Hearing this, Chen Xinjia couldn't help but be stunned.
Because Emperor Chongzhen's tone was extremely unfriendly. In other words, those Shanxi merchants did something that made Emperor Chongzhen very angry.
In response to this, Chen Xinjia quickly defended: "The guilty minister knows that they are trying to please the guilty minister, and they want to get the guilty minister's protection. At most, they just sell some things to the Tatars outside the customs and make some money!"
The matter of smuggling abroad is almost an open secret. Who knows about being an official in Jin Dynasty?
Most people turn a blind eye to this matter.
Otherwise, if these businessmen don't make money, where will the money come from to honor them?
When Emperor Chongzhen heard what he said, he immediately became angry.
How could I trust such a person so much before?
You are really blind!
By the way, this person was recommended by Yang Sichang!
I seem to remember that Yang Sichang also served as the governor of Xuanda, and it was Yang Sichang who recommended Chen Xinjia as the governor of Xuanda.
This Yang Sichang must also be related to Shanxi merchants!
Thinking this way, Emperor Chongzhen regretted his original vision even more.
After coming back to his senses, he stared at Chen Xinjia in front of him, and couldn't help but said in a hateful voice: "You regard the imperial laws as nothing, and you even colluded with the Shanxi merchants to make the Jianlu know the truth inside the pass and break the pass repeatedly. You really deserve to die!"
Chen Xinjia was shocked when he heard this. He quickly raised his head and said: "Even if the guilty minister had great courage, he would never dare to do such a shocking thing. Your Majesty clearly knows that the guilty minister really does not know that Shanxi merchants have done such a thing.
matter!"
He was caught for corruption, so he didn't feel too much pressure. Because corruption is so common. In the government and the public, the eldest brother, not to mention the second brother, everyone is about the same. The only difference is that he is more unlucky.
That’s all!
However, now that Emperor Chongzhen said that he had collaborated with the prisoners, tipped off the Jianlu people, and welcomed the Jianlu people into the customs, the crime was serious. All those who had been tortured by the Jianlu people would want to eat his flesh and drink his blood, just like back then.
Yuan Chonghuan met an ordinary end.
If this crime is proven, he will be infamy in the history books for eternity!
Therefore, he did not dare to admit this matter no matter what.
Emperor Chongzhen was naturally very angry when he saw his denial.
He came here not to interrogate Chen Xinjia and prove his innocence, nor to find evidence that Shanxi merchants were complicit. For him, the fact that Liu Weichao said that later generations of slave chiefs commended the eight profiteers was enough for him to take action against these profiteers.
Already.
What Emperor Chongzhen wanted to find out was how those Shanxi merchants leaked information, and whether they could use this to achieve what Sun Chuanting said, luring Jianlu to enter the pass as planned, and then ambush Jianlu and give Jianlu a heavy blow.
!
At this time, Emperor Chongzhen stared at Chen Xinjia and shouted coldly: "Then tell me exactly what you know about those profiteers, and tell them honestly, especially when they go outside the customs!"
Chen Xinjia broke into a cold sweat and quickly replied: "They... they are mostly over there in Zhangjiakou. After a while, they will sell some goods that are urgently needed on the grassland..."
Listening to him telling the news, Emperor Chongzhen's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Because what Chen Xinjia said was not what he wanted.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen became a little impatient. He interrupted Chen Xinjia and shouted: "When will they have contact with Jianlu? I want to hear this!"
"Your Majesty, the guilty minister really didn't know!" Upon hearing this, Chen Xinjia quickly denied it.
Emperor Chongzhen became angry when he heard this, pointed at Chen Xinjia, and said sternly: "Ask yourself, how do I treat you? But you have used your power to embezzle money, and you continue to protect those profiteers. I am really not afraid that I will punish you.
?”
The emperor was so angry that he bled thousands of miles, which was simply not something Chen Xinjia could bear!
Therefore, when he heard this, his face turned pale with fright, and he kowtowed quickly, not daring to say that he didn't know anymore, and quickly replied: "Your Majesty, those Shanxi merchants... the profiteers are all contacted through the guilty minister's book boy. They have a very good relationship, maybe
What could he know!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was stunned and immediately remembered something.
Among the information Liu Weichao gave him about Chen Xinjia before, there was a record of Chen Xinjia's final fate.
Emperor Chongzhen clearly remembered that it was Chen Xinjia's boy who mistakenly thought that his peace negotiation memorial was the content of the imperial newspaper to be issued and made it public. This caused an uproar and eventually led to Chen Xinjia's death.
He didn't think much about this matter before.
But when he heard Chen Xinjia say that his book boy had the best relationship with those profiteers, he suddenly overthought it.
In fact, Chen Xinjia was already discussing the peace negotiation with him. However, because of Liu Weichao's appearance, the peace negotiation was put on hold. Moreover, because of Chen Xinjia's corruption case, he was eventually imprisoned in prison.
There is no more matter of peace.
And if history does not change, if the peace negotiation succeeds, opening a border city in Liaodong will definitely affect those profiteers in Shanxi.
In other words, the peace negotiation is not something those profiteers want to see. If they learn that Chen Xinjia is presiding over the peace negotiation and is likely to succeed, they may cause trouble!
So, the scholar Chen Xinjia mistakenly sent the peace memorial to the Di newspaper, and then a massive crusade against the peace broke out. Behind these things, were there Shanxi merchants who were adding fuel to the flames?
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen felt that this possibility was very high!
So, he immediately asked Chen Xinjia: "Will your book boy have access to court secrets?"
After hearing this, Chen Xinjia was stunned for a moment. Faced with Emperor Chongzhen's direct gaze, he did not dare to neglect, and quickly replied: "This is the son of the guilty minister. He has been taking care of him. He also organized everything in the study.
You should be able to see some!”
After he finished speaking, he quickly added: "But it's because of his cleverness and quick hands and feet that the guilty minister was kept by his side."
The implication is that this book boy is very smart and knows what to do and what not to do!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was certain that this book boy had definitely been bribed by those profiteers.
Otherwise, how could he send such an important memorial to the peace talks and make it public to the public!
After reaching this conclusion, Emperor Chongzhen immediately ordered Wang Chengen, who was standing by the door, to interrogate Chen Xinjia, the book boy, and to find out everything about his collusion with those Shanxi merchants.
As for Chen Xinjia, Emperor Chongzhen also asked him to think carefully. If he cannot atone for his sins, his three clans will be destroyed!
Then, he threw away his sleeves and walked away, leaving Chen Xinjia, who was dumbfounded and a little desperate, and fell to the ground.