Officialdom is a very complex place, and the personalities of officials are also different.

On the whole, the officials in the southeast are relatively mild, such as Xu Jie, who is still amiable even though he is the first assistant. Officials in the north are even more powerful, such as Yang Bo, the secretary of the military department, is a typical example, almost treating the military department as his own one-third of an acre.

Lin Haoran is the main envoy of this investigation, and Gao Gong is the deputy envoy of the investigation, so it is said that Lin Haoran should be respected. It's just that Gao Gongli thinks very highly of himself, and his self-sustaining qualifications are old and his status is slightly higher, so he wants to suppress Lin Haoran, a little hairy head.

Lin Haoran knew that Gao Gong was a rigid and straightforward character as early as in the Hanlin Academy, and he also understood that the other party would definitely not bow to him, so he didn't plan to compete with Gao Gong for any primary.

Facing Gao Gong's aggressiveness, he first took a sip of tea slowly, and then raised his head and responded lightly: "Don't hide it from Gao Siqing, those gangs are all outlaws, and they can't judge anything at all!" I was ruthless a few days ago, and I was severely punished, and Chen Zhaowu, the leader in charge of escorting the illicit salt, recruited me to be the mastermind behind the scenes, but I was bitten ......"

At this time, he suddenly stopped, and Lin Haoran looked up at the high arch.

Gao Gong's temperament is straightforward and impatient, and his attention has long been attracted by what Lin Haoran said, although he knows that his identity must not be simple, he still stares anxiously and asks, "Who did he bite?" ”

Lin Fu brought in the high arch and kept guarding the door. He stood a little delicately, standing on the left side of the door with his back to his back, holding his hands on his chest, revealing only half of his body, which was not conspicuous but showed his presence.

Lin Haoran looked at the impatience of the bearded arch in his eyes, but he raised his eyes to look at Lin Fu outside the door, and only then did he seriously reveal the answer: "The Duke of Wei's Mansion!" ”

If you put aside that account book, he now only has the gang of people arrested in the seizure of smuggled salt, and the real core personnel are Chen Zhaowu, who escorted the smuggled salt, and Niu Dachun, the garrison of Chongming Island.

Because Niu Dachun chose to kiss himself in the process of arresting, only one pirate leader Chen Zhaowu, who was somewhat famous in the past, remained. Since this Chen Zhaowu did not commit suicide on the spot like Niu Dachun, he must not be an iron mouth, and he bit the steward of the Wei State Mansion during the torture.

Gao Gong heard that the mastermind behind the scenes turned out to be Wei Guogong, and his face suddenly became solemn.

The Duke of Wei is one of the six founding princes of the country, and due to various reasons, only the Duke of Wei is left in Nanjing. If he overturns Wei Guogong, he will have to take a certain political risk.

Although the nobles of the Ming Dynasty have lost power, especially the nobles of Nanjing, not only have no military power, but also have almost no political influence. It's just that this Wei Mansion is hereditary, but the background is extremely profound, and there are Dingguo Mansions in Beijing to take care of each other.

The solemnity on Gao Gong's face quickly disappeared, replaced by the arrogance and loftiness of the civil official, and immediately looked up at Lin Haoran and earnestly verified: "There is solid evidence!" ”

Lin Haoran saw Gao Gong's reaction in his eyes, knowing that the Wei Mansion could scare ordinary officials, and it had no effect on an official with Gao Gong's official position and personality, so he picked up the teacup and shook his head with a wry smile: "He has no evidence, they are all empty white teeth!" ”

"And what have you found all these days?" Gao arched his eyes flashed with disappointment, and immediately asked again.

"Gao Siqing, do you think this official should follow this clue to investigate the Wei State Mansion?" Lin Haoran did not answer positively, but asked rhetorically with a sip of tea.

Gao Gong's face changed suddenly, and he rebuked with a righteous and awe-inspiring reprimand: "We are waiting for the king's fortune, and we should do the things of loyalty to the king." Lord Lin is the chief envoy appointed by the imperial court to investigate the case, if you are afraid of the power of the Wei Mansion and are timid, you are just a person who sells his reputation and reputation, and the people of the Shuntian Mansion still praise you as Lin Qingtian! ”

Even if he is as arrogant as a high arch, he is not envious of Lin Haoran. In Shuntianfu for only one year, he was loved by the people of Shuntianfu, and Lin Qingtian's name is still praised.

He wanted to suppress Lin Haoran this time, although he was unwilling to be the deputy envoy for the investigation of the case only in front of Lin Hao, but didn't he have a jealous psychology?

