The candles crackled, and Liu Yuan stood up with a smile, picked up a pair of scissors and calmly cut off a section of the wick.

The candlelight illuminated his face, making his features even more gorgeous.

"The old minister said that the letter could not be hidden from your lord for long. The old minister is worthy of being an old minister. Our family thought that it would take another ten days and a half for Mr. Gu to find out." Liu Yuan put down the scissors, straightened the candlestick, and looked sideways. Looking at Gu Changjin, "This matter is also our negligence. We only found out about Liao Rao's hand injury later. A person who has broken his hand tendon will have his handwriting different from before no matter what. No. You can't make another false letter, but the old minister said it was unnecessary."

"Why?"

"At that time, when you came to the Golden Palace for Xu Li'er and his daughter, the old minister said that Pan Xueliang's case must be handed over to you. "Liu Yuan lowered his eyes and looked at Gu Changjin, "Master Gu really did not disappoint the old minister."

"Is it the old minister's order that you sent people to kill Xu Li'er?"

Gu Changjin always felt that there was someone standing behind Liu Yuan. He is a loyal person, but he didn't expect to be an old minister.

"No." Liu Yuan slowly shook his head, "This is a move that our family is good at making decisions. Our family wants Yang Xu to die so much. Seeing that their long-cherished wish is about to come true, we are a little bit uncontrollable. The old minister often said Our family is full of enthusiasm, and that’s true.”

In August, Yangzhou Prefecture released a list of honors, and Pan Xueliang was the last person on the list. In September, Lao Shangshu, holding his sick body in his arms, asked Ying to be the examiner of the examination. In October, a letter written by Liao Rao requesting Lao Shangshu to cheat on the title was sent from Yangzhou to Shangjing. In April of the following year, Pan Xueliang won the Huiyuan.

Even if Pan Xueliang hadn't said "How could it be such a coincidence" when he went to the Tribute Academy, Pan Xueliang would still have been involved in this situation and become an outcast.

"When the old minister was the governor of Zhejiang, he discovered that the maritime troubles along the south coast of the Yangtze River were already in chaos. Pirates from the small countries of Diluo, Liu, and Mi gathered on Sifang Island, and they continued to plunder Dayin's merchant ships in the waters south of the Yangtze River. For this reason, the late emperor launched a sea ban, but unexpectedly these pirates went ashore to plunder." Liu Yuan looked at Gu Changjin and said, "Liao Rao was recommended by the old minister to come to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but his power attracted people's attention, but his people did not like it. In ancient

times, Mr. Gu, do you know why these pirates are constantly being killed? It is for the benefit of the common people of the sea pirates, and it is also for the benefit of the officials and merchants who colluded with the sea pirates. To make this hugely profitable business disappear, it is necessary to make this business unprofitable, or in other words, to make the risk of this profit so high that they are worried about it. Don't dare to act rashly."

Liu Yuandao: "Tell me, Master Gu, how to make this huge profit business disappear? If the pirates are not wiped out, the coastal defense of Dayin will never be peaceful, and the people along the coast will never be peaceful. "

The problem of pirates existed before the founding of the Dayin Dynasty. When Emperor Jiande was in power, the pirates on Sifang Island were the most raging, and they never declined until the years when Prince Qiyuan was in charge of the country.

After Emperor Jiayou ascended the throne, it took him nearly ten years to stabilize Dayin's borders.

Only in recent years, as Emperor Jiayou's body became weaker and weaker day by day, the so-called emperor and ministers of one dynasty, and those who used to do their own duties gradually began to have other thoughts.

"The problem of pirates has existed since ancient times, and it cannot be eliminated with a simple order or a strategy." Gu Changjin said without hesitation: "There are both external and internal causes, so we must adopt both external and internal strategies. . Externally, the pirates of various countries formed an alliance for their own benefit. At the same time, they strengthened the coastal defense of Dayin. As long as Dayin was prosperous, there was no fear of pirates. The people along the coast make profits through legal activities, and at the same time severely punish the internal thieves and remove the moth cancer in the local line in order to pacify the outside world."

Liu Yuan was slightly stunned by Gu Changjin's answer.

It suddenly dawned on me that the old minister had asked Mr. Gu to come to Yangzhou not just to find a way out for Pan Xueliang.

"Indeed, Dayin set up a maritime ban to protect Dayin's maritime merchants from enemy invaders. The maritime trade route was always a gold and silver road. Silk, tea, and porcelain could be sold for one gold in Dayin and could be sold overseas. You can sell hardware and gold, and spices, ivory, and jewelry from overseas are also very popular after they arrive in Dayin."

