The departure of the Wang brothers does not mean that Li Mu has won, because he has not bought the horse yet. Li Mu knows that if he gives up and does not buy the horse at this time, the audience who just applauded him will immediately turn around and scold him.
He, but spending five thousand taels of gold to buy a horse... was actually a pain in the ass. After weighing the two factors, Li Mu decided to save his face. He cleared his throat, called the owner of the horse, and said, "Here are the five hundred taels of gold, can you?"
Count the points, and then let Shopkeeper Cheng be the guarantor to make a contract, and this horse will be mine!"
The horse owner was trembling all over. Fortunately, he was in good health and had no heart or brain diseases, otherwise he would have suffered a heart attack. He raised his hand and pinched himself hard. It hurt! It was true. This
The horse was sold for five thousand pounds!
Fortunately, there was still a trace of reason left, and the horse owner said in a trembling voice: "Hou, Mr. Hou is unparalleled in his heroic spirit. I admire him, but I just don't dare to charge so much money. This horse is not worth so much money!"
Li Mu was heartbroken, with a look on his face that regarded money as dirt, and said loudly: "Don't I know that this horse is not worth this price? But people can't stand without faith. You are lucky today to catch someone provoking me.
Hou. Five thousand guan said from his own mouth, that is 5,000 guan. Take the money, shopkeeper Cheng, could you please help me write the contract!"
The horse owner said that just now, but he was just waiting for this sentence. He is just a horse dealer in the West Market, let alone a marquis. He can't afford to offend anyone with a title. If Li Mu hadn't said this,
He was afraid that he would not be able to survive even if he took the money. But with this sentence and so many people listening, he was guaranteed. If he refused again, he would be a fool. With a lot of thanks, Cheng Qian wrote
On the sales contract, both parties pressed their fingerprints, and the sale was concluded. The horse owner personally handed the reins of 'Iron Mountain' to Li Mu, and took his man with him, holding the box and the tray, and ran away like flying.
It was as if he was afraid that Li Mu would regret it.
"Chongyi!" With the reins in hand, Li Mu suddenly called out to Li Chongyi. Li Chongyi was slightly startled, because Li Mu usually called him, but he didn't call him by his name. He usually called him 'big guy' or 'that who'.
Li Chongyi's reaction was a little slow when Leng Buding called his name, but he still subconsciously came to Li Mu.
"Although you are the slave I bought in the Western Market, I remember that I once said that if you could save my life or my family's life once, I would give you your freedom. That day I was assassinated in Tongshanfang,
Without you, I would be dead. Today I will fulfill my promise, and tomorrow I will go to the government to change your slave status. From then on, you will be free, and you will be free to roam the world!"
Li Mu said so much, but Li Chongyi could only hear one meaning. Li Mu seemed to want to send him away. Li Chongyi's big head pounded and he said in a low voice: "I'm not going anywhere!"
Li Mu smiled and said: "No one is driving you away, I'm just telling you that you will no longer be a slave. Anyone who treats you as a slave is making trouble with me. Do you like this horse?"
When Li Chongyi heard that Li Mu stopped driving him, he looked at the 'Tieshan' next to him, grinned and said, "This horse is good, I like it."
"It's yours, and it will serve as your mount from now on."
Li Chongyi was overjoyed and did not refuse. He immediately turned over and rode on the 'Iron Mountain'. With a shake of the reins, he started galloping around the racecourse.
The spectators in the racecourse took a look and secretly thought that Li Mu was really damaged. Wang Pu had just made it clear that he bought this horse as a gift to the king. But Li Mu spent 500 taels of gold to buy the horse and then changed hands.
Just gave it to his slave. Doesn’t this equate the prime minister king with his slave? The most terrible thing is that this is a dumb loss. Even if the king knows about it, he can’t do anything, and he didn’t say anything. You
Is it still possible to get the right seat?
Zhuluhou is not easy to mess with!
After this incident, the impression that Li Mu was not to be trifled with was deeply rooted in the hearts of the nobles and people in Chang'an City. Those who were dissatisfied and dissatisfied silently compared themselves with the Boling Cui family and the Taiyuan Wang family.
You didn't even get a bargain, so how could you be your opponent?
The people of Chang'an outside the racecourse felt very relieved. Everyone has the same sympathy. I am a common person and you are a powerful family member. Naturally, I and you are not on the same page. However, the people of Zhuluhou were not even as good as me, but today they can make people
The wealthy family is in decline, so the people naturally side with him. This has nothing to do with right or wrong, it is just the result of different statuses.
Now that things have happened, Li Mu asked Cheng Qian to find a few guys to help him send Wang Pu's two thousand guan to the craftsman's workshop. He planned to take Bai Qiaoqiao back, and when he was walking to the stands, little Eunuch Chen came over again.
Li Mu sighed, changed direction, and followed little Eunuch Chen to Li Shimin.
"Your Majesty, Li Mu, has met the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty."
Li Shimin sullenly stared at Li Mu for a while, then said: "You kid, who did you learn from to become so slick? It's obviously his own business, but it involves me. How often have I praised you? When have I told you to do your best?"
