As soon as Li Hao said this, the people suddenly realized. Although the amount of disaster relief money raised this time is large, it cannot support the consumption of more than half a year. His Majesty the Emperor originally wanted to use this money to help Hongzhou through the most difficult period first, as long as the reconstruction of the homeland is completed, and then there are supplies from the surrounding counties of Hongzhou, it will be much easier.

But even so, what is Cui Baitai's crime?

Li Hao seemed to see the doubts of the people, and immediately explained.

"If the Cui family just buys and sells grain to earn the difference, this is not a sin, and it is not even a great achievement for Datang to reduce the burden of buying and selling transportation. But their mistake was that this matter was never reported, and even deliberately delayed the days of grain sales in order to win business opportunities. ”

Qin Shubao pondered for a moment, as if he knew what kind of medicine was sold in Li Hao's gourd, he snickered, and then asked pretending to be serious.

"What does King Zhen'an mean by this, please make it clearer."

Li Hao immediately summoned Wan'er tacitly and presented an account book to Qin Shubao.

"I believe that Guogong also heard the news, two months ago, a group of people suddenly appeared, their identities were mysterious, and they quietly bought out all the grain stocks around Hongzhou. As a result, the grain stocks in the surrounding counties are only enough for their own people to survive the winter. His Majesty's plans were also completely disrupted by this group of people. ”

"That's right, Your Majesty stopped Chang'an's operation to transport supplies to Hongzhou a month ago, and wanted to start implementing the plan to supply the surrounding areas, but when we went to the surrounding counties to buy grain, we learned that their food was no longer enough to support Hongzhou."

"Has the prince found out who is selling grain on such a large scale?"

Qin Shubao couldn't answer.

"I really don't know this, the grain sellers are cautious, they don't leave any flaws, and even the grain merchant boss doesn't know who he's dealing with."

"The general is kind-hearted, even if the interrogation is above board, naturally he can't ask why. But this king is much more direct. A few days ago, I took people on a trip to the surrounding counties, and asked these grain merchants in some special ways, but I got some information. ”

"Who is selling food?"

"This person officially kneels under the hall of the young master of the Cui family, Cui Baitai!"

Cui Baitai was taken aback and hurriedly shouted, "Why are you ...... No, no, you're talking nonsense, I don't know what you're talking about from beginning to end! You say that my Cui family sells grain, so come up with evidence, don't talk nonsense here! ”

Li Hao snorted coldly: "If you, Cui Baitai, didn't maliciously sell grain, then where did the grain you sold in various parts of Hongzhou come from?" Where are the hoards? ”

"This ...... This ......" Cui Baitai was speechless for a while, he had been selling grain in Hongzhou for more than a month, and there were more than 100,000 catties of grain sold. If such a large batch of grain had not been bought from the surrounding counties, could it have fallen from the sky?

"General Qin, please look at this map again, this is from the rice merchant boss in Shanta County, Qizhou. A month ago, Cui Baitai's subordinates secretly purchased grain in Ta County, and the owner of the rice shop didn't know their identities, thinking that they were merchants from the empire and bought grain from my Datang to supplement military supplies. Fearing treason, he sent someone to follow him, and the man drew the map. ”

Qin Shubao took the map and looked at it carefully.

Li Hao continued: "According to this map, the grain was finally transported to the Cui family's granary in Hongzhou! If General Qin doesn't believe it, he can send someone to follow the map to see. Such a large granary simply can't run. ”

Qin Shubao's face gradually became difficult to look at, and he slapped the map in his hand on the table with all his might. roared loudly: "Cui Baitai, you still have something to say!" ”

Cui Baitai was really panicked at this moment: "General Qin, this is a frame-up, the location of my Cui family's granary is well known to the world, it must be Li Hao, this kid, casually drew a picture to deceive the general." ”

"Whether you deceive or not, you only need to send someone to Tashan City to ask. I, Li Hao, have a clear conscience, and I can let the general check it. Li Hao didn't care about spreading his hands, and Cui Baitai, who looked confident, felt a chill in his heart.

"In that case, I will send to inquire if there is such a thing...... Cui Baitai: Hello, do it yourself! Qin Shubao waved his hand, and his officers and soldiers immediately ran out, making a gesture to go to Tashan County to find evidence.

Cui Baitai was a thief with a weak heart, where did he dare to let the officers and soldiers ask for verification, and immediately shouted loudly: "General, I have already noticed that Hongzhou will be short of grain some time ago, so I did entrust someone to sell grain, but I don't know where to get it." Adults can ask her to come to the court to ask, so that you can know the cause and effect of the matter. ”

Cui Baitai had no choice but to pull Li Ziyin out at the moment. She is a female Zhuge with five surnames and seven hopes, and she must have planned everything before selling grain. Now we can only hope that she can give a reasonable explanation.

"Who will buy food for you?"

"Miss Li of Longxi - Li Ziyin."

Qin Shubao snickered, and then shouted loudly: "Pass Li Ziyin!" ”

Soon, escorted by a group of officers and soldiers, Li Ziyin came to the hall.

"Li Ziyin, Cui Baitai just said that two months ago, I asked you to help the Cui family buy grain to deal with the grain shortage in Hongzhou, but is there such a thing?"

Cui Baitai also hurriedly said: "Miss Li, some time ago, we joined forces, and I managed the Li and Cui families in Hui County to help with disaster relief, and you went outside to buy food in case of food shortage." Where did we buy our food, tell the general about it! ”

Li Ziyin snickered in her heart, but her face did not show half a point, she looked at Cui Baitai with a puzzled expression: "Young Master Cui, what are you talking nonsense?" Although our five surnames and seven hopes are friendly and harmonious, we are not a family after all. How can I, Li Ziyin, embezzle your Cui family's funds to buy grain? ”

"Besides, since I came to Huixian, I have never seen you, so how can I form an alliance with you? What does your Cui family have to do with me, Li Ziyin? ”

Cui Baitai's face froze, completely stupid.

This is a different plan for them, didn't Li Ziyin say before she came, will she solve everything? Why is it that instead of helping, they are in a hurry to clear up the relationship?

Qin Shubao snorted coldly: "Cui Baitai, you are full of nonsense to deceive the general, believe it or not, I will pull you down from the hall and beat the eighty boards now!" ”

Cui Baitai was covered in a cold sweat, and he felt that he had stepped into a huge trap. At this moment, Li Hao and Li Ziyin seemed to have turned into two monsters, laughing wildly at him.

"I ...... I...... Even if I bought food, I only wanted to help the victims, and I had no intention of making a hostile purchase. Just now, the people have also lost, and the price of food in my family is not high. As a businessman, I don't feel like I've done anything wrong! ”

Indeed, the imperial court's plan to use the surrounding counties to help Hongzhou was carried out in secret. And Cui Baitai just bought grain privately, and then pulled Hongzhou to sell it. As a businessman, it is the norm to plan ahead and buy low and sell high. If this alone is based on this, it seems that Cui Baitai cannot be convicted.

I didn't expect that Cui Baitai would be able to suddenly refute in a desperate situation, and even Qin Shubao didn't expect it at this moment, so he didn't say anything for a while, so he could only turn his head and look at Li Hao.

"Lord Wang, what Cui Baitai said is not unreasonable, what do you think?"