Chapter 236 Sitting on the ground and splitting the stolen goods

The water ghost case was solved, which made Qin Mubai and Li Ke famous and majestic in the land of Jingxiang!

The water ghost party left by Sui in the past and who had harmed the Han River for decades was completely defeated. Du Chengyuan and Wei Haochen, the two earth tyrants, fell overnight. Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, two local great gentry, were taken down with one move. All this seemed to have happened only overnight.

When the news came out, Jing Xiang was shocked and deaf!

For ordinary people, Baojia and Lizheng in the countryside are all "big people". A casual sentence may change the fate of the family. As for the county magistrate and army officers who eat imperial food, it goes without saying that it can only be used to look up. For many years, Wei Haochen, Du Chengyuan and others have been the uncrowned emperor in the eyes of the Jingxiang people. Many people actually only know Wei Du and don't know the emperor.

Just before they remembered the names of Li Ke and Qin Mubai, Wei Du and those people were taken down by the two of them!

This speed and decisiveness is like a fast knife cutting off the fire, and the thunder is not enough to cover the ears, which is unexpected and thrilling!

Overnight, the names of Li Ke and Qin Mubai resounded through Jing Xiang.

The gossip soul of the Chinese people seems to come from the ancestors. At this moment, the gossip soul of the Jingxiang people is burning. From the day of publication, many versions of the story began to spread among the people. Under the influence of some talented gossip kings, the story of Li Ke and Qin Mubai's fight against water ghosts was widely spread. In different versions of the legend, Li Ke and Qin Mubai either turned into Zhuge Liang's "wisdom and almost demon" magic sticks, or turned into an enhanced version of Li Kui, who beat a hundred, cut through ten streets and did not change his breath. In short, it was extremely exaggerated, and almost imagined the two of them into gods and demon-like characters.

In the leisure place of the wine shop and folk shop, there are also all kinds of songs used to sing the deeds and merits of the two people, telling stories that they have exaggerated more than a hundred times. There are also some idle young officials or official royal literati. Starting from various mindsets, they have written countless poems that praise virtues and narrating things, either spread in the form of ink treasures, or directly inscribed on the walls of scenic spots and famous shops for people to pass on and watch.

The power of the soul of gossip is powerful, and the efficiency of gossip is not much worse than that of modern high-tech media. Before long, Li Ke and Qin Mubai, two physical figures, were about to be deified by the people of Jingxiang and turned into a brilliant "legend", reaching a height that could only be looked up to.

What's more worth mentioning is that the affectionate Jingxiang woman has had two more people in her dream to miss since then. Li Ke, the king of Wu, who is so handsome, with a confused, bloodline and noble birth; Qin Mubai, a young hero who is also romantic, intelligent and brave... I don't know how many women and girls tremble when they hear their names; in the middle of the night, my heart ripples, and I feel even more lonely.

At this moment, Qin Mubai, one of the legends, is no different from usual. After the noise, he enjoyed the current calm. After staying in the barracks for a few days, he has been busy rectifying the barracks and taking care of military affairs.

The case of the water ghost has been solved, and there are many people implicated in the Xiangzhou military mansion. More than a dozen officials, large and small, will be dismissed. The Zuoying Water Army has abolished more than half of them. The whole camp is full of panic.

Qin Mubai knew that this was the best time to rectify the military government and erect Enwei. Breaking and standing is equivalent to everything from the beginning. It completely broke the old reform, which was most beneficial to him.

Therefore, Qin Mubai issued a military order to recruit soldiers. A major personnel change has been carried out in the whole government. In fact, the personnel establishment of the whole military government has been subverted, and a rebirth reconstruction has been made. Although this batch of hundred riders brought from Chang'an has produced a bad horse, it does not affect their status and ability, nor does it affect Qin Mubai's trust in them. Among the remaining 30 people, in addition to Pang Fei, who has already served as lieutenant Guo Yi, more than half of them have been appointed as direct grassroots officers such as team commander, brigade commander and lieutenant, or in charge of the core important departments such as cavalry Cao, Liang Cao and Xu Cao.

Even Du Chengyuan and Zhao Chong have been uprooted. Who still has the ability to challenge Qin Mubai in the military palace? Therefore, Qin Mubai is almost a dictator doing all these things. Or with a big stroke or a mouth, the matter is settled, and no one raises any doubts.

