After the Jingzhe, the weather in the north began to get warmer, and the weeds in the fields began to turn green. At this time, the people outside Yancheng were still digging tunnels in full swing. The workshops in the city are also operating at full capacity, stepping up production and manufacturing. Horse-drawn carriages are driving to Yancheng from different directions, some transporting coal, some transporting salt and grain, and there are also horse-drawn carriages driving from Yancheng to various places.
Zhao Bin goes to the Gongnufang every now and then to inspect the manufacturing progress of the crossbows. Now time is getting tighter and tighter. The weather is getting warmer day by day, and the plunder of the Jie tribe will be approaching day by day. It is important to be on the grassland. Before the snow melts, the bows and crossbows are given to the people outside the city so that the people can defend themselves.
While everyone in Yancheng was busy, two fast horses galloped towards Yancheng. Judging from their attire, they knew they were messengers from the imperial court. After the two people at the city gate revealed their identities, they Go straight into the city and head towards Prince Yan's Mansion.
Zhao Bin put the letter in his hand on the table, and Cao Li and He Miao on the side asked: "Your Majesty, what is the imperial decree?"
"It's nothing. The imperial court has established a new Salt Guard, which is under the jurisdiction of King Heng. The people along the coast are to be allowed to dry the salt. Let us send people to teach the technology."
Hearing this, Cao Li's face suddenly turned ugly: "If the imperial court masters the technology of refining salt, what will happen to our salt?"
"Don't worry, the imperial court intends to let the people along the coast be responsible for drying salt. All coarse salt will be transported to Yancheng and then processed by us." Zhao Bin replied calmly.
"I see."
"Old Cao, do you think it's too inefficient for us to do this?" Zhao Bin thought for a moment and turned to look at Cao Li and said.
"The efficiency is too low? Does the prince want to make salt directly along the coast? But in this case, the salt refining technology can easily be leaked." Cao Li said.
"No, no, are we essentially going in the wrong direction on this matter?" Zhao Bin said, knocking on the table with one hand.
"Think about it, why do we practice salt training?"
"Make money," Cao Li and He Miao said in unison.
"It's true that we are making money, but in this case we won't be able to make much money even if we invest all the people in Yancheng into practicing salt. Our main purpose is to strengthen ourselves. What we are fighting now is the Xue family and the Zhang family. , the Dai family, and the ones on guard are the Fang family and the Liu family along the coast. If we want to truly fight against the three major families, we must join forces with the Fang and Liu families and bring the Fang and Liu families to our side. This way we can By diverting the attention of the three families from us, and secondly, with the support of the Fang and Liu families, our salt production will be greatly increased, and the Fang and Liu families will also benefit greatly."
"But what if once the Fang and Liu families master the technology of refining fine salt, they will regret it and kick us out."
"Of course we are not here to do this, but for the imperial court and the Fang and Liu families to join forces. Since the imperial court wants to set up salt guards, it will simply set up salt guards in Hebei Province, Shandong Province, and Jiangnan Province. We will go out For technology, the court is responsible for management, and the local government is responsible for production. In this way, we have the opportunity to squeeze the three companies out of the salt market," Zhao Bin said.
"I still feel that there is a risk in my humble position. The only capital we can use to negotiate with the court now is the technology for refining fine salt. Once the technology for fine salt is leaked, we will lose our only capital. If the court and the Fang and Liu families renege, we will There is nothing left." He Miao said with a heavy expression.
"Yes, Your Majesty, now the crown prince and the eldest prince are competing for the throne. No matter who wins in the end, they will definitely kick us out." Cao Li added.
"I understand what both of you said, but if you think about it, if we don't cooperate with the Fang and Liu families now, the future results may be even worse."
Cao Li and He Miao were speechless when they heard this. They had never thought about this. If they had not followed King Yan to refine fine salt at the beginning, maybe they could have escaped, but now they have offended the Zhang family. and the Xue family's interests, so the result will naturally be different. No matter which prince ascends the throne, I am afraid that the forces behind him will not let him go. Thinking of this, a layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out behind the two of them.
Cao Li hesitated for a moment and said: "I understand, I dare to ask the prince if he has any other plans?"
Zhao Bin did not answer, but gave Cao Li a meaningful look. Cao Li immediately understood that he should not ask this question, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, I forgive you, I made a mistake."
"Now that we have competed with three families, we need to move faster. Your worries are not wrong. Both the imperial court and the Fang and Liu families may kick us out, but right now we can only take a gamble."
"In this humble position, I will obey the prince's instructions." Cao Li gestured with his hands.
"So does a humble job."
Then several people discussed the details, and Zhao Bin wrote a letter home to Concubine Ding. The content of the letter was roughly about the method of reforming the salt system. Zhao Bin's idea of joining Fang and Liu's family and how to implement the system were clearly stated in the letter. Chu wrote in great detail, and also clearly analyzed the pros and cons of this matter, but this time, he analyzed the issue from the perspective of the court.
At the same time, Zhao Bin also wrote two other letters, one to Fang Shutong, Minister of the Ministry of War, and one to Liu Wenda, Minister of the Ministry of Industry. The contents of the two letters were roughly similar. The letter details the annual income of the Zhang, Xue, and Dai families from selling salt. Compared with it, the Fang family and the Liu family pale in comparison. Although the Fang and Liu families also have their own industries, compared with the other three families in the salt industry I have mastered the method of refining fine salt and want to cooperate with the two companies to increase the production of fine salt and jointly fight against the monopoly of the other three companies in the salt market. With the quality of fine salt, I can easily Stealing the market share of the three companies to strengthen the strength of the Fang and Liu families. This move will only benefit the Fang and Liu families, and there will be no harm. If the Fang and Liu families agree, King Yan promises that there will be a way to convince the emperor and let the emperor come up with Thirty or even forty percent of the profits are divided between the two families, and in return, the two families need to try their best to maintain the integrity of King Yan in the court.
