In the imperial city, Bao Zheng and Wang Anshi all accompanied Gan Qi.

The emperor didn't look at the accounts one by one, only looked at the statistics, and was already in a good mood, and said: "Okay, Gan Daojian, you really didn't live up to my trust, and this matter was really done for you, 360,000 yuan, and 360,000 yuan in a month, so calculated, although there are no 5 million yuan a year, it is not much worse." A great achievement, Gan Daojian is the minister of the humerus of the society, the minister of the pillars of the court, and he should be rewarded. ”

Gan Qiyu said: "Your Majesty, this is the first month's commercial tax, because many merchants still have the heart to resist taxes, so there are still many missing taxes, and in the next month, it will inevitably exceed 500,000 yuan, and the commercial tax of 5 million yuan a year is only a lot more." ”

The old emperor was a little excited, got up and said: "Excellent, you should be included in the treasury of the three divisions, and you will be called by the imperial court." ”

This is the case, and it is impossible for the tax revenue to remain in the yamen that collects the tax, so it is natural that it must be sent to the Ministry of Finance.

Bao Zheng said at this time: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that at this time, the local road and state governments should be ordered to send tax officials to Beijing, and they will all be sent to the commercial tax supervision to run errands, and when the local tax officials learn the law of Bianliang commercial tax, they can implement it throughout the country, so that the real value of commercial tax lies." ”

"Yes, I quickly issued an order in the Chinese book, so that all roads and state capitals should send tax officials to Beijing, first, to supplement the manpower of commercial tax supervisors, and second, to let local tax officials learn this law well and implement the world. Gan Qing worked hard to compile a formal tax law, firstly, to train tax officials for various places, and secondly, to completely complete the commercial tax affairs of Bianliang City. After completing these two things, you should be added to the rank and knighted. The emperor said excitedly, Gan Qi this time, promotion is a must.

The imperial court now has to collect at least thirty or forty million more commercial taxes, this data is really a bit scary, as long as Ganqi's commercial tax law is implemented throughout the country, the imperial court will immediately become rich. The emperor, who has been poor all his life, is finally generous when he gets old.

"Wechen obeys!" Ganchi bowed.

The emperor said again: "These things should be done quickly, and after they are done, I will give you a promotion, a big official!" ”

The emperor seemed to be afraid that Gan Qi would not be happy, so he said this first, this is the motivation for Gan Qi to run errands, if you want the horse to run, you naturally have to feed the horse more grass.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Longen!" Gan Qi replied like this, the reason why Gan Qi was in a hurry to hand over this answer sheet to the emperor was also for the sake of future things.

To let the emperor know that this matter is not still in the exploration stage, but really succeeded. This thing was successful, and it was very important for the emperor.

Because this will strengthen many beliefs in the emperor's heart, and the emperor will also try his best to keep this achievement, keep this achievement, and invisibly keep Ganqi.

This will be very convenient for Ganchi to do later.

After handing in the answer sheet, the emperor even happily left the three of them for dinner, and asked people to go down to prepare wine and food.

Eating and drinking with the emperor, this is the first time Gan Qi has enjoyed this kind of treatment.

It's just that the wine was too restrained, and he didn't even eat enough.

After eating, the three of them went out of the palace.

On the way, Bao Zheng and Gan Qi said: "Dao Jian, this matter is done, you have made great contributions, so that the court no longer has to worry about the affairs of the branch, such a great achievement, it will definitely be famous in history." ”

Gan Qi shook his head and replied, "Sir, money will never be enough. ”

Gan Qi said this, with a smile on his face. It used to be 60 or 70 million guan a year, and the court was tight, but now it has an extra 30 or 40 million guan, and it will be rich immediately, so there will be no shortage of money?

This kind of thinking is still too naïve, the poor have a poor way of living, and the rich have a way of living. The poor lack money from the poor, and the rich will lack money from the rich. Where is there enough money for such a thing? Not to mention a country?

Bao Zheng looked back at Gan Qi: "You kid is not very old, but his mind is so transparent. What you told me before the head, did you really do it? ”

What Bao Zheng was referring to, Gan Qi naturally knew it, and said: "The Imperial City Division has obtained an important person certificate at the scene of the conflict between commercial and tax supervisors, and it is being tried, and when the confession comes out, this matter can be done." ”

Gan Qi still didn't tell Bao Zhenghe, he kidnapped Zhang Qing, but said that he was caught on the spot on that day. But it also makes sense. In this era of underdeveloped information, where is there so much truth?

