The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

When Jiang Zijing walked out of the government office, beads of sweat slid down his forehead silently, leaving a brief mark on his greasy face.

Thank God, it was Qi Daokun who came!

He was originally worried that the court would send a young man who was ignorant of the world to check the accounts, and then the disaster relief funds he had embezzled over the years would be revealed.

Now it seems that it was God’s blessing!

"This is Lord Zhang Yuan. He has come here by order of the Emperor to assist me in disaster relief."

Qi Daokun’s introduction is still ringing in my ears.

Jiang Zijing quickly put on a more flattering smile and bowed to Zhang Yuan, "Your humble servant, Jiang Zijing, the governor of Hexi, greets Master Zhang."

Jiang Zijing's fat face was filled with a flattering smile, as if his previous grief was all fake.

He looked at Zhang Yuan secretly.

But he was secretly muttering in his heart, this kid looks young, but his eyes are as sharp as knives, he has to be careful when dealing with him.

"You're too polite, Governor Jiang."

Qi Daokun gave a cold hand, his tone neither cold nor warm, "I have heard about the situation in Hexi, and now that I have seen it with my own eyes, it is even more shocking!"

"Shou Jiang, the disaster is severe now. Let's talk about the granary first."

Qi Daokun's expression froze slightly when he was interrupted by Zhang Yuan's sudden question.

"Master Zhang, you don't know that the Five Pecks of Rice Army has been looting every few days, and the granary has long been empty..."

Jiang Zijing saw that Qi Daokun's face looked strange, so he took over the conversation.

"Empty?"

Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Where's the disaster relief grain allocated by the court?"

Jiang Zijing wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a sad face, "They were all... all robbed!"

"Were they all robbed?"

Zhang Yuan's tone became more serious. "Shou Jiang, you govern Hexi, yet you allow a bunch of rabble to run rampant. Is this how you fulfill your duty?"

Jiang Zijing was so frightened that his legs went limp and he almost fell to his knees. "Master Zhang, please understand. I have done my best..."

Seeing this, Qi Daokun quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Master Zhang, Governor Jiang is in a difficult situation too. Let's first think about how to resolve this predicament."

He turned to Jiang Zijing and asked, "Brother Zijing, how far is the Five Pecks of Rice Army's camp from here?"

Jiang Zijing quickly replied, "My Lord, their lair is on Black Wind Mountain to the west, no more than a hundred miles away."

"Baili?"

Qi Daokun touched his chin and pondered for a moment. "I think that instead of passively accepting the attack, it is better to take the initiative and negotiate with the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Army. Perhaps we can turn hostility into friendship."

Zhang Yuan's heart moved. Isn't Qi Daokun a pro-war faction? What does he want to do?

Although he did think so, after all, the court was in a state of no people and no money... he did not support starting a war now.

On the surface, he agreed: "Master Qi is right. The court is facing internal and external troubles. It would be best if we can avoid using weapons."

He paused and added, "This negotiation is of great importance. I believe that it would be best if I go with Lord Qi to ensure that everything goes smoothly."

A subtle gloom flashed across Qi Daokun's eyes, which Zhang Yuan did not miss. "Master Zhang, thank you for your consideration. I'll have to trouble you to go with me."

Just as he finished speaking, a ragged soldier stumbled in and fell to his knees with a thud: "Report... Report! The Five Pecks of Rice Army... The Five Pecks of Rice Army has sent someone to deliver a letter!"

Jiang Zijing was so frightened that he almost slipped off the chair.

Zhang Yuan observed Qi Daokun calmly and noticed a barely perceptible glint of joy in his eyes.

I must have seen it right. Why is he so happy? Did he already know the contents of the letter?

The soldier presented the letter, and Qi Daokun unfolded it and laughed out loud, "God is really helping me! Zhao Jun, the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice Army, actually took the initiative to ask to negotiate with us!

"Brother Zijing, it seems that God also wants you to redeem yourself from your crimes and make amends!"

Jiang Zijing was stunned for a moment, then he also laughed dryly, but the laughter sounded guilty.

