The riot in the southern part of Huguang was quelled by Zhu Shunming, and the bandit leader Shi Xiaohu was beheaded and displayed to the public, which made the governor Fang Kongzhi very happy. Local prefects Lei Qilong and Xiao Zhongqi also wrote to Fang Kong and praised Zhu Shunming.

Fang Kongzhi played the imperial court, saying that Zhu Shunming was "brave and strategic, and worthy of a great task". Zhu Shunming's daimyo first entered the field of vision of Emperor Chongzhen.

In Fang Kongzhi's recital, he said that the Huguang riot was an itch of mustard, and Zhu Shunming's name was only a passing mention, and Emperor Chongzhen only paid a little attention to this exceptionally promoted commander, and immediately left it behind.

Emperor Chongzhen was concerned about the stability of Huguang, the grain and taxes of Huguang. These two points are well done. Emperor Chongzhen was quite satisfied with Fang Kong.

………………

Changsha is gradually on the right track.

Acres, shops, factories, etc. are all registered. Except for the fields, which are not taxed until after the autumn harvest, the rest of the shops and factories need to pay taxes on a monthly basis.

After a small and restrained resistance, most of the merchants had to give in. After all, compared with commercial taxes, a stable market environment can bring greater benefits.

Zhu Shunming liberalized the control of the salt industry when he was in Chengbu, and the illegal salt was sold and circulated in the open market, and even sold to Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other places.

After Zhu Shunming entered Changsha Mansion, he continued his attitude towards the salt industry, and private salt could be freely sold and circulated.

The Ming Dynasty monopolized salt, which created countless salt merchants who were salt and fat. Zhu Shunming's private salt became public, touching the interests and bottom line of these big salt merchants.

The Ming Dynasty set up six salt envoys in the country, including Lianghuai, Liangzhejiang, Changlu, Shandong, Fujian, and Hedong, and four salt divisions in Guangdong, Haibei, Sichuan, and Yunnan.

Among them, the Lianghuai Salt Farm and the Changlu Salt Farm have the highest salt yield, the best quality, and the widest range of marketing.

The salt goods of Changlu Salt Factory are mainly sold in the north, such as Jingshi, Beizhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Guanwai and other places.

The salt goods of the Lianghuai Salt Farm have the widest range of marketing. Nanzhili, Guangdong, Guangxi, Huguang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Henan, Guizhou, Northwest Border Pass and other places all eat salt from the Lianghuai Salt Farm.

The imperial court set up the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department in Yangzhou, which was responsible for the production, sales, transshipment, and anti-smuggling of salt in the Lianghuai region. In addition, the imperial court implemented the "Kaizhong Law" of salt in Lianghuai, which caused a large number of merchants to gather in Yangzhou to obtain salt introduction through the Kaizhong Law and obtain huge profits. For a time, Yangzhou salt merchants were rich in the world, and Yangzhou life became more and more extravagant.

In the case of salt smuggling, the salt transportation department and the big salt merchants have the mentality of "releasing water to raise fish". It doesn't matter if the illegal salt trade is small, once the scale is large, the salt lads will immediately go out to kill the salt barons and confiscate all the family property.

But when Zhu Shunming, an alternative with a strong armed force and a lack of reverence for the imperial court, sold illicit salt publicly, the salt merchants really had a headache.

………………

The Changsha County Government accepted a lawsuit filed by a civil prosecutor, and the plaintiff was Wu Chengye, a salt merchant who came from Chengbu County to Changsha Prefecture to deal in salt goods.

Wu Chengye developed from a smuggler in Chengbu County to a big salt lord in Wugang Prefecture, and then followed Zhu Shunming's pace and came to Changsha Mansion to open a salt shop, which can be said to be a typical representative of the merchant middle class specially cultivated by Zhu Shunming.

Wu Chengye sued the Changsha Provincial Salt Administration Department for smashing his shop, arresting his associates, and confiscating his goods.

Wu Chengye's Wu Ji salt goods are officially registered in Changsha Prefecture, and a business license stamped with the big seal of the Yamen is issued, which is a reasonable and legal shop.

The Salt Administration Department also felt aggrieved. It is the right and duty of the Salt Administration Department to seize illegal salt. Wu Chengye's shop did not have official documents from the salt introduction and the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division, which was obviously private salt, and the Salt Administration Department had the right to seal it up.

