After everyone discussed the results, they quickly started on their way to the government office without much hesitation.
At this moment, Cao Shunhe was practicing calligraphy leisurely in his study, his pen moving between dragons and snakes, showing his elegance.
He knew in his heart that his every move was being monitored from behind!
For this reason, he specially invited all the heads of the Liang family, the He family, and the Li family to the Yamen and held a banquet in honor of them.
The purpose is to show the enemy's weakness. In addition, when these people are present, there is no need for surveillance.
Cao Shunhe could also take advantage of this opportunity to secretly instruct his cronies to bring the news out.
Before that, Cao Shunhe had made complete preparations. He had arranged for his cronies to wait outside for news.
Just as Cao Shunhe was deep in thought, there was a sound of footsteps coming from outside.
Cao Shunhe thought to himself: "Finally here!"
Then he put down the brush in his hand and turned his gaze towards the door.
"Reporting to the Governor, all the heads of the Liang family, Li family, and He family that you invited have arrived."
"They are waiting in the waiting room right now."
The subordinate came in, knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
"Well, I'll go over now!"
After hearing the news, Cao Shunhe nodded and immediately followed his subordinates to the waiting room.
Shortly after Cao Shunhe left, someone sneaked in.
…
In the waiting room, Liang Hong, Li Yide, and He Jin were sitting on chairs. While waiting for Cao Shunhe's arrival, they also commented on the tea in the government office.
"If you ask me, this tea is really terrible! It's far worse than the one I have at home."
Li Yide frowned, and then put the tea cup aside with a look of disgust.
"This tea is pretty good. This is the kind of tea I have at home."
When Liang Hong heard this, he shook his head helplessly and responded.
"It's good to have something to drink. He was born into poverty, and when he was a child..."
Before He Jin finished speaking, he was impatiently interrupted by Li Yide.
"Okay, stop talking about your family history, my ears are almost getting calluses."
At this moment, a burst of footsteps was heard, and Cao Shunhe, accompanied by his subordinates, came to the waiting room.
"I've met the governor!"
Upon seeing this, several people quickly stood up from their seats and saluted respectfully.
"It's okay. I'm taking the liberty of inviting you all to come today, so there's no need to be so formal!"
Cao Shunhe waved his hand, indicating that they did not need to salute him.
"Sir Governor, you came to us to discuss measures to stabilize the price of salt?"
Li Yide couldn't bear his temper and asked first.
"We'll talk about this later. I have prepared a banquet. Let's talk slowly. Everyone, please come!"
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, with a slight smile on his face, he immediately made a gesture of invitation.
"Lord Governor, we..."
Just when He Jin was about to refuse, he was interrupted by Liang Hong.
"Your Majesty the Governor, why don't we just obey orders instead of being respectful?"
"Well, that's great, come with me!"
Cao Shunhe took in all the expressions on everyone's faces and immediately led the way.
And a few people deliberately slowed down and fell behind.
"What are you doing! Aren't you afraid that this is the Hongmen Banquet?"
Li Yide looked at Cao Shunhe's back in front of him and lowered his voice.
"What are you afraid of? He has no one to help him now! We just want to see what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd."
After Liang Hong finished speaking, he walked a few steps quickly and caught up with Cao Shunhe.
…
Soon, several people took their seats.
The dishes on the table are very rich, and there are all kinds of delicacies from the mountains and seas, but they are not attractive to these people at all.
"First of all, I would like to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedule to come to the government office to discuss measures to stabilize salt prices!"
"On behalf of the people of Jiangxi, I would like to thank you!"
"This first cup will be served to you by me."
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
Seeing Cao Shunhe lowering his posture so low, several people's faces were full of surprise.
Soon, Li Lide came to his senses and took the lead to smooth things over: "No, no, the governor can invite us here because he thinks highly of us!"
"Therefore, this first glass of wine should be given to the Governor by us!"
"Yes, this first glass of wine should be given to the Governor by us!"
Seeing this, He Jin also helped.
"Stop talking so much, come on, let's all toast to the Governor together!"
After Liang Hong finished speaking, he drank all the wine in the glass with a few others.
“What a great wine, with a mellow and long taste!”
Li Yide put down his wine glass and couldn't help but praise.
"That's natural, this wine is quite old!"
"I still have some at my place. After the banquet is over, I will send someone to deliver them to your house. How about it?"
Cao Shunhe saw that Li Yide was interested in the wine on the table and immediately spoke.
"This...then it's better to be respectful than to obey!"
After Li Yide hesitated for a moment, he immediately agreed.
"Come on, let's keep drinking!"
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he raised his wine glass again.
"Come on, cheers!"
"Dry!"
After a few people looked at each other secretly, they also raised their wine glasses.
In this way, everyone drank for another seven or eight rounds, and soon the wine on the table was almost gone. Everyone was also a little drunk, and their brains were not as bright as before.
At this moment, Cao Shunhe looked drunk and hazy. He picked up the wine bottle on the table, shook it vigorously, and then put it back to its place.
"Hey, why is there no wine? Come here, bring me another bottle of wine!"
"Did you hear that? Bring me some more wine!"
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Cao Shunhe became angry and slapped the table constantly.
