With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

These soils containing salt crystals are called brine. Liu Xie then directed everyone to scrape off the brine and wash and filter it with seawater, thus flushing out the salt from the brine.

The brine that has been extracted is then stored in a clean salt pond.

A salt pond is a giant drying container. Salt fields contain soil, but salt ponds contain only brine. After drying this brine, the most basic sea salt is produced.

When Zhang Niu and his men first saw the thick layer of sea salt in the salt pond, they were all stunned.

Everyone was excited and thrilled, their eyes wide open in disbelief.

Someone reached out and touched it, then smelled it and exclaimed, "It tastes almost the same as the salt we use at home!"

With someone taking the lead, everyone bent down, scooped out a little with their fingers, and tasted it.

Liu Xie watched them from the side. Although the sea salt was still relatively crude, he was still very happy that he could use his knowledge to bring some convenience to everyone.

In the past, salt production typically involved selecting salt lakes on land, such as those in Hedong or Qinghai, which were then boiled and processed.

The processes are actually quite similar, but sea salt is the most convenient and can be mass-produced the most.

"This is sea salt. It's edible, just like the salt you usually use at home." Seeing everyone's curiosity, Liu Xie smiled and walked over.

"Your Majesty, is this true? Is this salt really edible?" Zhang Niu asked, holding up a handful of salt with a hint of disbelief.

Liu Xie nodded, and Zhang Niu looked back at the vast and boundless sea, and couldn't help but gasp.

"So, in the future, we can use this method to dry lots and lots of sea salt."

Liu Xie nodded and said, "Indeed, we can produce a lot, but this matter is not as simple as you think. Someone must be in charge of managing this matter. Moreover, the sea salt needs to be further purified during the sun-drying process."

Liu Xie had only just begun the work on sea salt. To make this matter more widespread and to establish standardized mass production, Liu Xie decided to establish a special Salt Affairs Bureau.

Donglai County naturally became the initial pilot area. As for the resettlement of these fishermen, Liu Xie summoned Gan Ning and Zhang He and said to them, "Some of the able-bodied young men among the fishermen can be selected to join the navy. As for the others, they can be hired to build salt fields and help with the production of sea salt. I entrust this matter to you."

The two nodded in agreement, and Gan Ning said, "Your Majesty, I really didn't expect that Guan Cheng would still be alive. I want to recruit him and his men into my ranks."

Liu Xie was somewhat surprised. "What? You survived seventy lashes?"

These seventy lashes were personally carried out by Dian Man, who showed no mercy whatsoever. The fact that Guan Cheng was not killed is enough to prove that Guan Cheng was indeed an extraordinary man.

Even if Guan Cheng came back to life, Liu Xie felt that his story was not over yet.

"Xingba, if you want to use this person, I will not object, but he must be made to apologize to all those he has bullied, just like He Kui."

Gan Ning laughed heartily, “Your Majesty, leave it to me. I will teach him a lesson. The main thing is that I have inquired about him. He is a good swimmer and has thick skin. Although he caused trouble in the area before, I think it would be good if he could be used by the court.”

Gan Ning himself came from humble origins, so he had a rather forthright personality.

"Alright, as long as you can subdue this person, you can make him do your bidding from now on."

Liu Xie wasn't rigid at all. Gan Ning quickly thanked him and patted his chest, saying, "Your Majesty, just watch."

Ten days later, before Guan Tong had fully recovered, he was already busy again.

After observing for a while, Liu Xie found that Guan Tong was indeed a down-to-earth and hardworking person. He had never even taken the initiative to come to him, and he did not show any signs of seeking credit or flattery.

As for He Kui, under Sima Yi's supervision, he would go door to door every day to kowtow and apologize.

On several occasions, He Kui was so ashamed and indignant that he wished he could die. Sima Yi once teased him, saying, "It's too late to die now. If you had committed suicide from the beginning, you would have had some backbone. But if you die now, you will be ridiculed by the world."

Helpless, He Kui could only grit his teeth and persevere. The daily mental torment alone made He Kui seem like a different person.

Liu Xie would not sympathize with or pity such a person.

As for Guan Cheng, once he had recovered enough, he refused to go and kowtow to confess his sins, even if it meant death. He felt it was too shameful.

Without saying a word, Gan Ning gave Guan Cheng a severe beating before he had fully recovered. Gan Ning was not going to tolerate him.

Gan Ning's fists were like iron hammers, hitting Guan Cheng so hard he howled, making Guan Cheng's men tremble with fear.

After beating him up, Gan Ning said rudely, "From now on, do whatever I tell you to do. If you don't listen, I'll beat you until you do. Alright, continue to recover from your injuries. In a few days, I'll deal with you again."

