Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 212 Li Qianyou, you are always there for every anti-gang campaign

"The people are going to rebel?"

Listening to this speech that sounded like a crime preview, Li Ming was completely confused.

"Little brother Changsun, are you telling the truth?"

"I can't say it's absolutely true, but there is indeed such a trend among the people." Chang Sunyan's face was serious:

"According to a reliable source, the prominent figures in Chang'an Market, as well as many vendors in the East and West Markets, are now very angry and are planning a riot."

"Who are you targeting? The imperial court?" Fang Xuanling asked immediately.

He also felt it was ridiculous.

It is clear that Your Highness has governed the country very well. Society is peaceful and orderly, and the people are unaware of the war.

What were those unruly people thinking, rebelling in such a peaceful and prosperous era? !
"Not to the court."

Chang Sunyan took a sip of water:

"It's the Sogdians."

Oh... Fang Xuanling nodded slightly in understanding.

It turned out that it was not a conflict between the people and the court.

It was a fight among the lower class people.

It's not a matter of principle.

That is, the court’s policies are already awesome enough. Do the people have any reason to be dissatisfied with the court?

"Why should we target the Sogdians?" Li Ming was not as relaxed as Fang Xuanling and his brows remained frowning.

The Sogdians were one of several ethnic groups in the Western Regions and were good at business.

Although it caused a lot of trouble in the Han area in later generations.

But during the Zhenguan period, these Hu people who had skills were still relatively honest.

It is an important part of the Tang Dynasty's characteristic market economy.

It would also be quite a headache if a big news suddenly came out targeting a specific ethnic group.

"It's because of business." Chang Sun Yan replied.

Fang Xuanling stroked his goatee and asked back:
"Business?"

really?I do not believe.

What kind of business dispute would cause so much outrage?
Li Ming looked at the young secretary and suddenly asked:

"The reliable source you mentioned, could it be Zhi Shi Bu Zhen?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Chang Sunyan started to cough violently:

"Brother Ming, what are you talking about? I have also cross-checked and visited the site, okay?

"Indeed, many people have organized themselves and are preparing to cause chaos in the Sogdian settlements at night."

There was no denial. It turned out that it was first spread from Zhishi Buzhen... Li Ming thought.

The industry is really out of step. It is really not good at doing business, but it is also really well-informed.

For many major events, such as the Jiucheng Palace incident and the money shortage, the initial clues came from him.

interesting……

"Call him."

Li Ming said lightly.

Fang Xuanling raised his eyebrows but did not stop him.

Your Highness naturally knows the priorities of the matter.

His Highness, who is so busy with affairs of state, must have his reasons for taking the time to meet with the Turkic merchant.

…………

Zhi Shi Buzhen was huddled in a corner of the West Market in a daze, wolfing down the meat buns that Chang Sun Yan had bought for him.

He lost all his money again.

But this time it hurt extra.

Because he felt that this time it was not because he was inferior to his opponent in skills, so he had to admit defeat.

He felt like he was being cheated!
By those damned Sogdians!
If I hadn't been hungry and cold for a long time, I wouldn't have had much strength.

He had to join in the effort anyway and work with the people of Chang'an to destroy the Sogdians' lair.

“I failed this time because I was cheated, not because of bad luck or poor skills.

"I will continue after I get my money back..."

Zhi Shibuzhen, who refused to admit defeat, lowered his head and muttered to himself, when he found that a shadow was covering him.

When he looked up, he saw that he was surrounded by the strong and muscular imperial guards.

"Are you Zhi Shi Bu Zhen?" the eunuch asked in a shrill voice.

Zhi Shibuzhen nodded absentmindedly.

"Follow me into the palace."

…………

The skinny Turkic merchant was picked up by a burly imperial guard and escorted to the palace by ferocious soldiers.

I am just an incompetent bankrupt businessman. What unforgivable crime could I have committed to deserve being “invited” to the palace with such a fuss…

Zhi Shibuzhen's mind went blank and he had no idea how he had caused such a big disaster.

He just felt that he was doomed, and the revolving kaleidoscope of life appeared before his eyes.

When it reaches a certain frame, it stops suddenly.

"Reselling palace fabrics?!"

I really remembered the mistake.

He once helped Brother Ming sell stolen goods.

He never asked what Mingge's specific identity was, nor did he ask where these "goods" came from.

But this is self-deception.

Ming Ge obviously had great connections in the palace, and the exquisite cloth and accessories he resold were obviously "smuggled" out of the palace.

Reselling supplies from the palace may sound like a big deal, but it’s actually not small at all.

I really don't know how the Zhenguan Law should be used to judge those who have lost their way.

But it's probably just the difference between beheading and abandoning to the public...

His face was ashen as death, and he was dragged all the way into the imperial palace of the Tang Empire and into a solemn and grand palace.

The hall was magnificent, with several ministers sitting there with serious looks.

The actual ruler of the Tang Empire sat on the throne.

The atmosphere was extremely solemn and dignified.

I was so confused that I lost my consciousness.

