96. Chapter 96
"none"
Cao Yin entered the hall and quickly stepped forward to greet him. Li Guangdi stood aside, clasped his fists in return, and secretly glanced back, not missing the faint anxiety on his gentle face.
Li Guang couldn't express his feelings. The Cao family and even their in-laws, the Li family, had been operating in Jiangnan for a long time and had become too powerful and wealthy.
This time Qi You came to Yangzhou suddenly. As the Lianghuai salt official and Kangxi's confidant, he did not receive any news and must have been really anxious.
Immediately, Li Guangdi secretly laughed at himself, thinking that it was not his turn to feel sorry for Cao Yin.
Kangxi did not pass on the news to Cao Yin, intending to keep him out of the matter. This was also a form of protection for him.
He served as the Lianghuai Salt Commissioner for so many years and made an indelible contribution to the millions of taels of salt tax owed.
Unfortunately, despite Kangxi's good intentions, Cao Yin wanted to stay out of it, so how could these salt merchants let him go?
A smile crept across Cao Yin's weary face. He said respectfully, "Your Highness has come to Yangzhou, and I was unable to greet you. This is truly a dereliction of duty. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Qi You waved his hand, inviting Cao Yin to sit. "You are Khan Ama's servant, not mine, so there's no need to call yourself that. I came here this time and was unable to give you a message in advance because my mission was important and shouldn't be announced to the public. Therefore, you have no way of knowing. Ignorance is not a crime."
Cao Yin sat on the bench, listening to Qi You's gentle voice and face, feeling even more uneasy. It was as if there were nails stuck in the bench, making him feel uncomfortable.
Cao Yin had certainly heard of Qi You. He had never met him before, but now, meeting him for the first time, he saw that he was young, handsome, gentle, and exuding a scholarly air.
If one did not know his identity in advance, one would simply think that he was a scholar from a noble family.
Cao Yin had learned of Qi You's lightning-fast actions after arriving in Yangzhou. The more he remained silent, the more panicked Cao Yin became, making him even more nervous than when he met Emperor Kangxi.
After all, she has a deep relationship with Kangxi, but not with Qiyou.
When Qi You saw Cao Yin, the first thing that came to his mind was "Dream of the Red Chamber." Cao Xueqin was quite self-deprecating. He said that in the Jia Mansion, only the stone lions in front of the gate were clean.
The real Cao family, even the stone lions are not clean. The Cao family's wealth and prosperity all come from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and from the people.
How much silver Kangxi rewarded the Cao family was his business and also the Cao family's ability.
Only the manufacturing in Jiangnan and the weaving in Suzhou, the weaving everywhere is stinking.
When anyone goes to a certain place and holds a certain official position for too long, corruption will follow, growing and spreading in secret like moss.
The culprit behind all this must be Kangxi.
There was no distinction between public and private affairs, and the responsibilities and powers were confused. Cao Yin was the Jiangning Weaving Supervisor, but he also had to take care of the duties of the Salt Official.
Kangxi went to the south of the Yangtze River several times, and Cao Yin was always there to receive him. The Cao family built a large garden, which was magnificent and resembled a fairyland.
Kangxi knew exactly where the silver came from.
If the responsibility was to be divided, each of them would take half: Kangxi 50% and Cao Yin 50%.
All the reasons Cao Yin had thought of on the way here, as to how to deal with Qi You, were now completely useless.
After a while, Cao Yin glanced at Li Guangdi, who was leisurely sipping tea next to him. He steeled his resolve and said, "I dare not hide this from Your Highness. I have received news from the Yangzhou salt merchants. They say Your Highness has occupied their warehouses and is selling salt. They are dissatisfied and are threatening to sue Your Highness for seizing people's property."
This news arrived a little too quickly. Qi You smiled, said "Oh", and asked, "How much salt tax have the salt merchants owed over the years?"
Cao Yin was stunned for a moment, then answered in full. He sighed and said helplessly, "Your Highness, there has been a huge deficit since I took over the salt administration. Over the years, no matter how hard I tried, I have never been able to clear it up. Your Highness, you don't understand. It's such a mess. Even if I wanted to start from scratch, I wouldn't know where to begin."
Qi You smiled and asked curiously, "Since the deficit is so huge, how much of it did Khan Ama let you bear?"
Cao Yin was stunned, bitterness spreading in his mouth. This was another mess, and he didn't know how to respond.
Qi You changed his approach and asked, "How much money do you owe the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department? Have you ever considered that one day you will have to pay it back?"
