Fenghou

Xu Xiantu knew Wei Yanzong, he waved his hand and said, "You are welcome, General Wei, what can Special Envoy Lu say?"

Wei Yanzong took out two letters and presented them to Xu Xiantu. After Xu Xiantu took the letters, he was shocked by the first letter, which turned out to be a letter written by King Yong himself.

"Is there anything else to convey verbally?" Xu Xiantu asked again.

"Special Envoy Lu asked me to tell Xu Xiangguo that there will be changes in Wenzhou. Please contact General Wu Shi."

Xu Xiantu was stunned, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know the humble job, just this sentence!"

"Okay! Thank you, General Wei."

Wei Yanzong saluted and left.

Xu Xiantu then closed the door, sat down in front of his desk, and carefully opened His Royal Highness King Yong's letter.

Xu Xiantu knew that King Yong would not look for him for small things, but once he looked for him, it would be a big deal. This is actually the second time to look for him. The last time was to transfer Han Shizhong away from the battlefield. I don't know why this time?

Xu Xiantu opened the letter and read it again. The content of the letter was very simple, even only four words, 'Baoji Shijia! '

Sending a specific letter at a specific moment, only an old politician like Xu Xiantu can understand it. His Royal Highness King Yong hopes that the emperor will dig his own foundation.

It's just that the Son of Heaven has just borrowed millions of dollars, so he may not make a move on such a powerful person as the Shi family, so he has to think of a way to persuade him.

Xu Xiantu was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. At this moment, he suddenly remembered that he still had a letter he hadn't read. He patted his forehead and sat back in his seat.

The second letter was actually written to him by Wu Shi, the commander of the Wenzhou garrison. After reading the letter, he immediately understood what Lu Gang said.

"There will be changes in Wenzhou, please contact General Wu Shi from Xiangguo!" '

King Yong planned everything. This Wu stone was the handle of the knife, and King Yong handed the handle to himself.

He got up immediately and said: "Prepare the carriage, I want to enter the palace overnight!"

……

At this time, the emperor Zhao Gou was playing Qi people game with several concubines, and was in high spirits when an eunuch outside the tent reported in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Xu Xiangguo has an emergency to see you!"

Zhao Gou was disturbed and annoyed, so he had to give up the sentiment, and ended in a hurry. Several court ladies came forward to dress him. Zhao Gou ordered: "Let Xu Xiangguo meet you in my inner study!"

Zhao Gou simply put on his attire and came to the inner study, where he saw Xu Xiantu sitting on a soft chair outside and waiting. Seeing the arrival of the emperor, Xu Xiantu hurried forward to salute, "The situation is urgent, please disturb your majesty to rest!"

"What emergency?"

"Beizhi has just received information from Wenzhou that there has been a change in the Wenzhou garrison!"

"what!"

Zhao Gou was taken aback, and hurriedly said, "Go inside and talk!"

The two walked into the inner study. Xu Xiantu handed Wu Shi's letter to Zhao Gou. The letter said that the Wenzhou Army stationed in various places is gathering in Yongjia County. The Wenzhou Army has 3 people stationed in Wenzhou, Taizhou and The three places in Chuzhou are mainly defending the Western Army on Fujian Road.

Zhao Gou was really surprised. The Wenzhou army crossed the three states, and any transfer required its own tiger amulet, but he did not send military envoys. How could the army gather at will?

"Xu Aiqing, who is this Wu Shi who wrote the letter?"

"His grandfather is an old servant of Weichen's family. Three years ago, his father asked me to help arrange a position. This Wu Shi happened to be the head of the Song army, so Weichen promoted him to be a commander and stationed in Wenzhou. He is a little minister. people."

Xu Xiantu made up a resume casually, and he had to communicate with Lu Gang and ask him to arrange it, so don't reveal it.

"Xu Aiqing, could it be that the Western Army is going to attack Wenzhou in the north?"

Xu Xiantu shook his head, "Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with the Western Army. This should be a continuation of the Wanqixi incident. The minister said that the Wanqixi incident is just the beginning!"

Zhao Gou's face suddenly changed, and he sat down slowly, with complex expressions in his eyes, sometimes worried and sometimes angry.

Xu Xiantu said again: "Your Majesty, the dissatisfaction of these dignitaries is nothing more than the sharp drop in real estate prices. If you want to appease them, unless you let the land prices rise again, no one can do it. Therefore, both Wei Chen and Zhang Xiangguo think that since appeasing If you can’t stop, then you can simply be tough, beat these reckless dignitaries hard, make them afraid, they will restrain themselves, and the risk of Wenzhou’s army changing will naturally be eliminated. Your Majesty, this humble minister is a privy envoy. Bing, please trust our judgment."

