Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 240 Using Salt as a Sword

Gao Ming knew very well that there were actually two reasons why it was so easy to pass when he proposed to exempt the agricultural tax.

First of all, it is because he is gaining momentum now, and with the precedent of the Zheng family in Xingyang, the family members also know that Gao Ming is not easy to mess with, so they are unwilling to confront him head-on.

Secondly, it is because there are not many lands acquired by aristocratic families nowadays, and under Li Shimin's policy of light tax and low tax, the land rent they get from it is not much, even if they give up, the loss is not big.

But salt is different. Once this important source of income is lost, the blow to them will not be so great, and their influence will be greatly reduced by then.

Therefore, Gao Ming knew very well that once he made a move against the salt merchant, the powerful families would probably attack him, and then he would really need to confront the salt merchant head-on.

Now that Gao Ming has a lot of cards, he is not afraid to fight with these aristocratic families, but Tian Yi doesn't know, so he immediately showed worry on his face.

"His Royal Highness, the stakes are very important at this time, and it is better to take a long-term plan. Please think twice, Your Royal Highness!"

Seeing Tian Yi's uneasy expression, Gao Ming immediately grinned at him, revealing two rows of white teeth.

"Don't think twice. I have been preparing for this day for a long time. I will use salt as a sword to cut off all obstacles that hinder the progress of Tang Dynasty. Tian Yi, would you like to help me?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Tian Yi raised his head in astonishment, but when he saw Gao Ming's serious expression, there was a trace of firmness on his face.

"The humble minister has been favored by His Royal Highness to cultivate him. His Royal Highness has an order. Even if I, Tian Yi, are smashed to pieces, I will not hesitate to do so!"

Looking at Tian Yi's determined face with a hint of sadness, Gao Ming couldn't laugh or cry.

"Hey, you bastard...I've said that I don't fight uncertain battles. It's as if I want you to die. Don't worry, I don't want you to charge forward."

Originally, Tian Yi was ready to take the blame, but now he was shocked again when he heard Gao Ming's words.

"Don't want me to charge forward? Then what should I do?"

Seeing his puzzled look, Gao Ming suddenly smiled, and then waved towards him.

"Don't be so nervous, sit down first, and I'll tell you slowly!"

"Yes!"

Tian Yi agreed and sat down. Just as he sat down, there was a "cheeping" sound in his stomach. Hearing this sound, Gao Ming grinned again, and then pushed the plate of biscuits in front of him.

"I guess you haven't eaten yet. While you're eating, I'll tell you slowly."

Looking at the plate of cakes pushed by Gao Ming, Tian Yi blushed suddenly, a little embarrassed, but also a little touched, with mixed feelings in his heart, he didn't know what it was like.

Seeing that Tian Yi was still in a daze, Gao Ming smiled at him again.

"You eat first, and I'm going to tell you what you need to do next after eating."

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Tian Yi opened his mouth, but didn't say anything. In the end, he could only bow his hands towards Gao Ming.

"Thank you, His Royal Highness, for the reward!"

After speaking, he picked up the biscuits on the plate and ate them. As he ate, tears came out, Gao Ming was dumbfounded.

"Tsk tsk... I've seen children crying and refusing to take the medicine, but a grown man can eat dim sum to the point of tears. I have to say, Tian Yi, you are a talent!"

"..."

Tian Yi also knew that Gao Ming was joking with him, after swallowing what was in his mouth, he quickly wiped the corners of his eyes, and then smiled at Gao Ming.

"To be honest, both of my parents died when I was young, and because of the relationship between my feet and legs, I was used to being looked at by others since I was a child, and I was the first one to treat me like His Royal Highness. Your kindness is really like reborn parents!"

clever:"……"

What the hell is it to show loyalty and flatter when you disagree?

In fact, Gao Ming really wanted to say to him "I don't have a son as old as you", but seeing Tian Yi's sincere face, Gao Ming had no choice but to sigh, and then patted him on the shoulder.

"Oh, I didn't expect you to have such a past. You lacked love when you were young and lacked calcium when you grew up. You are also a poor person. Since you regard me as a reborn parent, if you can't help it, just call me daddy." !"

Tian Yi: "..."

Seeing Tian Yi's astonished expression, Gao Ming couldn't help but burst into laughter immediately, hearing Gao Ming's laughter, Tian Yi's face turned red all of a sudden.

"His Royal Highness, this...that..."

Although Tian Yi was flattering before, but without a watch, he was skinny and shameless. When the critical moment came, he couldn't stand it anymore. Seeing his embarrassment, Gao Ming burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha... Tian Yi, you bastard, I was just joking with you, do you really take it seriously?"

Seeing Tian Yi fidgeting, Gao Ming immediately smiled and shook his head.

"You are thin-skinned, don't you know that you have to be thick-skinned if you want to flatter? If it were Li Goudan, he would have hugged my thigh and called him father, haha..."

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Tian Yi suddenly coughed twice in embarrassment.

