That night, Ning Jun hugged Ke Qing and quietly listened to her talk about today's trip to Sthin West Lake. Looking at the pavilions on both sides of the river, especially on the long embankment, the willows fluttered like smoke, giving it a different flavor.
However, when Qing Qing got to the point where she was happy, she sat up on the bed. However, Ning Jun pulled her back and covered her with a blanket." Be careful not to catch a cold!"”
Ke Qing leaned into his arms and said shyly,""With husband here, how can you catch a cold?”
Ning Jun changed his position and hugged her." Don't just focus on playing. Have you forgotten all the tasks I gave you?”
"How dare I?" Ke Qing spat. Husband asked me to observe which of those women were sincere and which were fake. From what I see, they are all the same. They are all thinking of flowers to flatter me!”
Ning Jun smiled." Of course. Who are you? Who are they?"”
But Qing drew circles on Ning Jun's broad chest." There were a few who even talked to me about how beautiful their girls were. They were all good at poetry. If my husband nods, I can have at least ten or twenty sisters tomorrow!”
Ning Jun grabbed her hand and kissed it, pretending to be angry."We're talking about serious matters! Who do you think is more anxious?”
However, when Qing saw that Ning Jun was talking about serious matters, she did not dare to make a fuss. She told him a few things in detail." I can't really say for sure. I just feel that these few people don't seem to fit in with Madam Dong and the others. There were a few times when Madam Li and the others even mocked them. Seeing the signs, their relationship usually wasn't that good!”
"As expected, only women understand women the best."”
"Isn't this what my husband asked me to do?" Ke Qing pouted. Otherwise, I would rather stay here and talk to Madam Lin and the others! Those people outside had to beat around the bush to say a word. It was so annoying.”
Ning Jun hugged her." Alright, I won't let Keqing do anything she doesn't like anymore."”
"No!" But Qing stubbornly looked at Ning Jun,"For my husband, I am willing to do anything!" I just feel that their lives are too boring.”
The two of them enjoyed a moment of peace.
But Qing suddenly asked,"Husband, what do you think sister Zi Yuanchun is doing now?"”She mischievously smiled in Ning Jun's ear and said,""She just got married, and husband has the heart to leave her alone in the Divine Capital?”
Ning Jun pinched her cheek." Why are you alone? I even gave her the entire Imperial Residence to manage! By the way, when you go back, aren't you afraid that the people below won't listen to you?”
"Do you think I'm so easily jealous?" Ke Qing spat. If Younger Sister Yuan Chun can manage the household for this concubine, this concubine can wholeheartedly serve husband, this concubine can't even thank you enough!”She leaned proudly in Ning Jun's arms." I'm the princess consort!”
Ning Jun couldn't help but laugh. So this was where his confidence came from!
"From tomorrow onwards, don't go out anymore.”
Ke Qing raised her head and asked in confusion,""But this concubine has already promised Madam Dong that we will go to his garden tomorrow?”
Ning Jun had no choice but to stuff her under the blanket again." There's no need. I've already tested everything that I need to. It's time for the Yangzhou show to end."”
"Husband!" But Qing meekly held Ning Jun's arm." I want a child!”
The night air began to fill with tenderness.
The next day, at the Yamen of the salt inspector, Prince Zhongshun hosted a banquet for the officials and merchants of Yangzhou City. The entire street was filled with flowing water tables.
On the third day, King Zhongshun invited all the generals below You Bi to a banquet.
After the greetings, the wine has been three rounds, the dishes have been five flavors.
"Life is always made up of countless choices." Ning Jun picked up his wine glass and stood up with a smile. The choices you made in the past made you who you are today, and the choices you make today are related to your future.”
You Bi's hand trembled slightly and he asked with a smile,""Your Highness, you're not planning a trap today, are you?”
As soon as he said this, the banquet immediately panicked. Some of them stood up anxiously and wanted to run out.
However, just as they reached the door, they suddenly bumped into a wall. A tall man grabbed a person's neck with one hand and pushed them back into the hall.
The two of them were caught off guard. Their bodies had already soared into the air and fell heavily to the ground.
Immediately, countless fully armed soldiers rushed in from the outside. Anyone who dared to move would have a cold blade on their neck.
