When Qi Ning returned to the Hou Mansion, Tang Nuo had already been taken back to the house from Yong'an Hall. In order to find the antidote this time, Tang Nuo's energy was very weak and it was inevitable that he would have to rest for a few days to recover.
Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang, on the other hand, went out to pursue their traces. Now that they had returned long ago, there was no trace of Duan Canghai and others, so they could only arrange for someone to find Duan Canghai and his party.
Fortunately, the guards of Jinyihou Mansion have their own marks. After leaving the city, they will leave some marks on the way that are not easy for others to detect. It is easy for our own people to follow the traces.
The disaster that was supposed to cause a huge change was completely eliminated at the end of the day. Only then did Qi Ning feel completely relaxed and had a good sleep that night.
The next morning, someone from the palace was sent to pass the news. Qining tidied up and then entered the palace, thinking that the emperor wanted to know the progress of the epidemic.
After entering the palace, he went to the imperial study room and found that there were more than ten ministers in the imperial study room, including Marquis Zhongyi and King Huainan.
When Qi Ning came in, Lu Xiao, the Minister of War, was standing in the middle, seeming to be reporting something. After Qi Ning came in, all the ministers' eyes were focused on Qi Ning.
Qi Ning saw a man in his fifties standing opposite Lu Xiao, with a fluttering black beard, tall and thin figure, not squinting, and a handsome appearance. He felt somewhat familiar, and suddenly thought of the look between this man's eyebrows. He was actually 67% similar to Dou Lianzhong, and I wondered if this person was Dou Kui, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
Seeing Qi Ning come in, Longtai's eyes brightened slightly, but his expression was still very calm. After Qi Ning saw him, he stood under the Marquis of Zhongyi as he did last time. This time, however, Wuxiang Marquis Su Zhen was nowhere to be seen. He knew that The detoxification method came out yesterday, and the Marquis of Wuxiang should have been detoxified, and he should be recuperating in his mansion now.
The ministers did not say anything. Longtai motioned to Lu Xiao to continue. Lu Xiao then continued: "If we don't destroy them quickly, I'm afraid it will lead to a large-scale rebellion in other Miao caves. In my opinion, we want to kill the chickens to scare the monkeys."
Qi Ning only thought that this Lu Shilang was admonishing to send troops to encircle and suppress the Black Lotus Holy Cult. He thought that this guy was also determined. However, Anao was rescued by Zhuo Qianyi in the Shenhou Mansion, which was naturally a great blow to the court. It's exciting, and it gives the main militants like Lu Xiao a big reason.
He couldn't help but glance down, only to see Ximen Wuhen lowering his head, calm and calm. When he looked over, he saw Ximen Wuhen also looking at him. The two people's eyes met, Ximen Wuhen Showing a faint smile, Qin Ning also smiled reluctantly, but in his heart, he was thinking that I was held hostage in your Shenhou Mansion last time. Why don't you, an old guy, prepare some gifts to come and take a look
"Marquis Zhongyi, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Qining suddenly heard Long Tai speak and recovered his mind.
Marquis Zhongyi said: "Your Majesty, I have always believed that the weapon of a soldier should not be used lightly as a last resort. The Huamiao Black Rock Cave is among the seventy-two Miao caves. It is also a relatively powerful Miao cave. It was used by the imperial court at that time. I have also made great achievements, but this time something like this happened, should I send someone to find out the situation first?"
Qi Ning was startled. He originally thought that Lu Xiao was advising him to send troops against the Black Lotus Holy Sect, but according to Marquis Zhongyi, it seemed that he was not targeting the Black Lotus Holy Sect, but the Black Cave in the Flower Miao.
He knew that the Black Lotus Holy Cult came from the Hei Miao people. When did the Hua Miao people cause trouble again
"Old Marquis, all the papers have been sent to me. I thought the matter was very clear." Lu Xiao said: "In any case, killing the officials of the imperial court is a huge reason. It is also treason. If the imperial court Turning a blind eye to this matter, other Miao Dongs saw that the court reacted like this and thought that the court was weak and would become more courageous. In addition, the Black Lotus Holy Cult was provoking it, and it would soon lead to a huge disaster. For those barbarians, just We can only act cruelly, kill the chickens to scare the monkeys, and destroy the Black Rock Cave. Then other caves of the Miao people will definitely be frightened by the imperial court."