"Important witnesses? Who? What's at stake? Bao Zheng asked again.

"This person's name is Zhang Qing, he is the owner of Tengxi Pavilion, and he is also Tian Guo's henchman, Tian Qing is in command behind the scenes, and it all depends on this person to dispatch on the table." Gan Qi replied.

"Field? Han Daxianggong...... Fighting for power and profit is really a character, if the Imperial City Division really has a confession, you should report it to the old man as soon as possible. The rumors of this matter must not be leaked. Bao Zheng sighed.

"Sir, don't worry, Li Ming, the Imperial City Division, can be trusted. Now it is still necessary for Mr. to invite Tang Yushi of the Imperial Court to sit down and make this matter foolproof. "Gan Qi can also go to Tang Jie by himself, but it would be more appropriate to have Bao Zheng go with him. For some things, Gan Qi also has to listen to the analysis and thoughts of Bao Zheng and Tang Jie.

Both of them are veteran officials who have been immersed in the court for decades, and their experience in many aspects is not comparable to Ganqi, Ganqi should also learn from it, after all, Ganqi is the first time to be an official, and he can't be overconfident and arrogant, let alone underestimate this court.

Bao Zheng nodded solemnly: "You are the disciple of the old man, if the old man doesn't help you, who will help you?" As long as you sit upright and sit upright, and devote yourself to the public and the country, the old man will die, and he will not teach you to be bullied. In this world, there are too many people in the fly camp and dogs, and the selfish people don't know how to go, and what the court lacks is a pillar of talent like you who is benevolent and righteous and can do errands. ”

"Mr. Xie!" Gan Qi bowed seriously.

Wang Anshi, who was on the side, suddenly stepped forward and said, "Dao Jian, is there anything you want Brother Fool to serve?" ”

Gan Qi smiled and said, "Yes, it would be great if Brother Jiefu could help me train the tax officials from various state capitals." ”

Wang Anshi smiled: "What's so difficult about this? This time, it is also the implementation of the method of symbolic calculation, and it will be much easier to look at the accounts in the future. ”

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and Arabic numeral calculation, Wang Anshi has long been proficient in this thing, and he has thought about promoting it, but he has never had the opportunity, taking advantage of the opportunity to implement the commercial tax law, he did it together, and it couldn't be better.

Gan Qi is also very happy, this kind of thing is the most laborious, with Wang Anshi, a capable minister to do it on his behalf, Gan Qi can rest assured and bold to be a shopkeeper.

The three of them talked all the way out of the imperial city.

Bao Zheng went to ask Tang Jie, Gan Qi went to prepare wine and food, and Wang Anshi went back to the yamen to seriously compile textbooks, clear calculation textbooks and tax law textbooks.

The Imperial City Division, the land of the emperor's minions. At this time, it was screaming again and again.

The prison of the Imperial City Division, underground. The jailers of the Imperial City Division are all full of experience. The Imperial City Division has no right to trial and convict, if there is this right, the Imperial City Division is really the Ming Dynasty to Jinyiwei.

Li Ming was out this time, and personally went down to the dungeon and sat in front of Zhang Qing.

Zhang Qing is really backbone, much more backbone than Gan Zheng.

All kinds of torture tools were added, and the soldering iron made the skin sizzle, Zhang Qing could still scold: "Any means, just come, if you want grandpa to frame Tian Xiang, there is no door." ”

The jailer was a little anxious, the chief officer was on the spot, and a lot of methods were used, but they still didn't work, and it seemed that they were incompetent, and an old jailer opened his mouth and scolded: "You dare to be hard-mouthed, it seems that you still don't know how to be powerful." ”

The jailers brought in new torture instruments, and they were really full of tricks.

Li Ming, who was sitting, frowned slightly, the smell in this cell was really unpleasant, the smell of human flesh being cooked, the stench of feces and urine, the musty smell of not seeing sunlight for a long time, the smell of smoke from oil lamps and candles, and the rancid smell of food...... Intertwined, how bad it smells and how bad it smells.

So Li Ming covered his nose with a handkerchief and watched the jailer work hard.

