The carriage of Duke Rongguo Zhao Shikui rushed to Shi Miyuan's mansion. At this time, Lou Yu and Li Xinchuan had been waiting in Shi Miyuan's study for a long time in Shi Miyuan's study.

When Shi Miyuan, who was stooling in his belly, walked into the study, the two of them immediately put down the teacup in their hands and stood up to welcome him.

Shi Miyuan waved his hand casually, then quickly walked to the desk, picked up a letter on it, and said, "You two can see, what is Ye Qing's move?"

Li Xinchuan and Lou Yu were slightly stunned, and finally quickly took the letter from Shi Miyuan.

The two opened the letter, and their eyes unconsciously moved to the lower left corner to look at the name of the writer.

"From the North?" Lou Yi asked in surprise.

Shi Miyuan frowned: "Since Ye Qing recovered the northern part of the country, the Yellow River has flooded with disasters, flooded countless fertile fields, and destroyed them mostly into prefectures and counties. Ye Qing spent a lot of energy and money on water control. Moreover, in recent years, Ye Qing had to fight south and north in addition to controlling water. Where did he get so much money?"

Looking at Li Xinchuan and Lou Yu who were a little surprised, Shi Miyuan took a deep breath and continued to say in a deep voice: "Recruiting soldiers requires money, appease refugees, and building embankments and canals are also expensive. How can a close Yan family support Ye Qing's huge expenses? Now he is going to divert the canal directly to Yanjing. What is his purpose and where does the money come from?"

Lou Yi looked down at the content of the letter, thought for a while and pondered: "Where does the money come from? Xiaguan wondered...whether it was when Li Lifang was appointed as the Minister of Revenue, Ye Qing once advised Kaifeng to be the silver for Liudu..."

"Even if the money allocated by the Ministry of Revenue to Kaifeng Prefecture was misappropriated by Ye Qing at that time, don't forget that the money was said to have been embezzled for the Northern Expedition and was not used in other places. What's more, since Xin Chuan and Xie Shenfu and Han Yanjia went to Kaifeng Prefecture, the emperor had issued an order to stop allocating the silver for the retention capital Kaifeng Prefecture. Even though the northern land has been completely stable under his rule, the taxes in the northern land have always been very light. Even the prefectures and counties that suffered floods are still reducing taxes. There are still a large amount of food on Huainan Road every year to the northern land for relief, so where did Ye Qing get the silver?" Shi Miyuan frowned and said.

Since last year, officials have been going to the northern region for dispatch, and of course, many of them have passed through his Shi Miyuan's path, whether it is to advance or to gain money, but in short, there are many prefectures and counties in the northern region that have his Shi Miyuan's confidant.

But in the past six months, it is difficult for these officials sent to the north to obtain much benefit from the administration of the north. Taxes from all walks of life, even criminal laws, are still firmly controlled by Ye Qing, so even officials sent to the north cannot do it even if they want to collect taxes privately.

So this made Shi Miyuan have to wonder whether Ye Qing concealed the taxes on the books of the North. In fact, he actually taxed the people in the North even more seriously than the taxes from all walks of life in Jiangnan?

If this is the case, it can be explained completely why Ye Qing has never been short of money and has money to support his series of actions in controlling water, building canals, and raising soldiers to fight wars.

Perhaps Shi Miyuan wouldn't care too much about the other things, but once money was involved, even if the north was far away from him, as long as he thought that Ye Qing could collect taxes in the north with one hand, Shi Miyuan would feel as if his money was exploited by Ye Qing.

He could even give in to the affairs of the court, but in terms of money, Shi Miyuan's principle is extremely firm. He will never allow his own interests to be threatened, and he will not want to see Ye Qing richer than him in the north. Even Ye Qing spent all his money on the administration of the north, rather than just like him, Shi Miyuan, either hiding at home or replacing it with restaurants and other places he liked in Lin'an City.

Just like the mentality of losing money if you don’t find it, so when the secret letter from the North was sent to Shi Miyuan, Shi Miyuan realized that the taxes in the North might not be as light as expected. But after Ye Qing made a fake account, he felt a pain unconsciously, as if his money had been taken away by Ye Qing.

