The eighteenth day of the first month of the second year of Chongzhen.

Beijing has ushered in a new day.

With the arrival of a new day, there is more explosive news, that is, it was agreed in the court that Liulizhai will take over the world's salt production, this is not the news of the explosion, the news of the explosion is that the salt class of 10 million is indispensable, and you have to pay 5 million taels of salt in advance.

Come together in the morning, go to the teahouse to listen to the Di newspaper, this is definitely a big hobby of the people in the capital, there is no such habit, the northerners are not used to drinking tea in the morning, but they can't stand the news that the Di newspaper often comes out of the "explosion xìng", to know the news of the explosion, to know the inside story, to understand the ins and outs of the whole thing, to share the joy with others, to share the sense of achievement, to share the surprise, to share the knowledge to brag, this to go to the teahouse to listen to the Di newspaper has to become a habit, who is called the news on the Di newspaper is authoritative, The newspaper was sent in the morning?

Accompanied by the rising heat on the street, the fragrance wafting across the street was the excited shouting of the newsboys: "Nickname Wai Liuli Zhai took over the world's salt production, prepaid five million taels ......of salt class, and nicknamed Wai Liuli Zhai prepaid five million taels of salt class......"

The streets and alleys of the city are full of the cries of this immature voice, which will soon wake up the whole city of Beijing.

Teahouses of different sizes and grades are crowded with many people, listening to what is said in the newspaper, inquiring about the latest news, and seeing what new things have been born.

It's still this teahouse, or the old pedant, because the old pedant can get some insiders from time to time, and can read some esoteric Di Bao content, and people are easy to speak, so there are more and more people who come to listen to him say the newspaper, and the days of the old pedant are getting more and more moisturized, and the original thin, burnt yellow skin is now a lot more ruddy, and the clothes are no longer as shabby as they were originally. Now, because he said that the huge flow of people brought to the teahouse, the teahouse business is quite good, so the teahouse owner does not treat him badly, and every time he gives him a lot of "money", now relying on the newspaper, this old pedant who was originally shabby and shabby, can be regarded as an old man, old and beautiful, and he has no hope of exams, and he likes this thing more and more with face, income, and popularity.

"Tut-tut...... saw that he was already sitting around the people on the inner three floors and the outer three floors, the old pedant knew that it was already ready to start, and the people who came here had to drink a cup of tea or something, there were many old customers, and even left their own cups here, just to come here every day to listen to the newspaper, not to use the cup with others, I used to be fine, I liked to listen to books, listen to singing, and like to visit the kiln, but now they found that it turned out that this listened to and read the Di newspaper, and then everyone talked about the mountains together, bragging, and arguing about the things in the court. It's also interesting. For those who are more generous, they also want to order some snacks and eat something early. Therefore, this morning tea every day has brought extremely rich profits to the teahouse.

When everyone saw that the old pedant was about to report it, they all stopped excitedly to see what the old pedant had to say.

"New salt will come out; Liulizhai will take over the world's salt production; Liulizhai will pay five million taels of salt in advance, and the ...... old pedant opened by reading three "will" words in a row, and suddenly said the main content of the newspaper to be read today.

"Good"

"Good"

"Good"

In fact, everyone already knows today's news, all of them are full of red faces, full of excitement, at this time, just get together to inquire about the inside story, talk about the mountains, and have the capital to brag in the future, of course, this matter may also be related to them, so I am particularly excited.

"My mother, five million taels of silver, this has to be piled up into a mountain...... "The newspaper reading had just begun, and some people couldn't help but feel the jī excitement in their hearts, and screamed.

"Coax ......" this person's strange voice immediately caused everyone to burst into laughter, because the news was too harsh, and many people were so red that they needed a chance to vent.

The old pedant also smiled and stroked his beard.

"But isn't it, this year has just opened chūn, and this will charge five million taels of salt? This time, the imperial court has developed ......"

"The salt merchant fell, and the court was full......"

Someone immediately took over the conversation, and the heated discussion began, this time the news was really too sensational, if the matter of tens of millions of taels of silver disaster relief was just a talking point, and they were still too far away, they were just a spectator, then, this salt class incident, it has a close relationship with them, no one can not eat salt, so, there is a lot less indifference and calmness, all of them are red-faced, as if they have brought down the salt merchants and won the victory in the court. ,

In the face of everyone's heated discussion, the old scholar also stopped talking about the newspaper with a smile, waiting for everyone to discuss, knowing that he didn't have to read it himself today.

"I said, can Liulizhai get that much silver?" When everyone was talking about it, another person suddenly asked.

"......" everyone burst into laughter.

