Criminal investigation in ancient times

The salt merchant case is still going on. Zhan Qing and Duan Xiaobai started with private salt and found out many little-known things. This private salt is operated by a serious salt merchant!Because private salt does not have to pay taxes, the price is much cheaper than official salt. The shipping and labor costs for the money are actually several times higher than the profit of official salt.However, selling illegal salt is a felony. The inscription of the Great Zhou Law stipulates that anyone who sells illegal salt for more than one stone will be sentenced to exile, and ten stones can be beheaded!These salt merchants sold private salt after eating their ambitions.

No wonder Wu Zefeng said that the salt business has been sluggish in the past few years, and the market has been squeezed out by private salt. Who would buy the expensive one instead of the cheap one!If you want to strictly catch private salt, you must kill chickens to make an example of monkeys, and take the lead in starting with an imperial merchant!

Zhang Rui set his goal at the Ge family in Jiangzhou.

There are three big salt merchants in Jiangzhou, namely the Feng family, the Chu family and the Ge family.The three companies are in a three-legged situation, and the competition is fierce but has always been stable. What he has to do now is to break this stable situation.It is much easier to gather the salt merchants into the hands of one family than the three in the end. This is also one of the tasks entrusted to him by the emperor.

The Ge family is relatively weak among the three families.Moreover, the Ge family has an important shortcoming, and this shortcoming is also the most fatal, that is, there is no successor...

Master Ge didn't know what he had done that was unreasonable. He married nine concubines and gave birth to a dozen girls, but he didn't see a single male.Seeing that she is getting older and has no male son, her relatives want to adopt her son to him.Since Mr. Ge is such a shrewd businessman, how can he not see that these people are Sima Zhao's heart, wanting to build his own family business.

However, he really couldn't give birth to a child, so he had to adopt a son from his cousin. The child was fine, and he was respectful to himself, but after all, it was not his own, and it was separated by a layer.

Now this kid is a little over nine years old, probably because he is served too well by his family, he has become fat like a water tank, his whole face is crowded together, and his eyebrows and eyes cannot be seen clearly.Apart from eating, drinking and having fun every day, and teasing the little maids in the mansion, I can do nothing.It is natural that he can grow up like this without Master Ge's instruction, because he has no intention of letting this adopted son inherit the family business at all. The industry was handed over to his biological parents.With the ability of his cousin's three-legged cat, he still won't let the other two salt merchants eat it alive!

Thinking of this, Mr. Ge was worried about what happened to him after his death. Then he thought, since the "son" is unreliable, it is better to recruit a virtuous Xu. His family does not have many other things, except for many daughters. There are six or seven others waiting to be married, two of which he particularly likes, not only have a good literary talent, but also have a lot of insight into business careers, but they are only born as daughters, which really makes Mr. Han sigh.

If a few virtuous Xu are recruited into the family, it is not impossible to give birth to a grandson to inherit the family business in the future.Thinking of this, Mr. Ge is in a good mood again, thinking that his daughter is not bad, but he has to choose one, this... Lao Qi is not bad, her natal family is a scholarly family after all, and her grandson will also have honor in the future.

But it is not easy to choose a son-in-law. People from poor family backgrounds are often not satisfied with their character and appearance. How can anyone with a good family background be a son-in-law? I can’t afford to lose this person!

It's a coincidence that Mr. Ge accidentally ran into a gangster on the way back when he was out drinking. The gangster beat all his servants away. Seeing that he was in danger, a young man rushed out with a stick in his hand. Protecting Master Ge behind him, he fought the gangster for [-] rounds, and finally drove him away.Then send Master Ge home safely.

Master Ge felt grateful and wanted to thank him with a lot of money. The man shook his head and said, "I am a fisherman from Jiangzhou. I happened to meet this matter today, so I will naturally help. If the master really wants to thank you, I will give this basket to you." Let’s buy the fish in it.”

Master Ge was very moved when he saw this, and immediately asked his servant to buy the fish and gave him ten taels of silver. The man frowned when he saw that he had given so much money, and said, "These fish are only worth three hundred Wen at most, but the master gave me so much. Make it hard for me."

Master Ge wanted to test him out, but when he saw what he said, he stroked his beard and said, "Young man, I don't know your name, where is the owner, have you ever been married?"

The man smiled and said: "The young one is just a fisherman. Others call me Xiaobai. If the old man doesn't mind it, he can call me that. The young one's parents left early, and I'm the only one at home. I haven't married yet."

Master Ge twitched his beard, seeing that this man was both good-looking and honest.If you recruit him as your son-in-law, it will be easy for you in the future, so after thinking about it, you said: "Since you don't want to take money from me, why don't you have a meal at my house?"

The man hesitated for a moment and said: "This... small one is so humble, it's hard to be elegant, the old man settled the fish money to me, it can be regarded as repaying the small one for helping me.

