Chapter 271 The South is the South for Southerners!
Hua Lun looked at Xia Zhibai suspiciously and muttered a few words, reminding: "Brother Xia, since the people in the government dare to hand over these lists, I'm afraid they have already given orders secretly. Before we have substantive evidence, we may not be able to convince the public."
Lian Zining came over. He looked at the two people arguing and said with a smile: "Hua Lun, you are really serious sometimes. It’s too urgent.”
“Brother Xia is the kind of person who doesn’t make any preparations?”
“Don’t forget that when Brother Xia came, there was someone beside him. Little follower.”
"And a few days ago, this little follower disappeared."
"Where do you think this person went?"
Hua Lun was stunned.
He blinked his eyes, as if he thought of something, raised his head suddenly, eyes full of disbelief, and said: "That entourage? You have made arrangements in advance!"
He has already Come to your senses.
That little follower was too insignificant in his eyes.
He didn't take it to heart at all.
Now that Zi Ning mentioned this, he suddenly became cheerful and knew the real way to break the situation.
He didn't even take that little entourage seriously, let alone these local officials? It's just more difficult for them to take it to heart.
And it was this little follower who became the key to tearing apart the place and committing fraud!
Immediately, Hua Lun frowned. He touched his chin, his eyebrows were a little suspicious, and he said with a bit of uncertainty: "There is just one thing I don't understand. How much can a little follower do? I'm afraid even If we can’t finish traveling to Yuhang, how much news can we get from this?”
Xia Zhibai smiled and said nothing.
He did not give a definite answer.
Lü Cang is indeed his trump card, but this trump card has actually been laid out for a long time.
It is indeed difficult to collect useful information with Lv Cang alone. This is indeed where Lian Zining and Hua Lun are confused. After all, he has never been to the south and is not familiar with the place. I want to collect information, but it is difficult to find a clue. I am afraid that how much key information can be collected through some scattered collection?
This is still a situation where Lu Cang has not been discovered. If he is discovered and noticed by local officials.
I'm afraid the information Lu Cang can collect will be even more limited.
Seeing that Hua Lun always looked confused, Xia Zhibai said: "It's not time to say it clearly yet. Now that the stage has been set up, it's natural to go there to sing. When I go on stage, if I put some in advance If the situation is exposed, won’t it lose the sense of urgency?”
“Don’t worry.”
“This time, I will make it impossible for these people to hide. .”
"As the saying goes, in business, since I am responsible for handling the unrest among kitchen households in the south, naturally I focus on solving the needs of kitchen households."
"Cleaning up the government is not my main authority."
< br>"This is Jin Yiwei's business!"
Hearing this.
Hua Lun and Lian Zining looked at each other, with a hint of caution in their eyes.
Jinyiwei?
They have not seen Jiang Wei for several days.
The Jin Yiwei has always seen the dragon but not the end. No one knows what the Jin Yiwei is doing, and no one knows what the Jin Yiwei has found. However, from Xia Zhibai's tone, it seems that Jiang Wei is not so peaceful. , has been secretly investigating something. Could Jin Yiwei be helping Xia Zhibai?
With Jin Yiwei's extraordinary ability, if he helps Xia Zhibai, people can't help but feel certain in their hearts.
Just when Hua Lun and Lian Zining were quietly relaxing, Jie Min came back, and at the same time brought back the list of salt factories handed over by the Zhejiang Salt Transportation Department.
Hualun and Lian Zining walked a few steps quickly, took the list in their hands, and read it carefully.
Seeing the nearly thirty salt factories above, they couldn't help but take a breath. Lian Zining said: "There are thirty-four salt factories. No wonder the Zhejiang Salt Transportation Department is unwilling to hand in the list. This Isn’t the number too high? The Zhejiang Provincial Government has only eleven governments, which means there are almost three salt factories in one government.”
“According to the salt factory given by Brother Xia before. The scale is more than enough for one salt factory.”
“This is too much!”
Hua Lun said: “It can’t be compared.”
"Zhejiang is still different from Yingtianfu. The population in Zhejiang is obviously larger, and the demand for salt is also greater. The salt factory is excusable, but the number is indeed too much, and it is a bit scary. Even with the same population Dense Jiangxi and Huguang are not like this."
Xia Zhibai walked closer, looked at the list, and then flipped it back, as if he was looking for something.
