The Prodigal Son

Feeling the anger in the court, Shi Yi finally panicked.

Even he was frightened by Liu Donglai's audacity.

There were some things he understood, and the imperial court understood them as well.

The top ten salt merchants in Haizhou, Yuanzhou, and Liangjiang, as well as their smaller salt merchants, and even salt merchants throughout the country, must have all engaged in the practice of selling smuggled salt as official salt.

After all, buying salt from the imperial court was more than twice as expensive as buying it from smugglers.

In salt-producing areas like Haizhou, the price of official salt that comes through the official granaries can be as high as five times that of smuggled salt!

As long as there is profit to be made, some people will defy the law and commit crimes.

What's more, this is extremely profitable!

It's simply impossible to completely eliminate this problem.

He also warned the salt merchants not to go too far.

If smuggled salt accounted for only 10% or 50%, the imperial court would turn a blind eye, and everyone would live in peace.

The fact that smuggled salt accounts for 40% is simply outrageous!

Liu Donglai is a classic example of someone who values ​​money over life!

Forty percent!

If he's alive to take the money, will he be alive to spend it?

If we bring up what happened back then, they'll all be dead!

madman!

That damn madman!

Shi Yi grew increasingly angry and terrified as he thought about it. With a thud, he knelt on the ground and cried out, "Your Majesty, I failed in my duty! Please punish me!"

There is no way to defend myself, nor can I defend myself!

There's no way you can escape the blame for oversight!

Zhao Luan's eyes flashed with murderous intent as she stared coldly at Shi Yi, who was kneeling on the ground. "Is it merely an oversight? Are you sure you didn't have any collusion?"

"I absolutely did not accept their money!"

Shi Yi slowly raised his head, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "Your Majesty, I humbly request some time. I will bring these unscrupulous salt merchants to justice, recover the tax revenue, and atone for my crimes!"

He was absolutely certain that he wouldn't accept any money!

Historians have far too many ways of profiting!

Directly accepting money from others is the most foolish way to make a profit, and it's also the easiest way to give others leverage against you!

"The Shi family were originally salt merchants, and you are the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang. Sending you to investigate would only give you an opportunity to collude with those above you."

Gao Yi immediately dismissed Shi Yi's idea and instead advised Zhao Luan: "Your Majesty, judging from these two account books, the salt administration problems in our dynasty are already alarming!"

"To safeguard the lifeline of our Great Ning's salt tax, this old minister earnestly requests Your Majesty to vigorously promote Min salt production and break the monopoly of the salt industry in Hai and Yuan prefectures!"

"At the same time, appoint capable officials as imperial envoys to thoroughly rectify the salt administration in the Liangjiang region and the Hai and Yuan prefectures, and to purge the salt officials!"

What was bound to happen has finally happened!

As Gao Yi finished speaking, Shi Yi finally understood.

The imperial court is determined to reform the salt administration!

No wonder the Empress Dowager wanted the Shi family to marry into the Lü family; this was to appease the Shi family!

Zhao Luan gave Lü Si thirty lashes in front of him yesterday, which was also a way of appeasing him.

The imperial court not only needed to reorganize the salt administration, but also required the full cooperation of historians to reduce resistance!

Today's court assembly is clearly convened for him!

"Your Majesty, I believe that opening up the salt route in Min is imperative! But shouldn't we first have Lord Shi conduct a self-examination regarding the rectification of the salt administration?"

At this moment, Feng Shinan advised Zhao Luan: "After all, the salt administration in Liangjiang is extremely complex, and the court should prioritize the war in the Northwest!"

Hearing Feng Shinan's words, many people nodded in agreement, including Qin Yu's henchman, Yang Jichun.

Judging from the current situation, the salt administration problem of the imperial court is indeed very serious.

If a thorough investigation is conducted, it will inevitably uncover a lot more, implicating a large number of people.

Including some officials in the central government!

If the investigation goes on, those salt merchants and officials who are unwilling to sit idly by and wait for their fate might actually start a rebellion!

"This old minister agrees with Prime Minister Gao's opinion!"

Su Yu declared emphatically, "Precisely because of the tense situation in the Northwest, we should thoroughly overhaul the salt administration!"

Feng Shinan sighed, "Lord Su, the salt administration certainly needs to be rectified, but there are always priorities!"

"What are the priorities?"

Su Yu retorted angrily, "If Prime Minister Gao hadn't produced these two account books today, I wouldn't have known that these salt merchants were so utterly depraved!"

"Over the years, these salt merchants, in collusion with local officials, have embezzled an unknown amount of silver from the imperial court!"

"The imperial court is facing a major war but is also short of funds. It's time to make these audacious salt merchants return the silver they've embezzled!"

As Su Yu finished speaking, the assembled officials fell silent.

Yang Jichun was somewhat confused about the situation and hurriedly cast a questioning glance at Qin Yu.

Under normal circumstances, the matter of rectifying the salt administration should indeed be put on hold for now.

Actually, the best approach is to let Shi Yi conduct a self-examination first, and try not to involve too many people.

In this way, we can both recover taxes to fill the fiscal gap and avoid trouble at this critical juncture.

Most people who hold high office do so to create trouble, so that they can seize more power and make their position more secure.

If nothing goes wrong, the reform of the salt administration will be his achievement, and the recovered taxes or confiscated goods can also help the Ministry of Revenue solve many financial gaps.

In any case, this matter is beneficial to Gao Yi.

But why are you, Su Yu, meddling in this?

How could Su Yu not understand something that he himself could understand?

Shouldn't Su Yu be on their side?

Why are you helping Gao Yi now?

Qin Yu quietly shook his head at Yang Jichun, signaling him not to say anything more.

This is none of his business to interfere in today's matter!

"Old Su is right!"

Lü Chunqiu nodded and said passionately, "Which year has the imperial court been spared from natural disasters and man-made calamities?"

"If the imperial court is aware of the critical nature of the salt administration but fails to rectify it due to other matters, those who do not want the court to address the salt administration will inevitably create trouble when the court has nothing else to do, thus distracting the court from its efforts to rectify the salt administration!"

"If things continue like this, when will the salt administration be reformed?"

Ok?

Does Lü Chunqiu also agree?

"I also agree with a thorough overhaul of the salt administration!"

Cui Xu picked up where Lü Chunqiu left off, his face contorted with anger as he glared at the ministers opposing the reform of the salt administration: "The salt administration problem is already so appalling; if we continue to let it run rampant, it will surely damage the foundation of the nation! You've gone to such lengths to oppose the reform of the salt administration—have you also accepted bribes from those salt merchants?"

As the two men spoke, the assembled officials suddenly sensed something unusual.

Currently, Du Zhiwen is in charge of the overall situation in Min, while Xue Chengdao and Qin Fumeng are in charge of the war in the northwest and north, respectively.

Among the high-ranking officials in the court, Gao Yi, Su Yu, Cui Xu, and Lü Chunqiu were the most important.

Even Feng Shinan, who was appointed as the Minister of Works later in the process, had to step aside.

Now, all four senior officials agree to reform the salt administration.

Something's definitely not right!

Could this be His Majesty's intention?

Upon realizing this, the assembled officials fell silent.

The situation is unclear, let's wait and see!

Zhao Luan's face was gloomy, and he remained silent, seemingly pondering the pros and cons.

After a long silence, Zhao Luan looked up at Shi Yi and asked, "Do you think I should let you conduct your own investigation, or should I appoint an imperial envoy to thoroughly rectify the salt administration?"