"Gao Siqing thinks that this official is a person who sells his reputation and reputation, so it's good to go!" Although Lin Haoran knew that Gao Gong's character had a rather unreasonable side, he immediately became tough and looked at Gao Gong and said-for-tat.

Gao Gong couldn't help but look at Lin Haoran in amazement, he had just taken the opportunity to vent the resentment in his heart, but he didn't expect the other party to be so tough, which immediately caught him off guard.

He went south this time to take the opportunity of investigating the case to go further, but he knew that this case was very tricky, especially when he wasted too much time going south, but he wanted to help Lin Haoran.

Now if he really fell out with Lin Haoran, Lin Haoran could have completely dispensed with this merit in investigating the case, but he undoubtedly ran this trip in vain, and even ended up with the stain of ineffective work.

Gao Gong's mind was running very fast, and he soon said in a relaxed tone: "The old man believes that Lord Lin is not selling his reputation, but I don't know where Lord Lin has investigated?" ”

Lin Haoran watched Gao Gong's attitude soften, knowing that this was not easy, so he took a sip of tea and said honestly: "With only the testimony of a bandit, I don't dare to blatantly investigate Wei Guogong!" However, this official has already sent someone to investigate in Nanjing earlier, but he has a little eyebrows! ”

"What's the eyebrow?" Gao Gong didn't expect Lin Haoran to really dare to investigate the Wei State Mansion, and his eyes lit up slightly and asked.

Lin Haoran raised his eyes to look at Gao Gong, stared at his eyes and said seriously: "The wealth of the Wei State Mansion...... Very abundant! ”

"Wei Guogong is the founding Guogong of the country, entrenched in Nanjing City for more than 100 years, this alone doesn't mean anything, right?" Gao Gong's brows furrowed slightly, looking disappointed.

Lin Haoran understood this truth, but he said in a nutshell: "The income of the Wei Mansion mainly comes from rice and rewards, which can be checked!" The official sent people to secretly inspect the family wealth of the Wei State Mansion, and found that the Wei State Mansion had purchased a large number of shops and mansions in Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou, but its expenditure was far more than these amounts. Based on the testimony of a bandit leader alone, we cannot prove that the dignified Wei Mansion was involved. Just investigating the newly purchased family property of the Wei State Mansion, coupled with Chen Zhaowu's testimony, it is possible to make some speculations to the emperor and impeach Xu Pengju. If the emperor agrees to continue the investigation, we will naturally continue to investigate along this clue, but if the emperor asks us to stop, we can only return to Beijing! ”

When he said this, he showed great sincerity. If he chooses not to say it, Gao Gong is completely blind now, not only can he not explain to the emperor, but he has no way to start.

Now he not only told the situation of the case, but also gave the corresponding plan, so that Gao Gong's eyes suddenly became clear, and he could even explain to the emperor soon.

A case that was originally complicated was suddenly cleared up here by Lin Haoran, how could it not make Gao Gong happy?

Gao Gong glanced at Lin Haoran deeply, but asked in confusion: "Now that you have found this step, you can explain all this to the emperor, and you don't have to wait for the old man to come here!" ”

has been in the officialdom for so long, he understands that everyone is selfish, especially Lin Haoran is not related to him, and there is no reason to share this low-hanging fat with him.

"This official has just rectified the salt administration, and the limelight is too strong now, but it is too much!" Lin Haoran smiled slightly, and continued half-truthfully: "Gao Siqing's news should be more well-informed than this official, and Wan Yukai, the right attendant of the Criminal Department, and others have impeached this official for cultivating relatives and friends and excluding dissidents in Yangzhou, which has caused this official to receive a lot of slander. If the official neglects this matter now, it will definitely arouse the suspicion of the government and the opposition, and I am afraid that he will not be able to withstand such great pressure. Now this official hopes that Gao Siqing can take over this case, go to Nanjing City to verify some information, and then you will explain these results to the emperor. ”

Although Gao Gong left the capital, he has been paying attention to the dynamics of the capital, and naturally knows about Lin Haoran's impeachment, but he still asks suspiciously: "You really don't have the slightest selfishness!" ”

"In the past, the official really had to deal with Guo Zhifu, and I ask Gao Siqing not to mind, let's resolve the mustard here, okay?" Lin Haoran guessed that the other party would ask such a question, but he was open and honest.

Gao Gong and Guo Pu are of the same age, and they are fellow villagers in Henan, and they have worked together in the Hanlin Academy for a long time. Because Gao Gong entered the officialdom a little later and received a lot of care from Guo Pu, the two sides have formed a deep friendship, and the two are political allies.

