Until noon, the people sent by Niu Yanjin came back one after another, and boxes of silver were moved into Yangzhou Mansion, and Luo Yi hurriedly took Zhao Wenxian to count. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Since entering the boundary of Yangzhou, it is only now that a breakthrough has been made, and with silver, no matter where the silver comes from, it can also give Li Shimin a small explanation.

"Oh yes, there's one more thing..."

While counting the silver taels, Luo Yi said: "There are also those officials in Yangzhou, large and small, who have more or less obtained the benefits of the salt merchants, although it is not much, only a few hundred or dozens of taels, but it also constitutes a crime..." In the eyes of the people, this money will not be used up in several lifetimes, and hundreds of yellow flower girls can be bought in Yangzhou, so they can't be let go like this. ”

"But this matter is a little difficult to do, if I arrest them all, I'm afraid Yangzhou will be paralyzed directly, and someone must take care of such a large place." But if you don't catch it, it will be difficult to close the case. ”

"Zhao Wenxian, after the counting, you personally visit these officials, let them truthfully explain their problems, put forward a confession, let them sign and draw a charge, if they cooperate, this matter is over, I will submit the confession to the emperor, let the emperor decide; If they did not cooperate, they were forcibly escorted to the Yangzhou Mansion, and I personally taught them lessons. ”

You must know that doing this kind of thing, but Zhao Wenxian likes it the most, he used to be a killer, and what he was most afraid of was the government, and now, he can finally raise his eyebrows in front of the government, especially in front of Yangzhou officials, he can't ask for it.

Zhao Wenxian immediately agreed, and asked Zhao Wenyong to go with him, and bring hundreds of soldiers.

Luo Yi didn't say a word, and agreed, because he should shock those county-level officials, so as not to drag the mud and water during the interrogation.

............

Wu Wenjiang Mansion of Huainan Jiedu, located on the border of Yangzhou, is the military center of Huainan.

In the Tang Dynasty, the power of the Jiedu envoy was very large, and it was two levels with the history of the governor of Yangzhou; Changshi is only in charge of Yangzhou's internal affairs, and has no military power in his hands, but the Jiedu envoy is not.

Wu Wenjiang, as the envoy of Huainan Jiedu, not only had to be in charge of the military, but also had to defend against foreign enemies. Of course, this is only the beginning of the Tang Dynasty of the festival of the envoy, if in the later period, the right is greater, according to history, after the festival of the envoy, will gradually take over a district of the military, civil, financial, political, the jurisdiction of the state thorn history are its moderation, and concurrently stationed in the state of the thorn history, this right, is already equivalent to the king, not only has military power, but also land, there is territory.

"Luo Yi? He is just a marquis, how can he transfer 5,000 horse infantry troops? There must have been a holy decree. ”

In the palace, Wu Wenjiang guessed about an incident that happened two days ago, and the five thousand horse infantry troops suddenly left the border camp and headed towards Yangzhou City.

Without the Holy Decree, it is impossible to transfer the soldiers, or Li Shimin came in person, but this is obviously impossible, so there is only one possibility, Luo Yi has the Holy Decree in his hands.

In front of Wu Wenjiang, there was a master standing and arched his hand: "My lord, what happened in Yangzhou, why did Luo Yi come here to borrow troops?" It's not in order. ”

"What rules are not in order, in the face of the Holy Decree, any rules will be broken."

Wu Wenjiang took a deep breath and said, "I guess... Maybe something happened to the salt merchant.... Half a month ago, news came from Chang'an, the emperor summoned Luo Yi and asked him to go to Yangzhou to check taxes, especially salt taxes. ”

The master said: "Then we must also be prepared." ”

"Prepare what? What does the Huainan salt tax have to do with me, he can't find out about me. ”

The master smiled bitterly: "That's not for sure, Luo Yi has always been bold in doing things, as long as he knows the truth of the salt tax, he will never sit idly by." If he can transfer the Yangzhou Mabu Army stationed outside, he will have the courage to come here. ”

Wu Wenjiang also knew in his heart that Luo Yi was a difficult bone to gnaw, and he had a holy decree in his hand, and if he really came here, he couldn't go too far, and he had to support it in terms of salt merchant taxation.

