Chapter 71: Good words to persuade, apes crying and cranes complaining

December 11th, light snow.

In the land of Huai'an Prefecture, there are now too many dragons and tigers that cannot be provoked.

Except for the Governor of Canal Transport and the Commander of Canal Transport who have a transcendent status, now there is another Imperial Envoy Patrol Commissioner.

The Prefect of Huai'an has great wisdom. Before the imperial envoy arrived, he had already vacated the office.

After the incident that the prefectural office was suspected of spying on the imperial envoy's secrets, the Prefect, in order to avoid suspicion, took advantage of the situation and went to Shanyang County to work, temporarily giving the prefectural office to the Imperial Envoy Patrol Commissioner Hai Rui.

The Huai'an Prefecture Office has never been as lively as these few days.

In just a few days, dozens of salt tax ambassadors, deputy ambassadors, salt warehouse ambassadors, deputy ambassadors, and verification office ambassadors, deputy ambassadors were arrested and imprisoned like dumplings, and the prison was almost full.

The day before yesterday, a salt tax knowledgeable deliberately damaged the account books and was asked for a tally by the imperial envoy, and was beheaded on the spot.

As an imperial envoy, Hai Rui, who returned to Nanzhili, was fierce and monstrous.

At this time, the prefectural office.

Hai Rui and Wang Zongmu stood side by side in the main hall, watching more than ten people flipping through the account books, rubbing sparks out of the abacus in their hands.

The former couldn't help but sigh: "I have to thank Governor Wang for his help. If it weren't for these capable officials in the Canal Transport Office who are proficient in degree and expenditure, I really wouldn't know what to do."

After getting the account books, one must know how to calculate. The imperial envoy team is large, but it is still a bit whimsical to expect everything to be prepared for him. He can't count on the Embroidered Uniform Guard to do this.

Fortunately, there is the Canal Transport Office.

Responsible for canal transport, there is never a shortage of small officials proficient in degree and expenditure.

This is the benefit of relying on a large-scale office. It can only be said that the Emperor thought too thoroughly.

If it weren't for Wang Zongmu's support, Hai Rui would only have to ask the Ministry of Revenue's clean-up department.

Not to mention whether they would pay attention, just the extra time spent would not be short.

Wang Zongmu frankly accepted this thanks and said: "Small things, after all, they are all working for the court."

"However... the account books of the salt fields, I am afraid there is more than this set."

This kind of work of deceiving the top and hiding from the bottom is always a set of account books on the surface and a set of account books in the dark.

The implication is that it is somewhat a waste of effort.

Hai Rui nodded: "I also know this, so I will compare it with the salt merchants' account books."

In name, the two Huai regions produce 700,000 yin of salt every year. This number has not moved since the founding of the country, so the central government has always been unaware of how much was actually produced.

But before leaving, the Emperor gave him a bottom line.

The world's population is about 150 million. Although Hai Rui doesn't know where it came from, according to five catties of salt per person per year, with some loss and substitutes like salted fish, at least 700 million catties of salt should be produced.

Since the salt of the two Huai regions accounts for the majority, it must be around 300 million catties, which is the number of 1.5 million yin.

It further confirms Xu Fuyuan's saying of "doubling it".

What Hai Rui has to do now is to determine the number of salt production.

Is it the 700,000 yin that has remained unchanged since the founding of the country, or the 1.5 million yin estimated by the Emperor!

These are all money!

Only after determining the number of salt production can the two Huai regions be properly taxed.

Wang Zongmu looked at Hai Rui curiously: "Salt merchants' account books? Will they cooperate?"

He witnessed how fiercely it was tossed these few days.

Chen Dong went to Taizhou, and as soon as he arrived, he burned two salt fields.

The warehouse and tower were burned into ruins. The warehouse and tower collapsed, and the salt naturally collapsed back into the salt pool with the ruins, mixed with the brine.

Although I don't know why so much salt entered the water and why not a single grain of salt precipitated, it is just a detail—the technical problem is insignificant, at least politically, this account has been leveled.

Huai'an here is not as exaggerated as burning, but it is almost the same.

The brine towers of several salt fields were in disrepair for years, and were startled by the soldiers, and just happened to break and collapse into the salt pool.

The account books of the transfer office, not to mention, were burned cleanly.

It can only be blamed that the winter is too dry, and the imperial envoy didn't come at the right time.

Since it has reached this point, there is no reason to let the salt merchants offer the account books with both hands.

Hai Rui smiled: "Wringing a cloth, wringing for the first time, you can always wring out a lot of water."

