Seeing everyone fall into sudden silence, Nan Jiyun asked blankly, "You don't believe me? I've been training in martial arts with my master for many years, focusing mainly on mounted combat, and I've only become proficient in naval warfare in the last few years while training in the East Sea..."
Liang Xiao nodded, "I believe you! The White Robe Army is in need of a deputy general to lead the troops. It's good that you're willing to go to the Northern Frontier to fight the barbarians, but it might take some time. In the meantime, we still rely on you to guard the East Sea."
If it weren't for his status, Liang Xiao would have really wanted to spar with Nan Jiyun to see his mounted combat skills, which he suspected were even superior to Lu Changhe's.
Before Liang Xiao came to the East Sea, he had considered taking Nan Jiyun as a personal retainer. However, after interacting with Nan Jiyun, he realized that this was a general capable of handling matters independently, and making him a retainer would be a waste of talent.
If General of Cavalry Lu Yi discovered a general like Nan Jiyun, it would be like finding a pillow when you're sleepy; he would undoubtedly do his utmost to cultivate him!
Nan Jiyun could no longer contain himself and nodded with immense joy.
Liang Xiao then said, "I heard General Nan has the archery skill of hitting a target a hundred paces away. If you have time in the future, perhaps you could give me some pointers."
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan narrowed their eyes and glanced at Liang Xiao, and even Zhang Yang squinted.
Someone was shooting arrows with a hundred percent accuracy in his own courtyard and was here asking for pointers?
Can you hear the people's words?
However, scholars in the Great Qian dynasty all studied the six arts, and there were many scholars with excellent archery skills. It was said that Mu Hong's archery was also top-notch.
Nan Jiyun was taken aback and said sternly, "My archery skill can only be described as decent. It actually relies on a Heaven-Shaking Bow that my master gave me!"
Now, no matter how humble Nan Jiyun was, everyone didn't believe him.
Liang Xiao had to give up, as he couldn't possibly ask for his Heaven-Shaking Bow.
Bringing everyone back to the Prefect's mansion, Liang Xiao began to review the case of Du Gu Ling, his expression growing increasingly grim.
Nan Jiyun was even more heartbroken, "I treated the third brother as my own, why did he betray me repeatedly..."
This Qin Lao San was actually the intermediary between Du Gu Ling and the Japanese pirates, and was also responsible for monitoring Nan Jiyun.
Du Gu Ling's correspondence with the Japanese pirates was all written by Qin Lao San, who had lied to Nan Jiyun, claiming he could barely recognize a few characters.
"After His Majesty approves, he will be executed according to the law. You need not plead for him," Liang Xiao said, nodding.
Nan Jiyun sighed helplessly.
Looking at the pile of ironclad evidence and confessions, as well as several original letters found in Du Gu Ling's residence, Liang Xiao decisively dispatched someone to rush back to the capital to report.
Du Gu Ling's family assets were confiscated, with the vast majority being obtained through corruption and bribery!
The treasures from foreign merchant ships were now also sent to the Great Qian by He Liuzhu, though Liang Xiao believed Xiao Qing would not accept them all and would likely leave a portion for He Liuzhu.
After re-examining the intelligence from the East Sea Naval Camp, Liang Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief.
Du Gu Ling had managed the East Sea Naval Camp for a long time and had many confidantes. These had now been purged by Liang Xiao. The East Sea Naval Camp was now considered acceptable, at least having the confidence to suppress pirates in the long term.
After dealing with the official documents, Liang Xiao said, "Let's go and see the salt fields. Zhang Yang went there this morning and hasn't returned yet, he's probably gone mad."
The group followed Liang Xiao to a heavily guarded salt field in the East Sea. Looking at the salt pans and pools, they couldn't help but be astonished.
"What kind of process is this? I've only heard of 'boiling the sea for salt'..." Yang Huan exclaimed, having noticed workers harvesting salt.
Large amounts of snow-white salt were being carted away, and everyone's eyes widened in amazement!
"What kind of process is this? To obtain salt of this quality without boiling!" Chen Ziliang also exclaimed.
This salt appeared to be of much better quality than the common rock salt, lake salt, or well salt. The salt produced by boiling seawater was even rougher and incomparable to this.
