I studied in modern times

Chapter 529 Silkworm Salt
The next day, Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu met under the inner east gate.

Han Jiang noticed clearly that Mr. Lu was staring at a dark circle under his eye.

Apparently, he didn't sleep well last night.

"Uncle Hui didn't sleep well?" Han Jiang asked deliberately.

Lu Gongzhu hummed twice but did not answer, feeling that this old guy was mocking him.

Han Jiang chuckled and said nothing more. He just looked at the relief on the inner east gate and said: "I heard that the official issued an edict two days ago, specifically ordering his son to enter the virtuous nephew to return to the court. It is really a great grace from heaven. ah!"

As Mr. Lu listened, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he raised his head and looked at the blue sky: "Yes, God is so generous, I am so grateful that I shed tears of gratitude!"

In fact, he had an urge to cry.

Because that official is so cruel!

Every move is aimed at his weak spot!
The old Lu family was already thin.

Why is Shen Sheng inside and Chong Er outside?
Don't even think about it!

In his generation, there were fewer sons.

In April, at the invitation of Cai Que, he was also appointed as the same manager of Quanzhou Shipping Department.

At such a young age, he is already an official in court or capital. The most important thing is that he has a good official reputation wherever he goes.

Not only did he become famous at a young age, but he also passed the exams early.

Han Jiang looked at Mr. Lu's expression, laughed, and said, "Youkui is a lucky person."

Lu Xizhe has been serving him by his side and has not taken the imperial examination.

Speaking of this, Han Jiang obviously sounded envious.

No matter how the situation changes, Lu Xizhe will remain standing.

The future of Lu Xizhe's team is extremely bright from now on!

Even the eldest son Lu Xizhe, who had no intention of achieving fame, was now granted the title of "born as a Jinshi" by the emperor.

A few days ago, Lu Gongzhu personally invited Cai Jing, the powerful magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, to be the matchmaker to propose marriage to Lu Haowen's son, Lu Benzhong, to the youngest daughter of Cai Jing's brother, Cai Bian.

In addition, Lu Xizhe, who has long been in the shape of Wang Anshi.

However, Lu Xiji and Lu Xichun took the merit examination early and became officials in local prefectures and counties.

Even Lu Xizhe's son, Lu Haowen, was the emperor's companion and studied with the emperor.

Then he has been a child of "other people's family" since he was a child.

I have also been on a steady path in my official career, one step at a time.

However, Lu Xiji still felt very good about himself. He wrote back to him and told him: Cai Xianggong attaches great importance to his son... All matters in the Shipping Department are discussed with him and then decided...

He became the de facto founder of Quanzhou Shipping Company.

"The three sons are all valued by the country, and the Lu family will prosper for a hundred years."

Naturally, if something goes wrong and the slap is taken, the one who will most likely be beaten will be Lu Xiji - Cai is indeed the former prime minister and cannot be held accountable.

In the leap month of February this year, Lu Xiji was transferred from Huainan Road to Fujian Road by the emperor's imperial edict to serve as a promotion official in Quanzhou.

Not like his Han Jiang's children and grandchildren...

Moreover, he is also the official of the banquet beside the emperor.

His father is the prime minister of the old party, and his grandson will become Wang Anshi's grandson-in-law.

From now on, Lv Xiji's contribution would be included in the discussion of merits in Quanzhou City's Ship Division.

All three sons have been taught well.

The plan he had worked so hard to prepare for his sons was now complete.

According to Lu Gongzhu's guess, Lu Xichun may be just going through the motions in Taichang Temple. Otherwise, he may be transferred to other departments in a few days, and then become a close minister of the official, and be sent to do some things.

The family education written by Lu Gong is indeed very powerful!

His three sons, whom Mr. Lu worked so hard to raise, were involved in a bottomless whirlpool in just over a year.

Soon, the two families may get married.

The future is limitless!
More importantly, there are rumors that Lu Xizhe and Lu Haowen are closely related to Jiangning Wang Anshi.

And Mr. Lu has the remaining two sons.

His father, Lu Yijian, only gave birth to four sons - the eldest brother Gongchuo, the second brother Gongbi, he was the third, and there was a younger brother Lu Gongru.

