allendalepharm Chapter 796: Robbing the Official Salt, Too Much Bullying
Chapter 796: Robbing the Official Salt, Too Much Bullying
"Don't slander me! How could I possibly use my own reputation to frame the Imperial Envoy?"
Yu Zhaorong then pointed at Wan Niansong and said, "Master Wan, you were the one who said that your granddaughter was kidnapped by the imperial envoy. Otherwise, why would I go to the government office with you to fight against him? It turns out that you wanted to frame the Yu family."
"Master Yu, didn't you say that the imperial envoy coveted the beauty of our granddaughter and repeatedly asked the Yu family for her, and didn't take the Wan family seriously? You just suddenly came to our house and said that someone saw Lord Jiang kidnapping our granddaughter and came to our house to ask for her.
It just so happened that I was looking for my granddaughter in the mansion, but couldn't find her, so I followed the head of the Yu family to the yamen to sue. Now I know that this matter was planned by someone, and it almost tarnished the innocence of the imperial envoy. How could you put the blame on me? I am also confused now!"
Wan Niansong also looked very confused, as if he had no idea about the matter.
"So all of this was planned by the head of the Yu family. He wanted to kidnap Miss Wan and then put the blame on me?
But he didn't expect that this person would mess up the matter, and Miss Wan was safe and sound, so the plan failed? In this way, doesn't it make sense?"
After Jiang Youzhen’s analysis, everyone suddenly realized, so this is the case?
"And these people were deceived by the Yu family master and followed him to the government office to attack. The Yu family master wanted to use the people to force me, so that the people would hate the court and officials and lose their support."
Jiang Youzhen shouted coldly, then pointed at Yu Zhaorong and said, "Master Yu, is it true or not?"
"No! This is clearly a conspiracy by someone with ulterior motives. I was also plotted against. I was kept in the dark about all this. How could I be the instigator?
I don't know who sent this person, but he slandered me. I didn't do it, so I can't admit it."
Of course Yu Zhaorong refused to admit it. Anyway, these people had no evidence, huh!
The people began to waver again. Now they didn't know what was true or false and could only remain silent.
Although the Yu family has been calling the shots in the capital city in recent years and the younger generations in the family are also domineering, the Yu family can sell cheap salt!
The things in the Yu family are cheaper than those in other families, which is a real benefit. As for the others, they are not intolerant.
Now all the salt in the city is controlled by the Yu family. The cheap salt they buy all comes from the Yu family. If the Yu family goes bankrupt, how can they still buy cheap salt?
What's more, there are other things, such as sugar, which are only sold in Yu's shop.
"Oh? I don't know who just said that if it wasn't me who did it, I would automatically be charged with slandering an official of the imperial court."
Jiang Youzhen snorted coldly when he saw Yu Zhaorong's face stiffen, but he still shamelessly refused to admit it.
"Let's not talk about this for now, Yu Zhaorong!" She suddenly pointed at Yu Zhaorong and shouted.
Yu Zhaorong was startled, and then he heard Jiang Youzhen say: "I came to Lin'an Prefecture, but why did I hear that the people were buying private salt? The official salt is thirty coins per catty, but the people can buy private salt at a discount of ten or even more than ten coins per catty.
Where does the illegal salt come from? After a secret investigation, I found that all illegal salt comes from the Yu family. "
"What crime should your Yu family be charged with for selling illegal salt?" Jiang Youzhen snorted coldly.
Everyone was stunned. How did they get from the matter of the Wan family girl to the illegal salt? They suddenly felt guilty. In fact, everyone present had bought illegal salt.
"I have finally figured it out. It turns out that all of this was part of Lord Jiang's plan. His purpose was to lure me here and arrest me on false charges!" Yu Zhaorong's face was distorted, and he glanced at everyone.
"The Imperial Envoy said that I was selling illegal salt. Who could I sell it to? Everyone, tell me, have you ever bought illegal salt from the Yu family?"
Everyone fell silent. They were just ordinary people, so it was better for them not to get involved.
"Of course I have evidence, so I will incriminate your Yu family!" Jiang Youzhen snorted coldly.
"Sir! Something bad has happened!" Suddenly a bailiff came running over, panting.
"What happened? Why are you so panicked?" Jiang Youzhen scolded.
"Sir, our official ship carrying private salt was hijacked. There were 150,000 kilograms of salt on board! This is the salt for the people of Lin'an Prefecture for half a month, and it was all hijacked."
"What? Who is so bold as to rob the government salt?" Jiang Youzhen said angrily.
"It was the guards of the Yu family. They said that the imperial envoy had been imprisoned, and the salt should be contraband and sold cheaply to the people. They also said that the salt would be given to the leader of the Salt Gang, and if you have the guts, go and get it yourself."
"This is really too much!" Qin Yandong was furious.
"So the head of the Yu family had already made plans to frame me just for those ships of official salt? I thought I could be caught with no doubts, but I didn't expect to be capsized in the ditch.
You are so blatant just to give the official salt to the Salt Gang leader Chen Xiaotian? Is this your purpose? "
"I thought this was Lord Jiang's plan! How could the Yu family rob the government salt? This is absolutely impossible!"
Yu Zhaorong finally understood. He thought it was his plan, but Jiang Youzhen took advantage of it and used a series of tricks to press on. This was aimed at the Yu family! This time he really capsized in the gutter.
Jiang Youzhen was distressed, “Salt tax is one of the important taxes of the court. Now the border is defending against foreign enemies, the soldiers are hungry and are just waiting for the court to pay them, but you are cutting off the fuel?
Without the salt tax, the treasury is empty, and the soldiers are starving and cold. How can they resist the foreign enemies? They were once civilians, but they went to the border because of military service or poverty. How can you bear to let them die? "
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help feeling ashamed and lowered their heads in thought.
“Jiangnan is a rich land, and I believe that the people can afford salt at 20 to 30 coins per pound. Why should they be greedy for small profits and put the court and the country in a precarious situation?
Dam building, bridge and road construction, disaster relief, etc., which one does not require tax support? Taking from the people and using it for the people, this is the meaning of taxation. "
Jiang Youzhen's words were so thought-provoking that they made all the people present feel extremely guilty.
"They sell private salt for their own selfish interests. When the treasury is empty, will they use it to help the country? Now the border war is imminent. If the court recruits soldiers, your fathers and brothers will go to the battlefield but will not have enough food or warm clothes. Where is your conscience?
If the country is destroyed, the family will be destroyed. Once the country is destroyed, we will all be slaves of the country. Only when the country and the court are stable and strong, and we are dependent on the country, can we live and work in peace. "
Everyone looked at the passionate young man standing in the center, and they were all deeply moved.
"Master Jiang is absolutely right! You are a man of great righteousness. We are ashamed to be blinded by small profits. I have studied the books of sages for more than ten years, but I can't tell right from wrong and I am greedy for small profits. I am unworthy of being a scholar!"
One of the scholars shook his head in shame and sighed deeply.