When Li Zhi and others first checked the accounting room of Xinglong Gambling House, they found some account books, but they never found the account book that recorded the most core secrets. When the Literature Museum later interrogated Xu Rendi, Li Zhi and others used some intimidation measures. He used various methods to force Xu Rendi to reveal where the secret account book was hidden, and then the account book was seized.
In this account book, the dirty transactions between the gambling house and many officials, powerful people and other business houses are recorded. At a glance, it is obvious that these transactions are not normal business transactions, but power and money transactions, or partnerships to commit crimes and share the spoils together. Li Zhi believed that with such an account book, he could send a group of people to the guillotine.
Xu Rendi regretted it after handing over the account books. He felt that if he carried on for a while, he might still be able to survive. Now that he handed over the account books, many of the crimes of the gambling house were confirmed, and he could not escape punishment. The officials will not take action to get him. These days, he has come up with a way, which is to insist that when he is handed over to Runing Mansion for interrogation, the account book is fake and it was Su Hao and the others who forced him to do so. He made it up, so as to muddy the water, Liu Qichang was obstructing it, and the role of the account books could not be reflected.
Unfortunately, before he could use this move, Su Hao knocked him unconscious. Facing Liu Qichang, Xu Rendi did not dare to say that he handed over the account book. He could only say that Su Hao and the others found it themselves. . But as soon as this statement was made, it proved that the account book was not forged, and the deeper it was hidden, the more authentic the content was. Otherwise, why would Xu Rendi hide it?
While Xu Rendi was at a loss for words, Su Hao stood up and started talking:
"Prefect, it doesn't actually matter whether Xu Rendi's testimony is a result of torture. The key point is that in the process of investigating the case, we found some evidence from Xinglong Gambling House, which is enough to prove that Xinglong Gambling House colluded with local officials. Powerful landlords and loan sharks seized farmers' land, causing countless farmers to become bankrupt and homeless.
What Xinglong Gambling House does is to entice people to gamble, and then when they lose all their money, they deceive people into borrowing usurious loans to recoup their losses. When the gamblers cannot repay the usurious loans, they join forces to ask the gamblers to sell their houses and land. , those who acquired these houses and land were local powerful people.
In this process, local officials were their protective umbrella, and some people discovered their tricks. They went to the county and state governments to complain, but to no avail. From the secret account books of Xinglong Gambling House, we can see that this gambling house every year They had to pay bribes to officials at all levels, totaling up to several thousand taels of silver."
"Xueshi Su is careful, this is just the account book of Xinglong Gambling House. What if it is a fake account book compiled by Xu Rendi to protect himself?" Liu Qichang did not dare to let Su Hao continue talking. You know, the secret account book. It also has the name of his prefect Liu on it. Liu Qichang knows this set of modus operandi that Su Hao mentioned. If he doesn't use this method, where will his extra income of tens of thousands of taels of snowflakes and silver a year come from?
Su Hao smiled slightly and said: "If it is just the account books of the Xinglong Gambling House that say this, it is difficult to prove it alone, so I won't say anything. The key is that we searched more than a dozen firms this time, and from each firm The account books found can be corroborated by each other. I’m afraid this is not the work of Xu Ren No. 1, right?"
Liu Qichang said angrily: "Master Su, I am looking for you to comment on this matter. What is the connection between Huguang Bank and this case? Why did you raid Huguang Bank without any evidence? You sent troops to trespass into merchants' homes and abused them.
If you kill and arrest indiscriminately, aren't you afraid that I will report you to the imperial court?"
Su Hao said: "If Magistrate Liu wants to join me, just write a note. I searched Huguang Bank and found nothing wrong. Huguang Bank colluded with gambling houses and forced farmers to go bankrupt through loan sharking. The evidence is conclusive. It has been brought to the court."
, I don’t know if the elders are interested in me sending troops to commit murder, or if they are interested in the collusion between officials and merchants of Runing Prefecture to harm the people."
"You mean... you also found evidence at Huguang Bank?" Liu Qichang felt a little guilty. He felt how scary Su Hao was, so he didn't take action. Once he did, he went straight to Mingmen. This time, he was investigated by the survey camp.
The businesses raided were the backbone of their circle and had very close ties with officials. If several secret account books could be found in each business, then added together, it would be ironclad evidence.
Su Hao was sure of victory now, and there was no need to go around in circles with Liu Qichang. He nodded and said: "To be honest with Governor Liu, I have gained a lot. What is going on in Runing Mansion, Governor Liu knows best."
Now, it’s up to Magistrate Liu to choose whether to take the initiative to make it clear to the court or wait for my official report."
Liu Qichang hesitated for a moment and then said to everyone: "Everyone, please step aside for a moment. I want to discuss the case with Xueshi Su alone."
As soon as he said this, everyone knew what Liu Qichang meant. Du Weiming quickly took Tan Yizhong and others out of the accounting room. Su Hao also waved to his men, indicating that they could temporarily avoid it. The soldiers exited the room and took care of them.
