The city of Chang'an is very calm. Although this calm may only be temporary, on this spring afternoon, the prosperity is still there.

However, behind the unknown scenes, a lot of restlessness is slowly beginning to gather.

The man named Bu Shi was silently drinking, his face heavy. Sitting in this restaurant are the same people as him. This time, they chartered the field. Everyone in this has money in their bags, because they are all big businessmen who have made their fortunes in the last ten years.

The businessmen in the world, in the eyes of ordinary people, are all unprofitable and unprofitable. This is clearly a misunderstanding. At least in this era and hundreds of years ago, although the merchants were the last of the four people, many of them acted more like people with the most family and country feelings.

The list goes on. From the earlier merchant who used the cattle and sheep he sold to stop the Qin army's tiger and wolf army from attacking his homeland, to the Confucian disciple Zigong who traveled all over the world as a big trader to do diplomacy for the Lu country. and then to the Warring States period of the great merchant Lu Buwei who sold the country, which can be described as a big-minded person...... These people are all examples that businessmen look up to.

The civilization of the Central Plains has been based on agriculture since ancient times. was ranked at the end of the four people, and although the status was a little low, the merchants didn't seem to have any thoughts of resisting. Thousands of years have passed, many things in the world have been imperceptibly, and perhaps some inherent thinking has also changed secretly, but no one is aware of it now.

As the imperial capital of the Han Dynasty, Chang'an City spread news extremely rapidly. Even if it happened in the Hanyuan Hall of Weiyang Palace, if it was related to its own interests, it would not take an hour to spread throughout the entire Chang'an market.

If it is said that at today's court meeting, the matter that Liu Xuan and Du Zhou of the Great Sect Standing Up to participate in was specially launched for the young marquis. Then the recital of the imperial historian Zhang Tang, who no one expected, was even more serious.

The Han Dynasty Imperial Lieutenant Du Zhou participated in the performance, and recently the Imperial Governor's Mansion learned through a secret investigation that there were Chang'an nobles with ill intentions and used their influence to collude with the power of the princes and kings to expand their wings, but I don't know what they mean!

This is a serious accusation. It can be said that once the case of the princes and kings is contaminated, whether it is true or not, and whether there is wrongs in it, according to the usual practice, it must be strictly investigated and handled by the court and the governor's office. And as long as you go to the Tingweifu prison, the rights and wrongs in it will be too big.

And once the emperor has doubts and orders a thorough investigation, it will be a big deal. In the past hundred years, how many ministers and brave generals of the Han Dynasty have gone to the Tingwei Mansion and have never been able to come out alive. Not to mention that Yuan Zhao is not a court official now, if he is imprisoned, it will be difficult to turn over.

It's vicious! Dongfang Shuo, who was closest to the emperor, secretly glanced at it, and clearly saw that Dangzi's brows were slightly furrowed, and he couldn't help but feel a little more frightened in his heart.

Not only him, but also Ji Di, Zheng Shi, Shi Kuan, Sima Xiangru, and Zhongjun...... Many ministers who have always been kind to Yuan Zhao are also surprised. In each other's hearts, they were secretly thinking about the extent to which the situation might develop, and they were also thinking of ways to help Yuan Zhao justify.

Du Zhou is generous and generous, not to mention the smugness in his heart. In the interval between loudly playing his share of the long recital, he glanced at Zhang Tang, the imperial historian who was sitting in the second place at the head of the class, and after receiving the encouragement of the other party, he was even more energetic. Finally, the man's name was spoken by his righteous speakers.

“…… After preliminary interrogation, it was learned that this matter was inseparable from Changle Hou Yuanzhao...... Although the reasons and details of this are not too clear, they are ......! ”

Du Zhou paused slightly, looked up and looked around, and saw the different looks on the faces of many colleagues and ministers, he smiled coldly in his heart, since he sat in the position of the head of Jiuqing, he had not exerted his power! So, let's start now.

The authority of the important ministers of law enforcement does not come from their own official positions or from the obedience of their subordinates, but from the cruel methods and iron cases! Up and down the government and the opposition, people dare not force their eyes.

Although the Tingwei Mansion is called the supreme legal power of the country, it is actually nothing more than a royal eagle dog! Only by profoundly understanding this can we gain the highest trust and reliance of the emperor.

The predecessor of the Great Han Dynasty Wei Zhidu was once praised by the emperor himself as "the goshawk in the palace"! This is truly the highest honor.

Eagle eyes are like hooks, sharp claws are like knives, entrenched in the court, investigating and correcting evil, like meteors, flying down, so that the crumbs have nowhere to escape! This is the emperor's highest expectation for the Tingwei Mansion.

Du Zhou would love to be such a person. At least be a captain of the Han Dynasty who surpasses his predecessors and is terrifying and dare not despise! So he needs to stand up, break the dull situation of the past few years, sharpen his knife, and finally get out of the sheath.

