Survival countdown

Zhao Baiyu's appearance at the gate of Jiangdong Shuai's mansion was his reply to Zhao Chongjin.

With a creak, the door was opened, and the young man said: "Master Zhao, our master invites you to go in and have a talk."

Zhao Baiyu entered the mansion and was ushered into the front hall. A rather muscular middle-aged man who was 45 or six was sitting in the grand master's chair facing the door, staring straight at Zhao Baiyu who was coming from the backlight with his hale eagle eyes.

"The lower official has seen Shuai Hu."

Hu Heyi: "Sit." Looking at Zhao Baiyu, he said bluntly: "It doesn't look like Princess Changping at all, but it looks dignified."

Zhao Baiyu: "But the facts are undeniable." In name, he is the only blood of Princess Changping. "No matter how much you look like your parents, you won't be welcomed."

He was neglected by the Zhao family, everyone knows it, Hu Heyi, who is obsessed with Princess Changping, should naturally know, and he is hated by Zhao Boyong because of Changping, whether it is because of the reason of being indifferent to Zhao Boyong, or he is treated the same as Changping , will make Hu Heyi feel that they are in the same camp.

Sure enough, Hu Heyi's expression eased a little, and anyone who is hated by Zhao Boyong can be his friend. Although Zhao Baiyu looks like a hypocrite surnamed Zhao, his identity as the only blood of the princess is more important.

"Don't go to the Three Treasures Hall if you have nothing to do. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"I heard some old anecdotes in Kyoto, and thought of the poem 'Living together in Changgan, the two little ones have no doubts'. Feeling a lot, sometimes I wonder if my biological father is not Zhao Zaizhi, if my parents are both loving and loving, would life be smoother? If I think about it too much, I want to visit in person—" Speaking of this, Zhao Bai Yu sneered and shook his head, "It's wishful thinking, Hu Shuai don't blame me for talking nonsense."

Having been an official for many years, who hasn't met someone who came to ask for work to play the emotional card?

Hu Heyi naturally heard the intention in Zhao Baiyu's words, but this emotional card hit his greatest regret in this life.

He and Princess Changping are childhood sweethearts and childhood sweethearts, and they have long regarded Princess Changping as the only wife in this life.

Although it was Changping who won the love, in Hu Heyi's eyes, Zhao Boyong should not have appeared, and he was the one who was at fault, so Zhao Baiyu's sentence 'someone stepped in' directly hit the most secret place in his heart.

After more than 20 years, someone finally said something that resonated with his heart.

And he still doesn't want Zhao Boyong to be his biological father... If there were no twists and turns, his and Changping's children should also look like Zhao Baiyu.

Hu Heyi's heart was a little softer, "It's okay for a child to have some whimsical ideas. Why are you looking for me? It's not like you really came to me to reminisce about the past. Your little thoughts are leftovers from my youth."

"Of course I'm not as good as you, my lord." Zhao Baiyu: "Master Hu——"

"If you don't mind, call me Uncle Sheng."

Zhao Baiyu was as good as a gentleman: "Uncle Shi." Explain clearly the purpose of coming.

"Borrowing soldiers to seize private salt?" Hu Heyi frowned, his heart became vigilant, and his attitude became a little cold: "The nephew's heart for the court is good, but do you have any solid evidence? If it fails, I will exceed my authority." If you manage Jiangxi's affairs, you may be punished accordingly."

Zhao Baiyu: "I have a trustworthy source."

Hu Heyi pressed the tiger's mouth, not too interested: "It's not that Uncle Shi is timid and afraid of getting into trouble. He really sent troops without a legitimate name. I can't bear the court's investigation. Besides, you, you just arrived in Liangjiang. Can you have a reliable source of information? ? Don’t be deceived by someone and fell into a trap, and the hat on the top of your head was pushed because of it. Uncle Shi is a person who has experienced it. What kind of storms have you never seen? When Your Majesty first ascended the throne, the world was in turmoil and dangers were everywhere. Uncle Shi and I You almost fell into the officialdom, but in the end, you can be the commander-in-chief of a province without any danger, do you know why?"

Zhao Baiyu: "I would like to hear the details."

Hu Heyi looked at him: "Because Uncle Shi can bear his temper, he is willing to spend more time and thought dealing with those people, instead of rushing to pick things up as soon as he arrives."