Now, not only did Cao Yin's face turn pale, but his lips also turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
Nothing lasts forever. After Kangxi, the Cao family lost the affection between the emperor and his subjects, and that was the time of their demise.
Cao Yin knew that the Cao family's millions of taels of silver in arrears, coupled with the lucrative position at the Jiangning Weaving Factory, were like a sharp sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any time. He had no choice but to consider a way out for his large family.
When Qi You asked this question, Cao Yin's mind became clearer. There is no such thing as a perfect solution. There is no shortage of smart people in the world.
Cao Yin took a deep breath, tried to calm himself, and said with a wry smile, "Your Highness, I will find a way to repay the money the Cao family owes. But I can't ignore the salt merchants' lawsuit."
Qi You laughed and said, "You've been traveling so hard. Go back to your house in Yangzhou and rest up first. Come to Wang Qichang's warehouse early tomorrow. Oh, and bring a few more people with you. Since you're the salt official, you should contribute to this matter."
Cao Yin stood there in a daze, not yet able to figure out Qi You's tricks, and looked at him in confusion.
Qi You put down his tea bowl, stood up, nodded at him, and turned to leave. Cao Yin could only stand up and respectfully see him and Li Guangdi off.
Li Guangdi followed Qi You through the lobby to the guest house in the backyard. He looked back and saw Cao Yin had already walked to the gate.
Thinking of Cao Yin's words, Li Guangdi frowned slightly and said worriedly, "Your Highness, Cao Yin is right. If the salt merchants' petition is submitted to the court, someone will definitely take the opportunity to stir up trouble. If the court is forced to accept it, I don't think even the emperor will be able to suppress it."
Qi You said calmly, "It's okay. The salt merchants should all know that Cao Yin has come to Yangzhou. He will be busy tonight."
Li Guangdi hurriedly asked, "Should we send someone to keep an eye on them?"
Qi You shook his head and said, "No, let them go. We just need to have a good rest, we will be busy tomorrow."
Li Guangdi was relieved to see that Qi You was fine. He said, "Cao Yin... Well, he has done a lot for the people over the years."
Qi You was silent for a moment, then said, "The Cao and Li families, their in-laws, have been in Jiangnan for far too long. Private salt trafficking was rampant in Lianghuai, and the government failed to oversee it, including Cao Yin. For so many years, they haven't caught even a single legitimate salt trafficker, only a few minor ones. Of those who were apprehended, their confiscated property amounted to a mere tens of thousands of taels of silver. Compared to the millions of taels lost, it's truly insignificant!"
Li Guangdi looked at the lanterns under the eaves with his hands in his sleeves, feeling filled with emotion.
Cao Yin's merits far outweigh his faults. However, the rampant illegal salt production in Lianghuai was not caused by Cao Yin alone.
After thinking for a while, Li Guangdi said bluntly: "As bad as the salt merchants are, many officials in the court of Lianghuai and even Jiangnan are also implicated. Even now, they are still hiding from the public. As the Governor-General of Liangjiang, Ashan is still sitting in Jiangning. It's really abominable!"
"It's okay, they will come out." Qi You's eyes darkened, and he said in a cold voice: "I know Chen Jinwen and his men will fool around, singing and reciting some tricks, pretending to take out some silver, crying and saying that they have emptied their property and come to repay the taxes they owe. They won't cry until they see the coffin. Tomorrow, I will kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Let's wait and see, they will soon fight each other to protect themselves. Prepare the account book you took out from the salt field..."
Li Guangdi looked at Qi You's sudden fierce aura, his heart tightened, and he subconsciously bent his body, listening to Qi You's instructions very carefully.
Qi You told Li Guangdi what he needed to prepare. Li Guangdi was terrified and impressed. After agreeing to everything, they went back to their rooms to rest.
Cao Yin left the post station, exhausted both physically and mentally. He stopped riding his horse and took a carriage, thinking hard all the way, trying to sort out some of his thoughts.
Kangxi's thoughts were unknown. What would Qi You do next? And why did he send him to Wang Jinchang's warehouse?
When the carriage arrived at the house in Yangzhou, Cao Yin had a splitting headache and his mind was still a mess.
As he lifted the curtain and was about to get out of the car, Chen Jinwen and others who were waiting in the dark flashed out, ran forward to greet him, and said with a sad face: "Master Cao, you are finally here!"
Cao Yin paused, looking at them angrily, "What are you doing here? If the prince finds out, it'll be like I'm involved in something shameful!"
