Wu Zhong just heard such a short sentence, and suddenly, his eyes turned even redder. If it weren't for the ugly tears of the old men, they would really cry.

When a person is in enemy territory, surrounded by enemies, he is afraid to talk in his sleep even when he sleeps. And the prisoner is cruel, beating and scolding, and even a careless person can attract death.

In the past, it was the general banner of the dignified brocade guard, no matter what, when he went out, he was majestic, everyone was afraid, and everyone was in awe, but in the enemy realm, he had to nod his head when he saw people, and said words against his will, his face was thicker than the city wall of Beijing, and his self-esteem and dignity were long gone!

However, these are not the reasons why Wu Zhong is so emotional.

He was on the side of Liaodong Jianyu, and he didn't want to become the concubine of the slave chief Taiji. He has been worried, and when he comes back, if he says it, Da Ming's side will doubt him and no longer believe him. Unexpectedly, in the first words of the meeting, the commander just said, "I'm sorry for you!" ”

In this sentence, there is trust and understanding, which makes Wu Zhong inexplicably moved!

But when he came to his senses, he became worried again. For he absolutely did not think that the commander knew everything, so he was ready to confess, and if the commander knew that he was the son-in-law of the slave chieftain and blamed himself, then he would admit it.

Thinking so, after he stood up, he immediately looked into Li Ruolian's eyes and said, "My lord, my subordinates were forced to take revenge on the Tartars in Liaodong, so they married the third daughter of the slave chieftain Taiji. At that time, my subordinates felt that this woman didn't treat us Han people as human beings......"

"Hehe, you're really blessed! Come on, come on, sit down first! When Li Ruolian heard this, he smiled and took his hand and asked him to sit in the position closest to the main seat, and at the same time said, "The emperor has already told me about your affairs in Liaodong, hehe, I really didn't expect to have you......"

When Wu Zhong first heard Li Ruolian's words, he couldn't help but sink in his heart, and he subconsciously thought that Li Ruolian was sarcastic when he said good fortune. However, then he heard Li Ruolian talk about him, and the emperor had already told him, so he was immediately dumbfounded.

I came back by boat, that is, I landed on Liugong Island. However, when I was in Liugong Island, I just reported my name and didn't say anything, and then I came directly to Haizhou. However, just like this, the emperor knows about his affairs in Liaodong?

At this moment, he suddenly had a little doubt, could it be that among his subordinates, there were other Jinyi secret agents?

But thinking about it, he felt that it was impossible, because from the time calculation, even if he had Jinyi Wei secret agents under him, it didn't seem to be so fast to spread the news on Liugong Island, right?

Thinking like this, he was even more confused, so he stammered a little in surprise and asked Li Ruolian: "Your Majesty...... The emperor knows everything? The subordinate is saying...... Do you mean all the things that your subordinates do in Liaodong? ”

Hearing his words and looking at his expression, Li Ruolian smiled and nodded: "Of course, the emperor said that you proposed to the slave chief, but I didn't expect it to happen." In fact, you just said it in passing because the woman was not a good person to us Han people, and she was chasing you to beat you. Therefore, after marriage, you also taught that mother-in-law a lesson, right? Haha......"

Hearing this, Wu Zhong was dumbfounded, the emperor really knows everything?

And when Li Ruolian said this, he suddenly remembered something, so he glanced left and right. Most of his subordinates knew Wu Zhong and wanted to talk, but when they saw the appearance of the commander, they immediately understood it and consciously retreated.

As soon as they left, Li Ruolian patted Wu Zhong on the shoulder and said to him seriously: "The emperor also asked me to tell you that in Fan Wencheng's dog thief's mansion, you fell for his tricks, and the responsibility is not yours, so you don't need to worry about anything." ”

Wu Zhong has always buried this matter in his heart, and it is the one thing he is most afraid of. Originally, I thought that I wouldn't say it if I was killed, and I didn't say it if I denied it, but I didn't expect that the commander said it at this time, and the most important thing is that this is to relay the emperor's words to make him feel relieved, not his fault.

Suddenly, Wu Zhong felt as if a large stone had been removed from his body, and he didn't know how much he was relieved, and at the same time, he was also very surprised. It stands to reason that only himself, Fan Wencheng and the Fan Mansion steward know about this matter. Of course, the princess herself must have known. But such a secret matter is still far away in Liaodong, but the emperor knows it clearly.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen immediately became mysterious in Wu Zhong's heart, and he felt that the emperor was really a purple star in the sky? Is it the true dragon emperor?