In the end, Mr. Ge couldn't help him and had to give him three hundred cash, but he was thinking about the fisherman boy. This boy was sleepy and gave him a pillow. !This is in the hands of Mr. Ge. If he finds an ambitious son-in-law, it is inevitable that the family business will change its name in the future. Even if it is passed on to his grandson, if he changes his surname later, then the foundation of the Ge family will be ruined in his hands. .The more he thought about it, the more he liked him, and before he left, he specifically asked Xiaobai's address, and planned to send someone to check it out, and if there was nothing wrong with this person, he would be taken to the mansion.

The man took the big money, left Ge's house with an empty fish basket on his back, and walked into the alley next to him. The method is good, actually really hooked.

This fisherman was disguised by Duan Xiaobai in order to infiltrate Ge's house. The gang of robbers on the road also found someone to pretend to be. Although this method is simple and crude, it is also the most effective way to redeem this kind of old fritters!

For this reason, Duan Xiaobai has been working as a fisherman by the river for several days, and now his body smells like fish.Hurry back to the inn and tell Zhang Rui about it.

Zhang Rui squeezed his earlobe and said: "As I expected, it seems that Ge Huaimao really wants to recruit a son-in-law into his Ge family. Since the fish has been hooked, then you have to hold on to the thread and don't let go. If he finds you, let him go." You go to Ge's house, you delay him first, if you really want to recruit you as your son-in-law, you play it by ear." Duan Xiaobai nodded.

Zhang Ruidao: "Remember to be careful when you arrive at the Ge family, and don't show your feet. Salt merchants usually have several account books, one is for outsiders, one is for their own people, and the other is not for anyone to read. That is the account book of the private salt, you must try to steal the account book of the private salt."

Duan Xiaobai: "Put it down, my lord. I dare not say anything else. If I am the second in this matter of theft, no one will dare to be the first."

Zhang Rui nodded with a smile: "Go ahead, don't let this matter out."

After Duan Xiaobai left, Zhang Rui leaned on the chair in a daze. Ever since Feng Xuan left, his mind was always restless, and many clips suddenly popped up in his head, which shocked him.

He rubbed his forehead to see that it was getting late outside, and Zhou Yin hadn't come back yet. "Dong dong" knocked on the door, Zhang Rui: "Come in." Uncle Han pushed the door in with a bowl of tonic.

"Young master, you look a little ugly these days, but you're not feeling well? Do you want Mr. He to show you?"

Zhang Rui waved his hands, rubbed his face and said, "Is your face really so ugly?"

Uncle Han nodded: "Master, are you still thinking about Mr. Feng?"

Zhang Rui: "Feng Xuan and I haven't met a few times in total, but I think he is a good person, with a knife mouth and a bean curd heart, seeing him die in front of my eyes, but I always feel an indescribable pain in my heart. "

Uncle Han sighed and said, "Although I don't know Mr. Feng well, it's always a good person who can make you think about him. Now that he's gone, don't be too sad, after all, you can't come back to life after death."

Zhang Ruidao: "Well, Uncle Han, don't worry about me, the prince hasn't come back yet?"

Uncle Han said: "Just now I saw that he has come back, I must have thought that the young master is resting, and he is in the next room."

Zhang Rui got up and drank the tonic boiled by Uncle Han, "I'll go see him."

Walking to the next room, he hesitated, knocked on the door, but there was no sound inside, Zhang Rui wondered if he was there?Did Uncle Han read it wrong?Turn around and prepare to leave.

"Squeak..." The door was pulled open from the inside.

Zhang Rui turned around and said, "I thought you didn't come back when I knocked on the door and saw you didn't make a sound."

Zhou Yin walked out with a smile and said, "Have you eaten, I thought you had a rest just now."

Zhang Rui nodded: "Eat, have you... drank?"

Zhou Yin: "Well, I met some salt merchants with the magistrate today. These salt merchants are really good at pouring wine. They dare not be presumptuous here because of my identity, otherwise they must be poured."

Zhang Rui: "Drink less alcohol, you are not in good health."

Zhou Yin took Zhang Rui's hand and said, "I'm fine, but you, you have a bad face these days, and you're still thinking about Fengxuan?"

Zhang Rui nodded: "Oh, I just can't let go."

Zhou Yin took him into his arms and patted him on the back, saying: "Forget it, don't think about it anymore, we will go to the capital after the Jiangzhou matter is dealt with, and then you go to Dali Temple to take a job, and I will take a post." My idle prince, if you don't want to stay in the capital, let's go back to Tongzhou and become a small county magistrate."

Zhang Rui leaned his head on his shoulder and said in a muffled voice, "Well, it's fine to go anywhere."

***

Sure enough, as Zhang Rui expected, Master Ge really sent someone to investigate Duan Xiaobai's identity. They had made up their identity in advance. Duan Xiaobai's parents died, and there were no brothers or sisters in the family. He was very generous. righteousness.

After hearing this, Ge Huaimao twitched his beard with a smile on his face: "This kid is in my favor, so I sent someone to call him to the mansion to see if he is willing to come to Ge's house."

