Shanxi, Taiyuan City.

This thousand-year-old ancient city stands by the Fen River. Although the Shanxi merchants are already famous all over the world, they have not been able to add much color to this city.

The houses of Shanxi merchants in the city were built more and more grand. Most of the fertile land outside the city naturally fell under the name of Shanxi merchants with rich wealth, but ordinary people were still poor.

Thanks to the amazing financial resources of Shanxi merchants, coupled with the strong official connections and the training of their children to become officials, they resolutely became the real masters of Shanxi.

But now, these Shanxi merchants have suffered an unprecedented catastrophe, and core personnel, including Chen Boren, the chairman of Shanxi merchant, have been imprisoned by the censor Li Fengshi.

Although they immediately sent people to the capital for activities after the incident, and even ran to the home of Xu Jie, the chief minister of the dynasty, the imperial envoy sent by the court to the imperial court.

When Wang Bai was ordered to come to Taiyuan City, he naturally entered the Governor's Office, and missed the former Shanxi Governor Wang Jiluo who was taken to the capital.

He knew that he was carrying a mission and did not intend to be with local officials and wealthy gentry, but he immediately interrogated the Shanxi merchants who had been detained to this day.

Like Lin Run, when he got the imperial envoy, he also did a lot of pre-work and even checked a lot of relevant documentary and information.

Wang Bai asked the right governor of Shanxi Li Minde and Shanxi Censor Li Fengshi and other officials to attend the trial. He came to the Governor's Office and sat down and knocked on the aggro and said in a deep voice: "Take someone to invade Jin Sifang!"

Not long after, a middle-aged fat man in prison uniform was taken to court.

Although he had been in prison for more than half a month, Jin Sifang's face was still rosy and shiny, and it was obvious that the food in prison was also very good.

Jin Sifang just glanced at the right governor Li Minde and other officials who were staying next to him, and knew that the person in the court was Wang Bai, the left deputy censor of the Censorate.

Wang Bai looked at Jin Sifang who was taken to the hall and was still standing, and immediately asked, "Jin Sifang, why don't you kneel when you see me?"

"Mr. Wang, I am a tribute student from the 18th year of Jiajing!" Jin Sifang asked Wang Bai's question, and immediately raised his chin proudly and said.

Because he was born in the Jin family, he had no worries about food and clothing since he was a child. He was also sent to the Imperial College Beijing for further study and even took the exam for the title of a tribute scholar.

Although it was a pity that he failed to pass the Jinshi exam later, he was just unlucky, or he entered the officialdom with his ability. At this time, the person sitting in the court must be himself.

Wang Bai didn't know what Jin Sifang was thinking at this moment, but knew that he could not force a tribute juren to kneel down, so he interrogated and said: "In the first half of last year, you sold 10,000 Songjiang Bus to Fan Qianshan in three batches.

Is this true?”

"Imperial envoy, what's wrong with selling cloth business? Which one explicitly prohibits the Ming Dynasty's law?" Jin Sifang heard that it was this matter, and immediately questioned it in turn.

Wang Bai didn't expect Jin Sifang to have such an attitude, and immediately reiterated in a calm voice: "Jin Sifang, this imperial envoy is asking you, please answer truthfully!"

"The first half of last year has been too long, and I don't remember it very much!" Jin Sifang glanced at Wang Bai, but chose to pretend to be confused.

this……

Li Fengshi and other officials at the audience looked at Jin Sifang's attitude, but they couldn't help but exchanged a glance. They were truly a "demon-killing leader" who did everything they wanted.

Wang Bai felt Jin Sifang's contempt, but suppressed the anger in his chest and said coldly: "Jin Sifang, do you think that there is no evidence in my imperial envoy, or do you think that I dare not torture you?"

Although he was very angry, he was able to manage his emotions after spending nearly thirty years in the officialdom.

But the Shanxi merchant dared to be so polite to his imperial envoy, which shows how arrogant he is in Taiyuan City. It is not for Shanxi people to give him the title of Demon King.

Jin Sifang originally planned to fool this matter, but seeing that the imperial envoy seemed to be a simple character, he had to respond: "I remember, I did remember this in the first half of last year!"

"Where did you deliver the goods?" Wang Bai turned his head and looked at the clerk who was writing seriously, and then continued to interrogate.

Jin Sifang wanted to do perfunctory, but thinking that this move might not work, he simply replied with a straightforward answer: "The three delivery locations are all in Wanquan You Acropolis!"

Huh?

When Li Fengshi waited for the attendant officials to get this answer, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned, and then looked at Jin Sifang standing in the hall with complicated eyes.

Shanxi is not engaged in cotton textiles. Cotton usually comes from Songjiang Prefecture, so the cotton transportation line is from south to north, and the supply from north to north will be smaller.

