I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 241 Hu Zongxian Feeling Creepy
"Sell the official salt of the imperial court as private salt!"

"Not only that, but also hoarding and deliberately raising the price. It is said that when the price of salt was the highest, it rose to [-] yuan a catty!"

I ask you, is there such a thing? "

Hu Zongxian said, then turned his gaze to the three of them, and said slowly.

"Report...Report to your lord, there is such a thing, but we are also suffering..."

Liang Hong, among the three, stood up and was about to explain, but was interrupted impatiently by Hu Zongxian.

"Shut up for me! Do you have any part to speak here?"

"Collude with and bribe officials, kill loyal and good people, hoard strange things, fish and meat people, official salt smugglers, privately hide armor and weapons, every one of the crimes above is a capital crime!"

"Now, answer me, who is behind your back?"

Hu Zongxian's aura suddenly exploded, his eyes fixed on these three people, and he said word by word.

"My lord, there is no one behind us, this is all done by ourselves!"

Seeing this situation, the three gritted their teeth and said in unison.

They knew very well in their hearts that they must not confess the people behind them. If they confessed the people behind them, they would have no way of life!

At that time, they can only be reduced to fish on the chopping board, ready to be slaughtered.

Hu Zongxian laughed back angrily, a cruel smile flashed across his face, and said slowly: "Do you know how His Majesty wrote in the secret decree to this official?"

After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he deliberately paused for a moment, and continued: "The mastermind of the whole thing is to wipe out the three clans!"

After Hu Zongxian finished speaking the words "Destroying the Three Clans", the entire hall fell into a deathly silence!

Among the three, Li Yide, who was the most timid, only felt a heat in his stomach, followed by a stench, and he was so frightened that he lost control of himself!
Extermination of the three tribes means that one's parents, brothers, wives, etc., and anyone who has anything to do with oneself cannot escape.

I saw Hu Zongxian took out a handkerchief in disgust, covered his nose, and ordered.

"Come on, bring him down to me and chop him up!"

"My lord, my lord, please spare me, I say, I am willing to say everything!"

Before Li Yide could finish his begging for mercy, he was dragged down by the guards at the side like dragging a dead pig.

With a scream, Li Yide's begging for mercy stopped abruptly.

Hu Zongxian nodded, turned his gaze to the remaining two, and said casually.

"What about the two of you, don't you want to talk?"

While Liang Hong and He Jin were still weighing the pros and cons, Hu Zongxian seemed to be tired of all this, so he immediately called the guards and gave orders.

"Since both of them are unwilling to confess, let's pull it down and cut it off together!"

After the guard took the order, he immediately stepped forward, ready to drag the two of them down.

"My lord, you haven't asked us any questions yet!"

"We said, we are willing to say anything!"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian wanted to execute both of them so hastily, Liang Hong and He Jin became impatient, and said hastily.

"Well, well, tell me what you know."

Hu Zongxian waved his hand, signaling the guards to let go, and let the two answer questions.

"My lord, the thing is like this. A few years ago, we were fortunate to have a relationship with a high-ranking official in the capital."

"He promised us that as long as he is willing to do things for him and give him [-]% of the annual income from selling salt, then he is willing to act as our backstage and solve all official troubles for us."

Liang Hong gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind, and told Hu Zongxian.

"I'm very curious, what's the name of this high-ranking official?"

After listening to Liang Hong's narration, Hu Zongxian put on a look of great interest.

"My lord, this high-ranking official is the former head of the criminal department, Zhao Wenhua."

He Jin on the side, after hesitating for a moment, added.

"What, Zhao Wenhua! How could this matter involve a dead man like him?"

After Hu Zongxian heard this name, his face was full of astonishment, and at the same time he knew very well in his heart that the whole matter should be inseparable from his teacher.

Everyone in the officialdom knew that Zhao Wenhua was Yan Song's adoptive son, and in the past few years, he was very famous!

Not only won the favor of His Majesty, but also Yan Song, the godfather of the chief minister of the cabinet!In officialdom, it can be said that he is a figure who can cover the sky with one hand.

But later, because he was involved in the case of reselling military supplies, he was personally ordered by His Majesty to behead him.

"Do you dare to guarantee what you say?"

Hu Zongxian's expression instantly became serious, and he asked.

"My lord, what I said just now are all facts, there is absolutely no lie!"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian had doubts about this, Liang Hong and He Jin immediately assured him firmly.

"Well, then you can continue talking."

Hu Zongxian nodded, motioning for the two to continue talking.

"Later, after Mr. Zhao's accident, another person was sent from above to connect with us!"

"This person is quite mysterious. To this day, we have never seen his true face. We usually rely on letters to communicate. In the letters, he called himself Master Li."

"And we originally planned to give him [-]% of the benefits of this salt sale in accordance with the usual practice after this matter is over!"

When Cao Shunhe at the side heard this, he was already furious, and then he opened his mouth.

"So that's the case, no wonder the memorials I handed over to the imperial court before have always disappeared!"

"Lord Cao, calm down! Continue to listen to them."

After Hu Zongxian comforted Cao Shunhe, he asked again.

"How did you distribute the promised benefits to Master Li?"

Seeing that Hu Zongxian was quite curious about this, the two explained immediately after seeing this.

"According to the past practice, when the imperial court sends people down to collect the salt tax, we will pay more, and this extra part is the promised benefit!"

"In this way, not only can save a lot of trouble, but also can ensure safety."

After listening to the narration of the two, Hu Zongxian couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "It's still possible to do this?"

"Hmph, looking at it this way, the canal in my Ming Dynasty seems to be built for them!"

Immediately afterwards, Hu Zongxian suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart, and continued to ask questions.

"Since that's the case, how much silver is the extra part that you pay each time?"

"My lord, the exact amount is uncertain, sometimes more, sometimes less!

"Even at the least, there were more than 500 million taels of silver."

After recalling for a long time, Liang Hong gave the answer.

"What? More than 500 million taels!"

After Hu Zongxian learned of this number, he couldn't sit still any longer, and suddenly got up from his seat, exclaiming.

It's not that Hu Zongxian was surprised by the amount of silver. He was surprised that last year, the imperial court collected less than 120 million taels of salt tax from all over the country!

But right now, these salt merchants said that they paid at least 500 million taels of silver every year, and where did the middle part go?
At this moment, Hu Zongxian only felt his hair stand on end, and his back was slightly chilled. It turns out that the imperial court has not been unable to collect salt tax all this time!
Instead, the collected salt tax entered the pockets of the high-ranking officials in the capital in various ways long before they were transported to the capital.

In the end, none of the ten were actually transported to the national treasury!

(End of this chapter)