Although the northern land is not rich under the rule of the Jin Dynasty and cannot be compared with the Jiangnan routes, it does not mean that there is no oil or water to make!

Ye Qing has been in charge of the northern part for many years. If he really made a fake account and deceived the court, and then gained benefits from it, it would be entirely possible. Otherwise, how could he explain Ye Qing's series of actions of spending money now?

"Although the Xiaguan doesn't know where Ye Qing's money comes from, Xiaguan can roughly guess what Ye Qing wants to clear the canal to Yanjing." Li Xinchuan said in contemplation.

"What will he do?" Shi Miyuan's face was slightly angry. Since he received the secret letter, Shi Miyuan's mood has been as gloomy as the rainy sky outside.

"The canal was first dug and built by the Sui and Tang Canal because of the remarks that Suhu and the emperor were familiar with the world." Li Xinchuan continued with confidence: "Ye Qing advised the court to set Kaifeng as Liudu, but in the end it was fruitless. If it weren't for the officials and Xie Shenfu and Han Yanjia going to Kaifeng Prefecture, the whole court would have been kept in the dark. This matter alone is enough to show that Ye Qing's advice was to deceive the court and the emperor, and his purpose was to greed for the money allocated by the User Department to set Kaifeng Prefecture as Liudu..."

"What is this related to Ye Qing's current construction of rivers and canals to connect to Yanjing?" Shi Miyuan asked impatiently.

Li Xin's legend has been told for a long time, but still did not talk about the key points. Looking at Shi Miyuan's even more displeased expression, he hurriedly explained: "The Zuo Xiang calmed down. According to the analysis of the Xiaguan, the Xiaguan believed that Ye Qing did not value Kaifeng Prefecture at all, but attached great importance to Yanjing. The reason was that Ye Qing did not hesitate to deceive the court and the emperor, but also wanted to be greedy, and embezzled the imperial court to allocate the silver to the Kaifeng Prefecture as the capital... It was to solve the fact that the Northern Expedition had no money available, and his real purpose was obviously the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. So now that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have already belonged to our Song territories, Ye Qing was also granted the title of King of Yanyun by the emperor, and restrained the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and other northern regions. Then, through this Ye Qing, he wanted to build a canal that directly leads to Yanjing. The Xiaguan thought... Ye Qing's real purpose was to set Yanjing as his old nest!"

"Set it as his King Yan's nest?" Shi Miyuan said with a deep brow.

"Yes, the lower officials thought it was exactly this." Li Xinchuan licked his lips and then explained: "The left prime minister should still remember that when Han Tuozhou and Ye Qing fought, Ye Qing was unwilling to give up Huainan Road. At that time, Huainan Road was still divided into two routes, but because of Han Tuozhou and Ye Qing's compromise, Ye Qing was finally merged into one route again. The grain of Huainan Road plus the grain purchased by Ye Qing behind the ground over the years is enough to support the food and clothing of the entire northern people. Now Ye Qing is cultivating a canal that leads to Yanjing. According to Xiaguan's judgment, it is nothing more than to solve the food difficulties in Yanjing and the most important thing..."

"What?" Shi Miyuan asked deeply.

"Ye Qing has been firmly controlling the entire Huainan Road to this day. Since he was granted the title of Queen Yan, although he nominally gave up several routes in the north to allow the court to control the court, the Huainan Road was always firmly controlled by Ye Qing. The reason why Ye Qing did not think about why Ye Qing did this before, but now... the Xiaguan has completely figured it out. Ye Qing firmly controlled the Huainan Road and then opened up the waterway with Yanjing Road, so that he could be closely linked with the court through the Huainan Road, so that he would always be closely connected with the court, rather than... let the people in the world think that Ye Qing had two intentions towards the Song court. In this way, and the north has already been controlled by the court, it is enough to tell the world that Ye Qing is loyal to the Song court, but whether the facts will be like this, the Xiaguan dare not draw a conclusion." Li Xinchuan said as Shi Miyuan, whose expression became more and more gloomy.