The Tang Dynasty, a country of good martial arts, has never worried about the source of soldiers. Two days after the list was issued, under the call of Qin Mubai's prestige, it was full of trouble in an instant. Because there were too many people who joined the army, they had to choose and choose the elite among the strong. At the same time, a group of old, young and weak soldiers in the general's mansion were sent away, and there was a big change of blood.

After a great change of blood, the Xiangzhou Military Mansion instantly became full of vitality. Qin Mubai ordered that because of the mixed up, the whole battalion, whether it was veterans or new recruits, Yueqi recruits or ordinary government soldiers, began to practice again. Naturally, the subjects of practice are all newly approved by Qin Mubai himself. The elite soldiers penetrate into all the details of the military palace, which will maximize their technical and military advantages and drive the whole military palace to flourish.

Qin Mubai worked very hard to rectify the military mansion. Because he knows that his job is a general. If you don't make some achievements in the military, other tricks are too good, which doesn't make sense. He didn't expect to train these ordinary people in Xiangzhou Military Mansion like a hundred riders. But at least, they must become the "elite among the government soldiers".

I don't want to reach the peak and make it extremely old and golden, but everything is a little harder and better than others. This has always been Qin Mubai's habit.

A few days later, Qin Mubai, who had been busy for a long time, could finally sneak out and go out for a while on the premise that the military government was stable and everything was on the right track.

Yesterday, the King of Wu sent a letter saying that Zheng Anshun had not appeared since he was rescued. He stayed in Jingzhou for a long time. With the help of the local military office and the government, he was responsible for taking care of a "big disaster" left by the water ghost. Recently, he was finally busy, so he came to Xiangzhou. Anyway, you have to see him.

And this "big disaster" really surprised Qin Mubai. That is, the Water Ghost Party has hoarded an extremely huge amount of official grain and salt in the past few years. Li Ke invited Qin Mubai to meet, and also wanted to discuss how to deal with this pile of things.

Qin Mubai handed over the general affairs to Pang Fei, simply cleaned up and left the barracks for the Assassin's House. On the way, he thought for a while and said that although Pang Fei was loyal and obedient, and the things he had been assigned could be done, he always felt that he was not capable enough at present, and he always felt a little uneasy if he was alone. If only I had a strong right arm around me. Find a way to see if you can "borrow" Xue Rengui to the military mansion for use. Anyway, he is also an officer of the royal palace. There is no difference between the military register and the official position and the officer of the establishment of the government. It is also common for them to listen to each other. When it comes to the place, as long as you, the captain, and Li Ke, the assassin, nod their heads and symbolically tell the Ministry of War, you can do something.

When I got to the backyard of the assassin's mansion, I heard Li Ke's loud laughter from afar. He sat in the hall with Zheng Anshun, not knowing what he was talking about, and he was particularly speculative and happy.

"Look, the hero Qin is here, haha!" Both of them got up to greet each other.

Qin Mubai quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Do you dare to bother His Royal Highness the King of Wu and Master Zheng to welcome him? Fold the broken, break the broken!"

"Oh! Jing Xiang's most famous hero is here. Who dares not to welcome him? Li Ke laughed, "I'm really full of brilliance!"

"Oc's it, don't be sarcastic about me." Qin Mubai smiled, turned his head to Zheng Anshun and said, "Brother Zheng, I'm really ashamed that you have suffered from a period of imprisonment!"

"It doesn't matter." Zheng Anshun waved his hand with a smile, "Although he was imprisoned, he was not abused in a way. It was delicious and delicious, but there was no Your Highness to raise a glass and drink with a confidant like Brother Qin, and I was very depressed for a while.

"Haha, then you must not get drunk today!" Li Ke laughed, walked into the hall with their shoulders left and right, and said, "By the way, I've been looking forward to it for some time today. After the water ghost case was solved, I was busy with government affairs and government affairs. Mu Bai returned to the camp to reorganize the military camp. Brother Zheng was also cleaning up the aftermath in Jingzhou. This expectation is more than half! Today, the three of us finally got together. I didn't say anything. Let's share the table and use the big one!"

"Listen to Jun's life!" Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun both laughed and answered.

