Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 71: Speculation and Calculation

……

"Has it been taken away?"

"Who took it away? Where did it go?"

Faced with everyone's questions, Han Wujie lowered his head and dared not say a word.

Actually, there is no need to ask.

The only one who could take away the military power from the Jiedushi was... the Governor-General of Liangjiang, Hu Jiansheng!
Why did he mobilize troops?
But at this juncture?
Where did the transferred troops go?

For a moment, things became a little confusing.

Jia Rong looked at Han Wujie and said, "It has come to this point, just tell me everything. What else is there to hide? It's going to be a fatal blow anyway."

Han Wujie couldn't help but shiver.

"Wha, what?"

"What's the knife?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You have loaned out your soldiers, and you are still leaving them here without knowing anything. What if your soldiers rebel?"

"If you don't die, who will die?"

"Killing all nine clans is too light a punishment!"

Han Wujie's face turned pale in an instant.

"No, no, Master Hu said..."

Han Wujie stopped talking halfway through.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Still hiding? Have you bought a coffin yet?"

Lin Ruhai said with a smile: "Let's go. At worst, the tax payment will be postponed. I will be scolded by the emperor a few times, which is not a big deal."

Zhuge Lan smiled and said, "Sure!"

Jia Rong bowed to Han Wujie and said with a smile, "Then I won't bother you anymore."

"Rest in peace."

Han Wujie: “…”

Rest?

Can I still rest?
"Everyone, please stay, stay!"

Han Wujie hurried forward to stop everyone, and said with a wry smile: "Isn't it enough that I have told you everything? I just want you to show me a clear way forward!"

Several people laughed.

Jia Rong asked, "Tell me quickly, who went to borrow troops?"

Han Wujie said: "Yes...Governor Hu."

As expected!

Lin Ruhai asked: "What's the reason for borrowing it?"

Han Wujie hesitated only for a moment this time, and said, "Lord Hu said he got accurate information that there were pirates who intended to rob the tax silver entering the capital. I was confused for a moment..."

Lin Ruhai, Zhuge Lan and Jia Rong looked at each other.

Suspicion! ?
How come Hu Jiansheng also knew about this?
Robbing tax silver! What a confidential matter!
Why does it feel like the whole world knows about it?!
Han Wujie looked at the three people in shock and asked in confusion: "What's wrong? Lord Lin, didn't you also say..."

Lin Ruhai asked seriously: "Do you know where the soldiers went?"

Han Wujie shook his head.

"This... I really don't know."

"The Governor warned me not to ask too many questions and told me to keep it a secret. My Lords, please do not..."

"okay!"

Lin Ruhai waved his hand: "There is nothing for you to do now, go back and have a rest!"

"Let's go back!"

After saying that, the three of them walked out.

Han Wujie took two steps after him and said, "My Lord, I have explained everything to you. Don't forget to say a few good words to me from the Minister!"

Jia Rong turned around and smiled.

"It depends on my mood!"

Han Wujie: “…”

……

Several people quickly returned to the Salt Inspectorate's Yamen.

It was almost three o'clock in the morning.

But I wasn't sleepy.

Lin Ruhai said, "Brother Rong, go to the west wing of the back hall and rest first. I have just ordered people to clean up."

Jia Rong said, "I can't sleep."

Aroused curiosity.

He wanted to see how the old foxes in officialdom fought each other in a treacherous way.

Zhuge Lan stroked his beard and smiled, "It's good to be young, and full of energy."

Lin Ruhai did not try to persuade him any more. Outside the window, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. There was no wind at all. The occasional chirping of insects added a bit of liveliness to the quiet night.

There were only two candles lit in the room, making it a little dark.

half an hour.

Lin Ruhai sipped his tea and asked, "Mr. Zhuge, what do you think?"

"Hard to say."

Zhuge Lan thought about it.

"Maybe the pirates didn't keep their mouth shut, which led to the news leaking out."

"Maybe they're all traps to lure us over there!"

"even……"

Lin Ruhai asked: "What?"

Zhuge Lan said: "I suspect this matter... involves the court, and even Lord Jing!"

Lin Ruhai smiled faintly, seemingly not surprised.

"Tell me!"

Zhuge Lan said: "The last time Jining Jiedushi Zhang Maoye killed an innocent man and took credit for it, it was almost covered up. Someone in the court helped cover it up!"

"If it weren't for the impeachment letter from the censor that happened to fall into the hands of Lord Jing, we would still be in the dark!"

"At that time, we suspected that someone was secretly plotting."

Lin Ruhai nodded.

"Yes! Go on."

Zhuge Lan continued, "Zhang Maoye chose to work with the pirates to rob the tax silver. No matter how you look at it, it is not a wise decision! And the news leaked out!"

"Maybe... Zhang Maoye is just a chess piece, and mostly a discarded piece."

"Use him to collude with pirates and rob the tax silver!"

"By then, not only will Lord Lin be blamed for losing the tax silver, but Lord Jing will also be at fault for failing to supervise... At the very least, he will have no hope of joining the cabinet."

"At this time, a divine soldier descended from the sky, recovered the tax silver, and killed the rebels..."

"Isn't this a huge achievement?"

……

Shandong, Jining Prefecture.

The backyard of the Jiedushi Yamen.

A table of delicious food and two pots of fine wine.

Two people were sitting opposite each other and drinking.

"Brother Zhang, I didn't expect that you have caught the attention of the cabinet minister at such a young age. If this is successful, promotion to a higher position is just around the corner. I am so envious of you, brothers." One of them said with envy on his face.

Zhang Maoye was very excited at this time: "I will never forget your kindness in supporting me."

In fact, Zhang Maoye himself didn't know how he caught the attention of the elder. Last time, he helped cover up the murder of an innocent person and took credit for it, and now this time, he has received another huge credit!

After much thought, I can only attribute it to the fact that my talent is too outstanding and I have become the cabinet minister's right-hand man.

"How are the preparations going? Have you contacted the pirates?"

Zhang Maoye smiled and said, "Don't worry, Brother Li. We have already contacted them. They trust me very much. After all, we have cooperated with each other once before. They would never have thought that I would turn against them at the last minute."

"That's good. If we can use the tax money to wipe out the pirates this time, Brother Zhang will be the first to achieve the credit! Don't forget me when the time comes!"

"Don't worry, of course not."

"Come, let's drink!"

"please……"

"please!"

……

Jia Rong returned to the West Wing at four o'clock in the morning.

Xiaoxiao was leaning on the bed railing, dozing off with her eyes closed.

Although Jia Rong's voice was very soft, Xiao Xiao still woke up, stood up, rubbed his eyes and said, "Master, I'm back."

"Well, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Of course I'm waiting for you to come back. I'll go get some water..."

Jia Rong grabbed him and said with a smile, "Don't prepare anything. It's already this late. Just go to bed."

I'm really sleepy.

"kindness!"

Xiao Xiao nodded, bent down to spread the quilt on the bed, and suddenly turned around and smiled: "Master, do you still want to practice sword today?"

Jia Rong stepped forward and smiled gently, holding Xiao Xiao's slender waist and said, "With my current powerful swordsmanship, I'm afraid you can't resist it!"

Xiao Xiao reached out and picked up the sword on the bedside and placed it on the table. He raised his head and chuckled, "I don't believe it. Draw your sword!"

"Okay, okay, I'll let you see this!"

……

(End of this chapter)