Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 132: This is where the trouble lies
Luoyang.

"He has to be my sworn brother!"

On the phoenix bed, Li Shengui was in high spirits.

This time, even Queen Hu didn't say much!
It’s simple, the money has arrived!

Empress Hu had a murderous look on her face and said:
"These people are so audacious that they even dare to embezzle the imperial court's taxes."

After Empress Hu came to power again, she felt overwhelmed and could not control many aspects. The emperor was also competing with her for power in the palace. She was faced with internal and external troubles.

After the Six Garrisons Rebellion was briefly quelled, they started causing trouble again in Hebei.

Hebei is not Hetao, but the foundation of the Wei Dynasty.

If there is chaos here, half of the Luoyang Imperial Palace will collapse.

Taxes were decreasing, but the court's expenses were increasing, with the largest share coming from military expenses.

It's funny to say that the Luoyang court originally settled the surrendered troops of the Six Garrisons in Hebei just to save money.

But now, instead of saving the money, it is being spent more and more.

Just when Queen Hu was worried, problems arose with the Hedong salt tax, which accounted for nearly 20% of the Wei court's financial revenue. Queen Hu had no choice but to listen to Li Shengui and let Li Shuang handle the matter.

Unexpectedly, he actually did it.

"I told you, we need to send a reliable person to keep an eye on Jiechi in Hedong."

Empress Hu nestled in Li Shengui's arms, her eyes full of spring as she smiled and said:
"As long as the amount of salt he gives to the court doesn't decrease year after year, he can do whatever he wants!"
-
Anyi!

"The method of cultivating the fields and watering and drying them!"

Jia Sixie looked at the book Li Shuang gave him with a surprised expression on his face.

"how?"

Jia Sixie flipped through it briefly and nodded.

"I don't know if this method is feasible or not. The specific steps still need to be explored, which may take some time."

Jia Sixie did not immediately agree that it could be done. Whether a new technology is feasible still requires experiments.

Li Shuang was not in a hurry, but just said:

"Don't worry, those Shu salt workers will be under your command and can be used at your will. In addition, I will first give you a piece of salt field for you to use."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Compared to sea salt, pool salt is very cheap.

The current method of making salt from ponds is to introduce brine into the pond and rely on natural evaporation to obtain crude salt.

This method of salt production has limited output and is largely affected by weather, so salt cannot be produced all year round.

The five-step salt production method is also known as the five-step salt production method, which consists of five steps: cultivating the fields, introducing brine, blending, crystallizing, and collecting salt.

Compared with sunlight exposure, the bed reclamation and watering method is less affected by the weather, can be operated in stages throughout the year, and the yield will be greatly increased.

As long as the technology can mature and there are a large number of salt workers who understand the five-step salt drying method, the output of Jiechi will far exceed that of the past.

After handing over the method of cultivating and watering the fields to Jia Sixie, Li Shuang came to the governor's mansion.

Now the entire Anyi is under Li Shuang's military command.

The imperial edict from Luoyang has also arrived, ordering Li Shuang to manage the salt affairs in Hedong.

In addition to the part of the salt tax in Hedong that was controlled by the Xianbei nobles, local Han nobles also participated in it, occupying salt fields and enslaving salt workers.

Now, hearing that Anyi has become a completely different place, they have all come here.

Of course, they didn't dare not come.

After waiting for an hour, the patriarchs of these Han Chinese noble families finally met Li Shuang.

"Do you know that the Xianbei people deceived the imperial court and embezzled the imperial salt tax?"

"I don't know how to wait!"

"But that's not what the Xianbei people said!"

When the Han clan leaders heard this, their expressions changed and they all distanced themselves from them.

"Your Excellency must not be deceived by them. Such parasites deserve death. We are all loyal subjects of the Great Wei. From now on, we are willing to follow your lead."

Li Shuang laughed when he heard it.

"In this way, I feel at ease. I will not touch your salt fields, but the proceeds of corruption by the Xianbei people will now be taken back by the imperial court."

"Thank you, Lord!"

After receiving this answer, the Han clan leaders felt at ease and left with satisfied smiles.

Not long after, Hou Jing came in with a dozen boxes.

"My lord, it's all here!" The box contained the account book, which could also be said to be Anyi's small account.

"What are these things for?"

Li Shuang smiled and said:

"Hedong's greatest profit is salt. These account books are evidence of the collusion between the Xianbei nobles and these Han clan leaders to embezzle the imperial salt tax."

Hou Jing seemed to be thinking about something and asked:

"In that case, my lord, why don't you take advantage of the situation and deal with these people as well?"

Li Shuang sighed.

"You are in me, and I am in you! This is where all the trouble in the world ends."

"what for?"

"Here in Hedong, the area north of the Fen River and the area south of the Fen River are inseparable."

After hearing this, Hou Jing seemed to understand.

"It turns out that the lord has been in cahoots with them for a long time!"
-
Pingyang.

Inside the fort, Han Ling was leaning against the grape rack, basking in the sun.

An urgent military intelligence interrupted his nap.

"Pingcheng fell?"

Looking at this information, Han Ling thought about it and asked his spies.

"When did it happen?"

"Just half a month ago!"

"Where did the troops come from?"

"I heard it's the Nomads from the north!"

Han Ling heard this and asked:
"Where are the three Heba brothers?"

"They have already gone south to join Erzhu Rong."

After hearing this, Han Ling, who was originally confused, finally understood.

How could there be such a powerful force in the North that could capture Pingcheng!

"Erzhu Rong is quite resourceful! Now, the Luoyang court will have no choice but to acknowledge him."

After saying this, Han Ling looked at the messenger and said:
"Report this information to the Lord immediately without delay."

"promise!"
-
Pingcheng.

Erzhu Rong led his army and looked at the city that he once admired from afar, feeling excited.

Soon, this city will belong to him!
Following him were the three Heba Yue brothers!

Compared with the heroic Heba brothers, the Erzhu clan's children seemed somewhat inferior.

The only thing that made him feel a little relieved was Erzhu Tianguang.

"uncle!"

Erzhu Tianguang, who arrived on horseback, seemed much more capable during his time as the governor of Mayi.

But unexpectedly, he became fatter than before.

Following Erzhu Tianguang were the Hu leaders from Hengzhou, including She Digan, who also bowed when they saw Erzhu Rong.

Erzhu Rong was very pleased with this, and he was even in the mood to make a joke.

"You are a regular customer of your uncle's Red Romance, right?"

Erzhu Tianguang blushed when he heard this.

“I don’t go there often!”

After hearing this, Erzhu Rong burst into laughter.

This episode did not affect his mood.

"Siege!"

The three Heba brothers led their troops in the front and advanced courageously.

The battle went smoothly. Seeing such a strong warrior at his disposal, Erzhu Rong sighed in his heart:
There are more and more people like this!

At the same time, a question arose in his mind:
You are in me and I am in you. In this way, can you gain the world?

(End of this chapter)