Under the woman's pleading, Hou Yao sent the mother and son to Xiong Yushi.
It was already dark when we returned to the Yamen. After a few simple bites of food, Hou Yao began to search the county's files.
He had always ignored one of the most important issues before, which was the situation of the salt industry in Bao'an County.
As a time traveler, I should be damned if I ignored such an important matter.
If it weren't for the mother and son he met today, he probably wouldn't have thought of where he would be.
Since ancient times, salt has the highest profit and has always been synonymous with huge profit industries. The evil forces spawned by such an industry are so terrifying.
So as soon as I came back, I checked the salt industry files in the county.
I just checked all the salt industry records and found that the official salt in Baoan County is inconspicuous.
According to the county annals, there are only six salt fields in Baoan County, three of which are official government-operated salt fields and three salt fences.
Yanzha originally means a salt village surrounded by wood or bamboo, and can also be understood as the smallest salt field.
The imperial court does not send ambassadors to manage the salt tax. Only the salt tax department sends deputy treasury envoys to verify the salt tax twice every year.
There are three government-run salt fields, the largest one is Dongguan Salt Field.
The Dongguan Salt Field is on the seaside to the west of Nantou City, and Huang Fengyu is the tax collector stationed at the Dongguan Salt Field by the Salt Administration Department.
Before, Hou Yao was still confused as to why among the four major families, Huang Fengyu was a small salt tax collector. This status was completely inconsistent with his majesty.
Ambassador Ku is just a tax certifier and is not even qualified to collect taxes.
In other places, he is definitely a small official, so why can his family become one of the four major families in Bao'an County?
I'm afraid the person behind him put him in this position deliberately.
Thinking of this, he couldn't sit still for a moment and decided to take Yu Xiuer and Zhou Tiesheng to visit the Dongguan Saltworks overnight.
I was originally worried about whether I would be discovered by people from the salt field, but when I got to the site, I saw that there was no need to get close to the salt field at all.
You can see the huge scale of the salt field from a long way away. You don’t even need to look closely. Just a casual glance will tell you that the scale is much higher than what is recorded in the county annals.
The Dongguan Salt Farm recorded in the county annals is a small salt farm with only two thousand people, but here, there are probably no less than a hundred thousand people.
Hou Yao hurriedly took the two of them back to the Yamen. After returning, he ordered Zhou Tiesheng to go back as soon as possible and bring Guo Ming.
When he returned to his room and lay on the bed, he couldn't calm down for a long time. At this moment, his mind was filled with only two words: private salt.
Yu Xiuer ran around with Hou Yao inexplicably all night, her head was full of confusion,
When he came back, he saw Hou Yao's face looking gloomy and terrifying, so he took the initiative to lie down next to him.
If it were the past, Hou Yao would definitely take advantage of himself in a clumsy manner.
But today, he did nothing but stared at the top of the bed in a daze.
It was the first time that Yu Xiuer saw Hou Yao's serious expression, and she felt extremely nervous. Finally, she couldn't help but ask:
"Ms. sir, what's wrong with you today? You look so scary. Did Xiu'er make you angry?"
Hou Yao glanced at her apologetically, then realized what he was doing, put aside his worries for the time being, and then said with a smile:
"What are you talking about, madam? I said I won't be angry with you. I just know who our enemy is and it feels a little tricky.
I'm sorry for making you worry, I won't do it next time."
Yu Xiuer couldn't believe it:
"Ms. sir, weren't you still wondering who were the masterminds behind the scenes? How come you know who those people are now?"
Hou Yao kissed her lips and said:
"No, I'm not talking about specific people, but the soil that breeds these evil people.
If we just eliminate these people, it won't be long before another group of people will do the same thing.
So we not only need to treat the symptoms, but also the root causes."
Yu Xiuer shook her head blankly:
"Ms. Xiuer, I don't know what you mean, but I believe you can definitely eliminate them.
I'm sorry, sir, am I... too stupid?"
Hou Yao touched her little face with pity and said softly:
"No, my Xiu'er is definitely not a stupid person. Although I have never practiced martial arts, I am certain that a stupid person cannot become a top master.
Xiu'er, do you know? Without you, I would not have the courage to fight against them. It is because of you that I have the confidence to fight against them.
They are too powerful. Without you, I might be crushed by them in minutes.
But with you by my side, those clowns can't hurt me at all, and this is what gives me the confidence to fight against them."
After hearing what Hou Yao said so solemnly, Yu Xiuer finally believed it, and then asked softly:
"Ms. sir, do you mean that they are likely to send experts to assassinate you?"
Hou Yao nodded affirmatively:
"If the showdown comes, they will definitely send someone to kill me.
As for what kind of means it is, it’s hard to say. I’m sure they’ll use every possible means.
But when it comes to the showdown, I will definitely not be afraid of any other means.
The only thing I'm afraid of is assassination by a master, it's impossible to guard against it."
Yu Xiuer suddenly became nervous:
"Ah? Then you wouldn't be in danger if I wasn't around you?"
Hou Yao gently touched Yu Xiuer's face:
"Why aren't you by my side? I will never let you leave me in this life. Besides, isn't there still Lao Zhou?"
