Chang'an County Yamen.

In order to stabilize the price of salt, the county government was ordered to build a shed to sell green salt, and a few clever officials were dispatched to greet them, and one person walked to the middle of the road to ring the gong, and immediately attracted the people who passed by to come forward, and one of the people shouted: "Little Liuzi, is there something important in the imperial court?" ”

The official named Xiao Liuzi proudly explained: "The neighbors are very good, aren't you short of salt? The imperial court was sympathetic to the suffering of the people, and specially transported a batch of green salt, which was low in price and good quality, so let's come and see it. ”

"Salt? Where? ”

"Look!"

Everyone suddenly became interested, Chang'an City has been short of salt for a few days, and everyone has panicked.

Bags of salt were opened, revealing the high-grade rock salt inside, and an old man shouted: "Little Liuzi, this is the best salt, only the official and big families can afford it, where can we people sell the land money?" ”

"The third master laughed, this salt was specially transferred by the imperial court to solve everyone's difficulties, the high-grade rock salt used to cost ten yuan a catty, and the salt of this quality in the East Market next door has risen to fifteen yuan a catty, you may not be able to buy it, the sage is merciful and sympathetic to our suffering, now it only needs six wen a catty, and there will be no if you miss it."

"Six cents, that's really not too expensive."

"Do you want to buy some?"

"It's still expensive, buy a piece of salt stone and smash it back and use it, it's cheap, just four cents."

Salt stone is unprocessed salt ore, with high impurities and bitter taste, but for the common people, it can be used for a month and replaced.

At this time, a middle-aged man came over curiously, inquired about the situation, and shouted after learning the situation: "All the neighbors have come here, let me tell you." ”

After speaking, he took out a white paper package, the size of a fist, and opened it carefully, revealing the snow-white and delicate object inside, everyone couldn't see it, they all stared curiously, and the old man asked: "Lang Jun, what is this?" ”

"Third master, this is snowflake salt, you can taste it first."

The old man looked very prestigious, everyone got out of the way, the old man stepped forward, stretched out his fingers and twisted a little taste, suddenly his eyes lit up, and he said sincerely: "Good salt, pure taste, saltier than all the salt the old man has eaten, not to mention, there is no other taste, good salt, good salt, where is this bought, and what is the price?" ”

"Third master, you are this." The middle-aged man gave a thumbs up and smiled, and then carefully wrapped the white paper and hid it close to his body, and then explained: "Third master, extra neighborhood, the salt just now is called snowflake salt, which was developed by the protector himself, and the department store will start selling it today, if you want it, go quickly, many people are already rushing to buy it." ”

"Don't talk nonsense, you're not a rich family, this thing is so magical, the quality is so high that I have never seen it, the price must be expensive, how can you buy it." The third master asked.

The middle-aged man smiled and said: "The third master is very knowledgeable, but this time I am afraid that I will miscalculate, this snowflake salt can only be bought one pack per household, and the people in the Protector's Mansion said that this package is enough to eat for a month, and it will not take a month to have another batch of the same salt over, no need to hoard, more importantly, the price, this package only costs four Wen." ”

"Siwen?"

Everyone was surprised, the taste was strange, and the salt stone with very poor quality also needed four wen for a month, but now it was snow-white and delicate, and it was only four wen if it was a good thing at a glance, and this account was clear at a glance.

"Let's go to the department store."

"That's right, the protector of the country is truly for the people."

"The protector of the country has immortal means, and the snowflake salt developed by himself must be a good treasure."

"Let's go—"

After a while, all the people around him left, leaving only a cadre of officials stunned in the sun.

……

Department store, the former Wanhualou has been renovated, the red lantern is gone, it looks bright, concise, the first floor is crowded, countless people are lined up, they are all looking forward to it, looking ahead, for fear of missing something, a team of guards is maintaining order.

Jia Youcai hurried over with someone to help, and someone who knew him asked: "Steward Jia, so many people are queuing up to buy, won't there be no goods?" ”

"Don't worry, there are 100 carts transported, and the protector has specially explained, each household buys a package, each package is enough for each household to use for a month, and the second batch will arrive in less than a month, you can rest assured."

"Prestige of the Protector of the Country!"

"Protect the country, be benevolent and righteous, and sympathize with us grass people."

"Eat four dollars for a month, or the fairy-like snowflake salt, I can't believe it, we can't be sorry, the price can go up."

