Shenli, the magistrate of Changshou County, only deployed the arrest operation and did not go to the front line in person.
At this time, he and Zhu Wanjian had returned to the county government office to "divide the spoils."
The county magistrate's face was filled with excitement: "Twenty tons of illicit salt, a total of 8,000 kilograms, have been seized so far and loaded into six trucks. Following the clues, more than a dozen ships of illicit salt were found at the Hanshui pier. They have been reported to the magistrate and the Anlu Guard Command.
Let the yamen work together to handle the case."
Zhu Wanjian was drinking tea nearby and looked proud when he heard this: "Zhixian County Shen, I didn't use you in vain today, did I?"
Shen Li stood up and held up his hands: "I rely on Mr. Zhu."
"No need for polite words, let's talk ugly words up front. Now that the stolen goods are in hand, we still have to divide them. For more than ten ships of stolen salt, the county government should get half of it anyway." Zhu Wanjian counted around with his fingers, "Refreshingly
Yes, the Zhu family wants four ships and two hundred dollars of salt. Isn’t that excessive?”
Shen Li frowned upon hearing this.
You just provided some information and you want to take away four shiploads of salt?
According to the market price, it is already over one thousand taels.
It's really a lion's mouth.
Shen Li said: "I still need to discuss with the magistrate before making a decision. Please go back first and wait for good news."
Zhu Wanjian stood up, yawned, waved his hands and said: "I've been working hard all night, I'm exhausted, but there's something I need to do... My brothers and sisters are probably going to be taken to the county prison soon. Please... take care of me. After all, I'm a member of the imperial court.
Give her a chaste wife. Besides, it is my Zhu family who has done meritorious service this time, so I will give her a wide berth to avoid being said that my Zhu family has made things difficult for one of my own."
"Can!"
Shen Li agreed to this harmless condition without hesitation.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhu Wanjian felt that his own interests and publicity had been fulfilled, so he left the county government with a haha.
…
…
Shenli couldn't sleep that night.
After the initial excitement, Shen Li felt that the situation was serious and began to worry.
Until midnight, people from all walks of life came back one after another, and the county magistrate appeared in front of him again with a gloomy face.
"Have you figured out where you came from?"
Shen Li was very concerned about the origins of private salt dealers.
Not to mention selling illegal salt, the scale is so large, and the background is quite large. If he gets involved with any nobles, father-in-law, or close ministers of the emperor, it will not end well.
Everyone knows what kind of thing the current emperor is. He is surrounded by a bunch of villains, including Qian Ning, Xu Tai, Jiang Bin, and the eunuchs who are close to the emperor in the palace, or the two brothers Shouning Hou and Jianchang Hou...
The relationship between the powerful and powerful people in North Korea and China is complicated and unclear.
The county magistrate said: "The leader of the illegal salt traders who was captured was unruly and clamored to see the Anlu magistrate. In addition, a large number of salt ships seized in the Han River were all official salt and salt guides with formal procedures."
Shen Li was heartbroken when he heard this, and asked: "Is Yin'an right? Could it be a forgery?"
"It doesn't seem to be a forgery. Even the order for lifting salt from the salt farm is there. I'm afraid... things are not simple." The county magistrate was no longer as confident as he was when he suggested that Shen Li arrest people. Now he already knew that he might
Cause big trouble.
At this moment, the state government sent someone to come.
Shenli hurriedly welcomed him out of the door.
The person who came was an aide of Kuang Yangming, the magistrate of Anlu Province. As soon as he arrived, he said anxiously: "Magistrate Shen County, you have such great official power! Without knowing why, you have caused great trouble!"
Seeing that Shen Li was not an official official of the state government, but only a staff member, he understood that Anlu Governor Kuang Yangming wanted to solve the problem in a private way, and his heart skipped a beat.
Suddenly hearing the other party's rebuke, I felt as if I was mourning for my heir.
"I don't know what's going on. The second son of Jinyiwei Zhu Qianhu came to report the case, saying that someone was selling illegal salt. After verification, I dispatched manpower... Is there some misunderstanding in this?" Shen Li could only try his best.