Thinking like this, Wu Zhong at this time couldn't help but be in awe of the emperor. This kind of awe is no longer just the awe of identity, but the kind of awe that mortals have for the gods in the sky. Otherwise, there are so many things that he really can't understand.

If the emperor is regarded as an immortal, it is natural to be able to pinch and calculate, and it is not surprising that he has a good ear or a clairvoyant!

He was thinking about it, but Li Ruolian smiled and said: "Your trip to Liaodong this time made the emperor very satisfied, saying that Jinyiwei has a loyal cadre like you, and he is also very pleased with Jinyiwei." By the way, even I was commended by the emperor. ”

"By the way, the emperor also told me that when I go back, the imperial court will create medals, which are divided into several categories, and the highest level of the medal is called the Ming Hero Medal, which can be hung on the chest at ordinary times, and it is a person who has made a very significant contribution to the Ming Dynasty to wear this Ming Hero Medal. You kid will be the first person in my Ming Dynasty to win this Ming Hero Medal! Not only do I not, but no one in the DPRK has not, if you wear it out when you turn around, tsk, you are going to envy others! ”

Hearing this, he knew that he would be the first person in Daming to have this medal, and only people who had made very significant contributions to Daming could have it, and suddenly, Wu Zhong felt that the things he had experienced before were not a matter at all, and at this time, his whole body was full of strength!

He naturally didn't know that Emperor Chongzhen had always disagreed with a point of view, saying that going undercover would not end well! In this regard, he just has to give the undercover agent a good ending! Not to mention anything else, this kind of thing of undercover agents, dealing with all kinds of murderous enemies in Longtan Tiger's Den, may be discovered and killed at any time. It can be said that the work of undercover agents is really not done by people. Or, if you can complete the undercover mission, then such a person really has to be a real hero!

Even from another point of view, the information obtained by undercover agents is often very useful. Even if it is measured by the value of intelligence, it is very worthy of a heavy reward. Therefore, if Daming wants to engage in the highest medal of honor, Wu Zhong is definitely qualified.

"You're a Jinyi Wei Qianhu now." When he was stunned, Li Ruolian continued, "The emperor knows the purpose of you being sent to Daming by the slave chieftain, so he sent me to Haizhou to wait for you, just because there is something for you to do." When this is done, you will be the commander of the Jinyi Guard. ”

Wu Zhong is willing to sneak into Liaodong and do things all his life, of course, he is not that kind of saint, saying that he is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, and he can do things without any return.

At this time, knowing that the emperor would give him the highest honor, and then promoted him to the commander of the Jinyi Guard, who was second only to the commander of the envoy, he was of course very happy, and immediately said to Li Ruolian: "Please make it clear that your subordinates will go to the soup and fight the fire, and they will never give up!" ”

Li Ruolian nodded when he heard this, motioned for him to sit down, and then said to him: "You came back this time to find a Jiangnan merchant to replace the Jin merchant for Jianyu, and the emperor has already arranged this for you!" ”

"......" Wu Zhong was speechless when he heard it, could it be that the emperor really wanted to let himself do this?

It's the emperor who said this, otherwise, even if Li Ruolian himself said this, he has reason to wonder if the commander is suspected of treason for the sake of huge benefits!

Seeing a trace of doubt on his face, Li Ruolian knew what he was thinking, and immediately said solemnly: "In my Ming Dynasty, in addition to the tumor of Jin Shang, there is another cancer, and the emperor also wants to get rid of it." But because there is something on your side, the emperor will let you do it here, which can be regarded as a number of birds in one fell swoop. Time is a bit tight, so listen up. ”

Wu Zhong listened to it and confirmed that it was the emperor's request, so he immediately nodded to show that he was listening carefully.

I heard Li Ruolian say to him: "The south is the most important tax of the Ming Dynasty, and the salt tax is the most important tax among the taxes. However, in the salt industry, it was not the imperial court that was rich, but those salt merchants. The price of salt is high, but the people can't leave it, and they can't afford to buy it without enough money, which makes their lives even more difficult. However, the imperial court did not collect much salt tax, and all the money in between, the salt merchants earned. I'm sure you know that. ”

In fact, anyone who has ever been out and has had a little experience knows the wealth of salt merchants. The reason why this is the case is that at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the big salt merchants were generally Hui merchants. They have the so-called local heroism of later generations, like to show off, like to fight for wealth, which makes them famous.

