Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

He felt a deep weariness.

After the anger subsides, comes calm reflection.

It should be understood that taking action against Huang Shizhong is tantamount to attacking Xun Huiming's reforms.

The reforms were something he tacitly approved of and even supported; they were tools he used to balance the court, suppress the old nobles, and centralize imperial power.

If we completely reject the reform now because of the Huang Shizhong case, it would be tantamount to destroying our own Great Wall, allowing Mu Zheng and his group of military meritors to rise up and causing the court to lose its balance again.

Moreover, the Qinghe County case had just occurred, and the court was already unstable; it was really not advisable to cause any more major turmoil.

The true dragon was caught in a dilemma.

He slowly put down the memorial, closed his eyes, and gently tapped his fingers on the armrest of the dragon throne.

There was dead silence in the hall.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and instructed the trusted eunuch beside him: "Issue my decree to summon Prince Qin, Yan Xi, to the palace for an audience immediately."

He needs to have a serious talk with his son.

He needed to know what Lacey's true purpose was.

……

Half an hour later, Lacey entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"My son, please see your father."

"Rise." The dragon's voice was devoid of emotion. "I have read your memorial."

Lacey stood up and waited for the next part of the story.

Now is a critical moment; Zhenlong's attitude will determine the course of this case.

Instead of directly discussing the case, Zhenlong changed the subject: "Yanxi, what do you think of Grand Tutor Xun's reforms?"

Temptation.

Lacey understood.

He replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Your Majesty, I believe that Grand Tutor Xun's reforms, with their original intention of 'eliminating long-standing abuses and enriching the country and strengthening the military,' were good."

"The Great Yan has been afflicted with a chronic illness for a long time and truly needs a strong medicine."

This answer caused Zhenlong's eyes to flicker slightly.

Unlike Mu Zheng, Lai Xi did not blindly oppose the reform, which surprised him somewhat.

“But!” Lacey suddenly changed the subject.

"Good medicine tastes bitter, and strong medicine needs to be controlled by a skilled doctor."

"If not handled properly, it will not only fail to cure the disease, but may even cause new boils to grow!"

"The original intention of the Equal Transportation Law was to stabilize prices and facilitate the exchange of goods."

"However, in practice, it has given local officials too much power, and once power is unchecked, it breeds corruption."

"In some places, the so-called shipping commissioner's office has become a tool for collusion between officials and merchants to compete with the people for profit."

"They use the name of the state to engage in monopolistic practices, forcibly buying goods at low prices and reselling them at high prices, blocking trade routes and reaping huge profits!"

"The corruption case in the canal transport sector is the biggest malignant tumor that has grown under this kind of rent-seeking."

"It is sucking the blood of the Great Yan and shaking the foundation of our dynasty. If it is not eradicated as soon as possible, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Lacey's words were powerful and resounding.

He did not deny the original intention of the reform, thus avoiding going against the true dragon's intentions.

However, he also pointed out the huge problems that arose at the implementation level of the reform, and the serious consequences they brought.

The dragon listened quietly, his eyes revealing approval.

He discovered that his second son was far more clear-headed and politically astute than he had imagined.

He knows how to weigh options and see the essence of a problem.

"What you say makes sense." The dragon nodded slowly, acknowledging Lacey's analysis.

He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing something.

Finally, he picked up the memorial and handed it back to Lacey.

"Take this memorial back with you."

"The evidence is not enough."

Lacey felt a chill run down her spine.

This is not to say that his evidence was insufficient to convict Huang Shizhong.

Rather, this evidence was insufficient to convince the Emperor to take action against Huang Shizhong, risking political turmoil.

The Emperor needs irrefutable evidence that will leave the world speechless.

He needs a reason that will force him to take action.

"Your subject understands." Lacey accepted the memorial and bowed.

……

Upon returning to the Qin Prince's residence, Lai Xi immediately summoned Yang Wei.

"Yang Wei, you immediately take men and secretly take control of those managers and accountants that Zhou Quan mentioned, who are responsible for supplying money to the Huang family."

"Remember, keep them alive!"

"Also, find out more about the Tongda Chamber of Commerce!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Yang Wei accepted the order, his eyes revealing a murderous intent.

……

Wherever the sun and moon reach, it is scorching earth: Chapter 245: Feint to the East, Attack in the West

After summoning the Second Prince, the Emperor did not take any action.

This undoubtedly gave Xun Huiming and Huang Shizhong a temporary sense of relief.

In their view, Zhenlong was clearly hesitant to act rashly, unwilling to take action against a high-ranking official like Huang Shizhong in order to maintain the overall reform and the stability of the court.

"Grand Tutor, it seems that His Majesty still prioritizes the overall situation." Huang Shizhong said with lingering fear as he poured tea for Xun Huiming at the Huang residence.

"Although the King of Qin came with great force, he is still too inexperienced and does not understand Your Majesty's art of weighing options."