Chen Jinwen, Wang Jinchang, and the others exchanged glances, their faces changing slightly. Judging from Cao Yin's attitude, he was trying to distance himself from them.
Several people were immediately displeased. Chen Jinwen suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Master Cao, look at what you said. We are in the salt business, and the salt tickets are from you. After all, you are our boss. If we are wronged and bullied, who else can we turn to if not you to seek justice for us?"
Cao Yin had no choice but to get off the carriage with a cold snort. He stood there with his hands behind his back, glanced at the few people, and said warningly: "Behave yourself. I have no way to save you this time. Let's just do it." After that, he walked towards the door.
Chen Jinwen was anxious and chased after him. Cao Yin's followers rushed over and stopped him.
Wang Jinchang and the others saw that the situation was not good, so they rushed forward, pushed the servant aside, and said in a flurry, "Master Cao, you can't just ignore us and leave us alone! You didn't do this when you asked for the money."
Cao Yin was furious and irritated, and his face was embarrassed. However, considering the relationship between them that could not be cleared up at all, he endured it and let them in.
After walking a few steps, Cao Yin didn't even enter the house. He stood by the screen wall, waved his hand to dismiss the servants, and said, "You have come to me now, how do you want me to help you?"
Chen Jinwen said bluntly, "Master Cao, you must do us justice. No matter who asks us for money, we have always generously contributed as long as we have a few more coins. Now the court has sent people, and they sell salt for only three cents. If this is opened, how will we continue to trade in the future? If we can't survive, there is nothing to worry about."
This sentence was a threat. Cao Yin felt a throbbing pain in his head, but he could do nothing about it.
The imperial court asked them for money, and the Cao and Li families, as well as countless dignitaries, all benefited from them.
Cao Yin knew that they must have another account book in their hands. If that account book was handed over, the Jiangnan officialdom would be in tatters, if not change.
Cao Yin used to be certain whether the higher-ups were willing to see a shakeup in the Jiangnan officialdom, but this time he didn't dare to jump to conclusions.
No matter how much he hated it, Cao Yin couldn't just sit back and do nothing. After a moment's thought, he said, "Although I'm in charge of the salt business, the governor of Liangjiang is Lord Ashan. You should go find him."
Yilali Ashan's office as the Governor-General of Liangjiang was stationed in Jiangning. Ashan was a mediocre official, but he held great respect in the eyes of Emperor Kangxi.
Last time, when officials under Ashan's command had embezzled government funds, he had made a foolish judgment and should have been dismissed from office. In the end, Kangxi didn't care, and he continued to serve as governor as usual.
Merchants are always better informed than anyone else. Chen Jinwen knew that Cao Yin had impeached Ashan, but his report was rejected by Emperor Kangxi. There was a deep grudge between the two men, and it seemed Cao Yin was trying to drag him into the affair.
They were used to seeing the infighting in the officialdom, the two tigers fighting each other, and they were both close ministers to the emperor. If they dared to intervene, they would be the ones who would suffer in the end.
Qi You arrived in Yangzhou, but A Shan did not show up, hiding in Jiangning and making no movement. It was obvious that he would not get involved in this matter.
Chen Jinwen rolled his eyes and agreed vaguely, saying, "Master Cao, the prince ordered us to quickly raise money to repay the debt. Please take a look at this matter..."
Seeing that all they talked about was money, Cao Yin became even more annoyed. He said coldly, "I told you to raise money, but you're still trying to hold on to the money. Do you want money or your life?"
Wang Jinchang was already filled with resentment, and now he couldn't help but say angrily, "Now that the prince has seized our warehouse, we can't even sell the salt to raise money. Besides, if we take out the silver and still die in the end, wouldn't that be even more tragic? Lord Cao, you must give us a promise that after we take out the silver, we will be safe."
Chen Jinwen followed up, "At first, we agreed to pay some money back. But then we went back and thought, this isn't right, and we're still worried. We've already paid out that much money, so you have to give us an explanation, right?"
Cao Yin was filled with anger after hearing this. He said in a deep voice, "Since the prince has come to Yangzhou on a mission, how can he report to the emperor if he doesn't get any money back? You want me to promise, but who can I ask for that? Oh, right, the prince said earlier that he wanted me to go to the Wang family's warehouse early tomorrow morning. I really don't understand what he wants me to do there. Having said that, you can only wish yourself the best!"
When Wang Jinchang heard that Qi You was going to his warehouse, his face changed suddenly. He looked at Cao Yin striding away, standing there with his legs weak.
