Yangzhou City, the antique streets are still lively, and all kinds of goods are dazzling.

As the scenery of Xiaoxi Lake is sorted out, this thousand-year-old city shows new vitality. Especially during this time, there is a large amount of bad grain going north, which makes Yangzhou Bank very busy, making this Yangzhou city more lively and prosperous.

Outside the south gate, officials such as Cao Pengfei, the prefect of Yangzhou, Yin Shang, the transfer envoy of the two Huaidu, Li Peidong, the wailang of the household department, and Yang Lai, the commander of Yang Zhouwei, were already waiting here. In addition, there were Cao Meng, a gentry from Yangzhou, Hu Dayong, Xu Yun'an, and Weng Zirong, among others.

Today's autumn day looks very bright, but the most powerful or wealthy people in Yangzhou City have no complaints, and they seem to stay here and wait in a regular manner, looking at the canal to the south.

"10,000 stones, this is really a big deal!"

"People are doing it, the sky is watching, retribution is coming!"

"Some people are afraid that their flesh is going to hurt, and this loss is not small!"

……

Hu Dayong and other salt merchants discussed a lot here, but their words were obviously targeted, and they resolutely pointed to Sang and scolded Huai here.

In this circle, it has long been an open secret that Jin merchants are involved in smuggling salt. It's just that there are a wide range of interests involved, and there are big people behind them, and these salt merchants with little background are also cautious.

It's just that now, Lin Haoran has pierced this layer of window paper, which makes him feel very comfortable.

They were all honest salt merchants, and this smuggling network not only encroached on the interests of the imperial court, but also robbed them of the market with illicit salt, so that their profits were constantly diluted.

When the time came, the imperial court sent an extremely shrewd messenger down, not only to find out this smuggling network, but also to find out a full 10,000 stone of illegal salt.

Although they had always known about the existence of this smuggling network, they did not expect that this smuggling network would be so huge, and the market value of one smuggling was as high as 400,000 taels of silver.

"Don't argue with them, or we'll be more passive!"

Chen Boren faced the cold words next to him, and advised Yang Dashi, who was about to move.

Yang Dashi had already suffered losses, and when he heard these rumors, he clenched his fists angrily. It's just that he calmed down when he heard the advice, and they could only break their teeth and swallow in their stomachs.

After all, the smuggling matter is not on the table, and what they have to do now is not to argue, but to clear their hands on different occasions. The special imperial court will inevitably investigate this case, and they have to pretend not to know.

"It's coming!"

It was at this time that an official reminded loudly.

When they heard this, they stopped talking and looked towards the river in front of them. I saw a fleet coming, and the building ship was particularly conspicuous, and the big man standing on the ship could be faintly seen.

If you previously thought that Lin Haoran had a bright future, it was more of a speculation, but with Lin Haoran intercepting this large amount of private salt, he had already stepped on the threshold of the six servants.

Liubu Shilang, this is the real power official of the Beijing official Zheng Sanpin, and he is a genuine high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty.

Even if he is a servant of the Criminal Department, he is also the deputy minister in charge of the criminal affairs of the world, and he often follows the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Dali Temple for interrogation. If it is a servant of the ministry, he is a great person, and he is the object of the local officials who want to break their heads.

But no matter in what capacity Lin Haoran returned to the Ming Dynasty, he was the object of their local officials.

Yangzhou Governor Cao Tengfei, Yangzhou Governor Chen Fengming, Yangzhou Governor Yu Changqing, Jiangdu Governor Ma Chuyuan, Yangzhou Wei Tongzhi Xu San'an and other officials already understood this, and at this time looked at the figure of the shipbuilding, their eyes were full of infinite respect.

Lin Haoran, who was wearing a bullfighting suit, led several protégés and a group of guards downstairs to the boat, watching a group of officials, squires and salt merchants greet them warmly, and also return the salute to everyone slightly.

Seeing Lin Haoran appear, Yin Shang, the transfer envoy of the two Huais, stepped forward and saluted: "The lower officials and the two Huai are transferred to make Yin Shang see the adult!" ”

The new transfer of the two Huai capitals enabled Yin Shang to serve as this fat vacancy, in addition to his own qualifications are deep enough, but also because of Wu Shan's appreciation. Now facing Lin Haoran, who patrols the salt and Qincha, he is naturally congratulating.

It's just that he glanced to the side, but he secretly sighed in his heart, and found that he still couldn't cultivate at home.

Li Peidong, the new member of the household department, is the highest official of Yangzhou Banknote Customs, but he stepped forward and bowed down directly: "Li Peidong, a member of the household department, greets Lord Qincha!" ”

In addition, Cao Pengfei, the prefect of Yangzhou, including Zheng Sipin, bowed down and greeted this envoy.

