after being kidnapped by the general

But the leg of lamb hadn't been roasted yet, and Chu Hechao sent another word.

The soldier said sternly: "The general said that your military achievements have been reported to the court as early as a month ago. Just like your request, the general also asked the emperor to reward your military achievements to your father."

Hearing this sentence, Yuan Li became so angry that he couldn't laugh or cry, and he couldn't get angry anymore.

Make people angry first, and then sell well before they are completely angry.Yuan Li has to say that Chu Hechao is really good at grasping the degree of angering people but not offending others.

Yuan Li was too lazy to give Chu Hechao the roasted leg of lamb, so he directly divided the portion with his subordinates and cooked meat himself.

A few days later, Chu Hechao gave Yuanli 500 people to escort Yuanli and the wounded soldiers all the way back to Ji County.

On the way, Yuanli and Liu Jixin talked about the livestock farm.

Liu Jixin said: "My lord, if you want to raise livestock, cattle, sheep and horses are the most suitable for raising in Youzhou. There are many grasslands in Youzhou, so you can send people to move cattle, sheep and horses to the grasslands for grazing. But pork is expensive and smelly, and it is difficult to raise it." They're such a waste."

Yuan Li pondered for a while, and said, "You are right."

In Ruyang, cattle and sheep are more expensive than pigs, but he almost forgot that this is not the case in Youzhou.Because there are grasslands in Youzhou, grazing cattle, sheep and horses is the cheapest way here.

That being said, can the lard used to make soap be changed to other animal oils?

After thinking about it, Yuanli shook his head in his heart again.

Other animal oils can be added, but lard cannot be discarded either.

Among the rewards issued to him by the system are agricultural and animal books such as "Postpartum Care of Sows", which contain methods to increase pork production.Once the pigs are fat and strong, the production of pigs will increase, and the price of meat will drop.From ancient times to the present, people's demand for pork is far greater than the sum of other livestock such as cattle and sheep.Cattle and sheep cannot become something that every household has, but pigs can.

Pigs eat very complicated things, and if they don't pursue taste, it is actually not difficult to raise.After all, even the word "jia" contains "pig", from which we can know the meaning of pigs to the people.Now it is still at the level of "the princes eat cattle, the princes eat sheep, the doctors eat pigs, the scholars eat fish, and the common people eat vegetables". Not to mention that if you kill them, you will be punished, and the people are reluctant to kill cattle.If you want to improve the lives of the people and make the soldiers more powerful, you must not give up on raising pork.

But Yuanli didn't say these words to Liu Jixin for the time being.After returning to Ji County, Yuan Li first went to see the progress of the captives' work.

Zhao Ying and Wang Er were responsible for supervising the work of the prisoners.They have not been lazy for a day, Yuanli has been away for a month, and the captives have built a soap shop and a livestock farm under their supervision.In addition to these two places, part of the barren land has also been reclaimed.

Yuanli rewarded them and asked them to build rows of houses allocated to the wounded soldiers, which should be used as staff dormitories.

After hearing Yuanli's plan, even the normal soldiers who escorted the wounded soldiers back began to envy them.The wounded soldiers smiled happily, and the wounded soldiers who could still work felt full of strength, so they joined the captives and worked together with them, wanting to speed up the construction of their homes.

There were also some wounded soldiers who secretly lowered their heads and wiped their tears, and followed them to look at the place where they were going to live in the future, reluctant to leave one by one.

After finishing these things, Yuanli returned to Chu Palace.

"My lord, after you left, the Chu Palace received many letters wishing to visit you."

Guo Lin took a stack of envelopes and handed them to Yuan Li, "More than half of them are merchants."

After hearing Liu Jixin and Wu Kai's address to Yuanli, Guo Lin and the others immediately changed their words.

Yuan Li took the letter and read it again, and raised his eyebrows when he saw a few of the names, "The Zhang family in Youzhou, the Liu family in Yanzhou, and the Yu family in Yizhou?"

These are all well-known big merchants in the Youyanyi Three States.

Yuan Li was very interested, "When did they send the request letter?"

"A few days after you went to Shanggu County, the letter was delivered."

Yuan Li was thoughtful: "It's so early. Are they still in Ji County?"

Guo Lin nodded, "This subordinate has never seen them leave."

Yuanli left for a month, and these merchants waited for a month.It can be seen how much they want to see Yuanli.

Yuanli could also guess what they came for, but it was for the soap.

He had expected this for a long time. After all, he went all the way to sell soap, and he also wanted these merchants to come to him on their own initiative.

Yuanli took the initiative at this time and was not in a hurry to see these merchants.The movement of him returning to Ji County is not small, these merchants will definitely come to see him within a day or two, so he just waits quietly.