Xu Rendi also took it away.
When only Liu Qichang and Su Hao were left in the room, Liu Qichang said to Su Hao with all his heart: "Xueshi Su, we are wise people and don't speak secretly. What is the purpose of you taking such pains to attack my Runing Mansion?"
?”
Su Hao said: "Prefect Liu misunderstood. Su Hao did not deliberately attack the Runing Mansion. He was just following the court's instructions to thoroughly investigate the land occupation by the powerful. During the investigation, it was discovered that officials at all levels in the Runing Mansion were collaborating with the powerful
There is collusion, this is not my original intention. As the saying goes, if you don't do anything bad, don't be afraid of evil. If all the officials in Runing Mansion are honest and honest, what can Su Hao do to everyone?"
Liu Qichang sneered and said: "What Su Xueshi said makes me think of me as a three-year-old child. In this big world, which official will not accept some filial piety? How can the salary from the imperial court be enough for everyone? Just say it clearly, what do you want?
How much will it take for you to expose this matter?"
Su Hao said: "Hao just wants to ask Magistrate Liu, does Magistrate Liu know about all these things?"
"So what if I know, so what if I don't know?" Liu Qichang did not directly answer Su Hao's question, but his words were regarded as acquiescence. He said, "This is a collusion between the top and bottom of the Runing Mansion. It is not that I came to be the prefect.
It only happened later, and it was already like this in the hands of the previous prefect, or even the prefect before that. The entire officialdom is like this, how can I be alone?
It is true that no imperial envoys have come down to investigate the case in the past, but who would be as determined as you, Su Gaizhi, to wage war and fight to the death. If you can investigate to this point, I admit that you do have extraordinary talents, but you must be spared.
Forgive me, isn't it time for you to stop?"
Su Hao was silent for a while and said: "Prefect Liu, Su Hao is not the one who wants to kill everyone. Su Hao just hopes to give justice to those poor people. If Prefect Liu is willing to preside over this matter, let the powerful landowners take care of these things."
The land accumulated through gambling, lending and other means will be returned to the farmers. Su Hao does not need to hold high-level officials accountable, but accomplices like Xu Rendi and Xia Shushen will definitely be punished to express gratitude to the people.
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"Return the land to the farmers?" Liu Qichang suddenly laughed, "This matter is about changing things. You dare to think, I, the prefect, don't have such great ability."
"What do you mean?" This time it was Su Hao's turn to be confused. As the prefect of Runing, Liu Qichang is the top leader in Runing. Is there anything he can't do?
Liu Qichang did not explain, but just said: "Change it, you are young and promising, there is no need to stumble on such a thing. I promise you to persuade the powerful to withdraw from part of the occupied land, Xu Rendi, Xia Shushen
If you refuse to let these people go, then I will hand them over to you. It is up to you to decide whether to kill or cut them all. As for other things, I advise you not to bother with them. You can investigate the case to this
Now that you have become famous enough, I will arrange for someone to prepare a sum of hard-earned money for you. Wouldn't it be nice for you to gain both fame and fortune and go back to the imperial court to do business?"
"What if I don't agree to this condition?" Su Hao asked. He wanted to know what other trump cards Liu Qichang had.
Liu Qichang said: "If you don't agree, then let's wait and see. Between you and me, one of us will go to prison. Who do you think it will be?"
Liu Qichang's words were so arrogant that Su Hao couldn't help but feel a little awe-inspiring. Li Zhi once warned him that it was very dangerous to undermine local officials' jobs. Once the other party jumps over the wall, all kinds of things will happen.
It is possible to use any means, and with Su Hao's foundation, he will definitely be able to withstand it.
However, Su Hao is also a somewhat stubborn person. During his trip to Runing, he saw too much ugliness, which made him want to do justice for God and give justice to the people. As for what Liu Qichang meant when he threatened him
, he couldn't understand it for the moment. But one thing he was not worried about was that Liu Qichang would definitely not use force against him, because he had a reconnaissance camp at hand, and local officials like Liu Qichang were unable to compete with the regular army.
"Prefect Liu, if you have any tricks, just use them, and Hao will follow." Su Hao said firmly.
"In that case, I'll take my leave, and Xuexiang Su can take care of himself." Liu Qichang said, then stood up and strode out.
When he walked outside the accounting room, Du Weiming and Tan Yizhong were waiting for him. Seeing the expressions on Liu Qichang's face, they knew that he and Su Hao had probably broken down, which meant that the two sides were going to fight each other. Of course
, considering that Su Hao has such a powerful force as the Kanyu Camp, it is impossible for the Runing Mansion to really use force against Su Hao, and they can only use secret tactics.
Previously, Liu Qichang and others had some illusions about Su Hao and were unwilling to do anything. But now it seems that Su Hao is determined to go against the Runing Mansion, so Liu Qichang and the others have no choice but to use all possible means.
"Let's go and let them have trouble here." Liu Qichang said to Du Weiming and others.