Xun Huiming picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, but his face showed no sign of relief.

"We must not be careless," he said in a deep voice.

"The King of Qin was calm and ruthless, far surpassing his two brothers."

“Since he dared to bring the evidence to the emperor’s attention, he will not let it go easily.”

"Although His Majesty suppressed it this time, he is also waiting for an opportunity that will force him to take action."

Upon hearing this, Huang Shih-chung broke out in a cold sweat again: "Then... what should we do? Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?"

"To sit and wait for death is to wait for death." Xun Huiming put down his teacup, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"We must take the initiative and disrupt his rhythm."

He pondered for a moment and slowly said, "The King of Qin's greatest reliance now is the Canal Transport Rectification Office; all his investigations depend on it."

“We can’t touch his people, but we can cut off his resources at the root and turn his government office into an empty shell.”

"Drawing firewood from under the cauldron?" Huang Shih-chung didn't understand for a moment.

"good."

Xun Huiming explained, "When the Discipline Inspection Commission investigates a case, it needs the cooperation of files and personnel from various departments."

“Starting tomorrow, you, the people of the Ministry of Revenue, will use the excuse of ‘the accounts are complicated and need to be sorted out’ to delay the delivery of the case files.”

"I will also have people from other departments use various excuses to recall the personnel sent to reorganize the company."

"Without files and without manpower, even if he has great abilities, he can only stare blankly at an empty government office."

"Brilliant!" Huang Shih-chung's eyes lit up.

"Grand Tutor's plan is truly brilliant! As long as we can stall for ten or fifteen days until this storm passes, His Majesty will no longer pursue the matter."

“This is only the first step,” Xun Huiming continued.

"The second step is to lure the snake out of its hole."

"When the King of Qin saw that the investigation was being obstructed, he would surely be anxious, and when people are anxious, they are prone to making mistakes."

"You send someone to spread the word that a batch of important accounts of the Tongda Chamber of Commerce are hidden in a secret warehouse in Tongzhou outside the city."

"This is... fake news?"

"Half true, half false," Xun Huiming sneered.

“There is indeed a warehouse belonging to the Tongda Chamber of Commerce there, but it only contains some worthless goods. We must immediately transfer and destroy the real accounts!”

"This fake news is just bait set for him. If he sends someone to investigate, they will surely find nothing."

"Then we can turn the tables and accuse him of 'fabricating charges and framing an official of the imperial court'!"

"Let him go from being the one investigating the case to being investigated!"

Huang Shizhong was completely convinced and immediately bowed, saying, "Grand Tutor, your wisdom and foresight are truly admirable! I will take care of it right away!"

……

The next day, the operation of the canal transport management office indeed encountered resistance.

Lin Yue went to the Ministry of Revenue to retrieve the original files of the canal transport tax revenue. The officials at the Ministry of Revenue smiled and said that the files were being inventoried and asked him to come back in a few days.

Even within the Rectification Department, officials from other departments were asking for leave under the pretext of illness or family matters.

The entire government office suddenly became much quieter.

"Your Highness, they are openly defying us!" Lin Yue angrily reported to Lai Xi.

"These people are absolutely lawless!"

Lacey was looking at a report that Yang Wei had just presented to her. Upon hearing this, she simply smiled faintly and said, "As expected."

"Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone a person."

He put down the intelligence report and said to Lin Yue and Zhang Cheng, "If they want to stall, let them stall; if they want to remove people, let them remove them."

"You two can take this opportunity to review the evidence we already have and make sure it's airtight."

Although Lin Yue and Zhang Cheng were indignant, seeing Lai Xi's confident demeanor, they had no choice but to suppress their anger and obey the order.

After they left, Yang Wei asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, are we really just going to wait here like this?"

“Of course not.” Lacey smiled slyly.

"They're waiting for us impatiently, so we'll deliberately do the opposite of what they want."

"And didn't they prepare a big gift for us?"

He handed the intelligence report to Yang Wei: "Take a look, Grand Tutor Xun has personally shown us the way."

Yang Wei took the intelligence report, which clearly stated: "Important accounts of the Tongda Chamber of Commerce are hidden in the Tongzhou warehouse."

"This is... a trap?" Yang Wei immediately realized.

"**Very close." Lacey nodded.

“They were certain we would send people to investigate, and then they would wait there to arrest us.”

"Then let's..."

"Let's play along." Lacey's lips curled into a smile.

"Since Grand Tutor Xun has so warmly invited us to see the play, how could we possibly refuse?"

He turned to look at Yang Wei and instructed him, word by word, "You will personally lead a team of the most elite men to Tongzhou in a grand manner."

"Remember, make a big fuss. Let the whole city know that our Canal Transport Rectification Office has uncovered the lifeline of the Tongda Chamber of Commerce."

"Making a big show of it?" Yang Wei was puzzled. "Isn't that just telling them we've taken the bait?"