Chapter 389: Honor in Defeat

Chu Qinghuang said calmly: "It seems that you know."

Zhou Shao lowered his head and remained silent, unable to deny.

As a merchant family with industries all over the country, intelligence on the market must be mastered, including the places where the family's influence extends, the government's style of doing things, the style of other local merchants, the depth of the relationship between the government and the major families, and who is the backer behind each family... All of these must be understood clearly.

So if he said he didn't know, it would be obviously deceiving himself.

It's just that he never took these things seriously before. What does the suffering have to do with him? What does it have to do with the tea farmers who work hard for a year and can't make ends meet?

Businessmen value interests.

He is not a Bodhisattva who saves the suffering, so how can he care so much?

Officials themselves break the law, so how can he, a businessman, be a good person who helps the world?

However, at this time, he was questioned by this woman one sentence at a time - or rather, it was not questioning, but just routine questions.

He suddenly felt a little embarrassed and ashamed. Things that he used to take for granted now seemed less confident.

"I do know." Zhou Shao said, his face flushed, "I feel ashamed."

Chu Qinghuang said calmly: "Did the Zhou family participate?"

"No." Zhou Shao said, "I know the inside story, but I have always turned a blind eye to it."

"I have given the task of investigating the Wuzhou case to Chu Xuance, and you are responsible for assisting him." Chu Qinghuang ordered, "I will give you two months, and this case must be completed. All those involved must not be let go."

"I obey your order."

Zhou Shao accepted the order: "I obey your order."

Chu Qinghuang stared at him for a moment, and said indifferently: "Don't you need to consider it?"

"Your Majesty, I don't need to consider it." Zhou Shao replied respectfully.

"Taking this task means that you will offend your uncle and mother, put your cousin to death with your own hands, and even cause dissatisfaction among the Zhou family clan."

Not only that, perhaps even some of the Zhou family's business partners will be full of opinions about him.

"I know." Zhou Shao said, "But there is nothing to worry about. I will obey your majesty's order."

"In this case, I don't want anything uncontrollable to happen." Chu Qinghuang looked at him coldly, "If the news is leaked in advance because of you, the evidence is destroyed, or my imperial envoy is harmed, Zhou Shao, I will never forgive you."

Zhou Shao sighed silently and accepted the order respectfully: "I dare not."

He will not betray her, not this time, and not in the future.

Whether it is for himself, for the family, or just for the heart that was accidentally discarded.

In the future, he will definitely turn over a new leaf and become a new person.

Zhou Shao laughed at himself, he was really a hunter pecked by an eagle... Oh, it should be a phoenix.

Forget it, no matter how smart the hunter is, he is not the opponent of the phoenix, and this phoenix is ​​the true son of heaven.

Even if defeated, it is still glorious.

The Wuzhou case was temporarily settled. Chu Xuance and Zhou Shao took their leave after receiving the order and went down to make preparations. Before going to Wuzhou, Chu Xuance needed to have a comprehensive understanding of Wuzhou officials and the major merchants who were in a group.

Chu Qinghuang, who was still in the imperial study, held a teacup in his hand and stared at Yunheng's paper thoughtfully.

The whole country of Xiqi had been plagued by corruption for a long time, from the royal family and official families to local officials and merchant families in various states. They took bribes and used their power to enrich themselves. Officials and businessmen colluded to exploit the people. The powerful families monopolized one side... The Wuzhou case showed only the tip of the iceberg.

Now that Yunheng had petitioned the emperor for his hometown, the situation of tea farmers could be improved in the future, but what about other places that have not been exposed?

How is the annual harvest of ordinary people on farmland? Are grain prices in various places also monopolized?

Are there any farmers being oppressed and grain merchants making huge profits from it?

Obviously there are.