Chapter 21 third quarter

Two months after the passage of the Baoma Law and the Shiyi Law, the court of the Song Dynasty suddenly became very calm. Wang Anshi and his supporters tried their best to implement the new law. Shi Yue went back and forth between Zhongshu and Baishuitan College , busy with official duties and teaching.Occasionally, he also took time to accompany Sangzier to draw pictures, and went to Biyuexuan to listen to Chu Yuner playing the piano. This kind of too peaceful life almost made Shi Yue feel a little bit unaware of the day and night.If there is any disturbance, it is only the debate of some scholars on the "Bianjing News".

But everything is extreme. In a turbulent era, after a short period of calm, there must be bigger storms. The storm came when the first July of the fifth year of Xining came. On July 2, a small official named Zeng Shouyi from the Military Weapons Supervision wrote a letter to Yushitai and the Prime Minister's Mansion, exposing that the Military Weapons Supervision Shen Kuo and Sun Gu had neglected their duties, making the Military Weapons Supervision's accounts unclear and its files unclear. Doubtful.Wang Anshi was very furious, and asked for a thorough investigation that day. The emperor, who had always placed high hopes on the military supervisor, also attached great importance to this. He immediately ordered Cai Que, who had just been promoted from serving the censor to know the miscellaneous affairs, to the censor Zhongcheng, to work with the Zhongshu to inspect the soldiers. Li, Gong, Xingfang Shi Yue, and Li Ding, the procuratorial official, investigated the matter thoroughly.

On July 3, Cai Que, Shi Yue, and Li Ding led a team of officers and soldiers to completely seal up the Military Weapons Supervision, which had just been established for only two months.Shen Kuo and Sun Gu received an order from the Ministry of Education on the same day, asking them to take a temporary leave to avoid!The two immediately handed in their apologies and asked to resign. On July 5th, the account auditors specially borrowed by Yushitai from the third envoy found that the accounts of the Military Arms Supervision were not only chaotic, but also that there were traces of alterations in several large purchases and sales. The value is obviously too high... On the afternoon of the same day, Shen Guitian, who was transferred by Shi Yue to his staff when the armor case was changed to a military supervisor, was surprised to find that the military supervisor's archive of the Zhentianlei gunpowder formula had disappeared!Shen Guitian immediately reported the matter to Shi Yue alone.When Shi Yue heard the news, his face turned pale with shock!

Shen Guitian knew that this matter was no small matter, and asked in a low voice: "Master Shi, what should we do now?" Shi Yue thought to himself: Shen Guitian may not be the only one who knows about such a big matter—even Shen Guitian may not be reliable!It is impossible to hide the truth, the fate of Shen Kuo and Sun Gu can only depend on their own fortune now.He immediately made up his mind and ordered: "Inform Cai Zhongcheng and Master Li immediately, this matter is no small matter." Shen Guitian paused for a moment, but stopped talking. Seeing that his expression was not right, Shi Yue knew that he had something to say, so he asked: "Old Shen, if you have any questions, you can speak directly."

Shen Guitian looked around and saw that there was no one around, and then said: "The lower official feels that something is wrong with this matter." Shi Yue was startled, and asked: "What's wrong?" Shen Guitian said: "Master Shen is a meticulous person, and Mr. Sun has a good official reputation. The military supervision is only two months, even if there is corruption, how can it be like this? And the accounts are so messy, if Corruption, with Mr. Shen's ability, should be well concealed. Also, Zhen Tianlei's gunpowder formula is the most important thing in today's world. The military supervisor is heavily guarded, and this is a secret among secrets. Why? Will it go missing? If Lord Shen and Lord Sun want to sell it, just copy a copy. The lower officials always feel that this matter is very wrong."

Shi Yue was originally a smart person, but it happened suddenly. Seeing that the accounts of the military supervisory department were in such a mess, he really hated Shen Kuo, and heard that the formula of Zhentianlei gunpowder was missing. If it spread to the enemy country... So I was shocked all of a sudden.Hearing Shen Guitian wake up at this time, he immediately understood. There must be something wrong with this! He took a few steps slowly, sorting out his thoughts, but for a while it was a mess, with thousands of thoughts.Knowing that he had no time to think about it at this time, he said to Shen Guitian: "Old Shen, you should pay more attention to this matter, but don't talk nonsense. If there is a conspiracy in the middle, then the Zhentianlei gunpowder formula is missing, I should say Clearly, if I have a heart to protect, I am afraid that in the future, it will not be as simple as a military supervisor..." At this point, he couldn't help shivering—he may not have thought of protecting Shen Kuo and Sun Kuo at first. Gu, if only Shen Guitian knows about this matter...

