Xu Zuo's cold words were like a basin of ice water poured on the heads of some courtiers.

Generally speaking, the impeachment of the Imperial Historical Observatory is a rumor, such as the suspicion that a certain minister has violated the law, the imperial court will give him a chance to defend himself, and at the same time let the priest carefully review it.

But Xu Zuo was not vague this time, but clearly pointed out the evidence of Qu Fenghua's crime, and even how many businesses he colluded with and how many manors he built in his hometown can be clearly explained.

When Qu Fenghua was about to die of horror, Xu Zuo continued mercilessly: "According to the information kept in the ministry, it can be seen that Qu Shilang was born in poverty, and he was just an ordinary outsider in the Ministry of Industry thirteen years ago. After His Majesty set the capital Yongjia, Qu Shilang, as a student disciple of Zuo Xiang, rose to the top with this relationship, and in just a few years, he became the Shilang of the Ministry of Works. The Qu family originally only had one old mansion in the local area, but now in less than six years, the Qu family has countless fields, mansions, manors, surplus wealth, and business shares. ”

He turned his head to look at Qu Fenghua, and said with a cold gaze: "Qu Shilang is really a good hand at collecting money, no wonder the official road from the capital to Chengzhou has been repaired for six years, and half of the road is still full of potholes!" When the official first received the secret report, he didn't believe that the squire was so bold, so he asked several imperial historians to spend half a year to personally go to this official road, and the official knew how much state money had gone into Qu Shilang's private pocket! ”

At this moment, the hall was silent, and the ministers bowed their heads in silence.

Qu Fenghua stood tremblingly, as if he could fall down at any moment.

On the dragon chair, Li Duan said quietly: "I just listened to the words of Zuo Xiang and Guo Shumi, and I had already dispelled the idea of enhancing the strength of the border army, because the imperial court had to spend money on all aspects, and blindly used the state money for military purposes, which inevitably disregarded the people's livelihood and recklessly used the army. I heard Qu Shilang's righteous words again, and Liu Aiqing was speechless, and I thought it was even more true, after all, all the Qing families were thinking about the country, how could they favor one over the other? ”

He raised his head, looked at Qu Fenghua and said, "What a Qu Shilang who is dedicated to state affairs." ”

"Your Majesty! The sin deserves death! Minister...... The minister supports what General Liu said! ”

Qu Fenghua no longer cared about his demeanor, and fell to his knees with a thud, his lips trembling.

If Xu Zuo is vague and can't come up with conclusive evidence, he still has the courage to refute it, after all, Li Daoyan is his teacher, and many Wenchen will support one or two in this relationship.

However, as soon as the other party made a detailed accusation, he couldn't even find an excuse to defend himself, and at this time, no matter how hard he spoke, he would only provoke the hot hand under the anger of the Son of Heaven.

The head of Wenchen, Li Daoyan frowned slightly, and a cold look appeared on his old face.

He sighed in his heart, it seemed that His Majesty's determination to strengthen the border army was unstoppable.

Qu Fenghua's change of course seemed ridiculous, but the other courtiers did not have the heart to ridicule, especially the ministers who had participated in the siege of Liu Shouguang before, who were all worried at the moment.

Even those children of wealthy families dare not guarantee that they are absolutely clean after being officials for many years, and if Yu Shitai is ruthless to investigate, he will naturally be able to find some tricks.

But what they didn't expect was that Xu Zuo hadn't continued to fire, and another minister stepped forward.

This person is Qin Zheng, who has always stood in a corner that others do not pay much attention to, and rarely takes the initiative to go out of class unless the Son of Heaven asks.

"Your Majesty, the minister has a good song."

Qin Zheng said unhurriedly.

Li Duan seemed to have forgotten Qu Fenghua, who was waiting for the verdict with a panicked face, turned his head to look at his most trusted courtier, and bowed slightly: "Come on." ”

Qin Zheng coughed lightly, raised his tone slightly and said: "The Dingwei army commanded Xu Wen to collaborate with the enemy and commit treason, this case has been closed, Your Majesty ordered the ministers to continue to investigate deeply, the Warp Weaving Division does not dare to slack off, and now there are preliminary results." ”

Li Duan said: "Report it." ”

For most courtiers, the direction of the wind at today's court meeting is like seeing flowers in the fog, complicated and complicated, and they can't find a clue.

