Chapter 340 What is coming will eventually come
"What's wrong?" Yan Changwen stepped forward and said slowly.
"In the past, if we wanted to exchange for a good horse, we in Daliang had to give 120 kilograms of tea. The King of Zhenbei is capable and can exchange for a horse with only 80 kilograms of tea, which is a great benefit to the court. As the Minister of Revenue, can't Mr. Zhang even figure out this account?"
Zhang Lun bowed to Yan Changwen but remained unyielding.
“Your Highness Prince Qi’s words are reasonable, but when the Prince of Zhenbei asked the court for silver to buy horses, he did not ask for a penny less.
He said that the last time the King of Zhenbei petitioned the court, he said that there were 150 old, weak and disabled horses in the Northern Frontier camp that needed to be replaced, and he requested a grant of 12,000 taels from the court based on the market price.
But when he arrived at the border, he bought tea from the people at a price 30% lower than the market price, and then exchanged the tea with Wuzi for horses at a higher price. In this way, he exchanged 150 old horses for only 8,000 taels.
May I ask Your Highness Prince Qi, where did the other four thousand taels of silver go, and why has the Ministry of Revenue not received the return of the Prince of Zhenbei?"
Without waiting for Yan Changwen to answer, Zhang Lun showed a sneer on his face, "Could it be that the King of Zhenbei secretly bought more war horses but concealed it from the court?"
"Lord Zhang, please be careful with your words." Yan Changwen's voice became colder and contained a warning. Many generals in the court cast unhappy glances at Zhang Lun at the same time.
Saying that the King of Zhenbei is recruiting soldiers in private, isn't that implying that the King of Zhenbei is plotting a rebellion!?
Zhang Lun was not afraid at all, and bowed to Emperor Liang and said, "Your Majesty, the King of Zhenbei is so wantonly regulating the price of tea and horses - internally, it is hurtful to the people. Externally, it is not conducive to the peace of the border.
The way of business is that only fair transactions can last long. The King of Zhenbei has lowered the price of horses so much that it has already exceeded the limit of what Wuzi can bear. Wuzi is not causing trouble on the border now, but it is nothing more than being afraid of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Northern Frontier Camp and the Ningyue Princess who is feared by the Northern Frontier.
But such a business cannot last long, and tea is an indispensable commodity for the people of Uzbekistan. If they are pushed to the limit, they may resort to plunder. If that happens, the people on the border of the two countries will suffer from war again."
Zhang Lun's words were so righteous and powerful that even Zhu Lan couldn't help but nod slightly, with a hint of admiration rising in his heart.
Previously in the Northern Frontier, she had seen that the King of Zhenbei had a large army and was very powerful. Now the King of Zhenbei was openly intervening in the price of tea and horses to make huge profits from it.
It can be said that Sima Zhao's intention is known to everyone.
Zhu Lan raised his eyes to see the expression of Emperor Liang, only to find that he looked calm. However, Zhu Lan could never see through the things beneath that calmness.
Before Emperor Liang expressed his opinion, he suddenly heard a voice coming from outside the palace -
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
Crown Prince Yan Xiuyun, wearing the crown prince's dragon robe, hurried into the court, with an apologetic look on his face but unable to hide his joy, he kowtowed to Emperor Liang and said:
"Your Majesty, there was a new baby born into the Eastern Palace this morning. Crown Princess Dong successfully gave birth to the Emperor's eldest grandson. I was so excited that I was unable to arrive in time. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Yan Xiuyun looked up, a gleam in his eyes that was hard to conceal.
Zhu Lan knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was not as deep-minded as Prince Qi. The fact that he was so cheerful at this moment, with no worry at all on his face, must be that Xu Shiming had encountered an accident and did not have time to tell Yan Xiuyun about it.
Zhu Lan's heart sank slightly, and he had to think of a countermeasure urgently.
Emperor Liang waved his hand, signaling Yan Changwen and Zhang Lun to step aside, saying that the matter of tea and horses could be discussed later.
The good news from the Eastern Palace had already reached Emperor Liang's ears. The elderly emperor rarely showed a pleased and kind smile on his face. He looked at Yan Xiuyun and said:
"This is a great joy, what crime has been committed? When I heard the news, I was also overjoyed. You two have added this bloodline to the Daliang royal family, and have made great contributions to the country. I am very pleased!"
Emperor Liang said with a smile, and motioned Yan Xiuyun to stand up and stand beside him.
Then he faced the ministers and said loudly:
"My dear ministers, my royal family has a new member today. This is a sign that God will bless our Daliang and that our country will prosper. I have decided that starting from today, within one year, the tax burden of all counties in Daliang will be reduced by half to celebrate."
Upon hearing this, all the ministers knelt down and shouted that the emperor was wise.
Emperor Liang said, "Pass on my decree, grant the Eastern Palace a thousand pieces of brocade and a hundred boxes of jewels for the Crown Princess and the eldest grandson. Also grant two imperial doctors to take care of the Crown Princess and ensure her recovery."
Yan Xiuyun said happily: "Thank you, father!"
"Wait a minute—"
A cold and hard voice sounded, seeming particularly abrupt in the atmosphere of joy and happiness in the court.
Wu Chengqi walked out slowly from the queue, his voice loud but his expression solemn.
"Your Majesty, I, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, Wu Chengqi, dare to risk my life to make a suggestion. I ask Your Majesty to postpone the matter of conferring titles on the Crown Prince!"
The smile on Emperor Liang's face faded a little, and the hall suddenly became quiet.
"Lord Wu, why is this?"
Wu Chengqi paused and replied, "Your Majesty, do you know that a big fire broke out in the capital last night? The fire started at a very famous restaurant in the capital, called Yuxiang Pavilion."
Emperor Liang hummed softly without expressing his opinion, but frowned slightly.
All the officials looked at Wu Chengqi with puzzlement, wondering why he, who was dissuading the Crown Prince from rewarding the Eastern Palace, suddenly brought up the restaurant fire case.
They are totally unrelated.
Everyone was looking at Wu Chengqi, except Zhu Lan, whose gaze passed over the ministers and fell on Prince Qi Yan Changwen who was standing in front of the imperial steps.
Yan Changwen stood still with the tablet in his hand, not even turning his head, as if everything was under control.
"Your Majesty, the fire last night alarmed Jingzhao Prefecture. I personally led people there and arrested a mother and daughter who were suspected of arson.
I brought the two back to the government office for questioning. I wanted to find out whether it was an accident or a conspiracy. Unexpectedly, after a careful investigation, I discovered a shocking secret.
Wu Chengqi stopped, looking terrified, and said that the matter was too important and he dared not say anything.
A trace of annoyance flashed across Emperor Liang's face. "My dear, if you have anything to say, just say it. I will forgive you."
Wu Chengqi suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to Emperor Liang several times as if to apologize. Then he said loudly in a voice that everyone could hear:
"Wu Chengqi risked his life to ask Your Majesty to investigate the bloodline of the Crown Prince and never let Daliang fall into the hands of ordinary children!"
The huge golden palace fell into deathly silence in an instant.
"Wu Chengqi, are you crazy? How can you randomly question the bloodline of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!?"
I don't know who started the curse, but the court was immediately like a flood that had broken through the dam. Angry accusations came one after another, pouring towards Wu Chengqi like a tide.
"You have no evidence, how dare you speak nonsense in the Golden Palace? Where do you put the laws of Daliang? "
An old official was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at Wu Chengqi's nose and cursed: "You villain, for your own selfish desires, you don't hesitate to slander the prince and shake the country. What is your intention?"
Zhu Lan watched coldly, knowing that what was coming would eventually come.
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