The emperor is too young, Qiao Wanfu used to be just a small official who took care of the official warehouse, in Han Chou's eyes, such two people are really not worthy of being his opponents, that's right, he was careless for a while, was caught off guard in Luoyang, left the lair, and fell to the capital as an idle official, because of this, he had to go all out in the next battle. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Han Chou laughed, as if two old friends who had known each other for many years were joking rudely and kindly, and suddenly he stopped and said a little embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, Master Qiao, do you mean it really?" ”

Qiao Wanfu nodded solemnly.

Han Chou smiled again, this time with a smile, and then sighed, "Luoyang is in the middle of the world, and they all say that it is a fertile land, but it is also a dangerous land, and Luoyang's official is not good." Master Qiao said that there are Luoyang businessmen who want to accuse the official of bribery, to be honest, I am not surprised at all, how many people I offended in Luoyang at the beginning, and how many people want to kill me now. ”

Han Chou put away the last smile on his face, and said equally seriously: "Thank you, Lord Qiao, for informing me in advance, but I have nothing to worry about, today's saints are wise and wise, rare in ancient times, and will never be mistaken by a few profiteers, at any time and place, I am willing to confront the accuser, and I have no words." ”

This time it was Qiao Wanfu's turn to smile, "The so-called evil does not suppress the good, Han Zongzheng is full of courage and loyalty, and those Luoyang businessmen are also fascinated by greed, and they dare to attack Han Zongzheng." Because Xia Guan was serving in Shaofu, he heard about this by chance, and specially came to remind Han Zongzheng, this matter has not yet been in front of His Majesty, Han Zongzheng understands it, I hope you don't ......"

Han Chou leaned over and wanted to pat Qiao Wanfu on the shoulder, but he was a little bit away, Qiao Wanfu leaned forward playfully and sent his shoulder to Han Chou's hand.

"I was an official in Henan County before, and now I am working for Your Majesty in the same capital, you and I can be said to be close friends, I understand that the conversation here will never reach the ears of a third party, Lord Qiao informed the news in advance, which shows the friendship, I appreciate it, and I will never forget."

The two talked for a while, Qiao Wanfu said goodbye, and Han Chou sent it to the door, looking at the distant background, his eyes gradually showing disdain.

Qiao Wanfu lost a move on the surface, but he didn't gain nothing, Han Chou's self-confidence can only show one thing, he is the one who hides behind his back and manipulates the businessman to collect debts, he is not afraid of the businessman's complaint, because his relationship with the businessman's interests has never been broken, but it is stronger, as soon as he listens to Qiao Wanfu's words, he knows that it is a lie.

Qiao Wanfu also made an appointment with someone, and in the evening, he arrived as promised, and the other party was already waiting for his visit.

Shen Mingzhi became the prime minister as he wished, but he was not confident enough, and always felt that such an arrangement was an expedient measure of the emperor, and he would be replaced by an excuse as soon as he had the opportunity to choose a candidate, so he heard that the official brought back by the emperor from outside made an appointment with him, and immediately agreed, regardless of the status gap between the two.

The servant of the Prime Minister's Mansion took Qiao Wanfu to the back study, both to show his cordiality and to indicate that this was not an official meeting, let alone a meal.

Seeing Shen Mingzhi's name on the list provided by the emperor, Qiao Wanfu was very surprised at first, in his impression, Shen Mingzhi's reputation has always been good, during his tenure as the right patrol of the imperial history, he was responsible for supervising officials outside Beijing, and he was relatively strict, and he rarely heard that he had bent the law for personal gain.

The right patrol Yushi has the opportunity to succeed as prime minister, the position is more delicate, and the further is the head of the hundred officials, and if he takes a step back, he may be imprisoned, and Shen Mingzhi has every reason to act cautiously.

But after reading the evidence given by the emperor, Qiao Wanfu could only sigh that he still didn't know much about officialdom.

