I'm in the Red Mansion

In the south of the Yangtze River, the eight major salt merchants organized an event and invited many high-ranking officials from the south of the Yangtze River to watch the tide in the Qiantang River.

The salt merchants were the richest people in the world, even richer than the emperor.

Over the years, they have been able to control the situation in Jiangnan and have the final say.

The government has long been fed by them and has become a tool for them to consolidate their power.

Even Lin Ruhai, the former Salt Inspector, is now the Emperor's father-in-law and Cabinet Grand Secretary. Isn't he powerful?
Didn't they secretly kill his wife and son back then?

If he had not retreated and withdrawn early, he would have died in Jiangnan long ago.

Faced with the invitation from the eight major salt merchants, the high-ranking officials in Jiangnan did not dare to refuse, nor were they willing to refuse, and were reluctant to refuse.

Salt merchants are rich. At the end of the year, they can earn profits ranging from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of thousands or even tens of thousands of silver.

The amount of silver depends mainly on the size of their official positions.

As long as the event was organized by salt merchants, they would definitely get something beneficial if they went.

The exquisiteness of the dishes at the banquet was jaw-dropping.

The maids serving them are comparable to the top girls in brothels.

The extravagance of these wealthy businessmen amazed all the high-ranking officials.

Therefore, naturally no one would be willing to refuse such a gathering.

In front of the Qiantang River, the best place to watch the tide, a white jade platform covering an area of ​​ten acres has already been built, and a pavilion has already been built on it.

I don’t know what material is used to cover the roof of the pavilion. From a distance, it looks like smoke and fog, hazy, and makes it seem even more ethereal.

On the high platform, a group of maids were dancing gracefully, some were burning incense, some were making tea, some were playing the piano, and some were dancing and singing.

Each of them was dressed in light gauze, and the style of their clothes and the accessories on their bodies were even better than those of the ladies from ordinary aristocratic families.

And the temperament they possess is much better than that of ordinary young ladies.

Climbing up to the high platform, you can smell a calming fragrance.

Then, sit in a comfortable chair and look at the surging and mighty tide ahead.

I just feel that life is worth it if it can be like this, what else can I ask for?

The eight major salt merchants and high-ranking officials in Jiangnan pointed at the tide and exchanged their experiences.

Bai Jingcong, one of the eight great salt merchants, said: "This is not even the highest tide yet. We'll go see it later. It will be truly spectacular!"

"Are the gold leaves ready?"

"Master, everything is ready."

After hearing this conversation, the corners of the mouths of the Jiangnan high-ranking officials began to twitch uncontrollably.

Why did Mr. Bai ask people to prepare gold leaves?

This gold leaf is not for them.

Instead, they wait for the tide to come and then scatter it into the tide.

At that time, you will be able to see the magnificent sight of golden light in the tide that covers the sky.

But if you want to see such a wonder, you don’t know how many gold leaves you have to sprinkle!
These salt merchants are truly unkind!

What else can you do if you don't want to be so wasteful?
Wouldn't it be better to give us these gold leaves?

Just then, a maid came in holding a small bowl of egg fried rice.

"Master, please have dinner."

As he said this, he knelt in front of Bai Jingcong, took the soup, and fed Bai Jingcong fried rice with egg.

Bai Jingcong said to everyone around him: "I didn't have much appetite this morning, so I didn't eat."

"I'm hungry right now, so I'll finish my meal first to fill my stomach. Do you want to have a bowl too?"

Everyone said they were not hungry and said that Mr. Bai was very frugal as he only had a bowl of fried rice with egg.

Bai Jingcong laughed after hearing this, but he couldn't help feeling contempt in his heart.

These bunch of unsophisticated people, they know shit!
This bowl of egg fried rice is not ordinary egg fried rice. It costs at least fifty taels of silver.

These eggs were laid by the chickens they raised specially in their house.

These laying hens are very particular about the selection of seedlings, and even more particular about feeding.

All the hens are fed with ginseng, astragalus, white atractylodes, jujube, etc.

The accompanying soup is a hundred fish soup, including crucian carp tongue, carp milt, silver carp brain, spotted fish liver, yellow croaker fat, shark fin, turtle skirt, eel blood, bream paddles, mullet fillet and so on.

The rice used for egg fried rice is naturally also carefully selected.

And every grain of rice in the fried rice must remain 100% intact.

Make sure every grain is soaked in egg liquid.

The chef who cooks the fried rice is also a famous chef who was hired at a high price.

