Three Kingdoms: I, the eldest son of Cao, a loving father of a great man!

Chapter 318 Don't compete with the people for profit?Who is representing the people? [5000 words for subscription monthly ticket]

In the blink of an eye, it's late February.

A huge incident broke out in Qingzhou, and that was Xiahou Dun who had just squeezed out Jiao He and took up the post of governor of Qingzhou not long ago.

Suddenly, as the governor of the state.

An order was issued to the counties and counties of Qingzhou, and it was posted in the form of documents to advertise widely, that is, from now on, no private salt farms are allowed in Qingzhou, and private seawater is not allowed to mine salt.

At the same time all the saltworks in existence.

The state government will pay a certain price and buy them all at a discounted price. This order is mandatory, and it is not allowed to hold it in hand and not sell it.

In other words, from now on, there will only be official salt in Qingzhou, and there will be no more private salt.

The private salt farms that have been around for a long time will become history from now on. In the past, those families who made a fortune by mining salt, made a lot of money, and accumulated massive wealth from generation to generation.

Will be forced to cut off this business.

Gradually transform into the most primitive and common landlord-type family that makes a living by farming the land.

And that's not all.

While the Qingzhou prefectural government unilaterally issued the edict, all the territories ruled by the Cao family, including the entire territory of Yanzhou, the northern part of Yuzhou, and the southern part of Jizhou, all issued orders in unison and in unison.

Without exception, the content is that since then, the existence of private salt farms is no longer allowed. The scale of past operations and the amount of salt handled are all ignored, and only let the past go.

However, in the future, setting up salt farms privately and mining salt without permission will be classified as violations of laws and regulations.

Once discovered by the government, at least the illegal gains will be confiscated, and a huge fine will be imposed. An ordinary small salt merchant will definitely not be able to bear such a heavy fine.

Seriously, they directly ransacked their homes to question their crimes, and even refused to mend their ways after repeated admonitions, or those who set up private salt farms were too large, and they might have to spend time in prison.

If you are more courageous, you may have to walk on the execution ground, and it is not impossible to lose an arm or a leg, or a part of your body.

All in all, the penalty is very high.

…………

Although in the actual ruling area of ​​the Cao family.

Only the coastal areas of Qingzhou produce salt, and inland areas such as Yanzhou and Yuzhou, there is no trace of salt flowers. This decree issued at the same time is actually only aimed at the owners of private salt farms in Qingzhou.

But the momentum it caused was huge!

How many states are there in the Kanto region?

In the current situation, except for Xuzhou, all the other four prefectures have a unified caliber, so powerful, it really seems to overwhelm mountains and seas.

All the families and merchants in the Qingzhou area who are engaged in salt mining and selling salt are panicked. Since the day they received the Haifa document, they have been anxious all day long as if the sky had collapsed.

This is the key for them to inherit their family and keep their business, and their descendants will enjoy wealth forever. It is the lifeblood of maintaining their forever belonging to the superior class.

It is also the food and clothing of countless salt workers!

Now there is an order from the state government that no more private mining of sea salt is allowed, and all rights are to be taken back to the government agencies. Isn't this killing them?

If you haven't had it before, and never enjoyed it, then it doesn't matter.

But from being to nothing, they are used to enjoying this kind of taste, how can they bear it?
Therefore, the feeling of panic is getting stronger day by day.

…………

What worries these salt mining families and businessmen the most is that it will have a chain reaction. They are afraid that the decree implemented by the four-state linkage may become a weather vane.

in other words.

They feared that the decree would spread and be a symptom of unified reforms along the coast.

That would really cut off their lifeline completely.

After all, the sea salt production areas of the entire Han Dynasty are concentrated in Bohai Bay and Laizhou Bay, plus some coastal sections south of the Huaihe River estuary. Together, these places basically monopolize sea salt.

But now Qingzhou has ordered the prohibition of private salt.

That means that the southern part of Bohai Bay, as well as the entire Laizhou Bay, will be prohibited from salt mining activities.

