Soon, Yuan Biao walked into the inner hall with a cane.

Fifteen years ago, Yuan Biao assisted the Supreme Emperor in launching the Sect-Strike Rebellion. He was only over fifty years old and was in middle age.

And now, he is seventy years old.

The emperor and the regent jointly handled the case in Yangzhou, which aroused Yuan Biao's vigilance.

Li Chengqi hurriedly came forward, "Taiwei said hello, I will visit you from your door, and you don't need the Taiwei to go there in person."

Yuan Biao waved his hand, "Liang Po can eat ten pounds of meat at eighty. I am only seventy years old, not old!"

Li Chengqi laughed, "That's how the Taiwei is indeed not old!"

Li Chengqi asked Yuan Biao to sit down, and the maid came over and served tea.

Yuan Biao sighed, "As old, I like to recall the past. When the Emperor of the Supreme Emperor lived in the deep palace, he once asked me to play chess and lost in three sets of Emperor of the Supreme Emperor, but he still had to play the fourth set. I wondered, the Emperor of the Supreme Emperor said he would not admit defeat!

I understood the meaning deeply, and I said that as long as I was there, the Supreme Emperor would definitely turn the tables. As expected, although fifteen years have passed, just like what happened yesterday, I personally led 20,000 troops to defend Xuanwu Gate. Now when I think back, I remember every detail clearly.”

These words made Li Chengqi feel disgusting as if he had eaten a fly. This old thing came to tell himself that he had made contributions back then and did not allow himself to touch his interests.

But who did not make any contribution back then? There were many people who made contributions, and they were not as excessive as the Yuan family. It was not enough to occupy Yangzhou for ten years?

Li Chengqi laughed dryly, "The old lieutenant can still clearly remember the past fifteen years ago, and he is really strong."

Yuan Biao said slowly: "Jiang Shidu's death is an accident. Yuan Zhen will definitely give the prince an explanation. I hope the prince will appoint a new salt and iron supervision order as soon as possible, and the Yuan family will fully support it."

Li Chengqi pondered for a moment and said, "The old lieutenant must understand that the court's finances are getting more and more difficult, and the salt tax must be on the right track. I also believe that the Yuan family has nothing to do with those salt owls who have committed illegal acts."

Yuan Biao laughed dryly, "Of course, the Yuan family has nothing to do with Yan Xiao. My son will cooperate with the court to wipe out Yan Xiao Wang Dongdu."

After pausing, Yuan Biao said again: "My son is still young and strong. He is full of feelings for Yangzhou. He hopes to continue to be the parents of the people of Yangzhou and beg the prince to fulfill his wishes."

Yuan Biao's meaning is very obvious. He supports Li Chengqi to lead the Salt Iron Supervision and can also sell the Salt Owl, but the condition is that Yuan Zhen will continue to take charge of Yangzhou to ensure that the Yuan family's interests are not lost.

Yuan Biao narrowed his eyes and stared at Li Chengqi coldly. The Yuan family still had tens of thousands of troops, not afraid that Li Chengqi would not agree.

............

Yuan Biao left, Li Chengqi was really upset and paced in the inner hall with his hands on his back.

At this time, the eldest son Li Feng said carefully: "Father, if the salt tax can be normal, it should be a big problem for Yuan Zhen to continue to be the governor of Yangzhou!"

Li Chengqi snorted, "If Wang Dongdu is wiped out, Zhang Dongdu will come out. Yan Xiao is just a dog from the Yuan family. He only kills one dog. What is the difference between this and maintaining the status quo?"

Li Wen said anxiously: "Father, the Yuan family is too powerful. Yuan Zhong has 10,000 Guanzhong cavalry, and Yuan Tao also controls 20,000 Beiting Army. Once the Yuan family changes abnormally, the inside and outside will be in trouble, and the court will be in trouble."

"Of course I know that there are links here. If you can't control the Yuan family, you can't move Yuan Zhen."

"Father, then there's nothing I can do?"

Li Chengqi said for a while: "The only way is to continue to work hard in Yangzhou, weaken the Yuan family's power, and finally force the Yuan family to give in."

He said to Li Wen again: "You go and find Gao Lishi, inform him of Yuan Biao's visit today, and tell them my attitude. I hope the two families will continue to work together in Yangzhou. The appointment of the Salt and Iron Supervision Order will be temporarily shelved and the distribution of interests will be discussed later."

…………….

Gao Lishi walked into the imperial study room, Li Longji put down his pen and asked, "What did he say?"

