After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Pei Jiaoran's arrival was a big deal. Not long after he left the Ministry of Revenue, Jia Gonglu of the Shangshu Province received the news.

Staring at the document on the table, Jia Gonglu lowered his eyes and sighed slightly.

"This Prime Minister Pei is really domineering." Yuwen Jie frowned and lowered his voice, "Can I ask this subordinate to inform Prime Minister Bian?"

Hearing the question, Jia Gonglu shook his head, "No need. I'm afraid Bian Lingzhen has already received the news. Let them go."

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard the voice of a servant outside reporting that Pei Xianggong was outside to ask for an audience and had something important to report. Hearing the sound of armor clashing outside the house, Jia Gonglu looked at Yuwen Jie and waved his hand to signal him to go out to greet him.

"Prime Minister Pei." Yuwen Jie smiled and looked at Ju Wenzhen, whose hands were tied behind his back, in surprise. He asked, "Isn't this Deputy Envoy Ju? How did he become like this?"

Yuwen Jie did not answer even when asked. Pei Jiaoran led two Jinwu guards to escort the man across the threshold of the Shangshu Province's public housing.

Although it was not pleasant to be ignored, the other party had the capital. Yuwen Jie didn't think twice and hurriedly chased after him, shouting. But he was still a step too slow.

After entering the public housing, Pei Jiaoran gazed at Jia Gonglu with a smile.

Jia Gonglu seemed to have known that she was coming. He stroked his beard and smiled. He then pointed to the seat in front of the table and motioned for her to sit down.

Pei Jiaoran walked over to Ju Wenzhen, who was struggling to get up, and said, "Yanziku forged the Duzhi documents and wooden wedges in an attempt to steal the two taxes."

Her voice was as calm as water, without any emotion.

Looking up at her, Jia Gonglu said, "Mr. Bian must have arrived."

With a bang, the door was kicked open.

Turning his head, he saw Bian Lingzhen walking in with big strides, followed by a clerk with a sad face.

As soon as she saw Bian Lingzhen coming in, the tied-up Ju Wenzhen kept making noises.

"Mr. Bian, what are you doing?" Pei Jiaoran narrowed his eyes and moved sideways to avoid Bian Lingzhen's outstretched hand. He sighed and said, "Mr. Jia, you are too easy to talk to. You actually let someone in like this."

His hand froze in mid-air, and Bian Lingzhen glared at Pei Jiaoran. He snorted coldly and scolded, "What is Pei Xianggong doing? Can my people from Yanziku take whatever they want?"

Pei Jiaoran raised her eyebrows and said, "The Yanziku forged the Duzhi documents and wooden wedges to steal the two taxes. Prime Minister Bian, do you think this is a serious crime?"

Bian Lingzhen snorted coldly, "Stealing the two taxes? That's what the Ministry of Revenue owed to Yanziku. Now that Yanziku has come to take it back, isn't it justified? Mr. Pei, you can't slander the innocence of Yanziku just because you are in a high position. As for forging the wooden wedge, do you have any evidence?"

"Of course there is." Pei Jiaoran relaxed his brows. "Let the people from the Ministry of Works come to check the newness of the wooden wedge. I believe Mr. Jia also knows that the wooden wedge of the Ministry of Finance has been made for many years."

Jia Gonglu glanced at her and nodded.

"Prime Minister Pei, I know you are the Jianghuai Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner. But isn't it bad to interfere in the Ministry of Revenue's affairs?" Looking at Jia Gonglu, Bian Lingzhen sneered, "What does Yanziku do? Prime Minister Pei must know, right? It is used to prepare for border military expenses, and the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of taxes in the country and supplies various government offices. Now Tubo and Nanzhao are eyeing us covetously. If there is a war on the border, if the Ministry of Revenue can't pay, what will the border troops eat and wear? We can't rely entirely on the various Jiedushi. Moreover, the Ministry of Revenue has set a precedent, and the Salt and Iron Bureau will follow suit and not pay any money. Isn't Yanziku as good as nothing? Such unhealthy practices cannot be tolerated."

