King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Chapter 121 Behind the Guo Huan case, there are many shadows

Ying Tianfu.

When he was the left minister of the household department, he was in Guo Huan's mansion.

A dark room.

Guo Huan pushed open the darkroom door.

In the darkroom.

There was an old man sitting.

At this moment, I am drinking authentic fragrant tea.

Seeing Guo Huan, he smiled slightly.

"At this time, you can still drink such good tea. Mr. Guo is very thoughtful!"

Guo Huan couldn't help but ask: "Mr. Wu, what on earth did you do? Why did you hide yourself to this extent?"

The person in front of you.

He was the former leader of Shanxi merchants.

Mr. Wu who left Wu Mansion in Yangzhou!
  Mr. Wu smiled and said: "If I say that I have been keeping my peace and doing nothing, but I was forced to escape because of the disaster, would you believe it?"

Guo Huan frowned and said: "Is it about the salt merchant? You were the leader of the Shanxi merchants back then, so it's normal for you to be affected!

However, those salt merchants are almost your grandchildren, so you can’t control them? He is obviously not as strong as King Lu, but he still insists on hitting a rock with an egg! "

Mr. Wu sighed.

“Those grandsons are real grandsons!

They can neither see how strong their opponents are nor how weak they are! It’s totally deserved to get to this point!

It's just a pity that my old brothers didn't survive this time. I'm afraid not many of them can escape! "

Guo Huan smiled.

"Don't worry! If you don't collude with the officials, the most you can do is that your family property will be confiscated!"

Mr. Wu snorted: "That man is so mean to everyone in the world! Except for his Zhu family, who can be rich and noble, and those who are willing to serve as eagles and dogs, it is a crime for everyone else to be rich!"

Guo Huan shook his head.

"Wu Gong! You came here from Yangzhou, what are your plans next?"

Mr. Wu smiled and said: "Tomorrow, I will leave here!"

Guo Huan looked at Mr. Wu and suddenly said: "Mr. Wu, you and I have known each other since Hongwu ten years ago! At this point, shouldn't my retreat option be activated?"

Mr. Wu looked at Guo Huan and suddenly said: "The salt merchant's matter has not affected you! You can relax about this!"

Guo Huan smiled bitterly and said: "What I am worried about is not this but that the imperial court may use troops against the north!"

Mr. Wu was stunned and said in shock: "So fast? A big move? How is that possible!

Just checking the salt merchants’ little money won’t be enough to cover the court’s expenses, right? "

Guo Huan nodded and said: "Big move! Your Majesty plans to completely destroy the small and surviving Tatar court!"

Mr. Wu frowned and said: "How is that possible? A few million taels of silver is not too much to prepare for the northern expedition! If it is safe, I am afraid it will be necessary to reserve tens of millions of silver! Where can the imperial court get so much money at once?"

Guo Huan smiled.

“I really didn’t have that much money originally!
  Even His Majesty has no plans to take action in the near future!
  The supplies in the north have always been enough for military needs and a little storage!

But who would have thought that His Royal Highness Prince Lu would suddenly appear and suddenly solve the financial difficulties of the imperial court!

This year he seized tens of millions of silver from the Japanese pirates, and now he has monopolized the national salt business by virtue of his victory over the salt merchants! "

Guo Huan looked at Mr. Wu and suddenly smiled: "I'm afraid Mr. Wu wouldn't have thought of it!
  The method of making salt that is as white as snow and as fine as sand was actually developed by His Highness King Lu!

Not only is the quality extremely high, the production cost is also incredibly low!
  It's just that the court didn't tell the outside world.

Just say it!
  Nowadays, the imperial court's annual salt tax can reach eight to nine million taels of silver!
  Of course, King Lu intercepted 400 million taels himself.

However, this year, King Lu also gave the court an additional 200 million taels, for a total of 600 million taels.

Now, coupled with the millions of taels of silver stolen from your salt merchants, the imperial court is now going to war, and it has plenty of money! "

When Mr. Wu heard this, he couldn't help but frown.

“I didn’t expect that His Highness Prince Lu is truly a genius!
  The old man had already overestimated him, but unexpectedly, he still underestimated him!

He suddenly settled nearly 2000 million taels of silver for the court!

What a genius!

It’s no wonder that he dared to ditch the salt merchants and start his own channel!
  It turns out that the killer weapon has been prepared for a long time!

It’s ridiculous that Cao Wenlong and the others don’t know they are about to die! "

Guo Huan sighed and said: "As the saying goes, before the soldiers and horses are moved, food and grass go first! You are also very involved in the things I do!

