After Lu Yifa, Huang Daozhou and Master Lu left, not long after, Huang Daozhou and Master Lu returned.

Xu Liang looked at them strangely.

Master Lu looked embarrassed, rubbing his hands, looking very embarrassed.

"Master Lu has something, but it doesn't hurt to talk about it." Xu Liang beckoned.

"Lord Xu, it stands to reason that the lower officials really shouldn't trouble you in this matter." Master Lu said: "However, the lower officials have thought of all the ways they can think of, and after thinking about it, the only one who can solve this matter in Pingliang Mansion is you, Lord Xu." ”

Xu Liang was even more surprised, "Master Lu, what the hell is going on, Master Lu will tell me directly." Although the official and Lord Zhongcheng had a bit of an unpleasant quarrel in the past, but now that we are all working together to suppress the people's army, Master Lu really doesn't have to be so outside. ”

Huang Daozhou urged: "Master Lu, Lord Xu is a straightforward person, in front of Lord Xu, you can say it directly." ”

When Master Lu heard this, his face turned red, and he said, "That's ...... All right. Lord Xu, the battle on the front line is tense, and since Lord Wu led the army to the battle, Xia Guan raised two batches of grain and grass and sent them over. At present, the third batch is being raised, but as you know, the silver deposit in Pingliang Mansion is not much, plus the silver deposit of the Governor's Yamen and the Governor's Yamen, it has already been spent in the first two batches of grain and grass. Now there is no money to be found in the treasury, and there is no money for grain and grass. ”

Xu Liang nodded, he finally understood what Master Lu meant. Xu Liang is clear about the financial situation in Shaanxi Province. The Yamen of the Pingliang Prefect was able to operate normally, or relying on the additional wartime tax money, and now the Governor Wu led a large army to fight the civilian army in Fengxiang Mansion, and there was not much money to support the huge consumption of grain and grass. Master Lu has been able to support it until now. Xu Liang had to look up at him.

"Master Lu, are you asking me to borrow money?" Xu Liang asked directly.

"Ahem......" Master Lu was embarrassed.

"Alas. Let's talk about it. Pingliang Tuiguan Huang Daozhou couldn't stand it anymore, and said directly to Xu Liang: "My lord." Xiaguan and Master Lu discussed and discussed, and the collection of grain and grass should not be delayed. Of course, it is not appropriate to directly demolish the old one from the adult and let the adult pay for it privately. I heard that Mrs. Xu Fu is also the president of the Pingliang Chamber of Commerce? Xia Guan wanted to ask Mrs. Feng to take the lead, and the government would borrow funds from the members of the Yiliang Chamber of Commerce. ”

Xu Liang listened, shook his head and chuckled: "Although my wife is named as the president of the Pingliang Chamber of Commerce, she actually doesn't pay much attention to the specific affairs of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce has always been managed by the vice president, Liang Yin of Jingzhou. Master Lu wants to borrow silver taels. It's better to go directly to Vice President Liang. ”

"Ahem," Master Lu looked embarrassed, slightly stunned, and said with a wry smile: "Don't hide it from your Excellency, you said, we have already looked for Vice President Liang, but the Liang family in Jingzhou is a century-old family, and they are very clear about the situation of the Pingliang Mansion, and they have somewhat guessed that lending money to the government is equivalent to beating a dog with meat buns." There is no return. A few hundred taels of silver, President Liang may have agreed, but the amount of silver taels for the purchase of grain and grass was huge, and President Liang did everything possible to shirk it. Just don't agree. Xia Guan had no choice, so he had to trouble Lord Xu. ”

"That's it......" Xu Liang was also embarrassed. Although Liang Yinxian has some friendship with himself, this old man is ghostly. asked him to pay for nothing to come out and fight for the government, this kind of wronged thing. Liang Yinxian is so cunning, he definitely won't do it.

"Master Lu. How big is the silver gap in the purchase of grain and grass this time? Xu Liang asked.

