Chapter 207 Double exploration of light and darkness
After the ministers returned to the palace, Zhu Youxiao did not take a break from get off work. He seamlessly summoned Wei Zhongxian, the admiral of the East Factory, and Yang Huan, the temporary boss of Jinyiwei.
Xu Xianchun's progress in Shanxi was not as fast as expected. Those businessmen hid it very well and responded quickly.
After the inexplicable disappearance of the shopkeeper, they immediately felt that something was wrong. During this period, they did not send caravans to the grassland. Zhu Youxiao's idea of stealing stolen goods from others was temporarily in vain.
But he has a lot of patience. He can afford to wait not to mention a few days, but even a few months, and those businessmen certainly can't wait a month.
It's only a matter of time before we kill them.
"I'm ordering you to come here because of the disaster in Shandong. Wei Zhongxian, the disaster in the three prefectures, why didn't Cui Yingyuan report it? Has he been stargazing in Shandong for most of the year?"
Wei Zhongxian quickly knelt down and said with a sad face:
"Long live Lord, it's my fault. I received Cui Yingyuan's report yesterday. I saw that it was getting late and was afraid of missing the time of Lord Long Live, so I didn't go to the palace to report."
"Then why don't you report it today?"
Wei Zhongxian looked unspeakable and continued:
"I was planning to report this matter to Lord Long Live today, but Lord Long Live was not in the palace. I had no choice but to hand the memorial to the eunuch on duty at Qianqing Palace, and then left the palace to run errands."
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wang Chaofu, who immediately lowered his head and took a few steps back, then turned around and trotted all the way to the outer hall.
Not long after, the imperial assistant came to the emperor holding a memorial, opened it and placed it on the imperial desk.
Then he leaned down and whispered in Zhu Youxiao's ear:
"Long Live Lord, it is definitely true. This memorial was delivered not long after Lord Long Live went to the military camp. Lord Long Live just summoned the ministers, so the young eunuch did not dare to disturb it."
Although Wei Zhongxian was kneeling below, he was trying hard to observe Wang Chaofu with his peripheral vision, thinking to himself, this bitch is not framed by me.
Zhu Youxiao took a brief look and found that it was indeed true. He gently closed the memorial and said:
"That was my negligence, get up!"
Wei Zhongxian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that this bitch still had some conscience.
Then he kowtowed and bowed his head and said:
"Thank you, long live the Lord!"
Zhu Youxiao was still very careful about his image in front of the courtiers, but in front of the ministers, he basically let himself go.
He got up from the throne and walked to the steps, sat down on it, and said rather uncomfortably:
"Three prefectures in Shandong are suffering from drought. The people are having a hard time this year. I don't know how many people will starve to death. I have just completed discussions with the courtiers and will immediately allocate money and food to Shandong to prepare for disaster relief."
"I can't trust those civil servants, especially local officials. These are guys who eat people without spitting out their bones, so I want Dongchang and Jinyiwei to participate."
Yang Huan immediately raised his hands and shouted:
"I only obey His Majesty's orders!"
"This disaster relief is of great importance. I have changed a lot of systems. If the disaster relief is not ideal or fails, those people hiding in the dark will definitely use it to make an issue. Therefore, I will never allow any mistakes."
"Yang Huan, select a few capable men from the Jinyi Guards and send Yiqi Tiqi to accompany them. Your task is to keep an eye on the money and food for disaster relief. If there is a problem with the money and food for disaster relief, I will hold you accountable first!"
Yang Huan cupped his fists and raised his hands, vowing to say:
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my job well!"
"I will give you a handwritten order. During disaster relief, if you encounter any illegal things, you can kill them first and then report them. After they are arrested, they will be escorted to the capital immediately. I will personally interrogate them!"
Yang Huan immediately knelt down on one knee, keeping his hands together and palms facing up.
After Wang Chaofu received the order from the emperor, he sent it to Yang Huan.
Yang Huan, who received the handwriting, shouted:
"I accept your order!"
Then Zhu Youxiao waved his hand gently at him, and Yang Huan withdrew knowingly.
Wei Zhongxian understood the situation quickly and took the initiative to greet the emperor without waiting for him to be summoned. He bowed down and waited obediently at the foot of the steps.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Youxiao sneered and joked calmly:
"You old guy's mind is spinning very fast, but I didn't ask you to come over!"
Wei Zhongxian chuckled, immediately stepped forward to knead the emperor's thigh, and then said flatteringly:
"If I don't understand Long Live Lord's thoughts, then wouldn't it be in vain that I, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, Eunuch Bingbi and the Admiral of Dongchang, have worked for so long?"
Zhu Youxiao's eyes showed a trace of cruelty, and he said expressionlessly:
"Oh, then you should tell me what I am thinking now!"
Wei Zhongxian had no idea that he had committed a big taboo. If he really knew the emperor's current thoughts, he would never say as flatteringly as he did now with a smile:
"Long live the Lord must have more important errands for this slave to handle!"
Zhu Youxiao leaned on the armrest, enjoying the service of the old eunuch, with the fingers of his two hands crossed on his stomach.
He seemed to have taken a nap, and after a while he slowly said with a hint of exhaustion:
"You are very thoughtful and you can guess all my thoughts. You are really a mature person."
"Master Long Live is joking. I just know a little better than others. It's nothing. Even if I borrow ten thousand hearts and courage, I don't dare to speculate on Master Long Live's thoughts."
It seems that this old guy still has some self-awareness, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.
There is no one in this world who doesn't want to know the emperor's inner thoughts, especially those who serve close by. They want to know more urgently.
The only thing Zhu Youxiao dares to conclude is that Wei Zhongxian's ability to observe people's emotions and figure out people's hearts is indeed far superior to that of ordinary people. Otherwise, in history, he would not have stepped on the Wei Dynasty and beaten Wang An to become the first in the inner court even in thousands of years.
One of the most powerful eunuchs.
Liu Jin, the leader of the Eight Tigers, and Wang Zhen, the chief eunuch of the Palm Print, were both stepped on by him.
"I do have an errand that I want to entrust you to do, but I just don't know if you can do it well!"
Hearing the emperor's questioning tone, Wei Zhongxian became anxious on the spot. Is there anyone more capable than me in the world?
"No matter what the Lord Long Live tells me, even if I risk my life through fire and water, I will definitely complete the Lord's errands!"
"Cui Yingyuan has been spying in Shandong for several months. You must have a good grasp of the nature of Shandong officials. My mission is to let you keep an eye on these people."
"Disaster relief has been a favor of local officials since ancient times. You Dongchang went to Shandong in advance to lie dormant, observe secretly, and collect evidence of their crimes of corruption and harming the people. Remember not to alert the snake. Once it is verified and you have grasped their crimes and evidence, you will immediately
Return to the capital."
"As well as those ministers and censors who were sent to provide disaster relief, please keep an eye on them. I will give you greater authority this time and allow you to secretly investigate the Yulin Army and the Jinyi Guards, but don't go too far!"
Wei Zhongxian's eyes lit up and he said happily:
"Long live my lord, don't worry. I will prepare immediately. We can set off tomorrow!"