Daming prepares the emperor

"This is how the same thing?"

"Brother Yuan, sit down first." Li Yinbing said.

Yuan Kai held back his impatience and sat down at the table.He didn't know Li Yinbing well, so the blatant question just now was actually very rude.

When Li Yinbing was questioned by him, he felt both guilty and calm. The guilt was because he had accepted the bribe, and the frankness was because he didn't know that He Yonglian and others had killed Keqin, so he had time to separate the relationship.

Before he had time to prepare, a big pie fell from the sky—it was still meat.But he can't eat the pie by himself, and Yuan Kai, who is Jane in the heart of the emperor, has to share half of it.

"Things are very simple." Li Yinbing replied while thinking, "Although I stayed in the posthouse, I have heard a little about the situation these days. I heard that you brought people to Hedao Yamen, I plan to go to see it too, we both obeyed the orders from above, there is no reason not to meet each other, and we can work together to make things easier."

Having said that, he looked at Yuan Kai, waiting for him to express his attitude.

Yuan Kai nodded with a forced smile.At this moment, he regretted his order to let Han Baihu stay outside. If he were here, Li Yinbing would definitely not be so clingy.

Li Yinbing was satisfied, and then he got down to business: "Who would have thought that as soon as I went out, I saw the Fang Zhifu who had disappeared last night standing in front of the posthouse. He was so distraught. When he saw me, he knelt down and said that he had something to tell me." .”

He paused, took out two pieces of paper from an open box on the table, and handed them to Yuan Kai: "Brother Yuan, please look, Fang Keqin gave me two things after explaining his guilt, one is his confession The book has been signed and secured, and the other is the address of a certain warehouse, where the embezzled military supplies are stored and have not been sold.”

Yuan Kai took it over to look at it. He doesn't know if there is any food in the warehouse for the time being. This document is very detailed, without any loopholes. , that's really surprising.

"If the military supplies are really not depleted, that would be great luck." Yuan Kai said to Li Yinbing, "But I don't know, how did Fang Keqin get greedy?"

Li Yinbing said: "The migrant workers who carry the grain into the ship are all Hangzhou citizens. Do they dare to resist the parents and officials who hold the power of life and death? Brother Yuan, I think the Ministry of Industry is wrongly blamed. The case of military supply corruption is indeed true. It has nothing to do with the grain ship."

Yuan Kai didn't speak.

Li Yinbing didn't know that Jin Yiwei had found out about his acceptance of bribes from the very beginning, and he could still calmly pretend to be an honest and loyal monarch, and continued: "And I thought that the major military supply case this time was focused on the military supply." Two characters, not case characters. The nobles are fighting a war, and we and other civil officials can’t get in the way. Why bother to find it for the higher-ups at this time. Since the food has returned, everyone will be happy. There is no need to be serious, and there will be an explanation when you return to Beijing. "

Yuan Kai couldn't believe that he would be able to hold back and listen to his nonsense.

He held back his anger and said, "It's up to Mr. Li to decide whether it matters or not. Since none of us have seen the grain ships, how can we conclude that there is no problem with them? After arriving in Hangzhou, what should be smooth is too twists and turns. The place is too smooth, it is really hard for people not to think about it. When asked by His Majesty and His Royal Highness, could it be said that the prisoner confessed himself? The major cases in history are not so simple!"

This is true, Li Yinbing fell silent.

The matter was too urgent and there was no room for change. The grain ship was different from other things. It was not easy to build new ones or destroy them. The imperial court even recorded the number. It was really reckless to think of some stupid ways to kidnap Fang Keqin and force him to take the blame this time, and it was obviously a loophole.

Not to mention Zhu Yuanzhang who can hang ministers on the city gate to let blood, no matter how stupid the emperor is, he can see that something is wrong.Yuan Kai is now a pure minister. If the investigation continues like this, will the Ministry of Industry still have a way to save his life?

The gold received suddenly became hot, and Li Yinbing began to worry.

"Brother Li, where is Fang Keqin imprisoned now? Can you let me interrogate him?" Seeing that Li Yinbing was questioned, Yuan Kai took advantage of the victory to pursue him.

After all, he did not oppose anything on the surface. Li Yinbing represented Yang Xian, a party in eastern Zhejiang. He really tried to make a stumbling block, and there would be many forces on the ground in Hangzhou willing to help.

Li Yinbing said: "Because I haven't been convicted yet, I'm temporarily locked in the prison of the magistrate's yamen, under the supervision of the people I brought from Beijing. Brother Yuan is an imperial envoy, so if you want to interrogate... of course it's possible."

