Chapter 180 I Want His Head
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. The capital was very lively. Not only did the common people have their fill of gourds, but Heshen and other Jurchens who had not yet left the capital were also made to laugh their heads off.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that there was something wrong with Huai’an, but the Canal Transport Office was not an ordinary office. It was very large. It was not certain whether it could be investigated. Even if it was, it would involve so many people, wouldn’t it offend them all? No one was willing to take on this thankless task!

The Governor-General of the Grand Canal was a second-rank official and held military power. As this matter was of great importance, the cabinet suggested sending a prince or a royal prince to find out the truth.

Emperor Yongchang knew what these officials were thinking, but ordinary officials really couldn’t and didn’t dare to investigate. As for sending someone from the cabinet, there was no precedent, and they wouldn’t go. Therefore, they could only agree to their advice and summon the third and fourth princes, the Prince of Zhongshun, the Prince of Leshan and other princes of the royal family to the palace.

The result was a joke. Except for the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince and Prince Zhongshun who could not escape, Prince Leshan and other royal princes all fell ill and had to stay in bed for at least one or two months. Emperor Yongchang was so angry that he smashed his tea bowl on the spot.

Emperor Yongchang knew the temperament of Prince Zhongshun and skipped him. The third and fourth princes were both his biological sons, so no matter what they thought, he should at least treat them equally on the surface. He asked the cabinet to notify officials of the fourth rank and above in Beijing to submit memorials for recommendation.

The Ministry of Works of the Third Prince recommended the Fourth Prince, while the Ministry of Rites recommended the Third Prince, once again staging a drama of “brotherly love and respect”.

Some people did not want to offend the two princes and recommended other officials. Some even took advantage of the situation and recommended Jia Jing as the imperial commissioner to investigate the case.

Li Hu also recommended other people, Prince Beijing Shui Rong.

When Emperor Yongchang was reminded of this, he immediately remembered that a king with a different surname is still a king. No matter what, it is better than letting his son take the blame. Shui Rong happened to be in charge of the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice was responsible for investigating cases. It was reasonable!

Li Hu didn’t know what Shui Rong’s expression was when he received the imperial edict, but he was very happy after hearing the news.

In the back garden, the craftsmen were busy at work.

Accompanied by Li San and officials from the Ministry of Works, Li Hu inspected the area.

At this time, a steward came over with a note and bowed to Li Hu: “Second Master, this is a note sent by Master Xue of the Xue family. He is waiting in the front yard.”

Li Hu took the note and read it, then smiled and said to the manager, “Tell him to take the message back and tell him that I’m busy these days and I’ll treat you next time.”

The manager said, “Yes.” and walked out.

Li Hu smiled. This must be the idea of ​​Officer Qi. He would leave him alone for now and see how much value he could have.

The group soon arrived at the small bamboo forest. Unlike the elaborately crafted theater building, nor the huge project on the earthen hill, this side was basically completed.

Some servants were dismantling the scaffolding, while a few craftsmen were painting and grinding the step stones. There was a paved path under the steps.

The official from the Ministry of Works spoke up: “The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that it will take some time for the Chinese parasol trees to arrive, but the bamboo and banana trees can be delivered at any time.”

Li Hu looked at Li San.

Li San smiled and said, “That’s what the girl meant. The bamboo forest is cool and humid, and the study room needs to be bright and ventilated, so I changed the trees to sycamore and banana trees.”

Li Hu nodded.

At this moment, a personal soldier hurried over and whispered something in Li Hu’s ear.

Li Hu’s eyes lit up, and he said to Li San, “Uncle San, please take care of this.” After that, he led the personal soldiers out of the garden.

In the outer study, as soon as Li Hu stepped into the door, he saw the cavalry officer waiting there, still covered in dust.

The scout officer saluted: “General.”

Li Hu: “Thank you for your hard work.” Then he said to the personal soldier who followed him: “Go outside the door, don’t let anyone in.”

Bodyguard: “Yes.” and retreated.

Li Hu looked at the team officer.

