Sir, I can do it!

Li Huai sat on the dragon chair in the center of Tongzheng Hall with serious eyes.He glanced lightly at Xie Hong's position, and was very surprised to see that he had come to court.

All the ministers sensitively sensed that the emperor's eyes were wrong.Seeing the same dark face as the Hubu Shangshu who had walked to Tongzheng Hall with the emperor's front and rear feet, they all lowered their heads fiercely, wishing to bury them in the ground, not wanting the emperor to see themselves, so as to avoid unreasonable disasters.

Cui Feng waited to slap Xie's face in high spirits, he was excited at this time, he didn't notice the subtle atmosphere in the hall at all, and secretly gave the Minister of War a wink.This was discussed in advance by them. The minister of the Ministry of War took the lead in proposing this matter during the court meeting, and the rest of the courtiers supported it.

The Minister of the Ministry of War was just about to go out, but he received a wink from his immediate superior, Yuan Shangshu, and he hesitated for a while.Seeing him dawdling, Cui Feng couldn't help but stare at him.The Minister of the Ministry of War almost cried aloud, but just as he was about to go out, he suddenly heard Master Xie shouting loudly in front of him: "Your Majesty, I have been wronged!"

The servant of the Ministry of War swished back the foot that had taken a small step, and the breath he was carrying was stuck in his throat, making his throat hurt from holding it back.He just said, the matter of arguing for so long has not been resolved so smoothly.

Cui Feng stared at Xie Hong's back with a gloomy face, and heard Xie Hong burst into tears and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the salt that was transported from Huaizhong to various places this autumn was robbed as soon as it came out of the Huaikou! Please also ask the emperor to make decisions for Huaizhong. Catch the culprit!"

All the courtiers were shocked when they heard the words.The importance of salt does not need to be repeated, but at this stall...

The courtiers who reacted looked at Xie Hong one after another with complicated eyes.Some people despise the Xie family's actions, some secretly envy the Xie family's wealth and confidence, and some hate the Xie family for blocking the way.For a moment, the faces of all the courtiers were brilliant.

Due to the remote location of Huaizhong, there was a compromise method as early as Chu Dynasty, and the salt was transported from Huaizhong to Lianzhou by itself.Lianzhou is a large state in the north, extending in all directions. Salt merchants from all over the country waited in Lianzhou to collect salt, and then transported it back to the local state capital.Only retail merchants would go to Huaizhong to collect salt in person.

After leaving Huaikou is Yingzhou, and further south of Yingzhou is Lianzhou.Yingzhou is the gateway to Huaizhong, and it has always been under the management of Huaizhong nobles.So when Xie Hong said that Yan was robbed at Huaikou, the courtiers all frowned, with expressions of disbelief.

Zhang Hong, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, came out in time and said: "Coincidentally, Yin Fangde, the confidant of Huaizhou Prefecture, knocked on the city gate in the aftershock overnight and submitted the evidence that the Xie family in Huaizhou guarded himself and intercepted the salt truck. Now he is locked in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Interrogation is available at any time."

Immediately afterwards, some ministers came forward and said: "Salt is the foundation of people's livelihood. The Xie family has lived in Huaizhou for generations and has been in charge of salt for nearly a hundred years. They will not know the importance of salt to the people's livelihood and the national economy. If the evidence is true, it is a heinous crime. Minister Your Majesty, please investigate this case thoroughly."

"My minister agrees!"

"The minister also agrees..."

Xie Hong was about to die of anger, and he shouted not very confidently: "How can you believe in Yu Zhen's one-sided words!"

Even the officials who flattered the Cui family took the opportunity to play and said: "At present, the Weinan matter is still hanging on the top of the head. The army is moving out, and salt is an important material. Xie's intercepting the salt privately at this time shows his sinister intentions."

Another minister came out and said: "As we all know, Master Xie does not agree with Master Cui as the main general. At this time, the Huaizhong salt truck was robbed, which really makes people doubt Xie's intentions. Besides, aftershocks have submitted evidence, people The evidence is all there, Master Xie is ashamed to call for grievances in court, but I don't know that there are such brazen people in the Xie family!"

Xie Hongqi's eyes were red.

He wanted to be shameless, and he did, but doing it himself and letting others point their noses and scold them are two different things!No, no, that's not what he wanted to say.He wanted to say that the salt was really robbed!How come no one believes in me!

