When Zhou Ting came to present the excerpts, he was quite calm, but when Lin Yuanfang and Ma Hong arrived, they were very panicked.

"Qi Sheng, the governor of Hujin, Mei Long, wrote a book, and the grain and grass raised in Hujin could not be transported to Hexi." Ma Hong handed Mei Long's fold with both hands.

Ding Wu frowned, took the fold, glanced at it a few times, his face changed slightly, and asked, "What he said is true?" ”

"I don't know." Ma Hong said: "Mei Long obeyed the will of the imperial court, recruited soldiers and horses in Hujin, raised grain and grass, and the minister was in charge of the household department and wanted to supply logistics, so he asked the saint for a decree a while ago, and he wanted to send a part of the grain and grass collected from Hujin to Hexi, and the minister sent people to urge the grain, which was the excerpt that Mei Long brought back." ”

"The excerpt said that the Qingtian King of Hebei is assembling his troops and horses in the direction of Hujin, and Mei Long claims that the Qingtian King is very likely to attack Hujin, so he is reorganizing his army for war." Ma Hong lowered his head: "He said that the amount of grain and grass collected by Hujin is very small, once the Qingtian King really hits Hujin, Hujin's grain and grass are even more stretched, not only that, but he also wants the court to provide him with grain and grass equipment, so the minister asked the saint to deal with it." ”

Dingwu closed the fold, leaned back in his chair, looked tired, and asked, "Didn't you send someone to investigate, is it true or false that the Hebei bandits are approaching Hujin?" ”

Ma Hong and Lin Yuanfang glanced at each other, and Lin Yuanfang finally said: "Holy Lord, in the opinion of the minister, Mei Long is probably alarmist. ”

"Oh?" Dingwu looked at him, "How can you see it?" ”

"Holy Lord, King Qingtian fought with the Liaodong Army in Fuhai for more than half a year before, and the losses were heavy, and now the Liaodong Army has transferred troops to invade Hexi, it is the time for them to breathe, how can they use their troops lightly at such a time? The court didn't go to beat them, they were already going to burn high incense, how could they still have the burden to beat us? Lin Yuanfang looked disdainful: "And south of Hebei is Fenshui, aren't they worried that Tianmen Dao will attack them from behind?" ”

Dingwu was expressionless, looked at Ma Hong, and asked, "Ma Aiqing, what do you think of what Lin Aiqing said?" ”

"The minister thought that what Lin Butang said hit the nail on the head." Ma Hong said without hesitation: "King Qingtian has great courage, and he doesn't dare to send troops to Hexi lightly at this time, which is self-defeating." The minister thinks that what Mei Long said on the fold is an exaggeration, I'm afraid! He hesitated, but didn't continue.

"I'm afraid of what?" Dingwu asked with a frown.

Ma Hong hesitated for a moment before he said cautiously: "I'm afraid that Mei Long only wants to keep his own one-third of an acre, regardless of the overall situation, and does not take the affairs of the court to heart. ”

Dingwu let out an "oh" and sneered: "Could it be that Hujin is the land of Meilong, not the land of me?" ”

"Damn it!" Ma Hong knew that he was speechless, and kowtowed again and again.

Lin Yuanfang hurriedly said: "The saint is angry, the minister thinks that Ma Butang does not mean this, the minister has the courage to say bluntly, the saint ordered Mei Long to return to Hujin and let him recruit soldiers to raise grain and grass, but so far, Mei Long has not sent a single grain and copper coin to the court. Now on the grounds that the Qingtian King's soldiers are on the border, they in turn ask the court for money, food and equipment, and the courtiers can't share weal and woe with the court, and the minister feels that Mei Long is indeed a bit excessive. ”

Dingwu frowned, raised his hand and said, "Get up and speak." ”

The two got up, Lin Yuanfang took a step forward, and arched his hand: "Shengshang, although I know that I shouldn't say much, but for the sake of Jiangshan Sheji and Shengshang, there are some things that I still have to admonish to the Shengshang." ”

"If you have anything to say, just say it, I'm listening."

"Now that my Great Qin is in a time of crisis, I must be cautious at every step. The minister thought that even if it was Meilong, the imperial court should be careful! ”

Dingwu sighed: "But Mei Long is a loyal minister. ”

"The minister didn't dare to say that he had other thoughts." Lin Yuanfang said: "But when the Holy Lord ascended the throne, Mei Long did not come to Hexi to congratulate the Holy Lord!" ”

Dingwu said: "I issued a decree, the enthronement ceremony, a simple and simple, extraordinary times, officials from all over the country do not have to come to celebrate." ”

"But Meron is a governor after all." Lin Yuanfang said: "The enthronement ceremony is such a big event, and he didn't come in person, so the minister thought that it was really not the duty of the courtier." ”

Dingwu glanced at Ma Hong and motioned for him to bring the tea next to him, Ma Hong hurriedly went over, picked up the teacup, and respectfully presented it to Dingwu.

Dingwu held the teacup before asking, "Lin Aiqing, what do you think should be done?" ”

"Shengshang, Mei Long recruited troops and horses to collect money and grain, this is the will given to him by the imperial court, and he should send the collected money and grain to Hexi." Lin Yuanfang said solemnly: "But if you take advantage of the will of the imperial court to recruit troops and buy horses, but do not provide them to the imperial court, and the ministers dare to speak out, this will be suspected of supporting the army and respecting themselves." ”

Dingwu's eyebrows locked tighter, and when Lin Yuanfang saw this, he added fuel to the fire and said: "Holy Lord, if you let Mei Long go on like this, the minister is only worried that it will cause a catastrophe." ”

"What do you think?"

