Jiying Lane, Shengjia!

In the Shou'an Hall, Sheng Hong sat on the first chair in the east with a worried look on his face. Old Mrs. Sheng who sat at the top looked surprised and confirmed to Hualan in disbelief: "King Huan was really assassinated in Yangzhou. So?"

Hua Landao: "The report that was rushed back from eight hundred miles away last night was jointly signed by my sixth brother-in-law and the magistrate of Yangzhou. It said that something happened on the night of New Year's Eve. Now the news has spread throughout Bianjing. Yes, there will be no lies."

Old Mrs. Sheng said solemnly: "Prince Huan is the eldest son of the official family. Although he has not been canonized, it is only a matter of time that he will be crowned prince. Now he died in Yangzhou. I am afraid that this day will change!"

Sheng Hong was also shocked: "Why are those salt merchants so brave? They even dared to assassinate King Huan. Aren't they afraid that the officials would be angry and send troops to raid their homes and exterminate their clans?"

Early in the morning, Hua Lan hurried to the door and went directly to the Shou'an Hall. Not only did he and Wang Ruofu be called to the Shou'an Hall, he said that he had important matters to discuss with them. Sheng Hong But I didn't expect that it would be such an important matter.

Wang Ruofu next to him was stunned when he heard the news. His mind went blank and he had no idea what to say.

Hua Land next to him said: "There is nothing that those salt merchants dare not do. Didn't father forget that when we were in Yangzhou, Gu Erlang was also assassinated and almost died!"

When Gu Er's incident caused a big fuss in Yangzhou, he knew that it was probably the Bai family who had done it, but without any evidence, even Gu Er had no choice but to let the Bai family go unpunished. .

Hua Lan suddenly changed her voice and expressed her deepest worries: "Now that something like this happens, I'm afraid my sixth brother-in-law will be implicated!"

Although Hua Lan got married early, among the sisters in the family, except Mo Lan, she has the best relationship with Minglan. As the saying goes, husband and wife are one, if something happens to Wang Zhong, Minglan will definitely not be easy. , Hua Lan hurried back to discuss with her parents and the old lady.

"I guess Sixth Sister should have received the news by now!"

Mrs. Sheng's expression froze when she heard this. How could she not know what Hualan was talking about? What could she do if she just knew? Not to mention that Yangzhou was thousands of miles away from Bianjing. Even if they were in Yangzhou at this time, they couldn't help much. .

"Alas!" Old Mrs. Sheng sighed and said, "Now that the matter has come to this, we can only resign ourselves to fate!"

Sheng Hong immediately understood what Mrs. Sheng meant, and sighed helplessly, saying with emotion: "It's so good, why did something like this happen!"

"With Zihou's ability, as long as he follows the steps, he may not have the opportunity to worship the prime minister in the future, but now... oh!"

Thinking of this, Sheng Hong couldn't help but show a bit of sadness, and all his regrets and helplessness turned into a sigh.

He was originally a good son-in-law with both ability and political integrity, great intelligence, and a good understanding of how to survive in the officialdom, but he never thought that he would suddenly encounter such a thing. This is nothing.

"Hua'er, what's going on in the palace now?" Mrs. Sheng asked hurriedly.

Hua Lan hurriedly said: "I heard that the officials and the empress were so grief-stricken last night when they heard the news that they fainted from the rage. The imperial doctor has examined it. Although it is not serious, it needs to be cultivated. Han Da Xianggong and Gao Shangshu The important ministers were summoned to the palace by the Queen Mother last night."

Now that it's the New Year's Eve, all government offices are on holiday, so news naturally doesn't spread as fast as in the past.

"Mom, should we do something?" Sheng Hong asked after thinking for a moment.

Old Mrs. Sheng shook her head and said: "At this time, it is better to be still than to move. Both the Queen Mother and Mr. Han are sensible people."

In fact, Sheng Hong and the old lady knew in their hearts that under the current situation, even if they wanted to help Wang Zhong, there was nothing they could do, but Sheng Hong still felt a little unwilling.

Although Wang Ruofu still resented Wang Zhongfei for forcing the Kang family to send his sister to the nunnery, but now that such a big thing happened, it would be troublesome if he accidentally implicated his family. Wang Ruofu came back to his senses and said, She took the initiative and offered to go back to her parents' house to explore the situation.

Wang Ruofu's mother, the old lady of the Wang family, returned to Tokyo early in the twelfth lunar month with her grandson and granddaughter-in-law. Mrs. Wang's granddaughter-in-law was none other than Kang Yuan'er, the daughter of the Kang family.

"That's fine!" Sheng Hong nodded: "It's better than waiting at home."

"Then I'll go now!" Wang Ruofu stood up immediately and hurried out of Shou'an Hall.

Mrs. Sheng said: "Now that something like this has happened, I don't know what will happen over there tomorrow. I really feel uneasy."

"Grandma, would you like your grandson to accompany you to your sixth sister's house and visit your two nephews?" Hua Lan volunteered.

"That's fine!" Mrs. Sheng nodded.