He had the illusion that he was reading a folk story from the Western Regions.

If he did anything eye-catching, he would be taken to see the king.

But this is not the Western Regions.

This is the Tang Dynasty.

A prefecture or county is much larger than the tiny so-called "country" in the Western Regions.

The emperor here is not like the king in "Arabian Nights" who would summon a commoner from outside at any time.

So, what kind of crime did I commit... Zhi Shibuzhen lowered his head, feeling like he was about to suffocate.

It was the first time for him to participate in such a serious occasion and the first time for him to be watched by such high-ranking officials.

The gazes of these adults seemed to have infinite pressure, almost crushing him...

"The failure of the step is true."

A familiar voice came from the high dragon couch.

"what?"

Zhi Shibu really couldn't believe his ears and looked up subconsciously.

His eyes widened for a moment, stunned.

The little Turkic merchant actually felt that the ruler of the empire, who sat high on the dragon throne and looked down upon the world, looked a little familiar.

It's more than familiar.

Zhi Shibu really subconsciously told him that the noble man was the "Ming Ge" who resold the palace's supplies to him? !
Although he was much thinner than the last time we met.

But he would recognize those eyes that contained hidden thoughts amidst their innocence even if they turned into ashes.

However, Zhi Shi Bu Zhen did not dare to admit it.

The profiteer turned out to be the emperor in disguise. This kind of story, which was like a fable from the Western Regions, he didn't believe would happen in the Tang Dynasty, let alone to himself...

His Majesty Mingge went to so much trouble to approach me in disguise, it couldn't be that he was doing a sting operation to arrest me, a thief who resells palace supplies, right?

No way, right?

"Zhi Shi Bu Zhen, don't you recognize me? It's me."

When meeting old acquaintances, Li Ming actually felt a sense of nostalgia as if he met an old friend in a foreign land.

It really was Brother Ming... Hearing this familiar and intimate voice, Zhi Shibu almost went up to him, rubbing his hands as he usually did, and complained with a sad face: Brother Ming, I'm bankrupt again.

However, the solemnity of the hall and the solemn appearance of the ministers made Zhishi Buzhen calm down quickly and control himself. His face showed a look of joy and sadness, and he shouted clearly:

"His Majesty."

Li Ming seemed to shudder. There was already a sadly thick barrier between the two of them...

"Ahem." Li Ming coughed dryly and collected his scattered thoughts:

"First of all, I am only the regent, not His Majesty...

"It's urgent, so I won't exchange pleasantries with you.

"'The citizens of Beijing are preparing to launch a collective revenge against the Sumo people'. Did you spread this news?"

It turns out it has nothing to do with me... Zhi Shibu really felt relieved all of a sudden, and his eyes rolled.

Looking at the ministers around him who were like killing gods, he trembled in his heart and immediately confessed:

"Yes Yes!"

Under such heavy pressure, he absolutely dared not lie and wanted to confess every time he wet the bed as a child.

"Where does the conflict between the two sides come from?" Li Ming asked directly.

Beforehand, he had already done a preliminary investigation.

The news that Zhi Shi Buzhen was really correct once again.

In the East and West Markets, there are indeed quite a number of merchants who bear a grudge against the Sumo people and are preparing to "make trouble" in the near future.

The situation is urgent and the case must be investigated as soon as possible to put out the flames of confrontation.

"I was cheated by a few unscrupulous merchants while doing business. To be honest... as Your Highness said, I was also cheated of a few strings of cash."

When talking about his own experience of being cheated, Zhishibu was no longer sleepy, and he recounted his nth bankruptcy experience with a proficiency that made people feel distressed:
"It's not complicated. A few millet merchants deceived us Chang'an people, saying that they were doing a very profitable business.

"But the principal is insufficient, so I'm borrowing money from you. The agreed interest rate is 10% per month..."

Li Ming's eyelids twitched.

High-quality projects + high-interest bait + illegal fundraising——

The elements were maxed out, and a word immediately popped up in his mind:

Pyramid scheme!

"And did you also agree that for every person you introduce to invest in this project, you can receive a commission based on the proportion?"

Li Ming said while suppressing the twitching of his lips.

Zhi Shibu was quite surprised and nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, yes, and then..."

"Then in the first few months, these scammers did pay interest and commissions as agreed to attract more people to invest.

"Until the end, they suddenly left the building and disappeared with the money?"

Zhi Shibuzhen was really shocked.

Not a single word is wrong, the entire process is exactly like this!
Oh my god, how did His Highness Mingge know that!
If Brother Ming hadn't been sitting on the dragon couch now, Zhi Shibu would have really thought that the boy was also an accomplice of the Sumo profiteer!
Not only Zhishi Buzhen, but also the ministers with solemn appearances beside him——

That is, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, Liu Dequan and other investigators——

They all looked at Li Ming with surprise and strangeness.

He was able to figure out such a wicked and evil plot. Can you say that he is worthy of being the Regent?