It is said that Cao Pengfei, the prefect of Yangzhou, is already an official of the fourth grade, and there is only two grades behind Lin Haoran, so there is no need to bow down again.

It's just that he knows that the status of the two is far from the difference between the two grades, and he is even more grateful to Lin Haoran for his promotion, so he bowed without any psychological burden.

"Xiaguan and Huai are both transferred to Yin Shang to meet your lord!"

Yin Shang secretly gritted his teeth, but when the opportunity was not completely gone, his knees fell to the ground, and he saluted Lin Haoran respectfully.

"Lord Yin doesn't have to be polite!"

Lin Haoran was slightly surprised, and took the initiative to step forward and raise his arm.

Although he already has a transcendent status in officialdom, he still has to face the test of seniority after all, and he must also face the disadvantage of age. Even in enlightened posterity, a 22-year-old president is destined to be questioned even more and will need to do more to prove himself.

Fortunately, he has not been too opportunistic along the way, whether it is Guangdong or Beijing, or this trip to the south to patrol salt, he has proven that he is qualified for this position.

Yin Shang was helped up, and he had broken through that barrier in his heart, and he was convinced by Lin Haoran from the bottom of his heart. Just like a tamed eagle, not only will it no longer question Lin Haoran's age or qualifications, but it will also support Lin Haoran in turn.

But it's not just Yin Shang, many officials are quietly going through this process.

No matter who is facing a three-grade master who is only twenty-two years old, he will feel somewhat uncomfortable in his heart. It's just that as he landed on his knees and bowed his head to Lin Haoran, he slowly surrendered to Lin Haoran and supported the most practical reform pioneer of the Ming Dynasty.

"Everyone, please get up!"

Lin Haoran looked at the crowd in front of him, and he was gentle and authentic.

Yangzhou Governor Cao Pengfei and others got up from the ground, and they stepped forward one after another to pat Lin Haoran's sycophants, praising Lin Haoran's great achievements in cracking down on illegal salt this time.

Lin Haoran did not get carried away, and asked Yin Shang to send someone to receive this batch of private salt, and followed a few familiar officials to simply say a few words, that is, he got into the sedan chair and put the guard of honor into Yangzhou City.

It's not that he likes to be high-profile, but that he represents the emperor after all, so he has to put up enough cards.

"Lin Qingtian is back!"

"I heard that he intercepted 10,000 stones of illicit salt this time!"

"Huh...... I'm afraid those maggots are going to be unlucky! ”

……

The people and scholars of Yangzhou City were once again alarmed, and they all rushed to both sides of the street, full of infinite respect for this Lord Qincha who came again.

While they may not benefit from the crackdown, they are glad to see what will happen to the hapless smugglers and the officials behind them.

Lin Haoran sat in the sedan chair and felt the enthusiasm of the people in Yangzhou City, but he was calm in his heart, because he knew that the matter was far from over.

The success of cracking down on illicit salt this time is naturally a fortunate thing. It's just that this is actually a cure for the root cause, just like the fall of Yan Song's father and son, and the court of the Ming Dynasty has not improved.

His goal of going south to rectify the salt government this time was not to defeat anyone, but to change the corrupt status quo of the Ming salt government, which would not only increase the salt tax of the imperial court, but also prevent the people from eating high-priced salt.

Now he feels the enthusiasm of the people, especially the wave after wave of kneeling, which makes him feel a sense of responsibility on his shoulders, a sense of mission to do something practical for these simple people.

Since God gave him a jade and golden sister, then his brother can't be too bad.

Along the way, not only the people were very enthusiastic, but many scholars climbed to the trees like chasing stars, and some Huaichun girls came over to see Lin Haoran's "beauty".

Surrounded by many officials, Lin Haoran returned to the Lianghuai Salt Inspection Courtyard, and was already living in the back house again.

Although it has been absent for a long time, it has been cleaned up and cleaned by someone all the time.

Hua Yingrong is a person who pays attention to the quality of life, and naturally will not be satisfied with just the word clean, so she has made a decoration to make it more comfortable to live here.

Lin Haoran didn't care about these trivial matters, changed into a set of ordinary clothes, and went to the flower hall in front to participate in the banquet, inviting many officials, squires, salt merchants and others in Yangzhou.

Lin Haoran sat down as the chief, and both Huai were escorted by officials such as Yin Shang and Yangzhou prefect Cao Pengfei, but Yangzhou squire Cao Meng and Chen Boren and others were not qualified to go to the first table.

