Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 173 Evidence

"It can't be saved." Chen Shaofan shook his head.

"you…"

Xu Shi was so angry that he wanted to curse. I couldn't help but think you were kidding me by telling me so much.

"Xu Xuezheng, don't worry. The fraud in the examination in Yangzhou County has alarmed the officials. If I say that I can keep you safe, do you believe me?" Chen Shaofan said.

Xu Shigao's eyes were dark and he didn't speak.

Indeed, if Chen Shaofan said he could keep him, he wouldn't really believe it.

"Don't worry, as long as you cooperate with us in taking down Guyi, the most you'll be accused of is to be demoted to a remote place as an official. After two years of news, it won't be difficult to reinstate you as an official, and it's not impossible to even go one step further. "Chen Shaofan said.

Xu Shigao fell silent after hearing this, and then said after a long time: "I understand what you mean, but I did this alone, and Gu Yi did not interfere."

"what?"

Chen Shaofan was stunned when he heard this, looked at Xu Shigao with some suspicion, and asked: "Did you really do it alone?"

"It's already this time, do you think I will still take the blame on myself in order to protect Gu Yi? How much does cheating in the county examination cost? Do you think he can take a fancy to this little money?" Xu Shigao said.

It would be an exaggeration to say that he looked down upon him, but as the governor of the state, Gu Yi had many ways to make money.

There is no need to take such a big risk and start with the county test.

Chen Shaofan was so angry that he wanted to scold his mother. He originally thought that Xu Shigao did this under the instruction of Gu Yi, but after a long time, it turned out that Xu Shigao did it alone.

How brave do you have to be to do this?

Officialdom has always been about not eating alone, otherwise there would be no officials to protect each other.

We all have interests in each other, so if something goes wrong, we naturally have to protect ourselves, otherwise we will be implicated.

No wonder Gu Yi gave up on Xu Shigao so easily.

"That's not right. If that's the case, why did Gu Yi take you to see Prince Yong the night we arrived in Yangzhou?" Chen Shaofan suddenly reacted.

"Although he was not involved, he took my money and promised to help me calm the matter down and downplay it in the memorial. Unexpectedly, trouble broke out again later, and this time he couldn't control it. But when he found out that Prince Yong was one of the imperial envoys, he asked me for a sum of money, saying that he could persuade Prince Yong to help me," Xu Shigao said.

Xu Shigao got angry when he mentioned this. He had been busy for so long, and even though he didn't make any money, he had to pay back a lot. As a result, Gu Yi collected so much money from him, but he didn't do anything.

Although he is greedy for money, he will get things done after receiving the money.

Chen Shaofan's eyes lit up when he heard this and asked, "How much did he charge you?"

"A total of 80,000 taels were given in silver notes twice, and another 20,000 taels were given afterwards." Xu Shigao said.

"So many?" Chen Shaofan was shocked when he heard this.

He was not shocked that Gu Yi wanted to take 100,000 taels, but he was shocked that Xu Shigao, who was just an academician, could actually take 100,000 taels.

No, more than one hundred thousand.

It was impossible for Xu Shigao to give all his family wealth to Gu Yi.

"Who says it's not the case? He is greedy and refuses to do anything even after taking the money." Xu Shigao said angrily.

Yangzhou was already very wealthy, and he had previously been in charge of academic affairs in Jiangdu County, which was the county seat of Yangzhou after the state capital.

Those businessmen who wanted their children to enter official schools often gave him money, and filial piety was indispensable during the holidays.

Even so, one hundred thousand taels is most of his net worth.

Chen Shaofan looked at the angry Xu Shigao and said to himself: "You are the one who is greedy, right?"

"Xu Xuezheng, you said before that the fraud in the county examination had nothing to do with Gu Yi. Didn't he collect 80,000 taels of silver from you?" Chen Shaofan said.

"That's...I understand, Mr. Chen is right."

Xu Shigao was about to explain, but quickly responded.

Xu Shigao secretly scolded himself for being confused. Since Gu Yi had collected his money, he could use this to threaten Gu Yi.

Compared to Prince Yan, he still trusted Prince Yong more. After all, King Yong was powerful, and Guyi and Princess Yong were related.

If he threatened Gu Yi with this matter, Gu Yi would definitely ask Prince Yong to protect him.

Chen Shaofan seemed to have seen Xu Shigao's thoughts and said calmly: "Are you thinking of using this matter to threaten Gu Yi and let him keep you?"

"No...no."

After his thoughts were revealed, Xu Shigao felt a trace of panic in his eyes.

Chen Shaofan curled his lips and said: "I told you, no one can protect you now. If you threaten Gu Yi with this matter, you are simply asking for death. If you dare to do this, you are not afraid that they will kill you. If you do it, Commit suicide out of fear of sin?"

"Sigh~"

When Xu Shigao heard this, he took a breath of air and said anxiously: "Mr. Chen, I understand what you mean. I will do whatever His Highness the Crown Prince wants me to do."

"Haha, it's good that you understand your current situation. You will confess to Liu Shi Yushi tomorrow. Remember, you did this alone. Don't mention Gu Yi." Chen Shaofan said.

"Why is this?" Xu Shigao asked doubtfully.

Chen Shaofan asked him to drag Gu Yi into trouble before, hoping to overthrow Gu Yi.

Now he is asked not to mention Guyi.

He even doubted whether Chen Shaofan had secretly taken refuge with Prince Yong.

Chen Shaofan cursed the idiot in his heart and could only explain patiently: "Gu Yi is the magistrate of Yangzhou. If you want to touch him, you must ask the officials for instructions. This place is thousands of miles away from Bianjing. Do you think that during this period, the prince of Yong will Will I try to kill you?"

"Yes, yes, just do as Mr. Chen says."

When Xu Shigao heard this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead and he nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, did you send money to Gu Yi without leaving any evidence?" Chen Shaofan asked.

He felt that Xu Shigao was so stupid that it was really possible for him to do it.

If this is the case, then this Xu Shigao will be of no use at all.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Xu Shigao said quickly: "I gave him all the banknotes from the Huitong Bank. Gu Yi has already redeemed them all. He can find out by checking the bank."

Many people think that banknotes are ancient banknotes, but that is not the case at all.

As you can see from the name, a bank note is a note for depositing money.

The mainstream of coins in ancient times was copper coins. Even though gold and silver became currency in the Song Dynasty, copper coins still occupied the mainstream due to their small quantity.

Regardless of whether it is gold, silver or copper coins, if it is less, it is easier to say, but if it is more, it will be inconvenient to carry.

So the bank account appeared.

The so-called bank account is actually a private bank.

Large banks have branches in some big cities. Merchants can deposit money into the bank and take the bills to branches in other cities to pick them up.

To put it simply, a bank check is an anonymous passbook without a password.

Later, banknotes gradually became a type of currency.

Although Gu Yi didn't think Xu Shigao dared to give him a fake banknote, he still arranged for someone to withdraw the money as soon as possible just in case.

In the Song Dynasty, there was no crime of unknown source of property. Ancient Yi asked people to withdraw money, which cannot be used as evidence.

"The shopkeeper of that bank has a good relationship with me. When I saved money, I asked him to mark the banknotes. After Gu Yi asked someone to withdraw the money, I asked him to keep the banknotes." Xu Shigao said.

Xu Shigao is not stupid, so he naturally knows how to leave evidence.

Chen Shaofan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and said: "That's good. Remember to tell the shopkeeper, and then surrender tomorrow. I will arrange for people to get the evidence and confessions, send them to Bianjing, and report them to the officials. .”

(End of this chapter)