"I detained those little ghosts, just waiting for the King of Hell to express his attitude."

As an imperial envoy, patrolling the salt administration of the two Huai regions, these Kings of Hell will not give him no face at all.

This is the room for discussion, and both sides are waiting for this consultation.

Since the Emperor personally told Hai Rui that those above the fourth rank are recorded and the holy decision is unique.

He will not leave no room for these high-ranking officials just after starting work.

If they are sensible, spit out the five or six percent the Emperor wants, and they might not be able to shake hands and make peace.

Speaking of this, Wang Zongmu couldn't help but remind: "Gangfeng should be cautious. These people may not be of one mind. Doing this might be counterproductive."

It involves the founding meritorious nobles, the sitting tigers of Southern Zhili, two former Grand Secretaries of the Central Secretariat, and several high-ranking officials. The relatives and subordinates of these characters were detained together, and no matter what happened beforehand, they would connect afterwards.

Hai Rui looked at Wang Zongmu, his face strange: "Governor Wang, I will ask you a private question."

Wang Zongmu was stunned.

Then nodded, signaling Hai Rui to ask directly.

Hai Rui hesitated for a moment and asked: "Governor Wang, do you think I, this imperial envoy acting on behalf of imperial power, am following the holy will, or am I sent by the Grand Secretariat?"

Wang Zongmu looked at Hai Rui strangely.

Although he hangs the holy grace and holy will on his lips every day, he, Wang Zongmu, is not pedantic enough to really think that the young emperor can handle government affairs.

Gao Gong was granted a title and retired, but he still told him to cooperate with Hai Rui in patrolling salt, which must be an exchange made with Zhang Juzheng, who succeeded the Grand Secretariat.

Isn't this obvious?

What does Hai Rui mean by this? Is there any deep meaning?

Seeing Wang Zongmu's expression, Hai Rui naturally understood what he was thinking and sighed helplessly.

It's no wonder that these old guys in Nanzhili are resisting stubbornly; I guess they haven't figured out who it is that sent him to the two Huai regions.

He has already released his words, but these people still don't wait for death, I guess they still think it's just the Grand Secretariat wanting to establish prestige, thinking that dragging on for a few years, the current Grand Secretariat should be replaced.

Unfortunately, when they see the coffin, they will know regret.

Just as Wang Zongmu was about to open his mouth to ask, Chen Yinzhao walked in from outside: "Patrol Commissioner, the six heads of the Huai Salt Merchant Association are asking to see you outside the prefectural office."

Hai Rui's spirit was lifted, sure enough, they came.

Wang Zongmu also sensibly arched his hands: "I still have some things to do, so I won't bother Gangfeng."

Hai Rui personally sent him out.

And then said to Chen Yinzhao: "Go, please invite them to the study."

Salt merchant trading, all have tooth people to say, extracting remuneration from it. These tooth people are designated by the transfer office and issue "giving stickers", so they are also called official teeth.

To some extent, the price of salt is in the hands of these official teeth, and the transfer office also uses tooth people to supervise the salt market, and at the same time guarantees the collection of salt taxes.

What is a big salt merchant?

A big salt merchant is an official tooth who wears a merchant's skin, a spokesperson for the government with the right to self-price.

Small salt merchants naturally can only look at the faces of these big salt merchants. How much they spit out, what price, they have to look at the faces of the Chamber of Commerce.

In other words, these big salt merchants are the first-level subcontractors second only to the transfer office.

As for the standards designated by the transfer office, it is self-evident—which dog's master is powerful, the bones eaten are the most fragrant.

These six salt merchants in front of Hai Rui are the biggest salt merchants in the two Huai regions.

Shen Chuanyin, as the head of the Chamber of Commerce, was pushed out and sat in Hai Rui's main seat, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He arched his hands cautiously and replied: "Returning to the question of Patrol Commissioner Hai, we came here because we heard that the account books of the two Huai transfer office were burned, so we specially came to offer the account books of the Chamber of Commerce for the Patrol Commissioner to compare."

Salt fields produce salt, transfer offices sell salt, and salt merchants buy salt.

Each has a set of account books.

The transfer office's were burned, and the salt fields' were scattered.

Naturally, only the ones prepared by the salt merchants are left. Of course, whether they are true or false is not certain.

Hai Rui raised his hand to stop his words and asked: "This official is asking you, who let you come."

Shen Chuanyin and the five salt merchants behind him looked at each other.

The former thought for a long time and said with a hard scalp: "Patrol Commissioner, we are eager for public righteousness..."

