At the critical moment of taking inventory of assets - whether it is farmland, pasture, Dingkou, or even treasury silver, it is all very different - it is a very special thing for someone to make a mistake in a panic and accidentally fall to his death. Commonplace things.

Just like the case of Li Guang during the Xiaozong period, the eunuch Li Guang committed suicide by taking poison. When the Metropolitan Procuratorate ransacked his house, they accidentally implicated Tu Fu, the Minister of Civil Affairs, Xu Qiong, the Minister of Rites, Bai Ang, the Minister of Punishment, and Shen Lu, the Minister of General Affairs, etc. After that, several green officials involved died of fear.

However, dying of fear and falling off a building or cliff are relatively common and elegant, but falling on the ground is rough.

What's more, he roughed up two people at the same time.

This obviously lost official dignity and seemed hasty and perfunctory.

The Langzhong appointed to manage the grassland is the accounting officer of the Ministry of Revenue in the grassland, and is usually held by the Langzhong of the Qing Dynasty Department.

Just like the Qing officials in Shaanxi were in charge of the salaries of hundreds of officials, the Qing officials in Shandong were in charge of the world's salt production, the Qing officials in Guizhou were in charge of customs duties in all directions, and the Qing officials in Yunnan were in charge of water transportation and the warehouses of Lin and De.

Such a backbone who specializes in one aspect is definitely not an insignificant person, especially when it comes to matters on the pasture.

Yuanmasi Temple, on the other hand, is under the direct control of the Ministry of War, Palm Garden, Pasture Land, Herdsman, and Horses. The pasture is one of the three types of pasture land.

Tang Guanyuan Masiqing is a high-ranking official of the third rank, wearing a scarlet robe. Even in the Chang Dynasty, he is still a court official who barely has a place.

Now that both of them died suddenly, everyone understands the strangeness.

But being able to straddle two divisions, collude with the camp guards, reach out to the pasture, and emergency fuse the third-grade officers at this moment, the range is actually very small.

This makes it extremely unwise to act like this.

After all, if it is just corruption and there is no fear of life, even if you sit back and wait for death, the outcome will be better than the crazy assassination today - of course it is an assassination. When parties are fighting, suspicion is fact.

Unless... there is something more deadly behind the invasion of the pasture.

While Zhang Hong retreated to invite the other two people, Zhu Yijun was pacing back and forth in the distance, occasionally stopping to squeeze the soil under his feet and thinking silently in his heart.

When the ministers saw that the emperor was entranced, they did not follow him to disturb him. They just stood aside and had their own thoughts.

Xu Guo came close to Xu Jie, who looked like he was watching a show, and casually tried to arouse the latter to talk about sex: "I accidentally fell to death. I don't know why I am so bold."

He glanced at Xu Jie from the corner of his eye, but saw that the old god was there, showing no sign of answering.

Xu Guo had no choice but to turn his face and said to Xu Jie's face: "Master Xu, who do you think is so crazy and crazy?"

As an official in the government, it is very important to see things thoroughly.

Xu Guocai stepped into the position of Minister of the Sixth Ministry. He thought that he was not very successful, so naturally he didn't mind hearing the opinions of this senior fellow from Nanzhili.

Xu Jie looked at the emperor's figure and casually replied softly: "Maybe it's Wang Chonggu?"

Xu Guo was shocked when he heard this and quickly looked at the reactions of his colleagues not far away.

Seeing a group of colleagues subconsciously moving to a distance, he reacted belatedly and said with a smile: "Master Xu, don't be joking. How could the old mainstay of Wang Ge, the cornerstone of the country, do such a thing."

Wang Chonggu may be that bad, but he is definitely not that stupid.

After all, Wangge's family has serious business.

After resuming the practice of Kaizhong, his younger brother Wang Chongde relied on Shandong Yanzheng Yamen to earn a lot of money.

Wang Chongyi made great contributions to the Duoyan Guard incident and granted the emperor a special grant for the maritime silk business from South Zhili to Jizhou and Kuanhe.

After his son Wang Qian became a Jinshi in the fifth year of Wanli, he was sent directly to Chongming Port, waiting to pick peaches from the Chongming Shipping Department.

If you can make a fortune in the world just by doing legal business, why should you pollute the muddy water of a mere pasture?

To put it bluntly, even if Wang Chonggu was really heartless and reached out to the pasture, it would not be possible for him to kill people and silence them. After all, the emperor could only let him return the stolen goods.

It's hard to say that the emperor still bothered to comfort Wang Chonggu, hoping that he would not think too much and continue to serve the country well.

Therefore, it is possible that it is Wang Chonggu, but Xu Guo can only say that it is impossible to be Wang Chonggu.

Xu Jie didn't seem to notice Xu Guo's embarrassment. Instead, he seemed to be in high spirits. He squinted his eyes and said with a smile: "How is it impossible? He is inherently greedy for money."

"Furthermore, if he has the ability to command Yuan Masa Temple and secretly control the Ministry of Household Affairs, the grassland doctor, and has enough prestige to hook up with the camp guards, isn't he, a cabinet scholar who advises on military affairs, just the right person?"

Hearing this, Xu Guo coughed slightly and retorted sternly: "Master Xu's words are wrong. Those who can do something may not do it. These are unnecessary words."

"Furthermore, Wangge Lao is not the only one who is capable. Speaking at a lower level, Yuanma Temple's immediate superiors, Taipusi and the Ministry of War, are probably also closely related and have the same ability."

Yuanma Temple was established in the 30th year of Hongwu. It was originally an independent government office. However, when redundant officials were abolished in the 18th year of Yongle, Yuanma Temple in Beijing was abolished, merged into Taipu, and took charge of the local Yuanma Temple.