Zhao Baiyu lowered his eyes, pursed his lips and smiled, and said softly, "What if the princess also intends to catch private salt?"

Hu Heyi froze when he raised his hand to see off the guest, and cast his sharp eyes over: "The princess is with you in private? I don't think I've heard of it."

He has admired the princess for many years and has always paid attention to her. He has never heard her mention the child who was left in the capital.

Zhao Baiyu took out a box from his cuff, opened it, and pushed it over. Hu Heyi immediately recognized the tin hairpin inside.

"Why do you have this tin hairpin?"

It is a very private thing for a woman to send a token of love. Hu Heyi didn't know that the princess sent the hairpin to Zhao Boyong.

"What do you say?"

The hairpin is especially precious. Unless you miss your parents and children all these years, you will not give away the hairpin.

Did Changping and Zhao Baiyu really have contacts with each other in private?

But I can understand it when I think about it. How can there be a mother who doesn't love her children?

When he was demoted to Liangjiang, the infant child who was left behind was afraid that the child would not be able to bear the bumpy road, so he cruelly abandoned it.

Hu Heyi caressed Tin's head hairpin from the air, and his cold attitude quickly eased: "Have you met the princess?"

"We haven't met each other for 20 years," Zhao Baiyu smiled wryly, "It's more timid to be close to the hometown."

Hu Heyi's eyes were sharp: "Is it really the meaning of the princess to investigate and seize the illegal salt?"

Zhao Baiyu looked back frankly: "Do you think it is necessary for me to deceive you with a straight-forward lie? If you don't believe it, you can ask the princess yourself."

Hu Heyi's face quickly flashed a trace of embarrassment, verifying the subtle conjecture in Zhao Baiyu's heart. He cannot freely enter and leave the princess mansion. If there is no important business, or if he is not summoned, he should not be able to see Changping.

No one likes to lick a dog who often walks in front of his eyes, especially Princess Changping, who is proud of himself, unless Hu Heyi is needed.

Changping has the backing of Emperor Yuanshou, and she arrived in Liangjiang earlier than Hu Heyi. Her power has already taken root, and she doesn't need to rely on Hu Heyi completely. Therefore, she still maintains the posture of a high-ranking princess in front of Hu Heyi.

The most important thing is that the Jiangdong commander-in-chief was appointed only last year, and Hu Heyi was transferred to fill in the vacancy. Princess Changping still can't fully trust him.

And just now when he heard that he might have a private relationship with Changping, Hu Heyi's reaction was doubtful, and it could be seen if he was not categorically denying it.

Zhao Baiyu spoke earnestly: "The Ganxi merchant gang has been very aggressive recently. A while ago, they pulled Ji Xingbang off the horse without asking the princess's intentions. Isn't it a slap in the face of the princess? What's more, the luck of the Liangjiang illicit salt these years has been swallowed up by the merchant gang. , such a big profit, why should someone else eat it. Get rid of the salt gang, and take the lucky piece of private salt into your own hands, sir, you will also benefit, right?"

Hu Heyi was thoughtful, obviously moved.

Zhao Baiyu said leisurely: "Don't tell me, I have only been in Liangjiang for more than two months and found out that the most lucrative Yamen is neither Shuaisi nor Caosi, but the Shipping Department! What can you say about the Shipping Department, but It is a yamen that controls water transportation, so why are they so rich? Shuaisi is the one who guards the peace of the two rivers, and the prefects of the prefectures maintain law and order. After eating, we will follow behind and pick up some scraps."

Hu Heyi thought so, but out of face, he didn't respond.

Zhao Baiyu scratched his ears, stood up and said, "Forget it, if you are afraid of offending the Shipping Department and the Merchant Gang, just treat it as a nephew. I am here purely to visit you, and there is no other purpose - leave."

After saying that, he strode towards the entrance of the hall, counting down to ten in his heart, and finally heard Hu Heyi's response: "Wait! Can you guarantee that the source of the news is correct?"

Zhao Baiyu turned around with a sincere smile: "It must be."

***

The river is clear, sparkling, and the moon hangs high. Two official ships of [-] materials are parked by the pier. Strong workers are carrying the khaki big bags in an orderly manner. On the shore is Fang Xingwen, the president of the Salt Gang. deputy.