Hai Rui interrupted him again: "I have detained many people here. You tell me who let you come, and this official will let them go."

The six salt merchants were all stunned.

They naturally knew about this, but the problem was that when the master let them come, he didn't order this.

Shen Chuanyin had some wit, and he arched his hands: "Patrol Commissioner, we are salt merchants, naturally we came for the overall situation of the two Huai salt taxes."

"If it is someone who affects the overall situation, I hope the Patrol Commissioner will raise his hand high."

"If it is irrelevant, the Patrol Commissioner can use his power."

Hai Rui looked at him unexpectedly: "Are you a provincial graduate?"

Shen Chuanyin arched his hands somewhat shyly and admitted. Scholars going to do business, seriously speaking, can be considered self-degrading.

Hai Rui didn't force him anymore and asked: "Where are the account books?"

Shen Chuanyin quickly said: "Two boxes of account books are outside the prefectural office, I will send someone to lift them in immediately!"

Hai Rui gave Gu Chengguang a look.

The latter acted vigorously and went out the door directly.

Hai Rui looked at Shen Chuanyin with satisfaction and asked: "You don't have to go around with this official anymore. Tell me, how many ten thousand yin."

The name doesn't matter, how much tax money is spit out is the real key.

If 400,000 tax amounts can be spit out, the two Huai regions can pay 1.1 million yin of taxes next year, and Hai Rui can immediately return to the capital.

He looked at this big salt merchant, waiting for his answer.

Shen Chuanyin replied immediately: "Patrol Commissioner! The Chamber of Commerce undertook 800,000 yin of salt last year!"

The two Huai salt taxes are 700,000 yin. This extra 100,000 yin naturally does not pay taxes to the central government, which is the embezzled tax amount.

100,000 yin of salt, hundreds of thousands of taels, but Hai Rui frowned.

100,000 yin?

These people really don't shed tears until they see the coffin!

The Emperor said five percent of the work, so at least 350,000 yin must be spit out! A mere 100,000, sending a beggar?

The psychological expectation is a bit too different.

Hai Rui turned his head away, his expression dark and unclear: "Can President Shen think clearly, is it really 100,000 yin?"

Shen Chuanyin nodded with difficulty.

No way, although several big guys said to let 140,000 yin out, the Chamber of Commerce has nearly 10,000 mouths, and it's not something he can decide alone.

Just intercepting the share of 40,000 yin is already the limit of what he can do.

Hai Rui didn't commit himself: "Where did these 100,000 yin come from, why is it not in the account of the Canal Transport Office?"

Not paying taxes is private salt!

The crime of embezzling tax money must be traced to some people.

Shen Chuanyin quickly said: "It is the Imperial Academy Libationer Wan Hao, who instructed Wang Ruyan to hide the extra salt from the salt fields!"

"This person has no regard for the law, and secretly controlled the transfer office. When selling to our Chamber of Commerce, he lied to us that these 800,000 yin had all paid taxes."

"I think the embezzled tax money went into this person's pocket!"

Nanzhili also has sacrifices and academies. The Imperial Academy Libationer, a fourth-rank official, is not low in status.

Hai Rui didn't expect these people to throw a libationer out to top the thunder, and sat up unexpectedly: "Is there evidence?"

Shen Chuanyin nodded heavily: "The incoming and outgoing accounts all recorded the traces of this thief!"

That is, both human and material evidence are complete.

Hai Rui didn't answer for a while.

Stood up slowly, pacing back and forth in the room, looking thoughtful.

The six salt merchants were puzzled and didn't dare to disturb.

After a long while.

Shen Chuanyin called out hesitantly: "Patrol Commissioner..."

Hai Rui came back to his senses and finally ended the long thought.

He turned his head and said to Luo Sigong: "Catch these people and put them in prison, let the Embroidered Uniform Guard try them well!"

The sudden change made the six salt merchants panic.

Shen Chuanyin's face changed greatly, he stood up and threatened: "Hai Rui! Think twice!"

Before he finished speaking, he was overturned by Luo Sigong and dragged out.

The other five salt merchants could not escape and were controlled and taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard one by one.

Hai Rui watched them being taken away quietly, sneering in his heart.

Before he came, the Emperor said that these salt merchants, kill as many as you can, and wait for the raid to bring silver back to the capital.

These salt merchants are innocent, but if they are guilty, why should they get away with it?

Hai Rui stood in the office and waited for a while, then turned to open the door of the partition.

