Zhou Ting came to present the memorial, calmly, but when Lin Yuanfang and Ma Hong arrived, they seemed very panicked.

"The emperor said that the governor of Hujin Meilong came here, and the food and grass collected in Hujin could not be transported to Hexi." Ma Hong submitted the Meilong letter with both hands.

Dingwu brows tightly, took the note, glanced a few times, his face changed slightly, and asked, "Is what he said true?"

"I don't know." Ma Hong said: "Mei Long, in accordance with the will of the court, recruited troops and horses in Hujin, raised food and grass. I was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and needed to provide logistics. Therefore, I asked the emperor for decree to draw a part of the food and grass collected from Hujin to Hexi. I sent someone to urge the grain. This is the memorandum that Mei Long brought back."

"The memorial said that the King of Qingtian in Hebei is gathering his troops towards Hujin. Meilong claimed that the King of Qingtian is likely to attack Hujin, so he is preparing for war." Ma Hong lowered his head: "He said that the amount of food and grass collected by Hujin is very small. Once the King of Qingtian really hit Hujin, Hujin's food and grass are even more difficult. Not only that, he also needs the court to provide him with food and grass equipment, so I asked the emperor to report to the emperor what to do."

Dingwu closed the note, leaned on the chair, looked tired, and asked, "Didn't you send someone to inquire about the Hebei bandits approaching Hujin? Is it true or false?"

Ma Hong and Lin Yuanfang looked at each other, and Lin Yuanfang finally said, "Master, in the opinion of the minister, Mei Long is probably exaggerating."

"Oh?" Dingwu looked at him, "How can I see it?"

"Master, the Qingtian King fought with the Liaodong Army in Fuhai for more than half a year, and suffered heavy losses. Now the Liaodong Army dispatched troops to invade Hexi. It is their time to breathe. How could they use troops easily at this time? The court did not attack them, they were already burning incense, so how could they have the burden to attack us?" Lin Yuanfang looked disdainful: "And there is Fen River south of Hebei. Aren't they worried that Tianmen Dao would attack them from behind?"

Dingwu looked at Ma Hong with expressionless expression and asked, "Ma Aiqing, what do you think Lin Aiqing said?"

"I think what Linbutang said was a sharp pain." Ma Hong said without hesitation: "Even if the King of Qingtian is brave, he would not dare to send troops to Hexi easily at this time, that would be a destruction. I think what Meilong wrote in the memorial is an exaggeration, I am afraid!" He hesitated for a moment and did not continue to say it.

"I'm afraid what?" Dingwu asked with a frown.

Ma Hong hesitated for a moment before saying carefully: "I am afraid that Mei Long only wants to protect his own land, regardless of the overall situation, and does not take the major affairs of the court to heart."

Dingwu said "Oh" and sneered: "Is Hujin the land of Meilong, not my land?"

"I deserve to die!" Ma Hong knew that he had made a mistake and kowtowed repeatedly.

Lin Yuanfang hurriedly said, "Sir, please calm down. I think that Mabutang is not the case. I dared to say frankly that the emperor ordered Meilong to return to Hujin and asked him to recruit soldiers to raise food and grass. But until now, Meilong has not sent a piece of food and a penny to the court. Now, on the grounds that the Qingtian King is facing the border, he has asked the court for money, grain and equipment. The ministers cannot share the joys and sorrows with the court. I think Meilong is indeed a bit too much."

Dingwu frowned and raised his hand and said, "Get up and talk."

The two stood up, Lin Yuanfang stepped forward and bowed, "Master, although I know I should not say much, but I am considering the country and the Master, and I still have to advise the Master to give some advice to the Master."

"What do you have to say, I'm listening."

"Now my Great Qin is in danger, so you must be careful in every step. I think that even in Meilong, the court should be careful!"

Dingwu sighed: "But Meilong is a loyal minister."

"I dare not say that he has other thoughts." Lin Yuanfang said: "But when the emperor ascended the throne, Meilong did not come to Hexi to celebrate with the emperor!"

Dingwudao: "I issued an order to ascend the throne ceremony, and everything is simple. In extraordinary times, officials from all over the country do not have to come to celebrate."

"But Meilong is a governor after all." Lin Yuanfang said seriously: "He did not come in person when the throne ceremony is such a big deal. I think it is not the duty of my minister."

Dingwu winked at Ma Hong and signaled him to bring the tea next to him. Ma Hong hurried over, picked up the teacup, and presented it to Dingwu respectfully.

Dingwu held the teacup and asked, "Lin Aiqing, what do you think you should do?"

"Master, Meilong recruits soldiers and horses and collects money and grains. This is the will given to him by the court. He should send the collected money and grains to Hexi." Lin Yuanfang said solemnly: "But if he uses the will of the court to recruit soldiers and horses, but does not provide them to the court, I dare to say that this will be arguing of the army."

Dingwu's brows were locked tighter. Seeing this, Lin Yuanfang added fuel to the fire and said, "Master, if Mei Long keeps going like this, I am only worried that it will cause a huge disaster."

"What should I do in your opinion?"

"I think Meilong's actions have already made people feel doubtful. In an extraordinary time, it would be better to be ruthless than to indulge." Lin Yuanfang said seriously.

Dingwudao: "But it is not clear whether Meilong has the intention to be disobedient. I will not punish a governor without real evidence."

