The process of persuading Yang Guozhong was far easier than imagined, Yang Guozhong came to the Lady of Qin's mansion at noon, and at the banquet, when Wang Yuan told the secret of the salt lake, the greedy light in Yang Guozhong's eyes betrayed his heart.

After Wang Yuanhe revealed the plan of smuggling salt, although he kept muttering that the risk of merging the smuggling salt into the imperial court salt monopoly was too great, and he was afraid that he would be severely punished if the matter was revealed, he knew better than anyone that the benefits of this matter were great.

Yang Guozhong started in the position of Tobe Duzhilang, and he was well aware of the imperial court's financial and tax revenues. He knows how much income salt brings to Datang every year. Last year alone, salt alone brought six million yuan of income to the imperial court. This is the net income excluding all aspects of salt production, transportation, sales and so on. If calculated in terms of the total amount, it is definitely more than 10 million. Yang Guozhong wanted to make a fortune from it for a long time, but because the seaside salt pans of the imperial court were regulated, and the salt wells and salt mines in various places had already been registered, and the amount of salt produced and sold each year was very clear, so he really couldn't move his hands and feet. But if what Wang Yuan said about Yantian is true, Yang Guozhong has a way to get a high amount of windfall profits from it.

In Yang Guozhong's view, the method was extremely simple, and Yang Guozhong could reduce the annual output of salt on the surface of the imperial court by closing the salt mine in Yanjing. However, the total demand for salt in the Tang Dynasty will not change, but will increase every year due to the increase in population and livestock. Yang Guozhong was able to mix the salt in the salt lake through government channels and sell it. This will not cause a crisis of salt shortage, and it will be able to cut a large piece of the big cake fiercely. This is like using the means of the imperial court to forcibly sell these private salts, and the profits will not be handed over to the state treasury. Because of the decrease in the total salt production after the closure of the Yanjing Salt Mine in the general accounts, the decrease in the imperial court's income from salt affairs is understandable, and the imperial court cannot be held accountable.

Of course, the closure of salt wells and salt mines is a technical issue, and it is necessary to close salt wells and salt mines for no reason. For example, the closure of salt wells in Shanxi, which produce 500,000 stone a year, may require some minor rumors. For example, if someone in the village near the salt well is poisoned and becomes ill after eating this salt, the household department can naturally immediately launch an investigation, confirm the salt well as a poisonous salt well, immediately seal the soil and close it, and stop salt mining. A more direct solution is to let the salt wells deep underground collapse or permeate the water, which will solve the problem more conveniently. In short, there are many ways to close the salt well, Yang Guozhong can think about it casually, there are several kinds, just let the household secretary Zhang Qiu and Qiong do it, Zhang Qiu and Qiong will be more obedient than a dog.

But the key question is whether the salt lake that Wang Yuan said really produces salt, and second, whether Wang Yuan can take Bison City; Third, how to divide the accounts of the two Deli? These are real problems for Yang Guozhong.

Once these practical issues were involved, Wang Yuan knew that things were about to succeed. As he knows, although Yang Guozhong is the prime minister of the left, he still can't change the market spirit that has climbed up from a small person. Greedy and calculating.

Wang Yuan answered Yang Guozhong's three questions one by one. The first question didn't need to be answered, Wang Yuan only needed to take out a small packet of snow-white minced salt and let Yang Guozhong dip it and taste it.

"This is the salt from the refined salt lake. Look at it, it is as bright as crystal white as snow, and more importantly, the taste is very delicious. The coarse salt we eat has a bitter taste, while this salt has an umami taste. If you don't believe it, you can taste it. Wang Yuan pointed to the small puddle of salt and smiled.

It was the first time for Yang Guozhong and Mrs. Qin Guo to see this kind of refined powdered fine salt, and when they heard this, they dipped a few grains into their mouths suspiciously, nodded almost at the same time, and let out a satisfied exclamation.

"Is this really salt from a salt lake?" Yang Guozhong asked uncomfortably with the salty taste in his mouth.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "What does Zuo Xiang think of me, can I deceive you in this matter?" What's in it for me to make up a story for you? ”

Yang Guozhong nodded and said: "If it is all this kind of salt, the price will probably be higher and the profit will be greater." Congratulations, you've really found the cornucopia. ”

Wang Yuan said: "I can't give you an answer to the question of whether you can take Bison City." I can only say that no one can guarantee the outcome of such a war, and I can only say that I do my best. Especially after you gave me a lot of rags, I don't dare to say that I will definitely be able to take Bison City and control the salt lake. ”

Yang Guozhong laughed and said, "I knew you were going to mention this stubble." The rags I gave you are to protect your Jiannan Army. You must know that almost your Jiannan Army will be the main force to attack the Tibetans. You should be grateful to me. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "I don't blame you. I want whatever the left minister gives me, and I haven't complained about it once. The left minister did not even write a letter to explain the matter. When Zuo Xiang said this, I really want to thank Zuo Xiang for giving me those rags. Maybe Zuo Xiang gave me some good blades and armor, and I don't know if I made great contributions on the battlefield against the Tibetans. But it seems that Zuo Xiang feels that this credit should be given to Wang Zhonghe, not me, Wang Yuan. ”