A worker was carrying a big sack and passed by the deputy. He twisted his ankle and almost fell. The deputy scolded: "Be careful! Be careful when you get on the boat. Even if you throw yourself into the water, you have to promise me The goods are still on the water!"

"Move faster!"

At this time, in a private room in a flower building in Hongzhou Mansion, Chen Luowu and Fang Xingwen were entertaining the dispatch envoy Shui Honglang to drink flower wine, chatting and laughing while listening to the song girl playing and singing the tune of Spring Blossoms and Autumn Moon.

The night was hazy, the soil on the official road trembled slightly, and the sound of heavy footsteps came from far to near. Suddenly, a fire appeared from the horizon. One man and one horse took the lead, followed by the officers and soldiers with neat steps, galloping across the official road.

At Hongzhou Wharf, the cargo was almost being loaded onto the ship. The deputy caught a glimpse of a distant fire, and suddenly felt ominous, and immediately shouted: "Hold the anchor! Set sail! Don't worry about other cargo——"

The worker immediately pulled the heavy anchor, the sound of the water splashed, and the sail was pulled up at the same time, but at this moment, a sound of breaking through the air passed by the ear, the silver-white knife light passed by, and the sound of "歘" hit the target. The boatman who lowered the sail was heartbroken, the sail was retracted in an instant, and the worker was so frightened that he let go, and the anchor that was half retracted fell back to the river with a bang.

The officers and soldiers surrounded the pier in the blink of an eye, and the deputy disembarked quietly, jumped to the steps under the pier, and planned to slip away quietly through the path by the river bank.

Just walking to the side of the half-person-high reeds, a knife appeared across the sky blocking the way, and the deputy was so frightened that he fell off his buttocks.

The deputy and the two principals were pulled in front of Zhao Baiyu and Hu Heyi. One of the principals had his hands tied behind his back, knelt on the ground, and tried his best to raise his head and angrily reprimanded the two: "Do you know that this is the ship of the Salt Gang? Who is the messenger? Which yamen?"

At the same time, the officers and soldiers inserted the knife into the sack, leaving white salt all over the ground in an instant.

"It's private salt!"

Three or four officers and soldiers broke through the sacks for inspection, and all of them reported that it was illegal salt.

Zhao Baiyu squatted in front of the chief officer and said: "What I'm destroying is the boat of your Yan Gang! If you have anything to say or want to find support, you can go to the yamen and talk. Come on, bring them back to me!"

***

One of the lute strings snapped suddenly, waking up the crowd intoxicated with gentleness, and the singing girl immediately knelt down.

Boss Ping shattered the wine glass: "Disappointing."

Fang Xingwen accidentally dropped his wine glass, feeling ominous.

Just as Chen Luowu was about to speak, he heard hurried footsteps coming from outside. The worker who had escaped from the pier suddenly opened the curtain and rushed inside, saying: "...was besieged——Zhao Baiyu led troops to encircle the pier, even people Take the boat and 200 million stones of smuggled salt and take it back to Caosi!"

As soon as the voice fell, there was a commotion outside, the sound of fighting was particularly clear. Chen Luowu went to the window and pushed open the gap, and saw the officers and soldiers rushing in downstairs. The leader was Zhao Chongjin, who had been silent for two years. .

Zhao Chongjin waved his hand downstairs: "The government takes people, everyone must not act rashly, and cooperate with the government." He grabbed the old bustard: "Where is Fang Xingwen, the president of the Salt Gang?"

The bustard tremblingly pointed to the box where Chen Luowu and the others were. Chen Luowu shrank back in fright. Fang Xingwen, who had been called, slumped on the stool with a pale face. Fang Xingwen quickly got into the small door in the box and fled in a hurry.

Just as Shui Honglang left, the back door was kicked open. Zhao Chongjin saw Fang Xingwen at a glance and ordered him to be arrested.

"you!"

Boss Ping wanted to stop him, but was stopped by Chen Luowu.

After the officers and soldiers retreated, Hualou continued to do business. Chen Luowu and the boss, no longer in the mood of enjoying themselves, sat in silence for a long time.