And once the Bohai County and Xuzhou area are also linked together, then even the salt mining areas in the northern part of the Bohai Bay and the Huaihe Estuary will have to completely return to the embrace of the government.

At that time, those families and businessmen who have been engaged in salt mining for generations, what else is left?

So the panic is spreading.

And the heart of rebellion, as well as various secret schemes, are also intensifying, and there are faint signs of an outbreak.

…………

But the situation is getting worse.

While the fire of resistance was gradually ignited.

Located in Luxiang County, Donglai County, hundreds of cavalry led by Cao Ang and the large army led by Xia Houyuan successfully merged here.

Donglai County is located in the easternmost part of Qingzhou, and it is also the only county in Qingzhou that has all the cities along the coast. Compared with Beihai, Qi and other places, it can be said that it depends entirely on the sea for food.

The shape of the entire Dongnae County is roughly similar to "╮", which is an n-shaped ring with an opening facing southwest, which is inlaid with the protruding part of Beihai Kingdom to form a whole.

Luxiang County, where Cao Ang is currently located, is located in the northwest corner of this semi-circular shape, adjacent to Laizhou Bay, a major salt-producing area, and still some distance from the coast.

At the moment, it is in the temporarily expropriated government office.

Cao Ang was meeting with Xia Houyuan in secret, and the two had a discussion regarding the current situation.

"Uncle Miaocai, it's been a while since you led your troops into Donglai County. You must have sent people to contact most of the counties and townships in the county. Do you know what their situation is now?"

Xia Houyuan first saluted Cao Ang respectfully, and then reported the situation these days.

"To tell you the truth, Zixiu, this time I set off from Yanzhou and led more than ten thousand troops into the border of Donglai. Such a huge army was intimidating everywhere I went. The clans and officials in all counties, towns and cities all It's the people who line the road to welcome you, with the utmost enthusiasm, I think you are Master Wang!"

"It's just that since Da Yuanrang issued a decree, announcing that private salt farms are not allowed from now on, and after private salt mining, the direction of the wind seems to have changed."

"Although these people are still afraid of the army I lead, I can clearly feel that they are planning and brewing in secret."

…………

Listening to Xia Houyuan's narration.

Cao Ang couldn't help but sneered.

"It's just some clowns with ringworm and scabies. At first, I thought that we came here with our troops, just to change the master of Qingzhou. Those who benefited from them still benefited, so they ate pots of pulp to welcome the king's master. .”

"In the end, we found out that we want to make drastic reforms and take back the capital they rely on to suck their blood. Naturally, they will change their appearance."

"It's just that with these small roles like them, what can they do to us in private with all the dirty tricks, it's not worth my attention!"

After a ruthless reprimand.

Cao Ang changed the topic again.

"These local clans and businessmen are nothing to be afraid of, but their ability to incite the people has to be guarded against, especially those salt workers who work for the saltworks."

"These salt workers are ordinary people. They are young and strong in the market. They are the easiest to be instigated by others, and they are also the easiest to be provoked to be used as swordsmen."

"Once they are instigated to become enemies with our army, although I am strong and strong, I am not afraid of them, but it will be a big trouble, and if it is not necessary, I don't want to do anything to these ill-fated people."

For the meaning in Cao Ang's words.

Xia Houyuan naturally understood.

The Cao family's army is the king's division. Both Cao Cao and Cao Ang are loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty. If the people are incited to fight against the Cao family.

Things got really tricky.

…………

But understanding is understanding, Xia Houyuan didn't worry about it at all. Instead, he showed a relaxed smile on his face, and then pointed in the direction of the window.

"Don't worry, Zixiu, just look at the heavy snow outside and the biting cold wind, and you will know that we have all the time now!"

"Since last month, the several large salt fields in Dongnae County and the adjacent offshore areas have been affected by the extreme cold and have been frozen. There are many ice floes on the sea surface, and it is extremely difficult to collect salt."

"For those families and businessmen who hold several large salt farms, it is a loss-making business to raise a group of young adults without starting work in the cold winter months, so the salt workers were sent back early."

