Zhao Ji glanced at Zhang Bin, and saw that the latter's face was calm and calm, and he was inexplicably certain in his heart, his frowning brows stretched a little, and he said majestically: "Zhang Bin, what do you have to say." ”

When Zhang Bin heard the voice of the Son of Heaven, he seemed to come back to his senses, stood up and bowed to the Son of Heaven, and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen really doesn't understand what Sima Daxue and these officials who stood up to impeach Weichen are doing at this time, even the little head catcher in Xia County knows that folk rumors and rumors are not credible, and they must not be used as evidence of crime, let alone catch wind and shadows. ”

Without waiting for Sima Guang's gloomy face to plead, Zhang Bin then said loudly: "In addition, all the ministries and departments of the imperial court have their own responsibilities, and the murder case is investigated and handled by the criminal department. ”

Sima Guang snorted coldly, and was about to stand up, although what Zhang Bin said just now was sharp, but with his eloquence, he immediately found several loopholes.

Just didn't wait for Sima Guang to speak, Feng Jing, the secretary of the Criminal Department, suddenly stood up, this is from the second grade, one level higher than Sima Guang, and he has a good connection with Zhang Bin, and said loudly before Sima Guang: "The minister is also puzzled in his heart, Ma Binrui's case is clearly related to the Liao thief spy, the Criminal Department has jointly handled the case with the Pacification Division, and the case has been ascertained that the killing of Ma Binrui and his family was all committed by the Liao State secret spy, and the purpose is to frame Zhang Bin in order to prevent Zhang Bin from raising grain and grass for the imperial court, and the imperial court lacks grain and grass, It will be difficult for the imperial army to take into account the two armies of the Liao State and the Western Thieves, and the Liao thieves will be able to achieve the purpose of coercing our Great Song Dynasty and raising the year. ”

Sima Guang's face changed several times, and he shouted: "Feng Shangshu, do you have any physical evidence." ”

Feng Jing took out the case file from his sleeve and said expressionlessly: "The murderer Shen Xiaoan and the secret spies of the Lotus Society of the Dark Eagle Hall of the Liao Kingdom have been arrested by the Pacification Department and the Criminal Department, and the two have also confessed. ”

Sima Guang saw that Feng Jing was so determined, his face changed slightly, but he still took the case file and looked at it without giving up.

Wang Anshi stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the envoys of the Liao State can enter Beijing in three days, and the time is connected with the time of this case, and the purpose is to frame Zhang Bin to prevent the imperial court from raising grain and grass." ”

"What Wang Xianggong said is extremely true." Zhao Ji nodded, glanced at Sima Guang, who was still reading the case file, and the dozen or so officials who had just impeached Zhang Bin, and saw that these people had already lowered their heads and retreated, sneered in his heart, glanced at Han Qi and said: "Han Aiqing is in charge of the pacification department, but he has something to say." ”

Han Qi arched his hand and said: "Back to Your Majesty, what Feng Shangshu said is right, the Pacification Division and the Criminal Department cracked this case together, so that the thieves of the Liao State failed to succeed, Your Majesty should reward the meritorious people who solved this case." ”

Zhang Bin made a deal with Han Ziming and gave all the credit to Han Qi's grandson Han Ziming, with this credit, Han Qi could logically let Han Ziming be promoted to another level and become the second person in the pacification department, even if he is not in the position of prime minister, this kind of official who relies on merit to get to the top is easy to move even if it is the Son of Heaven.

Sima Guang finally finished reading the case file, but he didn't give up, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that the case handled by the Criminal Department is full of suspicions, and as far as the minister knows, the people inside and outside the capital are boiling over this case......

Without waiting for Sima Guang to finish speaking, Shi Deyi, who was in charge of the Imperial City Division, suddenly walked in from outside the palace and bowed down to report: "Your Majesty, there are dozens of people outside the imperial city who have gathered dozens of people to kneel down and shout grievances, and the people behind the scenes are the same person who has spread the rumors that Ru Linlang killed Ma Binrui and his family these days, and the slave maid has already led people to arrest him. ”

When Sima Guang heard this, he was shocked, and his face did not change, but his expression was already gloomy and could drip water.

Zhao Ji asked, "Who is the thief?" ”

Shi De glanced at Sima Guang and said, "This person's name is Li Feng, and after torture, he claimed to be a member of Sima University's scholar's mansion. ”

There was silence in the hall.

Sima Guang was like a lightning strike, and was about to open his mouth to confess, but on the other side, Han Qi preemptively said: "Your Majesty, the minister is about to report to Your Majesty, and recently the Pacification Division found that many secret spies in the Dark Eagle Hall of the Liao Kingdom are lurking in my Great Song Dynasty capital, and many people are lurking around the important ministers of the imperial court. ”

Sima Guang, who was originally a little depressed, was suddenly filled with infinite gratitude to Han Qi in his heart, and hurriedly perked up his spirits, seized the opportunity and said: "Your Majesty, the minister has committed the crime of negligence, and there is a secret spy of the Liao State lurking among the people around him. ”

Zhang Bin stood behind, witnessing Han Qi when Sima Guang was most helpless, and saved Sima Guang from big trouble with one sentence, and at the same time regretted it in his heart, he couldn't help but admire Han Qi's decisiveness and methods.

Zhao Ji did not immediately agree to Sima Guang's resignation, but suddenly stood up and said, "Several ministers and the third envoy Wu Aiqing followed me to the Chongzheng Palace to discuss the grain transshipment and the purchase of bids and the reward for cracking the conspiracy of the Liao thieves, and everyone else should step aside!" ”

As soon as the words fell, he took the lead and left from the back of the palace, although the result today was in line with his wishes, but in the end, Han Qi exonerated Sima Guang lightly, which made him very uncomfortable.

The ministers sent the Son of Heaven away, and Han Qi, Wang Anshi, Wen Yanbo, Lu Guangbi, and Wu Chong went to the Chongzheng Palace.

When many officials passed by Zhang Bin, they nodded to him with smiles on their faces, and even stepped forward to say hello.

The ministers knew in their hearts that after this incident, Zhang Bin could be regarded as having a firm foothold in the court, and most of the rewards this time would be very heavy, with Zhang Bin's age and ability, I am afraid that the future is immeasurable.

Lu Huiqing, Zhang Dian and Zeng Bu looked at Zhang Bin, who was talking to Xue Xiang, with different expressions.

The three of them already knew that Wang Yan was sent to his hometown by Wang Anshi overnight, and then thought of Wang Anshi's abnormal reaction when he read Zhang Bin's letter last night, and they had already guessed the truth, and they were also secretly afraid.

Thinking that if Zhang Bin was desperate to expose this matter, or to find Han Qi with evidence, and at the critical juncture that the law was about to be abolished, Wang Anshi would inevitably be implicated by Wang Yan this time, and it was very likely that he would be removed from the position and leave the center of the imperial court, and they, the core members of the New Party who were attached to Wang Anshi, would definitely be affected, and maybe their careers would be ruined.