"The minister thinks that what Mei Long has done has made people feel suspicious, and at an extraordinary time, he would rather be in vain than indulge." Lin Yuanfang is coloring.

Ding Wu said: "But whether Mei Long has the heart of disobedience, it is not clear now, I will not punish a governor without real evidence." ”

Lin Yuanfang and Ma Hong ignored each other, and Ma Hong stepped forward and said cautiously: "Holy Lord, the minister thinks that it is better to take precautions before it happens, this kind of thing, it is better to believe it than not to believe it." If Mei Long really has different ambitions and doesn't make a move now, there will be a tiger over there. The minister thought that he could make a will, so he said that the saint had something to summon him to come to Hexi quickly, and if he came, he could first accuse him in Hexi, and then investigate in detail whether he was loyal or treacherous, and if he could not shirk it, then there would be rebellion. ”

"What Ma Aiqing said is not unreasonable." Dingwu bowed slightly, thoughtful, "But since Meilong can't be used, who will Hujin Dao send to go?" ”

Lin Yuanfang immediately said: "Holy Lord, the minister has the courage to recommend one person. ”

"Oh?" Dingwu smiled and said, "Who does Lin Aiqing want to recommend?" ”

"It's Mabudo." Lin Yuanfang said: "Ma Butang is in charge of the household department, and he is very familiar with the operation of money and grain, so he can let Ma Butang temporarily guard Hujin and raise sufficient money and grain for the imperial court. ”

Dingwu frowned and said: "It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, Hujin has two prefectures under its jurisdiction, and there are few people in the land, and I am afraid that there will not be much grain to collect." ”

"Holy Lord, the minister will definitely dig three feet into the ground to raise enough food and salary for the imperial court." Ma Hong immediately said: "The ministers are loyal to the country, and if they raise a penny more food in Hujin, the pressure on the court will be lighter." ”

"What about Hexi?" Dingwu asked, "Could it be that Ma Aiqing wants to leave this side alone?" ”

"The minister will make proper arrangements and find a suitable person to manage the money and food." Ma Hong said immediately.

Dingwu leaned forward, held the teacup, and said with a smile: "Ma Aiqing is really willing to go to Hexi to share my worries?" ”

"Serve the country loyally, and smear your liver and brains." Ma Hong immediately knelt on the ground, arched his hand and said: "If you accept the grace of the Holy Lord, you will be broken bones, too!" ”

Before he finished speaking, with a "poof", Dingwu suddenly splashed the teacup in his hand forward, and a cup of tea was all splashed on Ma Hong's face.

Lin Yuanfang was stunned for a moment, realized that something was wrong, and had already knelt on the ground and lowered his head.

"It's better to give you my place." Although Dingwu's voice was calm, his tone was indescribably angry, "I didn't expect that until now, you still have the heart to fight for power and make slanderous words in front of me. ”

"The ministers don't dare!" Ma Hong's face turned pale, and he said in a trembling voice: "The ministers are all loyal to the king!" ”

"I have always used people without suspicion, and I don't need to use suspicious people, whether it is Mei Long or the two of you, I treat you equally, and I trust you." Ding Wu looked coldly at the two kneeling in front of him, "But you actually arranged right and wrong in front of me, I am too disappointed in you." Don't you know your intentions? Under my nose, the money and grain accounts of the household department are clear, are you thinking of going to Hujin and squeezing the people, yes or no? ”

"The minister doesn't dare, the minister has no such intention!" The two of them kowtowed like garlic.

Dingwu sneered: "If I really let you go to Hujin, within two months, the people of Hujin will rebel." My Great Qin is in today's predicament, isn't it because you guys have to make inches of progress and force the people to have no way out? I didn't want to hold you accountable for your past crimes, thinking that after all, you have been an official in the court for many years, and I am willing to give you a chance, as long as you serve the country loyally, I can continue to reuse you, but you are unrepentant, my Great Qin is in danger, and you are still thinking about framing Zhongliang to fill your pockets, but you don't know, I want to kill, and the knife is always fast. ”

Lin Yuanfang and the others suddenly turned earthy.

"In order to recruit soldiers and horses, Mei Long has taken out all his family wealth, and is looking for people everywhere in Hujin, begging the local gentry to pay for food, what he has done in Hujin is clear to me, if I listen to your slander and do something to him, it will be a self-cut arm, and the stench will be left for 10,000 years." Dingwu's face was cold and terrifying

The two only knew kowtow, and they didn't dare to say a word.

"I won't kill you now, return to your position, and I'll do my job in peace, but today's events, I won't forget them so quickly, if you are really loyal to your duties from now on, I can not blame the past, otherwise, I will never be spared." Dingwu raised his hand and pointed outward, "Don't get out yet!" ”

The two of them hurriedly kowtowed, and crawled out with a roll.

Stumbled, went out, bumped into Mrs. Liuli who had just gotten off the carriage, saw the two of them lost their souls and ran out of the door, Liuli was a little surprised, but it was still a salute, the two saw Mrs. Liuli, hurriedly saluted, and did not dare to say much, after the salute, turned around and left.

Liuli saw the two of them in the same carriage, and her beautiful eyes turned lightly, thoughtful.

Sitting on the carriage, the two of them had not been able to come back to their senses, and after a long time, Ma Hong sighed: "We almost died there today." ”

Lin Yuanfang raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, sneered, and said in a low voice: "Do you think that if you don't kill us today, the matter will be over?" Dingwu has already moved to kill, Ma Butang, we have a head, maybe we will lose it one day. ”

Mahon lost color and said: "You mean, he! ”

"I wanted to stay away from Hexi, but now it's even more difficult for us to get out." Lin Yuanfang smiled bitterly: "Ma Butang, do we really want to accompany him to the funeral?" ”