The Xue family's troubles have been solved, but the Yanxunyan Censor's Yamen has already been in turmoil.
A group of salt merchants gathered in the back hall and told Lin Ruhai about their family's difficulties with bitter and tearful complaints.
There are more than 20 salt merchants, and 40,000 taels of silver are shared equally among them, which is only 2,000 taels of silver at most.
With these people's wealth, they could afford two thousand cash, but they just didn't want to take it.
The situation was similar to that of the Xue family, but because Lin Ruhai had begged them before, none of the people present paid five or six thousand taels of silver.
I thought that the matter would end here, but I didn't know that just over a month had passed, and the assigned tasks were again on my head.
Although their family has a great business, if they let the Yamen take over and take away from them, they will be completely defeated in a few times.
"Mr. Lin, you also know the difficulties of everyone here..."
"In just the past half month, we have shipped another batch of military rations and spent a lot of money to replace them with salt!"
"As you know, the transportation department doesn't produce enough salt right now, and everyone still has a lot of salt in their hands!"
Salt merchants used money to transport grain, and the court issued salt quotations based on this, which was equivalent to money in exchange for a license to sell salt.
If the salt guide cannot be replaced with salt in time, it will be just a piece of paper in your hand.
In other words, these backlogs of salt are actually money owed by the court to salt merchants.
Everyone was making noises, but Lin Ruhai said nothing. He had expected that the Salt Merchant Association would be furious, and there was nothing he could do about it.
The audience became more and more enthusiastic, and Lin Ruhai couldn't help but cough. He had been under great pressure in the past two days, and his condition worsened again.
"Everyone, I know your... difficulties, but now... the Holy One has decreed that there is no way around this matter..."
"The emperor's order cannot be violated, you... must be more patient!"
Lin Ruhai moved out of the emperor, but no one dared to directly refute it, so they started a new round of complaints.
In short, in one sentence, everyone is really out of money.
"Sir, I heard that the father-in-law of the Supervisor of Ceremonies has come to Yingtian. You must tell him our difficulties and let him report the truth to the Holy One!"
Someone made some suggestions, but they said it was a bad idea. To complain to the supervisor was tantamount to going against the emperor's will.
Of course, it's not these salt merchants who are going to tell them what happened to Lin Ruhai when he was in trouble.
This is a true portrayal of Lin Ruhai's work during his tenure as the Salt Patrol Censor over the years.
He tried his best to divide and disintegrate the group and prevent these people from colluding, so that Jinling's salt policy was fruitful and became His Majesty's pocket.
But now, driven by interests, this group of people have come together again, making it difficult for Lin Ruhai to control them.
It is unrealistic to use force, because the relationships behind these salt merchants are complicated, and some of them are also connected with officials from the DPRK and China, and their influence can affect the whole body.
Could it be that this imperial mission really cannot be done? How should I explain myself to the emperor?
Thinking of this, Lin Ruhai became even more anxious, and fell directly to the ground amidst the noise of everyone talking.
"Master Lin?"
"What's wrong with you..."
Seeing Lin Ruhai fainted, everyone quickly gathered around him.
This matter has to be resolved eventually. If it cannot be resolved, someone will have to take the blame. Who will take the blame if Lin Ruhai faints?
"Go and ask the doctor quickly..."
"Hurry up……"
Soon, the entourage of the Lin Mansion also rushed over, taking the pills with them.
After swallowing it with water, the Lin family's entourage carried him back to the official residence. The doctor came and took his pulse, inserted needles, and then drank several more doses of decoction.
After struggling for more than an hour, Lin Ruhai finally woke up, looking as haggard as a candle in the wind.
"Sir, the doctor said you should not work too hard and should rest..." Aunt Liu advised.
Staring blankly at the roof, Lin Ruhai said with a dying breath: "Why don't I know that I need to rest..."
"How can I live up to the great trust entrusted to me by the Holy One?"
Hearing this, Aunt Liu couldn't help but complain: "I brought you to Jinling, but your body is getting worse every day..."