The two boys came to the pier by the river and told Duan Xiaobai what Master Ge had said. Duan Xiaobai said in his heart: If your lord says you can't agree to him directly, that is to whet his appetite.Then he put on a look of embarrassment: "I appreciate the kindness of the two little brothers, but I am fishing well here, why change places, besides, I am not familiar with the Ge family, and I don't want to sell myself slave."

The two boys looked at each other, seeing that he refused to go back with them, so they had to tell Master Ge what he said.

Master Ge nodded secretly, and his impression of Duan Xiaobai in his heart was three points better again, he was neither arrogant nor impetuous, if such a child could listen to his deployment, he must be a good helper.

On the second day, Ge Huaimao personally took people to the pier, saw Duan Xiaobai coughed dryly and said: "Well... Xiaobai, I came here today to ask you if you would like to come to our Ge's house."

Duan Xiaobai pretended to be surprised: "Didn't you..."

Master Ge nodded with a smile: "Thank you for saving your life that day. Now I can't repay you. How many daughters do you have under me? If you don't dislike me, why don't you come to our Ge family and be my son-in-law?"

This has already reached this point, if you refuse again, you will not know what is good or bad.Duan Xiaobai pretended to be both surprised and happy, with a blush on his face, if Zhan Qing saw this, he would definitely say that his expression was too rough.

Duan Xiaobai followed Master Ge back to Ge's house, Ge Huaimao called out his favorite seventh daughter, and asked her to look at Duan Xiaobai through the screen.

This old seven-named Yuemei is quite pretty, with red lips and white teeth, and a pair of beautiful eyes that follow her mother, shining brightly.Seeing Yuemei crouching behind the screen and looking at it, a blush appeared on her face, and she nodded shyly.Master Ge understands that his daughter has taken a fancy to him!

He stroked his beard and laughed loudly: "Xiaobai, what's your last name?"

Duan Xiaobai blinked and said, "The little one... surnamed Wang."

Master Ge: "Wang Xiaobai, this name is not very elegant. If you don't mind, why don't I give you a name?"

Duan Xiaobai hastily bowed and said: "My father gave me this name before he was alive. In vain, Mr. Ge forgives me. I can't change my name."

Seeing that he misses his family so much, he was a little displeased, and when he thought of his parents' death, the displeasure in his heart disappeared. If he married Yuemei in the future, then he would be a serious Ge family, and he didn't even want to be courteous to outsiders!

Just like that, Mr. Ge cut the mess with a sharp knife, afraid that the duck he got... The son-in-law ran away, and hurriedly asked someone to approve the horoscope, good luck, set a date, and prepared for the wedding...

Zhang Rui was dumbfounded when he heard the news that Duan Xiaobai brought back, this Master Ge must be crazy!The daughter is a gift from selling salt!Hastily preparing for the marriage without even thoroughly investigating Duan Xiaobai's background?After thinking about it, he felt that Ge Huaimao must have his reasons for being able to achieve what he is today. Since he is in such a hurry to prepare for the marriage, let's see what he has in mind.

Zhang Rui: "So you're going to get married in more than a month?"

Duan Xiaobai nodded with a wry smile: "My lord, is it possible for me to marry that young lady of the Ge family? If I do, it will ruin that girl's life forever."

Zhang Rui rubbed his chin: "The New Year is coming soon, why is Ge Huaimao so anxious to get married... Could there be something hidden in it?"

Duan Xiaobai looked at Zhang Rui and saw that he didn't have a clue and said dejectedly: "This Miss Ge has already taken this marriage seriously, and every day she comes to my room to talk to me besides showing off the dowry, my lord, I really can't bear it !"

Zhang Rui chuckled and said, "Why can't you bear it? I heard that Miss Ge's family is as beautiful as a flower, don't you enjoy it?"

Duan Xiaobai was choked by him, shook his head and sighed: "The main thing is that I don't like this girl, but she treats me like a gentleman, it really makes me embarrassed."

Zhang Rui: "In this way, you tell her that if it is common before marriage that your husband will die shortly after marriage, she probably won't come to pester you."

Duan Xiaobai: "Is it really short-lived?"

Zhang Rui: That's not the point! "This Miss Ge family will not pester you if she doesn't want to be a little widow."

Duan Xiaobai nodded with a smile: "My lord has a good idea, I'll go back and talk to her right away."

In fact, Zhang Rui and Duan Xiaobai did not expect that the reason why Ge Huaimao was so anxious to let Duan Xiaobai enter the Zhuge Mansion was not because of his talents and abilities, but because he simply regarded him as a machine for making people, letting him and himself Daughter married grandson!Nima, if you can't give birth by yourself, grab a son-in-law to give birth!

Duan Xiaobai's face turned green with the aphrodisiac medicine that the servant gave him!Actually want them two bridal chamber now? !What a joke! ! !This Master Ge was so frenzied that Duan Xiaobai almost broke his nerve and kicked the boy who delivered the medicine out of the house.