Chapter 490

Princess Zhaoyang Mansion.

In the inner room, after reading the private message written by Jia Lian to her, Princess Zhaoyang had a smile on her face.

She likes the heroic Jia Lian, and she also likes her lover who does not look down on women and regards her as her right-hand man.

After writing a reply to Jia Lian, he wrote a separate letter home to express his greetings and had it sent to the Bai family, and then forwarded to his uncle, Marquis Yangwu.

This is not what Jia Lian asked her to do.

When Jia Lian was telling her about his current situation, he mentioned the salt merchant Bai's family, and she understood what Jia Lian meant.

Although her uncle Yang Wuhou was not in the center, he was the military envoy with sole power in the border areas. Last time in Anxi Mansion, Jia Lian beat up his cheap brother-in-law, which could be said to be a misunderstanding. This time Jia Lian "robbed" his money bag again, fearing that his uncle would bear a grudge against Jia Lian.

Of course she couldn’t watch this happen. She had to explain the stakes to her uncle and persuade him to restrain himself.

She was just a carefree princess before, but now she has grown up and needs to consider more things. She also felt that her uncle's hand was stretched too far.

At their position, too much money usually brings not benefits but disasters.

She was very happy that Jia Lian told her these things.

She knew that Jia Lian was not afraid of her uncle, Marquis Yangwu. Although Jia Lian's official qualifications were not as high as those of her uncle, Jia Lian was an official with real power in the central government and a close minister of the emperor. Therefore, unless Marquis Yangwu led his troops to rebel, there was no need for Jia Lian to be afraid of him.

On the contrary, her uncle was far away from the center and held a high position of power, so he should be worried about Jia Lian causing trouble for him in the center.

Therefore, Jia Lian would mention this to her just because Jia Lian felt that there was a relationship between the two of them. He and her uncle Yang Wuhou should be natural political allies. Such natural political allies, even if they don't communicate at ordinary times, but there are no major misunderstandings, they should support each other at critical times.

Since she decided to help Jia Lian rise to prominence, the only thing she had to do at this time was to help Jia Lian avoid all unnecessary trouble.

"By the way, I heard that the concubine in the palace is ill. What's going on?"

When her confidant came back to reply, Princess Zhaoyang suddenly asked One sentence.

"Princess Qi, according to the news from people in the palace, Concubine Li is indeed ill, but it seems to be a heart disease. I heard that when she went to pay respects to the Supreme Emperor yesterday, she offended the Supreme Emperor. Ordered by the Supreme Emperor to be placed in solitary confinement.

It seems that the Supreme Emperor was really angry this time, so even when His Majesty went to Chonghua Palace this morning to intercede for the concubine, the Supreme Emperor did not summon her. ”

Princess Zhaoyang had no expression after hearing this.

Not to mention that she was not close to Concubine Li in the first place, but to say that she had already decided that she had sent her to get married. Basically, it was planned by Concubine Li, just to make the Queen Mother unhappy...

Her own grandmother treated her with such contempt, how could she really respect her.

" Where is my imperial grandmother? "

"The Queen Mother has been in a good mood recently. I heard that she plays the piano and cooks tea in the palace every day, enjoying herself and nourishing her character. She occasionally goes to Chonghua Palace to accompany the Supreme Emperor on fishing, chess and other games. "

Princess Zhaoyang laughed and then shook her head.

She knew that the Queen Mother had been in a good mood since she returned to Beijing safely. And she also She felt that after returning to Beijing this time, her imperial grandmother also had some changes.

Although she couldn’t put it into words, she felt that the relationship with the Supreme Emperor was closer, and the corresponding one was Concubine Li. She became more and more disgusted by the Emperor, and she would always be reprimanded by the Emperor.

She felt that her imperial grandmother was responsible for this.

Because in the past Every two days, the Queen Mother will definitely invite her into the palace. During this period of time, she seems to have forgotten her.

Maybe she is really busy...

When Princess Zhaoyang thought about it, she respected the Queen Mother even more. The Queen Mother, who used to be such an elegant and uncontroversial person, now started to deal with people, and I am afraid that there was also a reason to vent her anger.

Although my heart is definitely on the side of the imperial grandmother, I still have to work hard to save face.

“Since the concubine is ill, I naturally have to go to pay my respects. Pass on the order and show up at Changchun Palace after noon. ”

After casually giving the order to enter the palace to pay respects, Princess Zhaoyang was sitting in the study, but she remembered that her previous reply to Jia Lian had some inappropriate words.

