Joy of Life: I'm really not a saint

The children's jaws were collectively dislocated and they were unable to recover for a long time.

Everything that happened today is very new to them! Perhaps, for a long time in the future or even forever, they will never forget what happened today!

Chapter 193 Cement and Gunpowder.

Baijia Academy started teaching on the second day. Except for some public classes and large classes that required Li An to attend, the rest were arranged by the disciples.

As for the Sergeant Academy, in addition to construction issues, there is also controversy over the demand for students.

It is undoubtedly unrealistic to follow Li Ang's idea, which does not conform to the situation in Northern Qi.

Before, Uesugi Tora was the only one in power. Now, in addition to the addition of a navy, more powerful people want to make efforts in this. They are not fools. You, Li An, can call a deer a horse, can you threaten others in all aspects?

At least in this regard, Ang Lee has no reason to do so.

After the turmoil got a little serious, Li An wrote to His Majesty to announce that he would no longer serve as the chief priest and teacher of the military academy. Then all the voices disappeared almost overnight.

Ang Lee will not force them. This is his own knowledge and heritage, so he can naturally give it to whoever he wants.

By the end of March, only after some smooth-talking officials at the middle and lower levels swallowed their pride and went to Wanshizhai in person to "discuss" with Li Ang, their sons and nephews finally obtained the qualification for admission.

As for the top officials and gentry, they did not receive such treatment.

Your Majesty is the honorary principal of this military academy, and Li An is the chief academic officer. It goes without saying that as long as one can graduate successfully, his future will be smooth and limitless.

Those high-ranking officials and nobles also knew this. But precisely because they knew this, they understood that His Majesty would not let the military power fall into their hands again.

Therefore, they did not dare to force it.

After the military academy was established, Li An focused his attention there.

Not only did he teach the classes himself, he would also sometimes sit in on his students' classes and take notes from time to time.

The content of the class is the "Art of War" adapted by Ang Lee, which is called "Li's Art of War" here.

In addition to theoretical knowledge, the course also teaches Li An the skills and battle formations that he compiled from the Northern Qi imperial palace. I believe that after graduation, the students of the military academy will all be able to serve as special forces.

Now that Hong Kaijia was not around, Wang Shisanlang and Yan Xiaoyi had both been sent out by him, and he lamented more and more that he was short of manpower. Except for Yan Shendu who had to stay at the military academy, Li An was completely alone.

As Li An sighed, the military academy recruited a group of blacksmiths to teach students how to forge iron while training their arm strength. Li An saw these blacksmiths hammering the iron bars one by one. At this rate, it would take a long time for triangular spikes, lock buckles, flying claws, engineer shovels and other items to be created.

He took out his cell phone and found out some information about heat treatment and quenching of steel, steel smelting, new molds, etc. and passed them on to the blacksmith. As they thanked him profusely and vowed to find a wooden plaque to worship him, Li An asked Wang Shisanlang to arrange for the Jinyiwei to take good care of their families.

After dealing with all this, Li An returned to Wanshizhai.

"Master, the things that the officials and the wealthy merchants promised a few days ago have all been delivered to the mansion. I have also counted the value of the items and have exchanged them for silver according to your instructions."

Housekeeper Chen explained the situation during Li An's absence. "Miss Tong'er is still busy every day, but the income is very considerable. In the past month, the amount of silver deposited into the mansion has exceeded 670,000 taels."

"Including the gifts from officials and wealthy businessmen, how much is it in total?"

"More than 1.1 million taels."

"Except for the daily expenses in the mansion, move everything else to the study." Li An reminded, "Don't ask too many questions."

"Yes, sir."

Li An wanted to ask the housekeeper to leave, but he thought that since the military academy and the academy were on track, the matter of salt and iron should be put on the agenda. Long before, he had discussed with the Queen Mother and His Majesty to nationalize these two things, and obtained their consent, so now he had to start the process.

He took out a list and handed it to Butler Chen, saying, "Send a notice to the people listed here. Half a month later, no matter what method they use, whether they come in person or find a representative, they must show up. If anyone fails to show up on time, they will bear the consequences themselves."

"As for the location, let's choose Baisuisongju in the city."

Seeing the butler nod in agreement, Li An asked curiously, "How much do you know about the land outside the South City Gate?"

This piece of land was given by Zhan Doudou, and now his three disciples are planting new crops on it. However, Li An has not visited it yet, so he doesn't know much about it.

"In reply to the master, there are 718 households in that farm, with a total population of more than 3,000 people. Now they are all under the master's control. It's just the land tax."

He thought his master was asking about this.

Li An waved his hand to interrupt him and said, "I'm not asking about the land tax. Can these people be trusted?"

"Master, you are joking." Butler Chen bowed slightly and said, "Since this piece of land belongs to you, all the people on it belong to you. No matter whether you kill them, plunder them, or use them in any other way, I think they won't dare to complain."

