First Minister of Ming Dynasty

First Minister Section 428

When almost all officials have been dragged into the water, the whole salt law is a bad debt.

No one can tell what's going on, everyone gets rich in it.

This point may be better in Daming, why do you say maybe?After all, when Zhu Yuanzhang first started his business, his land did not produce salt, but he had to rely on merchants to purchase from outside and exchange grain for salt.

Until the founding of the country, the original salt law was roughly inherited.

Arranging suitable officials, strictly rectifying, and preventing malpractices... all kinds of methods will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause.There are even many new officials of Ming Dynasty who have put their hands into the salt law. It is hard to say how they made a fortune, but since Yang Xian and Hu Weiyong both stood up to obstruct the salt law, and Li Shanchang was worried, it can be seen that this shit The water is too deep.

After figuring this out, looking at Zhang Ximeng's new salt method, the cleverness is clear at a glance.

First of all, Zhang Ximeng demanded that the price of salt be lowered, even if it was not lowered to five or seven renminbi as Zhang Shicheng thought, as long as it could be kept below ten renminbi, the private salt would be reduced by at least [-]%!

There is no way, transportation of salt will also cost costs, avoid government inspections, and get through the key points to find a way to sell... Shiwen is almost a profit and loss line.

Only when it is higher than ten renminbi, or even twenty or thirty renminbi, can there be enough profit margins for private salt dealers, giving private salt dealers the courage to take risks.

In other words, one move to lower the price solved the problem of the proliferation of private salt that has plagued the millennium.

Secondly, the price of salt has come down, and it becomes more cost-effective to put salt into the Changping warehouse, and the imperial court purchases a batch of salt and hoards it.

The use of regular warehouses to adjust grain prices has existed in ancient times, and the system is very mature. With the addition of salt, the consumption is limited and the cost will not increase much.

Aren't you worried that Changlu Salt Farm will grow bigger?

This problem has also been solved. As long as the imperial court has stored the salt for a year or so, even if there is a mistake in the Changlu Salt Field, it is possible to rebuild another salt field without worrying about it.

As for the most critical salt tax issue, it is even more convenient.

There is no interference from private salt, no messy meddling, how much salt is produced by Changlu Salt Field, and how much salt tax is paid.How much salt the salt merchants bought, how much they sold, what the price difference was, and how to pay taxes.How much has been hoarded in the Changping warehouse, how much tax has been generated between transactions...all are clear at a glance, although the disadvantages cannot be eliminated, it can still be thousands of times better than before.

So this is a perfect, even impeccable new salt method.

The only problem is that the disadvantages are gone, how can the big guys get rich?

……

"Sir, I just can't figure out why there is such a big difference between the front and the back, and how can they have two skins?" Zhu Biao gritted his teeth, feeling great hatred in his heart.

Before the new salt law, before he came to Peiping, Chujun Zhu Biao was a perfect child.

Especially among the scholars, it is almost full of praise.

Smart and eager to learn, benevolent and filial, generous and courteous, Zhong Lingyuxiu...Anyway, any good words can be added to him. In a word, as long as he ascends the throne, he can not only inherit the foundation of Emperor Hongwu, but also carry it forward.

There's nothing wrong with this kid!

But with getting involved in the salt law, there are more and more scolding voices. Apart from Ru Taisu who directly wrote a letter, there are also many private discussions, such as the prince is greedy for money, indulges in businessmen, has no heart for righteousness, is narrow-minded, and has a small belly. Intestines, unable to dominate the world.

It is said that some people suggested that more gentlemen should be arranged for the fourth son of the emperor to teach him well.

Good guy, Zhu Di's reputation has improved a lot.

What is this called!

Zhang Ximeng smiled all over his face, very calm.

"Your Highness, you have experienced it. Although His Majesty is a sage and hero, there are still few people who talk about him? The amount of scolding in private is hard to count. Since ancient times, if you want to do something, you will inevitably be scolded. A person's good or bad is one's own practice. But in the eyes of others, it depends on whether you are good for them. For example, if you like a book, you will love it very much. If you If you hate it, you will feel that writing is useless. Books and scriptures are like this, let alone a state affairs that is related to the livelihood of countless people. It is almost impossible to get everyone to agree with it."

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said: "That's why there is that saying, if you make more mistakes, if you make a few mistakes, it's good if you don't do it! If your highness wants to be a successful master, you only need to follow the good example immediately. If you want to make a difference, you will inevitably be scolded! Only by going forward indomitably and with a firm mind can we be invincible!"

