Chapter 354: Choice (Part 2)

Things were getting complicated. Even without considering the possibility of indirect criticism, Zhao Jiu knew from the beginning that things were getting complicated.

The reason is simple.

First of all, based on the fact that Hu Yin was almost drowned by his parents when he was born and then adopted by his uncle Hu Anguo, as well as his bad temper, the impeachment content in this memorial is 99% true... It is impossible for Hu Mingzhong to treat his biological parents as his own parents and take good care of them.

Considering that this guy is already thirty-five or thirty-six years old, there must be countless experiences and excuses between him and his parents that cannot be concealed at all, and these excuses have long been widely known in the countryside of Fujian.

Secondly, filial piety these days is very strict, especially for officials. Hu Yin's case will certainly be tolerated by public opinion in the future because of his experience, but at the moment, it is impossible for it to be recognized by public opinion... or to go further, it can be said that it is directly illegal.

You must know that even Emperor Zhao had to support three empresses dowagers at once.

Find someone to go to Shaolin Temple to interview Emperor Taishang Daojun, and Emperor Taishang Daojun will certainly say that he is only grateful to the government.

He had to ask a few more questions and, with tears in his eyes, tell about the tragedy in Wuguo City which he was embarrassed to mention in his memoirs, and then point out how filial and touching it was that Emperor Zhao brought him back to be influenced by Buddhism.

To be fair, thinking of this, Zhao Jiu roughly felt that this matter was probably not just a veiled criticism, but was probably an impeachment against Hu Yin.

After all, to put it bluntly, who on earth was he afraid of now? Who among the domestic opposition forces could still speak up in front of him?

Although Zhao Jiu knew that due to his experience as an official in the court and the organizational form of private schools, as well as the fact that the local people in Jiangnan, as a major tax-collecting area, naturally disliked and opposed the Northern Expedition, an opposition faction did exist in the southeastern region of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, he could not throw all the dirty water on them.

That group of people had not yet evolved to the level of the opposition parties of later generations.

What else?

Who is the leader of this Taoist-Jiangnan-retired officials faction?

Li Gang, or Liu Dazhong? It can't be Xu Jingheng, right? In fact, Xu Jingheng, Lu Haowen's old partner and a great contributor in the early Jianyan period, had a much stronger influence in the southeast than Liu Dazhong.

Xu Jingheng is doing this to himself at this time?

Moreover, who will provide stable funding for this opposition faction?

How to maintain transportation networks?

Has the Southern Daily News, which has been making a lot of noise for so long, finally come out?

What do these people want to achieve by provoking me at this time?

What’s more, there is Lu Yihao!

Even if there was such a person who secretly invested and instigated this incident, and was really making indirect accusations, it was very likely that he did it alone...similar to the case with Wang Ciweng, a lone wolf.

Therefore, the key to this matter actually lies in how to save Hu Yin.

It should be known that Hu Yin, as the Minister of Works, had long been regarded by Zhao Jiu as a minister without any regard for him due to the lack of financial resources for large-scale construction projects in the court. Then he actually became the general person in charge and contact person for the preparations for the Northern Expedition.

All surplus money and grain were given directly to the Ministry of Industry. He was responsible for the expansion and distribution of military equipment production capacity, the construction and investment of warehouses, the repair and connection of roads, and the arrangement and adjustment of mobilization plans for troops and civilians.

If it was still okay at this time last year, when there was no money at all and Hu Yin had no job at all, if something like this really happened, it wouldn't hurt to replace someone... Chen Gui, Liu Ji, Lin Jingmo, they could all do it.

But now, with the court's financial prosperity after almost exhausting all resources, a lot of work has already been done. Is it just a problem for Hu Yin to leave at this time?

In early summer, the weather was not too hot. Zhao Jiu sat in the stone pavilion until dusk fell before he got up... In fact, he had made up his mind from the beginning. It didn't matter if Hu Mingzhong advanced or retreated for a while. It didn't matter if he was criticized. He had endured it for so many years. But the problem was that he would never allow this incident to shake or affect the overall situation of the Northern Expedition, whether it was deliberate or accidental.

However, Zhao Jiu also knew that this matter was really difficult to handle, because Hu Yin would face the pressure from the entire society, and even someone as stubborn as him might not be able to withstand such a tough situation.

"Thank you, Zhengfu. Please give this to Hu Mingzhong, and then tell him..."

After Zhao Jiu stood up, he handed the complaint document to Yang Yizhong who had appeared beside him at some point. But halfway through his words, he felt that he had done something unnecessary, so after a while, he could only sneer. "Just give this to Hu Mingzhong, he will understand."

Yang Yizhong bowed slightly, took the document, folded it without even looking at it, then stepped back, turned around and strode out - as the Minister of Works, Hu Yin had long since acquired a house in Jingyuan in the north, where Hu Anguo and his son, as well as Hu Anguo's wives and concubines who came later, all lived together.

It would be convenient to leave the palace and go home at this time.

Just like that, without mentioning Zhao Jiu's thoughts, Yang Yizhong arrived at the Hu Mansion. As expected, Hu Yin had just returned from the public housing in the south. The two of them greeted each other and were allowed to come to the hall. Then, without any extra polite words, Yang Yizhong handed over the document:

"The emperor asked me to pass this item to Minister Hu."

Hu Yin took it under the lamp, opened it in his hand, and with a quick glance, he completely woke up, but his expression did not change at all, he just pondered in silence.

After a while, seeing that the other party had nothing to say, Yang Yizhong also stood up and said, "The emperor's order has been delivered. I will take my leave."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!