Chapter 587 The sky can be learned

Because of this, almost all of these chief businessmen who rely on the collusion of officials and businessmen to get to the top are outsiders.

In the earliest days, Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants lived in the most prosperous Xiaguan area of Yangzhou, and they became rich by selling salt, dominating one side, and were called "Western merchants" at the time.

After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the rise of the Hui merchants, they relied on their relationship with the official to enter the Yangzhou salt industry in a big way, and after nearly 200 years of struggle, they finally squeezed the Western merchants out of Yangzhou.

In desperation, Shaanxi salt merchants had to withdraw from Yangzhou to Sichuan, they intervened in the production of salt in Sichuan in the way of "borrowing land and shares", and became a large capital group that controlled the Zigong salt field in one fell swoop, creating the famous Zigong salt industry in later generations, and the Jin merchants who were also frustrated in Yangzhou completely withdrew from the salt industry......

The best of the grain merchants are all locals.

Because the vast salt flats could not be cultivated, the Lianghuai region was not self-sufficient in grain, and it was regarded as a place where there was a shortage of grain, and from south to north, the rations of millions of stove households along the coast depended on the supply of grain merchants.

Therefore, the rice grain guild is self-contained, and the trade is not small, after all, the people take food as the sky.

However, as for people, they always look at others well, how can there be satisfaction, the rice merchants and salt merchants do not like each other, and the "dispute between the local customers" has been going on for too long.

They each have their own ghosts, digging each other's walls, always looking for an opportunity to bring down each other and take away all his business......

"This old guy is not soft at all, this time, he will wipe out the big salt owls......"

Seeing that this Master Cheng had reported all the major salt merchants, Gu Yanwu thought secretly, "However, these Xin'an Dajia are also self-inflicted, and at this time, they also help the Tartars hide grain, regardless of right and wrong, they really think that their lives are long......"

……

Meng Tietou and more than 50 other prisoners were temporarily detained in Wengcheng, awaiting arraignment.

The city gate is wide open, people come and go very lively, the thieves and soldiers at the gate, whether they are running around, or standing guard, each has a neat appearance and a straight posture.

"No wonder you can't beat it, this gang of thieves is so strong!" He couldn't help but sigh.

Seeing that the sun was setting in the west, another day was about to pass, sitting at the foot of this city wall, Meng Tietou was a hundred unhappy.

Although everyone knows that their lives in the hands of this group of thieves are basically worry-free, but the rope has not been untied, and all kinds of passers-by are constantly pointing at them; The green battalion soldiers who were tied together often gave him ill-intentioned glances, which also made him feel uneasy.

At that time, when he was tied up in the col, he clearly heard the fierce exchange of fire around the north gate, and he had been waiting for a miracle to appear.

Not long after, he heard thousands of horses roaring towards him, and galloping past the foot of the mountain, and his heart was in ecstasy, and he thought that he was about to be saved.

But listening to it, from the chaotic footsteps, and the constant screams of panic, he understood that this was the army being chased and beaten by others, and he was too busy to take care of himself......

At one point, he wanted to try again—to see if there was a chance to escape.

It's a pity that the thieves who are guarding them are also very thieves, they know that there are few people, so they do not rush out to intercept and fight, but show their bright knives, and watch them tightly these prisoners, so that he has no chance at all.

Soon, the thief arrived, and he lost all hope, and was escorted all the way back to the North Gate camp and imprisoned.

As more and more captives gathered, and the camp was about to be filled, Meng Tietou knew that his fate was already decided......

Finally, the arraignment of the thief began, and perhaps his team was the first to be escorted back to the city, and yes, he was also arraigned earlier.

Seeing that the accomplices were untied one by one, each of them was taken to a few small rooms at the foot of the city wall for questioning, most of them were taken to other places after they came out, and several were released after they came out, and entered the city with joy......

Soon, the little guy Meng Qing was taken away, and the next one, it's time for him?

The hungry Meng Tietou was looking forward to his turn soon - stretching out his head is a knife, shrinking his head is also a knife, he can always give his mouth to eat first......

However, seeing that Meng Qing had gone into the hut for a long time and had not come out, Meng Tietou was puzzled, when someone passing by suddenly shouted: "That's General Meng!" The same guy who wants to set fire to the city! ”

Meng Tietou was startled, it turned out that it was a bookstore surnamed Xie who recognized him.

This Xie Shuban has a lot of industry in Yangzhou, I heard that the Admiral is going to burn the city, he was very anxious for a while, after the military management, he took the initiative to find the door to take refuge, at that time he was retained by the capture army, and was taking a few soldiers to count the Yangzhou official warehouse.

With his voice, dozens of people suddenly gathered.

"Kill him!"

"Burn him! Ma Jinbao's lackey! ”

For a moment, spittle, mud, and burnt wood all flew towards Meng Tietou.

"Spread out!"

Several warriors immediately came over to disperse the crowd, and two of them strode towards Meng Tietou, and each of them put up one arm and went to the hut.

Meng Tie was hit by a broken brick on his head, and when he was dizzy, he was pressed on a bamboo chair.

He forced his composure and looked up, there were three thieves sitting behind the case in front of him, two of them were young, and at a glance they were officers in uniform, although this kind of uniform was very different, but to Meng Tietou, it was no longer an eyesight.

Another man sat a little back, his face hidden in the darkness, and behind him stood a few silent soldiers.

"Name?"

The questioner was a young officer, who seemed to be very generous.

"Contemptible Meng Tietou."

"Are you a general under Ma Jinbao?"

"Yes, Meng is serving in the Ma Junmen Army."

"You came up with the idea of setting fire to the city?"

"No, this is really a traitor's frame-by, I hope the adults will see ......"

Meng Tietou knew that this basin could not be recognized no matter what, otherwise the thief would definitely punish him heavily in order to buy the hearts of the people, either hanging the gallows or directly splitting him, "This is the sacrifice of Ye Bin and Ye Yuanchen of Yuyao County, and it has nothing to do with me......

"Whether it was your idea, we will find out, however, we still recommend that you take the initiative to confess and strive for leniency."

"It's true that it's not done below, the sky can see it!"

Meng Tietou knew that this gang of thieves would not be framed and would not borrow your head at will, so he was at ease.

"Do you know where Ma Jinbao went?"

"I don't know,"

Suddenly feeling that such an answer was too blunt, he hurriedly added, "The day before the army entered the city, he was gone, and he should be said to have fled...... It's nothing more than Luzhou and Yizhen, right......"

"Tell me what you know, the situation of the green camp guarding the city."

Meng Tietou was secretly puzzled when he heard this, you have this Yangzhou, the officers and soldiers guarding the city have already collapsed, what else is there to say?

However, since he asked, it was better for him to answer honestly, so as not to annoy them.

Fortunately, he is in the middle and upper echelons of the army, and he knows a lot about the people who defend the city, and at the moment of 1510, he has made it clear the subordination, source, number, and generals of the host and guest defenders.