So He turned it out and revised it several times. After he was sure that Jia Lian had received her reply and could fully understand her mood and admiration, he blushed and copied it in beautiful small regular script, and let the safe person go south. Sent.

…

Yangzhou City.

Jia Lian also gradually began to report the situation of Yangzhou Salt Administration in one official document after another. and sent it to the capital.

I believe that with his report, the imperial court will make a qualitative assessment of all the issues in the Yangzhou salt policy. And the new salt inspector willThe censor will also come down soon.

As expected, the salt merchants did not dare to defy his authority anymore. They shared the 4 million taels of silver equally according to the salt quota and sent it to the bank.

And Jia Lian was also very loyal. After receiving enough silver, he ordered all the officers and soldiers in front of the salt merchants' homes to be withdrawn.

As for the Wang family bank, I don’t know what means the Zhou family used. None of the other families fought with him, and Jia Lian didn’t deliberately make things difficult for him, so Zhou Boru finally won it.

After all, the Wang family was confiscated. Although Jia Lian immediately asked the government to control Wang's bank, he was afraid that there would still be unrest, such as someone making a donation and escaping.

Therefore, the Zhou family took a certain risk in taking over Wang's Bank. Whether the cost can be recovered as soon as possible depends on the Zhou family's own methods.

"Sir, here are some small things prepared by my colleagues from the salt industry for you..."

After discussing the bank affairs, Zhou Boru handed Jia Lian another list alone.

Jia Lian opened it and saw that it was two or three pages long, full of good stuff.

It’s either a celebrity calligraphy or painting, or an antique treasure. Judging from Jia Lian's knowledge, I'm afraid that none of the items would be worth less than a thousand taels!

It is also marked on it which item it is and which company sent it.

Jia Lian had known that they would be capable of this, but he didn’t expect that they would show their filial piety in this way. If you think about it carefully, it seemed like you were thinking about him.

After all, these gadgets are small and not as eye-catching as real money and silver, so they are really a good choice for gifts. I'm afraid these items above are also collected by salt merchants.

　“You are interested.”

　There is no intention to refuse. Just think that these salt merchants knew the Wang family wanted to assassinate him before, but concealed the price of not avenging him. If you don't accept it, I'm afraid they won't feel at ease yet.

"As long as the adults like it. In addition, in addition to the gadgets above, the villain also prepared a hundred thousand taels of silver for the adults, and put them together with the silver that was brought in for atonement... "

"Haha."

Compared to the Zhao family and the Wang family who had copied, compared to the four million atonement silver, one hundred thousand taels is really nothing. .

"Do you have anything else to do?"

After Zhou Boru paid his filial piety, he had no intention of going down. He obviously had something to say.

So when Jia Lian spoke, he immediately bowed his hands and said in a low voice: "I really have an unkind favor that I want to ask you.Accommodating. ”

　“Say it. "

Jia Lian, who had received the benefit, seemed very reasonable.

Zhou Boru stopped beating around the bush and said directly: "Although the villain doesn't know about the Zhao family and the Wang family. How much wealth the family has, but judging from the criminal evidence of the two families that the adults have found out, I am afraid that they have often done things to cause trouble and take advantage of others.

As a result, I am afraid that a lot of wealth has been gathered in their homes.

Now that you are advocating for justice and bringing them to justice, it is a matter of natural law!

It’s just...

Like the villains, they are salt merchants selected by the imperial court. I'm afraid that after you report all the results of the raids on the homes of Wang and Zhao, the guilds in the court will mistakenly think that each of our salt merchants is as wealthy as Wang and Zhao...

Therefore, the little people would like to implore the adults to appropriately underreport the property of the Wang and Zhao families, just to be considerate of other law-abiding salt merchants like me.

Your Excellency must also know that since the imperial court implemented the new salt policy, the profits of villains are no longer what they were before. If the adults in the DPRK mistakenly believe that the salt industry still has huge profits, I am afraid they will have to find ways to extract profits from the salt administration. At that time, it will not only be the salt merchants like us who abide by the law and never sell private salt for profit. , and there are tens of millions of salt-eating people all over the world. ”

Hearing Zhou Boru’s words, Jia Lian felt quite eye-opening.

The salt merchants were worried that the Wang family and Zhao family’s property was too rich and they would be counted out by him. After the report is submitted, the trump cards of these big salt merchants will be "exposed" and the princes of the court will feel that they are too rich and have the idea of ​​​​killing pigs. This is normal.

However, this is the first time for him, I heard someone using power for personal gain, taking bribes and bending the law, and spoke in such a high-spirited way.

