Qin Mubai returned to the inn and prepared to take the salute and go to the barracks. Chen Yan is right, as an official of the imperial court, especially a Beijing official appointed by the emperor, he has not appeared in Xiangzhou for a few days, which is indeed a little inappropriate.

In the inn, several of the 100 horsemen guards who had been selected earlier were still waiting patiently. From the time Qin Mubai and Chen Yan went to Xiaolou, they disappeared with interest.

When he returned to the inn, the guards told Qin Mubai that King Wu had sent Yuwen Hongtai to the inn to find him, saying that there was something important. That Yuwen Hongtai was not impatient, and the guards told him that he didn't know where General Qin was, and he wanted to find someone, so he only turned over the inn, and almost dug three feet into the ground, and quarreled with these guards, saying that they "hid the truth" and did not report it.

Qin Mubai was amused when he heard it. Heizi is a straightforward guy, Li Ke explained the task, and he was focused on completing it, where would he think about anything else. On the contrary, there is no doubt that the soldiers of the hundred horsemen have always been clever and sensible.

"Then leave the guest room, and then go to the Assassin's Mansion!" Qin Mubai asked the guards to make it clear, and then went to the Assassin's Mansion together.

Yuwen Hongtai is serving as a guard in the Assassin's Mansion and leading troops to patrol. As soon as he saw Qin Mubai, he hurriedly ran over and shouted, "General Qin, I've been looking for you all day, you can't see anyone alive or dead, where have you gone?" ”

Qin Mubai and the others were amused.

"Kuroko, you stinky mouth really can't speak." Qin Mubai slapped loudly on his helmet and scolded, "What's the matter with me in such a hurry?" ”

"Hey, hey!" Yuwen Hongtai smirked innocently, "I don't know." It's just that Your Highness is looking for you in a hurry, and I'm in a hurry, so it must be something important! ”

"How could His Highness send you, a fool, out on errands, this was all Yin Yang's business in the past." Qin Mubai glanced around and said, "By the way, why haven't you seen Yin Yang and Xue Rengui recently, only you, the black guy, are hanging around in the Assassin's Mansion?" ”

"Hehe, you still know us!" Yuwen Hongtai smiled like a chrysanthemum, and said with a big grin, "If it weren't for the two of them being ordered to go to Anzhou to do business, how could they send me out to embarrass people!" ”

"Went to Anzhou?" Qin Mubai twisted his brows lightly, and suddenly realized, "Oh, yes! It's about time to pick up the princess! ”

"Wow! You've always been a genius, you guessed it right! Yuwen Hongtai exclaimed, "Your Highness has taken office in Xiangzhou, and it is not too far from Anzhou. Princess Wu has been recuperating in Anzhou, but she has been separated from His Royal Highness for a year or two, so it's time to meet! ”

"Am I old? Who did you learn this title from? Qin Mubai said disdainfully.

"O the servants of the house! Haha, they all call us that, we feel comfortable when we hear it! It's probably that Xiangzhou people are used to such a name! Yuwen Hongtai laughed.

"Patrol your sentry, nerd!" Qin Mubai scolded with a smile and went to the backyard to see Li Ke by himself.

Li Ke was in the study, and Qin Mubai had just gone in and understood what was going on, because Zheng Anshun happened to be there.

"Well, you're here." Li Ke pretended to look behind Qin Mubai and wondered, "Why are you alone, Chen Nuxia?" ”

"She's not my henchman, so how can I care about her?" Qin Mubai calmly changed the topic, "Brother Zheng is also here, there must be something important?" ”

"General Qin came just in time. Under the disappearance of important disappearance is reported to you. Zheng Anshun said, "After receiving Your Excellency's order the day before yesterday, I didn't dare to slack off, so I immediately started to carry out activities. Sure enough, as the general expected, the people from Zhengchang Grain will soon find me and contact me about the grain sale. ”

"What's the name of the person who came?" Qin Mubai asked.

"Surname Duan."

"But Duan Laoqi, who is known as the Seven Shopkeepers?"