"They say that you have the trust of your Majesty, Long Live the Emperor, but now that my body has been exhausted, I haven't seen you move your position..."
"The official rank has gone up, but it is still tied to the appointment of the Salt Patrol Censor. Some of your contemporaries... some have become ministers!"
Lin Ruhai has a gentle temper, so Aunt Liu dares to say these things, and the latter is really good for her man.
Seeing that Lin Ruhai didn't speak, Aunt Liu became bolder and continued: "In my opinion... Master, you are just too honest, and you have suffered so many grievances in these years!"
"You have to tell the Emperor, Long Live the Emperor, about the difficulties in the Jinling Salt Administration, and let him know..."
"enough……"
After all, the master is the master. Even if he is dying at this moment, a word can shut up Aunt Liu.
"Don't say these words again!"
Seeing Lin Ruhai's refusal, Aunt Liu could only sigh. This was not the first time she had tried to persuade him.
In her opinion, since the job was so unsatisfactory, she might as well just resign and live a clean life.
At least give birth to two sons with yourself first, and the family business will be passed on, right?
At this time, a servant came from outside to report: "Sir, Lord Jia of Yingtian Prefecture is here to pay his respects!"
Aunt Liu knew Jia Yucun, after all, he had been a teacher in the house.
"Then I'm leaving. If you have anything to do with me, just give me your instructions!" Aunt Liu said reluctantly.
According to her opinion, Lin Ruhai should rest now, but looking at her eyes, she knew that this was an extravagant wish.
"Go ahead..."
After Aunt Liu withdrew, Lin Ruhai ordered her servants to bring the guests, and soon Jia Yucun came to the room.
"Brother Lin, you are... ugh!" Jia Yucun looked concerned.
"It's the same as before, and you know it!"
"You...you just worked too hard and you should have a good rest!"
Lin Ruhai was very tired at the moment and actually didn't want to speak, but he still replied: "There are many things in the Yamen, so I don't dare to rest!"
"If you really have difficulties, you should also report them. Your Majesty is broad-minded and has great virtues... I think he will understand your difficulties!"
When he was a teacher in the Lin family, Jia Yucun was also Lin Ruhai's adviser. The two often discussed salt affairs, so Jia Yucun was very aware of each other's difficulties.
Those salt merchants are as smart as monkeys, so it's not easy to deal with them.
Seeing that Lin Ruhai was silent, Jia Yucun spoke again: "I heard that you fell ill this time, so I brought two old ginseng plants to replenish your health..."
"How about this..."
"Brother Lin, don't refuse. It's just two wild ginseng plants. If I hadn't been supported by my brother... I would have done it today!"
After saying this, Jia Yucun continued: "Brother Lin, there is something... I don't know whether to say it or not!"
"Brother Jia, it's okay to say it!" Lin Ruhai forced a smile.
"It's been almost eight years since Brother Lin took up the post of Salt Inspector, right?"
"Exactly..."
Jia Yucun continued: "According to our practice in the Ming Dynasty, officials must be transferred after five years. Now that Brother Lin has been in office for the first half of the year, it is time to return to the ministry!"
Although Lin Ruhai has a high official rank, if he cannot get a higher practical position, it will be of no benefit to Jia Yucun.
Of course, Jia Yucun wanted to take advantage of the situation by persuading Lin Ruhai to return to the ministry.
Lin Ruhai also wanted to return to the ministry, but the emperor always praised him for his good work and never agreed to the normal rotation of the staff.
"Brother Jia, this matter is not that simple!" Lin Ruhai sighed.
"Duzhong Rongguo Mansion, should we help?"
Jia Yucun has been working abroad and is not very familiar with the affairs of the capital, so he does not know the embarrassing situation of the Jia family.
Even if he found the Yingtian magistrate for him, it was just a coincidence, not that the Jia family really had much energy.
So after hearing what he said, Lin Ruhai sighed again.
(End of chapter)
