半片黄册," 忽然抬头,"能让宁王余党," 锥尖指向对方袖中火漆印,"统统下狱?"
王承业的手按在革带上,铜扣发出轻响:"御史仅凭半片烂纸," 他的视线扫过黄册残页,"就想扳倒宁王旧部?"
"烂纸?" 谢渊轻笑,展开卫所牒文,"星子镇卫所去年运出茶饼三万担," 又指向榷场税单,"榷场却只记八千担," 忽然提高声音,"剩下的两万二千担茶饼," 锥尖戳向王承业胸口,"是不是进了宁王私军的粮库?"
未时三刻,庐州府大堂,谢渊面对镇刑司与诏狱署的联合施压,将黄册残页、榷场税单、卫所牒文摆成铁环形状。诏狱署掌印太监周应秋的拂尘扫过黄册,泥渍沾在拂尾:"御史用河底烂泥," 他的声音尖利,"也想构陷宗室?"
谢渊将验印锥立在铁环中心:"公公可知," 锥影在黄册残页上投下阴影,"这十七榷场," 指向税单上的火漆印,"每道火漆," 又指向卫所牒文,"每道关卡," 忽然冷笑,"都是茶农的催命符?"
周应秋的朝珠撞出脆响:"御史血口喷人!"
谢渊展开《皇明祖训》:"祖训载," 他的声音在大堂回荡,"宗室不得私设榷场。" 又指向黄册残页,"宁王府隐田三千顷," 锥尖划过榷场铁环,"借军屯之名,行圈地之实," 忽然逼近,"公公敢说," 指腹按在残页火漆痕上,"对此一无所知?"
大堂内一片死寂。谢渊看见王承业的手在袖中发抖,周应秋的拂尘垂落,知道自己已触到了他们的痛处。他忽然想起在江西,抗税茶农被榷场税逼得卖儿鬻女,那些孩子的哭声,此刻仿佛就在大堂回荡。
"大人," 周立匆匆呈上密报,"又发现五片黄册残页!"
谢渊接过残页,拼合处露出 "隐田税银充私军" 的字样。他忽然轻笑,这铁环,终于要被打破了。
子时的庐州府衙,谢渊对着拼合的黄册残页沉思。窗外的雨打在舆图上,将榷场卫所的铁环冲刷得愈发清晰。周立捧着新到的卫所布防图,声音发颤:"大人,这铁环," 他的手指划过舆图,"连锦衣卫都查不进来。"
谢渊的验印锥在黄册 "隐田" 二字上敲出清响:"所以宁王敢私扩三千顷隐田," 他的视线扫过卫所标记,"用榷场收税养私军," 忽然冷笑,"可惜," 指腹抚过黄册残页,"他没想到," 又指向窗外,"河水会冲毁他的黄册," 验印锥在铁环中心划出缺口,"百姓会记
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