A canal boat sailed slowly from north to south along the Grand Canal.
"Master, there is someone on the shore to greet you."
Gao Hub closed his eyes slightly and asked, "Are we going to Huai'an now?"
"Sir, that's right!"
Gao Hub nodded and said: "It must be Xu'er. I haven't been back to my hometown for many years. Let's go home and stay one night today, and continue our journey tomorrow."
"Sir... looking at this posture, I look like someone from the government."
Gao Hub was slightly surprised, slowly opened his eyes and said, "I left Beijing in a hurry this time and did not send any documents to the prefect of Huai'an. How could they know my itinerary?"
"My guess is that the local magistrate learned about the master's itinerary from his young master cousin and came here to greet him."
Gao Hub sighed, shook his head and said: "I'm out of Beijing on business. I just passed through Huai'an and came home to take a look. He leaked the news and the local magistrate prepared it with great fanfare. Wouldn't it be a waste of people and money? This Xu'er is really
The only thing is...well, when I see him, I will discipline him well!"
"Master, please calm down. The local officials are usually close to Young Master Biao. Maybe... Young Master Biao just mentioned it accidentally..."
Gao Hub waved his hand and said: "When I get home, I will ask him personally, let's go ashore first!"
Gao Hub has always been worried about his nephew.
He had two sons, both of whom lived in the capital. Therefore, the family property of Huai'an Prefecture was handed over to Gao Xu.
However, Gao Xu has been arrogant and domineering since he was a child. Now, relying on his status as an old uncle, he is even more out of control. Over the years, he has caused a lot of trouble.
For the sake of their own sake, the local officials usually treat the Gao family's affairs as trivial matters. However, there are still a lot of gossips reaching the capital. This time, when we meet, we must give them a good warning.
Fan...
When Gao Hub raised his head, he was suddenly stunned. It turned out that the person greeting him on the shore was his colleague, the newly promoted bachelor, Yu Qian.
Although he knew that Yu Qian was in charge of the river control project in Huai'an Mansion, he still felt a little surprised.
Because this person never pays attention to official etiquette, let alone takes the initiative to build relationships with others.
I really didn’t expect that he would come to greet me today. Could it be that the smelly and hard Yu Qian also changed his gender?
"Master Gao, it's been a hard journey!"
Gao Hub replied with a smile: "Master Yu, it is really hard to regulate the river. I am just passing through Huai'an. Master Yu, there is no need to mobilize troops like this. The local... the local..."
He wanted to say he was the local magistrate, but looking around, it seemed that except for Yu Qian, the others were just soldiers, and no other officials were seen.
Yu Qian understood and said: "I understand that Mr. Gao is worried about disturbing the people, so... I did not notify the local officials."
Gao Hub smiled awkwardly and said, "That's right!"
"I have ordered people to prepare wine and food to help Mr. Gao wash away the dust, please!"
Gao Hub nodded and said: "Then it's up to you, sir!"
Although Yu Qian was stingy, he thoughtfully prepared the sedan and got on the sedan. He kept thinking on the way, where is my nephew?
That’s fine if the prefect didn’t come, why didn’t my eldest nephew come?
Did you forget?
However, the itinerary was clearly stated to him, so it shouldn’t be...
Yu Qian is really a down-to-earth person. He took people directly to the construction site and asked the chef to cook a few dishes, which was considered a success.
Then he pretended to say: "The conditions are really limited, I hope you will be kind to me."
Gao Zhu didn't dislike it, he laughed and said: "I usually only have two dishes and one soup, but today the meal on your table is already very rich."
Having said that, this reception banquet was really shabby because only Yu Qian was there to accompany him.
Gao Hub couldn't help but ask: "Where are Wang Yong and Wang Shilang?"
Yu Qian replied: "Winter is about to come, and the construction schedule is tight. Shilang Wang really can't get away."
"Yes, business matters, business matters... By the way, is Beilin from Qintian Prison here too?"
"Exactly!"
Gao Hub asked again: "My unsatisfactory nephew wrote that he and Beilin had some conflicts. I have been living in the capital for a long time and have neglected to discipline this nephew. I think...he must have been unruly and clashed.
Mr. Bei, I am passing through Huai'an this time just to discipline you. At the same time, I also want to apologize to Mr. Bei in person."
"Well...actually it's not necessary..."
Yu Qian's face was a little hesitant and seemed very entangled.
Gao Hub realized that something was wrong with the situation and asked, "Why did Mr. Yu say this?"