"But now they want to gather this group of people to make trouble again. It is almost impossible. After all, after the salt workers were dismissed, they returned to their hometowns early and were busy with family affairs."

Xia Houyuan said it easily and freely.

Cao Ang couldn't help showing a smile on his face.

Yes, as early as on the way to Zhuxu County, he was aware of the heavy snowfall.

This is the timing of the three elements of heaven, earth and man.

The sea is frozen and the sky is snowing heavily. If you want to dry the salt in this climate, you will not be able to dry two taels of salt flower even if you dry it for ten or eight days.

As a qualified capitalist, he definitely can't let his subordinate Qing Zhuangguang eat and not work. Naturally, he was sent back to his hometown early to go about his own business.

Wait until the spring thaw.

Bring them back again.

And in this way, Cao Ang left a great opportunity. After all, the transportation and communication conditions in this era are extremely poor. It is as difficult as breaking the rules to contact these dismissed people.

In this way, as long as no people participate in it, civil uprisings or other things will not be triggered.

Then there are some small and medium-sized families and businessmen left, they are nothing, if they dare to make trouble, they will be crushed to death!
Do you understand the gold content of the army? !
…………

But for the sake of caution.

Cao Ang gave an extra reminder.

"Uncle Miaocai, you have to worry about this matter. Although large groups of people can't gather together, it's not difficult to gather small groups."

"We still want to appease these people. We can send people to read our decree in coastal counties and townships. That is, after the state government takes the salt field back into government operations, it will still hire them, young and strong, to mine salt."

"It's impossible for us to do this kind of work by ourselves, so they don't have to worry about losing their jobs because they are transferred from private to official."

Xia Houyuan nodded heavily.

He said yes to Cao Ang, expressing that he understood.

Only after recording this command.

Xia Houyuan suddenly remembered something.

Hurry up and report to Cao Ang: "In fact, after the order from the state capital was issued, and before you came, Zixiu, these days have passed."

"Many people have found me with excuses, either explicitly asking for it, or secretly hinting, either promising a lot of interest or showing money."

"We all want our army to hold our hands high and loosen the control a little bit, so as to give them a breather."

This statement came out.

Cao Ang couldn't help but chuckled.

Sure enough, the clan forces in these places are smart, and they know how to find the right master when they encounter problems.

I understand that the state capital is making up their minds, who is behind the governor of Qingzhou Xiahou Dun, and who wants to recover from the government's ban on private salt, whose words are the most effective.

So they didn't come to find Xia Houyuan.

He wanted to borrow Xia Hou's mouth and turn to himself.

…………

If it is something else.

Cao Ang might have to think about it.

However, the Yantie official camp will become the basic national policy of the Cao family for a long time to come.

Leaving aside iron.

The salt must be taken back.

This is related to the pocketbook of the Cao family forces.

Not to mention that Cao Ang has now mastered the technology of coarse salt purification and the method of more efficient mining of salt flowers. The sooner the salt mining industry is brought back to the government, the sooner the massive wealth will flow in.

compared with such ambitious goals.

What kind of things are those local clans and businessmen who lie on Haiyan and have sucked blood for generations?
thought here.

Cao Ang was only interested, and asked in a flat tone: "Oh? What kind of regulations did they talk about, and how do you expect us to hold our hands high, and how can we give them a break?"

Xia Houyuan did not answer immediately.

Instead, he walked quickly to the map hanging in the house, then drew a line along the coastline in the northwest of Donglai County, and then focused on Huang County, the county seat of Donglai County.

"These people are smart people. They know our determination to bring the salt industry back to the government, and they also understand that their strength is not enough to fight against the state government."

"Therefore, there is only one meaning inside and outside the words, that is, whether we can leave a few openings in this coastal area for them to operate."

"Or most of the small and medium-sized salt farms, as well as the salt farms run by small and medium-sized families, are willing to hand over all of them to the government, but they only want to release a few big families and allow them to continue to operate the salt industry as representatives."