Zhang Qing can still shout: "Tian Xiang treats me like a mountain, you will die of this heart, it is better to kill me as soon as possible!" ”

At this time, Li Ming suddenly took away the handkerchief covering his mouth and nose, waved his hand left and right, and said, "You all go down, teach people outside not to approach, and I will personally interrogate him." ”

Although the left and right jailers were a little puzzled, they also hurriedly got out of the cell and drove them left and right, so that the jailers were far away.

After everyone went down, Li Ming stood up from his seat, walked to Zhang Qing, who was hanged, and slowly spoke: "Zhang Qing, I know that you are a man and a person who knows how to repay your kindness, this time you are preparing to take all the blame for yourself alone, right?" ”

"What is the culpability, who accuses, it is all planned and commanded by me, Zhang Qing, and has nothing to do with others." Zhang Qing is really a man.

"Do you know why this Imperial City Division wants to take you?" Li Ming asked.

"The matter of resisting the law is all my own business, you just have to send me to trial." Zhang Qing did not answer Li Ming's words.

"It seems that you know why you are being taken, the Holy One wants to investigate the case of tax resistance, so you have to bear it alone, and you can't involve the people behind you. In fact, I still admire you, and it is gratifying that the Privy Council Tian Xianggong can have such a confidant as you. It is impossible for him to save you now, and many people can't help but interrogate you, and they all accuse you, saying that they are all listening to your arrangement. You are so hard-hearted, it seems that you don't want to get out of this yamen. Li Ming's words are also true and false.

"Then pull me to the trial, and the three law divisions will try it." Zhang Qing is really going to go all the way to the dark.

Li Ming suddenly put his head to Zhang Qing's ear and said: "However, this matter is not as simple as you imagined, when you were arrested, your son was also arrested on the spot, but I, the Imperial City Division, did not care about your son!" ”

Li Ming didn't say it thoroughly.

Zhang Qing suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "Dog officer, what do you mean by this?" ”

"That's what you understand in your heart, things are not simple, and many people are worth their lives. I, the Imperial City Commander, only took you. What kind of person do you say are you, the Imperial City Division, the Yamen of the Imperial Court, and the Minister of Tian? How much more authority is greater than my petty business? Why don't you see that Tian Xianggong sent someone to save you? But if Xianggong Fantian finds that yamen to issue an official letter mentioning people, I don't dare not let you go? It's been so long that I haven't received this official letter, and it seems that this responsibility is ready for you to bear it alone. In that case, do you carry it, or don't you carry it? Li Ming, this is a heart-wrenching word.

Zhang Qing seemed to have lost his strength, but he still replied: "It's all me who did it?" ”

"Well, since you did it alone, then you should take this responsibility off, it's a pity. I also heard that your son is extremely intelligent and very good at reading, so you value this son very much, and personally send him to study with Old Master Zhu in the north of the city every day. Probably thinking that if you get rid of this business, you can also have a scholarly door. It's a pity, it's a pity that your old Zhang family in the east of the city doesn't have this life, and the feng shui of the ancestral tomb is not good. "Li Ming kills people and punishes his heart.

"You...... You are an official of the court, how can you be that thief? The court officials, how can it be like that little child's order to threaten me? Zhang Qing shouted as he struggled.

"Didn't I tell you? Your son, my Imperial City Division has not been arrested, but the Imperial City Division is an official of the imperial court, how can I arrest a child who is a few years old? Li Ming replied.

Ganchi ...... It's Ganchi...... Gan Qi, don't die well, don't die well. ”

"Hmph, I heard that in the afternoon, if there is no confession, someone will send some dishes to the Imperial City Division, maybe it is pig's trotters, maybe it is pig's ears, and the evening dishes, do you want to taste them together?" Li Ming, such a ruthless person. What is a pig's trotter? What are pig ears?

"Li Ming, if you act like this, you will go to the eighteenth layer of hell after death, and you will never be able to live beyond life!"

"Compared to you, it's a little worse, the court pays taxes, benefits the country and the people, you dare to lead people to resist taxes, and you will only go to the eighteenth layer of hell after you die. I am doing errands for the country and the court, although the means are not glorious, but when I go to the Lord of Yama, I also have a point to say that the Lord of Yama can see clearly, and his old man knows that I am for the country and the people. "The Imperial City Division, Li Ming, who is the official of the Imperial City Division, is the real cool official.

