Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

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The customs management system in the Song Dynasty was very chaotic. The Maritime Trade Office was initially managed by the prefect or governor, but later it was changed to be managed by the transport commissioner.

Later, the central government directly dispatched officials to oversee the project, which was then abolished and then reinstated.

In general, the tax amount and tax rate of each customs office were determined based on the actual financial situation of the imperial court.

The less money the imperial court had, the more customs duties it collected.

The more customs revenue was collected, the more attention the imperial court paid to the Maritime Trade Office.

The new Ming Dynasty became very formalized, establishing six major maritime trade offices in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Guangzhou, and Dengzhou.

The Director of the Maritime Trade Office was a fifth-rank official, only one rank lower than the Prefect.

In addition to the six major maritime trade offices, there were also maritime trade markets and trade stations in various ports.

A vertical management system has now been established, with a Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in charge of the national customs. The six major maritime trade offices are under the jurisdiction of this Left Vice Minister, and the remaining maritime trade markets and trade stations are under the jurisdiction of the six major maritime trade offices.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was in charge of customs, was jokingly referred to as the "Minister of Maritime Trade" or "Minister of Maritime Trade".

At the same time, there was also the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was in charge of the national treasury and was jokingly called "Minister of the Granary" or "Lord of the Granary".

These two Left Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue were one rank lower than the Minister, but one rank higher than the other Left Vice Ministers (which can be understood as full-time deputy ministers).

They were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue, but could also directly liaise with the Cabinet.

......

Fuzhou Maritime Trade Office.

The scale of maritime trade here is actually slightly smaller than that of Quanzhou, because of its awkward location.

Merchant ships engaged in Sino-Japanese trade could travel via Ningbo or Hangzhou.

Merchant ships coming from Southeast Asia can dock at nearby Guangzhou and Quanzhou.

Chapter 3311 Running Really Fast

Fuzhou Port is positioned more like a transit hub, or to absorb cargo overflowing from other ports and to receive fleets on the southern route of Sino-Japanese trade.

However, the capital of Fujian province is here after all!

Dai Chengsi has been living a very comfortable life these past two years. His family used to be the largest grain merchant in Jinzhou.

Before Zhao Yuan even conquered Hanzhong, the Dai family chose to serve him as a clan, making a fortune before the Ming Dynasty was officially established.

At that time, Zhao Yuan's regime was besieged, and after expanding its army, it suffered from severe food shortages. About one-third of the grain from the Jingxi South Circuit was smuggled in by Song Dynasty officials and had to be transported by the Dai family.

Zhao Yuan then resettled refugees in Xiangyang and Nanyang, and the Dai family also helped transport a large amount of supplies, thus obtaining franchise rights for some goods.

Dai Chengsi was both a scholar and a businessman, and he assisted Qian Chen in managing finances from an early age.

If it weren't for the three-year mourning period following the death of his parents, Dai Chengsi would at least be a Vice Minister of Revenue by now.

That's just how unlucky I am; my father passed away during the prime of my career.

After Dai Chengsi finished handling the funeral arrangements and symbolically observed three months of mourning, the emperor issued an edict to revoke his mourning and order him to return to the capital to resume his official duties.

He had only gone halfway when his mother suddenly died, so he rushed back home.

This time, he really couldn't accept the decision to forgo mourning, so he could only observe the filial piety towards his parents.

When his mourning period ended, it coincided with the reorganization of the Maritime Trade Office, and Dai Chengsi was sent to Fuzhou.

He will be able to return to Beijing to report on his work by the end of this year, and he will most likely be promoted several levels, because his qualifications and achievements are already sufficient.

When Dai Chengsi left the capital, His Majesty specifically instructed him to reserve the position of "Minister of Maritime Trade" (the head of the General Administration of Customs) for him, and to familiarize himself with customs operations for the next three years.

"Where's Liu Yongqian? Why isn't he here yet!"

Dai Chengsi paced back and forth in the Maritime Trade Office, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

A month ago, he received a letter from Beijing saying that the investigation might reach Fuzhou.

So he frantically tried to balance the books, even borrowing money to do so.

Those maritime merchants aren't exactly clean; if we don't lend them money to settle their debts, Dai Chengsi will drag everyone down with him.

Currently, there are still a few sums of money that haven't been deposited into the accounts; those are accounts that Deputy Director Liu Yongqian was responsible for settling.

Today is the agreed-upon deadline!

Dai Chengsi strode toward Liu Yongqian's office, only to find that the man hadn't arrived for work yet. So he took a small boat straight to Liu's private residence.

Is Liu Yongqian at home?

Dai Chengsi questioned the doorman, so anxious that he called him by his name.

The doorman replied, "My husband has taken his wife, son, and concubine to Nanshan to worship Buddha."

Dai Chengsi was startled and asked, "When did you go?"

The doorman said, "Yesterday at noon."

Yesterday morning, Liu Yongqian claimed he was going to collect the debt and even went to discuss it with Dai Chengsi.

Dai Chengsi had no suspicions until noon today, when he finally realized something was wrong.

He hurried to the temple, but after searching all the courtyards, he still couldn't find anyone. So Dai Chengsi went to other temples to look for him.

As darkness fell, Dai Chengsi returned to the Maritime Trade Office, convinced that Liu Yongqian had absconded.

"Were any fleets dispatched to sea yesterday or today?"

Dai Chengsi summoned the port officials.

The official said, "These past few days, the trade winds and waters have arrived, and merchant ships have been setting sail every day. Which fleet are you asking about, sir?"

"It's nothing, just asking casually."

Dai Chengsi waved the man away.

