A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

"Seventy thousand shi of salt? How could that be?"

In the dead of night, on his bed, Li Rui couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Liu Fuji hoarded a staggering 70,000 shi of sea salt!

This number is terrifying!

To know.

Even in peaceful years, the annual salt production in Cangzhou is only 70,000 to 90,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

With the constant warfare, the annual salt production in Cangzhou is probably less than 60,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

Liu Fuji had only been in Cangzhou for less than half a year, yet she had already stockpiled a full 70,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)!

How could Li Rui not be shocked?

"It's not all from the high-yield salt production method, is it?"

Liu Fuji smiled, her long legs wrapped tightly around Li Rui under the covers, and said smugly.

"Of course not. Although my husband's high-yield salt refining method is impressive, it didn't last long and only produced more than 20,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

The remaining 40,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) were all painstakingly collected by Buddha Princess, bit by bit.

Li Rui gently stroked Fo Ji's beautiful back, the smooth and exquisite feel making him reluctant to let go.

"Holding up so much salt in advance, did you guess that the Khitans would break through the six prefectures of Shandong? And that all six prefectures would be short of salt?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Fuji became even more smug!

Her bright blue eyes were filled with shrewd calculation and a subtle urge to praise her.

"Of course! The Heng Hai Army in Cangzhou is rotten and incompetent; it's the worst Jin army I've ever seen."

As long as the Khitans come, I am certain that the Heng Hai Army will be powerless to resist, and once the Heng Hai Army falls, the six prefectures of Shandong will have no more protection.

The Khitans lacked salt, so when they plundered, they would inevitably target salt merchants. Therefore, after the Khitans withdrew, the six prefectures of Shandong would certainly face a salt shortage!

Li Rui clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"So you secretly stockpiled salt as soon as you arrived in Cangzhou?"

Liu Fuji gave a soft snort, hooked her arm around the back of Li Rui's neck with one hand, and pulled him forward!

She pressed her face against his, speaking coquettishly at close range.

"So, since Lady Buddha has earned so much money for her husband, how should he reward her?"

Li Rui stared at the stunningly beautiful woman in his arms, his eyes filled with amazement.

There's nothing more to say!

Fight again!

……

The next day at noon.

Li Rui was still full of energy, and didn't look like he hadn't slept all night.

All I can say is, youth is wonderful.

When Zhang Yaozu returned from Cangzhou, he also brought his parents, brothers, and sisters to Boling County.

Although Cangzhou was his hometown, in these chaotic times, Zhang Yaozu knew very well where the safest place was.

Li Rui ordered that Zhang Yaozu's family be settled in Boling County and rewarded them with a large amount of silk, cloth, money, and grain.

Moreover, Zhang Yaozu's brothers could join the army directly if they wanted to, or find a job as a yamen runner in the county government if they didn't want to.

It can be said that everything was arranged very clearly.

Zhang Yaozu wasn't particularly agitated by the way his family was treated.

Because he knew he was Li Rui's confidant, and as long as he worked hard and devoted himself to serving Li Rui, his treatment would definitely not be bad.

"My lord!"

Upon seeing Li Rui arrive, Zhang Yaozu, who had been waiting in the hall, immediately knelt down!

Li Rui helped him up, looked him up and down, and smiled.

"How come you've gotten so tanned after only a short time?"

Zhang Yaozu chuckled.

"Cangzhou is located by the sea, and the sun is very strong. Running the salt fields requires constant monitoring, so I got tanned."

Actually there is another reason.

Besides him, there was no one else who could take care of the salt fields.

Liu Duobao was responsible for contacting local gentry and smoothing things over.

We can't expect Liu Fuji to spend the whole day on the beach under the scorching sun, can we?

Over the next few months, Liu Fuji will go from a white pearl to a black pearl.

Li Rui gestured for Zhang Yaozu to sit down, and after discussing some trivial matters, he...

With a clap of his hands, the servants at the door brought over an official seal and a set of military officer's uniform.

Zhang Yaozu stared in disbelief.

He stared at the indigo-green military officer's uniform, his gaze gradually becoming vacant.