"It's not." Zheng An said, "It's the big owner of Zhengchang Grain, Duan Rongji." ”

Qin Mubai nodded suddenly: "Yes." To meet a character like you, it should be a big boss. A small seven-storey shopkeeper, of course, is not qualified. ”

Zheng Anshun smiled slightly and said, "There is another person with him, which is a little unexpected to me. That person's surname is Ouyang, a single name Jun, and he is the big owner of Yongye Salt Fang. ”

"Heh, it's really not a division of food and salt. Your name as the eldest and youngest of the Zheng family really worked, and the Zhengchang Grain Number and Yongye Salt Mill were dispatched together. Qin Mubai said, "So, these two people have joined forces to negotiate with you?" ”

"Not bad." Zheng Anshun said, "Maybe they saw that my appetite was bigger this time, and they thought that the financial resources should not be lost, so they were in a hurry to start!" It's just that they were very cautious, and repeatedly asked me about the way of incoming and outgoing shipments, where the grain went, and how to pay for the money. And I was patient with them. But in the end, they said that they could not get 500,000 stone of grain. At most, there are only 50,000 stone lakes of white rice and 5,000 stone of good Huai salt. ”

"It's cunning enough." Qin Mubai scolded and said, "This amount of grain and Huai salt is normal for an official grain number and salt number in Shangzhou. In this way, even if they are caught by us selling these official grains and salt, the crime will not be much bigger. ”

"yes!" Li Ke also said, "Every year, the grain and salt transferred in and out of Xiangzhou Wharf are nearly 5 million stones. Most of the grain and salt were handed over to the caravans of Zhengchang Grain and Yongye Salt Mill for transshipment or sale to other places. To say that they only dare to sell tens of thousands of stones, grain, and salt privately, even I don't believe it. Because, over the years, they have covered the sky with one hand in Xiangzhou, and they have never been afraid of anyone, and Wang Fa has no binding force on them. ”

"The grain number and the grain line can also cover the sky with one hand?" Qin Mubai asked with Zheng Anshun.

"Do you think anyone can become an official firm?" Li Ke pursed his lips and said, "Duan Rongji, the big proprietor of Zhengchang Grain, was born in an old wealthy family, and is a well-known local rich gentry in Jingxiang, and the local squires have a very high reputation and appeal. Moreover, he and Sima Wei of the Assassin Mansion are brothers-in-law. Because of this relationship, the old Duan family and the Chang'an Wei family have many intermarriages, so they also have close contacts with many people in the officialdom. ”

"In addition, Ouyang Jun, the big proprietor of Yongye Salt Fang, has a bigger background. Mu Bai, do you remember Wu Meiniang's father? ”

"Samurai Tong, what's the matter with him?"

"It's a big deal." Li Ke smiled lightly at the corner of his mouth and said, "How did the warrior Tong get started, so I don't need to go into details, right?" At that time, Ouyang Jun's father was a good friend who was doing business with Wu Shi Tong, and he also funded Emperor Wude's army in his early years. Later, Samurai Tong got his wish and became one of the eight prime ministers of the Wude Dynasty because of his dragon work. Ouyang Jun's father is not as good as Wu Shi Tong, and he is not good at officialdom, so he has been unknown. However, Emperor Wude and Wu Shi Tong did not forget him and gave him the title of a viscount. But Ouyang Jun's father died soon after. As you all know, after my father ascended the throne, the warrior lost his position and invited himself to Xiangzhou to serve as a foreign official. One of the reasons is because of Ouyang Jun's invitation. Here, Wu Shi Tong, a foreign official assassin, lives well, and an important reason is because of the help of the Ouyang family. At the same time, Wu Shi Tong also used the power in his hands to make a lot of convenience for the Ouyang family, which further boosted the Ouyang family's local power. In a place like Jingxiang, there is a strong sense of xenophobia. If it weren't for the support of the Ouyang family, presumably the abdicated prime minister of Wushi Tong might not be able to enjoy his old age here for the rest of his life. Therefore, to put it mildly, it is not the Ouyang family's alliance with the martial arts family, but after the warrior Tong took the initiative to join this old man in the business world. ”