In terms of purchasing power alone, the best markets are undoubtedly Taiyuan Prefecture and Pingyang Prefecture, but it is impossible to be the Wanquanyou Acropolis of Xuanfu, and such a large amount is required in just half a year.

That's right, an answer is about to come out.

Wang Bai seemed to have known this place for a long time, and there was no surprise on his face, but he asked coldly: "Zheng Yuanwai, in just half a year, you have transported 10,000 Songjiang cloths to Fan Qianshan. Don't you think it's

Is this a weird thing?"

"Imperial envoy, I am a small businessman selling cloth. If the transaction is profitable, it will be delivered no matter how far away the place is. This is also the business way for our Shanxi merchants to do business!" Jin Sifang already understood Wang Bai's idea, but he was confident.

responded.

Wang Bai stared at Jin Sifang, but asked righteously: "I am the imperial envoy, no matter what business strategy you have, but a real man will do something and not do anything! You transport a full ten thousand pieces of cloth to Wanquan Youwei City.

, and Fan Qianshan is not engaged in the cloth business at all. Do you really have no idea what he intends to do?"

Li Fengshi and other officials looked at Jin Sifang with complicated eyes. Even if those who were not engaged in business knew about it, Fan Qianshan's move must be to smuggle tens of thousands of pieces of cotton cloth to Mongolia.

"Imperial envoy, I'm doing business and someone has ordered the goods, so I naturally deliver them according to the rules! As for where Fan Qianshan wants to transport these goods, this is his business. What does it have to do with me?" Jin Sifang greeted him.

Wang Bai's eyes seemed to defend himself without fear.

Wang Bai didn't expect Jin Sifang to have such an attitude, so he asked coldly: "What if he was transporting this batch of cotton cloth outside the pass and making a deal with the Tartars?"

Officials such as Li Fengshi knew that there were two lines in Shanxi that should not be stepped on. One was to have contacts with Bailian, and the other was to trade with the Tartars.

Of course, these things were actually nothing in the past. Shanxi merchants were no longer satisfied with the profits brought by Huaiyan. Many Jia merchants had already participated in Mongolia's smuggling and even had close contacts with Bailian for convenience of business.

Even though the smuggling had been rectified last year, they knew that the last time they were knocked out was a group of non-core Shanxi merchants, and the real big fish was still at large.

"Even if he really smuggled cotton cloth to Mongolia, it has nothing to do with me! I am a reselling cotton cloth business, and I will sell it to anyone who wants the goods. This is the reason in the world!" Jin Sifang held his own account

He argued with reason and seemed disdainful.

Wang Bai looked at Jin Sifang with a straight waist, but stopped interrogating him. Then he turned his head and looked at the clerk who had just finished writing and ordered: "Let him sign the prison!"

Jin Sifang saw that Wang Bai no longer bites him, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but raise his mouth slightly, and saw the clerk delivering his confession to him. When he saw that he was just recording his transaction with Fan Qianshan, he signed it happily.

Mark.

It was also a bad year. Wang Guoguang, who was close to him, was still mourning at home. Yang Bo, who was related to him, was framed by a traitor and was forced to resign from his post. Otherwise, why should he look at the left deputy chief of the Censorate?

The face.

"Sir, please check it out!" After the clerk asked Jin Sifang to sign the case, he was determined to win the appreciation of this great man, and he showed it respectfully.

Wang Bai took the confession and read it carefully, then fell on Jin Sifang, but suddenly changed color and shouted angrily: "Don't you kneel down?"

Huh?

However, not only was Jin Sifang standing in the hall confused, but the officials Fang Fengshi and others were also confused, but they all looked at Wang Bai in the hall.

The two personal guards who followed Wang Bai to Shanxi looked at Wang Bai, and immediately understood and stepped forward, swung the long stick in his hand and smashed it hard at Jin Sifang's feet.

Before Jin Sifang could come to his senses, his feet immediately felt weak and he knelt on the ground.

"I am an imperial envoy who does not understand the so-called truths of your businessmen, but he understands the laws of the Ming court. Your behavior is no different from that of Tonglu! Now you know that Fan Qianshan is smuggling, not only provides him with goods, but also does not report it.

Now the Japanese imperial envoy will continue to imprison you according to the law, and your house will be temporarily sealed! When this imperial envoy reports to the Ming court, you will... raid your house and ask for it!" Wang Bai looked at Jin Sifang kneeling on the ground and immediately put himself in the morning.

The verdict was revealed.

House search and ask for death?

Li Fengshi and other officials swallowed secretly, but knew that the imperial envoy was serious and determined to catch Jin Sifang and others.

