Content introduction
During the Qianlong period, on the eve of the Lianghuai salt scandal. The Shen family, a salt merchant in Yangzhou, became the focus of competition among various forces because of their possession of the "Secret Book of Salt Introduction". Salt administration officials, Shanxi bank accountants, water transport governors, and branches of the White Lotus Sect started a secret war over the salt tax and silver. Shen Zhongheng, a son of an aristocratic family who was obsessed with calligraphy and painting, was forced to get involved in the vortex of corruption in the salt administration and collusion between government and businessmen. In the process of finding out the truth about his father's murder, he discovered the shocking secret that the salt tax and silver taels were misappropriated as "the emperor's southern tour reserve fund." In the end, he chose to hand over the secret book, but he also saw through the cruel reality that "imperial power does not involve business", and dispersed his family wealth and fled to Lingnan.
Synopsis (four volumes)
Volume 1: Yanyin Troubles: His father died suddenly, Shen Zhongheng took over the family business, and found that the accounts were short of one million taels. Li Heting, the salt transport envoy, actually committed extortion in the name of investigating the case.
Volume 2: Dispute over the Secret Book: Shanxi Piaohao, Caobang, and White Lotus Sect demanded the "Yan Yin Secret Book". Under the guidance of Mr. Accountant, Shen Zhongheng cracked the secret family accounts and found out the real culprit who misappropriated salt tax.
Volume 3: The truth about the Southern Tour: It was found out that the salt tax money went into the "Southern Tour Reserve Fund", and the emperor acquiesced in the corruption of the salt administration for his own benefit. Shen Zhongheng's design allowed all parties to check and balance each other and protect the family property.
Volume 4: All the money lost: Refusing to become the white glove of the imperial court, he submitted the secret book of salt to the censor, but was counterattacked by the officialdom. In the end, Jin Chan escaped from his shell and went overseas to do business with his family.
