The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 468 House arrest
After the welcome banquet, Jia Lian didn't care what the salt merchants and the Yangzhou government would do. He still stayed quietly in the salt censor's yamen, checked the files, sorted out the past accounts of the salt government, and sent people from time to time to send relevant personnel to the salt government. The officials brought him into the Yushi Yamen for interrogation.

Acting in a business-like manner is obviously an act of threatening the salt merchants to submit.

With him like this, even the people around him couldn't help but wonder if Jia Lian was also blinded by greed and forgot the original intention of coming to the south of the Yangtze River.

In the temporary office, Liu Xianglian handed the newly inquired news to Jia Lian who was sitting at the top, and couldn't help asking: "Master Hou, if those salt merchants agree to the conditions of the adults, Master Hou really wants to release them." past them?"

Liu Xianglian was in Xingyuan at that time and heard the confrontation between Jia Lian and the salt merchants.

Although the smuggling of salt merchants violated the national law, it is understandable that the imperial court should deal with it lightly in order to stabilize the salt administration.Therefore, Liu Xianglian can understand Jia Lian ordering the salt merchants to hand over 300 million taels of silver to make up for the treasury.

However, he has always been suspicious of Jia Lian's demand for 100 million taels of silver from the salt merchants.

One million, what kind of number is that?You know, if only 100 taels of silver are exchanged for gold ingots, that would be a full box.

One million taels, that's one hundred boxes of gold!

One hundred boxes of gold, just thinking about it makes people feel unreal.

Think about the Xue family, as the top imperial merchants well-known in the north and south, the world said that it has millions of assets.

Jia Lian breathed a sigh of relief, which is equivalent to asking for a Xue family to come out? ?

The Xue family is only worth millions, but what Jia Lian asks for is real money!I'm afraid that the Xue family will not be able to spend so much money.

The point is, Jia Lian actually asked for such a huge amount of money in public, without any cover-up, so wouldn't he be afraid that the salt merchants would temporarily succumb and sell him to the court?No matter how much the emperor trusted Jia Lian, once he really knew that Jia Lian's appetite was so big, he would probably feel chills in his heart.

Therefore, Liu Xianglian expressed that she did not understand Jia Lian's actions.

Jia Lian looked down at the mansion newspaper in his hand and shook his head, "They won't agree."

Liu Xianglian was stunned, "Why is Lord Hou so sure? Although they covered up the sale of private salt as well, as long as the adults keep investigating, they will always find out the real evidence. Even if they have a strong background, Lord Hou will have His Majesty's support." , Naturally, they can also be dealt with according to the laws of the country.

The subordinates couldn't figure out what else the salt merchants could do besides agreeing to Lord Hou's request. "

"I don't know how, but I know that they must be reluctant to take out the 400 million taels! Hehe, 400 million taels, even this Marquis, can't imagine how much money it is. Perhaps, only those who manage the treasury Officials can have an idea in their hearts.

You said, those salt merchants who value silver more than their lives would be willing to hand it over easily?Impossible, that would make them sleepless for ten years. "

Hearing Jia Lian's determination, Liu Xianglian couldn't help but said, "Since your lord understands, why do you want to make such a request?"

Jia Lian raised his head at this time, glanced at Liu Xianglian, smiled inscrutablely, and did not explain.

He could tell that Liu Xianglian seemed to be docile, but in fact she was very proud and arrogant. He was afraid that she had never respected and surrendered to him as a Marquis.

"According to the time, they should be here." Looking at the sky outside, Jia Lian got up with a smile and said to Liu Xianglian: "Let's go out and have a look, maybe soon you will know why I did this. "

……

"The low-level Yangzhou guards Gao Kui, see the imperial envoy."

In the front yard of the Yan Yushi Yamen, in a side hall, the Yangzhou garrison, and three thousand generals seated there, all paid homage to Jia Lian.

"I don't know what the imperial envoy wants to call people of low rank and others to come here?"

Guarding Gao Kui was a little apprehensive, so even though Jia Lian had a kind face and offered to make friends with him, he still couldn't help asking.

Jia Lian, as an imperial envoy to supervise the salt administration, should have instructed the prefect Wu Zhirong and the others if he had something to do, but he summoned them alone, and his intentions were somewhat unpredictable.

"It's nothing serious..."

Jia Lian looked at Gao Kui and the others with a smile.Yangzhou is a large government, so there are nearly [-] standing troops, and the defense is also a fourth rank, which is on the same level as the magistrate.

Of course, the Yangzhou garrison is under the command of Governor Jinling and is only in charge of Yangzhou military affairs.And Yangzhou is a stable state capital in the mainland. In terms of power, the defense is much lower than that of the magistrate.

"It's just that I have checked the salt administration in the past two days and found that there are many shortcomings in it. I am planning to make drastic rectifications according to His Majesty's will, and I am afraid of disturbing the peace of Yangzhou City. Therefore, I have only one thing to call you here. , that is, in the next time, let you wait a lot to strengthen the defense of Yangzhou City, and don't let some people with ulterior motives disrupt the law and order of Yangzhou City."

Although Jia Lian said this with a smile, Gao Kui and the others were still somewhat strange.

The most powerful people in Yangzhou City are not the grand masters of the government, nor the great Confucian scholars who returned from the central government, but the big salt merchants who own the various manors in Yangzhou.

This is a well-known fact in the official circles of Yangzhou.

Jia Lian came here for the salt administration.At this time, he told them to rectify the salt administration, and said that because his behavior might endanger the peace of Yangzhou, he wanted them to strengthen the defense of Yangzhou City...

