Ji Han Liu Zhang

Chapter 196 Jin Guan
"Together, salt and iron can benefit the mountains and rivers and make all things prosper. Therefore, the county officials have enough to spare, and the people will not be hungry. The root and the bottom are both beneficial, and both the upper and lower sides are sufficient." Wang Lian quoted a passage from the Treatise on Salt and Iron, explaining the importance of salt and iron. The advantages of franchising serve as a general conclusion.

"Nowadays, there are many things in the world and there is a shortage of goods. If we don't start with salt and iron, we can only start with land tax, accounting tax, oral tax, etc. This will increase the land tax by ten coins at the top. When it comes to the bottom, it will be up to the hands of the small officials. When we get to the first place in Guizhou, if we increase the land tax by [-] yuan, eighty or ninety yuan will be wasted. Secondly, if the calculation tax and oral tax are increased, the people will be taxed too heavily, and I am afraid there will be a situation where they will not raise their children."

Regarding Wang Lian's remarks, Liu Zhang nodded in agreement. For things like raising taxes, on the one hand, raising taxes requires more officials. More officials will cost more money and food.The second thing is just like Wang Lian said, if ten yuan is added to the top, and it goes into the hands of the officials below, God knows how much money will be taken from the hands of the people.

This situation is not uncommon in history. Take the Liao rates in the late Ming Dynasty as an example. The additional Liao rates were not high. They only amounted to an additional tax of three to five six kilograms of rice per mu, which was equivalent to about one cent and two cents of silver. .

However, in the actual process of collecting Liao rates, the powerful managed to evade the Liao rates, and the majority of the Liao rates basically fell on ordinary people. Coupled with the bad habits of tax collectors and extra purposeful exorbitant taxes, famous ones such as Kihu and Huohua Wait, after this back and forth, the tax increase of one cent or two cents finally reached the people and turned into ten taels of tax.

So as far as Liu Zhang was concerned, he had no idea of ​​raising taxes. It would be better to think about monopolizing or selling salt, iron and other products so that the people would not be taxed but the country would have enough.

The king continued: "Therefore, we need to start with salt and iron to make the country rich. Compared with salt and iron, iron is not as good as salt. As the old saying goes, a country must have salt, and a country cannot be built without salt. The people can be without iron, but not without salt... …Today, the price of a stone of salt is about [-] yuan, and a man's annual salt consumption is about half a stone. If the government monopolizes the salt industry, and sells a stone of salt for a few dozen yuan, the millions of people in Yizhou can live for a year. Collect hundreds of millions of dollars to replenish the treasury.”

"In addition, there are many kinds of salt production, such as Langya, Jiangdong, Bohai and other places, which are close to the sea, and most of them boil the sea to make salt. Inland states, which are not close to the sea, can only take other ways, such as Hedong, where there is the Jieliang Salt Pond For example, in Shu, Fushun County produces well salt... Fushun County in Shu produces well salt, which is really convenient. For one thing, supervision is convenient. You only need to keep an eye on one place, unlike the vast coast, where there are many private salt dealers walking everywhere, and officials He was running around, but he was helpless against the private salt dealers; secondly, the salt production in Fushun County accounted for [-]% of the salt industry in Shu. , and there is no need to ban boiled salt in small private places. Compared with the salt industry in Fushun County, the output of boiled salt in other places in Shu is only a drop in the bucket."

'Talent. Liu Zhang praised him from the bottom of his heart. Not long after Wang Lian entered Shu, he was able to talk about the salt affairs in Shu and had his own thoughts and considerations. No wonder Wang Lian could be the prime minister of figures like Zhuge Wuhou in history. He sat in the position of chief official in the mansion.

"What Wang Qing said is true. Fushun salt wells are really the most important thing in Shu. But if the price of salt is too expensive, firstly, there will be resentment among the people, and the government will treat the common people harshly. Secondly, the salt in Jingchu will be destroyed." Coming west."

Liu Zhang expressed concern that the price of monopolized salt would be too high, which would lead to complaints from the people, and that private salt dealers would sell private salt from Jingchu to Shu, which would make him profit from the salt monopoly. Failed.

After all, as long as it is profitable to sell illegal salt, illegal salt dealers will not kill them.Just like in the middle and late Southern Song Dynasty, because the Southern Song Dynasty implemented a salt and iron monopoly, a pound of official salt in the Southern Song Dynasty cost [-] Wen per pound. However, in the Jin Kingdom north of the Huaihe River, due to the emperor's lazy administration, the official salt was directly priced at [-] Wen per pound. Jin, created an astonishing price difference between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, and a large number of private salt dealers risked their heads to go to the Jin Dynasty to buy salt and sell it in the Southern Song Dynasty.

Although the criminal law for selling illegal salt in the Southern Song Dynasty was very severe, and if caught, they were basically killed without any consultation. However, there was still an endless stream of illegal salt dealers who bought salt from the Jin Kingdom and sold it to the Southern Song Dynasty, and risked their lives. He was responsible for selling the private salt of the Jin Kingdom.

Regarding Liu Zhang's worries, Wang Lian smiled slightly and responded without any hesitation: "Ming Gong is very worried... There are a few humble opinions that may solve Ming Gong's concerns. The price of salt for monopoly sales should be It is to make it unprofitable for private salt dealers to sell private salt from Jingchu to Shu and go up the river. If there are not many times the profit, it is unlikely that any private salt dealers in Jingchu will be willing to go to Shu to sell private salt. , so the price of salt needs to be carefully considered and a reasonable price given. Secondly, special personnel may be able to improve the salt-making process to reduce the cost of salt production. In this way, even if the price of salt sold by the government is not high, the profit will be It can be very high, and at the same time, it will not cause people to be resentful because the price of salt is too high."