During Shen Mingzhi's tenure as the Right Patrol Imperial History, he did not accept bribes, but in order to become the prime minister, he needed the support of some ministers, who valued not only ability, but also actual rewards.

Shen Mingzhi had no money, so he could only ask outsiders for help, and those who were willing to help the right patrol imperial history had already lined up in a long line, and Shen Mingzhi was very careful to choose only one, which was Henan Yin Hanchou at that time.

Of course, Han Chou was willing to help, but he would not pay the money himself, so he could only loot it from the merchant and send his henchmen to contact the right patrol Yu Shi in a single line.

This henchman kept his master's request in mind, kept his mouth shut, and especially respected the merchants and officials, but when he came to the ugly king, he was not so vigilant, and a few cups were spilled, and all the things that should not be said were revealed.

Qiao Wanfu understood Shen Mingzhi's difficulties, he was competing with Xiao Sheng, the Xiao family, who was very rich, and was generous, Shen Mingzhi fought for every inch of land, and could only accept help from outsiders, he did not take bribes for himself, and he was already a clean official.

Shen Mingzhi didn't get up to greet the guests, only let the servants take a seat, and the two politely exchanged words for a while, although the Shaofu was in charge of the emperor's private wealth, after all, it was part of the imperial court, and the officials under it were all foreign ministers, not internal ministers, and the prime minister naturally had to care about the issue of repaying debts.

"In order to settle the queen mother's relatives, Shaofu spent a lot of money, right? Do you still have the energy to pay off the debts of the displaced people? ”

"Settle the queen mother's relatives, the head of the household, the cost of the Shaofu is not too much, as for repaying the debt, there are indeed difficulties, I thought that those businessmen could understand the difficulties of the imperial court, looking at the current posture, they will not retreat."

"Hey, no business, no treachery, even if there is a guillotine in front of the silver, they dare to rush forward." Shen Mingzhi did not have direct contact with businessmen, and like most Wenchen, he was full of contempt for such people, "What help does Shaofu need, although he said that His Majesty took the debt on himself for the sake of the people of the world, how could the court sit idly by?" ”

Qiao Wanfu got up and arched his hand: "The lower officials do have something to ask for. ”

"Sit, please."

Qiao Wanfu didn't sit down, "According to rumors, many businessmen are likely to gather in Shaofu to collect debts on the day the Wang family arrives in Beijing, Your Majesty has a lot of opportunities and has no time to take care of this matter, and the lower officials hope to be able to deal with this matter privately, at least postpone it for some time, so as not to embarrass Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager Cining." ”

"As it should be. Why dispose of it privately? As long as His Majesty speaks, the court will issue an order to arrest a few profiteers, and the others will naturally flee when they hear the news. Alas, the situation is not as good as before, if it is in the time of Emperor Wu......"

No merchant dared to ask for debts during Emperor Wu's time, but Emperor Wu could not borrow money when he opened his mouth, so the imperial court could only order heavy taxes.

Qiao Wanfu smiled, "The key is that I don't want Your Majesty to be distracted by this, wouldn't it be best if we could solve this matter without Your Majesty opening your mouth?" ”

Shen Mingzhi is also an old fox, and when he heard this, he already understood that the emperor wanted fame and fortune, so he didn't come forward, hoping that the ministers would solve the problem on his behalf, so he also smiled and said: "Of course, everything is the best, but I just want to bother Lord Qiao." When Lord Qiao came to visit this mansion, he must have asked for something, although he said that the official should help him. ”

Qiao Wanfu shook it to the end, "Xiangye's words have already helped a lot." ”

Shen Mingzhi smiled and said: "Don't be busy yet, you also said that it is best not to disturb Your Majesty in this matter, that is to say, the imperial court cannot intervene publicly, and this official really doesn't know what he can help with." ”

"The businessmen who went to Beijing to collect debts this time behaved in unison, and it was obvious that someone organized, and if a few leaders could be persuaded to retire, the crisis could at least be temporarily alleviated."

