The salt merchants in Yangzhou are even more profitable than the maritime merchants who are in the limelight now, they don't need the imperial court to open dumping grounds for them, and the whole Ming Dynasty is a huge market.

Everyone has to eat salt, even animals have to find a way to get salt, the market is as big as the demand, and the market is as profitable as it is.

Since it was decided to set up the imperial court's own factory, it was necessary to set up a hierarchy to arrange officials, and also recruit people to work. The more important thing is to appease the salt merchants and let them give up this hereditary monopoly golden rice bowl.

The four words hereditary monopoly are like a glittering signboard, and no one is willing to give it up.

Hou Xuanyan decided to stay in Yangzhou for a few days and completely deal with this matter before leaving for Beijing.

Liao Jingqing was not angry because he was not promoted for five years, after all, five years in officialdom is not a long time, and the Yangzhou prefect is also a promising position.

Starting early in the morning, accompanied by Liao Jingqing, Hou Xuanyan inspected the city of Yangzhou twice, and it was already sunset. The early autumn in Jiangnan was still raging with high temperatures, and Hou Xuanyan's back was wet and he settled in front of Dongguan Street.

After Hou Xuanyan dismounted, he stopped at a teahouse and said, "Just drink a cup of tea here and rest your feet." ”

After walking around Yangzhou, under the introduction of Liao Jingqing, he has a preliminary understanding of the current situation in Yangzhou. All kinds of courtyards and mansions are spread over the most prosperous streets, and they are not far behind the palace, although they do not occupy as much as the palace, but the courtyards that cost a lot of money, have white walls and green tiles, and are stacked with mountains and greenery. These are the leaders of the two Huai salt merchants, and the real estate in Yangzhou can be seen in the extravagance.

The teahouse is located in Dongguan Street in Yangzhou, which is an important place for land and water transportation, and there are many merchants who come and go. Qin He and the others stayed outside a private room, and after Hou Xuanyan sat down, he shouted: "Serve tea!" ”

After a while, the store brought tea, and Hou Xuanyan's eyes lit up, and it turned out to be a fair girl with three rounds of undergarments. The girl's action of pouring tea is not slow, revealing a sense of rhythm and beauty, and the voice is a sweet and greasy Wu Nong's soft words, Hou Xuanyan can't help but look at it twice, no wonder this teahouse business is so good.

The girl noticed his eyes and said with a sweet smile: "Uncle, the tea has been poured, please drink it slowly." After saying that, he bowed and withdrew.

Hou Xuanyan's face was bitter, he touched his chin and really got stubble, and said curtly: "Salt making and selling salt is a big business related to people's livelihood, and it really can't be concentrated in the hands of a small group of people. ”

Liao Jingqing's eyes lit up when he heard this, he had not been an official in Yangzhou for a long time, but he had already felt the power of the salt merchants. He didn't dare to say more, just hugged his fists and said, "The prince is famous." ”

It is no exaggeration to say that the Lianghuai is the world of salt merchants, who have grabbed amazing wealth and naturally have huge energy.

At the beginning of Hou Xuanyan's uprising, he relied on them to raise him, and his old father-in-law, the Gu family, held a large amount of salt in Lianghuai, although now the main business of the Gu family has been transferred to the factory of Siling, and the main source of income is also shipping, but the salt is still a pillar for them.

"Although it's a bit unkind, but the salt must be brought back, I think it's better to start with the Gu family." Hou Xuanyan took a sip of tea, the fragrance of tea was overflowing, refreshing, and it was really a good hairy tip.

Seeing that he took the initiative to mention the Gu family, Liao Jingqing knew that the prince was very determined, otherwise he would not even take back the Gu family. You must know that Hou Xuanyan's reinstatement division, the first batch of soldiers and horses are still the family members of the Gu Mansion.

It is rumored that Mrs. Gu has a good eye for heroes, and when she saw Hou Xuanyan, she exclaimed: This is really a hero.

After saying that, he bowed his head, and married his granddaughter to the big hero. The eldest lady of the Gu family is also a beauty who loves heroes, and when she saw Hou Xuanyan, she secretly promised that she would never give up.

This good story has spread far and wide, and Hou Xuanyan himself has heard of it, and he only smiled and didn't speak when he heard it.

At the beginning, Gu Youde, the old fox, was in cahoots with himself and cheated Wu Zhikui, with the intention of supporting himself to occupy Suzhou and have his own armed forces in troubled times.

This kind of thing is about to lose one's head at every turn, and no matter which force hits, the one in charge of the army will definitely die. Therefore, Suzhou Qunhao elected a Hou Xuanyan as his honor, which made him successful. As for Miss Gu's secret promise, at that time, she was still combing her pigtails and eating a pear in three bites...

In any case, the relationship between the Gu family and the emperor's father is well-known. Since the prince wants to start with the Gu family, it also shows his determination, Liao Jingqing raised his eyebrows, and his heart was quite comfortable.