Yu Xiuer was speechless for a long time, and then suddenly said:
"My lord, Zhou Tiesheng's kung fu is too poor and he is vulnerable to real masters. I don't trust him to protect you.
Let’s find another master to protect you.”
"I also want to find a master to protect myself, but where can I find one? I don't know anyone in the martial arts world."
"Xiu'er knows a master, but this person recognizes money but not people. Can we spend a lot of money to invite him?"
"How skilled is this person? Is he more powerful than you?"
Yu Xiuer thought about it seriously:
"I never really fought against him, we just had a discussion and we were tied. At that time, I only used 30% of my strength.
I'm not sure how much he used, but it probably wasn't much more."
Hou Yao thought for a while and asked:
"Is this person from your sect?"
Yu Xiuer nodded first and then shook her head:
"Yes, but it doesn't count. He was originally my senior brother. Master said he became a killer in order to make money, so he kicked him out of the school.
Now he is the number one killer of Biluo Huangquan, ‘Ji Wu Sheng’. When he assassinated the prince of Annan Kingdom a few years ago, his master caught up with him and revealed his identity.
It was only then that I learned that there was such a senior brother. We were not able to keep him that day.
Later, he came to the master again with gifts and left a method for the master to contact him.
Master said that this person recognizes money rather than people, and is willing to do anything for money. But I feel that senior brother seems to have some unspeakable difficulties."
"Xiu'er, I'm very curious, who is your master? Why is he related to the Annan royal family? And her martial arts must be unfathomable, right?
Can we ask her to protect me?"
"My master's Taoist name is 'Bi Luo', and her official identity is Annan's Imperial Master. People in Annan respectfully call her 'Xiangu'.
As for the master's lay name, I don't know. The master claims to be from the Qingwei sect, and his martial arts should be at the level of a great master.
She once said that there are no more than one master in the world that she can fear.
It’s just that she will not come to Daxia. She once said that she will never set foot in Daxia again in this life.
I'm sorry, sir, but Xiu'er can't convince the master."
Hou Yao quickly consoled him:
"What does this have to do with you? Daxia must have owed your master something before, right?
In this case, then try to contact your senior brother, hoping that he will not really be a cold-blooded killer who has no bottom line for money.
By the way, Xiu'er, what's your level of martial arts?"
Yu Xiuer was slightly embarrassed:
"I..., am only at the peak of the third level. In fact, I was stuck at this level before I left the apprenticeship.
Master said that the reason why I couldn't break through was that my personality was too soft and I lacked a strong energy.
The second grade is also called the Grandmaster. It must be strong and soft in order to succeed.
Another reason why I started teaching was also to break through the realm.
I thought that avenging my father would lead to a breakthrough, but I didn't expect that I would feel nothing at all after killing Bai Bo.
Until now, I haven't been able to make any progress, sir, am I useless?"
"How is it possible? You can practice martial arts to the peak of the third level at the age of sixteen. Who dares to say that you are not a genius? My husband wants to beat him to death.
As for you being stuck in this realm for so many years, I think there is only one reason."
"What's the reason?"
"As your master said, this breakthrough point happens to be your character weakness.
Or it may be that the exercises you practice are not suitable for your personality."
"Master seems to have said that this is a possibility, but the secrets of mental techniques are all secrets that have not been passed down. It is impossible to obtain the techniques of other sects easily.
What's more, the 'Shangqing Sword Technique' taught to me by my master is already the most authentic and supreme technique of Taoism.
If I want to change my martial arts, I should at least have martial arts of the same level.
Moreover, it cannot conflict with the mental formula of the ‘Shangqing Sword Technique’, otherwise there will be a danger of going crazy.”
I didn’t expect that there are so many details in practicing martial arts, and I didn’t expect that Yu Xiuer’s swordsmanship was actually a Taoist skill.
Wait a minute... Taoist skills? At this time, Hou Yao suddenly had a whim,
In order to show off in his previous life, he had memorized the full text of "The General Principle of Tai Chi Mental Technique" and "Ten Essentials of Tai Chi", and also practiced Tai Chi sword for a period of time with Auntie Plaza.
Although I didn't play well, I still remember the basic routine.
"Madam, I know a set of Tai Chi formulas. Can you try practicing them?"
Yu Xiuer said a little unhappy:
"Ms. sir, didn't I just say that? I can only learn Taoist techniques, and they must be at least the same level as "Shangqing Sword Technique".
Only then can I try to change my training method. I have never heard the name of this kind of martial arts called "Tai Chi", and it is also a boxing method.
It is simply impossible to abandon the sword and learn boxing in my current situation. In the journey of martial arts, the most taboo thing is to practice martial arts indiscriminately, as it is very dangerous."
Hou Yao quickly explained:
"Tai Chi is definitely the most authentic Taoist art. As for who is better than Qing Dynasty swordsmanship, I can't say.
"Tai Chi Sutra" can be used for boxing or sword. I have practiced Tai Chi sword routines. Anyway, it is just to give you a reference.
It doesn’t necessarily require you to practice. How about you give it a try, practice if you can, and think of a solution if you can’t.”
Yu Xiuer wanted to refuse, but seeing Hou Yao's eager eyes, she finally nodded.
"Since your husband wants to give it a try, then Xiu'er will listen to your husband...".