My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 493 Victory in the first battle
"Brother Zilin! Oh, Prosecutor!"

Shen Yiguan rushed into Su Ze's new apartment.

After the cabinet moved, the five offices of the Secretariat and the Chancellery also moved to new public housing, and from then on they no longer had to share offices with the Six Ministries.

However, after moving out of the Six Offices Corridor, many people felt it was rather deserted. Having worked with these officials on a daily basis, they were quite reluctant to leave.

Especially when working jointly with the Six Ministries, sometimes if the banner of the Six Ministries was raised, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers would immediately cooperate.

It can be said that the Six Ministries also played an indispensable role in enabling the five departments of the Secretariat and Chancellery to quickly establish themselves as core and crucial government offices.

After moving, Su Ze also received a new independent public housing unit.

Owning such an independent public house within the imperial city is indeed something to be envied.

It should be noted that before the cabinet was rebuilt, the cabinet ministers did not have their own public offices.

After Su Ze submitted his letter, the cabinet ordered the drafting of a law on security deposits.

The drafting of the new law became the business of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice. Shen Yiguan, the head of the Department of Justice, was busy communicating between the two departments to finalize the details of the new law.

As a core member of the "Su Party," Shen Yiguan naturally knew about Rishengchang. He also knew that the obstacles to his recent petitions against the new laws came from the gentry in the southeast who had invested in Rishengchang.

Upon receiving news from Songjiang Prefecture today, Shen Yiguan hurriedly went to Su Ze's residence.

"Inspector! A severe run has occurred at Rishengchang Bank in Songjiang Prefecture. A branch of Rishengchang has been breached, and the branch manager and employees have been sent to the authorities!"

Su Ze had already learned from Li Wenquan that the Japanese silver company and Shanxi merchants had joined forces to orchestrate a run on Rishengchang.

Su Ze was also unsure whether it was the system's power that brought them together.

Or perhaps they already intended to target Rishengchang, and were simply pushed into it by themselves.

However, this financial war will likely be recorded in history and become a case study that business students will have to study repeatedly in the future.

Seeing Su Ze's calm demeanor, Shen Yiguan felt like he had really been stupid.

Among the main forces that led the run on Rishengchang was the Japanese bank controlled by Li Wenquan.

This son of the Marquis of Wuqing was a close friend of Su Ze, so how could Su Ze not know the inside story?

This is likely Su Ze's plan: first, to crush the opponent through economic means, and then to completely destroy them through political means.

Politically and economically, we will deliver a double blow to these corrupt gentry in the southeast!
In this way, within a few years, these unruly gentry in the southeast should no longer dare to oppose the imperial court!

Su Ze said:

"We still need to urge the Ministry of Justice again. This time, Rishengchang has caused too much trouble, and the court will soon have to intervene."

"It's time to close the net on Lin Maocai's side."

Shen Yiguan immediately said:
"understand!"
-
Songjiang Prefecture, Wusongkou.

Wusongkou was originally just the mouth of the Huangpu River, and this place was originally just a fishing village.

However, after the Wusong Railway was completed, merchants from Songjiang Prefecture discovered that Wusongkou was a natural deep-water port.

Goods from Songjiang Prefecture could be transported via the Huangpu River to Wusongkou, and then loaded onto seagoing ships for export.

Even some smaller ocean-going vessels can sail directly into the Wusongkou and load and unload cargo directly on the banks of the Huangpu River.

This led to the immediate prosperity of Wusongkou, which became a thriving port city in less than two years.

But today, the spring breeze at Wusongkou is unusually cold.

In front of the Rishengchang branch, the crowd surged like boiling water. The silver notes that once symbolized wealth and convenience had now become death warrants in the hands of terrified merchants.

The sounds of wailing, shoving, and cursing were deafening, and the tightly closed shop door teetered on the brink of collapse under the desperate pounding. The human wall formed by the yamen runners was shattered by the onslaught.

