Jiying Lane, Sheng Family!

In Shou'an Hall, Sheng Hong sat on the first chair on the east side with a worried face, and the old lady Sheng who sat at the top looked surprised, and confirmed to Hua Lan in disbelief: "King Huan was really assassinated in Yangzhou?" ”

Hua Lan said: "I heard that the report sent back by the eight hundred miles of urgency last night was jointly played by the sixth brother-in-law and Yangzhou Zhizhou and Tongju, saying that it happened on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, and now this news is about to spread throughout Bianjing, and there will be no fake." ”

Mrs. Sheng said with a solemn face: "King Huan is the eldest son of the official family, although he has not been canonized, but it is a matter of time before he is crowned prince, but now he has died in Yangzhou, this day, I am afraid that it will change!" ”

Sheng Hong was also shocked: "Why are those salt merchants so bold that even King Huan dares to assassinate them, aren't they afraid of the anger of the officials and send troops to exterminate them?" ”

Early in the morning, Hua Lan hurriedly came to the door, and came directly to Shou'an Hall, not to mention, and asked people to call him and Wang Ruofu to Shou'an Hall, saying that there was something important to discuss with them, but Sheng Hong didn't expect that it would be such an important matter.

Wang Ruofu next to him was already stunned when he heard the news, his mind was blank, and he didn't know what to say at all.

Hua Lan next to him said: "What is there that group of salt merchants dare not do, has my father forgotten that when we were in Yangzhou, didn't Gu Erlang also be assassinated and almost killed!" ”

At the beginning, Gu Er's matter made a big fuss in Yangzhou, that is, he knew that it was very likely that the Bai family did it, but unfortunately there was no evidence, even Gu Er had no choice but to let them go unpunished.

Hua Lan's voice suddenly changed, and she expressed the worry in her heart: "Now that something like this has happened, I'm afraid that the sixth brother-in-law will be implicated!" ”

Although Hua Lan got married early, but several sisters in the family, except for Mo Lan's, she has the best relationship with Minglan , as the so-called husband and wife are one, Wang is important is something happened, Minglan will definitely not be happy, Hua Lan hurriedly ran back to discuss with her parents and the old lady.

"I guess it's time for the sixth sister to receive the news at this time!"

Old Mrs. Sheng's expression froze when she heard this, how could she not know what Hua Lan said, but what could she do, not to mention that Yangzhou is thousands of miles away from Bianjing, even if they are in Yangzhou at this time, they can't help much.

"Alas!" Old Lady Sheng sighed and said, "The matter has come to this point, and we can only resign ourselves to fate!" ”

Sheng Hong instantly understood what Mrs. Sheng meant, and sighed helplessly, and said with emotion: "Good and dignified, how can you encounter such a thing!" ”

"With Zihou's ability, as long as he follows the steps, he may not have the opportunity to worship the prime minister in the future, but now······· Ay! ”

Thinking of this, Sheng Hong's expression couldn't help but reveal a little gloom, and all the regrets and helplessness turned into a sigh.

was originally a good son-in-law who had both ability and political integrity, was wise, and knew how to survive in officialdom, but he never thought that he would suddenly encounter such a thing, what is it.

"Hua'er, how is the palace now?" Old Lady Sheng hurriedly asked.

Hua Lan hurriedly said: "I heard that the official family and the queen were overly grieved after hearing the news last night, and fainted in a hurry, the imperial doctor has seen it, although it is not a big problem, but it needs to be meditated and cultivated, Han Daxianggong and Gao Shangshu were summoned into the palace by the queen mother last night. ”

Now that it is the end of the year, all yamen have taken holidays, and the news is naturally not as fast as in the past.

"Mother, shall we do something?" Sheng Hong asked after thinking for a moment.

Old Madam Sheng shook her head and said, "At this time, it is better to be still than to be still, the Queen Mother and Prime Minister Han are both sensible people. ”

In fact, Sheng Hong and the old lady both knew in their hearts that in this situation, even if they wanted to help Wang Zhong do something, they couldn't do anything, but Sheng Hong's heart was still a little unwilling.

Although Wang Ruofu hated Wang Chongfei in his heart for forcing the Kang family to send his sister to the nunnery, but now that such a big thing has happened, it will be troublesome if he accidentally implicates his own family.

Wang Ruofu's mother, the old lady of the Wang family, returned to Tokyo with her grandson and granddaughter-in-law in advance, and the granddaughter-in-law of Mrs. Wang was none other than Kang Yuan'er, the daughter of King Kang.

"That's fine!" Sheng Hong nodded: "It's better than waiting at home." ”

"Then I'll go now!" Wang Ruofu immediately got up and hurried out of Shou'an Hall.

Mrs. Sheng said: "Now that something like this has happened, I don't know what happened to Ming'er, I really can't rest assured." ”

"Grandmother, why don't you go to the sixth sister's house with your granddaughter and take a look at the two nephews?" Hua Lan took the initiative to ask.

