Kowloon wins

Chapter 275 Tighten the Noose (Part [-])
Even though Lu Yanran already had a confession, Hong Qing did not act rashly, because he knew how vicious Ba Ye's methods were. Since he dared to do such a treasonous act as colluding with the White Lotus Sect, he must have taken heavy protective measures. If you act recklessly, not only will you not be able to find evidence, but you may fall into the trap set in advance. If you really can't kill a snake, you will definitely be bitten by a snake. Hong Qing will not go to such a stupid thing Do it, of course, Hong Qing didn't do nothing, and secretly sent people to investigate Liu An, and the news he got was really not optimistic-Liu An disappeared and his whereabouts were unknown!
Missing?That's just a synonym for death. Neither Ba Ye nor Liu Ba Nu, the big salt lords, are not merciful people. Since the White Lotus Sect has lost its hand, the relevant people naturally have no use value, so what about those two? It is possible to keep witness witnesses. Obviously, although the clues to the assassination case are not completely broken, they are almost the same. Although a little disappointed, Hong Qing doesn't care too much. After all, this is what was expected. It's hard to say who can have the last laugh.

The assassination case is not easy to investigate, so let it be put aside for the time being. The old men on the left and right did not put pressure on Hong Qing, but the government affairs of the whole government cannot be delayed. Thinking about it, it’s probably because such an opportunity to be in charge of one party is really rare—although Hong Qing is a Baylor and the son of a prince, according to the court law, he cannot participate in local government affairs, let alone him. Even if all the elder brothers are not allowed to interfere in local government affairs, let alone serve as local officials, the prevention is the chaos of the vassal kings. Now, there is such a rare opportunity for experience, Hongqing can't help but cherish it, Not only did the imperial envoy move from the post station to the prefect's yamen, but he was also busy from dawn to dusk every day, either busy arranging the summer harvest, or busy reviewing the accumulated cases, he was really too busy to touch the ground.

Not to mention, even though Hong Qing was in charge of local government affairs for the first time, she did quite a lot when she actually did it. Of course, at the beginning, due to her inexperience, she made some small jokes, but Hong Qing couldn't stop her from studying. He is very capable, but within half a month, he has fully adapted to most of the government affairs of the magistrate. The most important thing is that the summer harvest is well arranged, and even the winter repairs to the dams and water conservancy plans are completely planned. After coming out, he even tried more than a dozen backlogged old cases. Inadvertently, he already gained the reputation of "upright official" in the market, which really made Hongqing a little overjoyed. Hong Qing would not slack off in what she was doing, no, she was busy in the Yamen's study again early in the morning.

"My lord, Mr. He is here."

Just when Hong Qing buried her head in the document room, she saw Li Minxing turn around from behind the screen, walked a few steps quickly, rushed to the front, bowed, and hastened to report a word.

"Announce."

Hearing that He Mingfu was coming, the corners of Hong Qing's mouth twitched, and even a cold smile appeared, not for anything else, but because Hong Qing had already known the purpose of his visit—don't look at Hong Qing's past few months. She was busy working as a prefect all the time, and rarely went to the Yamen of the Salt Transport Envoy, but Hong Qing knew very well what was going on there, and she knew what He Mingfu's intentions were, but she didn't say much Yan, just ordered in a calm tone.

"twitter!"

Since Hong Qing had said so, Li Minxing would not have any objections, and hurriedly agreed, and then hurriedly left the room, and after a while, he turned back again with He Mingfu who was full of smiles.

"The next official kowtows to the imperial envoy!"

As soon as he saw Hong Qing who was sitting high on the head, He Mingfu didn't dare to be negligent, so he hurriedly rushed to the front of the copywriter, and bowed respectfully.

"Forget it."

Hong Qing didn't cry out in a hurry, but waited for He Mingfu to finish his ceremony, and then let out a calm tone.

"Thank you, Mr. Long En, the imperial envoy."

Knowing that Hong Qing's delay in yelling is not giving her favor, but the order is up and down, even if He Mingfu feels unwilling, he has nothing to do, so he can't dare to complain, so he can only swallow his anger and thank him.

"Master He has always been in the Three Treasures Hall for everything, and if you have something to say, just talk about it."

For He Mingfu, a salt transporter with a very poor willingness to cooperate, Hong Qing was too lazy to give him face, and didn't want to talk to him too much, so he cut to the point directly.

"So that the imperial envoy can know that it has been one and a half months since your lord issued the strict inspection order in May, and the salt patrol camps are guarding day and night. The hundreds of large and small salt boats that have been inspected are all in line with each other, and there is no single mistake. , it is indeed the merit of the imperial envoy, but there are too many inquiries, the loading and unloading is cumbersome, and the salt is miserable. Look at this, my lord..."

If it was possible, He Mingfu would never have come to see Baylor, an extremely powerful imperial envoy like Hong Qing. However, he had no choice but to suffer, and all the official documents he sent successively were returned by Hong Qing. In desperation, , I had no choice but to come and deal with Hong Qing in person, but under the feeling of guilt, he didn't dare to tell the topic right away, but used a small matter, or what he thought was a small matter, to test Hong Qing's background limit.

"Unbelievably miserable? Hmph, as a Yanding, one should be dedicated to his duties. If he is afraid of suffering, he should go home and sell the sweet potatoes, so as not to waste the court's rice and grain, and pass on Baylor's will. Whether you are an officer or a soldier, if you hand in your resignation, Ben Baylor agrees to everything!"