You must know everything!
  At this time, if the imperial court sends an envoy to check the granary first, it may be a catastrophic disaster immediately!
  Hongwu ten years, you and I have known each other! At this point, you can't hide it from me!

Are you prepared for my retreat? "

Mr. Wu smiled and said: "Master Guo, after so many years, I have never lied to you! Whether it is those people in the south or those in the east, it is easy to help Master Guo escape!"

Guo Huan looked at Mr. Wu and said, "I can guess who they are from the south! Are you talking about the east?"

Mr. Wu smiled and said, "That's right! Exactly those people!"

Guo Huan frowned and said, "You still have contact with them? How brave! If His Majesty finds out, I'm afraid your last chance of survival will be cut off!"

Mr. Wu smiled and said: "Everyone in the world is bustling for profit, and the world is bustling for profit. After all, everyone is just doing business, so why are there any restricted areas?"
  Even the Majesty you are talking about was supported by us back then!
  But now that His Majesty has no use for us, he wants to kill the donkey!
  It’s really hard for him to endure it for so many years.”

Guo Huan snorted and said: "In addition to business in your eyes, there really is no law of heaven!

Those people to the east have gone too far, and His Majesty hated them more than once!

Although the escape route is ready, I still feel uneasy in my heart. This is a matter of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I can't wait to leave now. "

Mr. Wu took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Don't be anxious, it's not that bad yet! Besides, there are still many things that have not been dealt with. If we leave now, are you willing to leave so much behind?"

Guo Huan smiled bitterly.

"Are you willing? Not willing? No matter what, there is no turning back.

Why did I board your pirate ship back then? If you keep yourself clean, you'll be fine"

Mr. Wu laughed and said, "Be careful, can you get to where you are today?"

Guo Huan sighed.

"One wrong step, one wrong step! Back then I just wanted to show off what I had learned in my life, but who would have thought that it would end up causing great harm to the world!"

Mr. Wu smiled and said: "Mr. Guo, why is this! You might as well think about it. Because of you, the Northern Expedition has been postponed! How many soldiers can live for an extra year and a half! Speaking of which, you have made countless merits and deeds. Live Buddha!”

Guo Huan sneered.

"Wu Gong, you'd better prepare your retreat! Otherwise, although I may not be able to do anything to you, but you Shanxi merchants will really be in ruins!"

Mr. Wu nodded and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Mr. Guo! In a few days, we will arrange for you to go to sea! Whether it is the East, South, or even the West! It's all up to you!"

Those people in the south have a broad vision. According to them, the world is so vast that it is beyond imagination! Every country has its own style and style!
  Mr. Guo brings such a large sum of money with him, which is enough for the whole world to have fun! "

Guo Huan sighed quietly: "The world is so big, why do you call me home? If you leave your homeland, you will be a lonely ghost! Wu Gong, I can only trust you now."

Qinhuai River Estuary.

On a small boat.

Mr. Wu breathed a sigh of relief.

From Yangzhou to Yingtian and then here.

Soon we were able to go down the river and reach the mouth of the sea.

There, someone will help you get on the big boat.

At this point, the entire escape is really over!

Opposite him.

Sitting and escorting his son Wu Shuo all the time.

Mr. Wu looked at Wu Shuo and asked, "Should King Lu have obtained evidence of Guo Huan's crimes over the years, right?"

Wu Shuo nodded and said: "Don't worry, father, everything has been arranged! The Qi family in Jinzhong stopped King Lu's car in the street, and King Lu has left the account book."

Mr. Wu smiled and said: "That's good!"

Wu Shuo couldn't help but ask: "Didn't my father promise to Guo Shilang to let him leave? Why still?"

Mr. Wu sneered and said, "He's gone. How could the Ming Dynasty make our Majesty crazy!"

Wu Shuo frowned and said, "Father, my son doesn't understand!"

Mr. Wu said calmly: "This Emperor Hongwu is different from all the emperors in history!
  Many people compare him to Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty!
  Actually it’s not appropriate!

Liu Bang was at least a pavilion chief!

When he started his family, he was dependent on his father-in-law!
  At least it can be considered a wealthy family!
  He has never had such a hard time with our Emperor Zhu!

At least, he still knows the nature of this world!
  After all, he wants to rule the world, and we should be the ones to rely on him! "

Wu Shuo nodded ignorantly. I don’t know why my father suddenly mentioned Zhu Yuanzhang’s origin.

Mr. Wu said coldly: "At first I just saw that he could conquer the world and become the emperor! But I didn't expect that he actually wanted to be an independent man!

