Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai hoped that Wei Jiansu would give them support and allow them to go to Hexi as soon as possible to completely reveal the true face of the Western Region Chamber of Commerce. However, they waited for several days at the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple, but no one came to notify them.
They don't have any news at all.
The two finally couldn't bear it anymore and decided to go back to Xianggong Wei's house to ask when they would be sent to Hexi to investigate the case. Why did it take several days to think about it?
They came to the door of Wei Jiansu's residence and knocked lightly on the side door. A doorman in white clothes opened the door and asked politely: "What are you doing for these distinguished guests to come to my house?"
"I am Xiao Hua, a doctor in the Ministry of Punishments, and I am Si Zhi of Dali Temple. I am here to see Prime Minister Wei."
"My Alang is ill and cannot see guests. Please come back, sirs."
He was fine when I saw him the day before yesterday, so why did he fall ill today? The two of them were quite surprised and couldn't help but ask: "What disease does your family have, Alang?"
"I contracted a cold the night before and my fever won't go away. If you two have anything important to do, please leave a note and I'll pass it on to my family, Alang."
Xiao Hua was a real person and really wanted to leave a note, but Yuan Zai stopped him and pulled him away from the gate of Wei Mansion.
The two of them came to the local wine shop and asked Dr. Jiu for two liters of Shaochun, then they were silent while eating the cooked mutton.
Xiao Langzhong was puzzled. He frowned and said to himself, "Why is he sick? We saw him the day before yesterday and he didn't have any symptoms."
Yuan Zai snorted mockingly in his stomach, how could he become a doctor of the Ministry of Justice with such a brain and level?
He picked up the wine cup, took a slow sip, and said in a pretentious manner: "I think Wei Xiang's illness is related to the report we came to report the day before yesterday."
Xiao Hua asked in surprise: "How can you say this?"
"We came to Xiang Wei the day before yesterday and revealed to Wei Xiang the Western Region Chamber of Commerce behind Micha Gan, and asked him to send us to Hexi to investigate. Wei Xiang did not agree on the spot and said he would think about it for a few days. So he has given us the answer today.
"
"What's the answer?" Xiao Hua praised it effortlessly.
"Prime Minister Wei didn't want to be involved in this case, so he would rather get sick than allow us to investigate. This shows that the power behind the Western Region Chamber of Commerce is so powerful that even the prime ministers have to avoid it despite being sick."
Xiao Hua's angry youth temperament was aroused, and he patted the table hatefully and said: "Is this still the prosperous Tang Dynasty when thousands of kingdoms come to me? The dignified prime minister is actually afraid of local forces. If so, I, Xiao Hua, am not afraid.
I am willing to go to Hexi voluntarily and investigate the details of the Western Region Chamber of Commerce!"
"Brother Xiao, please be patient and listen to me slowly." Yuan Zai took a sip of his drink and said, "The Western Region Chamber of Commerce is not just a local force. Which local force has the ability to monopolize the trade route from Tianzhu to Chang'an?
There are others behind Xianggong Wei, otherwise he would not have used illness to avoid presiding over the case. What Yudi is worried about now is, should we avoid this case to avoid disaster? After all, whether it is money or future, everything is
It’s not as important as life.”
Xiao Hua snorted with contempt and said: "If you are afraid, you can leave. Of course, I, Xiao Hua, am not afraid of anything."
"Hey, Brother Xiao, what did you say? You are upright and not afraid of the powerful. I, Yuan Zai, am not like this. It's just that the two of us went to Hexi privately. This is not justified and we don't have any backup. So,
How can we find out who is behind the Western Region Chamber of Commerce?"
Xiao Hua sighed heavily: "You just said that even the left prime minister Wei Jiansu is not willing to offend them, so who is willing to support us behind the scenes?"
"Didn't I tell you just now? There must be someone behind Xiang Wei, and this person must not be willing to cover up the case under the nose of the saint. Now that Xiang Wei is ill, the person behind the scenes will definitely not remain silent. He will definitely
Find someone else to replace Wei Xiang, or appear in front of the stage in person. So we just need to wait at home, and someone will come back to us naturally."
Xiao Hua is convinced of Yuan Zai's conclusion, but Yuan Zai is smooth and transparent, and he is a proper villain. If his character is questionable, no matter how talented he is, he is only planning and running for himself, so what is the benefit to the people?
