Prime Minister of Great Qin

Chapter 404 Frame Peng Yue? ! (Please subscribe)

Dangjun, Shanfu County.

The official documents and orders issued by Xianyang have already spread throughout the world.

It has already fallen into the ears of people all over the world.

Zhang Liang was walking in the streets of Shanfu County with an unhurried look on his face, appearing to be very calm and unhurried. After hitting a wall in Daliang County, Zhang Liang continued to look for opportunities in major counties and cities in Dang County, but he never found one.

Later, Zhang Liang changed his strategy.

Stop discussing with local officials so blindly.

Instead, really calm down and think about where to break the situation from the perspective of weighing interests.

Single father.

Currently it is Zhang Liang’s best choice.

Shanfu was established as a county in the Qin Dynasty. It used to be a Shanfu town. This is the first time that Shanfu was established as a county.

The current county magistrate is Wu Ma Shu.

He is a descendant of Wuma Shi, a disciple of Confucius.

It's just that the Wuma family has long lost contact with Confucianism.

They have long since become a wealthy family in Shanfu County.

It is very powerful locally.

However, after Zhang Liang inquired, he also learned some actual conditions in Shanfu County. Shanfu County does not produce salt and iron, and salt and iron must be transported from other places every year. Because of this, the huge profits from salt and iron , which made many local powerful people in Shanfu County excited.

Therefore, most of the salt and iron distributed by the imperial court were misappropriated by local governments.

It's just that there is still a lot of salt and iron left in the account books of Yanguan Tieguan. Now that the Qin court has issued a new policy, the localities are required to send the excess salt and iron to nearby transit warehouses one after another. This is Make things difficult for local officials.

The salt and iron had long been sold privately.

How do they fill it out?

What is sold in salt shops and iron shops now is a drop in the bucket compared to what is shown in the accounts.

This kind of private misappropriation of salt and iron is very common throughout Kanto. However, some economically developed counties can also make up for it by demolishing the east wall to make up for the west wall, but Shanfu County is difficult to do, and As local emperors, they never paid attention to Qin's laws, let alone implemented them according to Qin's laws. They always sold official salt and iron privately, but reported a large amount of surplus.

now.

But I can’t hide it anymore.

Everyone in Shanfu County hopes to find a way to settle the accounts.

It's just that asking them to spend their own money to fill this gap is harder than killing them.

As a result, the entire county has been arguing about this matter.

That's when.

Zhang Liang is here.

Came with the method of 'settling the account'.

Zhang Liang came to a beautifully decorated wine house, looked up and down, and walked into it.

After self-identification.

He was led to the guest room on the second floor by the waiter in the wine house.

Enter the house.

There were seven middle-aged people sitting inside.

Their faces are different, and their bodies are all relatively round and solid.

Seeing Zhang Liang, Wu Ma Shu, who was sitting in the chair, slowly stood up, raised his hands and said in greeting: "I have heard of Zhang Liang's name Zhang Zifang for a long time, and today I see him, he is indeed well-deserved. He is handsome and talented. I, Wu Ma, Our ancestors were once disciples of Confucius, but their family fortunes were in decline and it was difficult for them to acquire such a great talent like Brother Zifang. I am lucky to meet him."

Other officials also stood up and greeted him with a smile.

Zhang Liang returned the favor one by one.

After some greetings.

Zhang Liang sat on the seat at the back.

Wu Ma Shu did not delay and asked straight to the point: "A few days ago, Zhang Liang, you wrote to us and said that you had a way to help us solve the shortage of salt and iron. I wonder if what you said is true?"

Zhang Liang smiled and said: "Of course it is true."

"May I ask, what is Zhang Zifang's clever plan?" Wu Ma Shu asked.

Zhang Liang did not answer directly, but said to himself: "During this period, the Qin court has issued many decrees, including the name of 'exercises' to transfer the remaining salt, iron, oil, etc. Items are transported to the transit warehouse and then shipped back. This document states that the court will not detain these items, but just wants to use this to have a rough estimate of the relevant transportation."

"Do you really believe it?"

Wu Ma Shu and others looked at each other and were all silent.

After a while.

Wu Ma Shu said: "How can we guess the imperial court's thoughts?"

"Believe it or not, don't you still have to do it?"

Zhang Liang nodded.

He said calmly: "That being said."

"But based on my understanding of Qin Ting, Zhang Liang, this matter will not be so simple."

"How do you say this?" Wu Ma Shu looked at Zhang Liang curiously.

Zhang Liang talked: "Almost all the political affairs of the Qin Dynasty in the past two years have been made public and have been announced to the world early. Among them, there is the matter of easing relations with the Xiongnu. Have you ever thought about the Qin court's easing of relations with the Xiongnu? , we will have more energy to organize Guandong."

