Liu Yuan asked a little curiously: "From the beginning of the war to the present, how many bags of cement have been requisitioned by the imperial court?" ”

"Last time, your grandfather knew best, but I heard that there were two or three hundred thousand bags." Old Demon King Cheng whispered.

Even if a bag is three hundred Wen, this profit is a lot, three hundred Wen is equivalent to three coins of silver, so calculated, it is also eighty or ninety thousand taels of silver, participating in Changluo Expressway, except for Liu Yuan, either a family or a famous family, or known as the poorest Niu Jinda, can also raise tens of thousands of taels in a short period of time, this bit of silver, for Liu Yuan's side, is really nothing, and the price is said to be high, in terms of cost, in addition to freight, others can be ignored, because the material is the entire "barren mountain" bought, and the laborers are slaves, just take care of the rice.

Why is it that the old demon king Cheng and the others are not very happy on their faces?

"A few uncles" Liu Yuan asked a little curiously: "Even if it is 300,000 bags, the price of our cement is only 300 wen a bag, and there is not much silver, why are you all sad?" These thousands of taels won't make you so uncomfortable, right? ”

Liu Yuan wanted to say that he was stingy or stingy, but when the words came to his lips, he felt that it was inappropriate, and after careful consideration, he replaced it with "not smooth".

Li Jing said in surprise: "What? These precious cements, so cheap? The old man thought that a bag would cost several taels. ”

"Hehe, the cost is not high, so the price is not high, but it depends on who it is sold to, if it is a rich master, it is feasible to sell it higher, anyway, Datang is our only one." Liu Yuan said confidently.

Qin Qiong nodded and said, "This price is much cheaper than we imagined, so let's donate a few two or three hundred thousand taels to the treasury." ”

"Two or three hundred thousand taels?" Liu Yuan said in surprise: "Uncle Qin, isn't it eighty or ninety thousand taels?" You can't count two or three hundred thousand taels, right? ”

Old Demon King Cheng said angrily: "Let me tell you, the emperor not only requisitioned our cement first, and then asked us to transport it to the Songzhou area. In this way, this cement does not cost money, and even the freight has to be compensated, what is this called, marrying a girl without a bride price, and even the big bed is upside down for the husband's family. ”

Datang has inconvenient transportation, poor road conditions, small carrying capacity, and low efficiency, etc., and it is both food and accommodation along the way, people want to eat, and horses have to chew. These cost silver, so it is possible that the transportation cost is higher than the goods, for example, if the front line wars need 100,000 stone of grain. If the road is far away, then the requisition. It is more than this 100,000 stone on the basis. It is necessary to prepare a little more, because the loss of transporting people and horses back and forth also has to be counted, from Puzhou to Songzhou, Yazhou, Hezhou and other areas, passing through several states, the road is far away, and the transportation cost is very large. If supplies are not provided on the way, it is estimated that a wagon can only be filled with half of the cement at most, because the other half will be used to load grain and grass for the consumption of men and horses.

No wonder in the imperial study, when he said that each bag costs 300 wen. Li Er and the eldest grandson Wuji both breathed a sigh of relief, they sang and worked so hard in front of them, it is estimated that in their hearts, they all counted this account as a million taels, but for hundreds of thousands of taels, Li Er and Liu Yuan and his party were pitted, and it was really picky.

But if you think about it, if you measure it by the appearance fee, Li Er's appearance fee is high, it is estimated that he has not worked hard for a quarter of an hour, and he has already earned 300,000 taels of silver "appearance fee", which can be called the actor to be coupled.

Liu Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "Forget it, fighting with Tubo Lianbian, dredging the Yellow River, and building the Daming Palace, the emperor did not levy excessive taxes and increase the burden of the people, in the final analysis, it is not easy for the emperor, so it should be regarded as a good deed." ”

Wei Chi Jingde nodded and said: "Okay, the matter has come to this point, it's useless to talk about it, it's better to talk about the Changluo Expressway, a few of our old guys are looking for you, in fact, it's also for the Changluo Expressway." ”

With the intersection of interests, the relationship between people and people will be closer, no profit can not be early, so many generals came to visit Liu's mansion together, Liu Yuan does not have this face, as the so-called no profit can not be early, for the sake of profit, these famous generals can not sit still, and discuss with Liu Yuan as soon as possible.

