"Does the Zhongqing family still have something to do, if it is gone, let's retreat." King Ming said in the early court.

No one spoke.

King Ming stood up and was about to disperse, but Prime Minister Wen gradually stood up at this time.

"Your Majesty, I don't know if the minister should make it clear if there is something to do."

King Ming sat back in his seat: "You should have already said it, fortunately, let's finish it." ”

Wen gradually pondered for a while, and said slowly: "Last month, the insect plague in the south was serious, and the people had no food to survive, I wonder if Your Majesty knows about this?" ”

"Naturally, I know that this matter seems to be handed over to Lord Qi to do, right?"

Lord Qi stood up and was full of confidence: "It is the minister, the minister has opened the local granary at the beginning of the month to help the victims, and sent people to control the pests, and now the south is no longer bothered by the pest plague." I wonder why the Prime Minister suddenly mentioned this again? ”

Wen gradually replied: "The merits of Lord Qi naturally cannot be denied, I just heard that when the granary was opened, there seemed to be displaced people snatching food, resulting in most of the grain being unable to be supplied to the trapped victims in time, and even some counties did not receive the supplied food at all, resulting in mourning and hundreds of people starving, I don't know if there is such a thing?" ”

King Ming was surprised: "There is such a thing? Why didn't Lord Qi report it? ”

Lord Qi was shocked when he heard this, and after thinking about it carefully, he replied: "Back to the king, there is indeed such a thing. However, it was not as serious as the Prime Minister said, but it was just a rebellion by some extremely hungry victims, and it was solved with a little control by the ministers. ”

"Resolved? How did I hear that the people sent out by Lord Qi were all wiped out and planted in the hands of those so-called disaster victims? ”

Qi Da was anxious: "You ......"

The prince Shi Shu was puzzled: "What is going on?" Master Wen is not playing dumb riddles. ”

"Yes, His Royal Highness the Prince." Wen gradually replied, "I heard that there are bandits in the south who are rioting and robbing the granaries of the government's relief, so that the grain cannot be distributed to the victims, resulting in starvation in some disaster areas. Then Lord Qi sent the local army to suppress it, not wanting to be rebelled by those bandits, and no one survived. As a result, some areas are still affected by this turmoil. The minister was worried, but he had never heard of Lord Qi talking about this, so he asked this question. ”

Ning Zeqing stood up and said, "The minister can also prove it." A few days ago, Lord Qi came to the mansion to borrow military horses privately. Because he did not conform to the military system, the minister rejected Lord Qi. I don't know what it is, but today it seems that I don't know if I want to borrow troops to suppress the bandits. It's just that for some reason, Lord Qi hasn't mentioned this matter since then, and the minister thought that the matter had been resolved, but he didn't expect it to be not. ”

King Ming was a little angry: "Lord Qi, is this matter serious? ”

Lord Qi knelt on the ground: "Back to the king, the minister does not want to worry the king because of this matter, and wants to wait for this matter to be reported later." I didn't expect it, I didn't expect ......"

King Ming reprimanded: "What didn't you expect?!" ”

Lord Qi kowtowed again and again: "I didn't expect those thieves to be really hard to suppress, and the elite soldiers sent by the minister were defeated again and again." If it weren't for helplessness, he would never have thought of borrowing troops privately. ”

Wen gradually snorted coldly: "At the beginning, you kept saying that you took over the matter of the insect plague in the south, and boasted that Haikou would solve it within a month." Unexpectedly, the sudden appearance of bandits disrupted your plans. You don't want to ruin the promise you made in front of Your Majesty, so you put it down and send the local army to solve it. I don't want to lose my head and lose, and I still want to hide it at this time. What should be the crime of borrowing troops and horses privately, unwilling to report it, and delaying this matter again and again, causing a catastrophe? For the sake of one's own selfish desires, what is the crime of putting thousands of people at the end of the road? What is the crime of speaking wildly in front of Your Majesty, concealing it and not reporting it, and trapping Your Majesty in the realm of treating your people as nothing? ”

Lord Qi begged for mercy: "The minister knows the mistake, the minister knows the mistake, beg the king to spare his life!" ”

King Ming took the case: "If it weren't for Lord Wen playing today, how long would you want to delay?" You are in Beijing, you can naturally afford to drag it, so how long can thousands of people live without food? Someone will dismiss Master Wen from his position, press him to the prison, and wait for him to be released? ”

Lord Qi was unwilling, but he was still dragged down by the guards.

Wen gradually and Ning Zeqing glanced at each other, and each returned to the army.

Shi Shu couldn't bear it: "Father, Lord Qi has been an official for 20 years, and he has worked hard, if he can be lenient, he should be a little more lenient." ”

Wen gradually objected: "What His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said is not good, although Lord Qi has merit, he has also had it. The local flood the year before last, it was he who was greedy for credit, concealed the disaster in the evening newspaper, and then sent troops to save it in time, which led to the flooding of the state city. This time it has led to the victims suffering from lack of food and suffering. How can such a person who is so greedy for personal gain and disregards the people stay in the court any longer? ”

Shi Shu was speechless by what he said, and he was powerless to refute.

Ning Zeqing replied: "Master Wen and Lord Ning originally had some gaps, but now they have vented their anger. ”

Wen gradually didn't look at him: "I didn't do this for the sake of the old days, it's just that his deception is true, and he is not effective, so he should naturally be strict." ”

"Okay, okay," King Ming interrupted the dispute between the two, "Lord Qi's affairs will be investigated and handled, and the two Qing families will not quarrel with each other." The prince took pity on the old ministers, but he also had good intentions and should consider it as appropriate. This matter will be handed over to Lord Yu. If the ministers are fine, they will retreat first. ”

The ministers had no objection and retreated.

Wen gradually seemed to walk next to Ning Zeqing and whispered to him.

"This matter is still thanks to General Ning's report, if it is not for the strangeness, I am afraid that I will not be able to know the secret for a while."

"Lord Wen is serious, and it is unusual for Lord Qi to borrow troops in private. What happened to the follow-up, isn't it up to Master Wen to investigate it himself. ”

Wen gradually smiled slightly: "If you don't follow common sense, why doesn't Lord Ning tell me first?" ”

"It's still the same sentence," Ning Zeqing stopped, "You and I are both doing things for the king, and the king doesn't want anyone to continue to stay in the court, so naturally we have to come forward." Besides, if it weren't for Lord Wen's personal help, how could it get to the point where it is today? ”

Wen gradually saw that he was seeing through it, and smiled calmly: "You can't hide anything from General Ning's eyes." I wonder if General Ning has any thoughts on this backup official? ”

Ning Zeqing replied: "I think there is already a candidate in Your Majesty's heart, so we don't have to bother." Besides......"

"How?"

"It doesn't hurt to say that. The prince was scheduled to go out on a parade these days, and I went with him. I'm afraid I won't be able to touch it. Master Wen has a heart, so pay more attention to me. ”

"The prince is going on patrol again?"

"It's just a routine visit to the people. It was supposed to leave tomorrow, but today, Lord Qi is going to work, I'm afraid it will be delayed for a few days. ”

Wen gradually smiled and said: "General Ning and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are really good, they travel together every year. ”

"Master Wen is serious. There is still something in the house, so I will take the first step. ”

Ning Zeqing retired, and Wen gradually left.