Come on, Your Highness

He Xichao was not surprised that Emperor Tiangan would do this.

No matter how much he promises, he shows his loyalty, and the emperor is suspicious, he will not boldly use it with confidence.

He is bound to put in more efforts and make greater contributions before he can be accepted slowly.

"Xi Chao, I'm sorry." Xiao Hong said apologetically.

He Xichao asked: "Mr. Xie Ge is here today?"

"Now, thanks to Mr. Ge, Father and Emperor agreed to reward each other after the successful implementation of the border trade." Xiao Hong recalled, and couldn't help but praise, "Mr. Xie Ge is indeed your teacher, and this proposal is exactly what we want. "

He Xichao nodded: "I'm sorry for the teacher. I didn't show my filial piety, but I just let him worry about it."

Xiao Hong was taken aback when he heard the words, "Does Mr. Xie Ge know that we..."

"Well, I couldn't help it, I confessed."

Xiao Hong: "..." No wonder yesterday he always felt a murderous aura, which made his whole body hairy. He murmured, "Master Ge must really want to kill me, right?"

"To each other." Your father is the same, He Xi said heartily.

"It's too difficult for the two of us, it's really too difficult!" Xiao Hong suddenly wanted to cry without tears, and dared to ask the sky while looking at the ceiling.

He Xichao didn't pay attention to his strange appearance, and while sorting out the materials in his hand, he said: "But since the emperor has agreed, it shows that he is not hard-hearted. Now we just need to do a good job in the border trade and increase the bargaining chip."

Xie Ge didn't dare to take action even though he thought about it, but the emperor was different, he was picking his fault.

Xiao Hong leaned over and took a look at the densely packed digital form. At the same time, he couldn't help shivering and shrank his head back in awe: "Xi Chao, tea merchants, silk merchants, porcelain merchants...all of them have arrived early. In the capital city, we will gather together to discuss from time to time these days, and you don’t need to guess to know how to deal with the imperial court, and how to deal with your [-]% tariff!"

"I knew!"

"These merchants are actually nothing to be afraid of, but my younger brothers, not only Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi, but also various forces, there are too many people like He Mingrui who help jump up and down! These merchants are controlled by them for one purpose, even if they don't If the border trade is ruined, the tariffs must also be lowered, the two parties have the same purpose, and they just happen to be working together!"

He Xichao raised his head, turned his face sideways, looked at him quietly with his eyes, and asked, "And then?"

"But they made such a big noise, and I didn't see any reaction from you. Xi Chao, I'm a little bit uncertain."

Xiao Hong looked worried, and said cautiously: "Yesterday, when my father talked about this matter, I boasted that this is not a difficult problem for you at all, and it can be solved easily, including the border army's salary, because there is no need for my father. Don't worry, is the cowhide blown too much?" He touched his chin while talking, "I think back now, the way Xie Ge always looked at me was a bit scary."

"It can be solved easily? You think highly of me too much." He Xi gave him a white look, and pointed to the stacks of statistical data on his desk, which were sorted out one after another over the years. It took several years to prepare for the border trade. How easy is it?

Xiao Hong scratched his head: "After I came back yesterday, I thought about it and was a little worried. These merchants all have masters behind them, even if we limit the time, limit the export list, and even limit market access, creating a tense atmosphere... But Such a large sum of money, one million taels, for the sake of stability, few people would dare to come, whoever is the first will be the target of public criticism and offend people?" Xiao Hong felt that they had taken it for granted at the beginning.

He Xichao smiled lightly, and affirmed: "You are quite right."

"No way? Is that so?" Xiao Hong was suddenly flustered. He himself had nothing to do, but if He Xichao was accused of being unfavorable in handling affairs, the end would not be good. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but anxiously said, "Then why are you still laughing so hard?" Come out? It’s only a few days away from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry over there, I’m really worried about you!”

He Xichao put away his smile, and asked back: "However, what can we do now?"

Xiao Hong sighed: "What else can I do? Merchants are in a low position, so don't they just rely on people behind their backs? They can overwhelm people with power, why can't I?" At this point, he straightened his chest and looked contemptuous in his eyes. , the momentum is like a rainbow, "In terms of status, I don't lose to anyone. I am a dignified prince, and I usually disdain to do this, but if I really want to recruit them, will they dare to surrender obediently? They have to do what they are asked to do, and there is no discussion! Otherwise, the behind-the-scenes Don't even try to save them, hum!"

Threats and temptations, he will too!

It is so mighty and domineering!

He Xichao was immediately delighted, he raised his hand and poked Xiao Hong's chest and said, "You're such an idiot, if the matter is that simple, why should I bother to negotiate with them, why don't I just ask you to give an order?"

Xiao Hong grabbed the finger on his chest and held it in the palm of his hand: "But even being impeached by the courtiers is better than ending up without a problem. Is it better for you to be unfavorable? I'm really not afraid of debating. If you have the ability, everyone will stop together!"

"It's a mess, you can't do things like this, don't be angry." He Xichao laughed, he pulled out his finger, patted his arm instead, and then went around to the bookshelf behind him, looking for information.

With guilt on his face, Xiao Hong followed behind him and said, "I just feel bad, Xi Chao, I don't seem to be able to help you. Sometimes you should use me. I can do whatever you want. The status of prince cannot be let It's idle!"

He Xichao smiled, he found a box, opened it, there was a stack of envelopes inside, flipped through it, and said: "The Prince's Mansion is my backing, otherwise, who would care about a mere fourth-rank Honglu Siqing? You were not allowed to act because this method was brutal and too low-class. Your younger brothers can do it, and other forces can also do it, because they are destined to be courtiers in the future, and they can have narrow selfishness. But as the prince, you can't, you can't be so willful , at least try to be as impartial as possible in major matters.”

