More than a dozen people covered in robes and robes blocked the door of the hall, venting their emotions to the housekeeper of the Lin Mansion.
Salt merchants and salt administration yamen are actually interdependent and cooperative.
Although the Yanzheng Yamen controls the wealth, life and death of the salt merchants, on the other hand, why are the salt merchants not indispensable partners of the Yanzheng Yamen?
After all, the Salt Administration is related to the livelihood of millions of people. How can the Salt Administration Yamen alone take care of it?
As a result, a concept has formed among some salt merchants, that whether they can hold the position of salt official in the imperial court and whether they can do it well depends entirely on whether they give them face...
After all, millions or even tens of millions of salt tax dollars are wasted every year. If they don't cooperate, it will be really difficult for the Yanzheng Yamen to collect it! Even if you collect it, you may not be able to collect it in full... If you drag in tens of millions of tax dollars, let alone the future of the salt official, you may not even be able to save your life!
Therefore, most of the salt merchants were dissatisfied with the imperial court's plan to donate their wool this time.
Since he was dissatisfied, he wanted to appeal to the above, and as a salt official "raised" by them, at this time when the life and death of the entire industry was at stake, Luo was naturally the one to stand up and speak for them!
Therefore, when Jia Lian appeared along the corridor, he saw a lot of pot-bellied businessmen standing here muttering words such as "We want to see Mr. Lin" and "Please make the decision for us."
Perhaps when they saw Jia Lian coming out, wearing a full-body white shirt, they thought he was a descendant of the Lin family, so they all became quieter.
Jia Lian didn't say anything. He walked slowly to the middle, stood on the steps, and scanned everyone.
Jia Lian's arrogant attitude immediately aroused dissatisfaction among some people.
One person stepped forward and shouted: "Who are you? Where is Mr. Lin? Why doesn't Mr. Lin come out to see us?"
Jia Lian looked down at the person in front of him from above and said in the same unceremonious voice: "My uncle is unwell and is resting in the back hall. Why are you making such a noise here and disturbing my uncle's peace?"
When I heard that he was not a descendant of the Lin family, but just a relative, how could everyone be so polite.
"Where did the yellow-mouthed kid come from? We want to see Mr. Lin. We have important matters to discuss. Isn't it your right to ask?"
"Exactly, if you don't back down, you will delay the big event I'm waiting for. I'm afraid your family won't be able to bear it!"
First, they were perfunctory by Lin Ruhai, and after waiting here for half a day, everyone was already angry. Now Jia Lian's attitude made everyone even more angry, and they vented their dissatisfaction unceremoniously on Jia Lian.
Faced with the overwhelming condemnation from the salt merchants, Jia Lian's face darkened and he shouted: "How outrageous!"
The scene suddenly became quiet.
Everyone stared at Jia Lian in astonishment. First, they did not expect that Jia Lian would dare to yell at them. Second, they did not expect that Jia Lian, at such a young age, could speak so loudly that it made their ears hurt!
Jia Lian did not give them time to react and continued to suppress them with words: "This is the Salt Administration Office, which represents the majesty of the imperial court. If you dare to shout again, you will be treated as a crime of breaking into the government office privately and will be severely punished!"
Jia Lian was born in the Duke's palace, so he had the psychological advantage of being superior to others when acting outside, so he naturally developed some extraordinary magnanimity.
The scolding now really suppressed these people.
Everyone looked at each other and when no one spoke again, they all realized that their previous behavior was indeed excessive.
But there are always some bad-tempered ones. The obese man who had previously called Jia Lian a "yellow-mouthed kid" stood up again: "Of course we know this is the Yanzheng Yamen. We came here to discuss important matters with Mr. Lin!"
As Yangzhou salt merchants, we have always been law-abiding and we have donated nearly 10 million yuan in taxes to the imperial court every year! All of us here are people who have made great contributions to the imperial court. Even Mr. Lin is kind and courteous to us. Who are you, and do you dare to boss me around?
We walk and sit upright, how can we be threatened by you! "
Zhao'er, who followed Jia Lian, saw that Jia Lian was being provoked, so he took a step forward and announced his family status as a deterrent.
Jia Lian stopped him in advance, then looked at the people below the steps and sneered: "Do you act upright and sit upright? Have you made great contributions to the court?
It's ridiculous. With your current appearance, you dare to say that you have contributed to the imperial court? "
At this time, many people have actually guessed that Jia Lian's status may not be low, and he may even be a son of an official, otherwise he would not be able to speak to them in such a condescending tone.
However, this did not scare them, but instead hurt their hearts even more!
As the last class of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, merchants were mostly looked down upon by scholars, and it was not easy for them to gain status.