"Besides, the master is kind-hearted. Everyone in Northern Qi knows this. They are the master's people. Not only will they never be bullied, but even if they fight with neighboring villages for water, they will always be successful. And the master doesn't ask them to pay taxes. They are already grateful, so how dare they do something to betray him?"

"If anyone dares to offend the master, I, Old Chen, will be the first to disagree!"

Butler Chen was somewhat pleased with himself. He was an old man who had been to Wanshizhai since Li An first arrived. He was proud of it. As the saying goes, a seventh-rank official is in front of the prime minister. Since he became the butler of Wanshizhai, the people who came and went to see him off were people he had never dared to look at before. Not to mention these, even His Majesty in the palace often sent people to the mansion to inquire about the whereabouts of the master.

Li An was somewhat speechless. This was how people were in this era. Although the people on his fiefdom had not signed any indentures with him, they were still considered his own people. If the other party betrayed him, Li An would not need to say much. There would be rules and regulations to punish them.

"Don't get excited, it's not a big deal."

Li An took out another piece of paper and instructed: "There is a casting diagram of a kiln on it. You should follow the steps written on it and find a suitable place on the farm to build it. After it is built, you can make the thing called 'cement' written on the back. The limestone, clay, iron ore, coal and other materials needed can be found nearby."

"Yes, sir. I'll do it right away."

"Wait a minute." Li An lowered his voice, "Find someone who has signed a contract with the mansion and have him make this thing for me."

After saying that, Li An placed a folded note on the table.

Butler Chen picked up the note and opened it to examine it, only to see that it was also filled with words like the previous one.

"What is this 'gunpowder'?" Butler Chen was a little confused.

"What gunpowder? Are you seeing things?"

"Yes! Yes! I was dazzled." Butler Chen saw Li An's face change and reacted immediately. He answered hurriedly with sweat on his head.

"Remember! There is no gunpowder!" Li An saw that Butler Chen had become a little arrogant recently. "Find a trustworthy family member and make it in secret. Not only can they not tell anyone else, they can't even tell their family members."

"As for their families."

"Old Chen understands!"

Chapter 194: Bidding Auction.

Time flies, and it is mid-to-late March in a blink of an eye.

Hundred-year-old pine house.

If you ask which restaurant in Shangjing City has the most elegant and quiet style, it is not the luxurious Yipinju or some other place, but Baisui Songju. Today, this place has welcomed many distinguished guests. How distinguished are these distinguished guests? Just by looking at their clothes and appearance, you can get some clues.

The shopkeeper of Baisui Songju was well-informed and was not surprised.

Because he had already been surprised.

After Li An explained his identity and took out the palace badge, the restaurant was reserved by Li An. The sharp-eyed people could see that Jinyiwei flashed around the restaurant from time to time. It was obvious that there was protection here today.

The large lobby inside was converted into an auction house, with a striking blackboard in the center reading: Tendering Auction!

The screen of the mobile phone on the table showed 10:03. At this time, the invited guests had already arrived one after another.

Li An was drinking tea from time to time. Hearing the noise downstairs, he called Chen Xiao over and said:

"What's going on? Who's making the noise?"

"Teacher, it's the Marquis of Changning and the old master of the Cheng family who have arrived together. Judging from their expressions, it seems that they have some unpleasant disputes and are not getting along well."

Li An knew what kind of person Changning Hou was, but he didn't seem to know much about the Cheng family. It should be considered a relatively low-key old clan.

"Please take a seat on the second floor and take a rest. In short, please don't make any noise. You can decide the details."

"Yes, teacher." After saying that, Chen Xiao went downstairs.

When the time came to 10:30, Li Ang stood up, walked to the railing on the third floor, jumped down, and landed on the high platform in the lobby on the first floor.

"I'm sure you all know me, so I won't introduce myself to you all. First of all, thank you all for coming as promised to participate in this bidding auction. I was originally planning to arrange some singing and dancing to open the event to liven up the fun, but thinking that you all are busy people, we won't do anything fancy."

"Master Imperial Master, I wonder what this bidding auction is about?"

Some people were puzzled and raised questions. Some were even impatient. If they hadn't been forced by Li An's post and some rumors in the court, it would have been extremely difficult to gather such powerful people together. You know, in the place where their power is, they are the local emperors.

"The words in the bidding refer to salt and iron. I will not hide it from you now. The court has decided to nationalize all matters related to salt and iron! In other words, the merchants who engage in private sales of salt and iron will no longer exist in the future!"

"How can this be?"

"Could it be that all the iron ore from my own land and mountains has also gone into the national treasury?"

"That's right! My family has made a living by selling salt for generations. If the imperial court takes it away with just one word, how are we going to survive in the future?"

The crowd was in a mess, buzzing like flies, and it was so noisy that it gave people a headache.