"Your Highness has spoken in great detail, and I have one or two more words to add." Zheng Anshun said, "The commercial port in Jingzhou is active and the financial resources are unlimited. Our Zheng family actually wanted to do business for a long time. But this place is simply impossible to put a needle into, and the water cannot splash it. All the merchants were led by the Ouyang family and the Duan family, and they obeyed them. Therefore, over the years, we have preferred to travel long distances to the Huyang area to collect goods, and rarely do business in the nearby port of Xiangzhou. Here, as long as Ouyang Jun sent a word, no one dared to sell us a grain or two of salt, not even the little salt lord who took the single gang. ”

"I can't imagine that the Ouyang family and the Duan family, these two local snakes, are so bullish, they don't even give your Zheng family face. This is really in response to that sentence, a strong dragon can hardly suppress the head snake. Qin Mubai said, "In this way, things are still a little tricky, I still underestimate them?" ”

"It's a bit tricky. First, Ouyang and Duan are not ordinary businessmen who are bullied, they are very powerful in the local area, and they are also very shrewd and cautious; Second, they claim that they don't have so much salt and grain, and I can't argue that they do. Therefore, the initiative is in their hands. Zheng Anshun said.

"Wait." Li Ke said, "Since they don't have so much food and salt, why did they take the initiative to come to you, could it be that they deliberately bumped into you, the eldest young master of the Zheng family, and offended your Zheng family?" It's not good for them! ”

"Your Highness is wise!" Zheng Anshun smiled slightly, "Businessmen are profit-seeking, and they are mercenary. Apparently they are trying to make money. They took the initiative to find me, and there are about two meanings. First, they wanted to show me and demonstrate that if our Zheng family wanted to do business in Xiangzhou, we could only cooperate with the two of them and act according to their faces; Second, in private, they may have such a huge amount of goods to test me! ”

"Highly likely!" Qin Mubai and Li Ke said in unison.

"And how are you going to gain their trust?"

Zheng Anshun smiled confidently: "What they suspect is nothing more than two points. First, what is the use of me asking for such a large batch of grain; The second is how I can transport such a large batch of grain. ”

"Usefulness?" Li Ke's eyes lit up and he stroked his palm, "I'll help you with this." Tomorrow, I will convene all the officials of the Assassin's Mansion to discuss the matter, and tell them that this king has received a secret order from the imperial court, ordering me to raise grain and grass in Xiangzhou, and to raise a large amount of grain after the autumn harvest this year, and transport it to the granary of the Guanzhong Imperial Court in case of emergency. ”

"Wonderful, doable." Qin Mubai said, "The imperial court wants to collect a large amount of grain, which is nothing more than to prepare for war. His Highness released such news, and they would have to guess. But since it is a 'secret order', it is a matter of social secrecy, who dares to say it? So for businessmen, they can see unlimited business opportunities! ”

"Oh, that's possible...... The only downside is that Duan Rongji will definitely take the opportunity to slaughter Zheng Anshun on food prices. Li Ke said with a smile.

"That's fine. If I can create such a hollow wind, I will be able to win Duan Rongji's trust. Zheng Anshun said, "As for the means of transshipment, it is better to solve." It was agreed later, and people were sent to several ports and wharves to deliver letters. My Zheng family has been doing business for several generations, and a few big boats can still make it up. As long as these big ships appear on the surface of the Han River, presumably Ouyang Jun and Duan Rongji will no longer be suspicious. ”

"That's wonderful!" Qin Mubai laughed heartily, "Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the two old foxes, can they still be suspicious when they see such a big movement one after another?" Ha ha! I just don't know, how big is your Zheng family's big ship, how big is it compared to the big ship known as the 'Divine Fish Spaceship' by the Xiangzhou Military Government? ”

