Fenghou

At this time, Chao Qing said at the door: "Your Highness, Lu Sima is here!"

"Let him in!" Chen Qing put down the newspaper, not knowing what urgent matter Lu Wei had for him.

Chapter 57 Night Attack

Lu Wei quickly walked into the non-official room, bowed and saluted, "See Your Highness!"

"What's the hurry?"

Chen Qingxiao asked: "Is it because the other party found out that the formula was not available, and asked for Tiehuolei instead?"

"That's not the case. Something happened today that made the humble staff vigilant."

"Tell me, what happened?"

"I met Lu Xian at noon today, and I wanted to ask him about the progress of finding the formula, but I found that he was a little nervous, he hesitated and refused to talk, and then I told him again, he lost his mind and got ten Wan Guanqian, he is planning to go to Bashu to become a rich man, I told you not to dream all day, he sneered twice and said, take a look in a few days."

Chen Qing frowned, "Do you think Lu Tang has a clue?"

"Your Highness, I know Lu Yan very well. He is a big talker, unrestrained, and he likes to brag. He brags about what he doesn't have, but if he really has something, he won't say it. , that’s why I’m so humbled to be suspicious.”

"Do you think he might get the iron fire thunder formula?" Chen Qing continued to ask.

Lu Wei pondered for a while and said: "He hangs out in brothels all day long, is well-known in the Jingzhao brothel circle, and knows all kinds of like-minded people. I feel that someone may be trying to lie to him, but what if it is true? ?”

Chen Qing understands Lu Wei's worries. Although he also feels that the possibility of the formula leaking is unlikely, he still has to deal with it seriously in line with the principle of caution.

Chen Qing took out a silver medal and handed it to Lu Wei, "Go to Wang Tongzhi and explain the situation to him, and he will arrange to monitor Lu Hang!"

The inner guard is directly under Chen Qing, no matter how good the personal relationship between Lu Wei and Wang Hao is, Lu Wei can't arrange what Wang Hao does, he has to go through Chen Qing.

According to the priority of the matter, Chen Qing will issue four gold, silver, copper and iron medals, of which the silver medal is a relatively important event, which also shows that Chen Qing attaches great importance to this matter.

But judging from the current situation, Wanyanchang's operation of trying everything possible to obtain the secret of Tiehuolei has come to an end. Wanyanchang's most important research master, Yang Jingong, has died, and the remaining four people are difficult to provoke. The fence is firmly established, and within at least ten years, Jin Bing will never want to develop the Iron Fire Thunder.

At this time, a bell sounded from afar, 'Dang!when!when! "It's time to get off work. Chen Qing said the word off work countless times, but it still didn't catch on. Everyone still said "going down". get off work.

Chao Qing appeared at the door and asked, "Does Your Highness have anything else to say?"

Chen Qing thought for a while and said, "Cancele tomorrow's tour to Fengtian County, and change it to three days later. I will go to the Bashang Military Camp tomorrow. Everything else will be fine. Everyone, go back!"

"Humble post obeys orders!"

After Chao Qing left, the workers in the room outside began to clear the table and went down. Chen Qing continued to immerse himself in reviewing his memorial, and he would leave half an hour later than his subordinates every time.

At this time, Jiang Yanxian's voice came from outside, "Chao Canjun, is Your Highness still there?"

"Three counselors, Your Highness is here!"

Unexpectedly, three counselors came, Chen Qing said with a smile: "Why do you want me?"

"Today, Lao Zhang treats guests, and His Highness is going to have a drink together."

"Okay!" Chen Qing cleaned up the table, stood up and walked out of the official room, smiling, "Why is Lao Zhang treating guests? Has the land been sold?"

Zhang Miao nodded with a smile, "Exactly, I sold five mu of shop land, and the deal is done today."

"What price was the transaction?" Chen Qing asked again.

"The location of my land is average, and the price per mu is [-] yuan!"

Chen Qing chuckled, "Congratulations! Congratulations! The net income is [-] guan, and it's still a tax holiday. It's time for a treat. Let's go to Taibai Restaurant!"