Family in the world, family in the world!
  Since ancient times, which dynasty has truly succeeded in ruling the world?
  Only his Hongwu Dynasty!
  Treat wealthy clans as pigs and dogs, migrating here and there!
  One person is convicted today, and none is copied tomorrow!
  All the wealthy families in the world are in panic!
  It is never too much to say that the world has been suffering for a long time! "

Wu Shuo smiled bitterly.

Needless to say?
  Look at how the Shanxi merchants have been harmed by the imperial court.
  Even if the salt trade is guilty, what about the rice trade and the chariot and horse trade?
  If there is a problem with the business, the family property will always be blameless, right?

Why were even the family property confiscated?

It makes absolutely no sense!
  Mr. Wu said bitterly: "I wish I could dominate the world for decades!

Even in such troubled times as the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he was still able to maneuver around and get the best of both worlds!

Who would have thought that as soon as he entered the Hongwu Dynasty, people would be helpless!
  It is ridiculous that a man worth hundreds of millions cannot wear silk and satin, but can only wear silk!
  This time I want to use this huge case to arouse the anger of people all over the world! What's wrong?
  Let this Emperor Hongwu see what it means to be exhausted! "

talking.

Mr. Wu looked at Wu Shuo and sneered: "Guo Huan has worked hard for so many years, and most of his wealth is in our hands!
  That Emperor Hongwu was definitely going to get angry and kill someone!

In addition, there is no dust in his eyes, this matter must be pursued!
  Ha ha
  How can it be possible to track down the accounts that have been made into a mess!

In the end, it will just be paid to the common people, or the wealthy families will be completely offended to death!
  When the time comes to arouse the anger of everyone in the world, I'm afraid he won't be able to suppress it!
  Let's wait for the opportunity to act again and light up the beacon fire everywhere!

I have contacted the east and the north. When the time comes, the three families will launch an attack together. It is still unclear who will win in the future! "

Wu Shuo couldn't help but said: "Father, these years you have said that you should keep a low profile and not offend the court. Even if you have alchemy books and iron certificates at home, you have never revealed them.
  Moreover, the imperial court gave you the right to wear silk, and you rarely show off in public. Why do you suddenly show off your talents at this time? "

Mr. Wu smiled.

"Grass-gray snake line! Ten-year layout! Guo Huan is just one part of it! Collusion between government and businessmen is our Shanxi merchants' specialty!

How could he have brought all the fourteen provinces of Ming Dynasty to such a rotten state with just a small minister, Zuo Shilang?

The so-called keeping a low profile as a father these past few years is actually nothing more than the ten years of life and lessons learned by King Gou Jian of Yue.

Back then, he dared to conquer the world and abandoned us like worn-out shoes!

Today, we dare to let him suffer this retribution!
  snort!
  He is an enemy of the scholar-bureaucrats in the world and only wants to dominate his own family!
  Have his spring and autumn dream!
  Wu Shuo, if the world is in chaos again this time, maybe our Wu family can also separate into one side! "

Wu Shuo laughed and said: "That's a good relationship! It's just my father, and Zhu Yuanzhang, wouldn't it be wrong if he didn't involve the rich people in the world?"

Mr. Wu smiled.

"This Emperor Hongwu has a fiery temperament, and he has a temper that is easy to get excited about!

What's more, do you think your father only has people in the household department?

Haha, what are the actions those junior salt merchants made some time ago?
  My father has already said that the grass is gray and the snake line is ten years old!

But in fact, the actual layout took more than ten years!

When the time comes, you’ll see it! "

Wu Shuo couldn't help but said: "Father, there are no flaws in everything here! But there is only one thing that makes my son a little worried. If they handed over the account books to King Lu, King Lu would hide it. Isn't the whole layout complete? In vain?"

Mr. Wu smiled.

"If King Lu reports this matter to the emperor, the effect will be best! If he chooses to conceal it, it doesn't matter!
  The censor in my father's hands will also expose this matter."

Ying Tianfu.

The Palace of the Kings.

At this time, Zhu Tan, who was still busy hiring famous teachers and setting rules, fell into another trouble.

That is, the Guo Huan case!
  These damn Shanxi merchants!
  They felt that giving them the account book was a credit, but in fact, it was clearly a hot potato!
  According to the leader of the Qi family in central Jin Dynasty, this account book was given to them by the son of Wu Qingchen, the leader of Shanxi merchants at that time.

Let them be left to you. As long as you spare them, they will have a way to live!
  Zhu Tan frowned and thought.