Master Lu said: "The lower officials have calculated, according to the amount of food used to meet the army for ten days, at least more than 30,000 taels of silver." ”

Xu Liang took a breath, 30,000 taels of silver is not a small amount.

Xu Liang paced a few steps around the room, and he didn't think of any good way for a while. Xu Liang brought back nearly 100,000 taels of silver from Hanzhong Mansion. But it was tens of thousands of Liang's military lives in exchange, and Xu Liang was unwilling to ask Xu Liang to take it out to pay for the war in the Ming court.

Master Lu, Huang Tuiguan looked at Xu Liang with a blank eye.

Xu Liang paused, waved his hand at the two of them, and said, "In this way, this matter will be left to the official to think of a way, and he will definitely be able to come up with a proper solution." The two of them will go back to the government office first, and then come back tomorrow. I will give you an answer. ”

"Yes, the official will take his leave." Master Lu and Huang Tuiguan didn't get a clear answer, so they couldn't help but be a little disappointed, but the two had no other way, so they saluted and left helplessly.

Master Lu and Huang Daozhou were so worried about raising grain and grass that they hardly slept all night. The next day, as soon as it was dawn, the two ran to Xu's mansion in a panic.

At this time, Xu Liang had just gotten up, and when he heard that Master Lu and Huang Tuiguan had arrived, he smiled helplessly, and ordered his subordinates to lead the two to the conference hall to entertain them, thinking that the two of them came early in the morning, and they must have never had breakfast, so he ordered someone to bring two servings to the two of them early.

After Xu Liang and Feng Suqin and Lou Xian'er sat together for breakfast, they took a walk in the backyard for a while, and then walked leisurely into the conference hall.

Huang Daozhou and Master Lu had already been sitting still, they both stretched their necks and looked out of the door from time to time, and when they saw Xu Liang finally walk in, they both stood up and looked at Xu Liang eagerly.

"How's it going, sir? Is there a way? The two asked.

Xu Liang waved his hand and smiled: "What are the two adults anxious about!" I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, and I have to calm down and deal with big things. ”

Xu Liang said, and when he saw the appearance of Master Lu and Huang Daozhou clearly, he saw that the two of them had haggard faces, their faces were yellow, and their eyes were full of bloodshots. Two thumb-sized blood blisters appeared at the corners of Master Lu's mouth, and Huang Tuiguan's lips were dry and showed signs of cracking.

Xu Liang asked in surprise, "Yo, what's wrong with the two of you?" I haven't seen you for a day, how did you become like this? ”

Huang Tuiguan and Master Lu glanced at each other, and they both saw each other's haggard and anxious expressions, and couldn't help but look at each other and smile bitterly.

"My lord, the lower official is in a hurry." Master Lu smiled bitterly: "If you delay for one day, the soldiers on the front line will be in danger of running out of food." ”

Xu Liang leisurely walked to the main seat, sat down gently, took the tea brought by the next person, opened the lid, blew lightly on Ye Moer, took a sip of tea, and sighed: "Good tea." ”

Huang Daozhou was so anxious that he was about to jump to his feet, and said, "My lord, when is this?" You still have the heart to drink tea! Let's figure it out. ”

Xu Liang glanced at Huang Tuiguan, and said angrily: "The main master didn't come." It's useless for us to be in a hurry. ”

"Nothing is coming," Huang Daozhou stomped his feet, "aren't we all here!" Belch? Sir, are you saying that there are still people coming? ”

"Or what do you think?"

Zodiac Zhou understood. He happily asked, "My lord has thought of a solution?" ”

Master Lu also stared at Xu Liang and looked at him in surprise.

Xu Liang nodded slowly and said, "Don't be bored, calm down, and wait patiently." Well, you can taste the tea in my house, the authentic pre-rain tea, the fire is hot, just suitable for the two of you. Taste it. ”

When Huang Daozhou and Master Lu heard Xu Liang say this, they felt a little relieved, drank a few sips of tea, and accompanied Xu Liang and others in the meeting hall.

