Gu Zhengchen sank his head into the basin, the cool water stimulating his nerves.
Get up and wipe your face.
Gu Zhengchen entered the second hall and looked through the account books brought from the cave.
The first transaction in the account book began in May of the first year of Hongwu and ended in May of the sixth year of Hongwu.
Hongwu's account books four years ago were very detailed in recording standards, daily lime output, monthly output, inventory, shipments, number of registered miners, sales income, daily expenses, balance income, and even the increase or decrease in the amount of grain. .
However, after the first month of the fourth year of Hongwu, the account records became extremely chaotic. The daily and monthly output of lime were missing from time to time. Key accounts such as daily expenses and balance income were filled in haphazardly, and there were even calculation errors. Data such as the number of registered miners and the increase or decrease in food supply are even blank.
This means that at the beginning of the fourth year of Hongwu, the accountant who recorded the account books was changed from a professional to an amateur.
What puzzles Gu Zhengchen the most is that starting from the fourth year of Hongwu, lime production dropped sharply, from an average of eight thousand kilograms per month in Hongwu three years to an average of three thousand kilograms per month in Hongwu four years, and this amount reached In May of the sixth year of Hongwu's reign, it only weighed three hundred kilograms.
Although there are many errors in the subsequent account books, it is not difficult to see from the data recorded one by one that these data are generally credible. It is possible for the number of output to be wrong several times, but it is unlikely to be wrong dozens of times in a row.
Gu Zhengchen searched through the account books and ordered people to search together, but he could not find the account books after May of the sixth year of Hongwu. Thinking of the piles of limestone ore everywhere in the mine, looking at the account books again, it seemed that from June to September this year, there were no more records in the mine. There was no arrangement for anyone to burn limestone and make lime. Although there was no lime production, the miners still chipped away at the stone every day without stopping.
Judging from the account books, the maximum number of people in the mine reached 420. The account books did not provide a minimum number of people, but the number of miners rescued by Gu Zhengchen was only 62.
From more than 400 to more than 60, the sharp decrease is disturbing.
The critical time point was December of the third year of Hongwu. During this period, something must have happened in the mine.
Yang Liang entered the second hall again and saw that Gu Zhengchen was still looking through the account books. He couldn't help but said: "County Lord, you'd better go out. The families of the miners are waiting outside the gate. They want to express their gratitude in person. It's been an hour. , and no one left.”
Gu Zhengchen raised his head and glanced at Yang Liang, then lowered his head and looked at the account book again: "Thank you? The county government has made them suffer for several years. Their lives are so difficult, but they are just giving them the life they should have. Where can the kindness come from? Let them go back and live a good life.”
Yang Liang had no choice but to walk outside the county government office and shouted to everyone: "The county magistrate is dealing with a case and has no time to come here. I want to send a message to everyone, live a good life, and leave."
"How can this be done?"
"We won't leave until we see the county magistrate."
"Yes, you have a conscience when giving in."
An elderly man came out and looked at everyone: "The county magistrate is a good official. He has allowed our relatives to go home. Let's not cause trouble to the county magistrate. We are all here, kowtow to the county government." , let’s disperse.”
Everyone heard this and agreed one after another.
Miners and their families knelt outside the gate of the county government office, surrounded by darkness, and kowtowed heavily.
Seeing this situation, the people of Jurong had a greatly improved impression of Jurong County Government. The prestige of the County Government, which had collapsed over the years, and the lost justice, began to be slowly repaired and returned.
The whole day, Gu Zhengchen was looking through the account books and the information provided by the miners, until at dusk and when the government was about to leave, Gu Zhengchen suddenly ordered the court to be raised.
A group of government officials hurriedly prepared, beating the ground with water and fire sticks, making a long and powerful sound.
"Bring Wang Hu and Zhou Ba to trial."
Gu Zhengchen sent the order.
Soon, Wang Hu and Zhou Ba were escorted to the hall.
Gu Zhengchen stared at Wang Hu and Zhou Ba with sharp eyes: "You two are not the masterminds of the big mining case, but your subordinates. If you actively cooperate with the interrogation and reveal the clues honestly, I can reduce your sentences at my discretion and avoid death." . If you resist the interrogation and refuse to tell the truth, you will be an accomplice to evil, and the only option is death. Is it clear?"
Wang Hu and Zhou Ba knelt down and shouted: "It's clear."
Gu Zhengchen asked seriously: "How many miners are there at the maximum number in the mine?"
Wang Hu and Zhou Ba hesitated.
The gavel sounded, Wang Hu shuddered, and said quickly: "Master, we don't know exactly how many miners there are at the peak. It's roughly three to four hundred."
Zhou Bantou agreed: "It should be around four hundred."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly. This number matched the number in the account book. He continued to ask: "The miners were operating normally. Why were miners suddenly transferred in large numbers in the winter of the third year of Hongwu?"
Wang Hu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied: "As for the reason, I don't know. This is Guo Baijin's order. He provided a roster and asked us to take away a group of miners."
Gu Zhengchen's eyes lit up.
Wang Hu's words are more reliable, that is, most of the miners did not die in the mine collapse accident, but were deliberately transferred away!
