The infinite heavens start from the red building

Chapter 253 8.29 The end of the salt merchants "buy" the court

Chapter 8

8.29 The end of the salt merchants, "buying" the court

At the same time when Wei Xu and Dongfang Bai launched their general offensive, in Yangzhou city, the Xicheng barracks.

"Lord Lin, everything is ready. Counting me, there are seven routes in total. Each route consists of two elite families, one of whom is a strong crossbowman. The target of the route is a family. I have arranged everything.

Fortunately, the seven families were on guard against each other, and their residences were all dispersed. Otherwise, once one family was exposed, it would be difficult for the other six families. " Xu Fei reported to Lin Ruhai standing in front of the army formation of more than 1000 people.

"The manpower is elite, are they all reliable?" Lin Ruhai was too aware of the danger of being seriously infiltrated.

"Lord Lin, don't worry, among these fourteen hundred households, all the officers above the general banner are my brothers, and more than half of the small banners are also my brothers, even if there are a few nails, it doesn't hurt.

The boy will lead people to deal with the other seven salt merchants, but there are some small fish, so I will trouble Mr. Lin. "Xu Fei has always carried out Wei Xu's concept of "reaching the grassroots level" to the end.

"Are you crazy? These salt merchants are nothing. Which of them has no background in the capital? Killing them is easy, but how are you going to end it?" Liu Feixu, who has been living with Xu Fei since the siege of the rebel army Said anxiously.

She was really frightened by the decisive killing of the two. In the eyes of the high-level gentry, the salt merchants are indeed nothing more than white gloves and money-saving dogs, but in the local area, each of them can make Yangzhou tremble by stomping their feet. Trembling characters.

The Cheng family, one of the eight major salt merchants, had no follow-up problems. On the one hand, the Zhen family was suppressed by Wei Xu and was unable to extend their hands to Yangzhou. On the other hand, the Wu Xun camp helped to close it.

But now is another situation. Lin Ruhai and Xu Fei are completely planning to clean up the so-called "Eight Great Salt Merchants" directly, and even the small salt merchants are not prepared to stay. There is no room for the literal meaning of "cleaning up"!
"What do you think, the salt merchants were not killed by us, but because of the traitors, Yangzhou City was attacked by the rebel army and suffered heavy casualties, many gentry and villagers were killed, not only the salt merchants, but also many big families.

Fortunately, Jiangnan Admiral Wei Xu led troops to help in time, and cooperated with the remaining city defense forces inside and outside to wipe out the Yangzhou rebellion army and completely solve the problem of Yangzhou civil unrest. Unfortunately, the loss has been irreversible. "What Xu Fei said was really like that.

"Who can you fool with this kind of statement? The entire Yangzhou almost includes all the major forces of the imperial court. The information is like a sieve. After you start today, the news will spread throughout the capital within three days!" Liu Feixu said angrily.

Salt tax was the economic lifeline of the imperial court in the entire feudal dynasty, and Yangzhou was the core of the entire Jiangnan salt business.

Therefore, any influential faction in the imperial court will arrange manpower or nails in Yangzhou, such as Longshou Palace, Daming Palace, Yizhong County King, Xungui's family, and even the prince's family.

To put it bluntly, there is no secrecy in any sense for any major event in Yangzhou. Once it happens, it will soon be spread to the tables of the major forces. The only way to end it is to absolutely crush or exchange interests .

"I've never had a 'secret' plan. It's just a salt merchant. For the families behind them, it's nothing more than a dead dog. As long as they raise another dog in time, it doesn't matter at all." Xu Fei didn't take it seriously at all. .

But the most important point, he never thought about telling Liu Feixu that before the war ended, the families in the capital would not be able to pursue it; after the war ended, only Wei Xu would be left in Jiangnan, and everyone else could only quarrel. gun.

In the feudal era, the imperial court had never had much control over the local area, especially for the powerful local factions. It could only be cooperation rather than a complete solution. Otherwise, the lineage of Nan'an County King would almost separate the southern border, so what?

Liu Feixu was completely overwhelmed by his unscrupulousness!
After an incense stick of kung fu, Xu Fei personally took the initiative to arrange this so-called "the first salt merchant in the south of the Yangtze River" in the Jiang family mansion.

"Brother Xu, have you thought about what will happen after this time?" Jiang Chun, the head of the Jiang family, said in an unexpectedly calm tone, even in the face of more than 200 elite soldiers, "I thought you would do it, but I didn't expect is now.

The main forces of our seven families are all at the top of the city, and many of them have even rushed out of the city to join forces with your young master's soldiers to completely eliminate the chaos around Yangzhou City.

Now the Jiang family really can only be slaughtered by others, but the old man doesn't understand, where do you have the confidence to finish it afterwards?Or do you want to chat with the old man on Huangquan Road? "

"Although you and I are hostile, the boy still admires it very much." Xu Fei waved his hand, and soon several subordinates came over with a small table and two stools, and then scattered around, leaving the field for the two.