"Let's get back to the topic." Li Ming changed the subject:

"Do you know who started those people who were about to cause trouble?"

Pyramid schemes have always been a hotbed of financial crimes, and it is difficult to determine their right and wrong.

It is also impossible for the imperial court to give justice to the victims in a short period of time.

The first priority should be to calm the victims as quickly as possible and prevent other innocent people in Sumo from being implicated.

As for the real mastermind of the pyramid scheme, according to general experience, he must have fled long ago and will not be caught for a while.

All the ministers nodded in agreement.

Your Highness is able to clearly prioritize matters and prioritize urgent matters, which is the sign of a wise ruler.

"Well, I know who started it." Zhi Shi Buzhen said frankly.

Li Ming: “Who?”

Zhishi Buzhen: "I."

Li Ming: “?”

Zhishi Buzhen: "I lent the last bit of money I had to those Sumo people. On the morning when the interest was overdue for the first time, I woke up hungry.

"When we went to them to ask for the money, we found that the profiteer had escaped, so we immediately notified other merchants and officials who had been cheated, and organized everyone to prepare to arrest him and recover the losses.

"Later, more and more people gathered, and everyone became angrier and angrier, and they transferred their anger to all the Sumo people..."

Li Ming: "..."

What should I say...

Apart from not being able to make money, Brother Zhishi's other abilities are surprisingly strong...

"Who is the leader of those angry citizens now? Can you invite them to have tea on behalf of the court?"

Li Ming gave the order, looking at Brother Zhishi's cheeks bulging with hunger, and added:
"There is a big reward."

Zhi Shibuzhen's eyes lit up and he kowtowed immediately:

"Thank you, Brother Ming... Your Highness! I'll give you the list right away!"

In full view of everyone, this guy, with trembling hands, drew up a list in court.

They were all "middle class" people with some reputation in Chang'an City. Some of them were elders in the villages around Chang'an, and some were wealthy merchants.

Li Ming was a little surprised that Zhi Shibu could really remember and accurately locate so many people.

"Xiao Yu, I'll leave this matter to you."

He immediately ordered:
“Follow Zhishi Buzhen and find and appease the troublemakers as quickly as possible. Do not use force at will.

"Find out the ins and outs of the matter and register everyone's losses."

Xiao Yu took the order calmly:

"I will obey Jun's orders."

Li Ming looked at the old man's leisurely attitude and threatened:

"Things need to be done quickly. Report to me tomorrow."

Huh? I am about to die, isn't this schedule a bit too rushed... Xiao Yu's face turned pale, and his tone became more urgent:

"Yes!"

Li Ming immediately turned to the Minister of Justice Liu Dequan:
"Cooperate with the Chang'an County Government, enter the area where the Sumo people gather, and search for anyone who is related to this case."

The culprit has run away, but it’s impossible that all his subordinates have run away with him, right?
If you follow the clues, you will always find some clues.

"This won't work."

Zhi Shibuzhen said suddenly.

Swish... everyone in the hall turned their eyes to him.

His Highness Li Ming is now half an emperor.

You dare to contradict His Highness Li Ming in front of everyone. Do you think you are Wei Zheng?
"No...I..." Zhi Shibuzhen realized belatedly that he had said too much and wanted to slap himself.

I got too close to Brother Ming and forgot his current identity...

"No problem." Li Ming waved his hand generously and asked kindly:
"Which step do you think is wrong?"

"Uh..." Zhi Shibu looked at the ministers beside him timidly, lowered his head and dared not speak.

Li Ming frowned.

"Do you think we shouldn't search the settlements of the Sumo people?"

Zhi Shibu didn't dare to say a word. He lowered his head and shook it slightly from side to side.

"Should we first send yamen runners to surround the area where the Sumo people gather and not allow others to enter or leave at will?"

Still shaking his head.

Li Ming's brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and suddenly raised their eyebrows, thinking of another possibility.

"You mean... don't let the Chang'an County Court get involved in this matter?"

Zhi Shibuzhen's expression immediately relaxed and he raised his head.

There is a problem with the Chang'an County Government.

The upper beam is crooked and the lower beams are crooked. The Chang'an County Magistrate, Li Qianyou, has a problem!
Is that guy also involved in this case?

Damn it, why are you always included in every crackdown on organized crime?
Fang Xuanling looked at Li Ming's expression calmly, and before he gave the order, he said:

"His Highness the Regent has issued an order, you all must withdraw and execute it immediately!"

He forcefully drove out all the ministers and Zhishi Buzhen.

Li Ming's eyes suddenly turned cold, but he did not stop him. He just watched Fang Xuanling pretending to be cool quietly.

Only the master and his disciple were left in the hall.

Li Ming crossed his arms and asked:

"Give me a reason why you want to protect Li Qianyou?"

If Fang Xuanling had not driven those people away first, he would have ordered a thorough search of the Chang'an magistrate's residence and government office.

The kind that is upside down.

Fang Xuanling explained slowly:
"Your Majesty has ordered that Li Qianyou must not move."

(End of this chapter)