"The regent who Yuan Biao visited this morning proposed to use the salt and iron supervision order and the extermination of Wang Dongdu for Yuan Zhen to continue to serve as Yangzhou."

Li Longji snorted coldly, "Don't this mean maintaining the status quo?"

"So the Regent was also very dissatisfied with the Yuan family's plan and believed that the Yuan family was not sincere. He proposed that the two families continue to join forces to weaken the Yuan family's status in Yangzhou."

"What should I do if the Salt and Iron Supervision?"

"The Regent's meaning of the salt and iron supervision is put on hold first, and then discuss the distribution of interests later."

Li Longji walked a few steps behind his hands and asked, "What do you think?"

"Weichen thinks that the Yuan family wants to cooperate with the Regent, but they still have the upper hand in Yangzhou, so they make too little concessions to the Regent, which makes the Regent unacceptable, so they seek to continue to cooperate with His Majesty."

Li Longji sighed, "You are right. The key is not to be able to open up the situation in Yangzhou. Li Zhu's entire army was destroyed, Li Ji was also destroyed by the crowd. Pei Yaoqing was helpless. I guess the same is true for the Regent."

Gao Lishi seized this opportunity and advised again: "Your Majesty, the Yuan family has been in charge of Yangzhou for ten years and has been deeply rooted and has become strong. It is not easy to shake their foundation. I am afraid that after the two companies join forces to shake the foundation of the Yuan family, the Yuan family will compromise more with the Regent, which will eventually lead to the Yuan family and the Regent joining forces."

Li Longji nodded, "You are right. The Regent asked to join forces with me, but in fact he wanted to use me. How should he break this situation?"

"Your Majesty, there is only one way to break this situation. We have the initiative, not the Regent, and even if the Yuan family and the Regent join forces, they cannot change the situation in Yangzhou, and the alliance between them will soon break down."

"How to break the deadlock?"

"Your Majesty, King Qing is still not capable. Pei Yaoqing is a little brave. Your Majesty can only count on Thirty-Eight Lang. Since Your Majesty has accepted Thirty-Eight Lang's opinion, he simply handed over the military power to him. I believe he will definitely eradicate Yuan Zhen's wings and open up the dilemma of Yangzhou for Your Majesty."

Li Longji walked to the map, stared at Jianghuai, and pondered for a long time. He finally accepted Gao Lishi's persuasion.

"He is allowed to mobilize the troops of Xuzhou, Sizhou and Chuzhou Military Offices, as well as the commander-in-chief, and he can be appointed and removed!"

.............

Li Xiu returned to Yangzhou in a low-key manner, changed into an inn, lived in Tongxing Inn on the east side of Yangzhou City, and rented two separate courtyards, one large and one small.

As soon as he settled down, Pei Min brought Zhong Kui with him.

Li Xiu was overjoyed and hurriedly asked Zhong Kui to sit down, "When will he come back?"

"Arriving in Yangzhou yesterday afternoon, we had more than 30 people. In addition to Beizhi, there were also 30 Jinyi constables led by Zi Linfeng. They were afraid of being shocked, so they dressed up as businessmen and were now living in Dayun Temple in the north of the city."

"Did you meet Kaorish?"

"Whitei rushed to Luoyang, and the emperor happened to leave Luoyang and return to Chang'an. When Beizhi caught up with the fleet in Yanshi, he met Eunuch Gao. He asked the emperor for instructions and decided to transfer the Zi Captain Luoyang and thirty Jinyi constables to the prince's subordinates. However, the army support proposed by the prince, Eunuch Gao said that it was of great importance and the emperor needed to consider it."

It should be said that this result was expected by Li Xiu. The army is a country's important weapon. The army will never appear easily until the situation cannot be reversed.

The same is true for the garrisons in Yangzhou. Once Yuan Zhen mobilizes the troops of Yangzhou, it means rebellion.

However, Li Xiu’s top priority now is money. Since he left the palace, he has never been as embarrassed as he is today, nor has he needed money like today.

The thirty Jinyi constables' expenses for food, accommodation, monthly remuneration, and bonuses are at least a few hundred stags per month.

But there are only three hundred and sixty taels of silver left in his purse.

Li Xiu took out three hundred taels of silver and handed it to Zhong Kui, asking him to arrange food and accommodation for dozens of his subordinates.

Living in a temple outside the city is inconvenient, and secondly, it is not safe, so you must move into the city to live.
Chapter completed!