In the purple bamboo forest of Luqiaoyi, a strong wind blew, and the bamboos slanted their shadows. Two people, a man and a woman, were walking along the mountain path.
The man is tall, with thick eyebrows and tiger eyes, wearing a blue robe, with a turban on his head, and carrying a heavy sword on his back; the woman is slender, with thin eyebrows and long eyes, wearing a red dress, a red scarf on her head, and carrying an exquisite dagger. The two seem to be walking
Easily, but at an amazing speed, as if riding on the wind.
"Brother Long, I made money by going to Beijing this time, so why don't we go back to Niutoushan?"
"How could Sister Feng say such a thing? If master hears it, I will definitely punish you."
The man with the heavy sword is none other than Long Tiangang, the eldest disciple of the Sword God, and the woman beside him is Dugu Feng, the daughter of the Sword God.
"Huh, dad trapped us in the mountains all day long. We were so bored. How could we see such prosperity? We should do something while we are young. Once we have money, we can take root in Luoyang and build a sect with the help of Long Ge's martial arts. If
Brother Long will carry forward the Dugu Sect's martial arts, and I think dad would be happy to see it."
Listening to the junior sister's thoughts about the future, Long Tiangang just smiled and said nothing.
After walking for a while, they came to a ruined temple. Long Tiangang concentrated his attention and looked around: "According to the letter, it should be here."
Suddenly, a black figure jumped out of the dense forest. Hearing the sound, Long Tiangang and Dugu Feng turned around to look. They saw this tall man, dressed in black clothing, with a black belt on his head, holding his shoulders, and leaning sideways.
Long Tiangang frowned and stared: "Chen Qianfou?"
Chen Qianfou sneered: "You still recognize me."
Long Tiangang snorted: "Did you invite me here?"
"Yes, it's me." Chen Qianshou walked forward and dropped a bag of money on the ground: "Don't worry, I won't lie to you. I have brought the deposit, but whether you can get the money depends on
Do you have this ability?"
Long Tiangang laughed loudly and pulled out the heavy sword from behind: "How can I be brave when my general is defeated?"
Chen Qianfou tightened his stance on his horse, and suddenly there was a wave of air around him. He crossed his hands in front of him in the shape of dragon's claws: "When I fight alone, have I ever lost to you?"
Without saying much, a sudden strong wind blew in front of the ruined temple. Long Tiangang swung his heavy sword, and a stream of sword energy spurted out. Chen Qiansou flew up and stabbed the bamboo forest with the sword energy. The bamboo forest was separated by the sword energy, just like a fast boat entering the water and dividing the waves.
.
Chen Qianfou flew over and aimed his claws at the top of Long Tiangang's head. A ball of air rolled out of his claws with thunderous light. Long Tiangang dodged and the ball of air flew out and hit the ruined temple. The temple collapsed and the house collapsed, raising sand and dust.
one slice.
…
The candidate horses stayed at home for a trial marriage. Eight days passed, which was a cycle. In the morning, the eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to the princess's mansion and inquired about the status of the trial marriage of the eight maids.
The maids' words were almost the same. They all said that the candidate horse was of noble character, gentle in temperament, healthy, large and durable, and made people happy both physically and mentally.
The eunuch didn't say much. He recorded the test girl's words in a book and asked Princess Mei to sign it.
The princess said that the eunuch worked hard and gave him some silver. The eunuch was so happy that he wrote the words "everything is true" on the booklet and left happily.
Su Ping was bored at home these days, but he was not idle. He thought hard and always felt that he could think of a way to make fine salt. He had had this plan before, but he didn't dare to think about it deeply, otherwise he would have a splitting headache, as if he had a fever.
A serious illness.
At this time, there was nothing to do, and he thought, even if he really got sick, there would be someone to take care of him, so he thought deeply about it. The key word "vegetation ash" really came to mind.
But no matter how specific it was, he couldn't remember it, and he didn't dare to think about it. He just felt such pain that it could hurt someone to death.
Su Beixuan set up a stove in the backyard and cooked large salt particles all day long. The princess asked him what he was doing. Su Ping only said that he was turning coarse salt into fine salt. The princess just said she didn't believe it, and that Su Ping had lost her heart. Crazy. But she didn't stop Su Ping, because ever since she met Su Ping, she often caused accidents.
Su Ping is conducting an experiment during a large-scale production. First, put coarse salt into boiling water, melt the salt block, cook the concentrated brine, filter out the residue with linen cloth, and pour the brine into the jar. Put the burned plant ash into the bucket, stir well, and use Filter through linen, and pour the plant ash water into high-concentration salt water. After sedimentation, filter again, pour the remaining salt water into a pot, and boil over high heat until it crystallizes.
Su Ping took a group of maids and fiddled around in the backyard for three days. He finally found the most suitable ratio of plant ash and wood ash. The more he cooked, the better he got. The fine salt he produced was getting better and better. Su Ping put the fine salt in Give it to the maids, one packet each. The maids are beaming with joy.
"Hey, he really made it?"
Zhen Ping'er also got a pack and showed it to the princess. The princess picked up a handful with two fingers and looked surprised: "Fine salt is expensive, but he can turn coarse salt into fine salt. Isn't this profitable?" A lot of money?"
Zhen Ping'er smiled and said: "The princess is so talented, the princess is really lucky."
Tang Mei muttered: "It is a blessing to be able to make some salt? No matter how much salt he makes, he will not be able to sell it, let alone buy the second-grade title."
Grandma Wang smiled and said, "Who says otherwise? He is lucky to be a county horse master."
Tang Mei looked at the snow-white fine salt again, her eyes became delighted, and asked Zhen Ping'er: "How did he do it?"
