Wei Bochu was embarrassed when he heard the prince's question. He was notorious because he used his work to set up a salt shop to engage in short-selling speculative business. Although he gained a lot of benefits from it, he still failed to maintain his wealth and glory... Now the prince mentioned the salt shop again, but he had to answer.

"Prince, salt banknotes are not as sinister as outside legends, but they are just the operation in the meantime... Of course, Xiaguan also participated in it back then, which led to its collapse, and it is also a big blame!" Wei Bochu thought about it and made a self-criticism first, "Cai... Cai has been issuing too much salt banknotes, which led to the depreciation of the banknotes. In other words, the issuance, recycling, exchange, and definitions of new and old banknotes are all formulated by the government, and merchants cannot participate. These irregularities cause merchants to lose confidence in buying banknotes, leading to difficulties in entering the middle, and finally the entire system collapses!"

"Then how can we ensure the quantity of salt banknotes issued and maintain normal salt prices?" Zhao Qi asked again. He knew the reason, which did not mean that he could propose a solution, but he still had to listen to the opinions of experts.

"Your Majesty, the salt merchant's capital for buying banknotes is limited. If you don't buy it all, the banknote price will be reduced and the price of the purchase will be raised, and the salt price will be increased. When the banknote is issued less than salt, the salt will fall and the banknote will rise. Only by balancing the salt can the amount between banknotes ensure profits without causing the result of one growth and the other to disappear..." Wei Bochu said in a leisurely manner.

"Mr. Wei means that as long as it is done properly, it is feasible!" Zhao Qiong said after hearing this.

"Yes, Prince!" Wei Bochu nodded.

"I have an idea. Can you please consider it?" Zhao Xiao said after pondering for a moment. "I want to set up a Northwest Salt Industry Guild, with salt owners from various salt producing areas in the northwest to jointly discuss the issuance of salt quotas. The issuance price and quantity are decided by the guild. The government does not participate in the operation and only collects taxes!" Zhao Xiao said.

"Well, it's possible, maybe I might as well give it a try!" The others looked at Wei Bochu. They also knew that he was the one who had the most say in this matter. Wei Bochu thought about it and said.

"Okay. Since Mr. Wei thinks it is feasible, then I think you should not do it. You will serve as the second shopkeeper of Shenghetang and be in charge of the salt business. The guild will be held on behalf of Shenghetang. The treatment will be based on the regulations in the hall. There are all the benefits that should be there. How about it?" Zhang Que and Zhao Zhi looked at each other with joy. Everyone saw the huge profits in the salt. Now the prince wants to hand over this to a person with lack of virtue. But although the prince asked in a controversial tone, no one could hear the unreliable meaning.

"Prince, I'm afraid it's difficult for the officials to take on the heavy responsibility, so I'll ask the prince to choose another talent!" Wei Bochu was shocked after hearing this. He knew very well who he was. And with his bad reputation, he might be counterproductive to preside over this matter, so he immediately refused.

"Mr. Wei, don't refuse. Your experience and qualifications are enough to be competent for this position!" Zhao Qi waved his hand and said, "The ancients are the ones who are dying in the morning and evening. I understand what you are thinking. If you think like this, it means that you are definitely not a hopeless bad person. Don't think too much. If you fall down and get up, you will be a dignified person again!"

"Prince, the villain will definitely work hard!" Wei Bochu said with deep tribute, his eyes full of tears, and he had experienced the coldness of the world. He experienced the warmth and coldness of the world, but the people he had welcomed abandoned him one by one, and were despised by the world. As a result, when he was in trouble, he reached out to pull himself. Not only did he ignore past grudges, he also entrusted with important tasks, so why was he not moved?

"Don't be too happy too early. You must first formulate specific rules for issuing salt banknotes. If you cannot get everyone's approval, you have to return to the mansion. At that time, you can't even be a salt prisoner, so you can only be a minor official!" Zhao Qi joked when he saw him.

"Haha, I'm the prince, I'm just letting the little one sweep the floor and never leave!" Wei Bochu wiped the corners of his eyes and smiled, with a more old style on his face.

"Zhang Que, Zhao Zhi and Mr. Wei discussed the matter of getting out of the counter and trying to come up with a charter. When we return to Taiyuan, the shopkeepers and the managers of the other departments should have arrived. Let's discuss it carefully and strive to start next year!" Zhao Qi said.

"Yes, don't worry, prince, we will do our best!" Zhang Qu and the others replied.

"I think according to our expectations, investing 2 million taels of silver should be enough to open, right?" Zhao Qi asked the three of them again.

"It can be opened normally!" Zhang Que said after rough calculations.

"Okay, that's what I think. The money is from the mansion, but I only occupy 10% of it, and the rest is distributed to the old people in the mansion, including the officials, servants, eunuchs, guards and veterans who first followed me in Xiangyi Mansion. The benefits of the caravans will be distributed evenly to everyone in the future. If the people are gone, they will be given to their descendants. I will repay everyone one or two!" Zhao Qi thought for a while and said.