Eventually.
He stopped.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Brother Xia, what are you laughing at?" Lian Zining noticed something strange about Xia Zhibai.
Xia Zhibai said: "I took a look at the scope of these salt factories and their general output."
"Is there a problem?" Lian Zining said.
Xia Zhibai nodded, Lian Zining concentrated, and read the list and the accompanying information. He only read it once or twice, but did not see any problems.
Xia Zhibai said: "Look at Ningbo Prefecture. Ningbo Prefecture is close to the sea. Under normal circumstances, its salt production is greater than other places, but here, Ningbo's salt production is only Below average, there is obviously a problem.”
"Besides."
"The scale of these salt factories in Ningbo is not large."
"Ningbo is a larger city, and commerce has always been very developed. From the Song Dynasty to the present, it has always been an important "It's a seaport city."
"How can such an important port city produce less salt?"
"You mean there is less?" Hua Lun said solemnly. .
Xia Zhibai nodded.
He smiled and said: "There are a lot of uncertainties, but nine times out of ten there is a problem."
"And when I came here, I learned about the situation in Zhejiang. Ningbo Prefecture is It’s a big city with a large population, developed commerce, and military garrison. The situation there is very complicated, and the salt factory involves many interests, so it’s not easy to reach an agreement.”
"There must be trade-offs."
Xia Zhibai didn't say much, these are just guesses.
Hua Lun and Lian Zining looked at each other, with a hint of conviction in their eyes.
After listening to Xia Zhibai's words, they also thought about it carefully and did feel some problems.
Hua Lun looked solemn and said: "If this is the case, these people are really careful. In order to fool us, they did not hesitate to push so many salt factories in front of us, just to make us think that they are really here. We do our best without any selfish motives.”
“If we really ignore it and believe it is true, the hidden salt factory will be completely reduced to an unsupervised factory. Or sell it in other ways, it can be said to be a huge profit.”
“This is not like taking chestnuts from the fire.”
Lian Zining snorted coldly: "How can this be pulling chestnuts out of the fire? It's clearly audacious."
"Do they still have the imperial court in their eyes?!"
Xia Zhibai's face was indifferent, he would Putting the list aside, he said calmly: "This is just a guess. It should not be taken as true. Everything must be based on evidence. Without evidence, it is all in vain."
Hua Lun said: "Isn't there a Jin Yiwei? "
"Let Jin Yiwei go to Ningbo Mansion to check and find out."
"What's so difficult about this?"
Xia Zhibai smiled and did not continue on this topic. He added: "It's better to focus on the next two conferences. This is our goal. The main event, the salt factory matter, is ultimately a game between the local government and the central court. It has little to do with what we want to do. What we want to solve is the Zaohu riot."
"These are just to help us. "The chess piece of the game."
Xia Zhibai was very open to this.
What they have to do is very simple, which is to solve the hidden dangers in kitchen households. But local governments have more things to consider.
There are many things you do wrong.
And they want a lot.
Considering one thing and losing the other, as long as he continues to break the rules and break their established layout, the local government will only leak more and more clues and problems. In this situation of paying attention to one thing and losing the other, they are destined to become more and more passive. You will also lose the initiative, and in the end.
You can only continue to cut your flesh.
Xia Zhibai recovered his mind and ordered: "Since all the Salt Transportation Departments have submitted their lists, let's notify them. The official and business meeting will be held as scheduled the day after tomorrow. Those who do not arrive by the deadline will be removed from the Salt Transportation Department's list. The government will forcibly confiscate the steam-driven salt equipment."
"Anyone who refuses to comply will be investigated!"
"There is no room for selfishness!"
Xia Zhibai's. The tone was strong.
It is impossible for him to make any compromises on these matters. He is now the imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty. Every word and deed represents the will of the imperial court. He will not tolerate anyone's disobedience and will never allow any changes.
Hua Lun nodded.
Xia Zhibai added: "Remember to tell these words to the local Chief Secretary and Salt Transportation Department."
"Let them think clearly!"
"I They don't have much time left."
Hua Lun was at a loss. He knew that this was Xia Zhibai's ultimatum.
He has given the place many chances.
Not long after.
Li Benmo received the document sent by Xia Zhibai. Looking at the strong and domineering tone on it, Li Benmo's face sank, and veins bulged in the hand holding the document. In his heart The anxiety is getting stronger and stronger.
