Zhu Yijue silently handed Liu Qichang's letter to Zhu Changjin. Zhu Changjin took it and read it at a glance, with a look of doubt on his face.
In the letter, Liu Qichang told Zhu Yijue that Su Hao was secretly investigating the tenant farmers of Prince Chong's Mansion, and had also sent soldiers who were good at surveying and mapping to survey the land of Prince Chong's Mansion. Liu Qichang did not make any assumptions about Su Hao's behavior, but he had no conclusion.
, is precisely the biggest conclusion, that is to say, Su Hao came to Runing Mansion this time to cause trouble for Prince Chong. Otherwise, why would he investigate matters related to Prince Chong's Mansion?
It is not the turn of ordinary officials to take care of the affairs of the vassal king. The clan government must send people to take care of it. Su Hao dares to investigate the affairs of Prince Chong's Mansion, which means that he is authorized, and he can be authorized to investigate a vassal.
The only one who belongs to the king is the emperor himself.
When it comes to issues involving royal power, the vassal kings are frightened and will be very sensitive to the slightest disturbance. How could Zhu Yijue not be worried when Liu Qichang sent this letter.
"Father, it is not a misunderstanding to say that Su Hao is surveying the land of our Prince Chong Mansion, right?" Zhu Changjin said, "Su Hao once told my son that the reason why he was favored by the Ministry of War was because he was good at surveying and mapping.
The Ministry of War asked him to build a survey camp because it wanted to cultivate a team capable of surveying and mapping so that it could be used for surveying and mapping the border passes in the future. What Liu Qichang said might just be the daily training of the survey camp."
Zhu Yijue shook his head and said: "I just asked Li Hui, and he said that Su Hao's subordinates have indeed been to the farm of Prince Chong's Mansion recently. They not only measured the number of acres of land, but also asked the tenants about the ownership of these acres. Based on my opinion,
It seems that this does not mean that daily training can be perfunctory."
Li Hui is a steward of Prince Chong's Mansion, who is responsible for managing the fiefdom of Prince Chong's Mansion. He has worked in Prince Chong's Mansion for more than 20 years and can be regarded as Zhu Yijue's confidant. Zhu Yijue naturally believes what he says.
"So, Su Hao really wants to attack Prince Chong's Mansion?" Zhu Changjin said hesitantly.
From the bottom of his heart, Zhu Changjin was unwilling to believe that Su Hao would be detrimental to Prince Chong's Mansion. During the process of building the Academy of Sciences, he had a lot of contact with Su Hao and admired Su Hao's knowledge. In his opinion, such a knowledgeable person
, it is not possible to engage in any conspiracy. This kind of thing is not what a great Confucian would do.
However, when it comes to matters of life and death, Zhu Changjin cannot help but take chances. What if Su Hao did everything just to paralyze him in order to stab him in the back? Born in a feudal prince's family, Zhu Changjin has seen many intrigues and intrigues.
It's not easy to trust someone easily.
"But, Father, we have nothing to do with Prince Chong's Mansion. Why does the Emperor want to do something bad to us?" Zhu Changjin asked.
Zhu Yijue said: "It's hard to fathom the emperor's heart. We, father and son, act cautiously. Who knows if there are people with ulterior motives who are gossiping about my emperor's younger brother? The emperor sent Su Hao down, apparently to investigate the tyrants' occupation of farmers' land.
In fact, it is necessary to check whether there is any illegal behavior in Prince Chong's Mansion. This is also possible."
Zhu Changjin said: "Our Prince Chong Mansion has not done anything inappropriate. If Su Hao really wants to investigate, let him do it. Can he still frame us?"
"Although this is true, we still have to guard against it." Zhu Yijue sighed, "Who knows what kind of charges this Su Hao will make up for us?"
"If he dares to do this, don't blame me for turning my back on him. We in Prince Chong's Mansion are not someone who can be manipulated by just anyone." Zhu Changjin said angrily.
Zhu Yijue said: "Jin'er can't be reckless. If Su Hao gets the emperor's secret order, he will be an imperial envoy. If we collide with the imperial envoy, the crime will be serious."
"What does the father mean that we should do?" Zhu Changjin asked.
Zhu Yijue said: "So far, Su Hao has not shown his cards to Prince Chong's Mansion. I want you to meet with Su Hao and ask him what he means. If you feel that there is anything wrong with Prince Chong's Mansion, please tell me
He made it clear that we would just change things."
Zhu Changjin heard what Zhu Yijue meant, that is, he wanted to negotiate with Su Hao. If necessary, it would not be a bad idea to give Su Hao some benefits. Zhu Changjin thought that he had been so arrogant in front of Su Hao in the past, but now he wanted to bow to Su Hao.
He couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Thinking back to the time when he and Su Hao were preparing to establish the Academy of Sciences, the relationship between the two parties was so harmonious, but now they were falling into mutual suspicion, and he felt a little chilled.
Su Hao had returned to Runing City from Luoshan at this time. However, in view of the current tense relationship with Runing Mansion, Su Hao began to live in seclusion and did not show up everywhere as in the past. Zhu Changjin first sent someone to deliver Su Hao
After writing a letter, he took several followers and came to Su Hao's residence in person. When Su Hao heard that Zhu Changjin was coming, he did not dare to neglect, so he went out to greet him in person and invited Zhu Changjin to the lobby.
"Your Majesty, I don't know what you are doing when you come to my humble residence." After a few words of greeting, Su Hao asked Zhu Changjin.