"I said, Li Lao 2, will Liulizhai have no silver? Isn't that the glass street of that street fake? Last year, the glass Zhai divided the silver, didn't you go to see it? Millions of taels of silver, say that the points can be divided...... "Someone immediately came out to defend Liulizhai, Liulizhai is synonymous with Jinshan, the glass street of that street is more convincing than anything, at the end of last year, Liulizhai dividends, but it was also lively for several days, millions of taels of silver, so divided.

"Coax ......" Everyone laughed again, and they all vented the jī in their hearts, no one doubted Liulizhai's ability to pay, but they were envious that the imperial court had received five million taels of salt at once.

The person who asked the question was ridiculed by everyone, embarrassed and puzzled, although others laughed at him, but he still felt that this could not be counted, even if Liulizhai was rich before, didn't it mean that he made a million a year? Jiāo 200,000 tax? Why was it that this time he was suddenly able to get five million taels of silver? Where does this money come from? This question made him feel very strange, he had learned some arithmetic, for this question, he had been trapped for a long time, he always felt that there was a problem, just now he couldn't help but ask it, but he didn't expect to get a burst of ridicule from everyone. He had to hide this question deep in his heart again, and he didn't dare to think about it anymore.

After laughing for a while, everyone's emotions were vented a little, and someone asked: "Old master, tell me, we little people can't care about the affairs of the court, and it doesn't have much to do with us whether the court can get five million salt classes, so we just want to ask, this new salt has come out, can the salt we eat be cheaper?" How much can Wen buy a pound of salt? Someone immediately asked about the question of self-interest.

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled for a while, and when everyone's expectant eyes were cut to him, he said: "This, according to what is said in this newspaper, Master Hubu Shangshu Bi has a saying: The salt class must be jiāo Qi; The price of salt must be stable, this is the benchmark of the new salt class, if these two items are not met, Master Bi claims that the new salt is not a good salt, and it has to be changed...... "The old pedant began to sell nòng.

"Old master, just say it quickly, after the new salt, how much can we eat good salt, if the price of salt really comes down, let's think this new salt is a good salt, and the rest, and our fart ......" someone shouted, in the teahouse, it was even more lively and noisy.

The old pedant has been accustomed to staying with these people, although a little vulgar, but these people are his food and clothing parents, smiled, pressed his hands, everyone's noise and shouting quieted down, listen to this old pedant explain the inside story, the literacy rate of the Ming Dynasty is not very high, even if there is a newspaper, there are still not many people who may read it, therefore, the teahouse, a public place to obtain reliable news, is booming.

"According to what the imperial court newspaper said, Master Bi drafted, the price of salt should fluctuate up and down in 25 Wen, because the distance of salt transportation is far and near, the price of salt will change slightly, generally speaking, it is 25 Wen, and there will be a Changlu salt field near our Jingshi, so it is not far to eat salt, and it is estimated that it will not exceed 25 Wen." The old scholar was worthy of being an intellectual, and he quickly analyzed the contents of the newspaper in detail.

"Wow Twenty-Five?"

"Ahh

"Twenty-five?"

Everyone exclaimed, this price is much lower than the current price of salt, ordinary salt, can get more than 30 yuan, a pound of salt is almost less than 10 yuan. Cumulatively, it's not a small amount.

"Old master, this can't be leftovers, right? How can it be so cheap? Immediately another question was raised.

"Leftovers? Sneer......" The old pedant laughed, and said in a mocking tone, "...... Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, will you give you leftovers to eat? In this new salt, it is said that when you eat salt, you can eat good sea salt, which is similar to the jīng salt we eat now, where are the leftovers for you? If you want to eat leftovers, do you have to pay more? "At some critical times, the old scholar must stand in the perspective of the imperial court and stand in the interests of the imperial court, especially when it comes to the emperor, and he will undoubtedly defend the emperor. ,

"Coax ......" Everyone laughed again, and watched the old master throw the inside story.

"Why?" The man asked, puzzled.

"Why? The old man heard that His Majesty's new salt is used in the salt, and there are only a few salt farms in the world, which is enough for the people of the world to eat, and the salt that comes out is all first-class jīng white salt, you have to eat the leftovers mixed with mud and sand, and you have to ask someone to mix sand and mud with this jīng salt, and this mud is mixed with sand, but if you want Feifu, you have to hire labor, how can you do it without raising your price? The old master explained with a smile, and told the man to spare him again and again.

"Coax ......" everyone happily vented the jī movement in their hearts, watching the old master explode the inside story, everyone laughed again, this old master really has two brushes, knows so many things, many people are envious, illiterate, just a blind person even such a sensational news, but he can't understand it, he can't recognize it, and he has to listen to others' explanations.

