Gong Qingshan opened the bag, and two brand-new books came into view. Seeing that they were books, Gong Qingshan couldn't help but be startled, but he still picked them up and opened them.

Just the next moment, Gong Qingshan hurriedly closed the book, then rushed into the yard, looking left and right at the door, trying to find the person who threw the baggage, but at this time, the street at the door was already empty, and there was no suspicious person.

Gong Qingshan returned to the courtyard, picked up two books and returned to the room.

In the study, Gong Qingshan looked uncertain. He just picked up the book, but then put it down again. As a veteran in the officialdom, he knew very well what kind of uproar this thing would cause if it reached the capital.

Although it is now mainstream to liquidate eunuchs in the court, there are actually so many eunuchs. Most of them are like him, who simply praised Wei Zhongxian's bad feet and were then treated as eunuchs and liquidated.

The initial liquidation indeed liquidated many eunuchs, but the subsequent liquidation has changed its flavor and turned into a personal grudge struggle among officials, or a struggle for interests. Like him, the prefect of Daming Prefecture was a fat man, staring at

There are quite a few people there, and since he once built a shrine to Wei Zhongxian, he was naturally classified as an eunuch.

Now there are still many people in the court impeaching the Supreme Court in the name of liquidating the eunuchs. Once this thing comes to Beijing, there is no telling how much bloodshed will be caused, especially those officials who are impeached as eunuchs will go crazy.

Counterattack.

Today's court has become a mess. In the past ten years, after two large-scale purges by the Donglin Party and the Eunuch Party, other small parties have long since died.

Since the deaths of Yang Lian and the other core figures of the Donglin Party, and Tian Ergeng and the other core figures of the Eunuch Party, it is no longer possible to use any party to distinguish them in the court. If we really want to divide them, we can only use interest classes to divide them.

.

Those who were eradicated in the name of eunuchs and those who are still being impeached are considered the old interest class, while Yuan Chonghuan and others who took over power after the fall of their old interest class are considered the new interest class.

However, the new interest class comes from all over the place and has no specific origin at all. Even a veteran like him who has been in the officialdom for nearly twenty years cannot tell who is the enemy and who is the friend.

For example, Yuan Chonghuan, to be honest, he is also an eunuch. When he built a shrine for Wei Zhongxian and praised Wei Zhongxian's bad behavior, few people were more active than him. Although he was later tricked by Wei Zhongxian, he resigned in anger.

Returning to his hometown could not erase the fact that he admired Wei Zhongxian, but he happened to become a celebrity in front of Zhu Youjian and became the representative of the new interest class.

】

There is also Wang Yongguang, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs in the capital. He was promoted by Wei Guangwei and the others. He is an eunuch official with roots in Hongmiaozheng. He just needs to have the word eunuch on his forehead, but Zhu Youjian keeps it alive.

He was still standing despite being impeached by the censors every day, and he was regarded as a representative of the old interest class.

It can be said that in today's court, all the officials have their faces covered. No one knows who is the new interest class and who is the old interest class. After all, no one in the court can escape from praising Wei Zhongxian.

Wei Zhongxian has already dealt with those who don't like you. Maybe the friend you think of will stab you tomorrow and join the new interest class.

After thinking wildly for a long time, Gong Qingshan turned his attention to the books on the table again. It had nothing to do with him how messy the court was, but if these things were handled well, he could use it to return to the capital.

On the other side, in a teahouse not far from Gong Qingshan's home, brothers Wu Shi and Xue Dong were looking in the direction of Gong Qingshan.

"Elder brother, are you sure that Gong Qingshan will send the evidence to the capital?"

Xue Dong was confused and said that he originally thought that Wu Shi was planning to send the evidence to the Ministry of Punishment or the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but he did not expect that it would be sent to Gong Qingshan, the idle young minister of Taichang Temple.

"Don't worry."

Wu Shiping said: "He can, and even if he doesn't do it, we can just make a few more copies. The whole city of Nanjing is so big, there will always be people who are willing to do it."

He did not choose Gong Qingshan randomly, but after careful research. Compared with other people, people like Gong Qingshan who have just fallen from high positions have greater ambitions, and they have been in high positions and have a good network of connections.

It is also broader and can play a greater role in these evidences.

Their evidence is not all ironclad, it can only involve some small figures. If you want to bring down a figure like Yuan Chonghuan, you must have big figures from the Ming Dynasty involved.

Hearing this, Xue Dong nodded. He didn't understand the relationship, but since Wu Shi was confident, he would just follow what he said. Anyway, there would be no loss even if he failed.

…

Beijing.

The residence of Wang Yongguang, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue.

In the study, Wang Yongguang looked at the official documents on the desk and felt dizzy. Since the water transportation was cut off and grain was transported by land, the officials at the top and bottom of the Ministry of Revenue have been extremely busy. They have to get up before dawn and can't sleep in the middle of the night.

As the Minister of Household Affairs, he had to take official documents home for review every day.

Of course, tiredness also means that the power of the Ministry of Revenue has greatly increased. After all, grain is the lifeblood of the soldiers in the capital and border areas. All trivial matters have to make way for the Ministry of Revenue. Even the cabinet elders have to give him three points of face.

It can be said that I am tired and happy at the same time.

However, this power also means that he must ensure that the grain supply is sufficient to supply the needs of the capital and border areas.

Wanting to be here, Wang Yongguang's head started to hurt. The power of the Ministry of Revenue increased greatly. There were many people in the court who coveted this position under his butt. During this period, various memorials to impeach him were almost piled up.

Zhu Youjian's book, if Zhu Youjian hadn't protected him, he would have died.

