A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 64 Sin Clan
"Minister of Justice!"

"They were all law-abiding merchants who entered officialdom through business. Does that mean they deserve to die?"

"The grain management officer, Sang Hongyang, growled in a low voice."

He knew each of these thirty-nine salt officials and forty-eight iron officials; they were all people he had personally promoted.

But today, they are tied up here like livestock, their mouths gagged, kneeling, like lambs to the slaughter, subjected to the utmost humiliation.

Born into a merchant family but raised by a respectable family, Sang Hongyang felt the same way.

Could it be... could it be that merchants who become officials deserve to die?

These highly inflammatory words were met with nothing but indifference from officials of both the Chinese and foreign dynasties.

Looking at Sang Hongyang, who was overcome with grief and indignation, Zhang Tang smiled faintly, "Is the Chief of Grain Supply perhaps grieving for his own kind? There's always been a legend circulating in the court and among the people that a person who was appointed to an official position in the outer court from the central court was not born into a respectable family. Chief of Grain Supply, do you have any clues about this?"

These words.

It directly points to Sang Hongyang for falsifying his identity and registration.

However, even if any problems were actually discovered, Zhang Tang wouldn't have had a chance to take action; the traces of the past would have long been erased by the power of money.

Sang Hongyang, without any guilt, was about to retort, but Zhang Tang did not give him a chance to speak. He looked at Gongsun Hong and Mei Gao, "Prime Minister, Imperial Censor, regarding the salt and iron monopoly, in addition to the two Grand Agriculture Assistants, Dong Guo Xianyang and Kong Jin, Your Majesty shall appoint eighty-seven major salt and iron merchants from across the country as Salt and Iron Officials. At the same time, you shall appoint several thousand family members of these major salt and iron merchants as clerks, who will then hire people to carry out large-scale salt production, mining, and smelting."

All of the above is common knowledge. In order to obtain the profits from salt and iron as soon as possible, His Majesty chose to cooperate with salt and iron merchants and allowed a large number of salt and iron merchants and their families to serve as officials in the court.

Gongsun Hong and Mei Gao, along with high-ranking officials, marquises, and members of the imperial clan from both dynasties, nodded in approval.

"Professionals should do professional things. Even if their status is restricted, the specific circumstances will determine the outcome. There's nothing wrong with that. As long as the method of entering officialdom is compliant, the Court of Justice doesn't care. However..."

Zhang Tang glanced at Sang Hongyang and said sincerely, "If someone violates the laws of the Han Dynasty, the Court of Justice cannot sit idly by."

“If one person is guilty, if two people are guilty, if everyone is guilty, did they rebel, or were they implicated by the Minister of Justice?” Sang Hongyang continued.

If all these people were killed, the salt and iron monopoly would "go out of control" and be taken over by the Crown Prince's palace.

The profits from salt and iron cannot flow into the court like the waters of a great river; they will only flow into the court like a trickle. Perhaps the latter will bring more benefits, but it will also take more time, which is not what Your Majesty desires.

Of course, that's not what businessmen want either.

For both public and private reasons, Sang Hongyang had to prevent the major salt and iron merchants outside the palace from being killed.

He didn't believe that Zhang Tang could sentence all the major salt and iron merchants to death.

"Is the Commandant of Grain Supply questioning my ability to handle official documents?" Zhang Tangsheng became somewhat interested.

For several years, or rather, for many years, no one has questioned his abilities. To suddenly doubt him now brings a strange feeling.

Sang Hongyang's heart skipped a beat.

Many court officials felt a chill run down their spines.

The last time I saw Zhang Tang like this was during the witchcraft case, when dozens of wealthy families were wiped out.

He's a killer, why did you provoke him?

Gongsun Hong disliked his disciples' inhuman reactions to the smell of blood, and called out, "Zhang Tang!"

"Prime Minister." The bloodshot in Zhang Tang's eyes slowly faded.

"This is a court discussion."