It wasn't until someone who came to report to the third master was waiting in Chen's mansion that the two cheered up and hurried back on horseback.

It was the little boy who often came to pass on messages. Seeing his familiar little face, Chen Luowu seemed to be grasping a life-saving straw, and quickly asked, "What do you want to say, Third Master?"

Xiao Tong: "Third Master said, if you like to make your own opinions, you don't need to ask him for instructions on everything you do in the future."

Chen Luowu and Chen Luowu's faces were ugly, and they were visibly flustered.

Chen Luowu said in a low voice: "It is true that I was too impatient in this accident, and I took it lightly. Please also apologize to the third master on my behalf. When I deal with the matter of private salt, I will definitely go to the third master to accuse myself."

"The third master said that the most urgent thing is to abandon the car and save the handsome man."

Boss Ping said eagerly: "The benefits of private salt are huge. We have been running that line for a few years, so we just abandoned it?"

Xiaotong is only responsible for passing on the message, and he cannot answer questions beyond the scope of the answer.

Boss Ping: "Even the third master can't help it?"

Xiaotong: "If you want to protect the business, you have to give up."

Chen Luowu could see the situation clearly, 200 million smuggled salt was enough to kill a group of people, if the merchant gang still had trouble with the salt gang at this time, they would probably be picked up.

"The third master said that Zhao Baiyu's goal is not just to get lucky with a smuggled salt, but to transport it in two rivers. He will not let it go, he will definitely take advantage of the victory and pursue it. All you have to do is wait."

From the beginning to the end, they were made to wait. Chen Luowu and others were impatient before, and the result of their private actions was heavy losses, which affected their own safety, so they dare not be disobedient now.

***

The people who were arrested and brought back to the Yamen were interrogated within one night, and the result was revealed. They gave a clear account of their crimes of smuggling salt three or four times a year, and they also confessed to Fang Xingwen, the mastermind of the Salt Gang.

Fang Xingwen was in Zhao Chongjin's hands, and when Zhao Baiyu saw him, the other person exhaled a lot of air and breathed in less, and his flesh and blood were already inhuman. It can be seen that Zhao Chongjin used torture with cruel methods and heart.

Zhao Baiyu glanced at the confession he stuffed into his cuff, and asked, "What did he confess?"

"Accounting for the luck of salt smuggling within three years involves two Zhejiang provinces."

"He didn't mention the Ganxi Merchant Gang and Liangjiang Water Transport?"

"No. You can ask him, but you can't take him away. He is an important witness in the case." Zhao Chongjin looked at the unconscious Fang Xingwen and told him, "Wake him up."

The servant next to him listened to the order and poured a bucket of water on Fang Xingwen.

If Fang Xingwen was still screaming in pain, Zhao Baiyu knew it was salt water.

"You always interrogate prisoners like this?"

"Pity him? Poor pig and dog, don't pity him. A few years ago, he found a salt well in Jizhou. He wanted to spend the least money to monopolize it. When the other party refused, he hired local hooligans to break into the house. After burning, killing and looting , there was only one beautiful young daughter-in-law left. The young daughter-in-law sued the magistrate, and he colluded with the local county magistrate, falsely accusing the young daughter-in-law of adultery and killing her husband, and the young daughter-in-law was sentenced to death. By chance, she was amnesty and survived , but was sent to work in the salt well that killed her whole family, and had to earn money for her enemies."

The understated description made Zhao Baiyu angry. He knew that in the feudal era, human life was worthless and there were so many unjust, false and wrong cases, but he couldn't help being angry when he heard that the unjust case was so close to him.

Zhao Baiyu walked up to Fang Xingwen, and heard the other party screaming like a mosquito: "Injustice, injustice..."

"Two or three million shi of private salt every year is enough to cut you into pieces, ransack your family and exterminate your family! If you cooperate with this official to make up for your mistakes, this official promises you to die quickly." Zhao Baiyu said, "How about it?"

Fang Xingwen didn't lift his head, and murmured, "I'm wronged."