He has three sons in total - the eldest son Lu Xizhe, the second son Lu Xiji, and the youngest son Lu Xichun.

It also tied the Lu family and the Quanzhou Ship Division together.

Now, another decree has brought back the only remaining youngest son, Lu Xichun, and sent him to Taichang Temple.

He was sold and still helping to count the money!
What can Mr. Lu do?
I can only do my best to help my son, coordinate policies, and allocate resources in the capital hall.

"Unlike me...all my sons and grandsons are useless!"

Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

Mr. Lu listened to Han Jiang's words and found them useful.

This is what he is most proud of - even though Lu Xizhe is disliked by him every day, in fact, Lu Gongzhu has always been proud of him, but he just doesn't say it.

But the more this happened, the more depressed Lu Gongzhu became.

Three sons...Three sons who have worked hard to raise...

Seeing that the government officials were about to become the vanguard of advancing their policies.

He, Mr. Lu, was also forced to help along with him.

There is no way - my own son can't do it without help!
This is where Lu Gongzhuo has a headache.

He even regrets returning to Beijing now.

How wonderful it is to be in Yangzhou!

There is no need to worry about anything, and there is no need to worry so much.

it's good now.

There are so many things to worry about and take care of.

We can't let go yet - just like Quanzhou Shipping Company in Fujian, if it weren't for Lu Xiji, he could have ignored Lu Gong's work.

Let Cai Que do his best - if he does it well, it is Cai Chizheng's duty. If he does it wrong, it means that Cai Chizheng has failed his father and is unworthy of his elders, and he can step on it ten thousand times.

it's good now!

As long as it is a matter of the Shipping Department, he, Mr. Lu, must intervene, help check, and try every means to provide convenience and policy.

There was no need to talk in the palace at all. He, Mr. Lu, helped with many things.

Thinking about these things, Mr. Lu felt numb.

"Zuo Kui..." Lu Gongzhu looked at Han Jiang and said, "You and I should be the busiest prime ministers since the founding of the country..."

Han Jiang smiled knowingly: "If you are loyal to the country and ask for orders for the people, you should dedicate yourself to it."

"Yes!" Lu Gongzhu said sadly: "I can only do my best!"

The previous prime ministers before him, except Wang Anshi, were all comfortable, weren't they?
He just met this young master who has no martial ethics.

Directly threaten (tempt) him with the future of his children and grandchildren.

It was as if he had seen through him and could not care less about the future of his children and grandchildren.

He was just made to work hard for the Zhao family's farm and stay up all night to make his liver explode.

The officials in the palace were leisurely reading and sleeping, and only occasionally came out to take care of things. Their lives were not too good.

But there was nothing that could be done to him - even trying to persuade him to work diligently - he was only ten years old!

While the two prime ministers were talking, a minister came out from under the Neidong Gate.

It is Feng Jing, the close minister around him today.

Feng Jing came to the two prime ministers, bowed, and then said: "Please invite the two prime ministers to meet at the Zichen Palace."

……

Zichen Palace.

Zhao Xu sat on the mattress and looked at the two prime ministers who walked in.

Behind the screen in one corner of the hall, Fan Bailu, the hostess and guest in charge, sat.

This person is now Zhao Xu’s royal record recorder.

Every time Zhao Xu wanted to show off, he would bring him to record it.

Fan Bailu is also very knowledgeable - he always writes the recorded text beautifully, and uses the Spring and Autumn style of writing well and wonderfully.

"Shang Shu Zuo Pushe, minister Chen Jiang..."

"The right servant of Shangshu, the minister of Zhongshu, Chen Gong..."

"Your Majesty, the Emperor, wishes you all the best." The two prime ministers had arrived at the palace and bowed in obeisance.

Zhao Xu sat up slightly and said with a smile: "The two prime ministers are exempt from courtesy..."

"Shi Deyi gave the two prime ministers seats and tea."

"No!" Shi Deyi and his ministers came forward, brought two chairs and served tea.

Then he returned to the Imperial Majesty and stood in front of the Imperial Majesty.

Han Jiang and Mr. Lu thanked him and sat down.