"Today, there are Hejian, Jidong, Hengshan, and Qinghe...... When five or six princes and princes can testify, Yuan Zhao once sent people to use different methods, or coercion or inducement, to make these princes and kings who had all kinds of interests entangled with him obey his will and form a secret force...... Behind it, it's terrifying! ”

The Hanyuan Hall was very quiet, and even the sound of the guards at the entrance of the hall moving their swords gently could be heard clearly. Hundreds of people were here, silently listening, and no one dared to interject rashly.

Because, as soon as these few words of Lord Tingwei came out, this already indicated that what began today was no longer an ordinary power struggle, but a life-and-death battle!

"Oh? There were princes and princes to testify...... Is there any evidence? Come, go and present it. ”

The questions that floated down from the Kowloon steps were as steep as the wind and sand in this spring. Although there is no inclination, and there is no temperature, it is chilling to listen to the ears.

Hearing that the emperor finally opened his mouth to ask, Du Zhou was secretly happy in his heart. He knew that a crack might have opened, and that the next direction would be crucial. However, he is not worried, no matter what success or failure, the duty of the Tingwei Mansion is a situation of merit and fault.

The Great Han Tingwei was in good spirits, and although the recital had not yet been finished, the meaning had been explained, and all the ministers must have heard it clearly. Now that the purpose has been achieved, let His Majesty the Emperor consider the specific details himself.

The confession signed by Liu Dongfang, the prince of Hejian, was placed in the tray in the hands of the chamberlain, and he carefully bowed down and walked to the front of the imperial case.

Emperor Liu Che lowered his eyes, glanced at it lightly, and then picked it up casually and wanted to unfold it, but his hand suddenly stopped. Dongfang Shuo peeked at it and understood, his heart moved, and sure enough, he saw the emperor leaning forward and sitting up straight again, with many very subtle emotions, in this moment, maybe there was a tsunami in the heart of the unknown.

"Today's Pilgrimage ...... I was a little surprised! On such an ordinary day, there would be something big happening? Hehe, okay, Captain Ting, please go back and sit down, you might as well wait for a while. I want to hear if the ministers have anything to say about these two events today?"

The emperor's tone was a little strange, but Du Zhou didn't care. How suspicious and suspicious this self-proclaimed wise and powerful son of heaven is in his heart, many ministers who are clear-eyed and deaf have already understood it very clearly. He never believed that the emperor would be unmoved by the matter involving the princes and kings. Therefore, after Shi Li returned to his seat, he made eye contact with some of the people, and waited triumphantly for the development of the situation.

After a moment of silence, the lord was about to take the lead in stepping forward, but someone had already rushed ahead of him, the one sitting under the prime minister.

"Your Majesty, the minister has something to say!"

Seeing that it was the imperial historian Zhang Tang, the emperor nodded slightly, and his face remained silent. And Ji Di, Dongfang Shuo and the others had even heavier faces, everyone knew that Zhang Tang, a ruthless man, had an inextricable grudge against Yuan Zhao, and there was absolutely nothing good for him to stand up now.

"Is it for what you just did? Doctor Yu Shi has something to say. ”

"Your Majesty, you misunderstood, but the minister is not for these two things. Thinking that the patriarchal rules of the royal family were formulated by Emperor Gaozu, the ministers had no right to ask. And Lord Tingwei independently exercises the legal power of the country, investigates treachery and corrects evil for the country, and as a courtier, there is no room for interference! ”

Zhang Tang is Zhang Tang! This person has climbed from a small official to the status of the third prince today, and his powerful methods are not comparable to others. Just these few words blocked the rhetoric of the person who wanted to defend Yuan Zhao and intercede. Yes, where the royal patriarchal law and the national law are, what nonsense do irrelevant courtiers say! There is only the Holy Judgment.

Dongfang Shuo was secretly anxious in his heart, he very much wanted to hear the emperor's veto of Zhang Tang's words, and still insisted that all the ministers have a debate, then everything may have a chance to change. However, the emperor did not do that, and instead changed his tone.

"Oh? That being the case, what do you want to say? "Emperor Liu Che's behavior today is indeed a little strange, as if he doesn't want to take anything.

"Your Majesty, as a royal historian, the minister is ranked as the third prince of the court, and over the years, although he has also done many things dutifully. But compared with His Majesty's kindness, he felt that it was far from enough. Therefore, when the minister couldn't sleep at night, he felt very ashamed in his heart, and felt that he had failed His Majesty's heavy use. If you don't make some achievements for the Han Sheji in this position, the minister will have no shame to face Your Majesty again! ”

The emperor was a little stunned, the ministers looked at each other, and the prime minister Sun Hong was almost choked in one breath. This, this guy is really Zhang Tang? When did he become so modest and cautious...... It's so unusual!

But his next words immediately showed hideousness. One of the biggest controversies and trends among the people since the founding of the Han Dynasty kicked off in the fierce court struggle.

“…… What the minister wants to start today is to make the treasury more abundant, so that the Han Dynasty will not spend too much national strength in the next foreign wars in the Western Regions and the North. Please decree that all merchants who engage in commercial activities within the territory of the Han Dynasty shall be taxed heavily, especially salt, iron, and the ...... which shall be under the exclusive monopoly of the state! ”