The result was exactly as they had imagined. Most of the salt sold went into the hands of the Five Surnames and Seven Families, who bought it at twice the price. Although doing so might cause them heavy losses, it was also a means to maintain their interests. It seemed that they had lost money from Li Xiang, but as long as they could prevent Li Xiang's salt from flowing out, they would be able to earn the money back sooner or later. As long as people are alive, they cannot live without salt.
Li Shimin took Li Xiang back to the Qinzheng Hall. There was no need to stay there to get the treasure. The strategy he had been working on for so long was defeated by these people with a stupid method.
Li Xiang did not participate in the salt permit auction, so he could only sell 400,000 kilograms of salt a year. Since they dared to spend such a huge price to buy all of Li Xiang's goods, there must be someone who would keep an eye on Li Xiang's goods. Once Li Xiang's sales figure exceeded this number, someone would stand up and make trouble, which would mean that Li Xiang had broken the rules.
Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji were also called over. They also thought that today was a victory day, but their housekeepers had gone out to inquire about the news. The price of salt on the market did not fluctuate much. Although Li Xiang had already been listed on the market simultaneously across the country, many people simply could not buy the goods, so the impact on the national salt market was minimal.
"It seems we really underestimated them. Have all 400,000 kilograms of salt been sold out?"
Changsun Wuji had also read all the information. He also thought that this was a good opportunity to weaken the major families, but he did not expect that the major families were so united on this matter. It was impossible for one or two families to consume all 400,000 kilograms of salt. Even if they could come up with the money, they would not be able to consume this batch of goods in more than a dozen cities across the country.
"There are still 50,000 kilograms of quota left."
After hearing what Li Xiang said, everyone else shook their heads. Even if it was 150,000 kilograms, since the Five Surnames and Seven Families were prepared to deal with it this way, they would be able to eat it.
Li Xiang originally thought that with the advantage of being reborn and the better quality of his goods, he should be able to catch them off guard in the salt market and cause heavy losses to their major families, especially the Taiyuan Wang family who took the most. However, he did not expect that they could unite in such a short time. Someone must have strung this thread together.
"I think this is nothing. Struggles are always won and lost. If we were always victorious, life would be extremely boring. At least in the grassland auction and the salt permit auction, we gained a lot of advantages, and they also lost a lot. Although this last step didn't hit them, they didn't gain any benefits either."
Seeing that everyone's morale was a little low, Fang Xuanling quickly spoke out the words he had organized. After he finished speaking, everyone's faces looked a little better. At this moment, Li Shimin and Li Xiang were one family. If they did not defeat the people of the Five Surnames and Seven Families, even if Li Xiang sat in that position, he would be as timid as Li Shimin in doing anything, fearing that these people would cause trouble for him.
"Do you have any countermeasures?"
Li Shimin said with some unwillingness to give up.
"Although I can raise the price of the remaining 50,000 kilograms of salt and make a lot of money from them, they will eventually raise their sales prices and pass their costs on to ordinary people across the country. This makes no sense."
Now the remaining share is too small. If the price continues to rise, it will suit their wishes. The price of all salt is at a high level, so there is no need for them to take over Li Xiang's salt.
There may be some rich people who buy Li Xiang’s salt, but it will have little impact on the national market.
If we had known this situation earlier, perhaps Li Xiang would have participated in the salt permit auction.
"Will the court increase the number of salt permits again?"
Li Shimin was unwilling to miss this opportunity, but after he said this, he shook his head. Doing so would indeed cause the Five Surnames and Seven Families to suffer, but at the same time the court would lose its credibility. In the future, when the court wanted to do something, it would probably be even more difficult.
The three old men discussed it here, but ultimately could not come up with a solution. They could only wait until next year when the salt permits went on sale, and then everyone would pool their resources and buy more salt permits.
But Li Xiang didn't want to think like this. No one could tell what the situation would be like a year later. Li Xiang thought of Master Cui Sanye.
After leaving the emperor, everyone felt a little lost. This was the first time that Li Xiang had been tricked by someone since he was reborn, so he felt a little uncomfortable.
"Take my post to Cui's house."
Li Xiang said to Qian Ping.
"Is this old slave going to go there so brazenly?"
Qian Pingduo asked another question, "Now is a turbulent time. We are fighting with the people of the Five Surnames and Seven Families. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince just goes there like this, it may cause some people to misunderstand."
"You old fox, don't overthink it. Of course, some people might be suspicious of me in the past, but do you think Mr. Cui Sanye is not suspicious? People in my camp will be suspicious of me, and people in their camp will be suspicious of him too, and you just walk past like that so brazenly."
Li Xiang said with a smile that he was not afraid of anyone's suspicion. The only person he needed to deal with was the emperor. Li Xiang invested more in this matter than the emperor. The emperor had no reason to suspect that Li Xiang had any connection with the five surnames and seven families. What's more, Li Xiang was now the crown prince and the future master of the entire empire. His interests were unprecedentedly consistent with those of Li Shimin.
But it was different on Mr. Cui Sanye's side. Mr. Cui Sanye and Li Xiang had always had a good relationship. Although they had unprecedented cooperation on the salt issue this time, the Cui family on the grassland did not follow up. Everyone was more or less concerned. Li Xiang went there with such fanfare that someone might have wild ideas and reveal his true intentions.
Since Li Xiang was reborn, he has only displayed his full carriage twice. One time was when he went to Changsun Wuji's house, and the other time was now. Before the invitation was delivered, Li Xiang was preparing to go to the Cui family in a grand manner.
Even if I have failed in this matter, I will not let you guys have an easy time. I have to make the situation more muddy and never let you big families celebrate the victory. Nothing is that easy in the world, and it is even more difficult for me.
