Forced to be a concubine? I turned around and married the scumbag's father.

The military supply depot was built inside the military camp outside the north gate of the city.

The camp was guarded by the Imperial Guard's elite cavalry, the Dragon Warrior cavalry, and the Tianwu infantry.

Since the winter uniforms had not yet been officially inspected, the Pei family also sent people over. However, members of the Pei family were not allowed to enter the military camp, so they camped outside the camp and waited for the official inspection.

The commander of the military camp was Yuan Zhongying, the second maternal uncle of Prince Jiang.

This procurement was coordinated by Prince Jiang.

At the beginning of the Si hour, the three officials in charge of military supplies arrived.

Pei Yi, as the Minister of Revenue, and the goods being from the Pei family, were not qualified to come with the inspection team.

Prince Jiang, however, ordered someone to summon him, saying that he was familiar with the process and that his participation in the investigation would speed things up.

Pei Yi was terrified when he received Jiang Shizi's order.

Gu Hua said that the Pei family might be harmed by the incident of the winter clothes being switched. When the two discussed the details of how to deal with it, Pei Yi said that he was not qualified to participate in the inspection and how to discover and prevent the incident from happening in time.

But Gu Hua said that Prince Jiang would let him go.

really.

Fortunately, he listened to Gu Hua.

Fortunately, he chose to ally with Gu Hua.

Jin Guyong, a senior official in the Ministry of Works, gave the order: "Open the granaries."

The doors of all six warehouses opened simultaneously.

Prince Jiang looked at Pei Yi: "Lord Pei, these are all your goods. Please pick one or two items to inspect."

Pei Yi respectfully cupped his hands: "My official rank is lowly, and I dare not be presumptuous. Moreover, these are materials handed over by the Pei family, and I should avoid suspicion."

Gu Hua instructed that if Prince Jiang asked him to select samples for inspection, he must refuse.

Prince Jiang laughed heartily: "Good, very good. Lord Pei is respectful and courteous, and knows how to conduct himself properly."

"Then General Yuan will select one item from each warehouse to inspect."

Yuan Zhongying clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Yes."

Everyone watched as he directed his soldiers to take out a set of cotton-padded clothes from each warehouse and spread them out on the long table.

Prince Jiang walked over and touched it: "Lord Pei, are you sure this is the winter clothing handed over by the Pei family?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yi stepped forward, carefully touched the cotton cloth, checked its thickness and elasticity, and then examined the stitches.

Finally, I took the scissors, cut a small opening, pulled out the cotton, and confirmed that everything was correct.

He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was pounding wildly.

Gu Hua instructed that if he were to inspect the cotton-padded coat and discover that it had been switched, he should state this on the spot and request the three departments to jointly investigate, citing the Pei family's desire to prove their innocence.

They promised that for every set of fakes the Pei family discovered, the Pei family would pay double the compensation.

If a fake item is discovered before the formal acceptance inspection, it is considered as an unqualified product. If the Pei family can rectify the situation in time, they will not bear too much responsibility.

Now, the Pei family has sent people to guard the camp. Once the inspection is completed, the report is submitted to the imperial court, and the official appointment is issued, if any problems arise, the Pei family will be in grave danger.

If what Gu Hua said is true, and all 300,000 items are fake, and it is only discovered later, the Pei family will definitely be convicted of a heinous crime that leads to their confiscation of property and extermination.

But after examining all six sets, he discovered they were all from the Pei family.

The Pei family's clothing is all made in secret, bearing a unique mark that only members of the Pei family know where to find.

Pei Yi found the markings in all ten sets of winter clothes.

The situation described by Gu Hua, where the item was switched, did not occur.

Pei Yi answered truthfully: "Your Highness, Your Excellencies, this set of winter clothes is indeed the winter clothing handed over by the Pei family."

Prince Jiang waved his hand: "Alright, Lord Pei can confirm it personally. Bring the acceptance form for all the officials to sign, and Lord Pei should sign it as well."

Pei Yi's hands, clasped together in his sleeves, trembled slightly.

Gu Hua was right again.

Prince Jiang will surely make a hasty conclusion and make him personally acknowledge that all the winter clothes in the storeroom are those handed over by the Pei family.

When the truth was later discovered, the blame was placed entirely on Pei Yi, who was accused of deliberately concealing the truth in an attempt to cover up the Pei clan's crime of passing off inferior goods as superior ones.

Yuan Zhongying immediately ordered his men to spread the prepared documents out on the long table and set out writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Prince Jiang stepped forward with a smile, picked up his brush, and was about to put pen to paper.

