Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 290 Salt War (IV)

What happened in Jintang City of the Baoan Army was happening everywhere in Fuyan Road. It was not that these salt merchants did not know who was the boss, but that they were just at the bottom.

In order to test Su Yun's attitude, the upper-level salt merchants not only did not stop it, but even fanned the flames.

However, Xu Lixin and others had never expected that Cai Fenghui would do things so flawlessly that the salt shop clerks were all army soldiers, which also made them feel Cai Fenghui's determination.

Xu Lixin contacted Lao Wang, Lao Ding, Lao Du and others to discuss the matter.

They no longer dared to stay in Fuyan Road, for fear of being surrounded by the Fuyan Road army, and instead stayed in Taiyuan Prefecture in Hedong Road.

Taiyuan Prefecture is not far from Fuyan Road, so it is possible to command nearby and also isolate itself from the influence of the Fuyan Road army.

"Everyone, it has been a month since we last met in Mizhi. How is your salt shop business in Fuyan Road?" Xu Lixin asked.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.

Over the past month, their business on Fuyan Road has plummeted. They have tried to use force but have been repeatedly frustrated. Now they have no other choice but to lower the price.

"Lower the price. Don't bring in the salt. Just use the blue and white salt. Let's compete with them. They sell it for thirty cents, so we can sell it for twenty cents! I, Old Du, really can't swallow this!"

Lao Du said angrily.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone else frowned.

The price of the blue and white salt, which could originally be sold for more than one hundred or nearly two hundred coins, was suddenly reduced tenfold. Although there is still a profit, it is undoubtedly like cutting their flesh and blood with a knife!
It has always been true that it is hard to give up good fortune.

Old Ding hesitated for a moment and said, "This won't do. This will completely ruin our financial resources. We could have earned hundreds of thousands of strings of cash a year, but now we can't even earn 100,000 strings of cash.

Haha, we don’t care. After all, our wealth is enough for us to eat and drink for several lifetimes. But can the people behind us just watch this way of making money cut off?

Haha, they don't think it's Su Yun's fault, but we are not good enough. If this way of making money is really cut off, these men will be short of money. Where do you think they will get some money from?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present, except Old Du, who was a member of the Du family in the capital, changed their expressions.

Where else can they make money? Of course, it would be more convenient to kill these fat pigs that they have raised for decades!
To be honest, once they embarked on this path, there was no turning back.

Old Wang smiled bitterly and said, "We can neither advance nor retreat. This is a dead end!"

At this time Xu Lixin suddenly said: "That may not be the case."

Everyone looked at Xu Lixin, and Old Wang quickly said, "Old Xu, you set up this game, you must have an idea, right?"

Everyone's eyes suddenly lit up. Xu Lixin has always been known for his cruelty and has many methods. Maybe he really has a way.

Although Lao Du didn't care what the family would do to him, it was extremely important for him to keep his source of income. After all, big families were very realistic. If you contributed to the family, you would have a high status. If you didn't contribute to the family, you wouldn't even have a chance to sit at the table.

Lao Du also said with concern: "Lao Xu, if you really have a way to clear this financial path, my Lao Du family will remember you as a favor."

Old Ding also nodded and said, "That's right, Old Xu, if it works, I, Old Ding, will remember you as a favor, and the people behind me will also remember you as a favor!"

Xu Lixin nodded and said, "We are all brothers in the same trench. Humanity is another matter. Now we must unite and fight against Su Yun together. This is the most important thing."

The others nodded repeatedly.

Xu Lixin thought for a moment and said, "We are either from a big family or a minister in the court. We are very important wherever we are. But no matter who we are, we have no chance of winning against Su Yun alone.

Su Yun has the support of Zhang Dun, and he is also the nephew of Su Zhe. Zhang Dun and Cai Que, who is nominally the deputy prime minister but actually the prime minister, are in the same party. Their power is so great that the big men behind us cannot resist it.

However, if the big men behind us can unite and target Su Yun without involving other people, maybe we can transfer him away from Fuyan Road."

"It's just a transfer away from Fuyan Road, not a overthrow?" Lao Ding hesitated.

Upon hearing this, Old Du burst out laughing and said, "Old Ding, you are not from the officialdom, you don't understand how popular Su Yun is. The so-called Zhang Canzheng and Cai Xianggong are just superficial. The real backer of Su Yun is our Song Dynasty official family!
Su Yun's number one scholar was chosen by the emperor himself, a true disciple of the emperor. Su Yun had only been in officialdom for two years. From a chief minister to the current Hanlin scholar, did he expand the territory or did he make contributions in saving the emperor and was able to rise to the top overnight?
In fact, there is no other reason, it is just because the emperor is his main backer. If such a person wants to be brought down, even Prime Minister Wang may not be able to do it.