Liu Yuan gradually smiled, "Such a gold and silver road was cut off, which actually did more harm than good. The original intention of sending Liao Rao to Jiangsu and Zhejiang was to revitalize coastal defense and open up maritime trade routes, but it's a pity. "It

's a pity that Liu Yuan didn't say anything, and there's no need to say it.

"Master Gu already knows Pan Xueliang's identity. When the Water Dragon King died in January last year, the concubine beside him took over the position of the Water Dragon King with lightning speed." Liu Yuanti walked to the tea table, sat down and took a bite. Tea, slowly said: "Jiao Feng's surname is Pan, and she is Pan Xueliang's biological mother. This woman was not well-known in the past, but she acted more ruthlessly than the Water Dragon King. She killed most of the pirates who opposed her within half a month. Liao Rao knew the weakness of the Water Dragon King, but did not know the weakness of Jiao Feng until he found out Pan Xueliang."

Gu Changjin understood instantly.

Liao Rao had a deal with the Water Dragon King. Once the Water Dragon King died, Jiao Feng took over the power of the Water Dragon King, and the previous deal had to be abandoned. In order to control Jiao Feng, Liao Rao turned to Pan Xueliang.

"With Pan Xueliang's talent, he couldn't have passed the provincial examination. It was Liao Rao who put Pan Xueliang's name on the laurel list."

Liu Yuan put down the tea cup, looked at Gu Changjin and said: "Master Gu, at the beginning of the year, General Liang defeated all parties. The Daohai bandits killed thousands of people, and now their reputation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang has gradually surpassed that of Liao Rao. Therefore, Liao Rao needs a victory to restore his reputation to avoid being transferred from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. "

As the governor, once he is removed from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. If he is transferred from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the military power in his hands will be taken over by the next governor, and Liao Rao will be like a tiger with its teeth pulled out.

Gu Changjin said: "You want to find evidence that Liao Rao colluded with the Water Dragon King."

"Yes." Liu Yuandao: "General Liang has received several informant letters in recent years, all of which reported that Liao Rao colluded with the Water Dragon King. However, The information leaked in the letter was limited. It was known that the Water Dragon King would disguise himself as a Dayin man and meet with Liao Rao in secret every year, but he did not know when and where. General Liang now suspected that the informing letters were fake and that someone was deliberately trying to disrupt him. Gu

Changjin frowned, "Do you know who the sender is?"

"I don't know."

Liu Yuan turned the jade ring on his hand and suddenly asked, "Does Mr. Gu know the person behind Liao Yao?" Who is it? Do you know who is ambushing you on the road?"

Gu Changjin stared at the tea in the cup and said calmly, "The Qi family or the Xing family?

" The family is the eldest prince, so Liao Rao must have taken refuge with one of them.

The case between Lao Shangshu and Pan Xueliang was so shocking that the interrogations of the three judicial divisions were all conducted in secret. However, even so, there was no guarantee that someone would have seen the clues.

People like Governor Qi and Xing Shoufu, who had been immersed in the court for a long time, had probably noticed something was wrong from the moment the old minister confessed.

"It's the Qi family." Liu Yuan glanced at Gu Changjin with admiration and said, "The people who ambush the explosives on the road were sent by the Second Prince. Your two senior followers were able to reach Yangzhou smoothly, not just from the Warrior Camp. There are people protecting us, including people from the Xing family. Don’t worry, sir, the people sent by the second prince have been killed by us. "

Liao Rao, the Qi family, and the second prince.

Liao Rao supported the Mi Kingdom pirates headed by the Water Dragon King to compete with the Diluo Haikuo for Sifang Island, and prevented the Diluo Haibu line from becoming dominant. This was not only to stabilize his position as governor, but in fact he was also trying his best to keep his position. troops.

The purpose was to fight for the throne in Beijing after the death of Emperor Jiayou.

Gu Changjin suddenly raised his eyes: "If there is no evidence that Liao Rao colluded with the Water Dragon King, will Eunuch Liu arrest Liao Rao for scientific examination fraud?"

The copper kettle on the small red clay stove said "Gulu" and "Gulu" White steam is coming out.

Liu Yuan's pair of narrow eyes were hidden in the mist, and his expression was difficult to distinguish.

"Yes. After thinking about it, Mr. Gu has understood that from the beginning, Pan Xueliang had no choice. Jiao Feng is his mother, and he will have to repay this debt for his mother sooner or later."

Pan Xueliang's residence in Li Nuan Pavilion of the Supervisory Army Mansion Not far away, in order to protect his safety, Liu Yuan directly dispatched half of the guards from the warrior camp to guard him.

On the way to find Pan Xueliang, Gu Changjin thought about Liu Yuan's words repeatedly.

Pan Xueliang was just an ordinary scholar. Probably the most outrageous thing he had ever done in his life was to go from guild hall to guild hall and rectify the name of the old minister with a stiff neck.