Zhu Changjin was not a person who was good at talking in circles. He asked Su Hao straightforwardly: "Xueshi Su, I heard that Xueshi Su has been inventorying the land of Runing Mansion recently. Is this relevant?"
"It's true." Su Hao said, "A few days ago, my subordinates raided a gambling house, and then based on the clues found in the gambling house, they raided some loan sharking banks and other businesses, and found some collusion between government and businessmen.
, evidence of appropriation of farmers’ land. Now we are verifying the situation of these occupied lands, and some progress has been made.”
"Do these things have something to do with our Prince Chong Mansion?" Zhu Changjin asked again.
"This..." Su Hao was a little hesitant. These days, the survey camp has sent people to verify the situation of the land that has been occupied by powerful people. It has been found that many land annexation cases are inextricably linked to the Chong Palace. Su Hao is doing this
It's a head-scratching thing.
Based on Su Hao's original intention, he did not want to get into entanglements with these feudal kings, because once the affairs of the feudal kings were involved, it was not simply a matter of rationality or unreasonableness, but related to the family affairs of the royal family, which could not be treated with common sense.
But it is impossible to completely bypass Prince Chong's Mansion. The files compiled by Li Zhi show that many farmers' lands taken away by loan sharks were inexplicably turned into fiefdoms of Prince Chong's Mansion. If you don't touch it,
Chongwang Mansion, it is impossible for these lands to be returned to these landless peasants.
"Xueshi Su, we Ming people don't tell secrets. Are you coming to Runing this time for our Prince Chong's Mansion?" Zhu Changjin asked. In fact, in this case, he was not suitable to ask such a direct question, but he
As a prince, I really don’t know what tact is.
Hearing Zhu Changjin's words, Su Hao waved his hands and said: "There is absolutely no such intention. The imperial court sent me to Runing just to do something powerful. How can Su Hao be qualified to interfere with the affairs of the palace."
"Is this true?" Zhu Changjin asked, staring into Su Hao's eyes.
"Hao can swear to God." Su Hao said calmly. He dared to make such an oath because he did not receive any instructions against Prince Chong's Mansion.
Looking at Su Hao's expression, Zhu Changjin was almost convinced. He said, "In that case, why did your subordinates go to the farm of Prince Chong's Mansion and talk to the tenant farmers of Prince Chong's Mansion?"
Su Hao said: "This is not aimed at Prince Chong's Mansion. We are investigating the occupied land based on the evidence we found. As for questioning the tenant farmers, it is because these tenant farmers were originally the owners of the land. We want to know more about it.
The process by which they lost these lands."
Zhu Changjin said dissatisfiedly: "If that's the case, how could you find yourself in the farm of Prince Chong's Mansion? The land in Prince Chong's Mansion was given by the Holy One and was not used to invade the peasants. Xuexueshi Su's explanation seems to be trying to hide the truth.
"
Su Hao said: "Hao also knows this, and this is what makes Hao confused. In fact, if the Crown Prince is not here today, Hao also plans to visit Prince Chong's Mansion another day, just to ask this question clearly."
"What's the problem?" Zhu Changjin asked.
Su Hao said: "Hao checked the files and found that Prince Chong's Mansion has 100,000 acres of land, all of which were given by the Holy Spirit. There should be no disputes. But the strange thing is that when we tracked down the farmers' occupied land, we repeatedly tracked them down to the farm of Prince Chong's Mansion.
Those farmers told us that these lands were originally owned by them, but they had to sell them because they were lured into gambling and owed usury. And the new owner of these lands was actually Prince Chong's Mansion."
"How is this possible!" Zhu Changjin scolded, "The land deeds can be found for all the land in Prince Chong's Mansion. These land deeds have been kept in the accounting office of Prince Chong's Mansion for decades. How can there be any purchase of land?"
"Does the Crown Prince know where the land of Prince Chong's Mansion is located?" Su Hao asked.
Zhu Changjin shook his head and said: "How could I, the prince, know about these things? All the land granting and rent collection were done by the steward of Prince Chong's Mansion. If Su Xueshi wants to know, I will ask the steward Li Hui to come see Su Xueshi later.
"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for asking, is this steward Li Hui a close confidant of the Crown Prince?" Su Hao asked.
Zhu Changjin said: "He is the old housekeeper of the house, and my father has great trust in him."
"Can what he did represent the Chong Palace?" Su Hao asked again.
Zhu Changjin heard the hidden meaning in Su Hao's words, and he asked strangely: "Why, does Academician Su have any doubts about the housekeeper in my house?"
Su Hao shook his head and said: "Since the Crown Prince said that Butler Li is the prince's confidant, how can Hao dare to have any doubts. However, I would like to ask the Crown Prince not to mention it to Butler Li about what you and I are talking about today. There is indeed something strange about the farm of Prince Chong's Mansion.
Wait for Hao to find out in detail and then report it to the prince and the prince. What does the prince think?"
"Xueshi Su, if there is indeed a problem with the Wangfu's farm, after you find out, even if you tell me clearly, I will definitely give you justice. However, if Xuexueshi Su is entrusted by others and wants to impose a crime, Prince Chongfu will not be soft.
"Persimmon, even if this lawsuit goes to the Supreme Lord, Prince Chong's Mansion will not be afraid. I would like to ask Scholar Su to know about this." Zhu Changjin said solemnly.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, Su Hao will do things with a clear conscience." Su Hao said. To be continued)