In the following days, Zheng Yi continuously sent people to observe the abbot, Master Fayuan from Tianlong Temple, always keeping track of his whereabouts.

After moving into Yanta Temple, Fayuan continued to preach Buddhist Dharma all day long.

In less than three days, the over one hundred monks at Yanta Temple became his loyal followers, treating him with the respect given to a mentor.

Then he organized a Water and Land Conference at Yanta Temple, spreading Buddhist teachings for seven days.

During these seven days, almost the entire Capital City was shaken.

Numerous commoners, merchants, citizens, and even officials flocked to hear the Dharma.

The Yanta Temple even had to dismantle its walls to accommodate the gathering of believers.

This movement even affected the outskirts of the Capital City, where countless devotees came from just to catch a glimpse of Master Fayuan.

Even in the Imperial Court, many officials began to speak for Fayuan, urging His Majesty to meet him.

As such, Zheng Yi became increasingly wary of Master Fayuan.

And the intelligence Zhao Suling brought back undoubtedly confirmed this point.

When he met Fayuan with the Blood Moon Gu, he deliberately released the Gu, and Fayuan’s reaction was equally unusual.

He unexpectedly called out its name, “Spirit Insect,” and wanted to trade for it with something else, but Zhao Suling firmly refused.

From this, it can be inferred that Fayuan must be a cultivator!

But for the time being, it seemed that Fayuan posed no danger to him, so he decided to let him be.

His attention was now drawn to another matter.

The refugees in Yongzhou had rebelled again!

This time the momentum was even greater, even affecting the surrounding areas like Liangzhou and Shuzhou.

And the outbreak location was intriguing—at the Yongzhou Grand Canal!

Not just the refugees, but even the local county soldiers had joined the rebellion.

Former General of Yongzhou, Li Zhishan, failed in suppressing the refugees and led his troops in rebellion, killing the Imperial Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard stationed on both sides of the Grand Canal, and seizing a large amount of grain and weaponry, sparking a massive uprising.

With the addition of officials and soldiers, the rebels swelled in numbers to hundreds of thousands, attacking the Prefecture City.

By the time Zheng Yi received this intelligence, Chang’an Prefecture had already been overrun!

Among them, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Deputy Commander Lu Lian fought valiantly but died!

The clan of King Yong, Zheng Zonghong, who was stationed in Yongzhou, was killed, and King Yong himself was thrown into a boiling pot by the rebels and devoured!

Zheng Yi immediately ordered to reprimand Miao Xiu and others for their failure in suppression and instructed them to continue leading the army to suppress the rebels in Yongzhou.

At the same time, he deployed the Embroidered Uniform Guard into Yongzhou to investigate the cause of the refugee rebellion.

The Yongzhou Grand Canal was Zheng Yi’s first project under the policy of “work for relief.’

An investment of nearly twenty million taels of silver, along with a large amount of grain and supplies, and yet, despite treating the refugees well, why did they suddenly turn and rebel?

6th Year of Zhengyong, the tenth of June.

Wang Anshi, who was severely injured and escaped by jumping into the river, was rescued by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and swiftly and secretly taken to Baiyu City in the Capital City to be personally received by His Majesty.

“Wang Anshi.”

“Minister, I’m here, cough cough cough…”

At this moment, although Wang Anshi had changed into clean clothes, his face was still pale, his body thin, clearly not recovered from his severe injuries.

“You, as the Chief Historian of Yongzhou Army, tell me, what exactly happened with the refugees in Yongzhou?”

Wang Anshi’s face was full of sorrow, and in the end, he knelt down on the ground with helplessness, bowing his head sobbing: “Your Majesty, I request… the execution of the noble families in Yong and Bingzhou!”

“Nine out of ten, they are not wronged!”

“Oh?”

Zheng Yi frowned and said, “What exactly happened?”

“Your Majesty!”

Wang Anshi took a deep breath and said, “We were tasked with the imperial mission to build the Grand Canal in Yongzhou and Bingzhou, first requiring on-site investigation to determine the position of the Grand Canal.”

“At this time, many local officials and noble families tried every means to obstruct. After Lord Lu produced the Holy Decree and executed three officials, the matter was temporarily put on hold.”

“When the refugees arrived and construction officially began, the officials and clerks in charge of the canal construction site began to secretly sabotage, deducting the daily provisions for the refugees.”