Team Officer: “General, we followed your instructions and arrived at Yanzhou Prefecture ahead of the Imperial Household Department. We waited for a day and a night before we found their tracks. Then we quietly followed them to Zou County, where the Imperial Household Department met up with the Northern Pacification Department.

Afterwards, they all went to Mount Yi. They had spies at every intersection, and I was unable to follow them. They did not come out of the mountain until the next morning, with heavy losses, and it seemed they had been ambushed.”

Li Hu: “Oh? They are all back?”

Team officer: “Except for a few who returned to Beijing to report, all the survivors stayed in Zou County, probably waiting for support.”

Li Hu nodded and asked, “You haven’t been discovered, have you?”

The officer replied: “No.” Li Hu: “Okay. Someone come!”

The personal soldier came in in response.

Li Hu: “Take it down for dinner.”

The personal soldier: “Yes.”

The team officer saluted again and then walked out with his personal guards.

Although I had already guessed it, I still felt a little emotional when I found out.

Li Hu walked to the door and took a deep breath. What a bunch of losers! The palace not only warned them but also sent reinforcements, yet they were still ambushed under such circumstances.

With a “humph”, Li Hu strode out.

As soon as I stepped out of the Moon Gate, Wang Daniu came towards me holding a letter.

Wang Daniu: “General, this is a letter from Yuqing Palace.” Then he handed the letter to Li Hu.

Li Hu took the letter, opened the seal and read it. After reading a few lines, his face became solemn and then he clenched the letter. He did not hide the matter of Jia Yuanchun from the prince. The prince told the queen about it, and the queen knew everything after a quick check. It was difficult to hide the matters of the harem from the queen.

This matter cannot be concealed for too long. By then, it will surely cause an uproar in the city, and the Jia family is destined to be drawn into the vortex of power struggle.

Thinking of this, Li Hu sighed. The emperor was really going too far. He couldn’t just fleece a sheep. How could the Jia family withstand such a toss?

Yangxindian

The West Warm Pavilion was in deathly silence. Emperor Yongchang sat in front of the imperial desk, looking upwards with a sullen face. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and he grabbed the tea bowl on the desk and smashed it hard on the brick floor in front of the imperial desk! Dai Quan was frightened.

“Waste! A bunch of waste!” Emperor Yongchang slammed the imperial desk with his palm, shaking the inkstone and pen holder on the desk high!

Dai Quan panicked and knelt down: “It’s all my fault for not disciplining you well. I have failed the Emperor’s grace!” He kowtowed three times.

“What should we do now?” Emperor Yongchang’s eyes were red.

Dai Quan: “I will mobilize the people from the Imperial Household Department and the Northern Pacification Department and personally lead them south. If you fail in your mission, I will bring you my head!”

“Are you okay?” Emperor Yongchang looked at him.

Dai Quan paused and said, “Only death.”

Emperor Yongchang snorted coldly and said, “From now on, let the army do this kind of killing.”

Dai Quan felt relieved when he heard this and replied, “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Where do you think we should send these troops from? Xuzhou? Or the Jiangnan camp?”

Dai Quan paused and replied, “Let’s transfer troops from the capital. After more than a hundred years of peace, they have neglected training and have become old soldiers. By the time they arrive, those White Lotus rebels will have already fled.”

Emperor Yongchang looked a little unhappy, but he knew that what Dai Quan said was true.

Dai Quan: “The two places are more than a thousand miles apart. The imperial cavalry have never experienced this kind of raid. One man has three horses. Li Hu’s 3,000 Mongolian cavalry can reach the city of Zou County in the early morning of the day after tomorrow.”

Emperor Yongchang hesitated.

How could Dai Quan not understand? He said softly, “Li Hu is a general who has commanded tens of thousands of troops. He is not afraid to reveal his inner thoughts, but he will not embarrass a small prefect.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded.

Dai Quan continued, “After we wipe out the White Lotus rebels, we can let Li Hu temporarily stay in Yanzhou Prefecture. This can not only deter certain local forces, but also have a deterrent effect on Huai’an.”

Emperor Yongchang thought for a moment and said, “Okay. You go and pass on the order in person and tell Li Hu not to let the leader of the Qinglong Hall escape. I want his head!”

(End of this chapter)