This person was laughed at by everyone, his face was even redder, and he said with a look of forgiveness: "It's a loss, it's a loss, it's a loss, it's a loss, it's not an old master, catch up, find a teacher, and learn to read, this is illiterate, it's really a loss......" This person shook his head again and again laughing at himself, and caused everyone to laugh again.

The old master smiled and bearded, there are some things, even if you are literate, you may not know, the reason why he knows so much, to maintain the emperor, to maintain the court, there is a reason, as for what the reason, then he will not tell others, with this identity, he believes that he can live happily in this capital, and will not be bullied, so, for this new job, quite satisfied, for this job, quite hard.

"Therefore, we are stained with His Majesty's light, so that we can eat such cheap salt, and we can eat such good salt, otherwise, relying on the ** deceitful salt merchant, they can't wait to eat our ròu, peel our skin, so that they can eat, drink and have fun, Your Majesty is a salt merchant this time, it can be said that God has opened his eyes" The old pedant changed his head slightly, and the topic was involved in the salt merchant.

This turn immediately aroused everyone's anger against the salt merchant, and no one originally brought it up, and they didn't think it yet, but now when they told the old master, everyone thought of the salt merchant.

"It really should be killed, this group of damned salt merchants, a pound of salt is more expensive than our ten cents, let's calculate, our family for a year, don't eat or don't eat, but also eat dozens of catties of salt, a year down, but also more than a tael of silver, this group of damn salt merchants, the salt is not clean, not to mention, this salt is still expensive, Your Majesty did them this time, I see, it should be done, these salt merchants should have been killed a long time ago......" Immediately another person said his anger against the salt merchants.

"That is, your family is still small, it's good to say, our family is more, just give more silver to the salt merchant every year, there are a few taels, this group of god-killing jiān merchants, all of our people, this Di newspaper said, sucking the blood of our people, is not wrong Wow" The anger of the salt merchant was just because of the news of the more "explosive xìng" was temporarily covered up, and now it was mentioned slightly, and he was immediately angry to the point of not doing it.

"Kill ......"

"Yes, I should have killed ...... long ago"

……

The emotions of the crowd were instantly ignited by a sentence from the old pedant, and the angry crowd was eager to kill these hateful salt merchants at once, if the matter did not involve themselves, they would at most be bystanders, at most be passers-by, at most stand on the shore and judge two sentences, and say a word that is cool or fair, but when there are actual interests involved in themselves, it is very different, the people here are also some people with families and rooms, and some people have a lot of people in their homes, if the new salt is implemented, they will eat salt every year, You can save a lot of silver, these silver, the New Year is enough to buy two pigs, this calculation, how not to hate those salt merchants, as soon as someone takes the lead, immediately shout to kill the salt merchants.

The old pedant smiled and stroked his beard, looked at the crowd of people, was very satisfied, and waited for everyone's anger to calm down a little, and said: "We are talking about a small place, your family, his family combined, is not worth much silver, what is even more hateful is that among these salt merchants, there are people who are captured, yù trap our thousands of Han family men as slaves, this is the big hatred, is the big hatred, if there is really one day, the East Lu enters the pass, tsk, I'm afraid it will not be a matter of eating a few catties of expensive salt, some salt merchants, but do the dream of the dragon,"

As soon as the old scholar said this, the anger of the people, who had just calmed down, rose even higher, and they who often heard people read the newspapers of the palace naturally knew what slaves were and what untouchables of the fourth class were, and the anger of the people was so angry that they wanted to burn the salt merchants at once. ,

The old pedant looked at the crowd with satisfaction, he only mentioned it slightly, and the anger of the crowd rose to the point that it was not good, and he looked like he wanted to eat the salt peeler alive, which was very good. Alas, the anger of the common people is so high, those salt merchants, they are doomed

Such a situation is staged from time to time in the capital, and the anger of the people of the world who want the salt merchant to die has gradually taken shape.

……

Nanking.

Fang Hongzan led a large team of Jinyi guards from the capital for more than 20 days, and finally arrived in Nanjing City this evening.

Hurriedly entered the Qin Mission. went directly into the living room again, and Fang Hongzan didn't stay for a moment.

"I've seen Xu Ge Lao." Fang Hongzan took the lead in clasping his fists and saluting.

Xu Guangqi returned the salute with a smile, and looked at this Fang Commander with a smile, after this Fang Commander arrived, that is to say, the matter of the salt merchant was about to come to an end, and the emperor's opening, with the arrival of this Fang Commander, was about to be closed.

"Hi father-in-law." Fang Hongzan also bowed his hand to the other person.