Gongsun Hong said the same thing as Li Guang: "Whenever you have any doubts, you should answer them and not ask questions in return."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Zhang Tang admitted his mistake and then said, "Bring it up!"

As the sound subsided, two large wooden boxes were carried into the hall and opened.

"Please take a look!"

Officials from the Court of Justice immediately distributed the contents of the box to high-ranking officials, marquises, and members of the imperial family of the two dynasties. The dark side of the salt and iron merchants and their families in the Han Dynasty was officially revealed in the imperial court.

There are roughly six charges. First, forming cliques, favoring officials, acting improperly, exceeding boundaries, and overstepping authority: These charges involve the princes and their officials forming cliques for personal gain, violating the law, and acting beyond their authority.

II. The crimes of harboring criminals and providing food and drink: harboring criminals and providing support to thieves.

Third, murder: especially heinous murder cases, such as killing three or more members of a family who are not subject to the death penalty.

IV. Group drinking: Three or more people drinking together without a reason, or drinking during the mourning period for Empress Dowager Dou or Empress Dowager Wang.

Fifth, disobedience and lack of filial piety: failing to serve one's parents.

VI. Colluding with the enemy and betraying the country.

Salt and iron were not prohibited items within the Han Dynasty, but they could not be sold to outsiders, especially to the Xiongnu.

Unfortunately, driven by the lure of exorbitant profits, almost all the major salt and iron merchants in Guanzhong and Guandong engaged in acts of treason.

Foolishly, they transported salt and iron directly to the Xiongnu and traded with them face-to-face.

The clever ones transported large quantities of salt and iron to the border towns, then notified the Xiongnu to plunder them, creating an unexpected surprise.

Thirty-nine major salt merchants and forty-eight major iron merchants—each person, or rather each family—committed at least two of the above unforgivable offenses, and some even committed all six.

With clear evidence, self-consistent logic, and a straightforward approach, Zhang Tang's case files left many court officials in awe.

A genius who works hard—how can anyone else compete?

The more evidence he examined, the more astonished he became. Sang Hongyang sweated profusely, while the faces of the officials from both the Chinese and foreign dynasties were stern, yet their eyes betrayed barely suppressed excitement.

"Commander of Grain Supply, do you have any further objections?" Zhang Tang asked, trying to probe his intentions.

Sang Hongyang couldn't say anything, but he looked at Mei Gao and Wuqiu Shouwang with a clear meaning: since they were all working for His Majesty, he would lend them a hand.

Mei Gao and Wuqiu Shouwang kept their eyes down, refusing to accept his "gifts".

"The Imperial Censor".

"Grand Master of the Palace Attendants".

Gongsun Hong pointed them out and asked, "Any objections?"

"Nothing."

"What are your thoughts?" Gongsun Hong handed over the knife.

“Their crimes are heinous, they have misled the country and harmed the people; they are a bunch of beasts.” This is how Mei Gao defined the large salt and iron merchants outside the palace.

In an instant, Sang Hongyang's eyes were filled with desolation.

A familiar feeling washed over him; the merchant had been abandoned once again.

"Zhang Tang".

"Prime Minister".

"Let's get rid of it."

Gongsun Hong said indifferently.

It's not enough to just execute them; the crimes of salt and iron merchants cannot be absolved by beheading and public execution. At the very least, their entire family must be wiped out.

Officials from both dynasties did not question it, considering it quite reasonable, or even somewhat lenient.

"Prime Minister, those are all major salt and iron merchants of our Great Han Dynasty. If we kill them all, it will cause chaos..."

Before Sang Hongyang could finish speaking, Gongsun Hong's long white eyebrows twitched again, his eyes lowered, and his voice was soft yet chilling.

"Then let the government step in to suppress it. Historically, those who rebelled were farmers; I've never heard of any merchant causing such a ruckus."

The light chuckle at the end of his words stirred the emotions of officials from both dynasties, and unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the hall.

(End of this chapter)