“They even secretly incited the refugees to strike and create disturbances, causing the project to halt for several days.”

“The reason was that our planned Grand Canal required digging through their land, and thus they obstructed us in every way!”

“Hmm?”

Zheng Yi frowned and said, “Did I not say that all land used by the Grand Canal should be purchased with silver or exchanged for land of equivalent area? Why are they still causing trouble?”

“Your Majesty!”

Wang Anshi said, “To complete the Grand Canal, it would take at least eight to ten years, and the silver allocated for land purchase was embezzled by local officials, with less than a tenth reaching the landowners.”

“Thus, the refugees’ grievances increased, forcing Lord Lu to once again produce the Imperial Sword intending to execute the seventeen officials who had been found guilty of embezzlement, but they revolted on the spot!”

“They had already colluded with local county soldiers, attacking us directly while in the midst of the refugees, inciting them to turn against us again.”

“Lord Lu fought to the death, and I was only able to escape by jumping into the Canglong River.”

Zheng Yi asked, “What about Tian Wenjing? Wasn’t he the Grand Canal’s chief director and Imperial Envoy, where is he?”

“Him?!!”

Upon reaching this point, Wang Anshi’s eyes were filled with hatred as he gritted his teeth and said, “The mastermind of the Yongzhou Grand Canal rebellion is this very person!”

“What?”

Zheng Yi was shocked and said, “He was the Imperial Envoy appointed by me, how could he…”

“Your Majesty, you have been deceived by Tian Wenjing!”

Wang Anshi cried, “From the moment Tian Wenjing arrived in Yongzhou, every day he was invited by the local officials and noble families of Yongzhou for feasting and was almost always indulging in banquets and entertainment houses.”

“Moreover, Lord Lu found seven properties owned by Tian Wenjing in Chang’an Prefecture, Yanchang County, Datong County, Jinyang County, etc., and each property hid large amounts of gold and silver and housed young, beautiful women!”

“This person has already regarded the entire Yongzhou Grand Canal as his own private property…”

“Outrageous!”

With a “bang,” Zheng Yi slammed the table in front of him into pieces, and Wang Anshi looked at Zheng Yi in shock.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty has such Martial Arts Cultivation?

“Elder Chen!”

“This old servant is here!”

A black-clothed old man appeared silently in front of Wang Anshi, startling him.

“Inform Chen Zhong and Chen Yi, who are still in Yongzhou, to verify everything Wang Anshi just said, especially the properties under Tian Wenjing’s name!”

“Once verified, capture Tian Wenjing immediately. If alive, we demand to see the person; if dead, we demand to see the corpse!”

“Yes!”

After Chen Liancang left, Wang Anshi said again, “Your Majesty, the riot in Yongzhou this time was caused entirely by the oppression from the local noble families.”

“The refugees are ignorant and were deceived by these noble families. I beg Your Majesty to show them mercy.”

“Noble families…”

Zheng Yi murmured, “Isn’t the construction of the Yongzhou Grand Canal a good thing for both Yong and Bing two states?”

“Once the Grand Canal is opened, it can divert the waters of the Canglong River to irrigate thousands of miles of fertile land, transforming Yong and Bing into granaries. Why would they obstruct it?”

Wang Anshi shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, what you foresee is the future of the Great Yu, the well-being of its millions of impoverished subjects.”

“But the noble landlords of Yong and Bing only see their current personal interests.”

“During the construction of the Grand Canal, many lands are occupied, yet many lands lie outside the canal’s scope, and the court won’t compensate for those.”

“Additionally, there’s the allocation of grain taxes, land taxes, floods from the Canglong River, refugee stability, and so forth — all matters that damage their interests.”

“Not to mention the smuggling routes.”

Wang Anshi continued, “The two states of Yong and Bing are located at the frontier, partly connecting Wu Country, Xueyun Country, and several small countries in the Western Regions.”

“These noble families often exploit their own developed trade routes to smuggle salt, iron, tea, silk, and so on, reaping quite a profit.”

“If the court were to successfully develop the Yongzhou Grand Canal, it would inevitably draw its attention, leading to the establishment of tax offices here, border control, and possibly even military garrisons.”

“By then, their trade routes would be severed, and all their secrets would be exposed to the court.”

“Hence, they conspire together to secretly corrupt canal officials and even covertly fund rebellions, just to protect their interests.”

