Chapter 147 Jiang Zhaoke Killed

On the tenth day after the Su family was raided, the three courts thoroughly investigated all the evidence of the Su family's crimes and recorded them in a book.

Selling official positions and titles, and corruption and bribery are the lightest crimes. The rest, such as raising private soldiers, manufacturing military weapons privately, and falsely enlisting troops to embezzle funds, are all serious crimes punishable by the death of nine generations of the family.

The Su family was a founding hero and had the first-class title of Duke of Rong. The tablets of the Su family's ancestors were also enshrined in Xingye Terrace, which was separated from the imperial mausoleum by a wall.

Now that the descendants have broken the legacy of their ancestors, in addition to confiscating their property and killing three clans, and taking back their titles, it is only natural that the ancestral tablets were kicked out of Xingyetai.

Shen Xi, who had just been promoted to the Minister of Revenue, knelt in the Changqing Palace with a sullen face.

The reason is simple. The Su family's assets and the silver confiscated from the three private vaults have been counted and now need to be reported to His Majesty.

However, he didn't know how to start.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Shen Aiqing."

Xiao Chenglan's eyes fell on Shen Xi, and Shen Xi immediately felt an invisible sense of oppression. He immediately turned around and knocked his forehead against the hall. His lips trembled as he said a shocking number.

"Your Majesty, after a coordinated inventory by the six ministries, the total amount of silver confiscated from the Su family was 2,934,000 taels, and gold was 1,000,000 taels."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials in Changqing Palace kowtowed in front of the hall, but no one dared to speak.

During the last years of the previous emperor's reign, there was a severe drought for three years, which was then followed by a major epidemic. The court had no money to provide disaster relief, so it set fire to the epidemic, killing hundreds of thousands of people.

The Su family's ill-gotten silver was placed in a box, and no one paid attention to it for years, and the wood was eaten by insects.

"Everyone, please stand up."

Xiao Chenglan did not get angry about this anymore. He sat on the dragon throne, looking at the snow outside that had been blowing for days, and said calmly:

"Once the New Year is over, I will send my generals west to quell the rebellion in the southwest. All of you, be prepared."

The ministers were all slightly stunned.

The treasury has money, it's time to go to war.

The southwest has been plagued by foreign invasions for three dynasties, and recently the foreign invasions have caused civil unrest in the southwest.

Your Majesty has a grand plan to restore the prestige of Daye, so they are naturally willing to follow him. Some old ministers even began to shed tears.

There was a good opportunity to pacify the southwest during the reign of the previous emperor, but he found an excuse and did not send troops. They all knew the reason - it is better to maintain the status quo than to lose the battle. Losing the battle will bring eternal infamy, so it is better to engage in a tug-of-war.

But precisely because of this, the overall situation in the southwest has become increasingly serious.

Now that their Majesty is still young, there is finally hope of pacifying the southwest.

**

At this moment, in Xue’s house.

The curtains under the wooden corridor were rolled up by the maid, and a green umbrella was opened.

Xue Ning walked lightly from under the eaves to under the green umbrella, surrounded by a group of maids, and headed towards the main courtyard.

The snow was reflected in her eyes, and her gaze was indescribably clear.

Now that the Su family is dead, it’s time for her plan to begin.

"Ning'er is here, please take a seat."

Xue Ning entered the main hall, where Xue Shide, who had just returned home, was sitting in the main seat.

After Xue Ning sat down, she took out the things she had prepared long ago and asked the maid to give them to Xue Shide.

Xue Shide saw that there were two portraits and was very confused: "Isn't this Lu Yuan, the general of the Dingbei Army?"

Xue Ning nodded, "That's right, Father, please take a look at the second one."

Xue Shide looked carefully and saw that the second picture was of a young man who looked very unfamiliar.

"Who is this person?"

"Empress Yu's younger brother, Jiang Zhao."

"Wasn't he exiled to the mines? Why did you take his portrait?" Xue Shide frowned. "The current issue is pacifying the southwest, which has nothing to do with these two people."

"A mine?" Xue Ning smiled. "Father, you can go check where Jiang Zhao is. I can also tell you directly that he's in the southwest camp, undergoing training and preparing to make great achievements."

Xue Shide's eyes revealed a hint of shock.

He looked at Xue Ning, who was smiling in front of him, and for a moment he felt as if he didn't know this daughter.

Why has she been acting so strangely lately?

How could she, a girl living in the boudoir, know so many things in such a tight environment?

Xue Ning played a great role in helping the Xue family crush the Su family in time.

Before he went to court this morning, Xue Ning told him that the emperor would mention the matter of pacifying the southwest today, and this indeed came true.

Everything about it is unusual.

Xue Ning was not afraid that her father would notice her weirdness, because she knew that her father put his own interests first and only cared about the results.

Even if she is a monster, as long as she can help the Xue family, he will not delve into it.

As he expected, Xue Shide didn't ask her too much about how she knew this, but instead asked her, "What's the use of these two people?"

"Father, Your Majesty's ambition should not be underestimated. After the rebellion in the southwest is resolved, where do you think Your Majesty should lead his troops?"

Xue Shide narrowed his eyes slightly.

Of course, march north.

"Father, the war in the southwest will take at least half a year. This gives us another half a year to make plans. Please arrange for someone to infiltrate these two people."

"Jiang Zhao can be killed, but killing Lu Yuan is not the best option. He is, after all, a general guarding the northern border. If he dies, who will fight the war?"

Xue Ning shook his head, "No, on the contrary, Jiang Zhao cannot be killed, but Lu Yuan can be killed."

Xue Shide's eyes trembled slightly. He seemed to have caught something, but did not grasp the key information. His eyes looked straight at Xue Ning.

"Father sent someone to infiltrate the two. He doesn't need to act immediately, but first gain their trust. Especially Jiang Zhao, he's the most crucial. It would be best if the person lurking around him could become his brother. As for Lu Yuan, we'll make a decision when the time is right."

Xue Shide's thoughts gradually broadened as Xue Ning spoke.

Jiang Zhao is in the southwest camp, which must be the instruction of Your Majesty.

They all underestimated His Majesty's favor for Concubine Yu Jiang. He even sent her younger brother to the military camp for training, determined to pave the way for her.

If this boy really achieves something, there will be endless troubles.

But why not just kill him directly, but gain his trust?

Lu Yuan...what is his connection with Jiang Zhao?

Xue Shide silently repeated the name of Dingbei General Lu Yuan in his mind, and suddenly he had an epiphany.

Your Majesty is going to send troops to the southwest, and Jiang Zhao happens to be in the southwest border camp. It is very likely that he will make a contribution in the southwest battle.

Since Your Majesty intends to promote him, he will definitely be present in the Northern Expedition.

If a general dies near the Northern Expedition, Your Majesty may lead the army in person to stabilize the morale of the troops.

By then, the people around Jiang Zhao will be useful.

What a great game!

Xue Shide's eyes flashed with hidden excitement and brilliance.

He looked at Xue Ning in front of him again. Even though her words and actions were so unfamiliar that they made him feel a little creepy, he still stepped forward and patted Xue Ning on the shoulder.

"Having a daughter like this is a blessing for a father."

Xue Ning lowered his eyes and nodded: "Father, you are too kind."