A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

Chapter 184 Too Honest!

"Zang Feng is an honest and kind person! *hiccup*"

Bai Zairong, who was completely drunk, was carried outside the city and placed in the temporary military camp of the Imperial Guards.

Ji Cong looked at the commander, who was already dead drunk, and couldn't help but grit his teeth.

"Why is Li Rui so difficult to deal with?"

Ji Cong had already guessed it.

Bai Zairong will definitely be made drunk.

So he decided to play along and planned to do it when night fell.

Using the pretext of concern for Bai Zairong's safety, he directly led his troops into the city and took over the entire Boling County.

however.

Li Rui was so thoughtful that he brought the drunk Bai Zairong back!

This immediately removed Ji Cong's reason for launching a military campaign.

If we force our way into the city, it will only give others ammunition to criticize us.

Ji Cong sighed helplessly, and could only wait for Bai Zairong to wake up before making any plans.

The next morning.

Upon hearing that Bai Zairong had regained consciousness, Ji Cong rushed over.

Before he could speak, Bai Zairong raised his hand and said.

"I know what you're going to say, but I met with Zang Feng yesterday and found that he is not a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Everything he did was simply to protect his country; he was a rare and honest person!

Such a talented young man should not be doubted or suppressed, so abandon all your previous plans.

Hearing this,

Ji Cong felt like his head was about to explode!

What's going on?!

General, was what you drank yesterday alcohol?

It's probably Li Rui who drugged you!

How come Li Rui is considered an honest and kind person?!

Ji Cong stared in disbelief and hurriedly said...

"Why do you say that, General? Even His Majesty has heard about Li Rui's private army. How can he not harbor wolfish ambitions?"

Bai Zairong washed his face and shook his head repeatedly.

"Sigh, you people, you believe everything you hear! They're on the border, raising a private army to defend against foreign enemies, what's wrong with that!"

Furthermore, Li Rui said yesterday that he had no intention of arousing His Majesty's suspicion, and therefore had already disbanded the entire Restoration Army!

"What?! Li Rui disbanded the Restoration Army?"

Ji Cong was once again dumbfounded!

He simply couldn't believe such explosive news!

How could Li Rui possibly disband the Restoration Army?

Can he bear to part with it?

"It's fake! This must be a lie Li Rui told to deceive the commander-in-chief!"

Bai Zairong clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Look at you, if you don't believe me, you can go and take a look at Boling County. You won't see a single Restoration Army soldier on the city walls."

Ji Cong was speechless!

Because it really is true!

Whether it was the guards led by Magistrate Zhou Fang yesterday, or the garrison on the city wall of Boling County responsible for sentry duty.

They all looked like a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, and they were fighting under the banner of county soldiers.

Indeed, not a single soldier of the Restoration Army was seen.

Ji Cong gritted his teeth, still not believing it, but changed the subject.

"Then we can check the accounting records! Rumors are circulating that Li Rui privately altered the tax laws in Boling County. How is that any different from treason?"

Bai Zairong hesitated now.

Before he left, Shi Chonggui specifically instructed him to thoroughly investigate the tax law!

Compared to his private army, Li Rui's unauthorized changes to the tax law were actually more of a cause for concern for the emperor.

Because it's just a small county like Boling, how many soldiers could Li Rui possibly support?

Three to five thousand at most!

Even if Li Rui is a capable fighter, such a small force is not a big deal for the massive Jin Dynasty.

However, changing the tax law would be fatal!

The reason why the imperial court could function and why local warlords could support their armies was primarily due to tax collection.

Because of tax revenue, people have more money in their pockets, which allows them to do things.

Therefore, taxation was the foundation of the imperial court.

If Li Rui were to arbitrarily change the tax laws set by the imperial court in Boling County, it would be tantamount to prying up the floor tiles of the imperial court!

What if Li Rui's tax law is better than the imperial tax law!

That would be even worse!

As fame spread.

People from all directions will be loyal to Li Rui!

This is no longer about prying up floor tiles.

Instead, he took a hammer and smashed large sections of the imperial court's floor into the shapes he wanted!

Perhaps one day, Shi Chonggui will wake up to find out in astonishment.

He even shaped his harem into Li Rui's form!

Therefore, he specifically emphasized to Bai Zairong that the tax law issues in Boling County must be thoroughly investigated.

Once it is discovered that Li Rui is indeed enacting a private tax law, arrest him immediately on charges of treason!

At this moment, Bai Zairong, reminded by Ji Cong, also found himself in a dilemma.

After thinking for a long time, Bai Zairong said.

"Can't you find out by checking the accounting records?"

Ji Cong smiled confidently.

"Yes, officials will lie, and ordinary people will lie. If Li Rui's tax law is good for them, they will definitely help cover it up."

However, the accounts don't lie! They're written clearly in black and white; one deletion or alteration reveals multiple errors and omissions!

"Just bring me the account books from Boling County for the last five years, and I'll carefully examine and compare them. I'm sure I'll be able to find incriminating evidence against Li Rui!"

Seeing Ji Cong's confidence, Bai Zairong also said in a deep voice.

"Alright, you'll come with me into the city!"

Although Bai Zairong's opinion of Li Rui has changed significantly.

However, he was burdened with the emperor's mandate.

If we don't get a result, it will be difficult to explain.

The two men, riding horses and accompanied by a hundred guards, stormed straight into the Boling County government office.

Li Rui and Zhou Fang are both here.

"I was unaware of your presence, Commander-in-Chief, and have failed to greet you properly."

Zhou Fang stepped forward and greeted him.

Ji Cong then waved his hand abruptly and shouted.

"Seal off all areas of the county government office. No official documents may be touched without authorization, and no personnel may enter or leave!"

"Here you go!"

One hundred imperial guards quickly surrounded the county government office.

Zhou Fang looked panicked.

"Why is that, Commander? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Li Rui also stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"General, what has happened?"

Bai Zairong chuckled twice, dismounted, and shook hands with both of them, slightly embarrassed.

"Nothing to worry about. As the military governor, I need to understand the situation in the prefectures and counties under my jurisdiction, so I just surrounded them to learn more."

That's utter nonsense.

Can't we understand it if we don't fence it off?

of course.

Li Rui and Zhou Fang both knew perfectly well what Bai Zairong was up to, so they didn't say anything.

This cooperation only made Bai Zairong more embarrassed.

"Hurry up and go!"

He turned around and scolded Ji Cong, urging him to start quickly.

Ji Cong, accompanied by several clerks, headed straight for the back hall of the county government office.

Soon, all the records of household registration, land ownership, taxes, and other information for Boling County were laid out before us.

Ji Cong sneered and began to flip through the pages.

"Just you wait, Li Rui, I will definitely find your mistake!"

……