After being divorced, my identity as a poet was exposed

"Why does Mr. Su make such a judgment?"

"Because the Imperial City Bureau is really not a pushover. You all should not forget that the emperor was once the deputy director of the Imperial City Bureau."

"...So the emperor acquiesced to the existence of the Annan Caravan?"

Su Mingtang stroked his long beard and smiled: "Just think about it, the Red Flame Army had so many soldiers and horses, but Ji Tai's treasury was always empty at that time!"

"The Ministry of Revenue simply doesn't have that much money to support such a large army!"

"Therefore, in order to ensure the combat effectiveness of the Red Flame Army, the Duke of Yan's Mansion must find a way on its own."

"Unlike the Luoguogong Mansion, the Duke of Yan's Mansion controls all the salt mines in Ningguo. Where can they find so much silver?"

Su Mingtang stretched out his hand and knocked on the table, "Only by smuggling can we make a lot of money!"

Everyone suddenly realized.

The importance of the Red Flame Army is extremely high in Ningguo.

It is almost as famous as the Shence Army.

The Red Flame Army fell from the former Shangchehou Mansion to the hands of the Duke of Yan's Mansion. Regardless of the security of the country or the interests of the Duke of Yan's Mansion, the people of the Duke of Yan's Mansion will never let the Red Flame Army disband in their hands due to insufficient military funds.

During the Kyoto Incident three years ago, the Red Flame Army killed almost all of Ji Tai's officials in Yujing City, and then withdrew from Kyoto and returned to Wuya Pass...

This move cleared the way for Li Chenan to become the regent and also created the best conditions for him to reorganize a team of court officials of his own.

It can be said that the Red Flame Army played an indispensable role in the emperor’s becoming the emperor of Ningguo!

Of course, the Duke of Yan's Mansion also won the respect of the Regent.

Look, the Mansion of Duke Huai has disappeared, and the Mansion of Duke Luo... is also deserted. On the contrary, the Mansion of Duke Yan, old Duke Yan is now enjoying a carefree life planting flowers and playing with birds.

Even Yan Zifu, the grandson of Duke Yan who once offended the emperor in Kyoto, was said to have been appointed as the General of Cavalry of the Red Flame Army by the emperor himself!
A cavalry general who is only eighteen years old!

Its future is naturally promising.

Now, I heard that the Red Flame Army is not only stationed at Wuya Pass, but also ordered by the emperor to reclaim thousands of acres of fertile land in the Yudan River Plain. This is enough to show that the Red Flame Army has become the emperor's direct line.

There is no difference in superiority or inferiority between them and the Shenwu Army.

Everyone was relieved.

Cui Sangeng, the head of the Qinghe Cui clan, sighed with emotion:
"Who could have expected that the Annan Caravan would have such a powerful backer like Duke Yan's Mansion... If we had known earlier, our Qinghe Cui family would have taken the initiative to visit Duke Yan... Even if we couldn't meet Duke Yan, we should have made contact with Chen Wusheng."

"However, now that the trade between the two countries has been carried out normally, the business of the Annan Caravan has changed from being dominated by one company to being run by each company..."

"This has a significant impact on the Annan Caravan's business, right?"

"They have been engaged in trade between the two countries for many years, so they must have rich experience and connections... I mean, can this business alliance also invite the Annan Caravan to join?"

"With their help, won't we be in the dark when doing business in Wu?"

this is a good idea!

The Annan Caravan was originally a merchant caravan.

Transporting goods from Ningguo to Wu State requires a caravan.

Although it is not difficult for these wealthy businessmen to form a large caravan, this ready-made caravan with the background of the Duke of Yan's Mansion is obviously the best choice.

Everyone looked at Su Mingtang again.

Su Mingtang smiled slightly: "Since we are talking about this, I will also tell you the truth."

"Years ago, the emperor had already been to the Yan Mansion. My son Yi'an told me that the old Duke Yan handed over the Annan Caravan to the emperor."

Everyone was shocked: "What does the emperor want this caravan for?"

Su Mingtang spread his hands and said, "I don't know about this, but I heard from my son that the emperor was very happy to take over and decided to change the name of the Annan Caravan, saying that he wanted to make it bigger and stronger."

