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"Please also ask the Imperial Envoy to make the decision for us!"
Seeing Lin Yunpu leading thirty-seven Anhui and Zhejiang merchants kneeling in front of Huang Yourong, and asking Huang Yourong to seek justice for them, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly.
Such uniform movements and sounds were obviously rehearsed in advance. It seemed that Lin Yunpu and the others had been planning for a long time.
Moreover, at such an opportunity, in front of so many people, all the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants who joined the "United Shipping Company" petitioned the imperial envoy for orders. The plan was definitely not a trivial matter!
Faintly, many people smelled a conspiracy and felt that today's founding ceremony was anything but simple.
Huang Yourong, on the other hand, looked surprised and said, "Oh? What happened that made everyone feel helpless and wanted to complain to me about their grievances?"
Then, Huang Yourong's face became cautious and serious, and he nodded: "You can just say it, don't have any worries. As long as it is within the scope of my authority, I will do my best to make the decision for you."
Lin Yunpu, the chief shopkeeper of "United Shipping Company", had an expression full of indignation. He raised his head and said to Huang Yourong: "Your Majesty, the thirty-seven Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants like us wholeheartedly want to serve the imperial court. After hearing the call from Mr. Zhao, the Minister of Household Affairs, , they joined the "United Shipping Company" one after another, just wanting to contribute their own strength to the imperial court! However, after we joined the "United Shipping Company", because the "United Shipping Company" threatened the smuggling business of some people, we were attacked. Those people suppressed, excluded, and made things difficult for us! We even received threats to our lives! We are all in a difficult situation and are in panic all day long! Our life safety does not matter, but if the operation of the 'United Shipping Line' is affected, it will It will definitely affect the imperial court's great cause of rectifying commercial taxes, so we hope that the imperial envoy will make the decision for us!"
Lin Yunpu, who was once one of the largest smugglers in the Ming Dynasty, now showed a righteous look. He stood on the opposite side of all the smugglers in the Ming Dynasty and betrayed his former colleagues without hesitation. .
On the other side, Huang Yourong's face became even more surprised as he said, "Oh? The act of smuggling and tax evasion has seriously violated the court's laws and regulations, but instead of being careful to hide and keep a low profile, these smugglers are so bold and rampant? How dare you make things difficult for the 'United Shipping Company' supported by the imperial court?"
After hearing Huang Yourong's inquiry, Bai Mingyu, the second shopkeeper of "United Shipping Lines" said quickly: "Your Majesty, those smugglers are far more bold and reckless than you think! Since we joined the 'United Shipping Lines', these smugglers have They spread the word, claiming that "United Shipping Lines" would lose money and go bankrupt in less than half a year, which greatly shook the determination of merchants from all over the world to cooperate with "United Shipping Lines"! They also threatened the coolies at the docks in various places and refused to allow them to move "United Shipping Lines" goods! They even paid huge prices to maliciously poach the crew members of the "United Shipping Line"! Nowadays, the "United Shipping Line" is in dire straits because of these things. We are all businessmen, and how have we ever seen such dirty tricks? Now, too We can only ask you, the imperial envoy, to uphold justice for us!"
Hearing Bai Mingyu's accusation, everyone who was familiar with Bai Mingyu looked strange - wasn't this the way Bai Mingyu used to suppress his competitors? Why would anyone still use this method to deal with "United Shipping Lines" today? Isn't it that Guan Gong is playing a big sword in front of the gate and overestimating his own capabilities?
What's more, if Bai Mingyu, who has always been unscrupulous, can be regarded as a "businessman," then there may not be any businessman in the world who is a profiteer.
However, now Bai Mingyu's expression is full of indignation, but he has also deceived many unsuspecting people.
