msmithbooks Chapter 632 Killing the Goose to Get the Eggs
Chapter 632 Killing the Goose to Get the Eggs
Jiang Ci smiled faintly: "It's not difficult to find out about this matter. For example, some news about the capital was released a while ago, and I'm afraid it has already reached your Majesty's ears."
Cui Lao calmly took a sip of tea and said, "Oh? Tell me about it."
"Rumor has it that the Cui family has secretly defected to the Rongdi, and has been escorting food, salt, tea, and even weapons to the Rongdi in the past two years."
"boom!"
Mr. Cui placed the teacup heavily on the coffee table beside him, his face looking cold.
"That's nonsense!"
"Who does the person in the Golden Throne Hall believe in?"
Jiang Ci's words instantly awakened Mr. Cui, who remained silent for a long time with an expressionless face.
"Humph, our Cui family has been doing business for generations. We have no complaints about the court not allowing children of aristocratic families to serve as officials. So far, no one in our Cui family has violated the ancestral teachings. It seems that there are people in the capital who can't stand the Cui family being too stable and want to drag us into that quagmire."
Jiang Ci said: "I'm afraid there is another mystery behind this matter."
Old Cui stared at Jiang Ci in silence for a while. As a prince, Jiang Ci must have been paying close attention to what was happening in the capital over the years. From what he said, he must know something.
"how do I say this?"
"Think carefully, what is the most lacking in the Sui Dynasty today?"
Cui Lao fell into deep thought: "After more than two years of natural disasters and man-made disasters, the imperial treasury has long been empty, and what is lacking is naturally silver."
Jiang Ci said lightly, "So the court needs money, and the Cui family, as the leader of the four great families, has the most money. If the treasury can be filled with the Cui family's money, why would the court allow a half-dead King Qi to continue to stir up trouble? After solving the Cui family, will it be difficult to deal with the other three families? The aristocratic families have always been a headache for successive monarchs. Although the children of aristocratic families have never been allowed to serve as officials in the court, how many of the civil and military officials in the court were supported by aristocratic families? How could those in power not know this? It's just that when the court was stable, the people were rich and the country was strong, everyone could maintain superficial peace. Now that the court is turbulent and there are three years of disasters, there is no money in the treasury, and the court will naturally take action against the aristocratic families."
After hearing Jiang Ci's words, Mr. Cui took a breath.
His Majesty has been seriously ill for a long time. The court is facing internal and external troubles and he has not personally attended court to preside over government affairs for a long time. It was thought that he did not have the energy to focus on the aristocratic families for the time being. But if what Jiang Ci said is true, then the loss of this batch of official salt is likely a trap set by His Majesty.
"In your opinion, if this batch of official salt was really made by His Majesty, what will he do next?"
Jiang Ci said in a deep voice: "Frame-up and misdirection of the trouble."
Cui Lao frowned and asked, "How to frame me?"
Jiang Ci chuckled softly, and his slender fingers gently stroked the sachet hanging around his waist.
"Two days before this batch of official salt disappeared, officials from the Salt Transport Bureau sent by the capital happened to arrive in Qingzhou Prefecture. If I'm not mistaken, your lost batch of official salt is already on its way to Rongdi."
"Dangdang!"
Mr. Cui was so startled that he stood up suddenly, and his body hit the coffee table beside him, and the teacup on the table fell to the ground.
"He wants to accuse our Cui family of colluding with foreign enemies. If this is true, then His Majesty's trick of framing us is really brilliant. We, the Cui family, may never think until we die that the person who framed us is His Majesty, to whom we are loyal!"
Jiang Ci said: "I can intercept this batch of official salt and remove all the evidence that is unfavorable to the Cui family. Do you want to make this deal, Mr. Cui?"
Mr. Cui was silent for a moment, then slowly turned his cold eyes towards Jiang Ci.
"Your Highness, how can you prove that what you said is true?"
When Mr. Cui called him "Your Highness", he mentioned Jiang Ci's identity and also hinted that his motives were not pure.
Jiang Ci pulled out a piece of letter paper from his sleeve: "Take a look at this."