Chen Jinwen was also stunned. He glanced at Wang Jinchang, his eyes flickering slightly, and said with a dry laugh, "Old Wang, don't overthink it. The prince sold so much salt today that my warehouse is all sold out. Maybe it will be your turn tomorrow. Just sell it all, and think of it as spending money to avoid disaster."
Wang Jinchang was at a loss, but after hearing what Chen Jinwen said, he managed to suppress his anxiety and said, "Since Lord Cao has said so, we must at least raise some money. Alas, we worked so hard to earn some money, but in the end it was all in vain."
Chen Jinwen agreed and said yes. Several people walked out together and got on the carriage to leave.
That night, the lights in several study rooms were on until dawn.
Today, people in Yangzhou woke up earlier than usual. Those who hadn't bought salt, and those who had bought but felt it wasn't enough, rushed to the City God Temple early in the morning to line up.
The salt stalls were set up as usual, reassuring the people. Their anxieties faded, and relief appeared on their faces as they whispered about the officials sent by the imperial court.
"I heard he's a very important official, Lord Li Guangdi. Have you heard that he's a top-notch minister close to the emperor?"
"Lord Li is here too, but he's not considered the highest-ranking official. I heard the manipulator behind the scenes is Prince Chun!"
"Prince Chun? But the Prince Chun who pioneered the Northland?"
"That's him. My second daughter works in the Gao family's kitchen. The Gao family paid the court for shipbuilding and obtained permission to go to sea. The Gao family's ships sailed and brought back all kinds of Western goods. After just one round trip, the Gao family stepped up to repair the silver vault. They don't have to deal in salt, but they can still make a fortune."
"Didn't Prince Chun get rich in there?"
"Oh, don't talk nonsense. Prince Chun has never taken a penny. When he left the North, he left quietly and didn't dare tell the people of the North. Otherwise, those people would have sent him to the capital in tears. My second daughter said that the Gao family has issued a death order in the mansion. Anyone who dares to speak nonsense outside and criticize his benefactor will be treated rudely."
"The words of merchants cannot be trusted. Only poor people like us can tell who is good and who is bad. Prince Chun is so loved by the people, so there must be something wrong."
"Of course it's right! Let's not talk about the long-term, you eat salt that costs three cents a pound, and you still don't know how to be grateful, then you have lost your conscience!"
We are selling salt as usual here and everyone is happy.
Over there, in front of Wang Qichang's warehouse, not only Cao Yin, but also Wang Qichang and Chen Jinwen and others who followed to see what was going on were all stunned when they saw the scene in front of them.
Rows of scales were placed on the ground, with armed guards standing by with expressionless faces.
Qi You sat in a rattan chair, his posture relaxed. He picked up an account book from the desk in front of him and flipped through it. He said, "These are the accounts of the salt coupons received by the Wang family and the sodium taxes paid by the court over the years. The accounts clearly record how much salt the Wang family pulled from the salt fields, how much salt they sold, and how much tax they paid. Wang Jinchang, please check to see if there are any errors in the accounts."
Wang Jinchang stared at the account book, his face flushed. These accounts were for the imperial court, and could withstand scrutiny by anyone, so of course they were correct.
If there is any mistake, it means that Wang Jinchang has falsified accounts and deceived the court, which is a serious crime.
Qi You put down the account book, glanced at everyone, and said slowly, "How many salt tickets did you receive? How much salt did you pull from the salt field? How much did you sell? How much should be left in the warehouse? The calculation is very simple. Lord Li, please help open the warehouse and weigh the salt in the warehouse to see if the quantity matches the account book. Cao Ziqing, where are the people you brought with you? Please ask them to go up and help."
Wang Jinchang's face turned pale in an instant.
Cao Yin's heart suddenly sank to the bottom.
He finally realized that Qi You had no intention of checking their private accounts at all!
If the amount of salt in Wang Jinchang's warehouse was less than the amount stated in the account book, where did the part that he did not report and was required to pay taxes go?
If there is more salt in the warehouse than there should be, where does the extra salt come from?
Did they dry the salt secretly, or did they collude with the salt fields and transport the salt privately?
Whether it is privately drying salt or colluding with the salt fields to sell private salt, it is a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and beheading.
Qi You’s previous sale of salt at a low price was just his first step, a painless way to appease the people.
Qi You's actions now seemed serious.
Not only did they target the salt merchants, but they also caught all the officials in the salt fields!
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Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-12-05 23:41:16 and 2022-12-06 23:43:29~
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