The search for the salt merchant went very smoothly and there was no resistance.

A scholar, peasant, industrial and commercial class who is not even allowed to wear silk clothes, even if they are rich enough to compete with the country, it only means that they are a fat pig. Facing the tiger and wolf with twitches with their claws, they do not even have the ability to resist at all and can only be slaughtered.

Facing the six people kneeling on the ground, Zhao Xing looked through the secret documents in his hand and finally asked: "Who is Zhao Guangyi?"

The Zhao family kowtowed and replied: "The grass-roots are Zhao Guangyi."

Zhao Xing glanced at him: "Get up and stand aside."

Zhao Guangyi breathed a sigh of relief, and then stood up and stood aside obediently. After seeing the other five families, they also breathed a sigh of relief. Although they did not mean to stand up, judging from the actions of the imperial envoy to treat Zhao Guangyi, the imperial envoy was still very easy-going and would not be too harsh in the forced force.

Zhao Xing closed the secret document in his hand: "I'll capture a few of you, I must know what crimes you have committed."

The old man of the Jia family kowtowed and replied: "In the past two years, we have purchased a lot of salt over which the salt inspectors and the censors embezzled and intercepted, and they are guilty of selling stolen goods." This is to avoid the seriousness and push the crime to the dead ghost.

Zhao Xing raised his eyelids, snorted, but did not make any statement.

Wu Youliang quickly defended: "We are all certified salt merchants in the court, and are under the jurisdiction of Zheng Hongdao. We just buy salt from his hands and then sell it out. As for which salt is in the salt in the court, or salt overflowing, those that should be handed over to the Ministry of Revenue, and which are privately intercepted, we have no way to know. We just buy it at the price stipulated by the court. Please give it a clear view."

Several other people also kowtowed to defend themselves and said they were extremely innocent.

Zhao Xing sneered: "You don't know the laws and regulations on salt. I have evidence of your smuggling of salt over the years. It's useless to argue. I'm too lazy to talk nonsense to you. I just want you to confess your confession and I can close the case. Of course, you don't want to confess your crimes, and I don't force it. Anyway, our notorious Jinyiwei doesn't have to be so troublesome to try prisoners. According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, you smuggled such a large amount of salt and sold most of them to Mongolia, which is prohibited by the state. This is the crime of traitoring the country and scattering the family."

Looking at the following guys who started to tremble: "I have too many things to do, and time is urgent, so I will close the case now and confiscate your property. But I have the virtue of being a virtuous person. The leader's head is beheaded and will not implicate your family."

The five people in the hall were stunned at that time. Because the imperial envoy did not give everyone a chance to bribe, he just gave the case a few words, shouted for mercy and complained about injustice.

Zhao Xing waved his hand impatiently, "I have already made mercy outside the law, don't talk nonsense. I will do the right to be executed first and then report. By the way, don't have any fantasy. You are just merchants, merchants, and you don't even have the qualifications to go to Datianting. People come, drag them out and ask for the beheading fifty-three minutes later."

The old master of the Jia family looked at the strong-willed imperial envoy and finally bowed to him: "Thank you for your care." Then he said to the other four people: "This is the evil we have committed too greedy. Don't beg for mercy anymore, let's go together."

The lobby was quiet, and Zhao Xing looked at Zhao Guangyi with his eyes down and said, "Do you know why I tried the case like this?"

Zhao Guangyi bowed: "Only in this way can the heads of hundreds of officials in the northwest be protected. I am so kind."

"Although you abide by the law, you have some kind of ills. Fortunately, your sins will not die. I will forgive you here. Go back and be a serious businessman. Remember, officials can do whatever they want, but the law is solemn, and they are always in awe of the law."

Zhao Guangyi finally breathed a sigh of relief: "After I went back, I immediately sent 200,000 yuan in silver to work in the army. Then I hung the plaque that was in awe of the law in the hall, thinking that the eternal precepts of my descendants."

Zhao Xing waved his hand and said, "Go."

When Zhao Xing and Zhao Zi were left in the lobby, Zhao Zi couldn't help but stamp his feet: "At that time, the adults were determined to purify the administration. What a great opportunity. It was possible to take down a large number of corrupt officials in the northwest through this major case, and then replace those smart and capable officials. How could the adults give up easily?"

Zhao Xing smiled bitterly: "I still said in the Yansui case. Although I am motivated to purify the administration, I am not a rude person. But you must know that in our Ming Dynasty court, since the three major cases of Wanli, Donglin killed a group of officials. From the third year of Tianqi, Wei Zhongxian took office and killed a group of Donglin officials. Then the eunuch party fell, Donglin took power, launched a rebellious case, and killed nearly 300 officials. This was already a tragic blow to the entire Ming Dynasty official group."

Zhao Zi also lamented, "The same party struggles. The party struggles of Song Dynasty were originally a struggle between gentlemen, and later there were villains, but they were still kind and only turned the other party against each other. However, the gentlemen of the Ming Dynasty were cruel and did not have the loyalty and forgiveness they claimed that the saints demanded, but instead punished them to death.

"If I dig deeper this time, hundreds of officials in the northwest will fall. At that time, I will not be pursuing the administration, but completely destroying the Ming Dynasty's official group. That would be a devastating blow to the foundation of the entire Ming Dynasty. In this way, I will not be saving the old empire, but accelerating its demise. Some things are unhurried, and the heavy medicine will go against my wishes. Thinking about Wang Anshi's reforms back then, he was too big and too fast, so he became a turning point for the destruction of the Northern Song Dynasty court." Then he said meaningfully: "I want to save this Han world, and cannot defeat this Han world with one kick when the wolves are looking around. After the disaster I expected is over, I will continue to arrange it slowly."

Another thing Zhao Xing didn't say is that his power is still too weak. Now he has stabbed this hornet's nest and this group of bureaucratic groups unite to deal with him. Chongzhen will throw himself out without hesitation and calm the anger of the official group.

Now I don’t have the ability to resist them. If that is the case, my only chance is to become a bandit.

Don’t think that you will lead Wang Jinzhong’s 10,000 troops. With your immature golden finger, you can fight for the world to dominate. If you think too much, as long as you announce your rebellion, Hong Chengchou and Wang Jinzhong will be the first to cut off themselves. You may not say that Zhao Zi around you is also their accomplice and kick yourself.

According to later generations, there was no foundation for the change of dynasties, and the people's awe of the Ming Dynasty were still deeply rooted. Look at all the bandits in the world now, they only anti-corruption officials, but none of them had the banner of resisting the court. At most, they could only be called kings, and no one could be called emperors. Even the Qing Dynasty later entered the pass, including those who rebeled, they all had the banner of anti-Qing and restoring the Ming Dynasty to gather people's hearts, otherwise they would not even have the possibility of survival.

Whether it is to purify the administration and reform the Ming Dynasty, or to force himself to the point of no way out for the future, Zhao Xing believed that he should develop steadily step by step and slowly, and he should not take too big steps, as big steps can easily lead to an egg.

Within his own jurisdiction, he confiscated the property of five salt merchants and gained a lot. Not counting as jewelry and jade, the silver and gold alone were 7 million taels. Moreover, the five families were in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan, and the land in Henan totaled as many as 100,000 acres, which added a large foundation to the later realization of his settlement contracting system.
Chapter completed!