Sign in: The female supporting character in the book disrupted the heroine's glory

Chapter 784: Salt Gang Leader Chen Xiaotian

Jiang Youzhen planned to go to Yuxiang early tomorrow morning, so she asked the waiter to fetch some water and quickly washed up.

Just as they were about to have dinner, Li Dongsheng and Fang Zhongyi came back.

"Ask the waiter to bring the food so we can talk while we eat!" I guess he hasn't had time to eat yet!

After the food came, Jiang Youzhen asked about what they had gained that day.

"Guess what? As soon as I mentioned the Salt Gang, the people said I was a foreigner." Fang Zhongyi shook his head.

"Your accent tells you you're from another country," Li Dongsheng said mercilessly.

"This is not the point. The point is that our characters this time are difficult to deal with!" Fang Zhongyi said, shaking his head and sighing.

"That's right, I second it!" Li Dongsheng agreed.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Youzhen tasted a piece of braised tofu and asked in confusion.

"Do you know the reputation of the Salt Gang here? It's completely different from the one in Beijing. They all say that the official salt is expensive and sometimes hard to buy. Only the salt from the Salt Gang is cheap, and they can get it no matter what."

When Fang Zhongyi talked about this, he began to admire the Salt Gang. The gang leader Chen Xiaotian was also a prominent figure.

"It's better in the rich south of the Yangtze River, but in some remote areas, the official salt can hardly be guaranteed not to increase in price. Although there is a salt transport commissioner to regulate, it is really difficult to control in remote areas, just like the illegal salt, which is repeatedly banned but still continues.

If this is the case, why don’t the people choose private salt? They think private salt is cheaper and in sufficient supply, so it gradually wins the hearts of the people. "

Li Dongsheng sighed. After a day of visits today, this was the answer he got.

"Nowadays, the official salt and private salt are competing with each other, and they naturally benefit. But if the official salt fails to enter, the private salt can sell as much as it wants. If one side is monopolized by the private salt, it will be even more serious.

Once out of the control of the imperial court, that person becomes a local tyrant and must obey his orders. "

Jiang Youzhen frowned, but so far, the gang leader Chen Xiaotian has been slowly infiltrating by using contraband salt, which has greatly damaged the prestige of the court and the emperor.

If an uprising breaks out in the future and Chen Xiaotian wins the support of the people, it will be a huge disaster!

"Humph! Shouldn't we start from the salt field? I don't believe they can secretly produce such a large amount of salt. How many people are needed? I think they have touched the government's salt warehouse. We have to start from here. We will find the truth once we investigate."

Li Dongsheng snorted coldly. How could the government's salt warehouse match? I don't know how much tricks were done inside.

"This investigation is quite difficult. It requires checking the quantity of salt fields and salt warehouses in various locations. For example, moisture and caking of salt will affect the weight of the salt. Or if impurities are added to it, these will be reflected in the weight," Jiang Youzhen analyzed.

Fang Zhongyi got a headache when he heard this. He didn't expect it to be so complicated.

"Yes, the local salt gang may have other ways, not necessarily the local salt warehouse. He was able to rob the official ship on the canal, so he must have power on the canal. If he draws from salt warehouses everywhere, how can we investigate with such limited manpower?"

Li Dongsheng couldn't help but think of this immediately. Jiang Youzhen glanced at him. After all, he was one of the male protagonists and he was quite smart!

"By the way, what did you gain?" Fang Zhongyi asked.

"There is more than one murderer, and they acted quickly. Xu Zhanrong must have evidence against them, which is why they are so eager to kill him even at the risk of exposing themselves.

But this is also a warning to the imperial court. It is so blatant, let's see who dares to come to Lin'an Prefecture. "

As soon as Jiang Youzhen finished speaking, Li Dongsheng sneered.

"He actually wanted to fight against the imperial court. He is simply asking for death. I think this Chen Xiaotian is just waiting to die."

"They want to kill Xu Zhanrong simply because they have certain evidence. When I went to examine the body today, someone else came to examine Xu Zhanrong's body. They must be looking for something." Jiang Youzhen said.

"Could it be the evidence in Xu Hanrong's hands? They must have lost the evidence, so they are so anxious." Li Dongsheng thought thoughtfully.

Jiang Youzhen glanced at him and didn't tell him about the note he found in the wooden hairpin.

It’s not that she doesn’t trust Li Dongsheng and the others, but Li Dongsheng does have some feelings for the Fourth Prince.

If the Fourth Prince was still in contact with Li Dongsheng and sent someone to Lin'an Prefecture, it would be fine to follow her and pick up the leaks, but I was afraid that it would ruin her business.

Therefore, the fewer people know about it, the better.

So we decided to explore the house tonight, it would be more convenient to act alone.

"I also guessed so, so it is most important to quickly find the evidence hidden by Xu Zhanrong, which will be of great help to us.

Besides, Xu Zhanrong mentioned in his memorial that the Salt Gang had a good relationship with the local people. Even if we want to attack the Salt Gang, we need a legitimate reason, otherwise it will easily cause a rebellion among the people. "Jiang Youzhen nodded.

"What's going on? The Salt Gang is clearly engaged in the illegal sale of salt, yet they are actually holding the imperial court hostage."

Fang Zhongyi sighed. It was ridiculous that he needed another excuse to get rid of the Salt Gang.

"Don't underestimate the leader of the Salt Gang, Chen Xiaotian. I heard today that he is very unconventional in recruiting talents and has many military advisors and capable people under him.

They also said that he was a man of integrity, and that everyone admired him and would follow him till death. He also had many desperate men under his command, all of whom were very loyal. Even the common people said that he was a benevolent businessman! "

Li Dongsheng sat in the teahouse for most of the day today and got a lot of information.

"But just because he hijacked the official ship, he was against the officials and the people. In the final analysis, he was just doing it for his own selfish desires. He also killed the officials of the court and threatened the court. How can such a person be the benevolent businessman in the eyes of the people? It is clear that he intends to rebel."

Fang Zhongyi snorted coldly, with great disdain. To him, salt is the foundation of survival, and if you touch it, you are not innocent.

"This is only Xu Zhanrong's one-sided statement. Before the investigation, these are not counted. Of course, as long as Chen Xiaotian sells illegal salt, he is the enemy of the government.

But for now, we still need to analyze calmly and objectively. If it is really him, then for us, it is a legitimate reason."

Jiang Youzhen groaned, "But the people have been kept in the dark and only think that he is sincere for the people. After our investigation, we must expose his true colors and win the hearts of the people."

"Alas! Those people only see the immediate benefits. What they don't understand is that the final result is the same.

As long as it is a monopoly, they will eventually control their lives. At least the court's strict control is better than the control of banditry. "Li Dongsheng sighed again.

"Then what should we do next? I don't think we can do anything except confronting him head-on." Fang Zhongyi was at a loss.

"No rush, some of us haven't arrived yet!" Jiang Youzhen smiled.