Zhu Biao gritted his teeth, finally nodded and said: "Thank you, sir, for letting me understand these things. This trip to Beiping has really benefited me a lot!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "Your Highness, now that the new salt law has been passed, those people dare not oppose it publicly, but there will be no shortage of obstacles in the dark. There is also the purchase of Changping warehouse, which must not be sloppy. Apart from us, other salt farms , so many salt merchants will find a way to intervene, otherwise they will not be willing!"

Zhu Biao gritted his teeth and said, "We still need to send suitable people to Yingtian to talk to the household department. The purchase of Changping warehouse is very important...Sir, how about I answer Tian and ask the queen mother to help?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "It's no problem if the Queen is willing to act. But we've laid the groundwork to this point. If the Queen needs to bother, it will appear that we are too incompetent."

After a slight pause, Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Actually, it's enough to let King Huai take action. He has played a little bit of prestige in the Changlu Salt Field, but it's not enough. Let him go to Yingtian and torment those people!"

It's Zhang Shicheng again!

Zhang Ximeng has caught the toad, and he insists on making dough, which is a sustainable fishing.

But if you think about it for a while, it's true, the salt method!Letting a private salt dealer fight against those people is just like fighting poison with fire.

Zhu Biao thought for a while, nodded vigorously, and agreed to Zhang Ximeng's proposal.

It's just that Zhu Biao had his own ideas. He returned to his residence, specially prepared two jars of fine wine, and bought some snacks before he came to see Zhang Shicheng.

"Wansheng heard that King Huai's birthday is not far away, so he came here to pay his respects."

Zhang Shicheng was startled, and suddenly laughed at himself: "It's rare, someone still remembers! Please come in, Your Highness!"

Zhu Biao handed the gift to Zhang Shicheng, and after looking at it, he could only say that the place where Lao Zhang lived was really shabby.

"King Huai, do you think you want to change to a decent house?"

Zhang Shicheng laughed loudly, "No need! Back then when he was smuggling salt, he weathered wind and rain, and slept in a cemetery. I have also suffered what your father suffered, and there were officers and soldiers chasing him. He almost lost his life!"

Zhu Biao was stunned and didn't know what to say for a while.

Zhang Shicheng smiled lightly and said: "Okay, His Highness can come to see me, he is kind and righteous, I will remember this kind of love. Don't worry, even for the sake of the common people, I will bring down the price of salt!"

On the second day, Zhang Shicheng set off from Changlu and went straight to Yingtian.

On the bow of his boat, the banner of Beiping Left Behind Department and Changlu Salt Farm Admiral Advisor is impressively displayed!

Zhang Shicheng stood at the bow of the boat with a ferocious expression on his face: Grandchildren, your grandfather Huai Wang is here!

Chapter 598 Meeting and Smiling

When Zhang Shicheng went down to meet the sky, it could not be said that there was no disturbance, but it could also be said that the sky was turned upside down, and the sun and the moon were darkened.

If you want to say who knows the salt method best in the world, there is no doubt that this person must be Zhang Shicheng, not one of them!

He worked as a salt worker and a private salt dealer for the first half of his life, so he understood how to play from bottom to top.

Then he dominated one side, mainly relying on the salt in Huaidong, and he collected taxes from above, so he understood both ends.

Although he was defeated by Lao Zhu, that doesn't mean that Zhang Shicheng is too idiot, after all Zhu Yuanzhang is really too strong, he has no chance of winning at all.

Now it's a salt merchant, no matter how big the salt merchant is, it's impossible to beat this one!

Since the salt merchants can't do it, can others think of a way?

Like killing Zhang Shicheng?

"Pass my order and tell everyone along the line to go all out to protect King Huai's safety. Tell them that if King Huai makes a mistake, they will never end well, not only them, but also his nine clans!"

Li Shanchang issued a strict order, but he was very clear that the matter was now at a critical moment, and he did not mean to exaggerate at all.

Zhang Ximeng didn't say anything about obstructing the salt law, and Zhu Yuanzhang only took down Ru Taisu to impeach the prince.

These two people didn't move, not because they didn't dare, but because they were waiting for the opportunity.

To put it simply, this is a pit, waiting to bury people!

Now Zhang Shicheng is Zhang Ximeng's trump card. If he has three advantages and two disadvantages, then it's time for Zhu Yuanzhang to play the trump card.

Need to say more about Lao Zhu's trump card?

Zhang Shicheng's power was wiped out in the attack on Suzhou City, and the number of people killed will at least double this time, or even several times.

Even for Zhang Shicheng, he has made a lot of money. He is worth it if he can drag so many people to die together!

Li Shanchang's head was buzzing, he was out of his mind, and couldn't sleep at night.

Over the years, Zhang Ximeng's operations have made him shout invincible, but Zhang Ximeng can always play new tricks and surprise him.

