Chapter 26: The Court Meeting Incident

Lin Chen looked coldly at the officials who came out in the court and asked him to punish them for his disregard for the law.

These guys, one by one, are all Heshen's followers.

As for the famous He Zhongtang, he was calm at this time, as if this matter had nothing to do with him.

You should know that no one in the world dares to match the money-making methods of this He Daren.

The promotion and transfer of officials, the construction of weirs and embankments, and the transportation of taxes and grain, Heshen can get his hands on the fat meat and get his hands on the oil.

Now that the capital is suffering from natural disasters and man-made disasters, even if it is to open a porridge factory for disaster relief, He Daren intends to make a fortune from it.

"Ridiculous!" Shangguan Wan'er came out with a frosty face.

"As early as a few days ago, this official issued a notice in the city, not allowing grain prices to rise too high!"

Speaking, Shangguan Wan'er held a memorial in her hand and handed it to the eunuch beside Li Zhao.

The eunuch respectfully handed the memorial to His Majesty the Emperor.

Seeing the memorial in Shangguan Wan'er's hand, the ministers in the court could not help but quiet down.

Even the expression of Lord Heshen was a little unnatural.

As expected.

After reading the contents of the memorial, Li Zhao was furious.

"I didn't know that the price of one stone of grain in the capital has increased by more than five times!"

"These profiteers really deserve to die!"

Seeing the emperor's angry rebuke, the officials who had previously criticized Lin Chen began to play dead.

"Heshen!"

The emperor saw that no one answered his words, and immediately shouted.

"I am here!" Heshen stood up and saluted, with a respectful attitude.

"You are the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but you don't know the price of grain in the city?"

Heshen seemed to know that the new emperor would hold him accountable in this way, and immediately replied with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, there is an old saying that merchants pursue profits, which is their nature."

The implication is that this is human nature, and he Heshen can't control it.

Of course.

The real reason is.

Heshen actually had a large share of the sky-high grain prices.

"Enough!"

The new emperor was obviously not satisfied with this explanation.

"In that case, what's wrong with General Lin's confiscation of unscrupulous merchants?"

This...

Of course it's wrong, it just blocked some people's money.

Thinking of this, Heshen wiped the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

"Reporting to your majesty, I will let my subordinates control the grain merchants when I go back, and this kind of thing will definitely not happen again."

Seeing Heshen say this, Li Zhao just relaxed a little and nodded.

"But... Your Majesty!" Heshen continued. "That General Lin arbitrarily seized grain merchants, seemingly for the public to deal with illegal merchants, but in fact it was for his own benefit!"

"I dare to suggest that the grain seized by the Five City Military Department be returned to the Ministry of Revenue for the next relief of disaster victims."

Good guy, it turns out that this shrewd man is waiting for Lin Chen here.

Seeing that the merchants were being questioned, it was a fact. It would be better to recover the grain.

As for those shopkeepers who were arrested by Lin Chen, they were scapegoats.

"Do you want to frame the loyal officials?"

Without Lin Chen's explanation, Shangguan Wan'er said coldly: "Now the seized grains are under the jurisdiction of this imperial envoy, so you don't have to worry about it."

Heshen was stunned when he saw Shangguan Wan'er interfering.

Shangguan Wan'er has always behaved like a trusted and loyal minister of His Majesty in the court.

Why would she come forward to protect this little general now?

Could it be...

Heshen was shocked.

This top corrupt official is not a fool.

He thought of some rumors that Lin Chenjia, the general, was the emperor's man.

In other words, it was the emperor's idea to suppress grain prices now!

When Heshen thought of himself going against the new emperor, fine cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

Fortunately, he did not personally participate in this matter, and it was some of his subordinates who were involved.

"In this case, I am willing to help Ms. Shangguan coordinate this disaster relief!"

Immediately, Heshen's attitude changed 180 degrees, showing a loyal attitude.

Hmm?

This change made Lin Chen stunned.

Is this Lord He learning to change his face?

Only Li Zhao on the throne glanced at Heshen who bowed his head respectfully.

This old fox did not continue to fall into the trap.

Now Heshen is still entangled in this matter.

Then Li Zhao has an excuse to make trouble with this matter and let Shangguan Wan'er investigate who is raising the grain price in the capital.

This Minister of Revenue Heshen will be skinned alive even if he doesn't die.

Now Heshen is on his knees, so it's not easy for Li Zhao to take action.

After all, the power of the court still needs people like Heshen to maintain the balance.

Finally.

This impeachment ended with a lot of thunder but no raindrops.

Lin Chen made great contributions by confiscating grain merchants. He will be rewarded after the disaster relief.

Lin Chen did not think there was anything new in his first court meeting.

It was nothing more than a fight between the same party and Li Zhao with trivial matters.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chen could not help but marvel.

If he were the emperor, he would also want to have a fatherly purge when he saw his subordinates like this.

Thinking so in his mind, Lin Chen planned to go back to the Prince's Mansion.

The first step of the disaster relief plan was completed. Next, he had to discuss with Shangguan Wan'er how to use work instead of relief and gather hundreds of thousands of disaster victims who arrived in the capital later.

Unexpectedly, just when Lin Chen was about to leave, he was stopped by someone.

"Lin Dutong!"

This hearty voice made him feel good about it.

Who?

Lin Chen subconsciously turned his head to look at the two military officers who were striding towards him.

The heroic man was wearing the court dress of a third-rank military officer.

Zhao Kuangyin? !

Lin Chen's eyes shrank undetectably, and he recognized the other party at a glance.

If nothing unexpected happened, the other party was the founding monarch of the Song Dynasty.

Although the means of founding the country were not very glorious, bullying orphans and widows.

But Lin Chen knew very well that any founding monarch in history was not a good person.

What did this Zhao Kuangyin want to do with him?

"Hello, Lord Zhao!" Lin Chen saluted indifferently.

Who would have thought that Zhao Kuangyin seemed not to notice the alienation in Lin Chen's attitude, and said with a smile: "General Lin did a good job on this matter!"

Hmm?

When Lin Chen was surprised, Zhao Kuangyin loudly praised him for his investigation of illegal vendors.

"Humph!"

While the two were talking, Lord He, who seemed to be owed 1.8 million yuan, passed by with a flick of his sleeves.

Lin Chen also understood at this time that Zhao Kuangyin wanted to win him over in name.

Lin Chen looked at Zhao Kuangyin with a flickering look, but the latter had a calm expression.

"General Lin, come to Zhao's house when you are free, I will treat you to a drink!"

After saying that, Zhao Kuangyin left with a smile.

If it were someone else, being won over so cordially by the boss of the boss, I'm afraid he would bow down on the spot.

But Lin Chen knew very well that the other party was trying to deceive him.

Would Zhao Kuangyin not know that he was the new emperor's man?

Of course he knew!

If the emperor knew about this, the other party's goal would be achieved.

...