"There is no need to ask. Send someone to guard him and see where he goes, who he meets, and what he says. If you have accurate information, please report."
"Yes, Wei Chen will send someone right now!" Wu Mengming only felt that "God's will is unpredictable". He really couldn't figure out how this little official from Fujian aroused the emperor's interest and actually enjoyed the treatment of a minister and governor.
.
"And Wang Yehao..."
"Weichen has arrangements with him."
Chongzhen nodded: "Let the editor secretly inquire about the relationship between him and Zhou Lezhi."
"Yes!" Wu Mengming waited for a moment, but seeing that the emperor had no new instructions, he took a few steps back and prepared to go out, but was stopped by the emperor again.
"Delong Bank, how is business going now?"
Wu Mengming was surprised. Delong Bank was not a big bank in the capital. It was much less famous than Shanxi Laocai's "Shanxi House". However, it was well known in Beijing that this bank had conspirators and connections.
Because from the very beginning, Delong has focused on money exchange in Guangdong.
It is a long way from the capital to Guangdong and Guangxi. For some people with little knowledge, "Guangli" means almost the same as "barbarian". However, there are not many businessmen and officials from Guangdong in the capital, and the exchange of money is quite frequent.
In the past, due to the high mountains and long distances, transportation was inconvenient. Whether it was from the capital to Guangdong or from Guangdong to the capital, the discount for remittances was very high. For one tael of silver remitted to Guangzhou, the discount was five to six times or even ten times that of Jiangnan.
It also took a long time, which was inconvenient for the Cantonese gentry and businessmen.
After Delong opened in Beijing, the remittance between Guangdong and Guangxi almost immediately opened up a new situation. Not only is its remittance amount unlimited, the handling fees are low, but the most important thing that the traditional industry cannot match is the speed of remittance. Remittance to Guangzhou-Beijing
, the fastest "wire transfer" only takes three days to arrive. Not to mention that no one has been able to achieve this speed in the past, not even the imperial court's 800-mile urgent Tongbao can't do it. What's even more rare is that it
There is also a lower-cost "credit remittance" service, which can be remitted within ten days.
This speed completely subverted people's understanding. When it came to urgent business from Guangzhou to the capital, Titang officials rushed at night, and it took at least nine days to get from Guangzhou to the capital. The money delivery was even more clear, and it didn't take long to complete.
It monopolized the money exchange between the capital and Guangzhou. Not only were the merchants from the Guangdong and Guangxi gentry praised it, but it also attracted many northern merchants to use it as a capital channel to go south to Guangdong for business. Those who have sniffed out the leaks in the ship
Through Delong, they also obtained money from their corruption, which was continuously sent to the south to build a new comfortable home.
This kind of north-south exchange was later extended to the two Beijings, and soon the exchange became Delong's biggest business. This kind of north-south exchange was still carried out even after the fall of Guangdong and Guangxi, just out of the routine of "catching locals to attract attention"
, the wire transfer was stopped. However, the "Xinhui" branch between Guangdong, Guangxi and the capital was open, and the time was extended to one month. The reason was naturally the war.
Everyone knows whether Delong's shopkeeper Leng has a "connection", but they all know it tacitly. After all, who is willing to block this channel? Not to mention that shopkeeper Leng is in the business world of the capital. There are also people who are known for their "hard backers", including not only officials from Guangdong and Guangxi, but also the eunuchs in the palace. So it has been almost two years since Guangzhou fell, and during this period, there were also many people who wanted to get rich and report Delong's "Tongkun" Several of them died without any explanation. Naturally, Wu Mengming was not willing to wade into troubled waters.
Now that the emperor suddenly asked about this matter, Wu Mengming quickly ran through many thoughts in his mind. Could someone have said something directly to the emperor? And...
The matter was so important that he did not dare to answer easily. He just followed the emperor's question and replied: "I don't know about this matter. He is a banker. The quality of his business cannot be seen from the outside. Wait. Weichen will go back and investigate carefully."
Chongzhen stared at Wu Mengming for a long time, causing cold sweat to break out on his back. After a long time, he lowered his voice and said in a voice that could only be heard clearly between the two of them: "This matter must be kept confidential! I heard that someone among the Zhongguan officials was related to This bank has something to do with it. You go and check it out - you don't need to inform Dongchang about this matter, it will be handled secretly."
When Wu Mengming heard this, his legs were trembling, and he felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. If he made a mistake, he would be dismissed from office and punished, and his life might not be saved.
Wu Mengming didn't know how he came out or how he got back to the Yamen. When he returned to his pledge room, other errands were easy to do, but the investigation of the bank was too tricky.
Wu Mengming knew a thing or two about Delong Bank: Shopkeeper Leng came from Guangdong, and he was originally a "little boy" in the capital. He found someone's connections and got involved with Eunuch Yang, the head of the Bell and Drum Department in the palace, and he was in the capital. He stood firm. Because of Eunuch Yang's relationship, many eunuchs in the palace deposited their money in this bank.
It is not difficult to investigate Delong or Leng Ningyun, but the emperor's words before leaving, "You don't need to inform Dongchang" are the most terrifying.