As salt merchants who could contribute more than a quarter of their annual income to the imperial court every year, they all believed that they had made great contributions to the imperial court!
And Jia Lian's words are undoubtedly denying what they are most proud of, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
Therefore, everyone was filled with righteous indignation and showed anger.
Jia Lian did not take it seriously and continued: "I know why you are here! Now the imperial court has implemented a new salt policy, encouraging merchants from all over the world to transport grain to the border in exchange for salt. This has broken the original salt policy. You feel that the distribution system will be detrimental to your own interests, so you ignored the funeral at my uncle's house and gathered here with the intention of forcing my uncle to speak up for you and get the imperial court to revoke this new policy, right?"
There was one point in Jia Lian's words that the salt merchants couldn't argue with and felt very guilty about, that is, they had indeed deliberately come to take advantage of the Lin Mansion's funeral.
Otherwise, Lin Ruhai wouldn't let them in!
There are many salt merchants in Yangzhou, and they change batches every day. In the name of condolences for Mrs. Lin's family, how can the Lin family have the nerve to turn away people?
They just wanted to use this to force Lin Ruhai to submit. Because they all knew that Lin Ruhai could speak well in front of the emperor. If he wrote a memorial to the emperor, he might be able to make the court change or even cancel the donation policy.
Anyway, if you don’t agree, we will come every day!
Shameless is a bit shameless, but as businessmen, most of their consciences have been smoothed out, so they can easily ignore it and argue: "The donation policy is not reasonable at all, how can the world's businessmen be so shameless?" If everyone can go to the salt store and have a hand, we can guarantee that in less than two years, the world will be flooded with illegal salt, and it will be impossible to contain it.
At that time, the court will suffer the greatest loss!
Moreover, salt is related to people's livelihood. Once it is out of control, at least half of the people in the world will have no salt to eat, and the entire world will be in danger!
That’s why we asked Mr. Lin to submit a letter based on the facts. This move is for the sake of the court and the world.
How important it is that you can understand it at such a young age? "
"That's right, if you don't retreat quickly, this matter can only be solved by asking Mr. Lin to come out. Today, only Mr. Lin has the ability to turn the tide!"
Jia Lian felt funny in his heart. Was he deceived into thinking he was a real loser?
If illicit salt is really allowed to spread, the people who will benefit the most will definitely be the common people all over the world...
Think about how much a pack of salt cost in later generations. Compared to today, the difference is as big as clouds and mud!
Therefore, facing the salt merchants who were once again full of momentum and almost clamoring, Jia Lian burst into laughter.
"How ridiculous is this? You are obviously afraid of being deprived of your vested interests by others, so you disregard propriety, justice, and shame, and come to threaten my uncle and make him your pawn. Now you actually have the face to say that you are serving the imperial court. Come for the sake of the world?
Do you really not know why the imperial court implemented this policy of "donating losses"?
It has been a hundred years since the founding of the Wei Dynasty. On the surface, it looks like He Qing and Hai Yan, singing and dancing to bring peace!
However, the Saodan slaves far to the north have already strengthened their troops and are eyeing the Wei Dynasty. Many tribes in the west also covet the territory of the Wei Dynasty.
In order to deal with these wolves, tigers and leopards, the imperial court has continued to send more troops to the border in recent years, so as to maintain peace in the Wei Dynasty!
However, the millions of frontier troops consume huge amounts of military food and wages every day. It would be too expensive to wait for the imperial court to arrange transportation, so they used the huge profits from salt to encourage merchants all over the world to take over the responsibility of transporting food and grass, that is, to protect their homes and the country. Responsibility!
This is a major plan related to the security of the country, but now you are obstructing it for your own selfish purposes. How dare you even talk about meritorious service to the country and the world? "
"What do you know……"
Someone tried to quibble, but Jia Lian took advantage of his momentum and immediately shouted: "I don't understand salt politics, but I do understand one sentence:
If you want to benefit the life and death of your family and country, why should you avoid it because of personal gain?
But look at you again? Bah, it just tarnishes the face of my great Wei merchant!
It is disloyal for you not to consider your Majesty's concerns! As people of the Wei Dynasty, our ancestors received favor from the emperor in exchange for the status of this salt merchant, which allowed us to live in fine clothing and fine food. Now, without thinking about repaying it, we are doing it for petty profits and being called traitors. This tarnishes the lintel of our family. Lifting is considered unfilial.
My aunt was newly deceased, and you all came to visit her in groups, but instead of paying homage to the deceased, you took the opportunity to force my uncle to do illegal things. This is unkind. It is unjust to know that the border officers are short of food and clothing, but to only care about their own selfish interests and prevent others from donating!