Lin Yuanfang and Ma Hong ignored it, and Ma Hong stepped forward and said carefully: "Master, I think it is better to be careful about everything before it happens. It is better to believe that there is anything but not trust that there is nothing. If Meilong really has a different ambition and does not take action now, there is a problem with raising a tiger. I think I can give a decree, so I say that the Majesty has something to summon him and ask him to come to Hexi as soon as possible. If he comes over, he can control him in Hexi first, and then investigate in detail whether he is loyal or traitor. If he refuses, he will be rebellious."

"What Ma Aiqing said is not without reason." Dingwu nodded slightly, thinking, "But since Meilong cannot be used, who will be sent to Hujindao?"

Lin Yuanfang immediately said: "Master, I dare to recommend one person."

"Oh?" Dingwu smiled and said, "Who do Lin Aiqing want to recommend?"

"It's Mabutang." Lin Yuanfang said: "Mabutang is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and is very familiar with the operation of money and grain. It can allow Mabutang to temporarily guard Hujin and raise sufficient money and grain for the court."

Dingwu frowned and said, "It is hard to cook without rice. Hujin has two prefectures under his jurisdiction. There are few land and many people. I am afraid that there will be no levy of money and grain."

"Master, I will definitely dig three feet of land to raise enough food and money for the court." Ma Hong immediately said: "I am loyal to serving the country and raise more money and food in Hujin, and the pressure on the court will be reduced."

"What should I do here in Hexi?" Dingwu asked, "Does Ma Aiqing leave this place and ignore it?"

"I will make arrangements properly and find a suitable person to manage the money and food." Ma Hong said immediately.

Dingwu leaned forward, held the teacup, and said with a smile: "Aiqing Ma is really willing to go to Hexi to share my worries?"

"Faith loyalty to the country, my heart is overwhelmed." Ma Hong immediately knelt down on the ground, bowed his head and said, "I will be crushed to pieces by the emperor!"

Before he finished speaking, with a "puff", Dingwu suddenly poured the teacup in his hand forward, and a cup of tea poured all over Ma Hong's face. Ma Hong was shocked, stunned, with a tea-faced look on Dingwu, looking at him blankly, unable to speak for a moment.

Lin Yuanfang was stunned for a moment, realizing that something was wrong, she had already kneeled to the ground and lowered her head.

"It's better to give up my position to you." Although Dingwu's voice was calm, his tone was indescribable anger. "I didn't expect that at this point, you still have the heart to fight for power and make slander in front of me."

"I dare not!" Ma Hong's face turned pale and said in a trembling voice: "I am all loyal to the emperor!"

"I have never doubted people, no matter whether it is Meilong or you two, I treat you equally and trust you very much." Dingwu looked at the two kneeling in front of me, "But you are actually organizing right and wrong in front of me, I am too disappointed with you. Don't I know your intentions? Under my nose, I know the money and food accounts of the Ministry of Revenue. Are you thinking of going to Hujin and sucking the people, right?"

"I dare not, I will never have such a heart!" The two kowtowed like garlic.

Dingwu sneered: "If I really let you go to Hujin, within two months, the people of Hujin will rebel. My Great Qin is in today's predicament. Isn't it because you are the ones who are greedy and force the people to have no way out? I didn't want to hold you accountable for your past crimes. I thought that you have been in the court for many years and were willing to give you a chance. As long as you serve the country loyally, I can continue to use you, but you will never repent. My Great Qin is in danger, and you are still thinking about frameing the loyal and kind to give yourself a lot of money. Could it be that you don't know that I want to kill people, and the knife is always quick."

Lin Yuanfang and his two faces were as clear as earth.

"In order to recruit troops, Meilong has taken out all his wealth, and is looking for people everywhere in Hujin, begging local gentry to pay for money and grain. I know everything he does in Hujin. If I believe your slander and attack him, I will break my arm and leave it with a bad reputation for thousands of years." Dingwu's face was terrible cold and terrified.

The two of them only knew how to kowtow and didn't dare to say anything more.

"I won't kill you now. I will return to your position and do my job peacefully. But I won't forget what happened today so quickly. If you really do your duty from now on, I can leave it alone, otherwise I will never let it go." Dingwu raised his hand and pointed outside, "Don't get out!"

The two of them kowtowed quickly and rolled and crawled out.

He stumbled and walked out of the door, and ran towards Mrs. Liuli who had just gotten out of the carriage. When he saw the two of them running out of the door in a daze, Liuli was a little surprised, but she still gave a greeting. When they saw Mrs. Liuli, they hurriedly bowed, but did not dare to say much. After the salute, they turned around and left.

When Liuli saw the two of them getting on the same carriage, her beautiful eyes turned and she thought about something.

Sitting on the carriage, the two of them had not yet come to their senses. After half a day, Ma Hong sighed: "We almost died there today."

Lin Yuanfang raised his hand and wiped his forehead with a cold sweat, sneered, and lowered his voice: "Do you think the matter will be over if you don't kill us today? Dingwu has already had murderous intent, Mabutang, our neck of the head, maybe one day it will be lost."

Ma Hong said in disgrace: "You mean, he!"

"I originally wanted to stay away from Hexi, but now it's even harder for us to escape." Lin Yuanfang smiled bitterly and said, "Mabutang, are we really going to be buried with him?"
Chapter completed!