For a long time, in addition to copper coins, the Tang Dynasty court almost did not monopolize any industry, nor did it compete with the people for profit, that is, did not engage in any trading, so before, the people sold salt, merchants sold salt, that is a very normal phenomenon, the court only levies city tax, even customs duties are not levied, the economy was not developed at that time, the role of the canal is to transport grain from the south of the Yangtze River to Chang'an, collect tariffs, but also play with themselves, but also waste manpower and material resources.

That is, it is legal to sell anything. Of course, if you want to sell contraband such as weapons, then it is not smuggling, it is looking for death.

The Sui and Tang dynasties are in the same vein, and they are all like this, so the smuggled things are very distant things in the hearts of the people of the Tang Dynasty. People buy illicit salt now, but they don't actually feel that they are buying illicit salt, because it has always been like this before, and there is no such concept, of course, which one is cheaper to buy.

Li Yifu's straw bale didn't even understand the economy, and he didn't think of it at all, so when he heard the word "smuggling", his first reaction was to be stunned.

But then he just broke out in a cold sweat and collapsed in his chair, at a loss.

Han Yi played very well this time, he didn't give Li Yifu a way to live, he had been hoarding goods in the past few years, anyway, what the imperial court mainly operated, he would store any goods, especially salt, he had a long time ago, he secretly developed salt pans by the sea, the salt workers are all Kunlun slaves, hard-working, well-behaved and obedient, and they don't know how to speak Chinese, it's just perfect, the boat is parked on the beach, as long as someone comes to catch it, go directly to the boat and run away. His salt had already been transported to the mainland, and when the goods of the imperial court were sent to various prefectures and counties, he began to bulk goods in large areas, and it was not much cheaper than the goods of the imperial court, just a little cheaper, which was very much for the people.

He knew that the court was gambling on his life when he played like this, and as long as the funds couldn't go back, it would be miserable.

Li Yifu thought that this salt and iron wine would definitely be sold, and after the monopoly, the price would be higher, and it would definitely make money, so he almost exhausted the treasury and went to run the official camp. Now, however, the funds cannot be recovered, and there is another debt here.

As far as Li Yifu's IQ was concerned, he didn't know what to do at all, so he hurriedly crawled to find the Xuanji Daoist.

"I see, I see."

Xuanji Daoist frowned and said: "Poor Dao said, why hasn't this money been returned for a long time, it turns out that someone is engaged in smuggling." ”

Li Yifu now believes in the Xuanji Daoist and says, "Daoist, you can save me!" ”

Xuanji said: "Li Zhongshu should not be in a hurry, since the cause of the disease is found, as long as the right medicine is prescribed, Li Zhongshu hurriedly asked the local government to crack down on smuggling, but if there is smuggling, it must be severely punished and must not be tolerated." ”

Liu Yuanzhen said anxiously: "But now that the money can't be returned, the household department can't explain it, in case it stabs His Majesty, .......!" ”

He didn't dare to continue.

Xuanji Daoist groaned slightly, and said: "Don't panic, if this matter is really investigated, no one will be able to escape the involvement." Li Zhongshu, you go and talk to them, let them have some more time, and don't think about Your Majesty's report, hide this matter, and promise them that the money will definitely arrive next year, and the poor Dao thinks that they will help you hide it, after all, it is better to die together than to live together. ”

Li Yifu said: "But where does this money come from? ”

Xuanji said: "Collect next year's taxes in advance. ”

"Huh?"

Li Yifu was a little stupid when he heard it, and said, "But I don't have the right to tax!" ”

Xuanji said: "This is very simple, you only need to order all the states and counties to pay all the salt taxes, after all, the goods have been sent, it stands to reason that they should also send the money back, and if there is smuggling, they themselves are duty-bound, and then hint from the side that they can collect next year's taxes, and they will definitely do it." As long as next year's taxes are collected, then we can help the treasury through this difficulty, and if we crack down on those smugglers, the money will come back soon, and then next year's taxes will be able to be earned, after all, those goods are still there, and that is money. In this way, even if His Majesty finds out, he won't blame you. ”

Li Yifu nodded, he had no other choice at this time, if this hole could not be filled, he would be finished, so it was better to gamble again.

This kind of mentality is too common in the business world, and if the funds cannot be turned, they will take risks, and everyone is like this at this time, thinking that as long as this hole is plugged, everything will be fine.