“To defeat the armies of Miao Xiu and Shi Heilang, they even provide the rebels with weapons and armor!”

“Hmm?”

Zheng Yi suddenly raised his voice, “Weapons, armor? Where did they get them?”

Wang Anshi said bitterly, “Your Majesty! Have you never wondered why the Wu Country army could so easily breach the Canglong River, break through border checkpoints, and raid deep into Great Yu’s heartland?”

“Moreover, how did they dispose of the gold, silver, money, cattle, and livestock they looted?”

“Apart from certain gatekeeping officers secretly allowing passage, the noble families of Bingzhou are also culpably connected, particularly the Bing Merchants!”

“Bing Merchants?”

“Yes!”

Wang Anshi said, “The Bing Merchants are a trade organization spontaneously formed by the noble families and merchants of Bingzhou, dealing year-round across Great Yu, Wu Country, Xueyun Country, and Wei Country.”

“Great Yu’s tea, refined salt, even iron goods, armor, etc., are all subjects of their trade.”

“Even the defense maps of Great Yu’s border defenses, the number of officers and soldiers at each checkpoint, military drills, etc., they can trade!”

“The Wu Country’s longstanding invasion and their ability to tie down our tens of thousands of troops have this group of traitorous merchants behind it!”

“Is this true?”

Zheng Yi asked solemnly; he had previously thought these noble families just long-standing families maintaining their fortune through poetry, propriety, farming, and commercial organizations.

Now, it seemed, this wasn’t the case at all.

They had long prioritized their family interests above those of the state.

For their family’s benefit, they could even betray their country.

This group of noble families is indeed reprehensible!

Bing Merchants!

Zheng Yi closed his eyes, continuously pondering the true causes of the turmoil in the six northern states over these years.

Behind it indeed lay the shadows of these noble families!

Zheng Yi asked, “Do you have solid evidence for what you say?”

Wang Anshi shook his head wryly and said, “Your Majesty, these noble families have been entrenched for years, and have developed an inseparable relationship with local officials and garrison commanders.”

“Even in the court, they have many people.”

“Many loyal reports have been submitted, but the memorials never reach Your Majesty’s hand and are intercepted halfway.”

“If you don’t believe it, you could send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.”

“More than fifty percent of the land in the six northern states is occupied by local landlords and noble families, so the state can’t collect any taxes.”

“And their trade caravans have been parasitically draining Great Yu’s lifeblood all along…”

Listening to Wang Anshi, Zheng Yi also shook his head.

The dynasty, over three hundred years old, was already on an unfamiliar path due to severe land consolidation.

These matters he had long known in his heart.

But he hadn’t realized the extent of it!

“Rise, beloved official!”

Zheng Yi stepped forward and gently helped him up, “Beloved official, why do you speak of these things?”

“For the sake of the people, Your Majesty!”

“The people…”

Zheng Yi murmured, finally showing a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“Great Yu has nourished talents for over three hundred sixty years, and now they finally have those who uphold integrity and righteousness!”

“Wang Anshi, would you be willing to be that person who supports the court and mends the vault of heaven?”

Wang Anshi took a step back, adjusted his attire, and knelt deeply, “I am willing!”

“Good!”

Zheng Yi clapped his hands, “Then I will trust you once, giving you my greatest confidence. So long as you do not betray me, I will never forsake you!”

“I am overwhelmed with fear and trembling!”

“You are still young; you must experience more trials before you can fulfill your ambitions.”

Zheng Yi said, “In the Six Ministries, where would you like to go? You can choose as you please.”

“The Ministry of Revenue.”

Wang Anshi replied succinctly, “The world runs for profit; I wish to enter the Ministry of Revenue to secretly investigate land nationwide.”

“As long as we stabilize land, we can stabilize taxes, thereby stabilizing Great Yu!”

“Good!”

Zheng Yi said, “Then you shall be appointed to the Ministry of Revenue, as Minister of the Ministry.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Wang Anshi slowly departed, while Zheng Yi watched his back and said solemnly, “Cheng’en.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Secretly ensure Wang Anshi’s safety.”

“Yes.”

“One more thing.”

“Please specify, Your Majesty.”

“Convey my secret decree to Xu Mujun and let Grand General Xu search thoroughly at Black Mountain Pass for evidence of collusion between the Bing Merchants and Wu Country.”

“Yes!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep