The Prosperous Era of Longwan

“In my opinion, since the opening method was able to be designed to solve the real-border problem, under the current situation, there should still be a way to revise the salt method.

The new salt law should not only take into account the needs of developing border towns, but also solve the financial problems of the imperial court.

It’s just that neither you nor I come from the salt administration field, so we are naturally very unfamiliar with it. Can we find officials who are familiar with the salt administration, and let them think about this matter and design a salt law that will not only last for a long time, but can at least be used for decades?

The so-called customization can only meet temporary needs. The world is constantly changing and time has changed, so there is no one way to stay the same. "

Wei Guangde couldn't help but sigh.

The mention of revising the Salt Law again at this time was actually not something Wei Guangde had thought deeply about, but rather a reaction after seeing the Liaodong Tong newspaper and thinking that the Salt Law would become useless after the salt reform was promoted.

In fact, he knew very well that he could not say that the "Kai Zhong Zhe Se Law" implemented by Ye Qi originally led to the abandonment of border defense, because by that time, the "Kai Zhong Zhe Se Law" was implemented because of the powerful people's control of the salt policy, which caused many problems, especially "the generations of descendants do not have access to salt." ".

That is to say, the grandfather's generation transported grain to the border town to obtain salt, but he did not get the salt he deserved at the salt field. The salt was always handed over to his grandson, but he still could not get the salt he deserved from the salt field.

It is conceivable that in this environment, the grain supplies available to the border towns of the Ming Dynasty will become less and less, and in the end only the powerful will profit from farming in the border towns.

In fact, this is not a bad salt law in itself, but a phenomenon caused by corruption.

At this time, Wei Guangde naively thought that as long as people familiar with salt politics could come up with a new salt law suitable for the current environment.

Zhang Juzheng and Lu Tiaoyang looked at each other, and they did not object to Wei Guangde's proposal.

Looking for salt administration officials to study salt administration reform methods seems to be of great benefit to the court.

"What do you mean by shan loan?"

Zhang Juzheng asked.

"I think it is best for the cabinet to formulate some regulations for the new salt law. The new salt law needs to meet certain conditions, and then we and other cabinet ministers will discuss it."

Wei Guangde said.

"What do you think of Shandai?"

Lu Tiaoyang asked.

At this moment, it was just a casual chat between the three of them, and naturally it was not as formal as before.

"First of all, the new salt law must ensure that the salt tax is fully paid into the treasury, and secondly, the private salt price."

Wei Guangde then began to put forward some of his own requirements for the new salt law, which he took very seriously.

In fact, even in later generations, people still don’t know much about the salt that can be bought everywhere in supermarkets.

The salt monopoly can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, Guan Zhong proposed to Qi Huangong "Guan Shan Hai", that is, specializing in mountain and sea resources, mainly state-owned salt, and making a profit.

According to Guan Zhong's rough calculation, the state of Qi could earn 60 million yuan a year based on this.

The concealment of profits from the salt monopoly system fully satisfied the dual goals of the ruling class to plunder the people's wealth and ensure the stability of the regime. The discussions of the feudal scholar-bureaucrats contained in "Salt and Iron Theory Fei Yang" fully expressed this idea.

"Therefore, the utilization is inexhaustible but the people don't know it. The land is as far as the west river but the people are not suffering. The benefits of salt and iron can help the people's urgent needs and meet the expenses of the army. They must be stored up in case of shortage. They can be given to many people and are beneficial to the country. Harmful to people.”

Here, the feudal ruling class has given countless flattering words to its salt profits, but in fact, the country is just the home of the feudal rulers. The so-called benefit to the country only means that the ruling class has more abundant finances, and the wealth of the country has nothing to do with the wealth of the people.

And "sufficient military expenses" is also nonsense, because the taxes levied by the ruling class from the people already include military expenses.

In Wei Guangde's view, the essence of the imperial court's emphasis on the Salt Law was to collect taxes, fill the national treasury, and properly ensure the interests of the people.

How did he know that, let alone in ancient times, even in modern times, after the founding of New China, in order to ensure fiscal revenue and the safety of residents using salt, the reform of the salt industry has gone through ups and downs.

It was not until the seventh salt industry system reform plan was released and all ministries and commissions completed soliciting opinions that the plan was confirmed and the salt monopoly was abolished. After the salt industry system reform, salt-related enterprises will be able to achieve truly independent operations and fair competition.

However, the final achievements of the plan are mainly reflected in two aspects. First, the liberalization of salt prices; second, the elimination of regional restrictions on salt production and sales.

It's just that because the price of salt at this time was much cheaper than in ancient times, many people didn't realize what the final result of the reform would be.

After discussing with Zhang Juzheng and Lu Tiaoyang for a while, we determined the conditions that need to be met for the salt law reform, and today's cabinet meeting is over.