"Your Excellency is polite, they are all His Majesty's henchmen, there is no need to be like this." Father-in-law Zhu Xi also smiled and returned the salute, as of today, he has received the money, and he has really received a soft hand, to say that he has the most silver in the world at the moment, this is definitely not a lie.

In the living room of the "adult", another person bowed to Fang Hongzan.

Fang Hongzan also arched his hand, and it was one of his subordinates who saluted him, Xu Bengao, a character sent to the south early last year, the emperor's idea was that as soon as the capital was in trouble, the south would immediately start, so Xu Bengao came to the south in advance, and now, it did play an important role in the process of running a salt merchant this time, Jinyiwei was responsible for beating rabbits with grass, otherwise he would have to wait for him Fang Hongzan to go to the south and then beat rabbits with grass, and the rabbits in the grass did not know where to run for a long time.

"Sit down, everybody." Xu Guangqi said with a smile, he is the oldest and the oldest here, so he naturally has this qualification to speak.

"Xie Ge Lao." After everyone thanked them, they sat down again.

"Your Majesty is good?" Xu Guangqi asked with a smile, the recent days, undoubtedly, are his happiest, every day to check the salt merchants' family wealth, is his most lively, the family wealth of up to tens of millions, Xu Guangqi every time he sees it, is sighing with emotion.

"Go back to the pavilion elder, Your Majesty is all right." Fang Hongzan immediately agreed, in fact, he has been away from Beijing for more than 20 days, and from the capital to Nanjing, he can get a message in four or five days at the earliest.

"Well, what does Your Majesty command?" Xu Guangqi asked again, although this is a scene, it must also be said. The arrival of this commander with a brigade of brocade guards means that this salt merchant case is about to end.

"Go back to the elder, Your Majesty orders, everything is up to the elder." Fang Hongzan said again, of course, this is also a scene, he knows that his role in this salt merchant case is a villain, Xu Guangqi is a good person, and his father-in-law is a good person, and his father-in-law is specialized in making money, that's it.

"Well, I have to be instructed by Your Majesty that the capital is about to be sealed, and the news of the closure will soon arrive in Nanjing, and at that time, the opening opened by Your Majesty will need to be closed, and at that time, you will need to be commanded by Fang." Xu Guangqi smiled again and said, the emperor opened this opening, has made many salt merchants cross the river, and now, it is time to close the mouth, otherwise, if this mouth is not collected, the salt merchant case will not be handled, and there will be no generation with the people of the world, as soon as this mouth is closed, those salt merchants outside the mouth will become the object of the Fang commander's greeting, the emperor wants to kill a group of salt merchants, strictly run a group of salt merchants, will be selected from the salt merchants outside these mouths, arrest people, evidence, etc., these tasks are all under the responsibility of this Fang commander.

"The lower official understands that the brigade has just arrived at the ground, and some people are indeed sleepy and tired, and they need to rest quietly for a few days, so the lower official will wait for the news of the elder pavilion." Fang Hongzan immediately said, he knew his mission, that is, to come to the south to act as a villain, to act as a thug, the killer is coming, the opening opened by the emperor needs him to seal it, he is coming, that is, the end of some salt merchants. Killing a batch, fighting a batch, and "releasing a batch" is a plan drawn up in advance, which should be killed, beaten, and "released", all of which are complete, and they are waiting for the emperor's side to give an order, and those who should be killed, and those who should be beaten, will be wiped out in one net, and this case of salt merchants who cannot be tried, asked, or investigated will be closed.

……

After Jiāo finished taking over the business, Fang Hongzan chatted with Xu Guangqi's father-in-law for a while, and then Xu Guangqi's Qincha Xingyuan came out, preparing to go back to "rest" for a few days and wait for news from the emperor's side.

After coming out, Fang Hongzan thought back to the before and after of running a salt merchant this time, and he was also relieved, originally he was also stubborn, as a brocade guard, he could only follow the emperor, he really didn't dare to think about the consequences of running a salt merchant, what he was most afraid of was that the emperor would take him out for the crime if he didn't succeed; It was done, and in order to appease the anger of the ministers, the emperor also took him out to blame, then he is not a person inside and out, and he is a dead end. However, now it seems that the situation is quite good, not to the worst point, the emperor has already reached a compromise with the ministers, did not drive the salt merchants to death, and opened a big opening for many salt merchants, so he does not need to face all the salt merchants to make a dead hand, and all the ministers are enemies, just to deal with some of the salt merchants who are not so powerful in the background, this thing is very simple for him, he doesn't need to be a person inside and out, and he is not afraid that the emperor and the ministers will fail, and he will take him out to die.