Two days later, Cao Li, the prefect of Yancheng, under the protection of Lu Biao, quietly left Yancheng with the team transporting fine salt. This matter could not be sent out by ordinary messengers. There must still be someone with identity who could represent King Yan. Only people can go forward.
After a month of excavation, the tunnels in various villages and towns in Yancheng have begun to take shape. Although they are far from being accessible to every village and every household, they are basically sufficient as defense, avoidance, and escape facilities. Qin Fang's scout battalion conducts field reconnaissance drills in the west and north every day. Zhao Bin generously handed over twenty telescopes to Qin Fang. Qin Fang couldn't believe his eyes when he got the telescopes. , standing on the city wall and almost fell down. With this thing, on the open plain, they can see changes two kilometers away, so that they can detect the movements of the Jie people in time and prepare for defense or even attack in advance.
On February 11th, with a distant bell in Yancheng, the vernal equinox officially arrived. People in all villages and towns walked out of their homes and went to the fields. The vernal equinox represented the beginning of spring and the beginning of farming. In addition to mining in the mountains, the vernal equinox The remaining people who can work have led the oxen and carried the iron plows to the fields. This year, Yancheng’s goal is to expand production. The government has long posted notices to encourage people to open up wasteland. This year, every household must To expand the area of cultivated land by two to three times based on the original cultivated land, anyone who lacks tools or crops can apply to the government office.
Zhao Bin, who came from later generations, knew the importance of food security, so as soon as he arrived in Yancheng, or from the time he entered the boundary of Hebei Province, he realized that there were great hidden dangers in the food problem, so he On the one hand, they exchanged cattle and horses, on the other hand, they forged iron plows, and at the same time, they sent people to continuously purchase food. The purpose was to ensure the food security of Yancheng. Whether it was in times of war or against natural disasters, as long as there was sufficient food, it could be guaranteed to a certain extent. life safety.
"Lin Yao, a common girl, has met the prince." A sweet voice from the palace came to Zhao Bin's ears. Zhao Bin, who was squatting on the ground and playing with something unknown, turned around when he heard the voice and saw a pretty figure standing behind him. .
At this time, Lin Yao changed her attire. Instead of wearing two buns like before, she put her hair up and made a bun with clouds.
"Hey, little girl, it's you," Zhao Bin teased with a smile.
"Your Highness, Yao'er is no longer a little girl. Yao'er has already grown hairpins. You can't call me little girl anymore." Lin Yao shook her head and said.
Zhao Bin curled his lips and said: "You just reached my chin, what do you call me if you don't call me little girl?"
"A girl with hairpins is an adult, not a little girl. Prince, you can call me Yao'er. It sounds friendly, hehe." Lin Yao said with a playful look.
"By the way, why are you here? Where are your grandfather and your father?" Zhao Bin said as he stood up and walked towards the front hall.
"My grandfather is studying at home, and my father has gone to the government office." Lin Yao said following Zhao Bin.
Zhao Bin looked back at her and said, "You haven't answered the first half of my sentence yet?"
Lin Yao blinked, deliberately looked away, and said hesitantly: "I...I..."
Zhao Bin didn't tease her when he saw her like this, "Forget it, Ling'er and Cui'er are in the backyard. You go to the backyard to find them."
"I...I'm not here to see Sister Ling'er and Sister Cui'er, I'm here to see you, Prince." Lin Yao hesitated for a moment, and then said boldly.
Zhao Bin was a little surprised and said: "Looking for me, why are you looking for me?"
Lin Yao pinched her hands and said with some trepidation: "That..."
"Which one?"
"Well, I mean today is not the vernal equinox. When the vernal equinox happens, spring will come. Your Majesty, why don't we go on a spring outing?"
"Hey, you are very brave. Do you know that it is very dangerous to go out of the city now? The Jie tribe may attack you at any time."
"Then we don't have to go far, just stay near Yancheng. If the Jie tribe comes, we will return to the city quickly." Lin Yao didn't seem to want to give up.
Zhao Bin ignored the little girl and walked straight into the front hall. He Miao and several officials were working in the front hall. Lin Yao saw that several officials were working in the front hall and did not dare to say any more. She just followed silently. Behind Zhao Bin. After seeing Zhao Bin come in, He Miao stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, it's already the Spring Equinox, and the people are busy reclaiming wasteland and renovating the land, but they are just old, weak, women and children. Do you think you should call the people from the mine back?" Part of it.”
Zhao Bin sat in his seat and said: "I have the same idea. The iron ore we have hoarded now should be enough within half a year. Let's send someone to send a message to let the people come back to reclaim the wasteland."
"Yes, then I will send someone to deliver the letter." He Miao replied.
"By the way, why hasn't Wei Xiang come these days?"
"Go back to your lord, Wei Dutou has been patrolling in the countryside these days and has not returned to the city. Do you want to send someone to call Wei Du back?"
"Well, call them back. The Gongnufang has made a new batch of crossbows. Let Wei Xiang distribute them. At the same time, he will step up training and make sure to master the use of crossbows before the Jie tribe comes."
A few days later, hundreds of people gathered at the gate of Yancheng again, but this time, there was no large flow of water mats. After the palace paid more than a month's salary, the people dispersed.
