bastard seizes tang

Chapter 303
"Since Mr. Zhou is inconvenient to do things, he is not strong enough, so that the salt production is insufficient and it is difficult to supply Jianghuai. After that, the business of cooking salt and selling salt will no longer need to be handed over to the salt company. This king wants to express his father to the emperor, and set up another one in Huainan. How about the Yandao yamen, who specialize in this matter?"

Li Kezhi's words caught his ears, and before Zhou Dingfang had time to react, he froze on the spot, as if stunned.

He never expected that Li Ke was waiting for him here.

Li Ke wanted money, but he was much bolder than Zhou Dingfang thought. What Li Ke wanted was not only Zhou Dingfang's golden eggs, but also the hen that could only lay golden eggs.

Zhou Dingfang paused for a moment when he heard the words, then raised his head, looked at Li Ke in front of him, and asked anxiously and nervously, "Caomin doesn't know what Your Highness means."

Li Kedao: "Since the Han Dynasty, since the production of salt in Huainan, the salt business in Huainan has mostly been monopolized by the government and not distributed to the people. However, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's grandfather was sympathetic to the people's feelings. Because of the initial determination of the world and the hardships of the people, no salt was collected. , and handed over the salt business to the local salt industry, and the line lasted for [-] years.

But now that the world has been settled, the sea is peaceful, and the supply of salt in the salt industry will inevitably be insufficient. Therefore, this king wants to show his father the emperor, please take back the right to sell salt in Huainan, and transfer it to private sales for the imperial court. It can enrich the salt in Huainan without using it The shortage can also increase Huainan taxes and fill the treasury, which is killing two birds with one stone. "

Zhou Dingfang listened to Li Ke's words, although it was midsummer, there was a chill down his back.

Li Ke was able to say these words in person, I am afraid that it has not been a day or two since he had such an idea. Then before he showed his wealth in front of Li Ke's eyes, wasn't it just sending sheep into the tiger's mouth?
The incident happened suddenly, and Zhou Dingfang couldn't fully recall it for a while, but he could not avoid it.

Zhou Dingfang thought about it for a moment, and then said with embarrassment: "There are more than a thousand people in the Lianghuai River and Huaihe River who rely on salt for a living. If the salt camp is taken over to the government rashly, I am afraid that the people will lose their jobs and cause chaos in the local area. Hope to see you again." Think twice, Your Highness."

Just now Li Ke caught Zhou Dingfang's own words and criticized him, which caught Zhou Dingfang off guard. At this time, Zhou Dingfang naturally couldn't deny what he had just said, so he had to move out thousands of salt workers from Lianghuai, hoping that Li Ke would show mercy .

But since Li Ke has already decided to take action against Yan, how could he be completely unprepared? Li Ke said to Zhou Dingfang: "This king has already thought about this matter. After the salt business is brought back to the government, this king will set up two branches in Yangzhou. Huaidu was transferred to the Salt Transportation Department, set up a salt envoy, and commanded the salt transportation yamen, and imitated the local government yamen, setting up posts such as Chang Shi, Sima, etc., and dispatched salt officials and salt officers in various states and counties. It can ensure that the common people live in peace and contentment.”

Li Ke's words immediately made Zhou Dingfang speechless. Zhou Dingfang knew that although Li Ke was young, he was quite scheming. Yan Yamen and Yiying's official position setting have been thought through clearly, this is how Zhou Dingfang can't believe it.

If Zhou Dingfang, as a local tyrant who was rampant before, still had a bit of reason under Li Ke's coercion, Zhou Dingfang is completely panicked now. At least in Zhou Dingfang's view, Li Ke is determined to use salt. .

Zhou Dingfang hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness is merciful, Caomin's family, old and young, live on the salt. If the salt business disappears, Caomin will have no way to live."

At this time, Li Ke's face showed a hint of impatience at the right time, and said to Zhou Dingfang: "This king represents the court, not a bandit, so I will not cut off the way of life. For you, this king has other arrangements." , there is no need to say more.”

