"I am not in Yangzhou for a few days, has there been any major incidents in the city?" Everyone stood up, and Li Ke also turned over to the horse. Ma Zhou, who was entrusted by Li Ke to decide everything in Yangzhou, followed Li Ke. Li Ke turned around and asked Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou thought for a while and replied to Li Ke: "Du Xiang came very quickly. With Du Xiang standing here, there was no chaos in Yangzhou City."

Du Ruhui started his career in the army and was once the prime minister. He was very at ease in governing the world. It was not a problem for mere Huainan. With him, even if someone was in trouble, he would not dare to act without action.

However, Ma Zhou paused, as if he had remembered something, but said to Li Ke: "There are no ones who took the opportunity to cause chaos, but if you hear about it, you will probably be a little unhappy."

Li Ke heard this and asked, "Oh? What's the matter?"

Ma Zhou replied: "Just just two days after His Highness disappeared, the salt prices in Huainan have been rising all the way. From 180 to 300 ci per bucket, it has reached nearly 500 ci. There are many people who are unable to buy salt. Although the danger of salt is not as fierce as the flood, it should not be careless."

Li Ke listened to Ma Zhou's words and nodded slowly, while his eyes showed a hint of coldness.

When Li Ke was still in Xuyi, he issued a strict order that the price of salt in Huainan would not exceed 180 cents per bucket, but now Li Ke has been missing for more than ten days and the flood has stopped. These salt shops in Huainan became rampant and openly raised the price of salt to 500 cents, which is more than the limit.

Li Ke asked Ma Zhou: "Since Du is here, why is this happening?"

Du Ruhui was ordered by the emperor to go south to Huainan. When Li Ke was not around, he was appointed as a magistrate and pacified the southeast. The high salt prices were of great significance. In theory, Du Ruhui should not ignore this matter.

Ma Zhou sighed and said to Li Ke: "Du Xiang has no need to say much. It's just that the Du Xiang family is born in the Du Xiang family. Most of the officials in the Huainan states are in charge of government affairs. They have always been careless about these trivial matters among the people. They even said bluntly that they do not want to compete with the people for profit, so they have never taken it seriously."

Li Ke listened to Ma Zhou's words and slowly understood that Du Ruhui was a child of aristocratic family, and he was not an ordinary child of aristocratic family. Du Ruhui came from the Du family of Jingzhao and was a family of several aristocratic families in the world.

Although the Du family of Jingzhao is not among the seven sects and five surnames, their fame is not inferior to them in terms of fame.

Such a background made Du Ruhui difficult to fully compassionate with the people's sentiments, and naturally he was incomparable to officials like Ma Zhou, who had started from a small amount.

"Where is Xiang Du now?" Li Ke asked Ma Zhou.

Ma Zhou replied: "Suce Du knows that His Highness returns to Yang and is already waiting in the inner city of Yangzhou."

Du Sui-secret is Li Ke's retainer, so he needs to avoid suspicion, so naturally there is no need to go out of the city like Ma Zhou and others to welcome him. Moreover, Du Ruhui was a Duke and had been a prime minister, so he would not be too low. Being able to welcome him in the inner city is already a great face.

Li Ke thought for a while and said to Ma Zhou: "When I return to my house, you will work hard later, lead your army with Huaidao, and "invite" Zhou Dingfang, the head of the Southeast Salt Market, to me, and I will invite him to the banquet."

Li Ke spoke, his tone became colder.

Li Ke is here, even if Zhou Dingfang is rich in the southeast, he is not worthy of being such a person "inviting" him over and even entertaining him in person.

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou responded and said, "I will go and hold it now. I just don't know if the banquet is held tonight, but should I count the Du Xiang?"

Li Ke immediately said, "No need. In this matter, since the Du Xiang is different from what I am suppose, why bother him to ask him for trouble? This matter is personally asked, so there is no need to pass by Du Xiang."

Li Ke was not in Huainan, and Du Ruhui was the first official in Huainan. But now that Li Ke has returned to the east, Du Ruhui naturally retreated to the next seat. Li Ke has acted past him and is already in a cheap position.

However, in fact, Li Ke deliberately avoided Du Ruhui, which was not entirely because of Du Ruhui's identity, but more because of his own selfish considerations.

The people must live without salt. Li Ke knows better than anyone else how profitable the salt business is. Li Ke is the prince, with a wealth of 10,000 acres of fiefs. He is not short of money, but if he wants to fight for the throne, he naturally has to support his retainers and win over all parties in the court and the opposition. These expenses are not small. Now that he has such a profitable business at Li Ke, how could he miss it?

It can be said that "any man is guilty of being guilty of being a treasure." When Zhou Dingfang showed his wealth in front of Li Ke, Li Ke had already thought about him. Zhou Dingfang and their Southeast Salt Market were also domineering the market and bullying the people. Why should Li Ke replace him? He accepted this profitable Salt Market business and made his own money bag.

Since Li Ke had this kind of intention and wanted to do such a thing, he would naturally not call Du Ruhui again and would cause trouble for himself in vain.

"Your Highness's intention is to be a minister." Ma Zhou also responded when he heard this.

Although Ma Zhou did not know Li Ke's thoughts, since Li Ke deliberately mentioned this matter, he must have other plans, and most of them wanted to avoid Du Ruhui and the court.

When Li Ke was not around, Du Ruhui was a big Buddha. He could suppress the Jianghuai River and would naturally have a great effect on the current situation in Huainan. But now that Li Ke is back, these two big figures exist in a small Huainan at the same time. Du Ruhui is also Li Shimin's confidant, and Du Ruhui can only be a constraint for Li Ke.

After all, Du Ruhui is different from an ordinary minister. His identity is too sensitive. He is the direct confidant who has been following Li Shimin for more than ten years. With his position, Li Ke is only seeking his favor at most. He will not, and he will not dare to win over Du Ruhui. Otherwise, Li Shimin would be dissatisfied with Li Ke.

Li Ke was thinking about Du Ruhui's affairs in his heart and was walking towards the inner city of Yangzhou. As soon as he arrived at the gate of the inner city, he also saw Du Ruhui waiting outside the city.

"My dear Du Ruhui, pay homage to Your Highness." Li Ke rode his horse outside the inner city, and Du Ruhui said first.

Li Ke turned over and dismounted, stepped forward and helped Du Ruhui up, and smiled at Du Ruhui, "I haven't seen you for a lifetime, and Duke Cai is much healthy, which is really gratifying."

Du Ruhui stood up and said, "Your Highness is in danger of the land. It is a blessing for the people to return safely, and it is a joyful congratulations."

Li Ke said: "The king's words are so important. If there is a king here, even if I am not here, it will be as solid as a god. Whether it is my father or I, I feel relieved."

When Du Ruhui heard this, he shook his head and said, "I dare not take credit for the peace of Huainan. The reason why Huainan can achieve stability is not to be able to do with the achievements of two people. One is to manage the water for Your Highness, and the other is to protect the people. If it weren't for the great talent of Ma Bin, who was good at governing the people and stabilizing the hearts of the people in the southeast, I am afraid that even if I get here, it will be useless."

Obviously, Du Ruhui praised Ma Zhou very much. Li Ke looked back at Ma Zhou and said to Du Ruhui: "It is a surprise to me that the ministers under the disciples can get such praise from the Duke."
Chapter completed!