"Li Ming, you call Gan Qi to come, ask Gan Qi to come in person!"

"Gan is a tax collector, how can he enter the Imperial City Division for no reason? Hoofs and ears, you choose the same, if you don't want to choose, the sun rises and sets quickly, and the afternoon dish comes. ”

"You kill me, you kill me!"

"I don't kill you, I often hear people say that biting your tongue can kill you, do you want to try it, see if you can bite your tongue off, if you bite your tongue off and die, then count your ability." But you have to die quickly, the sun has already risen. "Li Ming is really experienced in interrogation. Biting your tongue and committing suicide is just a legend, and under normal circumstances, you really can't die.

Zhang Qing was really biting his tongue, using all his strength, biting bloody, but this bite of the tongue could only bite off the tip of the tongue, not all the tongue, the tip of the tongue was broken, and it didn't even affect the pronunciation of the speech, and the speech could still be understood.

Li Ming just looked at Zhang Qing, who was full of blood, and said with a smile: "You can't die, it's embarrassing, it seems that you still have to move, if you don't move, the dish will be delivered." ”

"You ...... You will not die well! Zhang Qing shouted with all his might, blood droplets were flying, and his voice was a little distorted.

"I'm going to ask someone to record your confession?" Li Ming asked.

Zhang Qing shook his head while shouting, his shouting became weaker and weaker, his head lowered, and there seemed to be some sobbing.

"That's right." Li Ming turned around and prepared to go out to call someone.

Li Ming suddenly raised his head and spoke: "As long as I recruit it, will Gan Qi let my son go intact?" ”

Li Ming nodded: "The triage of the three law divisions is indispensable, after the triage, it is up to you whether your son can be intact or not." ”

After Li Ming finished speaking, he turned around and shouted: "Come on, come up, pen and ink, record a confession!" ”

The confession is not one, and in the Imperial City Division, there are also one or two hundred merchants who have taken the day, and they all have to have a confession. These confessions point to Zhang Qing, and Zhang Qing's confessions point to Tian Qing, and the chain of evidence must be in place.

In the afternoon, Gan Qi met Tang Jie with Bao Zheng.

Things are going according to plan.

When he returned home, Gan Ba came to report that the government of Kaifeng Prefecture received a report and searched the village for an afternoon.

But in the evening, Li Ming was also invited, and the person who invited him was Tian Qian.

Li Ming naturally couldn't refuse, and went to Tian Guo's house in person.

Tian Guo prepared a box of money, and he didn't make any moves, and said directly: "Tomorrow, you go to Ganjia Village in the south of the city to get a few people back and torture them with words and deeds, and you bring back this money, which is considered hard." ”

This is the tone of the command.

Why did Tian Guo also find Li Ming? Because although Tian Guo is a privy envoy, if he wants to investigate something, he has to go through these law enforcement agencies, and the Yushitai is an investigation official, and the Yushitai is also full of trolls, and Tian Guo wants to do private things, so he can't use the Yushitai.

There is Ouyang Xiu in Kaifeng Mansion, and it is okay to report and investigate, but Ouyang Xiu will not do it if he takes people to prison and tortures them for no reason. The Criminal Department can be used at the same time, because the Criminal Department is six departments all the time, and it is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister. However, the Criminal Department is also not suitable, there are many people, and there are countless officials in it, which are used to do private affairs, and the risks are not small.

Therefore, Tian Guo naturally has to find the Imperial City Division to do this kind of thing, and the Imperial City Division is full of military attachés, so it is easy to send it. Moreover, the ministers of the imperial court usually support the Imperial City Division, such as Wen Yanbo, who used the Imperial City Division.

Tian Guo found Li Ming because Li Ming was a good envoy and obedient.

Li Ming looked at the box of money and asked, "I don't know which people in Ganjia Village Tian Xianggong wants to take to prison for interrogation?" ”

"In the past, I heard a Privy Council editor say a name, Ganba. Take this person, torture your words and deeds, and the rest of the people, you go and investigate by yourself, as long as you are Ganqi's henchmen, you can get all the money and get it to prison. Tian Guo said this, just waiting for Li Ming to take the money to do things.

Li Ming nodded, and asked again: "I don't know what the prime minister wants to ask?" ”

"Ask them where they are hiding." Tian Guo replied.

