The carriage slowly drove into the east gate of Yangzhou and slowly headed in the direction of the government.

Guo Ye probably guessed who robbed the salt tax in Qinghe County, and it was the Qinghe Tiger Cui Clan, one of the eight great families.

As for why the Qinghe Cui clan dared to risk the world's condemnation and the idea of risking the destruction of the family to fight the salt tax, Guo Ye almost guessed the reason.

It should be that Qinghe Cui has received the news of Cui Yizhen's death from a certain channel, and also learned from this channel that Cui Yizhen died in his own hands.

Once he figured it out, Guo Ye couldn't help but scold in annoyance, but he didn't think that this Cui Yizhen had become a variable.

To tell the truth, he didn't mean to put Cui Yizhen to death, but who let him still be in Gujing Lane that day, and he was still a guest at Zhang's house?

Cui Yizhen's death was obviously a fire at the city gate and the pond fish, and he had asked that day, Gujing Lane would not leave a living mouth, and the unlucky Cui Gongzi lived in Zhang's house for a long time at that time, so he had to lie on the ground and was shot innocently.

Now that it's okay, after Qinghe Cui learned of the situation, he began to fight back and began to retaliate.

He knows that the background of the Cui family in Qinghe is definitely not comparable to the Zhang family in Yangzhou, most of the children of the Cui family are in the imperial court or local positions, and they have criss-crossing and immeasurable connections in the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty.

Otherwise, the Qinghe Cui clan would not be the most well-established official family among the eight great families.

It is precisely because the Cui family has this confidence, this connection, and this ability that they dare to make trouble in the Qinghe realm, and forcibly take away the millions of taels of salt taxes silently, so that they do not know the ghosts, and they do not leave a trace of tails and traces.

As long as he can't find any tangible evidence of them, Guo Ye will take them at all.

However, as for Chong Qinghe's Cui family's actions this time, Guo Ye can also clearly feel that Cui Yizhen, who was innocently lying on the ground and was shot, is definitely a relatively respected son of the Cui family's direct line. At least not from a collateral relationship.

Otherwise, Qinghe Cui would not be guilty of taking the risk of raising taxes for the sake of a side disciple, in order to directly give himself a loud ear scraper.

"Lord Thorn?"

Seeing that he was about to arrive at the mansion, Chen Jitao called out quietly, and then asked: "Since this matter was done by the people of the Cui family in Qinghe, why don't you report it directly to the imperial court?" Kidnapping the salt tax, this is a big crime of raiding the family and exterminating the family, let him Qinghe Cui is a famous family, ranking among the eight families, and he does not want to avoid this encounter. ”

"Report to the court?"

Guo Ye subconsciously rejected Chen Jitao's proposal, shook his head and smiled bitterly: "What about the evidence? Catch the thief and take the stolen goods, catch the traitor and take the double, we don't have real evidence, and we say that the Cui family did this thing based on red mouth and white teeth, isn't it a joke? Who believes? And besides......"

Guo Ye glanced at Chen Jitao with a little worry, and said in a low voice: "Before this matter is seen, or before we find conclusive evidence, we really can't go to the imperial court." When the news of the loss of millions of taels of salt tax reached the ears of the emperor, it must have been thunder and anger. At that time, Lao Guan will wait to eat melon branding. Alas, not to mention Lao Guan, I'm afraid that all the officials of our entire Yangzhou Mansion will be implicated. Seeing that the official assessment of the Ministry of Officials is about to start every spring, do you want to leave a black spot in the Ministry of Officials, so it will affect the promotion? ”

Guo Ye did not exaggerate, even if Kong Yingda was in charge of the officials and could turn a blind eye, if this matter provoked the anger of His Majesty Li Er, Kong Yingda and Yu Shinan would not be able to hold it for them.

These words directly hit Chen Jitao's weakness, because Guo Ye had promised him before about taking over from Changsun Yumo and promoting Yangzhou to drive. If you are really affected by this, you may not have this opportunity in the future.

Suddenly, Chen Jitao's face was bitter, and he secretly scolded the Cui family for dog days with mixed tastes in his heart, and even Guan Jiu was counted down in his heart for a while.

In the end, he frowned and asked bitterly, "Lord Thorn Shi, what do you say about this?" You won't wait in Yangzhou and let the Cui family return this salt tax, right? ”

Guo Ye shook his head and said, "Although Cui Yizhen's death was not intentional on our part, but we have already settled with the Liangzi of the Cui clan in Qinghe, so we still expect them to return the salt tax?" ”

"What should I do?"

Chen Jitao said with worry in his eyes: "There is no real evidence to prove that the Cui family robbed us of the salt tax, and we can't expect them to return it." And now that the day is getting closer and closer to the day when the salt tax is escorted to the household department, it is definitely not a matter if it is not paid within the time limit. If you can't pay this huge amount of money at that time, sooner or later it will arouse suspicion. The court and the emperor would always know about the loss of the salt tax. Alas, alas, alas...... What can I do? ”

What Chen Jitao could think of, Guo Ye had already thought of. He pondered for a while, sighed lightly, and said, "What else can happen?" At present, the most urgent thing is to make up the huge amount of salt tax in time and transport it to Chang'an on time to deliver it to the household department, so as not to attract the suspicion of the imperial court. Hehe, otherwise, the eldest grandson Wuji and they will really not be idle, and they will definitely take advantage of this to make things bigger. ”

"Huh? Do you mean that our Yangzhou government will pay for this salt tax out of our own pockets? ”

Chen Jitao's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Lord Thorn Shi, this salt tax is enough for millions of taels!! Do you know how much treasury silver there is in the treasury of our Yangzhou Mansion? If you smash the pot and sell iron, it will not exceed 300,000 taels when you are full. It's just a drop in the bucket, where is enough? How to make up? How to make up? ”

Guo Ye was not as anxious as Chen Jitao at this time, waved his hand, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, what can be solved with silver is not a matter." I know that there is no silver in Yangzhou Mansion, but it does not mean that there is no silver elsewhere. Millions of taels of salt tax, I think I can still temporarily transfer it from other places to deal with emergencies. ”

"Huh??"

