Hearing that Hu Chuyuan was willing to help him handle civil and foreign affairs, Mei Qizhao was very happy, and immediately, he was a little sad, because he knew that he was afraid that he would not have the opportunity to handle these things.

He hesitated for a moment, but still said to Hu Chuyuan: "Chu Yuan, since you and I have talked about this from the bottom of our hearts, I might as well tell you some things that I know, do you know how you got your position as a cloud rider?" ”

"This? I really don't know! Hu Chuyuan shook his head, in fact, he also knew that there was something strange in this.

As far as he knew, there was no one among the officials and businessmen of the Qing Dynasty who could get such a great honor, and this secular position was equivalent to the foundation lord of the Qing Dynasty, and he could not get it without military exploits.

His only explanation was that Zuo Zongtang relied on merit to ask for it.

Mei Qizhao said: "As far as I know, Zuo Zhongtang was furious when he heard that your father died of illness, and he was so angry that he urgently met the Queen Mother that night, saying that your father was to raise too much salary for the Hunan Army's Western Expedition, and the Qianzhuang was in deep debt and difficult to alleviate, and the family business was endangered, so that he died of anger. Taking advantage of this, he criticized the governors of several of our provinces, and said that everything was a bad thing for Li Zhongtang to do behind him. ”

Hu Chuyuan generally understood and said, "So that's the case!" ”

Mei Qizhao sighed: "Yes." Of course, the Queen Mother can't cure Li Zhongtang's crimes, originally, she is actually more partial to Li Zhongtang and Xia Tongshan, otherwise there will be many things later. In order to settle this matter, it can be regarded as an explanation to your Hu family, the Queen Mother Yi decreed that your father Yun Cavalry Captain would be given, and Zuo Zhongtang would take more care of your family in Liangjiang. ”

Listening to these words, Hu Chuyuan didn't know whether he was happy or worried.

He should be happy, but he knows that their Hu family has taken a world position, and the governors of the five provinces are going to be unlucky, so maybe there are a few governors who secretly hate him.

Mei Qizhao said again: "In this way, a few of our governors will be unlucky. Among the governors of the five provinces, Rong Lu, the governor of Anhui, is the banner man, and the relationship behind him is very widespread, and he is the person used by the queen mother to elbow the Huai army, of course it will be fine; Although Zeng Guoquan, the governor of Shanxi, did not raise much food and military salaries, the situation in Shanxi is well known, and it has become a hell on earth...... I and Wu Yuanbing, the governor of Jiangsu, are the most unlucky, originally, our two provinces have the most taxes, but they are subject to the Qingliu and Huai factions, and the military salaries allocated are the least, and now it is difficult not to die! ”

Hu Chuyuan was silent, speaking of which, Mei Qizhao and Wu Yuanbing are both substitutes for dead ghosts, and they are used as waste chess by others, and it is not a pity to throw them away after they are used up.

He thought about it again in his heart, and said to Mei Qizhao: "Things have come to this point, and the adult surname is the first to strike." Actually, what Zuo Zhongtang said is not an exaggeration, my family has borrowed the entire 10 million taels of silver from the Hunan army so far, and ......! ”

Before he finished speaking, Mei Qizhao was shocked and said, "Ten million taels of silver...... Chu Yuan, your Hu family really deserves to be the richest man in the world? ”

Hu Chuyuan lamented: "So what, 10 million taels of silver is not a small amount, even my family has been withdrawn, except for my father's hidden money for his descendants, I have no money to use now." ”

Mei Qizhao said with a straight face: "That's true, serving the country to death, Ling Zun is enough to enjoy the world's position, in my opinion, this cloud cavalry captain's worldly position is still small." Not to mention anything else, if there was no debt support from Ling Zun, how could the Western Expedition have today's results? But I don't know, now that your rest of your money is sealed in debt, what will you do in the future? ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "So, I started the idea of the salt industry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and Lord Zhongtang actually thought the same way." At present, the only thing that can save the situation and save my family is the salt industry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. ”

Mei Qizhao nodded admittedly and said, "That's true, but the affairs of the salt industry are not easy to handle." Otherwise, Lord Zhongtang would have already made a change, do you know who made the current salt ticket law! ”