Shi Yue broke out in cold sweat, this is a conspiracy!And he actually counted himself in! Shi Yue took a deep breath, stabilized his emotions, and led Shen Guitian to the outside. Seeing that Cai Que and Li Dingzheng ordered some small officials to check the account books, a thought popped up again: "Why did you only ask me to take someone to check the account books?" Dossier? Is it really because it is a secret among the secrets, and I am the reason why I was prosecuted for military etiquette, labor, and punishment?" As soon as this idea jumped into his mind, Shi Yue felt even more that this matter was a conspiracy from the beginning to the end!

His mind became more and more clear, and he walked over quickly, clasped his fists at Cai Que and Li Ding, and said in a low voice: "Cai Zhongcheng, Mr. Li, the formula information of Zhentianlei's gunpowder has disappeared." Although his voice was low, it was like thunder on the ground!Accounts are not clear, after all, it is just a common thing, but this thunder... Thinking of the power of the thunder, Cai and Li trembled a little, not to mention that it was the most important thing for the emperor. Cai Que and Li Ding were so shocked that they even dropped the case files in their hands to the ground.

Shi Yue didn't know whether the two of them really didn't know, or they were just acting.He couldn't help sneering in his heart - since he knew that it was probably a conspiracy, then Zhen Tianlei's gunpowder formula might not be exported to foreign countries, which reassured him a lot.Shi Yue continued: "This is Shen Guitian who discovered that the Zhentianlei gunpowder formula was missing. Let's go and have a look first." Cai Que came back to his senses, nodded, and said to Li Ding: "Master Li, go and see the scene first." Under the leadership of Shen Guitian, the three of them came to a yard where the Military Weapons Supervision kept the most confidential technical information. They saw soldiers patrolling outside the yard. In the yard, there were sentries at every five steps and every ten steps at one post. Officials who were allowed to come in for inspection There were not many, but five or six people, each of whom was followed by two soldiers at any time, and they were not even allowed to bring pens and paper in, and there were guard posts outside each house.

Seeing this situation, Li Ding couldn't help frowning, and said, "How can it be stolen with such tight defense?" Cai Que sneered and said, "If the status is high enough, it's fine. If the three of us come in, will they dare to follow us?" Shi Yue remained calm. Not long after, Shen Guitian led the three of them to the cabinet where the Zhentianlei gunpowder files were placed, only to see that it was really empty.And the door and lock of the cabinet are intact!Cai Que inspected the house again, but the windows were so small that no one could get in, and the paper on the windows was intact, so he was even more suspicious.

The three looked at it in silence for a while, and then walked out in silence. After leaving the courtyard, Li Ding took the lead and said: "Cai Zhongcheng, Mr. Shi, this matter is serious, and we must report it to the emperor and the prime minister immediately." Shi Yue nodded. Cai Que sneered and said: "The report is to be reported, but how to write this paper? The two adults have to give a charter." Shi Yue said with a stern face: "To be honest, it's just as long as it doesn't increase or decrease." Cai Que glanced at Shi Yue, and said with a sneer: "Master Shi is right, but if you dare to ask Master Shi, hand over the booklet, and the emperor will ask, what do you think of this case? The security here is so strict, how did you lose it? Who is it again? How should we answer? As a courtier, the emperor can’t ask three questions, right?” Shi Yue became more and more calm, and calmly asked: "From Cai Zhongcheng's point of view, so what?" Cai Que gritted his teeth and said, "This matter is of great importance. The three of us can't bear the responsibility. I'm afraid there is an indelible relationship between Shen Kuo and Sun Gu." Shi Yue said "Oh", and then asked: "Cai Zhongcheng's meaning, could it be..." But he stopped talking. Li Ding listened to the two people's conversation, he is also a very smart person, and instantly realized that Shen Kuo is the person with the "stone" mark on his body. Could it be that Shi Yue wants to put Shen Kuo to death at this time?This man was a little too cruel.But Cai Que replied indifferently: "I don't mean anything. But judging from the facts of the case, there may only be two people in the military supervision department who can take away the gunpowder formula." Shi Yue asked lightly: "Then who does Cai Zhongcheng think? It's impossible for two people to do such a thing together!" Cai Que was not a fool, he laughed and said: "Lord Shi, there is no real evidence for such things, so it is not easy to talk nonsense. A courtier should report the facts to the emperor, and then speak out his own thoughts honestly. Don’t be right about people, that’s it. Don’t you think so?” This matter is an opportunity for Cai Que, if done well, he can not only please Wang Anshi, but also gain authority in the court!Who in the imperial court didn't know that Military Weapons Supervisor was Shi Yue's circle of influence, and Shen Kuo was from Shi Yue?Bringing down Shen Kuo and the emperor's old minister Sun Gu together, I can't escape the title of "Iron Faced Censor"!His influence in the new party will also be further strengthened. Shi Yue knew what he was thinking, so he laughed and said, "Master Cai is right."