As an official in Yangzhou, if he can dissolve the salt merchants and listen to the prince to return to the imperial court, then his political achievements as the prefect of Yangzhou will not be so small as several times.

Hou Xuanyan looked at his pride, he was angry, he was hungry for a long time and ate a table of dishes without salt, but he still remembered it.

"Let's go, let's go out for a walk, and let's take a look at the night view of Yangzhou near the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Liao Jingqing looked out of the window, and sure enough, it was getting dark, Hou Xuanyan had already gotten up, and Liao Jingqing hurriedly followed.

Neither of them wore official clothes, even Qin He and other personal soldiers were in civilian clothes, Yangzhou City was full of people, and more than a thousand guards mixed into the crowd to secretly protect them, and they all hid in the flow of people.

"Uncle walks slowly."

With a crisp and nice smile, Hou Xuanyan turned his head and glared at her viciously, turned around and left.

Led the horse across a wooden bridge over the canal, there should not have been many people in the evening, but there were more people on the street near the Mid-Autumn Festival.

There were many people in front of them, and there was the occasional sound of laughter, mixed with a few words of woman's voice.

Hou Xuanyan was overjoyed, here! It's finally here, isn't this just a scene of flirting with the people's daughters and letting Lao Tzu see that the hero saves the beauty?

Hou Xuanyan, who was full of bad taste, hurriedly led the horse and walked forward, and the guards in the secret inadvertently squeezed through the crowd and made a way for him.

I saw a blue tile and white wall in front, a small courtyard with a plaque on the lintel, the handwriting was beautiful, and it was written with three big characters of "Yueyan Building".

Hou Xuanyan pursed his lips, it turned out to be a green building, although this place looks very elegant, but the old driver Hou Xuanyan knows that the high-end green buildings in this era are so elegant that it is outrageous.

As soon as Hou Xuanyan wanted to leave, he saw a little girl walking out of front of the door, with picturesque eyebrows, a pretty face crimson, hands on her waist, and pointed to the person in front of her angrily and said: "My young lady was pardoned by the prince himself, you people are still talking nonsense here, are you questioning the prince?" ”

When Hou Xuanyan heard that he had his own business, he turned his head to take a closer look, this little girl was very angry, and she didn't recognize it.

At this time, a boy in a brocade coat and a fan in the crowd, with a slightly fat body, insisted on pretending to be elegant, and it was difficult for him.

"Little lady, don't scare people with the name of the prince, who doesn't know that the prince hates traitors the most, your lord is the No. 1 traitor in Tianzi, how can the prince protect the traitor's family.

You still settled in our Yangzhou and opened this Yueyan Building, and you are so arrogant when you come out to laugh, why don't you let us in? ”

Only then did Hou Xuanyan realize that it was this group of people who wanted to come in to consume and were turned away.

Although the little girl is young, she is smart and spicy, and she does not fall behind in the face of a group of men, and she said coquettishly: "Phew, you group of vain and prodigal anointing children still want to come to our Yueyan Building." My young lady said that only old friends and talented people are welcome here, and those who want to buy laughter are looking elsewhere. ”

A slightly sad voice came from inside the courtyard gate: "Forget it, close the door, and ignore these people." ”

Hou Xuanyan felt a little familiar, and when someone came out, he suddenly realized that it was her.

This woman wore a moon-white white silk skirt and pulled a snow bun, with a charm like three autumn osmanthus and June diamonds.

When the group of Anointed Rice disciples saw her deity, they immediately lost their arrogance just now, and said with a smile: "We are also the name of Mrs. Jiumu, why are you so cruel to us?" ”

Hou Xuanyan couldn't stand it anymore, he walked out of the crowd and kicked this fat man's ass, after so many years of fighting, he had a lot of strength, and this kick was a prodigal who was hollowed out by wine, and fell to the ground.

The little girl who had blocked the door and tongue battle group "Confucian" was happy, clapped her hands and smiled: "What is Lu Gongzi doing, it's not a New Year's Day, and there is no red envelope for you to do this big gift." ”

The chubby Lu Gongzi got up, and the servants around him rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward, making him a little bolder, and grinned and scolded: "Where are you a bastard, do you know who I am?" ”

Before Hou Xuanyan could speak, Liu Ru was already like a ghost, and her face turned red. She was too familiar with the person in front of her, and she appeared in her nightmares several times, and every time she thought about it, she was embarrassed.

Hou Xuanyan's face was cold, the person who had been in the top position for a long time couldn't breathe, and Lu Gongzi's arrogant eyebrows and eyes gradually became dodgy, and he almost didn't dare to look at him directly.

The prince who was killed by the sea of corpses and blood, a glance at others would make people tremble.

"Get out!"

Lu Gongzi was like being amnestied, he turned around and ran away with trembling legs, and the thugs around him also fled when they saw it.

Qin He slowly let go of the hand holding the hilt of the knife and continued to stand silently behind him.

