Zhao Xiaoxi, who had only stayed in Mingzhou for one night, left Mingzhou with the navy the next day and reappeared on the canal pier in Hangzhou. For those pirates who were escorted into the city, they also became the heroes of the navy soldiers who were looked down upon by the people of the city and the city defense army, and they became the heroes of countless merchants who were plagued by this pirate.

Only the salt merchants who gathered in another place for a meeting again looked very helpless and panicked. The news that the Zhu family had been beheaded and that all the family businesses had been sold to other merchants at a low price had already been conveyed to these well-informed salt merchants before Zhao Xiaoxi returned. This situation, which they feared the most, eventually happened.

I have always felt that no matter what, there will be a big chaos in Mingzhou this time, and I can't imagine it anyway. Zhao Xiaoxi, the prince of the Qin Mission, personally led the troops to eliminate the Zhu family's biggest support overnight, and tried the Zhu family's several major crimes in front of the people of the city, and beheaded more than 100 people in the Zhu family without any consideration.

This kind of clean and neat disposal method, as well as this ruthless ruthlessness, finally made these salt merchants who were lucky. completely dispelled the luck in his heart, and began to worry about what this prince would do with them next. Even if they have decided to do what Zhao Xiaoxi said before, they are also worried about whether the affairs of the Zhu family will make this prince change his mind.

Lu Wuwei, who felt that the matter could not be delayed any longer, said ruthlessly: "Everyone, for the sake of long nights and dreams, we will immediately send the prepared fine money to the yamen. In addition, all the accounts of the Chamber of Commerce and the court officials were handed over. If not, I'm worried that this killing god will really cut us down. At that point, what is the use of more money? ”

Seeing that the president said this, the rest of the junior salt merchants, although they felt the pain in their flesh, also knew it. As long as they keep this job, they don't have to worry about not earning their money back. Even if it won't be as easy as it used to be to make money in the future, it's better than being like the Zhu family, who was directly killed by the Qin messenger who said to kill him!

So not long after Zhao Xiaoxi returned to the Zhizhou Mansion, many people in Hangzhou saw that the salt merchants who were arrogant and domineering in Hangzhou in the past actually escorted a cart of silver to the Yamen. Looking at the expressions of those salt merchants, it seems that they are as ugly as someone who has died in the family, and they can no longer see the arrogance of the past.

Hearing the report of the forbidden army at the door, the people of the Salt Merchants Association asked to see him, and Zhao Xiaoxi knew that these salt merchants were still scared in the end. It's just that Zhao Xiaoxi knows that these salt merchants have to bow to him just out of reality. As soon as he leaves, these salt merchants are afraid that they will do something similar again. But no matter what, Zhao Xiaoxi still has follow-up means to slowly eliminate the influence of these salt merchants.

After asking these salt merchants who seemed to be extremely humble to be invited into the yamen, Zhao Xiaoxi asked them to be put in the yamen lobby to dry for most of the day, and finally appeared in front of these salt merchants. According to the amount of private salt they provided, Cao Guan of the silver treasury was instructed to count the fines, and the final result was that these salt merchants had indeed paid the fines truthfully.

As for the evidence of collusion with officials, Lu Wuwei personally handed it over to Zhao Xiaoxi. I took the documents exchanged by these officials, and the top of them was the bribery records of several court officials in the imperial court, as well as their letters. This evidence will make them understand once and for all how serious the consequences of receiving these salt merchants' salaries are.

Instructed Huyanbao to put away the evidence, and looked at the apprehensive salt merchants, Zhao Xiaoxi said slowly: "As the saying goes, 'Knowing mistakes can be changed, and being good is great', this incident Ben Qincha also saw the attitude of everyone to admit mistakes. The Benchin mission will report the situation as the Holy Lord, and pray for forgiveness on behalf of the Holy Lord.

It's just that you should know that Jiangnan taxes are related to the rise and fall of the imperial court, because the Jiangnan taxes have decreased in recent years, and the imperial court is often unable to get in and out. This barbarian in the north is ready to move again, this war costs money, this builds weapons costs money, this will cost money for soldiers' salaries, and this military horse supply also needs to cost money.

Although it is good for everyone to admit their mistakes at the moment, Ben Qincha feels that if everyone can share some of your sorrows for you. I believe that the saint is happy, and it is possible that he will not hold everyone accountable. After all, the salt that everyone has sold privately over the years has been much more than Ben Chin imagined. If this matter is not nodded by the saint, Ben Qin is afraid that it will not be easy to intercede for you! ”

A series of words that also cost money, and that also cost money, made Lu Wuwei very clear. The Qin cha in front of him thought that he was not satisfied with these fines, and changed his way to dig up their family wealth. It's just that they didn't say that they should donate money, but they just said that they could help say good things in front of the saint by paying more money. Whether this is handed over or not, everything depends on their own will.

But in the face of this kind of disguised extortion, with the example of the Zhu family in front, how dare they easily say that they have no money?

Soon Lu Wuwei took the initiative to take the lead and said: "What Lord Qincha said is reasonable, my Lu family has been favored by the emperor over the years, has been engaged in salt trading, and has also accumulated some family wealth. This time, it was Lu who was confused for a while and committed such a big sin. Lu is willing to take out the silver deposit in his family, a total of one million taels of silver, to repay the court's kindness to my Lu family. Please also ask Lord Qincha to say a few more kind words for the villain. ”

This donation of one million taels of silver is almost half of the Lu family's storage property. But in order to ensure the Lu family's family business, Lu Wuwei could only heed again ruthlessly, hoping to get the approval of this Lord Qincha and escape from this crisis. For him, it is better to live than anything else.