Shen Mingzhi muttered: "If it weren't for the official shirking, in the name of the prime minister, the official might be able to intimidate some people, just in terms of friendship, the official doesn't know a businessman." ”

"It doesn't matter, there is a person in the court who has the closest relationship with the businessman, and he can withstand a few orders from the court in one sentence, but the lower official is not familiar with this person, so he wants to ask the prime minister for help."

"Oh, there are still such people in the DPRK? Who is it? ”

"Zong Zhengqing Han Chou."

Shen Mingzhi's face sank, and then he returned to normal, pondered for a moment, and replied: "Han Zong is an important minister of the clan, he has been an official in Luoyang before, and it is possible to be familiar with businessmen, but this official has not had much contact with him, and he can't speak in private. ”

Qiao Wanfu looked disappointed, "In this way, the rumors are all lies. ”

"What rumors?" Shen Mingzhi was immediately alert.

"It is said that Xiangye and Han Zongzheng have a very good personal relationship, to the point that they do not distinguish each other, and it is also said that the two adults give each other a dowry, and they only wait for the son and the young lady to grow up and get married."

"Nonsense, the children of this official are all married, how can they say that they will give each other a dowry?"

Qiao Wanfu bowed down and apologized, "The lower officials were confused for a while, listened to the nonsense rumors, and forgave the sins." ”

"People are terrible, but the official can stand it, but he can't help Master Qiao, I'm ashamed."

Qiao Wanfu sighed, "Since this road is impassable, I have no other way, so I have to report to Your Majesty, and I am incompetent: Shaofu can't afford to repay this debt, and I can't persuade these businessmen to leave, the only way is to come to a thorough investigation, and even the businessmen and officials will be in a pot, so that people in the world can't say that Your Majesty's move is purely to repay the debt." ”

Qiao Wanfu saluted again, "When the time comes, the imperial court will need to come forward, please prepare as soon as possible." ”

"Well, Master Qiao doesn't need to worry, this official has little contact with Han Zongzheng, but there are always people in the court who are familiar with him, and they may be able to help."

"A large number of businessmen are likely to go to Shaofu to collect debts the day after tomorrow, and the lower officials are afraid that they will not have time to find others to help."

"When is Lord Qiao going to see Your Majesty?"

"I have to go tomorrow night, otherwise Your Majesty will be caught off guard the day after tomorrow, and the guilt of the lower officials will be great."

"In this way, this official will help you ask, if you can find a minister who is familiar with Han Zongzheng, and Han Zongzheng can indeed speak to those businessmen, then Lord Qiao will not need to bother Your Majesty with this matter."

Qiao Wanfu lifted his shirt, knelt down and kowtowed, "Xiangye can save the life of the official, great kindness, unforgettable in this life." ”

Shen Mingzhi helped Qiao Wanfu up, talked for a while, ordered the servant to send off the guests, sat alone in the study for a long time, found a henchman butler, and asked him to immediately hold his own handwritten book and go to see Han Chou overnight.

On the way home, Qiao Wanfu was full of thoughts, and he couldn't say many words clearly, hoping that Shen Mingzhi could correctly understand what he meant: as long as the prime minister could smoothly appease the debt collection, the emperor would not embarrass him.

There are no real clean officials at all in the court, and Shen Mingzhi is by no means the most corrupt official, and it can even be said that it is slight.

Han Chou hadn't rested yet, after getting the prime minister's handwritten letter, he read it again, and he also fell into deep thought, the emperor and Qiao Wanfu were more difficult to deal with than he expected, and even dug out the line of Shen Mingzhi.

He called Yun Xiong, a hidden guest in the mansion, and threw Shen Mingzhi's letter over, "The prime minister will not protect me anymore, the day after tomorrow is the day when the fish dies and the net is broken, if you don't give me a little confidence, I don't plan to protect you." ”

Yun Xiong arched his hand and smiled: "Don't be anxious, you want confidence, you have it tonight, please wait for good news." (To be continued.) )