"Sigh... If Mr. Tao insists on going his own way, how can I, a lonely and weak woman, stop Mr. Tao from doing so? There is just one thing that Mr. Tao must think twice about. I have returned from Yunnan and I haven't returned yet.

As for Yangzhou, I have heard before that many people in Yangzhou have complaints against you, Mr. Tao, and even many people from the Salt Transport Envoy came to complain. Mr. Tao, you

I want to check the salt affairs, but your method must be implemented, right? If the people are like this now and have resisted your decree, what are you going to do next?" Kong Luhua saw what had happened before.

The method he thought of was ineffective, so he had to change his tactics and start the debate with Tao Shu from the people of Yangzhou.

"Madam, the Jiang family has been a salt merchant in Yangzhou for more than a hundred years. Naturally, the roots are intertwined. The gentry in the city are all in danger, so they make noises in groups. It is just a sad state of mind. I have already expected such consequences, and

Why should they be afraid? Now that the imperial court has decided to clear up its accumulated debts, do they still dare to continue to confront the imperial court?" In fact, what Kong Luhua said is indeed true. After the Jiang family was raided, many people from Yangzhou have been joining the Jiang family.

To fight against the injustice, he went to the Salt Transport Department to accuse Tao Shu, but even so, Tao Shu did not want to give up his method of investigation.

"Mr. Tao, I heard that Wang Yunsi, who is currently in charge of Huaiyan, is also a reasonable man. Did he ever tell you that the people who went to Yunsi Yamen to complain about their grievances included not only Yangzhou scholars, but also many, namely

What about the ordinary people with no fame in Yangzhou Prefecture? Did Wang Yunsi also tell you that many of those people are indeed grateful for the kindness of the Jiang family and think that it is inappropriate for you to strictly investigate the Jiang family?"

Kong Luhua suddenly asked Tao Shu again.

This time, Tao Shu was taken aback and was speechless for a moment. It turned out that Tao Shu had already received a letter from Wang Fengsheng, saying that the people who went to Yunsi Yamen to complain were not only the children of officials, gentry, but also many ordinary people.

Moreover, these people can also tell the Yunsi Yamen clearly that the Jiang family did have favors with the people of Yangzhou back then. At first, he thought that these were just the people's temporary confusion, but when he heard that Kong Luhua did not go to Yangzhou, he could still say the same thing.

At the time of the incident, Tao Shu didn't feel any more hesitation, wondering if there was something hidden in it.

"Mr. Tao, you are from Hunan. Naturally, you came to Jiangsu to live as an official. The Jiang family has been here for hundreds of years. You have only heard about these things, right? All you can see is the Jiang family's two million

There is a debt, but the Jiang family was once the leader of salt merchants in the Huaihe River. Do you know why the debt has reached this level in just forty years?" Although Kong Luhua was at the side of the tent, she also judged that Tao Shu

I was speechless for a moment, so I immediately asked him.

"The name of the salt merchant's family is called "Salting Salt", which is actually a monopoly of the family. After these Jiang family children monopolized, they thought they were safe and worry-free, so they squandered their money and ruined all their ancestors' property, leaving them with a debt of two million.

, is there anything difficult to understand?" Tao Shu asked.

"Mr. Tao, you only know one thing but not the other." When Kong Luhua said this, she knew that her mental energy had been greatly exhausted by the words. But even so, she still supported herself and asked Tao.

Shudao: "If you think that the debt only appeared recently, then your words can be justified, but this is not the case. Do you know that in the last years of Qianlong, when Jiang Chunjiang was still alive, the Jiang family was already unable to make ends meet.

Do you need to borrow money from the imperial court to survive? General Merchant Jiang Chun was the one who pushed the Jiang family from an ordinary salt merchant to the head of salt merchants. Don’t you know? Then why did he have such a problem while he was still alive?

Do you know these questions? Do you know how much cash Jiang Chunjiang General Merchant donated to the court during the Battle of Jinchuan and Jinchuan during Gaozong's reign? It was a full six million taels before and after. Emperor Gaozong visited the south several times.

It was also Mr. Jiang's careful supply that led to the Southern Tour in the prosperous times. The general manager should also know about what the people call "Jiang Chun's Great Reception"? At that time, for these extravagant things of supply and greeting, the Jiang family was already strong.

It was a serious injury, not to mention that the Jiang family has always been the home of benevolence and trust. People in Yangzhou were required to donate money to build schools, pity the poor and orphans, and improve water conservancy. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, there were seven years of religious chaos, and five years ago there was another

In the Battle of Return to Xinjiang, in these wars, when did the Jiang family not contribute to the war? What you said makes sense. The Jiang family is now more and more populous, and their expenses are not as frugal as in the past. But even so, the needs of a family are equivalent to the needs of a country.

Comparing, which one is less important and which one is more serious, the President should know in his heart? So the President thinks about it again, why in Yangzhou, no matter the gentry or the common people, they all think that the Jiang family should not suffer such a disaster. It is actually because the Jiang family has accumulated good deeds for many years and has accumulated good deeds over the years.

They have all done something to promote the country. Since the Jiang family donates money every time there is a major national event, and they treat the people of Yangzhou very kindly, you, as an important official of the imperial court, have completely ignored the past and have Jiang Jiang in the name of accumulating debts.

What will the people think if their homes are searched? Is this a court that ignores old feelings and just kills people?"