Faced with Lu Wuwei taking out one million taels so magnificently, Zhao Xiaoxi seemed to be very happy and said: "Well, it seems that President Lu still has a loyal and patriotic heart." This time, President Lu's contribution was truthfully conveyed to the Holy Majesty. I believe that the Holy Lord, seeing that President Lu is so loyal and patriotic, will forgive you for the mistakes you made this time. ”

Lu Wuwei, who was relieved when he heard this, naturally thanked him again. With the example of this chief's hemorrhage, the rest of the salt merchants, although they felt that this Qincha was too greedy, could only bite the bullet and take out most of the family wealth in turn.

In order to serve as a gift of silver to the imperial court, Zhao Xiaoxi finally asked Cao Guan of the silver treasury to register them, and waited for the new prefect to take office in the future. On behalf of the imperial court, they will be rewarded accordingly for this donation.

Seeing that it took most of his savings to satisfy the appetite of this Lord Qincha, the salt merchant felt that he had lost a lot this time, but he could only consider himself unlucky. Who told this Qincha to hold their seven inches, and feel uncomfortable at any time, and then he can kill them!

After these salt merchants left, they felt that they should immediately send someone to hand over the evidence to the Holy Lord Zhao Xiaoxi in person. Soon let Huyan Leopard, who served as the commander of the forbidden army, enter Beijing on his behalf to report the situation. And these evidence, as well as the fines and donations paid by the salt merchants, and millions of taels of silver were quickly escorted into Beijing by water.

Knowing that this is an opportunity for Zhao Xiaoxi to give him an opportunity to ask for merit and reward in front of that master, Huyan Leopard will naturally not miss this opportunity. Soon he took a few teams of forbidden troops, as well as a navy army that had just received a reward and was happy to rest for a day. Then the boat left Hangzhou and drove to Bianliang City overnight.

After Zhao Xiaoxi made this arrangement, he took advantage of the fact that the successor officials sent by the imperial court did not arrive, and passed the power of the Qincha. began to secretly fill some eyeliner and subordinates loyal to him into the officialdom and city defense army in Jiangnan. Most of these personnel transfers are mixed with a large number of official adjustments, and they do not seem to be so noticeable.

Until Huyan Leopard, who sailed in the sea and canals for a day and a night, when the hundred officials began to go to court in the early morning, he also brought Zhao Xiaoxi's recitals and the big box of account books and letters to and fro. Through the imperial gold medal given to him by Zhao Xiaoxi, he stepped into this imperial city again, and was soon received by Emperor Zhao Xu in front of the palace.

Zhao Xu, who was also anxiously waiting for news from Jiangnan, knew that the matter must have come to an end when he heard the eunuch tell him that Hu Yanbao, the commander of the Yingtian Forbidden Army, who was responsible for cooperating with the mission, had brought Zhao Xiaoxi's secret performance. And Zhao Xiaoxi can let Huyan Leopard enter Beijing, which shows that the situation in Jiangnan should be stable, and the things sent are not simple.

Some court officials who also received the news felt that something was wrong when they heard the eunuch shouting that the generals of the forbidden army who were originally not in the capital division went to the palace to see him. And when they saw Huyan Leopard, who was still wearing a military uniform, many officials who didn't know why felt it. This Huyan leopard was too bold, and dared to leave his post and run to the palace without the emperor's approval.

When Huyan Leopard saluted and handed over the fold written by Zhao Xiaoxi, Zhao Xu walked directly off the dragon chair and eagerly took the fold over and quickly checked it. When he learned about the Jiangnan tax matter, he did it so neatly, and by the way, he extorted millions of ransom money for him, the emperor who had been stretched thin recently, Zhao Xu sighed that this cousin was really reliable.

laughed and said: "General Huyan is fortunate, this matter is done well, I will be rewarded!" ”

Seeing that this master was so happy, the court officials naturally became more and more curious about who wrote this recital. But at this moment, Zhao Xu had already taken the fold and handed it to the Empress Dowager Gao, who was also with him and listened to the government but rarely spoke.

After seeing the twists and turns, the Empress Dowager Gao quickly said: "Since the matter is decided, the official family can just let it go." Kill what should be killed, punish what should be punished, and reward what should be rewarded, let those who don't know the severity know that the laws of the court can be trampled on at will. ”

The grandfather and grandson have long discussed this matter, as long as Jiangnan is not chaotic, the courtiers and officials involved in this matter will be severely punished. As for those salt merchants, with Zhao Xiaoxi's plan to draw wages from the bottom of the kettle, their good days will not last as long as a rabbit's tail. This Jiangnan tax case, Zhao Xiaoxi, the martial arts prince, can be said to have handled it neatly, even if he killed a lot of people, it didn't hurt!

Seeing the Empress Dowager, who had always rarely spoken, and seeing that Song Zhi also said such murderous words, the courtiers standing below also felt a little chilly. I don't know who is going to be unlucky again, and bumped into the muzzle of this pair of ancestors and grandchildren with supreme power!