Otherwise, I'd better resign as soon as possible, otherwise I may not be able to go home alive!

It was reasonable for Li Shanchang to be trembling. When Zhang Shicheng passed the Lianghuai River in a boat, many elders from his hometown came to see Zhang Shicheng.

After arriving in Yangzhou, Zhang Shicheng was finally willing to come out to meet the big guys.

"Folks and elders! The first half of my life has passed, what Zhang Shicheng is, I have my own commentary for thousands of years. But now, I, Zhang Shicheng, want to do something good, something that benefits the country and the people. I can't stand against the rebels." name, just die."

"Don't worry, everyone. I, Zhang Shicheng, tell everyone that apart from the salary of the firm, I don't take a penny, I don't accept a gift, I don't eat a meal, and I don't meet any friends in private. I only ask for two things. First, lower the price of salt, and second, the salt tax that should be collected cannot be reduced.”

"That is to say, you can be worthy of the country at the top, and the people at the bottom. Don't think that you can get any advantage because you are Zhang Shicheng's fellow countrymen! No! You can't do it! Even if the elders in my hometown scold me and poke me in the back, I will be there." No hesitation! At Zhang Shicheng's age, he still knows what's good! That's all for now, and I'm leaving!"

After finishing speaking, Zhang Shicheng turned around and entered the cabin. Behind him, thunderous applause sounded, and the people cheered endlessly.

"Your Highness King Huai is doing great!"

"King Huai warrior!"

"Eternal King Huai!"

……

Hearing these cheers, Zhang Shicheng's eyes turned red in the cabin.

He also enjoyed the sincere cheers of the people.

For example, when he captured Taizhou with [-] shoulder poles, or when he fought fiercely in Gaoyou and defeated Tuotuo, he was also aggressive at the beginning, and with the heart of a king, he went south to capture Suzhou.

The past is still vivid in my mind, as if it was yesterday.

He has risen, and he has also fallen.

When he dominated one side, he didn't think of rectifying the salt law to benefit the people.

Now that he is down and out, he has the opportunity to rectify the salt law.

God really knows how to joke!

If he had had the courage back then, perhaps he would have been the one sitting on the Ying Tianlong chair.

Unexpectedly, one day, I will consolidate the country for the surnamed Zhu!

That's it!

Anyway, what I receive is not Zhu Yuanzhang's salary, I am for the common people, and my name is right and proper!

Zhang Shicheng sat on the boat crossing the river, thinking about it and making final preparations.

He had already known about the matter of Yanfa, and what he had to consider now was just which step to take.

When Zhang Shicheng's boat crossed the river smoothly, he set foot on the land in the south of the Yangtze River, facing thousands of Yingtian people, including dozens of reporters waiting here.

"His Royal Highness, how are you going to deal with those salt merchants?"

"The common people are watching!"

"King Huai, don't let the big guy down!"

Faced with this situation, Zhang Shicheng's blood was surging, and he blurted out: "Don't worry, everyone, Zhang Shicheng will not let the people down for the second time!"

That's right, the first time he rebelled, he ended up with a bad ending, and it is reasonable to say that he was ashamed of his elders.

Now is the second time, absolutely can not go wrong!

As soon as Zhang Shicheng arrived in Yingtian, he took the initiative to accept interviews and talked about his views on the salt law.

One of the core points Zhang Shicheng said is that the price of salt is very cheap.

Since the sun-dried salt method is adopted, it is cheaper, and the price of salt can be equated with the price of grain, or even half of the price of grain, and the capital can be preserved.

Throughout the ages, the reason why the price of salt has always been very expensive lies in the salt method.

There are too many people who want to use salt to exploit the people, salt merchants, corrupt officials, local tyrants...everyone intervenes to profit from it, so the price of salt remains high.

Originally, this was an almost unsolvable thing.

Fortunately, the Son of Heaven has a heart to love the people, there are ministers who love the people in the court, the monarch and ministers are of the same heart, and the upper and lower are one, there is nothing that cannot be done!

It was not easy, Zhang Shicheng actually flattered Zhu Yuanzhang for the success of the salt law.

Newspapers are full of articles and began to report.

When Zhang Shicheng dominated one side in Suzhou, he didn't have such a reputation.

Then, under the spotlight of all the people, Zhang Shicheng presented his plan.

Changlu Salt Farm will provide Taicang with reserve salt at the price of three Wen per catty.

When the price came out, everyone was dumbfounded.

Because no matter how you calculate it, three pennies are a loss.

Zhang Shicheng, you are playing tricks!

Faced with doubts, Zhang Shicheng was not afraid at all, and responded calmly... First of all, the conditions of the Changlu Salt Field are good, and we have the latest technology, and our cost is very low.