Oh, yes, you don’t know that since you are not in the officialdom, Minister Wang Gui and Minister Zhang Xu regard Su Yun as a thorn in their eyes, but they can do nothing about him! "

When these words were spoken, Lao Ding and Lao Wang's faces changed color. They knew that Su Yun was very capable, but they didn't expect that his background was so powerful!

Old Wang said angrily: "If that's the case, then what are we planning? Just admit defeat! Let's give up all the business in Shaanxi Sixth Road. Oh, didn't Cai Fenghui say before that he could let us handle the rock salt?
As long as we sell at their price, we might still be able to make some money. At most, we will work for nothing and give the money we earn to the uncles behind us, which can also ensure the safety of our family."

"No!" Xu Lixin suddenly said, "We have a chance!"

Everyone looked at Xu Lixin in surprise, especially Lao Du, who even looked at Xu Lixin with some sarcasm.

Xu Lixin looked at Lao Du and said, "We can't underestimate the power of the masters. They are all from big families and high-ranking officials of the court. I don't believe they don't have their own means.

In addition, Prime Minister Wang, Minister Zhang, and even Minister Li Ding are not on good terms with Cai Que and his party. Su Yun is their pioneer. If there is a chance to kill Su Yun, they will definitely take action!
So, we have a chance!"

There was hope in Lao Ding and the others' eyes.

Lao Du said: "The key is to create a good opportunity for the men. Only when they see the opportunity will they take action. Otherwise, no matter how much we talk, they will not take action."

Xu Lixin showed a look of confidence and said, "I already have a solution for this. What do you think the court is most afraid of right now?"

Lao Ding and the others immediately frowned, and Lao Wang tried to ask, "Are you worried about not having enough money?"

But Lao Du suddenly said, "I'm afraid of fighting!"

Xu Lixin clapped his hands and said with a smile, "As expected, a child of an aristocratic family is a child of an aristocratic family. He understood it so quickly."

Lao Du and Xu Lixin looked at each other and smiled.

Old Ding said angrily, "What are you two showing off for? Tell me what you have planned. You're driving me crazy!"

Xu Lixin looked at Lao Du and said with a smile, "You tell me?"

Lao Du shook his head and said, "I have guessed some of it, but you should tell me. I won't take the credit for it."

Xu Lixin waved his hand and said, "We are all sincere cooperation, there is no such thing as merit or no merit.

Then let me explain in detail.

In fact, the key to bringing Su Yun down is to hit what the court fears the most. Under such a surge of public outcry, the emperor will not dare to protect Su Yun, and only then can he be given a fatal blow!
The imperial court began its five-way attack on Xia in the fourth year of Yuanfeng. In two years, it fought three large-scale wars. The financial, material and manpower of the imperial court had been exhausted and could no longer support another major war.

Therefore, what the imperial court fears most now is war!
Therefore, if Xixia becomes angry and sends troops to attack because of Su Yun, who will take the blame then?
Haha, if that is the case, the imperial court must transfer Su Yun away from Fuyan Road in order to appease the anger of Western Xia, and then all his current plans will be in vain!
Haha, we can even take the rock salt directly. Then, all this gold and silver will be ours!"

After these words were spoken, the greed in everyone's eyes could no longer be concealed.

Old Ding asked anxiously, "Then how can we make Xixia angry and send troops to attack us?"

Xu Lixin looked at Lao Du, then smiled and said, "If we all stop buying Qingbai salt from Xixia, and tell Su Yun to make a rock salt in Fuyan Road and sell it at a low price, in order to completely cut off the sales of Qingbai salt, what do you think Xixia will think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone became excited.

How important is Qingbai Salt to Xixia?
These people are naturally clear about this.

The things that Western Xia sold to the Song Dynasty included camels, horses, cattle, sheep, jade, felt carpets, licorice, wolfberry, rhubarb, honey, musk, furs, antelope horns and other items.

But these things do not account for a large proportion, because these things were not in short supply in the Song Dynasty, and the quantity was difficult to increase.

There is only one horse that the Song Dynasty needs most, but do the Xixia people dare to sell more?
Of course they didn't dare to do so. War horses are an important strategic resource. If they were sold without restriction, once the Song Dynasty formed a cavalry of 100,000, wouldn't the national security of Western Xia be threatened?

The blue-white salt accounts for half of the trade income.

It can be said that the reason why Xixia could buy the tea, silk fabrics, grain, lacquerware, porcelain, and medicinal materials they urgently needed was because of the large amount of exported blue and white salt.

Therefore, once the sales of blue and white salt were cut off, Xixia would have nothing else to exchange for enough supplies, and these supplies were urgently needed by the people of Xixia, especially the nobles of Xixia!
For Western Xia, this would be a threat to the country's foundation.

"What a vicious plan!... Oh, no, what a brilliant plan!"

Lao Ding applauded enthusiastically, and the others also looked happy.

(End of this chapter)