The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 260 I’m going to disgust you

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty summoned Sang Hongyang and Prime Minister Zhuang Qingzhai.

He asked the two of them to change into civilian clothes instead of wearing court clothes, and he followed him incognito for a private visit.

Sang Hongyang and Zhuang Qingzhai looked at each other in confusion, neither of them knew what Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was up to.

After leaving Weiyang Palace, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Zhuang Qingzhai: "How do you think of me today?"

Zhuang Qingzhai said hurriedly: "Back to your Majesty, people all know that your Majesty is a wise king in this world."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said suspiciously: "I have launched so many wars and even the economy is declining day by day. How can they praise me like this?"

Zhuang Qingzhai said: "The people have their own conscience, and they naturally know your Majesty's great and profound meaning."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled: "You are talking nonsense."

Zhuang Qingzhai: "..."

"I am aware of my guilt."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said: "The people will not care whether the country is at war, nor whether the country is honorable or disgraceful, because what they have to consider now is food and clothing, and not everyone has such great ambitions."

Zhuang Qingzhai looked embarrassed. Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty told the truth, wasn't he flattering?

Not long after, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty came to Weining's shop and pointed at the crowd of people, "Do you know what they are doing?"

Zhuang Qingzhai looked confused, but Sang Hongyang seemed to know what Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was doing when he left the palace this time.

Zhuang Qingzhai said hurriedly: "I'll go take a look."

Not long after, Zhuang Qingzhai came back with a horrified look on his face and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, they are selling salt."

"I know I'm guilty. I'm going to find out who is selling illegal salt secretly. This person deserves death!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said: "No need."

"I ask you, will the people at this time be grateful to me?"

Zhuang Qingzhai hesitated and said: "This..."

Before, how could the common people be qualified to eat such precious salt? But now the price of this salt is low, and every common person has a happy and satisfied smile on his face.

But they may not thank His Majesty, they have to look at who is selling the salt.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said with emotion: "I hope that one day, the Marquis of Zhenbei will let me see that 'the people will not suffer from hunger and cold, and the country will not suffer from famine and chaos.'"

what?

Zhuang Qingzhai was stunned for a moment. What does this have to do with Zhenbei Hou?

He looked at Sang Hongyang in confusion, and Sang Hongyang said to Zhuang Qingzhai with a smile but not a smile: "It's the Marquis of Zhenbei who is selling salt at a low price."

Zhuang Qingzhai hurriedly said: "He is bold!"

"Your Majesty, how can he use the interests of the country for personal gain? This is a highly treasonous act."

Sang Hongyang explained: "It's not sea salt. He didn't use it for the benefit of the country. This is mineral salt, which he refined himself."

Zhuang Qingzhai's eyes widened in shock, is this okay?

"Isn't mineral salt poisonous?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty lamented: "He made the mineral salt non-toxic."

Zhuang Qingzhai took a breath. If this smelting method was brought back to the imperial court, why would the people worry about having no salt to eat?

He informed Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty about this.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled helplessly and asked Zhuang Qingzhai: "Why do you give this method to the court so that the people will not worry about having no salt to eat?"

"The imperial court can't provide free supplies to the people of the world, right?"

Zhuang Qingzhai said: "But the imperial court can use this method to produce a large amount of salt and transport it throughout the country."

Sang Hongyang said: "He can do it too. Could it be that Prime Minister Zhuang has forgotten that Zhenbeihou also has a post station industry. He has already spread it all over Guanzhong. In other words, if he wants to sell salt in other areas, he can definitely take advantage of the post station."

Zhuang Qingzhai shuddered.

He suddenly felt that Weining's current power was too great and had begun to backlog the imperial court's living space.

If he is allowed to continue to control like this, wouldn't all the wealth in the world fall into the hands of his Zhenbei Marquis?

What other financial benefits does the court have?

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty thought for a moment and said, "I didn't discuss this with you." Why can't this person understand what I mean?

I just want to ask you, how is Zhenbei Hou? Why bother talking so much?

All the people in Guanzhong and Gyeonggi Province, who would not be grateful for the birth of this salt?

Zhuang Qingzhai retorted: "It is him, the Marquis of Zhenbei, who is grateful."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled and said: "Then you may not know that Zhenbei Hou said to the outside world that I supported him in doing these things."

"The people are not grateful to the Marquis of Zhenbei, but to me."

Of course Weining was not stupid. While selling salt, he released public opinion and said that the emperor's strong support was behind the salt.

When Tian Zhong returned from victory in Shandong, he had the audacity to ask Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to exempt Shandong from taxes. At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty analyzed the pros and cons with Weining.

Weining had learned his skills from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty a long time ago, and this matter was similar to what happened to Tian Zhong.

He would not make any mistakes if he was kind to others. He only wanted to make money and did not want to rebel.

Therefore, the first thing to bear the brunt is to turn this benefit into a meritorious deed for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

So while selling salt, Weining had asked Zhao Ce to spread public opinion, saying that the emperor was behind his salt.

In this way, Wei Ning took the money and gave all his fame, wealth and merit to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, killing two birds with one stone.

After hearing what Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had said, Zhuang Qingzhai was stunned again.

This Zhenbeihou...

He is becoming more and more terrifying. This scheming man is no longer the same as the young boy who came back from Dingxiang.

What he did was impeccable. If anyone wanted to criticize him, they would have to weigh it carefully.

The key is, why did you agree, Your Majesty? You want a reputation, but you gave a lot of money to Weining?

Zhuang Qingzhai was a little confused.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was a little unhappy. He felt that he should not bring Zhuang Qingzhai out next time.

This person is not as considerate as Sang Hongyang. You see, Sang Hongyang keeps saying that Zhenbei Hou is excellent and outstanding.

Sang Hongyang has figured out something now and knows why His Majesty came out today.

But having said that, Weining is indeed good and outstanding enough.

Everything he did actually changed the people's livelihood in the Han Empire.

If a person can do one major thing that changes people's livelihood in his lifetime, it is enough to be recorded in the annals of history. Sang Hongyang is still working hard in this regard, but Weining has already done so much quietly.

Whether it is paper, plows, salt, or textile machines, none of them are improving the economic production capacity of the Han Dynasty?

Which one is not making this country richer and stronger?

Sang Hongyang had a hunch that it would be soon.

It won't be long before Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty may announce it to the world. This day should be getting closer and closer.

But Sang Hongyang is still a little worried. What about the one in the palace? How did Wei Ning's mother get her account banned?

How to block the mouths of people all over the world? Should Wei Zifu be granted the title of queen?

……

Yan Mansion.

Yan Zhongyuan was really angry today. The servants in the mansion went to buy Weining's salt. During dinner today, Yan Zhongyuan thought the salt was very tasty. When he asked, he found out that he bought it from Weining. He was so angry that he didn't even eat it for dinner. , disgusting to the extreme.

How can there be any sense in the world to make money from my salt mine?

"Stop buying salt!"

"Go to his salt mountain to dig more salt tonight and come back. We can make salt for ourselves."

Yan Zhongyuan always feels uncomfortable if he doesn't do something. Although this doesn't cost Weining anything, it can make Yan Zhongyuan feel better.

I want to eat your salt for free! In this way, there will be no worries in the mind.

(End of this chapter)