Whether it is the several court officials of the Ministry of War or the Minister of Taipusi who is the money bag of the Ministry of War, they are also capable of occupying pastures and killing people.

Therefore, it is very unreasonable and unreasonable for Xu Jie to speculate on Wang Chonggu.

Xu Jie made a sound, twirled his long and white eyebrows, and said meaningfully: "You also know that the Ministry of War has something to do with it..."

"Since Lord Taipusi is here, I will be able to tell the clues when I ask you later."

"On the other hand, Luo Fengxiang, the minister of the Ministry of War, was able to become a minister of the Sixth Ministry of War. Isn't it because he, like Wang Chonggu, is from Puzhou, Shanxi?"

"No matter whether it is the Ministry of War or the Jin Party, there is still no way around Wang Chonggu."

Hearing this, Xu Guo frowned more and more: "Master Xu, be careful what you say."

"Luo Fengxiang was promoted by Yang Xiangyi. When he was promoted from Juren to the fourth rank of Dali Temple Shaoqing, Mr. Wang Ge had not even entered the capital."

"After that, Yang Xiangyi became an official, Luo Fengxiang was promoted from the young minister of Dali Temple to the minister of Taipu Temple, and even the current minister of the Ministry of War was not instructed by Mr. Wangge, but by the Minister of the Ministry of War..."

Halfway through his words, Xu Guo suddenly froze.

He seemed to remember something, and his expression became alarmed and uncertain.

After hesitating for a long time, Xu Guo looked at Xu Jie and asked in a low voice: "Master Xu said..."

He realized belatedly that Xu Jie was following the temptation and reminding himself.

Xu Jie waved his hand, interrupted Xu Guo, and said confidently: "Didn't I doubt Wang Chonggu just because I said it? Minister Xu, don't think too much."

Seeing Xu Guo choking, Xu Jie smiled heartily and in a funny way, then put his hands behind his back, shook his head and walked away.

Xu Guo just chatted and was at ease; Xu Jie also made jokes that had nothing to do with him.

Just because both of them stayed out of it.

But Chen Jingbang, assistant minister of the Ministry of Rongzheng and War, felt much heavier at this time.

He pulled He Luowen aside and said solemnly: "I think this matter is not limited to the pasture, otherwise it is unlikely that even the third-rank officials will fall to death."

Regardless of his status as Minister of the Ministry of War or his duties as co-manager of the military affairs of the capital, these are matters within Chen Jingbang's responsibilities and cannot allow him to relax at this moment.

He Luowen was inspired by his colleague's expression and solemnly said: "It's probably related to the camp guards."

"At the beginning of last year, Li Kezuo gave a note to Qin Yao about the pasture. The pasture should distribute three months of fodder to the soldiers every year. But in fact, after the guards of each battalion received the fodder, most of them sold it to

The traders have no intention of feeding the horses."

Chen Jingbang frowned. Of course he remembered this matter. Although it was a memorial to the etiquette department, it was discussed at the Changchao at that time.

He recalled for a moment and murmured: "I remember that at that time, the Ministry of War was dispatched and the imperial censor checked it. It was said that the troops lived far away and whenever they encountered grass that could not be moved, they sold it and returned to the station to buy more.

.”

This was a reasonable reason, and there was no further investigation at that time - after all, there were many camp guards involved, and the law would not hold everyone accountable.

He Luowen shook his head: "It makes sense, but there are some doubts."

"In addition to the military department and the imperial censor, Jin Yiwei also went to investigate this matter. They said that the market price of each bunch of grass is three and a half cents of silver. As a result, the soldiers often sell ten bunches of grass for less than one cent and four cents."

"It's more than half the price. Even if we go back to the station to buy back horse grass, the horses won't have enough to eat and they will have to endure hunger."

At half the price, the horses are almost eaten, so it's not impossible to keep them, but there is definitely no hope of getting fat and strong.

This matter was told by his younger brother He Luoshu who was a member of Zhongshu Sheren when he came home. The emperor had never bothered to avoid such inconsequential matters, so it could be regarded as the emperor selectively revealing his secrets to foreign dynasties.

daily.

When Chen Jingbang heard this, his expression became more and more suspicious: "You mean, Ma Zheng might be involved?"

Soldiers and horses are not trivial matters when it comes to horse politics.

In particular, it was only twenty-nine years ago that the Tatar troops came to the capital, and it was only more than ten years after the Shizhou Revolution. In these years, Ma Zheng has been the key point of the Ministry of War.

He Luowen shook his head and sighed: "When there is a problem in the pasture, it is just a fool's errand to want Ma Zhengtong to reconcile."

"Furthermore, Yuan Masiqing, who was in charge of Ma Zheng, fell to his death in a hurry. Doesn't this just prove this suspicion?"

Chen Jingbang's expression suddenly changed.

It's not that he couldn't think of it, but that he really didn't want to think about it.

If this is the case, wouldn't there be a huge hole waiting for him as soon as he takes office at the Ministry of War!?

Chen Jingbang was worried, and he and He Luowen were speechless.

Just then.

Zhang Hong led the two of them over from far to near.

Upon seeing this, the ministers silently surrounded the emperor.

"Long live Lord, we've arrived." Zhang Hong bowed and stepped aside.

After Zhu Yijun heard this, he finally stopped twisting the soil and turned around slowly.

I saw two middle-aged officials approaching in awkward steps. One was wearing a scarlet robe, meticulous and official-looking; the other was wearing a green robe, with a thin figure, looking like he had been exposed to the sun and rain.

He had an impression of both of them.
To be continued...