"Although I am the center of the vortex in this matter, believe me, the emperor's eyes are on you." He Xichao said this, turned around, looked at Xiao Hong, with a rare seriousness on his face, "I The harder you go, the more you will be tested."

Xiao Hong was stunned when he heard this.

Emperor Tiangan said he was worried, probably not because he was worried about He Xichao taking power, but because he was worried about him.

His eldest son's heart is still unstable, and emotion is the most deadly.

If he really used the Prince's Mansion to oppress others for He Xichao's sake, regardless of whether he did the same thing as Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi, whether the result was good or not, He Xichao would still not end well in the end.

Xiao Hong clenched his fists, with unwillingness in his eyes, and in the end he was so helpless, and asked the same words: "Then what should we do, Xi Chao?"

He Xichao didn't answer, he took out an envelope, took out a stack of papers from inside, and handed it to Xiao Hong: "Take a look."

Xiao Hong took it and quickly flipped through two pages, with a strange face: "Salt merchant?"

"Well, if you take a closer look, do you see anything?"

So Xiao Hong looked at it carefully again. During his reading, He Xichao said: "Salt and iron are controlled by the imperial court, and private sales are prohibited, but after all, salt is different from iron. Salt, no matter how poor a person is or where he is, can be used every day. The sun is eaten. It is only sold by the imperial court, which is too cumbersome and has complicated personnel, so it gave birth to Yanyin and salt merchants. The cost of salt is low and it is a monopoly. All salt merchants are very rich and have a lot of money. Said Come on, the most profitable industry is the salt merchant."

Xiao Hong said: "Salt merchants are also smuggling."

He Xichao nodded: "Of course, salt is easy to store and easy to transport, which is more convenient than porcelain and tea. Especially in the Western Regions where salt mines are scarce, the price of smuggling can increase several times in an instant, making it even more profitable." He looked at Xiao Hong Having already put away the letter, I couldn't help asking: "After reading it, did you get the point?"

Xiao Hong frowned: "The nest is changed every three years, and it expires this month this year, and it has been sold again a few days ago."

He Xichao gave him an appreciative look: "That's right."

Yanyin is a sales license issued by the imperial court, while Yinwo is a certificate for salt merchants to go to the salt field to buy salt.

It is easy to attract salt, but it is difficult to induce nests.

Every time the court changes, the salt merchants must fight vigorously, and there are very few nests. The salt merchants can't buy it even if they have money, relying on the layers of relationships.

"Who gave you this news?" Xiao Hong asked.

"My second nephew."

Xie Er?

By the way, Xie Er naturally knew that the nest was sent from the household department.

but……

"Xi Chao, what does border trade have to do with salt merchants?" Xiao Hong asked.

He Xichao said: "Aren't you worried that no one will make this crab-eating No. 1, how about letting the salt merchants do it?"

"Because of the nest?"

He Xichao nodded: "Tea, silk, porcelain...the various catalogs are not like salt, which must first be purchased from the imperial court for permission to operate, so if they are not willing, the imperial court will not be able to force them. But the salt merchants..."

He Xichao's expression darkened, and a slight sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "If they don't want to go to the border trade, and don't want to pay the [-]% tax, then it's fine, and someone who is willing to come will get the benefits of the court and do things for the court. Who can say that?" No word? After selling salt for three years, you can become a rich man, everyone knows that salt is a huge profit, and there are too many people who are jealous."

As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Hong, with a sharp look in his eyes, and he was determined to win: "Don't you want to use the status of the prince? Then go ahead, the salt merchants are already moving around in order to lure the nest, I let the second nephew temporarily Hold it down, but given his status, it won't last long. So please His Highness the Crown Prince to come out and hold the trap tightly. No one can get it from you. After a while, smart people will naturally come to me. "

In He Xichao's clear and plain words, the difficult situation that drove Xiao Hong crazy, even the emperor and elder Ge couldn't think of it, was solved so easily.

The confidence in his eyes, coupled with a slight smile on his lips, seemed to be in control of everything, like a bright star, Xiao Hong couldn't take his eyes off his eyes, and his heart was pounding.

Such a pity for the court, Xiao Hong asked himself how could he let go?

Absolutely impossible!

In fact, there is no requirement to sell salt for the imperial court. As long as the capital is strong and can pay enough nest price and quotation price, it is reasonable to get the nest and salt quotation.

Just for the convenience of the imperial court's control, the number of salt merchants is fixed, and naturally there are only a few of them.

Therefore, behind the salt merchants there are always court officials or honorable patrons, but no matter how hard the relationship is, it is not enough to put it in front of the prince Xiao Hong.

If you want to impeach the prince for using his power for personal gain, these salt merchants can ask which one of them has not sold private salt or done something that is not allowed by the court.

"Guke didn't say he wouldn't give the salt merchants a living. Why are you in a hurry? It's just that there are too many people begging for guidance, so I ordered people to take a closer look and pick out those merchants who are more honest and trustworthy, law-abiding, and follow the imperial government's orders. , is there something wrong?"

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince suddenly took charge of the Yanke, it's a bit unexpected!"

"So it's hard to be the crown prince. I don't care if I see it alone. I'm ashamed to be a prince. If I see it, I think it's too long. It's too difficult for the father and son?"

When Xiao Hong asked such a question, the courtiers immediately fell silent.

Under the gaze of Emperor Tiangan, the impeachment official swallowed hard, his forehead sweating profusely.

Xiao Hong flicked his sleeves and smiled.

Therefore, this lead nest should be pressed or must be pressed.

Gradually, some people came to realize what the prince said, obeying the law and obeying the government's decree.

And the much-anticipated border trade discussion meeting is coming.