At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 331 Iron Ore
The current situation is obviously not good for the Cui family of Qinghe, but the Cui family is one of the best aristocratic families after all. There have been many capable people in the past. Although they are not good at hand and eye, their energy should not be underestimated. There must be a way to resolve this predicament, so Gao Bufan They didn't ask too much, and Cui Hu obviously didn't want to talk too much about the family's internal affairs, so both of them changed the topic to talk about other things very tacitly.

At this time, Dou Xianniang and Cui Shirou were already sitting on the grass by the lake, weaving flower baskets with great interest. Gao Bufan and Cui Hu also sat down not far away to continue chatting.

"Brother Cui, I have to thank you for the matter of Xian Niang." Gao Bufan said in a low voice.

Cui Hu smiled and said: "You don't have to be polite, Changqing, it's just a matter of raising your hands, but in fact, I did this to leave a way out."

Gao Bufan naturally understood, nodded and said: "Although that is the case, the risk that brother Cui took in this move is still not small, Changqing is very grateful."

Cui Hu said solemnly: "As Zhang Qing said, we are a life-long friendship, so it's nothing to take some risks. I believe that if I need help in the future, Zhang Qing will definitely help me."

"That's for sure." Gao Bufan was talking, when suddenly his expression became tense, and Cui Hu hurriedly followed his gaze.

It turned out that at some point, the big green horse walked up to the second daughter while gnawing on the grass, kissed and rubbed against Miss Dou Xian, who put a woven garland on its head. Seeing this, Cui Shirou found it interesting, so she also reached out to touch the big green horse's head.

Although the big green horse has a human nature, it is very stinky. Except for Gao Bufan and Dou Xianniang, it is generally not willing to carry other people. If a stranger gets close to it, there is a high probability that it will lay down its hooves. Even the groom who was in charge of taking care of him was once killed Been bitten by it.

However, a scene that surprised Gao Bufan happened, the big green horse was touched by Cui Shirou on the head, instead of biting, he closed his eyes with an expression of enjoyment, and lightly arched Cui Shirou's arm with his mouth, as if to say: " Touch again!"

Cui Shirou stretched out her small hand and scratched the big green horse's head again, and the latter closed his eyes again, showing an expression of enjoyment, and shook his head, making the two girls giggle coquettishly.

Gao Bufan was surprised, but also a little speechless. Does Qing Yun also like beautiful women?
Cui Hu smiled and said: "Sirou has loved raising small animals since she was a child. Whether it is a kitten or a puppy, as long as she is allowed to raise it for a while, she will be domesticated and obedient. She also has a talking parrot."

Gao Bufan looked at the charming girl with picturesque eyebrows in the distance, who was teasing the big green horse with a smile like a flower, and said sincerely: "Animals are born with the most sensitive perception of danger. It can be seen that girl Shirou is indeed He is a pure-hearted and caring person, so animals are willing to get close to him."

Cui Hu chuckled and said, "Maybe!"

At this time, Cui Shirou probably found that Gao Bufan and his father were looking at her, she blushed immediately, hurriedly withdrew her little hand that was stroking the big green horse's head, and lowered her head shyly.Seeing this, Dou Xianniang turned her head subconsciously, and gave Gao Bufan a "fierce" stare.

Gao Bufan sweated secretly, looked away, and asked: "When will Brother Cui plan to return to the south?"

Cui Hu shook his head and said: "I am afraid that I will stay in the north for a while. There is a new mine in Anle County that is about to start construction. The matter is very important, and I have to personally check it."

"Anle County?" Gao Bufan's heart moved, and he blurted out, "Could it be iron mine?"

Gao Bufan remembered that in later generations Hebei was rich in iron ore, and Anle County was located in the Miyun area, where iron ore was abundant.

Cui Hu was surprised and said: "How did Changqing know? That's right, it is indeed an iron mine."

Gao Bufan smiled and said, "I guessed wildly too. I didn't expect Cui's business to include mining."

Cui Hu stroked his beard and smiled and said, "I'm not boasting about Haikou. Except for salt, the Qinghe Cui family has been involved in all industries related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and mines, horse farms, cloth, and porcelain are our main industries."

Gao Bufan had to sigh secretly, no wonder it is said that the nobles win the world, these aristocratic families are so powerful, almost controlling the means of production of the entire country, it is no wonder that Yang Jian and Yang Guang and his son want to implement the imperial examination system and try to weaken the power of the aristocratic families. strength, but Gao Bufan has a question, isn't the salt and iron monopoly of the state?Can private individuals also mine iron ore?
Gao Bufan expressed his doubts, and Cui Hu smiled and said: "It seems that Changqing doesn't know much about this. Ever since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty promulgated the Yantie Order, all dynasties have implemented Yantie official camps, but they are not as good as in the Western Han Dynasty. Strictly enforced, private mining is allowed, and the government only supervises and collects rent. Of course, there are still strict regulations on the casting of coins and weapons. In the third year of Emperor Kaihuang, the first emperor even let go of official salt, allowing private salt production and sale of salt, and There was no taxation, and it has remained so until now.”

"So that's it!" Gao Bufan suddenly said, and I have to say that Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, was indeed a great emperor. No wonder the Sui Dynasty's Guozuo was short-lived, but it was very rich. It's fucked up, and in the end, the great country that Lao Tzu left him was ruined.