But this wave has not settled, and it has risen again and again.

The decree to crack down on smuggling and taxation had just been issued, and the news of the arrival of the caravan from the northwest had already reached Chang'an.

"What caravan?"

Li Yifu's head is now dizzy, and his reaction is very slow.

Liu Yuanzhen hurriedly informed Li Yifu of the ins and outs of this caravan.

After Li Yifu heard this, he recalled for a while before he remembered that there was such a thing, because this trade was mainly between merchants and merchants, and the imperial court was just a guarantor, where would he remember, he jumped up angrily, "This is what Han Yi did at the beginning, you let them go to Yangzhou to find Han Yi, what are you doing in Chang'an, you send someone to tell them, let them go back, we can't afford it now." ”

Liu Yuanzhen has no choice, there is indeed no money.

They have no money, but if they don't sell these goods, they won't even have their lives, so many goods are transported, and they have traveled a long way to come here, you let me go back, how can it be so easy, and this is not ordinary trade, it is about the trade of the entire northwest region, and now the northwest is taken over by merchants, once the economy collapses, then everything is over, and it must be reshuffled.

Wu Kelie ignored them, and went straight to Chang'an, we signed a contract in advance, you let me go back, why don't you die.

This man is here, so I can't see him!

Li Yifu asked Liu Yuanzhen to meet them, in the eyes of Li Yifu, businessmen are inferior, and if you are still a businessman in the northwest, it will be even more humble, so he will not meet them in person.

"Didn't you receive a letter from the Imperial Court?"

When Liu Yuanzhen saw Wu Kelie, they asked.

Wu Kelie said: "We have received the letter, but we can't do this, we signed the contract at the beginning, you can't regret it with a word!" ”

Liu Yuanzhen said: "You are signing a contract with those merchants, not a contract with the imperial court. ”

Wu Kelie said: "But now we can't find those merchants at all, and when the contract was signed at that time, it was guaranteed by the imperial court, and we can only find the imperial court now." ”

"What court? It's Han Yi who does it! ”

"But Han Yi was originally a secretary of the household department, and he represented the imperial court, not himself."

"I don't know about this, in short, don't come to the imperial court, you go to the two cities and see if you can sell it, anyway, the imperial court can't buy so many goods now."

Two cities?

Retail?

Wu Kelie was almost amused by Liu Yuanzhen's IQ, I have so many goods, you let me retail, I just live here.

"This is not good, if you don't keep the contract, how can we go back and explain to the herdsmen in the northwest."

"How do I know this, I still have something to do, so I won't accompany me."

"Wait."

But seeing a man dressed in Tuyuhun service, he stood up, stopped Liu Yuanzhen, and said, "Young Eunuch Liu, our Tuyuhun's salt is a contract signed with your court!" ”

Liu Yuanzhen glanced at it and said, "If it weren't for the help of my Datang, you Tuyuhun would have been wiped out by Tubo long ago, and you have also earned a lot of money from us over the years, and now that we are in some trouble, can't you forgive us?" ”

The man was stunned when he heard this, now that Tuyuhun is under the protection of the Tang Army, he doesn't dare to be in the Tang Dynasty!

Liu Yuanzhen left after speaking, in the eyes of these people, these are just businessmen, and they can't make any waves, in short, they are just playing with you, if you don't accept it, you bite me!

Wu Kelie and the others really wanted to take a few bites, it was too bullying.

Yigu slapped the table and got up and roared: "Raised by a son of a bitch, they are really too deceitful, since the court is so untrustworthy, then let's ignore the court, let's do it ourselves." ”

Wu Kelie also had a gloomy face, held back his anger, and said: "Don't worry, let's think of a way, no matter what, we have to sell these goods, otherwise, our entire northwest region will have to lose our lives here." ”

Yi Gu said: "Brother, you didn't hear what the surnamed Liu said, the court obviously wants to break the contract." ”

"But he is only an official, no matter what, we have to get a personal reply from His Majesty." ”

Kasimi said: "But it is said that His Majesty is in Luoyang, not in Chang'an. ”

Wu Kelie frowned slightly, and said, "In this way, I will go to Beixiang, and you will go to General Ashina and General Qibi He Li, and let them make decisions for us." ”

On the same day, Ukelie went to the north lane to find Mulberry.