Implement reforms? Have I ever said such a thing?"
"Ah?" Li Mu was shocked and said: "Your Majesty, I told you about the reform, didn't you not stop it?"
Li Shimin said angrily: "I didn't stop you, nor did I appreciate it!"
"I thought that Your Majesty was worried that I would be proud and embarrassed to praise you, so I figured it out on my own. Isn't that what it meant? The reforms I implemented can greatly save public expenditures. I have calculated it. If it is implemented, next year, the work
The money and food requested by the Ministry can be reduced by half. After three years, the Ministry of Industry will be self-sufficient and will no longer need funding from the treasury. Doesn’t His Majesty support such a reform?"
"I..." Li Shimin pointed at Li Mu and said: "Of course I support it, but appreciation and support have to come from me. If you argue with others and falsely convey my meaning, this is overstepping. I can punish you for your offence!
"
Li Mu quickly put on a scared look, bowed and said: "I am scared, I accept the blame."
Li Yuan watched from the side, rolled his eyes at his son, and said: "Is it interesting to play with a child and play with the emperor's mind?"
Li Shimin's expression suddenly became awkward, but this was said by his own father. What else could he do? He could only pretend not to hear it and continued to say to Li Mu: "My horse and the Supreme Emperor's horse both lost."
Li Mu didn't know why, but he still sighed and said, "I feel sorry for the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty's horse."
"I'm not talking to you about horses." Thinking of what he planned to say, Li Shimin felt a little embarrassed and said, "Well... dear, I heard that this horse race is very profitable."
???
Three question marks appeared on Li Mu's forehead, wondering why Li Shimin suddenly mentioned the matter of making money? As soon as his mind changed, he thought of Li Shimin's financial constraints. He remained calm and answered truthfully: "To answer your Majesty, yes
It’s quite profitable.”
“How does it compare to a winery?”
"Well... Marseille has just begun, but as of now, it seems that the profits can still increase. Compared with the winery... the wine in the Bashang Winery is too expensive and people can't afford it, but for betting on this game,
No matter how much it is, ordinary people can also participate. From this point of view, Marseille’s income is still higher."
"Well..." Li Shimin was silent, he was still a little embarrassed to speak. Li Mu secretly glanced at Li Shimin's face, then looked at Li Yuan, got the hint, understood in his heart, and took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, I want to talk to Uncle Cheng.
When the racecourse was built, Uncle Cheng told his ministers that the land on which the racecourse was built seemed to have been used to build the 'Prince Qin's Mansion'. I wonder if this was the case."
"It is true!" Li Shimin gave Li Mu an appreciative look and quickly answered: "It is indeed true. My father can prove it. He did say it back then."
Li Mu said seriously: "Your Majesty, when doing business, I pay attention to being clear and clear. No matter who you cooperate with, no matter who the target is, this is the case. Since the land for building the racecourse belongs to your Majesty, I believe that pure profits should be made."
Thirty percent goes to Your Majesty, this is fair."
"This..." Li Mu was so proactive, but Li Shimin didn't expect it, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. As an emperor, he was rich in the world, but this was just a saying. In fact, Li Shimin, the emperor, was not only not rich, but also quite poor.
The world has been settled for the first time, and everything is waiting for prosperity. This "revitalization" is easy to say, but doesn't it still require money? Although the Ministry of Civil Affairs is under the supervision of Tang Jian and tries his best to save money, it still cannot make ends meet every year. As an emperor, he also needs money.
You can't do business. The officials know that you can't compete with the people for profit. How can the emperor not know?
Li Shimin was confused and said: "Ai Qing, do you think this is a gain for the people?"
Li Mu said sternly: "Your Majesty, I don't understand why your Majesty thinks this way. This land belongs to your Majesty, and it was not snatched from the hands of the common people. Besides, the racecourse and Marseille are all unique, so
No one has ever done this before, and there is no talk of competing for profit. In my opinion, this is like a common people doing business. I came up with the idea, Uncle Cheng provided the manpower, Your Majesty provided the land, and the three of them formed a partnership.
It's just a business. Without one, Marseille won't be possible."
"Having said that, I feel much better." Li Shimin glanced at Li Mu approvingly and said, "Aiqing really has unique insights into business. If you weren't already the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, I really want to transfer you."
Go to serve in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. In that case, as Aiqing said, I will take 30%, Cheng Aiqing’s side..."
"Of course there is no need to trouble Your Majesty. I will explain it to Uncle Cheng."
"Very good!" Li Shimin praised again and said: "Then I won't punish you. Tomorrow I will make a decree to confirm the reforms you have implemented in the Ministry of Works. In this way, there will be no one in the government and the public.
Too much criticism.”
Li Mu quickly thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your protection."
Li Shimin was satisfied that his goal was achieved. He looked at Li Yuan next to him and said, "Father, it's getting late. Let's go back to the palace."
Li Yuan nodded, and little Eunuch Chen hurried over and helped Li Yuan stand up. Li Mu bowed to see him off, and when they passed each other, Li Yuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "You have a temper. If I like it, you have to have a temper."
That bullshit Taiyuan Wang family dares to compare with me... Huh, Maverick!"