In the Songjiang Prefectural Government Office, Songjiang Prefect Zhong Zhenji looked at the petition in front of him with a headache.

The fate of this Prefect Zhong can be described as extremely tragic.

When he first took office, the governor of Yingtian was Hai Rui. When Hai Rui was in Yingtian, he launched several purges against the Xu family of Songjiang and even arrested Xu Jie, the son of a retired Grand Secretary.

At that time, Zhong Zhenji was caught between Hai Rui and the Xu family.

After Hai Rui was promoted, Zhong Zhenji encountered the Wusong Railway issue while in office and also presided over the construction of Wusongkou, which can be considered as a capable minister.

But now that Rishengchang has been struck by lightning, the people have gone to the Songjiang government office to demand an explanation, making Zhong Zhenji feel even more aggrieved.

Zhong Zhenji was not involved in the matter of Rishengchang, but he was aware that Rishengchang had huge interests behind it, and many important officials in the entire southeast were involved, so he usually did not dare to meddle in other people's business.

Zhong Zhenji was cautious and timid, and dared not accept the benefits from Rishengchang. He usually turned a blind eye to Rishengchang, but when something happened, the people blocked his door.

At the same time, many well-known people from Songjiang Prefecture and even the entire Southern Zhili region came to Zhong Zhenji's door, asking him to take on the case.

Zhong Zhenji naturally understood why: when Rishengchang went bankrupt, the financial backers and supporters behind it wanted to recover their losses and thus control the case themselves.

But how could a small prefectural government office in Songjiang possibly deal with these powerful figures?
Zhong Zhenji was in a terrible predicament when, just then, a yamen runner came to report that the manager of the Japanese silver company in Songjiang Prefecture had also come to the yamen to submit a petition and requested to see Zhong Zhenji.

Zhong Zhenji knew the background of the Japanese Silver Company, which was something he could not afford to offend, so he had no choice but to welcome the head manager of the Japanese Silver Company into the government office.

Li Changshun was a shop assistant at the Eastern Palace store back then.

The Crown Prince used the Dragon Gate Accounting Method to combat corruption in the shops of the Eastern Palace. After uncovering several corrupt officials, Li Changshun was promoted to shop manager because of his honesty and competence.

Later, Li Changshun rose through the ranks and was even sent by the Crown Prince to audit classes at the Academy of Architecture, where he surprisingly passed the academy's exam.

When Li Wenquan left the capital to do business, Li Changshun was recommended by the Crown Prince to serve under Li Wenquan.

Perhaps it was because they shared the same surname, or perhaps Li Changshun was indeed exceptionally capable, but Li Changshun quickly gained Li Wenquan's favor.

First, he was put in charge of maritime insurance for Dengzhou and Laizhou. Then, after the establishment of the Woyin Company, Li Changshun was appointed to be in charge of the money exchange business in Songjiang.

This run on the bank was orchestrated by Li Changshun.

But simply running into the bank isn't enough.

Anyone who frequently litigates knows that fighting for jurisdiction is often the first and most important step in a lawsuit.

Li Changshun approached Zhong Zhenji.

Upon seeing Zhong Zhenji, Li Changshun showed no courtesy.

He said directly:
"Lord Zhong, our Japanese bank holds a large number of banknotes from Rishengchang. Will your government take on this case or not?"

Zhong Zhenji and Li Changshun were quite familiar with each other. In the past, Li Changshun would not have dared to be so presumptuous, but now that Zhong Zhenji's position as prefect was in jeopardy, he could not put on airs.

Li Changshun took the initiative and then said:

“Prefect Zhong, I have come today not to force Songjiang Prefecture to take on this thorny case, but to deliver a message to you on behalf of the young master, asking for a way out for the Songjiang Prefecture.” Zhong Zhenji raised his head and looked at Li Changshun.