“And these policies all come from Fusu’s hands.”

"Fusu likes to make fuss about money, and this time there is no exception."

"But if Qin Ting shifts all its focus to Guandong, will the ministers be so confident that they can continue to fool Qin Ting?"

One word fell.

Wu Ma Shu and others' faces darkened.

Wu Ma Shu's eyes were uncertain, and he said coldly: "Zhang Liang, what do you mean by this? As officials of the Qin Dynasty, have we ever fooled the court? You can talk nonsense, but you can't talk nonsense. If you don't know, If outsiders know about it, we may not be able to bear the consequences."

Zhang Liang smiled and said contemptuously: "Why are you so wary of me?"

"I, Zhang Liang, and Qin Ting are at odds with each other. I am afraid that even if you are targeted by Qin Ting, you will not be able to reach my level."

Wu Ma Shu and others smiled, but did not take it seriously.

Defenses can not do without.

Zhang Liangdao: "After Fusu implemented the 'Guanshanhai' policy, each county received a lot of salt and iron regularly, and then sold it through specialized merchants. The court used this to extract high taxes, but Shanfu County does not produce salt." Iron, the so-called salt merchants and iron merchants, basically come from your families, so most of the salt and iron distributed by the government fall into your pockets. Salt and iron are huge profits, second only to land."

"So you are not selling according to the official system."

"Instead, these salt and iron will be sold at high prices in government-run places. However, the high taxes that should be paid to the court have all been shared by you and your family. However, in the accounts of local salt and iron officials, the salt and iron still exist On the account, now that the new policy has been issued, you are required to send the salt and iron to nearby large warehouses, but you have already sold these salt and iron at high prices, and there is no way to get them back."

"Am I right?"

Wu Ma Shu smiled awkwardly and brushed off the matter.

Zhang Liang continued: "Now Shanfu County has a serious shortage of salt and iron, and you can't make up for it at all. You have to pay for it yourself. This is probably not what you want, but if Qin Ting really takes these salt and iron If you return it, you can accept it with gritted teeth."

"But if I tell you."

"Will the salt and iron be returned?"

Hear the words.

The expressions of Wu Ma Shu and others changed slightly.

He said solemnly: "What do you mean?"

“Why can’t the salt and iron collected be returned?”

Zhang Liang chuckled and said disdainfully: "Haven't you guys reacted yet? Qin Ting's focus has changed now."

"Put it on Kanto."

"Fusu is greedy for money."

"From the very beginning, I came here to make huge profits from salt and iron."

“Now that we have the salt and iron, how can we send it back?”

"You must not forget, what did Fusu rely on to gain a foothold in the court?" "Isn't it just this way of making money?"

"Now it's just the same thing."

"You guys are not actually the worst off. The worst offenders are actually the places where salt and iron are produced."

"Their salt and iron are cleaner than what you are selling, and their inventory has been depleted for a long time. They have been demolishing the east wall to make up for the west wall, and all kinds of fooling around. Now they need to hand over the most salt and iron."

"Because the imperial court has always asked them to withhold part of it to prevent the "Huai County" incident in Guandong."

"It's a pity that the benefits move people's hearts."

"Not many salt and iron officials actually do this."

"Now these salt and iron officials are jumping up and down in a hurry."

"If your loopholes cannot be filled, do you think Qin Ting will take action? At that time, all the huge profits from salt and iron will be brought under the control of the Shaofu, and it may not only be salt and iron, but also oil, firewood, tea, etc. Economic power will gradually be controlled by the imperial court."

"And this is Qin Ting's real purpose."

"But that's all for later."

"You should worry first about what kind of punishment you will suffer if you can't fill the gap."

"Qin Ting hates corruption deeply."

"Is this the reason why you have been wandering around Wei during this time?" Wu Ma Shu asked.

Zhang Liang nodded and shook his head.

He said slowly: "I originally wanted to persuade the local governments not to fall into Qin Ting's trap."

"It's just that people are unpredictable. Most people in the world have a fluke mentality. They all think that as long as their accounts are done well enough and their performance is positive enough, they will not be targeted by the Qin court. Moreover, many officials are as timid as mice and do not dare to take serious risks. To go against Qin Ting, I just want to pay some price myself and repair it just like tearing down the east wall."

"But this is doomed to be in vain."

"Qin Ting doesn't care about your life or death at all."

"What he cares about is money and food!"

"Then why did you choose to help us?" Wu Ma Shu asked.

Zhang Liang shook his head.

He said coldly: "I'm not helping you."

"I'm just anti-Qin."

"And I have visited many counties, and most of them stayed away from me and did not give me a chance to meet. However, you are willing to meet me, so I am willing to help you solve this matter."