"Sir, Gong Qingshan, the young minister of Taichang Temple in Nanjing, asked his family to send a package over. He said that the contents inside are extremely important. I hope you can take a look at it."

At this time, the housekeeper walked into the study holding a package.

"Gong Qingshan?"

When he heard this name, Wang Yongguang was stunned. After thinking hard for a long time, he dug out the memory about Gong Qingshan from the corner of his memory.

"I have no contact with him?"

Wang Yongguang wondered, he had no friendship with Gong Qingshan before, but despite his doubts, Wang Yongguang still took the package from the butler's hand, opened the package, and two books were revealed.

After flipping through it a few times, Wang Yongguang's expression suddenly changed. He immediately closed the book and sat on a chair, lost in thought. Although he only flipped through it a few times, he had already guessed a lot about the contents of the book.

.

Stealing military rations!

Now Zhu Youjian is worried about the rebels in Shandong. Stealing military rations is undoubtedly hindering the imperial court. If this thing is handed over, it is not surprising how many people will have their heads dropped. As long as no one participates,

Good ending.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yongguang continued to read.

………

Qianqing Palace.

Looking at the book in his hand, Zhu Youjian was shaking with anger. He never thought that he would not hesitate to raise taxes, recruit new soldiers, and mobilize an army of 210,000 for Yuan Chonghuan to suppress the rebellion. Yuan Chonghuan would dare to steal and sell military rations to make a living. Private pocket!

"Wang Aiqing, is this true?"

Out of anger, Zhu Youjian still asked calmly.

"Back to Your Majesty, these two pieces of evidence were delivered to me personally by Gong Qingshan, Shaoqing of Taichang Temple in Nanjing, from his family."

After hearing Zhu You's questioning, Wang Yongguang quickly bowed and replied: "According to Gong Shaoqing's family, he found out this information after many inquiries. I don't know whether it is true or not, but I think it should be true. After all, those The stolen military rations amounted to more than 200,000 dan. All we need to do is send someone to investigate and the truth will be revealed."

After saying this, Wang Yongguang remained silent. This kind of credit was dispensable to him. It would be better to blame it all on Gong Qingshan. Even if it was found to be fake, it was Gong Qingshan's problem.

After listening to Wang Yongguang's words, Zhu Youjian's face became even more gloomy, because Wang Yongguang was right, more than two hundred thousand stones of grain was not a small amount, and it was impossible to fill such a big hole in a short time. If someone goes to investigate, everything will come to light.

"Yuan Chonghuan!"

Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth: "I trust him so much in vain. He dares to act so boldly. Wang Daban, please send a message to the cabinet ministers to come to the Qing Palace."

"Slave, go right away."

Wang Chengen on the side responded quickly.

…

After a while, Han Xu and others rushed to Qianqing Palace.

"My dear friends, please take a look at these two things."

Zhu Youjian signaled Wang Chengen to show the two books of news to Han Xu and others.

Han Xu was the first to take one of the books and then started to read it, while Qian Longxi took the other one.

The two of them had just browsed a few times, and their expressions suddenly changed. When Li Biao and Liu Hongxun saw the two people's expressions changing, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous. It didn't seem possible to allow the two of them to behave like this. Small.

After a while, Han Xu and others handed the books in their hands to Li Biao and others. After flipping through it for a few times, Li Biao and others' expressions also changed.

"My dear friends, you also know the matter. How do you think this matter should be handled?"

Zhu Youjian's expression was gloomy. The more he thought about this matter, the more chilled he became. Only half a year after Yuan Chonghuan led the troops to suppress the rebellion, he had stolen and sold more than 200,000 shi of military rations, which was hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

As the saying goes, wine makes people's faces red, and wealth and silk attract people's hearts. With more than 100,000 taels of silver in half a year, how could Yuan Chonghuan put down the rebellion with all his heart? Maybe if he continued, Su Hao would become the next Nurhaci and a confidant of the Ming Dynasty.

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, the faces of Han Xu and others instantly turned uglier. They had been ups and downs in the officialdom for decades, and so many people had seen them. There was no secret about Zhu Youjian's thoughts in front of them. It can be said that with just one sentence, they realized that Zhu Youjian was suspicious of Yuan Chonghuan.

"Your Majesty, this matter is nothing more than the words of Gong Qingshan, the young minister of Taichang Temple, and it is really not trustworthy."

After thinking for a while, Han Xu still handed over his hand and said, although he was also very angry with Yuan Chonghuan for not showing mercy to them before, but Yuan Chonghuan is indeed a rare talent in the court today. If he wants to suppress the rebellion, he has to rely on Yuan Chonghuan. .

"Mr. Han Ge, this military ration is the lifeblood of the army. A slight mistake will be a disaster. How can we be careless?"

At this time, Wang Yongguang said coldly: "If this leads to a mutiny in the army and the defeat, who can bear the responsibility? Can you, Mr. Han Ge, bear the responsibility?"

Wang Yongguang's words were like a sharp sword pressed against Han Xu's throat.

Hearing Wang Yongguang's words, Han Xu opened his mouth, but was speechless. After staying in the officialdom for so many years, he naturally knew the situation of the Ming Dynasty, although he did not think that Yuan Chonghuan would go.

He embezzled military rations, but he knows people well but doesn’t know their hearts. Who can guarantee that Yuan Chonghuan is really not corrupt?

It's okay to say a few nice words for Yuan Chonghuan, but asking him to vouch for Yuan Chonghuan is unnecessary. His relationship with Yuan Chonghuan is not that good yet.

"Military rations are the lifeblood of the army and cannot be lost."

At this time, Zhu Youjian said: "Qian Aiqing, go to Huai'an Mansion to investigate this matter thoroughly. Don't let any issues go."

"I obey the decree."
To be continued...