Just before going to court, Xie Hong had already thought of a countermeasure.

To be able to rob the salt truck in Qifeng Mountain and then throw the Xie family out, the people behind it must not be weak.Although the Xie family has a private army, he doesn't want to expose it unless it is absolutely necessary.And according to the original plan, Fang De couldn't catch Xie's tail.He can use this matter to force the emperor to submit, provided that the emperor has no evidence of Xie's guarding himself.Everyone knew each other's details in private, but it was a game between Xie's family and the emperor, and there were no other incidents.

But if the evidence is exposed and the Xie family is hammered to death, what reputation will the Xie family have in front of the world.A mother clan with vicious means and dishonest world, the second prince will also lose a group of followers, and miss the throne, that is not worth the loss.Xie Hong couldn't afford to gamble.

Among other things, the batch of salt was indeed robbed. If he uses the hands of the court to find out the mastermind behind it, the Xie family can fight back and exonerate the family.

Xie Hong considered the way out, but the most important point is that the batch of salt is huge, if the vacancy cannot be filled in a short time, the people will have no salt, and there will be chaos!The Xie family has really become a sinner through the ages!

Xie Hong is not afraid of chaos in the world, which of these great nobles has not experienced a change of dynasty.Didn't the Xie family only experience the war at the end of Chu?But the problem is that in the troubled times at the end of Chu, the Xie family is still a wealthy family.But if this batch of salt cannot be recovered, the Xie family will suffer heavy losses, and will be reduced from a top noble to a third-rate small clan with a bang.If there is troubled times again, the only thing waiting for Xie's family is to be annexed, or to be wiped out by everyone, and there will be no Xie family in Huaizhong from now on.

At this moment, Xie Hong thought a lot, and even faintly regretted his impulsive actions back then.Thinking about it now, even if Cui Feng became the chief general of the Southern Conquest Army, wouldn't there still be a deputy general, Cheng Shixun?Cui Feng wanted to gain military power, and Cheng Shixun was not blind.Even if the emperor indulges behind his back, Cui Feng will not be able to accomplish anything in a short time.

He was a little too cautious.

Since the fall of the Zhao family, the emperor kept a close eye on their nobles.The Xie family was suspected again because of Concubine Xi's incident, so they had to calm down and wait for the opportunity.But at that time, Xie Hong suddenly didn't want to wait anymore.He didn't want to watch the emperor cultivate another Cui family to compete with the Xie family.He eagerly wanted to push the second prince to the throne, and eagerly wanted to control the power of the court.

Xie Hong sighed from the bottom of his heart, he hated it for a moment, he hated it, really hated it!What I hate even more is that these people don't believe in themselves at all!

Sitting on the dragon chair, Li Huai stared at Xie Hong quietly, and remained silent for a while.

He also thought a lot.

If he were Xie Hong, knowing that the aftershocks were arrested and Xie's family had been exposed, he should try his best to prevent today's court meeting.Then discuss conditions with myself in private, for example, as long as Cui Feng is replaced, that batch of salt can be 'found' at any time.But Xie Hong went to the court and called out in public.

If the evidence of the aftershocks is exposed on the spot, the reputation of the Xie family will be ruined.Old man Xie Hong is still a person who cherishes his feathers very much. He has been working for the second prince these years, and he insists on maintaining a noble integrity among the scholars.

If it is said that Xie Hong was wronged, and the evidence in Yu Zhen's hands is false, Li Huai would not believe it even if he killed him.This matter must have been done by the Xie family.But looking at Xie Hong's face, Li Huai was suffocated, Xie Hong was also plotted against!

He jumped up from the dragon chair, if so, the state of Qi is in danger!

Meeting Li Huai's sharp gaze, Xie Hong almost cried.At this moment, besides Li Huai, he is the last person who wants chaos in the world!

One monarch and one subject looked at each other silently, Li Huai actually understood Xie Hong's subtext, which made him feel incredible.

There are some things that cannot be publicized. The Xie family has a deep business in Huaizhong. If you want to recover the robbed salt cart, you must have the help of the Xie family.There is no need to continue the court meeting here.The rest of the matter is to be discussed privately with the Xie family.