"I'm going to interrogate Fang Keqin, please brother Li take someone to the warehouse to check the grain and grass." Yuan Kai gave Li Yinbing the credit for collecting the stolen money, "Even if you return to Beijing immediately, you have to gather the grain first, not this half I'm in a hurry for a few days. Taking advantage of this time, I can check again."

"Okay." Just as Yuan Kai thought, Li Yinbing didn't want to offend him in the open. To stop him once can be said to be an old-fashioned conspiracy, but to stop him twice is an accomplice.

Coming out of the posthouse, Yuan Kai saw Han Baihu who was waiting for him outside the door, and walked over quickly. Han Baihu was squatting under the eaves, gnawing on a big cake. Pass one out.

"My lord, you haven't eaten lunch yet, so let's take this cushion first."

Yuan Kai nodded, squatting down next to Han Baihu, causing him to look sideways, and said: "I have read Fang Keqin's confession, and there is no problem. It is completely consistent with the account books of the Hedao Yamen."

"So..." Han Baihu frowned, "It was Fang Keqin who embezzled the military supply, and did it have anything to do with the newly built grain ship by the Ministry of Industry?"

"Of course!" Yuan Kai said decisively, "According to the idea of ​​absconding in fear of crime, Fang Keqin's disappearance last night can still be explained, but why did the people in the yamen lose their memory? Facing the yamen servant and his son who get along day and night, isn't this Is it unnecessary? Someone must have taken him away and coerced him to make him take the initiative to take the blame."

Of course Han Baihu understood this truth, he said this on purpose because he was worried that Yuan Kai's attitude would soften.

Yuan Kai continued: "Li Yinbing collects gold and silver, so we can't trust him. We will investigate the case ourselves while he is chasing down the military supplies."

"What do you plan to do?" Han Baihu didn't want to be dragged down. Their Jinyiwei had always blocked people from killing Buddhas. He had never suffered such aggrieved suffering. He found that Yuan Kai was more and more interested in him.

"Go and interrogate Fang Keqin first, and then go to the shipyard immediately!"

---

There was a large table in the hall, with Yuan Kai sitting in the middle and Han Baihu sitting beside it. Other than that, there was no other decorations, and there was no book office for recording statements.

One of Han Baihu's Jinyi guards pressed the man from the prison to this place, uncuffed the handcuffs and ankles under the instruction, and took the man out of the door behind him.

Prison is the most tormenting place. Fang Keqin has only been locked up for half a day, and he has become decadent. Not only is his hair messed up, but even his clothes are no longer clean. , staring blankly ahead.

There are rumors—[-]% of them are true. In order to extract money from prisoners, the jailers will do everything possible to torture prisoners, including but not limited to beatings. The methods are so cruel that even death row prisoners can extract oil and water. Come.

Fang Xiaoru is an official, although he will not receive such treatment, but it is not much better.The jailers he suppressed before were all locals. They had colluded with local tyrants and gentry for a long time.

The room was very quiet, Yuan Kai spoke first: "I am the censor from Beijing. My surname is Yuan, my first name is Kai, and my style name is Jingwen. This is Han Baihu from Jinyiwei."

Fang Keqin saluted: "The culprit has seen Mr. Yuan and the servant."

After revealing his identity, Fang Keqin didn't show any emotion, nor was he surprised. Yuan Kai couldn't help but frowned and looked at Han Baihu, both of them felt troubled.

"Fang Keqin, can you plead guilty?" Yuan Kai asked.

"A guilty plea." Fang Keqin said, "It was the guilty officer who corrupted the military supplies for escorting Sichuan, and the guilty officer has written everything clearly in the confession document."

Yuan Kai said: "The court's verdict hasn't come down yet, as a rule you are still an official, you don't need to call yourself a sinner, and you don't need to kneel down to answer."

"Yes." Fang Keqin looked up at Yuan Kai and slowly stood up.

"Why did you leave the magistrate's office last night?"

"Go out and relax."

"Sanxin?" Han Baihu raised his eyebrows and slapped the table abruptly, "Sanxin San can't find you in the entire Hangzhou town of demons? Where did you go to relax, the underworld!"

"It's a little remote in the place where I can relax."

"Okay, you're right. Then tell me, will the people in the yamen faint when they relax? Is it possible that my officials in Ming Dynasty were transformed by monsters?"