After Wei Guangde and Lu Tiaoyang left, Zhang Juzheng was relatively happy, because it seemed that there was good news today.

The approval of his imperial examination memorial by the cabinet means that the memorial can be sent to the palace tomorrow. As long as the Liaodong Tangbao confirms the construction of Kuandian Six Forts, it means that during his term of office, the imperial court has conducted an external The action of opening up new territories.

As long as Wei Guangde sets an ambush near Kuandian according to Wei Guangde's wishes and severely damages Wang Gao's tribe, the work will be completed when the six forts are built.

Being able to increase the land by one hundred and eighty miles was enough to make him famous throughout the ages.

A few days passed in a flash, and when Wei Guangde returned to the mansion that day, the housekeeper Zhang Ji handed over a note shortly after he entered.

"Master, this is from Eunuch Feng. Please take a look."

"Oh, you didn't say anything else?"

Wei Guangde asked casually.

Zhang Ji shook his head, "No, I just handed over this note and left."

When they arrived in the backyard, the maid had already brought hot water and towels. After wiping and washing hands, Wei Guangde took out the note, opened it and took a look.

"Hu Zigao, salt transport envoy"

This note was naturally sent by Feng Bao to help others seek an official position.

Just yesterday, Xu Jue of Dongchang had returned to the capital with great satisfaction and a large amount of property he had plundered from Jiangnan.

That night, several boxes of different sizes were delivered to Feng Bao's private residence in the inner city.

Several boxes were filled with snow-white grained silver, which glowed dazzling red under the light.

Feng Bao was overjoyed when he looked at the boxes of money, but he still suppressed his joy because he had more important work to do, which was to find the gift that Queen Mother Li wanted.

"Those two boxes contain the things you collected from the south?"

Feng Bao deliberately stopped himself from looking at the boxes of large silver ingots, but looked at the other two boxes and asked.

"Eunuch Feng, you will know just by looking at it. I have worked so hard for these things."

Xu Jue said hurriedly, reaching out to open one of the boxes.

After the lid of the box was opened, there was no golden color, and there were just a few neatly stacked boxes of different sizes inside.

As Xu Jue handed a box to Feng Bao in each hand, Feng Bao took a box and opened it, and a crystal clear jade Buddha statue came into view.

"This color, haha, not bad."

Feng Bao looked at the jade Buddha with a smile on his face.

Putting the house aside, he took another box and opened it.

Xu Jue kept sending the contents of the box to Feng Bao, and Feng Bao kept passing on gifts one after another.

The palace only gave me 20,000 taels of silver, so it was naturally impossible to send everything here to the palace.

The things Xu Jue sent were just a few items sent to the palace and handed over to Queen Mother Li. The rest were not all the personal property of his Eunuch Feng.

The last one to pass was, of course, the string of Buddhist beads. When Feng Bao fell into his hands, he couldn't put it down.

"This thing is good, you did a good job this time."

Feng Bao also liked this string of Buddhist beads, but he also knew that he couldn't use it.

If she carries it with her and is seen by Queen Mother Li, she may get herself into trouble.

His power was all based on the trust in the palace, and Feng Bao still saw this clearly.

Therefore, good things should come to the palace first.

"It's all my father-in-law's credit. Most of these things are from the people below who are filial to my father-in-law. It's just that they didn't have a chance to see my father-in-law, so they asked my officials to deliver them."

Xu Jue flattered happily.

"Tell me, did you get a request from someone else?"

At this time, Feng Bao put down the Buddhist beads he was playing with, looked up at Xu Jue and said, "They are thinking about the Zajia, isn't it just to get something from the Zajia?

They are willing to give both money and good things to the Za family, and the plan is not simple even if you think about it. "

"hey-hey."

Xu Jue pretended that he couldn't hide it from Feng Bao. He laughed dryly for a while and then said: "Nothing can be hidden from my father-in-law. They really all want something from my father-in-law."

So Xu Jue explained to Feng Bao one by one the things he received during his trip south, including where they came from and what he wanted.

For most of them, Feng Bao could just nod his head, but some of them needed to be stamped by the Sixth Department of the Imperial Court or other yamen, which was a bit troublesome.

"Show me the note."

Feng Baona remembered so much, stretched out his hand and said to Xu Jue.

"Hehe, my father-in-law is still very discerning."

Xu Jue took out the written note from his sleeve and handed it to Feng Bao with both hands.

Then with the flickering candlelight next to him, Feng Bao read the note carefully, thought about it again, and then nodded and said: "There are some things that the Zajia family is sure to handle, and we can accept it, but..."

Feng Bao's words made Xu Jue, who was bowing at the same time, bend even lower.

Of course, the gift-giver will not give out the things he received this time for free. He has his own demands.

As for the things, they were naturally divided into two after arriving in the capital. Most of them were sent to Feng Bao, and he still had a lot in his hands.

