Chapter 802: Falling into a trap
When Jiang Qingzhi arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, the officials there cowered in fear as if they had seen a ghost.
Confused Jiang Qingzhi waved his hand, "Why are you hiding? Come here."
The doorman came over timidly and said, "Greetings, Master."
"Why is that?" Jiang Qingzhi asked, taking out a cigarette and glancing at an official inside whose face changed drastically when he saw him.
What? Have I become a street thug?
Menzi smiled and said, "This is not..."
"Tell the truth!" Jiang Qingzhi snorted coldly, and the doorman shuddered. "They said that the Lord is trying to defile himself now. So, he attacked from all sides after returning to the capital, and even Cui Fu Ma avoided him."
Cui Yuan?
Jiang Qingzhi turned around and said, "Ask."
Mo Zhan said, "Cui Yuan sprained his ankle today and said it was because he was not careful when walking. But I heard from the guards in the West Garden that it was because he stepped on a pit."
The pits in Xiyuan... Jiang Qingzhi thought of the pits he had dug that morning and was shocked, "How could Lao Cui be so patient?"
Sun Chonglou sniffed, "They said that the young master is now targeting high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and he is eager for some people to come and cause trouble. The more they fight, the less reward will be."
"There's nothing to reward, right?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled.
When he saw Lu Song, he was cursing.
"The soldiers from the Northern Expedition are about to return to the capital, and rewards are imminent. Without the money and food, how can Your Majesty reward those who have made contributions? Hurry! Tell those idiots that if they don't arrive within five days, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Several officials turned around with grim expressions, and when they saw Jiang Qingzhi, they subconsciously avoided him.
Lu Song looked up and frowned when he saw Jiang Qingzhi. "Chang Wei Bo, what are you doing..."
"Something's up." Jiang Qingzhi sat down carelessly. "Old Lu, don't think I want to see your ugly face. It's His Majesty's order."
Lu Song touched his old face and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Your Ministry of Revenue's corruption case!" Jiang Qingzhi shook off the ash from his cigarette. "Don't blame me for not reminding you. After half a year of investigation, they only convicted a few petty officials. Who are you trying to fool?"
Lu Song was stunned. "Corruption case?"
"Your Majesty asked me to handle this matter." Jiang Qingzhi felt that Lu Song was also a pitiful person. "I'll give you half a day. I'll come back tomorrow."
Lu Song watched him go out in silence, shook his head and sighed, "This man is very particular!"
The attendant said, "Everyone says that Long Wilbur is cruel and merciless, but in fact, I think those people were cruel first, and he is just returning the favor."
This makes sense.
Lu Song immediately called a few officials over and said solemnly, "I have been busy with the battle for food and fodder recently. How is the corruption case going?"
An official said: "The Jinyiwei also intervened in the corruption case. After investigation, they found several petty officials..."
"Minor officials?" Lu Song sneered. "For such a big case, there are only a few minor officials? Who gave them the courage? Why did their superiors turn a blind eye?"
"They all said they were busy..."
"Busy with petty intrigues!" Lu Song roared, "Jiang Qingzhi is here. Your Majesty is not happy. Let him handle this matter."
"Ah! It's him?" Several officials were a little nervous.
Lu Song sneered, "Jiang Qingzhi gave the Ministry of Revenue half a day. If you are involved in the case, surrendering yourself is the only way out. If you think you can get away with it, don't blame me for standing idly by!"
After Jiang Qingzhi left the Ministry of Revenue, he actually went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"Long Wilbur!"
The doorman of the Jinyiwei avoided Jiang Qingzhi as if he were a snake or scorpion, and hurried in to report.
"Jiang Qingzhi?" Lu Bing was discussing something and asked, "Why is he here?"
Zhu Hao said, "Jiang Qingzhi fought violently after returning to Beijing. This is an attempt to defile himself. Commander, he came to our Jinyiwei, I'm afraid he is looking for trouble."
"Your contribution is too great, but you won't be rewarded for your contribution." Lu Bing's eyes were cold, "Please come."
Zhu Hao said, "Commander-in-chief, I will go and gather some good men."
"No need." Lu Bing shook his head. "If he wanted to cause trouble for me, he wouldn't come to my house on his own initiative."
Zhu Hao felt relieved. Lu Bing looked at him and said, "But if he wants to cause trouble for you..."
"Your subordinate... please take shelter for the time being."
Jiang Qingzhi entered the lobby and couldn't help laughing when he saw everyone's vigilant eyes.
"Old Lu, there's something."
"explain."
"Are you sure you want to say this in front of everyone?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled, his eyes full of sarcasm, "The Ministry of Revenue..."
"Everyone go away!" Lu Bing's face changed slightly when he heard the word "Ministry of Revenue". He waved his hand and everyone left.
After everyone left, Lu Bing said in a deep voice: "I, the Jinyiwei, am only assisting in the Ministry of Revenue's case."
"A few petty officials were pushed out to take the blame. Who do you think they are trying to fool?"
Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of herbal cigarette. Seeing him being so leisurely, Lu Bing suddenly became angry and said, "This is my business."
"It has nothing to do with me?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled. "Let me guess. To get you, Lu Bing, to turn a blind eye to this corruption case in the Ministry of Revenue, someone must have come to you to ask for leniency, right?"
Historically, Lu Bing was very good at networking. He took advantage of his position as the head of the Jinyiwei to do favors here and let others go there, and thus built up a network of relationships.
"What do you mean?" Lu Bing sneered.
"During this war, a demon from the White Lotus Sect suddenly launched an attack in Taiyuan City. Fortunately, the Jinyiwei discovered it in time, thus avoiding a lot of trouble."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Lu Bing and said, "I have been ordered to deal with the Ministry of Revenue's corruption case. I will give you half a day for this matter!"