Fang Keqin said: "My lord, the child is naughty, and accidentally touched the liner of the weasel spirit that was confiscated from the countryside. I don't know that such a thing will happen."

"Forget it, let's not mention this matter for the time being." Yuan Kai said, "I found out that your family has no extravagant expenses, you are very poor, and you have never committed any other crimes before. Why did you focus on military supplies for the first time when you were greedy? punctuality is unreasonable."

Fang Keqin said coldly: "How does your lord know that I am greedy for ink for the first time? What if I have never been discovered before. I am naturally more courageous, and such a major case as a military supply can be committed without blinking an eye." .”

After making up his mind to take the blame, Fang Keqin smashed the pot and smashed it, as if he was a completely different person, oil and salt did not enter, like a stone in a latrine that was smelly and hard.

Han Baihu roared angrily: "If you ask me, you can answer it carefully, talk about it, treat me like a fool! There is no one else here, to tell you the truth, Master Yuan and I don't believe that you are greedy for military supplies. I just came to interrogate you. If you have any grievances, tell them quickly. Who threatened you, tell them quickly. We came here at the emperor's order. You must know what kind of temper the Holy One has today. Look at Daotong in Panyu. As long as you occupy It makes sense, behind those people is a Marquis, and His Majesty is willing to cut them off!"

Fang Keqin moved his hands covered under his sleeves, remained silent for a moment, and opened his mouth still with the same rhetoric: "I have nothing to say, thank you for your trust, but this case is indeed committed by the next person. There are all witnesses and material evidences. It doesn't matter."

Han Baihu smashed the teacup against Fang Keqin's feet, took two deep breaths, and looked at Yuan Kai.

Yuan Kai said: "Close it first."

Han Baihu yelled, and Jin Yiwei outside immediately came in and took Fang Keqin out.

"I think it's better to ask the priests from the Demon Town Office to come and take a look. This Fang Keqin may have been cast with some kind of spell, and he has become obsessed."

"It's just hard for him to turn around." Yuan Kai shook his head, "I didn't intend to get any results from him, just to confirm the conjecture. Mr. Han, you go tell the yamen guard at the prison gate that if you see Fang Keqin's son come to visit Don't stop him, let him in."

Han Baihu's feigned violent temper quickly dissipated: "Yes."

---

In the blink of an eye, it was evening, and the weather was cool. Yuan Kai and Han Baihu, who had eaten, ran to the shipyard without stopping.

Jin Yiwei's spies had long been guarding here, and when they saw them, they quickly stepped forward: "My lords, no strangers have come to the shipyard these days, and the people in the Hedao Yamen are all obedient."

Yuan Kai received the mission and ran to Hangzhou from Yingtian. He first stayed at the station, and then went to the Zhifu Yamen, Hedao Yamen and Guanyi. They covered up their lies and showed their flaws. They didn't realize that they were one foot taller than the devil, and no one was fooled for a long time.

"Are there all the shipbuilders in the shipyard for the Ministry of Industry?" Han Baihu asked.

The spy said: "My lord, there are quite a few of them, and they are all waiting in the hall. The subordinates have explained in advance, and the adults can just ask questions."

Han Baihu said with satisfaction: "Understood, let's go down."

"Yes."

The shipyard is built by the water, and when the night wind blows, the smell of moisture and fish is blowing in. The further you go in, the stronger the smell of wood shavings.There is a brightly lit shed near the water, which should be the hall that the spies mentioned.Thinking about it, this place is full of craftsmen working for the gentlemen, where can such a good house be lived.

There are many torches inserted beside the shed, and the flames are jumping, clearly illuminating the faces that are depressed because of poverty. Most people in the feudal era are not as good as animals. When the money comes down, no more than one floor can reach the hands of craftsmen.

There are many tax types with clever names, many officials who rob people of hope, and many famines that destroy people's lives. Injustice is the only fairness that the common people can enjoy.

Yuan Kai came here for the imperial court's corruption case, in a sense, for the benefit of the people, but even if he deliberately avoided the daytime to prevent the shipwrights from being punished for delaying the construction period, the act of coming to question at night still deprived them of Valuable rest time.

Walking to the front of the stage, Yuan Kai's first words were: "You guys don't need to kneel, I just ask a few words, who is the leading craftsman?"

The eyes of the shipwrights gathered at the front, where sat an old man with a face full of dimples. His skin had turned dark brown due to years of exposure to the sun, his hands were calloused, and his back was bent. When Yuan Kai looked into his eyes, he still showed a calmness and composure that ordinary people did not have.