Li Huai waved his hand to interrupt the discussions of the ministers and workers, and said in a deep voice: "Both sides insist on their own opinions, and we should not listen to one side or the other. I will handle this case according to the circumstances."

The Minister of the Ministry of War figured it out now, and gritted his teeth against Xie Hong in his heart.He understood the wink that Yuan Shangshu gave him, and immediately went out and said: "Your Majesty, how should the Weinan matter be resolved?"

All the ministers and workers attacked Xie Hong passionately, and now when it comes to practical issues, all of them shrank their necks like quails and remained silent.Cui Feng was very angry.

The common people need salt, and the army also needs salt. If they don’t eat salt, how can they have the strength to fight.Now it is no longer a question of who is sent to Weinan, but the army that fights Weinan needs a sufficient amount of salt, and the common people also need salt to balance people's hearts.

Li Huai glared at Xie Hong with hatred for being weak. He hoped that the Xie family could make things happen, and that the batch of salt was in the hands of the Xie family.He would rather give in to the Xie family for a while than make the situation worse.

"I have ordered the Ministry of Accounts to check the salt storage, and we will discuss this matter later."

After saying that, he shook his sleeves and left. Before leaving, he gave Xie Hong a veiled look, and Xie Hong understood immediately.After the court, he ignored his colleagues and went to Xuanming Hall with his official robes lifted.

Xie Hong stood aside with his head down, like a defeated rooster.If it was normal, Li Huai would have to sneer a few words.Right now, there is no such leisurely mood.He was so sad, so sad.

Xie Hong didn't plan to hide with Li Huai either, the aftershocks were all detained by the Ministry of Criminal Justice, the emperor knew what he should know, and there were only the two of them in the palace at this time, so why did he hide it, to find the lost salt The car is the business.

However, the interests that should be fought for still have to be fought for.

Although Xie Hong took a step back, but the Xie family's background is more than that, and Li Huai didn't want to push him too far.He only asked the Xie family to ask for an extra [-]% of the salt tax, and asked for the salt that the Xie family had purchased from the Yang and Miao families and various merchants in advance.

Xie Hong thought about it in his heart and thought it was acceptable.After all, compared to exposing the private army, this benefit is not worth anything.If the second prince ascends the throne in the future, he will definitely take back these things a hundred times and a thousand times.

Of course, Xie Hong is not at the mercy of others.After thinking about it, Li Huai agreed that the Xie family would not allow Cui Feng to be the chief general.After all, the Xie family has already made a fuss over this matter, if he doesn't take a step back, it won't be fun to push the Xie family into a hurry.

After reaching an agreement, the monarch and his subjects looked at each other with sad faces.Looking at each other, they both felt that the other was a little pitiful.

The monarchs and ministers sighed heavily.

Xie Hongdao: "I suspect that Dongyue is most likely responsible for this incident. There are only a few small salt farms in Dongyue, and their skills in refining pure salt are not high. Most of the salt they eat is purchased from Qi."

Li Huai glanced at Xie Hong with a sneer, and sneered, "Is it purchased from Qi State, or smuggled by Xie's family?"

Xie Hong's face blushed, and he couldn't help cursing in his heart: Since it's something he knows well, why bother to point it out.Besides, now is the time to talk about this, [-]% of the profits have been handed over to the imperial court, what else do you want to do!

Seeing that his complexion was not good, Li Huai's mood suddenly improved.He leaned back and said quietly: "Eastern and Yue are suspicious, and North Yan and South Liang may not be good. Salt is the foundation of the people and the foundation of the country. I don't know how many people envy the two major salt farms in Qi State. The Xiwan Salt Farm has Chu With people from the family, no one dared to make a move. Huaizhong is closer to Dongyue, so it is not impossible for them to attack secretly. The battle in Shuobei is stalemate, and it is not impossible for Beiyan to divert the attention of the court. The chaos has not yet subsided, if there is chaos in Qi at this time, and the three kingdoms come out together, the territory of our Qi country will be divided up."

Speaking of this, Li Huai changed the subject: "Of course, some ambitious nobles are not ruled out. Huaizhong is a piece of fat. Who do you think is safer to send to Huaizhong, Mr. Xie?"

Xie Hong wanted to say that it would be fine for the Xie family to come by themselves, but it was impossible to think with his toes.He took a step back and said, "It's all up to the emperor to decide."