But he didn't want to, Guo Pu, who was in full swing, was calculated by Lin Haoran, and now Guo Pu is burdened with the notoriety of "hiding his funeral", making Lin Haoran a public enemy of the Henan Gang.

"If that's the case, then I can't blame you!"

Gao Gong didn't hate Lin Haoran much, he just felt that Lin Haoran was more insidious, after all, Xu Jie could stab Yan Song in the back, so he waved his hand disapplauded.

"This official hopes that after this incident, we can live in harmony and promote the reform of the government together!" Lin Haoran looked at the high arch seriously, looking serious.

If we really talk about reformers, Gao Gong is undoubtedly the most typical one. It was Gao Gong's push for the Longqing New Deal that gave Daming a new lease of life, and he was already a radical reformer.

"We'll talk about it later! But today's matter, the old man has accepted your love! Gao Gong glanced at Lin Haoran deeply, and solemnly bowed his hand to him and said aloud.

"It's noon now, why don't you have lunch with this official?" Lin Haoran looked up at the weather outside and immediately invited.

"No, the old man made an appointment and said goodbye!" Gao Gong directly rejected Lin Haoran's invitation, so he got up and left.

Lin Haoran sent Gao Gong outside the door, looking at this figure who left in a hurry, but sighed softly in his heart.

Although he wanted to form a political alliance with Gao Gong, he knew that it was impossible to coexist in harmony forever, especially behind Gao Gong, there was a figure of the Shanxi merchant gang. However, he also understands that politics has never had eternal friends and enemies, at least during this time, he can get closer to Gao Gong.

Some people rejoice, others are sad.

Xincheng was home to salt merchants, who had the financial resources to buy land and build luxurious mansions. It's just that a reshuffle is going on quietly, and many salt merchants have packed up their belongings and left here.

"Let's go!"

Fan Qianshan's hair turned even paler, and he pulled the curtain and glanced at the house, but he sighed deeply, and finally said to the groom outside.

The carriage quickly drove out of the alley and into the lively street, listening to the noise that was more lively than before, but it made Fan Qianshan stunned and embarked on the way back to his hometown in Shanxi.

He lost this time, and he was a mess.

When everyone thought that the United Money Village was running out of food again, the United Money Village suddenly issued two salt introduction promissory notes to the people of Yangzhou City in the first month of next year and the first month of the year after that.

That is, spend one tael to buy a salt introduction promissory note, and in the first month of next year, it can be directly delivered to the program merchant at the price of one or two or five yuan, and in the first month of the next year, it will be delivered to the program merchant at the price of two taels.

Due to the credibility of the merchants, and the fact that the United Bank did have enough old salt quotations for delivery, many people were willing to choose to believe in the salt quotation promissory notes issued by the United Banks, and use their real money to purchase the salt quotation promissory notes from the United Banks.

United Money Bank has also set up a secondary trading market, where all people who have salt promissory notes can be listed and traded on the counter of United Money Bank, and each investor can buy and sell on their own.

The initial price of the salt introduction issued by the United Money Village was only one tael, but the salt introduction promissory note in the first month of next year was quickly fried to one tael or four yuan, and the salt introduction promissory note in the first month of the following year was fried to one tael or seven yuan.

It is precisely because of this that many people's wealth suddenly skyrocketed by 40%, so that more people were enthusiastic about this salt quotation promissory note transaction, so that the three-year salt quotation promissory note launched by United Money Bank was snapped up.

In this transaction, United Money Bank not only strengthened its own reputation, but also used the help of the return of funds, and had enough funds to buy salt in the market.

It's just that at this time, something terrible happened.

At the beginning, the price of ten taels of the United Money Village was so popular that the old tael fell below the issue price of the imperial court, but now the price of ten taels cannot be collected from the market at all.

Nowadays, many ticket holders choose to cover their tickets, but they hope to be able to sell them at the current price of salt quotation in ten years, so that the price of the old quotation has risen to 15 taels.

Fan Qianshan borrowed a lot of salt in order to be able to smash the United Money Village, but now the salt has more than tripled, so he can only sell the house and shop in Yangzhou City to pay off the debt.

Years of hard work and years of wealth accumulation were ruined, so that Fan Qianshan left Yangzhou City full of hatred.

It's just that none of this seems to matter, Yangzhou Mansion has been completely renovated and seems to be thriving, and United Money Village and Gangshang have grown wildly in this fertile land.

Gao Gong stayed in Yangzhou for only one day, and the next day he headed for Nanjing. At the same time, a eunuch came by boat from Nanjing City with a holy decree and landed directly at the south gate of Yangzhou City.