Three days later, the Yamen of the Jiaolai Salt Transportation Division ushered in a rare lively scene, and nearly 100 people from Jiaozhou salt merchants gathered here, which was a rare feast in Jiaozhou's salt industry. Wang Yong didn't expect so many people to arrive, so that the original living room couldn't accommodate so many people, so he had to temporarily set up a banquet in the garden in the backyard. Fortunately, this time, the main meeting was not a dinner invitation, and Wang Yong could barely cope with it.

"Lord Liu is here!" The time was close to noon, the temperature was unbearable, and when everyone was impatient, a shout came from the door, which woke up the crowd who were still chatting, and everyone turned their heads to look at the door.

As soon as the voice fell, Liu Fan strode over in an official uniform, and the pro-soldiers behind him followed the fish and quickly took over the defense of the courtyard, separated on both sides. The atmosphere in the whole courtyard suddenly became solemn.

Liu Fan walked up the steps in the garden and said, "Welcome to this banquet!" Everyone may have heard my name, and I believe that most of them have never seen me in person, so let me introduce myself first, Liu Fan and Liu Jimin, the deputy envoy of the Jiaolai Salt Transportation Division and the commander of the Broken Army. This time I convened everyone to come here, I want to discuss with you the reform of Jiaozhou salt administration, listen to everyone's opinions, you are the backbone of Jiaozhou salt industry, I believe that your opinions will be of great help to this official! Now I feel very honored to see so many people coming, and I ask for your forgiveness for the inconsiderate hospitality due to the haste and good preparations. ”

Hearing Liu Fan's words, everyone didn't even dare to say it, Li Si, as one of the representatives of the salt merchants in Jiaozhou, took the lead in saying, "I have long heard that Lord Liu is young and promising, and he is a rare pillar of the imperial court. It's amazing! Everyone echoed and praised Liu Fan's youth.

Liu Fan said unmoved: "You don't need to praise it!" What kind of person is the official, the official himself knows very well in his heart, everyone praises him, but most of them are cursing Liu in their hearts, blaming Liu for blocking everyone's financial path. This is also human nature, as the saying goes, cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents. Liu controls all the salt-producing areas in Jiaozhou and monopolizes the salt industry in Jiaozhou, so it is normal for everyone to have no money to transfer, and it is normal to be scolded, and I will not blame everyone. Hearing Liu Fan's words, everyone was a little frightened and didn't even dare to say it.

Liu Fan ignored it and continued, "In fact, this time the official summoned everyone to clarify the matter, and the rampant illegal salt trafficking has seriously affected the operation of the salt administration, making the salt market chaotic, the imperial court tax burden is difficult to collect, and everyone's interests have also been lost. The official cracked down on salt barons and monopolized the salt-producing land, but also to sort out the order and restore the prosperity of the salt industry. This time we are also convening everyone to redistribute the share of Jiaozhou's salt industry! Jiaozhou's salt production is limited, and how much can be taken depends on everyone's strength. Without further ado, let's take a look at the salt first! ”

After Liu Fan finished speaking, he ordered someone to bring up the coarse salt that had been purchased recently and give a copy to each of the salt merchants present. The salt merchants present are all experts in this way, and the quality of salt can be seen at a glance. Seeing that everyone had a rough idea of the quality of these salts, Liu Fan hit the railway while it was hot, "The coarse salt in Liu's hands is of this quality, as far as Liu knows, the price of coarse salt extracted in the salt field is eight cents per stone of silver, and the private salt is one tael per stone of silver!" Right? ”

Li Si replied, "Yes, my lord! As has always been the case! The quality of this batch of salt in the hands of adults is very good, there are almost no magazines such as sediment, if all the salt goods are of this quality, the price may be higher! ”

"In this case, the official will not go around in circles, now the official has 10,000 stones of salt in his hand, and the official wants to sell them to everyone. What is the price? Just one tael per stone for the low price! The highest price is preferred! Liu Fan said straight to the point

Hearing Liu Fan's words, the crowd immediately exploded, Liu Fan only had 10,000 stone of coarse salt in his hand, but the number of people present reached nearly 100 people, a total of 100 stone per person, it is really a monk with more porridge and less porridge, after all, the quality of this batch of goods is not bad, and Liu Fan is also sold at the normal market price, the price is not high and everyone can accept it, you can imagine how fierce the competition will be. Everyone has their own careful thoughts, and no one wants to be preempted by others, after all, everyone has no inventory in their hands, and whoever gets this batch of salt first can get rid of others and make a fortune.

