Tibet

Li Ye nodded and smiled: "I probably understand. The dispute between the Luo family and the Xin family is a typical case of people not complaining and officials not investigating. If it can be resolved internally, it is best to resolve it internally. I will not interfere."

The two chatted about animal husbandry for a while, and then Xin Zheng left.

Walking to the door, Li Ye smiled slightly and said: "There is an old man in the family, who is like a treasure. If you are not sure about important family matters, you can ask the old man for advice. You can't go wrong!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness!" Xin Zheng bowed, turned and left.

Li Ye took a few steps with his hands behind his back and told Wen Jingnian: "Go and invite Commander Li of the inner guard."

Not long after, Li Chenghua hurried over. Li Chenghua’s maiden name was Li, and her husband’s surname was Wang. After her husband’s death, in order to show her determination not to remarry, she changed her name to Wang Chenghua. Later, after becoming loyal to Li Ye, she returned to her original surname, Li Chenghua. This also implies loyalty to Li Ye.

Li Chenghua actually has a daughter, but she has never told anyone about it. She is afraid that her enemies will do harm to her daughter, so her parents will raise her for her. Her family is in the countryside of Hu County and cannot be burned by the war. It has always been safe and sound. She is the successor to her daughter. The source of her struggle to be a bounty hunter is also the real reason why she doesn't remarry.

"This is a humble post, Your Highness!"

Li Ye smiled slightly and said: "The inner guard is fully operational!"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the internal guards are functioning normally, but we still need a few civilian officials."

Originally there were civil servants, but because of the move to Longyou, many low-level civil servants were locals from Xiangyang. They did not want to move to Longyou and resigned one after another, so that now there are gaps in civil servants in every department, not just the internal guards.

Li Ye nodded, "After the Chinese New Year, we will recruit a group of civil servants, and there will also be internal guards."

After a pause, Li Ye asked again: "Is there any progress in the Liu family's investigation?"

Li Chenghua bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, we have carefully investigated the Liu family's performance during the Tubo occupation. We found a man named Pang Wuyuan. He was the Han supervisor after the Tubo army occupied Lanzhou. But this man appeared suddenly. He disappeared very suddenly, so we suspected that this person was not named Pang Wuyuan, but his surname was Liu."

Li Ye smiled and said, "If your surname is Liu, other families should know about it, right?"

"Yes! They actually all know, but they all remain silent."

Li Ye walked a few steps with his hands behind his back: "Is this person important?"

"Your Highness, we have been looking for Tibetan intelligence points in Jincheng County. We think there must be one, but it is very hidden, and it must have been established using existing connections. Otherwise, it would be difficult and not so fast to establish."

Li Ye pondered for a moment and said: "When our army enters Qinzhou, the four major families in Lanzhou should know that if Pang Wuyuan is from the Liu family, then Tibet will not be fooled and send troops from Didao County to support Taozhou."

"Your Highness, the time when Pang Wuyuan disappeared was when our army entered Qinzhou, which shows that the Liu family was afraid and therefore withdrew from Tubo's rule. They wanted to leave a way out for themselves."

Li Ye smiled and said, "If that's the case, it's not a big problem. I'm willing to give them a chance to correct their mistakes."

"But what if the Liu family continues to help Tubo?"

Li Chenghua said extremely coldly: "Help Tibet establish an intelligence point, and we will not be able to find any trace of this intelligence point."

"What if there was no such intelligence point in the first place?" Li Ye smiled and asked.

Li Chenghua sighed, "Your Highness, before the Tibetans arrived in Jincheng County, isn't the colorful Tibetan flag on the top of the Liuhe Temple tower the best explanation?"

On the top of the tower of Liuhe Temple in the east of the city, two colorful Tibetan flags appeared the day before the Tibetan army arrived. It was later discovered that this was a Tibetan ritual used to pray for victory. This incident proved that there were Tibetan spies in the city.

