serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 13
When distant relatives come, it is natural to hold a reception banquet.

Today's banquet is the largest in the Lin family for so many years. The Lin family is not very prosperous and does not have close contacts with the family. It is rare to have such a big happy event. Lin Butler personally entertained Yang Dayong and others. More than ten tables of sumptuous banquets were set up.

Lin Steward held the wine jar, first filled Yang Dayong's bowl, then Lin San and the others' bowls, then filled his own bowl, and then held up the bowl: "Generals, this bowl Wine, I respect you all on behalf of the master!" As he said, he drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.

Yang Dayong, Lin San and the others also picked up their bowls and gulped down a few gulps.

Butler Lin: "It is said that Young Master Biao made great contributions in the First Battle of Ningyuan. The Supreme Emperor ordered a reward. The Emperor hand-picked a minister to supervise the regiment training. This is also the honor of the Lin family. General Yang will talk about the battlefield later, and I will also gain a lot of experience. "

Yang Dayong: "It's easy to say, easy to say. This table is enough for pomp."

Lin Butler: "A few local flavors are not considered expensive."

One sentence made everyone look at each other in blank dismay.

Yang Dayong looked at the soup in front of him.

Lin Butler introduced: "This is Wensi tofu, also known as assorted tofu soup. It is soft, tender and mellow, and melts in the mouth. It also has the effects of recuperating malnutrition, nourishing deficiency and nourishing the body."

Everyone looked at each other again.

Butler Lin smiled: "This is stewed crab powder lion head, this is braised bear's paw, winter bamboo shoots and venison, Longjing duck tongue, and three sets of ducks."

Lin San swallowed: "Don't talk about eating these things, I've never heard of them."

Butler Lin waved his hand: "These things are nothing new, and they won't be unusual after a long time."

Yang Dayong was stunned for a while, and then shouted to everyone: "Eat! Eat! Open to eat, but don't get drunk!"

Everyone was already dazzled, and the gluttons in their stomachs were hooked up, and they started to move one after another.

In the hall of the Salt Merchants General Chamber of Commerce, a group of salt merchants gathered here.

Among the eight major salt merchants, the Huang family, Ma family, Cheng family, and Jiang family all came and sat there quietly, looking out the door.

Mr. Xiao hurried forward with a letter in his hand: "This is a letter sent by Master Futai on a fast horse. Please take a look."

The letter was delivered among the salt merchants.

Mr. Ma was a little timid: "He came at us?"

Mr. Xiao: "This person just crawled out of the dead, and he didn't go any other way, so he needs to be careful."

Cheng Zongshang smiled: "Isn't it just a regimental training minister? No matter how hard a bone is, soaking it in silver can soften him. It's no big deal."

General Manager Jiang: "That's right, money can pass through the mind. I have never seen anyone who can overcome the hurdle of money."

Mr. Ma: "It can also communicate with ghosts! Don't forget, there is a Lin family in the middle."

The salt merchants in the hall were shocked when they heard the news. Everyone knew what happened to Lin Ruhai's wife and children. Although they were not responsible for it, they were also involved. Everyone is stuck.

Mr. Huang, who had been silent at the side all this time, finally spoke: "He came here with his armor on, full of blood. We can't touch him head-on, let alone provoke him to make a wrong move. He can borrow the Lin family's It killed us."

Mr. Ma became even more panicked, rubbing his hands together, and said, "That's right, there's nothing wrong with being careful. He's here for Lianghuai Salt Affairs. Recently, everyone should be stricter."

Mr. Xiao's face became serious, and he said solemnly: "Mr. Wang was tricked by him, and those three candidates are demonstrating to us!"

"There are no loopholes in the salt affairs, and all the taxes that should be paid have been paid."

Mr. Huang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then said: "If we really want to investigate clearly, it's nothing. I'm afraid he will take our official salt in one pot by encircling private salt."

Cheng Zongshang and Jiang Zongshang shouted together: "He dares!"

Mr. Huang paused: "Everyone in the court knows that the salt merchants in Yangzhou are hard to fight. Why? Because everything we do is in line with the "Great Zhou Law" and official rules. As long as the law is followed, we can't be moved even today. That's why they transferred people from the border, and the military people never follow the rules, and they are planning to take the Lianghuai Salt Works into action."

Mr. Ma stood up in panic: "This Yangzhou city is a stove! No, I want to go out and hide."

There was a commotion in the crowd.

Mr. Cheng sneered: "Old Ma, it's too late to talk about this now! Besides, why do you, a businessman, call the wind and rain in Yangzhou and even Jiangsu and Zhejiang? You are not holding salt in your hand. There is no risk, how can there be such a good thing?