Everyone around was dumbfounded, and Guan Cheng was also dizzy and full of resentment. But Gan Ning was not just talking casually. A few days later, he gave Guan Cheng another severe beating.

This time, Guan Cheng became completely obedient and had no choice but to submit. Otherwise, Gan Ning would continue to punish him until he died.

More than a month later, Xun Yu wrote to inquire about his return, urging him to come back. Before leaving, Liu Xie gave Zhang He, Gan Ning, and others some final instructions before returning to Xuchang.

Zhang Zhao was drinking tea at home one day when the steward brought a person to the front hall. The steward was helpless and pointed to the person, "Master, this person insists on seeing you, saying that he was sent by the imperial court."

"Sent by the imperial court?" Zhang Zhao was taken aback. He looked at the man and asked, "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

The man smiled faintly. "My name is Liu Biao. I have a letter for you here."

Because Zhang Zhao was a highly valued person by Sun Quan, and his status was almost equal to that of Zhou Yu, Liu Biao came in person because he was worried that something might happen if someone else came.

Even if he comes in person, he is prepared.

Liu Biao took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to the steward, who then gave it to Zhang Zhao.

Zhang Zhao took the letter, opened it, and after just one glance, he was completely stunned.

What you fear most is exactly what happens!
These days, Zhang Zhao has been thinking about this matter constantly. He already regrets it in his heart. If he could, he really wish he had never written a letter to the court.

But there's no going back in this world.

The letter read: "Minister Zhang, I have long heard of your great name. I am very pleased that you have abandoned the darkness and are willing to submit to the court. However, as you know, I have too many things to deal with, and too many people from Jiangdong have written to me. That is why I have delayed replying to you until now. Please do not be offended..."

The emperor's reply was very polite, but the more polite it was, the more distressed Zhang Zhao felt.

Liu Biao watched him quietly, not missing any change in his expression.

After a while, Zhang Zhao sighed, his facial muscles twitching, his heart going through the most painful struggle.

Zhang Zhao seemed to have forgotten Liu Biao's existence, his whole being shrouded in painful sorrow, unsure of what to do.

Although Sun Quan was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs, he managed to preserve Jiangdong, and he still holds the reins of Jiangdong.

Moreover, Sun Quan valued Zhang Zhao highly, consulted him on almost everything, and treated him with great respect.

The more this is the case, the more difficult it becomes for Zhang Zhao.

Seeing that he had not responded for a long time, Liu Biao urged, "Zhang Changshi, His Majesty is waiting for your reply."

Zhang Zhao's body trembled instantly. He then looked at Liu Biao and slowly said, "How about this, you wait here for a moment."

Zhang Zhao stood up and instructed the steward, "Serve tea to the guests; do not neglect them."

Then, Zhang Zhao walked out of the front hall.

Liu Biao sat down and didn't touch the tea the butler brought him, waiting quietly.

Rather than saying he was waiting, it would be more accurate to say he was quietly resting and preparing for the worst.

The longer Zhang Zhao takes to consider it, the more likely he is to change his mind.

Sure enough, after a while, Liu Biao suddenly stood up. He suddenly heard footsteps in the courtyard. Many people were coming, and the footsteps were very heavy. Liu Biao's eyes changed immediately, and he rushed out in one stride.

The butler was taken aback. "Oh, what's this?"

Just then, Liu Biao opened the door, and a group of guards wielding steel knives came into view. These men rushed over quickly, their momentum menacing, clearly heading straight for Liu Biao.

Liu Biao sneered and rushed out. He was prepared. As long as the other side did not have strong bows and crossbows, Liu Biao was not afraid.

Despite not bringing any weapons, he quickly snatched a knife from a guard with his agile skills.

Liu Biao didn't linger in the fight and decisively rushed towards the backyard. The guards hurriedly chased after him and surrounded him, but Liu Biao fought and retreated.

Once inside the backyard, Liu Biao whistled, and several more people appeared outside the high walls around him. These people were there to meet him, and the guards chasing him were immediately distracted. Liu Biao took the opportunity to climb over the wall and jump out.

Upon learning that the people had escaped, Zhang Zhao was furious. He sent men to search for Liu Biao and his men while continuing to consider how to deal with the situation. After much deliberation, Zhang Zhao finally decided to confess to Sun Quan.

This was an extremely difficult decision. He had only two choices: either completely submit to the court or apologize to Sun Quan, because Liu Biao had taken the initiative to come to his door today and he had sent people to attack him. This matter could not be kept from Sun Quan at all.

Sun Quan had just returned from the Battle of Red Cliffs when Zhang Zhao arrived. Upon seeing him, Zhang Zhao immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Zhang Zhao's nose and tears streamed down his face. "My lord, this old minister has been foolish! This old minister has failed the late emperor, has failed my lord." (End of this chapter)