"Prince, how can this be done? Your kindness can no longer be returned, so how can you get the shares again!" Zhao Zhi refused to accept it.

"Do you have too much money and look down on this little money?" Zhao Qi glared at Zhao Zhi and said, "You have been following me for more than ten years. You have served me with all your heart and strength, and followed me with all your life and death. In theory, this little money is really not much, it can only be regarded as my feelings for my brothers. Besides, I have also received 10%, which can be considered as a common prosperity!"

"Prince... The prince's kindness is really unpaid for his subordinates!" Seeing Xi's eyes turned red. He was really not short of this money now, but the prince was still thinking about these "old men". This kind of intention was enough to make people move.

"Don't say anything about kindness. If you want to say kindness, it is everyone's kindness to me. You should do your best to do this and get things done well. Even if I get the title of king one day, I can still rely on the money to support myself and not stay on the streets!" Zhao Qi said with a smile. He knew that he was walking a tightrope now. Maybe one day he would cause unrestrained disasters. Who made him a royal child? He also wanted to arrange the people around him who lived and died for him, leaving a foundation for their family to live!

......

After a few days of marching, the large group of people arrived in Youzhou. After a day of rest, they replenished food and water. Zhao Xiao led the lion general to join the "Go Home" team. With more people, it became much more lively. Only fifty miles away from Youzhou, there was a lot of yellow sand. It was rare to see a tree. Zhao Qi couldn't help but feel sad. The east and west of Youzhou were from Xiazhou, 650 miles to Lingzhou, and 560 miles to Zhongshoujiang City, and the area was almost the same as the entire Xixia. However, this place was large and a poor place.

Youzhou was located on the east bank of Hongliu River in the upper reaches of Wuding River. The city was built as early as the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the city site was chosen on a large grass beach. Caotan was connected to Hongliu River in the east and the lake at the west end. It was originally one of the agricultural development zones in the upper reaches of Wuding River. However, due to excessive development, the Mu Us Desert in the Song Dynasty had extended to this place, and flowing sand dunes could be seen everywhere, squeezing human production and living space. Only the river banks and the oasis that fell in the sand sea could see traces of farming and herd farming.

"Prince, our Zhongyong Army withdrew from Lingzhou and Youzhou. There are only the imperial guards thousands of miles in the river, and the Xiang army and archers defend. However, as the second-tier Youzhou, there are only three thousand imperial guards. Isn't it a bit hasty to do with the 5,000 Xiang army?" Zhao Xiao still had some opinions about the prince's order to evacuate the entire Hezhong area, and couldn't help but mention it.

"Zhao Zhi also asked this question. Now he has figured it out. Please listen to his explanation!" Zhao Qi chuckled. The person is really sitting in the position of his butt. The things he thinks about in his head are different. Zhao Xiao used to be in charge of a military service, but now he is a landlord general, and his view and thinking are different.

"Zhao Xiao, although the territory of Youzhou is wide, it is mostly sandy land, which is not suitable for farming and cannot even be stationed in herds. It is difficult for local households to survive on their own, and it is even more impossible to guarantee the supply of war and garrisons. If a large army is stationed here, the supply supply will depend on Shaanxi and Hedong for supply!" Zhao Zhi looked at Zhao Xiao and said, and Zhao Xiao nodded and agreed with his statement.

"The geographical environment here has determined the advance, retreat, attack and defense of the two countries. Between Lingzhou and Huanqing, the barren land of the 700-mile sea, the Xia army must conquer Lingzhou and cross these harsh ecological areas when attacking. Lingzhou thought that what I had obtained was a fertile land. The prince had nearly 100,000 soldiers, but he could farm and fight, and he would block the enemy from the natural danger of the Yellow River. The strategic position of Youzhou has declined and there is no need to consume a lot of manpower and material resources to maintain a large number of garrisons. One step back is that even if the Xixia encircles the whole country to conquer Lingzhou, the vast sea and desert are also obstacles that it is difficult to overcome. Our Shaanxi and Hedong army were warned and there were time points to gather and prepare, but the possibility of Xixia launching a large-scale attack on us and us to launch a war against Xixia has been extremely small in recent years!"

"The possibility is extremely small! Why is that?" Zhao Xiao asked in confusion.

"Because the prince is rich, and he can make money!" Zhao Zhi looked at the prince and said with a smile.

"Isn't it just about spending money?" Zhao Xiaoyou was confused.

"It's not that simple!" Zhao Zhi shook his head and kept a secret, "Xixia is on the ancient trade route. After the founding of the country, it controlled the trade routes of the Western Regions. However, the Western Regions' countries were not rich in products and were unable to support themselves. The daily tea, wine, salt, and silk needed must be purchased from outside, and the products they produce must be exchanged for through the Western Xia. This means that they have to endure the exploitation of the Western Xia and pay heavy taxes, which leads to their high prices and economic difficulties. You may not have heard of them.
Chapter completed!