Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 62 Going to Jiangnan

In Prince Yu's Mansion.

King Yu sat around the fire with Xu Jie, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng.

Gao Gong said: "Old Xu Ge! Just now in front of the emperor, Yan Song recommended his lackey Yan Maoqing as an imperial envoy to go south to inspect salt. I want to oppose it. Why did you keep me silent?"

Xu Jie shook his head: "Why did you keep your mouth shut? For the millions of starving people in Beizhili who are starving for food! For the sake of the world!"

Gao Gong said: "This is strange, please explain clearly to Mr. Xu Ge. Could it be possible to save the disaster victims in Zhili in the north by sending traitors from the strict party to patrol the salt in the south of the Yangtze River?"

Xu Jie said: "Confused, Gao Suqing! The officialdom in the south of the Yangtze River is the financial and taxation center of the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, Yan Song has installed his own people in every important position in the south of the Yangtze River! If the emperor sends our people to the south of the Yangtze River, the officials of the strict party there will treat us Everywhere is constrained! At that time, our people will return to Beijing empty-handed! Yan Maoqing’s going to Jiangnan is different. The corrupt officials of the strict party in Jiangnan, even if they sweep their own warehouses, they will give Yan Maoqing a sum of money. Let him be in Jiangnan In front of the emperor!"

Gao Gong said: "Oh, the state affairs have fallen to this point, and the emperor is forced to appoint greedy ministers to govern the country. It's really sad and lamentable! Originally, we planned to use the Lianghuai salt tax deficit to attack Yan Song. Now go and investigate People who are short of salt tax have become leaders of the strict party. It’s a failure! It’s a failure!”

Zhang Juzheng shook his head: "It doesn't matter if the success falls short. At least the emperor knows about the salt tax deficit. Our emperor is the most wise monarch in the past and present. He sent Yan Maoqing to the south of the Yangtze River. The real purpose of asking Yan Maoqing to visit the salt is to let the strict party raise a sum of money to solve the urgent need of Beizhili! I think the emperor will definitely let the Jinyiwei intervene in this matter, and send Jinyiwei to Jiangnan to secretly investigate the salt tax deficit."

Xu Jie said: "Zhang Taiyue spoke thoroughly."

Gao Gong smiled wryly: "Oh, Jin Yiwei investigated Ding Wang's case this autumn. It found 500 million taels of silver, sold Ding Wang's family property in Jiangnan, and obtained nearly 1000 million taels of silver. The 500 million taels of silver—all Entered the internal transport warehouse. If the emperor took out a small change from the private treasury, it would be able to solve the urgent needs of Beizhili! But the emperor's temper... has always been that he can only enter and not come out!"

King Yu interrupted Gao Gong's words: "Gao Suqing, be careful!"

Gao Gong knew he had made a slip of the tongue.

After hearing Gao Gong's words, Zhang Juzheng thought to himself: I just kept saying that the emperor is a wise monarch.This is really the most contrary thing in the world!Since ancient times, how can there be a wise monarch who is greedy for money and good goods, and regards his private treasury as more important than the lives of the common people?
Zhang Juzheng looked at King Yu who was sitting in front of him: Maybe, only when King Yu ascended the throne can the long-standing abuses in the court be eradicated and the Ming Dynasty rejuvenate.

Inside the main hall of Yongshou Palace.

Lu Bing knelt down in front of the green gauze curtain.

Emperor Jiajing, who was in the curtain, said, "Some people actually regard the Lianghuai salt tax as their own vegetable garden. Turnips and cabbages are sold out as soon as they are plucked! It is time to investigate carefully. Lu Bing, you Jinyiwei sent people to Go to Jiangnan! Find out why the salt tax in Jiangnan is [-]% short!"

Lu Bing asked Emperor Jiajing, "Please tell me clearly, who to send?"

Emperor Jiajing thought for a while: "Let's send He Liu there. He Liu is a loyal person. He has also done things very well in recent years. In the case of Ding Wang, he handled the "Baiguan Xinglu" very well. The officials Wu Liangyong, the envoy of the Huaihe River Salt Transport, was corrupt. I have decreed to arrest Wu Liangyong. He Liu went to Jiangnan, in name, to search Wu Liangyong’s house in Jiangnan. Secretly, I will check the two Huaihe salt taxes for me.”