"It seems that Ye Qing obviously attaches great importance to Yanjing. Even if it costs a lot to repair the canal directly to Yanjing, Ye Qing obviously wants to do this." Lou Yu glanced at Li Xinchuan, thought for a while and said, "Obviously, Ye Qing also intends to connect the distant Yanjing with Lin'an through water?"

"The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have never belonged to my Song Dynasty. If Ye Qing set Yanjing as his nest, according to the current ability of the court and the relationship between Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures and the relationship between Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures, it is obvious that the court will find it difficult for the court to shake Ye Qing's status and influence in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures. Meng and Jin are concerned about the court, but for Ye Qing, they are the back and the bargaining chips behind Ye Qing. If the court wants to move Ye Qing, they must first consider the Meng and Jin countries behind Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures. Ye Qing can also use Meng and Jin to threaten the court when he realizes that the court has the intention of suppressing him. Just like... Ye Qing is in the Jin Kingdom, which has led to the emperor having to grant Ye Qing the title of King of Yan to compromise." Li Xinchuan agreed with Lou Yu's analysis and nodded and continued to explain.

"In this way, isn't Ye Qing already invincible? He is already in Yanjing and can attack and defend when he retreats? Isn't the court never able to deal with him? "Shi Miyuan's mood seemed even more irritable at this moment.

The door of the study room was pushed open, and the servant reported to Duke Rong, Zhao Shikui, for a visit.

Shi Miyuan frowned and finally said lightly: "Let Duke Rong wait in the front hall."

After the servant left, Shi Miyuan unconsciously paced and pondered in the study: "The river canal that directly connects Yanjing is to connect Yanjing with Lin'an. Obviously, Ye Qing is also coveting... When the wealth in the south is connected, a large number of merchant ships will naturally go north. Ye Qing is in Yanjing, the north, isn't he like an emperor?"

"Yanjing, Ye Qingzhi's life is where he settles down, so he will definitely manage it carefully. Digging the river canal is obviously only his first step. As for what other means will be done next, it will be difficult for the subordinates to figure it out for a while." Li Xinchuan sighed and said.

Shi Miyuan frowned and glanced at Lou Yu and Li Xinchuan, and then said in confusion: "But even so, how can he, Ye Qing, have the money to build the canal? Will he become a silver?"

"The left suspects that Ye Qing has increased the tax on the Northland, perhaps this is the real reason." Lou Yiu said calmly after thinking for a while.

Shi Miyuan nodded after hearing this. Yes, he really couldn't think of where Ye Qing could get money to dig a canal unless he could make money himself, or he could suddenly...

"The nobles of the rich and nobles in the northern part." Shi Miyuan suddenly looked up and said, "Yes, the northern part is so stable now that those Jin people have not had time to follow the Jin people to the Jin Kingdom. The nobles who stayed in the local area may provide Ye Qing with a lot of money. Yes, that's right!"

In the end, Shi Miyuan was even a little furious. From the beginning to the end, he only thought that the northern land under the rule of the Jin people was very poor, so he ignored that even in the poorest places, there would be some wealthy families and nobles, and these people were obviously an important source of money for Ye Qing.

The more he followed this idea, the more angry and upset Shi Miyuan's expression became!

He should have thought of this a long time ago. After all, if this happens, he will not lose in vain over the years...

"No wonder Ye Qing has been in the north for years like a fish in water!" Shi Miyuan shook his head in annoyed state: "No wonder he has always had money to fight, build canals, and buy grain! Ye Qing has been so cheap these years. I'm afraid that Ye Qing's plunder in the north for years... is enough to make him rich enough to rival the country!"

In the end, Shi Miyuan wanted to slap himself a few big mouths. He hated him very much. Why did he never think that for so many years, the northern region was poor, but there were also wealthy families who were investigating and exploiting Ye Qing!

The rain outside the bright Poli window was not diminished at all. At this moment, in Shi Miyuan's eyes, it was like a ingot of white silver that fell into Ye Qing's pocket.

At this time, in Ye’s mansion, Zhu Xi, holding an umbrella in his hand, had a great time having a chat with Ye Qing today. After Ye Qing’s personal visit, the two walked out along the corridor of Ye’s mansion.