Since Hu Chuyuan wants to fight the idea of the salt industry, he must collect intelligence and information on the current situation in the salt industry, he said: "I know that the salt ticket law was determined by the old governor Tao Shutao, and he and Zuo Zhongtang are still in-laws. ”

Mei Qizhao said: "Yes, the prestige of the old governor Tao is as high as a mountain, and among all the political achievements, the salt ticket method is the most famous, although there are still many drawbacks in it, but where do we juniors dare to criticize?" ”

Hu Chuyuan thought for a while and said, "The key is to see what you say." There is nothing wrong with Governor Tao, what is wrong is the corrupt officials below, as well as the merchants who speculate in the salt industry. Master Mei, you have no other way to go now, Suo surnamed Suo went to Ningbo, Jiaxing and Taizhou to inspect the salt business, and detain the local salt merchants, but wherever there are illegal places, or there are merchants who raise the price of salt, they will all be confiscated, and then open the breach from them and track down the salt transporter. ”

Mei Qizhao's expression was solemn, he didn't want to do this, because he knew very well that not to mention the problem of corruption and bribery in Zhejiang's salt industry, there was a problem in the whole country, and this problem had never been cut off since the salt industry was officially run.

But he knew he had to do it, even against his will, and he wanted to blame these people for the high price of salt.

In this way, Zuo Zongtang has a reason to sort out the salt industry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and he can use this incident to make a not-so-beautiful reputation and keep his position as governor.

After making up his mind, he got up and said: "Without further ado, I will take care of this matter now, in addition, I am afraid that I will have to give some gifts to Lord He, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and Lord Wan Qingqui Wan, who is my fellow countryman...... Chu Yuan, you two vases, can I borrow flowers to offer Buddha...... It's a pity that it's your father's favorite thing, but I really don't have any money to spare! ”

Hu Chuyuan smiled disapprerovingly, waved his hand and said, "My father taught me a lesson, he said that either he didn't give gifts, or if he wanted to give them, he would be scared." These two vases add up to three thousand taels of silver, for you, this is a light courtesy, for Lord He and Lord Wan, it is an authentic courtesy. ”

"This ......!" Mei Qizhao is not sure, he wants to send more, but he is not from a big family, and after taking office, he claims to be honest, and his total net worth is only 10,000 taels.

Seeing what he meant, Hu Chuyuan said: "Master Mei, don't worry, when I go back, let the housekeeper Uncle Wang come over again, and promise to scare those two adults." ”

"Virtuous nephew, I can't thank you enough, I can't thank you enough!" Mei Qizhao was ashamed, hating himself for misunderstanding the Hu family's father and son earlier, thinking that one was a businessman and the other was an evil young man, and he was not worthy of trust.

At the moment of crisis, it was the Hu family who really dared to send charcoal in the snow.

Mei Qizhao pondered deeply for a moment, and then said to Hu Chuyuan: "Nephew Chu Yuanxian, your character and talent are really not simple, and I haven't been able to see the second one so far." ”

Hu Chuyuan said with a smile: "Master Mei has won the award, let's not rush to talk about this first, it's important to do ...... business!" ”

"No, wait a minute!" Mei Qizhao suddenly grabbed Hu Chuyuan and said: "Chu Yuan, I heard that you have not been married yet, there is a little girl in my family, sixteen years old, ordinary appearance, chess, piano, calligraphy and painting are also poor, not as good as ......!" ”

Hu Chuyuan shivered coldly, as if he had been thrown to Siberia, and he hurriedly said: "My lord, I am still keeping filial piety, and I have no plans to marry a wife for the time being...... First of all, I'll go back to do some chores for you right away, and I have to talk about one more thing with Lord Zhongtang! ”

Mei Qizhao originally wanted to use the reason of "borrowing filial piety" to do things in a hurry and marry his daughter to Hu Chuyuan, because he could see that Hu Chuyuan was definitely not a thing in the pool.

In his words, Chu Yuan is the crown of Suzhou and Hangzhou, and if he can fight, he has not seen it.

The most important thing is that he has always regarded himself as honest, and now he has no choice but to use Hu Chuyuan's financial resources, at least 100,000 taels, and he has no money to spare, except for the trick of marrying a daughter to seek glory, he really has no other way.