Qiao Yu led the army straight to Fushun, and several big salt merchants in the city also gathered together, discussing ways to deal with it, since the Ming and Qing dynasties, the salt merchants have relied on close cooperation with the imperial court, and bought off all kinds of officials up and down to protect their own interests, and now the Qing court has become more and more declining, and the time to change the dynasty is coming again, and the salt merchants have taken action in order to maintain their privileges.

Some time ago, Qiao Zhen led the army into Fushun, many salt merchants were still in the wait-and-see, they were not sure whether this rising force from Dongchuan could smoothly unify Sichuan, so they only maintained the cooperation on the surface, but Qiao Zhen quickly calmed down the ground in Fushun according to Qiao Yu's instructions, and at the same time cut the gold, and the salt merchants also got a lot of benefits from it.

Immediately the news of the Sichuan-Yunnan conflict came, and then the news of the Sichuan army's victory over the Yunnan army was obtained, and Sichuan was shaken suddenly, and Qiao Yu's ability to defeat the Yunnan army proved that he definitely had the power to unify Sichuan, so the most sensitive salt merchant also decided to put the treasure on him.

"Everyone, Qiao Yu is coming to Fushun, what should you do?" Zhang Deyang, the old lady of the Zhang family, the largest salt merchant family in Fushun, was the first to speak.

"Elder Zhang, I think it's nothing more than money, as long as it can be solved with money, it's not a thing, the surname Qiao is also a businessman, he won't not understand our demands, I don't think he will deliberately embarrass us?" A salt merchant surnamed Liu said.

Zhang Deyang nodded, and shook his head again: "I don't think everyone can underestimate Qiao Yu, he just took the position of governor and abolished the lijin, and suddenly captured the hearts of the people of Sichuan, and immediately won the support of the people, which defeated the Yunnan army, it can be seen that this person is first-class in both military affairs and government affairs, and he advocates rent and interest restrictions, and has repeatedly said that he wants to reduce the burden of the people, I always feel that he will attack our salt merchants!" ”

Lu Nai was silent on the side, but the old fox who secretly said in his heart that he was so powerful actually saw that Qiao Yu would attack the salt merchants, but you never thought that Qiao Yu would break your job bowl and re-establish a set of rules, Lu Nai was very happy in his heart at this time, he was tied to Qiao Yu, otherwise he could defeat the Dian army, which means that the salt merchants want to fight him hard, there is only a dead end.

"Brother Lu, you have been to Luzhou and seen Qiao Yu, I don't know what you think of this person? Can we protect the interests of our salt merchants? Lu Nai, Zhang Deyang didn't speak, Zhang Deyang wouldn't let him go, the old fox naturally knew very well that the daughter of the Lu family had already run to Yucheng, maybe the Lu family had hooked up with Qiao Yu, but Zhang Deyang didn't look down on Lu Nai, and felt that such a fake foreign devil and such a crazy girl couldn't be put on the table at all.

"Old man, my daughter is messing around, don't laugh at me, you old man don't laugh at me, I just have a relationship with Qiao Yu, he governs the army strictly, advocates rules, and cherishes his reputation, but he has not yet sat firmly in the position of Sichuan Governor, I am afraid he will not dare to attack us, but I have one thing to remind everyone, Qiao Yu has already cut the centigold, but our salt price has not fallen, but has increased in many places, so it is inevitable that others will misunderstand!"

"What Mr. Lu said is not right, the place is not safe now, how much more travel money we have to take, how much labor will be consumed, these money will be included in the price of salt, I think the price of salt should rise again!" The salt merchant, surnamed Liu, spoke again.

Lu Nai's heart said that you will not repent, and I can't give you guidance, so the surname Suo bowed his head and was silent, and two other merchants who were good friends with Lu Nai's also saw the problem and stopped talking, but the rest of the salt merchants cheered and supported the idea of raising the price surnamed Liu.

Zhang Deyang bowed his head slightly, closed his eyes and thought about it, and said: "What Brother Lu said is not wrong at all, the government of the people did not take it, but we took it, isn't this a demonstration to the government again, what will people think of us, since it is a change of dynasty, we should give the new court a little face, and from now on, the price of salt will be lowered to 95 wen a catty, so that people can know our sincerity!" ”

Zhang Deyang gave an order, all the salt merchants listened to the order, the price of salt began to adjust downward, at this time Qiao Yu took the army to Fushun with a rapid march to Fushun, Fushun is a small city, because of salt, the degree of wealth is second to none in Sichuan, near the city outside are the residential areas of the major salt merchants, magnificent, painted and carved beams, it looks like to the Lingxiao Treasure Palace, and the slum area not far away is also a piece of low dilapidated houses, in sharp contrast, where most of the people live are salt workers.

