sbdcsierra Chapter 368 Requesting Rewards for Me!
Chapter 368 Requesting Rewards for Me!
Lu Yangyang remained silent for a moment, then looked at the empty street. She had more important things to do. Although she was extremely surprised that Lu Wei would appear here, now was not a good time to catch up.
"Take me to get my things first. I need to rush back to the salt mine. Things have gotten chaotic there, and I need to use the evidence to ransom people," Lu Yangyang said.
Lu Wei glanced at her sideways: "Well done, Lu Yangyang. It's been two years. Not only have you become bolder, but you've also become much smarter."
Lu Yangyang couldn't hold back any longer and took two steps back, kicking him in the leg: "What do you mean? Are you mocking me for being stupid before?"
Lu Wei crossed his arms: "Did I say that?"
"Are you leaving or not? If you don't, I'll cripple you." Lu Yangyang pushed him.
Lu Wei chuckled, but quickened his pace to catch up with Lu Yangyang.
Lu Wei brought Lu Yangyang to the county government office. Given his status, no one would suspect anything about his comings and goings. Lu Yangyang was dressed as a maid from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, so she wouldn't attract any attention from the county government officials. After all, although Magistrate Liang wouldn't openly bring girls from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion into the office, it was common for him to send a maid to fetch things from time to time. So, the two of them swaggered into the county government office in the middle of the night without arousing any suspicion.
Lu Wei told Lu Yangyang to wait in his room while he went out for a while. He quickly returned with a box containing several account books.
"I stumbled into the county government office by accident. Magistrate Liang saw that I was good at accounting, and since the county accountant had suddenly fallen ill and died, he asked me to fill in for him. Not long after, I realized something was wrong. I pretended to be bribed by him and helped him with some of the public accounts. Of course, he couldn't really let me handle the private accounts of the salt mines, so he cleverly gave me a bunch of messy accounts to sort out. I secretly copied down the problematic accounts and found that they were the salt mines' accounts, meaning they were secretly selling smuggled salt. I heard that a new governor-general had come to Jiangnan a few days ago. I originally wanted to find an opportunity to test whether this new governor-general was trustworthy before considering whether to send the accounts over. But tonight, I heard that there was trouble at the salt mines, and I wanted to find out what happened, so I went with them to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion." Lu Wei spoke briefly, explaining the key points to her: "So if I'm not mistaken, the accounts you want are these. He hid them with one of his favorite concubines, and I found an opportunity to switch them."
Then he met Lu Yangyang at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion tonight, which was truly a coincidence.
Lu Yangyang quickly flipped through the ledger Lu Wei had given her; it was indeed the salt mine's accounts.
With this, we can confirm that Magistrate Liang and Steward Yang were selling smuggled salt. The evidence is conclusive. Even if we can't completely bring down the Yang family, taking it to the imperial court will at least completely resolve the issue of smuggling salt from the Ning County salt mine.
After the events of the Eldest Princess and the Crown Prince being deposed, Lu Yangyang was no longer as naive as before.
Things need to be done step by step; it's impossible to solve everything at once. But once you have a breakthrough, there will be endless possibilities for the future.
This is also why His Highness insisted on bringing the Chenzhou case to the forefront before being deposed. Although the Chenzhou case cannot be resolved now, and the grievances of those soldiers who died unjustly for the country and the people cannot be redressed, at least a seed has been planted in people's hearts, so that the old case, which has been buried for many years, will not be forgotten like those who went north as hostages.
"The salt workers at the salt mines are unwilling to be humiliated and have risen up in resistance. Now the salt mines are in complete chaos. I know Jiang Zhiyi, the daughter of the Governor-General of Jiangnan. She has already contacted her elder brother to mobilize troops. The situation at the salt mines should be under control by tomorrow morning at the latest. Now that we have this evidence, we can take down the magistrate of Ning County and the manager of the salt mines in one fell swoop and reorganize the salt mines." Lu Yangyang said to Lu Wei, "If I hadn't met you, it would have taken me a lot of effort to find these things."
"I need to deliver the goods to the salt mine first. Are you coming with me, or will I come back to you after things are settled tomorrow?"
Lu Yangyang still had many things to ask Lu Wei to clarify, but time was of the essence, and she really didn't have time to reminisce with him.
Lu Wei stared at Lu Yangyang for a moment, then said, "I'll stay. I'm just a scholar; going with you will only be a burden. Please be careful."
"Alright, go back to Baihualou later and find a girl named Xiaolian. Make sure she's settled in. I'll be going now. See you tomorrow." Lu Yangyang and Lu Wei have known each other for ten years and grew up together. They don't need to say much; they understand each other perfectly.
Moreover, although Lu Wei was just a weak scholar, he was very cunning, and Lu Yangyang was not worried at all that he would cause any problems.
Lu Yangyang quietly left the county government office with the account book in her pocket. The city gates were already closed, so she couldn't just swagger in like she had come. However, while getting in was difficult, there were plenty of ways to get out. Lu Yangyang went directly to a beggar near the city gate, paid him a few copper coins, and the beggar pointed her in the right direction. Lu Yangyang easily made it out of the city.
Having found her horse that she had left outside the city, Lu Yangyang hurried towards the salt mine.
Meanwhile, the struggle at the salt mines and the seaside had reached a fever pitch.
With his rich experience, Chief Luo quickly directed the salt workers to retreat towards the sea in batches while resisting the garrison. Meanwhile, the ships at sea were gradually approaching the shore.
Seeing that the salt workers had nowhere to escape, the leader, Master Wei, burst into laughter: "How about that? You're cornered now, aren't you? I told you good-for-nothings not to make a futile struggle. Now, have you given up completely?"
He arrogantly shouted, "Kill them!"
The ship docked at this time.
The imagined scene of being surrounded and trapped from both sides did not materialize. The ship was brightly lit, yet unusually quiet.
Master Wei looked towards the ship, and the others subconsciously turned to look at the largest ship at the head of the fleet.
On the deck of the large ship, a tall, slender man stood lazily behind the leader, Master Chen. Several bloody human heads lay at his feet. He casually kicked one of the heads away and asked in a loud voice, "Boss, are you ready?"
Chief Luo waved his hand, directing the salt workers: "Board the ship!"
Third Master Wei's eyes were bloodshot: "Second Brother! What have you done to my Second Brother! What are you trying to do! You bandits, thieves, are you planning a rebellion?"
Chief Luo had already led a group of people onto the ship.
With Sheng Junyi choking him, Master Chen looked into Master Wei's eyes, wanting to speak, but unable to utter a single word.
Sheng Junyi turned his head and saw that Chief Luo had already boarded the ship. A smirk appeared on his lips, and with a flick of his finger, the thin thread wrapped around Master Chen's neck severed it. He then tossed Master Chen's head towards Master Wei.
"Slaughter a salt smuggler, Third Master Wei. Remember to submit a memorial to the imperial court and request a reward for me!"