"I see."

Wu Wenjiang said: "Send someone to Yangzhou first to understand the situation, it's best not to let Luo Yi come here." If necessary, you can shut up Wu Shengqing and the others, and when it's time to throw the chess pieces, you have to lose the chess pieces! ”

"Yes."

Yangzhou Mansion.

In the evening of the same day, Luo Yi counted all the stolen money found in the search, totaling 450,000 taels.

The data is a bit huge, but Luo Yi doesn't believe that this is the real data of Yangzhou's salt tax. First of all, no one is sure whether the confessions of the salt merchants are true or false, and secondly, even if it is true, the 450,000 is less, according to the data provided by Wu Shengqing, it should be 650,000.

"And 200,000?"

Asked Zhao Wenyong to move all the silver taels down and guard them tightly, Luo Yi sat down and drank a cup of tea.

Zhao Wenxian said: "They must not have turned it all in, there is still a difference of 200,000, which is not a small number; Big brother, I suggest that the salt merchants be interrogated again, so that they can confess honestly again. ”

"No need."

Luo Yi sneered twice and said: "With such a big crime as tax evasion, it is very simple to clean them up; I'm guessing if I need to make a big move, so that other salt merchants in Huainan will know how powerful we are. ”

"What's the big move? Aren't we big enough this time? ”

Luo Yi said: "What kind of big move is this, in the eyes of Huainan salt merchants, it is just a formality." ”

"The big move I am talking about is to raid all the salt merchants on the charge of tax evasion and escort them to Chang'an; In this way, we can scrape together a lot of money. ”

Although Zhao Wenxian didn't know much about the law, he also knew that it was inappropriate for Luo Yi to do so. Such a big case can only be judged by the Criminal Department, especially when it involves Wu Shengqing, a member of the Sanpin, and it is not something that local officials can sanction, even if the Criminal Department has already convicted, it must be approved by the emperor before it can take effect.

"Have you forgotten that I have a dragon card in my hand, and I can completely cut it first and then play."

Luo Yi took out the dragon card, looked at it a few times, and said: "With my current privileges, I can completely raid all the salt merchants in Huainan, no one can stop me, I can get a large sum of money, and I can also have an explanation to the emperor." But in this way, there are many negative effects, first of all, we are illegal, relying on the dragon card, in Yangzhou to do nonsense, will be attacked by the imperial historians, and secondly, if the salt merchants are checked, then they are not alive, will they continue to supply the people of Yangzhou salt? If there is no salt, or if they are complicit, then it will be a big deal. ”

Zhao Wenxian sighed, remembered something, and said, "Big brother, I was about to tell you something." In the morning, we went to confiscate the stolen money, and as we passed through the street, we heard people say that the salt on the market was out of stock, and it was impossible to buy it anywhere. ”

Luo Yi smiled: "Look at what I say, I knew they would come to this trick." I want the people to help them force me to let people go, and I want to be beautiful. ”

"Having said that, but big brother, it's not a way to keep the salt merchants locked up, the market has been out of salt for a long time, but something big will happen. As for the raid on their homes, I'm afraid it's even worse... ”

Luo Yi said angrily: "Why not? I've already arrested someone, and I can't let them go so easily until I get things straight. ”

"I know the emperor's thoughts, he only wants money, nothing else matters, if I raid the homes of the salt merchants, I will definitely be attacked by the imperial historians, and even let the emperor reprimand me, but nothing big will happen, although the emperor will reprimand me on the surface, but he is extremely happy in his heart, because I found him a large sum of money, and I did exactly what he wanted to do but did not dare to do."

Zhao Wenxian's brain is also flexible, and after thinking about it, he said worriedly: "Big brother, in this way, you will offend many people." ”

"As long as you don't offend the emperor, don't you? If I'm afraid of offending people, I won't come to Huainan. ”

Luo Yi took a deep breath and said, "Now, we have offended all the salt merchants and officials in Yangzhou and even Huainan, and the salt merchants do not sell salt, which is the best means of counterattack." ”

"I decided, let's cut them first, sort out all the evidence, then convict them, confiscate all their property, and when I have collected their money, I can let them go home. As for Wu Shengqing, he is the governor of Yangzhou Prefecture, and he is suspected of such a big case, of course, he can't just forget it, he has to bear the main responsibility. When we return to Chang'an, we will press him together and hand him over to the Criminal Department. ”

Zhao Wenyong asked: "What about the Huainan Festival envoy?" ”

"Yes, there's also a knot."

