"Sell the official salt of the imperial court as private salt!"

"Not only that, but he also hoarded Juqi and deliberately raised the price, and it is said that when the price of salt was the highest, it rose to 20 yuan a catty!"

The official asked you, is there such a thing? ”

Hu Zongxian said, then turned his gaze to the three of them, and said slowly.

"Report ...... Report to my lord, there is such a thing, but we also have a ...... suffering."

Liang Hong, one of the three, stood up and just wanted to explain, but was interrupted impatiently by Hu Zongxian.

"Shut up the official! Do you have a part in speaking? ”

"Collusion to bribe officials, murder of loyal people, hoarding, fish and flesh of the common people, official salt smugglers, illegal possession of armor and weapons, every crime on this is a capital offense!"

"Now, answer this officer, who is behind you?"

Hu Zongxian's whole person's momentum suddenly exploded, his eyes stared at these three people, and he said word by word.

"My lord, we don't have anyone behind us, we did it all ourselves!"

Seeing this, the three of them gritted their teeth and said in unison.

They know very well in their hearts that they must not confess the people behind them, and if they confess the people behind them, they will have no way to live at all!

At that time, it can only be reduced to fish on the board and be slaughtered by others.

Hu Zongxian laughed angrily, a cruel smile flashed on his face, and he said slowly: "Do you know how Your Majesty wrote it in the secret decree to this official? ”

After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he deliberately paused for a moment and continued: "The mastermind of the whole thing, wipe out the three clans!" ”

When Hu Zongxian finished saying the words of annihilating the three clans, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence!

Among the three, Li Yide, who was the most timid, only felt a heat in his abdomen, followed by a foul smell, and he was so frightened that he was incontinent!

The annihilation of the three tribes means that none of their parents, brothers, wives, etc., who have anything to do with them, can escape.

I saw Hu Zongxian take out a handkerchief in disgust, cover his nose, and command.

"Come on, pull him down and cut him down!"

"My lord, my lord's life, I said, I am willing to say everything!"

Before Li Yide's voice of begging for mercy was finished, he was dragged down by the guards on the side, like dragging a dead pig.

With a scream, Li Yide's begging for mercy came to an abrupt end.

Hu Zongxian nodded, turned his gaze to the remaining two, and said casually.

"What about the two of you, don't you want to say it?"

Just as Liang Hong and He Jin were still weighing the pros and cons, Hu Zongxian seemed to be tired of all this, and immediately called the guards and commanded.

"Since neither of them is willing to confess, let's pull it down and cut it together!"

After the guard received the order, he immediately stepped forward and prepared to drag the two down.

"Your Excellency, you haven't asked us any questions yet!"

"We say, we're willing to say anything!"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian wanted to execute all of them so hastily, Liang Hong and He Jin were instantly anxious and hurriedly spoke.

"Well, well, tell me everything you know."

Hu Zongxian waved his hand, motioned for the guards to let go, and let the two answer the questions.

"My lord, here's the thing, a few years ago, we were fortunate enough to climb into the relationship of a high-ranking official in the capital."

"He promised us that as long as he was willing to do things for him and gave him 30% of the annual income from selling salt, then he would be willing to act as our backstage and solve all the official troubles for us."

Liang Hong gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind, and said to Hu Zongxian.

"This official is very curious, what is the name of this high-ranking official?"

After listening to Liang Hong's story, Hu Zongxian put on an interested look.

"Report to my lord, this high-ranking official is the former head of the Criminal Department, Zhao Wenhua."

He Jin, who was on the side, hesitated for a moment and added.

"What, Zhao Wenhua! How could this matter involve him, a dead man? ”

After Hu Zongxian heard this name, his face was full of surprise, and at the same time, he knew very well in his heart that the whole thing should be inseparable from his teacher.

Everyone in the officialdom knows that Zhao Wenhua is Yan Song's righteous son, and in the past few years, it can be described as infinitely beautiful!

Not only has he won the favor of His Majesty, but also Yan Song, the godfather of the first assistant of the cabinet! In officialdom, it can be said that he is a figure who covers the sky with one hand.

It was only later, because he was involved in the case of reselling military supplies, he was personally ordered by His Majesty to be beheaded.

"Do you dare to vouch for what you say?"

Hu Zongxian's expression instantly became serious, and then he asked.

"My lord, what we just said is the truth, and there is no lie!"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian had doubts about this, Liang Hong and He Jin immediately assured categorically.

"Well, then you can go ahead."

Hu Zongxian nodded and motioned for the two to continue.

"Later, after Lord Zhao had an accident, another person was sent from above to connect with us!"

"This man is quite mysterious, to this day, we have not seen his true face, usually we rely on letters, in which he calls himself Master Li."

"And we originally planned that after this matter is over, we will share the benefits of this salt sale with him according to the usual practice!"

Cao Shunhe, who was on the side, was already furious when he heard this, and then spoke.

"I see, no wonder the note that this official handed to the court before was lost in the sea every time!"

"Lord Cao, calm down! Keep listening to them. ”

After Hu Zongxian comforted Cao Shunhe, he immediately asked.

"In what way did you share the promised benefits with this Lord Li?"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian was quite curious about this, the two of them immediately explained.

"According to the past practice, when the imperial court sends people down to collect the salt tax, we will pay an extra part, and this extra part is the promised benefit!"

"In this way, not only does it save a lot of trouble, but it also ensures safety."

After listening to the narrative of the two, Hu Zongxian couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Can you still be like this? ”

"Hmph, looking at it this way, this canal in my Ming Dynasty seems to have been built for them!"

Immediately afterwards, Hu Zongxian suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart and continued to ask.

"In that case, how much silver is the extra part you hand over each time?"

"Report to my lord, the specific amount is not certain, sometimes more, sometimes less!

"Even at the very least, there are more than five million taels of silver."

Liang Hong recalled for a long time and gave the answer.

"What? More than five million taels! ”

After Hu Zongxian learned this number, he couldn't sit still anymore, and suddenly got up from his seat and exclaimed.

It's not that Hu Zongxian was surprised by the amount of silver, he was surprised that last year, the imperial court collected less than 1.2 million taels of salt tax from all over the country!

At present, these salt merchants say that they pay at least five million taels of silver every year, and where does some of this go?

Hu Zongxian only felt creepy at the moment, and his back was slightly cold, it turned out that all along, the imperial court was not unable to collect the salt tax!

Instead, the salt tax collected from it was transported to the capital in various ways into the pockets of this group of high-ranking officials in the capital.

In the end, there will be no one in the treasury that is actually delivered!

(End of chapter)