"West Lake vinegar fish, Song's wife's fish soup, fermented fish with fermented rice wine, plus this sweet and sour carp, paired with 15-year-old flower carvings, little brother Xu is very interested." Jiang Chun didn't mean to be polite, he sat down and gave it to himself Poured a glass. "Speaking of which, the cooperation between you and me has been quite pleasant these days. I have learned a lot from the old gentleman. I will do this first to express my gratitude!" Xu Fei picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

"If the old man's sons have [-]% of your ability, I will die in peace." Jiang Chun smiled lightly, "It's a pity, since you have put the meal of beheading, you probably don't plan to leave anything behind."

"Jiang Family Fish and Meat Yangzhou has been in Yangzhou for nearly a hundred years. It is the only one of the first generation of salt merchants who has continued to this day. How much blood debt is owed? It is time to pay it back today." Xu Fei was not polite, speaking directly to the core, "My son wants to reform the Jiangnan salt business. None of you can stay."

"Oh? It seems that Mr. Wei Er's ambition is greater than we imagined. He moved the entire Jiangnan Salt Affairs. Even if the royal family is involved, he will have to pay for it with his life, unless—" Jiangcun suddenly laughed.

"Since the old man guessed it, he probably won't have any other thoughts. You are a decent person, and I will prepare a good coffin for you." Xu Fei raised his glass lightly, "Good journey!"

"Hahaha!" Jiang Chun raised his wine glass and drank it down, picked up a few more chopsticks to serve with the food, and nodded in satisfaction, "That's right, but the chef at Linhu Lishe? I heard that Liu Feixu was taken away by you." Yes, today is the day to be sure.

It's a pity that my Jiang family's century-old foundation was destroyed by the old man, but I believe I won't be alone. On the road to Huangquan, I will take a few steps slowly and wait for you to chat with me! "

Xu Fei smiled faintly, and drank the same toast, but didn't even bother to reply.

In Yangzhou that night, even the air seemed to be filled with the smell of blood. As the saying goes, "Riding down to Yangzhou with a hundred thousand guan in your waist", it is a pity that the scenery tonight does not correspond to the rumors at all.

Of the seven major salt merchants and 35 small salt merchants attached to them, there was not one left. The soaring flames shone in the sky that should have been as dark as ink, turning the entire sky into a dazzling blood red!

A few days later, the Imperial Palace in the capital, the Imperial Study Room of Daming Palace.

"Report to Your Majesty, Wei Xu, the admiral of Jiangnan, led his army to recover Yangzhou, an important town in the south of the Yangtze River, a few days ago, and wiped out more than 15 rebels. The capture is worthless, and the good news has been sent!" Niu Jizong did not elaborate on this "victory" the meaning of.

"Your Majesty, I impeached Wei Xu, the admiral of the south of the Yangtze River, and followed the enemy like a mouse, lingering, resulting in the fall of Yangzhou, the common people suffered a lot, and they lied about their military achievements. They shamelessly covered it up. They should be beheaded to punish the law!" The dead father's expression frantically clamored.

But after he finished speaking, he was surprised to find that none of the nearly twenty core officials at the scene answered the conversation, even the civil officials were silent, and Wu Xun even stared at him like an idiot.

"My minister seconded the proposal, and suggested that we send people south immediately to arrest Wei Xu!" Shi Guangzhu acted in a strange manner, "I heard that Lord Bai's eldest son is now in the Ministry of Punishment? Why don't we send him there, it just happens to be an opportunity to make meritorious deeds !"

There was still no one on the civil service side, and even a few military commanders couldn't help laughing, but they all covered their mouths and held back, but it was very hard.

In wartime, clamoring to kill the frontline generals, what kind of IQ does it take to do this?At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen changed his chief assistant and killed his ministers at every turn. How many of those military leaders from various places did he move?

"Does Wei Aiqing have any other memorials?" Enduring and enduring, Emperor Yongzheng finally decided to continue asking, "For example, a self-defense statement?"

"No." Niu Jizong shook his head, "However, he mentioned in the battle report that due to civil unrest in the south of the Yangtze River, the imperial court failed to receive this year's salt tax. Now he has recovered Yangzhou and recovered more than [-] million taels of tax money. Arrangements have been made to transport them by water.”

"Hiss——" Almost everyone at the scene gasped, more than 800 million taels, if they say hand it over, they will hand it over, considering that the "harvest" of Dashun Dynasty is only more than 1000 million taels a year, even if Emperor Yongzheng Liang Bo couldn't continue to investigate for a few salt merchants.

"Yeah!" Resisting not to laugh on the spot, Emperor Yongzheng nodded with a serious face, "Wei Aiqing has a heart, but this time, although Yangzhou was conquered, it also made the common people suffer more.

Considering that the war is tense and the rioters are still rampant, there is no reward or punishment in this battle, and he is allowed to commit crimes and meritorious deeds. If he commits a crime again in the future, I will never forgive him lightly, so be it! "

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

(End of this chapter)