"Heroes see the same thing. Your Highness also said Taibai Restaurant, you old miser can't escape this time." Except for Zhou Kuan, no one would call Zhang Miao that way.

Zhang Miao nodded, "Alright! Let's go to Taibai Restaurant."

Several counselors surrounded Chen Qing and left, then boarded a carriage and headed for East Street.

……

After three days of sailing, the fleet of the Western Army arrived at Poyang Lake. Poyang Lake belongs to Jiangnan West Road and is under the complete control of the imperial court. However, the government's control over the water is very weak. There are at most a dozen small boats patrolling the law and order. , but at the level of the navy, the imperial court only has a small navy in the coastal waters of Guangzhou, and the other is that the navy of the Western Army is relatively strong.

Although the water army of the Western Army was invincible in the Yangtze River, it was the first time that the warships of the Western Army entered Poyang Lake. Of course, there was already Poyang County at this time, but it was not called Poyang Lake, but Pengli Lake.

"General, that's Changshan Island, and their warehouse is on the island."

The one who led them was an old boatman. These boatmen were not salt lords, they all had families, so Zhang Cai and his men refused to confess to death, but all eight boatmen confessed and betrayed everything they knew.

"Go to Lion Island first!"

The fleet sailed to Lion Island. Lion Island is located in the north of Changxing Island, only two miles away from Changxing Island.

Thirty warships took cover near Lion Island, and three hundred water ghosts got into the water and swam to Changxing Island two miles away.

They encountered seven or eight patrol boats in a row. The water ghosts killed the patrol soldiers and robbed the patrol boats. Equip the boat and row to Changxing Island.

The water ghosts and soldiers of the Western Army went ashore in a hidden bay, and 500 people, led by Deputy Commander Deng Jinshan, went to the island.

When they were two hundred steps away from the warehouse, they were discovered by a hidden sentry.

"Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!" A rapid alarm bell sounded suddenly on the island.

Deng Jinshan shouted, "Kill! Kill them all!"

Five hundred elite soldiers armed with large shields and short spears charged towards the enemy barracks. The water ghosts had already put on their armor and picked up their weapons, turning into elite scouts.

Dozens of crossbowmen at the entrance of the barracks couldn't stop the powerful attack of the Western Army scouts, and they were all killed. Five hundred soldiers rushed into the barracks...

Yan Xiao Zhang Tai is 50 years old this year, from Poyang County. He is tall and strong, with a big nose hanging on his face like an eggplant, which is very distinctive.

Zhang Tai's father was a fishmonger. At the age of 16, Zhang Tai followed his father to collect fish along the coast of Poyang Lake, and then sold the fish in places far away from the big lake to earn the difference.

It was very accidental that he got on the road of salt owl. In the summer when he was 30 years old, he collected a batch of fish that could not be sold. He was worried about spoilage, so he bought a lot of private salted fish, and found that the salted fish was very easy to buy. He snatched it up every time, and soon he discovered the truth, what everyone likes is not the fish, but the salt on the fish.

From then on, Zhang Tai began to sell heavy salt fish. Three years later, he was arrested by the Poyang County Government for selling illegal salt. The government accused him of selling heavy salt fish as illegal salt in disguise. cut.

But he was lucky, he met the amnesty one month before the execution, he escaped by chance, and spent [-] guan to bribe the county captain, and he was finally released.

On the third day after his release, he took his family and a hundred men to Changshan Island, took the island as king, and officially embarked on the way of the salt owl.

Having been a salt lord for 20 years, Zhang Tai has not only become the largest salt lord in Jiangnan West Road, controlling [-]% of the market, but also marched into Jingnan South Road ten years ago, based in Changsha County, selling illegal salt on Jingnan South Road.

At this time, he no longer knows how much money Zhang Tai has. His current goal is no longer money, but to become a separatist force. He recruited five hundred soldiers and equipped hundreds of ships. Changshan Island is the foundation, and once the conditions are ripe, he will occupy Poyang County.

"Father, something serious happened!" Zhang Tai's second son, Zhang Dan, suddenly shouted anxiously outside the house.

