At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 172 Chapter 168
A tank boat slowly sailed along the Grand Canal from north to south.

"My lord, there are people on the shore to welcome you."

Gao Zhu closed his eyes slightly and asked, "Are you in Huai'an?"

"Master, that's right!"

Gao Zhu nodded and said: "It must be Xu'er. The old man hasn't returned to his hometown for many years. Let's go home and stay overnight today, and continue on our way tomorrow."

"Master...you look at this posture, he looks like someone from the government."

Gao Zhu was a little surprised, slowly opened his eyes, and said, "This time, the old man left Beijing in a hurry, and he didn't write a letter to the prefect of Huai'an. How could they know the old man's itinerary?"

"A small estimate, it should be that the local magistrate learned about the master's itinerary from the young master Biao, and came here to welcome him."

Gao Hub sighed, shook his head and said: "The old man is out of Beijing for business, but he just passed by Huai'an, so he went home to have a look. He leaked the news, and the local magistrate made preparations with great fanfare. Wouldn't it be a waste of money? This Xu'er really What's more... well, when the old man sees him, he must be disciplined!"

"Master, please calm down. The local officials usually get close to Young Master Biao. Maybe... it's just Young Master Biao who mentioned it unintentionally..."

Gao Zhu waved his hand and said, "When I get home, the old man will ask him personally, let's go ashore first!"

Gao Zhu has always been worried about his nephew.

He has two sons, both of whom live in the capital, so the family business of Huai'an Mansion was handed over to Gao Xu.

However, Gao Xu has been arrogant and domineering since he was a child, and now relying on his status as the old uncle of the pavilion, he is even more out of control. Over the years, he has caused troubles a lot.

For the sake of their own face, the local government usually makes the Gao family's affairs smaller and smaller. However, there are still a lot of gossip spread to the capital. This time we meet, we must advise him carefully. fan...

As soon as Gao Zhu raised his head, he was suddenly stunned. It turned out that the person who greeted him on the bank was his colleague, the new bachelor, Yu Qian.

Although he knew that Yu Qian was in charge of the river control project in Huai'an Mansion, he still felt a little surprised.

Because this person never pays attention to official etiquette, let alone take the initiative to cultivate relationships with others.

I really didn't expect that he came to greet me today. Could it be that Yu Qian, who is smelly and hard, has also changed his sex?
"Master Gao, you have worked hard all the way!"

Gao Zhu replied with a smile: "It's really hard for Mr. Yu to control the river. The old man is just passing through Huai'an. Mr. Yu doesn't need to mobilize people like this. The local... the local..."

He wanted to say that he was the local magistrate, but looking around, it seemed that except for Yu Qian, the others were servants and soldiers, and he didn't see other officials.

Yu Qian understood, and said: "I understand that Mr. Gao is worried about disturbing the people, so... I did not notify the local officials."

Gao Zhu smiled awkwardly and said, "That's right!"

"I have ordered people to prepare food and wine to clean up Mr. Gao, please!"

Gao Zhu nodded and said, "Then it's up to you!"

Although Yu Qian was stingy, he thoughtfully prepared the sedan chair, and Gao Zhu got into the sedan chair. He kept thinking on the way, where did my nephew go?

It's fine if the magistrate didn't come, why didn't my eldest nephew come?
Did you forget?
However, the itinerary told him clearly, it shouldn't be...

Yu Qian is really a real person. He directly brought people to the construction site and asked the chef to cook a few dishes, which was regarded as a welcome.

Then he pretended to say: "The conditions are really limited, and I hope Mr. Gao will forgive me."

Gao Hub didn't dislike it, he laughed and said, "Old man usually only has two dishes and one soup, but today my lord's table is already very rich."

Having said that, however, this reception banquet was really shabby, because there was only Yu Qian to accompany him.

Gao Hub couldn't help asking: "Where are Wang Yong and Wang Shilang?"

Yu Qian replied: "Winter is coming soon, and the construction period is tight. Wang Shilang really can't get away."

"That's right, business is important, business is important...By the way, is Bei Lin from Qin Tianjian also here?"

"Exactly!"

Gao Hub asked again: "My nephew who is not up to date wrote a letter saying that he had some conflicts with Belin. The old man has lived in the capital for a long time and neglected to discipline this nephew. I think it must be because he didn't obey the rules and collided with him. Mr. Bei, the old man passed by Huai'an this time, just to discipline him, and at the same time, he must apologize to Mr. Bei in person."

"Well... Actually, it doesn't have to be..."

Yu Qian's face was a little hesitant, as if he was very tangled.