I waited for more than an hour. During this period, Master Lu and Huang Daozhou urged many times, which made Xu Liang quite speechless.

In the end, Xu Liang was asked and yelled at the two: "What's the hurry!" The person I called came from Jingzhou, even if you hurry up, you have to give people enough time! ”

Huang Daozhou and Master Lu were yelled at by Xu Liang, and explained embarrassedly: "My lord is angry. We've been waiting for this for a long time, aren't we in a hurry? ”

Xu Liang rolled his eyes and said, "The official didn't ask you to come early in the morning to disturb people's dreams!" ”

"Ahem......"

When the two of them heard this, they didn't dare to ask any more questions. I wait patiently with peace of mind.

After another half an hour, the person called by Xu Liang appeared in the conference hall, a young man in brocade. Handsome in appearance and dignified in appearance.

"The grass people are in the Liangzi period. I've seen three adults. Liang Ziqi bowed to Xu Liang and the other three.

"The sub-period is coming, please take a seat." Xu Liang beckoned and smiled.

"Master Xie." Liangzi period arched hands. Naturally, he found a seat and sat down, and smiled at Xu Liang: "After receiving the message from Lord Xu, I set off from home early in the morning, and I hurried to hurry, which took a lot of time, but asked Lord Xu and the two adults to wait for a long time." ”

Xu Liang waved his hand and smiled: "Where did the child say." ”

Pingliang Tuiguan Huang Daozhou naturally knew this young master of the Liang family in Jingzhou. However, Master Lu has just come to Pingliang Mansion and has not yet known Liang Ziqi.

Master Lu asked, "Lord Xu, who is this Liang Gongzi?" ”

Xu Liang laughed and said, "Master Lu, this is the eldest son of Mr. Liang Yinxian, vice president of the Pingliang Chamber of Commerce, Liang Ziqi. ”

"Oh, it turned out to be Liang Gongzi, fortunately." Master Lu nodded at Liang Ziqi, and muttered to himself in his heart, what can Xu Liang do if he calls his son over, what can he do!

Xu Liang chuckled and said, "Since the sub-period has also arrived, then the official will talk about my method." ”

"Your Excellency, please speak." Huang Tuiguan and Master Lu both said, looking at Xu Liang and listening attentively.

Xu Liang pointed at Liang Ziqi and said: "It is no secret that the treasury of Shaanxi government at all levels has been short for a long time. It is very difficult to ask the Pingliang Chamber of Commerce to lend money to the government. Fortunately, the official happened to know Liang Ziqi, and the Xu Mansion and the Liang family also had a lot of business dealings. So, the official thought of a good solution. ”

"The Liang family and the Xu family recently discovered several brine wells, and they want to use them to boil brine and extract salt and run a well salt business." Xu Liang said slowly, Liang Ziqi on the side couldn't help nodding, the night before, Xu Liang explained everything to Liang Ziqi, Liang Ziqi understood Xu Liang's intentions, and naturally tried his best to cooperate.

"But," Xu Liang continued, "as you know, salt is a commodity controlled by the imperial court, and not everyone can run a salt factory business. The official's idea is that the Liang family and the Xu family will jointly fund to help the government raise the grain and grass this time. On the government's side, the management rights of the brine salt were handed over to the Liang and Xu families, and 100,000 quintals of salt were provided at the same time. Master Lu, Huang Tuiguan, what do you think? ”

Huang Daozhou and Master Lu were extremely surprised, the salt factory business is a profiteering industry, and it has always been the focus of competition among wealthy businessmen from all over the world, such as the Huaibei salt merchants, who control more than forty percent of the salt industry in the court, and the salt merchants are making money every day, which is not an exaggeration.

I didn't expect that the Xu Mansion and the Liang family would be able to find a brine well! Also boil the brine and take the salt!