Zhao Xu pretended to be confused and asked, "You two husbands came to the palace to see me today. Do you have important matters?"

Han Jiang moved her lips, as if she was slandering, and then said: "I am entering the palace with your right minister today because I haven't seen your majesty for a long time, so I came here specially to listen to your majesty's command..."

Lu Gongzhu immediately started to praise: "Yes!"

"Although your Majesty is no more than a young boy, he is smart and kind-hearted, and is known to both the government and the public... Although there are two benevolent saints in the palace to protect and support you, my ministers all think that it is better for your Majesty to take more precautions in state affairs and give more commands to bring peace to the world! "

This is indeed the voice of the ruling and opposition parties.

Some people have already made public appeals, especially the Imperial College students and the opposition scholar-bureaucrats.

They don't care about offending the two palaces.

Let me put it directly - since the emperor already has the ability to independently handle affairs, judge affairs, and remove officials, why don't you ministers go to the palace every day to ask for orders from the emperor?
Does it have no mouth or no long legs?
This is Confucian political correctness.

The two palaces listening to the government were only a temporary measure, a 'contingency' when the emperor was young and unable to manage the government.

Now, since the emperor is able to handle state affairs, there is no need to appoint officials.

You prime ministers, if you don’t hurry up and show your loyalty to the emperor, return your government to the emperor.

What do you want to do?
They didn't bother to care about the fact that the emperor was young and shouldn't work hard to avoid damaging his body.

Anyway, I just stand and talk without back pain.

After hearing this, Zhao Xu smiled. He knew that these two prime ministers were hinting to him - Officials, just say what you want to do!
Stop playing with us!
After Zhao Xu pretended to ponder for a moment, he began to say: "National affairs will be decided by the two palaces of mercy... I can only obey them respectfully..."

"However, now that the two husbands have entered the palace, I really have some small matters that I would like to discuss with the two husbands..."

Han Jiang and Lu Gongzhu immediately let out a sigh of relief and said in unison: "I will listen respectfully to De's message."

But at the same time, they prayed in their hearts: "I hope it's just a small thing."

Last time, it was to suppress the Yushitai and the Taixue students.

They abandoned their old faces and went out, gambling on the reputation they had accumulated over the past few decades.

It was not easy to get the crows to shut up, and the old scholars in the Imperial College to believe them half-heartedly. They chose to go out to persuade the anxious Imperial College students and tell them that this was a big game that would benefit the country. To benefit the people, everyone can wait a few months to see its effect.

At the same time, tough measures were also used - if anyone arbitrarily discussed state affairs and ruined the overall situation, he would be expelled from the Imperial College and sent back to his place of origin.

Then he reluctantly suppressed it.

However, this kind of thing is inevitable.

At least until the last promise is fulfilled, it will be difficult for the crows at Yushitai and the old scholars in Taixue to trust them again.

Zhao Xu looked at the two uneasy prime ministers with a smile.

"Is such that……"

"A few days ago, I received a memorial from Tongjian Division..."

"The Ministry of Household Affairs reported to the Ministry of Finance to beg for 'silkworm salt'..."

As soon as the two prime ministers heard this, their hearts were in their throats.

Because, this silkworm salt is a big problem!
"I didn't understand what silkworm salt was after reading the memorial, so I ordered people to go to the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Capital Hall, and Chongwen Academy to find discussions and stories about silkworm salt from past dynasties..."

"Now I understand a little bit more."

With that said, Zhao Xu stood up.

"How come the virtues of our ancestors have become so corrupt today?" He said to himself.

Regardless of Han Jiang or Lu Gongzhu, after hearing this, they immediately stood up, took off the futou on their heads, put it on a chair, fell to the ground and apologized: "I await the death penalty!"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Xu listened, waved his hands and said: "I have no intention of pursuing it..."

"The two husbands are not responsible for this matter, so there is no need to apologize..."

"I know that silkworm salt is a long-term evil, it cannot happen overnight..."

Silkworm salt can be traced back to the Later Tang Dynasty. It was a welfare policy launched by the Later Tang court for poor people in non-salt-producing areas.

It played a huge role during the Five Dynasties period.

Because this policy solves the problem of salt consumption by farmers who are not in salt-producing areas.

