Pei Yue said loudly: "Your Majesty, I believe that Sun Shangshu is taking revenge."

Sun Dacheng immediately refuted: "Pei Yue, don't talk nonsense, the Ministry of Revenue is just acting according to the law. You have not yet entered the court, and I have no enmity with you in the past. How can we talk about revenge? Although you are young

The title of Chunfengde

I mean, I will not be jealous of a young boy. Is it possible that I can be knighted like you? It is the ancestral system of the country that civil servants are not knighted. Lin Zhongwu Gong did not make an exception at that time, not to mention a young man like me who has little talent and little knowledge.

Learn after learning."

He looked sideways at Pei Yue, his face full of disdain.

Lin Zhongwu Gong was Lin Qingyuan. He was the most important conspirator beside Gaozu at that time. He witnessed Gaozu's rebellion until it was settled. Although he passed away on the eve of the founding of Daliang, he was still the most meritorious person. He was even more outstanding than Duke Pei of Dingguo.

Yuan is still a bit stronger.

Sun Dacheng suddenly brought out Lin Qingyuan at this time. In addition to supporting himself, he also had the intention of mocking Pei Yue.

Everyone knows that Pei Yue's title is Zhongshanzi, and Zhongshan is Lin Qingyuan's birthplace.

Sun Dacheng laughed at himself for his lack of talent and knowledge, but he was a more knowledgeable person than Pei Yue. Naturally, he secretly told Pei Yue, where did you get the courage and face to take over this title?

The queue of civil servants was a little turbulent. They could reach the fourth rank or even higher. Everyone was a well-educated person, and they would not be able to hear Sun Dacheng's almost explicit ridicule. As for the queue of nobles on the other side

There are many people who can understand, but no one stands up to speak for Pei Yue at this time.

The reason is simple, they are jealous of Pei Yue - it has nothing to do with his title.

After Pei Yue was knighted last year, he denounced Pei Rong at the court meeting, and many nobles sympathized with him. However, since the briquettes of Xiangyun Company began to sweep the Kyoto, Pei Yue was making money every day, but he did not take care of those nobles who held military power.

Dear friends, his reputation in this circle is getting worse day by day.

It is normal for nobles to help each other. The houses of Sun Qi and others chosen by Pei Yue have long been away from military power. Those military bosses watched helplessly as a group of declining nobles made money crazily, but they themselves could not even make a hair.

,How can I have a good impression of Pei Yue?

Pei Yue raised his eyes and saw that no one in the civil and military court could speak for him.

This scene naturally fell into the eyes of Emperor Kaiping. He was very satisfied with it, and his attitude towards Pei Yue was a little gentler: "I did hear that your business had a lot of problems, so I will give you a chance today to allow you to

Defend yourself in court."

Sun Dacheng vaguely felt that something was not good and said first: "Your Majesty, Xiangyun Company has had many problems recently, such as shoddy goods, harsh treatment of miners, harboring criminals, etc. At the same time, there are also strange things in the tax payment. Both the minister and the Ministry of Household Affairs

After discussion with the ministers, they decided to allocate manpower to inspect the company. This move is in compliance with the law and there is nothing wrong with it."

Emperor Kaiping was noncommittal and looked at Pei Yue indifferently. The implication was that I will give you a chance to speak, but I will not stand in any way.

Pei Yue knew it well and said calmly: "Master Sun, you have been checking for half a month, but have you found any problems?"

Sun Dacheng suddenly wanted to laugh. After all, he was a young boy who had not entered the officialdom and did not understand any rules. He actually took the initiative to hand over the topic of conversation to himself. He barely concealed the pride in his eyes: "Of course some problems have been found, but that's all.

The body is large, and it will take time to conduct a thorough investigation."

Pei Yue said "Oh" and continued to ask: "Did Mr. Sun find out these problems himself?"

Sun Dacheng said cautiously: "This matter will be presided over by my official, assisted by two ministers, and the specific inspection will be led by Zheng Zhirong, the head of the household department."

Pei Yue cupped his hands towards Emperor Kaiping and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask Mr. Zheng something."

Emperor Kaiping nodded and said: "That's right."

The eunuch next to him immediately announced the order, and the imperial guards quickly went to the Hubu Yamen to deliver the order.

Most people thought that Pei Yue was unwilling to give up. He was like a drowning man struggling desperately, trying to find flaws in Sun Dacheng's subordinates. In fact, in their opinion, Pei Yue should not have asked for a meeting today.

