in2ebook Chapter 147 Big Deal, Convener!
Chapter 147 Big Deal, Convener!
Ye Chen also saw clearly at this time that Kou Qing and Kou Tao must have discussed it privately.
Kou Tao is willing to take all the blame on himself, and Kou Qing is willing to die to protect his family.
It seems these two guys are ready to sacrifice everything for their family.
It is obvious that the survival of the family is the bottom line for these two wealthy families.
"Be bold!"
Ye Chen suddenly slammed the table.
With a "bang", Kou Qing and Kou Tao were shocked all over, both with horror on their faces.
"You two still dare to hide this! Kou Tao, answer me, what are you doing by kidnapping so many people and sending them to Qinling Mountains?"
Hearing this, Kou Tao was shocked and looked up at Ye Chen with wide eyes.
"Your Majesty, how did you know?"
"How could I not know? Do you think you can conceal the truth by burning all those bamboo slips?"
"Tell me the truth. Why did you take these people to the Qinling Mountains? Kou Tao, I remember you said you were taking them to mine. How could there be any mines in the Qinling Mountains?"
Ye Chen asked with a gleam in his eyes.
Hearing this, Kou Tao swallowed hard, sweat pouring down his head.
"If you tell the truth, I will consider letting some of your people go."
"If you resist to the end and I find out, I won't spare a single one of you!"
Ye Chen's voice was filled with solemnity and murderous intent, and the dragon robe on his body revealed the powerful majesty of an emperor.
And this moment.
Kou Qing and Kou Tao felt tremendous pressure at the same time, and they exchanged glances with each other.
"Your Majesty, are you telling the truth? Can you let our people go?"
Kou Tao wiped the sweat from his head and asked.
"I am the Son of Heaven, so my words are my final word!"
"Your Majesty, I, the humble commoner, confess."
Kou Tao sighed deeply and said to Ye Chen, "I'm trying every possible way to get people to go to the Qinling Mountains to dig for copper, jade, and salt."
Hearing this, Ye Chen raised his eyebrows.
"There are copper and jade mines in the Qinling Mountains? And what about salt?"
Can salt also have minerals?
Ye Chen was very surprised.
"Your Majesty, there are indeed copper mines and jade mines in the Qinling Mountains. We have also discovered salt fields and a way to extract salt. Moreover, my people have to enclose land in the Qinling Mountains and raise horses!"
Kou Tao had just finished speaking.
Ye Chen heard a burst of rapid breathing behind him. He turned his head and saw that Su Mengjiao was no longer calm.
Jade mines are an absolute luxury, but they are of little use.
However, copper and salt were strictly prohibited from being bought and sold privately by the Emperor Yu.
As for horses, they are definitely military supplies. The government must strictly control the horse-raising areas in Dayu's country.
Ye Chen frowned slightly and asked, "How long have you been doing these things in Qinling Mountains?"
"Yes, ten years!"
"Snapped!"
Ye Chen threw a teacup to the ground, his face becoming extremely gloomy.
"How much copper, salt, and horses can the Qinling Mountains produce every year?"
Ye Chen asked.
"Your Majesty, I don't know anything about this. I just arrested him."
Kou Tao said tremblingly.
Anyone could see at this moment that Ye Chen was definitely in a state of rage.
"Then who manages the copper mines, salt, and horse breeding in the Qinling Mountains?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty only knows that he is a big shot in the capital. Oh, and Minister He of the Ministry of Justice also knows about this. He is the one who often contacts me and asks me to get someone there!"
"Minister He, Minister He of the Ministry of Justice?"
Ye Chen raised his eyebrows and immediately asked, "Is it He Feng?"
"Yes, it's him."
"Ah."
The people from the Ministry of Justice were questioned.
Ye Chen showed a cold smile on his face, and then asked in a calm tone: "Answer me again, which ministers in the court were involved in your looting of the population?"
"this."
