After the Buddha Bathing Festival, a new salt policy emerged.
The previous democratic system, official collection, official transportation, and official sales was changed to a civilian system, commercial collection, commercial transportation, and commercial sales. The government only had the responsibility of supervision.
It can be said that the power of businessmen has been greatly increased, which will help to increase their enthusiasm and further promote the activity of the market.
However, the power of officials has been greatly reduced. Without the power of acquisition, transportation, and sales, it will not be so easy to make money.
As the saying goes, killing someone's job is like killing their parents.
Seeing their jobs being ruined, the salt officials were naturally dissatisfied and criticized the new salt policy one after another, hoping that the emperor could withdraw his order and cancel the new policy.
Although Gao Kun did not take the lead in making trouble, he still adopted a laissez-faire attitude.
After all, the salt policy reform also caused a lot of losses for him.
Seeing the impeachment memorial flying into the palace like snowflakes, Xiang Nan couldn't help but sigh.
He knew that the reform was difficult to promote and would definitely face many obstacles. However, the salt policy reform had not yet been implemented and was still in the discussion stage. It was really beyond his expectation that there were so many objections.
…
And just when Xiang Nan was worried about whether the salt policy could be reformed smoothly. At this moment, pigeons were flying in the Western Region to deliver messages, and a shocking news came.
General Gao Xian of Zhenyuan, the Protectorate of the Western Region, was seriously ill, and medicine was ineffective.
Upon seeing this news, Li Hao was deeply saddened on the surface, but overjoyed in his heart.
Over the years, Gao Xian raised the bandits to be self-respecting, embezzled food and wages, was arrogant and stubborn, and could be said to have become a close friend.
But because his father is a high minister, his second brother is a minister of household affairs, and his cousin is a queen, it is not easy to move him.
Li Hao wanted to recall Gao Xian several times. But every time I had this idea, there were countless voices of opposition in the court. There will also be changes immediately in the Western Region. In order to avoid turmoil in the Western Territory, he could only give up the idea again and again.
And with Gao Xian leading an army of 100,000 people alone, it would not be easy for him to deal with Gao Xian's party in the court. Every time he thought about tampering with the Prime Minister's party, there would also be changes in the Western Region, so it was inevitable for him to take action.
It can be said that the prime minister and his party are two-headed snakes. One head is the high minister of the court, and the other head is the high minister of the west.
If Li Fu hits Gao Xian on the head, Gao Xian in the west will bite him; if Li Fu hits Gao Xian on the head, the high minister in the middle will bite him; if he hits the high minister's partisans in the middle, both heads will bite him. he.
Li Hao was naturally in a dilemma. If you don't make up your mind to survive with your arms broken, you can never hope to deal with the high minister's party.
It is precisely for this reason that it is great news that Gao Xian is now seriously ill and dying.
Once Gao Xian died, the Gao family's influence in the Western Region could be ignored.
When the time comes, he appoints a trustworthy general to take over the post of Protector. If Zhao Jingyu of Danchi and King Xizhou of Xizhou restrain each other, then the Western Territory will be safe. No longer have to worry about being controlled and blackmailed by the high-ranking prime minister and his party.
You must know that every year, the food and grass given to the Western Region alone is as much as two million dan, and the salary and silver are 5 million guan, accounting for one-sixth of the imperial court's annual income.
But in fact, Li Hao knew that a lot of the grain, grass and salary had been embezzled by Gao Xian. Now without him, almost 40% of the expenses can be saved.
What made Li Hao even more happy was that after Gao Xian's death, Prime Minister Gao and his party were the only ones left with power in the DPRK and China. To him, it was like catching a turtle in a urn, and he could dig out the bones as much as he wanted.
After all, political power comes from the barrel of a gun! The Gao family no longer has military power, and the threat to him is greatly reduced. Even if he sends out a small yellow sect, he can easily put Gao Ming's family in jail.
"My prince is really well established. Not only is he smart and capable, but he is also blessed with great blessings. Since he ascended the throne, there has been civil strife in Shuobo and the tragic deaths of traitorous ministers. These are all good things." Li Hao couldn't help but think.
…
The fact that Gao Xian was critically ill was reported back by Li Zuo's agent at the Anhu Mansion in the Western Territory.
He kept it secret and told no one.
Two days later, Gao Mingshang issued a memorial and recommended Gao Zhen to serve in the Western Region.
"My youngest son has been martial arts since he was a child. He has devoted himself to joining the army to protect his family and country. I hope your majesty will fulfill this goal," Gao Mingzou reported.
Xiang Nan had not received news that Gao Xian was critically ill at this time, but he still guessed that Gao Xian's health was probably failing.
When Gao Xian went to the capital to deliver Batur's information, Xiang Nan secretly injected a burst of Qi into his body and injured his liver.
Counting the time now, it's almost time for the disease to occur. Once the liver becomes diseased, it is absolutely impossible to cure it with today's medical skills, and the only way is to wait for death.
Therefore, Gou Ming sent Gao Zhen to serve in the army, obviously with the intention of letting him take over, in order to maintain the power of the Gao family in the west.
However, Gao Zhenzhi was very talented, uneducated and incompetent in both writing and martial arts. He was far less cunning, ruthless and ruthless than Gao Xian. It was obviously not a good idea to let him go to the Western Region to take over.
It's just that he doesn't have anyone available right now. The Western Territory is so important to the Gao family, and he doesn't trust it in the hands of outsiders, so he can only support Gao Zhen to rise to power.
"Ai Qing is truly the pillar of the country and loyal." Li Zuo nodded after hearing this, "It's just that Gao Xian has been guarding the Western Region for more than ten years and is still not allowed to return home. How can I bear the heart to separate your flesh and blood again."
"For the safety of our family and country, why should I cherish a son?" Gao Ming said hurriedly.
"My dear, the more loyal you are, the more I can't bear to see your father and son separated." Li Hao waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's talk about the salt policy next..."
Seeing this, Gao Gaoming had no choice but to give up.
Xiang Nan watched from the side, guessing that Li Hao must have known about Gao Xian's serious illness and saw through Gao Ming's conspiracy to send his third son to take over, so he deliberately prevented Gao Zhen from going to the northwest.
"They are all thousand-year-old foxes!" he sighed in his heart.
…
Suddenly, the queen suddenly held a banquet to entertain the children of clan members, princes and ministers.
"Why is the Queen Mother so interested all of a sudden?" Yong Ning asked in confusion.
"Now that Luo Xi has proposed marriage, the royal princess, you are the only one left." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "So, the Queen Mother is probably worried for you."
However, he guessed that the reason why Zhang Meiniang held the banquet was probably to bring Gao Ruyi and Li Zuo together.
In the play, Gao Ming was worried that the prince's wings were hard and he would not listen to them. Therefore, he conspired to send Gao Ruyi to the palace, and then wait for her to become pregnant with Longzi before promoting his grandson to the throne. His biological grandchildren are naturally much closer than his biological nephews.
Today, the situation of the Gao family is more serious than in the play.
Once Gao Xian died, the Gao family would lose an arm, so they had to seize the opportunity to send Gao Ruyi to the palace. If Gao Ruyi can please the emperor, then the Gao family will be saved.
However, they still underestimated the emperor's ruthlessness.
Even though Gao Ruyi was pregnant with a dragon fetus, Li Hao did not hesitate to poison her and showed no mercy.
Therefore, Xiang Nan is certain that the Gao family's conspiracy will not come true.