Zuo Fengtian, the Vice Minister of War, suddenly spoke up: "Young Master Jiang, this is not in accordance with the rules. According to the law, the first inspection should check 10% of the sets, but only six sets have been checked."

Prince Jiang paused, then turned to look at the Vice Minister of Works who had come with him: "I think if Lord Pei personally inspected it for you all, and you have any doubts, you can come and take a look together. This is how it's done every year; there's no need to make it so complicated."

Pei Yi then cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master Jiang, I am present here. If the inspection is not carried out according to the rules, and a major mistake is made, I will be held responsible. If the inspection is carried out according to the rules, any problems will be discovered early, and the Pei family will still have time to make amends, so as not to delay the war at the front. Do you all agree?"

Prince Jiang's smile faded, and he looked intently at the Vice Minister of Works.

"This matter will be led by the Ministry of Works. What does the Vice Minister think?"

The Vice Minister of Works hurriedly said, "For other supplies, we can just pick one sample from each warehouse. If we really check 10%, we'd have to check at least 30,000 sets. Let's not even talk about whether it's necessary. The Pei family would have to spend manpower and resources to repair the torn ones. This batch of winter clothes is all going to be sent to the Southern Frontier. Due to the sudden outbreak of war, the Duke of Yong has already gone to the Southern Frontier. The winter clothes need to be sent there as soon as possible."

Zuo Fengtian frowned: "Sir, you are mistaken. If the inspection is not thorough, who will be responsible if there are any problems?"

Yuan Zhongying raised his voice, but his tone was very unpleasant: "The Vice Minister is right. Does Zuo Fengtian think that I, Yuan, would steal from him? Would he switch these 300,000 sets of winter clothes? This year is bitterly cold in the southern border region. I dare not bear such a crime."

The Yuan family was also a family of military generals, and like the Mu family, they held military power.

"General, why say such things? If problems are found before the inspection, the primary responsibility lies with the Pei family. But if the goods are to be sent to the Southern Frontier immediately after the inspection, and something else happens then, affecting the war, even the Pei family cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. Do General Yuan and Prince Jiang want to take responsibility?"

Zuo Fengtian was born into a military family and served as a subordinate of the old Duke. He was upright and incorruptible, possessing the righteous spirit that a soldier should have.

Pei Yi was greatly alarmed.

It turns out that all of these winter clothes belonged to the Mu family army.

If, as Gu Hua said, all the clothing had been switched, and the Jiang family was unable to replenish winter clothing for the soldiers at the front in time, it would not only mean the Jiang family would lose their heads, but it would also implicate the Duke of Yong.

The more Pei Yi thought about it, the more frightened he became; his back was soaked with cold sweat.

Cao Liyu, the Vice Minister of Revenue, stroked his beard and nodded: "What Lord Zuo said is absolutely right. Not following the rules is a violation of regulations, and none of us here can bear such a responsibility, can we?"

Pei Yi cupped his hands and pleaded, "My lords, I humbly request that you verify this according to the law."

He couldn't believe that someone would dare to switch such a large amount of military supplies without seeing it with his own eyes.

Prince Jiang's face was grim. Besides Cao Liyu, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Zuo Fengtian, the Vice Minister of War, and Jin Guyong, the Director of the Ministry of Works, who held opposing views, other officials from the three ministries also came with him.

If he insists on not checking, and then someone else comes forward to accuse him of insisting on not checking, the Jiang family will be in a passive position.

Prince Jiang laughed: "Alright, I was just testing whether you gentlemen can strictly abide by the rules. Just kidding, hahaha."

"General Yuan, let's inspect them proportionally."

Yuan Zhongying responded and personally led his soldiers to prepare to enter the warehouse.

Pei Yi suddenly said, "Why don't I go with General Yuan to draw lots?"

"No need!"

Yuan Zhongying subconsciously waved her arm and sternly refused.

Zuo Fengtian's eyes darkened: "If it's inconvenient for Lord Pei, then I'll go with you to draw."

Jin Guyong bowed to his superior and said, "The Ministry of Works is in charge of this matter, so I will go along with it."

The Vice Minister of Works was taken aback. Before he could refuse, he saw the two of them rush into the warehouse.

Prince Jiang's face immediately turned ugly, and he quickly gave Yuan Zhongying a meaningful look.

Yuan Zhongying hurriedly followed: "The warehouse is too dusty, gentlemen, please stand at the warehouse entrance."

Unexpectedly, Zuo Fengtian grabbed Jin Guyong and spun around so fast that they disappeared into the depths of the warehouse in the blink of an eye.

The two carefully selected and directed the soldiers to draw out all the items that had been pointed out.

The long table was immediately filled to the brim.