Zhang Yuan was even more confused. Isn't this too much of a coincidence?

They had just discussed going to negotiate, and then Zhao Jun sent someone to deliver a letter?

"Master Zhang, there is no time to lose, let's get going now!"

Qi Daokun stood up excitedly, as if he couldn't wait to go to Black Wind Mountain.

Zhang Yuan bowed and said, "I will follow Master Qi's arrangements."

However, he was secretly alert in his heart, always feeling that there was something wrong with Qi Daokun.

Black Wind Mountain, as its name suggests, has sparse vegetation, rugged rocks, and a solemn and murderous aura.

The camp of the Five Pecks of Rice Army was set up on the top of the mountain. It was surrounded by a simple wooden fence, and some ragged soldiers were sitting scattered inside. They were all pale and thin, but had fierce eyes.

Zhao Jun, a burly man with a full beard, was sitting on a big rock, holding a shiny big knife in his hand, waiting impatiently for Qi Daokun and Zhang Yuan to arrive.

"Prime Minister Qi, I've heard of your great name for a long time!"

Zhao Jun said sarcastically, "What advice do you have for me coming here today?"

Qi Daokun said with a forced smile, "Captain Zhao, the imperial court is currently in a turbulent time, yet you are gathering people here to rebel. Aren't you afraid that the imperial army will wipe you out?"

"The imperial court? In today's imperial court, a tyrant emperor reigns, treacherous officials run rampant, and the people are living in misery. What is there worth protecting in such an imperial court?"

"Be bold!"

Qi Daokun shouted angrily, "How dare you slander His Majesty like this? You deserve to die!"

"Your Majesty?"

Zhao Jun snorted disdainfully, "That tyrant ruler who only cares about eating, drinking, and having fun, with no regard for the lives of the people, is worthy of being called Your Majesty?"

Qi Daokun's face turned pale, and he pointed at Zhao Jun and said angrily: "You...you are trying to rebel!"

"What about rebellion?"

Zhao Jun stood up suddenly, pointing the sword in his hand at Qi Daokun, "I want to overthrow this corrupt court and establish a new dynasty!"

"you……"

Qi Daokun was so angry that he was shaking all over and pointed at Zhao Jun for a long time without being able to speak.

The more Zhang Yuan listened, the more he understood. Qi Daokun said he came to negotiate, but he didn't mention any conditions for negotiation.

He just started by saying things that would provoke the rebels.

I guess Qi Daokun will be put to the sword next.

Sure enough, the next moment, Zhao Jun drew his sword and approached Qi Daokun step by step, his eyes full of murderous intent: "Today, I will take your head as a sacrifice!"

Qi Daokun was so frightened that his face turned pale. He stepped back repeatedly, but accidentally tripped over a stone and fell flat on his back.

Zhang Yuan took two quick steps, pretending to stop it.

However, just as Zhao Jun's knife was about to fall, he suddenly stopped and burst into laughter.

"Forget it, I'll spare your lives today. Go back and tell that tyrant emperor that the Five Pecks of Rice Army will storm into the palace sooner or later and take his life!"

Qi Daokun pretended to be frightened and, with the support of Zhang Yuan, stumbled out of Black Wind Mountain.

After returning to Hexi City, Qi Daokun immediately wrote a memorial to Li Chengfeng, describing the negotiation process with Zhao Jun in an exaggerated manner.

He described the Five Pecks of Rice Army as a group of extremely vicious bandits, and suggested that the court immediately send troops to suppress them. He also recommended General Wang Lu to lead the expedition.

Zhang Yuan also wrote a secret letter to Li Chengfeng, in which he described in detail Qi Daokun's performance during the negotiations and pointed out that Qi Daokun might have colluded with the Five Pecks of Rice Army to deliberately provoke Zhao Jun and prompt him to rebel.

Wang Lu was Prince Gong's man, and Zhang Yuan's letter revealed that perhaps the Right Prime Minister and Prince Gong were also involved.

After doing all this, Zhang Yuan returned to his room with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He always felt that there was a huge conspiracy behind this disaster relief.