Yecheng stabbed in the palace

Yuan Shao and his advisers Feng Ji, Xun Chen, and Xu You were discussing the refuge of the Yingchuan Shi clan in Jizhou, and there were many talented children among these Shi clans. Yuan Shao's idea, of course, is to let these children of the scholar clan be used by him.

"My lord, someone outside the house claims to be a villager from his village under the jurisdiction of Dongping County, and he has come to worship the treasure and ask your lord to see it. ”

Yuan Shao frowned, how could it be Dongping County again? What treasures could there be in a remote place? Maybe they were just some vulgar peasants who wanted some benefits.

However, in order to show his demeanor, Yuan Shao still agreed to meet the visitor.

"Xiaomin Zhang Laogen meets Master Thorn Shi!"

"Xiao Min Luo San meets Lord Thorn Shi!"

Zhang Laogen and Luo San's superficial saluting behavior, Yuan Shao was frowning when he saw it. However, considering that they are farmers, they don't know much about etiquette, so they don't care.

Yuan Shao's greetings to the two of them were very close to the people, whether the life was good, how the situation was at home, and so on. If it were ordinary people, they would really be moved by Yuan Shao. However, who are Zhang Laogen and Luo San? They used to be villagers of the Wicked Village, and they plundered countless things, and how sharp their eyes were? Since they came in, Zhang Laogen has been paying attention to the surrounding situation and looking at everyone's expressions in their eyes.

Feng Ji, as the strategist who has followed Yuan Shao for the longest time, naturally understands Yuan Shao's thoughts. Therefore, he said at the moment: "Zhang Laogen, Lord Thorn Shi is busy with official business, and he has no time to meet you two. However, I learned that the two of you had come from afar, so I opened the net. You two say that you have a treasure to offer, but you don't know what it is, and if you deceive the adults, it is not a light sin. ”

Yuan Shao pretended to be dissatisfied and scolded: "Yuan Tu, how can you talk like this? They are my people under my rule, even if there are no treasures to worship, I must understand their situation, if there is a next time, I will not spare them." ”

"Yes, my subordinates know their mistakes!"

Yuan Shao and Feng Ji, one sings with a white face, and the other sings with a black face, and the cooperation is really seamless, and if you change someone, you will really be deceived by their performance, but unfortunately you met an old Jianghu like Zhang Laogen.

However, Zhang Laogen didn't know, wiped the corners of his eyes gratefully, and said emotionally: "Xiaomin has thanked Lord Shi for his kindness, but he came this time, but there are treasures to offer." ”

As he spoke, Zhang Laogen took out a porcelain bottle from his arms, pulled out the lid, and poured the contents of the bottle into his hands and spread it out.

"My lord, please see, this is the treasure that Xiaomin said?"

Yuan Shao and several strategists stared at the thin white thing in Zhang Laogen's hand in confusion, as if they were a little familiar, but they were a little unfamiliar.

"Zhang Laogen, what is this?"

Yuan Shao asked puzzled.

Zhang Laogen grinned, bowed down and said, "Lord Thorn Shi will taste it, and you can know." ”

Yuan Shao's face darkened a little, a farmer took some things that he didn't know what it was for him to taste, could he taste it, if it was **, wouldn't he hang up? Of course, in front of everyone's eyes, Zhang Laogen would not do this kind of thing, but Yuan Shao is also a person with status, how could he do such a thing?

As Yuan Shao's loyal subordinate, Feng Ji knew Yuan Shao's mind best, so he stepped forward and pinched up the fine white thing in Zhang Laogen's hand and put it in his mouth. Feng Ji caught a glimpse of his eyes, and Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction. Feng Ji smiled secretly in his heart, although the origin of Zhang Laogen's things is unknown, but with so many people, things will definitely not be harmful. As Yuan Shao's strategist, he has to do this kind of quiet slapping of horses, and Xu You and Xun Chen will not do this. Perhaps, this is the reason why Yuan Shao is closer to him.

"Hey, isn't this salt?"

