Great Qin's war against the Xiongnu lasted for more than half a month!
During this period of time, Ying Zheng had been staying in Shangjun and had not returned to the Imperial Palace of Xianyang. Therefore, he had not gone to Ji Han's small farm to freeload twice in a row!
Similarly, Chongzhen did not have the time to go over!
Because he was currently facing a huge problem.
After many days, the grain shortage in the capital of the Ming Dynasty became more and more serious. Chongzhen had once sent people to talk to the major grain merchants in the capital and asked them to sell at a lower price.
However, these grain merchants either scoffed at them and ignored them, or they pretended to agree and secretly went against them. On the surface, they lowered the price, but in reality, they were short of catty and tael. This made the people angry and afraid to say anything.
It just so happened that a few large ships transporting grain from Jiangnan had unexpectedly sunk. When the news reached the capital, panic filled the air!
Countless people rushed into the rice shops to buy high-priced rice, and the grain merchants made a lot of money!
The relief money from the Ministry of Revenue was quickly spent, and the hundreds of thousands of victims who were waiting to be fed had no food to eat.
The entire capital was in chaos!
Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue wrote eight memorials in a day, crying poverty and pretending to be miserable.
He stated that if they did not allocate funds, these hundreds of thousands of disaster victims would starve!
Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the faster Chongzhen wrote the memorial, the angrier he became. He could not help but slap the table and roar,"Bastard, I gave them a million yuan for disaster relief, and they spent it in less than ten days?”
"Don't think that I don't know what's going on outside. The major grain merchants have joined forces to raise the price of grain. I think they are simply lawless!”
"And what happened to the sinking of the grain ship? Why would the ship sink? Didn't the East Chamber find anything?”
Chongzhen's furious roar made all the eunuchs tremble!
There was something fishy about the high grain prices during this period of time.
Even the grain transport ship's accident was strange.
But who dared to say it? Who would dare to investigate?
The eight great merchants of Shanxi were all extremely powerful. They had people inside and outside the court. Which official in the various states did not receive their favors?
Which of the commanders in the various regions did not have a close relationship with them?
If this kind of thing was exposed, it would turn the sky upside down.
"Your Majesty!" Cao Huachun immediately stepped forward and braced himself to answer,""According to the investigation of the East Chamber, the shipwreck in Jiangnan is quite strange. Before many shipwrecks sank, the food had been transferred.”
"At present, the East Chamber has already taken control of the relevant people and is interrogating them for all details. It is suspected that they have a major connection to the Water Transport Bureau, but the main witnesses are unwilling to speak.”
"And of the sixteen large grain merchants and twenty-three medium-sized grain merchants in the capital, all of them have been verified to be hoarding grain for profit!”
"Among them, the Shanxi merchant Fan family has built more than ten secret granaries in the suburbs, hoarding more than a million stones of grain.”
Cao Huachun's every word shocked everyone present!
They all felt that something was wrong. When they thought of Chongzhen's thunderous methods last time, everyone felt a chill down their spines. When this master heard this news, he would probably be even more furious.
"If the witness doesn't want to speak, you can't handle the case? What did I raise you for?"
"Pry open the witness 'mouth immediately. Zhen wants real evidence. If the East Chamber can't do it, let the Brocade Guard do it, so that we don't have to be a dog in the manger!”Chong Zhen scolded angrily.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down!" Cao Huachun quickly promised,"This old servant will interrogate them overnight when I get back. We must pry open the mouths of these dogs and get all the conclusive evidence."”
"I'll give you one day. If you can't investigate this shipwreck case, I'll punish you severely!”Chong Zhen roared angrily.
"Yes, sir!"
Cao Huachun quickly agreed!
"Where's Li Yuanyin? Have we arrived? Announce!"
Chongzhen continued to urge him. In a short while, the commander of the Royal Guards, Li Yuanyin, entered the hall and kowtowed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"No need for formalities!" Chong Zhen's face was ashen." Minister Li, I want you to take over the grain storage case. These grain merchants have hoarded millions of stones of grain for profit. Do they really think I won't dare to kill them?"”
"Immediately dispatch troops to seize their shops, granaries, and the homes of these profiteers. It doesn't matter if there's no evidence.”
"I'll give you the imperial sword. You can act first and report later. Those who dare to resist will be killed without mercy.”
"Yes, sir!"
"I will not fail my mission!"
Li Yuanyin agreed excitedly!
Excitement flashed in his eyes.
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