Ye Xiaotian leaned forward and said: "My lord, after I was ordered, I immediately arranged for Zhang Dianshi to check the past merchants. It is known that the inspection department will set up checkpoints at all intersections to check all suspicious pedestrians, but so far nothing has been found."
Hua Zhixian took a few cases lightly, and said angrily: "Nonsense! Are you perfunctory to this county? Zhang Dianshi first came to Huxian County, and he has two lives. If you entrust this matter to him, he can do well." Is it? From now on, you will be responsible for this matter yourself, and this county does not want to see reprimands from above again."
Ye Xiaotian smiled faintly, nodded and said: "Yes! It's easy for me to be an official."
Ye Xiaotian's attitude is calm, Hua Zhixian can't speak too harshly, just lose his temper a little, just get over it a little bit, if he speaks too much, in case Ye Xiaotian burst into a donkey temper again, he It's a bit frightening.
On the side, Master Wang was picking his nails impatiently, and said to Hua Qingfeng: "The county lord, the criminal law, the prison, and the county's public security have always been in charge of Ye Xiancheng, but I don't know that the county lord will let the officials down. What is the purpose of calling?"
Hua Qingfeng said: "That's why. Among the three of you and me, you are the one who is most familiar with the situation in Hu County, so this county would like to ask you to refer to it for details. Goods are exported to the Central Plains, so who are the most likely to have problems?"
After hearing this, Ye Xiaotian couldn't help turning his eyes to Master Wang. Don't look at this old guy who can't get sick easily, but when it comes to the understanding of Hu County, among the officials is the king's book, and he also wants to hear what this old fox has to say.
Master Wang thought for a while, and said slowly: "If it is a case of smuggling by accident, anyone can do it. As long as you are brave enough, plus the negligence of the checkpoint, you can get away with it. But such a large amount of goods, obviously It’s not something that mountain travelers who take risks and make money occasionally can do. In this case, there are only two kinds of people who have this opportunity.”
Hua Qingfeng leaned forward, making a gesture of listening carefully.
Master Wang pointedly said: "The first type is the merchants who often take this route. Among the merchants, there are many lawless people who take risks in order to make huge profits. Because they often use this post road, there are many opportunities to bribe them. Pass guards everywhere."
Hua Qingfeng nodded and said, "Well, what about the second type?"
Hua Qingfeng said: "The second way is to travel by car and horse. They transport goods for customers, and they can take the opportunity to bring private goods. They have been negotiating business on this road for many years, and there are many opportunities to buy customs clearance. They have to tamper with the car It is also very easy to make interlayers. After a long period of rot, there will be leather, and after a long period of leather, there will be rot, which is inevitable.”
Hua Qingfeng thought for a while, nodded slowly and said: "What the master Wang said makes sense. What do you think, Ye Xiancheng?"
Ye Xiaotian said: "The lower officials think so. According to Mr. Wang, regarding the merchants passing through the post road, the lower officials will carefully investigate. As for the carriages and horses... I don’t know what Mr. Wang thinks, the carriages and horses in this county , which one is the most suspicious?"
Master Wang laughed, and said: "Any car and horse dealership has this possibility, which requires you, Master Ye, to carefully screen it out. However, the most suspicious of them is naturally Chang's car and horse dealer." okay."
When Hua Qingfeng was taking a concubine, Chang Zizai also gave him a gift, and it was a very rich gift, so when he heard Chang's car and horse driving, Hua Qingfeng felt a little uncomfortable, he moved his buttocks, With a dry cough, "You mean Chang Zi?"
Master Wang nodded, and said: "Chang Zizai was originally a senior steward of Qimu Chariot and Horse Company. Qimu committed crimes. When he crossed post roads, he sold everything smuggled. Chang Zizai is his trusted boss. Steward, it is impossible to have no contact with this.
After Qi Mu's death, if there is anyone who can accept the relationships and contacts left behind, obviously it can only be him. The amount of goods transported from the Burmese is very large. Obviously, it is someone who is extremely trusted by the other party that will hand over so much goods at once. Naturally, such a person cannot be done by someone who has just established a relationship with the Burmese. of. "
Hua Qingfeng turned to look at Ye Xiaotian, Ye Xiaotian showed a slightly embarrassed look, and said: "Chang's car and horse business? Well, Ye will focus on checking Chang Zizai, but... those smuggled goods may not come through this county. Even if the goods are transported through this county, they may be merchants passing through this road. There is no real evidence, so it is not appropriate to be too arbitrary. After all, most of the county's taxes and taxes depend on post roads... "
Hua Qingfeng knew that Chang's Chariot and Horse Company had an unusual relationship with Zhao Yicheng, and also knew that Ye Xiaotian had a very close relationship with Zhao Yicheng. , so he worriedly warned: "It is right to act cautiously, but you must distinguish between public and private. Ye Xiancheng, the court attaches great importance to this matter, and has repeatedly ordered strict investigations, which cannot be ignored!"