It is not a steeper, but it can be seen that Zhu Xi's pace is much lighter at this moment. He looked at Ye Qing who was sending him to him, and asked with a smile: "Actually, I have another thing unknown. I have stayed in Jinan Prefecture and Qufu for a long time. Although you are in the north of Yan, although you are in the north, you have the power to cover the sky, but in terms of wealth... So I really want to know, how to solve the problem of building a canal directly to Yanjing? "

Zhu Xi stopped unconsciously when the corridor was about to end, looked at Ye Qing with a smile and continued to ask: "Even if Huainan Road can provide you with the silver you need for King Yan, the northern land has been in ruins since its recovery. The floods for several years have probably made you anxious? And in recent years, you are spending countless silver you have spent? The Xia Kingdom was destroyed and the King of Yan did make a lot of money, but I am afraid that those are like drops from the bucket for the entire northern land. Now you are going to build Yanjing City and build rivers and canals. King Yan, thank you for your words: Haste.

If you fail to achieve it, you will even suffer from it. When Ying Zheng built the Great Wall and used seven or eight out of ten of the country's taxes. Emperor Yang of Sui dug a canal. Now it seems that although it is beneficial to the country and the people, it obviously ignores the country's taxes and the suffering of the people, which makes the country's roots and genes backfire. Now the King of Yan occupies half of the country. Although the court can serve as a backing,... I believe that the King of Yan may not expect the court to fully support the North? Mongolia and Jin are now eyeing each other again. If it is a waste of money, I may have to remind the King of Yan... to act carefully, so as not to repeat the mistakes of others."

Ye Qing bowed to Zhu Xi with a smile, looked at the rain outside the corridor and sighed, and then said, "Sir, have you forgotten what Ye and Mr. Ye have just discussed? Since Ye returned to Lin'an this time, he was not just for the grand wedding of the emperor..."

"Even if the suppression of Qi, Luodian, and even Dali, the King of Yan could be used to embezzle some of the silver allocated by the court, but in the north, these are probably droppings. Dali is so remote, how much money can be used by the King of Yan? I'm afraid the King of Yan himself would not be too optimistic, right? Besides, these are all based on...it can only be done after you can do it." Zhu Xi put himself in his shoes and thought about Ye Qing.

"What the sir said is right. Ye is really facing the dilemma of insufficient money and food." Ye Qing said with a smile: "It's okay to say that the food is good. As long as this autumn harvest is harvested, the top priority can be basically alleviated. As for money..."

"Where is the King of Yan going to earn it?" Zhu Xi asked calmly, and when the smile on Ye Qing's mouth gradually emerged, Zhu Xi felt instantly as if he had asked another stupid question.

"This matter is not difficult. Ye is going back to Lin'an this time, and he plans to go to Shi's Mansion to get some silver flowers." The originally easy-going smile on Ye Qing's lips showed a faint sense of murderousness in the sound of rain outside the corridor.

Zhu Xi was stunned for a moment, then nodded silently, then sighed slightly, and walked out of the mansion in the rain with an oil-paper umbrella while Ye Qing was sent to him.

Outside the door of Ye's mansion, Zhu Xi's carriage passed by another carriage. Zhu Ye'er quickly walked out of the carriage with an oil-paper umbrella in his hand, looked back at the carriage that was leaving far away, and then quickly ran towards Ye Qing at the door of the mansion.

Looking at the hem of the skirt being wet with rain and a few crystal raindrops on his cheeks, Ye Qing smiled and said, "Why are you free to leave the palace? Is the Empress Dowager who has the order?"

Zhu Ye'er's bright eyes were obviously the most suitable for rainy days. At this time, her beautiful eyes looked full of poetry and a faint sorrow. She smiled at Ye Qingye Qing and said, "I am on the order of the Empress Dowager. If you have any questions, please tell the King of Yan."

"Tell me inside." Ye Qing took the initiative to take the umbrella from Zhu Ye'er's hand, and the two walked side by side into the mansion.

"What's wrong with the Empress Dowager? He actually made you come in the rain?" Ye Qing asked while walking.

"The Empress Dowager asked me to ask you first, are you still suspicious of the Zuo brothers?" Zhu Ye'er glanced at Ye Qing and asked.

