prince's tone softened a lot as he spoke.
In fact, the prince and He Xi didn't get along for too long, and they didn't have any deep feelings. The prince treats He Xi like this, partly because the prince has a kind nature, and since Zhu Yuanzhang asked him to treat He Xi as his younger brother. The prince did the same thing. The prince acts like an eldest brother. On the other hand, the prince felt that Zhu Yuanzhang valued He Xi differently.
News came that He Xi was in danger.
Zhu Yuanzhang rarely lost his composure and said several times: "Mao Xiang deserves to die."
The prince also saw from this incident that He Xi held a special position in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart. As for why? The prince didn't know. But it didn't stop the prince from taking a new look at He Xi.
He Xi said: "I thank Your Highness for your care."
When the prince saw He Xi wearing cotton clothes, he said a few words to the eunuch beside him. Someone immediately brought up a mink fur coat. The prince shook it off for He Xi and asked him to put it on. He said, "It's very cold in Nanjing this year. Be careful."
He Xi said: "Your Highness -----"
The prince said: "Don't call me your highness, just call me eldest brother in private."
He Xi said: "Then thank you, eldest brother."
The prince said: "Actually, I came to welcome you today because I have something to discuss with you."
He Xi said: "Brother, please speak."
The prince said: "Uncle Tang submitted a letter to discuss Guo Huan's rebellion. What do you think?"
He Xi said: "Rebellion?"
He Xi was shocked and couldn't help but secretly said: "It's so cruel."
He Xi was not thinking about Guo Huan, because Guo Huan's crime was committed in the hands of Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was already dead. It was just a different way of death. He Xi felt vicious because if Tang Shengzong's thoughts were followed, all the officials involved in this case would probably die.
After all, corruption cases and rebellion cases are completely different in terms of sentencing.
The former is just an economic case, while the latter is a political case.
Some corruption cases are minor and may result in a ransom. That is, the fine for returning stolen goods. But the latter is involved, and the skin will be shed even if you don't die.
He Xi now understands a lot about what Tang Shengzong said to He Xi in West Lake. Tang Shengzong wanted to communicate with He Xi in advance.
He Xi said: "This matter is not something that lower officials can say."
The prince said: "This is in private, not in court, so it doesn't need to be so formal. Besides, you are the person in charge of this case. Even in front of my father, you are qualified to speak. Just say it." "
He Xi was actually able to figure out the prince's thoughts.
Whether it's in the history books or He Xi's reality, the prince is certainly not a fool. He is a scheming and skillful politician. If he had succeeded Zhu Yuanzhang in history, Ming Dynasty would have been different.
However, even so, one label still followed the prince for his whole life, and that was benevolence.
This is also true.
Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang's journey from commoner to present. I encountered too many problems and never trusted anyone. There is always a sense of crisis. As for Prince Zhu Biao, he has been the prince since he was born, and has been surrounded by countless people since he was a child. Having been educated as an heir since childhood, I felt that the world belonged to the Zhu family.
Therefore, Prince Zhu Biao could not understand or understand Zhu Yuanzhang's sense of crisis. Coupled with Song Lian's education, benevolence has penetrated into the prince's bones.
Rebellion and corruption cost thousands or even more lives.
He Xi said: "Your Highness, in my opinion, Guo Huan may have the intention of treason, and then the Zhejiang officials just collaborated with Guo Huan in corruption. It is not considered a crime of rebellion. The cases should be decided separately."
Anyway, Guo Huan cannot die anymore. Adding another charge of treason would not make him die a second time. He Xi had no part in interceding for Guo Huan. After all, some of Guo Huan's actions were indeed worthy of treason. But others are different.
Although Zhejiang's corrupt officials are said to be corrupt, He Xi doesn't think they are innocent. Even if he was executed, He Xi didn't think it was a big deal.
But He Xi must also consider practical factors.
The first is that killing too many people is ultimately bad. There's a lot to be aware of about the political implications. Second, He Xi clearly felt the undercurrent of this case. Instinctively, I feel that it is better to suppress the intensity of political battles.
The prince said: "What brother He said is exactly what I want. This case involves the central area, hundreds of officials, big and small, and connected with the families of the officials, there are already more than 10,000 people. Today is peaceful, and such torture is not a grand event. . After a while, when I see my father, please ask Brother He for more advice."
He Xi said: "Your Highness, I will naturally give you advice. However, Your Highness also knows what kind of person your Majesty is. I don't know how useful my words are."
He Xi had actually guessed it.
The prince came here, and finally fell into this matter.
The prince smiled and said: "As long as Brother He opens his mouth, I will naturally help him. Don't worry, I will not forget Brother He's contribution."
He Xi secretly thought: "I hope so."
After all, Zhu Yuanzhang was not someone else. Although He Xi was confident in what he said, Zhu Yuanzhang still listened to it. But no matter what, He Xi suddenly became a little nervous when he thought of meeting Zhu Yuanzhang.
It's useless to be nervous.
When the horse bells outside stopped ringing, a eunuch said: "His Royal Highness, Secretary He has arrived."
He Xi opened the curtain and saw that Qianqing Palace was already in sight. This was because He Xi had taken advantage of the prince, if not the prince. He Xi decided not to take the bus directly into the palace.