Put the responsibility on others.
I wanted to gain some political capital, but it seemed like I was going to get involved.
The staff member said anxiously: "That is the new brother-in-law of Huangfantai. He was just passing through Anlu to do some small business, and you actually detained him... I heard that you also sent people to Hanshui to seize all his salt ships?
If word gets out about this, how do you want Huang Fantai to face the local officials and gentry of Huguang in the future?"
Shen Li said angrily: "The villain mistook me, the villain mistook me! I will go and apologize right now."
"Where are the people?"
The staff was very nervous. Apparently he came to apologize to Huang Zan's brother-in-law on behalf of Kuang Yangming.
Shen Li looked at the county magistrate, who hurriedly said: "He is detained in the county prison and has not been sentenced yet."
The staff member had already taken a step forward. Hearing this, he turned back to glare at Shen Li and shouted, "You still want to use torture? It seems you don't want the black gauze hat on your head anymore!"
…
…
Zhujia Rice Shop.
Zhu Hao and Aunt Li didn't fall asleep until midnight.
"Master Hao, why don't we send someone to the government to inquire? Waiting like this is not an option." Aunt Li was worried.
She didn't have much knowledge. She just felt that if the wife never came back, the matter would probably be nothing. If she caused official trouble, the small courtyard would be completely destroyed in the future.
If Zhu Niang had not been protecting her, given her beauty and age, she would have been sold as a concubine when she returned to the Zhu family.
These days, if a concubine doesn't give birth to a son for her husband's family, she has no status at all.
Zhu Hao said: "I saw officers and soldiers riding past through the crack in the door earlier. Let's wait a little longer."
Zhu Ting couldn't bear it anymore and went to bed early. The two of them stayed behind the door of the shop until half past the fourth watch, when they finally heard the sound of familiar footsteps. Zhu Hao looked out carefully through the crack in the door. Sure enough, his mother was taking Yu San with her.
Waiting for someone to come back.
"mother!"
Zhu Hao quickly opened the door and went out with Aunt Li.
When Zhu Niang saw Zhu Hao, she rushed over and hugged her son.
Although I knew all the plans early and was mentally prepared, as a woman who came from a woman's family, I was arrested and taken back to the city and taken to the county government office. I was also walked in a cold cell for a while. When I came out, I felt like I was a human being again.
When Zhu Hao saw that everyone around him was looking at his mother and son, he hurriedly broke away, clasped his fists and saluted deeply: "Uncle Zhong, I have worked hard for you all today, and I may have caused a little trouble, but what we bought is official salt, and the government cannot help but
Be reasonable...you guys should go back first, I'll give you a lot of hard-earned money today...Mom, I think it's better to double the amount."
Zhu Niang nodded: "Okay."
Zhu Hao said: "Then you can go directly to the counter to collect your money tomorrow, and go home to rest tonight. After all, it is so late."
Uncle Zhong and others didn't know Zhu Hao's plan. After being captured by the officials, they were almost scared out of their wits. Now they are eager to go back and reunite with their families as soon as possible.
…
…
People outside quickly dispersed.
Zhu Hao took Zhu Niang into the shop and closed the door. Then he took his mother's hand and asked, "Mom, did the plan succeed?"
"Um."
Under the dim tung oil lamp, Zhu Niang nodded resolutely.
Her temples were messy and her clothes were stained with dirt. She looked miserable, but she had no time to care about her image.
Aunt Li asked in confusion: "Madam, what happened?"
Zhu Niang said: "I followed what Xiaohao said. At the family meeting, we said that what we bought was private salt and we didn't want to buy salt tonight. People from the government actually showed up and arrested us... Later, the state government
Someone is coming over there to let us go."
Having said this, Zhu Niang was still shocked.
Zhu Hao was not concerned about this, "Mom, where is Su Dongzhu, Huangfantai's brother-in-law, now?"
"Still in the county jail... He refused to come out just like that, saying that the culprit must be brought out. When I came out of the jail, I heard noises coming from inside. The county magistrate kept admitting his mistake, but he was not forgiven."