Ye Qing glanced at the rain outside the corridor and sighed slightly, "Yes, I do have doubts, but... there is not much evidence."

Zhu Yeer nodded and walked all the way. Since Ye Qing returned to Lin'an and moved into Zhonghe Lane again, although the status of Ye's mansion seemed more majestic with the three words "Yan Wang Mansion" in front of the mansion, the mansion also seemed too cold and deserted because of the lack of the hostess, which always made people unable to associate this huge mansion with a home.

After Zhu Yeer's observation, at this time, even the ones who brought tea and water in the Prince Yan's mansion were soldiers from the Huajia Army, but maids or servants.

"If the King of Yan believes in me, I will add a few maids to the mansion and serve King of Yan on weekdays." Zhu Ye'er said with a smile.

"No need, wouldn't this be good?" Ye Qing's gaze also looked around and looked less gentle, but there was a little more of a rugged and bold front hall of the barracks.

"There are palace maids and eunuchs guarding each day in Xingyuan. If the King of Yan feels that eunuchs are inconvenient, he will send a few palace maids from there." Zhu Yeer said persistently.

In Zhu Yeer's eyes, the entire Yan King's Mansion seemed more correct than a home, than a Yan King's office. Almost all the soldiers were in and out. This made Zhu Yeer feel a little sad about Ye Qing now after seeing this scene.

Seeing Ye Qing shaking his head and refusing, Zhu Yeer continued, "The King of Yan must think seriously before replying to the servants. If the Empress Dowager knew that the dignified Prince Yan Mansion was like this now, I'm afraid it would..."

"Let me think about it, you should tell me what she has intended first." Ye Qing said with a smile. Zhu Ye'er's personality seems gentle and peaceful, but sometimes she is also very stubborn, just like a common problem that every girl has. The common problem in this kind of woman is almost regardless of age or class.

"Duke Rong has entered the palace more and more times these days, and the emperor also trusts Duke Rong, but the Empress Dowager..." Zhu Yeer blinked her bright eyes and shook her head and said, "The Empress Dowager is not very satisfied with Duke Rong. First, although Duke Rong has entered the palace more and more times, he has never thought of paying homage to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager believes that Duke Rong clearly did not take her seriously. Second,... Duke Rong and the Zuo brothers did not know how to do it. Second,...

There is a bit of suspicion. Since you suspected the Zuo brothers, the Empress Dowager ordered my servants and Qingqiu to secretly observe the Zuo brothers. Duke Rongguo entered the palace five times and would definitely find ways to meet the Zuo brothers at least three times. This was not the result of the fact that the slaves and Qingqiu saw it. After Zhao Shikui entered the palace, the Empress Dowager intended to summon the Zuo brothers to Cining Hall, while Zhao Shikui waited until he met the Zuo brothers before leaving the palace."

"Where is King Qing and King Wu?" Ye Qing began to gently tap the tabletop with his fingers.

Zhu Ye'er glanced at Ye Qing's fingers that could not stop tapping the table. After thinking for a while, he said, "I didn't find anything. King Qing was still as usual. Although King Wu often went in and out of the palace because he was granted the title of Queen, he had not made any strange things. Even every time he entered the palace and met the emperor, he would come to visit the empress dowager. Several times the empress dowager refused on the grounds that his phoenix body was poor. But even so, King Wu still went to Cining Hall to pay homage to the empress dowager every time he entered the palace and met the emperor."

"Duke Rong once went to Chang'an, the northern part, and... it was also because of the decree of Emperor Xiaozong, and it was clearly to see the current situation in the northern part, but its main purpose was to win over King Qing and King Wu because of Emperor Xiaozong's will." Ye Qing looked at the rain outside and recalled the past and said, "At that time, Emperor Xiaozong had decided to get rid of me after I returned to Lin'an, and let Duke Rong Zhao Shikui win over King Qing and King Wu, hoping that after eliminating me, Ye Qing, and with the power and influence of the two royal families, King Wu and King Qing, could help the court stabilize the situation in the northern part, so that all the recovered territory would be immediately destroyed to the Jin people after I was eliminated, Ye Qing."

"So... what does King Yan mean?" Zhu Ye'er was a little surprised. Obviously she did not expect that Duke Rong Guo Zhao Shikui had a close relationship with Emperor Xiaozong.