The faces of several people sitting on the second floor also changed drastically. They all came to their senses and wondered why the other families had also arrived at the scene. It turned out that Li An's targets were all forces and families related to the salt and iron industry. When Cheng Guogong heard this, his face turned green. He coughed twice, and the hall suddenly became quiet. He looked at Li An fiercely and asked, "Is it possible to make concessions?"

"The land of Da Qi belongs to your Majesty. All land under heaven belongs to the king. Whether it is cultivated land or non-cultivated land, it should belong to the royal family. However, in order for farmers to make a living, the cultivated land has been distributed and allowed to be bought and sold. This is the virtue of your Majesty! But when did these non-cultivated lands become your private property?"

Li An's words were very clear. It was just that the royal family could not manage it before. Now they have freed up their hands and will let bygones be bygones. From now on, you will have no right to touch it.

"Of course, Your Majesty also knows what you all do for a living, so this is considered to be a glimmer of hope."

"Now that the court has opened a new Salt and Iron Bureau, it will redefine whether land is arable land or non-arable land. If any of you have land that is defined as non-arable land, the court will buy it back at the price of high-quality land, and you won't suffer a loss!"

Isn’t this a disadvantage?

I’m almost losing money to my grandma!

To put it nicely, it's called buying back, but to put it bluntly, it's called robbery!

Even if we calculate based on top-quality land, how much would the land containing resources be worth?

Their respective families and forces have been rich for generations thanks to these resources. As the saying goes, one cannot blame the masses. All of these have long been considered private property by each of them. How can they be taken back rashly? They are not without a fluke mentality.

"What Salt and Iron Bureau? I've never heard of it!"

Someone snorted coldly, not really caring about Li Ang.

"You may not have heard it because your ears are not very good!" Li An sneered, and he started with you! He waved his hand, and Chen Xiao stepped out of the crowd and said, "Xin Yuan, the head of the Xin family in Donghai County, has eight salt wells and several mines rich in iron ore. Three generations have been engaged in private salt trafficking, and most of the iron ore produced by the family is sold to Xihu."

"Is your family's wealth enough for you to spend in ten lifetimes?" Li An's face was so cold that it hurt people. Seeing Xin Yuan's arrogant boasting just now turned into a snow-white face, he continued: "With your wealth accumulated to this extent, you should also know what money you can make and what you can't make. I'm afraid you have the courage to make money but not live to spend it!"

Xin Yuan had already collapsed to the ground. When did this Salt and Iron Bureau start investigating him?

He doesn't know.

Of course, the newly established Salt and Iron Bureau could not investigate this clearly. All this information was the result of the Black Ice Platform.

The Black Ice Platform is used to monitor outside the capital, including enemy countries. Now it is led by Sean, and it was originally newly built, but Sean had tentacles all over Qi before the incident, and he also had many old subordinates. This is why Ku He was worried that Sean would be able to make a comeback soon after returning to the court, so he decided to send his disciples to kill Sean.

Your Majesty is still young. How can the relationship last long if the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong?

But now with Li An, everything is different. That's why Zhan Doudou is confident in using Sean.

"Master, please forgive me. I am willing to give you half of my family's wealth. No, no, all of it. I only ask you to let me go!"

Xin Yuan fell to his knees on the ground, prostrating himself, and no one could see his resentful face.

First lose money to avoid disaster, then take revenge. If that doesn't work, then turn to Nanqing.

There was a flash of knife light, and a Jinyiwei returned to Li An's back with his sharp blade sheathed.

"Clean it up!"

Everyone was shocked and almost jumped up from their chairs. They looked up at the stage and found that Li An was still smiling and even cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has said that we will not hold you accountable for the past. Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Whether you are willing or not, everyone should come together when singing praises. Not only should you come together, but you should also be respectful. This is the rule!

"Your Majesty is wise! But I don't think so!"

Li An had a ruthless look on his face. He looked at the crowd with murderous intent in his eyes: "In my opinion, if everyone present is killed, no one will be wronged! But I don't want to cut myself off from the court, so today I will only kill the main culprit, and wait and see what happens to the rest."

Then, Chen Xiao read out some names and the families behind them. These people were all people who deserved to die, and the team that arrested and confiscated their families had already set out ten days ago.

And the people present don't have to think about conveying the message.

As early as when they entered the capital, they were already receiving "care" from many Jinyiwei.

Chapter 195: Auction of Salt Vouchers.

"Does the Imperial Master really want to be so ruthless?" asked Master Cheng in a deep voice.

Even the trembling Marquis Changning had a bitter look on his face. He wanted to ask, but he didn't dare.

"What? You want to rebel?"

Li An became excited and asked impatiently.

Looking at Li An's expectant face, Master Cheng still couldn't utter the threatening words. He represented the clan, and many people present followed his lead, but that didn't mean he could risk his life to get ahead.