In order to take a stake in Changluo Gaodai, all of the people present paid a lot of money and silver, in order to make up this money, most of them became the property in their hands, or the property that made money, such a large amount of silver was invested in, not to mention dividends now, that is, there is still a period of time before the completion of the project, the money and silver are the money that can be released, and they can make a lot of money, and more than half a year has passed in a blink of an eye, can they not be anxious?

"Yes, we have to speed up the process," Niu Jinda said anxiously, "I'm still waiting for the silver to be divided." ”

"If you can take care of the Changluo Highway, what about the cement needed at the border?" Old Demon King Cheng hesitated a little.

Li Jing said with some concern: "What the emperor and the military department mean, the construction of the front-line fortress cannot be stopped, the question is, if the imperial court asks for cement, will this silver be collected or not?" What a dilemma. ”

Liu Yuan thought for a while, and said categorically: "The matter of Changluo Expressway, we must hurry up, as for the imperial court, then let's say it directly, we are willing to donate 200,000 bags of cement every year, no matter more, then agree on a price supply, by the way, the most important thing, we are only responsible for selling, excluding transportation, transportation matters are taken care of, we ignore everything, let the imperial court solve it by itself, now the Tang Dynasty and Tubo are in a confrontation stage, and it is impossible to solve it in the near future, so let's divide the cement into two parts in addition to sending more manpower and increasing production. One for the imperial court and one for Changluo Expressway, it can be regarded as at the same time. ”

Wei Chi Jingde nodded and said: "This dare is good, 200,000 bags, only tens of thousands of taels of silver a year, besides, the emperor will not always take it for nothing, sooner or later there will be a return, even if you don't give a return, it is not bad to have this love, but, Xiaoyuan, that stone mountain, how did you solve it?" If you want to change routes, you have to put it on the agenda as soon as possible. ”

"Yes, the matter of that stone mountain, you really have to hurry up, but if it doesn't work, then let's change the route." Old Demon King Cheng said kindly.

It seems that he has no opinion on Liu Yuan's donation, but he still has doubts about Liu Yuan's ability to act.

It's no wonder that the stone mountain is all granite and other stones, which are very hard, and they can splash sparks when they are smashed down with a hammer. People are not sages, Zhuge Liang borrowed the east wind, but even if there was an east wind at that time, no matter how great Liu Yuan's ability was, he couldn't borrow the thunder.

Seeing everyone's worries, Liu Yuan smiled and said, "Hehe, don't worry, uncles, the little nephew has found a way to flatten it in just a few days." As for how to cut it, I'll leave you a thought, I won't disclose it, and you can just come and see the excitement when the time comes, um. The emperor will also go. ”

"What? Is there really a way to solve it? Old Demon King Cheng stared at those eyes like bull's eyes.

Li Jing asked miraculously: "Xiaoyuan, what you said." Could it be that you said in the war report? What kind of gunpowder was used to blow up the Tubo Immortal Stone to blow up the entire stone mountain? ”

Liu Yuan said with a smile: "Several uncles all said that they would sell it, and you will know the Tao by then, and the little nephew promises that there will be that scene at that time." It's guaranteed to be exciting. ”

"Okay, I'll go when I say anything." Cheng Lao Demon King was the first to promise.

"I'll go too"

"This kind of thing, how can there be no old man."

Except for Cheng Lao Demon King, everyone present said that they wanted to see the excitement.

Now it's the standoff phase. Tubo Lianbo civil strife, not to mention the Tufan soldiers who are good at field guerrilla warfare, lack of siege experience and siege tools, waiting for the army to gather a person on the front line, it is enough to deal with it, this group of militants has no use, they are idle to come to the problem, this is not, Liu Yuan has used scheming, every time he comes to discuss the matter of Changluo Expressway, he has not made an appointment with another major shareholder, Qinghe Cui's, it is estimated that he is afraid that Liu Yuan and Cui Jingweng's son-in-law will join forces, fortunately, Qinghe Cui's has always been high-profile and low-key, and he doesn't care, I believe Liu Yuan, Second, the project is in their hands, and they are not afraid of what tricks others will play.