The two chatted insincerely for a while, drank all the wine in the cup, and then parted ways. Because they were not the same kind of people, and their life ambitions had always been different. If it weren't for the case that Wei Jiansu confessed that brought them together, even as a
Colleagues are also destined to meet by chance.
…
Yang Guozhong originally wanted to find someone to replace Wei Jiansu to preside over the investigation of the pepper trade, but he really underestimated the brains and courage of the people in the court, and no one was willing to take the initiative to accept the case that Yang Guozhong wanted to handle.
People such as Xianyu Zhongtong, Dou Hua, Zheng Ang and others who were attached to him could only talk and promote his prestige. They did not have much real ability. If they were allowed to face Li Siye, they would probably be taken advantage of by the other party.
His wish to hide behind his back and become a hands-off shopkeeper came to nothing. It was not easy to find someone who was in a high position, capable and courageous. Even he himself was discouraged for a time. Li Siye sent people to bribe him several times and then checked him again.
It was really not a human act, but he could vaguely foresee that Li Siye held the pepper trade route as a money-making tool, and combined with his current status as the Jiedushi of the three towns, it would definitely be a big trouble for him in the future, and even more so for the imperial court.
Serious trouble.
He sat under the verandah of the small building and complained for a while to Dou Hua who was standing next to him.
Dou Hua took the initiative to offer him advice: "Since the Right Prime Minister already knows that Li Siye monopolizes the pepper trade route, why go to such trouble to impeach him in front of the saint after hearing about it directly? Wouldn't it be more concise and direct?"
"What do you know! Li Siye's outstanding achievements are extraordinary, and the saint's trust in him is increasing day by day. Even the imperial concubine also attaches great importance to him. If there is no conclusive evidence, how could your majesty and the empress be willing to believe it, which made Li Siye bite back.
"
Yang Guozhong raised his head and glanced at this confidant. Suddenly his eyes lit up. He spread his hands and said, "Why don't I leave this case to you? You are the one who hired the two people to handle the case anyway."
A look of embarrassment appeared on Dou Hua's face, and Yang Guozhong immediately snorted: "What? You don't have the guts to offend Li Siye?"
Dou Hua hurriedly bowed and crossed his hands: "That's not what I mean. I am just a low-key official. How can I preside over such a big case? How can I command the officials of the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple?"
"What's so difficult about this? I immediately report to the sage that you are the Minister of Zhongshu. What do you call the two investigators? Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai arrange to go to Hexi to investigate, and assign two right officers to them.
The lieutenant of Xiaowei told them that as long as they find evidence and bring it back to Chang'an, I can guarantee their promotion to the rank of minister and temple chief."
"Here," Dou Hua bowed and crossed his hands.
After Dou Hua retreated, he immediately sent someone to deliver a message to Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai, asking them to meet at Hu Ji's Restaurant in the West City.
This person from Zhongshu She was wearing a crimson robe, a nine-piece silver ornament on his belt, and a tassel sachet hanging from his waist. He stood in front of the window of the wine shop with his hands behind his back. He had a romantic and suave air.
Xiao Hua and Yuan Zai climbed up from the stairs and saw Dou Hua standing in front of the window. They looked at each other and were stunned. They didn't expect that it was him. Although this person had a higher official position than them, he presided over such a big review.
The case is still not qualified enough.
"Please sit down, both of you." Dou Hua turned around and extended his hand to invite them.
Xiao Hua's face was stiff and his body did not move. Yuan Zai smiled and crossed his hands towards Dou Hua, whispering in his ear: "This is Mr. Yang's confidant."
The two of them sat in front of the table. Yuan Zai crossed his hands and asked, "Ren Dou She, you invited us to this wine shop, but what are your orders?"
Dou Hua also sat cross-legged in front of them, pressing the case with both hands, with a bit of arrogant pride in his expression, and said with a smile: "I am here on behalf of Mr. Yang, you two can go to the four counties of Hexi to thoroughly investigate the control of the Western Region Chamber of Commerce
In the case of monopolizing the pepper trade route, if we can bring back solid evidence or witnesses and make Mr. Yang happy, why worry about not showing his official position?"