Qi Ning was surprised, thinking to himself that Huamiao Heiyan Cave actually killed court officials. This was really no small matter. He couldn't help but ask: "Master Lu, is the evidence that Heiyan Cave killed court officials conclusive?"
Lu Xiao knew that Qining had just arrived and was not clear about the matter. He nodded slightly and then said to Longtai: "Your Majesty, the messenger sent by the King of Shu is very clear about this matter. Do you want to summon him to explain it in detail?"
Longtai looked serious and said, "Let the messenger come in and make it clear."
At that moment, a messenger from the King of Shu was sent to the imperial study. Not long after, he saw a messenger coming in a hurry. After entering, he did not dare to raise his head. The eunuch led him to the front, knelt down on the ground, and kowtowed: "Xu Guanfeng, the villain of Jinguan Guard School, pays homage to the emperor. Long live my emperor." His forehead was on the ground, his buttocks rose up, and his burly figure was lying on the ground like a big toad.
When he first came in, Qi Ning recognized at a glance that Xu Guanfeng was the Sichuan Army Colonel whom he met at the wine shop on his way back to Beijing last time.
"Xu Guanfeng, please tell me everything you know about the rebellion in Heiyan Cave." Lu Xiao said solemnly: "If there is any mistake, you will be punished severely."
Xu Guanfeng didn't dare to raise his head, but stuck his butt out and said: "I don't dare to deceive you in the slightest. To inform your Majesty, Heiyan Cave is the Hua Miaomiao Cave that lives in Heiyan Ridge. There are six villages in total. The six villages added together, there are six or seven." Thousands of people.”
Lu Xiao said: "There is no need to introduce these. Heiyan Cave made great contributions to the imperial court back then, and the imperial court rewarded them for this, and exempted them from taxes for five years." He actually glanced at Qining and said: "Everything in the court and the government is aware of this matter, and Marquis Jinyi is even more aware of it."
Qi Ning frowned, thinking that I had never even heard of Huamiao Black Cave before, how could I know it so well? What does this have to do with me
The old Zhongyi Hou said calmly: "Why did Black Rock Village kill officials?"
Xu Guanfeng said: "Heiyan Village has made great contributions to the imperial court, so it has always been a bit arrogant. Not only does it not take other Miaodong in the eyes, but even the officials of the imperial court do not care." After a pause, he continued. : "The imperial court exempted them from taxes for five years, but after the expiration, they still delayed for several years, but the local officials couldn't say much."
The King of Huainan said: "Collecting taxes is the responsibility of local officials. If resisting taxes is tantamount to rebellion, why don't you dare to say so?"
Xu Guanfeng hesitated for a moment and then said: "Actually... I'm actually worried about Jin Yihou...!"
For a moment, everyone's eyes turned to Qi Ning, and even the young emperor Longtai also glanced at Qi Ning. Qi Ning thought that the matter had nothing to do with him, and it was inconvenient for him to say anything about such important court matters, but he didn't expect that Xu Guanfeng would actually mention it. When the matter came to Jin Yihou, he couldn't help but frown and said, "What does this have to do with Jin Yihou?"
The King of Huainan smiled and said: "Don't you know, Lord Marquis? When the old Marquis of Jinyi conquered Xichuan, he was frustrated for a time because of the dangerous terrain and many passes in Xichuan. Later, the old Marquis came into contact with the Hua Miao people's Black Rock Cave, and the Black Cave helped him The Marquis became the guide of the Chu army. They knew the complex terrain of Xichuan very well, and could go deep into the hinterland of Xichuan to learn intelligence. From this, the old Marquis in Jinyi fought consecutive victories in Xichuan, and even once came to the city of Chengdu. If not Black Rock Cave, the old marquis’s expedition may not go so smoothly.”
Only then did Qi Ning suddenly realize.
At that time, the King of Shu, the Li family, was entrenched in Xichuan and became the local emperor of Xichuan. After the Xiao family pacified the area south of the Yangtze River, Li family was naturally not allowed to continue to be an independent king in Xichuan. Moreover, the Southern Chu and the Northern Han Dynasty were competing with each other. If Xichuan Uncertain, Nan Chu's flanks were waiting for a knife to withstand them at all times, so they sent the old marquis in Jinyi to march westward and pacify Xichuan.
