Invincible Zhengde

Chapter 114
Naturally, Liu Jin didn't dare to be negligent, so she hurried out and took the account book that Liu Qi held in both hands, and presented it to Zhu Houzhao respectfully.

After receiving the ledger, Zhu Houzhao began to look through it. There was no sound in the room, and even the sound of panting was very low.Obviously, the situation here has confused many people. No one thought that Liu Qi would turn himself in. Not only did he admit everything, but he also took out the account books. Is this crazy?Many people wanted to strangle Liu Qi to death.

Zhu Hou took care of it for a while, and finally put the account book aside, and then said, "Liu Qi, tell me what is going on in the private salt case!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi knelt on the ground and continued, "The so-called private salt case in the Lianghuai Salt Field is actually a corruption case of government-business collusion. Officials use various methods to conceal the official salt, which is called drifting in this industry, and the usual method is to deduct and underreport the output.”

"In addition to underreporting production, there is also the squeeze of salt households, making them work day and night, and the excess is taken away by these officials."

"The other thing is to hide the salt fields, directly hide the salt fields, and all the salt produced by these salt fields will be embezzled."

"In recent years, it has been sold to salt merchants at a price lower than that of officials, and there is no need for salt imports. It is sold as long as the salt is given. The salt merchants transport the salt back and sell it as official salt. The officials in the salt field get a lot of money. The salt merchants It's also a big profit. Although I haven't checked it carefully in recent years, [-]% of the salt in the Lianghuai Salt Field has been drifted away in this way."

Zhu Houzhao nodded. In fact, this kind of thing has no effect on the common people. It is the same to buy salt. What is affected is the tax of the country and the salt class of the imperial court.

Glancing at Liu Qi, Zhu Houzhao continued to ask: "The merchants who gave you money in this account book are actually merchants who make private salt, right?"

"Return to Your Highness, yes!" Liu Qi nodded: "These are their filial piety. Once the private salt is investigated, the Yandao side will make up documents from top to bottom to turn the private salt into official salt. There is no trace. This time, after Eunuch Yang of Dongchang arrested people, the salt merchant Liu’s family came to him and gave me 5 taels of silver to help me make paperwork. This is the last sum on the account book.”

Zhu Houzhao turned the account book to the last page, and Zhu Houzhao said slowly to Mou Bin and Qi Zhong: "You two lovers, what do you think?"

He Zhong felt as if he had eaten shit. This time, Jiangnan's officialdom was about to be shaken up, while Mou Bin secretly hated Yang Bin and Liu Qi at the same time.

Yang Bin, the people from the Jinyiwei helped the East Factory without mentioning it, and they didn't report it beforehand, and they even arrested the commander of the Jinyiwei afterwards.what is this?This is covering up!Nanjing Town Fusi can't get rid of the whole thing, but can Mu Bin, the commander of Jin Yiwei, get away with it?This is ineffective governance, especially in front of the prince.

On the other hand, looking at Dongchang, looking at other people's Dongchang, not only found out such a big case, but also found out very clearly. In this comparison, what is Jinyiwei?
"Your Highness, I think that this case should be strictly investigated, and all those involved in the case should be arrested and severely punished!" Mou Bin said directly: "I took Jin Yiwei to arrest people!"

Mou Bin's words were so eloquent that he couldn't help but give up this job to Dongchang, what would happen to him?The commander of Jinyiwei, the deputy imperial envoy, did nothing, just strolled around?Then Jin Yiwei not only failed to find out the Yangzhou salt smuggling case, but also complicit and cover up. Is this how you Jin Yiwei work?It is estimated that the emperor must peel off his skin when he goes back.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Mou Bin, pondered for a moment, until the air pressure dropped a lot, then Zhu Houzhao said slowly: "Is this suitable?"

As soon as the words fell, Yang Lian on the side stood up and said loudly: "Your Highness, it is better to leave this matter to your servants! Dongchang has been in Yangzhou for a long time, and he knows more about things here. Besides, Dongchang I'm also very familiar with Master Liu here." Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi, and then said, "Is it? Master Liu?"

"I don't know what Eunuch Yang is talking about!" Liu Qi shook his head and said, "This is the first time I have seen Eunuch Yang."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Qi, then at Yang Lian, and said, "Yang Lian, is there anything else going on here?"

"Returning to Your Highness, the reason why Dongchang came to Yangzhou to investigate the salt smuggling case was because he received a secret report and the matter was of great importance. Dongchang naturally wanted to find out the person who made the secret report. After investigation, Dongchang finally found this person. The person who made the secret report is actually Lord Liu Qi." Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi, and then said: "Master Liu, you don't have to deny it now, if there is no evidence, our family will not open this mouth under the Highness .”

The hall was once again shocked, and everyone was silent. Is there such a secret behind this incident?The cause of this incident was Liu Qi, the Yangzhou transshipment envoy?Why did he do this?
Liu Qi glanced at Yang Lian, smiled wryly for a while and said, "It's fine for Mr. Yang to know, so why bother to come out? Liu will spare no effort to save the country from this great harm."

As soon as the words came out, everyone understood that this was a minister with justice in his heart, and he would not hesitate to die with the Yandao officials!This is still going to drag those salt merchants to die together, and everyone looks at Liu Qi differently.

Zhu Hou looked at Liu Qi, and said, "Liu Qi, tell me! I'm here today, representing my father. No matter what you say, I will tell my father the truth."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief, and said in a very calm tone: "Since I came to Yangzhou, I have discovered the problem of salt administration. Originally, I thought it was just a small problem of one family. , but I didn't expect it to be the problem of the entire salt road. From top to bottom, there are countless salt merchants involved, which are intricate, shocking, and jaw-dropping."

"There are kitchen households intercepting the salt privately and selling it to private salt dealers, and the officials of the salt road are hiding their secrets. The whole salt road is their world, and it can be said that they can get whatever they want."

"The more I understand, the more afraid I am. These people have no self-awareness in their hearts. At that time, I was determined to get rid of this great harm for me."

"It's just that there are their people up and down the Yandao. If I don't get along with them, I can't get any evidence, and I can't even secure the official position of the Yangzhou transfer envoy. In order to repay the emperor's favor and Ming Dynasty, I will not hesitate. So I soon joined forces with them, but I never forgot my original intention, and I never forgot to serve Daming and His Majesty."

(End of this chapter)