After sitting alone in the hall for a long time, Dai Chengsi couldn't help but sigh, "That Liu guy is really ruthless. He abandoned his parents and clansmen and took his wife and children overseas."

In the following days, Dai Chengsi forced the maritime merchants to pay money and forcibly settled the accounts of the Maritime Trade Office.

Then, wait to get caught!

He hated the sweltering heat and humidity of Fuzhou in the summer.

Moreover, the merchants here are also unscrupulous, actually tempting me to embezzle, and to make matters worse, I got involved in a major case.

I am a meritorious official who helped the emperor rise to power, and my family has also made great contributions. Perhaps His Majesty can show leniency.

Maybe...

An official ship docked, and more than twenty officials, along with troops borrowed from Hangzhou, disembarked.

These people split up, some heading straight to the Maritime Trade Office, while others went to the homes of several major seafaring merchants.

The Fuzhou anti-smuggling fleet, which was scheduled to travel to the Penghu Islands with the navy this winter, was directly controlled by several warships from the north.

Fuzhou anti-smuggling fleet suspected of colluding with maritime merchants to smuggle goods!

"Brother Chaozong, it's been a long time." Dai Chengsi greeted the censor.

Jiang Han looked at him with disdain: "You have indeed gained a lot of weight."

"Your Dai family is already the richest in the state, do you really lack money?"

"Ugh!"

Dai Chengsi sighed in despair.

"How much did you embezzle?" Jiang Han asked again.

Dai Chengsi said, "I received tens of thousands of strings of cash, and they also wanted a share. The debt was settled a few days ago."

"Utterly muddle-headed!"

Jiang Han was furious at his lack of resolve: "Even if I hadn't come, would the Ministry of Revenue not have sent someone to audit the accounts?"

"There are several types of ledgers that are very difficult to find."

"This time, we're settling the accounts to make up for the money, hoping for a lenient sentence,"

Dai Chengsi had a strong will to survive.

"I can write down in detail the methods used by the Maritime Trade Office to falsify accounts, the methods used by the patrol fleet to smuggle goods, and how to prevent and eliminate these practices, and present them to the court. I can also have all the people involved confess."

Chapter 3312 Consider it your confession

"Can this be considered turning oneself in and making a meritorious contribution?"

Jiang Han pondered, "Perhaps it's possible, but we must consult His Majesty. What about Liu Yongqian, the Deputy Director?"

Dai Chengsi said, "That bastard ran away with his wife and children."

"During the two days when his whole family disappeared, more than 20 merchant ships from Champa, the Arab world, India, and Srivijaya set sail."

"This person may have gone to Champa or Srivijaya."

“Even if his entire clan isn’t exterminated after fleeing to a foreign land, the Liu family will be wiped out!” Jiang Han said through gritted teeth.

The Fuzhou Maritime Trade Office was also embroiled in corruption scandals. It had been cleaned up and rectified just over two years ago, and now widespread corruption among its officials has resurfaced.

Because the customs tax system is more stringent, this time they simply used the anti-smuggling fleet to carry out smuggling operations, bypassing the normal customs accounts.

Dai Chengsi was utterly incompetent at settling accounts; the extent of his smuggling activities was impossible to ascertain.

In the Fuzhou Maritime Trade Office alone, six officials of rank, four officials without rank, and twenty-nine regular clerks were arrested.

Another deputy director and his entire family fled!

Following the clues and conducting further interrogations, a large number of corrupt and smuggling officials were uncovered in the Maritime Trade Office and Maritime Trade Market under the jurisdiction of the Fuzhou Maritime Trade Office.

...

Tokyo, Imperial Palace.

Holding the compiled information from various places, Zhao Yuan said with great emotion, "One case leads to several cases, one person leads to several people, and the number of people involved is increasing exponentially."

"In less than three months of investigation, more than 200 officials have been sentenced to death, and more than 100 clerks have also been sentenced to death."

"Not to mention those who went to jail, there were also more than four hundred officials who were sentenced to have their homes confiscated and be exiled!"

"Including the family members who were implicated, the number has exceeded two thousand."

The above data only includes the officials and their families involved in the case, and does not include the gentry and merchants who participated in the crimes.

If all officials and civilians are counted, the number is estimated to be over five thousand.

"Investigate. Now that we've taken action, let's get to the bottom of it."

Wen Huanzhang also put aside his womanly compassion.

From the central government to the local level, the Ming Dynasty's officialdom was in a state of panic.

The arrest of a large number of gentry and merchants has even affected the local flow of goods, causing rice and cloth prices to rise in many cities.

Zhao Yuan suddenly said, "The case involving military officers has been temporarily shelved by me."

"To prevent anyone from resorting to desperate measures, we plan to let them leave the army before arresting them during their transfers."

Wen Huanzhang asked, "Is it serious?"

Zhao Yuan said, "It's mainly the commanders, garrison generals, logistics officers, and the military industry system. They have too many opportunities to make money on a regular basis."

"In particular, most of the commanders and garrison generals were early heroes who joined us in the rebellion."

"They were transferred away from front-line combat units either because of insufficient ability, mistakes, or physical disabilities."

"They felt that their chances of promotion were slim, and relying on their seniority, they not only engaged in embezzlement but also frequently committed crimes in the local area."

“Some people even seized abandoned land, forbidding local officials from distributing it to the people, and then coerced the people to become their tenants!”

Wen Huanzhang reminded them, "We must act quickly; the army cannot be thrown into disarray."

"It's already being set up,"

Zhao Yuan sighed.

“These military men are all arrogant. Even though they have arrested many civil officials, they don’t think they will be in trouble.”