Tong Zhong and Mu Bin hurriedly said: "The minister is ready, it is all up to His Royal Highness the Prince's orders!" ”

Zhu Houzhao nodded with a smile, and then said, "Then let's go!" As he spoke, he walked ahead first.

For these two people, Zhu Houzhao never thought about wooing or getting close, Zhu Houzhao can't take care of this person, whether he has the ability to mention it for the time being, this person is an old official. Of course, after being an official for a long time, it is inevitable to be sleek, but being sleek and pretending to be stupid are two different things. But Zhu Houzhao won't do anything to him, as long as he doesn't get in the way.

Jin Yiwei commanded Mu Bin, this person Zhu Houzhao didn't know much, but he knew that this was a capable person, but Zhu Houzhao didn't want to use him, because Zhu Houzhao didn't trust, as long as these two people didn't make trouble, it would be fine.

The group came to the front hall, at this time there were already many people waiting here, the officials and generals of Yangzhou were all there, they came to pay homage to Zhu Houzhao.

Eyes swept over everyone's faces, Zhu Houzhao sat on the chair, and these people knelt down to worship, Zhu Houzhao nodded, and then said: "Flat!" After everyone stood up, Zhu Houzhao continued: "This palace came to Yangzhou today to investigate the case of Yang Lian's oppression and extortion of salt merchants in Dongchang by the holy decree of my father. ”

Everyone was in their hearts, but no one spoke, the news from the capital was not like that, but Zhu Houzhao, His Royal Highness the Prince, said so, and these people naturally did not dare to refute it.

"Yang Lian, this palace gives you a chance to defend yourself, let's talk about it!" Zhu Hou looked at Yang Lian and said slowly, with a bit of indifference in his tone.

Yang Lian hurriedly walked out, knelt directly on the ground, and then said: "Back to Your Highness, the slave maid came to Yangzhou for the private salt case in Yangzhou. Salt road officials were involved, not only accepting bribes, but also involved in the sale of illicit salt. ”

"The officials involved not only include the officials of Yandao, but also the officials of Nanzhili, and even the officials of the Sixth Department of Nanjing and the Central Committee of Beijing."

"After learning about this incident, the slave's godfather asked the slave to secretly go to Yangzhou to investigate the case, and after the slave and maid investigated, there was a case of private salt in Yangzhou." Saying that, Yang Lian said in a low voice: "In the process of the slave maid investigating this case, the prefect of Yangzhou, Lord Qi, handed over all the evidence and testimony to the slave maid, and Lord Qi has been secretly investigating the Yangzhou private salt case for so many years. ”

"It's just that I don't know who is behind the private salt case, Lord Qi didn't dare to play rashly, and after the slave maid arrived in Yangzhou, Lord Qi stood up."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, then turned his head to look at Qi Huan, the prefect of Yangzhou, and then asked, "Is there such a thing?" ”

"Back to Your Highness, this is indeed the case!" Qi Huan hurriedly nodded and said: "Since the beginning of Yang Gonggong's investigation of the private salt case, Jinyiwei Nanjing Zhenfu Si came to Yangzhou in person, intending to arrest Yang Bin, a thousand households in Yangzhou, Jinyiwei, and wanted Yang Gonggong to let go of the arrested salt merchants. ”

"In addition, there are also Nanjing garrison eunuchs, intending to interfere in the investigation of the case and clear the charge for the criminals, and the inscription handed over by the minister is like a stone sinking into the sea, and there has been no news so far."

Qi Huan said very sadly, and vividly interpreted the appearance of having a heart for the country and powerless to return to the sky, but the people present are not fools, all the old fritters from the capital are from the capital, and these people in Yangzhou are offset by Qi Huan's understanding, what virtue does the prefect of his own house have, who doesn't know the people present? So Qi Huan performed very well, but the live effect was not very good, and the audience's response was mediocre.

On the other hand, Mu Bin's face was as black as the bottom of the pot, originally Mu Bin didn't think that this matter could be involved with him, and he planned to take a look first, if His Royal Highness the Prince made a mistake, he was making a move, but as soon as he arrived in Yangzhou, the fire burned on his body, if Mu Bin had a good face, he would have a ghost, and now Mu Bin couldn't wait to carry his embroidered spring knife to cut those fools.

Zhu Hou looked at Qi Huan, stood up directly from his seat, and then stretched out his hand to help Qi Huan up: "Governor Qi, please hurry up, everything you have done for the Ming Dynasty, this palace will not forget, my father will not forget, and the people of the world will not forget." ”

Everyone suddenly felt like eating flies, and at the same time, their eyes were very hot, Qi Huan can have this treatment, why can't these people be treated like this?

Qi Huan stood up from the ground, looking grateful, tears came down, Zhu Houzhao comforted Qi Huan, others can not support this performance, but Zhu Houzhao can't help but cheer. Sitting back in the chair, Zhu Houzhao turned his head to look at Liu Qi, and then asked, "Lord Liu, as a transfer envoy in Yangzhou, what explanation do you have for this!" “

Liu Qi came out of the crowd directly, and then knelt on the ground with a plop: "Your Highness, the minister is guilty!" “

As soon as Liu Qi's words came out, everyone present was stunned, so he confessed? This confession is too easy, isn't it?

Among the attachés who came with Zhu Houzhao, many people's faces changed, and they were ugly, and at the same time, they looked at Liu Qi with a little unkindness. Whether it was the head of the household department Shangshu Tong Zhong or Jin Yiwei, Mu Bin was all surprised, everyone originally thought that Liu Qi would be a difficult bone to gnaw. After all, it is not an exaggeration to say that the whole private salt case is based on him, but why did he plead guilty like this?

"Then tell me about it!" Zhu Houzhao also looked surprised, but quickly recovered, nodded and said.

Many people are admiring in their hearts, although the prince is young, he is calm and has the style of a general!

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi spoke, and then took out an account book: "Your Highness, this is the account book that the minister has accepted bribes since he served as the Yangzhou transit envoy, including three sets of houses, 763 pieces of calligraphy, painting and antiques, and a total of 1,367,842,27 yuan in silver, all of which are registered in the book. “

Looking at Liu Qi, who was kneeling on the ground and crying, Zhu Houzhao sighed once, these are all old drama bones! There is not the slightest trace of performance.

However, this Liu Qi also made a lot of money, just receiving gifts so much, of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that this was not Liu Qi's worth, but the bribes he received, and the big head was not here. The real big boss is the business of the Liu family under the protection of Liu Qi, including the salt business of his uncle Liao Yuan, and their family also has the big head in smuggling smuggled salt, which Zhu Houzhao is very clear.

"Bring up the books!" Zhu Hou looked at Liu Jin and commanded.