Lin Ruhai had the potential to capture all the salt merchants in Yangzhou City. With a single order from Ning Jun, he had no choice but to give up on the other small merchants and only take down the four main merchants.
In the morning, these salt merchants were still boisterous, burning oil with fire. In the blink of an eye, they were thrown into prison and their wealth was scattered. This money was easy to earn, but it was also easy to lose!
It is said that the rise of the country is very sudden, and the fall of the country is very sudden! Life was really unpredictable!
Regardless of whether it was the usually high and mighty ladies or the unruly manservants, they were all tied up with a rope. Their hair was disheveled as they were led out like animals and walked on the street.
Originally, it was just to intimidate them. However, these four families had never been rich and heartless in Yangzhou, bullying men and women. Instead, they built bridges and paved roads, pitied the poor and pitied the widowed, and carved books to help students. They often boasted of themselves as Confucian merchants, so they had an excellent reputation in Yangzhou.
Now that the four families were facing a great disaster, the surrounding commoners who had received their favor knelt on both sides and even stopped them from going. There were even those with ulterior motives who shouted.
The soldiers who were escorting them all drew their swords and were about to suppress them. For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar.
This was going to be bad!
When the news reached Ning Jun, he was just about to ask who the Loyalty Association was, but he couldn't care anymore and immediately went out and got on his horse.
Ning Jun rode on the bridge, and the ignorant commoners gathered together.
"I am the loyal and obedient king, Ning Jun!" Ning Jun shouted. Everyone, listen to me!" He called out three times before everyone gradually calmed down.
"You said that the salt merchants are good people, but do you know where their money comes from?" I'll just ask you, how much is a catty of salt you eat now?”
Some said ten coins, and some said eleven coins.
"Then do you know what the price of salt was in the early years of the dynasty?" Five wens! Yangzhou is a salt-producing area, and the price in remote areas is more than a hundred wen! The small favors these salt merchants usually give you are nothing compared to what they earn from you! If it was a legitimate business, the Imperial Court would naturally support it. But the few of them, in just ten years, had colluded with the Transportation Department to embezzle ten million taels of state tax! The silk and satin on their bodies and the carved railings and jade buildings they live in are all your hard-earned money. At present, there was a drought in Qilu, floods in Jingchu, and locust plagues in Hanzhong. Which place wasn't filled with starving people? How could he allow such a parasite to roam freely in the world? However, the heavens had the virtue of cherishing life, and the laws of the country did not punish their wives and children. The good deeds they had done over the years would definitely be considered by the court and they would definitely not wrongly accuse innocent people!”
The commoners seemed to understand this logic and gradually calmed down.
Ning Jun also did not lock the four women in prison, but instead detained them in the Guanwang Temple.
After finally settling everything down, Ning Jun angrily returned to the Yamen of the Salt Patrol Censor. You Bi and the others who were tied up earlier had also been locked up elsewhere. He grabbed Lin Ruhai, who had just returned, and scolded him,"Have you gone silly from studying? If there had been a civil revolt just now, you and I would have been implicated!”
Lin Ruhai was much more clear-headed now and said in shame,""Your highness, this minister was too rash! However, I still don't understand. How can I let the other salt merchants go? One had to know that their sins were no less than those of the four families. They had to eliminate all evils!”
How could Ning Jun tell him that the mastermind behind the corruption of the state affairs was the Retired Emperor?”Foolish! If you wipe out all these salt merchants, who will sell salt for you? At that time, the salt would be unsalable, the price of salt would soar, and the people would be furious. How many heads would you have to chop off?”
Lin Ruhai straightened his neck." Then we can implement the salt ticket law and completely change the status quo of salt monopoly! It could not only enrich the country's tax, but also let the common people eat cheap salt. This move is beneficial to the country and the people. Please think twice!”
Ning Jun looked at him with rapt attention.
Lin Ruhai's eyes were clear. He was sincerely planning for the country! Although Ning Jun didn't know how the salt ticketing method he mentioned worked, he knew that the implementation of the salt ticketing method in another time and space increased the salt tax and directly led to the decline of Huizhou merchants and Yangzhou.
"You really want to implement the salt law?"
Lin Ruhai took a deep breath and cupped his hands."I have planned this for a long time. Only by doing this can we better prevent the salt merchants from colluding with the salt officials to steal the national tax.”