At this point Zhu Niang was a little puzzled: "Xiao Hao, how do you think the clan will send someone to report the case to the government?"
"Mom, the Zhu family ignores family ties and repeatedly bullies our orphans and widowers. What can't they do? I don't mean to belittle them. In my opinion, in order to seize the property left by my father, they can do even more despicable things.
...Didn’t Mom say that the Zhu family is short of money and have to go to the capital to get it?"
Zhu Hao patted Zhu Niang's back gently and said, "Mom, you must be exhausted after a day of worrying. Please rest early."
Mother Zhu was a little uneasy: "Xiao Hao, if we do this to offend Dongzhu Su, it will also be difficult for our family to explain... When the government comes to trouble the Zhu family, what should we do if your grandmother blames us?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Mom, we are doing serious business with Mr. Su, and we are also victims. As for the Zhu family, let's just say that we don't know the real identity of the other party... The Zhu family doesn't even know it themselves, so why?
Do you think we can know? In the situation at that time, everyone thought they were private salt dealers, and even the people in the government were wrong. Can we be blamed?"
"Xiao Hao, that's what I said, but I'm afraid that after this incident, we won't be able to do business at all..."
Zhu Niang's face was filled with worry.
It seemed to solve the immediate trouble, but at the same time it offended Su Xigui and all the salt merchants in the city, and even turned against the Zhu family.
How is this different from digging your own grave?
Zhu Hao said: "Mom, we have been forced to a dead end, why are we worrying so much? If we can produce good salt, there will definitely be sales...Mom, you go to rest first, and we will discuss the next plan after the matter is over!"
"
…
…
early morning.
The rising sun rises in the east.
The county government was in chaos.
Shen Li condescended to enter the cell several times and almost knelt down to plead with Su Xigui. It was useless. He had no choice but to send someone to the Zhu family to "invite" someone.
It's you who caused the disaster. You can't just sit back when things happen, right?
In the lobby, Shen Li was walking around like an ant on a hot pot. Song County Magistrate was also restless. This time he made a mistake and bore the same responsibility. At this time, there was a sound from the gate of the county government office, and he looked sideways.
He went there and immediately said in surprise: "Your Majesty, I've invited you."
Shen Li heard the sound and looked outside. He thought it was Zhu Wanjian who came. Unexpectedly, he saw the Zhu Jia family coming with his head held high. When he took office in Changshou County, he had visited the local benefactors. The Zhu family served as a guard of thousands of households.
Of course he went to visit the house.
I wasn't sure at first, but seeing Zhu Wanjian shrinking his head and following behind the old lady, he knew who she was.
Zhu Wanjian's face was dark, because the official came to the door with the attitude of questioning people. If it weren't for Zhu Jiashi, he might have been shackled now.
"Mrs. Zhu, how come you are here in person? You are far away from us." Shen Li was very anxious. When he saw Zhu Jia's arrival, he felt an even greater headache.
Zhu Jiashi solemnly said: "Quinzi mistrusted others, which caused a misunderstanding between the county government office and Huang Fantai's relatives. I came here in the hope of clarifying the matter... I wonder where the Su Dongzhu is now?"
Shen Li said distressedly: "I'm still in prison, and I won't come out no matter how hard I try to persuade you. I insist on killing the culprit... I have no intention of holding Master Zhu to account. I just want to invite him to explain it in person."
Zhu Jiashi nodded: "Then please help me lead the way."
"Mrs. Zhu, you..."
Not to mention that Shen Li didn't understand, even Song County Cheng who was standing by was very surprised.
What they want to see is your son, but you, a mother-in-law, want to go above and beyond to act as a lobbyist? Even the county magistrate can't get things done, so you actually want to step in?
"I am half-broken and have nothing to offer. I only have a few contacts left. I hope I can help Shen Zhixian County." Zhu Jiashi explained.
Shen Li thought the same thing. Although the old lady's husband was bedridden, he was still a hereditary member of the Imperial Guard. It was said that he had a lot to do with today's emperor. Even the feudal lord should give him some respect, right?
Shen Li hurriedly said: "Come here, help the old lady lead the way."