After Taiwei Cao Song gave a general account of what happened in Hedong County, the Son of Heaven sneered: "Thirteen checkpoints? Xia Yun is crazy about money, and he actually set up thirteen checkpoints on the gallop road less than a thousand miles. What do he and Han Ying want to do? Do you want to provoke a riot among the displaced people in the state or do you want to make a little more money for yourself? ”

Cao Song saw that the Son of Heaven's face was not good, so he didn't dare to answer. He thought to himself that it was not your order to set up a toll checkpoint on Hedong Chidao, and now that something happened, you put the blame on Xia Yun and Han Ying, as if it had nothing to do with you.

"These bastards, poke me in the basket if you're fine." The Son of Heaven waved his hand and asked, "Can Li Aiqing send evidence of the corruption of Han Ying and the bureaucrats at all levels in Hedong Mansion?" ”

"It's all delivered."

The Son of Heaven laughed, "Good, good. Immediately sent a decree to Li Aiqing, telling him to send the confiscated stolen goods to me as soon as possible. ”

When Cao Song, Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi and others heard this, they immediately understood what the Son of Heaven was thinking. When the Son of Heaven heard that Li Hong had arrested Xia Yun and Han Ying in Hedong, he neither thought of the consequences of Hedong's corruption crackdown, nor did he think of how to calm down this matter, his first thought was that his Wanjintang was about to have a huge income.

Today's Zhenbei general Li Hong has become more and more lawless. Although he made brilliant military achievements and made great contributions to support the precarious Han State, he did not hesitate to violate the ancestral system for the sake of Tuntian, and did not hesitate to set off a storm of anti-corruption in Hedong, and his arrogant and barbaric and bloody nature has been undoubtedly exposed, and this kind of person will bring peace and stability to the Han State in the future.

In the eyes of Cao Song and others, Li Hong took the opportunity to suppress corruption in Hedong, and the purpose must have been to raise money for Tuntian, not to rectify the rule of officials in Hedong. However, now Li Hong already knows how to get the protection and favor of the Son of Heaven, and it is not enough to rely on one victory after another, he has to send money to the Son of Heaven. The most fundamental reason why Xiliang was able to succeed in fighting corruption and was able to get the support and help of the Son of Heaven was that all the stolen goods went into the Wanjin Hall of the Son of Heaven. Now it's too late to stop Li Hong's anti-corruption, the stupid and greedy traitors have given Li Hong a golden opportunity, and since he has already made a move, he can't take it back.

However, the Hedong anti-corruption involves far more powerful people in Beijing than the Xiliang anti-corruption, once Li Hong investigates Hedong to the bottom of the world, and then publishes the powerful and evidence suspected of corruption to the world, the world will be in chaos, which is like cutting the biggest abscess on the dying Han State, but at the same time, it also cuts off the vitality of the Great Han State and accelerates the death of the Great Han State.

Cao Song kept wiping the sweat on his head, and said this meaning vaguely. Only then did the Son of Heaven realize the seriousness of the problem. He blinked his little eyes and thought for a long time. He was a little heartbroken, if he forcibly ordered this matter to be put down, he would have no benefit.

"Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible, General Zhenbei has blocked the crossing of the Yellow River, and is arresting and searching people in various parts of the east of the river, and it will be too late." Lu Zhi knelt down, kowtowed and pleaded, "Your Majesty, some things need to be done slowly, and if you are in a hurry, you will change. At this time, if Luoyang makes waves again, it will affect His Majesty's future canonization of the emperor. ”

As soon as the Son of Heaven heard that this matter would affect the imperial system, he immediately became anxious, "Hurry up and give an order, ask the Tingwei Mansion to send someone to Hedong, and immediately escort Xia Yun and Han Ying and other prisoners to the capital, quickly, quickly!" ”

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Li Hong didn't blame Koji Yi, on the contrary, he liked Koji Yi to yell at him like this, which allowed him to keep a clear head.

In recent months, he has been working day and night to appease the Yellow Turban Army and pacify the displaced people in Tuntian, and he has become physically and mentally exhausted and exhausted. He did a lot of illegal and unwanted things for the Yellow Turban Army to be cared for, and for the displaced people to be able to farm, but he had no choice, he didn't even have time to think about right and wrong and consequences, he felt that he had been lost, in front of interests and purposes, he gave up all his principles and conscience, he was depressed, helpless, painful, he had nowhere to confide, the only thing that supported him to continue was the laughter and hope of the displaced people.