After Qiao Yu came to Fushun, Zhang Deyang personally brought many salt merchants and elites from all walks of life to greet him.

"Governor Qiao rebelled against the Manchus and defeated the Dian army that coveted Sichuan, he is really a first-class heroic hero in Shu, and the old man is thanking you instead of the big guy!" Zhang Deyang was very polite, and Qiao Yu also hurriedly supported Zhang Deyang.

"Old man, you are so old, such a high prestige is still coming to greet me, I am really flattered, the stability of Sichuan salt industry in the future will depend on the maintenance of the old man, I will ask you first!"

When Zhang Deyang heard that Qiao Yu was very on the road, he was immediately comforted, it seemed that the kid was not a mallet, so he was very happy and welcomed Qiao Yu and his subordinates into Fushun.

"The old man set up a reception banquet for the governor, and Fushun would like to thank you for your kindness, I don't know if the governor can reward the old man with this face!"

It seems that the old guy is going to give him money, Qiao Yu agreed, and for a while, the guests and hosts were happy, and Lu Nai on the side secretly admired in his heart, don't look at Qiao Yu's youth, he can be so calm, it's really amazing.

Qiao Yu has also heard of the strange and strange food of salt merchants, but it is better to be famous than to meet, in Zhang Deyang's home is an eye-opener, all kinds of dishes are varied, all of them are exquisite, ordinary ones have ox hooves and bear paws, braised carp without juice and green onions, stir-fried crow tongue, braised boy chicken and so on.

In addition, there are more unique strange foods of salt merchants, pig blood bubbles, dew mushrooms, loach fish, Rao is Qiao Yu has seen a wide range of knowledge, but also shocked by the extravagance of salt merchants, among which the simplest small dish field chicken belly is to use hundreds of frogs, cut its belly, take its belly, stir-fry it with lard and sesame oil, and other strange dishes are countless.

The dishes are peculiar, the tableware is even more exquisite, a full set of gold and silver products, more rhino horn ivory, Song and Ming official kiln porcelain, basically cultural relics, a table full!

"Governor Joe, do you think this dish is delicious? I have also specially prepared a special wine from Moutai Town for you, which has been stored for nearly 60 years, and it is the time when the wine aroma is the strongest, you can give a tasting or two! Saying that, Zhang Deyang waved his hand, and a fourteen or fifteen-year-old pretty woman held a wine jug in her hand, like a butterfly, and floated in front of Qiao Yu.

"My lord, please taste the wine!" As she spoke, the little girl poured a cup for Qiao Yu, and a fragrant wind blew in, and Qiao Yu suddenly felt refreshed.

"Zhang Lao, today's wine is good, the food is good, and the people are better, but it is difficult to swallow it, the ancients said that Zhumen wine and meat stink, and there are frozen bones on the road. I didn't believe it before, but now I've seen it! The salt merchants of Fushun are really eye-opening! ”

The salt merchants present thought that they were entertaining Qiao Yu with delicious food and drink, and this one would never lose their face, but he actually slapped his face in front of the banquet, and he couldn't hang it anymore.

"Lord Governor, we live in luxury, but this wealth has been accumulated from generation to generation, but not a penny is earned by lack of virtue!" The salt merchant surnamed Liu was the first to refute, and Zhang Deyang was also angry, he didn't dare to scold Qiao Yu, so he started at the surnamed Liu.

"Lao Liu, what nonsense are you talking about, Lord Governor is just joking!"

"Zhang Lao, there is never the slightest joke in the next, you have the ability to earn the wealth of the sky with your own hands, not only do you not envy, but you will also admire, but you rely on the monopoly privilege of the government, wantonly raise the price of salt, sit back and enjoy huge profits, where is this table full of dishes is ordinary dishes, it is clearly the people's fat and people's ointment, I as the governor of Sichuan will never allow you to take such a trick, from now on the salt policy must be changed, the price of salt must be reduced!"

"Governor Qiao, don't be angry, you have already cut the centigold, and our burden is much lighter, and the price of salt will definitely be reduced in the future!" Zhang Deyang's face was already a little angry, the kid in front of him was so uninteresting, but now that he didn't fight for power, Zhang Deyang had to agree to reduce the price of salt.

"There is a problem at the root, it is not as simple as reducing the price of salt, the salt policy must be comprehensively reformed!"

"It's been the rule for hundreds of years!"

"Rules are meant to be changed, let alone stereotypes! Others dare not change it, and they must change it in the future! ”