Sheng Hong said: "My son also goes out for a walk to find out the news?"

After the family made a decision, they immediately split up and took action.

In the afternoon of the same day, Wang Zhong was ordered by Empress Dowager Cao to temporarily take charge of the two Huaihe Rivers, Jiangsu and Zhejiang economic strategies and pacification envoys, and the governor inspected salt and other matters. The news of a thorough investigation of the assassination of King Huan spread throughout Tokyo. On the day of King Huan's assassination, After the news, there was once again an uproar.

In the princess's mansion, Hua Lan breathed a sigh of relief, but Minglan's brows furrowed even deeper, and the sadness on Old Mrs. Sheng's face never faded.

Seeing the reactions of his grandmother and Minglan, Hua Lan instantly figured out all the links. Those salt merchants were so bold that even King Huan dared to assassinate him, let alone Wang Zhong?

It is good to become an inspector, as it gives you the opportunity to make meritorious deeds, but the corresponding risks are also high. If you are not careful, you may lose your life.

"Sixth sister, don't worry too much. With the ability of sixth brother-in-law, it may not be a bad thing!" Hua Lan could only comfort Minglan in this way.

Old Mrs. Sheng took Minglan's hand and consoled her: "Hua'er is right. Now Zihou has taken over the Huaihe River. Jiangsu and Zhejiang economic and strategic pacification envoys have military power in their hands. Moreover, Zihou has always been thoughtful and considerate in his actions. King Huan has learned from his past mistakes, and he will definitely not give those salt merchants another chance to assassinate him."

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Minglan forced a smile and said, "The matter is now over. It's useless for me to worry about it. Officials always act thoughtfully. I believe he will be safe and sound." Come back."

In fact, Minglan had been prepared before Wang Zhong followed King Huan south, but Minglan did not expect that King Huan would be assassinated.

Old Mrs. Sheng said with emotion: "We women are like this. Men are fighting and fighting outside. What we can do is to protect this three-acre land at home for them and educate our children so that they have no worries."

The old lady has experienced the pain of losing her son and her husband one after another. Since she has been a widow, she has eaten more salt than the two sisters Hualan and Minglan have eaten rice.

······

Yang Naixing, the governor of Yangzhou, was sitting in the back hall, the sorrow in his brows never dissipated.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man wearing a police officer's uniform walked into the hall quickly. Yang Naixing's eyes lit up and he asked hurriedly before the visitor could say anything: "How's it going?"

"I reported to Duke Ming. As expected by the deputy envoy, those remnants indeed sent people to intercept the prisoners. The deputy envoy led the ambush troops to rush out and killed all the assassins!"

"good!"

"good!"

"good!"

Yang Naixing shouted three times in excitement. Now that things have developed to this point, what they can do is to make as many meritorious deeds as possible so that the officials will take this into consideration and not be too angry with them.

Although they know that the possibility is slim, it is the only thing Yang Naixing and other officials from Yangzhou can do now.

"Where is the deputy ambassador now?" Yang Naixing asked excitedly.

"We are leading people to the Yamen. We should be there in a moment!"

As expected, Wang Zhong returned to the Yamen not long after, and Yang Naixing hurriedly greeted him.

"The deputy envoy had a clever plan, and the thieves really came to intercept the prisoners!" Yang Naixing flattered Wang Zhong without hesitation.

Wang Zhongdao: "These thieves are just pawns who follow orders. The real murderer has not been caught yet. Yang Zhizhou, don't be too happy too early. We still have a lot to do!"

"What the deputy envoy said is absolutely true!" Yang Naixing said: "Then let's go on..."

Wang Zhong said in a cold voice: "The imperial court has its own laws, so naturally we should do whatever we want!"

The interrogation went very smoothly, and within just a few days, the results came out. The people behind the scenes were the remnants of the eight salt merchants whose homes were ransacked, and they were also the ones who were imprisoned. Unfortunately, although they knew the real culprits behind the scenes, the group

But the remnants have long since fled to no one knows where.

In the blink of an eye, it was late January, and the imperial edict from Bianjing was rushed to Yangzhou. Wang Zhong suddenly changed his identity and became the chief officer of the salt inspection southward. He also took over the military power of Huaihe and Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and was given the power to act expeditiously.

power.

Wang Zhong could only mobilize his troops first, screen the salt merchants in Huaihe and Huaihe areas again, and jail all officials involved in the salt affairs case.

At the end of the first month, King Huan's coffin was sent back to Bianjing. Zhao Zongquan was grief-stricken when he saw Zhao Ceying's body. Queen Shen even fainted on the spot.

On the eighth day of February, Uncle Shen Congxing led 500 light cavalry and hurriedly and slowly arrived at Yangzhou.

Wang Zhong personally went out of the city to greet him. Shen Congxing's attitude was not very good. He had a cold face the whole time. However, Wang Zhong could understand it. After all, his nephew had just died, but he was safe and sound. Not even a hair fell out. Even because of Gu Er's

The reason was somewhat related, and Shen Congxing couldn't give him a good look.

