The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 89 Bi Zhenhai is back
A few days later, Yangjinchuan Salt Factory.

In a small building halfway up the mountain, Zhu Xiu met Bi Zhenhai and Bi Hongyu.

"Greetings, Young Master!" Bi Zhenhai clasped his fists and saluted. After running around for more than a month, his dark face became rougher, his lips were chapped, and he looked like he was covered in travel dust.

The taciturn Bi Hongyu on the side was not much better. In private, she did not deliberately speak in a low voice, otherwise no one would be able to tell that she was a girl.

"Thank you for your hard work, you two!" Zhu Xiu nodded with a smile, bent down and stretched out his hands to support him.

Bi Zhenhai stood up smoothly, but Bi Hongyu reacted a little slowly and stood aside silently.

"Living up to Young Master's expectations, my subordinates contacted the salt lords in Pizhou and Ningzhou during this trip. They brought a thousand kilograms of white salt in advance and sold it at a price of seventy wen per kilogram. The money was seventy guan. Excluding the expenses along the way, there are still 58 strings left.

The salt dealers in the other two places collected a total of 67 guan as a deposit to buy [-] catties of salt. The price they negotiated with them was [-] yuan per catty, and the goods would be delivered once a month starting next month. "

Bi Zhenhai took out the envelope he kept close to his body. There was a deed written inside, signed by both parties.

The contract was written crookedly, and the sentences were not smooth. Zhu Xiu glanced at it and couldn't bear to look at it, let alone expect that this thin piece of straw paper could have any binding effect.

However, these reckless salt dealers, who were engaged in beheading business, could think of using the contract to agree to trade with each other, and Zhu Xiu was very pleased with the spirit of the contract that sprouted.

But when he heard that the other party only wanted [-] kilograms, Zhu Xiu shook his head: "The price is not bad, but the quantity is a little less."

Bi Zhenhai smiled bitterly and said: "Young Master, you don't know. The war in Pizhou and Ningzhou has just calmed down, and the people's life is not easy. Wang Shou'en, the envoy of Jingnan Jiedu, is strict in his administration, and the people have just resumed production. It's not a big deal if he doesn't care about the people. They also raised the price of official salt.

Now under the rule of the Jingnan Army, the price of official salt is as high as 110 Wen per catty. The people are complaining and gathering in the prefecture and county government offices to protest. On this day, the murderous people even sent troops to suppress it.

While Wang Shou'en forced people to buy salt at a high price, he also raided salt dealers. Anyone who had anything to do with selling salt would be beheaded without asking whether it was true or false.The salt dealers in this town had a hard time and tried every means to avoid being searched by the officers and soldiers.

Despite Wang Shouen's strict defense, the salt traders under his rule continued to be banned, and even clans and families joined together to participate in the trade. Several salt trader leaders were regarded as heroes by the villagers, and their reputation was not small. "

Zhu Xiu sighed, not expecting that the chaotic scene of inflated salt prices in Jingnan Town was even worse than that in Zhangyi.

He knew that Wang Shouen's historical reputation was not good, and his reputation would be greatly overshadowed.

The year before last, when Khitan master Yelu Deguang invaded south, Wang Shouen served as the chief historian in Luzhou.

Zhang Congen, the governor of Luzhou, was afraid of the Khitan troops and intended to sacrifice Luzhou and asked Yelu Deguang to surrender.

Wang Shou'en and his troops joined the army for high defense, secretly contacted Li Wancao, the military envoy stationed in Luzhou, and raised his troops to kill Zhang Con'en's general Zhao Xingqian and the Khitan envoy, forcing Zhang Con'en to fight to the death with the Khitan people.

Zhang Con'en pretended to agree, and then found an opportunity to escape from Luzhou City. The soldiers and people of Luzhou elected Wang Shou'en as their commander-in-chief and led his troops to defend the city.

After Liu Zhiyuan proclaimed himself emperor, Wang Shou'en immediately expressed his submission and received a commendation from the new emperor. He was named the military governor of the Jingnan Army and moved to Pizhou.

Although Wang Shou'en had some national integrity, he had a bad reputation as an official. He imposed exorbitant taxes and was greedy, and the people under his rule were full of complaints.

Zhu Xiu silently calculated that [-] kilograms of salt could bring in at least nearly [-] guan of income. It was not much, but it was enough to meet the current expenses.

Binzhou salt dealers can eat up to [-] catties a year, which is equivalent to four to five months' production based on the current production scale of the salt factory.

Zhu Xiu was also thinking about the next step, mobilizing the majority of working women in Jingzhou to work in the factory, setting up a women's production team, and continuing to increase production.

