Gu Qilan was silent for a while, and finally asked the Dali Temple to investigate the matter, and privately sent people from the Palace Guards to investigate.
The Suwei Division was of the same nature as the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty. Both of them took orders directly from the emperor and were specifically responsible for investigating secret matters for the emperor.
After the court session, General Liu hurried back to his residence and summoned his confidants to discuss the matter.
In the study, General Liu paced back and forth, a look of worry on his face. "How did that old bastard Bai Weisheng know about this?"
He mined the iron ore privately, so only his trusted subordinates knew about it.
Chang Long said with a worried look on his face, "The Emperor has already ordered the Dali Temple to investigate. They will probably arrive in Shuozhou soon. General, what should we do?"
General Liu pondered for a moment and said, "It will take at least ten days for the Dali Temple to reach Shuozhou. I have already sent a pigeon to Shuozhou, asking them to pack up and leave as soon as possible. However, that old man Bai Weisheng said in the court that he had verified it..."
Chang Long's face was filled with anxiety. "Prime Minister Bai and the general have always been at odds. I'm afraid he won't let go of this matter easily. But he has been staying in the capital. How did he suddenly know about what happened in faraway Shuozhou? Is he deliberately trying to scare us?"
Lin Xian, who had been silent the entire time, said, "Prime Minister Bai has always been cautious and wouldn't speak nonsense. I'm afraid he has indeed found out about the Shuozhou iron mine. General, we should be well prepared for this."
Liu Zhenting's face was gloomy. Why was there always trouble in his Liu family recently? He said angrily, "Bai Weisheng! Just wait for me!"
…
By the end of September, people from the Dali Temple had confirmed that there was indeed an illegally mined iron mine in a remote area of Shuozhou. However, when they went there, there was no one there, and they could not find any clues after searching for a long time.
Just when the matter was at a stalemate, Ning Yi's sudden request for a meeting broke the deadlock.
In the court, a eunuch came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the deputy captain of the Tianqi Army, Ning Yi, wants to see you."
Ning Yi was not qualified to attend court due to his official position, and he was seriously injured and lame since he returned from his disappearance. Although he was reinstated, he had been recuperating in the mansion these days.
Gu Qilan asked in a deep voice: "Did you tell me why you came?"
"Your Majesty, Deputy Captain Ning said it was because of General Liu's illegal mining of iron ore."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qilan asked the eunuch to call someone in.
Not long after, Ning Yi limped in and knelt down to pay his respects. "Your humble servant, Ning Yi, greets His Majesty."
"Stand up, Lieutenant Ning. You said you're here about the iron mine?"
Ning Yi said, "That's right. I have witnesses who can prove that the person who illegally mined the iron ore was General Liu."
As soon as these words were spoken, the court began to boil.
General Liu angrily pointed at Ning Yi and shouted, "Ning Yi, stop slandering me! Slandering your superiors is a serious crime!"
General Liu is the commander of the 100,000-strong Apocalypse Army and Ning Yi's superior.
He turned and knelt in the middle of the hall, his body straight. "Your Majesty, I am devoted to the Great Jin and dare not have the slightest selfish motive. I would never have been the one to illegally mine the vein. Please, Your Majesty, severely punish Ning Yi, who slandered me!"
Gu Qilan didn't say anything, so Ning Yi continued, "Whether this humble official is slandering me or not, the Emperor will know once he summons the witness."
Prime Minister Bai said slowly, "Yes, if General Liu isn't the one who illegally mined the vein, then why not ask the witness to come forward for questioning? Why are you so anxious to punish Deputy Captain Ning?"
General Liu was angry: This old bastard!
Gu Qilan opened his mouth and called the man into the hall.
Not long after, a ragged middle-aged man limped in. He was covered in wounds, and his arms were bent unnaturally, obviously broken.
General Liu couldn't help but gasp when he saw the person coming. Why was it him? Didn't he send a message to have someone move him away long ago? How could he fall into Ning Yi's hands!
Ning Yi replied, "Your Majesty, this man's name is Song Yuan. He is one of the people responsible for mining the iron mine in Shuozhou."
As he spoke, Ning Yi's eyes fell on General Liu, who was fidgeting a little: "He is also General Liu's subordinate!"
As soon as he finished speaking, discussions arose all around.
"General, do you know this person?" Gu Qilan's expression couldn't tell whether he was happy or angry.
General Liu's heart skipped a beat, and he said calmly: "Your Majesty, I have never seen this person before!" His face was calm, as if he had really never seen him before.
Gu Qilan stared at him for a moment. He still stood straight, his face expressionless.
Song Yuanjian seemed to not know his general at all, and his heart sank to the bottom. Yes, this was a capital crime, and he could understand why the general chose to protect himself.
Gu Qilan asked Song Yuan, "Song Yuan, is what Deputy Captain Ning said true?"
Song Yuan was trembling all over, but he gritted his teeth and refused to speak.
Gu Qilan's face flashed with impatience, and he ordered in a deep voice: "Song Qu, take the man away for a thorough interrogation. I want the answer within one stick of incense!
"yes."
Song Qu took the man away. Although Song Yuan knew that there was little hope, he still looked at General Liu standing beside him with pleading eyes, hoping that he could save him.
But he was disappointed in the end, as General Liu was not moved at all.
An incense stick of time passed quickly, but it was torture for General Liu. He tried his best to calm himself down. Song Yuan's family was in his hands, and he would definitely not betray him.
After a while, Song Qu returned and bowed to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the interrogation has concluded."
For a moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Song Qu.
General Liu swallowed unconsciously and clenched his fists hidden in his sleeves.
"Song Yuan has confessed. He is indeed in charge of mining the Shuozhou Iron Mine, and he is indeed General Liu's subordinate."
As soon as the words fell, the hall fell silent. The next second, General Liu knelt hurriedly: "Your Majesty, Song Yuan must be slandering me. I have never seen him."
He turned to look at Ning Yi, his eyes as sharp as a sword: "Ning Yi, you just picked someone to frame this general, what do you want to do!"
"Your Majesty, you must not listen to the slander of this villain. I am loyal to you and would never do such a thing as killing me. It must be Ning Yi who has found someone to slander me. Your Majesty, please understand."
Gu Qilan stared at him sharply. After a while, he said, "Take General Liu to the prison and interrogate him thoroughly!"
General Liu was stunned. Did the Emperor really want to punish him? He had made great contributions to the Emperor! Without his support, how could the Emperor ascend to the throne?
He struggled violently, "Your Majesty, it was a villain who framed me. You cannot listen to their slander, Your Majesty. I am loyal to you and have made great contributions to you. How can you be so ruthless as to destroy your own interests?"
He was so frightened that he uttered such disrespectful words for a moment.
Gu Qilan frowned, his tone cold: "Take the person away!"
For a moment, everyone in the court was frightened into silence.
…
In Changle Palace, Yu Cong looked panicked and hurried to Concubine Liu's bedroom: "Your Majesty, this is not good, this is not good, Your Majesty."
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