Old Cui walked forward, took the paper, unfolded it and took a closer look at it, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"This is the news my informant sent me seven days ago. If you still don't believe it, you can send someone to investigate. It's not hard to find out that they are escorting such a large batch of goods. If you arrange for someone to ride on a Ferghana horse, I'm sure they can catch up with them before they get to Rongcheng."
Cui Lao thought for a moment with a gloomy face: "You said you could help me intercept this batch of official salt, I guess you have already sent someone over?"
"Yes, half a month ago I knew that a batch of goods was secretly sent from Qingzhou to Rongcheng. Later, I found out that this batch of goods was the official salt that Cui's family lost on the way to the capital. The goods that should have been sent to the Salt Transport Bureau were shipped to Rongcheng. It is not difficult to find the trick behind it after a thorough investigation."
Elder Cui nodded: "If I agree to assist Your Highness, when Your Highness ascends to the throne in the future, will you share the same thoughts as the current emperor?"
Jiang Ci smiled slightly: "Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is a bad idea. If it is just to prolong the country's fortune for a few more years, it would be better to tear down this decaying building and rebuild it early."
Elder Cui suddenly laughed: "The Cui family is willing to serve Your Highness. In fact, even if Your Highness did not tell me these things today, I would still help. The grace of Miss Yan saving my life twice is enough for me to take this risk."
Jiang Ci saw that the old man was very sensible. Regardless of whether his last words were sincere or not, he should feel more at ease about the official salt matter for now.
"Half a month ago, I arranged for Prince Wuling to bring people to Rongcheng in person. He will resolve this matter."
Old Cui was slightly shocked. Does this mean that even the Prince of Wuling is loyal to Jiang Ci?
It seems that it is not too late for me to place a bet now.
"Girl Yan, after the New Year, you will come to the capital with me as the eldest daughter of the Cui family."
Yan Shu said gratefully: "Thank you, Grandpa Cui, for your willingness to help."
Elder Cui waved his hand and said, "I have promised before that I will do my best if you need my help. Moreover, now that His Majesty wants to take action against the Cui family, I have no choice but to wade into this muddy water for the prosperity of the entire family."
Soon, Cui Mengsheng rushed into the yard.
"Grandfather, the apricot garden has been tidied up."
"Ah."
Elder Cui looked at Jiang Ci and Yan Shu and said, "Xinghua Garden is the warm room of the Cui Mansion. There is a hot spring pool in the yard. The temperature there is much higher than other places. It is suitable for people who want to recuperate. You can stay there temporarily."
Yan Shu frowned slightly. Mr. Cui said "you all" instead of "you", so who was this Xinghua Garden prepared for?
Jiang Ci seemed particularly calm.
"I'm going to bother you in the next few days."
"We are all family, why should we argue? I just came back from outside and feel a little tired. Mr. Meng, please take Mr. Jiang and Miss Yan to their residence in person."
"Yes! Mr. Jiang, Miss Yan, please come in."
Jiang Ci and Yan Shu said goodbye to Mr. Cui and left the study, then followed Meng Sheng towards the Xinghua Garden.
Along the way, Cui Mengsheng would introduce each courtyard he passed by and who lived there.
"Here we are."
After passing through a plum blossom forest, he saw a very exquisite courtyard. When he arrived at the courtyard, Yan Shu noticed a flower bed in the corner of the courtyard, which was planted with many rare varieties of flowers. Some of the flowers were blooming very beautifully in this season.
A small attic was built next to the flower bed. The attic was not very large, and wisps of smoke were coming out of the window.
Cui Mengsheng pointed to the attic and introduced: "That's the hot spring pool. If Mr. Jiang and Miss Yan feel tired after the long journey, you can go there to soak in the warmth at night. There are two springs under the hot spring pool, and the water is constantly circulating underground spring water."
Yan Shu's eyes lit up and he nodded with interest.
"No wonder I felt a warm feeling as soon as I walked into the courtyard. The flowers and plants in the garden were so green that if I hadn't just come from outside, it would be hard to believe that this was a winter scene."
Cui Mengsheng smiled and said, "Xinghua Garden is my grandfather's favorite place. Even we are not allowed to live here."
After hearing this, Yan Shu was grateful from the bottom of his heart for Mr. Cui's careful care.