For a long time, except for copper coins, the Tang Dynasty court almost monopolized any industry, did not compete with the people for profit, and did not engage in any business. Therefore, before, it was normal for the people to sell salt and merchants to sell salt. The court only collected market taxes and did not even collect tariffs. The economy was not developed at the time. The function of the canal was to transport grain from Jiangnan to Chang'an and collect tariffs. It was also to play with itself and waste manpower and material resources.

In other words, selling anything is legal. Of course, if you want to sell weapons and other prohibited items, it is not smuggling, it is seeking death.

The Sui and Tang dynasties are all like this, so the smuggled things are very distant in the minds of the people of the Tang Dynasty. Now people buy private salt, but they actually don’t think they are buying private salt, because they have always been like this before. There is no such concept. Of course, they buy which one is cheaper.

Li Yifu is a fool like this, but he doesn't even know the economy, and he never thought of it at all. Therefore, when he heard the word "smuggling", his first reaction was to be stunned.

But then he broke out in cold sweat and collapsed on the chair, at a loss.

Han Yi was very good at this time and did not give Li Yi's house a way to live. He had been stocking up goods a few years ago. Anyway, the court mainly operated, he would store goods, especially salt. He had secretly developed salt fields on the beach a long time ago. The salt workers were all Kunlun slaves, hard-working, well-behaved, obedient, and not very good at speaking Chinese. It was simply perfect. The boat stopped by the beach, and as long as someone came to catch it, he would go on the boat and run away. His salt had been transported to the mainland long ago. When the court's goods were sent to various prefectures and counties, he started to bulk goods on a large scale, which was no less cheaper than the court's goods. It was a little cheaper. This was a lot for the people.

He knew that the court was playing like this, and that as long as the funds could not be returned, it would be miserable.

Li Yifu believes that this salt and iron wine can definitely be sold. After monopoly, the price will be higher, which will definitely make money. Therefore, he almost exhausted the national treasury and went to the official business. However, now, the funds cannot be recovered, and he owe a lot of debts here.

As for Li Yifu's IQ, he didn't know what to do at all, so he quickly crawled to find Taoist Master Xuanji.

"So that's it, so that's it."

Taoist Master Xuanji frowned and said, "Dao Yu just said, why hasn't this money been back yet? It turns out that someone is engaged in smuggling."

Li Yifu now believes in Taoist Master Xuanji and said, "Master Taoist Master, you have to save me!"

Master Xuanji said: "Don't be in a hurry. Since you have found out the cause of the disease, as long as you prescribe the right medicine, Li Zhongshu quickly asked the governments in various places to crack down on smuggling. Any smuggling will be severely punished and must not be tolerated."

Liu Yuanzhen said anxiously: "But now that the money cannot be returned, the Ministry of Revenue cannot explain it. If it is exposed to His Majesty!"

He didn't dare to continue talking.

Taoist Master Xuanji pondered for a moment and said, "Don't panic. If this matter is really investigated, no one can escape. Li Zhongshu, go and talk to them and let them be given a little more gratitude. Don't think that Your Majesty will report it. He will hide the matter and promise them that the money will definitely come next year. I think they will definitely hide it for you. After all, it is better to live together if you die together."

Li Yifu said: "But where does this money come from?"

Master Xuanji said: "Calculate taxes for next year in advance."

"ah?"

Li Yifu heard this a little stupidly and said, "But I don't have the right to collect taxes!"

Master Xuanji said: "This is very simple. You just need to order all the states and counties to pay the salt taxes. After all, the goods have been sent. Logically speaking, they should also send the money back. If there is smuggling, they themselves have no choice but to imply that they can collect taxes for next year and they will definitely do what they do. As long as the taxes for next year are collected, it will help the treasury overcome this difficulty. If the smugglers are cracked down on the other side, the money will be back soon. Then, the taxes for next year can be earned back. After all, those goods are still there, that is money. In this way, even if His Majesty finds out, you won't blame you."

Li Yifu nodded. He had no other choice at this time. If this hole could not be filled, he would be finished. It would be better to have another gamble.