Gao Zhu realized that something was wrong, so he asked, "Why did Master Yu say that?"

"About the conflict between Mr. Gao's nephew Gao Xu and Belin, it was because Gao Xu went to eat at the post station in Suqian and was bumped into by Belin. It seems...Gao Xu has a bad temper, young people, he got angry and started fighting, afterward Gao Xu took the initiative to bear all the expenses, and the matter passed."

"How about that?"

Gao Zhu slapped the table excitedly, and said angrily: "The post station was prepared by the imperial court for the officials in the past. Gao Xu has no official or job, and he went to the post station to eat and drink. Isn't it a violation of the rules?"

"Master Gao, don't get angry. Didn't Gao Xu pay for it!"

"It's not about money. When the old man sees him, he must be disciplined and let him understand what the rules are!"

At the moment, Gao Zhu couldn't eat anymore, and asked: "The old man went south this time to persuade the emperor to return to Beijing. My lord, tell me the truth, where is the emperor?"

Yu Qian said: "The emperor has indeed been here, but he has already left!"

"When?"

"It's only about ten days, at most half a month."

Gao Zhu shook his head and said, "Master Yu, you have seen the emperor, why didn't you persuade him to return to Beijing?"

"I persuaded you, but the emperor won't listen!"

"Since ancient times, loyal words have been harsh. You and I are cabinet ministers. We can't obey the emperor in everything. Otherwise, wouldn't we become the next Wang Zhen? Now that the emperor travels in micro-service, without any guards by his side, if he encounters a bad person, But what should I do?"

Yu Qian cupped his hands and said: "What Master Gao said is true, I will remember it!"

Gao Hub nodded, stretched out his hand to twirl his beard, and continued: "Although you entered the cabinet late, you are the most respected by the emperor. Because of this, you must always encourage yourself, self-denial and devotion to the public, so as not to disappoint the grace of the emperor. "

While the two were talking, the door curtain was lifted, and a person walked in.

Gao Hub is most disgusted by such unruly servants, but when he thinks about it, this is the river treatment site, and there are everyone in the mess, so don't worry about it.

"Master Gao, you are here!"

Gao Zhu raised his head, he really said Cao Cao Cao Cao is coming, is this person in front of Belin or who?

He stood up unsteadily, cupped his hands and said, "Deputy Supervisor Bei is polite!"

Yu Qian looked a little strange, and asked, "Aren't you busy with business?"

Belin nodded and said, "Yes, I'm done!"

Yu Qian asked again: "Have you found out?"

"Everything has been investigated, and the stolen goods have been recovered, so the case can be closed!"

Seeing that the two were talking nonsensically, Gao Zhu couldn't help asking: "Isn't it Zhihe? What case did you investigate?"

"Master Gao doesn't know something!" Beilen smiled politely and said, "This case is much more important than river governance."

Gao Zhu asked: "What case is it?"

"This case is similar to Mr. Gao..."

Suddenly, Yu Qian interrupted him and said, "Belin, don't talk nonsense until everything is cleared up!"

Bellin said: "Please rest assured, Mr. Yu, the officer has already checked it out."

Yu Qian glanced at Gao Zhu beside him, and asked again: "Are you sure?"

"Sure!"

Bellin nodded resolutely.

Gao Zhu was impatient for a long time, and hurriedly asked: "What happened?"

Yu Qian let out a long breath and said, "Master Gao, you have to be mentally prepared first."

Gao Zhu's expression changed, and he asked, "Could it be... that bastard Gao Xu..."

Beilen said truthfully: "Master Gao, don't worry, about your nephew Gao Xu, who is suspected of having an affair with the rebel..."

"What did you say?"

Gao Huteng stood up and said excitedly: "Belin, what did Gao Xu do wrong? You tell the old man, and the old man will discipline himself. However, you said that he had an affair with a traitor, isn't it an unwarranted crime? ?”

Bellin explained: "Don't get excited, Mr. Gao. Regarding Gao Xu... it's not really an affair. He was just used by the rebels of the White Lotus Sect. Moreover, there is your relationship in it."

"Presumptuous!" Gao Zhu slapped the table and said angrily, "It's not enough to wrong my nephew, do you want to drag the old man into the water?"

Belin unhurriedly took out a statement: "You'd better see for yourself!"

This confession comes from Zhang San of the White Lotus Sect. He has taken root in Huai'an Mansion for many years. His daily tasks are to inquire about information and expand relationships. Based on Lichun Courtyard, he uses beauty and money to win over valuable people as much as possible.

People like Gao Xu are their key targets.