Qi Ning is well aware of those past events. He knows that the Li family was still resisting in Xichuan back then. The Jinyi Marquis's expedition in Xichuan did not go smoothly at the beginning, and both sides lost troops and generals. For this reason, until now, Jinyi Marquis Qi's family and The Li family of the king of Shu also still had no contact with each other, and their power was like fire and water.
He also knew that the old marquis later won consecutive battles and reached the city of Chengdu. At that time, the Northern Han people did a great favor to the Li family of Xichuan. In order to deal with the Northern Han people, Southern Chu had to stop its conquest of Xichuan, and the Li family of Xichuan When the Han Dynasty got a breather, they did not continue to be hostile to Nanchu. Instead, they took the initiative to submit to Nanchu.
Later, the old Marquis was able to win consecutive battles, but it was because some of the local Miao people were used by the old Marquis. Now it seems that the Huamiao Black Cave was naturally one of the troops that assisted the old Marquis in his conquest of Shu.
Qining knew a lot about this past incident, and at this time he also understood why Lu Xiao and King Huainan said that Heiyan Cave was involved with Jinyi Hou.
He was a little indifferent at first, but now he became concerned.
Xu Guanfeng said: "Heiyandong helped the imperial court and worked under Jinyihou, so he always relied on Jinyihou as his backer. Although he could not be said to be arrogant, he was also very arrogant. Five years later, local officials went to Heiyanling to collect taxes. , but they delayed it again and again, looking for various reasons, and delayed it for several years. Later, the governor invited the cave owner of the Black Rock Cave to go to the governor's house to persuade him, and only charged 70% of the original price of the Black Rock Cave. Taxation settled the matter.”
Qi Ning listened to Xu Guanfeng's words very smoothly, without any hesitation, as if he was endorsing it, knowing that this guy had already memorized what he had reported to the court in advance.
"In this case, why did the killing of court officials happen?" Lu Xiao asked in a deep voice.
Xu Guanfeng said: "In recent years, due to the war with the Northern Han people, the imperial court has increased taxes in Xichuan by 20%, so it is inevitable that the local government will increase taxes on Heiyan Cave. However, the Hua Miao people are fierce and barbaric, and the owner of Heiyan Cave not only did not pay an increase in taxes. On the contrary, they have refused to pay taxes since two years ago. Three months ago, when the local tax collectors went to collect taxes, they actually got into an argument with the tax collectors and injured the tax collectors. Bai Tangling, the magistrate of Danba County, saw what had happened in Heiyan Cave. Having done meritorious service for the imperial court, he personally took a few people to Heiyan Ridge, but...!" At this point, he paused and then slowly said: "But all the people who went there were actually killed by Heiyan Cave. "
There was silence for a while in the royal study room. The tall and thin official whom Qin Ning suspected to be Dou Kui who had never said a word finally asked: "It's just the Miao people. They violently resist taxes and kill local officials. That is already treason. Wei Why didn’t the governor first send troops to arrest the owner of the Black Rock Cave and send him to the capital for questioning?”
Xu Guanfeng said: "Wei Governor also wants to send troops, but... firstly, Heiyan Cave has done great service to the court and has a deep connection with Jinyihou. If he does not report it to the court in advance, he may cause trouble. Secondly, Heiyan Cave is very popular among the Hua Miao people. It has prestige, and if it is not handled carefully, it may cause chaos, so after the king of Shu and the governor discussed it, he sent a villain to come to the capital to report it first."
Qi Ning saw that Xu Guanfeng kept saying the same thing to Marquis Jinyi, and couldn't help but sneered: "Xu Guanfeng, did King Shu teach you these words word by word, or did Governor Wei teach you? You couldn't have come up with it yourself. Bar?"
Xu Guanfeng felt that the voice was very familiar. He raised his head slightly and looked around. He saw a young court official in splendid clothes and jade belt staring at him with sharp eyes. When Xu Guanfeng saw that face, he found that it was extremely familiar. Suddenly, his body Shocked, his face changed drastically, and his eyes were filled with fear.