As Zhang Juzheng expected.Emperor Jiajing sent Yan Maoqing to Jiangnan to check the salt tax, just to let him raise money.Emperor Jiajing no longer trusted the Yan Party, or in other words, Emperor Jiajing never trusted the Yan Party.

Lu Bingdao: "The minister receives the decree!"

Lu Bing returned to Jinyiwei and found He Liu and Lao Hu.

Lu Bing said: "Lao Liu, the emperor ordered you to have a new job."

He Liu asked: "What errand?"

Lu Bingdao: "The emperor asked you to go to Jiangnan to do two things. The first one is to search the house of Wu Liangyong, the former Lianghuai salt transport envoy. The second one is to find out the reason for the deficit of the Lianghuai salt tax!"

He Liu was overjoyed.

When investigating Ding Wang's case, Ding Wang once admitted that the clues to "Jubao Yaoshu" were in the south of the Yangtze River. "Jubao Yaoshu" is the only clue to the "Yin Soldier Case".Both his father and wife died because of the "Yin Soldier Case".He Liu has long wanted to go to Jiangnan to investigate the matter of "Jubao Yaoshu".

Lu Bingdao: "Lao Liu, the emperor has really valued you in every possible way. You must not disappoint the emperor. Remember, you went to Jiangnan to investigate the case this time, which is considered a secret investigation! In name, you are going to copy Wu Liangyong's house Yes! As for the investigation of the Lianghuai salt tax, the emperor has ordered Yan Maoqing from the Metropolitan Procuratorate to investigate in the open. So you can only investigate secretly."

He Liu nodded: "This subordinate takes orders."

Lu Bing gave He Liu another token: "Take my token and go to Xu Laoqi's place to summon a hundred wrestlers, and go south with you."

He Liu and Lao Hu were on duty as commanders.

Old Hu said: "The emperor and the command envoy think highly of your sixth son! No one knows that the Lianghuai salt tax is a muddled account that no one can explain clearly. The previous Lianghuai salt transport envoys are big fat A windfall. Heh, this is a good time, I send you to poke that hornet's nest."

He Liudao: "Yes, behind the hornet's nest of Lianghuai salt tax, Mr. Yan Ge is standing. The emperor and Commander Lu were the ones who offended the case if they couldn't find out. After finding out the case, they will offend Mr. Yan Ge. Another time Stretching one's head is a one-shot job, and shrinking one's head is also one-shot job."

He Liu took Commander Lu's token and went to Xu Qi, the Deputy Qianhu deputy of investigation and investigation, Fatty Xu.

Fatty Xu was holding a pig's trotter and gnawing non-stop in the duty room.

Seeing He Liu coming, Fatty Xu put down his trotters and wiped his hands: "Brother Liu, what's the matter?"

He Liu handed the token to Fatty Xu: "Old Seven, the commander asked me to find you to transfer a hundred wrestlers, and follow me to the south of the Yangtze River."

"Going to Jiangnan? Are you going to search the house? This trip is a bit far away." Fatty Xu smacked his lips and said.

He Liu nodded: "It's a bit far away. You choose some capable wrestlers for me. The most important thing is - don't eat like you!"

Fatty Xu, the Deputy Thousand Household Enforcement Officer, is in charge of the [-] warriors in the guard, and the [-] eyes and ears arranged by Jin Yiwei in the two capitals and thirteen provinces.It stands to reason that he should be very shrewd - but he is just a good man with a big heart and a fat body, and he always makes mistakes because of gluttony.

Fatty Xu said: "Sixth brother, you are laughing at me! Alas, the country is based on the people, and the people depend on food! What is a big deal? Eating is a big deal! A big deal that tops the sky! Isn’t it because the people in Northern Zhili have nothing to eat? If they don’t eat, they will starve, if they starve, they will die, and if they die, they will rebel.”

He Liu waved his hand: "Lao Qi, stop, stop. The more you say this, the more you go out of the circle. You, like my girl, were born by starving ghosts!"

Fatty Xu said: "Well, don't worry, Sixth Brother, after you leave, I'll go to your house when I have nothing to do, and bring some delicious food to Xiao Xiangxiang. I will never let Xiao Xiangxiang lose my stomach."

He Liudao: "Then thank you very much."

(End of this chapter)