This mentality is too common in the business world. If the funds cannot be turned over, they will take risks. At this time, everyone is like this. They think that as long as they block this hole, everything will be fine.

But this wave has not yet subsided, and another wave has started again.

The decree to combat smuggling and taxation has just been sent out, and the news of the arrival of the Northwest Caravan has reached Chang'an.

"What caravan?"

Li Yifu's head is now dizzy and his reaction is very slow.

Liu Yuanzhen quickly informed Li Yifu of the ins and outs of the caravan.

After hearing this, Li Yifu recalled for a long time before he remembered that there was such a thing. Because this trade was mainly trade between merchants and merchants. The court was just a guarantor. How could he remember it? He was so angry that he jumped up. "This was what Han Yi did. You asked them to go to Yangzhou to find Han Yi and come to Chang'an for what? You sent someone to tell them and let them go back. We can't afford it now."

Liu Yuanzhen had no choice, she really had no money.

They have no money, but if Wu Kelie doesn't sell these goods, he will not even have his life. It's not easy for you to let me go back, and this is not ordinary trade, but trade in the entire northwest region. Now that the northwest is taken over by merchants, once the economy collapses, everything will be over and will definitely be reshuffled.

Wu Kelie and the others ignored him and went straight to Chang'an. We signed a contract in advance. If you ask me to go back, why don't you die?

This person has come, and we must see him!

Li Yifu asked Liu Yuanzhen to meet them. In Li Yifu's eyes, merchants are originally humble. If you are still a Northwest merchant, you will be even more humble. He will not meet them in person.

"Didn't you receive a letter from the court?"

When Liu Yuanzhen saw Wu Kelie and the others, he asked.

Wu Kelie said, "I believe we have received it, but we can't do it. We signed the contract at the beginning, so you can't regret it in just one word!"

Liu Yuanzhen said: "You signed a contract with those merchants, not a contract with the imperial court."

Wu Kelie said: "But now we can't find those merchants at all. When the contract was signed, the court was the guarantee. We can only find the court now."

"What court? Han Yi is guaranteed!"

"But Han Yi was the Minister of Revenue at the time. He represented the court, not himself."

"I don't know about this. In short, don't come to the court for this matter. You go to the two markets to see if you can sell it. Anyway, the court cannot buy so many goods now."

Two cities?

retail?

Wu Kelie was almost amused by Liu Yuanzhen's IQ. I have so many goods, so if you ask me to retail, I might as well live here.

"This is not possible. If you don't abide by the contract, how can we explain to the herdsmen in the northwest when we go back?"

"How do I know this? I still have something to do, so I won't be with you."

"Wait."

But I saw a man in Tuyuhun serving stood up, stopped Liu Yuanzhen, and said, "Shaojian Liu, our Tuyuhun salt is a contract signed with your court!"

Liu Yuanzhen glanced at him and said, "If it weren't for the help of my Tang Dynasty, you Tuyuhun would have been wiped out by Tubo long ago. You have earned a lot of money from us over the years. Now that we are in some trouble, can't you forgive me?"

The man was stunned when he heard this. Now Tuyuhun is under the protection of the Tang army, so he dare not be arrogant!

Liu Yuanzhen left after saying that. In the eyes of them, these are just businessmen and cannot cause any storm. Simply put, so what if you just play tricks on you? If you don’t accept it, you bite me!

Wu Kelie and others really wanted to take a few bites, which was too bullying.

Yigu slapped the table and stood up and roared, "They are so bullying. Since the court is so untrustworthy, we don't care about the court, we should do it ourselves."

Wu Kelie also had a gloomy face, suppressed his anger, and said, "Don't worry first, let's think of a way. No matter what, we have to sell these goods, otherwise our entire northwest region will have to pay our lives here."

Yigu said: "Brother, you haven't heard what the surname Liu said. The court obviously wants to break the contract."

Wu Kelie said: "But he is just an official. No matter what, we will get your Majesty's personal answer."

Casmi said: "But it is said that His Majesty is in Luoyang, not in Chang'an."