Listening to the meaning behind his words, if he didn’t underreport the Wang and Zhao family’s property, it would be a waste of money. Are you a bully who persecutes law-abiding salt merchants and brings harm to the people of the world?

"Then, as you said, what should I do with the family property that I have underreported? Distribute it to you salt merchants who abide by the law as compensation? "

There is naturally a reason why Zhou Boru dared to make such remarks.

He immediately said seriously: "The adults are joking, how dare you have such an idea. Your Excellency has traveled south for thousands of miles, worked hard for the sake of the imperial court and the salt administration, and was plotted twice by villains. Therefore, the wealth that the Wang and Zhao families have robbed naturally belongs to you, and the Wang and Zhao families can be regarded as yourselves. Atoned for. "

"Haha, Chairman Zhou is not asking me to be a corrupt official.Are you trapping me in an unjust place? "

"Your Excellency..."

Zhou Boru was about to say something, but was interrupted by Jia Lian raising his hand: "Okay, I have long been concerned about this matter, so I won't Chairman Lao Zhou took the trouble.

Chairman Zhou should discuss with other salt merchants in Yangzhou how to improve the salt administration in Jiangnan for the imperial court. If at the end of this year, you are still like last year, I am afraid that even if you are lucky enough to escape this disaster, you will not be able to have a good year next year. ”

Zhou Boru immediately did not dare to say anything more and responded to Jia Lian’s words repeatedly.

But he also had a certain idea in his heart.

He could see it. Jia Lian is not a pedantic Qingliu. As long as he speaks and lets Jia Lian listen, his goal will be achieved.

So he immediately skipped this issue and talked about another thing.

"I once heard that Qing Yi made the adults unhappy that day on the Xiao Qinhuai River. Please forgive me, sir. It's not that Qing Yi is disrespectful to you, it's just that she has had such a cold personality from the beginning.

"The villain has already sent someone to reprimand her, and please don't get along with her..."

As Zhou Boru said, he noticed that Jia Lian's face was not right, and he immediately realized what was going on. He stopped talking.

Then he heard Jia Lian say: "First, the girl in Tsing Yi did not make me unhappy. Secondly, although you were once her employer, now that she has been given to me, she is my own.

I’m afraid I don’t need President Zhou to reprimand me. Therefore, I do not hope that President Zhou will say such words next time. "

When Zhou Boru heard this, he quickly knelt down and said: "My lord, please atone for your sins. I have no intention of offending you... I remember this, and I will never be disrespectful to the girl in Tsing Yi next time." ”

Zhou Boru regards Gu Qingyi as his trump card, which is also his biggest reliance on Jia Lian.

Therefore, when he heard that Gu Qingyi did not get it immediately Jia Lian's favor was stolen by Shen Pan'er, so he was a little angry and anxious, so he mentioned it like this.

Although he was scolded by Jia Lian, he felt relieved in his heart. " Okay, get up. This time I went to Yangzhou, I will keep President Zhou's care for me in mind.

It’s just that I have always been very stingy. I don’t like my own woman, and I have some involvement with other forces.

Therefore, if something happens to President Zhou in the future, he can send someone directly to me. Don't be too smart. For example, if you ask the girl in Tsing Yi to deliver something on your behalf, the gain may outweigh the loss. President Zhou must understand this. "

"Yes, yes, the villain understands. Thank you for your love. From now on, if you have any needs, please feel free to ask the villain. The villain and the entire Zhou family will do your best for the adults! "

Jia Lian smiled, gave Zhou Boru a cup of tea, and then let Zhou Boru go back.

Zhou Boru was a smart man, and his power spread throughout Jiangnan. If he used it well, It is also a big help. He doesn't mind maintaining a good relationship with them.

The matters of the salt merchants have been solved one by one. Next, all the salt merchants and corrupt officials need to do is confiscate their property. After clarifying the details, Jia Lian was ready to return to Beijing.

However, when his subordinates, Wu Zhirong and other Yangzhou officials, compiled the details of the confiscation of their homes, Jia Lian was stunned for a long time.

At the beginning, nearly three million taels of real gold and silver were copied from the Zhao family. In addition to all the manors and fields of the Zhao family, as well as the properties in major state capitals, even if they were all sold at a low price, they would still be able to make money. Collect nearly one million taels of silver.

So, for the Zhao family alone, it is nearly four million!

The Wang family is slightly lower, even if it is sold to the Zhou family The overall value of Wang's bank is only about three million taels.

