Chapter 3437 Li Wuyu
Zhu Feng slowly walked up to Cui Yuanmei and looked down at him.
This person was the chief secretary of the Prince of Yan's Palace when he was still the Prince of Yan. After he ascended the throne, he followed him to inspect Yongzhou. After dealing with Prince Jing, he kept him in Yongzhou to work. A few years later, he was promoted to the prefect and has been in this position for more than ten years.
Now, Cui Yuanmei's hair has turned gray, and when he kneels on the ground, his thin shoulder blades are raised high.
He looked very old.
As soon as he saw him, Zhu Feng's expression suddenly became solemn.
By now, most of the people who had followed him from Prince Yan's Mansion had died. Even of those who had accompanied him on his tour of Yongzhou, only Nan Yan remained. Suddenly seeing this person made him feel a little emotional. Zhu Feng sighed softly, leaned over, and personally helped Cui Yuanmei up, saying, "Why have you aged so much?"
The officials around were stunned.
No one expected that His Majesty would be so condescending, and Cui Yuanmei obviously did not expect that he would receive such courtesy from the emperor. His eyes immediately turned red, his gray beard trembled constantly, and he whispered softly: "Your Majesty, your humble servant, your humble servant——"
Seeing him trembling, Zhu Feng sighed softly.
Said: "Let's go."
So he took Cui Yuanmei's hand and walked into the provincial capital together.
The officials around were all very surprised, but Nan Yan could more or less understand Zhu Feng's feelings for the people who had followed him when he was still in the Qiandi Palace. Especially after Ye Zheng and Ran Xiaoyu left the Central Plains, he showed an almost attachment to some of the elderly people around him.
No one dared to speak and just followed him inside.
Tables and chairs had already been set up in the lobby. After Zhu Feng walked over and sat down, Cui Yuanmei led officials at all levels to kowtow to the emperor again. Zhu Feng just waved his hand lightly, and everyone stood up and left.
After everyone left, Zhu Feng turned to Cui Yuanmei and said, "I've said before, don't engage in these empty formalities."
Cui Yuanmei said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty is naturally considerate of us. However, this is your first time to visit Yongzhou in over a decade, and officials at all levels want to see your face. So I dared to ask them all to come and kowtow to your Majesty. If I have disturbed your peace, I will take the blame."
Zhu Feng shook his head and didn't blame him.
Since he ascended the throne, except for the time when he visited Yongzhou to clean up Prince Jing, he traveled all over the country for more than ten years but never came to Yongzhou again. He handed over all the affairs here to Cui Yuanmei. It seemed a bit unreasonable if he did not meet with officials at all levels after finally coming here this time.
Cui Yuanmei then turned around and said to Nan Yan, "Your humble servant greets the Imperial Concubine."
Nan Yan hurriedly asked someone to support him, then said with a smile: "This time, I have come to trouble Master Cui."
Cui Yuanmei immediately laughed and said, "How can I bear the responsibility of your Majesty's words? I am afraid that your Majesty will not be spoiled by some things when you return to your hometown this time."
When this was mentioned, the atmosphere suddenly became a little heavy.
Zhu Feng said, "I've heard about this from Li Bushang before, but you need to tell me the details."
Cui Yuanmei immediately said, "It happened at the beginning of last month, right on the border, very close to our camp. Chen Bi Ri was shot through the chest by an arrow, and has been staying in Doubei Town over there to recuperate since then."
Zhu Feng asked, "Chen Biri is the Prime Minister of Yue State. Why would he come to the border?"
Cui Yuanmei said: "He comes here every year."
"each year?"
"Yes, it's been over ten years since Yan and Yue agreed to a trade agreement, exchanging raw silk for grain. However, Chen Bi Ri has been writing letters to the King of Yue every once in a while, requesting the cancellation of the trade agreement."
Zhu Feng said: "I know about this matter."
Cui Yuanmei said, "However, the King of Yue listened more to General Xiahou Jiu on this matter, so the two sides continued to argue. Furthermore, due to the benefits of mutual trade, over 80% of the people of Yue have become mulberry farmers. Finally, the King of Yue agreed to allocate a thousand acres of land on the border to Chen Biri, allowing him and some of his people to continue growing crops on this land."
Zhu Feng raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "How much of Yue's grain does the grain produced by these fields account for?"
Cui Yuanmei said: "In the past few years, it accounted for more than 20%."
"And now?"
"Now—we're shipping more and more grain, and the price over there is getting lower and lower. Even the farmers Chen Biri recruited have all run away and dispersed, leaving less than 10% of them. This year is also strange. It snowed in spring, freezing countless rice seedlings to death. Plus—"
Having said that, he paused.
Nan Yan glanced at him subconsciously, but saw that Cui Yuanmei's eyes flickered. He did not say the half sentence, but seemed to swallow it.
And Zhu Feng didn't blame him for being hesitant.
However, Princess Xinping, who was standing next to Nan Yan, looked increasingly unhappy.
Cui Yuanmei continued, "So, those farmers are making a big fuss, and this time Chen Bi Ri came here specifically to inspect the matter."
Zhu Feng listened, was silent for a while, and then asked, "No news about the murderer yet?"
Cui Yuanmei said: "There is no news."
Zhu Feng asked, "No news at all?"
Cui Yuanmei thought for a moment before speaking softly, "Chen Biri has controlled the government over the years and has made many enemies. But the one with whom he disagreed most politically was General Xiahou Jiu. The two had a falling out two years ago, and Chen Biri, harboring resentment, has wanted to sever trade with Yan State. This would weaken Xiahou Jiu's authority within the court and free the King of Yue from his dependence on him. It's said that before leaving Daluo City this time, Chen Biri again gathered several ministers and submitted a petition to the King of Yue requesting that Xiahou Jiu be deposed as General."
Zhu Feng said, "If that's the case, then the one who attacked him must be Xiahou Jiu."
Cui Yuanmei was silent for a moment, then said, "It looks like this."
Zhu Feng raised his eyelids and glanced at him.
There was no expression on Cui Yuanmei's wrinkled face. His heavy eyelids covered his cloudy eyes, and for a moment it was impossible to tell what emotion was in his eyes.
Zhu Feng was silent for a moment, then asked, "So, after Chen Biri was assassinated, what developments took place in Yue?"
Cui Yuanmei said, "The day before yesterday, I just received news that the King of Yue has set out on a border tour. It looks like he's heading to Doubei Town."
"The King of Yue..."
Zhu Feng narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this: "He wants to come to the border in person?"
Cui Yuanmei said: "Yes."
A cold light flashed in Zhu Feng's eyes, and he said slowly: "Li Wu Yu."
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