Kou Tao was a little hesitant.
"Tell me about your people, and I can let some of them go."
Hearing this, Kou Tao showed a bitter smile on his face.
Kou Qingze spoke first, "Your Majesty, let me tell you, Lord Xiahou, the uncle of Lord Xiahou from the Ministry of Personnel, Xiahou Xian, the previous president of Yingchuan Academy, was involved in this matter. He sent many people to my cousin, and sometimes he even asked me to send people to help keep an eye on them."
"Xia Houxian was involved, but what about Xia Houjie?"
Ye Chen asked again.
"Xia Houjie was also involved!"
Kou Qing gritted his teeth and said, "If Xiahou Jie hadn't come forward, I wouldn't have dared to wade into this muddy water."
"Xiahou Xian dumped many young men from poor families over to my cousin's place. Many of them were from the capital, and I became their accomplice. If their families reported the crime or caused trouble, I would lead the troops to deal with it."
".good."
Ye Chen's eyes became extremely cold.
"Okay."
"You kidnapped poor students to mine, and then took care of their families. How audacious! You are truly audacious."
"Somebody come!"
Ye Chen's voice was loud, but the murderous intent contained in it made Kou Qing and Kou Tao feel cold all over.
"exist!"
The muscles on Shen Qiu's face tensed and he walked out with big strides.
"Get that bastard Xia Houjie over here immediately, and that He Feng too!"
"By the way, besides Xia Houjie, was Qi Gongtai, the Minister of Justice, involved?"
Ye Chen stared at Kou Tao and Kou Qing again and asked.
"Well, Your Majesty, I have never met Lord Qi, but I have dealt with his steward. Every year, a large amount of silver and money transferred from Qinling falls into my hands, and then I give it to my cousin, who then passes it on to Lord Qi's steward."
Kou Tao replied.
Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but frown.
This Qinling business may not just belong to a certain minister, but all the powerful and treacherous ministers in the court have a share.
And Qi Gongtai was obviously very cautious.
The money received had to be transferred several times first, and only the housekeeper was allowed to do so.
Such a person is undoubtedly very cunning.
"Let Qi Gongtai come over here too!"
Ye Chen finally waved his hand, paused, and added: "There are already two ministers, so why not let all the civil and military officials come over, you two."
Ye Chen pointed at Kou Tao and Kou Qing.
"Go down first, I'll call you up later."
Hearing this, Kou Qing and Kou Tao naturally did not dare to disobey the imperial edict, and obediently stood up and walked out.
When all the officials who were originally working in the Secretariat heard that Ye Chen had summoned them, they had no choice but to put down what they were doing and head towards the Taiqian Palace together.
Among them, Yang Dechang, as the head of all officials, walked neither fast nor slow, as if strolling in the garden, with a calm look on his face, without any sign of anxiety.
"Prime Minister, I just received news that the young emperor seems to have interrogated two prisoners on death row today."
Chen Xiu suddenly walked up to Yang Dechang and said.
"Hmm? What prisoner?"
"I haven't found out anything yet, Prime Minister. Ever since that hidden chess piece in the palace was removed, the information we've received from the palace has obviously been much less than before."
Chen Xiu's face was also a little gloomy.
"Well, don't panic. No matter what this little emperor is trying to sell, we will fight back."
Yang Dechang's tone was calm, and he was confident that he could easily deal with Ye Chen.
However, his confidence did not last long. A young eunuch suddenly appeared not far away. Seeing this, Chen Xiu hurried over and deliberately passed by the young eunuch. When he returned to Yang Dechang, he had a piece of silk in his hand.
"Prime Minister, something terrible is happening."
Chen Xiu looked at the contents on the silk and his expression suddenly changed.
"News came in from outside that Lu Shang's hiding place was destroyed!"
Hearing this, Yang Dechang stopped, opened his eyes slightly, and his face suddenly showed an expression of emotion, but he could no longer remain calm.