Red Mansion: I relied on the AFK system to create a dynasty

"Salt is the lifeblood of the world."

"Since I'm here in Yangzhou, I have to meet all the salt merchants who have revitalized the world."

Cen Mingche said to Lin Ruhai with a smile, which was funny but did not reach his eyes.

"Master Lin, tell me the truth, how many salt merchants are there who do not side with the Zhen family?"

"Zhen Jiaming controls half of the four major salt merchants in Jiangnan."

"Oh, on the bright side."

"Yes, on the surface - no one knows whether these four major salt merchants are all members of the Zhen family."

Cen Mingche thought for a while.

"Mr. Lin, what is the relationship between these four major salt merchants?"

"Your Highness, the four major salt merchants are the Li family, the Dou family, the Zhang family, and the Yan family. The Li family is related by marriage to the Zhang family and has had a long-standing feud with the Dou family. The Li family is already the largest salt merchant, and the Dou family The family wants to replace the Li family."

"anything else?"

"The Dou family and the Yan family have a close relationship, and they have many business and personal contacts."

"So, on the surface, both the Li family and the Dou family want to surpass each other. The Li family forms an alliance with the Zhang family, and the Dou family forms an alliance with the Yan family."

"Exactly."

"Then, let me meet the people who talk about these four families."

"Sir, obey."

……

"Do you know everything? His Highness the Third Highness wants to see you tomorrow."

"This……"

"Keep your mouth shut, don't say what you shouldn't say!"

"Sir, we definitely know this."

"That's right, sir, could you tell me what the reason is for His Highness the Third Prince to come to us for?"

"Haha, you just need to remember to be careful."

"Yes Yes."

"If I'm right, he should be friendly to you. Just use your discretion, huh?"

"understand."

……

noon the next day.

This time the banquet was held in the private garden of Dou Yan merchant.

Ge Garden is based on bamboo and stone. Even the character "ge" in the name of the garden is taken from half of the character bamboo, which corresponds to the various bamboos in the garden.

In addition, it is also named because every three bamboo leaves on the top of the bamboo can form the character "Ge", and the shadow on the white wall is also the character "Ge".

The four-season rockeries in Geyuan each have their own characteristics.The mountains in spring are gorgeous and like a smile, the mountains in summer are green and like drops, the mountains in autumn are bright and clean like makeup, and the mountains in winter are bleak and like sleep.

After Dou Yanshang invited Cen Mingche to visit, he placed a small banquet in front of the spring scene.

The tall bamboos on both sides are taller than the wall, soaring into the sky and reaching the clouds.Among the bamboo clumps, stalagmites are planted with mottled stone green, which means "love springs from every inch of stone", which means "bamboo shoots springing up after the rain".

Stalagmites and real spring bamboo shoots are intertwined, which is quite like the growth of all things in spring.

According to Cen Mingche, this was a small banquet, with only one table set up. Apart from the four salt merchants, it was only him and Lin Ruhai.

Li Yanshang's face was round and fair, but it still looked a little bruised because of what happened before.But he looked calm and calm.

Zhang Yanshang is slightly thin, in his early 30s, has a goatee and small eyes, and looks very shrewd.

Dou Yanshang has a red square face, a tall build and a deep voice.

Yan Yanshang is a white-faced scholar, about forty, elegant, with a peaceful expression.

"Your Highness has already tried the three-head banquet. How about trying the spring feast today?"

Dou Yanshang did not nod and bow like Li Yanshang. Instead, he used the word "peng" more brilliantly.

The Spring Festival Banquet consists of eight cold dishes, eleven hot dishes, four delicacies, four rice dishes, one staple food, and fragrant tea.

All ingredients are limited to spring.

In this era, this delicacy is something that even an emperor would miss if he missed it.

Cen Mingche is also a foodie.

"Catfish and lion's head, clam tofu, toon tofu rolls, shepherd's purse and spring bamboo shoots with shredded pork, shrimp roe and bamboo shoots, these dishes should be cooked by the same chef, right?"

"Your Highness has a really good tongue! If Your Highness likes it, why not take this cook away?"

"That would be disrespectful. It just so happens that my father also misses this Jiangnan taste."

The implication is that the cook should be dedicated to the emperor.

Li Yanshang glanced at Dou Yanshang.

Well, he worked so hard to send women money, but the flattery ended up being slapped on the horse's leg and he was punished.

Dou Yanshang was suddenly entranced!

Hey, that's really annoying.

After the banquet, several people moved the conversation place to an open pavilion.

The tea is Osmanthus Longjing, and the authentic Mingqian tea is used. The tea soup is clear and refreshing, the tea leaves have distinct roots, and the aroma is long aftertaste.

Yangzhou salt merchants are more extravagant than the royal family, and their reputation is well-deserved.

Dou Salt Merchant was very enthusiastic, and Cen Mingche began to introduce the composition of the salt merchant without asking too much.

Salt merchants are actually a general term and are divided into several categories.

Market merchants are middlemen who purchase salt from households in designated salt farms and sell it to transporters.

Transporters, also known as renters, use salt to lead to designated salt-producing areas to buy salt from traders, and then sell it to designated salt-selling areas.

A general merchant is a large merchant who can handle both of the above. They generally have strong capital and broad hands.

These four major salt merchants are all general merchants and have their own salt farms that they are familiar with.

The handover between market merchants and transport merchants is inherently the easiest to manipulate.

Unlike those small salt merchants who still have to negotiate deals, for the four major salt merchants, the transportation of salt from the salt field to the right hand is left to the right, and there are more tricks in it.

"Like me, salt is transported to the northwest, Lao Zhang likes to go to the northeast, Lao Li's caravan shop is in the west, and the Yan family is in the south of the Yangtze River."

"Oh? Why is the Yan family in Jiangnan?"

"Haha, come back to Your Highness, because my salt is the best and most delicate. There are many rich people in the Jiangnan area, so naturally my salt sells best."

"Exactly, today's banquet is also made of salt from the Yan family."

"It turns out that I was taught."

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Cen Mingche was also very kind to Dou Yanshang and asked him many times. The two seemed to have a very happy conversation, but he ignored Li Yanshang.

Zhang Yanshang and Yan Yanshang were making jokes on the sidelines, and the scene was very lively for a while.

……

"Your Excellency is absolutely right. His Highness the Third Highness really has a good attitude towards me."

"Huh, what he wants is to pull one and hit the other. What a beautiful idea!"

"Exactly. How can the Third Highness compare to you?"

"Find a way to make him think that you have surrendered to him. If necessary, you can throw something out."

"This……"

"It's nothing to sacrifice something. You can always earn it back in the future. But if he finds out something is wrong... then there will be no future."

"Yes, I can't bear to let the child catch the wolf, I understand!"

"As for the man named Li... don't think too much, we still need him to be at the front. He can't fall for the time being!"

"Then...the Zhang family?"

"You can handle it yourself."

"Little understands."

Since that day, Cen Mingche seemed to have a good impression of Dou Yanshang and called him many times.

Li Yanshang was so angry that his teeth itched.

He should have been the one showing his face!

One move in chess is missing, one move in chess is missing!

Li Yanshang was troubled.