Ye Xiaotian bowed his body and said: "Yes!" After Ye Xiaotian stepped back, the sluggish Wang Zhushu fell behind, and when Ye Xiaotian went out, he just stood up and sat down again. Hua Zhixian frowned and said: "Ye Xiancheng is not very keen on this matter, this is not like his usual style."
Master Wang smiled and said: "People change. In the past, he was barefoot, so why should he have any scruples? Now he is a majestic Bapin county magistrate, and he needs his own team and contacts. With his qualifications, , Being able to become a county magistrate is already a step up to the sky, and there is no need to think about any further development. Naturally, it is time to seek stability."
Huazhi County was even more worried when he heard that, and said: "Nowadays, there are a lot of private goods in Burma. Hu County is located at the hub of post roads. The imperial court and the chief envoy's office are all watching the actions of this county. You must not be perfunctory. Master Wang, you still need to ask about this matter."
Master Wang leaned forward and said, "I'll save you as an official."
※※※
Next to the post station, the long convoy full of goods was about to start, when suddenly a group of policemen with knives rushed forward, and someone shouted loudly: "Stop! Stop all! By the order of the county prime minister, all goods going north must be Full check. Stop for inspection."
He hurriedly jumped out of the car, stepped forward, bowed and said: "Master, we are all good citizens, these goods have been checked many times! Look, sir, this is our road guide, which is stamped all the way. Guan Fang, this is our proof of paying taxes..."
Zhou Bantou pushed him away, and said with a stern face: "What are you talking about? If you don't want to check, then don't go on the road. This is the order of our county magistrate. Do you want to disobey? Search for me!"
All the arresters rushed up, Zhang Dianshi stopped by the side of the road, and watched the actions of the arresters with cold eyes. After a while, the shopkeeper of these goods rushed to his side, laughing and chatting with him, while passing There are two ingots of silver ingots.
Zhang Dianshi pushed his hand away coldly, and said: "You belong to shopkeeper Fan, right? I'm really sorry, the court has a strict order, and our county magistrate has to do it. Since I have confessed to this official, I am sorry. How can officials be selfish, just stand on one side and cooperate with our inspection, so you can go fast."
Seeing Zhang Dianshi's resolute attitude, shopkeeper Fan had no choice but to retreat to the side angrily. Seeing those policemen rummaging through boxes and cabinets and messing up the goods, shopkeeper Fan complained secretly. Can I make it to the next town tonight? Do I want to sleep in the wilderness
Shopkeeper Fan looked at the car and horse dealership after hearing the news, stood at the door and looked at the merchants who were discussing here, among the bitter gourds one after another, he suddenly felt a lot more balanced, at least he was the first one, compared to those unfortunate Merchants, he's luckier.
In Chang's carriage and horse dealership, Ye Xiaotian also personally led a team to rush there. Ye Xiaotian had never been to Chang's carriage house before, when Chang Zizai heard that Ye Xiaotian had arrived, he suddenly felt that the visitor was not kind, so he immediately asked someone to leave through the back door and go to the post station to report to Zhao Yicheng, and he rushed out to greet him.
"Oh, my lord, the county magistrate, why are you here, what's the matter with you, just give me an order, it's natural..." Before he finished speaking, Ye Xiaotian interrupted him: "Recently, a large amount of smuggled goods have flowed into In the Central Plains, the imperial court was furious. I was ordered by the county magistrate to strictly investigate all passing merchants and car and horse dealers. Chang shopkeeper, please cooperate."
Chang Zizai froze for a moment, and hurriedly said with a smile on his face: "Ah! Yes, yes, our Chang's car and horse dealership has always followed the rules and never dared to carry private goods. If you want to investigate, the adults will naturally cooperate with you. I just don't know how you plan to investigate, my lord?"
Ye Xiaotian smiled slightly, and said: "I also believe that there is no problem with your Chang's car and horse driving, but... I am also responsible for it, and I can't help myself!" Ye Xiaotian waved his hands behind him, and said: "Ma Hui, take someone to check the truck. Xu Haoran, take someone to the back warehouse!"
"Yes!" The two agreed, and each led a team of arresters to rush up, and the carriages and horses immediately jumped up and down. Chang Zizai smiled and said to Ye Xiaotian: "Master Xiancheng, you have worked hard, please sit in the living room and drink some hot tea."