"Did you hear that? Hurry up and bring me the wine! If you delay things, I will ask you!"
"There is no need to rush, Governor. Perhaps my servants are busy!"
The three people at the wine table saw this and quickly comforted him.
Immediately, there was a "squeak" sound, the door of the room was pushed open, and a servant walked in cautiously, carrying a wooden tray.
On the tray, there were two bottles of wine neatly placed.
After the servant put down the wine and wanted to leave the room quickly, Cao Shunhe grabbed him by the collar and questioned him.
"Why are you bringing the wine now? Are you deliberately looking down on me?"
Cao Shunhe's eyes were full of clarity at this time. He took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and stuffed the envelope into the visitor's arms.
"Sir Governor, I don't dare. I was called away just now because of something else!"
Facing Cao Shunhe's questioning, the slave's face instantly turned pale, and he knelt down on the ground with a thump and explained.
"Damn it, even you look down on me!"
As Cao Shunhe said, he slapped the visitor and kicked him a few times.
Cao Shunhe's move successfully aroused a burst of contempt from others at the wine table, and his evaluation also dropped a lot.
"The dignified governor of Jiangxi, even though he has resentment in his heart, he only dares to get angry at his slaves! What a joke."
The expressions on everyone's faces flashed away, and then they all stepped forward and acted as peacemakers.
"Lord Governor, let's forget about this matter. Don't let him disturb our enjoyment of drinking!"
"Yes, Lord Governor, let's forget about this matter! Come on, let's continue drinking."
With everyone's comfort, Cao Shunhe's expression became much better, and then he threatened.
"For the sake of these people, I will spare you this time. If you dare to do it next time, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Why are you still standing there? Why don't you thank the governor quickly!"
When Li Yide saw this, he couldn't help but say something.
After being reminded by Li Yide, the visitor suddenly reacted and kept kowtowing on the ground.
"Thank you, Governor! Thank you, Governor!"
"Okay, get out now! Don't ruin my good mood."
Cao Shunhe glanced at the slave and said coldly.
"Yes, Lord Governor, my subordinates will leave now!"
After the servant finished speaking, he left quickly, with an expression on his face that he was surviving a disaster. When he left, he did not forget to close the door with him.
"Come on, let's keep drinking!"
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he raised his glass and said loudly.
"Come on, cheers!"
Then, after several more rounds, several people present were drunk to the point of being knocked down.
Until then, Cao Shunhe barely supported his body and made his request to everyone.
"Right now, the price of salt in the city has risen to seventeen cents per catty. As famous salt merchants, you should take responsibility and make the price of salt cheaper!"
“It will reduce the burden on the people and allow them to afford salt.
Seeing that Cao Shunhe did not make the request until now, everyone could not help but be shocked by his patience.
"Don't worry, Governor, now that you have spoken! The price of salt will definitely come down."
"Tell me how much you want to lower it! As long as it's within our capabilities, we will help you achieve your goal."
After listening to Cao Shunhe's words, Li Yide patted his chest and promised.
"My idea is that it would be great if we could reduce the price by another three to four cents based on the current level!"
After hearing Li Yide's assurance, Cao Shunhe cheered up and said this.
"Sir Governor, you also know that although our family seems to have a great business, we actually have our own difficulties!"
"If nothing else, there are so many people under our command that we need to feed."
"If we lose money here, then the lives of those under us who rely on us will only become more miserable!"
"By then, it won't be a question of whether we can afford salt. We might not even be able to fill our stomachs."
"Besides, there isn't much salt in stock. Once it's sold out, it will be gone!"
"The price can only be reduced by two cents at most, otherwise we will lose money. The transportation, storage, labor and store costs of salt, these are all money!"
When Liang Hong heard this, he immediately frowned and complained.
After listening to Liang Hong's complaints, Cao Shunhe's face was filled with hesitation.
"But, this..."
"My Lord Governor, to tell you the truth, we also have our own difficulties!"
Seeing this, He Jin on the side also followed up with words of comfort.
"Forget it, in that case, just two pennies, it's better than no price reduction at all!"
In the end, Cao Shunhe gritted his teeth and reluctantly compromised.
Seeing that the goal had been achieved, smiles appeared on the faces of several people present.
"Master Governor, it's getting late, let's get here first today!"
"Well, do you need me to send someone to escort you?"
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he struggled to get up from the wine table.
"No need, Lord Governor! There are people waiting for us outside. You should rest early."
Several people saw that Cao Shunhe was so drunk that he lay down on the wine table and said so.
"That's alright, let's go slowly."
After Cao Shunhe finished speaking, he lay on the wine table and fell unconscious.
"let's go."
"Um."
After a few exchanges, they left the room. At the same time, they did not forget to instruct the servants waiting outside to send Cao Shunhe, who was lying unconscious on the wine table, back to the room.
At the same time as several people left, Cao Shunhe slowly stood up from the wine table, looked at the scenery outside the room, and said silently to himself.
"Hmph, just wait patiently for me. The imperial court will send an army soon, and when the time comes, it will be your death!"
…
"Drive!"
At this moment, a fast horse was seen galloping towards Zhejiang under the cover of night, and the figure on the horse was the slave who was slapped by Cao Shunhe earlier!
(End of chapter)
