The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

At the end of April, Chen Huai'an had just finalized the detailed systems and procedures for salt production, government approval, and commercial sales with the people of the Ministry of Rites, and had just handed over the memorial when an unexpected message came.

"My lord, the officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice have tracked down the real culprits who attacked you, and His Majesty has ordered their arrest."

Chang Gui happily told Chen Huai'an the news.

Chen Huai'an nodded slightly: "The Cui family acted quickly, sending their sincerity so soon."

"Speak, who are you?"

Chang Gui was taken aback: "Minister, do you mean... this person who was captured was deliberately released by the Cui family?"

"Otherwise what?" Chen Huai'an sat quietly, his voice devoid of emotion. "They want to get the profits from refined salt from me? It's not that easy."

"If you don't even have this much sincerity, don't even think about it!"

Chang Gui was speechless for a moment.

He originally thought that the sincerity Chen Huai'an and the others had mentioned a few days ago was probably about money or something, at most involving some political compromises, or tacit approval of Chen Huai'an's papermaking and printing business.

I didn't expect I was so naive.

The Cui family actually revealed the real culprit, giving Chen Huai'an some revenge.

No wonder Chen Huai'an said he couldn't hold back that day; he had already guessed this.

Chang Gui remained silent and said, "Minister, why do I feel out of place with you? I'm already considered a high-ranking official."

"According to the news, the mastermind behind this is a direct descendant of the eldest branch of the Cui family. Have they just given up like that?"

Speaking of this, Chen Huai'an glanced at him a few more times: "I have to say, you came from a poor family and have reached your current position. You must have had some luck."

"You must understand that in this world, only self-interest reigns supreme."

"So what if he's a direct descendant? Our family has been passed down for so many years, we don't even know how many direct descendants there are. Someone who would do something so stupid, sending people to Chang'an to kill me, such a person is just dead."

"What's the big deal?"

"If they're not dead, why keep them alive for the New Year?"

Chang Gui remained silent.

That makes so much sense; he couldn't even utter a single word in rebuttal.

At this moment, he finally understood just how terrifying the struggles between these court factions and various interest groups truly were.

They didn't kill with knives, but with words, using the coldest of interests to achieve their exchange.

Chang Gui had no doubt that the fact that they dared to send people to kill Chen Huai'an, and that they were all death squad members, meant that if Chen Huai'an hadn't offered up the lucrative prize of fine salt, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice would most likely never have been able to find the real culprit.

The case was solved in just a few days.

It's really hard to believe.

Chen Huai'an put down the documents in his hand, looked up and asked, "By the way, have you found out why he killed me? They've tolerated the refined salt for so long, why did some idiot suddenly appear and attack me at this time?"

This was a question he had never been able to figure out. He always believed that even if the aristocratic families couldn't sit still, they should start by targeting the craftsmen and those who produced fine salt.

Kidnapping, coercion, and bribery are all better than killing him.

Chang Gui said silently, "Minister, you misunderstand. The person who sent someone to kill you was Cui Baiqing, who is also Cui Xuan's cousin. He didn't attack you because of the fine salt."

"Previously, you were in charge of operations in Chang'an City and you cheated many grain merchants, one of whom was named Ma Yan. Behind him was Cui Baiqing."

Chen Huai'an: "..."

"Just because of a little bit of food?" Chen Huai'an was full of questions.

Chang Gui cupped his hands and said, "At least that's the relationship the Dali Temple found out. We'll probably have to wait until they're brought back for questioning to get the details."

"Forget it." Chen Huai'an found it boring. "If we interrogate her, the result will most likely be the same."

"Whether it is or not, he's definitely going to die, and his wife, children, and elderly parents probably won't survive either."

"So, he's the one spreading the rumors too?"

Chang Gui shook his head: "This humble official does not know."

"Hmm, you go down..." Chen Huai'an picked up the document, just about to continue reading, when Ouyang Shu knocked on the door and came in.

"Minister," Ouyang Shu said, bowing.

"What is it?"

"A message has come from the palace that someone in Liangzhou has accused Prince Chang Le, Li Youliang, of secretly raising assassins and communicating with the Turks," Ouyang Shu reported.

Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an raised his head and frowned slightly.

"Prince Li Youliang of Chang Le?"

"Yes."

Chen Huai'an remained silent.

He remembered this person; in the original history, someone had accused him of secretly raising assassins and communicating with the Turks.

But he remembered that this should have happened much earlier; Li Youliang should have been executed in early April.

Why are they only being reported now?

In other words, Li Youliang is still alive?

Chen Huai'an thought about it and decided not to bother with it anymore.

Anyway, Li Youliang had nothing to do with him, so let him die.

I've been here for so long, and the butterfly effect has had a huge impact. Li Youliang is just one person; he's not important.

Moreover, Li Youliang was a member of the imperial clan, and Chen Huai'an didn't want to get involved: "Let's ignore Li Youliang and focus on our own business."

Seeing that Chen Huai'an didn't seem to take it too seriously, Ouyang Shu hurriedly reminded him, "Minister, Liangzhou is located in the Hexi region."

"In the Hexi region, there has been a tradition of exchanging salt for grain and horses since the Wei and Jin dynasties, and the private salt trade was extremely large."

"Li Youliang's trade with the Turks likely included salt among the supplies, and Liangzhou's accounts have been in disarray over the years, with military pay, trade, and salt profits all collected and paid for independently."

"We can use this case to take back the financial power of the border towns to the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Works can also reclaim the salt lakes in Hexi and build state-run warehouses."

"..."

Chen Huai'an put down the documents completely and became serious: "You just said that there is a tradition of exchanging salt for grain and horses in Hexi. Li Youliang's communication with the Turks may have involved salt?"

"Yes, Minister." Ouyang Shu nodded hastily. "The Turks were originally nomadic tribes. They relied on trading with other countries or plundering for supplies such as grain and salt."

"Salt from the border regions has always been extremely profitable."

"Minister, should we get involved in this matter? If we don't take over the Hexi Salt Lake, it might end up benefiting someone else."

Chang Gui also spoke up, saying, "Minister, I believe we should intervene. Liangzhou is a border region; if we can open up trade routes, wouldn't our salt be able to be sold in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I understand. We'll talk about this later. You all go back first; I have something to do."

Ouyang Shu and Chang Gui looked at each other in bewilderment.

Chang Gui couldn't help but ask, "Minister, where are you going?"

Chen Huai'an casually said, "Let's go find a few interesting little guys."

"......"