"That's fine!" Old Lady Sheng nodded.

Sheng Hong said: "My son also goes out to walk around and find out the news?" ”

The family discussed and immediately went their separate ways.

In the afternoon of the same day, Wang Zhong was ordered by the Empress Dowager Cao to temporarily lead the two Huai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang Jingluo pacification envoys, and the governor to inspect the salt affairs and thoroughly investigate the assassination of King Huan, and the news spread throughout Tokyo, and after the news of the assassination of King Huan, it caused an uproar again.

In the county lord's mansion, Hua Lan breathed a sigh of relief, but Minglan's brows furrowed deeper, and the sadness on Old Lady Sheng's face never receded.

Looking at the reaction of grandmother and Minglan , Hua Lan instantly figured out all kinds of joints, that group of salt merchants were so bold that even King Huan dared to assassinate them, let alone Wang Chong?

It is good to become a supervisor, but with the opportunity to make meritorious contributions, the corresponding risk is also high, if one is not careful, he will lose his life.

"Sixth sister, don't worry too much, with the ability of the sixth brother-in-law, it may not be a bad thing!" Hua Lan could only comfort Minglan like this.

Old Lady Sheng took Minglan by the hand and comforted: "What Hua'er said makes sense, now Zihou has received two Huai." Jiangsu and Zhejiang have appeased the envoys, he has military power in his hands, and Zihou has always been meticulous and thoughtful, and he has the experience of King Huan, he will definitely not give those salt merchants a chance to assassinate him again. ”

Minglan barely squeezed out a smile, "It's come to this point, it's useless for me to worry, the official has always acted carefully, I believe he will definitely come back safe and sound." ”

In fact, long before Wang Zhong followed King Huan south, Minglan was prepared in her heart, but Minglan didn't expect that King Huan would be assassinated and killed.

Mrs. Sheng sighed with emotion: "We women are like this, men are fighting hard outside, what we can do is to guard the acre and three points of land at home for them, raise their children, and let them have no worries." ”

The old lady is a person who has experienced the pain of losing her son and husband, and she has been widowed so far, and she has eaten more salt than the sisters Hua Lan and Minglan have eaten.

······

Yangzhou, the state government, and Zhizhou Yang Naixing sat in the back hall, and the sorrow between his eyebrows never dissipated.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man wearing a fast-catching costume walked into the hall quickly, Yang Naixing's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked without waiting for anyone to speak, "How is it?" ”

"Qi Yu Ming Gong, as the deputy envoy expected, those remnants really sent people to intercept the prisoners, and the deputy envoy led the ambush soldiers to kill them, and served all those assassins in one pot!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

Yang Naixing excitedly shouted three times in a row, now that things have developed to this point, what they can do is to make as many meritorious deeds as possible, so that the officials can look at this point and not be too angry with them.

Although I know that the possibility is very small, it is the only thing that Yang Naixing and other officials in Yangzhou can do now.

"Where is the Deputy Envoy now?" Yang Naixing asked excitedly.

"I'm rushing to the yamen with people, and it should be there in a while!"

Sure enough, it didn't take long for Wang Chong to return to the yamen, and Yang Naixing hurriedly greeted him.

"The deputy envoy is clever, the thief really came to intercept the prisoner!" Yang Naixing patted Wang Chong's ass without hesitation.

Wang Chongdao: "These thieves are just pawns who obey orders, the real murderer has not been caught yet, Yang Zhizhou should not be happy too early, we still have more things to do!" ”

"What the deputy envoy said is extremely true!" Yang Naixing said: "Then let's ······ next"

Wang Chong said coldly: "The imperial court has its own laws, so naturally what to do, just do it!" ”

The interrogation went very smoothly, but in just a few days, there was a result, the people behind the scenes were the remnants of the eight salt merchants who had been raided, and they were also the ones who intercepted the prisoners, but unfortunately although they knew the real culprits behind the scenes, the remnants of the group had long since fled to where they had escaped.

In the blink of an eye, in the second half of January, the holy decree from Bianjing was sent to Yangzhou by the fast horse whip, Wang Chong turned into a chief official who went south to patrol the salt, and also received the power of soldiers and horses of the two Huai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang four roads, and was given the right to act cheaply.

Wang Chong could only transfer troops first, screen the salt merchants in Lianghuai again, and put all the officials involved in the salt case to prison.

At the end of the first month, King Huan's coffin was sent back to Bianjing, and Zhao Zongquan, who saw Zhao Ceying's body, was grief-stricken, and Empress Shen fainted on the spot.

On the eighth day of the second month, Uncle Shen Congxing led 500 light horsemen to hurry up and finally arrived in Yangzhou.

Wang Chong personally went out of the city to greet him, Shen Congxing's attitude was not very good, and he had a cold face the whole time, but Wang Chong could also understand, after all, his nephew had just died, but he was safe and sound, and he didn't even lose a hair, even if he had some relationship because of Gu Er, Shen Congxing couldn't give a good face.

