If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's really not that our shop wants to make a fortune off you. It's just that there were so many people buying salt in the past few days that our inventory is almost gone. The salt wells don't produce much to begin with, and we don't have much left in stock."

The shopkeeper's words only fueled the fire, causing the people to rush to buy even more.

"If you don't buy it now, it'll be gone."

"What? The salt warehouses are all sold out?"

"The salt wells are no longer producing salt?"

"Is the whole Da Long salt gone?"

The buying frenzy spread directly from the capital to the entire Great Dragon Empire. The entire Lu family was so excited these past few days that they couldn't sleep. Lu Zhengpeng, the head of the Lu family, was completely bewildered by this windfall.

"Haha, Heaven has eyes! My Lu family is blessed by our ancestors."

The Lu family is now truly rolling in money. Every day, money is brought into the mansion by horse-drawn carriage, one carriage after another. The mansion's vault is already overflowing, and many guest rooms have been used as temporary vaults.

In just a few days, the Lu family has shone brightly among the eight great families, making the other families envious.

. . . . . .

"Sir, please have mercy and sell me some salt."

"Get out of here, you old hag! You think you can buy salt with just a few coins? Get out of my way and don't interfere with my business."

This scene has been playing out every day for the past few days in front of Lu's General Store, and the people around are watching with resentment.

"Pah, damn aristocratic family."

"Hey, could you please keep your voice down?"

Someone couldn't help but make a few complaints, but was quickly covered up by their companions and left. Aristocratic families were powerful enough to challenge the emperor; what were ordinary people like them?

As the nationwide salt-buying frenzy intensified, the Lu family, in an attempt to raise prices, deliberately restricted the daily sales volume, causing widespread public discontent. However, the Lu family paid no heed to these complaints and continued to act as they pleased.

Prince's Mansion.

"Your Highness, the Lu family deliberately limited the sale of salt in order to raise the price, which has caused great resentment among the people."

Qu Yongnian had been keeping a close eye on the situation on the street these past few days, and he was overjoyed to see the situation developing in the direction he had expected.

However, the Crown Prince was the opposite; upon hearing of the people's suffering, his face was full of sorrow.

"In order to deal with the powerful families, innocent people have been dragged into this mess. Alas, it is my incompetence, Li Junren."

"Your Highness, please don't blame yourself. The temporary hardship we are in is for the sake of a better future. Some sacrifices are unavoidable."

In fact, Qu Yongnian felt that the Crown Prince had everything, but he was too soft-hearted. Sometimes, many things should be dealt with decisively. A little sacrifice is for the future of the Great Dragon Empire, so what's wrong with that?

"Let's get to the second step of the plan."

"Yes."

Li Junren now only wants to end all of this as soon as possible and let the people return to their normal lives.

Niujia Town.

Zhou Wu held the military tally sent by Gu Xinyuan, as well as the emperor's edict, instructing him to set off immediately, personally leading the fully armed Qingyang Army by boat directly north to the capital, and then wait on the boat for further orders.

"It seems something big is about to happen to all the Qingyang Army."

"My lord, it seems that His Majesty is about to take action against the aristocratic families."

Deng Yuanliang thought about it and figured out the key point.

"Oh, how do you know it's about dealing with the powerful families?"

"My lord, think about it. Why would the Emperor send the Qingyang Army to the capital? There are at least tens of thousands of troops guarding the capital and its surrounding areas. Why would he specifically send your three thousand Qingyang soldiers?"

"Yes."

Zhou Wu finally understood. In feudal society, most common people were illiterate, there were few scholars, and even fewer with the talent to save the world. This was because aristocratic families had ample resources to cultivate their children, which created a negative phenomenon. As a result, most officials and generals in the court were from aristocratic families.

Li Tiancheng must have been wary of the armed forces in the capital, which is why he transferred the Qingyang Army from the remote area to the capital.

"Madam Lin, please have your men keep an eye on the salt fields during this period."

"Rest assured, sir, with me here, the saltworks won't be thrown into chaos."

"it is good."

"Let's focus on foreign trade for now, and talk about other things once everything settles down."

"Yes."

Deng Yuanliang knew that Zhou Wu was worried that the foreign trade caravan would encounter pirates without protection, which was why he temporarily called a halt.

After settling things at home, Zhou Wu set off with Niu Er and the entire Qingyang Army.

When the fleet arrived at the capital's dock, although the fleet was large in number, it did not attract much attention from the people of the capital, who assumed that it was just another warning to those doing business.

However, no one noticed that after the fleet docked at the pier, no one loaded or unloaded any cargo; it simply remained there quietly.

The situation in the capital is becoming increasingly out of control, as if an invisible hand is driving the situation forward.

The capital city, the Lu residence.

Although the Lu Mansion in the capital is not as large as the imperial palace, its extravagance is unmatched. There are several thousand-year-old ginkgo trees in the courtyard, and every autumn, the yellow ginkgo leaves are scattered all over the courtyard. This is something that money can't buy.

Every pillar in the house is carved from century-old ebony, and the lanterns in the corridor are all special, secret-made candles. When they burn, they not only do not produce smoke, but also emit a faint fragrance. It is said that each candle costs one tael of silver, which is extremely extravagant.

Lu Zhengpeng was in the courtyard, enjoying a massage from a maid. Although he was no longer able to have sex, the soft, delicate hands of the young girl seemed to awaken his desires as they moved over his head and shoulders. Although this was just his fantasy, he did not find it offensive. This was Lu Zhengpeng's peculiar fetish.

"Master, the price of salt outside has been driven up to twenty times the original price, and it's still in short supply, haha."

The next generation of family head is reporting on the latest developments, twenty times, which sounds very pleasant, etc.

Lu Zhengpeng seemed to have thought of something and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt it was impossible.

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

"I have a feeling something's not right. Everything's going too smoothly. This whole thing started out of nowhere, and then the emperor hasn't made any move for so long. That's not like him. Unless..."

"Patriarch, unless what?"

"Unless this is a setup he's orchestrated, but what gives him the right? What does he rely on?"

"Patriarch, without the Lu family, the people of the entire Great Dragon will have nothing to eat. Does he dare to gamble with the people of the Great Dragon?"

The successor seemed to have no belief that the emperor would dare to gamble with the people.

“That’s what I was thinking too. He certainly wouldn’t dare gamble with the people unless he has something to rely on.”