"I know that you are very sober, understand what I say, and know what I want. Is it possible that you are a king and minister on the shore of the land? No matter how big the officials in Liangjiang are, and no matter how powerful the business gang can cover the sky, they are no bigger than the court and your majesty. His majesty was furious when the incident of salt luck was reported to the imperial court, causing people to thoroughly investigate Liangjiang and Zhejiang, and even the Southeast Sixth Road Shipping Department had to stand aside! So you'd better think carefully, and prepare to be frank and lenient, to make up for your mistakes, and to save you The family members of the family were still charged with the crime themselves and were sentenced to death, which made the family suffer."

Fang Xingwen didn't reply, and Zhao Baiyu was not in a hurry.

"I don't have much patience to play with you. If I'm in a good mood today, I can give you a chance to commit crimes and make meritorious deeds. When the sun rises tomorrow, I'll change my mind. Even if you beg grandpa to sue grandma, you won't have a chance." Bai Yu smiled, and smoothed his cuffs slowly: "The process before deciding the evidence must go, but don't worry, I don't like to use some tortures that make people bruise like Judge Yantie."

Zhao Chongjin, who was named, showed no expression.

Zhao Baiyu: "It's not that I don't know how to torture. I don't know if you've heard of the landlubbing torture? Do you know what it means to fall from a stone? Have you ever heard of throwing a cloth bag?"

Not to mention Fang Xingwen, Zhao Chongjin had never heard of these three things, so I came to listen to him with interest.

"The landlubber is to take off your shoes and tickle the soles of your feet."

What kind of torture is this?

Even the interrogating yamen servants followed him with indifferent glances, thinking that he was a civil servant, and the 'torture' he had seen was probably not for children.

"When the soles of your feet are tickled, you like to kick your legs. The posture is the same as that of puddle water. But we are extorting a confession through torture. It is definitely not simple... just pour a pot of boiling water or oil on the soles of your feet, and the skin will fall off. Comb it with an iron comb—tsk tsk, first the skin, then the fat, then the meat, and finally the white bones, it looks very clean."

"!"

In the prison, even the guards who were experienced in extorting confessions by torture couldn't help but tremble all over, and Zhao Baiyu's eyes were no longer on a harmless civil servant, but on a perverted and cruel official.

Fang Xingwen had forgotten to yell that he was wronged.

Zhao Baiyu went on to say: "A fairy falling from a stone is to hang a person upside down, put a basin under it, and put charcoal on fire...Have you ever seen charcoal-grilled mutton or smoked pork? It's a truth, people are roasted alive Turning into a mummy is particularly terrifying."

Fang Xingwen: "Ugh!"

Zhao Chongjin held his forehead, feeling a little chilly, but just now he felt that Zhao Baiyu was too soft-hearted, and couldn't understand the way he greeted Fang Xingwen, so he was an expert.

Zhao Baiyu is not a pervert, so why not research and develop torture?

The three tortures he mentioned came from the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties respectively, especially the torture that Old Zhu of the Ming Dynasty thought up to punish corrupt officials, which really broke through the limits of human beings, and it can scare people out of their wits.

"The last throwing cloth bag is what I want to use. It's not easy to see blood. Hang people to the top of the beam, ask and answer every sentence, and throw it down if they can't answer or answer wrongly. After falling two or three times, hand bones, The bones of the feet were all broken, and the ribs and internal organs were broken after falling seven or eight times, but there was no blood, and it looked clean."

Those present now have a negative reaction to the word 'clean'.

"No matter how fierce a person is, they will not be able to stand it after ten rounds."

Zhao Baiyu turned cold-faced, got up and said, "Go boil some ginseng, hang him for me. Find a thicker rope and hang him up for questioning!"

He didn't threaten with words, he really asked someone to pour ginseng soup into Fang Xingwen and hang him for his life, and then fell down two or three times when he was hung up, his arm and a leg bone were probably broken.

It won't kill people, but the pain is really deadly. The heart-wrenching pain is much more serious than the flesh pain caused by Zhao Chongjin.

Sure enough, Fang Xingwen couldn't stand it any longer, he yelled to move, and when Zhao Baiyu asked, he said with a bitter face that he didn't know.

"You don't cry when you see the coffin."

Fang Xingwen trembled in fright: "I, I, I really don't know! Although I am the president of the Salt Gang, I am actually responsible for picking up the head and arranging people to transport the private salt from Liangzhe to Liangjiang. Most of the people who can supply are in Liangzhe. It is a commission from me...all those who do business in the Ganxi Guild Hall have to draw a commission, this is the rule."

