The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Fine drops of sweat appeared on Zhao Yong's forehead, and he hesitated: "This... I don't know clearly, it's all old things..."

"This is not the only old story! During last year's spring plowing and autumn harvest, some people in the workshop left the county to go home to farm, but the output of Danhua Workshop did not decrease at all! In addition, in October last year, Qingwu Mansion Among the army’s cotton-padded clothes and quilts The cotton batting all comes from your spring flower workshop, but just after the new year, I saw a Di newspaper saying that the capital mobilized a large amount of frostbite medicine for the Qingwu Prefecture army last winter, which was dozens of dollars in an ordinary year. Times! Is there any connection between the two?”

Zhao Yong's arms shook slightly.

Ao Huang looked at Fang Yun and was filled with admiration. This was not just a matter of good memory. Without strong analytical skills, who would connect an ordinary official report with inferior cotton clothes and quilts?

Finally, Fang Yun sneered and said: "What makes me even more surprised is that cotton in Michigan is harvested in September every year, so cotton is the most expensive in June and July. Cotton in July last year was much higher than after harvesting in September. Thirty percent! But just as the cotton harvest was approaching, your workshop suddenly purchased one million kilograms of lint at a high price, and there was a detailed storage record. It was recorded. It was also clearly stated that Songyuan Trading Company was carrying the goods. What is strange is that I ordered someone to obtain the records of Songyuan Trading Company’s horses and carriages in those days. Borrowing the records of other carriages, how did the one million kilograms of lint get into the warehouse? Could it be that Songyuan Trading Company can already use Yinjiang Bei to transport goods? "

Zhao Yong's face was as pale as wax, and more and more sweat was dripping from his forehead. He instinctively wiped his forehead with his sleeves.

Ao Huang blinked and thought, that's it. Zhao Yong first withdrew a sum of money from the accountant who managed the royal workshop. He didn't spend a penny of the money, but pretended to buy lint cotton, and then used part of it after the new cotton came down. He used the money to buy cheap lint, and the rest went into his pocket.

Fang Yun added: "As I expected, the money you spent on government depreciation and cotton last year was about three thousand taels. These three thousand taels are not much to me, but for a small flower factory The workshop only earns five or six hundred taels a year! No wonder the workshop you manage loses money every year. However, what surprises me is that your actual income last year was not three thousand taels, but at most five hundred taels!"

As he spoke, Fang Yun pressed his index finger on a page of paper on the desk. With a flick of his finger, he saw the page spinning and flying towards Zhao Yong.

Zhao Yong hurriedly took it. It clearly listed his deposit and withdrawal records at the bank last year, as well as the larger expenses of his family. His vision went dark and he almost fainted.

"Then, whose hands are the remaining two thousand taels of silver? You are the owner of the royal workshop. Who has the guts to steal from you?"

Ao Huang suddenly realized this and immediately thought of Zhao Yong's backer, the young prince Zhao Qian.

Not surprisingly, Zhao Yong was actually just Zhao Qian's tool, used to extract profits from the royal workshop.

There are more than seventy princes surnamed Zhao in Jingguo. After excluding the extinct ones, there are now forty-one left. These forty-one princes all have fiefs. Except for a few prodigal ones, their wealth is no less than that of a famous family.

However, the little prince Zhao Qian was neither the heir apparent who would inherit the throne of King Qingyang, nor was he born to King Qingyang's eldest wife. Moreover, because of his young age, he was not given his own property, and his annual income was only two thousand taels. silver.

The salary given by the royal family to the prince's son was not much, because if the salary was compared to that of a real king, the huge amount would become a burden to the royal family.

Two thousand taels of silver was a huge amount of money in the Shengyuan Continent, but it was far from enough for a county prince who lived in sensuality and debauchery.

Zhao Yong was sweating like rain.

The most important thing is not that Fang Yun found out the problem between him and Zhao Qian, but that King Qingyang and King Kang were very close, and Zhao Qian had helped King Kang before.

There is no doubt that once Fang Yun launches an in-depth investigation, not to mention Zhao Qian will be severely punished, even the reputation of King Qingyang will be damaged.

Zhao Yong knelt on the ground with a pop and said loudly: "Xiaoguan Zhao Yong has endless desires and greed. He uses Danhua Workshop to make illegal money, but I want to surrender as a subordinate. Please give him a gentle sentence!"

Fang Yun said: "Your surname is Zhao. It was given by the royal family. How can you kneel down? Get up."

Zhao Yong knelt down and couldn't get up.

At this moment, Fang Yun received an urgent summons. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was from Zhao Hongzhuang.

"Do you... have anything to say?" Zhao Hongzhuang's message was very simple.

Fang Yun was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly and understood the reason. In the urgent letter, Zhao Hongzhuang expressed her concern about the matter, but she only said a short sentence because she did not want to affect Fang Yun. She would not persuade and guide like Cai He, nor would she put any pressure on Fang Yun. She had great trust in Fang Yun's ability.

"We'll find out soon," Fang Yun said.

"Well, then I'll go meet those relatives!"

Fang Yun smiled, Zhao Hongzhuang's relatives were naturally princes and princes from all over the country. Ordinary clan members would not dare to stab them at such a time, and it was not worth Zhao Hongzhuang's effort to stop them.

With Zhao Hongzhuang coming forward, the pressure on the royal family will be reduced a lot, and Fang Yun will keep it in mind.

Fang Yun also thought that Literary Minister Jiang Hechuan might have known about this, but he had not sent a letter so far, which was better than Cai He.

Fang Yun originally thought that he would receive a large number of letters from wealthy families or the royal family at this time, but there were not many letters from unfamiliar people, and those people were very calm.

The tough tactics these days are having an effect.

Fang Yun's hand left the official seal, looked at Zhao Yong below, and said: "It's easy for me to give you a light sentence, but the prerequisite is that you cooperate with me!"

Zhao Yong bowed his head deeply. He was over 40 years old and had been in the palace for many years. He was also the owner of a workshop. He knew very well what Fang Yun meant by "cooperation". He wanted him to explain all the matters with Zhao Lu one by one.

At the moment when Fang Yun finished speaking, Zhao Yong had a naive idea that he might be able to deceive Fang Yun, but when he thought about Fang Yun's means this time, he felt disappointed and thought it was impossible to deceive him.

Zhao Yong gritted his teeth and said, "All the blame is on me, but I can't remember many things!"

"It seems that you are not cooperating. Very good, come here!"

"Yes!" Then a messenger came in from outside.

Fang Yun threw the command arrow to the messenger and said, "Go to Qingyang Guild Hall and bring Zhao Guanshi from Qingyang Palace! If you dare to resist with force, you will be killed on the spot!"

"Yes!" The messenger took the command arrow and left in a hurry.

Zhao Yong had a look of despair on his face. He had a very close relationship with Manager Zhao, but he didn't expect Fang Yun to invite the most critical person directly.

The officers first took Zhao Yong outside, and then Fang Yun called out a workshop owner in the county.

The workshop owner was in his early sixties, with gray hair, but a strong body. There was no fear on his face, but some worry.

"Student greets the county magistrate!" This was a workshop owner of a student.

Fang Yun smiled surprisingly and said, "First, please ask Master Liang to sit down."

Master Liang was stunned, not knowing what Fang Yun was up to, so he had to sit down, but he dared only sit halfway, not sitting still.

Fang Yun smiled and asked, "Master Liang, how is your mother's health?"

Master Liang was stunned again. He thought Fang Yun would interrogate him strictly like a cruel official, but who knew he would chat about family matters and care about his mother's health. He immediately said carefully, "My mother is just old, there is nothing wrong."