vstars Chapter 216 Shocking the Government and the People
Chapter 216 Shocking the Government and the People
"Your Majesty, I heard that when Envoy Jiang went to Chen State, he spent most of his time doing business with the people of Chen State. How could he have run out of money? Could it be that Envoy Jiang made a loss-making deal?"
An official stepped forward and said, with a hint of sarcasm in his words.
When others heard this, they held back their laughter and laughed inwardly.
Jiang Zuo's every move in Chen State had long been spread throughout the court and the country.
It is such a shame that an official appointed by the imperial court and a national envoy is doing business in an enemy country.
Chen Qingyun was fully aware of the little thoughts of these officials, but since she met Jiang Zuo, the empress seemed to have learned how to manage her emotions.
Faced with these officials' insinuations about Jiang Zuo, she remained calm and watched silently.
"Envoy Jiang said that he would destroy the State of Chen within two months. This is a bit unrealistic."
An official said.
Over the hundreds of years, the State of Yan fought many wars but never truly destroyed the regime in the south.
A civil servant in Jiangzuo could destroy the State of Chen in two months? This was simply a pipe dream.
"Since Patrol Envoy Jiang was able to pacify Mobei in one month, he must be able to destroy the State of Chen in two months. He is so confident, so he must have his own way. Patrol Envoy Jiang is truly an extraordinary person."
Some people began to praise Jiang Zuo.
Now in the entire court, both the pro-war faction and the pro-peace faction are not optimistic about Jiang Zuo.
In the eyes of the war faction, Jiang Zuo's attempt to please the people of Chen and signing a humiliating treaty with his own hands was extremely disadvantageous to the State of Yan.
In the eyes of the peace faction, Jiang Zuo was talking nonsense again, saying that he wanted to destroy the State of Chen. Wouldn't this waste the national treasury and fight a war that would be difficult to win...
Seeing the officials below talking non-stop, Chen Qingyun interrupted them and said, "The agreement just signed between the two countries is just a delaying tactic. I have decided to attack the State of Chen next year, but I need to prepare a lot of military funds. What do you think, my dear ministers?"
After hearing what His Majesty said, none of the ministers dared to express their opinions. They looked at each other and did not dare to step forward to speak.
When it came time to offer real advice and suggestions, all these officials became mute.
Chen Qingyun shook his head in disappointment and had no intention of seeking the opinions of these officials.
At this time, a courtier dressed as a civil servant came in anxiously, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the envoy of Chen State said that he wanted to protest to our Yan State?"
"Protest, what are they protesting against?"
Chen Qingyun asked doubtfully.
"They said that a man from Yan State came to Chen State and pretended to be a wealthy businessman to defraud money. We in Yan State must catch that man, recover the money, and give an explanation to Chen State."
Said the official who was in charge of delivering the message.
"Is there such a thing?"
Chen Qingyun frowned, not knowing whether this was true or not.
"They said that the man's name was Pang Li. He pretended to be a Qiandong from Chen State, borrowed money from others, paid high interest, and then absconded with the money. They found out that he had fled to our Yan State. They hope that the court can help them hunt down the suspect."
The official said again.
"Borrow money? At high interest?"
Chen Qingyun was stunned.
Why do these words sound so familiar?
"Your Majesty, those Chen people must be talking nonsense. You don't need to pay attention to them."
At this time, another official said.
"Yes, they definitely intend to discredit our Yan State's reputation."
After all, it is not the first day that the State of Chen has slandered the people of Yan.
These civil and military officials in the capital seemed to have no idea what was happening in the State of Chen.
"Go back and tell the people of Chen that I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
Chen Qingyun said calmly, but in fact he didn't want to pay any attention to it.
Anyway, they are from Chen State, what does it have to do with the Empress of Yan State?
What affects the relationship between the two countries?
Is there still room for the relationship between Yan and Chen to improve?
"Your Majesty, I have also heard that recently many charlatans have been cheating in various parts of Yan State. We should order all prefectures and counties to strengthen control and never let these charlatans ruin the reputation of our Yan State."
A minister made a suggestion.
The world is not peaceful nowadays, so it is not surprising to see some strange people appear.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Huan from the Thousand Cavalry Division has arrived."
At this time, someone else passed on the message.
"Zhang Huan?"
The empress was slightly stunned.
"Let him in."
"What are you doing here at this time?"
The ministers were confused.
Zhang Huan slowly came to the Zhonghe Hall, knelt down, and stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Jiang patrol envoy has returned safely to Yan State and is heading to Jiangzhou City for resettlement."
The officials looked at Zhang Huan with doubtful eyes, as if to say, "Zhang Huan came all the way back just to report such a trivial matter?"
"Zhang Huan, you came at the right time. The envoy of Chen State just complained to me that people from Yan State were cheating in Chen State and swindling a lot of money. You must have received a lot of news in Chen State these days."
Chen Qingyun asked.
Zhang Huan said, "Your Majesty, I was just about to report this. I heard that it was the plan set up by the Jiang Patrol Envoy to take millions of taels of silver from the people of Chen."
When these words were spoken, the court was shocked.
"What? Jiang Zuo did it?"
The ministers couldn't believe it at all.
Just a short while ago, Jiang Zuo was still crying poor in his memorial, so how come they suddenly said that he had snatched one million taels of silver?
Even the empress sitting on the dragon throne had a flash of surprise in her majestic eyes at this moment.
"Is there really such a thing?"
Chen Qingyun's lips curled up, as if smiling.
Zhang Huan said, "It is absolutely true. I saw with my own eyes that the Yan State delegation transported treasures back to Yan State box by box."
After these words were spoken, the officials in Jiangzuo, who had secretly laughed at him just now, were all shocked.
Those Chen people were notoriously greedy and cunning. It was unbelievable that Jiang Zuo could get a million taels from them!
The whole place was dead silent.
Chen Qingyun thought for a moment, not knowing whether to feel happy or helpless.
At this time, Zhang Huan spoke again: "Moreover, I have secretly observed and roughly calculated that the property taken away by Jiang Patrol should be at least five or six million taels."
"Five or six million taels?!"
Everyone in the audience was surprised to hear this approximate number.
You know, the tax revenue of Yan State for the whole year was only more than 6 million taels. Could it be that Jiang Zuo earned a year's tax revenue just by going to Chen State and coming back?
"This Jiang Zuo is deliberately hiding something and trying to deceive me!"
Chen Qingyun felt quite helpless.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Chen Qingyun changed his mind and felt that it didn't matter. After all, when he married Jiang Zuo in the future, the empress would definitely get the money.
cough cough...
Looking at the empress's reaction, Zhang Huan also realized that Jiang Zuo had deliberately concealed the matter, so he explained to the empress on behalf of Jiang Zuo: "Your Majesty, perhaps the inspector Jiang was too busy and did not have time to report this to Your Majesty."
Jiang Zuo had made a great contribution this time, but he also deliberately concealed it.
Chen Qingyun didn't really mind Jiang Zuo cheating on her.
Anyway, I'm used to it.
I heard that the emperor of the Chen State was a notorious tyrant. If he knew that Jiang Zuo used this trick to earn millions of taels of silver from the Chen State, what would the tyrant think?
Will it affect the relationship between the two countries?
Chen Qingyun was quite curious.