Zhen Ping'er said: "We have seen the steaming and boiling process, but we didn't know how much water Su Beixuan could pour into the brine to turn the coarse salt into fine salt. When asked about the recipe, he didn't tell me. It was done well. It’s mysterious.”
Tang Mei nodded and said, "Just don't tell me. If you tell others, they will do it. How much money will you make?"
As if she had obtained a magic weapon to get rich, Tang Mei couldn't wait and took Su Ping to see Tang Kuan.
The imperial court controlled the salt industry, but the family was so powerful that Tang Kuan felt that there were unlimited business opportunities.
Tang Kuan twisted the fine salt in his hand: "It's really good. But now the salt policy is under the jurisdiction of Shangshu Province. If we want to ship in large quantities, we need to go and say hello to them. Let me talk to some officials of Shangshu Province. , and then make a decision. Oh, by the way, the coarse salt in the three warehouses is now sealed and will not be given to anyone who comes to pick it up."
Tang Kuan sighed: "If those coarse salts can be turned into fine salts, we can earn hundreds of thousands of taels at least."
Until now, Su Ping has not told him how to make fine salt. Tang Mei asked him, but he didn't tell him. Tang Mei was anxious, so Su Ping said that the secret should not be leaked, otherwise he would be punished by God.
"This formula was told to me by an immortal in the mountains. The old immortal said that I cannot pass on this magical technique to others, otherwise I will suffer retribution." Su Pingzhuang said in a mocking manner.
Tang Meicai didn't believe his lies and said angrily: "Just hide it and hide it well. If you don't tell me, I will let you work in the future and you will be exhausted, you little old turtle."
Sometimes, I think Tang Mei is quite childish, but that's fine. I really don't want women to lose that innocence.
Although Su Ping didn't reveal the secret recipe, he gained unexpected respect. The Tang family paid great attention to this talented son-in-law, and even arranged swordsmen to the princess's mansion. What's even more incredible is that... A watchtower was built in the princess's mansion.
Now the front and back gates of the Princess's Mansion are protected by Tsing Yi men holding swords, and there are swordsmen watching from the tower, so the security is tight.
It was certainly a good thing to have armed forces stationed there, but there were always people staring above, which made Su Ping feel a little uncomfortable.
It will be a little inconvenient if I want to sneak out in the middle of the night.
Moreover, the monthly salary of these four green-clad thugs has to be paid by the princess's mansion (the three swordsmen in Wanglou are supported by the family).
Tang Mei only had 25 taels of silver per month. In addition to supporting herself, she also had to support an old woman and eight maids. Now, with the addition of four green-clad thugs, it was enough for her to drink a pot.
After dinner, Su Ping played chess with the princess. The princess only played Go and not chess. She said that chess was too murderous and was considered inferior.
Su Ping is good at chess, but he can only understand the rules of Go, but is not proficient in it. However, the princess is not very good at chess, so the two of them are matched.
Su Ping paused and said, "I bought a small building in Pingkangfang, and also bought a courtyard. I am idle now, so I might as well go there to make fine salt and sell it. It's just the government side, it's hard to say."
Tang Mei said: "It's better to wait for Fourth Brother Xin'er. You will be busy in Qinghuafang in the future."
Su Ping said: "If you sell the salt in Qinghuafang, the family will make money, so what does it have to do with you and me? But if I sell it in Pingkangfang, it will be my own, and it will supplement my family's income. How wonderful is that?"
Tang Mei thought for a while and shook her head.
Su Ping added: "Here in Luoyang, no matter how your fourth brother negotiates with those people, you still have to pay taxes. But over in Chang'an, your family's territory is yours. I'm thinking of letting my father set up a factory in Chang'an. Of course.
It must be co-organized with the Shence Army. But you also know that the recipe cannot be leaked, and I will only tell dad. Until then, how about arranging a salt policy for dad?"
Tang Mei said: "You are overthinking. Even on the Chang'an Road, our family does not collect taxes alone. There are chief historians, salt and iron envoys, etc. in the Taoist government, who are all sent by the emperor. During the war, taxes are directly used for the war.
.But in peacetime, part of the tax revenue must still be allocated to the court, especially salt, iron, copper, silver and gold."
Su Ping frowned: "Co-author, I worked hard on inventions, but in the end I didn't get any benefits?"
Tang Mei smiled and said: "How can there be no benefit? When father comes back, I will tell him about this matter, and he will be happy. And I am sure that your father will be promoted to a noble title. If your father loves to be an official, I will
It's not difficult to see. It's just a matter of what dad said. But you also have to think clearly, our Tang family officials are not that easy to be. Dad has always been ruthless in punishing corrupt officials."
Su Ping nodded and said, "That's true. When the governor of Wuwei stole dozens of horses, he was killed by your father. After the Sima Lintong of Wuwei arrived, he also lived a miserable life and did not dare to embezzle military funds."
Tang Mei lowered her voice and asked secretly: "Tell me the truth, Lin Tong really didn't raise any children in Wuwei?"
Su Ping blinked: "If I tell you, will you tell Tang Yun?"
Tang Mei said: "You tell me first, and I'll tell you later."
Su Ping stared at Tang Mei, Huixiao smiled and said, "I don't know."
The reason why Su Ping was willing to give up this method to the Tang family was because he couldn't do the business himself. Even if he secretly set up a workshop to produce it, he couldn't sell it openly. If he was caught selling it privately by the government, he would probably arrest him.
So it is better to sell the Tang family. If the Tang family runs well and makes money, Su Ping will feel at ease living in Qinghuafang and get rid of the feeling of being dependent on others, and his father's title should be stable.