Am I going to become an official?

Zhang Yaozu couldn't help but stand up from his chair, his face showing a mixture of awkwardness and excitement.

"My lord, this..."

Li Rui picked up the official seal and placed it in Zhang Yaozu's palm.

"It should have been given to you a long time ago, take it."

Zhang Yaozu didn't even have time to see what was written under the official seal before he was about to kneel down on the spot!

Li Rui supported himself with one hand, shook his head and laughed.

"I don't have those rules here. I reward those who make contributions and punish those who make mistakes. You have made great contributions on your trip to Cangzhou, so you deserve to be rewarded."

Besides, this position was originally reserved for you. Do your job well and don't let me down.

Zhang Yaozu's body trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"I am willing to die for my lord!"

Li Rui patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, go home and rest for a few days. I have an important task for you to do."

Zhang Yaozu nodded emphatically, then left, holding the official robe in his hands.

It wasn't until he stepped outside that he remembered the words on the official seal.

He was illiterate before, but after learning from Li Rui for a few months, he could barely recognize some characters.

After looking at it for a long time, Zhang Yaozu stammered as he read it aloud.

"Horse...horse stance, horse stance commander?"

Zhang Yaozu was stunned for a moment.

"What kind of official position is this? I've never heard of it before?"

Just as he was feeling lost, he saw Zhao Pu approaching, and he quickly stopped him and asked.

"County Magistrate Zhao, take a look at this. It was bestowed upon me by the lord. What kind of official position is it? What are its duties?"

Zhao Pu took a look and immediately laughed.

"Commander of the Cavalry, not bad! The lord trusts you so much, you must not let him down."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaozu was even more bewildered!

Judging from this, this official seems to be very powerful.

But why haven't I heard of it?

Seeing this, Zhao Pu explained with a smile.

"The Du Yuhou is the military judge, in charge of military discipline, inspection, catching thieves, and supervising all generals!"

Although they did not command troops, they held a very high position and could impeach military officers. This position was usually held by a trusted confidant of the commander-in-chief.

Zhang Yaozu stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded at the official seal.

He never expected this.

The lord would actually give him such an important official position!

No wonder I'd never heard of it before!

How could an ordinary soldier know the specific ranks of high-ranking officers?

Zhang Yaozu swallowed hard, quickly snatched the official seal back, and rubbed it repeatedly in his palm.

Zhao Pu chuckled and casually offered a suggestion.

"Zhang Duyuhou, although you have obtained this official position, you must not abuse your power."

In the current army, military law and discipline are always under the personal control of the lord.

This official position is given to you in the intention of making good use of you, but the specific affairs still need to be arranged personally by the lord. Do you understand?

Zhang Yaozu immediately nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll do whatever you tell me to do, my lord!"

Zhao Pu nodded with satisfaction, bid farewell to Zhang Yaozu, and went inside to meet Li Rui.

He already guessed what Li Rui had called him over to discuss.

really.

Li Rui stared at a map of Hebei for a long time before speaking.

"Zeping, do you think it's feasible to sell salt in Hebei?"

Zhao Pu pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"It won't work. Although Hebei is plagued by war every year, the Chengde Army and the Anguo Army are both under the command of the imperial court."

Therefore, Hebei still relies mainly on government-supplied salt, and the salt market is controlled by the imperial court. We probably can't compete with that.”

Speaking of it.

Zhao Pu immediately added his own suggestion.

"My lord, if we want to trade salt, the six prefectures of Shandong would be a good opportunity."

In addition, we could try Hedong, where the salt market is not controlled by the imperial court, and perhaps we can reach a cooperation agreement with Liu Zhiyuan.

Li Rui waved his hand and said...

"Hedong won't work. Liu Zhiyuan has already formed a complete chain of interests. If we rush in rashly, we'll offend the local tyrants and won't be able to do business."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pu was immediately in a dilemma.

Is there really no other place besides the six prefectures of Shandong where smuggled salt can be sold?

Just then.

Li Rui slowly turned around and threw out an explosive suggestion.

"Do you think it's feasible to trade salt with the Khitan?"