He put the letters aside, stretched his waist, "boil me some hot water, not too hot, I'll wash it."

It's summer now, and it's so hot that people can sweat all over their foreheads.Yuan Li came all the way, and he could smell the sweat on his body.

Knowing that he was coming back, the mansion had already prepared hot water and fruits to cool off the heat.

Yuan Li took a bath comfortably, sat in the shade of the yard with damp steam, ate dinner and fruit, played a game of chess with Liu Jixin and had a good sleep, woke up refreshed the next morning, When I washed my face in front of the copper basin, I felt like a clean and fresh handsome man again.

After finishing breakfast in a good mood, someone came to see him.

As Yuanli expected, after knowing that he had returned to Ji County, some merchants took the initiative to visit him.These merchants are three people from the Zhang family in Youzhou, the Liu family in Yanzhou, and the Yu family in Yizhou.

Yuanli changed his clothes and received these people in the main hall.

These three people feared the power of Chu Palace, and walked into the main hall with extreme caution.Not even daring to lift his head, he raised his hand and saluted in the direction of the superior.

"The villain Zhang Mi/Liu Xin/Yu Fang has met the young master."

They did not dare to get up rashly after saluting, for fear of violating the nobleman's rules.Just as he was frightened, he heard a clear and refreshing voice from above, "Everyone, please stand up and sit down."

The three of them straightened up, and only then did they see Yuan Li's appearance clearly.Rumor has it that the new owner of the Chu family, who is well-known for his benevolence, is sitting on the top seat. He is dressed in brocade and jade clothes with a satin luster, with a smile on his face, eyes like stars and eyebrows like bows, red lips and white teeth, and an extraordinary temperament.

All three of them knew that Yuanli hadn't become crowned yet, but even though Yuanli looked extremely friendly, they didn't dare to slack off.The three of them sat down in fear and trepidation after being signaled by the servant, not daring to sit firmly on their buttocks, "Thank you, my lord, for your seat."

Yuanli asked someone to bring herbal tea, took a sip of the fragrant tea, and asked them with a smile: "Why are you here to visit me?"

On this hot day, the chirping of cicadas outside the door is disturbing.But Yuanli looked very peaceful and peaceful, holding the tea bowl with a smile, he didn't feel the heat at all, and his every move was full of nobility, and it seemed that he was from the children of everyone, which made these merchants feel drummed in their hearts.

Zhang Mi, Liu Xin, and Yu Fang looked at each other in blank dismay.In the end, Zhang Mi plucked up the courage to stand up, clasped his fists and said, "My lord, this villain is from the Zhang family in Youzhou. The reason I came to visit you this time is for the soap that you sold when you passed through Yanyi and Yizhou. "

Liu Xin and Yu Fang stood up quickly, showing that their purpose was the same as that of Zhang Mi, they came for the soap.

Yuan Li put down the tea bowl gently, without changing his expression, Wen Sheng asked the three people to talk about their thoughts.

These three merchants all want to cooperate with Yuanli and be responsible for the exclusive right to sell soap in the Youyanyi Sanzhou, and sell the soap exclusively to the local aristocratic families and powerful landlords.

To show their sincerity, all three of them gave Yuanli a lot of things.Apart from the gold and silver treasures, what attracted more attention were the twenty war horses sent by the Zhang family, and the two beauties from the Yu family sent by the Yu family.

The Yu family is famous for her beauty, and both men and women have good looks.Just relying on in-laws alone, the Yu family has become the largest merchant in Yizhou.They are backed by the governor of Yizhou, and Wu Shanshi, the governor of Yizhou, is the son-in-law of the head of the Yu family.

Yuan Li looked at these two beauties and was silent for a while before he said leisurely: "Thank you for the kindness of the Yu family, but I just lost my husband, so I can't accept such kindness."

Yu Fang's complexion changed, her legs softened and she knelt on the ground, kowtowing anxiously and said, "Please don't blame me, my lord, it's all the villain's fault!"

Yuan Li looked at the restless and anxious expression on his face, and the pale faces of the two beauties from the Yu family.She smiled helplessly, and comforted Yu Fang with a warm voice for a long time before Yu Fang stood up tremblingly.

Compared with the beauties, Yuanli was most surprised by the twenty war horses sent by the Zhang family, which can be described as a surprise.Yuan Li was full of praise for Zhang Mi, and couldn't help being a little affectionate in his words.After they settled their business negotiations, dusk fell.

Yuanli agreed to sell the soap to them, but there was also a requirement that the profit from selling soap should be shared with him six to four.Yuanli accounted for six, and they accounted for four. This division is not fair, but it is definitely a surprise for these three families.