Zhu Shunming asked for civilized law enforcement, and the Salt Administration Department had shown mercy to his subordinates, did not kill the guys who dared to resist on the spot, and did not have the boss behind the scenes, which can be regarded as civilized, progressive and rational law enforcement.

This is a head-on clash between the old and the new systems.

Zhu Shunming entered Changsha, with the help of the name of the governor Fang Kongzhi and the armament in his hand, but after all, the name is not right. Today, the balance of political forces in Changsha is the product of the compromise of various forces.

Zhu Shunming relied on his military strength to slowly implement his policies; Lei Qilong was intimidated by the name of the governor and temporarily retreated, allowing Zhu Shunming's people to control the government of the city; The major merchant landlords were shocked by Zhu Shunming's murderous reputation, and Zhu Shunming's policies were relatively moderate, so their interests were not greatly affected, and some even made higher profits than before, and they also acquiesced in acknowledging Zhu Shunming's rule.

Zhu Shunming can empty the institutions and yamen of the imperial court, but he cannot ban them, otherwise it will really be a rebellion.

The Salt Administration Division is the yamen that was set aside by Zhu Shunming.

From the former hot oil and water rich power yamen to the deserted and unpopular clean water organization now, the people of the salt administration department are of course very disappointed.

The Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division is the immediate boss of the Changsha Salt Administration. The two Huai Salt Transportation Divisions have a paper document to strictly investigate the sale of illegal salt, which is in line with the wishes of the Changsha Salt Administration.

Not only the Changsha Salt Administration, but also Huguang, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places have launched a strict investigation of illegal salt.

The salt merchants under Zhu Shunming's command suffered a heavy blow. Loss of personnel, loss of goods and property, loss of channels...... And so on.

The Changsha County Ya quickly pronounced a verdict on Wu Chengye's lawsuit against the Salt Administration.

The Salt Administration Department banned the seizure of Wu Chengye's legal shop; The uncivilized law enforcement by the personnel of the Salt Administration Department in the process of law enforcement constitutes excessive law enforcement; The resale of seized salt goods and other property for private distribution constitutes the crime of embezzlement of property.

The officers of the Salt Administration Department were sentenced to sentences ranging from five years to three years and fines.

After the verdict was announced, the businessmen and bureaucrats in Changsha City who were waiting to see Zhu Shunming were suddenly silent. Even the rich salt merchants in the world dare to offend, and Zhu Shunming is too crazy.

This Zhu Shunming, ignoring the salt policy of the imperial court, openly imprisoned the court officials who carried out the salt policy, and openly worked against the two Huai salt politics, what did he want to do?

If it is to make money, you can buy some salt, increase the price of private salt, and sell private salt as official salt. In this way, the two Huai Salt Transportation Divisions will also turn a blind eye.

Zhu Shunming's lowering of salt prices and trafficking in a large amount of illicit salt naturally had his own purpose, and it was a big plan of a strategic nature.

The Lianghuai Salt Transportation Division sniped at the illegal salt trade supported by Zhu Shunming, and Zhu Shunming would of course fight back, and the means were direct and violent.

Zhou Zhou of the Shunfeng Dart Bureau was scolded by Zhu Shunming.

"What is the game for? Protect goods and people from unlawful encroachment. You see, these days, how many goods are lost? How many brothers were killed or wounded? Who told you to lay down your arms? Whose food do you eat? Listen to whom? If this director can't do it, I'll change someone earlier. ”

Zhou Zhou was scolded so red-faced.

When the trafficking of illicit salt was seized by the Salt Administration Department, I was congenitally frightened. Zhou Zhou didn't dare to resist by force, for fear of causing trouble to Zhu Shunming.

Zhu Shunming's disrespect for the imperial court in his words was very obvious. "Whose meal is it eating? Listen to whom? Let Zhou Zhou understand the guidelines for acting in the future.

"Even if we don't bully people, even if we are polite, someone dares to bully us? It's really Tai Sui's head breaking ground, and I'm impatient. ”

Zhu Shunming smiled fiercely, exuding a thick bloody and murderous aura. Zhou Zhou was frightened by Zhu Shunming's aura.