Everyone is a smart person who knows that huddling together for warmth is the king, and various small circles began to gather together to discuss at what price to get the most supply. The garden was suddenly in chaos, and all kinds of quarrels and discussions came and went. Seeing this situation, Liu Fan did not urge, ordered someone to move the chair, and began to drink tea and wait patiently.

Half an hour later, everyone finally discussed the result. The interest circle headed by the Du family took the lead in speaking, "Du is willing to bid one or two dollars of silver to buy three thousand stones!" ”

Liu Fan, who was drinking tea, almost sprayed when he heard Du Yan's words, damn it! This Du Yan is really stingy, such a short-sighted person can also become one of the two major salt merchants in Jiaozhou? It's really puzzling. Seeing this, Liu Fan couldn't directly object, and said with a smile, "The Du family bid one or two dollars, is there anything higher?" If not, it's a deal! ”

"My Li family bid one or two dollars! Hehe! Do you want to eat 3,000 stones for one or two dollars? It's too whimsical, isn't it? Li Si joked

Hearing Li Si's ridicule, Du Yan's face was a little ugly, and he said in a deep voice: "The Du family bid one, two, or three dollars!" Some people should not mistake themselves in order to curry favor with Shangguan! After all, everyone is watching! ”

"Humph! What do I do, it's my own business, and I don't need others to worry about it! My Li family bid one or two or four dollars! As long as you dare to keep bidding, you win! Li Si retorted with a cold snort

Hearing Li Si's words, Du Yan was a little hesitant, one or two or three dollars was already his bottom price, and no matter how high it was, the profit would drop a lot. After thinking about it for a long time, he still didn't make a bid, but he just glared at Li Si and didn't speak.

"Is there a higher price? If not, the Li family will win this bid! May I ask how many goods do you want, Master Li? Seeing this, Liu Fan also knew that the price could not be higher, in fact, he was already very happy in his heart, which was much higher than the one or two dollars he expected, which was really a big surprise.

Li Sidao: "My lord! My Li family wants 3,500 stones! ”

Liu Fan was a little disappointed when he heard Li Si's words, and thought that he would ask for them all, but it turned out to be just like that. How to sell the remaining 6,000 stones? The Du family will definitely not offer such a high price. It's going to be a mess now! With these thoughts turning in his heart, Liu Fan was secretly anxious, and suddenly his eyes lit up and he had an idea: "In view of the Li family's first bid, in order to thank the Li family for his support, this official will give the Li family another 500 stones, and the first batch of salt will be delivered in a day, and the Li family will be given priority!" The price of the Du family was second, bidding one or two or three dollars to buy three thousand stones. There are still 3,000 stones left, do you still need anyone? If not, it's over! ”

Du Yan, who originally had some small abacus in his heart, suddenly felt like he had eaten Huanglian with a bitter mouth, originally he calculated that it was impossible for the Li family to eat all the goods, and the rest was not his Du family's final say, so he took the opportunity to reduce the price, not only slapped Liu Fan's face, but also made the Li family suffer a big loss. didn't expect Liu Fan to have such a hand, not only did he lose the opportunity, but the Li family's money was less than him, and he couldn't help hating Liu Fan.

After the big fish finished eating, the small fish suddenly became anxious, and the remaining retail investors, seeing that there were only 3,000 stones left, bid to buy it, this 300 and that 500, and the remaining 3,000 stones had been robbed in a short time.

Liu Fan knew that the main event should come, so he said, "The official is not an unreasonable person, it has always been the creed of the official to make money, in view of the small business capital and poor strength, in order to take care of everyone, the official decided that each merchant who did not purchase coarse salt will receive 2000 catties of refined salt as compensation from the official, and will not let everyone go home empty-handed!" ”

"What? 2,000 pounds of refined salt per person? There was an exclamation from the crowd