Jia Youcai was going to go in, but when he heard this, he quickly stopped, this was a good opportunity to promote the reputation of his young master, and looked at the person who spoke and smiled: "Don't you dare, protect the country and protect the righteousness, I know that everyone's life is not easy, and I specially explained that this batch of goods cannot make money, and it is enough to protect the capital and sell it, and everyone will read that it is good to protect the country." ”

"Protect the country and be righteous!"

Everyone shouted, and the tone was simple and sincere.

Jia Youcai hurriedly went in with a group of people to help, and the sales speed suddenly accelerated a lot, but more people rushed to hear the news, and the long queue at the gate increased instead of decreasing.

The news of snowflake salt in four articles and one bag blew through Chang'an City like the wind, causing concern from all parties.

Not long after, Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng came over in a carriage when they heard the news, stopped not far away, got out of the car to observe, and with a complicated look flashing in their eyes, Wei Zheng couldn't help but say: "Fang Xiang, how do I feel that something is going to happen." ”

"Yes, the old man doesn't feel very good, what is Huaidao doing?" Fang Xuanling couldn't see through it.

The two were silent again, speculating on the possibilities.

After another moment, Wei Zheng said solemnly: "Fang Xiang, no matter what Qin Huaidao does, this salt can't be banned, you can eat it for four cents for a month, and it's also high-grade salt, you and I have never seen salt can be made so delicately, without any sense of bitterness, this is a livelihood for the people, and it is beneficial to the people, and the old man does not allow anyone to stop it." ”

"Have you thought about a question? As a result, the salt of other firms could not be sold. ”

"If you can't sell it, you can't stop it, other businesses can reduce the price, and if you have the ability, you can make snowflake salt like Qin Huaidao, and also sell it for four wen and a pack, who dares to stop these profiteers from making a living, and the old man will impeach whom." Wei Zheng said solemnly.

Of course, Fang Xuanling would not stop it, but as the head of the hundred officials, he considered the problem more comprehensively and deeply, and after hesitating for a moment, he looked around vigilantly, and reminded in a voice that Wei Zheng could only hear: "The county government below came to report that no one bought the batch of disaster relief salt in the imperial court. ”

"Which batch was shipped from Lizhou?"

Wei Zheng asked rhetorically, seeing Fang Xuanling nodding with a bitter face, he suddenly became angry, and scolded: "You deserve it, that batch of salt is the compensation that Huaidao demanded, let the Governor of Lizhou Wushi Tong help transport it, if you don't trust Wushi Tong, how can Huaidao let the other party do it for you, just send his subordinates to take a trip, then the Lizhou Governor Wushi Tong is not a thing, he actually falsely accused Huaidao of holding a bow and arrow, and wait for the verified person to return to see how the old man impeached him." ”

"Don't get angry, the current problem is that once the snowflake salt comes out, other sea salt and green salt may no longer be cared for in the future, and other salt merchants don't know how to make snowflake salt, once the merchants join forces, although Huaidao is not afraid, there are also hidden dangers, and there is this batch of green salt detained by the imperial court, if it can't be sold, the saint can't get by, and he will only blame Huaidao more." Fang Xuanling reminded.

Wei Zheng sneered indifferently: "Commercial competition, each by means, I think who dares to jump out?" But you're right, once the snowflake salt is launched, the entire salt market will change, this time there is a good show, I remember that Zhaojun Li and Fan Yang Lu are selling salt, right? ”

"You-"

How could Fang Xuanling not know that Wei Zheng was angry in his heart, why wasn't he dissatisfied? But the court can't be chaotic, the people can't be chaotic, thought about it, and said: "Huaidao must have his considerations for doing this, and it is a move to benefit the people, we old guys have to help." ”

"Room—"

A guard of the forbidden army hurriedly came over and said, "Fang Xiang, the saint is invited." ”

"What do you say?" Fang Xuanling asked rhetorically.

"Some officials jointly wrote a letter to impeach the protector of the country, selling snowflake salt at a low price, maliciously selling, and disrupting the market. The other party explained.

Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng exchanged glances, and trouble came.

After getting into their respective carriages, Fang Xuanling whispered to a personal general uneasily: "Go to Qinjiazhuang quickly and inform the protector of the joint impeachment, so that he can prepare early." ”

"Whoa!" The other party bowed, pulled the horse's head and hurried away.