That's how things happen in the world. The emperor asked Han Qi to investigate the mastermind behind the tax resistance. Tian Guo asked Li Ming to find the kidnapped person.

A heart in Li Ming's chest was about to jump to his throat, in fact, the person was in his hands, at this time, the situation in the field was in front of him, and he could no longer tolerate repetition, so he could only hurriedly bow down: "The order of the minister, the lower officials should handle it themselves." ”

"Go ahead, and do it in one day." Tian Guo is still in a commanding tone, he is the minister of the Privy Council, let a military man do something, and giving money is the greatest respect.

Li Ming hurriedly said goodbye and went out, for fear that if he stayed longer, he would show his feet.

It was already night, Li Ming did not go home, but went directly to the yamen, a = signed confession was held by Li Ming, copied it, and personally sent it to Pang Kang's home, Pang Kang went out with the confession again, and sent it to Ganqi's home.

Gan Qi went out with a confession again, went to Tang Jie's house, and went to see Bao Zheng.

That's all there is going around tonight, just for a big show tomorrow.

When Li Ming returned home, he couldn't sleep all night, panicked, and uneasy with the confession in his hand, because he had to do one thing in the morning, that is, to send all the confessions in the yamen and this confession to the emperor in person.

Overthrowing the situation of the field seems to be inevitable, but Li Ming began to worry about himself again, worried, and also expectant, thinking about whether the emperor would really give him an official and a knight, and what kind of official and what knighthood he could promote.

Another point is Li Ming's own thoughts in his heart, why can he be told by Gan Qi to do this? Part of it was because Gan Qi really moved him to his heart. Another reason is that he knows that Gan Qi and Zhao Zongshi have a very close relationship. This is the real reason for Li Ming's final decision.

The future depends on fighting, and this time Li Ming really gave it a go. I only hope that Zhao Zongshi, the only prince under the emperor's knees, can really ascend the throne.

Li Ming, who had been restless all night, washed up early in the morning and was the first to enter the palace.

"Your Majesty, St. Ann!" Li Ming knelt down on one knee and respectfully bowed to him.

"Why is it so early?" The old emperor was in a good mood and became a rich man, and it was difficult to think about it in a bad mood.

"Your Majesty, the minister was afraid all night, and he didn't sleep all night, so he made up his mind, and the minister had something important to do."

"It's so solemn, that's it."

Li Ming took out a large stack of confession files, presented them with both hands, and a small eunuch came up to take them and sent them to the imperial case.

Li Ming already knelt on his knees, kowtowed, and said again: "Minister, panic!" ”

"What a panic, it's not the first time I've seen me." The emperor replied, looked down at the file, and after a moment, the emperor knew what Li Ming was afraid of, a small military attache from the sixth grade, how could he not be afraid?

The Emperor looked up at Li Ming.

Li Ming immediately kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, minister, panic!" ”

"Yes, if you can send this thing to the palace, it is already quite good, and you can do it well, and you can see your loyalty. You don't have to panic, go back, this matter has nothing to do with you. "Emperor Zhao Zhen is used to seeing the court, this is protecting Li Ming.

"Your Majesty." Li Ming kowtowed again, then got up and retreated slowly.

"All the witnesses must be protected in the Imperial City Division, and no one shall be let go or lost." The emperor commanded.

Li Ming bowed and bowed again and exited the study.

At this time, the emperor looked at these confessions, and his heart was difficult to calm down for a long time, and there would be a big court meeting later. The old emperor put the confession under the books of the imperial case, and did not eat any food, but went to the main hall to wait.

In the past, the emperor would wait for the hundred officials to stand in class before he would come out last.

Today is different, today's old emperor Zhao Zhen sat on the high platform early, waiting for the hundred officials to come.

Today, Gan Qi is also going to the court, and the reason why he is going to the court today is because the emperor needs him to give a detailed explanation of business taxes to the hundred officials, that is, to make a work report to the hundred officials.

This is also the first big court meeting in Ganqi's life, and Ganqi at this time is outside the Zuoye Gate, standing behind Bao Zheng and Wang Anshi.

Bao Zheng was looking back at the officials of the Imperial Court and nodding to Tang Jie.

In the front row of the hundred officials, Han Qi and Tian Guo and other ministers were standing. Han Qi and Tian Qi unconsciously turned their heads to look at Gan Qi.

The left door opened, and everyone lined up and entered.