By morning, the three-story building had been burned to the ground, leaving only a pile of blackened and smoking broken walls.
Before the Zhongcheng Soldiers and Horses Division had time to put down the guys who put out the fire, they were taken over.
Except for Zhu Fan and the two hundred soldiers transferred from behind, everyone else arrived at the Penal Department Prison.
Think about it, Zhu Bai visited the city four times in total, and the four military and horse divisions were dealt with one by one.
And this time, Commander Landu was in the worst situation, and his house was ransacked.
Ying Tianfu Yamen found more than 20,000 taels of silver from his home.
Think about it, Lan Tian has been a sixth-grade official for less than nine years. Logically speaking, his annual salary is only 900 shi of rice, or 500 taels for a full salary.
Even if he didn't eat or drink, he wouldn't be able to save twenty thousand taels.
Not to mention there are many real estate shops.
Commander Landu didn't even need to confess, it was already a done deal and there was no need to run away.
One of the two deputy commanders also found a box of silver worth several thousand taels in his home, as well as several house and land deeds.
As for Deputy Commander Gu, his family barely had enough food and clothing, and they only found a few taels of silver.
Deputy Commander Gu only said that he had not participated, but as the deputy commander of the capital, he did not stop his superiors and behaved well to his subordinates, which was a dereliction of duty.
According to other soldiers' accounts, Landu commanded and assigned tasks to pay them every time.
In addition, no matter how he was tortured, Commander Lan Du said that there was no behind-the-scenes instigation and that he alone planned and directed. And he flatly denied attacking Zhu Bai.
The yards used to store goods throughout the city were all rented out by him for short periods of time by his subordinates. They had nothing to do with other soldiers and horses.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought that Deputy Commander Gu had military merit before him and was diligent, so he just dismissed him from his post and let him go.
The rest of the people were sentenced to death or exiled to the army according to the silver they received.
Order each merchant to take away the goods with the voucher and get back the money that was previously given to Lantian.
The merchants naturally expressed their gratitude with "Long Live the Holy Ming".
Zhu Bai was very confused. Lao Zhu obviously knew that there was someone behind him, so why didn't he pursue it?
After thinking for a while, he suddenly understood who Lantian belonged to.
Li Shanchang...
Zhu Yuanzhang protected Li Shanchang, just like a hen protecting its chicks...
In fact, Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi were crying with Lao Zhu in the imperial study room at the moment.
"I really don't know anything about Lan Tian's private dental clinic. I recommended him to be the commander of the Central City Army and Horse Division because he came from Fengyang's hometown."
Zhu Yuanzhang said coolly: "He has been greedy for thirty thousand taels. I think the amount of filial piety to you will be more, not less. I will calculate it as twice that, sixty thousand taels. If you hand over the silver, I will treat it as if you helped me collect it." It’s a one-time tax and we won’t pursue it again.”
Li Shanchang really wanted to cry now.
If they don't hand over, Lao Zhu will obviously not let him and Li Cunyi go.
It is actually easy to check whether Lantian paid him filial piety.
If he handed it over, his greed over the past few years would have been in vain and it would all be given to Lao Zhu.
Moreover, this is tantamount to admitting that he has been greedy for 60,000 taels. If Lao Zhu fell out that day, there would be no need to go to any trouble to convict him or ransack his house.
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "You can only choose one, money or life. I advise you to choose life. If you keep your life, you can continue to be greedy, right? In fact, even if you don't hand over your money yourself, I still want it. Isn’t it a matter of one sentence?”
Cold sweat dripped from Li Shanchang's forehead, and he prostrated on the ground: "I deserve to die, I don't dare to do it anymore. I and Li Cunyi can even raise the sixty thousand taels by selling iron and borrowing money."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his head coldly: "Baishi, who do you think is more suitable for your position as Prime Minister Zuo?"
Li Shanchang suddenly looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang.
From Lao Zhu's eyes, he understood the meaning of this sentence.
This time, he had to come down.
However, in order to prevent Huaixi Xungui's power from declining, he can recommend someone to take over.
Li Shanchang trembled with his lips, and said after a long time: "This matter is important, Your Majesty, please think about it carefully." This matter affects the whole body, and he has to discuss it with many people to weigh the pros and cons.
Lao Zhu nodded slightly: "I will give you three days."
Then people called Zhu Bai and several other princes.
Lao Zhu pointed at Li Shanchang and the others and said to the princes: "The two adults are willing to contribute the 60,000 taels of silver hidden in their homes to the national treasury. This is the end of the private dental shop set up by the Military and Horse Division in Zhongcheng."
The princes raised their hands and said, "I understand."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Bai: "What about you?"
In fact, this sentence is mainly to tell Zhu Bai, and other princes are just incidental.
Zhu Bai nodded: "I understand, I only have a few minor questions that I want to ask Mr. Li privately."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved to the other princes: "You go first, let me see what this little brat is going to do."
After the brothers left.
Zhu Bai looked at Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi and smiled kindly: "Both Mr. Li, the money has been handed over now, and my father has also said that he will not hold you responsible. We will talk about some things openly."
Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi kowtowed: "Your Highness, feel free to ask."
Zhu Bai: "How does your verification certificate prevent counterfeiting?"
Both of them looked confused.
Li Cunyi whispered: "His Royal Highness the King of Xiang, we really had no involvement in the private dental clinic. So we have no idea how they operate it."
Li Shanchang also said: "I am so busy with my daily affairs, how can I have this time?"
Zhu Bai was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Did you send the housekeeper or someone from the family to participate?"
They shook their heads: "No. I have to do dental work every day, and no one in the family has the time."
Zhu Bai frowned: Yes, the verification certificate needs to be issued all the time. It is impossible for Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi to send someone to stay in the Military and Horse Department of Zhongcheng, otherwise it will be too conspicuous.
And even though he had been in and out so many times, he had indeed never seen anyone other than the Bingma Division.
Was it really Lan Du who directed someone to do it?
-----
Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi helped each other out.
The two of them narrowly escaped death, so naturally their legs were weak and their eyes were dizzy.
Seeing that Zhu Bai still looked confused, Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Is it necessary to hold on to such a trivial matter?"
Zhu Bai said: "Father, how many businesses do you think are done in Yingtian City in a year?"
Zhu Yuanzhang tilted his eyes at him: "Boy, you underestimate me too much. Do you want to embarrass your father? The Ministry of Revenue collects taxes from merchants every year. I have carefully looked at them. Last year, all the businesses in Yingtian City collected silver and physical goods. , which is about one hundred thousand taels together, and no tax is levied on transactions with a daily revenue of less than two taels. Extrapolating from this, the transactions in the city are probably between 10 million and 15 million taels."
Zhu Bai nodded: "My son, even if the transaction of five million taels is shipped from other places, regardless of the buyer or seller, and only pays 10% of the tooth, it is still half a million taels."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately understood what Zhu Bai meant.
After so many years, at least a few million taels...
He knew how much money Li Shanchang and Li Cunyi had in their families, and not all of them were filial piety from the Zhongcheng Soldiers and Horses Division.
All added up, plus what was found from Lantian's house, it was less than half of the five hundred thousand taels.
Moreover, the tooth shop obviously charges 20% of the tooth price, which is one million taels.
Where did the rest of the money go?
Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth and said: "There are indeed problems inside."
And those who attacked Zhu Bai have not been caught yet.
It seems that someone is really fishing in troubled waters.
