"We've stockpiled it! The leaders down below foresaw a major disaster this year, so they've stockpiled a lot of goods in places like Sunjia Town. If there really is a disaster, our stockpiles can meet the salt needs of at least two provinces!"
Qin Kou'er nodded. "We need to be careful about this. Don't let the higher-ups know! In years of great disaster, the price of official salt will definitely skyrocket. If we all smuggle salt, it will at least control the salt price in Jiangnan. The people are already suffering terribly. If those unscrupulous merchants collude with officials to drive up salt prices, who knows how many more people will die! Therefore, we must ensure the waterways remain open and distribute all our salt as smuggled salt!"
“Everything is ready! The boat captain is all set and just waiting for the Pavilion Master’s order!” Jun Yannuo said softly. “This year’s harvest is good, and I’d like to give each household an extra 10% bonus so everyone can relax a bit!”
Qin Kou'er smiled slightly: "Sure! Most of the people on both sides of Yangzhou depend on us for their livelihood. We can't let all the money go to those heartless corrupt officials! You can handle this matter as you see fit. A little more or a little less doesn't matter. The most important thing is that everyone can do their job well."
Upon hearing Qin Kou'er's words, Jun Yannuo couldn't help but smile gently. "No wonder the people below regard the Pavilion Master as a bodhisattva. How many people in the world can match such a magnanimous heart! On behalf of the salt farmers, I thank the Pavilion Master!"
Qin Kou'er turned her head and gave Jun Yannuo a playful glare. "You smooth talker! Also, there's been a lot of rain in the south this year, and Yunnan and Guilin are likely to suffer. We need to prepare our tea and silk supplies in advance. These are valuable items, and their prices will probably skyrocket after the rains. Remember to store them carefully, and we'll take them all to the palace in the north. That way, we'll recoup our losses from the salt industry this year! Rich people don't care about disasters, so we still need to make back their money!"
"Of course! I always keep in mind the saying that money comes from the rich!" Jun Yannuo sneered. "Our tea and silk businesses are doing well this year. We've opened up markets not only in Henan, Hebei, and Shandong, but also in more distant border regions! We've also signed many orders with smaller countries, so income isn't a problem. But I'm afraid that if the rains come and cause a major disaster, our silk supply will be insufficient!"
Qin Kou'er thought for a moment, then looked at Jun Yannuo and asked seriously, "Have our people been overseeing the dikes built this year in several major cities across the provinces? What's the situation?"
"Look! The important parts are quite sturdy thanks to our funding. But those lower-level officials are all greedy; how could they not embezzle money on such a project? So, there are some parts we can't help with. Once the rain comes, I'm afraid there will be problems!"
Qin Kou'er frowned, touched a strand of hair at the corner of her eye, and said with a serious face, "We still have to rely on the local villagers! You need to take this matter seriously and have the leaders of the branches who collect the supplies go down and make an effort to know the situation. Save as many as you can!"
"I understand! Also, the people Mo Hun sent to scout Sun Family Town have returned!"
"Oh?" Qin Kou'er raised an eyebrow. "What did you say? Are there any people from the Crown Prince's faction?"
Jun Yannuo also became serious and said softly, "Indeed, there were people in the town who came to make a living. They bought some goods in the town. However, the locals all thought they were passing merchants and didn't pay much attention! But a few aunties did say that they had seen a group of people, not many, about ten or so people, eating in the town."
They said these people claimed to be passing merchants, but they always seemed a bit off and didn't quite resemble ordinary merchants. Furthermore, Aunt Sun, who sold braised meat, said that although these people claimed to be merchants, they were all wearing the kind of thick-soled boots suitable for hiking and trekking, definitely not the thin brocade boots that merchants usually wore. And they spoke very little to each other, their every move exuding the air of a bodyguard, like a steward!
Upon hearing this, Qin Kou'er sneered, "No need to ask! This must be someone from Lan Linxue's side! They're all talk and no action! Hmph, thinking they could fool everyone. Little did they know they'd been recognized by a country old lady. Aunt Sun has such sharp eyes; she's seen countless merchants and officials her whole life. Have she found their people yet?"
"No! However, Mo Hun has already sent people to search the mountains all around, and we believe we'll have news soon!"
"This needs to be done quickly! I have a feeling that Lan Linxue is about to do something earth-shattering. We must act faster than him!"
Jun Yannuo nodded. "There's one more thing. These people also inquired about how to get to Linjiabao and a few other places. I've already sent people to follow them."
Qin Kou'er bit her lip and thought for a moment, "Send more people! Find their whereabouts within two days!"
Once this sentence is spoken, it indicates the timeframe by which this matter must be completed.
"Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"
Qin Kou'er waved her hand, telling Jun Yannuo to hurry up and take care of his own business.
As Jun Yannuo walked away, the rain started to fall harder.
Qin Kou'er walked wearily back to her room.
Today was quite a tiring day.
As soon as he reached the door, he saw his personal maid, Meiyan, standing there, looking at him with an icy expression.
"What's wrong now? You've just gotten back, who made you angry again?"
Two months ago, Qin Kou'er instructed Mei Yan to go out and do some things, so she has been away for some time.
Mei Yan stared coldly at Qin Kou'er, pointing inside with her slender hand. "I've only been gone a few days! And there's already a man hiding in the house? Saying he's too ugly, he told me to get out! What is he? He looks like a vixen, look at those eyes, if they weren't covered, his eyeballs would practically fly to the sky! He says he's the Crown Prince? So what if he's the Crown Prince? Don't the Crown Prince's cows grow horns?"
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