Duke of Zhenguan

While yawning all the way, Lin Chuan was pulled out of Tonghuafang by Cheng Yaojin. He thought for a long time about why Li Shimin suddenly wanted to find him.

He tentatively asked Cheng Yaojin:

"Uncle Cheng, why did His Majesty suddenly summon me?"

"The other side has made their move!" Cheng Yaojin exclaimed.

Lin Chuan was stunned for a moment, then asked, puzzled:

"The price of grain in Chang'an has now stabilized at forty wen per dou, and grain from Jiangnan is still being transported to Guanzhong in a steady stream. What other methods can they use?"

"Everyone was waiting for them to make a move on the grain, but unfortunately they learned their lesson this time and didn't tamper with it..." Cheng Yaojin sighed.

After a pause, Cheng Yaojin continued:

"They tampered with the salt. During this period, they secretly bought up all the salt in Chang'an at high prices. If it weren't for the Hundred Cavalry Division getting in the news, we would still be in the dark..."

"Salt?"

Lin Chuan was stunned for a long time, then asked with an inscrutable expression.

"Yes, it's salt!"

"If it weren't for their intervention, I wouldn't have known that all the salt was in their hands!" Cheng Yaojin said with a wry smile.

"Uncle Cheng, as far as I know, besides the sea salt produced in Shandong, salt is also produced in Longyou and Shuzhong. Even if those powerful families in Hedong control the salt routes from Shandong to Guanzhong, they can't possibly control all the salt industry in the Tang Dynasty, can they?" Lin Chuan asked.

"The salt from Longyou has too many impurities and is poisonous. The well salt production in Shu is too small. Moreover, the powerful clans in Hedong were prepared. They not only blocked the salt route, but also secretly sent people to sweep up all the salt on the market!" Cheng Yaojin explained.

Lin Chuan was speechless, unsure how to evaluate Li Shimin and his large group of court officials.

They were all outstanding individuals, yet they were outmaneuvered by those powerful and influential families.

Cheng Yaojin also felt a little embarrassed and awkwardly explained:

"Who would have thought these people would dare to tamper with the salt..."

After saying that, he whispered to Lin Chuan:

"His Majesty only casually mentioned asking me to bring you into the palace. Salt is not like grain; it can't be transported from Jiangnan..."

Lin Chuan nodded. At present, Jiangnan is still undeveloped, and most of the salt in the Tang Dynasty still depends on sea salt from Shandong.

Upon arriving at the palace gates, they found them still tightly shut. While waiting for the gates to open, they encountered high-ranking officials such as Yuchi Gong, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui.

Seeing the group of deep-seated figures around him, Lin Chuan pulled Cheng Yaojin aside and asked softly:

"Uncle Cheng, I've heard there are salt mines in Longyou. Do you know how large they are?"

Cheng Yaojin glanced at Lin Chuan and said softly:

"Boy, you can think of things that we old folks can't?"

Longyou naturally has salt mines, and they are almost inexhaustible, but this salt is poisonous. Eating it can cause diarrhea at best, and death at worst. Even if there is a small amount of edible salt from the mines, it is just a drop in the ocean and cannot solve the problem at all…”

Lin Chuan nodded and whispered to Cheng Yaojin:

"Actually, my nephew wanted to talk to Uncle Cheng about doing salt business together, but Uncle Cheng took him to Luoyang, and I forgot about it..."

"Selling salt?"

Cheng Yaojin glanced at Lin Chuan and said speechlessly:

"Young man, salt is not like grain. Even if there is a poor harvest in Guanzhong, grain can still be transported from Jiangnan and Sichuan!"

Salt is out of the question. If the salt trade were so easy, why would we old folks be in such a predicament?

"Uncle Cheng, how could I dare to mention this to you if I wasn't confident?" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

Cheng Yaojin was stunned for a moment, then asked urgently:

"You think you have a way, kid?"

Lin Chuan smiled and nodded.

Cheng Yaojin knew Lin Chuan wasn't a reckless person; since he dared to agree, he must have a way. He patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder and laughed, saying:

"If you have a way, just tell me. I'll vouch for you. Even back when I fought Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande outside Luoyang, I've never been this humiliated!"

Cheng Yaojin's loud laughter was extremely jarring in the empty city gate.

Countless eyes turned to Cheng Yaojin and Lin Chuan.

Cheng Yaojin quickly suppressed his smile and asked Lin Chuan in a low voice:

"Give me a straight answer: how confident are you in resolving this matter?"

"I have a way to turn poisonous salt into green salt!" Lin Chuan said softly.

Cheng Yaojin reached out and patted Lin Chuan's shoulder heavily, saying with a smile:

"Good son-in-law, I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

Suddenly he'd become a good son-in-law, leaving Lin Chuan somewhat amused and bewildered. He asked softly:

"Uncle Cheng, Chu Rou always comes to see me secretly, you see..."

"You brat, you still have the nerve to talk back? I have no shame. The marriage isn't even settled yet, and I'm already running to your house every day. What kind of talk is that..." Cheng Yaojin scolded with a dark face.

"When did Uncle Cheng start caring about these things?" Lin Chuan asked speechlessly.

"Now! You know my daughter sneaks out every time, why don't you come and see her yourself? Is my family's threshold too high?" Cheng Yaojin asked irritably.

"I understand!" Lin Chuan nodded with a smile.

"Once inside, don't make a sound. Wait until I take you to see His Majesty privately before you speak. This time, I will make those powerful families regret it!"

Lin Chuan nodded in agreement.

Having neither an official position nor a noble title, Lin Chuan, dressed in a thin linen robe, was not qualified to attend court. He was led by a eunuch to a small room to wait.

After waiting idly for two hours, I was finally led by an attendant to a side hall of Xiande Hall after the court assembly ended.

Besides Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin, there were only two eunuchs standing in the corner like wooden figures.

"Lin Chuan, Zhi Jie says you have a way to turn poisonous salt into green salt. I'll ask you one more time: how long will it take?"

"Your Majesty, it won't take much time, and the method isn't complicated. All we need is enough manpower; we can have as many as we need," Lin Chuan replied, bowing.

"Zhijie, immediately summon the Right Guard soldiers, appoint Lin Chuan as the chief clerk, and set off for Longyou to collect salt with all your might!"

Remember, this matter must not be revealed. When the salt is transported into Chang'an, send a large number of troops to protect it!

"How dare these people bully me like this! I can't sleep or eat in peace until I get my revenge!" Li Shimin said with a cold laugh.

"I obey your decree!"

"yes!"

Cheng Yaojin and Lin Chuan bowed in response.

Emerging from the palace, Cheng Yaojin patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder with a smile and said:

"This journey to Longyou will take anywhere from six months to several months. Go back and settle things at home, then meet me at the Right Martial Guard camp this evening!"

"Uncle Cheng, don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Lin Chuan nodded.

Back home, Li Shi and Er Ya heard that Lin Chuan was going to Longyou with the army. They thought he was going to fight, and their eyes reddened as they helped him pack his things.

Lin Chuan explained repeatedly before Li was finally reassured.

After settling things at home, Lin Chuan arrived at the Right Martial Guard camp in the evening with ten guards from the Cheng family.

In the middle of the night, more than 10,000 men from the Right Guard Camp quietly left Chang'an and headed straight for Longyou.

It was only then that the people of Chang'an suddenly realized they could no longer buy salt.

It's not that prices have gone up, it's that there's no salt to sell!