Yuan Zai did not force himself and said: "My official position is small and my father-in-law returned to Chang'an, but it is very difficult for me."

Wang Yunxiu said: "It's not that I don't want to attack Shibao City. I intend to do it slowly. But the saint listens to the villain's words. I wonder if Du Gong can give me advice?"

Du Wei smiled bitterly, looked at the couple, and said: "I'm afraid there is no room for maneuver regarding the Stone Fort City matter."

Wang Yunxiu was really disappointed when he heard this.

She was indeed concerned about this matter and felt sorry for the tens of thousands of soldiers.

Yuan Zai just frowned slightly.

They had always had a good relationship with each other, but Du Wei felt a little sorry that he couldn't help with important matters, so he wanted to help Yuan Zai seek an official position. He muttered: "I can try asking Li Siqing about brother Gongfu's request for an official position.

?”

He was not familiar with Li Daosui, the Minister of Dali Temple, so this matter was difficult.

"I misunderstood." Yuan Zai shook his head and said, "I dare not bother you with such common things."

Du Wei's heart was moved, and he thought about Yuan Zai's eloquent talk about the salt method, which was very insightful, and couldn't help but said: "If you want to have Que members, it's not just Dali Temple?"

"You mean, Yan Guan?"

"Brother Gongfu is here today, would you like to go for an outing in Qujiang?"

…

Twelve-year-old Du You just poked his head out from behind the screen, when someone grabbed him by the back of his collar.

He looked back and saw that it was Du Hope who had brought someone here.

"Grandpa, my brother was coaxed by Yuan Zai to go to Qujiang."

When Du Xiang heard the word "coax", his frown eased a little, and he said with a straight face: "You go and study."

"Why is brother going on an outing while I want to study?" Du You immediately grimaced.

"There is no reason, just read it if you want."

~~

By the Qujiang Pool.

The horse's hooves stepped on the green grass. Du Wei raised his eyes and looked around, and suddenly said: "There they are."

After that, he led Yuan Zai and Wang Yunxiu to see Du Youlin.

When they got closer, Yuan Zai looked over and saw a boy about sixteen years old fluttering at butterflies. His small eyes were rather lackluster. He couldn't help but wonder if this was not Xue Bai, who was known as a beautiful boy. Could it be a young boy?

Is there a famous Du Qi?

It's really Du Wulang.

After exchanging a few words, Yuan Zai unexpectedly discovered that Du Wulang's vision was quite good. He was not surprised to learn that he was born in poverty and became a Jinshi before the age of thirty. When talking about the imperial examination, he inadvertently mentioned Zheng Qian, Xiao Yingshi, etc.

A genius-like person.

"Brother Gongfu, you are also a motivated person, so you can definitely talk to Xue Bai."

"It would be an honor to discuss salt with Xue Lang."

"Huh." Du Wulang turned around and realized, "Where did Xue Bai go?"

"..."

Everyone then asked Qinglan and Qu Shui to look for him.

The two little maids trotted along Qujiang for a while, shouting all the way, and Du Erniang came out to greet them.

"What's the rush?"

"The elder man from Anrenfang has brought his friends here and wants to get to know him."

"Which friend?"

"It seems to be Brother Gongfu."

Du Jin said: "I understand, you go first, I will take them back together."

After driving away the two maids, she waited by the pool for Xue Bai and Du Wei to finish their conversation, and the three of them walked back naturally.

"Du Wei is easy to talk to, has many friends, and is sincere in his treatment of others. In my opinion, he wants to find a job for his friends."

"Now that Yang Zheng has just come into power, it is time to recruit troops. The most indispensable thing is the personnel." Xue Bai said: "As long as the people can be used."

Du Jin said: "Yuan Zai Yuan Gongfu is Wang Zhongsi's son-in-law. Didn't someone give you a pillow when you fell asleep?"

"Yes, he and I thought about it together."

After walking for a while, the Du sisters stopped and asked Xue Bai to socialize alone.

Looking at his back, Du Jin whispered something into Du Wei's ear.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Du Jin turned around to leave, but Du Jin hugged her waist.

In this beautiful scenery of Qujiang River, the two sisters chased and fought like they did when they were children, with their skirts flying.