"As a nomination certificate, they are willing to resell the salt flowers to the government first after they are mined, and use a large part of their annual income to pay taxes."

…………

have to say.

This plan is quite sincere.

Leave a few openings, or sacrifice some small and medium-sized families, in exchange for the survival of the rest, and hand in a certain amount of benefits every year.

It's a pity that Cao Ang doesn't care about these.

Is this all he wants?

"what!"

After stretching his muscles and bones a little, Cao Ang couldn't help sneering.

Then he said in a cold and ruthless tone like the wind of the Nine Nethernesses in the nine cold days.

"If only a part of the people's salt farms are taken away, or only those small and medium-sized families are targeted, wouldn't it be equivalent to slapping ourselves in the face if the news spread?"

"Since the decree has been promulgated, it must be strictly enforced. If we treat it differently, the so-called decree will be useless, and the prestige of the state will disappear in an instant."

"Besides, what qualifications do they have to bargain, and how can they have the face to let me give them a chance to breathe? They have already got enough!"

Speaking of it.

Cao Ang paused for a while.

Immediately afterwards, he walked to the window and opened the closed window slightly, and the cold wind outside the house suddenly poured into the house.

Let the drowsy interior of the house that was originally drowsy due to the rising fire suddenly become refreshed.

…………

After so much.

Cao Ang had just put his hands behind his back, looked out of the window through the gap, and murmured with deep eyes.

"The so-called salt and iron franchise has existed since ancient times. In the land of Qilu, since the Qi State in the Spring and Autumn Period, there has been a decree on salt and iron official operations."

"And after my great Han became the master of the world, the Yantie official camp was suspended because of the Huang-Lao doctrine of inaction and governance at the beginning of the Han Dynasty. However, this decree was passed again during the Emperor Xiaowu's It seeks to obtain a large amount of treasury revenue, and to crack down on and suppress the local super-rich and powerful."

"However, during the period of Emperor Xiaozhao, the discussion of salt and iron broke out. After that, the imperial court was forced to give up the monopoly on wine and abolished some iron officials."

"Until Emperor Guangwu revived the Han Dynasty, the so-called salt and iron official camp was completely abolished, and it was turned into a private operation by the big family and businessmen, and the court collected taxes from it. It has been operating like this for more than a hundred years."

After a general description of the historical evolution.

Cao Ang suddenly narrowed his eyes.

With an increasingly cold tone, he slowly uttered a shocking sentence.

"Whether it was the discussion of salt and iron during Emperor Xiaozhao's time, or the private taxation system pursued by Emperor Guangwu, the reason for such changes is because this decree has been greatly hindered and opposed."

"The ones who take the lead in singing the naysayer are mainly the big merchants in the land of Qilu, including those Confucian schools who recite classics in their mouths and always cherish benevolence and righteousness in their hearts."

"The only thing they hold high is that the imperial court should not compete with the people for profit!"

"But the people they are referring to are those who face the loess and their backs to the sky, bury their heads in the fields all day long, work hard for a year, but there is not much left, year after year, and the cycle goes on and on, barely maintaining More than food and clothing, but if there are some natural and man-made disasters, people will lose their land and go into exile, and sell their children and daughters?"

…………

When it comes to this.

Cao Ang patted heavily on the window sill with his right hand.

The coldness in his eyes shook his head even more.

"The people obviously do not refer to the common people, but refer to the gentry and businessmen. The Confucian school wants to warn the emperor and the court not to compete with these people for profit."

"Hey!"

"However, this principle does not work for me. If it can make all the people in the world rich, and the country is rich and the people are rich, then I am willing to let it benefit."

"But if it is only given to these scholar-business clans, or to this small group of big and small families in the coastal area of ​​Qingzhou, I absolutely cannot agree with the so-called principle of not competing with the people for profit!"

"This is also the reason why I am determined to overthrow the private salt taxation system that has been practiced for more than a hundred years since Emperor Guangwu. Can Uncle Miaocai understand?"

…………

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

(End of this chapter)