His mouth squirmed a few times, and Feng Ji suddenly exclaimed.

Yuan Shao, Xun Chen, and Xu You heard Feng Ji's exclamation, and immediately swept their eyes over. No matter how they imagined, they couldn't guess that the thing in Zhang Laogen's hand turned out to be salt.

Xun Chen and Xu You didn't care about etiquette, walked up to Zhang Laogen in a few steps, pinched a few salt grains in his hands, put them in their mouths and chewed them. And Feng Ji was worthy of being Yuan Shao's loyal subordinate, knowing that Yuan Shao would not do anything if he was afraid of his identity, so he asked Zhang Laogen for a porcelain vase, and then sent it to Yuan Shao.

"This salt is so delicate that I can't imagine it. ”

"And the color of this salt is a hundred times whiter than the salt we eat. ”

After Xun Chen and Xu You tasted it, they couldn't help but admire. As the strategists under Yuan Shao, Xun Chen, Xu Yu and Feng Ji rarely had the same opinion once.

Although Yuan Shao's expression was forbearing, when the porcelain vase arrived, he couldn't wait to pour some salt from the porcelain vase into his mouth, close his eyes and feel it carefully. After a while, Yuan Shao exhaled comfortably as if he had just circled and forked. Nowadays, salt is controlled by the government, so the quality of salt consumed by officials everywhere is the best. It is more than a hundred times better than the salt used by the common people. However, compared with the salt offered by Zhang Laogen, the salt eaten before was worse than garbage.

"This salt is a treasure, but it is not an exaggeration. Zhang Laogen, what do you want, as long as this assassin can do it, I will definitely be satisfied with you. ”

After Yuan Shao tasted it, he couldn't help but promise.

"Thank you, Lord Thorn!"

Zhang Laogen bowed and saluted, and then said: "Lord Thorn Shi, this salt is made from the recipe left by the small people from their ancestors. Not only is the quality high, but also the quantity is huge, and the output is enough to supply hundreds of thousands of people. ”

Yuan Shao and several strategists under his command had their eyes lit up, they had thought that the salt offered by Zhang Laogen was only this small bottle, but at this time, when they heard that it could be used to supply a state, their mood was no longer calm.

"Okay, okay, okay! Zhang Laogen, what do you want, but it doesn't hurt to say. ”

Yuan Shao almost couldn't help but rush down and hug Zhang Laogen for a while, there is so much high-quality salt, which can make him do a lot of things. For example, if he gave these salts to the elders of the Yuan clan, wouldn't it be easier for him to take over the position of the patriarch of the Yuan clan? Of course, these salts could also bring him great wealth, so that he could recruit more soldiers and build better equipment.

Zhang Laogen's expression remained unchanged, and he said in a soft but firm tone: "Lord Thorn Shi, Xiaomin only has three requirements. First, Xiaomin hopes that Lord Thorn Shi can spread this salt to the world, so that everyone in the world will know about such excellent salt. ”

"Well, this request Ben Thorn Shi promised you. ”

In fact, there is no need for Zhang Laogen to propose, Yuan Shao will do this. With such a good quality of salt, how could Yuan Shao not make good use of it? Once the people of the world knew about it, they would rush to Yuan Shao to buy it, and he would be able to take the opportunity to exchange what he needed. For example, Xuzhou and Jingzhou have a lot of grain, so he can let Tao Qian and Liu Biao exchange grain. Xiliang Maduo, Han Sui and Ma Teng will exchange good horses.

Zhang Laogen glanced at the excited expression on Yuan Shao's face, sneered in his heart, and said unhurriedly: "Second, Xiaomin hopes that this salt will be produced by Xiaomin and will not be handed over to anyone, and he also hopes that Lord Shi will complete it." ”

"Bastard!"