At this time, there were more than four Yangzhou Mansions. That is, the so-called "there are many officials, many businessmen, many literati, and many idlers". There are many officials and businessmen, which is easy to understand, and there are many literati, because there are many financiers in Yangzhou Mansion, and they can afford to raise literati, and at the same time, they can also afford to raise idlers. And most of the wealthy financiers are salt merchants.

How much money do these salt merchants have?

Let's just say that the painting boat is good, which originally refers to the boat that is gorgeously decorated and used to enjoy the mountains and rivers. But in the hands of Yangzhou salt merchants, the boats were renovated: some were several stories high, and some were decorated with glass that was extremely rare at the time...... And so on, in the ultimate luxury. After that, these salt merchants were accompanied by famous prostitutes and beautiful women in the painting boat on weekdays, and they tasted fine wine and delicacies, and they never got tired of it.

In addition, there is a salt merchant who is so "big", whether it is a house, furniture and all kinds of items should be as big as possible, and even specially built a copper night pot up to five or six feet high, every night when he gets up, he has to climb up and down, which is extremely hard, but he is still happy to do it.

If this is nothing, there are also salt merchants, who invented the "traveling dish" way of eating, preparing dozens or hundreds of dishes for each meal, and once the dishes are not satisfied, they will be removed and replaced with new dishes. From this, it can be seen how much a meal is wasted!

As for the rest, it's all pediatrics.

For example, at that time, the tumblers made in Suzhou were very exquisite and valuable, and a certain salt merchant in Yangzhou once bought all the tumblers in the Suzhou market for more than 3,000 taels of silver, and poured all them into the river for fun, which once caused the river to be blocked.

There are also salt merchants, who want to experience the feeling of "throwing ten thousand gold", so they send someone to buy gold leaf with ten thousand taels of silver, and then climb the tall building, throw the gold leaf in the wind, and watch the people downstairs snatch the gold leaf, but this person laughs upstairs. Is it ridiculous? People are just rich and capricious!

Some things have even spread to the north, and even people who have never been to the south can know about it.

Therefore, Wu Zhong naturally understands the wealth of salt merchants. At the same time, he naturally remembered the drought in the north, the refugees after the military disaster, and the suffering people who were plundered to Liaodong, which made him suddenly feel angry.

At this time, Li Ruolian was still talking, so he didn't speak and continued to listen.

"These salt merchants, who made a fortune, in addition to the salt industry, which only they can sell, also secretly mixed a large amount of private salt into the official salt. Almost every big salt merchant's subordinates will have a private salt team. Therefore, don't look at these big salt merchants who seem to only eat, drink and have fun, secretly, they are all outlaws who are in it for money and are not afraid of Wang Fa. ”

"These people, sucking blood from the court and the people, have gathered countless wealth in their hands, but they will only waste their own luxury and bring bad atmosphere to the Ming Dynasty. Once the emperor announces the reform of the salt industry, these people will inevitably oppose it and sabotage it secretly. Therefore, the emperor's intention is to take advantage of you to storm the true face of these salt merchants in broad daylight, so that everyone can recognize them. ”

"As long as we can cut off some big salt merchants and use thunder to deter them, then it will be much smoother if the emperor implements a new policy on the salt industry, increases the tax revenue of the imperial court, and at the same time allows the people to eat cheaper salt......

Hearing this, Wu Zhong faintly grasped the emperor's meaning, and thought about it, it seems that it is indeed possible, as long as these salt merchants are given a chance, they may not be the second Jin merchants!

As he was thinking so, he heard Li Ruolian say to him: "You will go to contact those big salt merchants this time and promise heavy profits, so I don't believe that these salt merchants will resist the temptation of profits." As long as he gets the evidence of their collusion with Jianyu, the emperor can use the same means to deal with the Jin merchants to deal with the salt merchants, and at the same time, he can easily rectify the Jiangnan officialdom again. ”

Speaking of this, Li Ruolian's face became very serious, and he told Wu Zhongdao: "This matter is very important, and it is also related to Jiangnan officialdom. Rest assured, I will cooperate with you in secret. ”