He seldom stayed in the camp, preferring to go to the fields and chat with the farmers, to the plains and ditches to sing harmony with the people, and to gallop between the vast heaven and earth, so that he could get rid of his troubles and pains, and let himself feel a true self. He is just a citizen of the Great Han Kingdom, a Xianbei fugitive slave who hopes that after the country is peaceful, he can find his parents and family.

Li Hong asked Xie Ming to take over the affairs of the county government, let Xiao Lazy take over the interrogation, he took Koji out of the city on horseback, and galloped along the wide galloping road, he wanted to have a good talk with Koji Yi, and he also wanted to find someone to talk about the bitterness and pain in his heart.

At night, he was stationed outside the city with the Black Panther Yicong, and Xie Ming came to him and said that Xia Yun, the regular attendant, wanted to see him, but Li Hong refused.

"My lord, Mr. Wei Zhuwei, the head of the Wei family, wants to see you, do you take the time to meet with the rich people in Hedong?" Xie Ming asked, "The news of the reopening of salt and iron in Bingzhou and Hedong County has spread, and businessmen from all over the country are about to gather. ”

Li Hong nodded and said, "You can arrange it." In addition, write a letter to Zhong Yuan in Luoyang, telling him to bring more people when he comes back. There are too few Peng Shi in the Zhenbei General's Mansion, and a few of you can't keep busy at all, it's too hard. ”

The next day, Li Hong, Lu Yi and Xie Ming rushed to the Wei Mansion in Anyi City and made a special trip to visit Mr. Wei Zhu. Wei is over sixty years old, with a red face and a strong spirit, quite a bit of a fairy wind bone. He introduced Li Hong and Lu Yi to a group of family heads gathered in the mansion, and the two sides exchanged pleasantries, and then got to the point. In the past few months, Li Hong has been busy with government affairs, and he is well aware of such matters as private households, agriculture and mulberry, water and soil, land rent, oral endowment, monopoly of salt and iron, and transportation of salt and iron.

Li Hong explained in detail the policy of subsidizing agriculture with business to ensure the success of Tuntian, and he hoped that the wealthy people in Hedong would come to their aid quickly to ensure that Tuntian would be effective within three to five years. Wei Qi and several other family heads saw that Li Hong was very gentle, and he did not use the corruption and perversion of the law in Hedong Mansion to coerce them, and the doubts and worries in their hearts were suddenly swept away, and everyone expressed their best to help.

"Winter is coming, but at least half of the displaced people in Taiyuan and Shangdang have not solved the problem of food and clothing, I need food, tents, and Tuntian materials, can you help solve it?"

Wei Zhu smiled: "Don't worry, my lord, we have all these things, and we can send them over immediately, but ......"

Li Hong smiled and said, "I don't have any money now, I can only owe it on credit, but you can immediately intervene in the operation of the salt and iron in Hedong, and use the profits of salt and iron to return it to you year by year, what do you think, sir?" ”

What Wei Zhu and the others wanted was Li Hong's words.

The rest is not debatable. Xie Ming immediately took out the list of materials needed by Bingzhou, Wei Zhu took it and didn't even look at it, and said directly: "Don't worry, before it snows, you will definitely send the materials needed by adults to Taiyuan and Shangdang." As for the price, we are a little lower, because compared with Luzhong and Xuling, we are close to the road, which can save transportation tax. ”

Li Hong was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

"But ......" Wei Zhu glanced at Li Hong and asked cautiously, "Hedong Salt and Iron, how much do we occupy?" You have to make sure we get our principal back within five years. ”

"Fifty percent." Li Hong said without hesitation, "No more." ”

Wei Zhu and the other family heads obviously didn't expect that Li Hong would give them half of the management of Hedong Salt and Iron with his move, and the house was suddenly full of joy.

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Luoyang's holy decree was sent to Hedong, accompanied by Song Dian, a regular attendant of the Middle School, and Shan Qing, the left supervisor of the Imperial Governor's Mansion.

Li Hong ordered the release of the people, but he demanded that they be paraded 300 steps into the prison car, saying that he would let the people of Hedong see the fate of these corrupt officials as a warning. Song Dian didn't care, as long as Li Hong released him, he could do anything, but then he regretted it. The angry people first smashed them with things, and then they began to push the guards in charge of the guard, trying to rush up and punch and kick them to vent their hatred, and at this time I don't know who shouted: "Kill them, kill them." ”

With a ......"boom", the scene was suddenly chaotic, and the angry people no longer cared about life and death, roared forward, and immediately drowned Xia Yun, Han Ying, and dozens of bureaucrats at all levels of Hedong Mansion in the angry crowd.

