Chapter 45 Smuggling Salt is a Capital Crime
A blind investigation is naturally difficult. But a targeted approach makes things much easier. Several bodyguards followed Jiang Jiarong closely, while Li Zhong investigated their recent social interactions, and soon they had results.
Three days later, Li Zhong reported to Jiang Yu with a heavy expression, "The secret guards followed the young master and the eldest young master for two days and discovered that the young master's personal attendant, Feng An, received some silver notes from someone and then gave them to the young master."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's expression also turned serious; she had guessed correctly after all.
Then Li Zhong said, "The secret guards followed the man who gave Feng An the silver notes and discovered that he was the former boat captain of the Chen family in Jiangzhou."
At this point, Li Zhong looked at Jiang Yu even more cautiously. Jiang Yu took a deep breath and said, "What else? Tell me everything."
“Yes,” Li Zhong said, “The secret guards observed the ship for a day and found something wrong with the dozen or so packages of goods that were unloaded from it. They were supposed to be cloth, but the way the boatmen carried them looked very heavy. The secret guards secretly opened them and saw that the goods were cloth on the top and bottom, but there was a layer of… salt in the middle.”
The room was deathly silent.
Smuggling salt is a capital offense.
Jiang Yu sat there in silence for a long time.
Li Zhong lowered his head, not daring to speak. He never imagined that Jiang Chengye would be involved in the smuggling of salt. If this were discovered, the entire Duke of Chu's mansion might be finished.
After a long while, Jiang Yu stood up and said, "I'm going to see my grandfather."
She stepped outside, and Li Zhong carefully followed behind her. Looking at Jiang Yu's straight back and steady steps, he admired her once again, thinking that the young lady was indeed capable of handling great things.
When they arrived at the Duke of Chu's courtyard, the Duke was watering the flowers. When he saw Jiang Yu coming over, he smiled and said, "Yu'er, come and see how these orchids are?"
Jiang Yu stood beside him, carefully examining the orchid, and said, "The color is even, the branches and leaves are thick, it's growing well."
"Hahaha..." Duke Chu laughed and said, "Yu'er, you really do know a lot."
Jiang Yu smiled, then took his arm and led him inside, saying, "Grandfather, I have something to say to you."
The Duke of Chu glanced at her calm expression and figured it wasn't a big deal, so he smiled and said, "Go ahead."
Jiang Yu helped him sit down, then sat opposite him and said, "My parents want to open a general store in the capital. I have several general stores in Yingzhou Prefecture, so I thought we wouldn't have to bother finding goods; we could just get them directly from there."
The Duke of Chu didn't know why she was telling him this, but he nodded nonetheless. Then Jiang Yu continued:
"In the past, I always cooperated with the canal guild to transport the goods in my shop, and I planned to have them transport the goods this time as well. However, my people sent word that the canal guild's business in the capital has been robbed of some of their assets, and their ships will not be able to return for some time."
My men have good relations with the Grand Canal Gang, and we've also received information that the one stealing their business is a powerful figure in the capital who bought the ships from the Chen family in Jiangzhou.
The Duke of Chu sensed that something was amiss and asked, "Which Chen family in Jiangzhou?"
Jiang Yu: "I heard that the imperial court investigated a corruption case last year involving Kong Wenjie, the transport commissioner of Jiangzhou."
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Chu frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "Yes, that's true. This case was the first one the Sixth Prince handled after taking over the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Jiang Yu didn't know how an embezzlement case ended up in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but she didn't ask. Instead, she continued, "The Chen family of Jiangzhou is Kong Wenjie's in-laws."
The Duke of Chu frowned and nodded, signaling her to continue.
Jiang Yu continued, "It is said that the eldest son of the Chen family in Jiangzhou owed money to a brothel and could not pay it back, so he had to sell his boat. He happened to meet a powerful figure from the capital in the brothel, and through the madam's introduction, the eldest son of the Chen family sold the boat to this powerful figure."
The Duke of Chu frowned even more deeply. Jiang Yu was somewhat worried about his health, but still said, "After hearing these reports, I remembered that my mother had been nagging me a few days ago that my father and elder brother used to ask her for money all the time, but they haven't asked for it lately. She was afraid that my elder brother and father were doing something wrong outside. So I... had someone investigate my elder brother and father."
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Chu took a deep breath and said, "Go on."
Jiang Yu: "I had Butler Li investigate, and it turns out that the ship was indeed bought by my father. Buying a few ships isn't a big deal, but..."
Jiang Yu stopped because she was afraid that the Duke of Chu's body could not withstand it.
"Speak," said the Duke of Chu, clenching his fist.
Jiang Yu looked at him and said, "However, the secret guards found...salt among the cloth on that ship."
"Cough cough cough..."
The Duke of Chu coughed violently. Jiang Yu went over to pat his back and fed him a few sips of tea, which helped him recover a little, but his hands were trembling.
Jiang Yu grasped his hand, looked into his eyes, and said calmly, "Grandfather, things haven't reached the point of no return."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, the Duke of Chu felt reassured. He gave a wry smile and said, "Grandfather is getting old, and his courage is waning."
Jiang Yu placed the tea in his hands again, saying, "Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure."
This time, the Duke of Chu felt a little more at ease. He took a sip of tea and then asked Jiang Yu, "Yu'er, what do you think should be done about this?"
Jiang Yu had already thought it through. She sat back down and said, "Keep an eye on the people in my father's and elder brother's courtyards. From now on, no one is allowed to step out of their courtyards. The reason is that you believe the people in their courtyards have corrupted them and need to be disciplined."
The Duke of Chu thought of Yang Tianfu, the servant of the Earl of Qingshan's mansion who had been arrested and interrogated, and nodded, saying, "That's the right thing to do."
He looked at Li Zhong, who immediately ordered someone to do it.
“It’s getting dark now,” Jiang Yu added, “so that everyone on the ship that Father bought should be kept under guard.”
The Duke of Chu nodded, and Jiang Yu continued, "The eldest son of the Chen family in Jiangzhou and the madam of the brothel must both be brought under control."
The Duke of Chu looked at Li Zhong and said, "Be discreet."
"yes."
Li Zhong walked away quickly, and Jiang Yu said again, "Interrogate my father and elder brother."
The Duke of Chu nodded, then called for someone to come in, and a steward entered. The Duke of Chu ordered, "Bring Jiang Chengye and Jiang Jiarong to me immediately."
"yes."
After the steward left, the Duke of Chu frowned and pondered for a while before saying, "This matter is probably aimed at us."
Jiang Yu nodded; this was clearly a trap.
"Who could it be?" the Duke of Chu murmured to himself.
Jiang Yu knew nothing about the Chu State Duke's mansion's past, and therefore had no way of answering the question. However, the key figure in the whole affair was the eldest son of the Chen family in Jiangzhou, and the key item was smuggled salt.
She asked, "Is the only crime that Kong Wenjie, the transport commissioner of Jiangzhou, committed? Is there no other crime?"
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