Yangzhou Thorn Shi Sheng Huai is forty-two years old this year, is the son of Yanzhou Sheng Valve, he is to Zheng six years to participate in the autumn product, then was conscripted, successively in the country of the prison, the imperial history of the Taiwan and other departments experience, to the fourteenth year of the dispatch to Yangzhou, as the county guard of Luling County, Taiding seven years, was worshiped as the Yangzhou Thorn History.

Sheng Huai has been in Yangzhou for more than ten years, these years he has implemented the rule of inaction in Yangzhou, has little intervention in the local area, has a very good relationship with Yangzhou gate valve, and is quite famous in Shilin.

"My lord, if you do this with Gu Wei, it will ruin the salt industry in Yangzhou, my lord, we can't sit idly by. ”

It was Sha Hao, the county guard of Yangzhou who spoke, Sha Hao was older than Sheng Huai, almost fifty years old, with gray hair and a ruddy face. Although Sha Hao is the county guard of Yangzhou, but the most enthusiastic is the Taoist, he built a small Taoist temple at home, he and Sheng Huai in political affairs to cooperate with each other, Sheng Huai to implement the rule of inaction, he went further, the implementation of the rule of the hand, and Sheng Huai is different, he was born in the south of the Runan valve, the sand valve is the Runan Xiaoshi clan, so, he participated in the autumn in the third year of Zhizheng, and was requisitioned in the past thirty years, and it was easy to mix with the county guard.

"How do you care?" a middle-aged man in his thirties sitting next to Sheng Huai asked sharply, the middle-aged man had a full face, a slightly chubby figure, and was wearing a brocade robe and a long robe, his name was Deng Run, and the official worshiped the head of the Assassin's Mansion, and was responsible for handling various official documents of the Assassin's Mansion.

"The imperial court asked Ju Yi and Gu Wei for three million taels of silver, they don't sell the salt pans, go up there to get silver," Deng Run spoke a little fast: "Shangshu impeached them, that just gave them the truth, if they can't complete the three million taels of silver that the court wants, they can put the blame on us, saying that we interfere and obstruct, Lord Sha, the best way for us now is to wait and see." ”

Sha Hao's face was heavy, Deng Run said it well, three million taels of silver, that is not a small amount, Yangzhou is rich, and the annual tax paid to the court is only five million taels of silver, and the court will say that Gu Wei will hand over three million silver, which is almost an impossible task.

Sheng Huai had already discussed this matter with his staff, Gu Wei impeached the whole of Yangzhou, although the emperor stayed in the middle of the country, but the whole of Yangzhou already knew that Gu Wei was on fire, but Sheng Huai suppressed everyone and did not fight back.

As Sheng Huai's confidant, Deng Run fully understands Sheng Huai's dilemma, the reason is very simple, it is a person, Taishi Pan Lian, in the battle for the prince, Sheng Huai stood on the wrong team, he supported King Qi, when the prince ascended the throne, Sheng Huai in order to make up for his mistakes, he took the path of Taishi Pan Lian, sent 100,000 taels of silver to Pan Lian, and kept the position of Thorn History.

After Gu Wei was impeached, Sheng Huai began to be very angry, but he still didn't act rashly, he sent a letter to Pan Lian to complain, Pan Lian wrote back to comfort him, telling him that he was fine, but also secretly warned him not to trouble Gu Wei, after the matter of three hundred silver came out this time, Pan Lian wrote to him again, telling him not to hinder Ju Yi and Gu Wei, but to cooperate and support them to complete the task of three million taels of silver.

"Shao You is right, Brother Jing Zhong, let's not be reckless now, let's take a look first," Sheng Huai put down the teacup and said lightly: "Gu Wei, he is very famous, and his means are also powerful, but, hehe, three million taels of silver, it doesn't mean that those few acres of salt fields can be obtained, not only can we not impeach him, but also vigorously assist, what does he want, what do we give, we can't leave a little truth, in addition, we also have two million taels of silver, Shaoyou, urge the following, see how much we can get?"

"Don't ask about this matter, your subordinates will also report it, and the statistics from all over the country have been reported, only 1.3 million taels, a difference of 700,000 taels. Deng Run sighed.

Sheng Huai looked at Sha Hao: "This is the big deal, do you understand." ”

Sha Hao sighed hatefully, feeling that it was a pity to let go of this opportunity, but looking at Sheng Huai's meaning, not only would he not take the opportunity to retaliate, but on the contrary, he would vigorously assist, which made his heart sink like a stone.