It would be a stupid choice to question Sun Dachen at the court meeting. The other party is a minister. No matter in terms of knowledge, experience, adaptability or eloquence, how can he not crush you, a bastard from a poor family who cannot read a few characters?

It's just asking for humiliation.

Only the old leftist leader Mo Haoli, who seemed to be sleeping, suddenly turned his head and looked at Pei Yue with his dim old eyes, showing a touch of surprise and vigilance.

Luo Ting, who was standing behind him, noticed this look and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: This old man was able to survive four dynasties and get to where he is now by no means a fluke.

Luo Ting originally thought that he was the only one who could figure out Pei Yue's thoughts. After all, that long night of conversation not only established the relationship of allies, but also let him know that Pei Yue would not reveal his trump card until the last moment.

This is also the reason why he never spoke at the court meeting today.

Time passed quietly, and Pei Yue stood with his feet in the middle of the hundred officials. This posture made Sun Dacheng a little uneasy. As long as Pei Yue cannot take advantage of the emperor today, then the Ministry of Revenue will act more calmly in the future.

foot

The oppression made Pei Yue unable to breathe. When he gave up the briquette business, Sun Dacheng could ask the Ministry of Household Affairs to take shares in the name of the court, and he could make a lot of money regardless of public or private life or reputation. This was his wish.

abacus.

From the beginning to the end, Sun Dacheng never thought of foolishly working for Qibao Pavilion.

He thought quickly in his mind. Although Zheng Zhirong had a dark heart, he was still an old official and should not make mistakes in front of the emperor. As long as he killed the household department and found out the problem, what could Pei Yue do?

As for whether there is any problem with a merchant, it is an extremely simple matter for the officials of the Ministry of Accounts. Who can tell clearly if they casually add a few loopholes in the account books?

Emperor Kaiping seemed to be very interested in this matter and did not mention other matters. The atmosphere in the main hall became increasingly solemn.

Zheng Zhirong appeared in such an atmosphere. His face was not very good-looking, maybe he was a little nervous. He didn't even see the look in Sun Dacheng's hand when he handed it to him.

When Pei Yue came to him, he first recounted his previous conversation with Sun Dacheng, and then asked: "Mr. Zheng, the Ministry of Revenue has been investigating Xiangyun Trading Company for nearly twenty days. Have any problems been found?"

That day on Shouyang Mountain, Pei Yue yelled at this man. Many people knew about this, so they couldn't help but look at Pei Yue with complicated expressions, and most of them laughed and ridiculed him.

Beads of sweat appeared on Zheng Zhirong's forehead. After hesitating for a moment, he said to Emperor Kaiping: "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to inspect the affairs of Xiangyun Company. After seventeen days, I can finally confirm that there is no problem with this company. The previous charges were all misdeeds."

People framed.”

Emperor Kaiping's eyes narrowed slightly.

There was silence in the main hall.

Many people stared at Zheng Zhirong in shock, wondering if this guy had taken the wrong medicine? Did he know what he was talking about? If what he said was true and there was nothing wrong with Xiangyun Company, then what on earth was the Ministry of Revenue investigating?

Forcing such an important business to close down, and even creating a situation where people in Kyoto have no briquettes to buy. If there is a severe cold this winter, what serious consequences will it have?

As the head of the Household Department, this short sentence was more lethal than Pei Yue's countless sentences.

The most important thing is that Zheng Zhirong's words pushed his immediate superior to the edge of a bottomless cliff.

Sun Dacheng turned his head with difficulty and looked at Zheng Zhirong who lowered his head and did not dare to look at him. At this moment, he felt extremely absurd in his heart, followed by fear that filled his mind.

His somewhat fat body trembled slightly involuntarily.

Pei Yue stood quietly, looking at the gold bricks on the ground, as calm as he usually showed.

Maybe those people knew that they had found out the truth about the Ping'an Fang murder case and the Shouyang Mountain poisoning, and even figured out the reason why the charcoal burners were causing trouble, but they didn't care, because as long as the Ministry of Household Affairs was still investigating, Xiangyun Company would be destroyed.

Unable to escape.

It's a pity that they don't know that Pei Yue has never taken Hu Bu seriously.

Because everyone has their own trump card.

Zheng Zhirong, who suddenly betrayed Sun Dacheng at the court meeting, is a card, although this matter started a long time ago.
Chapter completed!