For the Feng family, a small salt merchant who is rich and unkind, the entire family property is nearly 500,000 taels.

Wu Zhirong Government officials and other government officials also have a lot of property. However, they do not belong to the salt government system, so Jia Lian only copied real gold and silver, and those who could easily take it away. As for other assets, according to the usual practice, they were added to the government treasury, and finally by The treasury reported to the imperial court.

This was to reduce trouble, and also to give other Yangzhou local officials a little help, so that they would not be too jealous when looking at the mountains of wealth in the palace.

But even so, Jia Lian still made out nearly 300,000 yuan worth of wealth. Most of it was contributed by the prefect Wu Zhirong.

Coupled with all the salt officials of the Salt Transportation Department, As well as An Siyuan, the salt patrol censor, and other salt officials...

As the salt patrol censor, An Siyuan, if there is such a big mistake in the salt administration, it is hard to escape the blame, and it is necessary to raid the house.

As for the An family. In the end, Ellsworth showed remorse and was poisoned by the salt dealer, so he was given a light sentence and only ransacked his home without involving his family. It was very reasonable.

And the confiscation of homes is naturally divided into clean and casual copies. With Jia Lian here, the results are obvious.

Although most of the officials in the salt administration system are of low grade, they cannot bear it.All of them were secretly rich, so the value of the copies was at least a million taels. Jia Lian felt that these small fish and shrimp assets were too messy and was too lazy to count them one by one, so he only confiscated the real money and silver that was easy to get, and transferred all the rest to the government office for them to count and store it themselves.

In this way, it is about five to six hundred thousand.

In addition to the three million that the salt merchants recently paid for their sins and the one million in hush money given to the courtiers, it all adds up...

One thousand two hundred More than enough!

Phew.

After getting this number, Jia Lian took a long breath.

I still remember that day in the secret room of the Zhao family, I saw more than 100,000 taels of gold and one million silver piled together, a scene as dazzling as a mountain.

More than twelve million, what an exaggerated figure is this?

Even in the Wei Dynasty, nearly 20 million people contributed nearly one-fifth of the national treasury revenue.

So, he didn’t go to Yangzhou to investigate the salt policy, but came to help the court increase revenue?

It seems that more troops should be deployed to protect the camp. Otherwise, if so much money is stolen casually, the loss will be immeasurable.

　……

“My lord…”

In Jia Lian’s residence, Mrs. Xu stood up from the table where she was lying and wiped her sweat. With a wet forehead, he turned around, walked to Jia Lian's side, and sat on the armrest of the Grand Master's chair.

　“Are you sure you want to leave today?”

　“Well, the carriage and accompanying personnel are all ready.”

　“Yes.”

Mrs. Xu is the mistress of the An family. Although An Siyuan died, the foundation of the An family in her hometown was still there, and her son still needed to return to inherit it, so she had to leave.

Although she was reluctant to let go, no matter how reluctant she was, she had to leave.

Not only for her son, but also for herself.

A chance encounter and returning to the right path is the only result. It would not be a good thing for her or Jia Lian to continue to be entangled.

"If you can't bear it, just stay. I can support you."

Hearing what Jia Lian said, Mrs. Xu smiled and felt relieved.

She turned around and knelt in front of Jia Lian, took Jia Lian's hand and kissed it, shook her head, and did not explain anything. For various reasons, I have already said it, clearly.

　"Little girl, I am very reluctant to leave you. She must have fallen in love with you. She cried when she came back to say goodbye to you."

Mrs. Xu said this. The little girl she was talking about was naturally her daughter An Cai'er.

Jia Lian smiled when he heard this and didn't feel strange. .

It’s normal for a little girl to fall in love easily with the hero in her mind.

It’s also Xu’s own fault, she always treats herself as a maid in front of him, and even takes care of herself. He came with his daughter to sort out her housework and gave his daughter many opportunities to get in touch with him.

Especially after Jia Lian helped Xu find her son, Jia Lian could clearly feel that the little girl was very close to him. .

“She is still young. In a few years, she will be fine when she grows up. ”

“What if it doesn’t get better? "

Mrs. Xu squatted on the ground and looked up at Jia Lian seriously.

Jia Lian understood that this woman had not completely given up and wanted to promise her daughter to him. Thoughts.

“Then you bring her to the capital to find me, and then you two will follow me together. ”

When Jia Lian raised her chin and teased her like this, Xu rolled her eyes at Jia Lian angrily, but didn’t say anything else.

She gave Jia Lian one last look, stood up and kissed her. Jia Lian paused, turned and left.