"Why is that?"

Liu Kezhuang was a little surprised, after all, the purpose of their visit to Xiangyang this time was to review taxes, but not to include this field.

Zhao Chonglong complained: "Do you think that the field is really as prosperous as Lu Wenhuan said?"

"Well, if you dig deeper, there are indeed some doubts. Because I didn't see happy or happy expressions on those people's faces, and more importantly, the clothes they were wearing were so new, and the new ones were incredible. Liu Kezhuang began to recall the scenes he had seen before, and the more he recalled, the more full of doubts became.

"That's right. ”

Zhao Chonglong complained: "The clothes worn by ordinary people are only half-worn and not old, so where can they wear new clothes all day long? Not to mention that everyone wears new clothes. This makes it even more strange. It is precisely because of this that I think this Lu Wenhuan must want to hide something!"

"Hidden, he is a pacification envoy, and Lu Wende is also the Duke of Chongguo, what do they have to hide?" Huang Zhen asked.

Zhao Chonglong replied: "I don't know. But I'm sure they don't want me to know something. Perhaps, it's because these things will affect their careers. You know what?"

Liu Kezhuang had doubts on his face, but Huang Zhen had already opened his mouth and replied: "If that's the case, then we have to track it down." ”

"That's right, that's why I asked you to hide your identity and investigate secretly. The most important thing is that you must not let others know your purpose, understand?" Zhao Chonglong said with a solemn expression and instructed the two in front of him.

"I'll understand. ”

Huang Zhen seemed to be a little puzzled, raised his head and asked: "It's just Lord Zhao, you are an angel, why should you be so cautious? I expect that although Lu Wende is powerful, how can he dare to resist Tianwei? In my opinion, as long as the adult makes a request, then Lu Wende will definitely not refuse, and he will naturally be obedient and let me check the account books he has accumulated over the years." ”

"You're still too angry. Don't you know that there is such a thing as falsification in this world, and if he presents the forged account books, how can I see them?"

Zhao Chonglong's eyes suddenly showed a touch of ruthlessness, and his hands clenched even tighter: "What's more, it's not the first time that the other party has done this." It would be unwise for me not to be vigilant. ”

"My subordinates understand!"

Huang Zhen was taken aback, and hurriedly bowed his head down, wondering why he was angry with Zhao Chonglong.

"That's right. Then Lu Wende knew that our trip was to investigate him, how could he show his feet?" Liu Kezhuang also stood up, blocked Huang Zhen, and said to Huang Zhen in a reproachful tone: "Lord Zhao expected this, so we acted secretly. ”

"Exactly. ”

Zhao Chonglong felt a little relieved, he didn't do anything wrong when he summoned Liu Kezhuang into his command, Huang Zhen was upright and righteous, but he was too upright and didn't know the way to turn around, if Liu Kezhuang adjusted it, it would naturally be quite useful.

His expression suddenly became serious, and he said to the two of them in a heavy tone.

"You also know about the current state of our dynasty. The previous Northern Expedition had already depleted the treasury, but local officials still turned a deaf ear and often applied for assistance on various grounds. How can we be filled with the fact that the materials are already limited, but the people's desires are insufficient? It is precisely for this reason that the prime minister sent us out in the hope that we would examine the taxes in various places so that the local officials would not be derelict in their duties. This is also the purpose of our trip! If Lu Wenhuan hides the income of the market and withholds most of the taxes, then the treasury will definitely be insufficient. If the treasury is insufficient, how can we stabilize the world? I ask you to keep this in mind, understand?"

The reason why he came was not for no reason, it was really because Jia Yidao noticed that the imperial court taxes were difficult to support, so he asked Zhao Chonglong to come here, the purpose was to review and check whether Lu Wende was greedy for money, or even withheld taxes privately.

This was an annual practice in the Song Dynasty, and Lu Wende also knew this, and of course he would not stop it.

It's just that in the past, those who came to review were basically just going through a formality, so Lu Wende didn't care much about it, thinking that this time it would be the same.

But this is not the case for Zhao Chonglong, you must know that in order to be able to win this opportunity, he paid a lot of price, how can he give up easily, so he pretended to be a corrupt official to cater to Lu Wenhuan on the surface, but secretly sent his two most proud subordinates, just to get information about what Lu Wende did in private.

Only by finding out these bad things can he completely kill Lu Wende.

"That said. But Lord Zhao, you also know that in the past, there was never a problem in this Xiangyang. Do you think we can investigate it?" Liu Kezhuang asked in a low voice as he felt a little nervous.

Huang Zhen also said: "That's right. If we don't find out, what will happen then?"

Seeing that the two of them had doubts on their faces, Zhao Chonglong immediately explained: "Maybe you don't know, but before I came, I checked the situation of his nine clans. In addition to Lu Wenhuan, his heirs and relatives are all in the army, large and small, all have military positions. If it were one or two, it would be fine, but the whole clan has hundreds of people, all of whom have military positions, which is strange. Could it be that his whole clan is a loyal martyr?"

"In this way, doesn't he have a plan?" Huang Zhen was shocked.

Taizu's ancestral teachings may not exist, but the Song Dynasty scholars have always been hostile to the warlords, and the slightest movement will surprise them, thinking that the other party is suspected of rebellion.

In the past, Di Qing also died in humiliation because of this reason.

Zhao Chonglong closed his head and said: "It's not that this is not possible. ”

"If this is the case, then we must not let our guard down, and we must find out what is going on. Huang Zhen and Liu Kezhuang looked at each other and made up their minds.

Zhao Chonglong was secretly happy in his heart, glad that he had not seen the wrong person, and complained: "That's right. That's why I want you two to hide your identities and investigate secretly, after all, my identity is sensitive, and I can't get out easily. And the two of you have never shown up, they will definitely not recognize the two of you, but it is convenient for you to move. Seeing that the two of them looked like they were at home, they said, "Of course, you two should also pay attention to safety, don't be discovered by the other party, understand?"

"I'll understand. ”

Huang Zhen and Liu Kezhuang bowed and saluted, and disappeared from the house without a trace.

It was only at this time that Zhao Chonglong felt a little relieved, took off his clothes and put them on the desk, then leaned over to blow out the candlelight, and then went to bed.

Tomorrow, he will have to compete with Lu Wende and Lu Wenhuan, so he naturally has to recuperate.

The stars dissipated, the morning light shone into the bedroom, and the rooster crowed, and a new day began.

Opening his worried eyes, Zhao Chonglong got up from the bed, washed his face with water, and looked at his face in the bronze mirror, he couldn't help but fall into contemplation, and the scenes of the past were also vivid, and at the end he gritted his teeth and swore: "This time, I will definitely bring down that Lu Wende." ”