Chapter 58

"It's so late, why are you shouting?" Zhang Tai was deaf in one ear, and his hearing was not very good, so he didn't hear the alarm bell just now.

"Father, the officers and soldiers have killed the island!"

"what?"

Zhang Tai was taken aback. The officers and soldiers actually killed the island, which had never happened in 20 years. He asked anxiously, "How many people are there on the other side?"

"Probably hundreds of people!"

There were only a few hundred people, Zhang Tai ordered: "Kill them all!"

"Father, the other party is too strong. We brothers can't resist at all. We are almost killed by them. Father, run away!"

Zhang Tai also became flustered, he ran back to the study, took the thickest book from the bookshelf, put it in his arms, and fled to the back mountain with his son and several subordinates.

Zhong Huan sent another [-] soldiers to Changshan Island, and at the same time withdrew [-] water ghosts. The water ghosts boarded the boat, and one after another the warships began to hunt around the island for those who tried to escape.

……

As the sky gradually dawned, the killing of the Western Army on the island also stopped, and there was nothing left to kill. The commanders, soldiers, stewards, accountants, and their family members under Zhang Tai, the salt lord, were all killed, men, women, old and young. , dozens of young women who were caught on the island as prostitutes, and a dozen maids in the main pavilion.

In the square, the corpses of hundreds of men were lying flat. Eight boatmen tremblingly came to identify the corpses. They had been sailing for ten years, and they all knew Zhang Tai and the important men.

"This is Ma Xin, the chief steward!" Someone recognized a corpse.

Soon, more and more corpses of important figures were identified, "This is Zhang Tai's eldest son Zhang Hong, this is the accountant supervisor Zhao Dakuan, and this is Zhang Tai's third son Zhang Sa..."

After a while, all important figures were identified, except Zhang Tai and his second son Zhang Dan.

Deng Jinshan frowned. Zhang Tai's maid had confirmed that both Zhang Tai and his second son were on the island, so where did they hide?

At this time, someone suddenly shouted: "I got it, I got Zhang Tai!"

Deng Jinshan was overjoyed and rushed to greet them, only to see more than a dozen water ghosts dragging the two of them over, both of them were tied behind their backs, they hid in a water sway, and were discovered by a warship before they were caught by the water ghosts Suddenly, all seven of his subordinates were killed.

Zhang Tai saw a group of them and gave them a vicious look. The boatmen were all frightened and turned around one after another, fearing that Zhang Tai would recognize them.

Deng Jinshan wanted to put on a show of prestige when the other party was caught, and suddenly flew into a rage. He slapped Zhang Tai on the face several times, grabbed his hair, went to several maids, kicked him and knelt down, "Is this Zhang Tai? ?”

Zhang Tai had already resigned to his fate with his eyes closed, and the maidservants trembled in fright, nodded, "It's him!"

"Put his hood on!"

Deng Jinshan gave an order, and several soldiers took Zhang Tai's hood away in a black bag.

The second person is Zhang Dan, the son of Zhang Tai, a whore who commits all kinds of crimes. He has insulted all the maids. Deng Jinshan found out his identity, kicked Zhang Dan down, stepped on his back, and stabbed him severely. He cut off his head, and the maidservants exclaimed in fright.

He only needs Zhang Tai, the salt lord, and the others are meaningless.

At this time, Zhong Huan came to the island, and he led his men to kill the fleeing soldiers on the periphery to prevent Zhang Tai, the great salt lord, from escaping. When he heard that Zhang Tai had been captured, Zhong Huan rushed over.

The reason why Zhong Huan refused to go to the island was that he could not bear to see so many women, children and the elderly killed. Although they were the family members of the Yan Xiao, they would all be beheaded in the end. This is how the Yan Xiao on Sichuan Road cleaned up. , Private salt was completely banned.

Of course, Zhong Huan would not interfere with Deng Jinshan's murder. His Royal Highness King Yong sent Deng Jinshan to be his deputy. It was obvious that he wanted to use bloody means to deal with Yan Xiao.