In addition to the initial reward for the two border army governors is a normal procedure, the next focus of the dispute between Guo Congyi, Li Daoyan, Liu Shouguang and a group of civil servants is whether to enhance the strength of the border army, so far it can barely be seen clearly, but the appearance of Cheng Xu Zuo in the Zuo Imperial History made the situation turn sharply, not only confirmed Qu Fenghua's crime in a few words, but also severely shocked others.

In the case of Xu Wen's treason with the enemy, Li Daoyan took the initiative to take a step back and proposed that the Weaving Department investigate the various yamen of the imperial court, which was regarded as a concession to the Son of Heaven, in order to limit the actions of the border army and prevent Xiao Wangzhi's counterattack on Beiyan from dragging the entire imperial court into the water.

But the Warp Weaving Division has investigated for two months and has made no progress, so far even Li Jingda, who is Xu Wen's direct superior, has stood firmly in the court, and many people have gradually forgotten about this matter, and it is not until this moment that Qin Zheng mentions it and remembers it.

Could it be that the warp weaving division has discovered again?

Li Jingda looked at Qin Zheng extremely nervously, thinking that he had never done anything to collaborate with the enemy, and he didn't know anything about Xu Wen's affairs, so he couldn't forcibly drag himself into the water and force him to support the Son of Heaven's decision, right?

Qin Zheng stood solemnly and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the Warp Weaving Division has carefully investigated during this time, and has not found anyone in the court to betray Daqi like Xu Wen. ”

Li Jingda secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and scolded in his heart: "Then is there something wrong with you standing up inexplicably!" ”

Qin Zheng said again: "However, the warp weaving department Guangling Yamen found something else. Half a year ago, on the eve of the outbreak of the Battle of Guangling, the Guangling Yamen captured several spies from the Pseudo-Yan Prosecutor's Office, and found out that the Guangling Gu family colluded with the enemy. This Gu family is a family of local wealthy merchants, who often traveled north to trade before the outbreak of war, and in the process were co-opted and corrupted by the Puppet Yan Prosecutor's Office, and frequently provided Puppet Yan with various local information in Huaizhou. ”

Hearing this, Qu Fenghua, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, turned pale and his body was paralyzed to the ground.

Qin Zheng didn't look at him at all, and continued: "The Warp Weaving Division followed this line and found that the sister of Gu Zisi, the head of the Gu family, had been taken as a concubine by Qu Fenghua, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, eight years ago. It was from that time that Qu Shilang began to climb in the court. At present, the Warp Weaving Department has some evidence that can prove that part of the Qu family's industry is a private bribe by the pseudo-Yan Prosecutor's Office. ”

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The minister didn't, this is slander, the minister really didn't collude with the pseudo-Yan spies! ”

Qu Fenghua screamed in panic, his eyes full of horror.

Although corruption is a serious crime, as long as he hands over the dirty silver to the imperial court, and Li Daoyan and other important ministers help to say a few words of exculpation, he will be exiled for 3,000 miles at most, and the worst outcome is that he will be sentenced to death, and his family will not be implicated.

For more than 100 years since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, the crime of corruption has never been wiped out.

However, the crime of fornicating with the enemy country is countless times more serious, and the example of Xu Wen being exterminated is right in front of him.

Qu Fenghua did not dare to admit this charge no matter what.

Li Duan said indifferently: "Qin Zheng, he said that you are slandering. ”

Qin Zheng said calmly: "Your Majesty, the Warp Weaving Division strictly abides by the laws of the imperial court, and does not dare to exceed the slightest place. The case file was detailed and complete, and the minister and his colleagues in the Weaving Department investigated it day and night for two months, and determined that Qu Shilang colluded with the spies of the Pseudo-Yan Investigation Department to betray the internal secrets of our dynasty many times. ”

Qu Fenghua said with a crying voice: "Your Majesty, the minister is a courtier of Daqi, there is no reason to collude with the enemy country, and I hope that Your Majesty will see it, there must be a lot of misunderstandings here——"

"Shut up!"

