Comrade Chen replied respectfully, 'yes', took out a book from his arms, and read it accordingly: "The minister led the officials of the Ministry of Officials to write a book and impeach Zeng Liang, the secretary of the household department, for bullying the court and concealing money and grain, and asked for a detailed investigation. ”

Ye Yongjia listened, although he only shrugged his eyebrows, but he was extremely surprised in his heart: 'Zeng Liang and Chen Dang have always been very close, and he has never offended them, how can he be impeached? Could it be a ...... scheme'

"In addition, Chen Shangshu also submitted an account, here in me," the emperor suddenly turned his head to look at Zeng Liang, "It is said that it is the cost of the merchant in Beitang to set up a factory, but it does not match the amount you wrote off." I'm afraid this extra money is your share of the spoils, right? Would you like to see for yourself? ”

Zeng Liang still lowered his head and replied in a choked voice: "Your Majesty, don't hide it, this account is what I handed over to Duke Chen." I've seen it. ”

The emperor glared in surprise, but fortunately there was a curtain separating him, and he was still able to show his composure to everyone: "Oh. Then why did you impeach yourself? As he spoke, he moved the position of the smoker as if nothing had happened.

Zeng Liang knelt on the ground and said bitterly: "The minister knows that Ye Yongjia, the secretary of the Ministry of War, is secretly conspiring with this person, and I am afraid that the impeachment will not be believed by His Majesty, so he does not hesitate to destroy his reputation in order to expose the great evil of his people!" ”

"Ye Shangshu is also involved?" The Emperor hurriedly asked.

"That's right," Zeng Liang kowtowed, "When I first negotiated a contract with that person, Ye Yongjia wrote to me in a secret letter, asking me to lure him into profit, and indulge him in corruption, so as to promote the contract. Therefore, the minister also moved a little evilly, and offered to help him conceal the accounts and share the spoils with him. Indeed, the ministers have sinned so much that they cannot forgive their sins, or kill or belittle, and obey the holy commandments. But Ye Yongjia colluded with others, his mind was unpredictable, and he couldn't stay! I hope Your Majesty will be clear. ”

"Yes, yes," the Emperor let out a faint sneer, "I am surrounded by such people!" You also said that the singing and dancing outside is peaceful, and with you here, the country can't be peaceful! ”

"Your Majesty is angry......" Everyone fell to their knees and shouted in unison.

"Ye Yongjia!" The Emperor was already furious, "I trust you so much! How do you repay me! ”

Ye Yongjia was already sweating, his ears were buzzing, and he felt dizzy in front of him, as if he couldn't support it. But he understood that he couldn't faint easily, so he forcibly tossed his dazed head, pondered hard, and finally had to lay down his heart, gritted his teeth and replied: "Your Majesty, Weichen doesn't dare to quibble, I admit all these things." But the minister has no dissenting intentions, just to strengthen the armament and glorify the society. It is well known to all that a minister is an incorruptible official, but how can he act for personal gain? It's Zeng Gong, but he has been bold lately. ”

"What did he do again?" The Emperor then asked.

He privately took the capital of the salt farm, a total of 100,000 taels of silver, and prepared to transfer it from the merchant and transfer it to the funds for setting up the factory, so that he could clear his suspicion. And he said that people were coming soon. ”

"Where did you hear that?" The emperor's mood calmed down.

"I heard it by accident by the two officials I sent to guide the factory."

Zeng Liang listened, and hurriedly gave Chen Tongpao a look, the latter understood, and said in the prelude: "Now that the matter is complicated and unclear, it is useless to just listen to the empty arguments of the two. It is better to retreat from the dynasty first, and send someone to summon Beitang Fanshang to be interrogated, and then make a decision. ”

The emperor thought so, and immediately ordered the ministers to disperse and return to the palace to rest.

Ye Yongjia walked out of the hall, the weather was as bright as yesterday, the warm sun sprinkled on him, and the soft breeze blew his cuffs, all this could have made him relaxed, but the tension and fear in his heart did not dissipate. He had never felt as hopeless as he did today, as if he had fallen rapidly from the top of a mountain, and there was no reliable force to lift him up, only to wait for the fall to come, to see if he was alive or dead.

He walked slowly to the corridor in front of him, caught a glimpse of the figure of his comrade Chen, and actually called out to him: "Lord Chen." ”

Comrade Chen stopped, turned around, and smiled: "Ye Shangshu." What's the matter with you? ”

"Do you have any accounts on you? Can I ...... Take a look. ”

Chen Tongpao immediately took out the account: "Give." But this is not the original, the original is with the emperor. ”

Ye Yongjia took a look at it for a while, and then asked, "How much is the difference between the number and the number of write-offs?" ”

"About a thousand to two thousand taels."

"There must be more than 20 factories for him to run, so if you count it, you have a lot of greed before and after."

"Yes, this figure has put a lot of burden on the national treasury, and since last year, taxes have been added to the Jianghuai area, and the people have to suffer for a while."

“……”

Ye Yongjia took the accounts, walked back to the mansion, and saw that it was still early, so he invited Cai Xianqing to come over for tea and chat. Xianqing heard about the early dynasty, and thought about how to deal with it, and had a lot to say; However, when he came to Ye's Mansion, he saw Ye Yongjia sitting in the courtyard, cooking tea and waiting for him.

Cai Xianqing looked at the surrounding scenery, shook his head and smiled: "I'm not as casual and elegant as you, and I still drink tea and chat." Let's talk about the important issues. ”

Ye Yongjia took a sip of tea and sighed: "I have already given the emperor the matter of 100,000 taels of silver...... No matter what the outcome is, that beard can't continue in this dynasty. As soon as he leaves, the New Deal will be attacked. It's all the same, what are you worried about? ”

"What's more," he went on to say, "is it really right that we will do whatever it takes to carry out the New Deal?" In order to curry favor with those businessmen and make them corrupt in various ways, in the end, the lost money will still fall on the people......"

"You're here again," Cai Xianqing smiled, "Why do you change your appearance every day?" You always start to ponder as soon as you encounter difficulties, and when you encounter a good situation, you take the world as your own responsibility, which is not good. ”

When Ye Yongjia heard him, he remembered the conversation with Cui's a few days ago, and couldn't help laughing at himself: "Yes, since I 'formed a party' in the court, I have been extremely convinced of the truth before, but now I feel in a trance and don't understand......

"At least one thing is certain: the greedy merchant is leaving, isn't it? If, as you said, the Chen Party will take advantage of this to make a big fuss in the future, and want to abandon the major military factories and stop the manufacture of guns, then I will be the first to rush forward and fight with them! Cai Xianqing looked indignant.

"Old Cai, aren't you afraid of death?" Ye Yongjia asked.

"Dead?" Cai Xianqing laughed, "I've been alone all my life, and I don't have to worry about it, it's just a click, and my head hits the ground, it's as simple as that." ”

Ye Yongjia couldn't help but smile: "You really think it's simple...... It's a pity that I miss too much, otherwise I would have died with you. ”

Cai Xianqing said: "No, if there is such a day, I would rather die in front of you and block their guns for you!" ”