Farmhouse Green Plum

Chapter 677

After listening to this, Wu Tixue pondered for a while and asked, "Did you tell Zhu Zhenghong that your family is from Xiangxi?"

Yuan Qing nodded and explained, "The situation was critical at the time, so we had to come up with a more credible explanation to quickly convince Zhu Zhenghong to agree to let us pass through the gate."

If possible, he would naturally like to not reveal any specific location information, but there is no other way, so he can only make one up.

Wu Tixue frowned. Although he was reporting on Xiangxi, he was afraid that those people would be extremely vigilant and alert to all officials from the south who were coming to Beijing.

He waved his hand, "This is not your fault. This matter is of great importance. Those people must be extremely vigilant. I'm afraid that everyone from the south going to Beijing is on their alert list.

Fortunately, more than half of the people traveling from southern Yunnan to Beijing choose to travel by land, so it's not unusual."

Of course, it is inevitable to attract the attention of those people.

Yuan Qing said, "Master, perhaps we can separate the account and the person. You go to Beijing first, and I will find someone reliable to deliver the account book."

"Is there a suitable candidate? We must be very cautious about this matter and not let any news leak out!"

"Brother Zhang also made a fake account book. I think it has already fallen into the hands of those people. In their minds, the account book has been destroyed. I don't think they will pay much attention to it in the future. The main thing is that you can reach the capital safely and prevent them from finding any clues."

Wu Tixue nodded. "Since the account books are separated, I will take the water route and pass by them to make them relax their vigilance. But how can I send the account books to the capital?"

He frowned and thought, apart from official channels, communications were basically carried out through caravans, but the account books were too important and there could not be any accidents.

"My disciple has partnered with someone to do some Shu brocade business, and we've had plans to sell it to the capital. I'll find a reason to convince him to deliver the goods to the capital in the next few months, and bring the account books along with him."

Wu Tixue clapped his hands and smiled, his frown loosening. "Shan, you can see the big picture from the small details and know the end from the beginning. One day, you will have a place in the government."

There are many people who are good at studying, but there are few who can handle things so thoroughly.

Yuan Qing said sincerely, "I am where I am today because of the guidance of my mentor."

Wu Tixue laughed heartily and called over one of his confidants. "All of you have shown up before Tu Dachang and the others. It's inconvenient for you to show up this time. Let him take care of the account books."

Yuan Qing agreed and went to find Chen Yunze immediately.

"Brother Chen, what do you think about what I said before?"

Chen Yunze put down his teacup and said, "Of course I wish I could leave right away, but I need the necessary documentation."

Shu brocade is an item under the control of the imperial court, and there are severe restrictions on its private sale by the public. Not only are there restrictions on the scale of private sales, but it cannot be sold to other provinces at will.

Moreover, Chen Yunze had another worry. The emperor of Jinchuan was far away, so it would be okay for everyone to wear Shu brocade and overstep their bounds as long as no one reported it.

But the capital is under the imperial city after all, so the restrictions are certainly much stricter, and the Chen family has no roots in the capital.

I am afraid that once the business is established, even if they have done nothing wrong, some jealous colleagues will find fault with them and find out their mistakes. What's more, the Shu brocade business is against the law.

"Brother Chen is worried that a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake, not to mention that we are not a powerful dragon in the capital." Yuan Qing first echoed Chen Yunze, and then said:

"According to my idea, we can cooperate with a clothing store in the capital. It doesn't matter if we make a little less money temporarily. If we can get in touch with a noble person in the capital, then expanding our business in the future will be easy, right?"

Chen Yunze frowned, "Now it seems that this is the only feasible method."

But he felt a little bit reluctant. His store was too big to take advantage of customers, and this was such a sensitive business. It went without saying that the people in Beijing would definitely try their best to lower the price, so their profits would be very thin, and they might even lose money.

"Brother Yuan, can you think of a way to tax transit and transactions? We've just set up the business, and the profits aren't great. Transporting it all the way to the capital will inevitably incur travel expenses. If we're not careful, we might not even be able to earn back the money for the fodder for the packhorses."

Yuan Qing frowned, a look of embarrassment flashing across his face. "The Manufacturing Bureau has always kept a close eye on Shu Brocade, and I'm just a scholar now..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yunze said, "I heard that your teacher has been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue and is now returning to Beijing from southern Yunnan. He arrived in Qingshui County yesterday. How about you ask him to think of a solution?"

Meeting Yuan Qing's furrowed gaze, he added, "The Jieshi Zhong is a lowly official with great power. I heard that Prefect Shen also rushed over from the city early this morning to welcome him."

Yuan Qing's brows furrowed even more tightly, and there was a hint of displeasure in his tone: "Brother Chen is really well-informed."

"Well, as a businessman, how can you expand your business if you are not well-informed?" Chen Yunze looked cheerful.

After a while, Yuan Qing slowly exhaled, and seemed to agree reluctantly, "I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee it."

"Of course." Chen Yunze was very happy. If he could get exemptions from transit tax and transaction tax, he might be able to sell Shu brocade all over the country in the future!

Wu Tixue had already made arrangements regarding the account books and used his connections to obtain tax exemptions.

Two days later, Yuan Qing told Chen Yunze that the matter was done, and then Chen Yunze began to prepare intensively, stocking up on goods and arranging the caravan, and was very busy.

During this period, Yuan Qing also successfully inserted Wu Tixue's guard.

After a brief stay in Qingshui County, Wu Tixue set off again and headed for the capital.

The Jieshi Zhong had the power to report directly to the emperor, and could make secret reports directly without going through the Tongzhengsi. The Jieshi Zhong of the Household Department also had the responsibility to review the reports on the money and grain of the Ministry of Revenue, so he had the legitimate right to investigate the grain transport and military pay.

After Wu Tixue gained a foothold in the Household Department, he found some evidence from some documents of the Ministry of Households, which corroborated the account books.

With irrefutable evidence, he submitted a memorial directly to the emperor, catching General Fan Yongkang and others off guard.

After the joint trial by the three courts, the case was quickly investigated thoroughly. The court and the public were outraged. The masterminds, General Fan Yongkang of the Grand Canal Transport, Captain Tu Dachang and Shao Zhiqiang, were beheaded in public, their wives, concubines and children were exiled to Liaodong as slaves, and the Inspector Wan Shiheng was dismissed from his post and exiled.

Other officials implicated along the way were either dismissed from their posts or exiled, and the entire officialdom was shaken.

By the time the news reached Jinchuan, it was already the end of October.

Yu Lingwan looked at the imperial notice and his body began to shake, and the blood on his face disappeared in an instant.

"Sister Lingwan?" Song Ying called out worriedly, glanced at the content on the notice, and thought to himself that something was wrong.

The notice stated that Scar and others were charged with not only selling firearms, but also killing an imperial official.