The guards in charge of the guard first stopped them with knives and guns, but then they were caught in the flow of people, and more guards were knocked to the ground, and the knives and guns in their hands were immediately snatched away.

Song Dian's soul was scattered, looking at the chaotic scene in amazement, and shouted hoarsely: "It's rioting, it's rioting, kill me, kill me." ”

Koji Yi smiled coldly, waved his hand and roared: "Shoot, shoot ...... me"

The Iron Knight pointed its arrow at the blue sky, and after a few sparse shots, it died down. Hundreds of long arrows flew weakly for dozens of paces and fell crookedly into the crowd. When the people who had no iron in their hands suddenly saw a long arrow falling from the sky, they immediately danced happily, grabbed their hands one after another, and squeezed into the crowded place.

Song Dian was angry, drew his sword and pointed at Lu Yi, and shouted fiercely: "Lu Yi, if you don't attack again, I will kill you!" ”

Koji Yi looked up to the sky and laughed, turned around and shouted: "Brothers, blow the trumpet and prepare to attack." ”

"Uh......h Woo ......" the horn sounded into the sky, and the iron knights shouted wildly, "Kill ......"

The sound of the horns and the thunderous sound of killing woke up the roaring crowd, and the people, knowing that they had caused a catastrophe, immediately panicked, and fled in all directions, and in the blink of an eye saw that there was no one on the street, leaving only dozens of corpses full of long arrows, lying in pools of blood.

"Brothers, scatter and hunt down the traitors......" Koji laughed and took the lead, galloping along the bloody streets.

The Iron Rider activated, roaring away like a lightning speed, and immediately trampled the corpses all over the street into pieces of meat patties.

Song Dian was so angry that he almost spurted blood, he knew that he had fallen for Li Hong, and in a fit of rage, he rushed into the Taishou Mansion with his sword.

"You killed the Hou Ye and killed the court officials, I will sue you in front of Your Majesty."

Li Hongli ignored him, reached out and picked up a roll of bamboo slips on the desk, and smashed it on his body, "Get out, go to Luoyang and sue me, and see if you die or I die." ”

Song Dian was taken aback by Li Hong's heavy drinking, took a step back in shock, and stepped on the bamboo slip. The corner of his eyes swept over the words on the bamboo slips, and suddenly he broke out in a cold sweat, and Huo Ran on it was evidence to expose Song Dian's reselling of salt and iron. Song Dian snatched the bamboo slip, turned around and ran.

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When the Son of Heaven got the retribution, he was very angry, and issued an order to severely punish Li Hong and Lu Yi, punish Li Hong and Lu for six months, and punish Lu Yi and Lu for three months, and each of them apologized for their crimes.

The old lieutenants were eager to eat Li Hong's flesh and drink Li Hong's blood at this time. At the beginning of the year, Bi Lan died in Jizhou, and it was not good for everyone to say anything if they were dumb and eat Coptis chinensis, but now that Xia Yun gave him to die alive in Hedong, everyone couldn't help it anymore, pestering the Son of Heaven to kill him, and even said that Xiaohuangmen Zuofeng was killed by ant thieves in Jizhou at the beginning of last year, which was also secretly instigated by Li Hong. The Son of Heaven quarreled with them every day, and they were so annoyed that they had no choice but to give them some comfort money, telling them to go home and rest, and not to come to serve anymore, just let the little lieutenants serve. The Son of Heaven also said that the people say that you are the ten permanent servants, but in fact, there are twelve of you, and now two have died. The old lieutenants were so angry that they vomited blood.

The Son of Heaven wrote an edict to Li Hong, saying that in order to appease the anger of the old lieutenants, he spent a lot of money, telling him not to make any more trouble, and he had already given him endless tricks to make a mess, so that Li Hong could rest assured in Tuntian, go to Youzhou as soon as possible to quell the rebellion, do something serious, don't get into trouble if you have nothing to do, and don't forget to make up a sentence, hurry up and send the confiscated stolen goods to the capital, the cost of the New Year is large, and I am waiting for money.

Li Hong immediately pleaded guilty, sent people to send more than 2 billion stolen goods to the capital, and at the same time recommended Wang Han, the former great Si Nong who was idle at home, to serve as the Taishou in Hedong and rebuild Hedong Mansion.

Li Hong's move surprised the court bureaucrats, who thought that Li Hong was going to take the opportunity to control Hedong County, but he took the initiative to push Wang Han out. With Wang Han sitting in Hedong County, not only can he put an end to corruption in Hedong, but also prevent Li Hong from wantonly exploiting the profits of salt and iron in Hedong, and in addition, he can also take care of the interests of the powerful in Hedong County. Everyone was overjoyed, and the voice of impeachment of Li Hong disappeared immediately, but the Son of Heaven was very unhappy.