Li Changshun said:
“In the case of Rishengchang, the victims are not only in Songjiang, and Rishengchang does business not only in Songjiang Prefecture. It is impossible to resolve this case by handing it over to Songjiang Prefecture.”

“Our Woyin Company bought these banknotes with real money. No matter what, Rishengchang must compensate us for our losses.”

“Such a major case should be handled by the Civil Affairs Division of the Capital Garrison Command. If the Civil Affairs Division cannot handle it, then the Three Judicial Offices shall handle it.”

Upon hearing this, Chung Jeong-gil's eyes lit up.

Yes, why should a mere prefect of Songjiang get involved in a battle between gods?
Zhong Zhenji also understood why the Japanese Silver Company would detonate this bombshell after purchasing a large number of Rishengchang's banknotes.

Rishengchang, driven by greed, coveted the principal of the Woyin Company, while the Woyin Company coveted the entire Rishengchang Group.

Although Rishengchang's shareholders and backers have fallen, Rishengchang's banking operations, business network, and assets still exist.

Once the lawsuit reaches the capital, the Japanese silver company will be able to smoothly acquire Rishengchang.

The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole follows behind!

Knowing that this matter was beyond his level of expertise, Chung Jeong-gil took the initiative to shift the blame.

He kept this kindness in his heart and quickly said:
"Thank you for showing me the way, Your Highness. Thank you for guiding me, Manager Li!"

"This case is not within the jurisdiction of the Songjiang Prefectural Government. I will submit all cases to the higher authorities immediately!"
-
As soon as Su Ze entered the fifth office of the Secretariat, he received a report from a cabinet official that the Grand Secretary had summoned him to a cabinet meeting.

When Su Ze arrived at the council chamber of the new cabinet, he saw four cabinet elders sitting upright.

Also present were three chief eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, including Zhu Shitai, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Duke of Cheng.

Before long, several high-ranking officials from the outer court, including Hai Rui, the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; Mao Kai, the Minister of Justice; Dai Cai, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review; and Zhang Shouzhi, the Vice Minister of Revenue, also arrived.

Upon seeing this scene, Su Ze knew that the emperor's decree had probably been officially issued.

Gao Gong cupped his hands and said:

"Please have Eunuch Feng read the imperial edict."

With a solemn expression, Feng Bao opened the imperial edict and began to read it aloud.

The official imperial edict contained little content; it simply approved the establishment of the Bureau of Ticket Sales in the Ministry of Revenue based on Su Ze's memorial, and stipulated that Ming Dynasty banks could only settle accounts in Ming Dynasty silver dollars and could not use silver as the settlement currency.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Feng Bao continued:
"His Majesty has given a separate imperial edict."

Upon hearing this, Su Ze realized that this was the main course.

"Granted! The Ministry of Revenue, the Censorate, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are to immediately dispatch personnel to various regions to seal up all of Rishengchang's banks, warehouses, and accounting offices! Those in charge, regardless of who is implicated, shall be arrested and brought to justice!"

"All those involved in the case at Rishengchang, regardless of their official rank, shall be dismissed from their posts pending investigation!"

Hearing this, Su Ze knew that Rishengchang was finished, and those officials and gentry in the southeast who had jumped out for Rishengchang would also have to pay the price for their greed.

Su Ze looked at Hai Rui, the great swordsman of the Ming Dynasty, who was about to test his sword again.
-
In the capital city, at the Fujian Guild Hall.

When Lin Maocai was in Beijing, he always stayed at the Fujian Guild Hall.

Lin Maocai and his representative, Rishengchang, were also among the behind-the-scenes owners of the Fujian Association. He relied on the Fujian Association to befriend officials from Fujian, and then used the association to build relationships with these officials, helping them solve some problems in their hometowns, thereby dragging these officials down with him.

The Fujian Association also operates Rishengchang's banknote business, so it also has a fast information delivery system. Yesterday, Lin Maocai received news that Rishengchang in Songjiang Prefecture and Fuzhou had gone bankrupt.