Zhao Gou nodded, "How to beat?"

"Your Majesty, the best way to strike is to make an example to others!"

Zhao Gou paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, and said for a while: "Today, Aiqing mentioned that Shi Guangping was related to the assassination case. In the afternoon, Yan Xin reported that the timing of the assassin's appearance was very precise. When we boarded the car, this opportunity was only for a short moment, but the assassin caught it, which means that someone in the cabinet notified the assassin, and Yan Xin also suspected that Shi Guangping was involved in the assassination plan, otherwise it would not be such a coincidence."

Xu Xiantu made up the knife calmly, "Actually, there is one more thing that I have not told His Majesty!"

"what's up?"

"Today, the head of Jiangnan Cabinet told Weichen that there are many big businessmen in Baoji Cabinet who have saved their wealth. These merchants fled to Jingzhao and did not have time to withdraw their wealth. Shi Guangping may want to use these wealth to make up for the loss."

Zhao Gou frowned, "He's an opener, can he do this kind of thing?"

Xu Xiantu sneered and said, "Your Majesty, I guess he will let the court take the blame, saying that he was stolen by the court."

……

Xu Xiantu knew Zhao Gou too well, and Zhao Gou was weak in his bones, so he would definitely not be able to make up his mind to ask him to kill others as a warning to the powerful, unless the Wenzhou army rebelled openly and endangered his throne, he would make up his mind.

There is another situation that will prompt him to make up his mind, and that is temptation. What the emperor desires most now is money, and he doesn't want to touch the wealth in his own treasury. So where will he get money?

If you tell the emperor that there are a large number of merchants' wealth in Baoji Cabinet, will he not be tempted?

Xu Xiantu resigned and left. He didn't need a heavy hammer to beat the drum, but he only needed to say the key words in place.

Zhao Gou paced back and forth in the inner study with his hands behind his back. He was thinking about attacking the Shi family. To what extent, he was still thinking about how much wealth he could get from the Shi family.

The Shi family is as rich as an enemy country, this is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone!It can not only beat the reckless behavior of the powerful, but also solve their own financial difficulties. As for the Shi family, it is enough to forgive them if they are not dead, and they can be sent to live in Lingnan for a long time.

The first thousand and 430 chapters and four arrests

Just before dawn, Plum Blossom Guard Yan Xin hurried to the palace, and the emperor Zhao Gou gave him a face-to-face instruction.

Zou Shuan, who was working in the palace, immediately told Wei Yanzong the news.

Before noon, Lu Gang came to Changfeng Teahouse early, and after a while, Wang Mu also hurried over.

He walked into the elegant room, just in time to see the big shopkeeper Dong An reporting something to Lu Gang. Lu Gang nodded repeatedly, "Let Zou Shuan continue to monitor and report at any time!"

Dong An nodded to Wang Mu with a smile, and walked away quickly. Wang Mu sat down and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

Lu Gang smiled slightly and said, "The Son of Heaven is going to attack the Shi family."

Wang Mu was taken aback, "The Shi family is truly a dignitary in the Song Dynasty. Wouldn't the emperor be afraid to shake the foundation if he attacked the dignitaries?"

"This incident was promoted by His Royal Highness King Yong, which made the emperor feel the danger and at the same time made him see the benefits. He would naturally think that killing the Shi family was a blow to the powerful, and at the same time he would make a lot of money himself. "

Wang Mu sighed, "His lips are dead and his teeth are cold. Today he can clean up the Shi family, and tomorrow he can clean up other dignitaries. Even if he temporarily suppresses the agitation of the dignitaries, he will lose the support of the dignitaries."

Lu Gang smiled and said: "His Royal Highness Yong told me a story about boiling a frog in warm water. The frog cannot be boiled in boiling water, and it will escape, but in warm water, the frog will be cooked without knowing it. The Son of Heaven is this frog." , once he completely loses the support of the powerful and the Jiangnan family, it's time for him to be boiled."

"It's an interesting story, but I won't put it in the paper lest he wake up when he sees it."

Wang Mu smiled and said, "How does the Son of Heaven plan to clean up the Shi family?"

"Early this morning, the emperor summoned Yan Xin. I guess I will use the assassination case of Wan Qixi to make a fuss."

Wang Mu asked curiously, "Can you find any evidence that the Shi family is involved in the case?"

