Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhao Yong's forehead as he stammered, "This … this official isn't sure, it's all old news …"
"Old news isn't limited to just this one! During last year's spring plowing and autumn harvest, some people left the county town to farm, but Bullet Flower Workshop's output didn't decrease at all! In addition, last year in October, the cotton in the Green Crow Prefecture army's cotton-padded clothes and quilts all came from your Bullet Flower Workshop. However, after the new year, I saw a court report saying that last winter, the capital transferred a large amount of frostbite medicine to the Green Crow Prefecture army, ten times more than usual! Is there any connection between the two? "
Zhao Yong's arm trembled slightly.
Ao Huang looked at Fang Yun, full of admiration. This wasn't as simple as having a good memory. If one didn't have a strong analytical ability, who would link a very ordinary official report with inferior cotton-padded clothes and quilts?
Finally, Fang Yun sneered, "What makes this official even more curious is that Mishou's cotton is harvested in September every year, so it's the most expensive in June and July. Last year's cotton in July was 30% more expensive than the September harvest! However, just as the cotton was about to be harvested, your workshop suddenly purchased one million catties of cotton at a high price, and there was a detailed record of it entering the warehouse. It also clearly stated that it was transported by Songyuan Trading Company. The strange thing is that a few days ago, this official ordered people to retrieve the records of Songyuan Trading Company's carriages and horses. During those few days, Songyuan Trading Company's carriages and horses were all used to transport grain, and there was no record of them borrowing other carriages. How did the one million catties of cotton enter the warehouse? Could it be that Songyuan Trading Company can already use River Oyster to transport goods? "
Zhao Yong's face was as white as wax. More and more sweat appeared on his forehead, and he instinctively wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
Ao Huang blinked, thinking, So that's how it is. Zhao Yong first took out a sum of money from the treasury in charge of the Royal Workshop. He didn't spend a single cent, but pretended to buy cotton. After the new cotton was harvested, he used a portion of the money to buy cheap cotton, and the rest went into his pocket.
Fang Yun continued, "As I expected, the money you embezzled from the depreciation of the machinery and cotton last year. It should be around three thousand taels. Three thousand taels isn't much to me, but a small Bullet Flower Workshop only earns five to six hundred taels a year! No wonder the workshop you manage is losing money every year. However … What I find strange is that your actual income last year wasn't three thousand taels, but five hundred taels at most! "
As he spoke, Fang Yun pressed his index finger on a piece of paper on the table. With a flick of his finger, the paper flew toward Zhao Yong.
Zhao Yong hurriedly took it over. On it was a clear list of his deposit and withdrawal records from the bank last year, as well as the larger expenses of his family. His vision darkened, and he nearly fainted.
"Then, who got the remaining two thousand taels of silver? You are the owner of the royal workshop. Who has the guts to snatch food from you? "
Ao Huang was suddenly enlightened and immediately thought of Zhao Yong's backer. Young Royal Prince Zhao Jie.
Unsurprisingly, Zhao Yong was just a tool used by Zhao Cheng to steal profits from the royal workshop.
Jingguo had more than seventy princes with the surname Zhao. Excluding those who had no heirs, there were still 41 princes left. These 41 princes all had their own fiefs. Other than a few who were wastrels, their wealth was no less than that of the Noble Clans.
However, the young royal prince, Zhao Jie, was not the heir to the throne of Prince Qingyang. He was also not the son of Prince Qingyang's first wife, and because he was young. He was not given his own property, and his annual income was no more than two thousand taels of silver.
The royal family did not give a high salary to these princes' sons. If they were compared to the salary given to a real king, the huge amount would become a burden to the royal family.
Two thousand taels of silver was a huge sum of money in the Saint Origin World, but for a prince who indulged in sensual pleasures, it was far from enough.
Zhao Yong was sweating profusely.
The most important thing was not that Fang Yun found out about his relationship with Zhao Jie, but that Prince Qingyang was very close to Prince Kang, and Zhao Jie had helped Prince Kang before.
Without a doubt, once Fang Yun investigated further, not only would Zhao Jie be severely punished, but Prince Qingyang's reputation would also be damaged.
Zhao Yong knelt on the ground with a plop and said loudly, "This official, Zhao Yong, is greedy beyond measure. I used the Bullet Flower Workshop to earn money illegally. However, this official has surrendered, please be lenient!"
Fang Yundao said, "You are surnamed Zhao, a surname bestowed by the royal family. How can you kneel? Get up."
Zhao Yong remained kneeling.
At this moment, Fang Yun received an urgent message. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was from Zhao Hongzhuang.
"You … do you have anything to say?" Zhao Hongzhuang's message was very simple.
Fang Yun was stunned for a moment, then smiled as he understood the reason. The urgent message was from Zhao Hongzhuang, expressing her concern about this matter. However, it was only a short sentence, as she did not want to affect Fang Yun. Unlike Cai He, she did not want to give Fang Yun any pressure. She trusted in Fang Yun's ability.
"You will see the results soon," Fang Yundao said.
"Alright, then I will go and meet those relatives!"
Fang Yun smiled. Zhao Hongzhuang's relatives were naturally the various princes and princesses. Ordinary clan relatives wouldn't dare cause a ruckus at this time, and it wasn't worth Zhao Hongzhuang stopping them.
With Zhao Hongzhuang's appearance, the pressure on the royal family would be greatly reduced. Fang Yun kept this in mind.
Fang Yun also thought about how Prime Minister Kang Ha-chuan might already know about this matter, but he still hadn't sent a message. He was even more clever than Cai He.
Fang Yun had thought that he would receive a large number of letters from aristocratic families or the royal family, but there weren't many letters from unfamiliar people. These people were all very calm.
His forceful methods over the past few days had been effective.
Fang Yun's hand left the official seal. He looked down at Zhao Yong and said, "If you want this official to give you a light sentence, it's very easy. However, the prerequisite is that you cooperate with this official!"
Zhao Yong lowered his head deeply. He was over forty years old and had mingled in the prince's estate for many years. He was also a workshop owner, so he knew very well what Fang Yun meant by "cooperate". Fang Yun wanted him to clearly explain everything that had happened between him and Zhao Jie.
The moment Fang Yun finished speaking, Zhao Yong had a naive thought that perhaps he could deceive Fang Yun. However, when he thought about Fang Yun's methods this time, his heart sank. It was impossible to deceive him.
Zhao Yong gritted his teeth and said, "All the blame is on this official, but there are many things that this official can't remember clearly!"
"It seems that you won't cooperate. Very good. Guards! "
"Yes!" A bailiff came in from outside.
Fang Yun tossed the token arrow to the bailiff and said, "Go to Qingyang Guild Hall and bring Steward Zhao from the Prince's Estate here! If he dares to resist by force, kill him on the spot! "
"Yes!" The bailiff took the token arrow and left hurriedly.
Zhao Yong's face was filled with despair. He had an incomparably close relationship with Steward Zhao. He hadn't expected Fang Yun to directly invite the most important person.
The bailiffs first escorted Zhao Yong outside, and then Fang Yun called for the owner of a county-owned workshop.
The workshop owner was in his early sixties. His hair was white, but his body was robust. There wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face, only some worry.
"This student greets the county magistrate!" This was a child workshop owner.
Fang Yun, however, had a strange smile on his face as he said, "First, Owner Liang, please take a seat."
Workshop Owner Liang was startled. He didn't know what Fang Yun was up to. He could only take a seat. However, he only dared to sit halfway and didn't dare to sit properly.
Fang Yun asked with a smile, "Workshop Owner Liang, is your mother well?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
