Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

"The Ma family keeps some illegitimate sons, and the Chamber of Commerce is merged into the Jia family, which is a way to snatch some silver from the civil officials' pockets and spend it."

"Alright, let's first confiscate the deficit, and then give 20% of the remainder to the Ministry of War and the Military Government, 20% to the Ministry of Revenue and 10% to the Jiangnan Grand Camp. We'll divide the remaining 20% ​​among ourselves," Xie Jing said after thinking for a moment.

Jia Tang and Jiang Zining both nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Jiang Zining added, "If I'm going to fight with Lao Xie, you shouldn't get involved. It's not worth tarnishing your reputation for the sake of merchants."

Jia Tang declined, saying, "Hey, who cares about these things? My aunt died tragically, how could I, her nephew, not personally kill the enemy? Besides, they are not merchants, but sorcerers of the incense-burning sect, they are traitors."

"Everyone's here, let's go."

Jia Tang took the lead and walked out, while Lin Ruhai bowed deeply to the side and did not get up for a long time.

Seeing this, Xie Jing and Jiang Zining snorted coldly and strode away, ignoring them. If it weren't for this pretty boy luring Jia Min to Jiangnan, she wouldn't have been poisoned.

After Jia He helped Lin Ruhai up, he led the Tiger Guards and chased after them.

At this moment, Jia Yucun, who had been keeping a low profile, wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said to Lin Ruhai, "Sir, aren't they afraid of being impeached by the civil officials for acting like this?"

"Impeach?"

Lin Ruhai gave a cold laugh and retorted, "What kind of bullets do they use? Bullets with their lives on them?"

"Before, they thought they would be safe with the Fragrance Sect leading the way, that the Jia family had fallen, and that by driving me away or killing me, they could replace me with a scholar who was related to their interests. But I never imagined that they would dare to poison Min'er and then use that as a pretext to ambush and kill Yu Yin. I hate them."

Just as Jia Yucun was about to ask something else, Lin Daiyu arrived with several maids and servants. After bowing to the two of them, she knelt beside Jia Min's coffin and silently shed tears.

Seeing this, Lin Ruhai was overcome with grief and said in a hoarse voice, "Yu'er, your mother's family has all come. They've gone to avenge your mother."

···

"Order: All salt merchants surnamed Cheng, Jiang, Wang, Bao, and Huang, regardless of age or gender, shall be killed, along with their livestock!"

"The illegitimate son of the salt merchant surnamed Ma is guilty of illegal activities; the rest must be exterminated!"

In the dead of night in Yangzhou Prefecture, the sounds of battle shook the heavens. The golden fire qi of the four generals of the Ning family flashed continuously, and their long swords slashed through the night sky.

"Jia Ping led the team to confiscate the property, and all the items were cataloged and stored."

Jiang Zining spoke up, saying that he was in charge of the Bao family: "The head of the Bao family and his eldest son have gone missing, and there are also some discrepancies in the number of guards."

"The Huang family is in the same situation, except that a tunnel was discovered in their study. After I ordered people to investigate, I found that the tunnel leads directly to a chaotic alley in the east of the city, so it's probably hidden away," Xie Jing said angrily.

"Since that's the case, then order the local gentry, powerful families, merchants, and gangs in Yangzhou to search. If they can't find them, take one-third of them. I don't believe they're not afraid of death or the extermination of their clans."

Jiang Zining spoke fiercely and immediately sent someone to notify the local forces.

An hour later, the Cheng, Wang, Huang, and Bao families were all wiped out, but the soldiers who came to report that they had been given a cold shoulder at the Jiang residence.

"Oh? Let's go take a look."

Jia Tang raised an eyebrow and led the group on horseback toward the Jiang residence.

Before long, they arrived at the gate of the Jiang residence, stepped up the steps, and entered the courtyard.

Wang Dahu led his troops to surround Jiang Chun, who was hiding behind Lu Jianzeng.

"You bastards, how dare you attack high-ranking officials of the imperial court! Your crime is equivalent to treason!"

Jia Tang and the others walked over and saw Lu Jian, the prefect of Yangzhou, protecting Jiang Chun, his face flushed as he roared at Wang Dahu and the others: "I will definitely impeach you."

"May I ask what brings Lord Lu here?"

Jia Tang stepped forward and asked, but the three of them didn't perform any formalities and looked completely casual.