Dongchang was the emperor's "domestic slave", and the governor, Cao Huachun, as the emperor's most trusted eunuch and eunuch and the admiral of Dongchang, was involved in the emperor's secrets the most. Although Wu Mengming was also a close official whom the emperor relied on, he still relied on him. At this moment, the emperor asked him to "do it secretly", obviously he had distrusted Cao Huachun.
If he had defended the eunuchs in his reply, the emperor would definitely suspect that he was colluding with the eunuchs; if the report was true, Eunuch Yang was the eunuch in charge of the Bell and Drum Department, although his position was not as respected as the eunuchs of the ceremonial department and the imperial horse supervisor. , after all, he is also one of the top eunuchs in charge of the twenty-four yamen, Gao Shiming's apprentice - the relationship in the palace is intricate. Once he is investigated for this matter, he will offend all the eunuchs in the palace to death!
He knew that Eunuch Yang had been very fond of Wang Dehua in recent years. If he offended Wang Dehua again because of this, the consequences would be even more disastrous.
Wu Mengming was sweating on his back and lingered in the custody room for a long time. He felt that he should discuss the following matter with Cao Huachun. No matter what Cao Huachun's attitude was, at least he could get some relief. But the emperor specially reminded him today - in case the emperor knew about it. …
He suddenly thought that the emperor only asked him not to inform Dongchang, so as long as he did not mention the matter to Cao Huachunming. Eunuch Yang had a relationship with the bank, so he had to avoid it. Wang Dehua did not interfere with it.
Eunuch Yang has always been attached to Wang Dehua, and I am afraid that Delong's benefits will also be given to him. As long as he reveals a little information to him, he will naturally understand. Eunuch Yang will naturally send someone to discuss with him what to do specifically.
Thinking of this, he probably had an idea, so he immediately called a few of his capable generals and gave them some instructions in a low voice.
The winter night in the capital was extremely cold. Except for a few people who had to make a living and the watchmen who patrolled the streets on a routine basis, ordinary people who still had a place to stay hid early in their homes. The streets were empty and deserted.
.
In this cold and desolate market place, at the west intersection of the Huguo Temple in the capital, there is a courtyard that is brightly lit. This is the famous Liuquanju restaurant in the capital. This restaurant opened during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty. Even in
Chongzhen Dynasty is also a century-old store.
The restaurant's facade is not big, just three facades on the street. Compared with other large restaurants, it looks more like a city center, but it is unique inside. Its backyard is wide and spacious, and has a pastoral charm in the market place. There is a centipede tree in the courtyard.
There is a clear spring under the old willow tree. The spring water is clear and sweet. The owner uses this clear spring water to brew rice wine. It has a mellow taste and overflowing aroma. It is called "Yuquan Wine" by diners.
In addition to the "willow tree", "spring water" and "yellow wine", Liuquanju is most famous for its plaque inscribed by Yan Song. Therefore, it is quite famous in the capital. There is an endless stream of dignitaries and dignitaries who come here to banquet and gather day and night.
This time I push the cup to another cup and enjoy the wine.
At this moment, in the private room in the backyard, a "cold-relieving" banquet is being held.
This was not an official official banquet, but a casual drink among colleagues and friends. Most of the guests were officials and secretaries from the Shuntian Mansion Yamen in the capital, and there were fifteen or sixteen people in total.
Various side dishes for drinking are arranged on the table: marinated fish, pine flowers, drunken crabs, dried meat, vegetables, dried and fresh fruits...all are prepared, there are more than 20 kinds of them. There are also various kinds of fine wines.
The fire wall of the private room was lit up, and the cold wind was blowing outside, but the room was as warm as spring. All the guests exchanged glasses, recited poems, and had a great time.
The middle-aged scribe who sat in the chief seat was none other than Yin Zhongyi of Shuntian Prefecture. Zhongyi was an upright official, with a reputation for controlling officials with strictness and being lenient with the people. The emperor also called him "the one who cleans himself and serves the public."
Although he has a reputation of being upright and honest, in the officialdom, he cannot be strict and stubborn. Socializing is also an indispensable "job". Today's cold banquet was initiated by him as a reward and condolences to his officials.
Curtain friend.
When a group of people were getting excited, Zhong Yan's personal entourage suddenly walked in and whispered a few words in his ear. When the colleagues at the table saw his brows frowning slightly, they all stopped talking and looked at him.
Zhong Yan signaled his entourage to step back and signaled the secret agent in charge of the execution to come forward. He whispered a few words of concern to the other party, "... You will arrange for someone to check it tomorrow. If you have any news, report it to me immediately."
"Yes, student, go and make arrangements now." After saying this, the master said goodbye and left the table.
Zhong Yan waited until the master left the door and saw everyone looking at him and said: "Everyone here is from the Shuntian Mansion Yamen, and the students are no longer scornful of you. A case has just come out, and I will only be here tomorrow."
I’m afraid I’m going to be very busy.”
Everyone looked at each other in shock. A case that could alert the Shuntian Prefecture Yin to personally intervene must be a major case. Everyone held their breath, waiting for his next step.