On the surface, the salt merchants were honest according to the sales plan of the last year, but in fact the dispute was stabbed to the Beijing Division, and many local officials said that the root cause of the shortage of salt on the market was attributed to Hongqing's salt rectification, and there were extraordinary complaints and distrust in the inside, and there were many disputes between the DPRK and the Chinese government, and there were not a few courtiers who went to this chapter for this reason. For a time, Hongqing became the center of discussion between the government and the opposition, and the tendency of public opinion was obviously extremely unfavorable to Hongqing.

Worried? Not at all! Although Hongqing is in Yangzhou, he has such an eye as the "sharp knife" staring, coupled with the strength of the old fifteen brothers, Hongqing knows all the things in Beijing, but he doesn't care at all, neither on the self-defense, nor does he plan to let the third master or the old fifteen brothers move, not for anything else, just because before leaving Beijing, Hongqing has already had a tacit understanding with the old man, within a year, no matter how Hongqing tosses, the old man will not come forward to interfere, of course, if you can't get a decent result in a year, what are the consequences? I'm afraid it's not so easy to bear, but it's only been two months now, and it's still a long time, enough for Hongqing to plan it.

The old man really didn't disappoint Hongqing, once all the chapters related to salt affairs arrived in the inner court, they were all like stones sinking into the sea, and there was no echo without even a sound, and the ministers didn't know why, and the guess couldn't help but be a little thicker, until one day Li Guangdi pretended to inadvertently mention the shortage of salt supply in the two lakes and other places, and faintly had the intention of participating in Hongqing's book, but he had just started, and he was immediately reprimanded unceremoniously by the old man, so that he could concentrate on doing a good job in the criminal department. Less attention to what shouldn't be taken care of.

As soon as the old man's instructions came out, the government and the opposition were immediately stunned, not for anything else, just because Li Guangdi is a scholar today, and the criminal department is just his part-time job, and there is nothing he can't play in the world. In an instant, it dissolved into a sound.

Time flies, in a blink of an eye, it is the third day of the first month of September, since the fight came to Yangzhou has been more than April, Hongqing seems to have forgotten that the main task of this mission is the rectification of salt affairs, and almost all of his thoughts are on the local governance of Yangzhou, what is urging food, and the case is busy endlessly, as for the salt affairs, unless He Mingfu sent an official document, otherwise, Hongqing ignores everything, of course, there is one thing Hongqing has never relaxed, that is, the rectification of the salt patrol camp, but Hongqing himself rarely comes forward, Ji Huaijin is in charge, but, but whenever Ji Huaijin puts forward the request, whether it is a person or a thing, Hongqing has always been responsive and easy to talk to, and Ji Huaijin did not disappoint Hongqing, after more than four months of rectification, the original loose salt patrol camp in various parts of Lianghuai has a new look, although it is not qualified to go out to fight, it can be used to inspect the illegal salt has been quite effective, and nearly ten cases of smuggling of salt have been seized in August alone, although the amount involved is not large, but for the lawbreakers, the salt patrol camp has some deterrent power, but it is difficult to say how great this deterrent power is.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, but the shortage of salt supply since the early summer has not only not been alleviated, but it has become more scarce, even if the two Huai salt merchants ship the salt from the salt field to the provinces, but still can not ease this tense situation, so that the salt shops in various places have ignored the express regulations of the imperial court, and quietly floated the price of salt up by nearly 30%, and the people in the provinces complained that even the sky was under the sky, which also made the profit margin of salt transportation much more than in previous years, which further stimulated the nerves of the salt merchants. However, it is difficult to increase the salt introduction on the formal channels, and in the face of huge profits, the minds of the large and small salt merchants inevitably begin to live, even if there is a threat of salt patrols, but in the face of huge profits, the salt merchants are already uncontrollable and ready to move, no, today Hongqing has just finished the government affairs of Yangzhou Mansion, and is about to go to the back office for a while, when he heard Li Minxing report - Ji Huaijin has something urgent.

"Wait for all of them to stand down!"

Ji Huaijin arrived quickly, Hongqing had just sat down, and he had already been accompanied by Li Minxing to the study, but after seeing the ceremony, he didn't say anything for a while.

"Lord Qiqi Qincha, his subordinates have received a secret report that Chen Biao has shipped 40,000 catties of illicit salt and plans to smuggle it to Jiangxi tomorrow night, the matter is very important, and the lower officials dare not make a decision, so I have come to ask Lord Qincha to make it clear."

After everyone retreated, Ji Huaijin's originally tense face instantly showed a hint of excitement, stepped forward, and said in a low voice.

"Chen Biao? Is this message reliable? ”

Hongqing's memory is amazing, Ji Huaijin only mentioned this name, Hongqing immediately remembered the appearance and origin of this person, and knew that this person was a capable general under Liu Ba Nu, on the surface, it seemed to be an independent salt merchant, but in fact it was just a lackey under Liu Ba Nu, this person was planning to traffic illicit salt, and it was obvious that he was doing it at the behest of Liu Ba Nu, as soon as he thought of this, Hongqing's eyes suddenly became bright.