Wu Kelie frowned slightly and said, "In this way, I'll go to Beixiang. You go to General Ashina and General Qieheli, and let them decide for us."

On that day, Wu Kelie ran to Beixiang to find mulberry wood.

"Brother Sangmu, how could this happen!"

When Wu Kelie saw Sang Mu, he cried without saying a word, because this was really fatal!

Sang Mu sighed: "Brother, I don't want to help you, but you don't know. Now I can't protect myself in North Lane. I really can't help you."

"Where is Brother Han?"

Wu Keli said excitedly.

Sang Mu said: "My benefactor has gone home to mourn, and he has not yet come back."

Wu Kelie said, "Then call him back quickly!"

Sang Mu smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty must be the master."

"Oh! What should I do, what should I do!"

Wu Kelie was so anxious that tears came out again.

Sang Mu could only comfort him. He was just a manager. What could he do? He couldn't eat so much goods.

Seeing that Han Yi had not left any tricks, Wu Kelie could only leave disappointed.

As soon as he left, a person came out of the back room, and it was Wu Xuan.

"Brother Sangmu, didn't you ask me why I came? I came for this."

Wu Xuan said.

Sang Mu was stunned and said, "Then why didn't you say it earlier?"

Wu Xuan smiled and said, "I'm not here to help them, I'm here to help ourselves."

Sang Mu said: "What does it mean?"

Wu Xuan first looked outside the door and confirmed that there was no one, then said: "My dear, who has learned about the situation here. The man who is in danger at this time believes that the Jinchang is in danger. If Wu Kelie and others force the court to buy this batch of goods, then Li Yifu will most likely choose to borrow from the Jinchang. How can we not lend it? But our Jinchang's money is all the money of the people. If Li Yifu lends the money away and then releases the news, the people will definitely come to our Jinchang to withdraw money. In this way, the Jinchang may face closure, and Li Yifu will not have to repay the money."

Sang Mu was shocked and sweated coldly. He didn't expect that there was still a killer move hidden in it. If this was the case, Jin Xing would have completely finished playing and the North Lane was finished, and he said, "The benefactor, can you have a solution to it."

Wu Xuan smiled and said, "The way for the boss is to spread some negative news first and let the people take away the money. Then the court will come to borrow money, and even if we want to borrow, we will have no money to borrow."

Sang Mu nodded repeatedly and said, "Luckily you are here, otherwise, I would have no face to see my benefactor."

Wu Xuan smiled and said, "It's not because I'm smart, but because the boss is a master who is a clever plan."

Sikong Mansion.

"Sikong, this is not OK! This matter was decided by the court. Now that people are bringing goods, the court does not buy it. Moreover, this trade is crucial to the entire northwest. If the court does not keep its promise, the northwest will inevitably be in chaos. By then, everything the court built in the northwest will be wiped out, and the court will definitely send troops even more. The military expenditure alone will definitely be much more than this money!"

After Qibing Heli and Asunashi learned about this, they immediately rushed to Li Ji's place.

They were originally from there, and now they were officials of the Tang Dynasty, so of course they hoped to be unified and not to be divided. They did not want to go to war with their tribe members. As the other side had already made harsh words, if the court did not keep its promise, then we would be dead. The implication was that they could only rebel, destroy all the old accounts, and start over.

Li Ji said: "But this has always been done by Li Yifu and others, I'm."

Qi Bi Heli knew Li Ji's personality very well. If you want to play Tai Chi with him, he will kill you. He jumped up and pointed at Li Ji and said, "Sikong, are you still planning to hide at this time? OK, just hide. If something happens then, I will never care. You can clean up yourself."

Asanamisha sneered coldly: "If this matter is not done well, you Li Ji will be the sinner of my Tang Dynasty forever."

After saying that, the two of them stood up and walked outside. Their prestige in the army was very high. They usually respect Li Ji, but it was already here. How could they respect him? If this matter is not resolved, there will be a big trouble. They will have to come forward. They have not helped this time. What kind of face do they have to face their tribesmen in the northwest and will not pay any attention to them at all.
Chapter completed!