You Bi stood up and questioned loudly,"Your Highness, what did we do wrong? You want to kill us?"
"From now on, as long as you sit on the stool obediently and don't move around, your lives won't be in danger."”He downed the wine in his hand.
The noisy hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at Ning Jun nervously.
"Why aren't you drinking?" Ning Jun sat down and smiled.”
"Your Highness, what exactly do you want?" You Bi asked in a deep voice. Even if I have to die, I want to die knowing the truth!”
"Hahaha!" Ning Jun picked up his folding fan from the table." I'm going to do something big today. If there are any troublemakers among you, blood will flow like a river in Yangzhou City. Therefore, I'm here to persuade everyone out of good intentions.”
You Bi was also quick-witted and immediately thought,"Your Highness, are you here specifically for the Yangzhou salt class?”
"Since you already know, there's no need for me to explain further." Sit down obediently. I'll pretend that I don't know that you have a concubine from the Dong family.”
You Bi's forehead was full of sweat." Your Highness, are you really planning to purge the Yangzhou salt merchants?”
Ning Jun opened his folding fan and shook it, then said calmly,""If they cooperate, I'll only take the money and not my life. If they don't cooperate, I'll kill them for the money.”
As a military governor, You Bi controlled 30,000 troops stationed in Huaiyang. There were more than 15,000 troops inside and outside Yangzhou alone. He was caught in a dilemma.
He was silent and could only sit down.
At this moment, there was a commotion outside the hall, followed by the sound of killing. After a while, it was quiet again.
A commander of the Imperial Residence came in with a head in his hand. He bowed and said loudly,"Your Highness, there were seventeen people who tried to escape just now, but this general and the others have already executed them all.”
Ning Jun waved his hand to dismiss him." I've said it before. You'll be fine as long as you stay here obediently." You should listen."
You Bi pursed his lips and smiled." Since that's the case, I'll just wait for some wine. I won't cause trouble for you, Your Highness!"”
With him taking the lead, the people below echoed," We definitely won't cause trouble for His Highness!”He simply picked up the wine jar and drank, as if he was afraid that he would get drunk too slowly.
Not long after, Lin Ruhai came in with a serious expression." Your Highness, the yamen has already made the necessary arrangements.”
Commander Ji, who had not been seen for a long time, also strode in and reported,"Your Highness, all the sects in Yangzhou have been taken down. We will obey your orders!”
"Did it go smoothly?" Ning Jun asked with a smile.
Commander Ji glanced at You Bi." Except for Jie Du You's brother-in-law, Huang Hong, who was in some trouble and had no choice but to do something, the other sects will follow the order.”
You Bi placed his hands on the table and asked,""What did you do to him?"
Commander Ji smiled." Don't worry, Commander. I just let him be quiet for a while." She was probably sleeping soundly at this time!”
" Hmph!" You Bi snorted coldly." If he's injured, I won't let you off!”
Commander Ji grinned." How dare I?"”
Thus, Ning Jun stood up and looked at the hall. He said to Commander Ji, Lin Ruhai, and the others,"The show has begun. We should go and uncover the darkness behind Yangzhou's prosperity. A bunch of vermin from the imperial court!”
Seeing that they were about to reach the door, You Bi called out to Ning Jun." Your Highness, Yangzhou City is a place where officials and merchants are intertwined. A slight change in one part will affect the whole. Looking at his highness 'actions, he would definitely make a big fuss, but this general still had to remind him that there were a few salt merchants who were related to the nearby illegal salt dealers.”
Ning Jun turned around and glanced at him." It seems like You Jiedu has some ideas?”
You Bi cupped his hands and said solemnly,"I am a general of the imperial court. How dare I harm the public for my own benefit?" But wangye, do you have the emperor's decree?”
"I thought you wouldn't think of this!" Ning Jun smiled. But what if I don't?"
You Bi sneered." Then, Your Highness, you've taken the liberty of imprisoning a general of the imperial court, controlling the city, and even planning to coerce the civil and military officials in the city. Are you trying to rebel?" We would rather die than follow the thief!"
Ning Jun's face darkened." You speak so righteously! If I don't have evidence, I'll really believe you! Let's not talk about the distant ones. Under your rule, there are dozens of big and small salt owls with a small flag. You Jiedu, can you tell me what this little flag is for?”
