However, Anichi thought wrong this time!
Northern Qi and Xihu are in a state of food shortage all year round due to their geographical location. Da Qin will give some help in name, but the amount is not much, and it can only be a drop in the bucket.
"My subordinates have neglected their duties. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Although the secret guards found out about Ji's family, they knew that this was not credit because they found out too late.
Zino is an ambitious man. From the fact that he provoked the third princess of Xihu but did not marry her, and from the fact that he had a good relationship with the Emperor of Northern Qi, we can see that he has great ambitions.
The Ji family has been doing very well over the years and said that they will continue to do well. This does not mean that their descendants will also make money for Da Qin, Xihu and Northern Qi. At least not the ambitious Ji Nuo. .
The Ji family has been hoarding grain since the year before last, and this year they have increased the amount of grain hoarded. More than half of the property sold has been turned into grain, and this grain is being quietly transported to Northern Qi.
"I have given you too many opportunities, go down and receive your punishment!" Qin Jiyan said without any doubt.
An Yi was stunned on the spot, knelt on the ground, and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, please, please give me another chance." After handing over all the errands at hand and being replaced by the Wu family, what else can they do in the future
Speaking of this, we have to say how far-sighted the head of the Wu family is. When the Emperor of Qin was unable to place anyone in the Ji family, the Wu family found a nail inside the Ji family, and this time it was thanks to that nail, otherwise the Ji family's affairs would not have been so easy to investigate.
"You... have become more and more incompetent recently." Qin Jiyan became increasingly dissatisfied with the secret guards. Although Gu Qiancheng didn't say anything, he knew very well that the secret guards were so efficient this time, thanks to the Wu family.
"Half of the grain in the Qin Dynasty is in the Ji family, which is more than the grain in the national treasury. What does the Ji family want to do? Rebellion?" Qin Jiyan's face turned pale when he saw the news that the secret guards had found out.
Jin Yiwei and Zi Che didn't dare to take a breath, so they turned around and continued to expand the search area. But when Jin Yiwei and Zi Che suffered successive defeats, the secret guard, who had never been very "reliable", did an outstanding job this time.
The secret guards were ordered to investigate Zino's affairs, and the Ji family had been very active recently, selling most of their property privately. The secret guards followed this line to investigate, and they found out a lot of things.
However, An Yi didn't worry too much. They have followed the emperor for more than ten years and know his temperament very well. Although the emperor is strict, he is most protective of his shortcomings. They are all people who are truly loyal to the emperor. Even if they occasionally make small mistakes and appear to be incompetent, the emperor will not punish them too severely.
Zino was ambitious and powerful. He had secretly hoarded a large amount of grain very early on, and now he was also purchasing grain privately, just to transport the grain to Northern Qi and deliver a fatal blow to Da Qin.
This is a matter that is beneficial to both parties. The Ji family has always done well, and more than 80% of the benefits earned every year are filial contributions to the officials and treasury of Da Qin. Everyone was satisfied with this, and even the emperor acquiesced.
In addition, the emperors of various countries also need such a channel, and the Ji family is also smart. They only sell things that are tacitly approved by the emperors of various countries, and there is a limit to what they can sell even if they strictly prohibit things.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." An Yi was covered in cold sweat, and his face was as white as paper. But as soon as he said two words, he was interrupted by Qin Jiyan, "Leave all the matters in your hands to Wu Yi, and go and receive the punishment yourself." He should let the secret guard understand that without the secret guard, he still has a lot People can use it.
The capital was searched over and over by Jin Yiwei and Zi Che, but they still could not find the spies of the Changsheng Sect, nor the three people from Anfeng Tower. For this reason, Qin Jiyan gave the leader of Jin Yiwei and Zi Che a scolding.
People can do anything if they are hungry. If they really want to control food to death and deny Xihu and Northern Qi a way to survive, it will arouse the anger of the people in the two countries. If they really want to fight, Da Qin will not get any favors at all.
If he was summoned, it meant that Gu Qiancheng had gone to see the Supreme Emperor!
No longer as gentle as before, Qin Jiyan said sternly: "I am too kind to you. Every time I make a mistake, I only give you a small punishment, so that all of you relax. This time, I will not I will punish you severely, and you will still not do your job with all your heart next time.”
He hadn't been this angry in a long time, and Zino had successfully aroused his anger.
An Yi had been following Qin Jiyan for a long time, so he knew Qin Jiyan's temper. Although he was scared, he didn't dare to plead for mercy, so he could only retreat like a crawler.
"Please punish me, Your Majesty." An Yi lowered his head and did not dare to look at Qin Jiyan.
Qin Jiyan was very happy that Zi Che concealed the secrets of An Feng Tower. Seeing that Zi Che had trained|taught the secret guards to be so incompetent made Qin Jiyan even more angry.
But... people will change!
Ji Jiaming is a big businessman on the surface, but secretly he is the biggest smuggler, selling things that are not allowed to be traded in the Three Kingdoms. However, because the Ji family is good at being a good person and shares the interests equally, he only gets the small part, while the big part is given to the senior officials above.
Whether it is Da Qin, Northern Qi or Xihu, there are many people who have taken advantage of the Ji family, and will naturally provide convenience to the Ji family.
The Ji family also sells some grain to the two countries privately every year. The quantity is also not large, at least not enough for the people of the two countries to feed and clothe themselves. It can only ensure that they starve to death less every year.
For example, the Ji family only smuggled a small portion of grain and ironware every year. This could not shake the balance of the three countries, and it could also make food-deficient countries like Xihu and Northern Qi more peaceful.
It's not that Da Qin's spies are incompetent, but the Ji family is in a very delicate position, and it's not easy for Da Qin's spies to find out information about the Ji family. If the Ji family had not made too big a move to sell off their property and transport food privately this time, the secret guards might not have been able to find out.
With this batch of food and grass, not many people in Northern Qi and Xihu will die, so they will not send troops to Da Qin to fight for food. Moreover, the prices of grain sold by the Ji family to Northern Qi and Xihu were not low. Northern Qi and Xihu had to spend a lot of money and valuables in exchange for these grains every year, so that the national treasury was never full.
Fortunately, although it is late, there is still a possibility of remedy. The Ji family's largest batch of food is still in Daqin. If they react quickly enough, they should be able to intercept that batch of food.
After the secret guard left, Qin Jiyan asked someone to announce to the Minister of Hubu, intending to give him a good beating to prevent him from becoming the second secret guard. But before he could say anything, the eunuch hurriedly came to report: "Your Majesty, The Supreme Emperor... summoned Miss Gu for questioning."
Zino was very secretive when doing this, and he had Northern Qi, Changsheng Sect and local officials to cover him, so there was no trace of anything unusual on the surface. If Jun Yian hadn't told him that something was wrong with Ji Nuo, Qin Jiyan and Gu Qiancheng might not have been able to find him for a while.