coobybook Chapter 503 Xia Jie'er is missing
Chapter 503 Xia Jie'er is missing
This was not the first time Fu Jinyuan had heard of the term "mirage". After much inquiry, he only knew that "mirage" referred to the salt market held every three years in Salt Lake City. Salt merchants from all over the country would come here, and they needed to obtain new salt permits so that they could continue their salt business in the next few years.
Just listening to this, I didn't feel anything unusual.
But the "mirage" that Qin Zhen mentioned seemed to be different from what he found.
"What is a mirage? Tell me in detail." Fu Jinyuan asked in a deep voice.
"It is the Lü and Hong families who are selecting private salt merchants. Your Majesty, the Salt Tax Bureau has the Yin-Yang Salt Book. The salt book sent to the capital is completely different from the salt permits actually received."
"The Salt Tax Bureau receives an annual payment of 150 taels of silver, but in reality they receive at least 200,000 taels of silver from salt merchants every year."
"Since these salt merchants had to pay monthly tributes, the salt workers suffered the most. Many salt workers and salt farmers were forced to sell their children to make up for the shortfall."
"Before the opening of the 'Mirage' market, the head of the Lu family will preside over a sacrifice, sacrificing 49 girls to the salt wells, killing the girls on the spot and sprinkling their blood into each salt well..."
"The salt transport envoy visits Salt Lake City for inspection every year. Could it be that the salt transport envoys haven't noticed anything unusual over the years?" Fu Jinyuan asked.
Qin Zhen showed a mocking smile, "Even if they found out, what can they do? No one dares to do anything about it."
Fu Jinyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. Even though the Lu family and the Hong family were powerful families in the northwest, it was not easy for them to be so omnipotent.
Are you talking about He Zhiyuan?
But now that He Zhiyuan is no longer the prime minister, what is the confidence of these powerful families?
"'When did the mirage begin?'" Fu Jinyuan asked.
"Three more days." Tan Zhen said immediately.
Fu Jinyuan didn't ask any more questions, but just asked Ningshuang to take Qin Zhen back to recuperate.
He and Shen Suian were the only ones left in the hall.
After Shen Sui'an heard what Qin Zhen said, her mind was still buzzing. She was surprised at the audacity of the collusion between officials and businessmen in Salt Lake City.
"Even the noble families in the royal capital wouldn't dare to be so outrageous."
"So who do you think is protecting these powerful families?" Fu Jinyuan asked in a low voice.
"If He Zhiyuan hadn't disappeared and we had seen the account books in the secret room of his house, we wouldn't have known that he received a large sum of money from the northwest every year. But He Zhiyuan has lost power, and these people in Salt Lake City... who do they think will be their backer?"
Shen Suian thought carefully about the family tree of the Southern Dynasty, and he didn't think that anyone else had such ability except the Ruan family.
"Sui Sui, how about you and the Queen Mother go to Suzhou first?" Fu Jinyuan asked in a low voice.
"If you stay, those people will definitely notice it, and then we will still be in danger on the way." Shen Sui'an said.
Fu Jinyuan said, "Then I'll take you away."
"Then we will miss the 'Mirage'. Someone has been watching us since we entered the city." Shen Sui'an said.
"I have seen the salt tax in the national treasury in recent years. It has dropped sharply year by year. The reasons given by the salt tax offices in various places are the same. The official salt is not purified well, and the salt wells are not producing salt. No new salt wells have been dug in recent years."
"If the entire salt road of the Southern Dynasty is controlled, what do you think will be the consequences?"
Both salt and iron were businesses that were absolutely monopolized by the imperial court. If anyone was found privately digging salt wells and iron mines, it would be a capital crime.
"It's unthinkable." Shen Sui'an said in a low voice.
Fu Jinyuan's eyes were cold, "Check!"
……
Shen Sui'an went to see the Empress Dowager, and she wanted someone to send the old man to Suzhou first.
The Empress Dowager said with a smile, "If I leave, at least half of the secret guards around you will be taken away. What will happen to you and Yuan?"
"You will go out with me tomorrow. It's rare for me to leave the capital, so I don't want to hide."
Hearing the words of the Empress Dowager, Shen Sui'an smiled and said, "I will go to the street with my grandmother."
However, before they could go out to the streets to see the prosperity of Salt Lake City, they received an invitation from the Salt Commissioner.
"The invitation to entertain Guard Lu does not mention his family. It has nothing to do with us. Let A Yuan deal with it himself." The Empress Dowager took a look and asked someone to hand the invitation to Fu Jinyuan.
"We women don't care about men's affairs."
Shen Sui'an smiled and helped the Empress Dowager into the carriage.
Salt Lake City is as prosperous as the royal capital, but there are many beggars begging on the road. These beggars all have ulcers on their palms and obvious salt ghost lines.
The salt ghost pattern is the result of years of soaking in brine.
Shen Sui'an thought that although the Southern Dynasty seemed to be peaceful and prosperous, it was actually beginning to rot underneath.
