The capital was searched over and over by Jinyiwei and Ziche, but they still could not find the spy from the Changsheng Sect, nor the three people from Anfeng Tower. For this reason, Qin Jiyan gave the leader of Jinyiwei and Ziche a scolding.
Jin Yiwei and Zi Che didn't dare to take a breath, so they turned around and continued to expand the search area. But when Jin Yiwei and Zi Che failed one after another, the secret guards who had never been very "reliable" did a very good job this time.
The secret guards were ordered to investigate Zino's affairs, and the Ji family has been very active recently, selling most of their property privately. The secret guards followed this line to investigate, and they found out a lot of things.
The Ji family has been hoarding grain since the year before last, and this year they have increased the amount of grain hoarded. More than half of the property sold has been turned into grain, and this grain is being quietly transported to Northern Qi.
Ji Jiaming is a big businessman on the surface, but secretly he is the biggest smuggler, selling things that are not allowed to be traded in the Three Kingdoms. However, because the Ji family is a good person and shares the interests equally, he only takes the small part, and the big part is given to the higher-ups.
Senior official.
Whether it is Da Qin, Northern Qi or Xihu, there are many people who have taken advantage of the Ji family, and will naturally provide convenience to the Ji family.
In addition, the emperors of various countries also need such a channel, and the Ji family is also smart. They only sell things that are tacitly approved by the emperors of various countries, and there is a limit to what they can sell even if they strictly prohibit things.
For example, the Ji family only smuggled a small amount of grain and ironware every year. This could not shake the balance of the three countries, and it could also make food-deficient countries like Xihu and Northern Qi more peaceful.
Due to their geographical location, Northern Qi and Xihu are in a state of food shortage all year round. Da Qin will officially provide some help, but the amount is not large and can only be a drop in the bucket.
The Ji family also sells some grain to the two countries privately every year, but the quantity is not much. At least it is not enough to feed and clothe the people of the two countries. It can only ensure that they starve to death less every year.
With this batch of grain and grass, not many people in Northern Qi and Xihu will die, so they will not send troops to Daqin to grab grain. Moreover, the grain sold by the Ji family to Northern Qi and Xihu is not low. Northern Qi and Xihu
Every year, a considerable amount of money and valuables must be spent in exchange for these grains and grass, so that the national treasury is never full.
This is a matter that is beneficial to both parties. The Ji family has always done well, and more than 80% of the annual benefits are contributed to the officials and treasury of Da Qin. Everyone is very satisfied with this, and even the emperor acquiesces.
People can do anything if they are hungry. If they really want to control the food supply to death and deny the Xihu and Northern Qi a way to survive, it will arouse the anger of the people in the two countries. If they really want to fight, Da Qin will not get any favors at all.
But...people will change!
The Ji family has been doing very well over the years and said that they will continue to do well. This does not mean that their descendants will also make money for the Qin, Xihu and Northern Qi kingdoms, at least not for the ambitious Ji Nuo.
.
Zino was an ambitious man. From the fact that he provoked the third princess of Xihu but refused to marry her, and from the fact that he had a good relationship with the Emperor of Northern Qi, we can see that he was very ambitious.
Zino was ambitious and powerful. He secretly hoarded a large amount of grain very early on, and now he is also purchasing grain privately, just to transport the grain to Northern Qi and deliver a fatal blow to Da Qin.
Zino was very secretive when he did this, and he also had Northern Qi, the Changsheng Sect and local officials to cover him. There was no abnormality on the surface. If Jun Yian hadn't said something was wrong with Jino, Qin Jiyan and Gu
Qiancheng might not be able to find him for a while.
It's not that Da Qin's spies are incompetent, but that the Ji family is in a very delicate position. It's not that easy for Da Qin's spies to find out information about the Ji family. This time, it would have been had it not been for the Ji family's actions of selling off their property and transporting grain privately.
It's too big, and even the secret guards may not be able to detect it.
"Half of the grain in the Qin Dynasty is in the Ji family, which is more than the grain in the national treasury. What does the Ji family want to do? Rebellion?" Qin Jiyan's face turned pale when he saw the news that the secret guards had found out.
He hadn't been so angry for a long time, and Zino successfully aroused his anger.
"My subordinates have neglected their duties. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Although the secret guards found out about the Ji family, they knew that this was not their credit because they found out too late.
Fortunately, although it is late, there is still a possibility of remediation. The Ji family's largest batch of grain is still in Daqin. If they react quickly enough, they should be able to intercept that batch of grain.
"You...have become more and more incompetent recently." Qin Jiyan became more and more dissatisfied with the secret guards. Although Gu Qiancheng didn't say anything, he knew very well that the secret guards were so efficient this time, thanks to the Wu family
people.
Speaking of this matter, we have to say how far-sighted the head of the Wu family is. When the Emperor of Qin was unable to place anyone in the Ji family, the Wu family found a nail within the Ji family, and this time it was thanks to that nail that otherwise Ji would have
Family affairs are really not that easy to investigate.
"Please punish me, Your Majesty." An Yi lowered his head and did not dare to look at Qin Jiyan.
However, An Yi didn't worry too much. They had followed the emperor for more than ten years, and they knew the emperor's temperament very well. Although the emperor was strict, he was protective of his shortcomings. They were all people who were truly loyal to the emperor, even if they occasionally made small mistakes.
If they appear to be incompetent, the emperor will not punish them too severely.
However, An Yi thought wrong this time!
Qin Jiyan was very happy that Zi Che had concealed the secrets of An Feng Tower. Seeing that Zi Che had single-handedly trained the secret guards to be so incompetent only added fuel to the fire.
No longer as gentle as before, Qin Jiyan said sternly: "I am too kind to you. Every time I make a mistake, I only give you a small punishment, so that all of you relax. This time, I will not
I will punish you severely, and you will still not do your best next time."
"Your Majesty, your Majesty..." An Yi was covered in cold sweat and his face was as white as paper. But as soon as he said two words, he was interrupted by Qin Jiyan, "Leave all the matters in your hands to Wu Yi and go yourself.
Receive the punishment." He should let the secret guards understand that without the secret guards, he still has many people he can use.
An Yi was stunned on the spot, knelt on the ground, and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, please, please give me another chance." After handing over all the errands at hand and being replaced by the Wu family, what else can they do in the future?
"I have given you too many opportunities, go down and receive your punishment!" Qin Jiyan said without any doubt.
An Yi had been following Qin Jiyan for a long time, so he knew Qin Jiyan's temper. Although he was scared, he did not dare to plead for mercy, so he could only retreat like a crawler.
After the secret guard left, Qin Jiyan asked someone to announce to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, intending to give him a good beating to prevent him from becoming the second secret guard. But before he could say anything, the eunuch hurriedly came to report: "Your Majesty,
The Supreme Emperor... summoned Miss Gu for questioning."
If he is summoned, it means that Gu Qiancheng has gone to see the Supreme Emperor!