After committing such unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust behavior, how dare you speak nonsense and talk about your merits?
I have never seen anyone so shameless! "
Jia Lian's machine-gun-like barrage of belittling insults made everyone in the audience feel dizzy.
They are all people who are accustomed to wealth. How can they endure this situation?
"Ah~! The child with a yellow mouth is really hateful and can be killed!"
"I'm so angry, you... you, you, you are talking nonsense. Tell me your identity quickly. I will definitely come to visit you one day and ask your father how he raised his son!"
The salt merchants were really angry.
There is no one who can become a salt merchant without a powerful background. Normally, even the prefect would give them face.
How could he expect to be so belittled and degraded today by a young man who looks like he has not yet reached his prime?
Their strength alone may be limited, but the power behind the entire Yangzhou salt merchants is absolutely unimaginable!
Therefore, even if Jia Lian is a relative of Lin Ruhai, they will definitely find a way to deal with him.
There is no problem at all even touching his father and family.
Hum, there are no people or problems on the ground in Yangzhou that the salt merchants cannot solve!
How could Zhaoer endure the salt merchants scolding Jia Lian?
He stepped forward in two steps and shouted at everyone: "My second master is the eldest grandson of Duke Rong Guo and the son of a first-class divine general. If you have the courage, go to the capital to find my master!"
Well……
The scene that was originally full of hostility suddenly became eerily quiet.
There were a few people who were still shouting with their mouths open, but because of the sudden silence of the scene, they had no time to close their mouths. With their stunned expressions, it was quite interesting.
The old housekeeper of the Lin Mansion had long been unhappy with this group of people. Seeing that they were frightened, he was afraid that some people still didn't believe Zhao'er's words, so he immediately added: "My wife is from the Rongguo Mansion in the middle of the capital, and she is the legitimate daughter of Duke Rongguo. , this is my wife’s natal nephew, and he is also the eldest grandson of Duke Rongguo. He came here specially to pay homage to my wife, and he just arrived today.”
The steward's smiling look was in sharp contrast to the miserable expressions of the salt merchants.
The salt merchants looked at Jia Lian again, but Jia Lian stopped talking to them.
I saw him taking a sword inlaid with gold and jade from his attendant, holding it at his side, and said angrily: "I am not a person who relies on power and wealth, but the truth has been explained to you, no one else dares to do this here If your shouting disturbs my uncle's peace and disturbs my aunt's peace, then you can test the sharpness of my sword!"
No one dared to answer.
Maybe some people don't know about Rongguo Mansion, but just the word "Gonggong" is enough to shock people.
That is the pinnacle of human affairs! The Duke's Mansion is already the most noble family under the Prince's Mansion.
The young man in front of him actually came from the Duke's palace, or was he his eldest grandson? No one has any desire to retaliate and teach lessons.
Although, their salt merchants are a group that cannot be provoked in Yangzhou, and they are even one of the top forces in the entire Jiangnan!
They might not pay much attention to governors and governors who usually don't have a big background.
However, no one wants to provoke the powerful families in Beijing!
No one or force in the world would take the initiative to provoke the top wealthy families in Beijing.
If you provoke the governor or governor, you may just lose your family and wealth, but if you provoke the wealthy families in the capital, there is always the danger of confiscating the family and annihilating the clan!
Because wealthy families are related to each other, most of the nobles in Beijing are related to each other. They are the most terrifying forces in the world. They can even directly influence the emperor and carry out dimensionality reduction attacks on local forces.
Of course, this does not mean that everyone must be afraid of the wealthy families in Beijing. At least the two or three most powerful people among their salt merchants are closely related to the wealthy families in Beijing and even relatives of the emperor. However, there is no such person among them today.
Besides, even if those two or three people were here, they probably wouldn't conflict with Jia Lian.
not worth it!
Who knows how much effort and financial resources they spent to maintain those backgrounds, and once they offend the Rongguo Mansion, I don’t know how many favors and money it will cost to settle the matter...
Based on these considerations, when everyone faced Jia Lian's threat again, although they were unhappy, no one dared to speak.
Many people have turned around quietly, wanting to retreat.
They didn't doubt whether Jia Lian really dared to draw his sword and hurt someone!
After knowing each other's identity, they even began to consider issues from the other's perspective.
It seems that it is indeed wrong to cause trouble in front of the mourning hall of someone's biological aunt.
In ancient times, there was a law that exempted people who killed people for filial piety. If Jia Lian really killed them with a sword and charged them with making a fuss in the mourning hall, considering Jia Lian's identity and background, their death would probably be in vain.
Just thinking about it this way, I figured everything out.
