"Captain Zhao, are you saying that even if the royal family knew we were producing illegal salt, they wouldn't hold us accountable and would even invest in us?"
Pei Lun was in disbelief for a moment.
Once the imperial court discovers something that is expressly prohibited, it will be severely punished and the court will take it all. How could it give away a single piece of meat?
"That's my guess. After all, the imperial court is even more short of money than the Hedong Dao! Let's not even talk about those far away. Take the Guannei Dao governor next to us, for example. He's already assembled tens of thousands of troops but hasn't yet taken action against Li Jingang. Isn't that just him planning to ask the imperial court for money?"
Zhao Muyun smiled lightly.
"Where can the imperial court afford to give money now?"
Pei Lun smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I wonder which idiot in the court suggested laying off the postmen!"
"And Tian Zun is also stubborn. He is so proactive in implementing the plan. Unlike me and Governor Wu, we chose to delay and wait and see."
"Xiazhou has been suffering from drought for years, and people are starving. Relief food has yet to arrive! Li Jingang is rebelling, and this man-made disaster is worse than a natural one."
Zhao Muyun didn't expect Pei Lun to have such a clear understanding of the current problem.
If Fan Nan were to consider this issue, he would definitely stubbornly believe that it was caused by the unruly people.
Fan Nan is a clear-minded person, while Pei Lun is a realist.
I wonder how Fan Nan is doing now? I heard he's been exiled to Lingnan and is on his way to Danzhou!
Zhao Muyun touched the sword given by Fan Nan on his waist and sighed for a long time.
However, he and Fan Nan's political enemies were bound together by interests and shared the same hatred for the enemy. It was really fate's trick.
However, before he becomes strong enough, he can only skillfully mediate between various forces.
Someone may say, here comes the emperor's grandson, if we establish a good relationship with him, wouldn't we be able to get close to the royal family?
If it were really that simple, how could there be so much intrigue and deception in this world?
Currently, Zhao Muyun and Pei Lun are engaging in smuggling salt, which has damaged the interests of the royal family and made the Zhou family, a large salt merchant who is dependent on the royal family, hate them to the core.
If you go up to lick it at this time, you will be eaten up without even realizing it.
Although Yinji's father was the Prince of Jin, he was just a prince with no real power and not much fiefdom.
The prince of a side branch of a prince is not at the center of the power vortex of Dayin at all.
Pei Lun and Zhao Muyun had exchanged private letters on these related issues over the past month, so they had something to rely on.
"Master Pei, let Tian Zun worry about Xiazhou! Let's communicate about this matter first."
Zhao Muyun coughed lightly and said, "We can't drive this gentleman away for the time being. We can't afford to offend him for the time being, but I think the Zhou family doesn't need to worry too much."
"The Jinyang Zhou family has a close relationship with the Salt and Iron Bureau, and is also connected to people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They cannot be easily touched!" Pei Lun frowned.
"This is just a matter of interest, and the Zhou family is dependent on them!"
Zhao Muyun smiled faintly, "If we also support a business that surpasses the Zhou family in terms of business volume and influence, do you think the Salt and Iron Bureau will suppress it or consider cooperation?"
"In the past, the business would have been suppressed as soon as it emerged. But now, the situation is different. The Ministry of Revenue has no money, His Majesty has no money. Not only do we not need the court to pay, we can also make money ourselves. If we can still send money to His Majesty and the Ministry of Revenue, no one will dare to touch us!"
There was a gleam in Pei Lun's eyes.
He had long understood the relationship between the imperial court and the local areas very clearly.
Today, Dayin is facing internal and external troubles. The officials in the court are constantly fighting among the factions, and the governors of Longyou, Yanyun, Lingnan and other roads with large numbers of troops are beginning to make moves and secretly develop their own power.
Border governors like Pei Lun and Tian Zun, who only had 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers and horses under their command, were still relatively honest for the time being.
"Since Lord Pei has said so, I'll do it!" Zhao Muyun smiled. "Mr. Zhou must have secretly sent people to investigate our illegal salt workshop."
"Then there is no problem on your side, right? They won't find out anything, right?" Pei Lun asked with some concern.
"Don't worry, Master Pei. We've already said so much. Even if they find out, so what? Besides, they won't be able to find anything!"
Zhao Muyun remained calm, "Everything is under my control! However, what I just said about a thousand Tartars coming to Yinzhou is true, but whether there will be more Tartars going to Shuozhou is unknown!"
Speaking of this, Pei Lun's face turned serious. "In the past month, we have fought many battles with King Zhelan in Weizhou. Hedong Road has suffered a lot of losses, and nearly five people from Zhechoufu have been killed."
"If I hadn't accompanied this gentleman to Yinzhou, I would probably have been commanding the battle in Weizhou."
The fact that Zhao Muyun was able to gain two months of precious time to build Yinzhou's city defense system had a lot to do with Pei Lun's deployment of troops to fight against King Zhelan in Weizhou.
"Master Pei, the troops of Yinzhou Zhechongfu were established not long ago and lack combat effectiveness, so they have been training all the time."
"Once the training is complete, we will definitely send troops to the Zhelan Royal Court to lend a helping hand, sir."
Zhao Muyun spoke generously but with regret.
"Captain Zhao, your current mission is to defend the strategic location of Yinzhou, ensuring a steady supply of salt and providing economic support for Hedong Province!"
"As for the surprise attack on the royal court, we'll talk about it later. During my term as Jiedushi, I will definitely recapture the three states of Yun, Feng, and Sheng!"
However, Pei Lun only allowed Zhao Muyun to garrison Yinzhou and improve the economy.
"Thank you for your consideration!" Zhao Muyun was overjoyed. "Since you are here, please help me solve this problem!"
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