Xiao Duan has been awake for many days, but his injuries are too serious and he is still recovering. The first thing Shen Congxing did when he arrived in Yangzhou was to see Xiao Duan.

After asking a few questions about the injury, Shen Congxing went straight to the point: "Tell me in detail what happened that night!"

Xiao Duan nodded and said: "That night, because the case was going very smoothly, the prince was in a good mood, and it happened to be New Year's Eve, so he ordered the kitchen to kill pigs and sheep, and prepared a good reward for the brothers. I will accompany the prince to eat We drank until dinner and then we went back to our rooms to rest. Unexpectedly, when we were ugly, people suddenly came out from all directions..."

"Zhao Shichang and I followed the prince to the street, but we didn't expect that the assassins had already ambushed him. In order to protect the prince, Zhao Shichang was shot to death by random arrows. Even the prince..."

After listening to the short story with an expressive expression, Shen Congxing's fists were clenched tightly, his teeth were gritted, and his face was vaguely ferocious.

"Where is Princess Yong'an? Where is Wang Zhong? Where are they? Why are they okay?" Shen Congxing asked.

Xiao Duan didn't think much and said: "On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, we followed the prince to the Taizhou Saltworks to investigate. On the way back, we were assassinated. In order to protect the prince, Princess Yong'an was hit by an arrow in the shoulder. She was seriously injured. In a short time He couldn't fight with anyone anymore, and the Wang family's ancestral home happened to be in Baishui Village outside Jiangdu City, so the prince asked Princess Yong'an to go home to recuperate.

On the night of the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, just in time for the Chinese New Year, the prince asked everyone to rest for a few days, and Wang Zhong went back to Baishui Village. He said he wanted to see Princess Yong'an and pay homage to his ancestors. He didn't want him to go, but he just happened to hide. Live through a calamity.”

Shen Congxing nodded, having no doubts about Xiao Duan's words, and said instead: "According to what you said, there were at least three hundred assassins that night, and they knew the prince's location clearly! So they set up an ambush early. He also set fires everywhere to force you out of the house."

"First attack from the east to the west, divert the tiger away from the mountain, scatter the guards around the prince, set fires everywhere to cause commotion, and then take the opportunity to move forward step by step and drive you into the pockets they have already tied!"

Shen Congxing's eyes flashed with cold light, and he said coldly: "These assassins are by no means simple!"

After Shen Congxing arrived, the investigation into the murder of King Huan completely fell on Shen Congxing, and Wang Zhong only had to concentrate on the salt affairs case.

In late February, Wang Zhong led his troops across the Yangtze River and entered the south of the Yangtze River. He took over the transportation department of the salt capital in the south of the Yangtze River and launched a thorough investigation again. This time, the speed was much faster than that in the Huaihe River. In just one month, Twelve salt merchants were imprisoned and their property confiscated.

Wang Zhong's methods were even more violent than those of King Huan. Anyone involved in the salt case, unless they heard the news early and ran away with their whole family, no one was spared. Even those who ran away. Wang Zhong sent people to track Suo Na all the way.

By mid-April, a total of 26 large and small salt merchants in Lianghuai, Jiangnan and Fujian Roads had been confiscated, and as many as 34 were arrested and imprisoned in connection with the case. Up to a hundred people from the company, as well as officials from various states and counties were locked up and imprisoned, and hundreds of subordinate officials were involved in the case. More than twenty local wealthy families were implicated, and there was no mercy at all.

Wang Zhong was unselfish and unselfish, and he offended many people. People even gave Wang Zhong the nickname "Judge", saying that Wang Zhong was just like the judges in the underworld, he was impartial and unselfish.

However, Wang Zhong's selflessness won a lot of praise from the people, especially the salt workers. They were the ones who applauded Wang Zhong's selflessness the most.

The officials at the top were colluding with the salt merchants, and the subordinate officials accepted bribes, exploited them wantonly, and exploited them from top to bottom. In the end, it was not they, the salt workers, who suffered the most.

However, his wages are only enough to maintain food and clothing for his family. If he encounters any natural or man-made disaster, his family will be destroyed in a matter of seconds.

Although Wang Zhong's selfless and merciless attitude offended many people, it also won over many people's hearts. When the magistrate was arrested, he was temporarily appointed as the magistrate of the state. When the county magistrate was arrested, he was temporarily granted the power of the magistrate.

The officialdom has always been a carrot and a pit. Every year, there are countless candidates waiting to fill the vacancies. When the original carrot is pulled out, the pit naturally becomes vacant.

More than a hundred officials were arrested and imprisoned, and such positions were suddenly vacated. Although they were only temporary errands, it was not impossible to take those positions as your own as long as you did your job well.

These people will naturally spare no effort to support Wang Zhong, and will help their relatives and friends to occupy the vacant positions in an upright manner.

Since he is patrolling salt, Wang Zhong's job is naturally not only to arrest people, but also to maintain the normal operation of the salt transportation departments in various places, the normal operation of each salt field, and ensure the normal supply of salt in various places.
Chapter completed!