"Are you all involved in the project of the Ministry of Industry?"

Some people shook their heads.

Yuan Kai asked again: "Did the new boat be launched last winter?"

Everyone hesitated, and their eyes flickered to the old boatman again, and some people showed fearful and cowering expressions on their faces.

Yuan Kai knew that he didn't need to ask any more, if the new boat hadn't been launched, they wouldn't have to worry about something that didn't happen.

"Okay, everyone can leave, let's all go back."

The craftsmen didn't understand Yuan Kai's meaning for a while, maybe it was the first time they saw such an official, even though Yuan Kai had already spoken, he still froze in place, not daring to leave.

Han Baihu said: "Are you all deaf? Didn't you hear me? If I tell you to go, you go!"

This kind of rough attitude was familiar to them, Yuan Kai's gentleness didn't help at all, it was actually Han Baihu's scolding that helped.

When the crowd was about to disperse, Han Baihu grabbed the old boatman and led him to Yuan Kai's direction. The old boatman was not surprised at all, as if he had expected it, after being pulled by Han Baihu, he followed directly he goes.

There were only three of them left in the shed.

Yuan Kai said: "Old man, don't be afraid, we are imperial envoys from Beijing, we have already greeted Hedao Yamen, they dare not do anything."

The old boatman smiled wryly: "My lord, I know better than you whether they dare or not, so if you have any questions, just ask, old man, I will say what I can, if I can't, I hope you don't make things difficult for me. "

Yuan Kai and Han Baihu looked at each other, and said, "Old man, are there any problems with the materials used in the newly built boats of the Ministry of Industry? For example, more wood and more nails were used?"

The old boatman said: "These accounts are recorded in the Hedao Yamen, I don't know. Sir, you can go to the Hedao Yamen to have a look."

"I've already been there." Yuan Kai memorized all the content when he was looking at the account book that day. At this time, he read a dozen key points to the old boatman on the spot, and asked, "Is the number correct?"

The old boatman thought for a while: "No problem."

Yuan Kai couldn't tell if the old shipbuilder was lying, so he could only ask: "Old man, with your craftsmanship, did you find anything wrong when building the ship?"

"..." The old boatman was silent, staring at the muddy ground with his hazy eyes, and did not answer for a long time.

Yuan Kai felt that Hangzhou was monolithic. The people here, whether officials or ordinary people, had long forgotten how to fight under the long-term oppression, and dared not tell the secret to those who offered a helping hand—maybe they trusted the last imperial envoy. I have suffered.

He was suddenly blessed: "Old man, do you know Fang Keqin and Fang Zhifu?"

There was a little light in the old boatman's eyes, and he nodded.

Yuan Kai continued, "Prefect Fang has already been imprisoned for embezzling military supplies."

The old shipbuilder turned pale with shock: "Impossible, Fang Zhifu is the master of Qingtian, how could he embezzle military supplies, he must have made a mistake."

Han Baihu showed the knife at his waist at the right time, and held up his waist card that was shining under the torch: "I am Baihu from Jinyiwei, Fusi, Beizhen. What are you doing to lie to you, a country old man?"

The old boatman didn't care what he said, he saw that Yuan Kai was in charge, and asked, "My lord, when did this happen, why don't we know?"

"It happened around noon today."

"Impossible, it must be a mistake." The old boatman repeated, and after gaining time, he became even more stubborn.

"Fang Keqin has already established written evidence and explained the location of the dirt." Yuan Kai added to the flames, "This matter is a certainty and cannot be changed. In a few days, when we return to the capital and the Holy Majesty's decree comes down, Fang Keqin will be beheaded, and you will be replaced with a new prefect."

The old boatman was favored by Fang Keqin, his expression shook violently: "What does this have to do with the new boat we built?"

Han Baihu said: "If there is a problem with the ship you built, it is the Ministry of Industry's fault for embezzling military supplies. Of course Fang Keqin is fine. He is just a pawn to be used. After the incident is over, he will be fined, but he will still be paid. Work in Hangzhou."

The old boatman opened his mouth for a long time, and finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "If adults are interested, you can go to the pier to find a grain ship that has just returned, Cece."

Yuan Kai smiled: "Thank you old man, old man, I have one more thing to ask you, please be sure to agree."

"What is it?"

Yuan Kai leaned forward and whispered a few words in the old boatman's ear. The old boatman gritted his teeth and stomped his feet: "I've done it. As long as Master Fang can stay with us, I will do anything!"