"Ahem... This brother Li is really... really a very special person. I don't know where he is now. If there is a chance, I plan to pay a visit to him."

Seeing Tian Yi's insincere expression, Gao Ming laughed again.

"Of course there is a chance. Li Goudan is now the governor of Jinzhou, and you will have more time to deal with him in the future!"

The governor of Jinzhou?
After hearing Gao Ming's words, he was shocked immediately.

Originally, Tian Yi thought that Li Goudan was just a low-level jester, but he didn't expect that he was now the lord of a state.

Jinzhou is Zhongzhou. According to the level, the governor of Jinzhou is an official of the imperial court who is a dignified fourth rank. People say that the first rank of the official is crushing people, and Li Goudan is more than ten ranks higher than him!
Thinking of this, Tian Yi's face suddenly became a little more solemn.

"What His Royal Highness said is true. If I pass by Jinzhou, I should pay a visit to Master Li."

Hearing that Tian Yi called Li Goudan from "Brother Li" to "Master Li", Gao Ming shook his head helplessly.

"You guys are really... Well, let's not talk about this, just keep the matter of salt in your heart, don't tell other people, after Zhang Sizheng gets married, you go to Fanyang with him."

Tian Yi had met Zhang Sizheng and knew that he was an acquaintance of You Baiqiwei. Although he didn't know why Gao Ming asked him to go to Fanyang with Zhang Sizheng, since Gao Ming didn't say anything, he naturally wouldn't ask.

But now, Tian Yi was thinking more about what kind of gift Zhang Sizheng should give when he got married.

"It's too vulgar to send money, but I don't know what Mr. Zhang likes when I send you farewell..."

Seeing Tian Yi's thoughtful expression, Gao Ming immediately patted him on the shoulder again.

"Okay, let's put this matter aside for now, don't think too much about it, do you have anything else to do?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Tian Yi came back to his senses. He suddenly realized that he seemed to be distracted just now, and secretly called out "It's dangerous", and then bowed his hands to Gao Ming.

"There is one more thing, that is, the last time His Royal Highness said about the readjustment of prices, I don't know where to start. It would be time-consuming to investigate each family..."

Seeing Tian Yi's embarrassed face, Gao Ming immediately laughed.

"What's so difficult about it? Later, you ask someone to get a box, put it at the gate of the Datang Royal Commercial Alliance, and then tell the nearby people that if any store sells expensive things, let them sell the box to that store. Write down your name and the price of the item, and put it in the box."

Hearing Gao Ming's method, Tian Yi's eyes lit up immediately.

"In this way, it is tantamount to asking the people to investigate for us. Not only does it save a lot of time, but when the time comes, we will find out what is right, and the merchants will not be able to deny it. His Royal Highness, this method is so good that I really admire it. To the extreme!"

After finishing speaking, Tian Jian stood up and bowed to Gao Ming.

Seeing this scene, Gao Ming immediately shrugged his shoulders and thought to himself: "Should I tell you that the price bureaus of later generations will all do this?"

Tian Yi didn't know what Gao Ming was thinking in his heart, but seeing him not caring, he felt that Gao Ming was unfathomable.

Gao Ming saw that Tian Yi's eyes looking at him became more and more hot, even though he was very thick-skinned, he still couldn't stand it anymore, so he immediately coughed twice.

"Ahem... That Tian Yi, this time has passed, is there anything else? If not, you can go back, I guess you should be hungry too."

Tian Yi is a smart person, of course he also heard Gao Ming's intention to see off the guests, so he immediately bowed his hands to Gao Ming.

"His Royal Highness, I have one more thing to report to His Royal Highness, which is about the Datang Royal Club...uh..."

Tian Yi had just finished speaking halfway, when Gao Ming took out a yellow cloth bag from behind and threw it on the table. From the looks of it, there are probably no fewer than dozens of these tokens,

Seeing this scene, Tian Yi was stunned.

"His Royal Highness, this is..."

Gao Ming had expected Tian Yi to have such a reaction, so he immediately laughed.

"Now the Datang Royal Business Alliance is short of manpower. You can recruit more people. It doesn't have to be businessmen from Chang'an. Both Jingzhao Mansion and Luoyang are fine. There are a total of [-] tokens of the Datang Royal Club here. , now it’s all up to you.”

Gao Ming's meaning is obvious, that is, the recruits must be powerful businessmen, at least to the extent that they can afford the royal club pass token.

Tian Yi also understood Gao Ming's meaning and nodded immediately.

"I understand, my minister will write down the candidates recommended by then, and then His Highness will make a decision, then I will retire first."

After finishing speaking, Tian Yi saluted Gao Ming.Seeing Gao Ming nodding, he retreated a few books, then turned and left.

After Tian Yi walked out of the door of Datang Royal Clubhouse, Gao Ming began to laugh.

"Master Shang Shu, you should have heard what Tian Yi and I said just now, what do you think of this person?"

As soon as Gao Ming finished speaking, the door of the room behind him opened suddenly, and a middle-aged man came out with a smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)