Emperor Chengping immediately stared at Xiong Guangli: "Is what Zhao Lin said true?"
Xiong Guangli quickly denied it: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This is slander, blatant slander."
Zhao Lin said leisurely, "If that's not the case, why did you insist on taking the Qingzhou Army away when I was about to go and regulate maritime trade taxes? Isn't it just to reduce my manpower?"
Emperor Chengping looked very unhappy.
Zhao Jingzhou said promptly, "Master Zhao, you are wrong. Taking the Qingzhou troops away is not to hinder you, but to enable you to do your job better. If you need manpower, you can directly call on the local troops."
Zhao Lin sneered, "The three coastal provinces' maritime trade reaches millions of taels annually, yet only a little over 300,000 taels is handed over to the court. Where did all that money go? If I had called on local personnel, I'm afraid they would have died without even knowing how. Do you remember Qi Xi?"
Everyone was shocked.
Qi Xi once went to investigate maritime trade, but when he got there he became ill and died due to unfamiliar climate.
Everyone knows the reason, but no one dares to say it.
And now that Zhao Lin has made it clear in public, it is like turning the table over.
If you don't let me live a good life, then no one else can live a good life.
Emperor Chengping's expression grew increasingly ugly.
Zhao Jingzhou said, "Master Zhao, there's no need to exaggerate. Qi Xi's sudden death from illness was confirmed by the imperial physicians; it wasn't an accident."
Zhao Lin said calmly, "I didn't say it was an accident. Why are you so anxious, General Zhao?"
Zhao Jingzhou said calmly, "It's a good thing that Lord Zhao is regulating maritime trade, but some things can't be rushed, and we mustn't cause panic in the local area. If Lord Zhao were to leave with his troops, those uninformed might think it was pirates robbing the land. How would that end?"
Zhao Lin sneered: "My flag is flying high, anyone with eyes can see it. Anyone who dares to say that I am a pirate is a pirate."
Well, the threat has been used.
Many coastal officials looked unhappy.
Disguising themselves as pirates and killing people is their usual method.
First use coercion and inducement, and if that doesn't work, arrange a pirate robbery and murder scene.
Anyway, once you get to their place, they have more than a hundred ways to deal with outsiders.
So Zhao Lin refused to let go of the Qingzhou army.
Even though this Qingzhou Army was not the one he really trained.
Zhao Jingzhou shook his head and said, "Zhao Lin, you are too arrogant. This is not good."
"Humph! General Zhao said Zhao Lin was arrogant, but I think you are the arrogant one!"
Li Xingye couldn't help but shout, "You're trying so hard to take the Qingzhou Army away from Zhao Lin. Aren't you just afraid he'll go to the three coastal provinces to regulate maritime trade? Without the Qingzhou Army and no one to protect him, he won't dare go. Do you really think everyone else is a fool? Your Majesty!"
Li Xingye bowed to Emperor Chengping and said, "I believe the coastal areas are too dangerous. Far from depriving the Qingzhou Army, we should increase its manpower. This will ensure the safety of Zhao Lin and facilitate the smooth regulation of maritime trade."
Emperor Chengping nodded slowly.
Seeing that Emperor Chengping was about to be persuaded by Li Xingye, the old Duke of Wei, Pang Zhuo, sighed and stood up, saying, "Your Majesty! We are not targeting Lord Zhao, but Lord Zhao is too ruthless. He confiscates property and exterminates families at the drop of a hat. If this is not curbed, I'm afraid that all officials in the three coastal provinces, from the governor's office down to the county government, will be wiped out."
Fu Chengwang sneered, "Who among those killed by Zhao Lin didn't deserve to die? Is the Duke of Wei doing this to speak up for those people?"
Pang Zhuo shook his head: "Master Fu, why do you have to do this? We are just telling the truth. Everyone knows why Zhao Lin killed those people."
Zhao Lin said calmly, "Is there a problem with this birthday gift?"
"no problem!"
Emperor Chengping made the final decision without Pang Zhuo saying anything.
Anyone who dares to say there is a problem will be in trouble with the emperor!
How much would these sixty ships of rice, with their silver stalks and golden ears of rice, cost?
Zhao Lin said that some people would believe him even if he invested all the money he had extorted into it.
All the ministers were silent.
How could we have such a greedy emperor?
Zhao Jingzhou and Pang Zhuo looked at each other, both feeling helpless.
In the past, Emperor Chengping trusted Zhao Jingzhou the most. Now that Zhao Lin has arrived, even Zhao Jingzhou's status has declined.
Li Chengqian said with a chuckle, "The Qingzhou Army only has 30,000 men, which is just right for Zhao Lin's headquarters guards. My lords, please stop arguing."
Shao Yutang also said: "Indeed."
Since the prime minister and deputy prime minister have reached a consensus on their attitudes, no one else has anything to say.
If the dispute continues, it will turn into a civil-military dispute.
This is something Zhao Jingzhou doesn't want to see.
He wanted Zhao Lin to be isolated rather than become part of the civil service.
Zhao Jingzhou sighed and said, "Prime Minister Li, Prime Minister Shao, and all my lords, I'm not targeting Zhao Lin intentionally. I'm truly concerned for his future. As the ancients said, "Excess is as bad as deficiency," and "Excessive strength is easily broken." Although Zhao Lin is capable and talented, he needs guidance in certain areas.
"General Zhao, don't worry about that. Lord Li and I can teach him well." Fu Chengwang said.
"Haha, it's Zhao Lin's blessing to have both Lord Fu and Lord Li teaching him. He can't go astray." Bai Hongbin joined in the fun.
Fu Chengwang snorted coldly: "Although Zhao Lin is an orphan, and I don't know whether his parents are dead or just blind, he is kind by nature. He has never gone astray before, and he is unlikely to do so in the future."
Li Xingye agreed, "Fortunately, Zhao Lin is an orphan, otherwise who knows what he would have become by his irresponsible parents."
The ministers agreed, but looked at each other with strange expressions.
What do these two people mean?
Why are you talking about Zhao Lin’s parents for no reason?
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