Lord Moyu was forced to open

After being stunned for a while, an official immediately stood up and retorted:
"Mr. Jia, I don't agree with your opinion. In this world, thousands of people have met for thousands of years. How many people are involved in major government affairs?
We must be cautious, how can we conclude based on our own opinions that it is impossible for officials in the southeast to participate in smuggling?
What if the court went out to investigate with great fanfare because of your suggestion, and alerted the enemy? These traitors hid everything so that the court could not find anything. What if they continued to smuggle after the people from the court left?
Mr. Jia, it has only been a few years since the imperial government's finances turned from losses to profits. Customs taxes along the coast are now an important part of the imperial government's finances. If this part of the income is reduced due to smuggling, who will make up for this huge funding gap?
Who can take responsibility?

is it you?
Or those officials on the southeast coast?
What if there happens to be a natural or man-made disaster and the court is short of this money? ! "

When Jia Zhengjing heard this, he sneered disdainfully and said: "The tax revenue is less. That's because the tax collectors below are not doing their job well. What does it have to do with other people?
As for natural and man-made disasters, why are there so many natural disasters? Since the court has a funding gap, it can just find a way to make up for it. Why bother focusing on sea taxes?
Furthermore, having said that, why do you conclude that officials in the southeast must be involved in smuggling?

Aren't you just guessing out of thin air? ! "

The official who spoke out suddenly became speechless. He never expected that Jia Zhengzheng could be so shameless.

Zhao Jun sat on the dragon chair and looked at him like this, his eyes narrowed, and then he slightly signaled to Wang Huaien next to him, who immediately quietly exited the hall.

The debate below is still going on, but no matter what others say, Jia Zhengjing just doesn't agree to conceal the matter from local officials.

After about half an hour, Wang Huaien returned quietly.

At the same time, he also brought back a piece of information submitted by the secret guards and the Imperial City Division.

Despite the noise below, Zhao Jun quickly opened the information and read it. As he read the information, Zhao Jun quickly understood why Jia Zhengzheng was so opposed to concealing it from officials along the southeast coast.

It turned out that his son-in-law was Lei Xingshan, the governor of Haifu County.

What's more important is that most of the senior officials along the southeast coast are now involved with him. Every year, Jia Zhengjing receives a lot of congratulatory gifts from the southeast.

There were also several officials who were the same, but this time they did not jump out, but Jia Zhengjing himself jumped out to oppose it.

Obviously those guys were trying to protect themselves by collecting money and not doing anything, but Jia Zhengjing, the fool, jumped out on his own.

After figuring out the reason, Zhao Jun knew how to deal with it. Ignore the ones that didn't jump out. They can just be used for fishing.

As for Jia Zhengjing, he was the first to shoot, and he didn't have the brains to imitate other people's court games!
Use him to establish your authority!

"Cough cough!"

Two light coughs came from above, and the officials in the court who were noisy didn't pay attention at all.

until--

"quiet!"

Wang Huaien shouted loudly, suddenly waking up the ministers. When they realized that they were still in the court hall, most of the ministers quickly lowered their heads when they looked at the dark-faced Zhao Jun.

Although Jia Zhengjing also stopped talking, he looked at everyone with a look of disdain, as if he had won the argument just now.

However, the next moment Zhao Jun said something, his proud expression suddenly froze on his face.

"Jia Zhengjing, I heard that your family has received a lot of good gifts this year. I see that these gifts are all from the southeast.

But I remember Jia Aiqing, aren’t you from Gaodong?

Why are there so many connections in Southeast Ye? ah? "

As soon as Zhao Jun said these words, everyone in the room was shocked. No one knew that Jia Zhengjing had benefited from Southeast. No wonder he would speak for Southeast.

Many people were already looking at Jia Zhengzheng with gloating eyes.

Jia Zhengzheng himself was sweating profusely on his forehead, thinking about how to explain.

However, Zhao Jun would never give him a chance to defend himself.

He said straightforwardly: "Jia Aiqing, it's not that I don't allow favors, but as Aiqing is a court official, no matter how much favors you have, it can't affect the interests of the court, right?

And you know that I have never been merciless to those who are ignorant.

You don’t need to comment on the matter of smuggling in the southeast. First explain who gave you those gifts and why! After saying that, Zhao Jun immediately shouted: "Come here!" "

Immediately, a Han general walked in from the outside. At this time, Jia Zhengjing finally couldn't be serious anymore, and hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs with a panic look on his face:
"Your Majesty, I wish! I wish! Those are just ordinary human exchanges. I definitely did not abandon public service for personal reasons!

His Majesty! You have to believe me!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."

After waving his hand, Zhao Jun was too lazy to listen to such people's excuses. Soon the Han general blocked his mouth with a cloth and dragged him out of the palace.

After getting rid of the people who were in the way, Zhao Jun looked at the courtiers and said: "I understand some favors, but I don't care what you do in private, but if the favors cause damage to the interests of the Song Dynasty, , then don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

All officials hurriedly bowed their heads, no one dared to respond.

Zhao Jun glanced around and then coldly snorted:
"As for the smuggling, let's arrange it according to what the Prime Minister said. Let the Ministry of Punishment arrange some capable officials to go to the southeast to assist. I must catch all these guys who dare to smuggle!"

"promise!"

All the officials agreed in unison, and Zhao Jun rolled up his sleeves and left.

The morning court gradually dispersed, and the officials discussed the matters of today's morning court and dispersed one by one.

However, Zhang He stayed at the end and did not leave. When all the officials were about to leave, Zhao Jun immediately conveyed to the Xiaohuangmen on duty that he wanted to see His Majesty.

Zhao Jun did not show any surprise after receiving the news, or he had already expected it.

If Zhang Helian didn't notice this, then Zhao Jun would really doubt his ability as prime minister.

Soon Zhao Jun saw him in the Royal Garden.

Spring Breeze Pavilion!
Zhao Jun threw the fish feed in his hand into the pond water, and the fat-headed carp in the pond immediately swarmed in and started eating desperately.

"Your Majesty! I, Zhang He, see your Majesty!"

Zhang Heyi arrived and immediately bowed respectfully.

Zhao Jun did not look back, and waved his hand, indicating that he could sit wherever he wanted, while he continued to spread the feed carefully.

After a long time, the fish feed in Zhao Jun's hand ran out. Zhao Jun finally turned around and looked at Zhang He, who had been waiting for a while, and asked:

"Why don't you come to see me if you don't go to work after the Prime Minister's appointment?"

Zhang He stood up slowly, cupped his hands and said, "I would like to report to you, I have a question that your Majesty can answer."

Zhao Jun's face showed a look of surprise at the right time.

"Oh? Is there anything else you want to ask me about, Zhang Xiang?"

Zhang He's face didn't change, and he asked slowly but firmly:
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid Jia Zhengjing is not the only one who has accepted bribes from Southeast, right?

Those in the Southeast don't put all their eggs in the same basket.

Chen guessed that there must be others, but he sensed something was wrong, so he kept silent.

Do the officials know the identities of these people? "

Zhao Jun nodded slowly, clapped his hands with a smile and said, "As expected of Zhang He, Zhang Xiang can rest assured that several other people have also been found, but I haven't taken action yet and want to continue fishing."

Hearing this, Zhang He breathed a long sigh of relief.

……

(End of this chapter)