"My officer asked the miners, when they were raping people, both of you participated in the process, how many miners were raped, and where were these people sent?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
Wang Hu calculated with some uncertainty: "Starting from the Laba Festival in the third year of Hongwu and lasting for half a month, a total of more than 300 people were taken away. These people were all sent to a cave in Kongqing Mountain. After that, someone took over and we returned to the mining area. We don’t know exactly where they were sent.”
"Empty Green Mountain?"
Gu Zhengchen frowned.
Lin Shan, the scribe, reminded: "Your Majesty, Kong Qingshan is located to the east of Wuqi Mountain, and the two mountains are connected by dense forests."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly and looked at Zhou Ba.
Zhou Ba hurriedly said: "That's true. Every time Guo Cheng takes someone to the Kongqingshan cave, we will withdraw and not stay there."
"Do you know the way to that cave?"
Gu Zhengchen asked.
Wang Hu frowned and said helplessly: "I know the way, but it's useless just to go there. That cave has not been used since May this year."
Gu Zhengchen lowered his head in thought and asked, "Since May this year, why hasn't the mine fired lime again?"
Wang Hu shook his head.
Zhou Zhou also said he didn’t know.
Wang Hu suddenly remembered something, "Guo Chengzeng, the lime is enough for the time being. This may be the reason."
"Is that enough?"
Gu Zhengchen was puzzled.
If there was enough lime in May of the sixth year of Hongwu period and no more lime was fired, then why were more than 60 people left to continue mining?
Enough?
Is it because the amount of lime used in the city wall project is enough?
But the question is, in the fourth year of Hongwu's reign, the construction of the Jinling city wall was in full swing. Why were a large number of miners suddenly transferred away at this point in time? Could it be that the supply of lime was also saturated in the fourth year of Hongwu?
This is illogical. Judging from the account books, Hongwu's output continued to increase in the past three years, which meant that output could never keep up with demand. Guo Baijin continued to urge production and expand production capacity.
It makes no sense to suddenly reduce production when demand is the highest. Is there something wrong with the buyer?
But even if the Ministry of Industry changes people, it will not prevent Guo Baijin from selling lime, which is an important item for building the city wall. The purchasing staff does not need to worry about where the things come from. As long as the quality is acceptable and the quantity is sufficient, artificial grains corresponding to the production capacity are enough. .
Besides, others sell lime with real labor and real cost, but Guo Baijin’s labor cost is almost negligible. Even if the Ministry of Industry holds a bidding competition, no one can compete with Guo Baijin.
From this point of view, no matter who is purchasing the lime for the Jinling City Wall, it will not prevent Guo Baijin from selling lime, which means that this business can continue.
Since the fourth year of Hongwu, there have been fewer miners and output has dropped sharply. However, there are still shipments every month, which shows that the lime business is still going on and the sales have not been cut off.
"There are miners, there is production, there are markets, there are profits, but suddenly they cut off their arms and actively reduced production and profits. This is not something that a businessman can do."
Gu Zhengchen frowned and thought.
The pursuit of profits is the nature of business, but why did they choose to give up this part of the profits?
Where did those transferred craftsmen go and what were they assigned to do? Could it be that they changed the map and continued mining?
“Are there many lime mines in Jurong?”
Gu Zhengchen looked at Lin Shan, Yang Liang and others.
Lin Shan nodded slightly: "Back to the county, there are many lime mines in Jurong. There are lime mines in Wucheng Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, Yanshan Ridge, Songlin Mountain, Kongqing Mountain, Dazhuo Mountain and other places."
Gu Zhengchen rubbed his eyebrows. Could it be that those people just moved to another mine to dig limestone?
But according to what Lin Sancai, Sun Erkou and other miners said and their own personal surveys, the lime mines in Wucheng Mountain are far from exhausted, and the difficulty of mining is not too great.
In this case, what is the need to weaken a mature mine and divert manpower to dig limestone in another place?
Gu Zhengchen was unsure of these intentions and looked at the government servant Han Qiang: "Take Wang Hu, Saturday and three government officials to find the cave in Kongqingshan. You must explore carefully and inch by inch. Anything you find must be Bring it back, go back as soon as possible."
"As commanded."
Han Qiang and others were no longer afraid to go to Wucheng Mountain. The tigers in the mountains were all pretended to be human, but the real tigers had been shot and killed by Guo Baijin and others, and one was even captured alive. As a result, Gu Zhengchen got an advantage.
Gu Zhengchen thought about various doubts and said to Yang Liang: "Bring Guo Baijin up!"
Guo Baijin could no longer see, and one of his arms was broken. Although the soldering iron stopped the bleeding, it was still a serious injury and he looked very weak.
"Kneel down!"
The officer pinned Guo Baijin to the ground.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Guo Baijin coldly and pointed to the core: "Guo Baijin, whose order did you receive to transfer the miners from Wucheng Mountain? Who is the person behind you?"
Guo Baijin's face turned ferocious when he heard Gu Zhengchen's voice: "Gu Zhengchen, if you do this to me, I will do it to you a hundred times in the future!"
Gu Zhengchen stood up, took out a warrant from the table, walked out slowly, went to Guo Baijin's side, threw the warrant on the ground, and said coldly: "As a criminal, how dare you threaten an official of the imperial court? Seriously?" He doesn't know whether to live or die. Come here, give him thirty sticks and make him sober."
