Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 615 Rampant

As the saying goes, "One wave has not yet settled, another wave arises." The Yang family's issue has not been resolved yet, and Meng Jun went out for a walk and unexpectedly discovered Fu Shou Gao, which is opium, which has actually appeared in this era.

After seeing the longevity cream, Meng Jun didn't want to wander the streets for the time being. After returning to the inn, Meng Jun asked Shen Congwen if he knew about this longevity cream.

Shen Congwen shook his head, indicating that he had no knowledge of the matter. However, Shen Congwen said, "The foreigners said that the Fushou Cream was presented to Emperor Wanli, so there should be a record of it in the palace. Your Majesty can check it out when the time comes."

Fu Shou Gao is opium. In the original time and space, it was rampant in China in the late Qing Dynasty and poisoned the Chinese people for nearly a hundred years. Meng Jun was well aware of the harm of this substance. Once opium is addictive, it is very difficult to quit.

Meng Jun didn't know when this thing arrived in Songjiang, nor did he know how many such stores there were in Songjiang, or whether it had spread to other places.

In Meng Jun's mind, he always thought that opium only appeared on a large scale after the Opium War.

But in fact, opium was introduced to the Central Plains as early as the Han Dynasty when Zhang Qian was on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, but it has always been used as a medicinal ingredient.

In the Tang Dynasty, opium was called Afurong, and in the Song Dynasty, it was called poppy. However, until the mid-Ming Dynasty, it was just a medicinal ingredient, and no one noticed that opium could be used for smoking.

As Spain took control of Luzon and Western merchants gradually came to the coast, tobacco leaves and pipes were also introduced to the Central Plains, and some people began to mix opium into tobacco and smoke it.

However, at this time, the price of Fu Shou Gao was still extremely expensive, so the number of people who took it was limited. Although Meng Jun was worried, he also knew that the situation at this time must be different from that in the late Qing Dynasty.

However, even so, Meng Jun has already decided to make this longevity cream a thing under the control of the imperial court and prohibit it from flowing into the private sector. Anyone who dares to sell it privately will be beheaded.

…………

Yang Mansion.

The fat shopkeeper presented Mr. Yang with the delicious items he had carefully prepared with a fawning look on his face.

Yang Zhongliang was half lying on the bed, holding a pipe in his hand, and in the cigarette box was Fu Shou Paste.

At this time, Yang Zhongliang puffed out a puff of smoke, then raised his eyelids and saw the fat shopkeeper serving beside him with a flattering face. He said in a light tone: "What a good thing."

"To answer the master's question, a bumpkin from another place came to our store today. He had a top-quality jade ring in his hand. It is of a transparent texture and a rare treasure!" the fat shopkeeper replied hurriedly.

“Bring it here and see it.”

Upon hearing this, the fat shopkeeper immediately took the box with both hands and opened it. Yang Zhongliang turned his head and took a look. His eyes lit up and he put the pipe in his hand aside.

Yang Zhongliang picked up the jade ring, examined it carefully, nodded, and said, "Well, it is indeed a good thing. This thing is just right for my good nephew."

The fat shopkeeper said flatteringly, "Yes, yes, Lord Yang is deeply trusted by His Majesty. The Yang family will surely be noble for generations, and will be prosperous and wealthy for generations."

"Wealth and honor mean nothing. My Yang family started from the dragon. Who in this world dares not give face to my Yang family? You did a good job this time. Go down. You will definitely get some benefits."

"Yes, yes, Master Yang, you can use it. I won't bother you any more!"

The fat shopkeeper retreated respectfully, but Yang Zhongliang didn't care at all. He kept playing with the jade ring, feeling a little emotional.

The Yang family can have what it has today because of the presence of a figure like Yang En. If it weren't for Yang En, he, Yang Zhongliang, would be nothing. But now that he is Yang En's uncle, not to mention the prefect of Songjiang, even the governor has to give him face.

Therefore, having obtained such a good thing today, Yang Zhongliang decided to send someone to deliver it to the capital. However, Yang En seldom contacted him on weekdays. The few letters he wrote occasionally were just empty words like persuading him to be kind to others and not to violate the law of the country.

In Yang Zhongliang's heart, although Yang En held a high position, his contribution to the family was also great. He was responsible for renovating the old house, repairing the ancestral tombs, and any other matters in the village. All of these things cost him real money.

………………

After Meng Jun returned to the inn, he secretly ordered the Qingluan Guards who were accompanying him to investigate privately how the Yang family became prosperous in Songjiang.

Three days later, Liang Sanjin hurried to Meng Jun. This was the first time Liang Sanjin met the emperor. He was so excited that he didn't dare to breathe.

However, Meng Jun did not pay attention to it, but asked directly: "How well do you know about the Yang family's situation?"

Liang Sanjin took a breath, and then said what he had memorized long ago, word for word: "Your Majesty, according to my preliminary understanding, this Yang Zhongliang is the uncle of Lord Yang, and Lord Yang's father is Yang Zhongliang's brother. This Yang Zhongliang came to Songjiang five years ago, and then relied on Lord Yang's reputation to buy several pieces of land from the Songjiang government at a low price, built houses and shops, and Yang Zhongliang made a lot of money.

After that, Yang Zhongliang acquired a lot of land, some of which he bought from the Songjiang government and some from local people. After Yang Zhongliang acquired the land, he opened a large number of casinos, brothels, and theaters, and his wealth expanded rapidly.

Meng Jun said in a deep voice: "How did the Yang family buy the land of these people?" Meng Jun didn't believe that Yang Zhongliang would really spend a large sum of money to resettle the people.

Liang Sanjin said: "Yes, Yang Zhongliang bought the people's land and kept the price very low. However, many people were afraid of Yang Zhongliang and had no choice but to accept his conditions. Some people were dissatisfied and reported to the government, but all these problems were solved by Yang Zhongliang."

Meng Jun frowned and asked, "How did Yang Zhongliang solve it?"

"In order not to alert the enemy, I did not dare to investigate the case. However, those who reported the case to the government were either beaten with a stick or dismissed on the grounds that it was a dispute between ordinary people and the court's criminal law. Because of the short time, I don't have a thorough understanding of the case, but there are two cases that I feel are very strange."

"What case?"

Liang Sanjin said quickly: "I have learned that the former governor of Songjiang seemed to have had a conflict with Yang Zhongliang. This person once threatened in public that he would go to Nanjing to report Yang Zhongliang, but not long after, he accidentally fell into the water and drowned in the Huangpu River.

Another case was about a minor official in Songjiang Prefecture. He went to Beijing at his own expense because the Yang family forcibly purchased the people's land. However, after leaving Songjiang, there was no news of him. Half a year ago, a body was found in a forest outside Yangzhou, and the body was that of the minor official. "

After hearing this, Meng Jun couldn't help but say, "Good! Good! Good! He really is rampant!"

Just when Meng Jun was getting impatient, Lu Ping hurried back to Songjiang Prefecture the next day and reported to Meng Jun: "Two thousand Jinling garrison troops have been dispatched, and they will arrive at Songjiang Prefecture within two days!"