Lu Jian, his face grim, glanced at the group and said, "Jiang Shangzong is a registered merchant under the Salt Administration, a court official. Are these garrison soldiers, barging into the residence without any explanation, planning a rebellion?"

"Coincidentally, Jiang Chun colluded with the Fragrance Sect and committed treason. He ordered the garrison soldiers to raid his home and exterminate his entire family."

Jia Tang slowly walked up to Lu Jianzeng and said calmly.

"Is there any evidence?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Tang narrowed his eyes, chuckled, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Jia He suddenly drew his sword and slashed at Jiang Chun, who was standing next to Lu Jianzeng. Jiang Chun's head instantly flew off, and Jia He shouted, "This is the evidence!"

"You... I will definitely report you!" Lu Jianzeng said loudly, both shocked and furious.

"Say one more word and I'll chop you up too."

Xie Jing drew half of his waist knife with a "whoosh," and Lu Jian, beneath the pale blade, shuddered and fled in a panic.

"Wait a minute, Lord Lu is protecting Jiang Chun and the others who are plotting rebellion. Could he be the mastermind behind it all?" Jia Tang said casually.

"You...you're spouting nonsense and slandering me! I will definitely submit a memorial to the cabinet."

Lord Lu looked panicked upon hearing this, his body trembling, and his voice weak and feeble.

"According to the laws of the Great Zhao Dynasty, when the three highest military ranks of Duke, Marquis, and Earl are suppressing rebellions, officials of the fourth rank can be detained on the spot, while lower-ranking civil and military officials can handle the matter themselves. Guards, take Lord Lu to the jail for two days."

As soon as he finished speaking, two armored soldiers came over, grabbed Lu Jianzeng, and dragged him away.

"Lord Jia, Master Jia, Jia Tang! Let's talk this out! How dare you harm a loyal... Ouch!"

Seeing Lu Jianzeng making a fuss, a soldier nearby punched him.

Everyone sneered, thinking he was just a clueless idiot.

After finishing his business at the Jiang residence, he returned to the Lin residence. After having a simple meal, he went to the West Study to await news.

Two hours later, Jia He rushed over with a booklet and reported: "The Huang and Bao families who escaped have been found by the Three Knives Gang and are hiding in the cellar of a commoner's house in the east of the city. I have decided to reward them with a thousand taels of silver."

The following is what was confiscated from the Cheng family: 150,000 taels of gold, 2,360,000 taels of silver, 5,700 pieces of jewelry and calligraphy/paintings (equivalent to 2,090,000 taels of silver), land deeds and shop deeds (equivalent to 930,000 taels of silver), and 1,500,000 taels of salt stored in thirteen warehouses, totaling 8,380,000 taels. Also found were four Blood Refining Techniques, one Qi Refining Technique, three damaged Yuan Weapons, one low-grade first-tier Yuan Weapon, and two large boxes containing 1,209 Yuan Stones.

The three of them were startled and exchanged glances. Jia Tang quickly said, "Later, we will create a new secret register, and record the Dharma, Yuan soldiers, and Yuan stones in it."

The Yuan weapons and the Dharma gates are both heirlooms, their value immeasurable. As for the Yuan stones, they are priced at hundreds or thousands of taels of gold and silver on the black market.

Xie Jing and Jiang Zining clapped their hands and laughed: "Hahaha, what an unexpected surprise! I guess it's something from the Fragrance Scent Sect."

Jia He nodded and continued, "The Huang family seized... a total of 4.69 million taels of silver."

"The Bao family has a total of 4.43 million taels of silver."

"The Wang family has a total of 4.57 million taels of silver."

"The Ma family handed over a total of 3.63 million taels of silver."

"A total of 5.73 million taels of silver were confiscated from the Jiang family."

"A total of 31.13 million taels. After deducting the deficit, there are still 10.03 million taels left. Our 20% is more than 2.02 million taels."

"In addition, a total of ten account books and twenty-seven secret letters were found from various households, some of which involved local officials, canal transport workers, and the Wenxiang and Wuwei sects."

"Furthermore, the second-tier cultivator, Old Daoist Yu, is Yu Zhihong, the chief of the Fragrance Sect. The other is the chief of the Wuwei Sect, whose name is unknown. A secret letter was found in the Wang family, revealing that the crossbow was borrowed from Yingtian Prefecture by Wu Sen, the commander of Zhenjiang Guard. It seems to be the work of the Zhen family, but unfortunately, this cannot be confirmed."