"Your Majesty, nothing will happen to this, right?"
Du Ziteng said worriedly from the side.
"Take good care of your flowers and build your walls. Where does all this nonsense come from?"
Liu Deng rolled his eyes directly.
"I'm guilty, I'm guilty! It's just that recent things have become more and more sinister. I've heard some bad news..."
Du Ziteng looked like he was hesitating to speak.
"What bad news?"
Liu Deng finally finished the Han Dynasty version of the bowl of spicy beef noodles and took a sip of the ice-flavored sour plum soup. Liu Deng almost groaned in comfort.
"I heard that Liu Xian mobilized all the Wu merchants who were doing business in Dai. As long as they collected a pound of salt, Liu Xian would give them a subsidy of one hundred cents. Now those people are half crazy, going from house to house. Yes, selling salt to deceive the people!"
Du Ziteng said softly.
"Is there such a thing? This is quite new. Aren't these people afraid that their appetite will be too big to overwhelm them?"
Liu Deng said with a gloomy face.
"Your Majesty, these people have made a lot of money in our country over the years, and many of them have purchased land and houses in our country. Now almost all of them have taken root in our country. But now they would rather sell their houses and land than You are working hard to collect salt! You can’t take it seriously!”
Du Ziteng said cautiously.
"How much does a pound of fried salt cost outside now?"
Liu Deng suddenly asked.
"This morning it was already 700 yuan! But now all the major merchants have no inventory. I'm afraid the price should be set at this level..."
Du Ziteng didn't know what Liu Deng was going to do, but since his king had already started asking about the price of salt, he should have taken action!
"We still need to send someone to help them. The price is rising too slowly. Go and find some loyal guards for me. I have an important thing for you to do!"
Liu Deng thought for a while and then said.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
His own king finally wanted to take action, and the acting king actually left such confidential matters to himself.
Doesn’t this make it clear that the king wants to promote himself?
Du Ziteng was so happy that he almost jumped up. It seemed that he had really lucked out. Maybe he could become a general in his lifetime!
"Come here with your ears!"
Liu Deng waved, and Du Ziteng quickly stretched out his ears.
So Liu Deng gave these instructions for a while. After he understood it, Du Ziteng's face suddenly changed with fright.
"Big, big, big, great king, if we do this, what's the difference between us and those profiteers? If the Taifu master knows this, I'm afraid he will beat me to death. Your Majesty, spare your life, just spare me! I I have to grow flowers for you!”
Du Ziteng almost cried. He really didn't dare to obey Liu Deng's order.
"Just do whatever you are told. Master Taifu will not ask about such things. Haven't you noticed that Master Taifu has not shown up for so many days?"
Seeing this guy's unsatisfactory look, Liu Deng wanted to go up and give him a kick, but he was too full from what he had just eaten, and now he just wanted to hum while sitting on the chair.
"But……"
Du Ziteng was still a little hesitant.
"If you keep talking nonsense, I will chop you up and feed you to the dogs right now!"
Liu Deng's temper suddenly rose. This boy was obviously a guard, so he had nothing to do every day.
It seems that I have been so good to this kid recently that this guy actually dared to question his decision.
"Young man, it's just the salt we took back..."
Du Ziteng was still a little at a loss.
"No matter how much you collect every day, at night, give it all to me and sell it to Liu Xian's people every day!"
There was a smile on Liu Deng's face. He really didn't like this kind of stuff that needed to be filled up!
"No, little one, let's make arrangements right now!"
Just when Liu Deng and Liu Xian were having a quarrel, Chao Cuo, who had not long returned to Chang'an, finally received the news that the business war between Dai and Wu had begun.
This kind of thing has never happened before. It's a bit out of the ordinary. It just means that the people are small and the country is poor. Now that things have happened like this, he doesn't think highly of Liu Deng.
"Master Chao, Your Highness the Crown Prince would like to have you come to the residence to have a brief talk!"
Just when Chao Cuo was hesitating about what to tell the prince, a young eunuch suddenly appeared outside the door and hurried in to pass the message.
"His Royal Highness, did you tell me what happened?"
Chao Cuo asked with a frown.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not elaborate. He just asked your Excellency to come over immediately. He seemed to be in a hurry. He also asked Your Excellency to clean up and then follow me!"
The little eunuch quickly saluted and said.
"You go down first, I'll change my clothes and follow you!"
He had just told the prince a few days ago about his partnership with Liu Deng to sell salt. The prince said he would consider it, but he seemed very moved.
Is it because of this incident?
But thinking about it, if Liu Deng couldn't even deal with this storm, His Highness the Prince's money wasn't brought by the strong wind. Of course, the matter might be over.
However, if you act like this, what those who don’t know the inside story will say will be very unpleasant...
For a moment, he didn't know what to do.
However, now is not the time for him to consider these issues. He should meet the prince first and then make plans!
After changing his clothes, the young eunuch Chao Cuo followed took an ox cart and hurried to the prince's residence.
"Master, you are finally here. I just heard the news from Daiguo. Liu Deng's boy is also my nephew. As an uncle, of course I have to help him! I have prepared 150,000 yuan here. I’ll ask you, Master Lao, to make a trip and give him this money!”
This actually made Chao Cuo stunned. This seemed to be quite different from what he had expected before.
"Your Highness, aren't you afraid that Liu Deng won't be able to withstand the pressure of Wu State and will end up losing everything?"
Chao Cuo hesitated for a moment, then asked.
"Didn't Master teach me since I was a child that a gentleman does not speak of profit? The Kingdom of Wu has become increasingly powerful over the years. If they are allowed to control the Kingdom of Dai again, I am afraid that it will be out of control from now on. Then Liu Deng is also my nephew. , as an uncle, of course I have to help out, but I do have a lot of money in my hands, so he has to rely on himself for the rest!"
Looking at the young His Highness the Crown Prince, Chao Cuo suddenly felt ashamed.
As a Confucian disciple who flaunts benevolence, righteousness and morality all day long, what on earth is he thinking about now?
"The prince is kind and humble, and he replaces the people of the country. Thank you so much, Your Highness!"
Chao Cuo said sincerely.
"Master, please set off as soon as possible. I guess Liu Deng will soon be unable to uncover the pot..."
