The disaster relief grain and fodder encountered a landslide and were robbed!

This news caused a great uproar both inside and outside the court when it reached the Capital!

Who would dare to do such a thing?

This involves tens of thousands of tons of disaster relief grain!

It’s the life-saving food supply for millions of people in the Two Lakes region!

"Investigate, investigate for me, no matter who is involved, execute without mercy!"

The Emperor was quite shocked!

He also secretly admired Zhao Minglang in his heart, having foresight!

At that time, when he submitted the memorial, the Emperor thought that if there were problems with the disaster relief grain, the civilian world would be in chaos!

Out of trust, he agreed to Zhao Minglang’s suggestion and let him make arrangements.

Who would have thought this could become reality!

Someone actually robbed the disaster relief grain!

Which ordinary person would dare such a thing? There are only two possible explanations: one is that the criminal underworld in Jianghu has become a serious threat, disregarding the court; the other is that the government is particularly incompetent, failing to manage the region, leading to local chaos.

"Your Majesty, investigation is one thing, but Zhao Minglang, as the Lord Imperial Envoy for disaster relief, made such a huge blunder; his crime is unforgivable!"

Lord Wu stepped forward to report, "Since our court’s founding, there has never been such a huge incident, indicating Zhao Minglang’s limited ability, or even the possibility of internal collusion and theft..."

"May the Emperor be wise." Lord Qiu, hearing this, couldn’t believe it, as the old minister was directly sentencing his own son-in-law.

Suddenly, he remembered, the old minister once tried to win over Zhao Minglang, wanting to marry a concubine to him, but Zhao Minglang refused.

So, he bore a grudge.

Taking advantage of someone’s illness to take their life, this despicable old man is truly vile!

"Your Majesty, for this disaster relief, Zhao Minglang and Xiao Chunning rode horses to reach the Two Lakes disaster area quickly, while the one escorting the relief grain was General Zhenyuan’s eldest son, Chen Xianshan..."

"Indeed, it’s Chen Xianshan’s first time leading a royal command out of the Capital..."

The eyes of the courtiers were as sharp as snow; people on horseback had already traveled several hundred miles ahead, while Chen Xianshan led a large troop to escort the grain after them. If the grain was robbed, blaming those in front is simply too far-fetched from Lord Wu.

"May the Emperor be wise, regarding the robbery of disaster relief grain, the humble servant has already dispatched people to investigate..."

General Zhenyuan has retired, his old age blessing him with a son, and his eldest and only son, is only twenty-three with no significant achievements yet. Finally entrusted with a royal command, yet such a mess ensued, making him anxious, while the one surnamed Wu wanted to directly convict this matter, which could cost his son’s life?

Surnamed Wu, from now on, I vow to be at odds with you!

The court was embroiled in verbal battles, split into two factions.

The Emperor had long grown used to these old guys’ antics.

At this moment, he thought: being the Emperor is the most miserable job in the world!

Who are these people I’ve raised; when solving problems they offer no solutions, focusing all their energy on disputes.

And as the Emperor, I still have to balance the relationships between both sides. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, then he left with a swish of his sleeve.

"Court dismissed."

The courtiers were dumbfounded!

On the road to the Two Lakes, Zhao Minglang received news of the grain robbery and sighed: indeed, his younger brother is the most astute; many matters are within his expectations.

"Did you find out who did it?"

"Reporting to my lord, our people secretly followed and found this batch of grain had entered the manor of Governor Sun’s Mansion."

"Governor Sun’s Mansion?"

Zhao Minglang was enraged: Corrupt official!

"My lord..."

"Come closer." Zhao Minglang recalled the idea from his younger brother, and instructed in such a manner.

"Yes, my lord."

Governor Sun, oh Governor Sun, let me show you what it means for the mantis to stalk the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, let you taste the feeling of losing both wife and soldier.

"Brother Zhao, I heard the grain was robbed, is it true?"

Xiao Chunning hurried over upon hearing the news.

"It’s fine, everything is within our control."

At that moment, he laid out his plan in detail.

"Brother Zhao, brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Xiao Chunning gave a thumbs-up.

"This idea, it’s still courtesy of your good brother-in-law’s suggestion; I just went along with it," Zhao Minglang said. "If we could smoothly deliver the grain, everything would be calm, and we could serve well without disturbance. However, this Governor Sun wants to play dirty tricks with me, so let’s see who’s more skillful!" Zhao Minglang said. "We’re both foxes for a millennium, wanting to play Liaozhai with me, just wait, there’s a good show coming."

Governor Sun was embracing his seventeen-year-old concubine when the outside steward started shouting frantically.

"My lord, my lord..."

"Old fool, what time is it? If you don’t have eyes, feed them to the dogs."

"My lord, the manor has caught fire."

"The manor’s on fire? Which manor?"

"It’s the one where the supplies are stored."

"A bunch of idiots!"

There lay tens of thousands of tons of grain, how could it catch fire!

Without caring for anything else, Governor Sun immediately dressed and jumped into a carriage towards the manor.

"How is it?"

"My lord, it’s all over, completely, all burned."

The manor head and guards knelt before him.

"A bunch of idiots" he gnashed his teeth, but then thought back, it might be for the best if all burned, leaving no trace and no way to track it back to him, just a loss of about a dozen lives, a futile effort.

Just as Governor Sun was preparing to punish these servants, he suddenly heard a commotion.

"Surround them, no one is allowed to escape."

Then, Governor Sun saw his own subordinate, Lord Xia.

"What does Lord Xia mean by this?"

"Men, arrest him."

Lord Xia waved a hand, sneering inside, what does it mean, my time has come.

Someone has delivered a grand future to me, truly thankful for Governor Sun’s reckless actions!

"Governor Sun, you ordered the robbery of tens of thousands of tons of relief grain from the Two Lakes, you have quite the audacity."

"Lord Xia, one can eat the wrong food, but not speak recklessly, you have no proof..."

In the end, Lord Sun saw a group of soldiers digging out bag after bag of grain from the fire pit, and the court-exclusive bags all embroidered with "relief" on them.

"Lord Sun, caught red-handed, this official came well-prepared, bring him in."

Lord Xia brought up Governor Sun’s deputy, Vice General Jiang, the one leading the grain robbery.

"Lord Sun, Vice General Jiang confessed to everything to atone for his crimes, what else do you have to say?"

What else could he say?

This time it’s truly witnesses and evidence, unable to escape.

"They acted on their own and made stupid decisions, it has nothing to do with me; I can make amends. I’ll compensate for the grain, double it; even if it drains my family fortune, I’m willing, just spare me a way out!"

"That’s not up to me to decide." Lord Xia waved a large hand, "Take them all, walk them all away." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

If he isn’t taken down, if he isn’t removed, how can I take his position?

As they say, don’t ask for trouble and you’ll live!

Truly grateful for Sun’s greed and avarice!

If not, I wouldn’t even have the opportunity to get promoted a level!

Also, thanks to the mysterious person for sending the message, giving me the opportunity to earn merits.

But, who is that mysterious person?