Naturally, Liu Jin did not dare to neglect, and quickly went out and took the account book that Liu Qi was holding with both hands, and respectfully presented it to Zhu Houzhao.

After taking the account book, Zhu Houzhao began to look through it. There was no sound in the room, and even the breathing was very low. Obviously, the situation here made many people confused. No one expected that Liu Qi would surrender directly.

, not only admitted everything, but also took out the account books. Is this crazy? Many people wanted to strangle Liu Qi to death.

Zhu Houzhao looked at it for a long time, finally put the account book aside, and then said: "Liu Qi, tell me what happened in the illegal salt case!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi knelt on the ground and continued: "The so-called private salt case in the Lianghuai Salt Fields is actually a corruption case of collusion between government and businessmen. Where did the private salt come from? The salt is all salt from the Lianghuai Salt Fields.

Officials use various methods to conceal official salt, which is called drifting in this industry. The common methods used are deductions and underreporting of output. "

"In addition to under-reporting production, there is also the practice of squeezing salt farmers, making them work day and night, and the excess is taken away by these officials."

"Other than that, the salt fields are hidden, and the salt fields are directly hidden. All the salt produced by these salt fields is swallowed up."

"In recent years, it has been sold to salt merchants at a price lower than that of officials. No salt is needed. As long as the money is paid, it is sold. The salt merchants transport the salt back and sell it as official salt. The officials in the salt field benefit from the money. The salt merchants

It’s also a huge profit. Although I haven’t checked carefully in the past few years, 40% of the salt in the Lianghuai Salt Farm has been lost in this way.”

Zhu Houzhao nodded. In fact, this kind of thing has no impact on the people. They buy salt the same way. What is affected is the country's tax revenue and the court's salt class.

Glancing at Liu Qi, Zhu Houzhao continued to ask: "The businessmen who gave you money in this account book are actually businessmen who do private salt, right?"

"Back to Your Highness, yes!" Liu Qi nodded: "These are their filial piety. Once the illegal salt is investigated, the Salt Road side will fill in the documents from top to bottom and turn the illegal salt into official salt.

There is no trace. This time after Eunuch Yang of Dongchang arrested him, the salt merchant Liu family came to find me and gave me 50,000 taels of silver to help me write the paperwork. This is the last stroke on the account book."

Zhu Houzhao turned the account book to the last page. Zhu Houzhao slowly said to Mu Bin and Ji Zhong: "Two beloved ladies, what do you think?"

Tong Zhong felt as if he had eaten shit. This time Jiangnan official circles were afraid that there would be a big upheaval. Mou Bin secretly hated Yang Bin in his heart, and he also hated Liu Qi terribly.

Yang Bin, his own Jinyiwei people helped Dongchang without telling them in advance, and even arrested the Jinyiwei commander and his subordinates afterwards. What is this? This is a cover-up! The entire Nanjing Zhenfu Division has something to do with it.

As the commander of the Jin Yiwei, how could Mou Bin get away with it? This is a sign of ineffective governance, especially in front of the prince.

On the other hand, look at Dongchang, look at Dongchang. Not only did they uncover such a big case, but they also investigated it very clearly. In this comparison, what is Jinyiwei?

"Your Highness, I thought that this case should be investigated strictly, and all those involved would be arrested and punished severely!" Mou Bin said directly: "I will take the Jinyi Guards to arrest them!"

Mou Bin said this so resoundingly that he really couldn't help but say it. If this job was given to Dongchang, what would he have become? The commander of Jinyiwei and the deputy imperial envoy did nothing and just walked around.

?Then the Jin Yiwei not only failed to investigate the Yangzhou salt smuggling case, but also collaborated and protected him. This is how you Jin Yiwei worked? I guess the emperor will have to skin him when he returns.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Mou Bin and pondered for a moment. It wasn't until the air pressure dropped a lot that Zhu Houzhao slowly said, "Is this appropriate?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Lian on the side stood up and said loudly: "Your Highness, it is better to leave this matter to the servants! Dongchang has been in Yangzhou for a long time, and he knows more about things here. Besides, Dongchang

We are also very familiar with Mr. Liu here." Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi and then said, "Isn't that right? Mr. Liu?"

"I don't know what Eunuch Yang is talking about!" Liu Qi shook his head and scratched his neck and said, "This is also the first time for me to see Eunuch Yang."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Qi, then at Yang Lian, and then said, "Yang Lian, is there anything else going on here?"

"Back to Your Highness, the reason why Dongchang came to Yangzhou to investigate the illegal salt case was because he received a tip-off, which was of great importance. Naturally, Dongchang wanted to find the person who made the tip-off. After investigation, Dongchang finally found this person.

The person who reported the secret is actually Liu Qi, Mr. Liu." Yang Lian looked at Liu Qi, and then said: "Sir Liu, you don't have to deny it now. Without proof, we will not make such a statement to Your Highness.

.”

The hall was once again shocked, and everyone was silent. Is there such a secret behind this incident? The cause of this incident was Liu Qi, the Yangzhou transit envoy? Why did he do this?

Liu Qi glanced at Yang Lian, and said with a wry smile for a while: "It's enough if Eunuch Yang knows, why bother to come out? Liu will save his life to eliminate this great harm to the country."

As soon as these words came out, everyone understood that this was a minister with a righteous heart, and he was willing to die with the salt road officials at all costs! He still had to drag the salt merchants to die together, and everyone looked at Liu Qi with disbelief.

Same.

Zhu Houzhao looked at Liu Qi and said, "Liu Qi, tell me! I am here today to represent my father. No matter what you say, I will tell you the truth."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Liu Qi nodded, then breathed a sigh of relief, and said in a very calm tone: "Since I arrived in Yangzhou, I have discovered problems in the salt administration. I originally thought it was just a small problem of one household.

, but I didn’t expect that it was the problem of the entire salt channel. From top to bottom, there were countless salt merchants involved. It was so intricate that it was shocking and jaw-dropping. "

"There are kitchen households below who intercept the salt secretly and sell it to those private salt dealers, and there are salt road officials above who hide their secrets. The entire salt road is their world, and they can take whatever they want."

"The more I understand, the more afraid I am. These people don't have my Ming Dynasty in their hearts. At that time, I was determined to eliminate this great harm for my Ming Dynasty."

"It's just that they are people up and down the salt road. If I don't collude with others, I won't be able to get any evidence, and I won't even be able to secure my official position as Yangzhou transit envoy. In order to repay the emperor's favor and for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I will risk my life.
Chapter completed!