Xiao Duan has been awake for many days, but his injuries are too serious, and he is still recuperating, and the first thing Shen Congxing did when he arrived in Yangzhou was to see Xiao Duan.

After asking a few words about the injury, Shen Congxing asked directly to the point: "You tell me in detail about the situation that night!" ”

Xiao Duan nodded and said: "That night, because the case went very smoothly, the prince was in a good mood, and it happened to be Chinese New Year's Eve again, so I ordered the back kitchen to kill pigs and sheep, and prepare a good reward for the brothers······"

"Zhao Shichang and I followed the prince to the street, but I didn't want the assassin to be ambushed, Zhao Shichang was killed by random arrows in order to protect the prince, and even the prince was ·····"

After listening to a short description with a smile, Shen Congxing's fists were clenched tightly, he gritted his teeth, and his face was vaguely a little hideous.

"What about the county lord of Yong'an? What about Wang Chong? Where are they? Why is it okay? Shen Congxing asked.

Xiao Duan didn't think much about it, and said: "On the twenty-sixth day of the lunar month, we followed the prince to Taizhou Salt Field to investigate, and on the way back, he was assassinated, and the lord of Yong'an was hit by an arrow in his shoulder in order to protect the prince, and the injury was not light, and he couldn't do anything with anyone in a short time.

On the night of the twenty-ninth day of the lunar month, just in time for the New Year, the prince asked everyone to rest for a few days, and Wang Chong went back to Baishui Village, saying that he was looking at the county lord of Yong'an, and worshipping his ancestors by the way. ”

Shen Congxing nodded, not doubting Xiao Duan's words, and instead said: "According to what you say, there were three hundred assassins that night, and they clearly knew the location of the prince!" Therefore they set up an ambush early and set fire everywhere to force you out of the house. ”

"Strike at the east and west, divert the tiger from the mountain, disperse the guards around the prince, set fire everywhere to cause riots, and then take the opportunity to take the opportunity to drive you into the pockets they have long had!"

Shen Congxing's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said in a cold voice: "This group of assassins is by no means simple! ”

After Shen Congxing arrived, the investigation of the murder of King Huan completely fell on Shen Congxing's head, and Wang Chong only needed to concentrate on the case of salt affairs.

In late February, Wang Chong led the crowd across the Yangtze River, entered Jiangnan, took over the Jiangnan Salt Capital Transit Mission, and launched a thorough investigation again, this time much faster than in Lianghuai, but in a month's effort, twelve salt merchants were imprisoned, and their property was confiscated.

Wang Chong's methods are more powerful than those of King Huan, but anyone involved in the salt case, unless they heard the news early and ran away, none of the rest were spared, even those who ran away, and Wang Chong sent people to track them all the way.

Until mid-April, a total of 26 large and small salt merchants in Lianghuai, Jiangnan, and Fujian roads were confiscated, and as many as 34 were arrested and imprisoned for being involved in the case; as many as 100 people were locked up and imprisoned in Lianghuai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Yan, as well as officials from various prefectures and counties, and hundreds of officials involved in the case, and more than 20 local wealthy families were implicated.

Wang Chong's oil and salt are not entered, the iron face is selfless, I don't know how many people have been offended, and even people have given Wang Chong the nickname of a judge, saying that Wang Chong is just like the judge in the underworld, the iron face is selfless.

However, Wang Chong's selflessness has won praise among the people, especially those salt workers, who applaud Wang Chong's iron-faced selflessness the most.

The officials above were in collusion with the salt merchants, and the officials accepted bribes, exploited them wantonly, and exploited them from top to bottom, and in the end it was not their group of salt workers who suffered hardship, doing the hardest and most tiring work day and night, but the wages they got were only enough for the family to maintain food and clothing.

Although Wang Chong's iron-faced selflessness and ruthlessness offended many people, he also won the hearts of many people.

Officialdom has always been a radish and a pit, and every year there are many jinshi and people waiting to fill the vacancy, and the original radish is pulled out, and the pit is naturally vacant.

More than 100 officials were arrested and imprisoned, and such positions were vacated all of a sudden, although they were only temporary errands, but as long as they did a good job, it was not impossible to take those pit positions for themselves.

Naturally, these people will spare no effort to support Wang Chong, and help their relatives and friends to those vacant positions with integrity.

Since it is to patrol the salt, Wang Chong's work is not only as simple as arresting people, but also to maintain the normal operation of the salt transfer department in various places, and the normal operation of each salt field to ensure the normal supply of salt in various places.

Wang Chongcai took 2,000 soldiers and horses, escorted all the officials, salt merchants and assassins involved in the case, and took all the confiscated gold, silver, jewelry, jade and agate, coral and jade treasures, and sailed north from Jinling to Bianjing.

(End of chapter)