"The smuggling of salt is smuggled by using official ships. Do you dare to say that it has nothing to do with the Liangjiang Water Transport? Did the merchant gang collude with the Shipping Department, Guangzhou and Quanzhou Shipping Departments, and use official ships to smuggle out to sea?"

Fang Xingwen muttered: "I only know that they have a close relationship with the Quanzhou Shipping Department in private."

"How is the relationship with Guangzhou Port? How much cargo do they ship a year? When is the ship basically scheduled? Is there an account book? How many people are involved?"

Fang Xingwen flinched and said, "I don't really know, I just know that they have a batch of goods in their warehouse, and the Quanzhou port has been urging them, but three—"

"Is this the result of the interrogation?" Fang Xingwen was interrupted by a sudden voice. Zhao Baiyu and Zhao Chongjin both turned their heads at the same time, only to see a 35-year-old man wearing a civil and military robe and a mustache, striding away. Enter, and come straight to Zhao Baiyu: "This is the new Mr. Zhao? He is really young and promising."

Zhao Baiyu: "Who are you?"

"The commander-in-chief of Jiangxi made Shanqian."

"Why did Master Shan come here?"

"That's right, I heard that you borrowed troops from the Jiangdong commander to come to Hongzhou to arrest a group of criminals who were smuggled with salt?" Shanqian smiled, "Although I don't understand why Mr. Old man, I ran to Jiangdong to borrow soldiers, maybe there was some misunderstanding, but Mr. Zhao is doing things for the court, and the intention is good. Now that I heard about this matter, of course I have to rush over to take care of it."

He passed Zhao Baiyu and came to Fang Xingwen, "Is this the mastermind who smuggled salt? Can you all confess the crime?"

Zhao Chongjin: "The testimonies have been secured."

Shanqian: "Who are you going to tell?"

Zhao Chongjin: "You don't have to worry about that, Commander-in-Chief Shan."

Zhao Baiyu: "My lord came at a wrong time. The next official was interrogating at a critical moment, but you were interrupted by your lord... The prison is too bloody and tortured, why don't you go outside and wait?"

Shanqian: "When I killed the enemy and wiped out the bandits, have you ever been afraid of bloodshed? You are the mastermind? Good! An unknown salt merchant dared to smuggle millions of stones of salt. How difficult the imperial court has been in these years is known all over the world. I know, it turned out that you were sucked enough blood by unscrupulous salt merchants! How absurd is it to hide wealth in merchants!"

Speaking of anger, he raised his foot and kicked Fang Xingwen's face.

A general can kick someone to death with one kick. Fang Xingwen's nose and teeth were broken on the spot, and he couldn't speak anymore.

Zhao Baiyu immediately stepped forward to check Fang Xingwen's breathing, and after confirming that he was not dead, he turned his head and stared at Shanqian sharply: "Master Shan is very angry and emotional, and my lower senses can understand, but the evidence of the criminal has not been asked yet, so I can't stand you This kick! If the prisoner dies in your hands, the officer will not be able to explain to His Majesty."

The meaning in the words is that if a person dies in the hands of Shan Qian, he will bear the blame.

Shan Qian felt jealous because of this, glanced at Fang Xingwen who had passed out, and hated him for not dying under the torture.

"Speaking of which, since the commander-in-chief has arrived in Hongzhou in person, Mr. Zhao doesn't have to look far away, and asks the commander-in-chief of Jiangdong to withdraw his troops. According to the law, the soldiers of one province are not allowed to stay in other provinces for a long time unless they are ordered by the emperor. Mr. Zhao If you still want to use troops, you can borrow them from Jiangxi."

"After I finish interrogating Fang Xingwen, I will talk about other things."

"I'm afraid this case won't be your turn to try." Shanqian said with his hands behind his back: "Neither the provincial Caosi nor the provincial Yantie judge has the authority to interrogate the case. This case also involves the shipping department, so it should be handed over to the court." There will be three joint trials of the provincial envoy, the commander-in-chief, and the magistrate!"

Both Zhao Baiyu and Zhao Chongjin's expressions changed, they said they were handling the case impartially, but they were actually here to rob people.

When people are in the hands of Shanqian, can they still survive?