Now that Zhou Dingfang is in the Linjiang Palace, how dare he disobey Li Ke's intentions face to face. He bowed in front of Li Ke, and his guts are already green with regret.

Zhou Dingfang sighed faintly and said, "Since that's the case, the grassroots will leave."

After Zhou Dingfang finished speaking, he stood up and exited the side hall with a lot of thoughts on his mind.

Li Ke watched Zhou Dingfang leave the side hall, and said to behind him: "Sir, come out."

As soon as Li Ke finished speaking, Wang Xuance slowly walked out from the inner room of the hall.

Wang Xuance said to Li Ke: "The establishment of the Salt Transport Yamen is thankless, and it will only fatten the household department. Your Highness has provoked the suspicion of himself, so why should your Highness be in a hurry?"

Although Li Ke covered the sky with one hand in Huainan, but there were too many people in the court staring at him, his situation was not good. At this time, setting up a salt transport yamen would definitely attract criticism from the court and the imperial court, and impeachment by the censor.

The matter of official salt monopoly is certainly good, and Wang Xuance can see it, but this matter can be discussed after Li Ke ascends the throne in the future, not now. It is definitely not the right time for Li Ke to raise this matter now.

Li Ke looked at Wang Xuance, smiled, waved his hand to signal Wang Xuance to sit down beside him, and said to Wang Xuance: "Sir, I think you haven't eaten yet, so let me eat some."

Wang Xuance and Li Ke have shared hardships and hardships for four years, and their relationship is close, which is unusual for monarchs and ministers. Hearing this, Wang Xuance shook his head hurriedly and said with a smile: "Your Highness's words can be heard clearly in the room just now. This delicacy has no salt. No matter how beautiful it looks Beautiful, I’m afraid it’s hard to swallow.”

Li Ke picked up a pair of silver chopsticks, handed them to Wang Xuance, and said to Wang Xuance, "It's okay, except for the three dishes in front of Zhou Dingfang, the others are all salted, sir, you can eat without worry."

"I see." Wang Xuance took the silver chopsticks from Li Ke and sat down.

When Wang Xuance was seated, Li Ke said to Wang Xuance: "Sir, have you ever seen this king do such a business that he knows is losing money? The so-called collection of salt as an official business is just an introduction. What this king wants is the southeast salt company in Zhou Dingfang's hands. .”

Li Kezhi's words caught his ears, and Wang Xuance immediately understood how shrewd Li Ke's calculations were, and how he would do those thankless things. It turned out that Li Ke's hand was ready to reach into the money bag of Southeast Salt Company.

Li Ke was not short of money, nor was he greedy for money. Wang Xuance knew this very well. Li Ke just mentioned it briefly, so Wang Xuance naturally knew why Li Ke wanted the Southeast Salt Company.

"The southeast salt industry makes a lot of money every day. It is not only an inexhaustible mountain of gold, but also can get innumerable wealth. It can also go deep into the market and be the eyes and ears of His Highness. If you can get it, it will be a great help." Wang Xuance nodded. , said to Li Ke.

Li Ke said: "That's right, if the King of the Southeast Salt Industry can get it, it will be of great use."

Wang Xuance asked in bewilderment: "Since that is the case, why does Your Highness need to go through such troubles, just replace it directly?"

Li Ke shook his head and said: "Zhou Dingfang has been in Huainan for many years, and the Zhou family is also a local wealthy family. If this king replaces him rashly, it will be detrimental to my reputation on the one hand and may make others uneasy; on the other hand, Zhou Dingfang has deep roots and it is not easy to completely replace him in a short period of time. Zhou Dingfang Some skills, if possible, Zhou Dingfang, this king still wants to use them."

Wang Xuance said: "Hearing His Highness's intention, it must be that he does not want to use force."

Li Ke looked down at the table of delicacies in front of him, and said slowly to Wang Xuance: "It's hard to get the Southeast Salt Industry to have what it is today. I don't want to overturn this bowl, and I don't want to kill anyone. , but you can’t eat it.”

(End of this chapter)