Zheng Yuanxun was like this, Gong Dingyu was still unclear, and said strangely: "Chaozong, what did you do when you threw away Brother Ling's letter?" ”

"Xiaosheng, I'm afraid there will be a big storm!" Zheng Yuanxun's face turned pale, and he said in a condensed voice: "My brother and some big salt merchants have already gone to Nanjing on the orders of the officials of the household department. It is said that the household department should also rectify the salt administration and help the generalissimo's hand, do you understand the twists and turns? ”

Household Gao Hongtu, now is a well-known anti-prince of the strong general, several times, the prince intentionally or unintentionally blocked his way, now this time, is already a spell of red eyes, the last mutiny did not bear him, this gentleman was honest for a few days, the tail is cocked again, Gong Dingyu arrived in Nanjing not long ago, is to hear a lot of Gao Hongtu and others troubles.

However, he was still stunned and said: "This matter is clearly the beginning and end of the Huaiyang area, and the Generalissimo's Mansion is located in Huai'an, why is the hand of the Hubu Hall official stretched so long?" ”

"Alas, do you care, the overall situation of Huaiyang is also related to the household department, how to reform the tax system, how to sort out the salt class, can the hall officials ignore it?"

"Well, that's going to be a lot of fun." Gong Dingyu also sighed: "It's really stormy!" The salt merchant was arched to make trouble, and His Royal Highness the Prince's salt class could not be changed, and the loss was at least one million a year. In this way, it is difficult to raise soldiers. I have heard of his more than 30,000 soldiers, and I am afraid that the expenses of the forbidden army, Huang Degong, Zuo Liangyu, and Liu Liangzuo in one year will be worth the expenses of the Generalissimo's Mansion for one year. ”

"The times are not quiet, and it is the time for our generation to fight." Zheng Yuanxun also had no intention of eating and drinking at this time, and said categorically: "Xiaosheng, I think, let's go back and do more." ”

"It's cool in the evening," Gong Dingyu was very witty, and still didn't forget to joke at this time, and only smiled: "The house is warm, and besides, the graves here are too fierce, and the younger brother is very shabby and thin, but he can't afford to provide them with warmth." ”

For a while, although they were preoccupied, the two of them still laughed, Zheng Fu and others also hurriedly lit up the lanterns, the mountain and stone paths were winding and steep, and many places were ingenious.

It's just that when I returned to the room, I thought of the difficulties of everything, and for a while, my heart was also confused, and it was difficult to calm down.

………… Gao Hongtu, the official of the household department, gave an order, and the salt merchants in the Huaiyang area were all turned on their backs, and they didn't know what to do.

On one side is the military and political secretary of the Generalissimo's Mansion Chen Mingxia, a talented man of the Restoration Society, in the original matter, Hanlin of Jinma Yutang is now the first celebrity around the crown prince, how dare you offend such an important person?

On the other hand, there is a big man in Donglin, who has been operating in Jiangnan for decades, and has the name of "Three Sages in the Southeast", Gao Hongtu is a tall man, and he is also an official of the household department, and it is the responsibility of the household department to sort out the salt administration...... Such a big guy summoned, how dare he shirk it?

Between the two sides, you can only choose one first, Donglin's side, no matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like it can fall in a short time, Huaiyang salt merchants, the original backstage is the eunuchs and lords, especially the Nanjing lords, and they have always been the focus of the dots.

This time, Liu Kongzhao and Zhao Zhilong have crossed the stage one after another, Chang Yanling is not in oil and salt, and the salt merchants are also thinking about finding a new backer.

Since the middle of the month, there have been salt merchants to Nanjing, and at the end of the month, the salt merchants in Huai'an have stopped seven out of ten, and the salt merchants in Yangzhou, who are qualified, have also reached the first place.

For a time, there were many more lords in Nanjing who were particularly arrogant, and it was not a problem to spend a lot of money. When it comes to romance, of course, it is Donglin Fushe, and when it comes to arrogance, I am afraid that I can only push the salt merchant as the first.

After a few days of such trouble, there are people talking to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Patrol Division, the former is related to discipline, the latter is to maintain public order, and now the public security in the city is under the control of the patrol and defense yamen, and the inside is also with the prince to learn, recruit a group, and the Beijing battalion soldiers have turned over a group, which is a variant of the Xiang Army, Nanjing public security, there is a guard office inside, there is a patrol and garrison department outside, and the internal and external affairs are Jing, which is the most direct and the best change in the perception of Zhu Cihong.

Someone spoke, Gao Hongtu also knew that he couldn't drag it out, not long after Gong Dingyu rushed to Huaishang, Nanjing's household department was also full of people, more than 100 richly dressed salt merchants, and their followers were all dressed in silk shirts, gathered together, waiting for Gao Hongtu to meet.

So many people, although they usually have grievances with each other, but when they meet in Nanjing at this time, they are considered to be a stranger traveler, and they are a little more affectionate to each other, plus they are worried in their hearts, and they don't know what Gao Hongtu and other Donglin bigwigs have to say, so after meeting, they are all arching each other, and they look like they are happy.

"Zheng Daguan, I, Yangzhou salt merchant, should be headed by you, as long as Zheng Daguan speaks in everything, the younger brother will obey."