As Bai Mingyu finished speaking, Dai Fengfu, the third shopkeeper of "United Shipping Company", had a face full of sadness. He twisted his fat body and cried to Huang Yourong: "Your Majesty, the oppression and persecution of those smugglers is far away." Far more than that! Ever since we joined the 'United Shipping Company', they have united officials from all over the country to make things difficult for us everywhere, and hired some local gangsters to harass us from time to time! Your Majesty, just because we joined the 'United Shipping Company' ', as long as the servants and maids in the Cao Min Mansion go outside, they will be beaten and threatened by some gangsters! Because of these things, Cao Min has not been able to eat well, sleep well, and has been sick several times in a row. I am already exhausted and haggard, and I don’t know how long I can hold on..."
Then, the rest of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants also rushed to tell the story of the persecution they had suffered.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Envoy, the villain's two warehouses in Hangzhou were maliciously set on fire, causing serious losses. In my opinion, these things must be a warning from the smugglers to the villain! Please, the Imperial Envoy, be sure to serve the villain Seek justice!"
"Because I joined the 'United Shipping Lines', not only my relatives are often beaten and threatened by gangsters, but I don't know who dug up my ancestral grave a few days ago!"
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, I received a threatening letter some time ago. According to what was said in the letter, if I dare not quit the 'United Shipping Company', my whole family will be killed!"
"Imperial envoy, you must make the decision for the villain..."
In this way, thirty-seven extremely wealthy Huizhou and Zhejiang businessmen talked about their tragic situations one after another. Each of them looked sad and angry, as if they were the most pitiable honest people in the world who encountered the cruelty of evil forces. Oppressed but helpless and unable to resist.
On the other side, after hearing the complaints of the Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants, Huang Yourong's face was full of anger, and he said angrily: "These smugglers are really bold! They usually only smuggle, evade taxes, and harm the interests of the court. Seeing this... When other people serve the imperial court, they do not want to repent and feel guilty, but instead threaten to persecute them! Such behavior is truly abhorrent!"
Then, Huang Yourong's expression became extremely cold, and he said: "Don't worry, everyone, you are willing to support the imperial court, and the imperial court will naturally not let you be bullied! It's fine that I don't know about these things! Now that I know it, I will never sit idly by! I will definitely uphold justice for you! Let those bold smugglers pay the price! Su Changzhen is the governor of Southern Zhili, and he has always been able to cover the sky with one hand in Southern Zhili, but so what? He violated According to the laws and regulations of the imperial court, I still investigated and dealt with him in accordance with the law! Can some smugglers in the area be able to make them turn upside down? "
Having said this, Huang Yourong turned to look at Lin Yunpu and asked: "Shop Manager Lin, do you know which smugglers are secretly persecuting you? Do you have any concrete evidence in your hands that they smuggle, evade taxes, or persecute you?" "
Lin Yunpu immediately said: "The villain is not just waiting to be killed. Naturally, he has found out the identities of those behind the scenes and collected some relevant evidence of their crimes. Now that all the lists and evidence of crimes have been prepared, we are just waiting for you, the Imperial Envoy, to help us. Justice has been served!”
While speaking, Lin Yunpu waved his hand and saw two servants carrying a large box. The box was full of books recording various criminal evidence.
With such a large box full of incriminating evidence, I am afraid that there are definitely not a few smugglers involved!
Huang Yourong randomly took out a book from the box, flipped through two pages, and nodded with a serious expression: "Now that you have collected the evidence, the matter will be easy to handle! Don't worry, everyone, it will be done in less than a month." With time, I will make these smugglers pay the price they deserve!"
Upon hearing Huang Yourong's decision, the thirty-seven Huizhou and Zhejiang merchants who joined the "United Shipping Company" cheered in unison, praising Huang Yourong's wise and decisive decision!
At the same time, the faces of all the onlookers changed drastically.
They know that South Zhili may experience another violent turmoil next! This time, I don’t know how many smugglers will be unlucky!
Just like this, the first round of house confiscation has just stopped, and the second round of house confiscation is about to begin!
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Sorry, I had something to do at home and didn't get home until eight o'clock in the evening, so the word count of today's two chapters will be relatively small, only about 3,000 words each. Please forgive me!
Well, first update!
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