Datang: Acting as a celestial mystery at the beginning

Early the next morning, the news that the family raised the price of salt swept across Chang'an and all nearby counties with the force of a prairie fire.

After hearing this news, many people were immediately stunned. The price of salt was ridiculously expensive. The people at the bottom can only use vinegar cloth at ordinary times, and occasionally they can buy a small amount of salt to go back to season their lives.

Now that the price has been increased by ten times, even many wealthy businessmen in the city, including court officials, cannot afford salt. Even the Tang army will have no salt to supply, which immediately caused panic and public resentment.

"The price of salt is already very expensive, and now the price has to be raised. How can we live?"

"I heard that the imperial court has been rectifying salt and iron, and has arrested many members of the aristocratic family. Now the aristocratic family wants to retaliate against the imperial court and deliberately raise prices. It is the imperial court that has harmed us."

In various places in Chang'an, many people gathered to discuss this matter, some were cursing the court, some scolding the aristocratic family, and a very special atmosphere suddenly enveloped the city.

"Chang'an Daily is here!"

At this time, someone shouted in the street.

If the usual newspapers came, many people would go to pick up the last one to read. Today was uncharacteristically, they were all entangled in the salt price. Except for the servants arranged by the wife, no one had the intention to take the newspaper.

Finally, someone was willing to take a newspaper, but he was not in the mood to read it. He flipped through it casually, and a word "salt" appeared in front of his eyes. It's unbelievable.

"New salt! The imperial court is going to issue new salt!"

After reading it, the man jumped up excitedly.

"All the salt is in the hands of the aristocratic family, no matter how fresh the imperial court's salt is, we still can't afford it."

Someone immediately refuted his words,

"That's not the case! The imperial court's new salt only costs sixty cents a catty, sixty cents!"

The man threw away the newspaper as he spoke, and went straight to Dongshi, for fear that he might not be able to buy salt if he went late.

Others were puzzled when they heard such a low salt price.

Salt at [-] renminbi a catty, how could it be so cheap? The cheapest coarse salt currently costs [-] renminbi a catty, which is very unpalatable.

Even the imperial court can't do this, can it?

"No, it seems to be true!"

Someone picked up the newspaper and looked at it for a while, clenched his hands suddenly, and said excitedly: "It's really sixty yuan a catty. The imperial court has set up a total of fifty salt points in the East and West Market. The imperial court is really selling cheap salt. New salt!"

The imperial court was selling cheap new salt, and the news spread through Chang'an Daily as quickly as possible, as well as various word of mouth, together with the aristocratic family raising the price of salt, spread throughout Chang'an.

A lot of people ran to the East and West Market, and they saw those selling salt. Some people squeezed in and saw the white and fine salt, their eyes widened.

"Is this salt? It's such a beautiful salt!"

The salt they used to eat was all in pieces, yellow and rough, with a bitter taste, ugly and unpalatable, but they had to be used for seasoning.

The salt in front of them was as fine as sand, white as snow, and very clean. It was hard for them to imagine that this high-quality salt only sold for [-] yuan a catty.

If it is sold to those aristocratic families, even six hundred yuan a catty or even higher is possible.

"I got it, sixty yuan a catty, I really got it!"

A commoner came out of the shop excitedly, holding a heavy bag.

"The court's rectification of salt and iron is not to drive us to a dead end, but to let us all eat good salt!"

"The imperial court's move is for the people's livelihood, and suppressing the price of salt will benefit the people!"

At the same time, remarks praising the imperial court seemed to spring up one by one.

The aristocratic family's resistance to raising the price of salt was hit to pieces as soon as it was put forward, and it suffered a complete defeat.

"Sir, I have to admire your means!"

Yuchi Jingde stood next to a shop, watched the people coming and going before him, and said with a sigh: "From now on, the operation of Yantie must be in our hands."

For such an important matter as selling salt on the first day, Li Yi'an, the salt and iron envoy, was of course also present. By the way, he witnessed the history and said: "Our salt and iron department announced to the outside world that this new salt is owned by the imperial court. Whoever wants to manufacture and sell it must With the consent of the imperial court, otherwise it is illegal.”

Yuchi Jingde said: "After a while, our formula for making salt should not be hidden, but the price of salt has been suppressed so low, even if the formula is leaked, it's not a big problem, but private salt that should be cracked down, I still have to fight."

"Our Salt and Iron Division will definitely contribute to the task of cracking down on private salt, but we also need the support of the general."

Li Yi'an said with a smile: "From now on, the people's livelihood in the Tang Dynasty depends entirely on General Yuchi."

"Dare not dare, this is the credit of Mr.

Yuchi Jingde waved his hand and said, "How dare I take credit for it?"

-

Wang family.

In front of Wang Rujing, there was a handful of crystal clear and white refined salt. She stretched out her slender fingers, twisted a little salt and put it in her mouth to taste.

"It's so salty, there's no bitterness, just salty."

Wang Rujing hastily took a sip of the yogurt placed beside her.

"This is the imperial court's new salt, and it's... so pretty!"

As Wang Yuanhua spoke, he also picked up a bit and tasted it, and said in surprise: "It's really not bitter, and it's completely different from the salt we usually eat. This quality is definitely the best."

Wang Rujing said: "I knew that the imperial court wanted to rectify salt and iron. It would not be as simple as collecting salt and iron taxes. I am afraid that this new salt is their last resort. It only sells for [-] yuan a catty outside!"

"So cheap!"

If it was Wang Yuanhua who sold it, he would dare to sell it for six hundred dollars.

The appearance of this kind of salt can instantly kill all the salts on the market, even their current best quality salt is not as good as sediment in front of this.

"The quality of salt is high, and the price is extremely low. Starting today, the price of salt will never rise again. This is good for people's livelihood, and it is only us that are not good."

Wang Rujing analyzed and said: "It's ridiculous that the other six families still want to force the court by raising the price of salt. Their idea is too stupid. If the court dares to do this, how can it have no way to deal with it?"

Once this kind of salt comes out, who will buy those bitter and expensive coarse salt in the future?Unless that person is a fool.

"The imperial court has used it very well!"

Wang Yuanhua realized that he had underestimated Li Erlang, and continued, "However, how did they make such good salt?"

This is also an incredible thing for them.

"I'm also curious, can uncle find out for us?"

Wang Rujing's eyes fell on Wang Gui who had been silent all this time.

"It is said that these salts were made by Chang'an Salt and Iron Envoy Li Yi'an. The reason why the price is so low is that the cost is not high and the production speed is very fast. In addition, the Salt and Iron Division also announced to the public that this kind of salt is only for the imperial court. Therefore, anyone who wants to sell must obtain the approval of the imperial court, otherwise it will be illegal, and the imperial court will directly arrest people."

Wang Gui said unhurriedly.

"It's him again!"

Wang Yuanhua and his daughter exclaimed at the same time.