Shen Lian knew very well that Mu Bai must have conditions for reciprocating the peach.

"What can you do for the adults?"

Mu Bai picked up the teacup, and the corners of his mouth curled: "The four major salt merchants are still making their last struggle, and if the salt gang can pick and hold off at this time, it will completely ruin Cheng Kuanyu's thoughts." ”

Shen Lian was a rough man, he could guess that Mu Bai wanted him to help with things, but he didn't know what to do.

"Please make it clear."

Mu Bai said directly: "You are not the leader of the gang now, and you will definitely be ostracized by the people in the gang if you make trouble publicly." But if you can make some money for the 100,000 hard-working brothers, the people in the gang will definitely talk about your goodness. ”

At this mention, Shen Lian immediately thought smoothly and said excitedly: "What do you mean, my lord, let me take advantage of the fact that the four major salt merchants are being squeezed by the official salt business, and sit on the ground and raise the price?" ”

Mu Bai looked at him appreciatively: "That's right, how much salt was used to move a boatload, you will add money to death." If the salt merchants are willing to give, the brothers in the gang will benefit, and if they don't, you will pick and choose. ”

"It's as simple as that?"

The Salt Gang asks the salt merchant for more money every year, and the two sides have been grudging for a long time, and if they don't make trouble a few times a year, the silver in their pockets is like minced chicken.

So it's not that difficult.

After getting affirmation from Mu Bai's face, Shen Lian's eyes were full of heat, Mu Bai's method was excellent, not only to help Mu Bai, but also to gain a good reputation in the gang, which would be of great help to be the leader of the gang in the future.

Shen Lian immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Mu Bai: "I am willing to be a pawn of Lord Mu, and repay my kindness with death." ”

Mu Bai helped Shen Lian up: "Deputy Gang Leader Shen is strong in martial arts, this small firewood house can't trap you, right?" ”

Shen Lian understood.

Then, there was a sound of breaking the window in the room, and Suoxin and Furong, as well as Sun Qianjun and Song Wanma, rushed over.

"Childe, where's the assassin?" Suoxin asked with some annoyance.

"Assassins? What assassin? Mu Bai deliberately pretended to be confused.

The four of them were a little confused when they heard it.

Mu Bai said to Sun Qianjun again: "Release all those who have been arrested." ”

"Put? My lord, won't you hand it over to Suncheonfu for interrogation? ”

"They're all good people, so they don't need to be judged."

"Oh!" The four of them didn't figure out the situation, but since the adults spoke, they just had to copy it.

Shen Lian's movements were very fast, and early the next morning, Mu Bai received the news.

Sun Qianjun quickly reported that the black-hearted salt of the four major salt merchants was halfway to the capital, and the porters of the salt gang sat on the hot roadside one by one to enjoy the coolness, and did not work to carry things, and the scene was called chaos.

Mu Bai knew that the time was ripe, and the salt merchants couldn't stand it.

Mu Bai took a sip of tea and said to Sun Qianjun: "Open the warehouse and put salt, and spill all the inventory." ”

During this time, although the supply of official salt was in short supply, Mu Bai still kept a hand, and only half of the salt produced every day was released, and the rest was stored in the warehouse.

"Yes!"

Sun Qianjun was so happy that he took people and began to transport salt out.

Three days, but only three days, the salt market in the capital rose and fell, so that the last glimmer of hope of the salt merchants were dashed, the shopkeeper of the country's 400 salt numbers took the silver ticket and entered Beijing overnight, hoping to catch up with the last bit of time, the "entrance fee" of 20,000 taels was handed over.

On the eve of the start of the army, the entrance of the household department was crowded with salt merchants from all over the country who had entered Beijing, all with money in their pockets, and they all broke their heads, fearing that they would not be able to pay the money if they were late.

In less than half a day, the household department has already received nearly 8 million taels of silver bills, and in addition to paying the military salaries for the war in the northwest, the state treasury can also have sufficient surplus.

Not only that, after Mu Bai's rectification of the salt affairs of Lianghuai, the salt merchants were chained by the imperial court in the future, and the salt tax would become the most important source of income for the Great Liang.

Mu Bai did this beautifully, causing the government and the opposition to shake, and the empress was happy.

After the imperial meeting, the empress summoned Mu Bai at Kunning Palace.

When Mu Bai came to Kunning Palace, he was directly led to the empress's bedroom by the palace maid.

After the purple duck removed the empress's makeup and the dragon crown and phoenix robe faded, the empress had long hair up to her waist, combed a very simple and simple hair ornament, and wore a golden hollow tulle dress, which was cool with a charm that people couldn't take their eyes off.

"Wechen knocks to see Your Majesty."

Mu Bai bowed.

The empress looked at Mu Bai through the bronze mirror, her eyes full of smiles:

"Mu Bai, you have done a good job in the matter of the two Huai salt affairs, not only has you solved the problem of military supplies in the northwest, but the imperial court will also have stable taxes in the future."

Not only that, after this incident, no one in the court dared to question Mu Bai's ability casually, which also proved that the empress was as wise as a torch and could dig out capable ministers for the imperial court.

So how could the empress not be happy.

Mu Bai said modestly: "Your Majesty, the salt affairs of Lianghuai are only beginning to bear fruit, but the profiteers are very cunning, and the imperial court must introduce strict laws to control the salt affairs, otherwise once the private salt is overflowing, the income of the imperial court will gradually decrease." ”

The so-called "there is a strategy" and there is a right one, and the salt merchants will definitely not sit idly by when they see that the profits are eaten by the imperial court.

In ancient times, official salt and private salt were the two sides of the struggle of interests, and they were like fire and water, and they had to rely on legislative means to punish them.

The empress was woken up by Mu Bai, and it seemed that it was indeed too early to be happy.

"It's better for you to think it through, okay, I will ask the Criminal Department to issue relevant laws." The empress got up slowly, and her tall figure looked even more three-dimensional against the background of the long skirt, like a costume model walking towards Mu Bai.

Mu Bai didn't dare to dodge, and lowered his head after two glances.

"I heard that the county lord of Heyang gave it to you according to the night?" The empress suddenly mentioned Zhao Yebai, which made Mu Bai a little worried, did she regret it? Don't, it's a famous horse, Mu Bai will wake up laughing when he dreams.

"Yes, the county lord said that whoever tame will belong to whomever he is." Mu Bai replied honestly.

The empress saw that Mu Bai was a little reluctant, and deliberately teased him: "That's really unfortunate, in a few days, the envoys of the Demon Kingdom are going to enter Beijing for peace talks, and I am worried that I have no gifts to give, or I will give Zhao Yebai to the Demon Emperor?" ”

The six horses of Changling are famous all over the world, and it is not undignified to give them to the Demon Emperor.

Mu Bai's face changed color suddenly, as if a child had been robbed of a toy: "Your Majesty... This..."

"Hee-hee-hee......"

Zi Yuan couldn't help but snicker as he looked at Mu Bai from the side.

The empress reclined on the bench, her slender legs slipped out of the side of the skirt, her white muscles were better than snow, slender and well-proportioned, and she said with a smile:

"Tease you, you have made immortal achievements, and it seems stingy to reward you with a horse of Changling Six Horses, how can you take away your love."

Mu Bai's little heart almost flew out: "Thank you, Your Majesty for the reward." ”

The empress immediately turned to the topic: "Wei Qingfeng has rushed to the north, and Luo Yunying has gone to the west. When the army is marching and fighting, the supply of grain and grass in the rear is very important. ”