"I mean, I agree."

"Brother Zheng can't come out, so why don't I come forward?"

Huaiyang salt merchants, with a family of more than one million, are not unusual. However, when it comes to having a strong family background, a strong background, and a smart wrist, I am afraid that the Yangzhou Zheng family can only be recommended.

Not only are there licensed salt merchants, but the whole family also has a large number of talented people, and there are a few people, Zheng Yuangong's third brother is now a Jinshi, and he holds an important position in the Generalissimo's Mansion.

Zheng Yuangong himself was also very happy, but he had something in his heart that was not humane to outsiders, so he still humbled again and again, and only said: "The younger brother is shallow in learning, does not understand world affairs, and is too young, how dare he dare to trust him?" ”

"Okay, okay," an old salt merchant said: "Anyway, I'll act according to orders, and the officials will answer, and if there is anything going on, everyone will come out to discuss with the public, what do you think?" ”

"That's fine." Zheng Yuangong saw that there was no excuse, and he was quite proud at the moment, so he had to say: "In this way, the next kid will be rude." ”

The words are so, but the color on the face can not be eliminated, all the salt merchants are monkey spirits, and it is inconvenient to say anything at this time, so the tea drinkers drink tea, and look at the household decorations, and there are a lot of people running around with their backs, and there are a few uncles, with brass pots, red sandalwood cigarette sticks, and a complete set of Ning silk tobacco bags.

............ "Look, look." Zhang Shenyan is an old man, his ears are not deaf and his eyes are not clear, standing opposite the wing room at this time, but he saw the situation on the opposite side clearly, shook his head and said: "Yan Zhai, let such a group of people come over in tatters, it really makes people not know what to say." ”

This old man has been scratching a lot recently, and there are few methods, Gao Hongtu is also a little tired, and he just smiled at the moment: "Xinlingjun also uses stealing, this group of people is better than chickens and dogs." ”

"That's just as well." Zhang Shenyan nodded, and said: "But let's send it early, the national center, leaving so many people is not a system." ”

Recently, many people have come to Gao Hongtu's house every day to complain, or many protégés have written to them. Although he is a native of Shandong, his roots have been rooted in Jiangnan, and the prince has recently changed a whip law, expropriated in kind, and set up a gold card in Jiangbei to persuade donations.

Now this situation, the bulk trade of goods between the north and the south has been cut off, it is good to say that when the war was raging a while, now the main force of the army has long been unknown where it went, and most of the areas in southern Jinan and Shandong and Henan have been returned to the original local officials, although it is still chaotic, but rice, salt, cloth, silk and other goods are indispensable important items for people's livelihood, even if it is a luxury goods from overseas, there are still many landlords and gentry in the north who still buy them, and now they are some small and medium-sized businessmen, persuading them to donate money, these people are also gritting their teeth and enduring, and they continue to trade. But the gentry and big businessmen with a little strength are all standing still now, just to see Gao Hongtu and others, what do they say to deal with it?

This kind of pressure is actually much greater than that of the thieves or the thieves who invaded the country, or the day of the mutiny.

The officials are all from the same class, and it is temporary to work hard for the emperor, and it is a century-old plan to retreat to the spring, travel the years, or pass on to the descendants.

The Jiangnan family, less than three or four generations, more than five or six generations and more than ten generations, protégés and former officials and relatives and friends, have formed an unbreakable net, such a strength, not to mention a high Hongtu, even if the emperor's relatives are combined, it is far from enough.

Gao Hongtu himself is now a scholar, and his descendants will settle down in Jiangnan in the future, but he still expects to take care of each other, how dare he ignore the requirements of these people?

Even if he is dismissed, the affairs of his descendants are much heavier than the hat of a household secretary.

It's just that the prince went out, Chongzhen was very supportive, and the money and food were allocated, and he had already used the excuse that there was no silver in the treasury, and he went back several times. There is a little silver, but also on the head of the Beijing Camp Patrol Superintendent of the Guards, the emperor is not easy to say, if when the wind is calm, openly oppose the prince's persuasion to donate a penny, I am afraid that as soon as the bullet is on, it will be the time when he returns without a crown.

Zhang Shenyan only knows how to complain, how can he understand his hard work?

At the moment, he just smiled coldly, and finally coaxed this bad old man away, and then changed into a scarlet official uniform again, with black yarn on the top, and a jade belt hanging from his waist, and walked out majestically.

"Under Zheng Yuangong, knock to see your lord."

"Under Li Yikang, knock to see Da Situ!"

"The tall man is in good health, and he is bowing down!"

As soon as Gao Hongtu appeared, the entire East Chamber was like dripping water into an oil pot, and it boiled in the blink of an eye.

This group of salt merchants, although they can have a relationship with the lord and the duke, and in the locality, the state and county officials have to sell a little face, but when they really meet a big official in a scarlet robe and jade belt, their identity as a grass citizen is worthless, and they have millions of dollars, so they still have to bow their heads, and they can't be sloppy at all.

Although Gao Hongtu was full of smiles, but when everyone kowtowed, he also sat down safely, holding the tea sent by the officials in his hand, and waited for everyone to kowtow before smiling: "Born to everyone, you don't have to kneel and talk, please get up!" ”

(To be continued)