Master Lu thought through many details in a blink of an eye, and in the face of Xu Liang's question, Master Lu looked embarrassed and said, "Master Xu, although this method is good, it is extremely difficult to operate. Just talking about the matter of the right to operate the salt industry, our local government has no right to be the master, and it has to go through the household department of the court and the capital to transfer the salt transportation department. These items are not easy to do. ”

Master Lu's eyes rolled wildly, and he secretly thought, Xu Liang dared to propose a method of exchanging salt for silver taels in person, so at least it was certain that the brine wells discovered by Liang and Xu were not small this time.

What Master Lu said about the difficulty of obtaining salt is more or less true, but more importantly, Master Lu smelled the smell of money from it, and he wanted to sell it at a price to strive for greater benefits for the government, at least it could improve the current situation of the shortage of silver in Pingliang Mansion.

Xu Liang saw Master Lu's eyes rolling wildly, so he guessed that Master Lu was calculating interests there, and he couldn't help but feel unhappy in his heart, his face was slightly gloomy, and he said, "Master Lu, what do you mean by this?" The official finally got through Liang Ziqi and agreed to exchange grain and grass for salt, why, Master Lu didn't even agree to this? ”

Master Lu looked embarrassed and said, "Lord Xu, this matter is too involved, the Governor and Lord Zhongcheng are both on the front line, and it is not easy for the lower officials to make up their minds." ”

Xu Liang said unhappily: "Master Lu, the Governor and the generals are fighting on the front line, and there is a shortage of food and grass, if it is due to Master Lu's inaction, the army runs out of food and loses the war, can Master Lu afford this consequence?!" ”

"This ...... I ......" Master Lu was flustered, his face was entangled, and he gestured: "Lord Xu, the court is extremely strict in the control of salt introduction, and the value of just 100,000 quintals of salt is not to mention, not to mention the salt industry management rights of the Xu and Liang families, these things cannot be done with more than 30,000 silver taels......"

Xu Liang snorted secretly, this old thing is going to sit on the ground and raise the price.

Liang Zi expected to see Xu Liang frowning, and he was quite good at coming to things, so he regretfully bowed his hand to Xu Liang at the moment and said, "Lord Xu, it seems that the government does not agree with your method." Since Master Lu didn't agree, the grass people took their leave. ”

After that, Liang Ziqi got up and raised his feet to leave.

Master Lu watched with a calm face and a cold eye, only thinking that Liang Ziqi was scaring himself, so he didn't take it seriously.

Liang Ziqi walked straight out of the conference hall, walked straight out without stopping.

Seeing this, Master Lu was a little dumbfounded. Huang Daozhou was anxious, got up and shouted: "Liang Gongzi, if you have something to say!" Don't rush to leave just yet. ”

Liang Ziqi paused, deliberately raised his voice and said, "Master Lu has refused, what else is there to talk about." The wronged son rushed over from Jingzhou City early in the morning, and it turned out that he had done useless work. ”

Master Lu stiffened his face, ate and said, "Liang Gongzi, let's ...... Let's talk about it. ”

The corners of Xu Liang's mouth smiled slightly, and he also persuaded Liang Ziqi: "In the sub-period, the governor personally led the army to fight on the front line, and the supply of grain and grass is the top priority. Who is light and who is heavy, Master Lu knows in his heart. You come back, and listen to Master Lu again. ”

Liang Ziqi nodded, got off the donkey, and said, "Okay." Then I'll listen to Master Lu again. ”

Master Lu stretched out his hand to wipe his sweat and said, "Let's discuss ...... again."

Two quarters of an hour later, Master Lu took out the seal he had taken out for Liu Zhilun, the governor of Shaanxi, and printed a bright red seal on the contract prepared by Liang Ziqi, and sat down in his chair like a deflated ball.

Xu Liang and Liang Ziqi looked at each other and smiled. (To be continued......)