After discussing the results, everyone did not hesitate too much and soon embarked on the journey to the palace.

At this moment, Cao Shunhe is leisurely practicing calligraphy in the study, and the pen is between the dragon and the snake, showing elegance.

He knew in his heart that his every move was being watched behind his back!

For this reason, he specially invited the heads of the Liang family, the He family, and the Li family to the yamen, and set up a banquet to entertain them.

The purpose is to show weakness to the enemy, and besides, when these people are present, there is no need to monitor.

Cao Shunhe was also able to take advantage of this opportunity to secretly instruct his cronies to bring the news out.

Before that, Cao Shunhe was already fully prepared, he had arranged for his cronies to wait for news outside the whole process.

Just as Cao Shunhe was deep in thought, there was a sound of footsteps from outside.

Cao Shunhe secretly said in his heart: "It's finally here!" ”

Immediately, he put down the brush in his hand and turned his gaze to the direction of the door.

"Report to the governor, the heads of the Liang family, the Li family, and the He family you invited have all arrived."

"Right now, they're waiting in the living room."

The subordinate came in, knelt on the ground, and said respectfully.

"Well, I'll go over now!"

After Cao Shunhe learned the news, he nodded, and then followed the footsteps of his subordinates and went to the waiting room.

And not long after Cao Shunhe left, someone sneaked in.

……

In the waiting room, Liang Hong, Li Yide, and He Jin were sitting on chairs, waiting for Cao Shunhe's arrival, and while commenting on the tea leaves in the palace.

"If you want me to say, this tea is really bad! Far worse than my home. ”

Li Yide frowned, and then put the teacup aside with a look of disgust.

"This tea is not bad, this is the kind of tea in my house."

Liang Hong, who was on the side, shook his head helplessly when he heard this, and responded.

"It's good to have to drink, He was born poor and ...... when he was a child"

Before He Jin finished speaking, he was interrupted impatiently by Li Yide.

"Okay, don't talk about your family history, my ears are almost calloused."

At this moment, only a sound of footsteps was heard, and Cao Shunhe, accompanied by his subordinates, came to the waiting room.

"I've seen the Governor!"

Seeing this, several people hurriedly got up from their seats and saluted respectfully.

"It's okay, today is the official who took the liberty to invite you to come, there is no need to be so restrained!"

Cao Shunhe waved his hand, signaling that several people did not have to salute him.

"Your Excellency, you came to us to discuss measures to stabilize the price of salt?"

Li Yide couldn't bear it anymore and took the lead in asking.

"I'll talk about this later, the official has already prepared a banquet, let's talk slowly, everyone, please!"

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, with a slight smile on his face, he immediately made a gesture of please.

"Governor, we ......"

Just as He Jin on the side wanted to refuse, he was interrupted by Liang Hong first.

"Your Excellency Governor, then we might as well be respectful?"

"Well, that's very good, come with me!"

Cao Shunhe took in the expressions on everyone's faces, and then led the way in front of him.

And several people deliberately slowed down and fell behind.

"What are you doing! Aren't you afraid that this is the Hongmen Banquet? ”

Li Yide looked at Cao Shunhe's back in front of him and said in a low voice.

"What are you afraid of, he has no one available now! Let's take a look at what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd. ”

After Liang Hong finished speaking, he walked a few steps quickly and kept up with Cao Shunhe's pace.

……

Soon, several people were seated.

The dishes on the table are very rich, and all kinds of delicacies from the mountains and seas abound, but for these people, there is no attraction in the slightest.

"First of all, I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come to the government to discuss measures to stabilize salt prices!"

"On behalf of the people of Jiangxi, thank you!"

"This first cup is for the official to salute you."

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he drank all the wine in the cup.

Seeing Cao Shunhe put his posture so low, several people's faces were full of surprise.

Soon, Li Lide reacted and took the lead in starting a round: "Where, the governor can invite us over, because he can afford us!" ”

"Therefore, this first glass of wine should be up to us to honor the Governor!"

"That's right, this first glass of wine, we should pay tribute to the governor!"

Seeing this, He Jin also helped on the side.

"Don't say so much, come, let's give a toast to the governor!"

After Liang Hong finished speaking, he drank the wine in the cup with a few people.

"It's a good wine, and it has a mellow and long flavor!"

Li Yide put down the wine glass and couldn't help but praise.

"That's nature, this wine is a few years old!"

"This official still has some there, wait for the banquet to be over, and then send someone to your house, how about it?"

Cao Shunhe saw that Li Yide was interested in the wine on the table, so he immediately spoke.

"This ...... Then it's better to be respectful than to obey your fate! ”

Li Yide hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

"Come, let's keep drinking!"

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he raised his glass again.

"Here, cheers!"

"!"

After a vague glance at each other, several people also raised their wine glasses.

In this way, everyone drank seven or eight more rounds, and soon the wine on the table was almost drunk, and everyone was a little drunk, and their brains were not as bright as before.

At this moment, Cao Shunhe looked drunk and hazy, only to see him pick up the wine jug on the table, shake it vigorously, and then put it back in its place.

"Hey, why are you out of wine? Someone, send another pot of wine! ”

"If you hear it, send me another drink!"

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Cao Shun and the whole person also began to get angry, and kept slapping the table.

"Did you hear that, hurry up and bring the wine to the official! If you delay the matter, the official will ask you! ”

"The governor doesn't need to urge, maybe the servants under his hands have something to do!"

