Li Hao snorted disdainfully.

"Lao Li, Lao Li, you can't be so naïve, right? Li Ziyin's kind of person, if he really didn't get enough benefits, he would have pinched me up a long time ago, how could he leave so easily? ”

"But didn't you buy all the food that the Cui family bought? The Li family didn't take advantage of it at all in Hongzhou! ”

"Do you really think that the two silvers you earned in Hongzhou are really earned?" Li Hao looked at Li Shimin's eyes seriously.

"Isn't it?" Li Shimin was a little flustered by Li Hao's eyes, and asked embarrassedly.

"The price of grain in the disaster area has been fixed by us, even if we sell grain over there, how much money can we make? Is the Li family in Longxi the lord who is short of money? As far as I'm concerned, if it weren't for the limelight, would I have been guilty of going to the flood-stricken area to find guilt? This back and forth, the most important thing is fame. ”

"You mean the grain of the treasury?"

Li Hao nodded solemnly and said:

"That's right! This time the flood in Hongzhou, the imperial court transported grain for disaster relief, and the grain stocks in the treasury were about to be emptied. Now the Tang Dynasty seems to be peaceful from all over the world, but it is surrounded by strong enemies, and it is far from being as peaceful as it seems. No one can say that one day the Turks will invade the Tang Dynasty. ”

"Once the Turks attack, we will inevitably fight back, what is the most important thing in the war, isn't it food and grass? This time, the Li family did not hesitate to use the strength of the entire family to buy grain to fill the vacancy in the treasury, and earned a good reputation inside and out. And these grains are not given to you for free, and you don't have to pay back the Li family in the end. Li Ziyin's operation not only earned enough reputation, but the family did not have any losses, which can be said to be the benefits. Why should those old guys of the Li family in Longxi blame her? ”

"Li Ziyin didn't take advantage of Hongzhou, but her reputation in the entire family is unmatched."

Li Shimin suddenly realized:

"I see! No wonder Ziyin, this little girl, didn't tell me about you, it turned out that she had arranged everything a long time ago! ”

Li Hao smiled bitterly: "Li Ziyin, this woman strategizes and wins thousands of miles, and she is worthy of the name of female Zhuge . This kind of talent, Lao Li, you must grasp it well, she is here, and the Li family in Longxi will be yours sooner or later! ”

Li Shimin nodded yes, and suddenly smiled again: "Okay, after my question, it's time to talk about you." When did you get together with the Lu family's boy? If it weren't for Ziyin, I wouldn't have known that Lu Yuchang had already cultivated his own power in Chang'an. ”

Li Hao's face did not change: "Lu Yuchang and Li Ziyin have the same idea, they both want to overthrow the old system of five surnames and seven hopes, and establish a new force to serve the Tang Dynasty." After fighting with the five surnamed Qiwang for so long, I know their strength very well, and if it weren't for the young man with the newborn calf who had to fight me head-on, it would be difficult for me to defeat them so quickly. It's better to win over one of them than to fight a protracted war with them. ”

"Besides, the five surnames and seven hopes have taken root in Datang for a hundred years, if these seven families are really annexed, I will not be so good at you. The ministers in the court will not say anything, but if someone can provoke it, the people may not have a good time. Instead of facing all kinds of troubles in the future, it is better to leave Li Ziyin and Lu Yuchang behind. One is to stabilize the hearts of the people, and the other is to secretly unite, this is the best solution! ”

Li Shimin was silent for a moment and agreed with Li Hao's statement.

The five surnames and seven hopes have been entrenched in the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years, and the people have long been accustomed to their existence, if they suddenly disappear in a short time, how can they adapt? On the contrary, it is left to create the illusion that there is still an inherent clan model, which is good for peace.

The two fell silent and did not speak for a long time.

Li Shimin seemed to have thought of something, but he didn't know how to ask. And Li Hao also realized this and waited for him to speak.

No matter how good their relationship is, after all, they are also people from two countries, Li Shimin is not Li Hao's monarch, and Li Hao is not his courtier, it is better to explain many things clearly.

After a long time.

"How do you plan to distribute grain in Hongzhou?" Li Shimin hesitated again and again, but finally said this most acute question.

There is no money for grain distribution, and interest is charged for the next year. On the surface, it seems that Li Hao is earning, but is it actually it? For a merchant, food is far less important than silver. Besides, the quality of grain in Datang is getting better and better, and there will be bumper harvests in various places in the coming year, and the little grain interest that Li Hao collects is definitely not as good as the money he collects directly.

As a businessman, he suddenly made such a loss-making transaction, Li Shimin really couldn't understand it.

Li Hao sighed in his heart, Li Shimin was not a fool after all, he still saw it.

Now that the words have been said here, Li Hao didn't plan to continue to hide it, and said directly: "It's still the same sentence, my Li Jiazhuang is not short of money, and I don't need to spend money to deal with anything like the Boling Cui family." In the coming years, the pressure on food is likely to be even greater! ”

"Lijiazhuang has a population of only 1,000 households, how much grain can I eat every year?"

Li Hao looked at Li Shimin's eyes: "There is indeed no shortage now, but what if I form an army?" ”

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, he helped Li Hao think of many reasons, but he didn't expect it to be like this.

In front of a monarch, he said that he wanted to form an army under his nose, and throughout the ages, only Li Hao had the courage to do so.

Li Shimin forced a smile: "Can you tell me the reason?" ”

"Lijiazhuang is located in the west of Chang'an, facing the Turks, who covet our Tang land all the year round and will invade from time to time. I must have my own army to cope with their attack! ”

Li Shimin's face was embarrassed: "But have you ever thought that even if you do this, even if I can agree, can the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty agree?" On the side of the couch, you will not allow others to sleep soundly. If someone puts pressure on me in this way, how can I keep you? ”

Li Hao smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Lao Li, when will I make you feel sorry for me?" Naturally, those ministers in peacetime would not allow me to have my own army. But what if it's wartime? If it is only an invasion in the Turks, and Lijiazhuang can send an army to support the Tang Heavenly Army, will anyone question why I want to form an army? ”

"But how can you predict the timing of the Turkic invasion?"

"Situation!"

Li Hao raised a finger: "Now that the national strength of the Tang Dynasty is growing, the original balance has been broken. If the Turks don't want to be thrown away too much by the Tang Dynasty, they will inevitably come to find trouble. Besides, now that we have more and more food, the Turks have to protect themselves from the wind and snow every year. Once too many cattle and sheep are grazed to death in a given year, they have to go south to conquer in order to feed themselves, isn't this what they often do? ”

When Li Shiming heard this, he couldn't help but sigh.

"The king's words, ten thousand people bury their bones. Why don't these barbarians understand this? Do you have to make a mess in the world and devastate your lives before you can understand the importance of life? ”

"Lao Li, you are a Ming monarch, I hope that the world will be peaceful and the people will live in peace. I Li Hao admires this very much! But people's hearts are like this, they can't see others as better than themselves. The richer you are, the more jealous they become. Peace in the world is also what I want, but in the face of provocation, how can I repay grievances with virtue? If you are merciful, they will be arrogant, for the sake of the people of the Tang Dynasty, you must be ready to take the Turks at any time! ”