"Regarding the conflict between Gao Xu and Bei Lin, Gao Da's nephew, it was because Gao Xu went to the post station in Suqian to eat and was bumped into by Bei Lin. The two did not talk about it. As you know, Bei Lin has a bad temper.
It seems... Gao Xu also has a bad temper. As a young man, he got angry and started a fight. Afterwards, Gao Xu took the initiative to bear all the expenses and the matter was over."
"How about that?"
Gao Hub excitedly slammed the table and said angrily: "The inn was prepared by the imperial court for passing officials. Gao Xu has no official position and no position, and he went to the inn to eat and drink. Isn't he breaking the rules?"
"Master Gao, please don't get angry. Gao Xu is rich, isn't he?"
"This is not a matter of money. When I see him, I must discipline him and let him understand what the rules are!"
At that moment, Gao Hub couldn't eat anymore and asked: "I am going south this time to persuade the emperor to return to the capital. My lord, tell me the truth, where is the emperor?"
Yu Qian said: "The emperor did come, but he has already left!"
"When?"
"It's only about ten days, half a month at most."
Gao Hub shook his head and said: "Master Yu, after you met the emperor, why didn't you persuade him to return to Beijing?"
"I tried to persuade you, but the emperor didn't listen!"
"Since ancient times, loyal advice has been harsh. You and I are cabinet ministers. We cannot obey the emperor in everything. Otherwise, wouldn't we become the next Wang Zhen? Nowadays, the emperor travels incognito without any guards around him. If he encounters a bad person, he will
But what should we do?"
Yu Qian cupped his hands and said: "What Master Gao said is true, please bear this in mind!"
Gao Hub nodded, stretched out his hand to twist his beard, and continued: "Although you entered the cabinet late, you are the most respected by the emperor. Because of this, you must always encourage yourself, self-reflection, self-denial, and never let down the divine grace.
”
While the two were talking, the door curtain was lifted and a person walked in.
Gao Zhu is most disgusted with such unruly servants, but after thinking about it, this is a river management site, and everyone is in a mess, so he should not worry about it.
"Master Gao, you are here!"
Gao Hub raised his head and said that Cao Cao is about to arrive. Isn't this person in front of him Bei Lin or who is it?
He stood up unsteadily, cupped his hands and said: "Deputy Supervisor Bei is polite!"
Yu Qian looked a little strange and asked, "Aren't you going to get down to business?"
Beilin nodded and said: "Yes, I'm done!"
Yu Qian asked again: "Have you found out?"
"Everything has been found out, and both the person and the stolen goods have been recovered. The case can be closed!"
Seeing that the two people were talking nonsense, Gao Hub couldn't help but ask: "Isn't it river management? What case was investigated?"
"Master Gao doesn't know something!" Beilin smiled politely and said, "This case is much more important than river control."
Gao Hub asked: "What is the case?"
"This case has something to do with Mr. Gao..."
Suddenly, Yu Qian interrupted him and said: "Beilin, don't talk nonsense until everything is clear!"
Bei Lin said: "Please rest assured, Sir, I have already found out everything."
Yu Qian glanced at Gao Hub next to him and asked, "Are you sure?"
"OK!"
Beilin nodded confidently.
Gao Hub was already impatient and asked quickly: "What happened?"
Yu Qian took a long breath and said, "Master Gao, you must be mentally prepared first."
Gao Hub's expression changed and he asked: "Could it be...that bastard Gao Xu..."
Beilin said truthfully: "Master Gao, please don't worry. Regarding your nephew Gao Xu, he is suspected of having an affair with the rebels..."
"What did you say?"
Gao Zhu stood up and said excitedly: "Beilin, tell me what mistake Gao Xu has made, and I will discipline him. However, if you say that he is having an affair with a rebel, isn't it an unfounded crime?"
?"
Bei Lin explained: "Master Gao, please don't get excited. Regarding Gao Xu... it's not actually an affair. He was just used by the White Lotus Sect rebels, and there is also your relationship in this."
"Presumptuous!" Gao Zhu slapped the table and said angrily, "It's not enough that you have wronged my nephew. Do you want to drag me into the water as well?"
Beilin took out a confession without haste: "You'd better see it for yourself!"
This confession comes from Zhang San of the White Lotus Sect. He has been rooted in Huai'an Mansion for many years. His daily tasks are to gather information and expand relationships. Using Lichun Court as his base, he uses his beauty and money to win over valuable people as much as possible.<
/p>
People like Gao Xu are their key targets.
Due to Gao Hub's relationship, local officials naturally tried their best to get close to Gao Xu. Over the years, the White Lotus Sect has obtained a lot of valuable information directly or indirectly from Gao Xu.
