Gao Shengliang was speechless for a long time, cold sweat pouring down onto the floor tiles, quickly forming a small water stain.

Gu Yuchen looked at him silently without saying a word. The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was extremely oppressive. Even Zhao Xi was sucking in his stomach tightly, his eyes fixed on the tips of his shoes.

It felt like an eternity had passed, yet also like only a moment. Gao Shengliang was drenched in cold sweat. Struggling to regain his composure, he said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, Your Majesty..."

Gu Yuchen said slowly, "Think it through before you speak."

Gao Shengliang kept his mouth shut again.

Gu Yuchen knew from his appearance that he was no good either, but what could he do? He only had so many people to begin with, and now Chief Secretary Xie was still asking him for more. The Governor of Mobei and the Prefect of Qingzhou were both very important positions, so he couldn't just send them out casually.

In his letter, Xiao Liu said that the matter of the prefect of Qingzhou being injured was being kept secret for the time being, but he was afraid that once the salt release period was over, it would be impossible to keep it a secret any longer...

Gu Yuchen tapped his fingers absently on the table, then suddenly changed the subject, looking at Zhao Xi, whose face was turning slightly pale: "Zhao Xi, did the Ministry of Justice's investigation into the former Minister of Revenue mention anything about the irregularities in the salt permits?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi deflated, his stomach instantly returning to normal, and his face gradually changed from pale to red: "Your Majesty, no."

No?

When he was the Crown Prince, everyone in the Ministry of Justice was his man. In particular, when the former Minister of Revenue was interrogated, Zhang Yuankai was involved. The Ministry of Justice's interrogation results were not problematic. Could it be that the former Minister of Revenue had done all sorts of bad things, but didn't tamper with the salt permits?

"Bring in the Minister of Justice."

Zhao Xi scurried out to deliver the order, and only after the order was relayed did he take a few deep breaths.

The emperor is terrifying when he's angry...

But as the chief steward, he had to rise to the challenge in the face of such a terrifying situation.

Zhao Xi stood outside the door with his head down, deciding to wait for the Minister of Justice to arrive before going in together.

Without Zhao Xi around, Gao Shengliang felt even more depressed. He kept licking his lips and after a while said, "Your Majesty, I vaguely heard the former Minister of Revenue mention that Zhang Langzhong was in charge of the salt permit matter before."

Zhang Langzhong, whose real name was Zhang Si, was a veteran of the Ministry of Revenue. However, his abilities were rather mediocre. He had worked in the Ministry of Revenue for decades, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Langzhong would be the highest position he held before retiring.

But now it seems that perhaps this person's mediocrity was deliberately displayed for the sake of the public.

Being in such an inconspicuous position, even if something happened to the Ministry of Revenue, no one would suspect him immediately.

However, it is impossible to say that the former Minister of Revenue was completely unaware of this matter.

Gu Yuchen quickly made up his mind. He feared that the former Minister of Revenue had already made arrangements for his family's future after he ascended the throne, sacrificing his own life for the safety of his family and the care of the Prince of Chu.

As soon as the Minister of Justice entered, Gu Yuchen quickly made the arrangements. Before long, the Minister of Justice left and, taking advantage of the darkness, arrested Zhang Si. He also reviewed the files of the former Minister of Revenue, determined to uncover anything they had overlooked.

Gao Shengliang knelt on the ground the whole time. At this moment, it felt as if thousands of ants were crawling on his knees. It was both painful and itchy, and he was extremely uncomfortable.

About half an hour later, Gu Yuchen's gaze returned to him: "The salt permits will be issued soon. Which merchant houses in the Northern Desert are qualified to purchase salt permits?"

Gao Shengliang's thoughts raced, and suddenly he understood why the Emperor would ask about the salt permit at this juncture—it must be related to Prince Wen.

However, Gao Shengliang was unaware that Prince Wen was also doing business in the northern desert. He thought that Prince Wen had discovered some clues that were detrimental to the Ministry of Revenue, and immediately a vein throbbed on his forehead.

He has been the Minister of Revenue for a year now. If anything happens that is detrimental to the Ministry of Revenue, he will certainly be held accountable for negligence.

Gao Shengliang said in a low voice, "Li Ji Trading Company. Li Ji Trading Company has been buying salt permits for five or six years, and there are no problems with the account books."

Gu Yuzhi lowered his eyes and curled the corners of his lips: "No problem is the biggest problem. Thoroughly investigate what procedures Li Ji Trading Company has followed in purchasing salt permits over the past few years, how many salt permits they have purchased, and which salt field they exchanged them at."

Gao Shengliang responded in a low voice and slowly withdrew from the Imperial Study.

After the door to the Imperial Study was closed, he couldn't help but look up at the starry sky. His wildly beating heart finally calmed down, and he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air under Eunuch Ran's surprised gaze.

When the Emperor decided to thoroughly investigate a merchant firm in the northern desert, Gao Shengliang knew that the purge in the northern desert had begun.

Huo Qiyuan's Northern Army and the Huo Family Army were almost a taboo subject in the Sang Dynasty court; no one dared to mention them, not even when the new emperor ascended the throne.

Was the downfall of the Huo family army really just caused by the struggle for succession, as they appeared on the surface?

No, it's because his achievements overshadowed his master!

This was because the late emperor believed that the northern barbarians only knew about the Huo family army and not the Sang dynasty emperor, and also because he believed that the northern barbarians would not dare to invade for at least ten years, giving him ten years to rebuild a "Huo family army".

But clearly the late emperor didn't expect that he would suddenly pass away, and the new emperor obviously had a favorable impression of the Huo family army...

Just as Gao Shengliang was about to leave, the door to the Imperial Study suddenly opened, and Zhao Xi stepped out. Seeing him, she was pleasantly surprised: "Minister Gao, it's good that you haven't left. This servant has something I'd like to ask you."

Gao Shengliang's face immediately lit up with a smile: "It is my honor to be able to help Manager Zhao. Please speak, Manager Zhao."

Chief Steward Zhao hurriedly said politely, leading Gao Shengliang to a secluded place: "Minister Gao, since the Emperor has ordered you to investigate Li Ji Trading Company, it means that Li Ji Trading Company has problems. Don't give them the salt permits."

Gao Shengliang understood after a moment's thought: regardless of whether the Li Ji Trading Company he was investigating had any problems, it was no longer qualified to purchase salt permits.

But he believed that it couldn't have been just a simple sentence from Steward Zhao who had come all the way to find him.

As expected, after Gao Shengliang nodded, Zhao Xicai continued, "The people of the northern desert suffer greatly. In previous years, no merchant was qualified to purchase salt permits, so they have been eating expensive salt. His Majesty's intention is that even if Li Ji Merchant Guild loses its qualification, the people of the northern desert should not be allowed to suffer any longer."

Gao Shengliang's brow twitched slightly, and he bowed slightly, his attitude becoming even more humble: "I am somewhat dull-witted, please give me your guidance, Steward Zhao."

Zhao Xi quickly helped Gao Shengliang up and chuckled, "I just heard about it. I heard that a merchant guild has been established in the Northern Desert..."

Zhao Xi didn't say the rest, but Gao Shengliang already understood that the Emperor wanted to grant the qualification to purchase salt permits to the Mobei merchants.

As for how they would distribute the salt permits they purchased, that was a matter for their merchant guild to handle.