The news that the imperial court was going to take back the salt quotation spread, and the two Huai were shaken, and more than 20 salt merchant giants gathered in Yangzhou, waiting for the final news.

If the news is true, the business they relied on to rival the rich will be completely history.

Yangzhou City is very lively, these rich salt merchants arrive, often a group of slaves, the usually idle courtyards are also full of people, and the major restaurants are often full.

Located in the middle of the mountainside, Heyuan is the best in the world-famous Yangzhou courtyard, full of strange rocks and strange flowers and plants, but it does not seem chaotic and abrupt, and the mountain stream and clear spring slowly flow down are really unforgettable.

The owner of this garden is surnamed Xiao, who is one of the most famous salt merchant giants in Yangzhou City, and specially set up a banquet here to entertain the big salt merchants of Lianghuai. The beautiful women in the green buildings and the "thin horses" brought by the wealthy businessmen are also embellishments.

Regardless of whether there was business competition in the past, it is the same crisis period for them now, maybe Hou Xuanyan's fluttering words will completely bring an end to their daily business of making money.

Under a pavilion in the garden, the merchants who left their entourage gathered together, leaving only a few maids to pour water and wait, and the host said: "In Xia Xiao Luoyuan, welcome to our village, I believe everyone knows the purpose of our gathering, so I won't say more." At the time of crisis, Yu needs our sincere unity, I don't know what you have in mind? ”

"Brother Xiao is right, it is rumored that the imperial court wants to take back the salt introduction, and the salt introduction is our lifeline, and what will happen to us after taking it back. There are a lot of family businesses present, and there are thousands of people to feed, if there is no salt introduction, I am afraid that I will dismiss the people under my hands in a gray manner, and be an old rich man to eat the mountain empty. ”

It was a middle-aged man with a gray fur hat on his head who spoke, and as soon as the words fell, it resonated, and everyone nodded yes.

"When the prince started, it was our people who paid taxes and donated, and this is why we have the earliest 20,000 righteous masters. Later, the Jinling Army, almost all of the food and clothing were taken from you and me, Jingyou suffered a disaster in Sichuan and Shu in the first year, and the military disaster was connected, and it was we who used the convoy to transport the grain from the south of the Yangtze River to Sichuan and Shu step by step, which saved the lives of millions of Sichuan people. At the beginning, the prince swore an oath, patted his chest and said that those who transport grain can receive salt, and the words are still in his ears. Now that we are going to take back our salt in one sentence, isn't this a clear bully? ”

"Hehe, what's wrong with bullying people, which of you has the courage to do it against the prince... It's not a man, I'm a fish, alas! ”

"The Gu family in Suzhou has two or three percent of the salt in their hands, and the sum of us is just about the same as their Gu family, why don't you find the Gu family to come out of this kind of thing?"

"Yes, the identities of you and me, no matter how big the grievances are, can they reach the ears of the prince?"

Everyone said a word, and finally said that the Gu family was on the head, Xiao Luoyuan snorted coldly and said: "The Gu family has a close relationship with the imperial court, and we have long been out of our eyes, I invited the Gu family to come to the party before, and they agreed, but they didn't come today." We people have no power or power, what can we do? ”

Under Hou Xuanyan's business tax policy, it is easy for a businessman to make money, but it is too difficult to develop his own power. The imperial court relaxed restrictions on merchants, untying the shackles that bound their hands and feet, allowing them to use their talents in the mall to their heart's content, but not to operate in other fields.

Everyone was helpless, and the absence of the Gu family made the shadow over their heads even greater.

At this time, Gu Shouye really had a bitter face, and was pulled by Hou Xuanyan in the house, eagerly talking about family life.

Hou Xuanyan's father-in-law, a traditional businessman, did not attach much importance to the family's Sitsubishi factory, but was more inclined to the sale of salt.

After hearing the rumors, his first thought was to come to Yangzhou, no matter what other people's families do, he had to plead with his son-in-law.

Xiao Luoyuan's invitation was sent to the Gu family, and the old lady Gu didn't care much about these things, so Gu Shouye came to Yangzhou without telling him. As soon as he entered Yangzhou, a spy told Hou Xuanyan, and he was immediately visited by Hou Xuanyan, and before Gu Shouye could speak, Hou Xuanyan talked endlessly about national economics.

One country and one court, Gu Shouye's head was big when he heard it, and he didn't dare to refute it. In the end, Hou Xuanyan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Uncle Yue, you must support your son-in-law, and our Gu family must also set an example." ”

Gu Shouye gritted his teeth and nodded, Hou Xuanyan laughed and praised his father-in-law, who was really enough to support his work. also enthusiastically dragged him to stay in the house to eat, and talked about Gu Ling'er's affairs, and refused to mention the matter of salt introduction.

Gu Shouye had words of suffering, and he couldn't show too much bitterness when he was pulled by Hou Xuanyan, and he had to laugh dryly twice from time to time.

Halfway through the meal, Hou Xuanyan suddenly said: "Father-in-law, did you come to Yangzhou this time to participate in Xiao Luoyuan's party?" ”

Gu Shouye nodded Muran, suddenly reacted, raised his head and looked at Hou Xuanyan in surprise.

"Haha, my subordinates told me that Xiao Luoyuan had gathered a group of wealthy merchants in his courtyard to discuss the matter of Yanyin. I found out that our Gu family is also involved in salt transportation, and there should be an invitation card too. ”

Gu Shouye's heart was still dripping blood at this time, and he didn't hide it when he heard this, sighed and said: "After all, it's a money-making business, which businessman doesn't care." ”

"Since everyone is so concerned, let's go, let's go to Heyuan, and we will meet these rich people for a while." After Hou Xuanyan finished speaking, he got up, pulled his father-in-law with a confused face, and boarded the carriage to go to Heyuan.

Gu Shouye is a traditional businessman, different from his father Gu Youde, and he can't adapt to his son-in-law's style of acting at all. Gu Youde and Hou Xuanyan are together, often a look is worth a thousand words, and they have a deep tacit understanding with each other.

A thousand guards escorted Hou Xuanyan to the famous Heyuan in Yangzhou City, and the disciples at the entrance of the garden did not dare to stop this uninvited guest.

Hou Xuanyan got out of the carriage, took his father-in-law with him, and led the way by the people of the Yuan and went straight to the pavilion where the wealthy merchants were.

This matter is placed on other people in power, it is impossible to go on this trip at all, a group of businessmen who have no soldiers and no power, and only Hou Xuanyan will personally convince them.

He wanted to change the perception of merchants in this era, and make the whole of China full of "small shopkeepers" and "factory owners", so that the market dumping land he had worked so hard to build would have its usefulness.

A group of merchants in the pavilion are eating, waterway eight treasures, delicacies and delicious food, worthy of being the oligarchy of Yangzhou's salt industry.

The sudden arrival of the soldiers and horses made them panic, and Hou Xuanyan slowly walked out under the arch guard of the guards.