"What I mean is Zhao Shikui, Duke Rong, now he either has the secret decree or the will of Emperor Xiaozong, or he knows very clearly that the rebellion that happened in the palace back then." Ye Qing's expression slowly became solemn, he glanced at Zhu Yeer with a worried look on his face, and continued: "If there were a will, a secret decree, and the various actions of Duke Rong, Zhao Shikui, after returning to Lin'an recently, then the content of the will and the secret decree should not be difficult to guess. It must be nothing more than to get rid of me, Ye Qing. If there was no will, a secret decree, Zhao Shikui also knew about the rebellion of the palace back then, who was the rebel party that night, and I and Han Tuozhou were the rebels that night."

When Zhu Ye'er heard the word "rebel" and was shocked. That night, she also hurried from Gushan to the palace under the order of the Empress Dowager. After Ye Qing killed Han Tuozhou, she helped Ye Qing handle trivial matters in the palace.

"You mean... Duke Rong may also know that I returned to the palace under the order of the Empress Dowager..." Zhu Yeer asked with a frown, and instantly realized that the seriousness of the situation seemed to exceed her and the Empress Dowager's imagination.

"Duke Rong did not appear in the palace that night, so he knew whether the Empress Dowager ordered you to return to the palace to help me was still unsure, but at least it was certain that Zhao Shikui must have known that I coerced Emperor Xiaozong, killed Han Tuozhou, and placed the charge of rebellion on Han Tuozhou." Ye Qing turned around and looked at Zhu Yeer who was a little nervous next to him with a smile.

"Since that's the case, why don't you..." Zhu Ye'er's little hand clenched into a fist, and the blue blood vessels were clearly visible.

"Since the rebellion of the palace that night, I have no chance to do anything to Duke Rong. Emperor Xiaozong's condition is unpredictable. If I attack Duke Rong immediately, once Emperor Xiaozong's condition improves, I will probably be unable to escape the charge of killing the royal family. Moreover, there is a Shi Miyuan who has been hiding in the dark and watching everything, so taking action against Duke Rong will also arouse Shi Miyuan's alertness. Although Shi Miyuan may not be completely clear about what happened that night, with Shi Miyuan's talent, how can I guess the truth of the rebellion that night?" Ye Qing continued.

When Zhu Yeer arrived in the palace that night, Shi Miyuan had already reached a tacit understanding with Ye Qing, so Zhu Yeer always believed that only Ye Qing, she and the Empress Dowager knew the truth when the rebellion that happened in the palace that night.

Zhu Yeer, who was a little incredible, murmured: "In other words, Duke Rong and Shi Miyuan may also know the truth about that year, and... they will also tell the Lord the truth at any time?"

"Yes, if they were willing, they could tell the emperor in principle. And that's why, since the palace changed that night, I did not go to the court, and even did not participate in the emperor's inheritance of the throne. Once I had too close or trusted the emperor's monarch and ministers, it might attract the alertness of the royal family Zhao Shikui or Shi Miyuan. At that time, it was naturally extremely unfavorable for me who was determined to fight the Northern Expedition. So I had to go back to the north first to gain a foothold, and give priority to the Northern Expedition." Ye Qing explained to Zhu Ye'er.

"Then aren't you afraid that they will tell the emperor the truth when you come back this time?" Zhu Ye'er said inexplicably.

Ye Qing lowered his head and smiled, explaining: "Although I am not in Lin'an, it does not mean that I know nothing about Lin'an. King Qing went to Kaifeng Prefecture to set up Liudu, and King Wu kept wandering in Jinan Prefecture, Chang'an Prefecture, and Huainan Road. All of this is my test of the court and the emperor's reaction..."

"At that time, you were quite close to the emperor, because... you gave him a lot of ideas about Han Ying, so the emperor changed his mind a lot about you. In addition, your connection with the emperor was not allowed to pass through to the minister of the Central Secretariat, so all the memorials went directly to the Qizheng Hall, which made it impossible for Duke Rong Zhao Shikui and Shi Miyuan to grasp the relationship between you and the emperor for a while?"
To be continued...