Liu Jin naturally didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly walked out and took the account book that Liu Qi was holding in both hands, and respectfully presented it to Zhu Houzhao.

Taking the ledger over, Zhu Houzhao began to look through it, there was no sound in the room, and even the sound of panting was very low. Obviously, the situation here made many people confused, no one expected Liu Qi to surrender directly, not only admitted everything, but also took out the account book, is this crazy? Many people can't wait to strangle Liu Qi to death.

Zhu Hou looked at it for a long time, and finally put the account book aside, and then said: "Liu Qi, tell me what is going on in the smuggling salt case!" ”

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi knelt on the ground and continued: "The so-called private salt case of the Lianghuai Salt Farm is actually a case of collusion and corruption between officials and businessmen. “

"In addition to underreporting the output, there is also the squeezing of salt farmers, so that salt farmers work day and night, and the excess is taken away by these officials."

"In addition, the salt pans are hidden, and the salt pans are directly hidden, and all the salt produced in these salt pans has been swallowed."

"Over the years, it has been sold to salt merchants at a price lower than that of officials, and there is no need for salt introduction, as long as it is given silver, it is sold, and the salt merchants will transport the salt back to be sold as official salt, and the officials of the salt works will get money and benefits, and the salt merchants will also make a lot of profits. Although Chen has not checked carefully in recent years, forty percent of the salt in the basic mountains of the Lianghuai Salt Field has been drifted in this way. ”

Zhu Houzhao nodded, in fact, this kind of thing has no impact on the people, and if you buy salt, what will be affected is the country's tax revenue and the salt class of the imperial court.

Glancing at Liu Qi, Zhu Houzhao continued to ask: "The businessmen who sent you money in this account book are actually businessmen who make illegal salt, right?" ”

"Back to Your Highness, yes!" Liu Qi nodded: "These are their filial piety, once the private salt is investigated, the salt road will be supplemented from top to bottom, and the private salt will become official salt, without any trace." This time, after Gonggong Yang of Dongchang was arrested, the salt merchant Liu came to him and sent 50,000 taels of silver to the minister to help make the paperwork, which was the last money in the account book. ”

Zhu Houzhao turned the account book to the last page, and Zhu Houzhao slowly said to Mu Bin and Tong Zhong: "Two Aiqing, what do you think?" “

Tong Zhong felt like eating, this time Jiangnan officialdom was afraid that it was going to make a big move, but Mu Bin secretly hated Yang Bin in his heart, and hated Liu Qi to death.

Yang Bin, his own Jinyiwei people helped Dongchang not to say anything, and he didn't report it in advance, and he even arrested the command of Jinyiwei afterwards. What is it? This is a cover-up! Nanjing Zhenfu Division can't get out of the relationship, and Mu Bin, who is the commander of Jinyiwei, can get out of the relationship? This is the ineffectiveness of governance, especially in front of the crown prince.

Looking at the East Factory in turn, looking at the East Factory, not only did they find out such a big case, but they also found it very clearly, what is Jinyiwei in this comparison?

"Your Highness, I think that this case should be strictly investigated, all the people involved in the case will be arrested, and they will be severely punished!" Mu Bin said directly: "The minister took the Jinyi guard to arrest people!" ”

Mu Bin's words are loud, I really can't say it's okay, if this errand is being given to Dongchang, then what will happen to me? The commander of the Jinyi Guard, the deputy envoy of the Qin Mission, didn't do anything, and walked around? Then Jinyiwei not only failed to find out the Yangzhou private salt case, but also colluded with the dirt and covered up, that's how you Jinyiwei worked? It is estimated that the emperor will have to peel his skin when he goes back.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Mu Bin and muttered for a while, until the air pressure dropped a lot again, and then Zhu Houzhao slowly said, "Is this appropriate?" “

As soon as the words fell, Yang Lian on the side stood up and said loudly: "Your Highness, it's better to hand this matter over to the slave!" Dongchang has been in Yangzhou for a long time, and I know more about things here, and Dongchang is also very familiar with Lord Liu. Saying that, Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi, and then said, "Isn't it?" Lord Liu? “

"This official doesn't know what Gonggong Yang is talking about!" Liu Qi shook his head, stiffened his neck and said, "This official is also the first time I have seen Gonggong Yang. ”

Zhu Hou looked at Liu Qi, then at Yang Lian, and then said, "Yang Lian, is there anything else going on here?" “

"Back to Your Highness, the reason why Dongchang came to Yangzhou to investigate the smuggling of salt is because he received a secret report, which is very important, and Dongchang naturally wants to find out the person who made the secret report. After investigation, Dongchang finally found this person, and the person who reported the secret was actually Liu Qi and Lord Liu. Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi, and then said: "Lord Liu, you don't have to deny it now, if there is no evidence, our family will not open this mouth under His Highness." ”

The hall was shocked again, everyone was silent, there is such a secret behind this matter? The cause of this incident was Liu Qi, the transfer envoy of Yangzhou? Why did he do it?

Liu Qi glanced at Yang Lian, and said with a wry smile for a while: "Father-in-law Yang just knew, why bother to come out, Liu will not hesitate to do this for the country." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone understood, this is a minister with justice in his heart, and he will not hesitate to die with the officials of the salt road! This is still to drag those salt merchants to die together, and everyone looks at Liu Qi differently.

Zhu Hou looked at Liu Qi and said, "Liu Qi, let's talk about it!" This palace is here today, on behalf of the father, no matter what you say, this palace will play the father as it is. “

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief, and said in a very calm tone: "Since the minister arrived in Yangzhou, he has found the problem of salt politics, originally the minister thought that it was just a small problem for one family, but he didn't expect it to be the problem of the entire salt road, from top to bottom, the salt merchants involved are innumerable, intertwined, shocking, and jaw-dropping." “

"There are stove households who intercept and sell salt to those private salt dealers, and there are salt road officials who hide and hide their smuggling, and the entire salt road is their world, so to speak."

"The more I understand, the more scared the minister is, these people have no self in their hearts, and the minister was determined to eliminate this great harm for me at that time."

"It's just that they are all up and down the salt road, if the minister is not in the same stream, the minister will not be able to get any evidence, and the minister will not even be able to sit firmly in the official position of this Yangzhou transfer envoy. In order to repay the emperor's kindness, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, the minister did not hesitate to die, so the minister soon joined them in the same stream, but the minister has never forgotten his original intention, and has never forgotten to serve the Ming Dynasty and His Majesty. “