Ning Jun was selfish, so he didn't dare to look directly into Lin Ruhai's eyes." This matter is of great importance. It's not something you and I can decide." You can bring it up to the Imperial Court. However, before the imperial court issues an edict, you must do as I say!”
"I understand!" Lin Ruhai sighed. " Now that the internal trouble has been eliminated, the only external trouble is the salt owls who colluded with them. Your Highness, please send out your troops immediately! Without the support of the salt merchants, they were like water without roots.”
Ning Jun smiled." I'll let the government send out a notice. Those who surrender within three days will have their crimes reduced by one degree. Those who surrender within three days will have their crimes increased by one degree." It won't be too late to order the government troops to attack!"
Lin Ruhai nodded and said," There's one more thing. Nowadays, all the officials and merchants who come to Lianghuai, including the royal family of the Divine Capital, are carrying smuggled salt. I request Your Highness to send troops to inspect the passing vehicles and ships." We must get to the root of the matter."
"Censor Lin, Uncle Lin, you're going to become a fatty in one bite!" Ning Jun said with a headache. Be careful, haste makes waste!"
"Your Highness, I have the Emperor's trust and have been selected as the salt inspector. How dare I not be conscientious and conscientious until I die?" Lin Ruhai laughed.”
"Don't you know that you'll easily be hated by others like this?" Ning Jun kindly reminded him.”
"Your Highness, you've said before that those who aren't hated are mediocre!" Lin Ruhai bowed.”
"Did I say anything about this?" Ning Jun looked at Lin Ruhai's back view as he left in a suave manner and felt a little melancholic!
Why have you become so sentimental recently?
Whatever, I just need to look after Jia Min and Daiyu. Anyway, I'm a man, and I won't encounter any accidents!
Thinking of this, Ning Jun got up and walked in.
It was better to talk to the person he liked for fun than to deal with all the miscellaneous matters outside.
However, Wang De, who had no eyesight, said beside Ning Jun,"Your Highness, that Jia Yucun has come to see you again.”
Jia Yucun?
Ning Jun almost forgot about him.
"How did you lose weight after not seeing you for a few days?”
How could he not reduce it?
He had thought that he was very important, but now that the dust had settled, he realized that he was dispensable from the beginning to the end. Wasn't it ridiculous?
Jia Yucun's intestines turned green with regret. He knelt properly." This student pays his respects to Your Highness!”
Ning Jun smiled." You came at the right time. Censor Lin has confiscated those salt merchants. Help me take a look. Is there anything I missed or made a mistake?" Don't disappoint me this time!"
"This student will definitely do a good job for Your Highness!" Jia Yucun kowtowed.”
Ning Jun walked into the back hall impatiently. Jia Yucun was still deep in thought. He hurriedly bowed to Wang De." Please teach me, Eunuch!"”She secretly stuffed a certain amount of silver into his hands.
Wang De returned his silver and smiled."Mr. Jia, His Highness has never been harsh on his servants. Our family has a generous salary, so we don't need these. On account of your sincerity, let me remind you that his highness values your brain. I've already copied it. What do I want you to see?"
"Is there anything left?" asked Jia Yucun.”
Wang De smiled without saying anything and turned to leave.
Jia Yucun was suddenly enlightened! Since he had copied it, there would definitely not be anything left. Since his highness asked this, there must be something left.
Or was it not clear that there must be something left behind?
In the inner hall, Ke Qing was talking to Jia Min and Dai Yu. When they saw Ning Jun enter, they all stood up and bowed.
Ning Jun generously held Ke Qing's hand and sat together.
Ke Qing's face instantly turned red as she whispered," Husband, don't be like this."
"Aunt and Sister Yu 'er are not outsiders.”
Jia Min's expression was always indifferent.
"Brother, I heard from the little girl that you and your father turned Yangzhou City upside down today."”
Ning Jun looked at her with a straight face." You're a girl. Why are you asking about this? It's more important to do some acupuncture!"
"Humph!" "Don't tell me girls can only stay at home and do acupuncture, but can't read and write?" There was still Qin Liangyu from the previous dynasty!"
Ning Jun changed his tone." I mean, it's better for a girl to be quiet.”
"Is it true that not saying a word is considered quiet?"”
Ning Jun joked,"If you have the time to listen to gossip, you can give me a fan!" By the way, I gave you so many things, you should at least give me something back, right? Don't you know that courtesy is reciprocated? Do you still need me to remind you?"
"Who asks for gifts?"”