This is a favor! You, Lu Bing, have stood firm on the major issues, so I will give you a chance to make amends this time.
Jiang Qingzhi felt that he was a particular person.
In the lobby, Lu Bing had an ugly look on his face. He called over a deputy captain, scolded him, and kicked him a few times.
"Do you have any feelings for this matter?" Lu Bing stared at the deputy captain. Seeing him raise his head and force a smile, he suddenly became angry and said, "Someone come here!"
“Commander, they asked me to turn a blind eye and said that the war was imminent and no one would care about this…” The deputy captain knelt down with a thud, his face pale.
"What else did they say?" Lu Bing asked coldly.
"They said..." The deputy captain felt two people approaching behind him, and trembling all over, he said, "They said that this battle will most likely be lost. Once Altan's army marches south and reaches the capital area, the capital will be shaken, and the whole country will be loyal to the king. Who will care about the Ministry of Revenue... This humble official deserves death!"
"You deserve to die." Lu Bing said grimly, then waved his hand.
"Commander, Commander..." The deputy captain stood up and rushed over, looking like he wanted to curry favor with him.
Two Jinyiwei stepped forward quickly, one grabbed the deputy captain's arm and pulled him back violently. Another came over and kicked the deputy captain's knee. At the moment when the deputy captain fell, the man holding his arm pulled violently, and the other stepped forward and slapped the deputy captain on the back of his head.
The deputy captain rolled his eyes and collapsed, then was dragged out.
Lu Bing stood there, his eyes dark.
"Jiang Qingzhi intervened. What does your majesty mean by this? Could it be... that he is dissatisfied with me?"
"Somebody come!"
Shen Lian came in, "Commander."
Lu Bing's eyes were slightly cold, and he looked at him with his hands behind his back, "Some of the corruption cases in the Ministry of Revenue have not been resolved yet, go and take a look."
Shen Lian then went to the Ministry of Revenue, found the official who had handed over to the Jinyiwei, and asked about the corruption case.
"Isn't it settled?" The official was stunned. Thinking of how Lu Song got furious after Jiang Qingzhi came to the Ministry of Revenue that morning, his heart trembled. "Are we going to start a war?"
"Who is involved in this case?" Shen Lian said coldly: "Don't think about hiding it. Under the three woods, there is no confession that can't be obtained. The Jinyiwei prison has many empty cells..."
The official shuddered, "I don't know either, but I heard about this..." He pointed to the air, looking troubled, "If this matter goes wrong, the Ministry of Revenue will be in turmoil."
Shen Lian sneered, "Whether the earth dragon turns over or not has nothing to do with you. Tell me, who is it?"
The official smiled bitterly, "I only know that Doctor Lin Shen is not clean."
"Tell Minister Lu that the commander wants him to clean up the mess."
After Shen Lian left, the officials quickly went to find Lu Song's nephew Lu Ping. This staff member who assisted Lu Song pondered for a long time, "During this war, uncle offended many people in the south for the army's food and grass. If the Ministry of Revenue is shaken this time, I am afraid that uncle will be implicated."
The official smiled bitterly, "That's right. Lin Shen is involved in the case, but I think it's more than that. Moreover, once such a large-scale corruption case is uncovered, the Shangshu will bear the brunt! Shen Lian asked the Shangshu to clean up the mess. It seems that he is trying to please the Shangshu, but in fact, he is throwing the blame on us."
Lu Ping frowned, "Let's put this matter aside for now."
"But Shen Lian's intention is urgent."
"I'm going to see Lu Bing."
The official watched him go out with an uncertain expression.
"Forget it." The official stamped his feet and went to ask for an audience with Lu Song.
"Lin Shen?" Lu Song frowned.
"Yes, but it's just a rumor." The official said, "Also, Lu Ping said he was going to see Lu Bing."
"Hmm!" Lu Song's expression changed, "Chase him back."
But we were a step slower.
"Lü Ping is here?" Lu Bing's eyes were filled with smiles. "Lü Song is panicking."
Zhu Hao said, "Commander, how about not meeting?"
"Idiot!" Lu Bing scolded with a smile, "Not only do you want to meet him, but you also want to do it in a big way."
Zhu Hao suddenly realized, "Lü Ping is Lü Song's nephew. He came to the Jinyiwei, which shows that Lü Song knew about the case, but he was unwilling to take action. Jiang Qingzhi wanted to intervene, so Lü Song hurriedly ordered Lü Ping to ask the commander to cover it up... Great!"
Lu Ping entered the lobby and found that the way those people looked at him was not right.
He was shocked all over and then came to his senses.
Damn!
I shouldn't be so anxious!
Wrong!
Wrong!
He was extremely anxious when he heard the news, worried that his uncle Lu Song would be implicated, so he hurried to see Lu Bing, hoping to collude and work together to suppress the matter.
After all, the Jinyiwei were also involved in this matter, so it was better for everyone to be happy. Otherwise, if the incident happened, Lu Bing would not be able to escape the blame.
But he forgot that Lu Bing was the Jiajing Emperor's foster brother and the emperor's lackey. Even if something happened, at most he would be reprimanded for his incompetence.
However, because Lu Song had offended the southern literati and high-ranking officials in Nanjing, those people were sharpening their knives to find something to hold against him... Once something happened, they would attack him together.
So, it was Lu Song who was anxious about this matter, but Lu Bing was not anxious at all!
By coming here, Lu Ping is walking into a trap!
I'm wrong!
Lu Ping saw the sharpness in Lu Bing's eyes.
Like an eagle!
Lu Song!
It's time to bow your head!
(End of this chapter)