But how to sell the surplus goods?

Zhu Xiu thought for a while and said: "It is unrealistic to expect to bypass the imperial salt supervision in the north. Selling salt on a large scale is unrealistic. Firstly, the war in the north and people's livelihood is in decline, so the price of private salt will not be too high. If the salt factory wants to make a lot of money, it should find a way to the south." Bi Zhenhai said: "This trip is in a hurry, and I don't have time to go to Qizhou. Why don't I wait for the salt road in Binzhou to stabilize, and then I will find a chance to go to Qizhou to see it. Look. Most of the wealthy businessmen from the south stay in the Qilong area."

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "This is not urgent, you should have a good rest first. The salt dealers in Pizhou sent people back with you. They want to conduct an on-the-spot inspection to see the strength of our salt factory. You can accompany them around, except for the workshop. Come in, they can visit this salt factory wherever they want. But remember, don’t let them find out the details of the salt factory, let alone admit that the salt factory is related to Jiedu Mansion.”

Bi Zhenhai smiled and said: "Young Master, don't worry, my subordinates will know."

Zhu Xiu glanced at Bi Hongyu, who was standing motionless like a wooden stake, and teased: "Old Shi, you are a girl, running around all day long is not an option. Why don't you stay, and I will do it again?" How about you arrange the errands?”

Bi Hongyu raised her eyelids to glance at him, then quickly lowered her head and shook her head stiffly: "No."

"Then I can help you find a husband, how about getting married and living a happy life?"

Bi Hongyu's face turned red, but she didn't answer, she gave Zhu Xiu a gouged look, turned her head and slammed the door away.

"Tsk, tsk, with this kind of temper, how can you get married in the future!" Zhu Xiu sighed worriedly.

Bi Zhenhai smiled and said: "Young Master, let her go. She has this temper after hanging out with men for a long time. Lao Shi is very good at ventriloquism. No matter what bird, insect, or firefly calls, she can learn them all after listening to them once." . She is also alert. Brothers are running around outside, so she is indispensable to help with guarding and sentry. Zhenhai camp really cannot do without her now. "

Zhu Xiu curled her lips and squinted: "I'm afraid you are still thinking about her and are reluctant to let go!"

Bi Zhenhai's face turned red and he said in a confused voice: "Young Master, don't make fun of me. Lao Shi has a stubborn temper and she said she doesn't like it. How can I dare to pester her anymore? Now, I just think of her as my brother-in-law."

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "You are not young, why don't I ask the aunt who works in the house which family has a girl who is not yet married, and can help you choose one?"

Bi Zhenhai didn't even think about it and refused righteously: "My subordinates have been wandering around for many years without achieving anything. Now, thanks to the respect of Young Master, he has accepted me into the Zhenhai camp. I have not made any achievements, how can I be qualified to start a family? Besides, I have had an affair with Lao Shi." I swear, I must find the Xue family to avenge the blood in Yancang, if I don't avenge this revenge, how can I be worthy of the brothers who followed me back then?"

Zhu Xiu was in awe, stepped up and patted his shoulder: "He is a bloody man! Zhenhai camp has just started, work hard, in the future I will help you find a lady from the world as your wife, and give you ten or eight fat boys." !”

"Serve Shaolangjun, even if you die, you will not regret it!" Bi Zhenhai's tall body knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and shouted.

"Get up! You take [-] guan and distribute it to the brothers. Remember to go back to Anding County tomorrow. I will take you to the dinner held in the mansion."

Bi Zhenhai stood up and said hesitantly: "Young Master, I'm used to being rough with my hands, and I can't hold any money in my hands. I only take five hundred coins for myself, and the rest should be left with Young Master."

"Okay, I'll help you save it for your future wife."

Zhu Xiu agreed with a smile. Seeing his hesitation, he asked curiously: "Why do you want five hundred coins alone? But you need it urgently?"

Bi Zhenhai's dark face showed some shyness, and he said coquettishly: "Young Master just talked about having a baby, and I felt a little hey. I'm going to the city in two days to have some fun."

Zhu Xiu stared, just now he said he didn't want women, now he turned around and wanted to go to the city to have fun?
"I'll give you fifty coins to keep for your daily tea! Keep the rest with me to prevent you from squandering it!"

Zhu Xiu's face fell and she glared at him, then threw her sleeves and robe away with her hands behind her back.

Bi Zhenhai was dumbfounded and a little aggrieved: "Brothers, all go, I"

"Hands!"

"."

　My body is hollowed out and I can’t do anything anymore. Let’s continue tomorrow~~o(╥﹏╥)o
　　
　
(End of this chapter)