Hong Qing is such a shrewd person, just as He Mingfu opened his mouth, he already understood what this guy was trying to do, so he would not show him any sympathy, so he reprimanded him unceremoniously.

"Ah, yes, yes, the imperial envoy is wise."

After being scolded so hard by Hong Qing, He Mingfu's forehead was immediately covered with sweat, and his already weak heart suddenly became a little weaker. If he dared to talk back, he only had to praise him.

"Forget it, Ben Baylor is not targeting you, Mr. He, there is no need to do so. After all, is there any important business, huh?"

The training returned to the training, but Hong Qing didn't intend to make He Mingfu retract his head again, so he slowed down his tone and said a word of comfort.

"This, this..."

He Mingfu didn't have enough confidence at all, and after being scolded by Hong Qing in this way, he really didn't have the courage to tell the truth for a while, he hesitated for a long time, but he didn't say anything.

"My lord, official affairs must not be delayed. Come on, what is it?"

Seeing that He Mingfu had groaned for a long time without saying anything, Hong Qing immediately frowned, and asked urgently full of displeasure.

"Well, oh, my lord imperial envoy clearly learned that the sales of tickets for my Salt Transport Envoy's Yamen are generally in March as a season, and now it is more than July. I really dare not delay the business, and it has been several times in succession. Report it to the lord for review, but, but..., it’s not just the officials talking too much, if they miss the important matter of the salt transportation, it’s probably not a joke, so I ask the imperial envoy to make a decision as soon as possible.”

As soon as Hong Qing's words came out, He Mingfu was immediately forced to the corner, and remembering the great trust of the salt merchants, he gritted his teeth and bit the bullet to reveal the true intention of coming here.

"That's it?"

He Mingfu talked for a while, but Hongqing raised her eyebrows and asked nonchalantly.

"Master Imperial Envoy, this is not a trivial matter. It is already the fifth day of the lunar new year, and five days have passed this month. Now all salt merchants are waiting for new tickets to be sold. If the decision is not made early, the consequences may be disastrous. Please also The imperial envoy made a clear decision."

Seeing that Hong Qing didn't take this matter to heart, He Mingfu was really furious, but he didn't dare to get angry at Hong Qing, he had no choice but to explain with a wry smile.

"Hasn't Ben Baylor signed this matter, and we will follow the plan last year. Why can't Mr. He postpone it, huh?"

What He Mingfu said was serious, but Hong Qing didn't take it seriously, glanced at He Mingfu coldly, and asked back with an obvious questioning tone.

"This, this..., ah, my lord imperial envoy, I have already explained in the article that the amount of salt used this summer has increased significantly compared to last year, and the original plan is no longer sufficient, so the next three months must be extended." It is common practice to raise part of the quota in advance to meet the current needs, and there have been many times in the past years, it is not that the lower officials abused the quota, and the imperial envoys should be aware of it."

If he really acted according to last year's plan, then why did He Mingfu come here to see Hongqing's face, as long as he submitted a document and let Hongqing approve it, but since Ji Huaijin's strict inspections, it is difficult for private salt to get on the road , not to mention private salt, even salt merchants dare not use the usual entrainment tricks. After all, no one has the guts to be the one who stands out in the limelight. It’s a bit tight. Small salt merchants in various places are already complaining. The price of salt in the world is the price of iron, and it can’t go up. The situation of no salt to sell has appeared in many places. It is conceivable that the salt transportation puts the pressure on the yamen. Knowing that, coupled with the urging of the major salt merchants, He Mingfu, who was short-handed, couldn't hold back anymore, so he bit the bullet and came to Hongqing to discuss it. According to last year's plan, He Mingfu immediately blushed, but he didn't dare to attack, so he could only be patient and explain in a nice way.

"No need, Ben Belle has checked the accounts for the past five years, how could he not know that the salt used in summer is the lowest in the whole year, and the total amount has always been stable, and this year will be no exception, so we will go according to last year's quota , As for what is wrong, we can discuss it later, this matter is settled like this, Mr. He can make arrangements for himself."

Although Hong Qing seldom goes to the salt office these days, but she has many eyeliners, how can she not know the root cause of the sudden shortage of salt, and this is what Hong Qing wants to achieve in the first place, in order to strangle him. The necks of all the salt merchants thought that they were ready for the next step of net fishing, so how could they agree to He Mingfu's adjustment plan? With a wave of their hands, they made a decision in an unquestionable tone.

"Master Imperial Envoy, I'm afraid this is inappropriate? If the salt merchants start a fight, then..."

Seeing that Hong Qing was so arbitrary, He Mingfu became really anxious, and uttered threatening words without hesitation.

"Hmph, Ben Baylor wants to see who dares to make trouble, so please try whether the knife in Ben Baylor's hand is good or bad. Needless to say, Ben Baylor's intention has been decided, so don't be too humane."

Hong Qing had been thinking about it for a long time, how could she be afraid of He Mingfu's threat, her complexion turned serious, and she already issued the order to evict the guest mercilessly.

"Ah, yes, I will retire."

Although He Mingfu had 12 dissatisfaction in his heart, but the difference in status and status between the two was too far away. Now that Hong Qing had already spoken to this point, he had no guts to say any more, so he could only say goodbye embarrassingly. And went.

(End of this chapter)