Chapter 237: No effect from above, no effect from below

After instructing Wu Qian and Mei Juncang, Zhou Tieyi looked at Hu Wenlang and Miaoyu, "These days, you should keep an eye on the major private granaries and cloth warehouses in Tianjing."

He was very satisfied with Hu Wenlang's intelligence gathering ability. The reason why he added Senior Sister Miaoyu was because, on the one hand, Senior Sister Miaoyu herself had sufficient means, and on the other hand, he also wanted to gain some credit for Senior Sister Miaoyu.

Miaoyu was deeply involved in the political struggle for the first time, and many things were new to her and she had a different understanding. In addition, she had a special relationship with Zhou Tieyi, so she could ask directly about many things, "What do you mean?"

Zhou Tieyi smiled again and asked, "Do merchants have the ability to drive up prices?"

This was the life-threatening question that was just asked to Qian Guangyun. Qian Guangyun didn't dare to answer it, so Zhou Tieyi asked everyone again this time.

After everyone thought for a moment, Zhou Tieyi continued, "The relationship between supply and demand is the core of determining prices. In other words, how much grain and cloth the people of Tianjing need and how much grain and cloth there are in Tianjing are the core of grain and cloth prices. Merchants who want to drive up prices can only start from these two aspects. Otherwise, other tricks will not work. They know in their hearts that they can't beat me, especially after I let Qian Guangyun suppress grain prices for two days and cloth prices, they will be even more anxious."

Miaoyu almost understood everything, but with her state of mind, she still couldn't believe Zhou Tieyi's reason, "You mean they might have set fire to the warehouse?"

Then she followed up with disbelief, "How could they be so stupid and so bold?"

After hearing Miaoyu's guess, even Shentu Yuandu, who wanted to be a cruel official, felt a little hesitant. Setting fire to the warehouse was a really cruel move.

Zhou Tieyi smiled and said, "Don't think they are too smart, nor too kind. What's wrong with burning grain and cloth? In their minds, these are their private warehouses. If they burn them, they can blame it on natural disasters. The people won't report it, and the officials won't investigate. Just burn a few granaries and cloth warehouses to let the people of Tianjing know that there is a shortage of cloth and grain, then the supply and demand relationship can be affected in a short period of time."

"As for why they are so stupid and yet so bold."

Zhou Tieyi smiled and looked at Mei Juncang, "What other reasons do you think there are?"

Mei Juncang thought about it seriously, "The enemy cannot be simply regarded as a whole. There are so many of them. Even if they have the same goal, they will use various means and accidents. We only need to attack the weakest one to implicate the whole group!"

Zhou Tieyi picked up the tea and took a sip. "For matters above 100,000 taels, the bigger the place, the harder it is to understand. For matters below 100,000 taels, the smaller the place, the more confusing it is."

For example, with just a few pieces of paper, his own Railway Chamber of Commerce could take away two million taels of silver, which was totally unimaginable in the local area.

Even if they were corrupt officials at the prefectural level, they would not dare to act rashly if two million taels were placed in front of them. However, it was different in a big place like Tianjing. There were many ways to do things that were incomprehensible but reasonable and legal.

As for matters below 100,000 taels, such as the funeral money for Li Jianhu's father, in places like Tianjing, such matters are strictly controlled. Too many officials are "kind-hearted" and cannot bear to see such things happen. Everyone is looking at the place of a hundred virtues. On the contrary, the smaller the place, the easier it is for such money to be eaten up.

"People above them often just have an idea and pass it on to the people below them. They subconsciously think that the people below them should do it well, especially if the matter is originally under the responsibility of the people below them. But if they are in a hurry, the people above and below may go in opposite directions, even though they all want to achieve the same goal."

"The merchants are a special group. Many of them climbed up to Tianjing step by step from small places. They are a mixed crowd. The method of burning warehouses is actually very useful down there, but people from small places don't understand one thing, that is, Tianjing is a place of all virtues, and the rules of the game are different. They are evil, and we are good. How can they defeat us?"

Zhou Tieyi looked at Hu Wenlang and smiled, "Anyway, for us, this is just a matter of watching the warehouse for two more days. Even if no one of them makes a fool of themselves, we won't lose anything."

"Of course, we must do everything we can to add fuel to the fire, and make both those above and those below anxious."

Zhou Tieyi looked towards the warehouse yard. He had already added fuel to the fire, and Jiao Guoping would do it more naturally and reasonably than him.

Because Jiao Guoping had no idea what role he played in this matter, I was not here just to make Jiao Guoping happy today.

Only when people who don't know what role they play do things, they can make things seem natural and reasonable.

The warehouse yard was brightly lit.

Jiang Shuangchun from the Ministry of Revenue, Xia Shanghui from the Ministry of Education, and Bi Daonian from the Ministry of Justice had already drunk a bellyful of tea.

However, the moods of the three people present at this moment were completely different.

Bi Daonian was sent by Chang Sun Dan, and was also considered one of the Zhou family's disciples, so he drank tea very comfortably. If he hadn't considered the face of the two people next to him, he would even want a plate of peanuts. After all, drinking too much tea would make your mouth taste bad.

Jiang Shuangchun and Xia Shanghui were on pins and needles.