Wang Han's integrity and incorruptibility are famous all over the world, but in order to pick up money from the treasury, the old man often does whatever it takes, deceives the superiors and subordinates, swaggers and deceives, and does everything he can. Although the Son of Heaven did not punish him for his loyalty to the country last time, he didn't want to let him get any more money, this old man was too difficult to deal with and extremely cunning. The Son of Heaven did not give an order for a long time.

The ministers urge every day, Hedong Mansion can't be too guarded, if Li Hong is really in charge of Hedong political affairs, then he won't have the power of the world. Li Hong finally took the initiative to take a step back and recommended Wang Han, and the powerful people in Beijing also liked Wang Han, how could such a rare good thing be delayed?

After Li Wei received Li Hong's letter, he hurriedly pulled his teacher Zhu Jun, a master craftsman, to persuade Wang Han to give the Son of Heaven an apology form. After this old man was ransomed from Beisi Prison with money by his friends, he still hasn't even written a letter of apology. Zhu Jun tried to persuade him to no avail, so he had to write one for him himself, and asked Wang Han's family to stamp a seal on it without telling him, and then personally gave it to the Son of Heaven. He said good things to Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi and others for a long time, and the Son of Heaven was relieved.

"You all know that the benefits of salt and iron in Bingzhou and Hedong are now directly sent to Wanjintang." The Son of Heaven asked, "If he gets in the way and secretly stuffs the money into the Great Si Nong's Mansion, will I kill him or praise him?" ”

Lu Zhi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, it is the Zhenbei General's Mansion that presides over the reopening of the annexed state and Hedong Salt and Iron, and it is the Zhenbei General who sent money to Your Majesty, not the Hedong Mansion, has Your Majesty forgotten?" ”

"Hmph, don't fool me." The Son of Heaven looked at them suspiciously, and said disdainfully, "Once the matter of Tuntian has an eyebrow, General Zhenbei will lead his troops north to quell the rebellion, where does Li Aiqing have time to take care of this matter?" It is not the state and county government that is specifically in charge. ”

"Your Majesty can give General Zhenbei an order to set up a salt and iron captain, who will be responsible for reopening the operation of salt and iron, and send money to Your Majesty, what does Your Majesty think?"

The Son of Heaven thought for a long time and said, "Okay, just according to what Aiqing said." ”

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As soon as the decree was issued, Wang Han immediately took office and began to recruit the government in Luoyang.

Wang Han's protégés and former officials were not many, most of them served in the Dasi Nong Mansion, and the current Dasi Nong Yuan Peng considered that they had served in the Dasi Nong Mansion for many years and were proficient in all kinds of affairs, so none of them were allowed to resign. And the scholars in Beijing all know that there must be no oil and water to fish behind Wang Han, especially Wang Han is easy to offend the Son of Heaven and will be imprisoned at any time, plus he has offended too many people in the past few years, so for a few days, there is no one to recruit.

In addition to Wang Han's own reasons, there is a more important reason for Li Hong's bloody corruption in Hedong, and he almost killed all the bureaucrats in Hedong in just a dozen days, which discouraged most scholars. In these years, there are a few officials who are not corrupt and take bribes, if Li Hong, who is in charge of the military power in Hedong, comes to crack down on corruption at every turn, how many lives can not be sent?

Wang Han was very helpless and chilling. This is today's Han scholars, there are very few people who want to be loyal to the country, and there are many people who want to be corrupt and bend the law after becoming officials.

At this time, the two dismissed lieutenants came forward. After Zhang Wen and Cui Lie were dismissed, some of the protégés and former officials in the Taiwei Mansion were recommended to be recruited and left, some went home, and some followed the two adults to do their studies. The two adults knew the importance of Hedong County to Tuntian and Gongwei Jingshi, so they advised their protégés and former officials that if there was nothing to worry about in Beijing, they should go to Hedong to serve the country. At a time when the country is in a difficult situation, there is no point in doing scholarship after all.

The former Taiwei Zhang Wen's long history Sang Yang felt the old master's concern for the country and the people, and took the lead in carrying the burden into Wang Han's house. The protégés of the former Taiwei Mansion were affected by it, and more than 30 people followed. Wang Han was overjoyed, accompanied by this group of officials who were proficient in government affairs, so why worry about the uncertainty of Hedong.

Wang Han then hurriedly left Beijing with them to take up their posts.

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