He had originally planned to leave yesterday, but his cousin Lin Bingzheng persuaded him to stay in the capital and wait for further news, so he was unable to leave the capital.

But as soon as the Fujian Guild Hall opened today, several Imperial Guards rushed in like wolves.

"Where is Lin Maocai! You have engaged in excessive and wasteful printing of currency, disrupting the financial system and bringing disaster to the country and its people! The evidence is conclusive, and you are hereby ordered to be brought to justice!"

The Imperial Guards had surrounded the Fujian Guild Hall, with constables from the patrol camp surrounding it. The head of the Imperial Guards, a thousand-man commander, rushed into Lin Maocai's room and read out the imperial decree to him.

Upon hearing this, Lin Maocai's face turned ashen.

He did not struggle, allowing the Imperial Guards to come forward, verify his identity, and put shackles on him.

The remaining Imperial Guards searched the room carefully and soon found the hidden ledger he had concealed.

At this time, the judge in charge of economic cases from the Zhenfu Division came out and inspected and sealed these accounts one by one. Then, the entire Fujian Guild Hall and all the business related to Rishengchang were thoroughly searched, and several boxes of account books were found.

Lin Maocai's biggest regret now is that he underestimated Su Ze's financial acumen.

If it were purely a matter of political means, Lin Maocai would have already devised a plan to maneuver against the imperial court.

However, to everyone's surprise, Su Ze directly used economic means to destroy Rishengchang, and together with Li Wenquan, he detonated the bomb in Songjiang and Fuzhou.

The fact that Rishengchang overissued banknotes has been exposed, and he has been politically sentenced to death. The so-called "protective umbrellas" that he painstakingly cultivated and bribed are of no use at this time. In fact, these people are afraid of being implicated.

What a terrifying tactic!

Lin Maocai simply couldn't understand how there could be such a formidable opponent as Su Ze in this world!
In the economic field, which he was most proud of, Su Ze defeated him with business tactics. This intense sense of defeat left Lin Maocai feeling utterly dejected.

Once he arrived at the imperial prison, Lin Maocai confessed to his crimes without hesitation.

Smuggling saltpeter and firearms are relatively minor offenses.

Rishengchang's crimes of smuggling silver, over-issuing banknotes, and bribing officials were all exposed, and Lin Maocai signed and confessed to all of them.

However, Lin Maocai only revealed the names of some local officials, the major shareholders behind Rishengchang, and the high-ranking officials he associated with in the imperial court. Lin Maocai remained silent and refused to say a word, no matter what methods the imperial prison used.

On April 13, the Censorate impeached 37 officials in Beijing for allegedly associating with Rishengchang and accepting bribes from him.

To the shock of the officials, seven of these thirty-seven people were from within the Censorate. Despite such a "family scandal," Hai Rui still impeached them without hesitation.

In addition, the impeachment list included officials from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and even the Imperial Transport Treasury and the high-ranking eunuchs stationed at the Maritime Trade Office by the inner court.

Upon seeing such a list, the Longqing Emperor was naturally even more furious. He ordered Feng Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, to thoroughly investigate the problem of the dispatched eunuchs and to rotate a group of eunuchs in key positions.

The three judicial departments interrogated Lin Maocai several more times, but he still refused to speak.

The judges of the Zhenfu Division also investigated Rishengchang's secret accounts, but the major shareholders behind it were all nominees, and their names did not appear on the register at all.

Other families that had invested in the company, like the Lin family, also immediately severed ties and sent the involved family members to the authorities to confess their crimes.

At this point in the case, Zhang Juzheng and Su Ze realized that there was no need to continue the investigation.

The key issue is that the run on Rishengchang is also spreading to other banks.

In order to avoid systemic financial risks, the Cabinet decided to have the three judicial departments close the case quickly.

(End of this chapter)