He could certainly see Xia Zhibai’s intentions.
It's just a threat, asking them to be honest and stop trying to play tricks.
If something is wrong, don't blame Xia Zhibai for not saying hello in advance. He was already very polite and gave them face.
It’s just that Li Benmo couldn’t be frightened by such a few words.
He can't retreat either.
At this point, he can no longer make the decision on many things.
There are too many people involved and too many interests involved. Now that we can take a step back, it is the prince-in-law Li Qi who took the initiative to speak. And if Li Qi had not taken the initiative to persuade other officials, I am afraid that the current step back would have been too much. Can't do it.
even so.
This is the limit.
It is almost impossible to take a step back.
No one is willing to retreat. Even if Xia Zhibai is a clear threat and even directly makes harsh words, no one cares. Even if Xia Zhibai is famous and has Jin Yiwei on his side, the interests It's touching. There is so much money and food coming in behind these salt factories.
There are so many that one loses his mind.
There is only greed.
And they can't retreat. Once they retreat, many things will be exposed. With His Majesty's violent temper today, how can they end up well? I'm afraid how many people in the south will fall to the ground with blood. Flow into a river.
They must bite the bullet and not let go.
Li Benmo closed his eyes slightly, slowly released his palms, and said softly: "How can I extricate myself if I am in it?"
"I have tried my best."
"The final result will be decided by God."
"If a problem is really discovered for Xia Zhibai, these people may be a little shocked, but with the greed of these people, they probably will not easily Those who give in will definitely make a final struggle, and I don’t know what the final result will be.”
“It’s hard to be an official in the Ming Dynasty.”
Li Benmo sighed repeatedly.
“I have eaten the emperor’s salary and received official salary, but now I have fallen into this situation. I don’t distinguish between right and wrong, and I also deliberately confuse the public and help the tyrants to do harm. I have read decades of sages’ books in vain. However, the rich and powerful enjoy so much and the people’s livelihood The difficulties are endless.”
"It's not my fault."
"It's not my fault!"
"It's his fault."
"The world!!!"
Li Benmo put his hands behind his back and his back became even more stooped.
The south is a big dye vat, and no one can be alone, even if the court officials come.
Xia Zhibai tried to intimidate the entire southern bureaucracy on his own, but how could he succeed? If the situation is really urgent and the entire south is in riots, even your majesty will have to think about it. , but also send someone to comfort him.
This is the true source of invincibility in the South!
Back at the official office, Li Benmo handed the document to Zhang Tong and said calmly: "This is the document sent by Xia Zhibai. Take a good look at it and remember to pass it on. , wait one day, this so-called official-business meeting will be held, please remember to be prepared."
"I don't want anything to happen."
Zhang Tong said with a smile: "Don't worry, sir, I promise there will be no problem."
"Everything is under our control."
"Now that Xia Zhibai and the others have seen the information, The people we came into contact with and the truth we learned were all arranged by us and we let them see it. Even the candidates for the conference were selected by us. They are all our people. Xia Zhibai is What about the imperial envoy?”
“He can’t defeat us”
“The south is the south for us southerners!”
"No matter how the world changes, we in the south will always stand firm."
Li Benmo glanced at Zhang Tong pitifully and sneered: "I hope so, I just hope not to mess things up. If something goes wrong, don't blame me, Li Benmo, for not remembering the old relationship. I don't want to involve myself in it!"
Zhang Tong laughed and said very proudly: "This is absolutely not the case."
“We are fully prepared.”
“Nothing goes wrong.”
"The businessmen attending this meeting mainly include Fang Rengang from Jinhua Salt Factory, Wang Chongde from Haiyan Salt Factory, and Zhou Maolin from Wukang County."
"You must all know the heel behind these people."
“They are all from our own family!”
“They will not betray us, and they will all stand on our side.”
“The government is ours, and the merchants are also ours. Xia Zhibai is the only one in the audience, but how much trouble can they cause? In the end, they can only be led by the nose."
"If Xia Zhibai is sensible, we can save him some face."
"If not."
"It's not a bad idea to prevent him from coming to power."
"Businessmen are inherently treacherous, so what does it mean to tease Xia Zhibai?"
Zhang Tong was full of confidence.
(End of this chapter)