For salt merchants, they will not do anything that may cost them their lives unless it is a last resort. Even if they knew in their hearts that the imperial court needed them to continue to supply salt. But this does not mean that they dare to wrestle with the emperor, who holds the highest power in the empire. What they can do is show the power that makes the imperial court jealous of the consequences of eradicating them.

In the face of this young minister who was not good, Lu Wuwei, who was born in a family of salt merchants in Jiangnan, knew very well that the reason why his family was able to pass it on to this day. Many times, he can see the situation, and would rather break the fortune and eliminate the disaster, and there is a risk that the stall will lead to the extinction of the clan, and a businessman like him does not want to take this risk.

The old saying that the people don't fight with the officials, people like Lu Wuwei never dare to forget. This also means that in any era, the richer people are, the more afraid of death. What's more, this is still a Song Dynasty where the status of a merchant is not very high. The imperial court really wants to find fault with them, not to mention breaking the wealth and eliminating disasters, whether they can continue the family is a problem.

'I don't know that Lord Qincha is coming, and the contemptible people are far away. It's just that what the villain said before didn't mean to deceive Lord Qincha, and this five-flavor teahouse is indeed owned by the villain. As for the chairmanship, it is also a love for colleagues in the business community. Today, Lord Qincha is so enthusiastic and mobilized, presumably there is something wrong with the villain, if Lord Qincha has nothing to do, it is better to rest in the main hall, and let the villain and others listen to the precepts. ’

The posture is very low, and the attitude has become very polite, which is also a very rare scene for the president of the Salt Chamber of Commerce who has seen Liu Guangqian, the governor of Zhizhou and dares to call him a brother. But at this moment, everyone knows whether they can escape the catastrophe in front of them and get out of this teahouse safely, maybe they can only hope for the wrist of this elder.

Looking at Lu Wuwei with a humble attitude, Zhao Xiaoxi, who led the troops to block the place, knew what the other party had in mind, but he still said very calmly: "I want to invite Ben Qincha to tea, I'm afraid I won't have the time to do it today." If you are fine, stand here with Ben Chin and wait for a message. I believe it won't be long before you know that there is one less competitor in your industry. ”

Hearing the murderous aura revealed in this calm tone, Lu Wuwei and the others also began to guess who had hit the muzzle of this Qincha. The words of one less competitor made them, who were also salt merchants, not happy at all, but had a sense of crisis like the death of a rabbit and a fox. After all, at such a time, money is not as good as power and not as good as knives and guns!

When Zhao Xiaoxi led his troops to block the teahouse where the salt merchants gathered, Cao Zhen had already taken the forbidden army and Wu Taibo, who was going with him, to the Cao Gang headquarters near the dock. Looking at the guards standing at the door of the main hall, Cao Zhen directly ordered the forbidden army to take them down, and the guards who dared to resist were all killed.

As a dignified forbidden army of the imperial court, this time with the mission of the minister, he actually made a group of rabble, like ruffians in Cao Zhen's opinion, lose face. Not to mention killing a few forbidden soldiers, but also letting him be the deputy commander of the forbidden army, to carry out this kind of clean-up operation with a knife to kill chickens, there is still some anger and depression in his heart.

Looking at these officers and soldiers who were coming violently, the guards in front of the Cao Gang saw that the officers and soldiers were really moving, and there were not many who dared to resist like those outlaws. After all, they are more engaged in taking care of homes and nursing homes in the Cao Gang, and they do less to kill people and rob goods. Not to mention fighting against these officers and soldiers.

Especially when they saw the officers and soldiers who arrived, they only shouted 'put down their weapons', and the guards who did not drop their weapons with a little hesitation were picked up by these forbidden soldiers with guns. The rest of the guards didn't need to speak at all, they just threw their weapons and squatted down. I was afraid that if I dropped my weapon a little later, I would be like those guards, and I would be pierced into a hornet's nest on the spot.

The officers and soldiers who had no resistance rushed directly into the Cao Gang headquarters without Cao Zhen's orders, and blocked the Cao Gang leader and the elders who had just received the news in the house. For those Cao Gang disciples who still dared to hold weapons, the officers and soldiers of the forbidden army who were already angry because of the casualties of the forbidden army also carried out the iron-blooded order of killing without mercy.

The official army seized the Cao Gang General Hall, and naturally could not escape the sight of the Cao Gang members living nearby, looking at the Cao Gang gang members who were gathering more and more. Wu Taibo, who returned to the command, ordered the city defense army to set up a cordon and strictly prohibit these gangs from making trouble. And with a serious expression, he warned these gangs not to do stupid things like robbing their families and destroying their families.

Some of the Cao Gang, who recognized the old leader, learned that the outlaws in the gang dared to kill the forbidden area like the royal guard, and also wanted to assassinate the minister sent by the imperial court. This kind of thing that is enough to raid the family and exterminate the clan, as long as the people who don't think about their lives will not wade into this kind of troubled water. This also proves that the high-level Cao Gang who live here are not very popular among the gang.

Looking at the gang leader of the Cao Gang who was escorted out by the officers and soldiers, and the gang elders who are usually high-minded, the onlookers all knew it. These high-rise buildings, who usually have unlimited scenery in Hangzhou, really got into trouble this time. The fate that awaits them next, I'm afraid anyone can predict it, but they can only watch the officials and soldiers escort all the people inside.