"I am!" Ning Jun said righteously. Younger Sister had better finish it within these few days. Otherwise, when I leave, where will you send it to me?”
"Brother, are you leaving already?" Daiyu asked with her eyes wide open.”
Ning Jun smiled." I'm very happy to stay here. It's just that your father disliked me, so I had no choice but to leave!"”
"Liar!" "Of course not, Daddy!" Daiyu quickly lowered her head.”Something seemed to flow out of her eyes, but Daiyu held it in.
Jia Min saw her daughter's expression and sighed. She smiled and said,"Yu 'Er, your brother still has to go to Jinling for business.”
Daiyu hid her sadness." Then will Brother still come?”She looked at Ning Jun with anticipation.
"Of course!" Ning Jun leaned over." Are you also finding Brother an eyesore?”
Daiyu hurriedly dodged and spat,"It's an eyesore. It's better if you don't come back!"”
Ning Jun clutched his chest." Brother's heart is broken!”
Daiyu lay in Jia Min's arms, her face already red from embarrassment.
"Husband, you're teasing sister Yu 'er again!" Ke Qing said with a distressed tone.”
Ning Jun said to Daiyu seriously,"I'm already prepared to stay in Yangzhou for a long time. Is little sister very disappointed to hear this news?”
"Bah!" Daiyu held Jia Min's arm." Mother, let's not let him live in Yangzhou, okay?”
Jia Min tapped her forehead." You're not a child anymore. Why are you still saying such silly things?" Your brother is a prince, so he naturally has to return to the capital. How can he stay in Yangzhou for a long time?"
Daiyu made a face at Ning Jun, but her eyes were fixed on the folding fan in Ning Jun's hand. She thought that her brother's fan was big, so she should use a bigger fan pendant!
After talking for a while, Jia Min pulled Daiyu away.
Daiyu turned around and glanced at Ning Jun.
Ke Qing suddenly smiled and said,"Husband, Sister Yu 'er…"
Ning Jun hugged her slender waist." Don't you think she really sees me as her brother?”
But Qing couldn't help but tease," I can see that Sister Yu 'er's personality is as pure as crystal. Husband, don't…" She looked worried.
Ning Jun pinched her cheek." We'll be going to Jinling in a few days. You should prepare some gifts."”
"I've already prepared it," Ke Qing said coquettishly.”She had an expression that said she knew he would say that.
Ning Jun didn't look at her small eyes, but he found Qingwen and the others 'cross-lapped jackets unpleasant to the eye." Do you have scissors?”
Hong Er and the others 'expressions changed drastically. They went inside one after another, not daring to stay in front of Ning Jun.
But Qing quickly stopped him and spat,"Husband, this is not the Prince's mansion after all. If you cut it off, how can they go out?"”
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I just want to cut my nails." Look at you, your nails are so long again. Do you all not want to serve me anymore?”
Hence, they all stretched out their hands with heartache on their faces.
"Your Highness, can we cut it ourselves?" Qing Wen whispered.”
Ning Jun pulled her hand, scaring her so much that she did not dare to open her eyes.
"What? My haircut doesn't look good?"
"Yes!" she whispered.
At the East Road Courtyard of the Rong Nation Mansion in the Divine Capital.
Jia She asked Jia Lian coldly," Why is there no news of them from Jiangnan? This year, our dividends are lower than last year. What can we do with this bit of silver? If they didn't rely on these places to get some silver, they would all go and drink the northwest wind!”
"Father, it's against the rules for us to do this. Why don't we…" Jia Lian said worriedly.
"Bullshit!" "What do you know?" Jia She scolded Jia Lian. Who in the Divine Capital didn't secretly do some business to supplement their families? If you think it's against the rules, don't even think about getting me to give you money this year! This was ungrateful! Your Younger Sister Yuan Chun is currently in charge of many profitable businesses in the Zhongshun Prince's mansion, why don't you share some of the profits?”
Jia Lian did not dare to wipe the saliva on his face and smiled apologetically,""Father is right. How much knowledge can a son have? Our family isn't like Second Uncle and the others who guard a mountain of gold. For such a side income, the more the better!”
Jia She was still furious." Get lost! That person was originally a robber, why didn't he ask Yunguang to get someone to keep an eye on him? If there's a mistake, be careful!"
Jia Lian walked out backward and walked to the door with a face full of bad luck." Even if I succeed, how much money can you give me? There were government troops escorting them along the way, so how could anything happen?”He didn't care anymore.
However, something had happened in the end!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。