As soon as the news came out, it caused speculation from all sides.

Although these days, Lin Haoran has not made any moves, and has been lingering in the scenery around Yangzhou City. It's just that everyone knows in their hearts that Lin Haoran is the Qincha who was ordered to go south to rectify the salt government this time, and his rectification is related to the vital interests of the salt merchants and the people behind them.

Now he has invited the salt merchants and squires in Yangzhou to gather at the Salt Inspection Yuan, which is already about to officially launch an action, and even announce to the outside world his general policy of rectifying the salt administration.

"In my opinion, he should think that the time is ripe to officially start the operation!" After He Dongxu and others learned the news, they also speculated about Lin Haoran's actions.

After yesterday's prison robbery, they deeply realized that although Lin Haoran took that peerless beauty to the mountains and rivers every day, he quietly gathered many officials in private.

After all, Lin Haoran did not come to Yangzhou to enjoy the mountains and rivers, but came straight to rectify the salt merchants. After these days of gathering manpower, if we take action now, the resistance will definitely weaken a lot.

It is precisely like this, as Lin Haoran's invitations were sent to various prefectures, the entire Yangzhou City had a momentum of imminent storms, and at the same time, they speculated about Lin Haoran's true intentions.

In the evening, he inspected the yamen of the salt inspection institute.

Although many salt merchants had an unprecedented sense of rejection of Lin Haoran, they were only invited by the dignified Qincha, but no one dared to be absent and came to the appointment on time.

When they arrived here, it was natural that there were officials here to verify the invitation and identity, and invited the salt merchants and squires who came to the banquet inside, but those servants were all blocked out of the door.

Fan Qianshan and Yang Dashi came to the gate of the yamen together, and the two handed the invitation letter to the inspector outside the door, and after verifying their identities, they were allowed to enter together.

When he walked into the gate of the Salt Inspection Institute, Yang Dashi looked at the left and right of Yongdao, but he was slightly worried and said, "Brother Fan, I'm afraid it's a Hongmen banquet this time!" ”

"I'm afraid that he will do something, will he dare to eat us?" Fan Qianshan's face was slightly gloomy, but he said without the slightest fear.

"Judging from yesterday's incident, this kid's wrist is not simple!" Yang Dashi obviously had a great grudge against Lin Haoran, but he deliberately showed a fearful posture.

Fan Qianshan could also be regarded as having seen Lin Haoran's wrist, but he still said disdainfully: "So what? As long as he dares to use such a crooked trick as the ticket salt method, it will be his death! ”

This period of death is naturally not the meaning of Lin Haoran's death, but Lin Haoran's throwing out such a plan, which will be spurned by everyone and eventually become the target of attacks by all forces.

If that time comes, everyone will be as united to deal with Yan Maoqing as in the past, and Lin Haoran will definitely be ruined, and there will be no more Lin Haoran in the court.

Yang Dashi nodded lightly, hoping that the banquet would come early, seeing that Lin Haoran would start his rectification of the salt administration like this, and thus become the public enemy of the entire Yangzhou City.

The banquet is located in the flower hall, with a total of four large tables.

Fan Qianshan and Yang Dashi were the representatives of the Jin merchants, but they were arranged at the first table, which made Yang Dashi slightly surprised, but Fan Qianshan felt that it should be so.

In the arrangement of this seat, it reflects Lin Haoran's intentions.

With the decline of the Daming salt system, the Jin merchants' share of Huai salt decreased, but the Jin merchants were still one of the largest groups in Huai Yan. The Zhejiang businessmen and Huizhou businessmen who sit in the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River have come from behind, and their current strength is also not weak.

In this first table, in addition to Fan Qianshan and Yang Dashi, representatives of Jin merchants, there are also Zhejiang businessman Xu Yunan, Hui businessman Hu Dayong and others, as well as Chen Boren, president of the Lianghuai Chamber of Commerce, which can be said to take care of the leaders of various forces.

Fan Qianshan and Yang Dashi came relatively late, and at the first table there were already Xu Yunan, Hu Dayong, and Chen Boren, the president of the Lianghuai Chamber of Commerce, who had a very close relationship.

"Fan Yuanwai, you're here!"

"Xu Yuanwai, don't come unharmed!"

"Yang Yuanwai, you are full of spring, is it because you accept a concubine?"

……

Everyone eats around Huai salt mixed rice, so they are very familiar with each other. Although there is a competitive relationship between them, they also cooperated together in the past, and they are willing to maintain a superficial harmony, but they are all saluting.

It was at this moment that another white-headed old man arrived.

When everyone saw the old man, the salt merchants, including Chen Boren, got up from their seats one after another, and greeted respectfully: "I've seen Mr. Cao!" ”

The Cao family was a squire in Yangzhou, and their ancestors can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Although the Cao family does not have a family member in the capital as an official now, its people have multiplied for generations, and most of them are engaged in teaching and educating people, and they are already a big family in the territory of Yangzhou Prefecture.

Now the head of the Cao family is called Cao Meng, who is over sixty years old, an old man as thin and short as Xu Jie. He once won the fame of lifting people, but later gave up his career and concentrated on teaching and educating people in Cao's Academy, which won the respect of the people of Yangzhou.

Although Chen Boren and others can be crushed by Cao Meng in terms of connections and money, they live in Yangzhou City after all, but they also give this respected old man some respect, that is, they stand up to greet this Cao Meng without exception.

"I didn't want to come over, but thinking about it, I don't know what kind of disaster I want to make Yangzhou, the old man is not good at his legs, and he wants to go like this!" Cao Meng sat down with the help of his grandson, but his words were surprisingly authentic.

As soon as these words came out, everyone exchanged glances.

I thought that after yesterday's prison robbery, no one in Yangzhou City dared to offend Lin Haoran. But he didn't want to, but this old man was not afraid of Lin Haoran, and even dared to publicly say such offensive words.

Xu Yunan and Hu Dayong were slightly stunned, but they didn't answer, and Quan Dang didn't hear Cao Meng's words.

Yang Dashi's eyes lit up slightly, but he pretended to remind Cao Meng: "Mr. Cao, please be cautious!" ”

"The old man just said, what else can he do? I don't believe that he really dared to cure the old man's crimes, and abused the power of the Qin Cha like that night, and also arrested the old man and put him in prison! Cao Meng slammed his crutches and accused angrily.

When everyone heard this, they were stunned again.

Just now he openly accused Lord Qincha, but now he directly accused Lin Haoran of abusing his power that night, blaming Lin Haoran for not being wanted and put in prison.

However, some people vaguely understand Cao Meng's grievances, not to mention whether Lin Haoran is right or wrong to lock up Xu Yuanji and others like this, one of the sons who are locked up is Cao Meng's grandson.

It is precisely because of this that many people watched Cao Meng so open-mouthed, knowing that they were likely to put on a wonderful show.