The recent salt price in Zhili is a bit high, and the salt companies in Shandong, Anhui, Henan and Hubei provinces are all urging.The Chinese New Year is less than two months away, and this time is enough for him to train soldiers. Let's press the salt and only take the official salt assigned by the Ministry of Households step by step. When the time is right, we will mix the official salt and private salt together. Let him go to suppress, the common people have no salt to eat and make a fuss, let's see how he explains.

It's all about human effort, as long as we seize the opportunity, he will come and kowtow to us. "

All of them took a deep breath.

General Manager Jiang also stood up, paced slowly, and said, "We still have to go to Suzhou to meet the governor of Jiangsu."

A wry smile came to the corner of his mouth, Mr. Huang understood that these people would not be reconciled if they didn't touch her.

A gust of wind blows, and the fallen leaves float down one after another.

In the back garden, Lin Ruhai was walking on the stone path in casual clothes with his hands behind his back.

Behind him, Jia Hu was also in casual clothes.

Lin Ruhai was walking, and suddenly stopped: "You are too reckless, how can you kill at will?"

Jia Hu: "My spies are back, and the one surnamed Jiang has left the city."

"where to?"

"See Jiangsu Governor Wang Wenyuan."

Lin Ruhai frowned, feeling a bad premonition in his heart, and his eyes began to flicker.

Jia Hu smiled lightly, and said: "The emperor has acquired a new treasure and worked hard to rule the country. The military in western Liaoning has achieved success. The next step is to implement the new policy or use troops on the grasslands. There have been constant wars at the border for the past few years, and the treasury is almost empty. It has dropped sharply year after year, and the Lianghuai salt class is the most important thing. During the Taizong Dynasty, there were 600 million taels of tax revenue every year, but this year it only collected less than 300 million taels. Today's population is more than three times that of the Taizong Dynasty. The hole is too big."

Lin Ruhai sighed: "The salt merchants are too powerful, half of the salt in Lianghuai is in their hands."

Jia Hu blinked and smiled, "Then chop off their heads!"

Lin Ruhai didn't hesitate any more at this time, and said directly: "There are problems with private arrests, river defense battalions, and patrol battalions. The biggest problem is the river defense battalion. As long as there is a hole in them, even if there is a little bit of excuse, there is a salt merchant in Yangzhou. Count as one, no one can escape."

Jia Hu nodded with a smile.

Lin Ruhai paced away again, and said as he walked: "You have a heavy burden this time! This matter is no small matter, so don't rush. You must first train your soldiers well. The government, salt merchants, officers and soldiers, and the Cao Gang are an unbreakable A big net, only the army can cut through it. That's my idea."

Jia Hu: "Thank you uncle for your advice."

"My house here is big and empty, so don't look for it outside."

"Thank you uncle."

Jia Hu cupped his hands, and continued: "This time I am ordered to go south to Yangzhou. Although it is important to investigate and deal with the salt merchants, the most important thing is to train troops for His Majesty. During this period, I will stay in the military camp outside the city."

Lin Ruhai: "Alright." After a pause, "You will live here for the past two days, and talk to your aunt about things in the capital."

Jia Hu: "Yes."

It was very late at night, and the lights were still on in the government office study.

Li Mingbo, the prefect of Yangzhou, and Huang Zongshang sat silently facing each other.

The master called several servants of the Huang Mansion to come in carrying two boxes and cages, put them in the room, and then retreated out.

Mr. Huang got up, went to the side of the cage and opened the lid.

A box and cage contained yellow gold ingots.

The other cage contains antique calligraphy and paintings.

Li Mingbo was startled: "Mr. Huang, what are you doing?"

Mr. Huang cupped his hands: "Master Li, I have been taken care of by you for so many years. Now... alas! There is no need to talk about everything. I beg Mr. Futai to show you a way out."

Li Mingbo smiled: "It's unnecessary, it's unnecessary. This year, the salt tax in Yangzhou was less than 300 million taels. I linked several articles from the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and my words were more severe than usual. This You still don't understand something?

The Shoufu sent a fast horse to send a letter, and the treasury was almost empty. The Shoufu and the cabinet scholars were scolded by His Majesty in front of all the officials for several days, and their faces were swept clean.As long as you seize the opportunity to save face for the chief assistant and the cabinet, it will be a great achievement!Understand now? "

Mr. Huang: "Thank you Futai for your advice."

Li Mingbo nodded with a satisfied smile.

(End of this chapter)