Chapter 207: Infringement of the interests of the powerful

In January of the fifth year of Tianbao, the change of the East Palace was like a dark cloud without water. The wind was blowing, lightning and thunder came in a raging momentum. In the end, only a few heavy raindrops fell and then drifted away.

Wei Jian, the Minister of Justice, demoted the prefect of Kuocang, and was exiled to the Linfeng County in July of that year, and was immediately sentenced to death; Huangfu Weiming, the governor of Hexi, was demoted to the prefect of Bochuan (now Zunyi, Guizhou), and died of sudden illness halfway through; Prince Li Shizhi, Shaobao, was demoted to the prefect of Yichun, and took office and committed suicide by drinking medicine;

Wei Jian's nephew, King Xue Li Yuan, was demoted to Yiling County, and his son-in-law, Lu Youlin, was exiled to Hepu County. His younger brothers Wei Zhi and Wei Lan were all exiled to the Western Regions.

Prince Li Heng immediately wrote a letter saying that he had nothing to do with the Wei Jian clan. In order to show his feelings, Li Heng spared the princess and forced him to become a nun.

The early spring of the fifth year of Tianbao was indeed a troublesome spring. After dealing with the backbone of the princeling party, Li Longji also allowed the two to retire and return to their hometown on the grounds that the Minister of Rites Xi Yu and the Minister of Works Lu Jingrong were old.

Then a major personnel transfer was carried out in the court, and the left prime minister Chen Xilie was appointed as the Minister of Shangshu and the Prince Shaobao; the Minister of War Pei Kuanjin was appointed as the Minister of Rites, and the Minister of the Central Secretariat.

Zhang Qiu, the governor of Jiannan, was appointed as the left prime minister, and was appointed as the secretary of the Central Secretariat, and was also the Minister of War; Li Daofu, the former governor of Yizhou, was appointed as the Minister of Works and General, and was appointed as the supervisor; Li Linfu also reported to the governor of Zibo, Pei Dun, the governor of Zibo, to be appointed as the Minister of Justice;

After a series of personnel transfers were completed, Li Longji immediately issued an edict to implement the new salt law nationwide, and appointed King Guangping Li Chu as the salt and iron envoy, and Li Qing, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, as the deputy envoy, to jointly implement the salt law.

The sudden introduction of the new salt law was like a thunderbolt from the sky, shocking all relevant stakeholders of all sizes. For a moment, various stakeholders conspired in conspiracy. Undercurrents under the salt law were surging, and various power-making methods began to be brewing.

In early spring, the light rain is as moist as soft as a soft rain. This is a very fine rain that makes people unable to distinguish raindrops. It floats on the body, face, and soaks into the heart. The sky is like a light gray gauze curtain, hazy, with green mountains and green waters, as if it is a very rich ink painting.

At the house of the Ten Kings of Chang'an, a carriage slowly stopped in front of King Qing's mansion. A middle-aged man with a handsome temperament and a royal uniform walked out of the car. Several followers immediately carried umbrellas and helped him into the Prince Qing's mansion.

The concierge of the Prince Qing's mansion did not come forward to stop it. The middle-aged prince was King Qing's brother, Prince Rong Li Wan. He often came to the mansion and was already familiar with it. However, what surprised the concierge was that Li Wan always came when it was almost dark, but today it was noon, which was the first time he had encountered it.

Li Wan is the sixth son of Li Longji. He was born to Liu Huafei with King Qing Li Cong. He relies on his brothers to fight tigers. Naturally, the relationship between the two was the closest. Like other brothers, Li Wan was also full of halos. In the 15th year of Kaiyuan, he was appointed as Jingzhaomu and was also appointed as the ambassador of Longyou Jiedu. In the 23rd year of Kaiyuan, he was added to the Three Sessions of Kaifu Yitong, and he was appointed as the Grand Protector of the Shanyu in June of the first year of Tianbao.

As soon as he stepped into the gate, he saw his elder brother Li Cong coming up in a panic and did not hold an umbrella. The dense drizzle wet his hair and clothes. It can be seen that he had been waiting for him in the rain for a long time. Li Wan couldn't help but smile and said, "What made the emperor brother so restless, and he didn't even hit an umbrella?"

Li Cong frowned, stepped forward and held his brother's arm, sighed with a bitter face: "It's hard to describe it. The emperor's brother went to his brother's study first and then sighed in detail."

When the two entered the study, Li Cong put down the doors and windows, and instructed his servants to guard outside and not allow anyone to come in. Seeing that he looked serious, Li Wan whispered: "Brother is he unhappy about the prince's affairs?"

"I was so happy that King Yong was so happy. I was too happy, so why would I be displeased about this?"

With a 'bang', Li Cong punched the table hard, gritted his teeth and said, "I'm angry about the salt method. If this happens, will it cut off my wealth."

Li Cong had salt fields in Puzhou and Yizhou. There were countless salt wells. He never paid a single salt tax. He could make hundreds of thousands of yuan in profits by selling salt privately every year. The reason why the Hai family climbed his big tree was to manage the salt wells in Shu for him.

As soon as the new salt method was released, all the raw salts in the country must be sold to the state and must not be sold privately. Although his property is not lost, the price of salt collected by the court must be based on the current official price, with only ten cents per bucket, which is too different from his private selling of five or sixty cents per bucket. If he deducts the labor and losses, he will almost be profitable. How come he will not be anxious?