Looking at Bian Lingzhen who looked aggressive, Pei Jiaoran smiled indifferently and said calmly: "Mr. Jia should ask someone to invite the craftsman who supervised the construction to come over."

Without objecting to Pei Jiaoran, Jia Gonglu asked someone to go to the Ministry of Works to invite a craftsman over.

Soon, a blue-robed official was brought to the official residence of the Shangshu Province by a servant.

After he greeted them one by one, Pei Jiaoran handed over the wooden box in his hand and said, "Please take a look at these two wooden wedges."

He took the wooden wedges and examined them carefully for a while before saying in a deep voice, "My Lords, judging from the carving marks on these two wooden wedges, they should have been carved in the tenth year of the late Emperor Zhide."

Just as he finished speaking, Pei Jiaoran signaled the Jinwu Guard beside him to hand over another wooden wedge, "Take a look at this one."

"This engraving is very new. It must have been made recently." The Chief Engineer said, holding up the new wooden wedge in his hand.

Upon hearing this, Ju Wenzhen's face changed instantly and he looked at Bian Lingzhen with wide eyes.

"The nonsense of a craftsman should not be taken seriously. Mr. Pei, please don't slander him here." Bian Lingzhen said angrily.

Ignoring Bian Lingzhen's angry look, Pei Jiaoran looked up at Jia Gonglu, "Mr. Jia, the accounts of Yanziku have not been settled yet. And is Yanziku really used for border defense? If so, once the accounts are settled, the Ministry of Revenue will naturally repay the arrears. Also, why can't Yanziku be patient for a few more days, and must choose today to collect the two taxes?"

The summoned craftsman glanced at the few people and quickly lowered his head.

Time seemed to stand still.

After a long while, Jia Gonglu ordered someone to invite Taifu Temple to come over and let him take the male wooden wedge of Taifu to show the craftsman.

"Mr. Jia, this piece was also made in the tenth year of Zhide." The craftsman lowered his head quickly after he finished speaking.

Looking at the two wooden wedges in his hand, both made in the 10th year of Zhide, Jia Gonglu sighed, "Shaoqing Chu, do you still remember which wooden wedge the deputy envoy of Yanziku used to compare with you?"

Chu Shaoqing pointed to the wooden wedge that was placed alone and said, "There is a small scratch on that wooden wedge. At first I thought it was an accidental scratch, until Pei Xianggong sent someone to get the box containing the wooden wedge. Then I remembered that the wooden wedge I often saw did not have any scratches at all."

Pei Jiaoran glanced at Ju Wenzhen with a half-smile, and his face showed sarcasm. They were the ones who came up with the idea of ​​forging the Duzhi wooden wedge.

"How is this possible!" Bian Lingzhen took a deep breath, "Mr. Jia, please understand, I would never do such a thing."

Jia Gonglu ignored him and instead looked up at Pei Jiaoran standing beside him.

"This is a serious matter..."

"Stealing the two taxes is no small matter. I think Ju Wenzhen should be put in the Imperial Censorate first, and then dealt with after the emperor's edict." Pei Jiaoran's eyes were sharp, "Otherwise. Today, he pretended to be the wooden wedge of the Ministry of Revenue. Maybe someone can pretend to be the seal of the three provinces and six ministries, or other government offices tomorrow."

Bian Lingzhen was a military governor from the Shen Ce Army. Like Ju Wenzhen, he was Zhang Rang's confidant. Since these two served as the envoys of the Yanzi Treasury, no one knows how much tax has flowed into the inner treasury under various names. The so-called preparation for the border is just an empty name, in fact, it is the reserve force of the inner treasury.

Now they dare to attempt to seize the two taxes. It is obvious that someone has instructed them to do so.

The incense in the censer burned quietly.

Jia Gonglu said in a deep voice: "Well, let's do as Prime Minister Pei said. I will report this matter to His Majesty. As for Ju Wenzhen..." He looked away and forgot to come back, "Take him to the Imperial Censorate for the time being."

The Jinwu Guards received the order and took Ju Wenzhen away.

Glancing at Bian Lingzhen, Pei Jiaoran smiled and said, "I still have to go and see the results of the canal reform. Bye."