It's not easy to put the table together to eat. The Tang Dynasty valued etiquette and inferiority. Even if the family eats together, the elders and the young are in an orderly manner, and everyone eats at different tables. Not to mention the royal family. Whoever should sit where should be, it's all rules. No one dares to cross the thunder pool. Therefore, there is a "table-sharing" which is the most polite and noble way to treat people. For example, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the three brothers Liu Guan and Zhang "eat at the same table and sleep at the same table", which is a typical one without superiority or inferiority and are intimate with each other.

The table was put together, and soon all the good wine and dishes were brought up. Qin Mubai cooed in his stomach and smiled, "Haha, I ate dried fish and vegetable leaves and brown rice in the barracks for half a month. Today can be regarded as a tooth sacrifice. The cooks in your house are good, Your Highness, these are all famous dishes only in the palace!"

"Of course, you don't see who you are entertaining!" Li Ke smiled and said, "We are all from Chang'an. When we go to a foreign country, we should miss Chang'an's dishes, right? Haha, come on, move your chopsticks. You must eat and drink well today!"

"Please!"

After eating half full and drinking for three rounds, all three of them had a good time.

As the saying goes, a thousand cups of wine are less than a confidant. I haven't drunk in the military camp for some days. Today, I opened my belly and had a good drink with you two. Qin Mubai held a big cup and came to toast.

"Don't be in a hurry, don't drink too fast. Otherwise, it's not good to get drunk on the ground. Li Ke waved his hand. The two knew that he had something to say, so they put down the cup and listened to him.

"Today, taking advantage of the wine, I also have something to discuss with you." Li Ke said to Qin Mubai, "When you didn't come, I had already discussed a general idea with Brother Zheng. Now I want to hear your opinion."

"Well, Your Highness, please say it."

Li Ke said, "Although the water ghost case has been solved, Xiangzhou has actually suffered a heavy hit, especially in the commercial port. First of all, the two official merchants of Zhengchang Grain and Yongye Salt Square have collapsed. There has been a problem with the transshipment and distribution of grain and salt. Recently, I have personally sent government officials to temporarily manage it. However, after all, the government is not a businessman. Without their mature management methods and management methods, the effect is not ideal. In addition, Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun, the two leaders of the business world, were overthrown. Many Xiangzhou businessmen related to him were frightened when they heard the news, either closed their doors and closed down to avoid the limelight, or moved their families to make a living. I have repeatedly sent people to appease me, but the effect is not very good. It's not good to go on like this. The commercial port and dock in Xiangzhou have always been the most important source of wealth. If the commercial port is not reopened as soon as possible, the people's livelihood and taxation of the whole state will definitely fall into a big trouble.

"Therefore, I just consulted Brother Zheng. Originally, my opinion was that the Zheng family wanted to take over the official grain number and salt workshop in Xiangzhou. Li Ke said, "With the prestige and ability of the Zheng family, I think we will be able to reorganize the commercial port and regain its vitality in a very short time."

"Yes, there is indeed no more suitable candidate than the Zheng family." Qin Mubai nodded, "Is there anything else to discuss?"

"But Brother Zheng refused." Li Ke shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Help me persuade him."

Zheng Anshun smiled and said, "Your Highness, didn't I explain it to you? Brother Qin, you'd better not open your mouth.

Qin Mubai frowned doubtfully: "Brother Zheng, can you tell me the reason for your refusal?"

"Of course." Zheng Anshun nodded cheerfully and said, "For a long time, merchants have their rules and habits. Although our Zheng family has done business in 90% of the states and counties of the Tang Dynasty, it has never been involved in Xiangzhou. As for the reason, I have also explained it to you two before. In a word, the businessman in Xiangzhou has always held an attitude of resistance and disgust towards the Zheng family in Chang'an. Now, although the two leaders Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun have been defeated, it is not so easy to change the Chen Nian of Xiangzhou businessmen. The most important thing in running an official business is the channels and connections. If the local business gentry is disgusted with us, it will be difficult to do business. Making money or not is secondary. Substances such as grain and salt can't be delayed. In case of delay and stagnation in the process of transshipment and distribution, it may mean that tens of thousands of people are facing famine and salt famine, or the army is in danger of cutting off food. This kind of risk can't be afforded by anyone.

"How can it be?" Li Ke frowned and said, "If you get the official grain and official salt in your hand, there will be a situation where it can't be distributed?" Merchants from various channels, don't they make money?"