As for the eldest grandson Wuji, he teamed up with his brother-in-law Li Er to pit the partners, knowing that it was a meeting, but he didn't shirk it, and in general, Liu Yuan was still the core of everyone.

Not long after the conversation, Cui Mengyao sent someone outside the door to tell that the meal was ready, and invited Liu Yuan and Cheng Lao Demon King to the lobby for dinner.

"Uncles, what's the matter, why don't we talk while eating, the food is ready." Liu Yuan said to everyone with a smile.

In fact, there is no need for Cui Mengyao to call it, everyone in the side hall smelled the fragrance of the food early.

Old Demon King Cheng sniffed hard, and said happily: "Fragrant, so fragrant, as soon as you smell this smell, it must be a muddy sheep, not bad, yes, a few brothers have a good mouth today." ”

"My old cow is drooling." Niu Jinda also said with a smile.

Wei Chi Jingde twisted and smiled at Liu Yuan and said, "Xiaoyuan, is there any good wine?" You can't be stingy, the old man will have three bowls with you in a while. ”

"Uncles, you can spare me" Liu Yuan repeatedly told me to forgive: "I have fled in Tibet for a few months, and it is not easy for my brothers, tonight I said that I will have a good time with my little niece and them, and my uncles also know how to drink, I don't dare to drink more, what kind of wine, I have it, I have enough, if you want to drink, my little nephew will accompany you with wine, and I will be rude." ”

Li Jing patted Liu Yuan on the shoulder and said, "Okay, it's rare that you have this heart, and you haven't forgotten your soldiers, okay, I'll spare you this time, and I'll do it with you next time." ”

"Yes, Uncle Xie."

Everyone laughed while talking, and then sat down in the lobby, just when the maid served a hot water towel to wash her hands and wipe her face, the housekeeper came up and told someone to find it, Liu Yuan hurriedly confessed, and when he came out, he was waiting for the army.

"What's coming? Just in time, just in time for dinner, let's go. As soon as Liu Yuan saw this kid, he immediately pulled him inside.

"Don't" Hou Jun hurriedly said: "There are those masters inside, I won't go, so as not to be trained, general, in fact, I came to inform you, the dinner place for the evening has been booked, and the little one is here to tell you." ”

"Where?"

Hou Jun said proudly: "The Yuchun Building of the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, we have wrapped it up, the girl is all booked, all of them are of good shape, and the general will go straight when the time comes." ”

Liu Yuan scolded with a smile: "You guys, you really don't save me for me, you think about it quite thoughtfully, after eating, you don't have to run, that beauty is by your side." ”

Xiaoxiang Pavilion is the first of the four green buildings in Chang'an, it is said that it is an ordinary woman, the posture is also good, the night is expensive, and now it is also arrogant to charter a building, book a beautiful woman in advance, or not good, in the gold cave as an uncle, the price is not small.

"Hehe, who doesn't know that the general's family is hugely rich, and he has received so many rewards, this is just a drop in the bucket, and besides, the small one has also saved money for the general."

"Oh, what money do you save me?" Liu Yuan asked curiously.

"I ordered it in the name of the general, and said that the general has been yearning for the Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a long time, and I came to experience it, and said that if it is good, I will arrange to write an article in the Chang'an Daily, good guy, as soon as I hear you go, those Oiran head cards are vying for me to order her, the old bustard listened, and said on the spot to give the general face, all the expenses are eighty percent off, general, how did your face change? Ah, I forgot that I still have a little urgency to go back, that general, everything is ordered, and the brothers are waiting for you. Seeing that Liu Yuan's face was getting worse and worse, Hou Jun ran out as he spoke, and when he said the back, he had already run outside the house, turned over and ran away.

It's really clever.

Liu Yuan looked at the back and gritted his teeth and said: "Looking for death, you actually beat my name to go to Qinglou, and what do you say about longing for a long time, if it spreads, Lao Tzu's reputation will be ruined by you, Hou Jun, you kid will come back to me, I will promise not to kill you." (To be continued......)