I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 263 Hai Rui is going to the capital
Seeing that Zhao Zhenji, the imperial envoy, knew about the expulsion of the salt merchants, Hu Zongxian felt relieved, turned his gaze to Zheng Michang, and continued to ask.

"By the way, have you found any clues from it?"

"Is there someone instigating behind this?"

Seeing Hu Zongxian's questioning, Zheng Michang who was on the side didn't dare to neglect him in the slightest, and responded quickly.

"Report to the governor, right now, the subordinate officials are interrogating them intensively!"

"Surely there will be a result soon."

After listening to Zheng Michang's report, Hu Zongxian nodded and continued.

"Well, that's right. You have handled all the affairs in the Governor's Mansion fairly well during the time I've been away! There haven't been any major mistakes."

"Where is it, how dare the lower officials disobey the orders of the governor?"

"Let's not talk about handling these matters, even if you let the subordinates go to the sword mountain..."

Before Zheng Michang finished speaking, Hu Zongxian interrupted impatiently.

"Okay, okay, there is no need to say more, so be it!"

At this moment, Zhao Zhenji, who was on the side, turned his gaze to Hu Zongxian and asked.

"What is the situation in Jiangxi? Is it consistent with what Jiangxi Governor Cao Shunhe described in his letter?"

Seeing this, everyone present held their breath and dared not speak for fear of missing a word.

I saw Hu Zongxian sighed helplessly, and said slowly.

"The situation in Jiangxi is much more severe than what Cao Shunhe described in his letter!"

"When I led the army to Nanchang Mansion, I realized that the city had fallen into riots! And the local salt price also rose from the usual six or seven Wen a catty to [-] Wen a catty."

"What, the price of salt has actually risen to twenty cents a catty!"

Hu Zongxian's words shocked everyone present.

"Governor, since the price of salt in the city has risen to such an extent, is there nothing the local government can do?"

After listening to Hu Zongxian's description, Gao Hanwen suddenly got up from his seat with a look of indignation on his face.

Hu Zongxian just shook his head slightly and responded.

"Before this, Cao Shunhe, the governor of Jiangxi Province, had already been emptied out by his subordinates, and his orders could not go out of the government office at all."

"In addition, the vast majority of officials in the government have received money from those salt merchants. How can they make a difference?"

"These guys hope that the price of salt can be higher, so that they can benefit more from it!"

Hu Zongxian sneered, and immediately answered Gao Hanwen's doubts.

"Then teacher, how did you deal with these salt merchants?"

Seeing this, Ma Ningyuan on the side immediately asked.

Hu Zongxian didn't bother about what Ma Ningyuan called him, but took a sip from the teacup on the side before continuing.

"It's very simple, just one word, kill!"

"Kill them until they are terrified, until they kneel down and beg for mercy!"

Hearing Hu Zongxian's murderous words, everyone present seemed to feel a different kind of chilling atmosphere from him, and couldn't help but sit up straight.

"By the way, do you know how much money I did not confiscate in the homes of those salt merchants?"

Hu Zongxian became interested while talking, then raised his eyebrows, looked around, and asked.

"Governor, according to my guess, there should be at least 2000 million taels!"

He Maocai on the side heard what Hu Zongxian said, and after thinking about it for a long time, he gave his answer.

"No, no."

After hearing the answer given by He Maocai, Hu Zongxian shook his head slightly.

"Then... it can't be 3000 million taels!"

Seeing this, Gao Hanwen on the side immediately said anxiously.

"Still wrong."

Hu Zongxian still shook his head as before, and said slowly.

Next, everyone guessed a few more numbers, but none of them got it right. In the end, Hu Zongxian sighed and chose to reveal the correct answer.

"This official trip, the amount of silver taels confiscated from the group of salt merchants totaled 5000 million taels!"

"What? 5000 million taels!"

When the people present heard the exact number from Hu Zongxian, they couldn't help but gasp while lamenting the richness of the salt merchant.

"This is a total of 5000 million taels. You must know that last year, the Ming Dynasty's taxes totaled only more than 3000 million taels!"

"Hmph, it turns out that all the wealth of my Ming Dynasty has flowed into the hands of these people."

After Gao Hanwen learned of this specific number, he felt quite unfair.

"Don't worry, the imperial court has given corresponding countermeasures, officially abolishing the salt introduction system, and replacing it with the Sea Trade Department's certificate for going to sea!"

"Only after completing the [-] missions assigned by the imperial court can one obtain a complete certificate for going to sea."

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian withdrew his gaze, followed by comforting words.

Hu Zongxian saw that he had already understood almost all the things he should understand, and then he coughed twice, drawing everyone's attention to himself, and said flatly.

"Okay, let's do this for today, I still have some things to deal with later!"

Seeing this, everyone got up from their seats and saluted him respectfully.

"Your Excellency, I will take my leave!"

"Ah."

In this regard, Hu Zongxian just nodded and did not express too much.

Soon, only Zhao Zhenji and Hu Zongxian were left in the meeting hall. Just as Hu Zongxian was about to get up from his seat, Zhao Zhenji stopped him.

"Governor Hu, wait a minute, I have something to explain to you."

"Oh, what is the order of the imperial envoy?"

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian couldn't help but stop, and then asked.

"That's right, now that the facts of the case have come to light, it's time for me to return to the court to report on my duties!"

"Then, please trouble the imperial envoy."

When Hu Zongxian heard Zhao Zhenji's words, he immediately saluted respectfully.

"Everywhere, everyone is doing things for His Majesty!"

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Zhenji responded with a smile.

……

At this moment, Hai Rui seemed quite busy.

Just now, Zhao Zhenji sent someone to send the news, saying that the case has come to light and he will return to the capital in a few days.

He also asked Hai Rui to pack his luggage in advance. At that time, he will take a boat with him and head to the capital for a post!

"Throw this away!"

"Keep this, maybe it will be useful in the future."

"Well, keep this one too."

At this moment, Hai Rui's wife, Wang Shi, was packing her luggage anxiously, while Hai Rui was sitting at the desk beside him, holding a book whose name was not clear, and reading it with relish.

Hai Rui's wife, Wang Shi, saw that Hai Rui's face was still as calm and breezy as before, so she couldn't get angry, and then said.

"Can you have a little snack?"

"The imperial envoy was just now, but he personally sent someone to deliver the news, asking you to pack your luggage as soon as possible!"

"It's good for you, you don't rush, if this matter gets to the ears of the imperial envoy, then what should you do?"

Hai Rui heard his wife's nagging, his face was full of helplessness, and then he put the book in his hand aside, and said slowly.

"Actually, you don't need to be so anxious. The imperial envoy is not about to leave soon!"

"It will be at least two or three days before the official departure. With so much time, it is enough to pack our luggage."

(End of this chapter)