This bowl of egg fried rice can cover the annual expenses of an ordinary family of three.

These salt merchants eat exquisite food, but they also know how to maintain their health.

Soon, the high tide came, and at first only a black line could be seen approaching in the distance.

As it got closer, I saw that it was an overwhelming tide coming up.

Suddenly, all that was visible was the dark tide.

The tides pile up one wave after another, one upon another, as if there is no end.

Soon, the tide reached the platform, as if it was going to smash it to pieces.

The power of nature makes everyone feel awe.

"spread!"

At Bai Jingcong's command, dozens of servants immediately scattered the golden leaves that had been prepared long ago into the tide.

The tide soon became golden and magnificent.

This scene is truly spectacular!
But this magnificence is fed by gold!
Everyone was amazed and cheered.

After a long while, the tide finally receded slowly.

Everyone's interest gradually faded.

Bai Jingcong added: "We have prepared several tables of banquets in Country Garden, and we invite you all to come and enjoy the feast."

These high-ranking officials in Jiangnan immediately understood what was meant and said, "Master Bai and others are treating us, so how can we not show our support? It's really a waste of money for Master Bai and others."

"please!"

"please!"

Just when everyone was about to get off the platform, they heard a noise coming from outside.

Bai Jingcong and other salt merchants, as well as high-ranking officials from Jiangnan, could not help but frown.

The eight major salt merchants, plus high-ranking officials from Jiangnan, are here. Is there anyone in Jiangnan who dares to be rude to them?

Bai Jingcong's face darkened and he was about to call someone to ask questions.

Then one of his followers came running over and said, "Master, it's bad. There are a large group of soldiers outside, surrounding us."

"It looks like it's coming for us."

After hearing these words, Bai Jingcong and others could not help but feel angry and surprised.

They just thought it was ridiculous.

In Jiangnan, how could they be surrounded by soldiers?
How could such a ridiculous thing happen in this world?

It would be more believable to say that they were surrounded by bandits.

Bai Jingcong couldn't help but ask, "Where did the soldiers come from? Who are their generals?"

The attendant couldn't help but say, "Master, I don't know the general in charge, but judging from these soldiers, they should be from other places, and they are definitely not our Jiangnan soldiers."

Hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but gasp.

It was only then that they finally realized something was wrong.

If the soldiers coming were from Jiangnan, they would not be afraid.

All the high officials in Jiangnan are here. Who is so bold as to send troops to surround them? However, these soldiers came from other places, which frightened them.

Local troops are not allowed to leave their stations without military orders.

Once you leave the base, it will be tantamount to treason.

Why are soldiers from other places here?

They must have received a military order, so who ordered them to come?
After arriving, why did they just surround them?

The only person they could think of was the Emperor.

No one except the emperor dared to issue such a military order.

Could it be that the emperor wants to take action against them?
When they thought of this, everyone became terrified.

Even the high-ranking officials in Jiangnan felt very uneasy.

Although the army is mainly targeting salt merchants this time, these high-ranking officials are in cahoots with the salt merchants, so I'm afraid they won't be able to escape.

Bai Jingcong shouted sternly: "Go, find out immediately where these soldiers came from? Who are their generals? What exactly are they going to do?"

However, before Bai Jing's followers could answer, teams of soldiers had already appeared in their sight.

Soon, Baiyutai was surrounded.

Looking at the uniforms of these soldiers, they are actually border troops.

This made all of them even more frightened.

Border troops! Their fighting power is probably the strongest army besides the Beijing garrison, right?
Letting the border troops deal with them is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and making a fuss out of nothing!
Soon, a general, leading three hundred soldiers, climbed onto the platform.

At this time, Jiang Zhe, the highest official in Jiangnan and the Governor-General of Liangjiang, stepped forward and asked:

"I don't know your name, General. Why did you cross the border to come to Jiangnan? Do you have a military order? What is your business in Jiangnan?"

However, the leading general said calmly: "I am Feng Ziying, and I have been ordered to arrest the eight salt merchants who are causing trouble in Jiangnan. I am also the governor of Jiangnan, and I have the power to execute first and report later."

"Come here, arrest all the salt merchants!"

"Yes, General!"

hiss!
Hearing this, everyone present took a deep breath.

As expected, the emperor was going to take action against the eight major salt merchants in Jiangnan.

Moreover, the general who came was actually Feng Ziying.

Just like when Jia Yucun went to Jinling to be an official, his doorman told him to copy a local official protection talisman.

Naturally, these high-ranking officials in Jiangnan also have a list of people they cannot afford to offend.