Then Wu Qingchen, where did he come from?
  How could he have this account book?
  Among them, every crime Guo Huan committed was recorded clearly!
  There are several possibilities for Wu Qingchen to be able to produce this account book.

Or, Wu Qingchen was Guo Huan's lackey and now betrayed his master.

Either that, Wu Qingchen is an important participant in the whole thing, or maybe Guo Huan is just his puppet!
  No matter what the possibility is, Zhu Tan feels that the Guo Huan case cannot be solved easily, otherwise, he is likely to fall into a trap!
  As for whether this trap is aimed at himself or Daming.

Zhu Tan doesn’t even want to be triggered!

As one of the four major cases in the early Ming Dynasty.

The outbreak of the Guo Huan case was the most bizarre and full of doubts.

The implication is also the most extensive.

If the empty seal case is aimed at corrupt officials.

The Hu Weiyong case and the Lan Yu case were against nobles.

So, Guo Huan's case targeted almost the entire world.

All wealthy families are implicated. Every day, some people are bankrupted and their families are destroyed because of chasing and returning stolen goods!
  In the end, the public anger was even difficult to quell, forcing Zhu Yuanzhang, who had always been tough in history, to kill the person handling the case to appease people.

The great turmoil caused by that time involved the entire Ming society.

The scale is also much larger than other major cases!

All of this only stems from a mere household minister, Zuo Shilang, and acting household minister Guo Huan!
  Zhu Tan remembered it clearly.

At that time, it was said that he stole official grain, collected stolen money, stole gold, silver, and treasure banknotes, and finally converted it into food, amounting to 2400 million shi!

This is a crazy number!

After all, the Ming Dynasty only had so much annual income!

It's hard for Zhu Tan to imagine.

Guo Huan was just a left minister of the Ministry of Hubu, a third-rank official, even though he acted as the minister of the Ministry of Hubu.

How did he collude with all parts of the Ming Dynasty to steal and sell the official grain in the granaries of various places?

To know.

The three local divisions are all top-notch!

How could he be willing to listen to Guo Huan's control?
  not to mention.

At that time, in addition to collecting taxes, the Ming Dynasty also had to spend money.

How did Guo Huan keep it secret for so long?

The house was almost empty, but no one noticed it!
  The more Zhu Tan thought about it, the more suspicious he became.

I even always feel that there must be a huge conspiracy in this!

Wu Qingchen.

This person is very important!

After much deliberation, Zhu Tan had no clue.

However, he only had one idea in his mind.

In the history of Guo Huan's case, looking back afterwards, there must be problems.

The losses caused by Guo Huan were too great.

And Lao Zhu's pursuit of stolen goods, which caused the whole country to be in a state of uproar, was a bit too much.

Zhu Tan even suspected that at that time, Fu Youde and Lan Yu's army had just returned to the court not long ago.

The Northern Expedition is about to begin again.

Is it because Lao Zhu simply used the trick to get rewards and military expenses, and launched a vigorous nationwide pursuit of stolen goods?

The end result proves it too.

This is stupid!
  Lao Zhu suddenly offended all the wealthy households in the country!
  This led to the turmoil of the Ming Dynasty.

Fortunately, this was the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, when military virtues were abundant and the country's fortunes were prosperous.

If it were placed in Chongzhen, it would just be a toss-up.

Li Zicheng's power must increase at least ten times!
  anyway.

He couldn't let the Guo Huan case break out to that point.

It's OK to make up for the situation, but you must not remove the wool from those innocent sheep. Otherwise, the sheep might turn into wolves if they get anxious!
  Looking at the account book in his hand.

Zhu Tan sighed.

Gou benefits the life and death of the country, how can it be avoided because of misfortunes and blessings?

I originally recited this poem just to show off in front of Lao Zhu and several old masters.

Now, I seem to be really interested.

I still have to report this account book to Lao Zhu!

Historically, the Guo Huan case was revealed by several censors.

Zhu Tan believed that even if he did not report the matter, the final result would be the same.

The Guo Huan case will definitely break out, so it is better to take the initiative and seize the opportunity.

Zhu Tan frowned and said: "Prepare the sedan chair! This king is going to the palace to meet the saint!"

　I checked a lot of information today and finally came up with my own understanding of the Guo Huan case, but Kavinka was in a mess. Take a chapter off! Just for one day! sorry! What's even worse is that the light in the author's room is broken. I will contact the master to replace it with a new one tomorrow! Sorry sorry! At the same time, the author guarantees that it will be updated normally during the Spring Festival! Everyone is welcome to support!
  　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)