"…What name should we change to?"

"What do you mean by 'Shunfeng Express'?"

"..."

Everyone was speechless. A caravan was a caravan, and they could understand a tailwind, but what was this express delivery?
However, the emperor's thoughts were unconventional and they could not guess them. They only knew that since the caravan was in the emperor's hands, it would probably be difficult to get it to join the business alliance.

The matter was settled.

Guo Shanyi, the head of the Guo family in Lingdong Road, leaned over and looked at Su Mingtang with a smile:
"Master Su, please tell us the truth. The emperor summoned us here... What big business is it?"

Su Mingtang spread his hands, his old face was also helpless: "I don't know either!"

"But since the emperor said it's a big business, I think this business might be even bigger than the grain transport business!"

Everyone looked at each other in shock.

If they didn't get the chance to taste the fat meat of the canal transportation, then they must take a bite of the business that is bigger than the canal transportation!
Chen Dingmao sipped his tea and suddenly looked up:

"I say... could it be... the salt industry?!" There are actually only a handful of businesses bigger than the grain transport industry.

The big business that the emperor personally presides over...that must be a business that was once managed by the government, like the grain transport.

Salt wells,

mine,

coin,

There are roughly three types.

Coin minting must be ruled out first, as it is impossible to entrust this task to a merchant.

Then that leaves the salt and the ore.

The mine is not just iron ore.

It covers all minerals and downstream smelting, and of course gold and silver mines must be handed over to the imperial court.

In the past, the imperial court would sell salt permits and mining rights to merchants, but salt permits were also used by salt merchants to buy salt from the government and then sell it in designated areas.

Earn a middle interest rate spread.

Of course, this is a lucrative business.

Because every household needs salt.

Mining rights are the rights that the government sells to businessmen to mine mines.

This thing carries a lot of risk.

After all, not every mountain has mines.

This requires businessmen to form their own geomancer team to search all over the mountains in the designated area.

Even if it is found, it may not be possible to mine it, as it is affected by the terrain.

So mining rights are not scarce.

What is really scarce is salt.

This is why there is the largest salt merchant in the world but not the largest mining merchant.

Salt has been the most important source of tax revenue for the imperial court throughout the dynasties.

Cui Sangeng, the head of the Qinghe Cui clan, was the first to shake his head: "This... is impossible!"

Chen Dingmao also felt that he was overthinking, and he grinned: "That's right."

Wang Qian, the patriarch of the Taiyuan Wang family, frowned slightly, "What kind of big deal is this?"

No one can answer.

Su Mingtang smiled faintly: "Don't worry, we will know in the afternoon, right?"

"I am curious about what the emperor will treat us to in the Changle Palace?"

Guo Shanyi smiled and said:
"After all, it's a royal banquet. I'm sure it will be the most delicious food we've ever tasted!"

Chen Dingmao said nothing.

I thought there was no imperial chef in Changle Palace!

I didn’t even see anyone from the palace coming out to buy food…

"I say, how about we go get some breakfast?"

Guo Shanyi laughed loudly: "The emperor is inviting me to a banquet. I am not afraid of being laughed at by you. I have not eaten a single grain of rice since yesterday. I am just waiting to enjoy a feast at noon today!"

Chen Dingmao thought for a moment and pulled Su Mingtang, "We two are the oldest, so we still have to go eat breakfast. You guys can have some tea first."

Su Mingtang was dragged to the lobby of Yuelai Inn by Chen Dingmao in a daze.

At this moment, Li Chenan's carriage also drove into Changle Palace.

After getting off the carriage, Li Chenan patted Cai Zhengyao on the shoulder:

"Do you understand what I told you?"

Cai Zhengyao bowed and said, "I understand!"

"Okay, don't stay by my side, go to Yuelai Inn to find Mr. Su and the others."

"You have to fight them together, but you can't let these old foxes get suspicious!"

[PS: Due to physical reasons, the doctor has strongly warned me not to do this. I am helpless! I am afraid that I cannot guarantee the next update. After all, my life is in danger. I can only say that this book will not end badly. I hope you can understand. Thank you! ] (End of this chapter)