Although Deng Jinshan was rather reckless in his actions, when he was in Bashu, he often killed people without leaving any confession, so that the money for several Bashu salt lords has not been found so far, so Wang Hao is also very annoyed with him.

But Chong Huan also had to admit that he needed a bloody barber like Deng Jinshan.

Deng Jinshan hurried forward to salute, "Report to the commander, Zhang Tai was caught, and his three sons and all the main subordinates did not escape."

Chong Huan glanced at Zhang Tai, who was sitting on the ground in the distance, wearing a black hood, and asked, "Can you find the list of salt dealers?"

"I found it. I found it in the accounting room. The quantity of goods purchased by each family, the amount of money, and the content are very detailed!"

Zhong Huan asked again, "Have you looked at the warehouse?"

"I didn't check the material warehouse. There are about [-] rock salt in the salt warehouse..."

"I'm talking about the vault!"

Chong Huan was a little dissatisfied and said: "King Yong wants to use their wealth to make up for the loss of salt tax, and the treasury is the most important!"

Deng Jinshan scratched his head and said: "I have also checked the treasury, but it seems that there is not much money, only tens of thousands of guan, and I have not seen any silver or gold. It is estimated that he is hiding in a cave. I will arrange soldiers to search immediately."

Chong Huan shook his head and said, "Zhang Tai has been a salt lord for 20 years, and no government has come to punish him. There is no need for him to hide in a cave. His wealth cannot be on the island, it must be outside."

Chong Huan thought for a while and then asked, "Have you searched him and found anything?"

"Have!"

A soldier handed a thick book to Zhong Huan, and Zhong Huan took it. It turned out to be Wang Anshi's "Three Classics and New Meanings", tied with a ribbon. This book was very familiar to Zhong Huan, and he almost memorized it. As soon as he got it, he knew it was wrong, the weight was wrong.

He untied the ribbon, opened the book, and it was indeed empty. There was a wooden box, and when he opened the wooden box, there was half a piece of jade inside, and a storage certificate from Baoji Cabinet Workshop. After a closer look, it turned out to be Lin'an. Certificate of Deposit of Po Kee Cabinet.

This is similar to the passbook of later generations, half jade is the password, this guy is very cunning!He actually stored his wealth in Lin'an.

Deng Jinshan hurriedly said: "The humble official will interrogate him carefully to see if he has hidden wealth elsewhere?"

Zhong Huan nodded, "Tell him, if he confesses honestly, I will keep his whole body, and if the father and son are buried together, if he still refuses to confess, then it's up to you!"

"Humble job understands, humble job has plenty of ways to make him speak!"

……

In the evening, Zhang Tai, who was devoured by tens of thousands of ants, finally confessed.

The three caves of the cunning rabbit, his property is hidden in three places, one on the island, which is the least, and one is hidden in the family ancestral hall in Poyang County, his hometown, with 10,000+ coins.

The most wealth is stored in the warehouse of Lin'an Baoji Cabinet. He is the second largest customer of Baoji Cabinet. He has rented three warehouses. As for how much wealth is stored, he does not remember. The money withdrawal certificate is in the box. Baoji cabinet store deposit certificate and half piece of jade.

At noon the next day, Deng Jinshan sent news from Poyang County that he had found copper coins hidden in the family ancestral hall, a total of 15 coins.

Zhong Huan immediately ordered Zhang Tai to be executed by piercing his heart, and the four bodies of his father and son were buried together.

Two days later, hundreds of three-thousand stone cargo ships from Jiangling Mansion arrived at Changshan Island and began to transport large amounts of property back to Jiangling.

……

After the inner guard cavalry retreated from Changsha, the salt dealer Wang Conglin was not in a hurry to return to Changsha. He was worried that the inner guard was playing hard to capture, so he waited patiently.

On the tenth day, he received a letter from his eldest son, in which he said that the internal guards had not come here to search for smuggled salt, but to arrest the imperial court's spies on South Jingnan Road.

Wang Conglin heaved a long sigh of relief. He also felt that something was wrong. If he came to investigate illegal salt, how could he use cavalry?