In addition to the share, Yuanli also asked to exchange the money obtained from selling soap into other things, [-]% of which should be exchanged for food, medicinal materials, and cloth that can be stored for a long time, [-]% should be exchanged for cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and other animals, and the last [-]% should be exchanged again. give him gold and silver.

The three of them thought that he was simply thinking about the 13 troops in northern Xinjiang, and without thinking too much, they agreed gratefully.

The Liu family and the Yu family left contentedly, but Zhang Mi was left behind by Yuan Li and had dinner with Yuan Li.

At the dinner table, Guo Lin came over hesitantly and reported to Yuan Li: "My lord, when Yu Fang left, he left the two beauties of the Yu family behind, and only said to give them to you or the general as foot-washing maids. If you don't want them , then give it to the general as an apology for offending you."

Yuan Li's smile faded, "Send them back."

"They don't want to go," Guo Lin said in embarrassment, "They are crying, and they will not feel better if they go back. Please take them in as your concubine. They are willing to work for you."

Yuan Li rubbed his eyebrows with a headache.

"Forget it, let's send it to the general's courtyard," Yuan Li said, "up to your arrangement."

Chu Hechao didn't have anyone to take care of him, and Chu Hechao didn't seem like someone who would be rough with the people in the room, and he was handsome and tall, so he must be able to give them a stable life and not let them These two beauties are in a dilemma.

Even though Yuanli has been in the Northern Zhou Dynasty for 18 years, he is not used to sending beauties to each other.He was not blessed to accept the beauty's favor, but he shouldn't have rejected Chu Hechao too.

After finishing speaking, Yuan Li stopped thinking about it and concentrated on talking to Zhang Mi.

Zhang Mi was anxious, but knew that this might represent an opportunity.He honestly ate with Yuanli, but he was so nervous that he couldn't taste anything.

After eating, the servant stepped forward to collect the things on the table.Yuanli asked Zhang Mi to take a walk with him in the courtyard to digest food.

On the way to the lake, Yuanli chatted, "Zibo, did you buy your horse from the Karasuma tribe?"

Zibo is Zhang Mi's character.Zhang Mi nodded cautiously, "These horses were bought from the Karasuma tribe in Liaoxi County and Liaodong County."

The Karasuma tribe originally belonged to one of the Donghu tribes together with the Xianbei. After being defeated by Chu Hechao, they belonged to the Northern Zhou Dynasty. They moved south into Youzhou and obeyed the Northern Zhou rule to resist the Xiongnu.The Karasuma tribe is distributed in the five counties of Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi, and Liaodong, and belongs to the largest force among the Hu people who migrated from Youzhou.

Yuan Li said directly: "I want to buy a horse from you, is there any way?"

Zhang Miwei couldn't help it: "This... son, it's not that I don't want to. I have a good relationship with the leader of the Karasuma tribe, but the number of horses I got is not many. I can only use salt, cloth, tea and other things to get along with them. Change some horses, but Karasuma people are rough and barbaric, and fine things like soap are not welcomed by them."

Yuanli smiled, "I know Karasuma people don't like soap. But don't worry, I have something that they will like."

Zhang Mi asked suspiciously, "My lord, what is this thing?"

"Zibo don't worry," Yuan Li said in a loud voice, "for this month, keep as many horses as possible for me, and then try to get more channels for buying and selling horses from Karasuma people. One month later, I I will definitely give you something better than soap."

Zhang Mi took a deep breath, finally gritted his teeth and said, "I dare not make a decision on this matter alone, please give me some time, sir, and let me go back to my home to discuss and discuss."

The Zhang family in Youzhou is a big merchant, but there is no official in the family, and there is no power behind him.Because they understand that Youzhou is still the Youzhou of the King of Chu after all. If they rely on the other powerful families and county officials in Youzhou, they will be liquidated by the King of Chu sooner or later.

During these years of being in Youzhou without a master, Mrs. Zhang lived in fear, and was exploited again and again by powerful people at all levels.Now that Chu Hechao and Yuanli returned to Youzhou with great difficulty, Mrs. Zhang came to her immediately, not only for the soap, but also for a background to rely on.

Zhang Mi attached great importance to what Yuan Li said.He didn't even have time to finish visiting the Chu Palace with Yuan Li, so he hastily resigned and prepared to go back to his family.

Yuan Li sent him out of the mansion, watching him walk away with a smile.Just as he was about to turn around and go back to the mansion, he suddenly heard the sound of horseshoes in the distance. He looked up and saw a group of people driving on horses with tired faces.

The leader was very young, his face was black and gray, his eyes lit up when he saw him, and he shouted, "Yuanli—!"

Yuan Li froze in place suddenly, stunned, "Zhan Shaoning?!"