The general operation method is - every spring and February, farmers in non-salt-producing areas can apply to the government to buy cheap salt, and then wait until summer to use silk cloth woven from silk to offset the salt money.

This is where the name silkworm salt comes from.

It uses the government to sell salt to poor farmers in fixed quotas, so that farmers who cannot afford salt can also eat salt.

At the same time, the price of silkworm salt is very close to the people - according to the system, one pound of silkworm salt only requires a hundred yuan worth of silk cloth, which is even lower than the price of private salt!

Best of all - silkworm salt can also provide an emergency financial relief to farmers.

Salt, as we all know, is hard currency that can be sold for money.

As for the cheap silkworm salt distributed by the government, farmers do not need to pay immediately after applying for it. They can wait until the silk is woven into silk cloth in June and use the silk cloth to offset it.

In this way, farmers can sell part of the salt in exchange for funds to tide over the lean years.

When fighting for hegemony in the world, in order to win the hearts and minds of the people.

The silkworm salt system has been vigorously promoted.

After the founding of the Song Dynasty, this welfare policy was also inherited to calm the people's hearts.

however……

Over time, and especially as time went by, local governments became financially bankrupt.

Silkworm salt was inevitably targeted.

First, the method of payment for silkworm salt was changed from silk cloth worth a hundred coins to grain.

At this time, the poor-relief nature of silkworm salt was completely changed.

Completely turning it into a tool of plunder and exploitation.

why?
Because silk cloth, like copper coins, has a relatively stable value.

But food is different. Because of its price, food fluctuates, so there is room for financial manipulation.

Governments in various places first folded silk cloth into grain, and then converted the grain into grain price (certainly the highest grain price in history), and required farmers to pay according to the converted price - after their operations, the originally cheap silkworm salt price The price has skyrocketed several times, reaching a super high price of 300 or even 400 yuan per kilogram of silkworm salt!
This directly led to the complete collapse of the silkworm and salt system - poor farmers were just illiterate, but not stupid!
After the payment method of silkworm salt was changed, the price of silkworm salt was almost double that of official salt!
Not to mention compared to private salt.

Therefore, the people voted with their feet - it’s okay if I don’t want your benefits, right?
The government said: Haha! The court's grace is something you don't want if you don't want it?
If you don’t want it, what will happen to our KPIs?
Yes!

The officials of the Song Dynasty all had indicators of silkworm salt.

This has been passed down from the five generations, and its original intention is to urge local officials to pay attention to people's livelihood.

However, when the silkworm salt system collapsed, this KPI became a life-threatening yoke.

In order to achieve the targets set by their superiors, local officials collectively vote with their feet - you don't have to invite silkworms and salt, but you must also meet our targets.

So, silkworm salt super evolved!

From then on, farmers in all relevant areas had a small burden - silkworm salt money - when paying summer taxes every year.

In officialdom, the euphemistic name is: empty money for silkworms and salt.

What is Xu Na?

I don’t have to give you salt, but you must give me money!
This is Xu Na!
At this point, Silkworm Salt was completely ruined and transformed from a welfare policy into a tool of exploitation.

At this time, someone may ask - doesn't the emperor know?
joke!

of course I know!

Based on the knowledge that Zhao Xu learned after taking office in his previous life, his great-grandfather in etiquette knew that silkworm salt was completely ruined during the Renmiao era, and it evolved into a false payment for silkworm salt money.

His grandfather also knew - Yusi reported it countless times.

His father also knew that during the Xi and Feng eras, silkworm and salt reform had been discussed seven or eight times, but each time it ended without any resolution.

Zhao Xu also knew that during Shaosheng's time, Zhang Dun once thought of abolishing silkworm and salt money once and for all.

However, good money is hard to part with!

Coupled with strong local opposition, Zhang Dun's reforms came to an end.

In modern times, Zhao Xu even knew that silkworms and salt money eventually led to the demise of the Song Dynasty. He even wrote several related papers!

In the words of his teacher - the transformation history of silkworm salt production fully proves the shamelessness and greed of feudal rulers!

It also confirms the famous saying of the TV series: If you spend extravagantly, you will plunder the people!

(End of this chapter)