"Send someone to prepare some food for them." The Empress Dowager was kind-hearted and couldn't help but feel soft-hearted when she saw these poor people.
"I'll ask someone to find out if there is a charity that can donate some money to and take these people in," said Shen Sui'an.
The Empress Dowager said: "Who is the prefect of Salt Lake City? Doesn't he know that there are so many beggars in the city? He really can't do anything."
Shen Sui'an thought about what Tan Zhen said. If what she said was true, then not only would the salt workers in Salt Lake City have a hard time, but salt households in the entire northwest would also have a hard time.
"Tell Shi Qing to find a place to shelter these people when night falls. Maybe we can get something out of them." Shen Suian instructed Ningshuang.
Frost should be.
At this time, the prefect of Salt Lake City was entertaining Fu Jinyuan in the largest teahouse in Salt Lake City.
Fu Jinyuan looked at the plate of gold ingots presented to him, and each ingot looked heavy.
The Salt Monopoly Commissioner, Lord Wang, and the prefect exchanged glances.
The prefect smiled and said, "Captain Lu is passing through Salt Lake City. As the host, we are not able to entertain you well. Dongning is not as prosperous as Salt Lake City. This is a small gift from several salt merchants. I hope you will accept it."
Fu Jinyuan raised his eyebrows, "It seems that officials from the entire Southern Dynasty like to come to Salt Lake City. I am just passing through here, and I can still receive such a valuable gift."
He casually picked up a gold ingot and weighed it in his hand. The whole plate would be at least one hundred taels.
One hundred taels of gold.
Even if a third-rank official serves as an official for his entire life, he may not be able to receive such a large salary.
"Not all imperial officials passing through our Salt Lake City receive such treatment. This is because everyone wants to be friends with Guard Lu." Lord Wang said with a smile.
"I wonder how those salt merchants intend for me to make friends with them?" Fu Jinyuan asked.
When the prefect saw that he was holding on to the gold ingots, he thought that he was a greedy person and that as long as he was greedy for money, he would be easy to talk to.
"Captain Lu is about to take up his post in Dongning. In fact, Dongning is located in a remote area and is under the supervision of Suzhou on all sides. Why does the court need to send a garrison to such a tiny place?" asked Lord Wang.
They guessed that Guardsman Lu was heading for Suzhou.
Maybe the new emperor asked him to secretly keep an eye on the regent to prevent any unusual movements.
Fu Jinyuan smiled but said nothing.
Lord Wang smiled in an unfathomable way, "Suzhou is now digging a canal. If it succeeds, we will need Guard Lu to help us in the future."
"I am just a small garrison officer and I can receive so much bribes. If the regent was here, wouldn't you have to move out several large boxes?"
"It seems that the illegal salt business in Salt Lake City is doing well."
"Captain Lu, you are joking. Our Salt Monopoly Bureau is cracking down on any smuggling of salt. You saw it when you entered the city two days ago. We are hunting down the salt dealers who smuggle salt." Lord Wang said immediately.
"Then please thank the salt merchants for their kindness. I can't refuse their generosity, so I have no choice but to stay for a few more days to experience the splendor of Salt Lake City."
"..." The smile on Lord Wang's face froze.
Can't one hundred taels of gold drive away this plague god?
The atmosphere suddenly cooled down.
Fu Jinyuan seemed not to notice. He treated Yu Bai to a good meal and let him leave in a swagger with one hundred taels of gold.
"Greedy!" the prefect was furious.
Lord Wang chuckled, "He's willing to be greedy, that's a good thing."
"Mr. Gan, please come out." The prefect said in a deep voice.
A refined and gentle man slowly walked out from behind the screen and slowly sat down in the position where Fu Jinyuan had just sat.
"When did Mr. Gan come to Salt Lake City?" Lord Wang was surprised.
He didn't know that there was someone hiding behind the screen.
"Let's arrange the affairs of 'Mirage' for our master first." Mr. Gan said.
"With this garrison commander Lu here, what should we do if he is discovered?" asked the prefect.
Mr. Gan narrowed his eyes slightly, "I heard that the Regent has already set off for Suzhou. Is the identity of this Lu Shoubei true? Have you inquired about it?"
"I've sent someone to inquire, and it turns out that the Regent's carriage has already gone to Suzhou and will not pass through Salt Lake City," said Lord Wang.
"Don't underestimate the enemy." Mr. Gan glanced at them, "The master of the family is planning something big, so don't get in the way."
"'Mirage' will never go wrong, Mr. Gan, rest assured."
……
When Shen Sui'an and the Empress Dowager returned home, Fu Jinyuan also came back.
He also brought twenty golden ingots.
"Who gave it to you?" asked the Empress Dowager.
"The prefect and the salt commissioner said that it was sent by the salt merchants. They just want me to leave Salt Lake City as soon as possible and not be an eyesore here." Fu Jinyuan sneered.
Shen Sui'an frowned, "We saw many beggars along the street today, and they all looked like salt farmers."