Cao Zhen, who didn't spend much effort before and after breaking through this Cao Gang main hall, quickly ordered someone to take it to the place where Zhao Xiaoxi was. Let the army wait outside the door, and under the watchful eye of the forbidden army on duty, he saw Zhao Xiaoxi standing in the salt merchant's main hall, and some salt merchants who watched him come in with a somewhat panicked expression.

'My lord, the leader of the Cao Gang and the eight elders of the gang have been arrested by the general. Now I am waiting for the adults to look at the door, and I ask the adults to show what to do with them next. ’

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of Lu Wuwei and the others changed, and they immediately understood that on the surface, the Cao Gang, who was almost on par with them, was directly served by this minister. Now that people are being detained outside, it is enough to prove that the minister in front of him is a person who does things vigorously and resolutely and does not drag his feet.

'Dare to offend the majesty of the imperial court and raise dead soldiers against the forbidden army, do you need to ask for instructions on how to deal with such a person?' If the control is not strict, it will be a disaster for the place, and those who cover and sell illicit salt should be killed. The order was immediately pushed to the Cao Gang leader to be beheaded at the noon gate, and another soldier was sent to raid his home, and all the people of his clan were put in prison to be disposed of.

The remaining eight elders were ordered to confess all their crimes. Those who refuse to confess are to be dealt with in the same crime as the gang leader. A mere ruffian gang dares to provoke the majesty of the imperial court, and if you don't kill the monarch, you don't kill the people. ’

didn't even have the conditions to give the other party a reason, so he directly pushed it to the noon gate and beheaded the public, and also took a ride with the people of his clan. Such an iron-blooded and ruthless way of dealing with it, although Zhao Xiaoxi didn't want to do it, he had to do it. If we don't deter these greedy and arrogant businessmen, maybe many more people will die next.

Cao Zhen, who had to be ordered to leave, quickly disappeared in front of Zhao Xiaoxi to carry out the order given by Zhao Xiaoxi just now. As for these salt merchants, they were also dealt with by Zhao Xiaoxi's iron-blooded manner, and the six gods were frightened.

Even many people looked at Lu Wuwei with some concern, for fear that this Lord Qincha would pull the head of the Salt Chamber of Commerce to behead him outside the noon gate without asking the reason, just like the leader of the Cao Gang. If that's the case, it seems unlikely that they want to leave this teahouse in its entirety today.

Just when Lu Wuwei also began to drum in his heart, but he had to show a humble smile on his face, Zhao Xiaoxi suddenly smiled and said: "President Lu, after standing for so long, Ben Qin is almost a little tired. I heard that the tea in this five-flavor teahouse is good, and ordinary people can't come in and taste it at all, so today, President Lu, can you ask Ben Qincha to taste it? ”

I invited him to drink it before but didn't appreciate it, but he offered to drink tea, and he had a somewhat capricious attitude in the face of Zhao Xiaoxi. Lu Wuwei seemed to have tasted something from it, and quickly smiled humbly: "The adults have been raised, it is the honor of the villain and the teahouse to be able to have the presence of the adults, and the adults are invited to use tea in the main hall." ”

Following Lu Wuwei and strolling into the main hall of this unusually luxuriously decorated teahouse, Zhao Xiaoxi could also feel the smell of copper in it. It seems that it is true that the salt merchants are the rich people, and even this tea set is inlaid with gold and silver, so it is no wonder that these people are keen to win over the officials of the court in addition to making enough money.

Although the other salt merchants were eager to leave here, they obediently followed one by one in the face of Zhao Xiaoxi's eyes. Even Lu Wuwei, who usually serves tea and water by others, is like the second child in the teahouse at the moment, personally pouring tea for Zhao Xiaoxi, that posture is unbelievable, he is the head of the Salt Chamber of Commerce who controls Jiangnan Salt City.

It's just that whether he believes it or not, this scene is playing out in his territory at this moment. In the face of this minister who has a somewhat unpredictable personality, as long as Lu Wuwei doesn't want to follow the old path of the Cao gang leader, he must put down his shelf to win the favor of this Qincha. Presumably, the character of himself and the people of his family is just a little low, and Lu Wuwei, who is proficient in the world, naturally makes it.

Looking at these salt merchants, who are usually high-minded in front of the officials of the two Zhejiang, they are now standing normally like their grandsons. Although they were terrified, they showed a humble smile on their faces, and Zhao Xiaoxi knew it. If it weren't for blocking them here today and completely blocking their chance to escape, I'm afraid it would be impossible to make them show this kind of posture.

In any case, in addition to eradicating these corrupt officials and corrupt officials, Zhao Xiaoxi feels that the most important thing in dealing with the Jiangnan corruption case is to eradicate these corrupt officials. It is necessary to eradicate the soil that breeds corruption at the root. And this piece of soil is the salt market run by these salt merchants in front of you.

If this fundamental problem is not solved and Liu Guangqian, a big corrupt official, is killed, the next Liu Guangqian is afraid that it will not be far off. If you want to put an end to the corruption of Jiangnan officialdom, you must redefine the restraint and supervision of salt merchants, which is the real reason why Zhao Xiaoxi kept these people for the time being!