Cao Pengfei arranged singing and dancing, but the protagonist of the performance was not Oiran Yuji, nor Qilan or Lanxiang, but Yan Feier, a girl in the Qinglou who has been in the limelight recently.

Following the stars of later generations, this year is still a red and purple character, but it didn't take long for a new person to emerge and become the object of many wealthy businessmen and scholars in Yangzhou City.

Lin Haoran was at the wine table, more of a coping style, chatting with Cao Tengfei and several officials about Yangzhou's government affairs, and even directly teaching Cao Pengfei to govern the city in this way.

But I don't know if Cao Pengfei is trying to curry favor with Shangguan or really want to make some political achievements in Yangzhou, he seems to listen very carefully, and even recorded it with pen and paper.

Lin Haoran didn't say anything deeply, just ordered until he arrived, and when he was almost eating and drinking, he chose to leave.

As for the two Huai patrol salt imperial historians, Xu Yi did not appear from beginning to end, although he claimed to be ill, but everyone understood that he was impeached by Lin Hao because of Shangshu and appeared here without a face.

Xu Yi was the last person hidden in the "Yangzhou Iron Triangle" in the past, and he thought that he would be fatal to Lin Haoran, but he didn't want to fall into Lin Haoran's calculations, and the attack on Lin Haoran to mobilize Song Jiangwei has become a joke.

Lin Fu's injuries had already recovered, and he watched the people attending the banquet leave in twos and threes, and invited Cao Meng and the others: "Cao Lao, Xu Yuanwai, Weng Yuanwai, my family invites you to come in and talk about it!" ”

Cao Meng and the others moved slightly in their hearts, saluted Lin Fu respectfully, and followed Lin Fu to the back house together.

Chen Boren and the others were disappointed and even scared.

They obviously kept an eye on Lin Haoran all the time, always on guard against Lin Haoran, and when they thought they could take advantage of the Songjiang incident to bring down Lin Haoran, they were brutally defeated by the other party.

Now that 10,000 stones of private salt have fallen into the hands of the other party, they have already fallen into passivity, and they will even be uprooted.

"We still have a chance!"

Chen Boren had been paying attention to Lin Haoran's movements, and when he saw Cao Meng and the others being invited in, he was immediately stabbed in his heart, but he clenched his fists and said secretly.

Although Lin Haoran has won the greater trust of the current saint by cracking down on illegal salt, it is impossible to do whatever he wants.

Whether it was Liu Jin in the past or Yan Song two years ago, the emperor's favor he received was far better than Lin Haoran. These people can't be the enemy of the world yet, and how can he risk the world's disapproval.

Even if he has the support of Cao Meng and others, as long as he throws out the ticket salt law, he will definitely become the target of public criticism.

"What does he want to do with Cao Lao and the others?" Fan Qianshan also kept staring at Lin Haoran's movements, and then looked at Cao Meng and the others being invited to the back house, and asked suspiciously.

"Let's wait for him to make a move!" Chen Boren had already suspected that Cao Meng and others had helped Lin Haoran in cracking down on illicit salt, but he couldn't care about this, but he looked forward to it with hatred.

Outsiders didn't know about this secret conversation, only that Cao Meng and the others left with red faces.

After Lin Haoran sent Cao Meng and the others, he returned to the study alone, but he was ready to go up and make a self-presentation.

He found out the smuggling network through loud noise, and even intercepted 10,000 stones of smuggled salt, but in the face of the impeachment of Chen Fengyi and others and the charges listed, he decided to defend himself.

Although he didn't say anything, Jiajing couldn't cure him for his crimes, and even rewarded him. It's just that this will eventually be inferior, and it will even lay hidden dangers for your career.

If he presents himself in a self-confession, he will not only be able to clear himself in the name of justice, but also give people an image of not being proud of his achievements, which is a wise move.

Lin Haoran came to the desk, facing the light that came in through the window, and waved his sleeves on the rice paper: "Lin Haoran, the deputy capital of the minister's left and the deputy capital, is careful to play, I heard that the Nanjing officials gave the matter and the two Huai patrol salt imperial history Xu Yi listed more than ten crimes, the minister was deeply frightened, and asked the emperor to remove the official position of the minister, and send an envoy to check, so as to return the innocence of the minister and the heart of the minister's loyalty." …… The minister has another performance, and the minister has been inspecting the salt for several months, thinking that Huai Salt should implement a new law, and this law is called ......! ”

Although it was Shangshu himself, he still added his idea of rectifying the salt government at the end of the song, and sent a formal request to the current emperor.

A letter went towards the capital, but it opened the prelude to the rectification of the salt law.