"Madam, this..." After Tao Shu heard this, he gradually understood the intention of Jiang Youzhu's words before his death. The salt merchant had a serious debt. It cannot be said that it was not due to poor management and the increasing family expenses, but the debt was hundreds of millions.

The huge amount cannot be explained by these reasons. The imperial court's wars, river construction, and previous longevity celebrations all had donations from salt merchants. Compared with these donations, household expenses were much less, not to mention that the Jiang family was in

Building schools in Yangzhou to benefit the people would require a lot of expenditure. In other words, if Tao Shu continued to strictly investigate the salt merchants, the result would probably be that the Qing court was actually treacherous and ignored old feelings. The salt merchants' problems were not just financial issues.

, it is also a question that determines the basis of dynasty rule.

"Mr. Tao Zhi, there is a saying that a house that accumulates good deeds will always be happy. I wonder if Mr. Tao knows that?" Kong Luhua asked Tao Shu again.

"Back to Mrs. Ruan, when Xiaguan entered the official position, each of the Five Classics had already published a topic. Xiaguan knew what the "Yi Zhuan" said. But in reality, not all families who have accumulated good deeds are happy.

?" Tao Shu replied.

"Yes, this sentence is not talking about the reality we see. But what it says is actually a kind of due friendship. Has Mr. Tao ever thought of this?" Kong Luhua saw Tao Shu's intention.

When he was touched, he immediately explained to him: "Ordinary people have limited abilities and can actually do very little good deeds. Therefore, the so-called families who have accumulated good deeds are in the minority. So as an important member of the court, how should you treat these people who have accumulated good deeds?"

What about the family? If they really act like the president, as long as they make a mistake, even if it is just a mistake, and there is no intentional evil act, they will ignore the old feelings and destroy the family. Then how will ordinary people see the court in front of them?

?The family that has accumulated good deeds cannot have Yuqing, and they have to bear such consequences just because of their mistakes. What about ordinary people? The imperial court is not merciful to the family that has accumulated good deeds, so how can it care about the feelings of ordinary people? Over time, the common people will

In my heart, do I still really agree with the court in front of me? Now that the world is fine and the country is peaceful, the general government may not see hidden dangers, but once the world changes and the country is in difficulty, the people will see the Jiang family who donated their services back then.

Now that this has happened, how can the people come back to be loyal to the court and the country? Once the people's trust has been lost, how can the court last long even if it has enough troops and food? Most disasters occur in the slightest, but can start a prairie fire.

Once the fire is set, it will be difficult to extinguish it. The president must also be aware of this, right?"

"This... what Madam said makes sense. But I still need to verify the root cause of the Jiang family's debt." Tao Shu listened to Kong Luhua's admonishment and gradually understood that the so-called monopoly of salt merchants was not just a monopoly of salt merchants.

Relying on the profit side of monopoly, in a sense, salt merchants have already paid a huge price for their monopoly since they entered the salt transportation industry. Furthermore, the root cause of the decline of salt industry lies in the salt merchant system.

Rather than the salt merchants themselves, continuing to strictly investigate specific salt merchants is actually an act of neglecting the roots and chasing the tail. Thinking of this, she also said to Kong Luhua: "The Jiang family has donated and lost, the imperial court has its own old records, and I will also do it one by one."

After verification, if I find out that the Jiang family has indeed made meritorious deeds, and that the fault lies only in poor management rather than intentional squandering of family wealth, then...even if the Jiang family still needs to pay off part of their property, I will take action as appropriate and at least send out the garrison.

I can be exempted from the heavy punishment imposed by Taiwan. If Madam really trusts the Jiang family so much, why not go back today and investigate the truth, and I will punish you accordingly."

"In this case, I would like to thank Mr. Tao first." Kong Luhua also said goodbye to Tao Shu. Seeing that Kong Luhua had agreed to see off the guests, Tao Shu immediately left, and Kong Luhua also asked Ruan Konghou to step forward and remove the tent.

As soon as the tent was withdrawn, Ruan Konghou was so frightened that he turned pale. It turned out that Kong Luhua and Tao Shu had been arguing fiercely for a long time. Although their words were smooth and well-founded, she was already cold and cold, and most of her physical strength was used up.

, at this time, his face was pale and he was sweating frequently. He was afraid that he would collapse if he supported her for a moment longer. Ruan Konghou also hurriedly stepped forward, supported Kong Luhua and persuaded: "Mom, why do you bother to waste so much time for the Jiang family?"

, spend so much thought on it? What can you do with your body now? "

"Kong Hou, my mother is fine. The Jiang family... you don't understand. If you don't help the Jiang family now, who will come in the future..." When Kong Luhua said this, she suddenly felt a chill all over her body, and she almost fainted.

, finally stood up and helped him to the bed beside him. He was already out of breath and no longer had the strength to stand up.

"Mom, mother... what's wrong with you? Stop holding on. Now that Mr. Tao has left, you must have a good rest?" Ruan Konghou quickly helped his mother to the bed. He was already crying in a hurry.

.

"Kong Hou, I...it doesn't matter..."

That's what he said, but that night, Kong Luhua had a high fever. Ruan Konghou had no choice but to find a doctor in Jiangning and came to treat Kong Luhua. After that, Kong Luhua could only spend the whole day with a high fever.

, and could not get up until the next night, when he felt relieved.

"Mom, are you finally feeling better? You must take medicine and rest, and stop thinking about the Jiang family. My child... my child is scared..." Ruan Konghou saw Kong Luhua's serious illness and was frightened. He waited until Kong Luhua's condition gradually worsened.
Chapter completed!