I saw several people tied up in the partition, who were exactly the few people Hai Rui detained in the prefectural office a few days ago.

This partition can naturally hear the movement outside.

Their expressions were different.

Hai Rui's face remained unchanged and said: "Who is the wife's younger brother of the Imperial Academy Libationer."

Several people had their mouths stuffed with balls and couldn't speak.

It was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who framed one of them and walked to Hai Rui.

Hai Rui nodded: "Let him go."

Wan Hao's wife's younger brother naturally knew Hai Rui's plan, and couldn't help but look at Hai Rui with a complex expression.

Waiting for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to start pushing him, he walked out staggeringly.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to look back at the few people tied to the ground, a trace of resentment flashing in his expression.

Hai Rui looked at the Nanjing Supervising Secretary Zhang Huan again and asked: "How is it, Supervising Secretary Zhang, have you thought clearly?"

After speaking, he signaled the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take off his ball.

As soon as Zhang Huan could speak, he cursed: "Hai Rui! You are perverse and lawless, you will be killed!"

Hai Rui shook his head and couldn't help but tease: "It's a pity that you are already in a desperate situation."

Ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard: "Directly put in prison, apply torture."

Zhang Huan's face changed: "How dare you! This official is a supervising secretary! The Emperor will not easily convict!"

"I want to impeach you! I want to impeach you!"

He was about to continue, but his stomach was punched by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, saliva flowed, curled into a ball, and could no longer speak.

Hai Rui looked at the handlebar mustache again: "I wonder what your identity is, so bold, daring to publicly block me at the ferry."

"It turns out to be just a slave of Xu Jie."

After saying this, he didn't let the Embroidered Uniform Guard take off the ball, just took out a document with the seal of the Three Judicial Offices and said: "The evidence is solid, kill him."

The handlebar mustache opened his eyes wide, unbelievable.

His mouth was humming, his body was squirming wildly, as if he had words to say.

But before Hai Rui could speak, his movements suddenly stopped abruptly.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard took back the knife, and when dragging the person out, the handlebar mustache's body was still twitching.

When dragged past Hai Rui's side, he reached out with difficulty to grab Hai Rui's hem, as if wanting to say something.

Hai Rui didn't even blink, serious and earnest: "What this official does is in accordance with the Great Ming Law. If Xu Jie is not convinced, why not come to this official to appeal personally."

After saying this, he looked at the Wei Duke's heir with a gentle expression.

The handlebar mustache's blood splashed on Xu Weizhi, who was trembling and looking at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui nodded, signaling the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take off his ball and untie him.

Xu Weizhi pointed at Hai Rui with a trace of horror in his eyes: "You... you actually kill people like grass!"

Hai Rui was too lazy to talk to him.

Directly to the point: "Go back and tell the Duke of Wei, I will accept these 100,000 yin of tax amounts on behalf of the Emperor for the time being, but it is not enough."

"The Duke of Wei's mansion has received imperial grace for generations. Whether it is to abolish the title and exterminate the clan, or to share the country, it is all in one thought."

Xu Weizhi raised his head in astonishment, meeting Hai Rui's determined eyes.

He opened his mouth wide, showing an unbelievable smile—grinning, eyes wide, pointing at himself: "My family has made contributions to Great Ming, shed blood for the Founding Emperor, and you, a mere fourth-rank official, dare to threaten my clan extermination!?"

Saying that, he kept looking at everyone's eyes, seeking a smile of approval, but no one paid attention to him.

Just at this time, Chen Yinzhao stepped forward, looked at Xu Weizhi, and said softly: "Wei Duke's heir, before leaving, the Emperor had an imperial oral edict."

Xu Weizhi was stunned.

Emperor... imperial oral edict?

He had never received an imperial oral edict in his life, so he turned his head in a daze and looked at Chen Yinzhao.

Chen Yinzhao stood facing north, his expression solemn, word by word: "I ascended the throne at a young age, walking through clouds and rain, and never forgot the

"The Prince of Zhongshan rendered meritorious service to the state; I have always held him in high esteem and have repeatedly thought of building a temple for him."

"In June, I specifically instructed the Grand Secretariat to have the Duke of Wei, Xu Bangrui, return to Nanjing to observe the mourning period."

Speaking to this point, Chen Yinzhao paused, trying his best to imitate the tone the Emperor had used at the time: "I have already given you enough face."

"Xu Bangrui, do not seek your own death."

Xu Weizhi's expression shook violently.

Then, his eyes rolled back, his legs kicked straight, and he actually fainted.