But Gao Xu himself didn’t know all of this.
After reading the confession, Gao Hub couldn't help but feel angry and said: "Since the White Lotus Sect has evil intentions, their one-sided words should not be taken lightly!"
"What Mr. Gao said is that after I got the confession, I immediately went to your old house and found 800,000 taels of silver, and..."
"What did you say?"
Gao Hu's face was as cold as ice and he said coldly: "You dare to search my house?"
Beilin smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm really sorry, the search has been completed."
"Presumptuous!"
Gao Boss was extremely angry and shouted: "I am a minister of the court and the pillar of the country. What right do you have to search my house?"
Beilin also changed her smiling face and said in a deep voice:
"Since you know that you are a minister of the court, you should try your best to restrain your family and set an example for the people of the world! Do you know how many illegal and disorderly things your bastard nephew has done over the years with the help of your reputation?
?Now that he is involved in a rebellion case, it is because of his greed that he brought it upon himself. Until now, you don’t look for the reasons from yourself, but only want to use your power to pressure and excuse your nephew’s crimes. Are you worthy of calling yourself a pillar?" p>
"You...you..."
Gao Hub was scolded by Beilin for a while, and his face turned pale with anger, his whole body was trembling, and he was speechless.
"What am I?"
Bei Lin did not intend to let it go, and continued: "Did I say you were wrong? You yourself are incapable of discipline, and you still blame others? I will tell you today that the rebellion of the White Lotus Sect is a major crime against the Nine Clans.
All relevant people will definitely not be sentenced lightly. Over the years, how much money has the White Lotus Sect given to your nephew, and how much money has it given to you?"
"You... are slanderous!"
"You dare to say that you have never confiscated any money from the White Lotus Sect?"
"I can guarantee that I will be clean for the rest of my life, and I will never confiscate a single copper coin from the White Lotus Sect!"
"Even if you didn't take it, where did the more than 800,000 taels of silver in your old house come from?"
Gao Hub said with a gloomy face: "Beilin, are you interrogating a prisoner? Who are you and why are you interrogating me?"
"That's it!"
Beilin didn't tolerate him, so she slapped the things in her hands on the table.
Gao Hub took a closer look, and his old face suddenly turned dark.
This is the emperor's gold medal. Generally speaking, it will only be taken out when important tasks are performed.
The front of the gold medal is engraved with a dragon pattern representing imperial power, and the back is engraved with the four characters "I am here in person".
Gao Hub hurriedly bowed down and shouted long live.
Bei Lin put away the gold medal and said: "Master Gao, I can responsibly tell you that most of the silver and rare antiques in your old house are consistent with the account books of the White Lotus Sect. Xiaguan and Gao Xu
There is no personal enmity between us, and we will never wrong him."
Gao Hub's face turned from black to white, and then from white to green. After a long time, he asked: "You keep saying that the White Lotus Sect is rebelling, what kind of rebellion did they create?"
Bei Lin replied: "Sir, you won't forget about the emperor's assassination so quickly, will you?"
Gao Hub retorted: "There are many members of the White Lotus Sect, so it's hard to guarantee that some people have ulterior motives. How can you prove that the person arrested here is the person who assassinated the emperor?"
Bei Lin scratched her head. After interrogation, Zhang San and others confessed to instigating the rebellion of the common people, but never mentioned the assassination of the emperor in the capital. The two seemed to have nothing to do with each other.
"Well, let's not talk about the emperor's assassination. Let's just say that in Huai'an Mansion, the White Lotus Sect conspired to incite the people to cause trouble, intending to create chaos and take the opportunity to rebel. What about this matter?"
Gao Hub heard this in confusion, but he understood one thing: the White Lotus Sect was causing trouble in Huai'an Mansion!
There are 100,000 civilians in Huai'an Prefecture. This is no small matter. If the court fails to handle it promptly or improperly, the consequences will be disastrous.
Gao Hubo thought about it and asked again: "Even if Gao Xu has some dealings with the thieves, the case should be heard by the local magistrate. Mr. Bei is here to control the river. Is this an overreach?"
"The prefect can no longer control it. There is no other way but to let the lower officials do it themselves."
Gao Hub puzzled: "What do you mean... the prefect can't control it?"
"Because the prefect of Huai'an... truthfully told me, he was also arrested by his subordinates."
"You...you actually arrested the prefect?"
"Exactly!"
Gao Hub took a breath and asked: "Could it be that... the prefect of Huai'an also has something to do with the White Lotus Sect?"