"Brother Sangmu, how can this be!"

As soon as Wu Kelie saw Sangmu, he didn't say a word, and cried directly, because this is really terrible!

Sang Mu sighed: "Brother, I don't want to help you, but you don't know, now my North Lane itself is difficult to protect, I really can't help." ”

"Where's Brother Han?"

Wu Kelie said excitedly.

Sang Mu said: "Engong went home to keep filial piety, and he hasn't come back yet." ”

Wu Kelie said: "Then you quickly call him back!" ”

Sang Mu smiled bitterly: "This has to be decided by Your Majesty." ”

"Oops! How good is this, how good is this! ”

Ukelie was so anxious that tears came out again.

Sang Mu can only be comforted, he is just a manager, what can he do, he can't eat so many goods.

Seeing that Han Yi didn't leave any tricks, Wu Kelie could only leave disappointed.

As soon as he left, a person came out of the back room, it was Wu Wenxuan.

"Brother Sangmu, didn't you just ask me why I came? That's what I'm here for. ”

Wu Wenxuan said.

Sang Mu was stunned for a moment and said, "Then why didn't you say it earlier." ”

Wu Wenxuan smiled: "I'm not here to help them, I'm here to help ourselves." ”

Sang Mu said: "What do you mean?" ”

Wu Wenxuan first looked outside the door and made sure that there was no one before he said: "Engong has already learned about the situation here, Engong thinks that the gold bank is in danger at this time, if Wu Kelie and others force the imperial court to buy this batch of goods, then Li Yifu is very likely to choose to take a loan from the gold bank, can we not lend?" But the money of our gold bank is the people's money, if Li Yifu lends the money away, and then releases the news, the people will definitely come to our gold bank to withdraw money, so that the gold bank may face closure, and Li Yifu will not have to pay back this money. ”

Sang Mu was shocked into a cold sweat when he heard this, he didn't expect that there was still a killing move hidden in it, if this was the case, Jin Xing would be completely finished, and the north lane would be finished, and he said: "That Engong can have a way to deal with it." ”

Wu Wenxuan said with a smile: "The proprietor's method is that we first spread some negative news, so that the people will take the money, and then the court will come to borrow money, even if we want to borrow, we will not have the money to borrow." ”

Sang Mu nodded again and again: "Fortunately, you came, otherwise, then I would really have no shame to go to see Engong." ”

Wu Wenxuan said with a smile: "It's not that I'm smart, it's the proprietor's clever plan." ”

......

Sikong Province.

"Sikong, this is not good! This matter is set by the imperial court, now people are coming with goods, but the imperial court does not buy, and this time the trade is very important for the entire northwest, if the imperial court does not keep its promise, the northwest will be in chaos, and by that time everything that the imperial court has built in the northwest will be wiped out, and the imperial court will definitely send more troops, and the expenditure of military expenses alone will definitely be much more than this money! ”

After Qibi He Li and Ashina Mi Shot learned of this, they immediately rushed to Li Ji's place.

They are the people over there, and now they are officials in the Tang Dynasty, so of course they want to be unified, don't be divided, and they don't want to go to war with their own people. The implication is that there is only rebellion, destroying all the old accounts and starting over.

Li Jidao: "But this matter has always been done by Li Yifu, the old man ......." ”

Qi Bi He Li knows Li Ji's character too well, an old fox, if you want to play Tai Chi with him, he will kill you, jumped up directly, pointed at Li Ji and said: "Sikong, at this time, do you still plan to hide?" Okay, you just hide, if something happens then, I won't care, you go clean up yourself. ”

Ashina Mi sneered: "If this matter is not done well, you Li Ji will be my Tang Dynasty sinner for the ages." ”

After speaking, the two got up and walked outside, the prestige of the two of them in the army is very high, usually they still respect Li Ji, but it has come to this time, what kind of respect, if this matter is not solved, it will be a big mess, and they will have to come forward at that time, they did not help this time, what face do they have to go to the northwest to face their people, and they will not pay attention to them at all.

Li Ji was suddenly a little panicked, and hurriedly shouted: "What are the two generals doing, I don't care when I say it." Okay, okay, I'll go to Li Yifu and ask, you go to Haosheng to appease those businessmen, let them not worry, the court will keep its promise in a while. ”