The Prodigal Son

Zhao Luan and the Empress Dowager did not stay there to watch Qin Yu and the others discuss.

Since they had come to the Crafts Bureau, they took the opportunity, accompanied by Feng Shinan, to conduct an inspection of the bureau.

After Qin Yu and the others finished discussing the improvement plans for several hydraulic machines, they also finished their inspections.

Thanks to Qin Yu's numerous suggestions for improvement, most of which were useful, Yu Zhi promised Qin Yu that he would definitely help him forge those armors within three months.

With Yu Zhi's assurance, Qin Yu finally felt relieved.

The Empress Dowager summoned Qin Yu and asked with great curiosity, "How come you can improve machinery?"

Qin Yu grinned and said, "When I had nothing to do, I liked to tinker with some strange things, and over time I learned a bit about them."

"You really are a clever guy, aren't you?"

The Empress Dowager looked at him with a smile, "I haven't thanked you for the matter of Lü Si yet! It's getting late, come back to the palace with me for dinner, as if I'm thanking you on behalf of the Lü family."

Qin Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. Lü Si has already thanked me."

"Lu Si is Lu Si, and I am I!"

The Empress Dowager didn't give Qin Yu a chance to refuse at all, "Let's go!"

Qin Yu was somewhat reluctant and quickly cast a pleading look at Zhao Luan.

Zhao Luan glared at him, then took the Empress Dowager's hand and said with a smile, "Mother, please don't be polite with him. He accepted 20,000 taels of silver from Lü Si! He'll be going to reorganize the salt administration soon, and he has a lot on his plate! Let him dine with you after he's done."

The Empress Dowager's gaze swept back and forth between the two men, and she nodded, saying, "Alright! Let's wait until he's finished with his work."

Ugh!

I really don't understand young people these days.

He had arranged a match between Lü Si and Shi Lian'er, but the two ended up acting like mortal enemies.

When they tried to set Qin Yu and Zhao Luan up, one was shy and hesitant, while the other acted like a man-eating tiger.

I'm exhausted!

Tired of heart!

After declining the dinner invitation, Qin Yu left the Crafts Bureau with the mother and daughter.

Before parting, the Empress Dowager repeatedly instructed Qin Yu: "Be extra careful on your trip to reorganize the salt administration."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty! I will certainly be careful!"

Qin Yu bowed in thanks.

After parting ways with the mother and daughter, Qin Yu led his men back to the Qin residence. On the way, he sent someone to invite Feng Yingxu to his residence for a chat that evening.

On the way back, after much deliberation, Qin Yu finally gave up the idea of ​​taking Luo Qingyi with him to reorganize the salt administration.

Judging from Zhao Luan and the Empress Dowager's behavior, this rectification of the salt administration is a very dangerous matter. Luo Qingyi's rudimentary skills are not enough to warrant taking such a risk with them.

When Qin Yu returned home, he learned that Jiang Ci had come to visit again.

After a brief bow, Jiang Ci looked at Qin Yu with some concern: "I heard that His Majesty appointed Young Master Qin as Imperial Envoy to reorganize the salt administration?"

"You already know about this?" Qin Yu asked, slightly surprised. "Did the news spread so quickly?"

"It's not just me who knows; almost everyone in the capital with even a little bit of information probably knows."

A hint of worry flashed across Jiang Ci's face. "Reorganizing the salt administration is no easy task!"

"The imperial decree is difficult to disobey!"

Qin Yu sighed helplessly, "You're here to talk to Qingyi about something?"

"This time it really isn't."

Jiang Ci shook her head and smiled, "I'm mainly here to see Young Master Qin today."

"Looking for me?"

Qin Yu looked at Jiang Ci suspiciously, "What do you want from me?"

Jiang Ci pursed her lips slightly. "Would it be convenient for us to talk in private for a moment?"

"Alright! Let's sit down and talk in the pavilion in the courtyard!"

Qin Yu readily agreed.

He was genuinely curious about what Jiang Ci wanted from him.

Surely she's not trying to seduce me, is she?

Led by Qin Yu, the two sat down in the pavilion in the courtyard.

"I know that Young Master Qin is a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush with you."

As soon as the two sat down, Jiang Ci got straight to the point, "There must be a lot of changes coming to the salt merchants in the imperial court, right?"

Qin Yu chuckled, "I haven't even set off yet, how would I know!"

Could she be eyeing the position of a salt merchant?

This woman has a really keen sense of smell!

"Do you even believe what you're saying, Young Master Qin?"

Jiang Ci smiled sweetly, then leaned slightly closer to Qin Yu, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze fixed intently on him. "Young Master Qin, do you think my Jiang family has any hope of becoming salt merchants?"

That's exactly why I came!

She's really quick!

She sensed a business opportunity and came knocking on her door this very morning, even though the imperial court had just finalized the matter!

Is she trying to get me to give her special treatment?

"I'm only in charge of regulating the salt administration; I can't handle anything else!"

Qin Yu smiled and said, "If you're really interested, you can go and talk to the Prince of Fengyi. He needs to open up the salt route in Min County right now, so he should be interested in talking to you!"

Jiang Ci smiled and said, "To be honest, Young Master Qin, I did think about it, but then I gave up the idea."

Why?

Qin Yu asked with great interest.

Could it be that she thinks Yu Jing isn't as handsome as herself?

Or perhaps, you feel closer to her than to Yu Jing?

Jiang Ci explained, "Although our Jiang family's porcelain business is doing reasonably well, we haven't ventured into the Min area! In recent years, our porcelain has mainly been sold to the Liangjiang region via the Grand Canal, where we have a greater advantage..."

The cost of transporting porcelain by land is simply too high.

Most of the porcelain from the Jiang family was transported by water.

The Grand Canal, connecting Fengzhou and Fangzhou, provided them with the best waterway.

Nearly 70% of the porcelain produced by the Jiang family was sold to the Liangjiang region via the Grand Canal.

The Jiang family still has some connections in the Liangjiang region. Most importantly, the Jiang family owns its own merchant ships and has relatively mature freight channels.

For the Jiang family, becoming salt merchants in the Liangjiang region was definitely better than becoming salt merchants in Min, and they could also gain more profits.

After listening to Jiang Ci's words, Qin Yu lowered his head and began to ponder.

This crackdown on salt affairs will definitely bring about significant changes for salt merchants.

When someone goes down, someone else comes up.

Moreover, the salt route in Mindi could not be opened up in a short time.

In the short term, the imperial court will certainly still need to rely on the salt from Hai and Yuan prefectures.

The new salt merchants not only needed financial resources but also transportation capacity!

The Jiang family clearly meets both of these requirements!

So, the Jiang family does have some advantages!

After a moment, Qin Yu raised his head and smiled, "I haven't set off to reorganize the salt affairs yet, so I can't give you any answer! However, judging from what you've said, the Jiang family still seems to have a chance to become new salt merchants!"

Jiang Ci was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, "Thank you so much, Young Master Qin!"

"Don't!"

Qin Yu stopped Jiang Ci, saying, "I'm just speaking from my personal feeling that you have a chance! Not just the Jiang family, but any family with your wealth and resources has a chance! The final decision rests with the Ministry of Revenue!"

"I see!"

Jiang Ci gave a knowing smile...