Liang Xiao pointed to several salt pans and special pools in the distance and explained in relatively simple terms.
"The first step is brine intake, which uses tidal movements to push high-salinity seawater from the outer sea into the nearshore to extract raw materials for salt production."
"The second step is brine concentration, which takes place in evaporation ponds. Depending on the daily evaporation rate, the water depth in the evaporation ponds is appropriately controlled to gradually increase the brine concentration, eventually concentrating it into saturated brine."
"The third step is crystallization: As the seawater evaporates and concentrates, the concentration of various salts increases. When the concentration reaches saturation, salt can slowly crystallize and precipitate. By maintaining supersaturation in the supersaturated brine, these salts can continue to precipitate."
"The final step, naturally, is salt harvesting."
The others listened with bewildered expressions, only Zhang Yang was listening with keen interest.
Liang Xiao calculated the time. Since he had provided the salt production technology, a significant amount of salt had already begun to crystallize. This indicated that Xiao Qing, Huang Xing, and Wang Canghai had attached great importance to it, immediately arranging for people to implement it, and successfully completing the first round of salt production.
However, it was Chen Ziliang, the Prefect of the East Sea, who was assigned to guard the salt fields, not Du Gu Ling. Du Gu Ling, not understanding the salt production process and believing it to be of no benefit to him, had always shirked this responsibility.
After Liang Xiao returned from suppressing pirates, he specifically arranged for the soldiers of the East Sea Naval Camp to strictly guard any salt field to prevent theft and smuggling.
The group followed Liang Xiao closer to the salt pans and evaporation pools, marveling at the precipitated crystals!
The two elders, Yang Huan and Chen Ziliang, even had tears in their eyes!
No one understood the importance of salt to a nation better than they did. The price of salt in the Great Qian was extremely high, sometimes reaching several hundred coins per dou at its peak, which was simply unaffordable for the common people!
"His Majesty is wise!" everyone praised.
Only Luo Qingxue and Jian Qinwan looked at Liang Xiao with a hint of sadness in their hearts.
Luo Qingxue naturally knew that this salt production technology was provided by Liang Xiao to Xiao Qing. However, in order to promote it smoothly and avoid complications, Xiao Qing had only stated externally that it was a sudden whim of his, the Emperor.
Perhaps one day, when the truth was revealed, people would be grateful to Liang Xiao.
Normally, when Luo Qingxue mentioned Liang Xiao to Yue Lian or Zhen Mi, Jian Qinwan could "overhear" from the side and naturally knew that this was Liang Xiao's idea.
Chen Ziliang's face turned red with excitement, "As long as the salt fields are strictly guarded, and private salt farms are prohibited, the state's revenue from salt administration will soar. It is just a matter of time!"
Liang Xiao smiled, "Although salt administration is important, the most crucial thing is to increase salt production so that future generations can afford to eat it."
Limited by technology and productivity, this salt was not the refined salt that Liang Xiao was satisfied with. However, after a little processing, it was still better than other types of salt and was considered refined salt in this world.
Jian Qinwan dared not look at Liang Xiao anymore and simply stared at the salt pans, lost in thought.
In the end, this fellow was still focused on the common people...
Zhang Yang was everywhere, patrolling and observing the salt fields.
On the way to the East Sea, Liang Xiao had imparted the salt production technology to him, and he now wished he could personally try it out.
Seeing Zhang Yang frantically probing the edge of the evaporation ponds, Liang Xiao reminded him, "Zhang Yang, don't get too excited. Be careful not to fall into the pond. Aren't we still going to look at the private school we donated?"
Only then did Zhang Yang snap back to reality and reluctantly ran back to Liang Xiao's side, looking back at the salt fields every three steps.
At the same time, news from the East Sea finally reached the capital through expedited channels.
The East Sea Commander, General of Suppressing Pirates Du Gu Ling, was beheaded by Liang Xiao with a single sword, and his military power was seized, shocking the court!
At this moment, a court assembly was underway, and half of the officials, led by Du Gu Qun, angrily denounced Liang Xiao in court for plotting rebellion and amassing military power!
Xiao Qing, looking at Liang Xiao's first memorial in his hand, was also dumbfounded.
This hateful elder brother had indeed acted first and reported later, and he had beheaded a high-ranking official of the court...