Zong Shiji stood up.
He turned around and waved, and several guards came in carrying three heavy boxes.
"Prime Minister Yan," Zong Shiji bowed again, "These are just a small token of my gratitude. It is an honor for all the people of Chongzhou and Qianshan County that Prime Minister Yan has come to Qianshan County in person!"
"Put this gift...in that tent!"
"Prime Minister Yan, I know you are wholeheartedly devoted to the people. You are my role model! Back in Jinling, during the imperial examination in the tenth year of the Xuanli reign of the Yu Dynasty, the question asked by Earl Ding'an was "Why do we want to conquer the world?" My answer was, "If we want to conquer the world, we must start from within one house."
"Looking back, the past events are still vivid in my mind. I was entrusted with an important task by the Emperor and came to Chongzhou in the Yueshan North Road. I was very much hoping to start from Chongzhou. Unfortunately, my ability was limited, and I still neglected places like Xiashan Village and Huangtang Town."
“Wait!”
Yan Xiwen stood up and raised a hand, interrupting Zong Shiji's words, but he was looking at the six people who were carrying three boxes towards the tent.
"Don't put it in in a hurry. Bring it here. Bring it here so that I can see what gift Master Zong sent and see if Master Zong's intentions are sincere enough."
The six men stopped and looked back at Zong Shiji. His heart suddenly sank, and he quickly said, "A mere small profit is not a token of respect. It's raining today, and there are only some clothes and food inside. If we open it here, I'm worried they will get wet. Why not ask Prime Minister Yan to come into the tent room and take a look!"
What's inside are all golden bars and gold bricks, which cannot be shown in public.
If Yan Xiwen acquiesced to putting the three boxes into the accounting office, Zong Shiji would have a 50% chance of bribing him.
But if Yan Xiwen insisted on opening it in public... this bribe would obviously fail.
Failure means there is no way out.
Yan Xiwen narrowed her eyes and smiled, "This is perfect! The villagers in Xiashan Village are all short of food and clothing. They're just waiting for clothes to wear and rice to cook."
"Master Zong has indeed brought timely relief, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude."
His face turned serious and he shouted, "Carry it here for me!"
Zong Shiji was horrified. He took a step forward and said, "Slow down!"
"Prime Minister Yan, here..." He looked up at the gradually darkening sky and the drizzle falling from the sky. It was May, why was there still a winter chill in this broken place?
"The mountains here are high and the roads are long. It's really desolate and cold. I've always longed to visit the capital, Chang'an. I've heard from passing merchants that Chang'an is extremely prosperous, far beyond the reach of Jinling in its day."
The rain fell on Zong Shiji's face. He did not wipe it away, letting the raindrops gather into water droplets and slide down his cheeks.
"It is early summer in Chang'an now, a time of blossoming flowers and splendid scenery. Prime Minister Yan, you are of noble status, and the dream of three prime ministers in one family has finally come true."
"You are still so young and have plenty of time to do more and better things for Daxia. Why do you have to hold on to Huangtang Town and Xiashan Village?"
"Chongzhou is not near the river, and Yueshanbei Road cannot compare with the two Jiangnan Roads. I still hope to do something here, something that will benefit Daxia and the people under my rule."
"I have indeed made some mistakes in the past and failed to live up to the emperor's expectations of me."
He withdrew his gaze and looked at Yan Xiwen again, then knelt down again with a plop, kneeling in the puddle of dirty water.
"I beg Prime Minister Yan to give me a chance!"
"The Emperor once said that no one is perfect, and if we make mistakes, we should correct them. If we don't, we should strive to improve ourselves. I have taken this to heart. After this incident, I have come to understand many things. Please believe me, Prime Minister Yan, that I will truly turn over a new leaf and become a better person!"
Yan Xiwen squinted his eyes and looked at Zong Shiji, who was kneeling on the ground, for a long time.
Qian Congsu, the magistrate of Qianshan County, who was still tied up and kneeling outside the yard, looked up at Zong Shiji who was kneeling in the rain. He had already despaired in his heart - that outsider was actually the famous Yan Xiwen, the prime minister of Daxia!
No wonder his guards have guns.
No wonder he dared to send people to rob the Qianshan County granary.
This time, if Lord Zong fails to bribe the Prime Minister, he will be doomed.
Prime Minister Yan, please accept it!
After you receive it, you will be well and everyone will be well!
Unfortunately, Qian Congsu ultimately fell into despair.
As he looked at her eagerly, Yan Xiwen said calmly, "You do remember the emperor's words, but it's a pity you didn't remember them all."
"The Emperor also said that God is watching what we do! The net of Heaven is vast and nothing can escape it. It's not that there is no retribution, it's just that the time has come."
"Zong Shiji, do you know what the emperor said when I left Chang'an?"
"He said that he had misjudged many people, but he never expected two of them. One was Yan Xibai, and the other was Zong Shiji!"
"Yan Xibai once went deep into the Yellow River and Yellow River regions to investigate the corruption case of the Yu Dynasty's disaster relief. He risked his life to uncover the corruption case in the Yellow River and Yellow River regions. In the eyes of the emperor, he was a good official who truly sought justice for the people."
"And you... He said he ran into you by chance on the Jinniu Ancient Road and asked you to answer the question 'How to Conquer the World' in General Yu's tent."
"You answered the questions very well. You were good in Jinling and you were also good in Wofeng Road."
"You were not born into a wealthy family, but you have a heart for progress."
"He said two words at the end."
Zong Shiji suddenly looked up and asked nervously, "Your Majesty, what did he say?"
"He said...what a pity!"
Zong Shiji suddenly collapsed into the sewage. At this moment, he understood that the emperor had already known everything. He even knew everything he and Yan Xibai had done.
I thought I could use my connections through my brother-in-law.
He thought he could bribe the Prime Minister of Yan to cover up the matter.
How naive I am!
I haven't seen the emperor for many years and I actually forgot how powerful he is.
"Qishan, since Master Zong has sent a gift, why don't you take it and open it in front of all the people."
Zhang Qishan walked over with several guards, and one of them carried a box and placed it in front of Yan Xiwen.
"Open!"
"No……!"
Zong Shiji roared, stood up from the sewage, and rushed over like a madman.
Zhang Qishan knocked Zong Shiji to the ground with one blow.
Yan Xiwen took a deep breath: "I told you, you shouldn't have come."
"Didn't you come here with several thousand palace soldiers?"
"You're certainly quite courageous. You actually dared to come here. Now you're my hostage. Capture you! Tie you up! Open your box!"
Zong Shiji was tied up and the three boxes were opened.
Even at dusk, the three boxes still emitted a golden light.
Yan Xiwen's pupils shrank. All the villagers were already stunned - how much gold was there!
"You think you can bribe me with these?"
"These are the blood and sweat of the common people!"
"Zong Shiji, you are truly insatiable. Your sins...are too numerous to list!"
Zong Shiji had already given up hope, but at this moment he suddenly laughed.
"Hahahaha... Yan Xiwen, do you think you can escape danger by taking me hostage?"
"You're wrong. The order I gave to the palace soldiers is that if I don't return within an hour, they are to kill me!"
"The hour is almost up. I'm going to die anyway, but you, Prime Minister Yan... you truly have a bright future. Isn't it a shame to die in this remote place?"
"How about you think about it again? Or maybe you can come with me to Chongzhou, and I'll give you all the money I could never spend in several lifetimes!"
In the rain, there were hurried footsteps.
"Prime Minister Yan, they are here. You still have a cup of tea to think about it!"
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