Zheng Anshun smiled and said, "I have seen the Shenyu spaceship below, and it is a military ship transformed from a fortune ship in the Wuyue area. After the transformation, this kind of ship is sturdy, and can sail into the sea to withstand wind and waves and collisions, but the loading capacity can only be regarded as average. Most of the big ships of my Zheng family were in the area of Pong and Yeong, and the merchants traveled between Silla and Baekje, and occasionally went to Japan once or twice. Therefore, both in terms of loading capacity and sturdiness, it is slightly better than the Fu ship. ”

Li Ke couldn't help but glared in surprise: "Young Master Zheng's 'slightly win' must be a lot of wins." Let's just say it bluntly, how many times more things can be loaded on the Zheng family's big ship than on the Fu ship? ”

Zheng Anshun smiled modestly: "About ...... Twice or three times as much! ”

"I ...... Exercise! Qin Mubai scolded in his heart: The Divine Fish Spaceship is already a unique giant ship in the river, so isn't the Zheng family's ship like a ship mother? This family is really a perverted ......!

"But wouldn't such a big ship run aground in the middle of a river? Where can the wharf in Xiangzhou be berthed? Li Ke asked again.

"Your Highness is very worried." Zheng Anshun said, "Generally, these large ships walk on the sea and occasionally enter the Yangtze River. Therefore, when I consulted with Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, I said that if I transferred such a big ship, they would need to find a way to transport the goods to Jingzhou so that I could load and unload them. ”

"Yay!" Qin Mubai said, "I want to see what they use to transport such a large amount of grain and salt out of Xiangzhou!" ”

"When the time comes, General Qin will lead troops to arrest and catch thieves and stolen goods." Zheng Anshun smiled, "In this way, the strategy to lure the snake out of the hole can be regarded as successful." ”

"It's not that simple." Li Ke pursed his lips and said, "At least Qin Mubai can guarantee that there is no eyeliner of the Duan family and the Ouyang family in the Xiangzhou Military Mansion under his command, but this is obviously difficult." Duan Rongji and Sima Wei Huanchen of the Thorn History Mansion are brothers-in-law; Wei Huanchen and Du Chengyuan, the commander of the military government, are inseparable friends. In addition, coupled with Ouyang Jun's local appeal and influence, henchmen and helpers must be everywhere. I even suspect that the Xiangzhou military government has been helping them escort them all along, and it is complicit. ”

Zheng Anshun frowned: "In this way, on the contrary, we are weak?" Even if the snake is successfully lured out of the hole, it is very likely that there is no way to take the other party? Or did the wind leak in advance, and the bamboo basket was empty? ”

Qin Mubai's expression became a little more solemn, and he waved his hand and said, "Your Highness is very worried, but Brother Zheng, you don't have to worry, and follow the plan first, step by step, and slowly implement it!" I have my own way to settle the affairs in the military government. In the end, we will have to rely on the absolute power of the army to confront them. Leave this task to me! ”

Li Ke smiled and said to Zheng Anshun: "Young Master Zheng, you can rest assured." Qin Mubai rarely took the initiative to pat his chest and promise anything. But as long as he promises something, he will definitely do it. And, it's going to be beautiful! ”

Zheng Anshun glanced at Li Ke and Qin Mubai left and right, smiled, and arched his hand: "It is really a great blessing and interesting thing to cooperate with such smart people as two. Zheng, I am very honored! ”

"Qin Mubai, then it's going to be your play next." Li Ke smiled, "Don't be greedy for gentleness and forget your own business!" ”

"Covet what?" Qin Mubai smiled playfully, "My gentleness is in Chang'an." ”

"Heh, it's a pretense in front of me!" Li Ke deliberately turned his face and shouted, "You can be honest with me, and remember to please me." Otherwise, I will betray you! ”

"What did you betray me?" Qin Mubai smiled, and Zheng Anshun also smiled.

"You're still stubborn, aren't you?" Li Ke said seriously, "In case I have a quick mouth, I tell my precious royal sister about the inexplicable affair between you and a certain woman...... Hmph, that's enough for you to drink several pots! Let me tell you the truth, in fact, I am a spy who is ambushed by your side, Gao Yang has already bought me out! ”

Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun laughed together.

"Your Highness, you can be so upright and righteous as a spy, you can be regarded as unprecedented!"