"Not really, Your Highness." Qin Mubai said, "Although I am a business outsider, I am familiar with Wu Mei Niang, and I also know more or less about some of the ways. As the saying goes, peers are jealous. In addition to win-win cooperation, there is also competition and competition between businessmen. If you make a lot of money, people will be jealous and want to make more money than you. Maybe they will use some negative tricks to ruin your business. Even if they may not make themselves earn more, they will be happy to see that you earn less. Although it is a minority, there are many such sinister people in the world. If the merchants in Xiangzhou are generally hostile to the Chang'an Zheng family, the situation will be even more difficult to say. As Brother Zheng said, making money or not is secondary. If you still take unexpected potential risks because of this, it is really not worth it. Doing business, especially those who do big business like the Zheng family, pay the most attention to the opposite rather than whether the profits are abundant, but whether the risks and costs of the business are commensurate with the profits. Am I right, Brother Zheng?"

"It's true that Brother Qin is really a fellow." Zheng Anshun nodded and smiled and said, "It's not that Zheng doesn't have the confidence to do business in Xiangzhou, but that he really can't achieve the effect your Highness said. That is to say, I can reorganize the paralyzed Xiangzhou commercial port in a very short time. I suggest that Your Highness should choose a master who has experience, strength and potential, and is strange to local businessmen in Xiangzhou, to replace the position left by Duan Rongji and Ouyang Jun and serve as the leader of Xiangzhou Commercial Port. This person, it is better to be younger, do things vigorously and decisively, and His Highness should provide him with strong government support, so that he can be the most effective.

Qin Mubai nodded and smiled and said to himself: Zheng Anshun is really a talented businessman. What he said sounds simple and unpretentious, but it contains a well-known business philosophy in the 21st century - the catfish effect.

Fishermen transport sardines, but this kind of fish is too delicate, and the mortality rate is always extremely high due to hypoxia during transportation. Obviously, dead fish are not more valuable than live fish, so the fishermen tried their best to think about countermeasures and finally came up with a wonderful recipe - to raise a carnivorous catfish in the fish warehouse where sardines are transported!

In this way, in the process of transportation, I am lazy and like quiet sardines. In order to escape the predation of natural enemies, I have to swim and escape. As a result, the problem of fish dying due to lack of oxygen was solved. And "life lies in sports", the sardines that move crazily under the stimulation of survival instinct are more alive than when they are just caught!

Thus, this catfish effect is widely used in the management of enterprises and personnel. In a dead group, a strong competitive character is introduced to stimulate other members to "counterattack" to achieve the effect of activating the whole group. Practice has proved that this move is far more effective than the internal rectification of changing the soup without changing the medicine, and the institutional reform of Yangtang to stop boiling.

Qin Mubai brought a batch of horses from Chang'an, and also laid off the old recruits and recruited new soldiers into the military mansion. In fact, he was applying the " catfish effect" to reinvigorate the military mansion.

Of course, Zheng Anshun has never learned this kind of thing, but he has learned this truth from his family's experience and business experience. Such an idea may be common to us, but for the ancients who advocated moderation, it is really very advanced and can be said to be beyond the times.

Otherwise, how did the Chang'an Zheng family become the richest man in the Tang Dynasty? If it hadn't been for some extraordinary things, how could it be like this?

"Mu Bai, what's your opinion?" After listening to Zheng Anshun's words, Li Ke asked Qin Mubai again.

"Brother Zheng said it very well. I raised my hands to express my approval." Qin Mubai nodded and praised, "The insight of the Zheng family is really unusual. I admire it!"

"Where, Brother Qin praised it." Zheng Anshun smiled modestly and said, "Compared with Brother Qin's great wisdom and courage, Zheng's trick really can't be put on the stage."

Li Ke was distressed and muttered, "If you want a businessman with experience, strength and potential, you have to be a young, motivated and courageous businessman. Where can I find it for a while?"

Zheng Anshun smiled confidently: "Your Highness, why do you have to work hard to find a candidate? Isn't there one in front of you?"

"Me?" Qin Mubai immediately smiled and said, "Don't tease me. How can it be!"

"Yes, he is a general. How can a general do business? ...Wait!" Li Ke reacted quickly, and his eyes suddenly became bright. He clapped his fist and smiled, "Yes, yes! Why didn't I think of it!"