Lu Gang said indifferently: "You underestimate Yan Xin's ability too much. According to Zou Shuan, he has found a breakthrough. He will definitely come to the newspaper office in the next two days. Please ask the "Beijing News" to publicly announce the evidence."

"I will report it to him truthfully. In fact, it doesn't make sense to report it or not. It can only fool ordinary people, but it is just trying to cover up those powerful people!"

At this time, the waiter brought the food, and Lu Gang smiled and said, "Let's eat first! Let's talk in detail after the meal."

……

Yan Xin already has the evidence of Shi Guangping's involvement in the case. Just as Lu Gang said, Yan Xin's leadership as the capital of the Plum Blossom Guard is indeed outstanding.

He was as careful as a hair, and found that when Wan Qixie was assassinated, he happened to walk out of the door of the cabinet workshop, before he got into the carriage. The assassin's timing was so precise that it would have been impossible if no one had notified him.

When Wan Qixi entered the cabinet workshop, someone notified the assassin, and the assassin hid not far away. As soon as Wan Qixi went out, the assassin started.

Then who notified the assassin, this is the key to the whole case, Yan Xin locked up three people, accountant Gao Hongde, steward Liao Bin, and Shi Guangping's coachman, all three of them had left the cabinet shop one after another.

Yan Xin used the method of elimination to rule out Gao Hongde and Liao Bin, because these two are small stewards and not Shi Guangping's confidantes. Shi Guangping will never leak the secrets of such a major arrangement, so only Shi Guangping's coachman is the biggest suspect. people.

In the morning, Meihuawei caught the coachman's son. When his son was in danger, the coachman collapsed and explained the details of Shi Guangping's arrangement to inform the assassin.

At noon, Shi Guangping was sulking in the cabinet shop. He just got the news that Wanbao cabinet shop and Jiangnan cabinet shop reached a loan agreement with the imperial court, and the court borrowed 100 million guan from the two cabinet shops.

But what made him angry was not the borrowing of money, but the collateral of the imperial court. Thirty percent of the land, houses, and shops had been mortgaged to him by the borrowing merchants before, and they were mortgaged by the imperial court again. A new title deed has been made.

This means that the thick stack of land deeds in his hand has become waste paper, and all the 200 million guan money he borrowed was in vain. In addition to the 60 guan money he borrowed from Pingjiang Mansion and Yuezhou, he lost 260 million yuan. Wan Guan.

This news was like a bolt from the blue, which made him want to cry without tears, and also made him deeply aware of the despicableness of the court.

Shi Guangping suffered from insomnia all night, and he rushed to the cabinet workshop the next morning. He wanted to calculate how much money he had in the cabinet workshops all over the place.

The manager reported: "Proprietor, there are a total of 35 branches, four in the Jiangnan area, two in Guangnan East Road, and the other sixteen are in the area controlled by the Yong Kingdom. The total land value of each store is 40 yuan. About [-] guan of my own money, these are other areas except the main store."

Shi Guangping touched his throbbing temples and said, "If I package and sell Baoji Cabinet Factory to King Yong, can I sell it for 100 million guan?"

The chief steward shook his head, "It can be sold at most 30 to [-]!"

"Why?" Shi Guangping was stunned.

"Did the proprietor forget? Pingjiang Mansion and Yuezhou still owe 60 guan!"

"what!"

Shi Guangping grabbed his hair fiercely, and said for a long while: "I asked you to investigate this morning, did you find it?"

"The humble job found two. No. 17 warehouse is grain merchant Luo Guisheng, and No. 21 warehouse is marine merchant Liang Qi. They are both medium-sized warehouses. Both of their families are not in Lin'an, so they didn't have time to withdraw the money."

"How much money is there?"

The chief steward shook his head, "It's impossible for us to know. The proprietor also knows that there are three doors. The key to the innermost door is in the hands of the guests. We have never entered it, but both families have fifty large boxes. We count them when we move in." Pass."

After a moment of hesitation, the chief manager said again: "If their wealth has been moved, they will come here to denounce it, which will seriously affect our reputation!"

Shi Guangping sneered and said, "Just say it was confiscated by the emperor, how can they go to confront the emperor? Let this fatuous emperor take the blame."

At this moment, only the sound of noisy footsteps came from outside, and a steward shouted: "This is an important place for the inner room, you must not intrude!"

Shi Guangping was taken aback, "What happened?"

