Chapter 611: Harbouring Evil Intentions

The salt dealers in Dali who specialize in selling private salt moved like sharks after smelling the smell of blood.

If you buy this batch of official salt released by Pingzhou, you will make a profit. Of course, you can eat as much as you can.

The most important thing is that salt is a necessity, and it doesn’t matter if it’s lacking. But if it’s not enough, who can avoid eating salt? Besides, the salt won’t go bad if you keep it!

Even the salt merchants selling Dali official salt couldn't sit still and quietly bought some goods.

After purchasing the goods, they went to cry to the adults in the court and complained that the official salt was suddenly hard to sell.

They believe that the Dali court will definitely crack down on private salt dealers later, and then it will be their time to make a fortune.

When this batch of salt passed through the hands of the salt dealer and was put into the Dali market, the reaction under the calm water was even more intense.

Yanzhou, Tonghua County, Qingxi Village

Aunt Chen looked at the bottomed salt jar at home and sighed. There was only a thin layer of salt at the bottom of the jar. No matter how much you save, you can only eat two meals.

"Old man, it's time to buy salt again at home."

The old man who was sitting by the door weaving baskets just hummed when he heard this, then took another cut bamboo strip and started weaving it silently.

Aunt Chen was used to her old man being taciturn, so she continued to talk.

"The family has little money." The eldest grandson fell ill a while ago and almost all the money the family had saved was spent. Fortunately, there was no famine.

"If that doesn't work, go sell some grain." People have to eat salt. If they don't eat salt for a long time, they will have no strength. If they don't have the strength, they won't be able to work. If they can't work, they will be hungry, and they will also get sick.

Furthermore, the family cannot afford to have some emergency money.

"Sell it." Old man Chen said two words and remained silent.

Aunt Chen got up and looked at the grain storage at home, figuring out how much grain she would have to sell this time.

Salt prices have skyrocketed in recent years. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he also raised the price of salt twice, directly from 200 Wen per catty to 300 Wen per catty.

In the past, when the weather was good, it would take two or three buckets of grain to afford a pound of salt.

Now if I want to buy a pound of salt, I need to sell more grain.

After looking at the food storage, she sighed again, "Old man, we don't have much food at home."

Now is the time of spring plowing, and then comes the lean time of the year. If the grain is sold, their family may go hungry.

At this time, a call came from outside the house, "Auntie, is aunt at home?"

Aunt Chen seemed to hear her nephew's voice, and when she came out, she saw that it was indeed him.

Before she could ask him why he came to the house, the eldest nephew lowered his voice and asked her, "Auntie, do you want cheap salt?"

Aunt Chen's heart moved, "What cheap salt? Private salt?"

"Auntie, look, this is salt."

Aunt Chen took a closer look and saw a small handful of white salt with clear grains in her nephew's palm.

She couldn't help but pick up two pills and taste them, "Good salt!" There was no astringency or bitterness at all, only a pure salty taste.

"How much does a pound of this private salt cost?" After asking, Mrs. Chen's heart pounded. According to her estimation, the price of such salt would not be much lower even for private salt.

"Auntie, this salt is one hundred and fifty cents per catty."

"How many?"

"Auntie, you heard it right, it's the price you heard. My family just stocked up on a few kilograms. After my mother bought it, she asked me to come and ask you if you want to buy some too?"

"Yes!" A fool would not buy it.

"Then let's leave quickly. I'm worried that if we get there too late, we'll be gone."

Aunt Chen: She believed this, "Just wait for me." She came back and took all the hidden money. This opportunity was so rare that she didn't even have time to sell the grain before going back.

The same scene happens frequently all over Dali. Like a spark that starts a prairie fire.

Chang'an, Imperial Palace

The monarch and his ministers who were discussing did not yet know that the crisis was coming.

At this time, Song Mo's face was filled with joy, "Xie Aiqing, come and see, this is the secret of Zhuozhou County Governor Kong Huai. This Kong Huai is completely different from that Liu Guanlin."

When he heard the name Liu Guanlin, Xie Zhan moved forward. By now he had learned about the loss of Jizhou, in which Dong Jichuan became a lobbyist.

When Dong Jichuan said goodbye, he had expected that this day would come, but he did not expect that this day would come so quickly.

In front of the Holy Driver, Xie Zhan didn't dare to think too much, and quickly gathered his mind and brought his attention back.

Xie Zhan took the secret document and took a look. In the front of the memorial was Kong Huai scolding Liu Guanlin for his treachery and forgetting his ancestors. He skipped it until he saw the words behind the document and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

I saw that Kong Huai wrote on the secret book, "... I am willing to share the emperor's worries. I have a plan. If successful, I can get rid of Pingzhou, a serious problem for the emperor. If failed, the world can see the true face of Pingzhou..."

It was when he saw the secret of Kong Huai's plan that Song Mo was moved.

He sighed, "Thank you Aiqing, there are still loyal ministers in Dali."

Xie Zhan directly ignored what he meant and flattered him a little, "This is natural. Dali has been raising scholars for nearly two hundred years. Many people are deeply grateful for the emperor's grace and their hearts are devoted to Dali."

"Your Majesty, this is a rare opportunity. Kong Huai's plan is feasible, but the people he has are not good enough. He should not be able to fight against Pingzhou." Xie Zhan suggested, "The Emperor can send some people to Zhuozhou to Kong Huai to facilitate him. act.”

Song Mo was convinced.

Jizhou, Zhuozhou

When he learned that Liu Guanlin had dedicated Jizhou to Pingzhou, Kong Huai scolded Liu Guanlin for being soft-hearted and gave the emperor a secret.

Now the emperor agreed with his plan, gave him a secret order, and sent two people over.

Kong Huai felt that his plan could start, so he sent a message to Pingzhou that he also wanted to offer the city!

Pingzhou, Changli

At this time, the civil and military officials of the prefecture government office were rarely gathered together, and they were also discussing Kong Huai's intention to offer the city.

Lu Songli was at the top, listening to the analysis of his subordinates.

"With Kong Huai's temper, it is impossible for him to offer the city. Governor, you must be careful of his fraud." Guo Chong did not believe a word of Kong Huai's words about offering the city.

Xue Xu also said, "Yes, Kong Huai must have evil intentions." If he offered the city after Liu Guanlin offered the city, it would be more credible.

"Reject him at the door, the governor does not need to see him." The speaker was a more conservative official.

Zhuozhou has long been in their pocket, sooner or later, the governor does not need to take risks.

"Don't, we can agree to him, lure him to Pingzhou, and snap him." Qin Zhao made a hand-to-hand knife gesture.

Guo Chong: "It's not good to kill Kong Huai, right? Kong Huai is not to be feared, but he can't die in the hands of us in Pingzhou."

Liu Guanlin has set a good example, and they are waiting for the people behind to follow. It's easy to kill Kong Huai, but what if he scares the people who really want to surrender the city? This will cause great losses.

Everyone present has expressed their own considerations, and what to do next depends on the governor himself.