Because of Gao Zhu's relationship, the local officials naturally tried their best to get close to Gao Xu. Over the years, the White Lotus Sect has obtained a lot of valuable information directly or indirectly from Gao Xu.

And all of this, Gao Xu himself did not know.

After reading the confession, Gao Hub couldn't help feeling angry, and said: "Since the White Lotus Sect is planning to commit crimes, their one-sided words must not be trusted!"

"Master Gao said that after the official received the confession, he immediately went to your old house and found 80 taels of silver, and..."

"What did you say?"

Gao Zhu's face was frosty, and he said coldly: "Do you dare to search the old man's house?"

Belin smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm really sorry, I've already searched."

"presumptuous!"

Gao Zhu was furious, and shouted: "The old man is the cabinet minister of the court, the pillar of the country, what right do you have to search the old man's house?"

Belin also changed her smiling face just now, and said in a deep voice:

"Now that you know that you are a cabinet minister, you should try your best to restrain your family and set an example for the people of the world! Do you know how many illegal things your nephew has done with your reputation over the years? ? Now that he is caught in the treason case, he is also greedy and blamed himself. Now that you don’t find the reason from yourself, you only want to use power to exonerate your nephew from the crime. Are you worthy of calling yourself a pillar?"

"you you……"

Gao Zhu was scolded by Belin for a while, his face paled with anger, trembling all over, unable to speak.

"What am I?"

Beilen didn't intend to stop there, and continued: "Did I say you were wrong? You have no way to discipline yourself, and you still blame others? I will tell you today that the White Lotus Sect's rebellion is a serious crime against the nine clans. All relevant people will definitely not be sentenced lightly, over the years, how much money did Bai Lian give to your nephew, and how much money did she give to you?"

"You... spitting blood!"

"Do you dare to say that you have confiscated the money from the White Lotus Sect?"

"This old man can guarantee that I will never confiscate a copper coin from the White Lotus Sect!"

"Even if you confiscated it, where did the more than 80 taels of silver in your old house come from?"

Gao Zhu said with a gloomy face, "Belin, are you interrogating a prisoner? What are you, why are you interrogating this old man?"

"Just rely on this!"

Belin was not used to him, and slapped the thing in her hand on the table.

Gao Zhu took a closer look, and suddenly his old face turned dark.

This is the emperor's gold medal. Generally speaking, it is only taken out when performing important tasks.

The front of the gold medal is engraved with a dragon pattern representing the imperial power, and on the back is the four characters Ruzhen in person.

Gao Hub hastily bowed down and bowed, shouting long live.

Belin put away the gold medal and said, "Master Gao, I can tell you responsibly that most of the silver and rare antiques in your old house can be matched with the account books of the White Lotus Sect. There is no personal enmity between us, so we will definitely not wrong him."

Gao Zhu's face turned from black to white, and then from white to green. After a long time, he asked, "You keep saying that the White Lotus Sect rebelled. What exactly did they rebel against?"

Bellin replied: "My lord, you won't forget about the emperor's assassination so quickly, will you?"

Gao Zhu retorted: "There are so many members of the White Lotus Sect, it's hard to guarantee that there are some people with ulterior motives, how can you prove that the person arrested here is the one who assassinated the emperor?"

Belle scratched her head. Through the interrogation, Zhang San and the others explained the matter of instigating the rebellion against the peasants, but they never mentioned the matter of assassinating the emperor in the capital. The two seemed to have nothing to do with each other.

"Well, let's not talk about the assassination of the emperor, let's say that in Huai'an Mansion, the White Lotus Sect conspired to incite the people to cause trouble, intending to create chaos and take the opportunity to rebel. What about this matter?"

Gao Hub was confused, but he understood one thing, the White Lotus Sect was doing something in Huai'an Mansion!

There are [-] civilian husbands in Huai'an Mansion. This is not a trivial matter. If the court fails to handle it in time, or if it is improper, the consequences will be disastrous.

Gao Hub thought about it, and then asked: "Even if Gao Xu has some contacts with the thieves, the case should be heard by the local magistrate. Mr. Bei is here to control the river. Is this an act of overreaching?"

"The magistrate can't control it anymore, there is no other way, the only way is for the lower officials to do it themselves."

Gao Zhu was puzzled and said, "What do you mean... the magistrate can't control it?"

"Because the prefect of Huai'an...to tell the truth, he was also arrested by the subordinate officials."

"You... you actually arrested the magistrate?"

"Exactly!"

Gao Zhu took a deep breath and asked, "Could it be...the prefect of Huai'an also has an affair with the White Lotus Sect?"

(End of this chapter)