Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 137 Between coming and going
Tangjun Mansion.

In the spacious courtyard, Gao Ang and Yang Kan were practicing with each other, holding a Mo Dao.

The Mo Daos collided, sparks flew everywhere, and the wind and leaves in the courtyard were shaking.

Hulugu and Houmochen Chong sat in the corner, watching intently.

In the room, Li Shuang was drinking tea when he saw Jia Sixie and Su Cho walking in.

Jia Sixie came this time to report the latest results of the "Five-Step Salt Production Method".

"My Lord, after calculation, according to this new method, the output of pond salt will be 20% to 30% higher than the previous method."

Two to three percent!

After hearing this result, Li Shuang was already satisfied.

Now the bulk of the salt tax from the salt pond had to be handed over to the imperial court. This was the only way Li Shuang could continue to serve as the governor of Hedong County.

The rest still needed to be supported by soldiers and salt workers in various places.

Now the extra 20% to 30% belongs to Li Shuang.

"However, the salt workers may not be so successful when they first try this method. As the salt workers become familiar with the new method and improve their craftsmanship, the output should continue to increase."

"In that case, we will gather those Shu salt workers and implement the new law!"

"promise!"

Su Cho stood aside and said nothing. After Jia Sixie finished his report, he spoke:

"My lord, the household registrations of salt households, farmers, and military households in all counties of Tangzhou and Anyi have been completed and are now in the government office. However, the situation in the remaining counties is not so easy. The local officials are pretending to comply but are actually disobeying and refusing to cooperate."

Li Shuang had already expected this.

Li Shuang was only the governor of Tangzhou and concurrently the prefect of Hedong County, so naturally he had no control over other counties. It was understandable that people ignored him.

The big families in Hedong built forts and gathered exiles, and officials from various counties and prefectures also took advantage of this opportunity to make as much money as possible.

"Then let Hou Jing take the newly recruited troops with him!"

After hearing this, Su Chuo bowed and said:

"My lord, Hedong is, after all, part of Sizhou and is directly governed by the imperial court. If we do this, we'll probably attract attention."

Li Shuang smiled.

"Bandits are everywhere in Hedong, and Hou Jing is just going to suppress them!"

"Suppressing bandits?"

"Wherever we investigate a county, there will be bandits!"

Su Chao took a deep breath. Although he had been prepared in his heart, he was still a little surprised when he heard it.

In this bright and clear world, an official who shoulders the heavy responsibility of the Wei court speaks and acts like this!
It's really great!

He has long been disgusted with corrupt officials!

The children of those aristocratic families can occupy high positions and accumulate wealth from the people simply by virtue of their birth.

The Wugong Su family had been a family of two thousand stones for generations, but Su Chao's father was just a county official.

Su Cho's family background was not high, and he was not recommended to become a scholar and thus enter the officialdom.

However, precisely because of this, he was more hardworking than ordinary scholars, and he did not learn poetry and other pretentious subjects, but the art of governing the country and benefiting the people.

During these days with Li Shuang, Su Chao has learned much more than before and feels that he is growing rapidly.

Of course, it’s not just about knowledge!

Is this what it feels like to commit treason?
It's so silky!

Su Chao was a little excited and said with a bow:

"I suggest we first investigate the counties along the Fen River. That way, the imperial court won't overreact."

"Just do as you wish!"
-
Inside the big tent, Xiao Baoyin had a gloomy face.

If he felt heavy-hearted before Yuan Hao left, he felt painful after Yuan Hao left.

Originally, with Yuan Hao sharing the firepower with him, he only needed to face the force of Mo Zhe Niansheng.

But after Yuan Hao left, Hu Chen's area also came under his control. Hu Chen and Mo Zhe Niansheng were not easy to deal with. When Po Liu and Han Baling were still around, the two of them joined forces to deal with the Six Towns Army.

After the Six Garrison Army moved to Hebei, they became even more arrogant.

The enemy on the front line certainly troubled him, but the friendly forces behind him made him feel like hanging himself.

Wei Langgen walked in and saw Xiao Baoyin's expression, as if he had already expected it.

"Your Majesty, what's the news from Luoyang?"

"This villain, Ohnoshuang!"

Xiao Baoyin's anger seemed to be ignited and he was burning with rage.

"He hid himself in Hedong, but he kept submitting memorials every few days, accusing me of inaction and accusing me of treason!"

Wei Langgen naturally knew the reason and said,
"Your Majesty, calm down!"

Xiao Baoyin's anger could not be easily quelled.

"Those Yuan Yong guys are useless. They wanted to send their own people to manage the salt business, and I submitted a petition to cooperate, but in the end, there was no response from them."

Xiao Baoyin originally thought that by sending Zheng Yan to Luoyang, he could gain more help in the court by relying on his old friendship with Empress Hu.

But unexpectedly, the other party was sent back not long after he left.

This move, instead, angered Li Shengui.

Nowadays, everything concerning Guanzhong is constrained.

"Your Majesty, the struggles within the court are unimportant. Even if Li Shengui holds sway over the government, he still cannot overthrow Yuan Yong. Furthermore, there are so many Yuan clan members standing behind him."

After hearing this, Xiao Baoyin finally calmed down.

What he fears most now is not the situation on the front battlefield, but what is behind him.

Once there is any change in Luoyang, he will not be able to stay safe in Guanzhong.

"Sir, you are right. I was framed by this traitor, Daye Shuang, and almost lost my composure."

Xiao Baoyin regained his usual graceful demeanor and said:

"The chaos in the world is irreversible. Aside from the troops used to guard against the traitor Xiao Yan, the entire Yuan family's wealth has been invested in Hebei. This is a great opportunity for me to gain a foothold in Guanzhong."

"I understand!"

Xiao Baoyin sneered.

"When I restore the Great Qi and march my troops to Hedong, I will make sure that Daye Shuang knows how powerful I am!"
-
Anyi.

Looking at the information sent by Han Ling, Li Shuang suddenly said:
"Xiao Baoyin is plotting a rebellion!"

The retainers around him were already used to this. In fact, few of them paid any attention to it.

"Why do you look like this?"

Gaoang complained:
"My Lord, when have you not said that Xiao Baoyin is planning a rebellion?"

Li Shuang rolled his eyes and said:
"This time it's different, he really wants to rebel!"

After hearing Li Shuang's words, everyone looked at him and asked:
"How did you know, my lord?"

Li Shuang smiled confidently.

"Who is the traitor in this Wei Dynasty? Can you hide it from me?"

Everyone then remembered—

Li Shuang has a keen sense of smell when it comes to identifying traitors; and when it comes to how to rebel, Li Shuang is the best in the world.

"What about that?"

Surprisingly, Li Shuang was not nervous at all, but looked relieved.

"From now on, no one can say that the King of Qi is planning a rebellion!"

Hou Mochen Chong happened to come up with some water in his hand. He felt a little strange when he heard this.

Before Xiao Baoyin planned to rebel, his lord said every day that he wanted to rebel; now that he wants to rebel, why doesn't his lord call him a traitor?

(End of this chapter)