The door curtain was lifted, and a dozen Plum Blossom Guard soldiers walked in, the leader was a commander, he said coldly: "Master Shi, someone has provided evidence that you assassinated Wan Teng Xiangguo, please follow us to Plum Blossom Guard for investigation and questioning. "

Shi Guangping was furious, "I am the majestic Duke of Wei, no one has the right to take me away without the emperor's will!"

The governor held up a gold medal, "This is the emperor's gold medal. With this gold medal, we can detain all ministers below the king!"

Shi Guangping never dreamed that the emperor would order him to be arrested. He suddenly fell into an ice cave, and then he suddenly realized that the emperor had attacked him, and he panicked a little, "This is a misunderstanding. I didn't assassinate Wanqi Xiangguo, didn't I?" I did it, big misunderstanding!"

Tong Leng said coldly: "Please follow us. As long as you cooperate with the investigation, we will treat each other with courtesy. If it is not the owner's fault, we will release you naturally. Please!"

Shi Guangping had no choice but to stand up and wink at the head steward, asking him to notify his family immediately.

But Shi Guangping didn't know that his mansion had already been surrounded by a thousand Plum Blossom Guard soldiers led by Yan Xin, the governor of the capital, and none of the male members of the Shi family had escaped.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers of the Meihuawei seized all the shops, houses and warehouses of the Shi family, including Baoji Cabinet Workshop and Fengle Building. The three Baoji cabinets in the Fu, Yuezhou and Jiankang Fu were also seized.

At the same time Shi Guangping was arrested, a pigeon letter was urgently sent to Jingzhao City by special envoy Lu Gang to report the cleansing of the Shi family to Yong Wang Chen Qing.

The first thousand and 430 chapters and five killing chickens

Zhao Gou did not go through the Zhengshitang to clean up the Shi family, and several Xiangguo didn't know about it. Qin Hui only learned that Shi Guangpi was arrested and the Shi family was copied in the afternoon. Qin Hui was shocked. He hurriedly asked to see the emperor. On the issue, Qin Hui is not confused at all. The dignitaries of the Song Dynasty are currently the last supporters of the emperor. If even the dignitaries are not spared, they will definitely dig their own graves and will definitely betray their relatives.

At this time, Zhao Gou has received the latest news that about one million taels of silver and 20 taels of gold have been copied from the basement of Shijia and No. [-] warehouse of Baoji Cabinet Square. The private warehouse, these wealth are accumulated by the Shi family for hundreds of years.

A very important reason why the Southern Song Dynasty could survive for nearly a hundred years after the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty was that a large amount of wealth was transferred in the Northern Song Dynasty. After Huizong hastily handed over the throne to his son, he made a southern tour of Yangzhou and Jiankang. In fact, he had the idea of ​​moving the capital to Jiankang.

A large number of dignitaries followed him on his southern tour, and the dignitaries were not fools. After the first golden soldiers retreated, they began to transfer their wealth to the south. Except for real estate, a large amount of gold, silver and money were transferred to the south. The Shi family was no exception. It is a transport fleet that blocks the sky.

The Shi family worked so hard to transfer the wealth accumulated over a century to the south of the Yangtze River, but they did not expect to benefit the emperor Zhao Gou in the end.

When Zhao Gou got the news, he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. The day before, he was still struggling with the military salary. Today, if a Shi family is confiscated, he will get tens of millions of wealth, enough to expand the army to 30. It has long been rumored that the Shi family is rich. Enemy country, now it seems that this statement is indeed true.

At this time, the eunuch reported at the door: "Your Majesty, Qin Xianggong and Zhu Xianggong are asking to see you!"

Zhao Gou's face was a little displeased. He knew what these two people were doing here?

"Acclaim them an audience!"

Not long after, Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei hurried into the imperial study, and Qin Hui asked anxiously, "Why did Your Majesty attack the Shi family all of a sudden?"

Zhao Gou's face stretched even longer, and he said coldly: "When Xiangguo was assassinated, it was Shi Guangping's coachman who went to inform the assassin. Shi Guangping himself admitted that he participated in the planning of the assassination. Close your eyes, I'm afraid you, Qin Xiangguo, will be assassinated next time!"

Qin Hui persuaded: "Your Majesty, there is a reason for their assassination of Wan Qi Xie. If the death of Wan Qi Xiangguo can calm their anger, this matter will be over. If Your Majesty makes things worse now, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what? I'm afraid they will rebel?"

Zhao Gou finally couldn't restrain his anger and said: "I have endured it, but what about them? They are still making progress. Without my tiger talisman, the Wenzhou army dared to mobilize without authorization. What do they want to do? They are going to threaten me with the army, Qin Xiangguo you do you know?"