After reuniting with Shi Shouxin, Luo Youdu led 12,000 soldiers and horses into the suburbs of Shuzhou.
The suburbs of Shuzhou were in a state of chaos and smelled of looting.
It is true that Zhu Lingyun did not order the people to be forcibly moved into the city, but in order to defend the city, they began to loot the food rations of the people outside the city.
The commander's order was to grab grain. Naturally, the soldiers who received the order would not just grab grain honestly.
Valuable property, poultry, livestock, and even the girl Shuiling were all plundered.
Those who encountered resistance were naturally killed with a knife, and even more ruthlessly, people and houses were burned together.
An old man like Shi Shouxin was used to seeing these scenes and was indifferent.
Seeing this scene, Luo Youdu could only sigh secretly, and waved his hand to the military commander Cao Songqi, asking him to appease the people, gather them together, and provide food regularly.
Shi Shouxin only thought that Luo Youdu's move was unnecessary and a waste of food, but he was used to it all the way and did not say anything.
After walking a hundred steps forward, six young men stood in front of the army.
They knelt on the ground and cried: "We are willing to join the army with the general and avenge our fathers and fellow villagers."
Luo Youdu thought for a while and said: "Chang Dutou, they will leave it to you."
Chang Side responded and stepped forward to pull the young man into the team.
When they arrived at Shuzhou City, Luo Youdu did not rush to attack the city, but instead set up camp in the east of Shuzhou City.
That night, a businessman named Bu Ze walked into Luo Youdu's handsome tent.
The Buze family has been doing business in Luzhou for several generations, mainly in the medicinal business. Luzhou is rich in gentian, motherwort, apogophora, and cocklebur, while Shuzhou is rich in magnolia bark, poria, and sophora flavescens.
Bu Ze often went to Shuzhou to purchase and ship goods, and had a stable business relationship.
When Luo Youdu went to Hezhou, he had already set his target in Shuzhou and asked him to go to Shuzhou first to investigate the situation.
"sit!"
Luo Youdu asked him to sit aside and made him a cup of tea.
Bu Ze was a little flattered. Although the businessman's status had been greatly improved now, Luo Youdu, whose status was so friendly to him, could not help but feel a little frightened.
Luo Youdu said straight to the point: "What is the attitude of the gentry and merchants in Shuzhou towards Huaiyan?"
Bu Ze said respectfully: "Who can be unmoved in the face of such interests? Just because of their appearance, they did not buy Huai salt in public, but secretly. All the gentry and merchants participated, and they all hoarded a lot.
.”
Luo Youdu asked: "What is the purchase price?"
Bu Ze smiled bitterly and said: "The purchase price is much higher than what we had in Luzhou. The gentry and merchants secretly fought too fiercely... The ordinary people never dreamed that they would see Huai salt sold at a high price in their lifetime."
Luo Youdu smiled knowingly and said: "Then let's start the second step of the plan. When you release the news, you say that the imperial court has taken over half of the state capitals in Jiangbei. The Jianghuai salt administration is so bad that the Central Plains court cannot eat so much in one go. The production of Huaiyan salt has been slowed down.
The acquisition is no longer so urgent. At the same time, with the large-scale influx of Huai salt, Hedong salt has also been affected, and the price of salt in the Central Plains cannot be so high."
As a businessman, Bu Ze naturally knew that what Luo Youdu was talking about was something that would definitely happen in the future. He wanted to use this to stir up chaos in Shuzhou and had no other thoughts but awe.
Soon the price of salt fell, and the news spread in Shuzhou that Zhou Jun did not need Huai salt.
The reasons for not needing it are sufficient and well-founded.
Salt is something that cannot be lived without. Adding too much is useless.
Otherwise, Huaiyan would not be in the situation it is today, with so many people despising it that the Southern Tang court forcibly imposed it.
This residual salt accumulated over the years is enough to feed the Central Plains.
The further you go, the less valuable the Huai salt becomes.
The gentry and merchants in Shuzhou were deeply involved in internal affairs. In order to fight for more salt, they even ignored their long-term friendship.
It's good now, I'm starting to behave like a gentleman again.
The common surnames in Shuzhou are headed by Zhang, followed by Liu and Wang.
Although these wealthy families will be affected by this, after all, they are a big business that can afford to lose.
Those who really cannot afford to lose are the second-rate Cao family and Jiao family.
Cao Family Courtyard.
Cao Yang, the head of the Cao family, kept tapping his fingers on the table.
Jiao Yu, the eldest son of the Jiao family, was pacing back and forth in front of the palace.
The Cao family and the Jiao family are large families in Shuzhou that have been inherited for thousands of years. However, there have always been few talents in the family who can drive the development of the family, and they have gradually declined.
After learning that Huaiyan could make money, the Cao and Jiao families, who had been friends for generations, got together and made a desperate bid to acquire Huaiyan.
They originally planned to transport the salt to Luzhou through trade routes to sell it.
Unexpectedly, before he could take action, Luo Youdu's army approached the city.
When Master Wang arrived, Cao Yang and Jiao Yu were secretly happy that they could make more money without having to sell it to others.
Who knew that there was news that Huaiyan was no longer needed?
This moment caused Cao Yang and Jiao Yu, who were leading the matter, to break out in a cold sweat.
Jiao Yu complained: "Brother Cao, please stop knocking. It makes me upset."
Cao Yang said angrily: "I haven't told you to stop wandering, and your eyes have been dazzled."
Jiao Yu paused and said, "Tell me, is the news accurate? Our Jiao family has spent a lot of money to turn things over this time."
Cao Yang said sternly: "Isn't my Cao family like this?" He paused and said: "I don't know if it's accurate or not, but this is the truth. In recent years, Huaiyan salt has been a disaster, and Luzhou alone has 80,000 dendrobiums.
. Now Guo Zhou is so powerful that he can conquer cities and territories and is unstoppable. The Huai salt in so many state capitals is enough for the Central Plains to consume. This is 70% true, we are too greedy. We never thought that Guo Zhou would suddenly send troops from all directions and take over all at once.
Nearly half of Jianghuai Prefecture."
Jiao Yu said with a sad face: "What should we do? My father is ill in bed, how can he survive if he knows the news?"
Cao Yang pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Jiao, do you dare to do something big?"
Jiao Yu's face turned pale and he said, "What's the big one?"
Cao Yang said sternly: "Kill Zhu Lingyun, and all the soldiers and horses of Shu City are in his hands. If we kill him, there will be chaos in the city. We must gather the strong men of the family to open the city to welcome the king's army. If this happens, our Cao and Jiao families will be reused."
.Don’t forget that the son of Zhang Liangyu of Luzhou is now the governor of Luzhou, and corrupt scholars like Fang Huizhen actually became the governor of Luzhou. It can be seen that Luo Youdu can be reused as long as he has great achievements."
Jiao Yu's face looked slightly frightened, but when he saw Cao Yang's face of determination, his expression became firm and he said: "Do it!"
Cao Yang and Jiao Yu discussed the matter in detail and made careful preparations.
Cao Yang came forward and invited Zhu Lingyun to the banquet.
That day, it was almost dusk, Cao Yang and Jiao Yu were waiting anxiously outside the house.
As the sound of horse hoofbeats sounded, where Cao Yang and Jiao Yu looked was Zhu Lingyun slowly approaching.
Cao Yang was overjoyed and said, "Mr. Zhu Fengfang is going to show you his face today, and Cao will be in great glory."
Zhu Lingyun sat high on his horse and did not dismount. Instead, he looked up and said with a smile: "Brother Cao set up this banquet at Hongmen. As the rightful master, how could Zhu not come?"