Just like Jiao Guoping today, even if he knew that he was here to suffer, but after being an official for so long, who could remain calm when suddenly suffering such a great deal of anger? Especially since this matter was completely out of his control and the people above were urging him.

After waiting for two hours and asking his subordinates to urge him three times, Jiao Guoping finally arrived.

What's more, he did something even more outrageous. Not only did he come himself, he also had a few strong men bring his desk and placed it in the middle of the main hall, with a mountain of official documents piled on it.

Jiao Guoping looked indifferent, and bowed to Jiang Shuangchun and Xia Shanghui, saying, "I am really sorry for neglecting you two."

He smiled at Bi Daonian again, then walked to his desk and began to read official documents.

I'm here, but I haven't finished my work yet, so you guys wait. Bi Daonian suppressed his laughter and drank his tea seriously.

Jiang Shuangchun and Xia Shanghui looked at each other. Jiang Shuangchun was the most anxious. After all, his boss had a share of the money in the Sifang Casino. What's more, if this matter was not handled properly, if the Zhushen Division took advantage of the situation later, they would inevitably find out where his share of the money was.

As long as Jiao Guoping finds out, Jiang Shuangchun can guarantee that Jiao Guoping will make him lose face.

"Master Jiao is really busy with official duties."

Jiang Shuangchun started it.

Jiao Guoping didn't look at the other person. He looked at the documents and said, "There's nothing I can do about it. After all, thousands of people in the God-Slaying Division are waiting for me to pay their monthly salaries. I can't get my salary next month, so how can I not be busy now?"

Xia Shanghui was even more calm. Even though he was scolded in front of him, he seemed to be unaware of it. "But since you, the God-Slaying Division, have summoned the three of us to discuss this, you must come up with a countermeasure."

Jiao Guoping sneered, "Master Xia, you are not anxious during the day, why are you anxious at night? But Master Xia, you don't need to be anxious, after all, Master Zhou from our company hasn't found out about you, Master Xia!"

"you!"

Xia Shanghui stood up suddenly, his face trembling with shock and anger.

In the past, he was indeed a man of high rank in front of Jiao Guoping, but he had no idea about Zhou Tieyi. This time, Zhou Tieyi directly kidnapped so many businessmen who were related to officials. Even if only one-fifth of them were found, how many officials could be implicated? Would he be implicated among them?
Xia Shanghui was at a loss for a moment.

"What am I?"

Jiao Guoping raised his head and became more arrogant. Today he truly felt the taste of power.

This is a feeling that the higher the official position, the more intoxicated one becomes.

I can't control myself at all and I just want more power!

That’s why everyone wants to climb up.

Every word and action made those who had stepped on him in the past listen carefully to his reprimands.

This is what being an official means. Today I, Jiao Guoping, finally understand what an official is.

What was the God-Slaying Division like before? What is it like now?
Wei Shaoan has misled me!

Jiao Guoping threw out several books of accounts, among which were a pile of confessions, "My Lords, please take a look! What is going on! In Tianjing, a place of hundred virtues, these people are corrupt and have implicated you all!"

Even though Jiao Guoping threw the account and confession on the ground, Jiang Shuangchun hesitated for a moment, then bent down to pick them up one by one and read them.

When Jiao Guoping saw Jiang Shuangchun bending over to pick up the bills in front of him, he felt as if he was soaking in a hot spring. He felt numb and comfortable from head to toe. It really is good to be an official.

No, it should be said that it’s great to be an official with great power!
I must support Lord Zhou in reforming the God-Slaying Division, even if it means offending Wei Shaoan. Instead of being a cowardly official like before, I might as well give it a try.

Once this beast of power is released from the heart, few can put it back.

Jiang Shuangchun picked up the account and looked through it carefully. As an official in the Ministry of Revenue, he read the accounts very quickly, almost reading ten lines at a glance. Combining the testimonies of several people, he sighed in his heart.

If you want to check the accounts, there is no account that you cannot understand.

Especially in places like gambling houses, the lower levels give gifts to the higher levels, naturally because they also make a lot of money secretly.

In the past, everyone turned a blind eye, as long as the money from below was delivered on time.

But now, when the accounts were checked, combined with the testimonies of the few people who made the breakthrough, even the casino's accounts did not match up, let alone the taxes that should have been paid.

Jiao Guoping sneered, "How do you collect taxes in the Ministry of Revenue? Tianjing is a place of great virtue, and you have made such a big mistake. I will definitely accuse you of neglecting your duties in court tomorrow!"

Jiang Shuangchun was about to speak when he was stopped by Xia Shanghui. Xia Shanghui looked at Jiao Guoping, "Gambling houses are a mixed bag. How can we blame our superiors for breaking the law? Whoever breaks the law should be punished. But what about the people from other places? Are all these merchants guilty? Or have you decided to lock up all the merchants in Tianjing? And all the officials in the Ministry of Revenue? If that's the case, the whole of Tianjing has been messed up by your God-Slaying Division. I wonder how you will explain to the emperor!"

Xia Shanghui pointed out the key point. This was something that Jiao Guoping could not handle, and he did not dare to take responsibility for it. However, he knew who would take responsibility, so he was not afraid.

Jiao Guoping picked up the tea and sneered, "I will continue to check the accounts. You can either wait here or go back and wait. Once I have checked the accounts and aligned the confessions, we can discuss and deal with it."

(End of this chapter)