Li Ye nodded and said: "Today the Luo family's grain store in West City was robbed by the Liu family. You go and investigate the behind-the-scenes of this matter. I suspect that they knew some things, but they didn't tell them. Now there is an opportunity. The Luo family may be the breakthrough point. You contact the Luo family and see what the Luo family knows?"

"I asked the Luo family before, but they knew nothing!"

Li Ye smiled faintly and said, "I talked to Xin Zheng today. If you ask again in the evening, maybe you will gain something."

Li Chenghua bowed and saluted, "I understand your humble position!"

At noon, Xin Zheng returned to his father's house and found his eldest brother Xin Feng.

In the inner hall, Xin Feng listened to his brother's words and said with a smile: "Didn't His Highness King Qi say that he would no longer pay attention?"

Xin Zheng shook his head, "Everyone knows this. He can ask anyone about the conflict between the Liu and Luo families. Why should he ask me?"

Xin Feng pondered for a moment and said, "It's a bit strange for you to say that. What do you think is the reason?"

Xin Zheng lowered his voice and said: "His Royal Highness King Qi is testing our relationship with the Liu family. He must be keeping an eye on the Liu family. He may have discovered the things about the Liu family."

Xin Feng walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. He also felt that the matter was important and said: "Since King Qi reminded us to ask our father, let's go and ask our father for advice!"

Their father is Xin Mo, the former governor of Lanzhou, the eldest of the three Xin brothers. He is seventy years old this year and has a boyish appearance. He believes in Taoism and rarely goes out. He spends most of his time practicing in a small courtyard. Li Ye visited him a few months ago.

The two brothers met their father and told him what happened in detail.

Xin Mo closed his eyes and listened to what the two said, and then said for a long time: "King Qi knew that you couldn't understand his intention, so he reminded you to ask me!"

"The kid is really stupid!"

Xin Mo sighed slightly and said, "Do you know why Li Ye favored the Xin family instead of the Li family?"

The two brothers looked at each other, Xin Feng shook his head and said: "I don't know, I hope my father will make it clear!"

Xin Mo smiled and said, "There is actually a reason for this. I didn't tell you before. King Qi's grandfather was Li Linfu, and I was promoted by Li Linfu, including Yunjing's father and your second uncle. Li Linfu single-handedly promoted me. The last time King Qi came to visit me, it was Chen Huan who accompanied me. Didn't you see it? Chen Huan is Li Linfu's confidant. He must have told Li Ye about the relationship between the Xin family and his grandfather."

Xin Feng and Xin Zheng looked at each other. It turned out that they knew nothing about this relationship. No wonder Li Ye reminded them to ask the old man for important matters.

Xin Zheng asked again: "Father, what about the Li family?"

"The Li family has always been the prince's faction. Now that the prince has ascended the throne as the emperor and appointed Li Kui as the Minister of Justice, the Li family will naturally feel that they are superior and look down on King Qi. Therefore, the Li family has not held any official positions in Helong Jiedu Mansion. Their The target is the imperial court.”

Xin Zheng nodded, "That's right. I heard that King Qi once tried to win over Li Sheng, but Li Sheng declined."

Xin Feng asked again: "What does father think about the Liu family's affairs?"

Xin Mo said coldly: "The king never does trivial things, such as Tubo spies and the like. That is the matter of the internal guards. King Qi will not care. His target is actually the Li family. His real purpose of cleaning up the Liu family is to take revenge." Knock on the mountain and shake the tiger, and warn the Li family not to collude with the emperor and harm his interests."

The two brothers suddenly understood and secretly admired their father for seeing clearly. Xin Zheng asked again: "What should I do now?"

Xin Mo said slowly: "His Highness is looking for you to express his attitude. He hopes that the Xin family can help him."

Xin Feng also said: "Since the Xin family and King Qi have such a deep relationship, we should indeed help."

Xin Mo thought for a moment and said, "Let the Luo family take the lead!"