"Okay. Sha Hao sighed heavily, feeling quite unwilling, but he still had to agree, Sheng Huai and Deng Run were right, at this time, the court was most concerned about silver, it was military spending, and at this time to start a political dispute, the court would never allow it, and in the end, the biggest possibility was that both sides would lose.

"Zhijian, what's the situation over there?" Sheng Huai asked another middle-aged man, who was wearing a simple light cloth robe and a simple cloth towel on his head, wrapping his hair in a bun.

Zhijian is his word, his surname is Wang Mingbo Zhijian, is the son of the king of Jizhou, a few years ago was recruited by Sheng Huai into the government, served as the governor of Yangzhou, Wang Bo's family is illustrious, he is talented, and he is very valued by Sheng Huai.

"The situation is not good," Wang Bo sighed: "The situation in various places has also been reported, this year's autumn income is less than last year's twenty percent, even if it is handed over in full, it is not enough for the imperial court." ”

The room fell silent, and the imperial court gave Yangzhou a quota of two million, Sha Hao looked at Wang Bo with a little disbelief: "Why is there so much less?!!!?

Wang Bo sighed and smiled bitterly: "Sha Daren doesn't know, this year's Xinbaijiang River burst its embankment, flooding more than 20,000 hectares of fields, last year's Taihu Lake flooded, the surrounding 38 counties were affected, coupled with this year's salt policy reform, the salt tax has lost a lot, and all localities have done their best, which is only two percent less." ”

Everyone was silent again, and after a while, Sheng Huai sighed: "In this way, you can only rely on the Shi clan to donate." ”

Whenever there was a difficulty in the use of the imperial court, the magistrate always tried to get the money from the wealthy families from all over the country, which was a happy donation.

However, the donation is a donation, not a forced levy, and most of the wealthy families are gate valves, and the magistrates do not dare to forcibly levy them, so the donation depends on the attitude of the gate valve.

In fact, the donation is also a means for the gate valve to control the local government.

"Now we are still short of 700,000 taels of silver, even if we count the hidden ones in the past few years, we are still short of 500,000, such a large sum of silver, alas. Deng Run felt very embarrassed, and every time he made a donation, he begged his grandfather to tell his grandmother.

"The money cannot be moved. Sheng Huai said unceremoniously: "That's in an emergency, in case of a situation, the court's silver is too late for a while, this silver can save lives." ”

Deng Run sighed and nodded, Sheng Huai also knew that this matter was important, so he turned his head to Wang Bo and said: "Zhijian, this matter still depends on you, alas, I will also go to the Huainan Palace, please ask the prince to donate generously." Brother Jing Zhong, you have always been good friends with the Yu family, please move around more, this time we must complete it, and there can be no distortion a little. ”

Sha Hao nodded, knowing what Sheng Huai meant, if he wanted to fight back against Gu Wei, he had to pass this level first, and only by handing over the two million taels of silver first could he do the rest of the matter.

"My lord, are we too polite to Gu Wei," Wang Bo suddenly interjected, Sheng Huai was slightly surprised, and looked at him with a frown, Wang Bo explained: "We can not interfere, but the Salt Industry Chamber of Commerce will sit idly by?"

Deng Run shook his head slightly and said, "Brother Zhijian, if we don't make a move, they won't sit idly by." ”

"That's what I said," Wang Bo nodded in agreement, but still said: "We can secretly use our strength to support the Salt Chamber of Commerce behind our backs." ”

Sheng Huai fell into contemplation, Deng Run shook his head slightly, and Sha Hao immediately replied: "Yes, I discussed with Yu Gong, and I must not let him be so unscrupulous and underestimate our Yangzhou characters." ”

Sheng Huai frowned slightly, and glanced at Sha Hao unhappily, Sha Hao didn't notice it, and said with great interest: "I guess Gu Wei's goal is still on the Salt Chamber of Commerce, three million taels of silver, only the Salt Chamber of Commerce can get so much silver, as long as the Salt Chamber of Commerce does not participate in this auction, Gu Wei will have to catch blind, three million silver, hum, he will go there!"

Sheng Huai's eyes lit up slightly, Deng Run fell into thought, and Wang Bo nodded slightly.