Li Wan looked at his dejected elder brother with sympathy. He had just learned about the new salt method that he did not involve personal interests, so the new salt method has little to do with him, but the elder brother is different. Most of his money relies on selling salt for profit. Once the new salt method is released, it will have a particularly great impact on him.

Li Wan touched her thin face and pondered for a moment: "I have read this new salt method quickly. I remember it seems that the government got the salt and then resold it to the merchant. Isn't it the next one?"

Li Cong snorted heavily, and he said hatefully: "You don't understand yet. If the original salt is bought by the government and they sell it at a higher price, the added price will definitely not be as simple as 10% or 20%. They must cut off most of the salt profits. All salt investors and salt merchants can only get a small head. It turned out to be a three-point salt profit, one part of the official and two part of the people. After the new law, it may become an eight-point official and two part of the people. How can this be profitable?"

Speaking of this, he looked up at Li Wan, with hope in his eyes and said, "But I think that no matter how good the law is, it will be implemented by people. If the salt law is not implemented properly, it will inevitably cause public resentment. At that time, the father may abolish it. So I came to you just to discuss how to drag Li Chu's bastard back, so that it will be difficult for him to do something."

Li Wan sneered and shook her head slowly and said, "Do you think Li Chu is really doing this new salt method? If you aim at him, you will be very wrong."

Li Cong was slightly stunned, and after a moment of thought, he suddenly realized: "You mean it"

Li Wan nodded gently, a sarcastic look and a treacherous shadow floated in her eyes, "Yes, the real person behind the scenes of the New Salt Law is your old rival, the new Minister of Revenue Li Qing."

"Old opponent?"

Li Cong sneered, "Is he a little minister worthy of being my opponent? At most, it's just a thorn on my feet, just pull it out."

Regarding Li Qing, King Qing Li Cong never took him to heart. He thought that the matter between the Hai family was caused by Zhang Qiu Jianqiong. He was a fourth-rank official who had not even had a beard. How could he compare with his dignified eldest son? Zhang Qiu Jianqiong could only be considered as a barely capable person.

Seeing that he looked down on Li Qing, Li Wan shook his head slightly. Although he didn't know who the new salt method was used, judging from the fact that Li Qing had introduced this method as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, it was very likely to be related to him. However, he knew his elder brother, and he was both arrogant and stubborn. Li Wan didn't say much. He thought about it and said, "I have a way to help the elder brother escape this."

Li Cong was very energetic and urged repeatedly: "Tell me quickly, what's the solution?"

"This method is related to the new pattern in the current DPRK."

Li Wan smiled sinisterly and said, "Zhang Qiu was also the left prime minister of Qiong, and this party of Qiu was born. The new official took office for three fires. This salt method is probably one of him. I was thinking, since we want to destroy this salt method, will Li Xiangguo stand by and watch? The answer is naturally no, so I advise my elder brother to talk to Li Xiangguo, maybe he will have a good idea."

Li Cong nodded, Li Wan's words made sense. Since he had a common enemy, he might as well join forces with Li Linfu.

After the Wei Jian case, the princelings collapsed, and the situation in the court suddenly changed. The emerging Zhangqiu Party began to show its strength, but Li Linfu breathed a sigh of relief. Since Li Longji wanted to use the new party to balance himself, this means that he has not yet removed his heart.

Despite this, he was still very afraid of Zhang Qiu Party. If he allowed them to become a leader, the position of political affairs in the future would have to be exchanged for Zhang Qiu Jianqiong. Moreover, Zhang Qiu Jianqiong is not as easy as Crown Prince Li Heng, so he must be able to take advantage of it.

That afternoon, Li Linfu had just returned from the court, but saw a luxurious carriage parked outside the mansion. There were dozens of guard servants standing next to him, which seemed familiar. Li Linfu thought about it for a while and suddenly remembered that this was the carriage of King Qing Li Cong.

"What did he come to do for himself? Is it a matter of salt law?"

The biggest private salt dealer in the Tang Dynasty was Li Cong, King Qing. Li Linfu knew this, but he always pretended to be confused and asked about the royal family. However, the first thing he had to do was King Qing.

Just as he entered the door, Li Linfu suddenly laughed. A trick to kill someone with a knife flashed through his mind. The new salt method was decided by Li Qing. He and King Qing had old grudges and new hatreds and old grudges were revealed. This was a good opportunity to deal with Li Qing.

"I came uninvited to disturb the prime minister." Li Cong sat in the guest room waiting for Li Linfu. When he saw him entering the door, he hurriedly greeted him with a smile.

Li Linfu bowed and smiled, "Where is it! It is my honor to visit me in the palace of King Qing. How dare you complain?"

The servant served tea and lowered his head to retreat. Li Cong was anxious and said straight to the point: "I came to the prime minister to inquire about the salt law. I don't know which minister planned it. I found that there were many loopholes in it, so I wanted to discuss it with him!"

"Is that salt method? I heard that it was planned by Li Qing, the new Minister of Revenue. Others are younger and may have poor considerations, so loopholes are inevitable."

Li Cong was silent. It was really Li Qing's decision. He cursed Li Qing secretly, but he was thinking about how to open this mouth. But after thinking for a long time, he couldn't find an excuse to join forces with Li Linfu.

"The salt method involves people's livelihood in the world. How can it be launched in a hurry? Maybe it will backfire and make the public resentment, and the end it will not be worth the loss. So I am thinking"

Speaking of this, Li Cong couldn't continue. He wanted Li Linfu to come forward to oppose the new salt law, but Li Linfu's constant smile made him unable to speak.
Chapter completed!