Seeing this, the three people at the wine table hurriedly comforted.

Immediately, with a squeak, the door to the room was pushed open, and a servant walked in trembling with a wooden tray.

On the tray, two jugs of wine are neatly arranged.

After the slave put down the wine, when he wanted to leave the room quickly, he was grabbed by the collar by Cao Shunhe and questioned.

"Why are you only sending the wine now, do you deliberately look down on this official?"

Cao Shunhe's eyes were full of clarity at this time, and he took advantage of everyone's inattention to stuff the envelope into the arms of the visitor.

"Lord Governor, my subordinates don't dare, just now my subordinates have indeed been called away!"

In the face of Cao Shunhe's questioning, the slave's face turned pale instantly, and he knelt on the ground with a 'plop' and explained.

"Damn, even you look down on this official!"

Cao Shunhe said, and gave the person who came a slap, and kicked a few times by the way.

And Cao Shunhe's move successfully attracted a burst of contempt from others at the wine table, and his evaluation of him also dropped a lot.

"The dignified governor of Jiangxi, even if he has a grudge in his heart, he only dares to be angry with the slaves! What a joke. ”

The expressions on everyone's faces flashed, and then they stepped forward one after another to act as peacemakers.

"Lord Governor, forget about this matter, don't let him disturb our drinking interest!"

"Yes, Lord Governor, forget it! Come, let's keep drinking. ”

Under the persuasion of everyone, the expression on Cao Shunhe's face looked much better, and then he threatened.

"For the sake of these people, this official will spare you this time, if you dare to have a next time, you will not blame this official for being ruthless!"

"What are you doing in a daze? Don't thank the Governor yet! ”

Seeing this, Li Yide couldn't help but mention.

After being reminded by Li Yide, the person who came reacted suddenly and kept kowtowing on the ground.

"Thank you, Governor! Thank you, Governor! ”

"Alright, get out of here! Don't spoil the good mood of the official. ”

Cao Shunhe glanced at the slave and said coldly.

"Yes, Lord Governor, my subordinates will leave!"

After the servant finished speaking, he walked away quickly, with an expression on his face that had survived the catastrophe, and did not forget to close the door with him as he left.

"Come on, let's keep drinking!"

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he raised his wine glass and said loudly.

"Here, cheers!"

Immediately after, after a few more rounds, several people present had already been drunk.

It was only at this time that Cao Shunhe barely supported his body and put forward his request to everyone.

"Right now, the price of salt in the city has risen to seventeen yuan a catty, and you, as a famous salt merchant, should take responsibility and make the price of salt cheaper!"

"Reduce the burden on the people, and let the people also be able to afford salt.

Seeing that Cao Shunhe had only made a request until this moment, everyone couldn't help but be shocked by his patience.

"Don't worry, Governor, now that you've spoken! Then the price of salt will definitely be able to come down. ”

"Tell me, how much do you want to drop! As long as we are within our capabilities, we will help you achieve your goals. ”

After listening to Cao Shunhe's words, Li Yide patted his chest and reassured.

"The official's idea is that if only he could drop three or four more on the basis of the current situation!"

After listening to Li Yide's assurance, Cao Shunhe cheered up and said so.

"Lord Governor, you also know that although we seem to have a big family, we actually have our own difficulties!"

"Not to mention anything else, there are so many people under our hands who need us to feed."

"If we lose money here, then those who rely on us to live will only have a more miserable life!"

"At that time, it will not be a question of whether you can afford to eat salt, and you may not even be able to fill your stomach."

"Besides, there is not much salt in stock, and it will be completely gone when it is sold out!"

"At most, we can only reduce the price by two cents, otherwise, we will lose money, and the cost of transportation, storage, labor, and stores of salt is all money!"

When Liang Hong on the side heard this, he immediately frowned and complained bitterly.

After listening to Liang Hong's complaint, Cao Shunhe's face was full of hesitation.

"But this ......"

"Lord Governor, to tell you the truth, we also have our own difficulties!"

Seeing this, He Jin on the side also followed to comfort.

"Well, in that case, two articles are two articles, it's better than no price reduction!"

In the end, Cao Shunhe gritted his teeth and compromised quite unwillingly.

Seeing that the goal had been achieved, smiles appeared on the faces of several people present.

"Lord Governor, it's not too early, let's get here today!"

"Well, do you need to send someone to send you off?"

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he struggled to get up from the wine table.

"No need, Governor! There are people waiting for us outside, so you can rest early. ”

Several people saw Cao Shunhe drunk like mud, and the whole person fell on the wine table, and said so.

"Okay, a few of you go slowly."

After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he lay on the wine table, unconscious.

"Let's go."

"Hmm."

After exchanging a few words, they left the room, and at the same time did not forget to order the servants waiting outside to send Cao Shunhe, who was lying unconscious on the wine table, back to the room.

And at the same time as a few people left, Cao Shunhe slowly got up from the wine table, looked at the scenery outside the house, and said to himself silently.

"Hmph, you wait for the official, the imperial court will send a large army soon, and when the time comes, it will be your death!"

……

"Drive!"

At this moment, I saw a fast horse galloping in the direction of Zhejiang under the cover of night, and the figure on the horse was the slave who was slapped by Cao Shunhe before!

(End of chapter)