The Prodigal Son

The combined efficiency of Lü Si and Shi Yi was quite high.

Before noon, all the salt merchants and salt officials had confessed their affairs.

Their problems are the same old, familiar problems.

Excluding the Shi family, the six salt merchants, including those who underpaid taxes and were subject to triple fines, had to pay a total of nearly 3.8 million taels of silver to the imperial court.

The lowest penalty was a fine of over 400,000 taels of silver, including principal and interest.

The largest fine was nearly 800,000 taels of silver.

As for Liu Donglai, Jia Dequan, and Ge Songtao, their homes were naturally confiscated!

These salt merchants were both relieved and heartbroken by the outcome.

Fortunately, although they lost a lot of money, they at least saved their lives and temporarily retained their positions as salt merchants.

What hurts is that it's hundreds of thousands of taels of silver!

Despite their large and wealthy families, it's not easy for them to come up with so much cash all at once.

Moreover, Shi Yi, who was in charge of collecting the money, only gave them half a month!

In half a month, Shi Yi will see the money!

Compared to the salt merchants, the salt officials seemed to have it much easier.

Qin Yu neither punished them nor dealt with them.

It's as if once the explanation is given, it's over.

However, everyone knew that this matter wouldn't be resolved so easily.

Qin Yu's decision not to punish them now may be due to considerations of stability or other factors.

When Qin Yu takes action, the best outcome will likely be demotion.

As for the worst-case scenario, they don't know yet.

It could be exile, or it could be beheading.

At noon, Qin Yu prepared a simple meal at his residence to entertain them.

After the meal, Qin Yu simply sent them away.

Prepare the money that needs to be prepared, and make the necessary adjustments!

Before leaving, he instructed Shi Yi, "You shall go to Taozhou tomorrow. I will order Shen Jue to dispatch a thousand cavalrymen to accompany you! The matter of the Ge family is entrusted to you!"

"yes!"

Shi Yi was forced to accept the order.

After Qin Yu finished speaking, he looked at the others with a smile and said, "Gentlemen, I hope this matter concerning salt affairs ends here! I am a person who dislikes trouble, and I hope you will not trouble me again!"

Qin Yu had a smile on his face and his voice was very calm.

It was as if they were discussing it with them!

But anyone with a modicum of common sense could tell that this was Qin Yu's warning!

There was one more thing Qin Yu didn't say.

Everyone should pay their dues honestly and without any tricks!

If we cause him any more trouble, we'll be forcing him to use a knife!

"Yes, yes! Thank you for your mercy, Lord Qin."

Everyone nodded repeatedly, expressed their gratitude, and took their leave.

After these people left, Qin Yu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Are we just going to let these salt officials go like that?"

Lu Si leaned closer, looking at Qin Yu with disbelief.

This is not in line with Qin Yu's style of doing things!

"Let's leave it at that for now!"

Qin Yu rubbed his head. "Keeping them around is still valuable! If we were to clean up this mess one by one, it would take forever. Let them get things sorted out first, and once we've got everything organized, then we can start cracking down on both the big fish and the small fry!"

Lu Si suddenly realized, "I knew it! Why the hell would you be so kind!"

Yes, that's in line with Qin Yu's style of doing things!

That makes sense. If they were to rectify the salt administration issues in each of the nine states one by one, it would take two or three months just to go through all that, not to mention doing other things!

It would definitely be impossible to visit all the counties and prefectures in less than one or two years!

also!

Let's leave it at that for now!

The most important thing right now is to determine whether Qin Yu's previous guess was correct!

Compared to this, everything else has to take a backseat!

……

That evening, Qin Yu kept his promise and hosted a private dinner for Jiang Ci and Xuan Cailing.

While waiting for the banquet to be prepared, Qin Yu asked the two women, "How did your conversation with Shi Yi and those salt officials from Taozhou go?"

"all the best."

Xuan Cailing smiled, "We have to thank Lord Qin! Logically, we should be the ones hosting Lord Qin, but it's turned out that Lord Qin is hosting us. We really feel a little embarrassed..."

Qin Yu has already made arrangements, how could things not go smoothly?

Shi Yiming will take them to Taozhou tomorrow and let them take over the Ge family's salt transport channels directly.

However, Shi Yi also made his point very clear.

The Ge family's property will definitely be confiscated!

Some of the Ge family's assets that were useful for salt transport, such as salt warehouses, ships, and horses, had to be purchased from the imperial court if they needed them!

Since they are new salt merchants, we can sell them to them at 70% of the normal price.

Of course, if they don't need the things left behind by the Ge family, then just pretend he didn't say anything.

"Yes, Shi Yi did a good job in this respect."

Qin Yu nodded and smiled, "This will allow you to establish your salt transport route as soon as possible."

"That's what we think too."

Jiang Ci nodded and smiled, "However, there's something I'm a little worried about."

"What is it?"

Qin Yu inquired.

Jiang Ci raised her bright eyes: "Everyone knows that we were able to take over the Ge family because of Lord Qin's favor. Lord Shi sold us some of the Ge family's assets at a discounted price. Won't this give people the impression that Lord Qin is abusing his power for personal gain?"

Hearing Jiang Ci's words, Xuan Cailing immediately teased, "Oh, Jiang family girl, you're quite considerate of Lord Qin!"

"That's how it is."

Jiang Ci blushed slightly and glanced shyly at Xuan Cailing. "Lord Qin has offended too many people this time by reforming the salt administration! If he leaves any excuse now, he will probably be attacked by many people."

Seeing Jiang Ci acting like a little girl, Xuan Cailing immediately giggled, which earned her a glare from Jiang Ci.

"You don't need to worry about that!"

Qin Yu smiled calmly, "Haven't I been attacked enough? His Majesty's repertoire of memorials impeaching me must be piling up like a small mountain! Let anyone want to impeach me for such a trivial matter!"

"Since Lord Qin says so, we can rest assured." Jiang Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, the banquet was ready, and Qin Yu invited them to take their seats.

Qin Yu raised his wine glass, "Today I'll take this as an advance wish for your immediate success!"

"We should show our respect to Lord Qin!"

Xuan Cailing smiled sweetly, "Once Lord Qin finishes his work and returns to the capital, please stop by the Xuan family home for a visit, so that the Xuan family and I can extend our hospitality!"

"good!"

Qin Yu readily agreed.

"Clang..."

The wine glasses in their hands clinked together.

After finishing a glass of wine, Qin Yu was about to raise his glass again when Qin Xiong hurriedly came over and whispered in his ear.

Qin Yu was overjoyed and immediately stood up. "Que'er, Ruan Zhi, I have some urgent business to attend to. Could you two look after them for me? Lü Si, come with me!"

Before anyone could ask, Qin Yu secretly gave Nan Que'er a wink and quickly slipped away.

Lu Si was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed.

Qin Yu specifically summoned him, most likely because of the Crown Prince's matter!