………………

In Hengshan County, Hengzhou Prefecture, Tang San'er and his brothers were drinking happily, and the powder in his arms was also very interesting, and he was very excited to serve.

"Those smugglers are very rich, and one vote is enough for our brother to live happily for a few months." Tang San'er was drunk and said proudly: "Boss Jin spoke, if you see a smuggler in the future, you will die, and we will get fifty percent of the goods." ”

"Thank you, third brother, for taking a few of our brothers to make a fortune." The little brothers thanked.

"Third brother, don't forget your little sister when you get rich." The delicate flattery of the fans in his arms kept touching the third brother's cool point.

"Bang ......"

The door of the chamber was kicked open, and a group of soldiers rushed in, their weapons aimed at the people who were drinking happily.

"Tang San'er, if you kill people and oversell goods, hurry up and arrest them, otherwise you will be killed."

"In this place of Hengshan, who dares to take me Tang San'er? Roll ......"

Tang San'er was majestic, and the crossbow in the hands of the soldiers on the opposite side was unceremoniously fired.

"Poof......

Tang San'er looked at the featherless crossbow arrow on his chest in disbelief, and his mouth was vague: "You...... You...... You ......"

Crashed down.

"Ah......" The powder in Tang San'er's arms screamed in fright, and his soul flew away.

"Surrender, we surrender......" The rest of the younger brothers were so frightened that they hurriedly raised their hands in surrender.

………………

Jianli is close to the Yangtze River, with abundant water sources, convenient water transportation, and abundant grain and other crops. Over time, Jianli, a small county located in the lower reaches of Jingzhou, has nearly 200,000 people.

Chen Fengrong is the captain of Jianli Yanding. Relying on the seizure of illicit salt and the filial piety of the smuggled salt dealers, he lived a comfortable life.

Since last year, the smugglers in the south have actually stopped being filial, and the salt sellers are still guarded by a "tailwind dart bureau". Chen Fengrong was very dissatisfied. But seeing that the Shunfeng Dart Bureau was well-armed and well-armed, and the accompanying dart master was fierce and well-trained, Chen Fengrong did not dare to start easily.

Last month, he received an official letter to crack down on illegal salt, and Chen Fengrong was overjoyed. How dare these hateful smugglers not be filial? Lao Tzu told you all to spit it out.

Chen Fengrong took the salt ding and seized a few small salt owls. As soon as the official document of the imperial court was revealed, Shunfeng Dart Bureau did not dare to make a move.

Chen Fengrong was relieved, and no one dared to disobey the will of the imperial court. I knew that the Shunfeng Dart Bureau was a silver-like pewter spearhead, how could I let the smuggler be arrogant for so long?

Chen Fengrong made a bold move and arrested all the illegal salt dealers in Jianli, and sure enough, they spit out all last year's profits.

Counting the silver taels in front of him, Chen Fengrong smiled at his wife: "With this tiger skin of the imperial court, it is easy to get silver." ”

Mrs. Chen's eyebrows and eyes were full of smiles: "Xianggong is amazing...... Messire...... You've got even more powerful ......."

This is the noise of chaos in the streets, and there is a hidden sense of slaughter.

"What's going on?" Chen Fengrong said strangely: "Could it be that someone is rebelling? ”

Just as he was wondering, a noisy and chaotic footsteps surrounded the house, and a murderous aura rose into the sky. Chen Fengrong shivered inexplicably.

"Listen, people inside, you are surrounded. Laying down your arms and surrendering is your only way out. Dare to resist, don't kill. ”

In broad daylight, who would dare to surround the Yanzheng Yamen?

Chen Fengrong peeked through the crack in the door tremblingly, and the neat and solemn team outside, wearing unfamiliar battle armor, was ready to attack without saying a word.

"Surrender, we'll surrender."

Qin Tao, the chief secretary of the salt administration, was the first to surrender, and the rest of the officials walked out of the yamen one after another and surrendered to the unknown army.

"You and others attacked the salt merchants of Changsha Mansion and plundered the goods of the salt merchants, and they have been arrested by Changsha Wei."

Changsha Wei actually arrested people across the border? Actually for private salt? How can the army be mobilized so openly and on such a large scale?

Qin Tao felt that he had fallen victim to the struggle between the two major forces.