"Back to Lord Qincha's words, this matter is reported by Fang Wansheng, the general manager of the salt patrol camp in Anton (now Lianshui County), according to what he said, Chen Biao paid a thousand taels of silver to buy, Fang Wansheng has accepted the silver in order to confuse Chen Biao, however, he notified the lower officials early in the morning, intending to lead the snake out of the hole, the matter is big, the lower officials dare not make a rash decision, and I have come to ask Lord Qincha to make a clear decision."

As soon as he heard Hongqing ask such a question, Ji Huaijin didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly recounted the incident in detail.

"Oh?"

What Ji Huaijin said is in line with common sense, at least on the surface, there are no flaws, but Hongqing doesn't think that things will be so simple, there is no other, although he has not had much contact with Liu Ba Nu, but Hongqing knows that this person is a scheming person, and he should not be a blind person, like this kind of selling illegal salt, this person has done it many times, if it is really his single-handed, how can he reveal such a big flaw, if there is no strange here, it is really strange.

"Lord Qincha Mingjian, the lower officials have verified that Chen Biao's salt quota for this quarter has long been exhausted, and the salt introduction for the next quarter has not yet been sold, so there is no doubt that the salt transported at this time should be private salt!"

Seeing that Hongqing didn't come to a conclusion for a long time, Ji Huaijin was a little uncontrollable, not for anything else, since he took over the salt patrol camp, although he cracked several entrainment cases one after another last month, it can be calculated, and the amount involved in the case is only less than three thousand taels of silver, which is really not much of a sense of accomplishment, not only that, but also became the object of cynicism and ridicule of his colleagues, which is quite annoyed by Ji Huaijin, who is eager for meritorious service, in order to seek a great merit, in order to show his ability, This time, he was holding back enough energy to make a turnaround, and he didn't want this matter to blow up like this, so he said a word from the side.

"Well, Lord Ji is not in a hurry, Ben Belle has a few ideas, and he has to discuss a thing or two with Lord Ji, so let's say it, is it possible for Chen Biao to play a trick of temptation, if he has the ticket of Liu Ba Nu in his hand, but deliberately pretends to be selling smuggled salt, in order to lure us to make a move, once it is wantonly launched, but to no avail, those salt dogs will have a reason to make trouble again, really at that time, the seriousness of the consequences should be something that can be imagined, this must be prevented."

If you talk about meritorious service, Hongqing will only be above Ji Huaijin, not under it, not anything else, it has been almost half a year now, although the old man still has not been urged, but there is no movement is obviously not a thing, it is hard to imagine that once the old man's patience is worn out, there will be such severe consequences, just this one, Hongqing wants to take down Liu Ba Nu more than anyone else, just want to think about it, but can not act recklessly, in this regard, Hongqing still has enough vigilance.

"This ......"

was said by Hongqing, Ji Huaijin couldn't help but hesitate, after all, if it was really a large-scale seizure, but there was an oolong, how could those salt merchants take a break, this kind of situation is not what Ji Huaijin is happy to see, but if he sits idly by, Ji Huaijin is very unwilling, and he is in a dilemma, and he really doesn't know what to say for a while.

"Is that Fang Wansheng reliable?"

Hongqing didn't explain more, but instead asked about Fang Wansheng's loyalty.

"Back to Lord Qincha's words, President Fang Qian was originally the general manager of the lower official when he was serving as the Yandao Daotai in Henan, and in June, it was the lower official who personally transferred him to Anton, and his person has always acted cautiously and checked, and he should not be corrupt."

As soon as he heard Hongqing ask about Fang Wansheng, Ji Huaijin didn't dare to be careless, hurriedly gathered his chaotic thoughts, and hurriedly played a ticket for Fang Wansheng's loyalty.

"That's good, this time it's just 40,000 catties of salt, in terms of the two lakes and Shanxi, northern Shaanxi and many other territories that Liu Ba Nu embraced, it's just a drop in the bucket, whether it's true or not, and let him pass the customs, it's not a big deal, if he really wants to sell smuggled salt, it will definitely not be just this once, and the amount is more than that, Lord Ji can secretly order Fang Qian to be a total of false and wrongful snakes, and everything has its own Ben Baylor to bear, and when Liu Ba Nu has a big action, then report to Ben Baylor, and it's decided."

Hongqing glanced at Ji Huaijin seriously, and saw that his expression was calm, obviously not like he was lying, and he already had the bottom in his heart, so he made a decision with a deep groan.

"Catch the big and let go of the small? Well, Xia Guan knows what to do. ”

Ji Huaijin is a clever person, and he understood Hongqing's calculation as soon as he heard it, and his spirit immediately lifted, and he hurriedly accepted it.