An old voice drowned the words behind him in his throat.

Zuo Prime Minister Li Daoyan turned his head, his old eyes were full of endless disappointment and anger, and such a gesture rarely appeared on him.

He knew that Qu Fenghua was greedy, perhaps because his family was too poor and miserable when he was a teenager, and after he took power, he wantonly looted and collected money, these things are not important in his opinion, after all, few officials in the court can be as clear as promised, and the same is probably true for removing Qu Fenghua and replacing someone else.

A clear stream like Xu Zuo who is willing to live on the four walls of his home is an extremely rare exception.

As long as Qu Fenghua can work with peace of mind in the Ministry of Industry, Li Daoyan doesn't bother to care whether he is greedy for some silver, at most he occasionally knocks him a few words.

However, Li Daoyan didn't expect that this guy would secretly collude with enemy spies, this is digging the foundation of the Great Qi Imperial Court!

It is not only the foundation of the Heavenly Family, but also the foundation of the Jiangnan Family!

As soon as he thought of this, the old man turned to the Son of Heaven and bowed, and said with great sadness and self-reproach: "Your Majesty, as the prime minister, the old minister has an unshirkable responsibility for Qu Fenghua's corruption and malpractice and collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country. The old minister implored His Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly, and no matter who was involved, the court would not tolerate it. As for the old minister himself......"

Li Duan was not immediately relieved this time, but just looked at the prime minister with a complicated expression.

Li Daoyan muttered: "The old minister is old, and he is really unworthy of the big responsibility, and I hope that His Majesty will allow the old minister to resign and return to his hometown, and choose another meritorious." ”

The ministers were all in a panic.

Li Duan took in all those reactions, and then said slowly: "Don't be like this to Zuo Xiang, Qu Fenghua deserves to die, and I hate to break his body into ten thousand pieces, but this matter has nothing to do with Zuo Xiang." Now that the state affairs are difficult and the situation is complicated, how can I leave the arm of the left minister? ”

Li Daoyan lowered his head and said: "The old minister is ashamed of his trust in His Majesty!" ”

Li Duan pondered for a moment and said, "In my opinion, Qu Fenghua is just an example, and he can't represent the princes of the court. In this way, let the Criminal Department and Dali Temple thoroughly investigate their various crimes, and then announce it to the world. ”

Li Daoyan knew very well what the Son of Heaven meant, Qu Fenghua's case ended here, and the destruction of his family and clan was his due end, but the court would not make a big deal out of it.

This is the bottom line that the Son of Heaven can accept.

The old man saluted again and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister is far less than just in case." ”

When even a few guards entered the Duancheng Palace, they dragged Qu Fenghua, who was pale and trembling, down.

In the silence, the general Liu Shouguang played again: "Your Majesty, please add four armies in the seven cities of Jiangbei, with a total of 50,000 troops, the two armies close to the Shuangfeng Mountains are under the jurisdiction of the Huaizhou Governor's Office, and the two armies in the west are under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhou Governor's Office. ”

Li Duan calmly looked around at the ministers and asked calmly, "Do you have any objections from the Qing family?" ”

No one was silent.

Li Daoyan and Guo Congyi did not speak, and the other important ministers seemed to be still immersed in the shock that Qu Fenghua was taken away directly.

Xue Nanting, the right prime minister, looked up at the Son of Heaven, the monarch and the ministers met their eyes, he immediately stepped forward and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister supports General Liu's suggestion!" ”

In the imperial history, Xu Zuo immediately seconded the proposal.

More and more ministers have come forward to express their support, and the echoes are endless.

Li Bingxue's face looked a little better, she turned her head to look at Lu Shen, and said softly: "It's really not easy." ”

Lu Shen nodded, he suddenly understood the reason why Li Tianrun trusted the Son of Heaven so much.

(End of chapter)