The Prodigal Son

Shi Yi's letter of apology was very detailed.

The historian clearly explained what crimes he had committed.

The Shi family also sold some smuggled salt, but it was done on their own initiative by their subordinates who kept it from them. Although the amount sold was not large, the Shi family was still to blame.

Furthermore, some members of the collateral branches of the Shi family also abused their family name, acted recklessly, bullied others, and even colluded with the government to forcibly buy other people's fertile land.

Of course, these are not particularly big of a deal.

The most serious problem is the issue of salt production.

Shi Yi did not shirk responsibility, stating frankly that he had used his position to obtain an extra 20,000 salt permits for the Shi family.

One pull yields 500 jin.

If we acquire another 20,000 units, that's 100,000 shi of salt.

Not a single copper coin of tax was paid to the imperial court for these 100,000 shi of salt.

Moreover, this is only the amount for one year!

Historians controlled the salt transport for so many years, and the amount of tax they evaded was a staggering figure.

"You've given a pretty detailed account."

Qin Yu closed the memorial, a half-smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Is that all?"

"yes!"

Shi Yi raised his head, meeting Qin Yu's gaze directly. "Perhaps there are other things that I haven't yet discovered! But what I know is already in my letter of apology."

"Then tell me, how should you be punished?" Qin Yu stared straight at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi didn't mince words, "This humble official had Shi Wang calculate it, and the Shi family has underpaid a total of about 600,000 taels of silver in taxes over the years. According to our dynasty's laws, for every 100,000 taels underpaid, the penalty is double. Adding the taxes owed, the total amount owed is 1.8 million taels of silver..."

When Shi Yi said that number, his heart was bleeding.

One million eight hundred thousand taels of silver!

However, even so, Qin Yu still seemed unsatisfied.

Qin Yu lowered his head in thought, then shook his head and said, "As the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang, you knowingly broke the law, so your crime should be punished more severely. Therefore, the fine should be reduced by one-fourth!"

One less penalty, four less?

Shi Yi's face twitched violently.

Wouldn't that mean paying three million taels of silver to the imperial court all at once?

That's three million taels of silver!

Moreover, it's in cash!

Even if the Shi family were the wealthiest in the world, this was enough to make them tremble with pain!

Shi Yi wanted to refuse, but he knew he couldn't.

Given Qin Yu's style of doing things, if he refuses, it probably won't just be a fine!

Suppressing his pain, Shi Yi braced himself and replied, "This humble official is willing to accept the punishment on behalf of the Shi family!"

"very good!"

Qin Yu nodded in satisfaction. "Considering your good attitude in admitting your guilt, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself!"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, Shi Yi couldn't help but curse inwardly.

What a load of rubbish!

It's obvious they want historians to pay for it and put in the effort!

Shi Yi cursed Qin Yu's ancestors in his mind, but still had to bow to Qin Yu and thank him: "Thank you, sir!"

"I'm giving you two tasks!"

Qin Yu cut to the chase: "First, you're responsible for getting those salt merchants to hand over all the silver and fines! Second, select five more salt merchants as candidates; you decide how to choose them!"

Shi Yi's eyelids twitched, and he frowned, saying, "Lord Qin, regarding this second matter, I'm afraid..."

"It's all up to you!"

Qin Yu interrupted Shi Yi, "I will petition His Majesty later to put you in charge of all these salt merchants! From now on, if any salt merchants have problems with salt affairs, the Shi family will be fined the same amount as the salt merchants! If you think the Shi family has too much money, then feel free to neglect your duties and let these salt merchants run rampant..."

He figured it out.

When it comes to choosing a new salt merchant, no one is more suitable than Shi Yi!

Instead of making things difficult for yourself, make things difficult for others!

Why does Shi Yi keep an eye on those salt merchants? The imperial court doesn't care!

The imperial court only needs to keep an eye on Shi Yi!

Every two or three years, a large-scale inspection will be carried out!

He wanted to see how much silver the Shi family had to spare for the fine!