~~

Xue Bai believed that Yuan Zai came here not by coincidence, but because he was an extremely smart man.

Wang Zhongsi, the sworn brother of the crown prince and the military governor of the four towns, is far less majestic than he looks at the moment, and he even looks like he is being roasted on a fire.

He wears the seal of commander of four towns and controls troops thousands of miles away. All the powerful military towns in the northwest are in the hands of one person. This is something that has never happened in the more than 100 years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

If Li Longji dies, Wang Zhongsi is the biggest guarantee that Li Heng can successfully succeed to the throne and take power. Li Heng will have to rely on him and comfort him for a long time until his wings are full.

The problem is that Li Longji does not look like someone who is about to die, and he thinks he can live for a long time.

Smart people can see that Wang Zhongsi has become a thorn in the saint's throat.

Stone Castle City, is it really a matter of border warfare?

To fight or not to fight, to win or not to win, how does Wang Zhongsi choose?

Yuan Zai must have understood this, and may have already planned a way out, but the emergence of Yang Hao's party could be a better way out for him.

"In front of Xue Lang, although I have only been back to Chang'an for a short time, I have already heard many stories about your deeds. When I saw you today, I realized that Xue Lang's demeanor is even better than the rumors."

"Brother Gongfu is so kind. I have admired your name for a long time."

"Oh? When did you hear about me?"

"I've heard good stories about brother Gongfu and his sister-in-law."

Yuan Zai then looked at each other and smiled slightly.

"Good things don't go out, and bad things spread thousands of miles." Wang Yunxiu glared at Yuan Zai, showing a bold and generous attitude, and smiled generously towards Xue Bai: "You call me sister-in-law, and if you have anything to do from now on, just ask."

Xue Bai was not polite and responded: "There must be something to do to find a brother and sister-in-law."

Everyone clapped their hands and laughed, and Yuan Zai talked to Xue Bai about salt, iron, and taxes.

After he became an official, he first served as the Xinping County Lieutenant and then as the Supervisor and Judge of Central Guizhou. He had a very good understanding of people's livelihood practices and was really talented. Xue Bai was impressed as soon as he opened his mouth.

"In addition to the fixed salt tax collected by the court, the salt industry is actually in the hands of large households. Maybe Xue Lang thought that all the laborers in the salt field were employed people? Otherwise. Managing the borders, repairing ponds, and watering and drying are all hard labor, and the laborers are all slaves of the large households.

Discussing the Salt Law of "People collect, officials collect, and traders", it is intended to allow the poor to collect salt, and the court will earn part of the profits and then sell it to traders. In fact, it interferes with the big salt industry and collects taxes from wealthy merchants. However, if it is not implemented properly, the price of salt will

The price will skyrocket, and in the end it will still be the ordinary people who buy salt who suffer..."

Yuan Zai talked eloquently, citing several examples of small local salt farms when he was an official, and at the same time observed Xue Bai's reaction.

When he saw that Xue Bai kept nodding and agreed with his opinion, he began to put forward his opinions.

"I think the key to discussing salt is to collect taxes on salt. Although there will be great results in the short term, if there is no control, if the price of salt rises and illegal salt is rampant, it will be chaotic. Therefore, the key lies in the government's ability to control it. The price of salt. Although I am not talented, I have a humble opinion on this. Xue Lang might as well take a look."

Having said this, Yuan Zai actually took out a piece of policy paper from his sleeve.

Xue Bai took it, looked at it carefully, nodded, and murmured: "Goodbye, Brother Gongfu."

His face became solemn, and he took a deep look at Yuan Zai, feeling a little hesitant.

Yuan Zai sat cross-legged on the grass, his body upright and his eyes full of confidence.

He didn't know what Xue Bai was still hesitating about, but he knew that he was the talent who could help Yang Sui handle the salt issue.

a long time.

Xue Bai seemed to have glanced at Wang Yunxiu and made a decision, saying: "Brother Gongfu, can you leave this policy document to me? I would like to ask my uncle to take a look."

Yuan Zai was very happy.

He was already a Jinshi, and he was stepping up to become an eighth-grade official in the ninth-grade official position, but what he did today was actually applying to a young man with a white body.
Chapter completed!