To tell the truth, Luo Yi really didn't dare to move, at least he didn't dare to take Zhao Wenxian and Zhao Wenyong directly to the mansion, after all, the Jiedu envoy held the military power and controlled all the military officials in Huainan.

The most annoying thing is that to deal with the Jiedu envoys, they are not like Wu Shengqing and others, they are directly arrested and persecuted by criminal law, if there is no conclusive evidence, people will not admit it, and there is no way to try the case.

"Report..." At this time, a soldier came running outside the Caifu Office, looking panicked.

Luo Yi recognized it at a glance, it was a servant in the cell.

"Your Excellency, just... When Lord Wu was eating just now, in... Poisoned.... ”

"What!"

Luo Yi got up suddenly, and said hurriedly: "Then what are you doing in a daze, take me quickly." ”

"My lord, he may be dead."

The soldier reminded.

Luo Yi didn't care, he trotted all the way to the cell of Yangzhou Mansion, Zhao Wenxian and Zhao Wenyong followed, and the soldier who reported the news also hurriedly followed.

If Wu Shengqing died, it would be a big disaster, not to mention the Criminal Department, it is estimated that Li Shimin will be blamed.

Not long after, everyone came to the prison, Luo Yi looked at it, and saw Wu Shengqing curled up in the corner, blood flowing from the corners of his mouth, and his body was constantly twitching.

Seeing this situation, Luo Yi breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't die, then he could still be saved.

Walking up to Wu Shengqing, Luo Yi didn't say a word, reached out and grabbed Wu Shengqing's hand, activated the medical treatment function, and healed the injuries in Wu Shengqing's body.

"How's it going, are you alright?"

"Ahem... No, it's fine.... ”

Luo Yi said: "You can see it clearly, this is the person you defend, everyone has harmed you, what are you still protecting them for?" ”

The people in Luo Yi's mouth of course refer to Wu Shengqing's superior, that is, the Huainan Jiedu envoy.

After diagnosis and treatment, when Luo Yi let go of Wu Shengqing's hand, Wu Shengqing's complexion was already much better, although there was blood hanging from the corners of his mouth, he did not grow out again.

Wu Shengqing didn't believe Luo Yi's words, and sighed: "Master Hou, don't you shout to catch a thief, didn't you give the medicine, just so you can cure the poison and come to save my life, let me be grateful to you?" Master Hou, I have told you everything I know, and if there is no other information of value to you, you should not work me. ”

Luo Yi pouted and said: "You also know, you have no value to me, you have said everything you should say, and I still want you to be grateful to me for what to do, this poison is indeed not from me." ”

Wu Shengqing was silent.

Luo Yi nodded and said, "Okay, believe it or not." ”

"Wenxian, from now on, you must take care of the diet of all the detainees, and there must be no accidents."

Zhao Wenxian said: "Big brother, don't worry, I will arrange it." ”

"Hmm."

Whether Wu Shengqing believes it or not, this is the truth, Luo Yi must ensure the safety of everyone, especially Wu Shengqing, who must not die. At the same time, Luo Yi was also secretly glad that he had a healing function, otherwise, Wu Shengqing would have been in a catastrophe.

"I don't mess with him, he does."

Back at the mansion, Luo Yi said angrily.

Zhao Wenxian said: "Big brother, what you said about him is a festival envoy, right?" ”

"Who else is not him? As soon as Wu Shengqing dies, it will be in his best interest, but he may not know that we have already obtained Wu Shengqing's confession, even if Wu Shengqing is dead, we will do the same to him if we want to. ”

Luo Yi smiled: "Of course, it's better not to die, it's not good for us to die, and we can't explain it to Chang'an." ”