Sha Hao looked at Sheng Huai, Sheng Huai hesitated but shook his head: "The silver that the imperial court wants this time is very urgent, and the war in Liangzhou is very urgent, this is a big deal, and the dispatch of the imperial court cannot be messed up." ”

Sha Hao was a little anxious and was about to speak, but Wang Bo glanced at him, Sha Hao stood up angrily, and Chong Shenghuai arched his hand: "Since this is the case, the next official will leave." ”

Sheng Huai sighed, got up to see him off, and when he arrived at the door, Wang Bo also said goodbye: "My lord, I will send Lord Sha." ”

Sheng Huai nodded, Wang Bo Shili left, and quickly caught up with Sha Hao, Sha Hao seemed to know that he would catch up, and said dissatisfiedly: "The adults are too weak, this Gu Wei is clearly about to step on us to climb up." ”

"Adults also have unspeakable secrets, and it is also for the overall situation of the court. Wang Bo said unavoidably.

Sha Hao sneered: "Yes, we are for the overall situation of the imperial court, but what about Gu Wei? In order to cooperate with him to carry out salt policy reform, we have offended the Yangzhou gate valves, ah, annex the land, that state does not annex the land, the world gate valves are annexing the land, why is he not impeached!"

"The boy in white, naturally he wants to be famous," Wang Bo also sneered: "How can he show his so-called benevolence if he doesn't do this, and how can he make his reputation even more prosperous." ”

The two of them said that they went out of the Assassin's Mansion, Wang Bo bowed in front of the mansion to give a salute, Sha Hao turned around and left after returning the salute, Wang Bo looked at his back, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, this smile quickly disappeared, and he turned around and returned to the mansion.

Sheng Huai was not in the small living room but in the back garden, Wang Bo went to the back garden, Sheng Huai was standing by the pond, looking at the fish swimming in the pond, Deng Run was no longer around, and next to him was a young man in Tsing Yi waiting.

"He's gone. Sheng Huai turned around and asked.

"Yes, my lord," Wang Bo smiled, "I should go to the Yu family." ”

Sheng Huai was silent for a while before nodding: "It's okay to let him rush it, hmph, this Gu Wei, the villain has a will, the prince has said before, this person is hypocritical, the prince knows people, it is rare in the world, if the emperor uses him, sooner or later he will cause trouble in the world." ”

"With the experience of the old ancestor, this Gu Wei wants to deceive his old man's gaze, and his Taoism is not deep enough. Wang Bo smiled faintly, the ancestor in Sheng Huai's mouth was the ancestor of the Wang family.

Sheng Huai showed a hint of a smile, and then asked, "I heard that your uncle has already arrived in Jiangnan, right?"

Wang Bo shook his head: "I don't know, Uncle is a loose person, his whereabouts are uncertain, don't talk about me, even the ancestors are probably not clear." ”

Sheng Huai nodded: "If you meet him, the old man must visit him and invite him to the mansion as a guest." ”

"Yes, but, my lord, Uncle is the most unpredictable person in the family, even if he arrives in Yangzhou, if he doesn't come to me, I don't know. ”

Sheng Huai nodded slightly, turned to look at the pond again, threw some bait into the water, and after a while, a group of red carp rushed in.

"You see, how happy they are," Sheng Huai said, Wang Bo went over, stood side by side with Sheng Huai, and said with a smile: "The bait is in the hands of adults, it depends on when the adults are willing to feed." ”

Sheng Huai looked down at the fish, facing Wang Bo's compliments, his expression was calm, this Wang Bo is a child of the Wang family, but he is a side child of the Wang family, and he is not an important person in the Wang family, so he went to Yangzhou, however, this Wang Bo is also considered to be talented, and it took seven or eight years to rise from the county guard Bo to the chief of the Assassin Mansion, and now he is already the number one person in the Wang family.

Is the bait really in his Sheng Huai's hands? Sheng Huai is not so optimistic, is the bait in the hands of the emperor in the world, and the bait in the hands of the officials? Not necessarily, at least the bait in Jizhou is not in the hands of Jizhou Thorn Shi, but in the old ancestor of the Wang family.

Three million silver, the Salt Chamber of Commerce will not make a move, just rely on those small traders in other places, can get three million taels of silver? Sheng Huai didn't believe it, he believed that Gu Wei didn't have this confidence.

The 1,500 acres of barren salt fields are the bait in Gu Wei's hands, and the fish is the Salt Chamber of Commerce, this fish!

(End of chapter)