Chapter 170 New Allies

When Ji Haoyu heard that it was about the dental practice, he felt relieved and immediately stopped taking it seriously.

He did not associate the content of this document with the current political situation. He just thought that Zhao Qi’an encountered some local obstacles and came to seek his help.

As he picked up the document, he said, “If it’s something in Kyoto, I can help, but if it’s outside Kyoto, I will…”

I couldn’t continue speaking halfway through.

Because he saw the contents of the document, his mouth opened slightly and couldn’t close it, and he was in a daze.

“In the 47th year of Tianwu, the Zhou family used the Hu people’s caravan to transport 30,000 slaves from Yongzhou, through the ‘Santu Pass’, along the ‘Beiguan Road’, to the border of Zhongnan and into Liangzhou. In Jinchi County of Liangzhou, they sold the slaves to the four major brokers of Hesheng, Tongyuan, Kaifeng and Linxin. The buyers were the iron officials of Jiangyang, Wuyang and Nan’an counties of Liangzhou. All 30,000 slaves were taken to the iron mines.”

“In the 51st year of Tianwu, the Zhou family transported 21,000 slaves… The buyers of slaves were the Wu family in Xuzhou, who bought 3,000 private slaves as tenants; the Sun family in Luliang, Yongzhou, who bought 6,000 slaves to mine coal at their own coal mountain; the Feng family in Xiongshan, Yuzhou, who bought 1,200 private slaves…”

“Tianwu 54th year…”

Ji Haoyu felt that the words on the paper became distorted one by one, and he was so shocked that he threw the certificate away from his hand.

Suddenly, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

This is actually… This is actually…

It turned out to be the account of the Zhou family in Ximo selling private slaves? !
Although it does not clearly state how the Zhou family obtained these private slaves, is it necessary to say it clearly?
The only private slaves that the Zhou family can legally sell are foreign prisoners of war!

But how many of the aliens did he sell? Did he account for 10%?

Where did these people come from?

Four years…

Others did not know the meaning of this number, but Ji Haoyu was always ready to become the crown prince and was very concerned about the state affairs of the entire Daqian Dynasty.

Isn’t four years exactly the period that the “Red-haired Ghost” took to plunder the border of Daqian?
How can this be called a “red-haired ghost”? Isn’t this clearly a foreign slave camp under the command of the Western Desert Army? !
Ji Haoyu instantly thought of the Gao family case that the Astronomical Survey had recently been investigating. He realized that the Gao family was just one of the links in the case of trafficking innocent people, and the real culprit behind this was… the Zhou family!

The Zhou family, the Zhou family behind the third brother!
This booklet clearly recorded the year in which the Zhou family sold slaves, the number of slaves they sold through, and the forces to which they were sold…

Each and every item was listed clearly.

But why did this information fall into the hands of the Zhao family?
They even found out that the Zhou family actually operated in Jinchi County, Liangzhou!
Ji Haoyu knew how much of a commotion it would cause and how embarrassing it would put the Zhou family into if the contents of this document were made public.

The Zhou family is the real support behind the third brother.

If the Zhou family falls, the third brother will be finished.

Ji Haoyu had dreamed of this scene countless times, but now it seemed that as long as he bent down and picked up the booklet on the ground, it would be within his reach.

But such an opportunity was right in his hands, but he threw it away like a hot potato.

Why?

It’s too complicated!
Among the buyers of slaves, there were officials from the Imperial Court, aristocratic families from various local areas…even the Wu family from Xuzhou was among them!

In other words, Wu Xiang… is also among them.

When Ji Haoyu thought about the consequences of this matter being completely revealed, he shuddered all over, and even the fat on his face trembled three times. He hesitated for a moment, looking back and forth.

At this moment, a hand picked up the document booklet on the ground. Ji Haoyu’s eyes gradually focused on Zhao Qi’an, who was bending over and getting up. He watched him reach out and pat the dust off the booklet, and then watched Zhao Qi’an walk up to him.

“Your Highness.”

Zhao Qi’an came in front of him, put the document book back on the tea table next to Ji Haoyu, and said unintentionally: “Be careful.”

His words seemed to be reminding Ji Haoyu not to be so careless as to drop the booklet on the ground.

But it seemed… it was reminding Ji Haoyu to think carefully about how to use the contents of this document.

……

Zhao Qi’an did not stay long. After handing the letter to Ji Haoyu, he quickly said goodbye and left.

Ji Haoyu’s mind was full of the things in the edict, and his mind was in a mess. For a moment, he even forgot to ask Eunuch Fu to see Zhao Qian’an off.

It was not until a long time after Zhao Qi’an left that he gradually calmed down his emotions.

“I should ask Haiqing where he got the news.”

“Was it Haiqing’s own idea to pass this information to me… or was it the Zhao family’s idea?”

In fact, Ji Haoyu knew in his heart that even if he asked Zhao Qi’an, he probably wouldn’t get a definite answer.

In other words, even if Zhao Qi’an gave him a definite answer, he might not believe it.

However, from the information in this document, Ji Haoyu was able to see some of the strength displayed by the Zhao family.

It’s just the tip of the iceberg, but it’s enough to attract attention.

Although the Zhao family of Donghai is not a thousand-year-old family, it is a new and powerful family with the most momentum. It is indeed not an easy task to deal with.

It’s a pity that the Zhao family of Donghai is only willing to cooperate with the emperor. They are impartial towards the several princes and have always remained neutral.

But now, the issue of appointing a crown prince is imminent. The Donghai Zhao family, which has always been neutral and whose focus is not on Kyoto City… can’t sit still anymore and wants to get a piece of the pie?
Ji Haoyu couldn’t help but think about it.

No matter whether Zhao family’s eldest son Zhao Qian’an entered officialdom or not, it was obvious that he was going to check the accounts of the third son.

Or Zhao Qi’an was on good terms with him, and had even sent him important information to help him twice… It seemed like all of these were signs that the Zhao family of Donghai was going to bet on him.

“If I can get the support of the Zhao family of the East Sea… can I at least check and balance my grandfather in some aspects?”

This thought made Ji Haoyu’s heart burn with excitement.

He had never thought of getting rid of Wu Xiang completely. After all, Wu Yong was his maternal grandfather, and they were natural allies. It could be said that they were in a relationship where they would prosper together and suffer together.

But… Wu Xiang is too powerful.

Sometimes Ji Haoyu felt that he was not getting help from Wu Xiang, but was being manipulated by Wu Xiang!
Especially this time when he had a disagreement with Wu Xiang, Wu Xiang’s explanation to him was so perfunctory in the end.

This made Ji Haoyu suddenly realize that if he really became the emperor one day, who would be in control of the government in the end, him or Prime Minister Wu?

When he thought of this, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself: “I need the help and support of my grandparents, but I can’t just have the help and support of my grandparents.”

He needs checks and balances!
He needs new allies!
And the Zhao family of Donghai… is the new ally that he deserves to win over!
(End of this chapter)