Yuan Shao's face suddenly turned angry, but he didn't speak. Feng Ji, as a loyal horse boy, naturally took the lead in the charge, only to see him shout angrily: "Salt is a thing created by the government, how can you produce it privately? ”

Zhang Laogen did not have the slightest fear on his face, ignored Feng Ji, looked at Yuan Shao and said: "Lord Thorn Shi, this method of making salt is only known to the small people, and it is a thing handed down by the ancestors, and it will never be handed over to others. If Lord Thorn Shi permits, Xiao Min is willing to send twenty percent of the salt made each time to Lord Thorn Shi. ”

Yuan Shao frowned, looking at Zhang Laogen with an unyielding look, knowing that Zhang Laogen was not bluffing. Originally, Yuan Shao planned to ask Zhang Laogen to hand over the method of salt production, and the wealth obtained by that time would be enough for him to expand his army. However, now that Zhang Laogen is like this, it is impossible to force him, and when the time comes, Zhang Laogen will be forced to death, but he will not get the twenty percent. Don't look at only two percent, according to Zhang Laogen's meaning, it will definitely not be less.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Shao asked in a deep voice, "How much can this salt be produced in a year?"

Zhang Laogen shook his head and explained: "Xiaomin doesn't know that these salts are obtained from the earliest salt fields. The small people respect the kindness of the dà people, so they came to offer this treasure before. This method can make salt four times a year, each time for 90 days, and Xiaomin estimates that there are at least 100,000 stones. ”

"Shhh

Yuan Shao and the others gasped, 100,000 stone is 6 million catties. The people use about 10 catties of salt per person a year, and 6 million catties are average, enough for 600,000 people. It is enough for one-fifth of the population of Jizhou, and you must know that after the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, the population is more than 16 million. The population of Jizhou ranks among the top five among the thirteen states in the world, with a population of about 2.5 million, which is only the output of Zhang Laogen's village. If you can grasp this law in your hands, wouldn't it mean that you can control the lifeblood of most of the people in the world?

Yuan Shao's heart was struggling violently, but Zhang Laogen looked at Yuan Shao fearlessly. In the end, Yuan Shao knew that he had no way to force Zhang Laogen to hand over this method, so he nodded and said in a deep voice: "Okay, I will also agree to your request, you can talk about the third request." ”

Zhang Laogen compared Yuan Shao and Yuan Chang in his heart, Yuan Shao wanted to force him in order to get the method of salt making, and he hesitated for so long to see that he was not afraid to give up, but Yuan Chang did not hesitate to hand over the salt making method to their village, and it was already clear which was better and which was inferior.

Zhang Laogen did not hesitate, and said directly: "Xiaomin's third request is to hope that Lord Assassin Shi will not let officials interfere with Xiaomin's transactions with merchants from other states, so that Xiaomin can obtain the maximum profit." ”

"Okay, I'll promise you. ”

The method of salt production is not available, and it is useless to interfere with Zhang Laogen's transactions with merchants. Moreover, Zhang Laogen's transactions with businessmen from other states can also allow wealth to flow into Jizhou, which is also beneficial to Jizhou's economy, and Yuan Shao naturally will not disagree.

"In this way, I have thanked Lord Thorn Shi, Xiao Min has brought 400 stone salt to Lord Thorn Shi this time. This salt is being placed in the inn, and Lord Thorn Shi is asked to send someone to fetch it with Xiaomin. ”

After Zhang Laogen and Luo San left, the house fell silent.

After a while, Yuan Shao looked at Feng Ji and said in a deep voice: "Yuan Tu, you send spies to monitor Zhang Laogen, you must obtain this method." ”

Of course, Yuan Shao would not give up the method of obtaining salt lightly, and Feng Ji, Xu You, and Xun Chen seemed to know that Yuan Shao would be like this, and they were not surprised.

Xun Chen looked at the direction in which Zhang Laogen left, but he was pondering in his heart, what was he doing this for? He didn't ask Yuan Shao for any benefits, could it be for these three requests? No matter which assassin he was looking for, he would definitely agree. Xun Chen knew that it was not so simple, he believed that sooner or later, his true purpose would be revealed, and he just needed to continue to wait for that day to come.