Now, could it be that Jia Lian, or His Majesty the Emperor, is really going to attack those salt merchants?

Not daring to express his inner thoughts, Gao Kui clasped his fists and said, "Maintaining the stability of Yangzhou City is the job of the low-ranking people. I just don't know what exactly the adults want the low-ranking people to do?"

"It's hard to say exactly what to do, because I still don't know who are loyal and patriotic people in the city, and who are people with ulterior motives.

Therefore, Gao Shoubing and the few Chief Qian may as well stay in the office of the official for the time being.In this way, even if there is any accident, I can dispatch a few adults to help in time. I don't know how many adults would like it? "

"This……"

Perhaps because it was the military officer, several people immediately understood Jia Lian's meaning, which was to put them under house arrest.

"Why, are the adults unwilling to assist this official in doing things for His Majesty? Or do the adults have any concerns, for example, they have secretly colluded with the salt officials and salt merchants, so they are worried that they will not be able to go out and inform them?" Jia Lian asked with a smile.

Gao Kui turned pale, and immediately knelt down and said, "Your Excellency, you are wronged. Although low-ranking people are stationed in Yangzhou City, they have always been only responsible for city defense and extermination of bandits in the jurisdiction. They have absolutely nothing to do with the salt government, let alone salt merchants." What do we have to do with each other..."

Gao Kui's heart trembled.The situation in front of him is obviously that Jia Lian is going to attack the salt merchants. At this time, even if he has friendship with the salt merchants, he can't admit it to death.

Gao Kui was like this, and several other Qian Zong also knelt down immediately to acknowledge his love.

Seeing that Jia Lian was still looking at them carefully, Gao Kui immediately said sensibly: "People with low ranks are willing to do their best for the adults, and they are also willing to obey the arrangements of the adults, and wait for the orders of the adults in the Xingyuan."

Jia Lian just laughed, "Since that's the case, the adults should rest in this courtyard first. As long as you don't leave this courtyard, if you need anything, feel free to ask me and my guards. You're welcome."

After speaking, Jia Lian lifted his foot and left here.

Gao Kui knelt and turned around to watch Jia Lian leave, then wiped the cold sweat from his brow, looked at the three subordinates and stood up.

Walking to the door and looking outside, he found that there were already a dozen guards with swords and armor standing outside, and even the two guards who came in with him were gone. understand the meaning.

"Sir, we..."

"What are we? We didn't listen to what the imperial envoy said. Let me wait here and wait for orders? Don't blame me for not reminding you, the few of us are now at the critical point of life and death. Without my orders, whoever dares to make small moves will try to get involved Everyone, don't blame me for not being sympathetic!"

"Yes, I don't dare to be humble."

At this time, although Gao Kui was a little nervous, he had no fear.

Since Jia Lian put them under house arrest, it means that they are not in any danger.What is dangerous is those outside who are not eligible to be placed under house arrest.

Of course he also knew why Jia Lian wanted them under house arrest, but he was worried that they, as military officers in Yangzhou City, would be bought by the salt merchants. If Jia Lian did anything to the salt merchants, keeping them outside would endanger his own safety.

Inviting several of their leaders to the Xingyuan seems to be able to effectively cut off the potential threat posed by more than 2000 officers and soldiers under his hands.You can also use them to command those officers and soldiers.

I couldn't help but sweat for those salt officials and salt merchants.Jia Lian has already achieved this level, and he can see how determined his attitude is.

Those salt merchants are not so wealthy, but they are all very cunning, why didn't they win over Jia Lian, but offended him instead?
Thinking of what Jia Lian might do, Gao Kui felt a faint pleasure in his heart.

In fact, as the highest-ranking military officer in Yangzhou City, he has indeed benefited from the salt merchants...

But too little!

At least, it is much less than the magistrate Wu Zhirong, and even the Tongzhi (Fucheng), Tongpan and others under the magistrate.

There is no way, this is Jiangnan where singing and dancing is peaceful, all civil officials have the final say, and the status of their military officials is infinitely low.Even well-known members of a certain place dare to ignore their existence, let alone those salt merchants who are well-versed in the sky.

But there is nothing to be done. The military does not interfere in politics. This is the iron law.

Since these big soldiers are not a threat to the salt merchants, naturally they don't need to pay too much attention, as long as they give him some benefits and don't let him be too unbalanced.

This kind of distribution of benefits that does not match his rank naturally made him a little dissatisfied over the years. Therefore, seeing that Jia Lian had the intention of doing something to the salt merchants, he felt a little relieved.

He didn't worry about being implicated by the salt merchants at all, because he really didn't have the right to interfere in the salt administration, so naturally he wouldn't be involved in any serious way.Some of the benefits obtained are just the kind that go in with the left hand and come out with the right hand. As long as the salt merchants don't say it, who will know?

As for the salt merchants voluntarily confessing, he is not too afraid.Because, he knows too well that in the eyes of those court officials and the dignitaries in Beijing, these salt merchants are really nothing, and they can be appeased when they need to be used. Punishment by the court is nothing.

Naturally, the dog's bite is not a threat.As long as the next thing is to do things for Jia Lian, I believe that Jia Lian is unlikely to take action against them without evidence.

Gao Kui thought so, and the other Qian Zong were similar.In fact, even if they have other plans, what can they do now?
Everyone is under house arrest here, can we still expect the brothers below to rescue them at the risk of rebellion?That is the real courting of death.

(End of this chapter)