Feng Ziying was prominently listed on this list.

Feng Ziying's rank was not high.

But who made him the emperor's senior brother?

The Holy King is in great favor and is someone they cannot afford to offend.

However, Feng Ziying was guarding the border along the West Sea, and had nothing to do with them.

Originally they thought that they would not have any intersection with Feng Ziying.

But he never expected that the emperor would transfer Feng Ziying to be the governor of Jiangnan.

Judging from the situation, this time, it is not just aimed at the eight major salt merchants!
The eight major salt merchants all looked pale and collapsed to the ground without realizing it.

They are certainly the richest in the world, and they are certainly powerful, and they can call the shots in the Jiangnan area.

However, if the emperor wants to take action against them, they really have no way to escape!
If so, they would have been alert earlier.

If they had donated most of their property early on and stepped back, they might have been able to save the lives and property of their entire family.

But at this moment, it was already too late.

When there is enough behind you, forget to pull back; when there is no way ahead, want to turn back!
Soon, all the eight major salt merchants were arrested.

As for the high-ranking officials in Jiangnan, they were never arrested.

But they are very confused inside.

Because they didn't know whether the eight major salt merchants would involve them.

There must be something unclean on them.

Over the years, they have received countless amounts of silver from the eight major salt merchants.

I don’t know how many times I have worked to finish the job for the eight major salt merchants.

As long as we continue to investigate, they will not be able to escape.

At this time, they could only hope that the emperor raided the homes of the eight major salt merchants just for money and not to disrupt the entire Jiangnan region.

If we really get to the bottom of it, we will find that no one in the Jiangnan officialdom, from top to bottom, is clean.

If this investigation is carried out, I’m afraid everyone will be arrested.

If this happens, Jiangnan will be in chaos.

Jiangnan is an important tax-collecting area of ​​China. Does the emperor dare to let Jiangnan fall into chaos?
What made them most relieved was that the emperor sent a military general to deal with such matters.

Military generals are certainly good at fighting wars, but can the affairs of the officialdom be settled by a mere military general?

Therefore, high-ranking officials in Jiangnan were busy sending people to inquire about the news while making various preparations.

They still have a sense of luck in their hearts.

What they didn't know was that at this time, under the protection of a team of internal guards, Cabinet Grand Secretary Lin Ruhai had quietly arrived in Jiangnan.

On the surface, Jia Cong sent the military general Feng Ziying.

The person who was really in charge of this matter was the imperial envoy Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai had served as the salt inspector of the Jiangnan Salt Administration for many years and was naturally no stranger to Jiangnan.

Moreover, Lin Ruhai's wife and son were also killed by Jiangnan salt merchants.

Moreover, Lin Ruhai's position was high enough to keep the situation under control.

This time, Lin Ruhai was sent here not only to deal with the Jiangnan officialdom, but also to avenge him.

But Lin Ruhai came to Feng Ziying's headquarters without anyone noticing.

Feng Ziying, of course, knew Lin Ruhai's identity. He was not only a cabinet minister, but also the father of the current queen and the father-in-law of the emperor, and was favored by the emperor.

When Grand Secretary Kou steps down, this Lord Lin will probably become the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

Therefore, after seeing Lin Ruhai, Feng Ziying bowed and said, "I am here to see the Imperial Envoy."

Lin Ruhai laughed, stepped forward quickly to help Feng Ziying up and said, "General Feng, you are welcome."

"When I came here, the emperor told me that General Feng is the emperor's senior brother and can be absolutely trusted."

"This trip, everything depends on General Feng!"

Hearing these words, Feng Ziying felt relieved.

He hurriedly said, "I am at the mercy of Lord Lin. I will obey your orders."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "We are all family. If General Feng is not shy, you can call me uncle."

Feng Ziying said obediently: "My nephew is better to obey than to be respectful. I will listen to you, uncle. Just call me by my name."

Next, Feng Ziying began to raid the homes of the eight major salt merchants.

Lin Ruhai secretly interrogated the eight major salt merchants.

Neither of these two tasks is easy.

Confiscating property may seem easy, but the wealth of the eight major salt merchants is too huge.

For some industries, if you don't look closely, you wouldn't even know they are the industries of the Eight Major Salt Merchants.

If you are not careful, you will definitely miss a lot of property.

However, Feng Ziying is not just a general, he also has sources of information under him.

Before he led his troops to Jiangnan, he had already secretly sent people to find out the assets of the eight major salt merchants. (End of this chapter)