Just because of the mistakes his mother made, does he have to spend his whole life to atone for his sins? His fame will be taken away, his career will be hopeless, and he may even be scorned for the rest of his life.

Gu Changjin felt as if the soles of his feet weighed a thousand pounds.

Pan Xueliang stood anxiously on the corridor, and when he saw Gu Changjin's figure, the worry that had been lingering in his eyebrows for many days finally dissipated.

He walked forward quickly and shouted excitedly: "Master Gu!"

Gu Changjin nodded gently to him: "Go into the room and say it."

After entering the room, Pan Xueliang was about to open the teacup and pour him tea. Gu Changjin But he held it down and said warmly: "No more tea. I already know why you were involved in this fraud case. Do you want to listen?"

The man's voice was calm, and Pan Xueliang's heart tightened.

But this nervousness only lasted for a few breaths, and a look of determination appeared on his face, and he said: "I hope you will tell me, if you really can't escape death, at least the common people don't have to be stupid."

Gu Changjin's Adam's apple raised slightly . , slowly said: "Have you ever heard of a pirate leader named Jiao Feng?"

"Jiao Feng?" Pan Xueliang frowned and shook his head: "I heard my father mention the Water Dragon King once or twice. He was full of evil deeds. "Gu

Changjin is not surprised at all. In order to get ahead, students from poor families spend almost all their time studying the books of sages. Rarely do they have to take care of their studies like those from aristocratic families. You have to take care of things.

"The Water Dragon King had a concubine named 'Jiao Feng'. The Water Dragon King died suddenly last year, and Jiao Feng snatched the position of the Water Dragon King from his adopted sons and became one of the pirate leaders of Sifang Island."

" "Jiao Feng?" Pan Xueliang asked doubtfully, "What does this Jiao Feng have to do with the grassroots?"

As soon as he said this, he was stunned and suddenly remembered some very long memories.

What I remember is a vaguely heroic face.

The heroic woman hugged him and called "Liang'er".

My father said that she was my aunt, and my aunt's name was Hongfeng and Pan Hongfeng.

When his father talked about his little aunt, his face was very sad, and he once told him: "If you can be named on the gold medal list in the future, you will definitely give your little aunt a stick of incense to comfort her soul in heaven."

Pan Xueliang's eyes gradually became stunned . Shock replaced.

His voice was dull and he said: "Master Gu, is that Jiao Feng the aunt of the grassroots, or... the biological mother?"

"She is your mother." Gu Changjin said: "Liao Rao has been colluding with the Water Dragon King for several years. The Water Dragon King died. Later, Jiao Feng took over the power of the Water Dragon King. Liao Rao found out about your existence,

and in order to control her, he set his sights on you. The reason why you are famous in the provincial examination is Liao Rao's work. To gain a person's fame and then bring him under his command is both a favor and a threat.

"My lord, the reason why the Cao Min was selected was because Liao Rao wanted to sell the dragon... Feng was a good person, so he used the Cao Min to control her. The Cao Min was selected as a Gongshi because the old minister wanted to use the Cao Min to collude with foreign enemies. The truth is revealed to the world."

Gu Changjin was noncommittal.

The old minister wants to bring down not only Liao Rao, but also the second prince and the Qi family behind Liao Rao.

Between the eldest prince and the second prince, Lao Shangshu probably chose the eldest prince.

"Liao Rao is an extremely cautious person. The old minister's people have never found any conclusive evidence to prove that he colluded with the Water Dragon King. Liao Rao's letter was forged by the old minister in order to have a backup plan."

Pan Xueliang Staring: "Backhand?"

Gu Changjin said "Hmm": "We can't cure Liao Rao of treason, so we arrested him for the crime of scientific examination fraud. This year's scientific examination fraud case has all the officials in Dayin. Watching. Once convicted, there will be no way to turn around. "

In this way, although it cannot bring down the Qi family, it can at least defeat one of the generals in the hands of the second prince and regain the military power in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Pan Xueliang was stunned again.

At this time, there was no need to pay attention to what Chang Jinming said. He also understood that if Liao Rao was to be arrested for the crime of scientific examination fraud, both he and Lao Shangshu would be guilty and both would plead guilty.

"This is all the truth. I tell you to listen to it, just because you are an innocent person involved in this case. You should know the truth, but you don't have to do anything, and you don't have to be burdened." Gu Changjin said warmly: "Here There are people from the Warrior Camp, so you can stay here with peace of mind. When things happen in Yangzhou, I will take you back to Beijing." After saying this, he turned around and started to walk towards the main entrance.

"Master Gu." Pan Xueliang called him suddenly.

"The common people are willing to plead guilty!"

"Pan Xueliang pleads guilty to Jiayou's twenty-one-year scientific examination fraud case!"