Liu Ru looked at him with a complicated expression, this person was his husband-killing enemy, but he was also a person who had seen himself naked.

At the age of fourteen, she married a bachelor Zhou who was over the age of sixteen as a concubine, and later experienced several men, but she didn't have the feeling of facing Hou Xuanyan.

The people around him who watched the excitement didn't know his identity, and they were all pointing fingers.

"This uncle is so angry, he scared away the hateful Lu San'er just by looking at it." The little girl clapped her hands and praised, Hou Xuanyan smiled bitterly, she must shave her beard next time she goes out.

Ignoring another little girl who said he was old in disguise, Hou Xuanyan turned around and said: "When Qian Qianyi descended to the Qing Dynasty, Liu Ru once blocked it, which can be regarded as a national integrity, so the king forgave her sins." In the future, whoever comes to make trouble will take my words inappropriately, and a group of good sons and daughters will not work hard to improve, and they will know how to bully women every day. ”

Everyone listened to his very loud tone and chirped to discuss, Liao Jingqing stood up and said: "I am the prefect of Yangzhou, and this is the regent of the emperor's father." ”

With a bang, the people came to their senses, their eyes were full of excitement, and they looked at Hou Xuanyan in front of them.

The little girl covered her mouth, waiting for her eyes to be round, in disbelief.

Hou Xuanyan said angrily: "Go get a pair of pen and ink, I will write you a talisman, and you won't have to fight evil in the future." ”

The little girl hurriedly entered the house, jumped and took out the pen and ink, Hou Xuanyan picked up the pen and wrote: Uninvited guests, please stay away.

The surrounding people followed his pen and read it out, and Liu Ru went up to thank him for the first two rounds: "Thank you, Lord Wang..."

Hou Xuanyan smiled lightly, turned around and left, with a sigh in his heart, this is also a woman in troubled times.

Liu Ru looked at his back and took a few deep breaths before calming down. The look in his eyes gradually relaxed, and he let go of a period of thought, and the whole person was a lot more relaxed. From now on, Tianya is a passerby, and if there is no half-hearted relationship, maybe you will never see each other.

Liao Jingqing looked like he was watching gossip, and when he saw Hou Xuanyan leaving, he couldn't help but be disappointed.

He hurriedly followed, and said while the fire was on fire: "That Lu Gongzi just now, the third son of Lu Guanan, a big salt merchant in Yangzhou, relied on the family's money and acted very arrogantly. ”

Hou Xuanyan stopped and scolded: "You are the prefect of Yangzhou, if he is a traitor, you will send someone to take him." Otherwise, what do you tell me, is this king still responsible for the security of Yangzhou? ”

Liao Jingqing hurriedly confessed and said: "What the prince taught me is that the lower officials know that they are wrong. ”

"In the future, learn to be smarter, seek more great wisdom for others, and think less carefully."

"The lower official has been taught."

After experiencing this, Hou Xuanyan felt a little tired, and he didn't have the heart to visit Yangzhou again.

After returning to the temporary mansion, under the crimson light, a slender girl stood in the hall with a smile.

Hou Xuanyan exclaimed: "Why are you here?" ”

"The master is reluctant to return to Beijing, so Yao'er has to come to you." The elixir stuck out the tip of his tongue and said playfully.

Hou Xuanyan took her into his arms with a smile, touched his small head dotingly, and said, "I have something to do in Yangzhou, can't you wait?" ”

"We've been preparing for so long, Yao'er thought that the master had other thoughts."

Hou Xuanyan knew that she was worried about her becoming emperor, and this matter was already a certainty, of course she would not change her mind at this time, which would make her henchmen feel cold.

Although the elixir and her father were not the most attentive, they were also in the top few, and seeing that Hou Xuanyan stayed in Yangzhou, she couldn't help but come in person.

Hou Xuanyan said that he was going to take back the salt introduction, and the elixir seemed a little noncommittal, his master's attainments in this area were far more advanced than himself, as long as he followed him.

Hou Xuanyan was also very happy, no matter what the reason was, the arrival of the elixir made it easier for her to deal with the matter of salt introduction, because now many things were done by her.

"The master has walked for a day, and Yao'er is waiting for you to wash your feet." The elixir slipped out of his arms and jumped forward to fetch water.

"Alas. Take back the salt lead, this thing is a bit unauthentic. Hou Xuanyan sat on the chair and frowned and muttered.

Of course, he is just talking, and the last thing an empire needs is a moral model. With the recovery of Shenyang, the Manchu royal family was put to a boil, war was no longer the main contradiction, and the hand of the imperial court should begin to dominate the direction of economic development.

Although those salt merchants funded the Northern Expedition at the beginning, they did not completely make up their minds, and dividends according to shares would only make them earn a little less.

Thinking of this, Hou Xuanyan nodded and comforted himself: "You are still very kind..."

Genius one second to remember the address of this site:.手机版Reading URL:m.