Yang Guozhong sneered in a low voice: "Wang Yuan, Wang Yuan, you also have a time to wander." Do you really think that Li Linfu and I suddenly joined forces to launch Wang Zhonghei to fight against the Tubo people as a gift to him? I might as well make it clear to you that Wang Zhongsi has no good fruit to eat this time. When he is defeated, I will impeach him, and then you will have to write a recital to impeach. ”

Wang Yuan's heart was moved, and in a few words, he finally figured out the original reason for this matter, it turned out that Yang Guozhong really joined forces with Li Linfu to deal with Wang Zhonghei.

"Is Prime Minister Zuo saying that Wang Zhongsi is going to be defeated this time?"

"Hmph, no matter whether you win or lose, Wang Zhongsi doesn't want to go back to the capital again. You don't have to ask, just follow me when the time comes. You don't have to open the topic, I also agree with what you said about the plan to raid Bison City while Wang Zhongsi and the Tubo people are fighting, I only ask you how sure you are. Don't be defeated at that time, you won't be able to get the salt, but you will lose your strength and be criticized in the court. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Okay, I'll reassure Zuo Xiang, I'm ten percent sure of winning Bison City." If you can't take it, the left minister impeached me. ”

"What's that called?" Yang Guozhong frowned.

"I believe that Wang Yuan can take Bison City. When the crusade against Nanzhao was so difficult, Wang Yuan didn't take it in one fell swoop. You don't believe in him now, cousin, why did you believe him then? Mrs. Qin Guo said.

Yang Guozhong thought for a while and said: "That's it, I won't ask about this matter, if you can't take it, you don't have the ability, you want to make a lot of money, but you don't have that ability, it's no wonder that I don't have that ability." If I take control of the salt lake, and I can sell these gods for money without knowing it, how can we divide the account? ”

Wang Yuan knew that this was the point, and Yang Guozhong was actually most concerned about this.

"Four-six, I'm six, you're four." Wang Yuandao.

"What?" Yang Guozhong almost dropped the cup, who dared to take advantage of him when he shared the money with him, this Wang Yuan was simply crazy.

"It's impossible, I'm six, you're four. You know, if I can't sell this salt for money, it's waste, and it's not good to pave roads and fill holes. Do you know how much risk I have to take to include illicit salt in the sale of official salt? This is a crime of beheading. Yang Guozhong roared.

Wang Yuan said: "Prime Minister Zuo's words are wrong, and we share the risk." The matter was revealed, the left prime minister was beheaded, will I keep my head? Zuo Xiang didn't want to think about how much risk I had to take if I wanted to attack Bison City and defend there. Maybe I'll kill myself if I keep flying feathers while attacking Bison City. When it comes to risk, no one is much less than the other. I discovered this salt lake, and it's fair and reasonable for me to be six or four. ”

Yang Guozhong said: "Absolutely not, fifty-five accounts are my final bottom line." You don't know how much I'm going to spend on it. Do you think that all my share of the money is mine? Zhangqiu and Qiong don't gag Yicheng's mouth? Don't give money to the people who do the work below? My Yang family's final hand will not be higher than thirty percent. ”

Wang Yuan said: "Even if it is thirty percent, it is not a small number. Zuo Xiang, you sit at home and earn millions a year, is this still comfortable? I agree to divide the account fifty-fifty, but the transport carriage and horses from Jiannan to the capital need to be provided by Zuo Xiang, and I can't pay anything for this part of the freight. The salt dug up has to be transported from the desert, and it has to be purified and boiled, and I have not yet paid for the cost of these artificial firewood and camels. I don't get much more. If I take such a big risk and I can't make a few bucks, then I won't do it. ”

One of the two is the prime minister of the left side, and the other is the envoy of the festival, but at this time, they are like two villains in the market bargaining, arguing, advancing and retreating with each other, both trying to fight for the greatest interests.

Mrs. Qin Guo couldn't cry or laugh on the side, so she had to mediate on the side, and finally reached an agreement. The two sides split the account in five-fifty, and all expenses are shared equally by both parties. The Yang family first took out 300,000 yuan to pay the early expenses. Wang Yuan was responsible for transporting the salt out of the desert for purification and packaging, and Mrs. Qin Guo would order someone to set up a carriage and horse shop in Chengdu to be responsible for transporting the finished salt back to the capital. The rest of the matter was handed over to Yang Guozhong to sell through the salt monopoly channel of the household department.

The moment the agreement was reached, the two immediately returned to their modest and gentlemanly appearances, toasting each other as if there had never been an argument. Common interests can resolve all contradictions, not to mention that the two are not only common economic interests at this time, but also have common political interests, which are impossible to talk about and solve.