Qin Mubai grinned: "How can I smell a trace of conspiracy?"

"Wu Mei Niang!" Zheng Anshun and Qin Mubai said with one voice, and then stroked their palms and laughed together.

"Sure enough..." Qin Mubai shook his head, "I knew that you didn't have the good intentions for me to come. Such a mess still has to spread it on my head and let me clean it up.

"Don't talk nonsense, it's just you." Li Ke rubbed his hands and said with a bad smile, "Wu Mei Niang has experience, strength and potential. He is a business genius that even the old man of the Zheng family praises. More importantly, she is young, courageous, and has the courage to fight, which is the best. In addition, when she came to Xiangzhou, she was supported by my lord, and you, a respected general, contributed to her. What else can't you do? That's it! Tomorrow, I will send someone to pick up Wu Mei Niang in Chang'an!"

The corners of Qin Mubai's mouth ** a few times and muttered, "What about her business in Chang'an? As far as I know, he just bought a spring in the store a year ago, and there was no money left in his hand. How could he come to Xiangzhou to do business? - Don't count on me, I am a poor Qingfeng!"

"Haha!" Li Ke and Zheng Anshun both laughed. Finally, Li Ke said, "Qin Xian Pavilion is just a wine shop. No matter how well it is, is it comparable to the people all over the state eating food and salt to help her make money? There are still people in the Wu family. Let's leave the wine shop to others to take care of it! As for the capital of doing business in Xiangzhou - Mr. Zheng is here, why worry about money?

"Isn't that good?" Qin Mubai said, "How can I take the Zheng family's money to do my own business?"

"Let me tell you this, Brother Qin." Zheng Anshun smiled and said, "Your Highness and Zheng have discussed with Zheng about how to deal with the large amount of grain and salt left by the water ghost for a long time. Before that, His Highness also wrote to the emperor and asked for the holy will. As a result, the holy intention was issued, saying that this batch of stolen goods were originally official belongings and should be included in the public property and returned to the original owner. Originally, it was supposed to be shipped to Chang'an and Luoyang and stored in the imperial warehouse. But the quantity is too large to be transshipped and stored for a while. Therefore, His Majesty decided to leave half of them in Xiangzhou and sell them on the spot in the form of official grain and salt. After returning the capital and making profits, the grain tax and salt tax will be paid one after another. That is to say, half of these hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and official salt will now be given on free credit, and will take over the merchants who will send the official grain and salt number, sell them first, wait for the money to be sold, and then pay the tax. Moreover, for the sake of reward and appeasement, the emperor made a special order. Within two years, the official grain and salt merchants in Xiangzhou only collected half of the tax. Brother Qin, I'm afraid this is the best business in the world. To put it bluntly, it is a capitalless business, and the profit is huge and stable.

How could Qin Mubai not understand? His eyes widened for a moment: "Is there such a good thing? How dare you two fool together for most of the day, but in fact, it's just for me to taste the sweetness!"

"Haha, you finally understand!" Zheng Anshun laughed and then said seriously, "Brother Qin has made such a great contribution. Not only is Your Highness grateful for your assistance, but Zheng is grateful for your saving your life, and even His Majesty is willing to reward you. The tax cut by the imperial court, isn't that the benefit of Your Highness's Assassin's Office?

"Not bad." Li Ke smiled and said, "Half of the tax of hundreds of thousands of stone grain and salt, such a huge profit, how dare I swallow it alone? In addition to you, Qin Mubai, who else is qualified to share with me?

"So, to put it bluntly today, the three of us are sitting on the ground to share the stolen goods?" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Haha, almost!" Li Ke also smiled and said, "Half of the grain and salt will be transported to Guanzhong by Brother Zheng, and then it will be operated and distributed through the Zheng family. Brother Zheng is a contented and kind person. After making this money, he is not in the mood to grab this one in our hands. What are you thinking, Mu Bai? Money is a good thing. Why don't you ask your charming mother to help share the money?

"Received!" Qin Mubai snapped his fingers, and he was so happy in his heart!

This trip is not in vain!

I will blatantly share the stolen goods. From today on, I, Qin, will become an explosive household! Moreover, it won't be long before Wu Mei Niang will become the king of business in Xiangzhou, a place with a lot of money.

It's really difficult to make a lot of money with such repeated toss!