At this time, Cui Hu said again: "When the mine in Anle County is put into production, I plan to add ironworks in the surrounding counties and counties, so I will be walking around Zhuo County in the past few years."

Gao Bufan's heart moved. From this point of view, the Qinghe Cui family planned to move part of their assets to the north. This is undoubtedly a smart way. In this day and age, it is indeed not appropriate to put all eggs in one basket. In the event of an accident, at least there is a way out, so as not to lose everything.

"Then...Miss Shirou?" Gao Bufan couldn't help asking.

Cui Hu smiled and said: "Anle County is located on the border, the conditions are difficult, and it is not very safe, so I plan to leave Shirou in Ji County for a while. The house is ready-made, and there is no shortage of servants. It happens to be Changqing's official office. It's also in the city, if something happens, please ask Changqing to take care of it."

"This... is of course no problem!" Gao Bufan vaguely guessed Cui Hu's intentions, but he couldn't refuse.

"In that case, I will thank Changqing first!" Cui Hu chuckled, a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

Cui Hu, as the chief steward of the Cui family in Qinghe, and the general agent of all the business of the Cui family, is it a fuel-efficient lamp?This conspiracy made him aboveboard, without any sense of disobedience, Gao Bufan clearly knew the other party's intentions, but he couldn't refuse, so he could only follow along willingly.

Just because Cui Hu knew that Gao Bufan wanted to belong to the eldest grandson Wugou, so he was very smart and didn't make it clear, but silently created an opportunity for his daughter to meet Gao Bufan, so that Gao Bufan could understand the beautiful side of his daughter without knowing it. It also allowed her daughter to see Gao Bufan's outstanding side, subtly enhancing the goodwill of both parties.

Cui Hu firmly believes in his own vision that Gao Bufan will definitely not be someone in the pool in the future, and he also firmly believes that his daughter is no worse than the daughter of the eldest grandson's family. Coupled with the family background of the Cui family, Cui Hu firmly believes that Gao Bufan will make the right decision in the end. The decision to marry the Cui family!

Just as Gao Bufan was chatting with Cui Hu, a strange team came from the north, and there were faint sounds of cursing and crying.Dou Xianniang and Cui Shirou stood up subconsciously, and looked into the distance with the awning in their hands.

In the early morning sunshine, a dozen or so horsemen were driving dozens of women towards Heishi Mountain. These women were tied behind their backs and tied together with a long hemp rope, and their clothes were disheveled. , with disheveled hair, some with expressionless faces, some crying, as long as they walk a little slower, the whip will fall on them.

When Dou Xianniang saw it, she immediately raised her eyebrows and said, "I'll go and have a look!" After speaking, she jumped on her horse and rode over.

"Sister Xianniang!" Cui Shirou hurriedly stood up, subconsciously climbed on the back of the horse and rode up.

Gao Bufan frowned, but he didn't stop him, because he recognized from a distance that it was someone from Harry's department, and the leader was Ha Chi.

Let's say that Dou Xianniang arrived with her horse, and at this time a woman fell on the ground, probably unable to walk, Ha Chi's whip fell on the woman's body, and cursed: "The bitch is pretending to be dead!" Right, get out!"

"Stop it, bullying a woman is nothing!" Dou Xianniang shouted angrily.

Ha Chi frowned and looked, his eyes lit up immediately, and the ferocity on his face receded instantly, just at this time Cui Shirou also arrived, panting slightly: "Sister Xianniang!"

Dou Xianniang was originally born delicate and lively, but in the end, another beautiful girl with picturesque eyebrows and soft spring water appeared. Ha Chi immediately became fascinated, and felt that all the women he had seen combined were not as good as the two in front of him. A girl with a pretty finger.

Cui Shirou was a little frightened by Ha Chi's aggressive gaze. Dou Xianniang urged her horse to stand in front of the former, and asked coldly, "Who are you? How dare you come to Yufeng Racecourse to play wild!"

Ha Chi came back to his senses, secretly swallowed his saliva, and said with a smile: "This is Ha Chi, the young patriarch of the Hari tribe, dare to ask the two girls..."

At this moment, "Security Captain" Gao Shixiong rushed over with his people, and shouted in a buzzing voice, "Ha Chi, what are you doing here?"

Ha Chi frowned and said, "Gao Dalang, I specially selected these women from the captives and gave them to Mr. Gao!"

Gao Shixiong curled his lips and said: "They say we don't mess with women, the boss Changqing won't accept them, take them away, so as not to pollute our place."

Ha Chi couldn't help but blushed, secretly angry, and was about to leave angrily, but Dou Xianniang rolled her eyes and said: "Wait, Brother Gao doesn't want these women, I want them!"

Gao Shixiong asked with a strange expression: "Miss Liu, what do you want these women for?"

Dou Xianniang said angrily: "Don't worry about it, just accept it anyway!"

Gao Shixiong scratched the back of his head and said, "I can't decide, you should ask Boss Changqing yourself, hey, Boss Changqing is here!"

At this moment, Gao Bufan and Cui Hu rode over slowly, and Ha Chi quickly said with a flattering smile, "Ha Chi has met Mr. Gao!"

(End of this chapter)