Hearing Qin Yu's completely unreasonable words, Shi Yi couldn't help but curse inwardly.

I'll fuck your grandma!

That bastard is not even human!

This is clearly a different kind of collective punishment!

They want to completely hollow out the historians!

Shameless!

Utterly shameless!

Shi Yi cursed inwardly, his tone hardening as he said, "Since ancient times, various salt-related problems have been persistent despite repeated prohibitions! Your demands are far too unreasonable!"

Qin Yu smirked and muttered to himself, "Nonsense, how else would I deal with you if I didn't force you?"

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft.

Shi Yi could hear it clearly.

At this, Shi Yi's expression turned even more unpleasant.

For a fleeting moment, he wanted to jump up and slap Qin Yu twice across the face.

Seeing Shi Yi's increasingly grim face, Qin Yu suddenly realized, as if waking from a dream, that he had inadvertently revealed his true feelings. He quickly chuckled and said, "What I meant was, His Majesty and the court value Lord Shi highly, which is why they entrusted you with this important task! The Shi family has received imperial favor for generations; surely Lord Shi wouldn't refuse?"

Not going to refuse?

Shi Yi almost laughed out of anger.

If I don't refuse, am I just waiting to be ripped off?

As long as there is profit to be made, no matter how strict the regulations are, there will always be people who choose to take the risk.

He's not a god; he can't guarantee that there won't be any problems with the salt administration!

Not just him, he believed no one could guarantee that.

Once the task was taken on, it would be tantamount to binding the historians together with those salt merchants.

One's glory does not guarantee the glory of all; one's loss will inevitably lead to the loss of all!

Shi Yi took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "I am truly incapable of serving as the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang. I beg Your Excellency to choose another capable person!"

Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of displeasure on his face. "Lord Shi, are you trying to back out?"

Shi Yi shook his head slightly, his face bitter. "It's not that I'm shirking my responsibilities; my abilities are truly limited!"

"Is that so?"

Qin Yu's brows furrowed instantly. "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself, but you refuse. Then I'll have to handle this officially! The mere fact that you abused your power for personal gain is enough to warrant exile to the frontier!"

How tactless!

Do you still dare to back down now?

Do you really think you wouldn't dare do anything to the historians?

Shi Yi's expression changed drastically. "Lord Qin, why are you being so aggressive?"

Do you think I'm being aggressive?

Qin Yu stared coldly at Shi Yi, "You've used your position as the Salt Commissioner of Liangjiang to amass enormous profits for the Shi family!"

"I am exiling you to the frontier in accordance with the laws of the court. What is wrong with that?"

"It's also because Emperor Gaozu left behind an ancestral precept that historians should not be executed unless they have committed serious crimes such as treason or rebellion; otherwise, you wouldn't even have the chance to be exiled to the frontier!"

Meeting Qin Yu's gaze, Shi Yi suddenly felt a surge of anger.

But his reason told him that he had to stay calm at this moment.

Qin Yu is a madman!

We must not provoke Qin Yu at this time!

We must first agree to this matter so that Qin Yu can get what he wants.

We'll talk about the future later.

Shi Yi suppressed his anger, his face turning ashen as he growled, "This subordinate... obeys!"

"That's right!"

Qin Yu smiled with satisfaction, "Lord Shi, don't worry too much. I will put in a good word for you with His Majesty! There are many vacancies in the court right now, and it is a time when people are in need. As long as Lord Shi handles things well and shows His Majesty the Shi family's loyalty to the court, perhaps a large number of members of the Shi family will be allowed to enter officialdom in the future!"

A slap followed by a sweet treat!

What a clumsy trick!

Perhaps, but such things are always just vague and uncertain!

Moreover, this was said by Qin Yu, not Zhao Luan!

With such a possible condition, they want historians to work hard for the court?

Do you think you're a three-year-old?

Shi Yi inwardly scoffed, but forced a fake smile, "Then thank you very much, Lord Qin!"