"What are you going to do?" Wu Ma Shu looked solemn.

Zhang Liang is right.

There is indeed a big deficit in their county.

The amount of this shortfall was so huge that none of them were willing to use their own money to fill it.

Now Zhang Liang is willing to find a way for them.

They readily accepted it.

Zhang Liang closed his eyes slightly and said coldly: "As you know, there is a group of robbers in Julu, Dang County, and the leader is Peng Yue."

Done.

Zhang Liang said no more.

Hear the words.

Wu Ma Shu's eyes darkened slightly.

He had certainly heard of Peng Yue's name.

However, their county is still a little far away from Julu, but if they transport salt and iron by water, they will really pass by Julu.

Thinking of this, Wu Ma Shu immediately realized that Zhang Liang meant to 'cooperate' with Peng Yue to eat these 'empty ships', and then blame all the theft of salt and iron on Peng Yue.

This is a good idea.

But Peng Yue might not agree.

After all, Peng Yue was just a robber, so he might not be so bold as to attack an official ship directly.

But it doesn't matter whether Peng Yue agrees or not.

He is just a robber.

They asked Peng Yue to agree, and Peng Yue had no choice but to agree.

Even if you don’t agree, you have to agree.

In this way, the salt and iron are ‘gone’ and the account is settled.

If the court accuses Peng Yue, it will all be Peng Yue's problem, and they can rush to bring Peng Yue to justice before Peng Yue. By then, there will be no evidence to prove it. As for the stolen 'salt iron', it will naturally follow Peng Yue's death. And the stone sinks into the sea.

Wu Ma Shu tapped the table with his fingertips.

I was constantly weighing the pros and cons and hidden dangers in my mind.

finally.

Wu Ma Shu's eyes flashed and he said coldly: "Your suggestion is good, but isn't it a replica of the 'Huai County Shipwreck'? Back then, the imperial court asked Fusu to take charge personally. If Qin Ting also sent someone this time Come down, what should we do?"

Zhang Liang said: "Guandong is not Guanzhong."

"The entire Dang County is yours, how can it be controlled by Qin Ting?"

Hear the words.

Wu Ma Shu couldn't help laughing.

But he was still a little worried. Peng Yue and others had been bandits for many years and were very familiar with the water in Julu. It might not be that easy to arrest these people and bring them to justice. If they were allowed to escape and the facts would be revealed, If you say it out loud, many situations may arise.

But he wasn't too worried.

They may not be able to kill Peng Yue directly, but they still have the ability to block Peng Yue's people in front of the officials from the imperial court. As long as the officials from the imperial court are not allowed to come into contact with Peng Yue, even if it was not done by Peng Yue, He did it too.

Wu Ma Shu cupped his hands and thanked him: "Brother Zifang, you are indeed resourceful. I, Wu Ma Shu, admire you."

Zhang Liang also raised the bottle and said with a smile: "You're welcome."

"However, I personally suggest that you discuss this matter with other counties. After all, only Shanfu County is doing it. It is somewhat too eye-catching. And if Qin Ting is really blamed, it will inevitably be difficult to argue. If other counties are involved, , even if Qin Ting blames you, he won’t just blame a few of you."

"Yes, yes, I will arrange this." Wu Ma Shu nodded.

Zhang Liang added: "If you are still worried, you can actually blame Peng Yue's motive on colluding with the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, such as Zhang Er, Chen Yu and others. They have been wanted by the Qin court in the past, but they are also Dang. The purpose of the people in the county is also very simple, to undermine the Qin court's policies and to create unrest in Guandong. As long as the charges of Peng Yue and others are serious enough, the chance that the court will blame you will be smaller."

Hear the words.

Wu Ma Shu's heart moved.

This is indeed a way.

He had little contact with Zhang Er, Chen Yu and others.

It does seem a bit deliberate to only blame Peng Yue, but if there are remnants of the Six Kingdoms behind it, everything will be reasonable.

Wu Ma Shu and other Shanfu County officials looked at each other and were very satisfied with the banquet hosted by Zhang Liang.

They couldn't help but raise their bottles and shouted: "With Zhang Zifang's help, we will be able to resolve the crisis immediately. This glass of wine is for you."

Done.

He drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Liang smiled and took a drink.

Seeing that Wu Ma Shu and others had accepted his suggestion, Zhang Liang did not stay in the wine house for too long. He cupped his hands and left, as if he just wanted to ruin something in Qin Ting's affairs.

Wu Ma Shu and others are also happy to see this.

After three rounds of drinking, someone suddenly said with a smile: "I think Zhang Liang's idea is a good one, but one of the remaining members of the Six Kingdoms is missing."

"What do you think?"

"I also think there is one person missing."

"Haha."

(End of this chapter)