If such a crime can be proved, then not only Jin Sifang, but also Chen Boren and his group would also be punished for this. These core members of the Shanxi merchants are already facing the fate of raiding their homes.

Jin Sifang didn't expect Wang Bai to convict him like this, and immediately shouted unwillingly: "Sir, you are obviously Lin Qiran's lackey. This move is intended to retaliate! I just sold Fan Qianshan three thousand Songjiangbu, which is normal

You can’t make such a judgment on business transactions, and Ge Lao Xu can’t do it like this!”

Officials such as Li Fengshi looked at Wang Bai one after another, not to mention whether this judgment was reasonable, if Jin Sifang was really confiscated and asked to be executed, it would also require the consent of the court to implement it. The attitude of the chief assistant Xu Jie of the dynasty was undoubtedly very important.

But as far as they know, Xu Jie has always had a close relationship with the Shanxi Gang, and I am afraid he will come forward to protect Jin Sifang and others.

"I had no intention of killing Boren, but Boren died because of me! This is not a revenge, it is to eliminate evil for the court and to eliminate harm for the people on the nine borders! As for whether the court will agree, I can tell you clearly.

Master Xu can't save you anymore!" Wang Bai responded with murderous intent in response to Jin Sifang's unwilling gaze.

Perhaps it is a matter of concept. Some people think that it is not a big deal to just provide some goods or transport goods from Yangzhou and other places to Fan Qianshan and others, but it is an unforgivable crime for him.

If Songjiang Bu was just sold to Shanxi, this is undoubtedly a normal trade behavior. But Fan Qianshan and others did not have stores, and Wanquan Youwei did not have such a large market. Jin Sifang must know that Fan Qianshan and others were engaged in smuggling.

It is already aiding the evil.

Since Jin Sifang and others have gained the benefits from it, they have damaged the fundamental interests of the Ming Dynasty and have even made Altan's power continue to grow, what reason is there to forgive these people?

As for whether to search the house and ask for it, he felt it was necessary to do it.

Why did Lin Qingran start cracking down on smuggling in the early years? Even though Yang Bo has been pushed down, it still cannot be completely eradicated? One reason is that the profits are too generous, and the other reason is that many people think that not smuggling in person is not a crime.

Only by cutting off these supply links and truly hurting this Shanxi merchant who only has the interests but no country, can this smuggling be completely eliminated.

Although he did not like severe punishment and serious laws, he also agreed with Lin Junran's view that only severe punishment and serious laws can make Shanxi merchants know the pain, let them know the existence of the country's powerful weapon, and let their latecomers dare not engage in smuggling trade easily.

That's why the house search and killing is not only the crime of Jin Sifang and others, but also to more effectively solve the problem of Mongolian smuggling.

Li Fengshi and other officials couldn't help but fall into deep thought after hearing Wang Bai's reasons. Although Jin Sifang did not directly participate in smuggling, he was indeed an indirect accomplice, and this judgment is really not unfair.

Jin Sifang saw the confident Wang Bai, especially directly indicating that Xu Jie could not save him, and he couldn't help feeling a panic in his heart.

The biggest reason why he never takes smuggling seriously, or even takes affair with Bai Lian seriously, is that he relies on someone in the court.

But people in the court cannot be used, so what can he do?

"General Tian obeys the order!" Wang Bai no longer paid attention to Jin Sifang, who was so beautiful that he met, and immediately said in a deep voice.

Tian Shiwei has been officially promoted to Shanxi General, and he appeared energetic and said, "The last general is here!"

"Send your troops to surround the Zhan Mansion immediately and do not allow anyone to leave!" Wang Bai had already made up his mind to investigate the Zhan Mansion, so he issued an order.

Tian Shiwei had already broken up with the Shanxi merchants, but he was eager to do so. He immediately bowed excitedly and said, "The last general will take the order!"

"Come, take this person down. This imperial envoy will continue to interrogate Chen Boren!" Wang Bai slapped the arson and ordered with murderous intent.

Li Fengshi and other officials looked at each other, but they knew that the Shanxi merchants were not only in a disaster, but also that their lives were lost.

As the prisoners were arraigned, the troops were sent out from the governor's office and soon surrounded the grand houses.

For a time, the house of Shanxi merchants was blocked by these officers and soldiers, and the arrogant slaves were directly sent into the mansion, and the family members of Shanxi merchants also started crying.

When the people in the city saw this scene, especially when they saw that the mansion of the Demon King was also sealed up, they couldn't help but applaud.

It’s not that they hate the rich so much. First, their land was mostly forced to be sold to these wealthy Shanxi merchants, and second, many of them were forced to leave their hometowns by the Tartars. Why don’t they hate these people who are the capitulates?
Chapter completed!