In a desperate situation, Chen Jitao almost cried with joy, and asked with an unbelievable expression: "Thorn, stabbing Shi?" Your family is so rich that you are so rich?? This, this is millions of taels of snowflake silver! ”

"Cut, don't fight Lao Tzu's idea!"

Guo Ye glanced at Chen Jitao and snorted: "I said that it was a temporary loan." In this way, when I return to the mansion, I will personally repair a book, and then let Liu Zhenxuan hurry up day and night, and personally go to Chang'an. He only needs to take my letter to Changle Fang to find Miss Yu Nuannuan, in the name of Yangzhou Mansion, coupled with my friendship with Changle Fang Daqian Village, and they temporarily borrow millions of taels of tax silver at high interest, I think it is not difficult. ”

Changle Fang big money bank?

Miss Yu Nuan?

Chen Jitao has naturally heard that one is the largest money bank in Chang'an City, and its branches have been opened all over Chang'an City, and even in many state capitals in the north. One is the woman in charge of Changle Fang's big money village, and the legend says that this woman has an unimaginable amount of liquid cash in her hands, and is known as the richest woman in Chang'an.

Hearing Guo Ye say this, Chen Jitao burst into tears and was moved: "My lord, my lord, you are really omnipotent, your hands and eyes are heavenly!" Served, Xiaguan is really convinced! ”

Guo Ye waved his hand and said with a smile: "You don't wear a high hat for me, this salt tax silver is temporarily borrowed from Yu Nuannuan's big money bank, and it is to calculate interest." And this is borrowed in the name of the Yangzhou government, don't want to buckle it on my head alone. As long as you borrow one more day, the interest will be paid for one more day, not to mention the principal, even the interest can be so much that you can't breathe. Akihito, it's not easy to get the money from the bank, and if you don't pay it after a long time, you will die. ”

Chen Jitao also knew that the money bank relied on low interest rates to absorb depositors' silver, and then lent it out at high interest rates, earning this in and out dividend. The interest of millions of taels of silver is frighteningly much in a day, not to mention the current situation of the Yangzhou Mansion, but I don't know when the silver will be repaid.

Immediately, he said: "My lord, so we still have to find a way to get back the salt tax that the Cui family took away as soon as possible, otherwise if we can't repay this silver, not only will the name of our Yangzhou Mansion be damaged, but even your friendship with Changle Fang Daqian Village and Miss Yu Nuannuan will be damaged." ”

Guo Ye naturally didn't tell Chen Jitao that he also had shares in Changle Fang Daqian Village, but nodded and said, "That's right, I want to get back this silver from the Cui family as soon as possible." But the salt tax has been quietly taken away by them, so how can they pull out their teeth and let them eat and spit out? ”

"yes, tricky, tricky!"

Chen Jitao sighed: "Liangzi is so big, obviously the Cui family wants to put the adult and die to avenge Cui Yizhen, where will this silver be easily returned?" And the wealth is moving, and this is a huge amount of money that makes it difficult not to be greedy and take it for yourself. ”

Guo Ye nodded, agreed with Chen Jitao's statement, and then fell silent.

After a while, until the carriage stopped advancing, I heard the groom shouting outside: "Lord Thorn Shi, Lord Juncheng, you have arrived at the gate of the mansion." ”

When the voice came, Guo Ye woke up, as if he had an idea in his heart, the corners of his mouth floated an arc, and he seemed to smile and said: "Since they refuse to return it, then I will find a way to earn it back from their Cui family, damn, I stole Lao Tzu's things, I have to ask him to spit it out for me with interest." ”

Chen Jitao was overjoyed when he heard this, he was too familiar with the evil smile that appeared at the corner of Guo Ye's mouth, and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Huh?" My lord, do you have a plan to get the salt tax back? ”

Guo Ye raised his hand towards the outside of the car and said in a low voice: "Get out of the car first, and then enter the mansion." ”

Then, he and Chen Jitao got out of the carriage one after another.

The two walked side by side on the steps of the mansion, Guo Ye was just about to enter the gate, and suddenly turned his head and asked Chen Jitao beside him: "That's right, Mingren." On the way just now, I heard you mention that the Cui family sent another person to Yangzhou, and took over the Yangzhou Silver Account and reopened it? ”

Chen Jitao was slightly stunned, stopped, and although he didn't know why Guo Ye asked this, he still replied respectfully: "That's right, the new director of Yangzhou Silver is a generation of Cui Yizhen, and he said that he is from the side of the Cui family of Qinghe. Oh, by the way, the last time he opened his business, he also sent someone to send an invitation to the adult, but unfortunately the adult was far away in Longxi, so the lower officials ignored it. Xia Guan vaguely remembered that this new Cui family disciple was also a 'righteous' child, surnamed Cui, well, the name Jue. That's right, it's called Cui Yijun!! ”