If these things cannot be handled, it will be a bit troublesome.

Anyone who can ask for help in front of him will naturally not be a small person.

Even though they were all respectful in front of him, there were so many intricate connections behind them that if he didn't pay attention, he might get into trouble.

Therefore, it is naturally the best to solve them all.

When I get home in a while, I can happily take stock of this harvest.

"Forget it, the Za family will just think of another way and we can always make it happen."

After a long while, Feng Bao seemed to have thought carefully and finally said what Xu Jue wanted to hear.

The note was placed on the desk. Feng Bao pointed at the note and finally said: "But this, please ask the Salt Transport Envoy for 20,000 taels of silver."

At this point, Feng Bao looked at Xu Jue and shook his head, which naturally meant that the offer was too low.

Don't think that he didn't know it when he was in the palace. The Yanyun Yamen was rich in oil and water, which could be said to be the best among all the government agencies in the Ming Dynasty.

People say that if you clear the prefecture in three years, you will receive one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver, but if you become the salt transport envoy, you may be able to receive one hundred thousand taels of silver in one or two years.

It took such a huge amount of money to give me such a small thing.

"Father, please forgive me for this. This Hu Zigao is an old man in the salt administration. He served as a salt transport judge for two years during the Jiajing Dynasty. Later, he was transferred to the Ministry of Industry because he committed a crime.

When I was in Nanjing before, I had made an agreement with him that most of the annual income from now on would be sent to my father-in-law's house.

In the eyes of the lower official, this little money is nothing, but it depends on how much he can send to his father-in-law every year after becoming a salt transport envoy.

He, Hu Zigao, had no one to help him in the court, so he had to rely on his father-in-law for support.

If he is ignorant and brings less things, we can send him up and take him down, hum."

Xu Jue whispered to Feng Bao.

"The Zanzhi family also knows the twists and turns surrounding the salt administration. Some of them understand it, while others don't."

Feng Bao was a little hesitant. In the salt administration, there were too many forces involved in the salt administration, including relatives of the emperor, relatives of the clan, and important officials of the court. Feng Bao was not sure whether he could get involved.

"He's just a salt transporter. If someone else does it, why can't someone recommended by my father-in-law also do it?"

Xu Jue said hurriedly.

"He is the boss and wants to get involved in the Salt Transport Envoy."

Feng Bao was still a little hesitant, wondering if the level improvement was too fast and the operation was not that difficult.

"My father-in-law, to be honest, all he wanted at first was to return to the Yanyun Yamen, continue to be a judge, and control a salt field.

But the official felt that since his father-in-law had intervened, it would be appropriate to take over a salt transportation yamen, such as the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Envoy Department.

As for the Lianghuai Salt Transport Envoy, they can send at least tens of thousands of taels of silver to my father-in-law a year, which is much more cost-effective than doing those small favors. "

When Xu Jue spoke, his eyes were fixed on Feng Bao. When he mentioned tens of thousands of taels of silver per year, Feng Bao's eyes lit up.

"Given the relationship between my father-in-law and the first and second ministers of the cabinet, it should not be difficult for Hu Zigao to be appointed as the salt transport envoy to the Huaihe River. After that, he can just sit at home and weigh money.

Hu Zigao has been very skilled in the operation of salt channels since his early years. Winning him over is like being a hen that lays golden eggs under the father-in-law's command."

Xu Jue was still thinking about how to use money to convince Feng Bao to agree to this matter, but Feng Bao over there finally made up his mind and made up his mind.

He waved his hand to Xu Jue, interrupted him, and then said: "I'll ask someone about Hu Zigao first, and I'll get back to you in two days. For other things, you can give them information and let them wait. .”

At this time, Wei Guangde, the note in his hand was naturally what Feng Bao wanted.

"Zhang Ji, you immediately go check on a supervisor named Hu Zigao from the Nanjing Ministry of Industry. I want to know this person's experience tonight."

Wei Guangde knew that Feng Bao was willing to recommend him, which would definitely bring him considerable benefits. If he refused under such circumstances, Feng Bao might be dissatisfied.

Well, Wei Guangde couldn't help but smear Feng Bao's face, so he already nodded and approved the matter in his heart.

But before approving, he still had to get to know this person first.

"Yes, sir, I'll go down and arrange for someone to investigate."

Zhang Ji agreed, but did not leave, but still stood there.

"Anything else?"

Wei Guangdehu asked doubtfully.

"Sir, I received some news over there about Mr. Yang, the Minister of Personnel."

Zhang Ji said hurriedly.

"tell me the story."

Wei Guangde became interested and ordered.

"Master, I heard that Mr. Yang has suffered from an incurable disease. I'm afraid there is no way to save him. Now he is still staying in the court, just trying to hold on" (End of Chapter)