You Bi was scared out of his wits." How…did I know?”
Commander Ji took out a small triangular yellow flag from his pocket." For this thing, I experienced the days of selling illegal salt. It was said that with this flag, the sale of salt in Lianghuai was unimpeded. Without it, it would be difficult to move an inch.”He respectfully handed it over to Ning Jun." Your Highness, I spent two hundred taels of silver to buy this flag. It can only guarantee a year of stability. Next year, I still have to take a commission based on the amount of goods sold!”
You Bi's face was pale as he hurriedly explained,""Your Highness, please listen to my explanation!"
Ning Jun glanced at Lin Ruhai.
Lin Ruhai took out the bright yellow silk brocade from his bosom." The Emperor has decreed that King Zhongshun should investigate the corruption of Yangzhou's salt tax and act accordingly!"”
Ning Jun looked at You Bi coldly." Even if I kill you now, it's still a cheap job!”
You Bi knelt down with a thud." Your Highness, I have my own difficulties. I didn't keep all the silver for myself!”
"You don't have to say much, I understand." Ning Jun smiled. Among all of you, except for one guerrilla, there are three commanders-in-chief. They are so stupid that they don't even want money and are even ostracized by you. Even if I kill all of you, it won't be unjust!”
After laughing, the dozens of generals in the hall knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
Only four people were left standing upright. They were Liu Gang, Xiong Hui, Zhu Ang, and Pan Cong.
Ning Jun walked in front of Liu Gang." I'm appointing you as the temporary deputy general. Can you restrain the soldiers outside the city?”
Liu Gang was a valiant man. He immediately cupped his hands and said,"If I can get the help of the three of them, I can guarantee the safety of the camp outside the city.”
Ning Jun patted him on the shoulder with his fan." I've ordered them to temporarily assist you on behalf of the guerilla forces. Whoever dares to cause trouble, no matter who it is, kill them first before you speak!”
"We accept your orders!" The four of them hurriedly cupped their hands and half-knelt.
Ning Jun waved his hand." You can leave."”
The four of them kowtowed before leaving.
"Your Highness," Commander Ji advised Ning Jun uneasily,"if they leave just like that, there will be trouble if things go wrong."”
Ning Jun had a well-thought-out plan." If we don't let them go, there will be trouble! Alright, that's it here, Old Mo!”
The dark-skinned man from before walked in.
"Tie them up one by one!" Ning Jun pointed at You Bi and the others. Before I'm done, none of you can escape. Otherwise, I'll take your head!”
Old Mo was Mo Ri Gen, another werewolf, and a little more than Vicious. "Your Highness, if they dare to run, chop them up!" He grinned.”
Just as Ning Jun turned around and left, Old Mo commanded the Wang Fu's armored soldiers to tie up these people. Since You Bi had a high status, Old Mo didn't hold back. He punched You Bi's face with a fist the size of a vinegar bowl. His nose bridge was broken and blood splattered.
"Lord regional governor, you must not take the lead in causing trouble. If you're quiet, it'll save us trouble! Shackles!" He was actually given a heavy torture tool.
A Second-Grade General, a military town, was locked down and unable to move.
How would the others dare to resist?
When Ning Jun and his entourage arrived outside the ceremonial gate, Ning Jun instructed Lin Ruhai," Please lead a thousand soldiers and horses to quickly seal Dong, Li, Yang, and Ma families. I'll go to the Pacification Department and meet them! It was said that there were people from the Divine Capital at this moment.”
Ever since Lin Ruhai arrived in Yangzhou, he had seen salt merchants like them being insatiable and openly encroaching on the national tax, but he was powerless to do anything about it. His heart had long been filled with hostility. Today, Ning Jun had finally taken action to confiscate the salt merchants. What else did Lin Ruhai have to worry about?
If there were, it was because there were too few salt merchants to be raided. They could not just raid the main salt merchants. It was best if all the people under them went through a sieve!
Looking at Lin Ruhai's hurried figure, Ning Jun held his chin thoughtfully and ordered a captain," Follow Censor Lin. If there's anything unusual, report immediately!"”
"Why do I feel that he will cause trouble?”
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]