Ye Xiaotian nodded, walked into the living room arrogantly, and Chang Zizai personally offered him a cup of fragrant tea. Ye Xiaotian only drank a few sips of a cup of tea, Zhao Wenyuan rushed to hear the news, Chang Zizai hurriedly welcomed Zhao Wenyuan into the living room, when Zhao Wenyuan saw Ye Xiaotian, he cupped his hands and smiled: "Haha, Lord Ye, you came to my place, I don’t know how it will sound.”
Ye Xiaotian stood up with a smile, cupped his hands and returned the salute: "Zhao Yicheng forgives the crime, the younger brother is on business, so don't dare to delay. When things are over here, I will naturally go to the post station to visit."
Zhao Wenyuan waved his hand, and Chang Zizai retreated immediately. As soon as Chang Zizai left, Zhao Wenyuan changed his tone and said to Ye Xiaotian with some complaints: "Brother Ye, what are you doing? It's not like you don't know that Chang Zizai belongs to me, so why did you find me?" It's on the head."
Ye Xiaotian smiled wryly and said, "I knew that your brother Zhao came to Xingshi to inquire about crimes."
Ye Xiaotian sighed and said helplessly: "Brother Zhao, to tell you the truth, a large amount of goods from Southeast Asia have flowed into the Central Plains recently, and most of them came from Burma. The imperial court was furious, and had previously issued an order to ask the local government to conduct a thorough investigation. I wanted to deal with it, but who would have thought that the superior would issue a severe reprimand, the county magistrate couldn't bear it anymore, so I was sent out?"
Zhao Wenyuan saw Ye Xiaotian's heart-to-heart with him, and his face was slightly tender, so he said truthfully: "Of course, Mr. Zhao has nothing to hide from you, brother Ye. There must be some private goods in the car and horse dealers, otherwise, even if you can support them There are so many mules, horses and fellows, and so many checkpoints and passes are not enough to feed? If the water is clear, there will be no fish.
However, it is possible to make some profits from the exchange of exotic goods between the north and the south. As for trading with the Burmese, it is an enemy. I can tell the importance of it. , someone from Zhao can vouch for him. "
Ye Xiaotian smiled and said: "Brother Zhao, I am serious, I am serious. Of course, I can trust you, Brother Zhao. I came to check the car and horse dealership, just to explain to the magistrate. To tell you the truth, it is the master of the king. Advise the magistrate, saying that this place is the most suspicious, if I don't come, will it work?"
"Master Wang? Hehe..."
Zhao Wenxiao's smile was a little stiff.
Ye Xiaotian said again: "I will take care of the scale. If you hit hard, our Hu County will be in a depression. At that time, the folks and elders will have no way to survive. I will not be the one who is scolded? I will not take the blame for the magistrate, let alone , Brother Zhao’s face, I have to give it no matter what!”
Ye Xiaotian patted Zhao Wenyuan's shoulder with a very friendly tone, and Zhao Wenyuan was delighted to hear that. A while later, Ma Hui and Xu Haoran rushed back to their orders one after another. Xu Haoran found no contraband from the Southeast Asian countries in the warehouse of the car dealership, but Ma Hui found some dark boxes and splints in the truck.
Chang Zizai, who followed in, quickly explained: "My lord, the inner layer of the dark box is actually used to load valuable goods. You also know that the post road is not peaceful, and there are often bandits and bandits. Sometimes, things are hidden. He might have escaped unharmed."
Ye Xiaotian nodded, and said to Ma Hui with a stern face: "We are not cruel officials who lightly talk about human crimes. Since no prohibited goods were found, Chang's car and horse business is innocent. Is the interlayer of the black box enough to incriminate? This cannot be done. Evidence, withdraw your people, don't disturb their normal business."
Zhao Wenyuan stood up, and said happily: "Wait a minute! Brother Ye, others can leave, but you can't. If I just let you go like this, your sister-in-law will definitely blame me, go and go, come to my place Go, we brothers have to have a few drinks."
Zhao Wenyuan couldn't help but pull Ye Xiaotian up and leave. Chang Zizai accompanied the two of them to the gate with a smile, and a steward said, "There's a lot of thunder and little rain, it's really a false alarm!" Chang Zizai proudly said, "We have Zhao Yicheng supporting us, so what can happen? Let's all go Do things with peace of mind!"
After blowing away all the stewards, Chang Zizai looked at the backs of Ye Xiaotian and Zhao Wenyuan with a smug smile, and swaggered back to the carriage.