"I was dealing with them today, and there was someone behind the screen. He must be the mastermind behind the scenes." Fu Jinyuan said.
"It seems that he is really afraid that you will discover the 'secret of the mirage.'" Shen Sui'an's eyes revealed worry.
Fu Jinyuan: "Put this gold ingot aside for now. I want to see how much bribes those salt merchants can give me."
Before Fu Jinyuan could figure out the "mirage", the secret guard that Shen Suian sent to Suzhou to inquire about Ruan Zhaoxia's news also returned.
Ruan Zhaoxia did not return to Suzhou, and Zhao Jiuling, who was already in Suzhou, is now missing, saying that he is going to look for someone.
Who else could he look for? He must be out looking for Ruan Zhaoxia!
Shen Sui'an felt uneasy, "Go and bring Tan Zhen here."
Every moment here is torture for Qin Zhen. She has told all the secrets of Salt Lake City, but there is no response. As the 'mirage' is about to begin, she feels desperate.
When she was brought before Shen Sui'an, Tan Zhen no longer had the indignation she had before.
"Where did you meet Miss Xia? Don't hide anything, tell the truth!" Shen Suian stared at Tan Zhen with cold and sharp eyes.
Qin Zhen was stunned, and felt that Shen Sui'an in front of her seemed like a different person compared to the day before. She thought she was a gentle and weak woman, but now there was a sense of coldness and shock.
"At...at the Lu family." Tan Zhen lowered her head.
Shen Sui'an's expression changed slightly, "She was captured by the Lu family?"
"She was a distinguished guest of the Lu family. I was given to the head of the Lu family as an actress by that bastard named Wang. It was Miss Xia who secretly helped me escape." In order to avoid the people of the Lu family, she became a salt merchant's salt widow.
He took advantage of the Salt Widow's absence from the city to create chaos and escaped.
"I remember that the Lu family mansion is not in Salt Lake City." Shen Sui'an said.
"The old house is indeed not here, but 'Mirage' is hosted by the head of the Lu family every year, and they also have a house in Salt Lake City." Qin Zhen said.
Shen Suian rubbed her brows. She didn't know why Ruan Zhaoxia went to the Lu family and in what capacity she became a distinguished guest.
Since you are a distinguished guest, why is there still no news from you?
"Have you seen her again after she helped you?" Although Shen Suian was worried in his heart, he couldn't show it on his face.
Tan Zhen shook her head gently, "No, Madam, but... Miss Xia is in trouble?"
Shen Sui'an glanced at her calmly, "If you say even a single lie..."
"Miss Xia saved my life, and I am not lying." Tan Zhen said immediately, "If something happens to Miss Xia, then... then..."
"Speak!" Shen Suian shouted sternly.
Tan Zhen's voice trembled slightly. "The Lu family is so cruel that they not only sacrificed virgin girls to the salt well, but also selected a saint girl to soak in brine day and night and then threw her into the salt well in an emergency."
Shen Sui'an's pupils shrank slightly, and he stood up suddenly, "What did you say?"
"I'm just guessing. Miss Xia was a distinguished guest of the Lu family at that time, so she should not have been arrested." Tan Zhen said hurriedly.
What if the Lu family didn’t know that Ruan Zhaoxia was the Ruan family’s eldest daughter?
Ruan Zhaoxia is extremely intelligent and never reveals her true identity when she goes out. Moreover, she is at an age when she is very curious, so Shen Sui'an is really afraid that something might happen to her.
"Where are those virgins and saints imprisoned?" Shen Sui'an asked.
Tan Zhen gritted her teeth and said, "I was once captured and made a virgin. My father saved me from death, but... that was the place three years ago. I don't know if the Lu family will move to another place."
"Where is it?" Shen Suian asked coldly.
Tan Zhen: "In... the suburbs, there is a courtyard called Mirage Fantasy, which is where the 'Mirage' is held."
"Go and call Shi Qing." Shen Suian walked out quickly.
"Qin Zhen, how is your injury?" She turned around and looked at Qin Zhen.
"Madam, I'm almost well now." Tan Zhen said immediately.
"Take your men to the other courtyard and follow orders."
Shen Sui'an met Fu Jinyuan outside the door. Seeing that she looked anxious, he stepped forward and supported her shoulders. "What happened?"
"Husband, Sister Xia hasn't arrived in Suzhou yet, and I'm worried that something might have happened to her." Shen Sui'an said hurriedly.
Fu Jinyuan said in a steady voice, "Don't be afraid. She has the Ruan family's secret guards by her side. If anything happens, the secret guards have already spread the news."
"That……"
"I'll ask someone to look for them and tell you as soon as I get any news." Fu Jinyuan's voice had a calmness that soothed people.
Shen Sui'an nodded gently, "The Lu family's salt well sacrifice is too cruel, damn it!"
Fu Jinyuan squeezed her hand and said, "Wait for news at home." Tomorrow is the day to offer sacrifices to the salt well. Before that, they must find out the whereabouts of the virgin.