The big bandit in the Red Mansion robbed Lin Daiyu at the beginning

"Master, it's getting dark, you should eat something!"

Lin Ruhai came back to his senses after hearing this, closed the account book, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

He patted the account book on the table and sighed,

"Alas! This year's salt tax has almost been collected. I can finally give an explanation to His Majesty!"

Uncle Lin agreed with a smile.

"This is all thanks to the master's strategic planning!"

Lin Ruhai smiled and waved his hand.

"Hey~ Let's just talk about this behind closed doors!"

"By the way, people from the Qingfengzhai office, do you know why today's cancellation happened?"

Uncle Lin smiled when he heard this.

"Master, you don't know, ever since Qingfeng Village set up that office, hey! Don't tell me, these salt merchants have been extremely active this year!"

Lin Ruhai snorted lightly and said with a disdainful smile,

"That's because they know Qingfeng Village will take real action against them!"

Uncle Lin smiled awkwardly and understood his master's difficulties.

He changed the subject and continued,

"Also, I heard that the people in Qingfeng Village made over half a million taels of silver by selling tickets in just over half a month!"

"Now that the salt merchants have almost paid their salt taxes, the people in Qingfeng Village are seeing that they have no more money to make."

"No, they all went back to the mountain."

Lin Ruhai nodded slightly, stroked his beard and sighed,

"Alas! The affairs of state are so difficult, and the imperial court needs silver just now. These salt merchants!"

"Oh~!"

As he said this, he shook his head heavily and sighed.

Uncle Lin stood aside in silence. There were some things that servants like them were not allowed to interfere with.

After sighing, Lin Ruhai shook his head and stood up. As he walked out, he reminded Lin Bo,

"The tax will be paid in full tomorrow. When they're sealed in boxes, you'll be there in person to monitor each box and make sure nothing goes wrong!"

Uncle Lin nodded in agreement.

After the two men left the yamen, Uncle Lin hurried forward and opened the curtain for Lin Ruhai's sedan chair.

Lin Ruhai, lifting his official robe, was about to bend down and get into the sedan chair.

But at this moment, a shrill scream was suddenly heard.

"Master Lin! Help!"

In an instant, the yamen runners and attendants outside the yamen immediately protected Lin Ruhai in the middle.

The two yamen runners drew their swords and shouted angrily in the direction where the sound came from.

"Who is it? Come out quickly!"

Then he rushed forward and put a knife to the neck of the person who was shouting.

Lin Ruhai frowned slightly and turned to look.

I saw a young man who was dressed rather fancy but obviously as a servant, being escorted by two yamen runners.

Although I was confused, I didn't want to meddle in other people's business.

He waved his hand, signaling the bailiff to move him away.

But although the boy was apprehended and taken away,

But he still shouted.

"Master Lin, help me! Please save my Second Master Lian!"

"Hmm? Second Master Lian?"

Lin Ruhai turned around and paused slightly.

Suddenly thought of something,

Then he turned his head to look at the boy and said,

"Wait! Bring the person here!"

Two yamen runners hurriedly brought the servant to Lin Ruhai, and they held his arms and pressed him down in front of Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai leaned over and looked at the boy and asked,

"Who are you? And who is this Second Master Lian you mentioned? Why are you looking for me?"

Although the boy's face was pressed to the ground, he still hurriedly replied,

"In reply to Lord Lin, I am the servant of the Second Master of the Jia family in Rongguo Mansion. My name is Zhao'er!"

"What? Rongguo Mansion?"

Lin Ruhai was startled, then frowned and asked,

"The Second Master Lian you're talking about is Jia Lian, the son of Jia She, the eldest master of Rongguo Mansion?"

Zhao Er nodded repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, it is my Second Master Lian!"

Lin Ruhai nodded slightly, feeling even more confused.

Waving hands left and right.

"Tell me, what happened to your second master?"

The two yamen runners let go of Zhao'er, but they still watched his every move vigilantly.

After Zhao Er was released, he quickly knelt down and reported,

"In reply to Lord Lin, my Second Master has come to Yangzhou on the orders of the old ancestor of the mansion to welcome your daughter to the capital to spend time with her."

"But who knew that the ship we were on had just entered Yangzhou, and then..."

Lin Ruhai was slightly stunned, and already had a bad feeling in his heart.

He pointed at Zhao'er and asked,

"So what? Zhao'er, right? I tell you, tell me everything, and don't hide anything! This concerns your Second Master's life!"

"Yes, yes! Lord Lin! I would never dare to hide anything!"

Zhao Er looked terrified, tears streaming down his face, and cried,

"He was robbed by a group of pirates on the river. When they left, they also kidnapped my second master! Woohoo~~~"

As he spoke, he told Lin Ruhai what had happened at that time.

Even the conversation between Jia Lian and the bandits, as well as the words of the commander of the troops, were not missed.

In order to vent his anger at the officers and soldiers for their inaction, he even recounted in detail how they had surrendered by squatting with their heads in their hands when they saw the pirates.

After finishing speaking, he continued,

"After we escaped with our lives, we immediately came to Yangzhou and asked Lord Lin to help rescue our Second Master!"

After listening to this, Lin Ruhai frowned.

He was also a little dissatisfied with the fact that Rongguo Mansion sent someone like Jia Lian to come to Yangzhou to welcome his daughter.

It was obvious that if we just gave up a small amount of money, everyone would be happy, but it turned out to be the current situation.

Not only did he lose all his money, but he even lost his life!

He shook his head helplessly and looked at Zhao'er and asked,

"You just said that the pirates told you to take five thousand taels of silver to Datongshan to redeem the person, right?"

Zhao'er was slightly stunned, not quite understanding what Lord Lin meant.

Blinked and nodded.

"Yes, Lord Lin!"