'Science and technology are primary productive forces. Liu Zhang looked slightly surprised. The second suggestion Wang Lian said was very different from the sentence he heard in his previous life, which made him feel like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Liu Zhang asked: "In Wang Qing's opinion, what should the iron affairs be like?"

"Salt can be produced and sold by the government alone, but Tiewu Yilian's humble opinion is that it is inappropriate to implement a monopoly and produce it by the government." After Wang Lian made his attitude towards Tiewu clear, he gave Corresponding view: "The county officials monopolized the production of iron tools. Without rivals to compete with, they would not put too much effort into making iron tools. Most of the iron tools produced were perfunctory blunt weapons. The civilians wielded the blunt tools made by the county officials. With a knife, I can’t even cut weeds, let alone cultivate the land.”

“So while the county officials are drumming up the ironware, they should also let the private sector make ironware, so that the iron officials will not be perfunctory and shoddy in making ironware because they have no rivals to compete with. In addition, the ironware made by the private sector will be purchased by the government. Just implement a monopoly policy and control the profits from the sale of ironware...but there is no need to demand that the iron officials make all the ironware, lest the farm tools produced be defective and affect private farming."

'You are such a genius! After listening to Wang Lian's long speech, Liu Zhang involuntarily said something in his heart.It has to be said that Wang Lian does have financial talents. He can launch different policies to implement according to different salt and iron conditions, and all the rules are quite reasonable.

Liu Zhang generously gave his price: "Hearing Wang Qing's words will greatly benefit me. Now that I have the post of Jin Cao, I hope Wang Qing will take up the post. Don't refuse."

After opening the government, Liu Zhang had a large number of official vacancies under his command, which could be used to attract and place talents. Previously, he gave the post of Fa Cao in charge of justice to Gao Rou, a criminal law expert. Now he plans to move Jin Cao in charge of currency, salt and iron taxation. One position was handed over to Wang Lian, the financial expert in front of him, and everyone performed their duties and showed off their talents.

Wang Lian, who probably knew Liu Zhang's temperament from Dong He, did not make any excuses. With excitement, he accepted the post of Jin Cao with humiliation: "Lian thanks Ming Gong, and I will do my best not to let him fall into the trap." I leave my worries to Ming Gong."

Wang Lian, who took over the post of Jin Cao, continued to make plans from his chest: "Ming Gong, in addition to salt, iron, and wine, I think there is one more thing. If it is sold exclusively, it can be beneficial to the country..."

In the middle of Wang Lian's words, Liu Zhang stretched out his hand and interrupted him: "Wang Qing, I probably know what you are talking about. How about you and I write down the names of the things and confirm each other's words."

Liu Zhang, with a wicked expression on his face, gave an order to Pang Que who was standing beside him. After a while, the silk cloth and pen and ink required for writing were each placed on the table in front of him and Wang Lian. In an instant, For a while, the two of them wrote separately, and within a moment they each finished writing.

At Liu Zhang's signal, Wang Lian, who had finished writing, showed the text he had written on the silk, which was the word "jin".

The words Liu Zhang wrote on the silk cloth were lifted up and displayed by Pang Que, Liu Zhang's personal attendant, which was also the word "jin".

Liu Zhang and Wang Lian looked at each other, and then laughed regardless of their appearance.
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Hanzhong, Nanzheng.Ever since Liu Zhang, the pastor of Yizhou, sent a message to Hanzhong and spread the news of the upcoming attack on Hanzhong among the He factions, the face of Zhang Lu, the master of Tianshi Dao, has always been not very good-looking, old-fashioned and tense, and even a little gloomy. , like a powerful summer thunderstorm about to crackle.

The servants in the Tianshi Mansion were more or less aware of Zhang Lu's unhappiness. Therefore, during this period of time, the servants acted cautiously and did not dare to make any mistakes, so as not to offend Zhang Lu and cause unwarranted consequences. criminal law.

The servants were cautious and in a tense state. They would only relax slightly when someone arrived. This person was no one else, but Zhang Lu's confidant, Gong Cao Yan Pu.

Yan Pu, as Zhang Lu's mastermind, has always been respected by Zhang Lu. In front of Yan Pu, Zhang Lu's recent unlucky mentality will be slightly hidden, and he will switch to a friendly attitude to greet Yan Pu.

No, Zhang Lu asked Yan Pu with a gentle face: "Gong Cao, why are you here?"

Yan Pu cupped his hands and reported back: "Master, as I said before, the matter of detaining wealthy families in Hanzhong who are not enamored of the Celestial Master's Way in Nanzheng is now being steadily carried out, such as the Chenggu Zhang family, the patriarch Zhang Jun, and a group of Zhangs The descendants of the family have already settled in Nanzheng, and the wealthy families from other places are also on their way to Nanzheng."

"Very good, very good." Zhang Lu praised repeatedly, and his expression rarely softened for a while, showing a slight smile.

"I can still feel relieved when a meritorious officer acts... If the officials in Hanzhong, big and small, work with the same level of dedication as a meritorious officer, then why should I worry about Liu Zhang's son in Chengdu."

After praising Yan Pu, Zhang Lu let out a sigh. With a hopeful mood, he hoped that everyone in Hanzhong would imitate Yan Pu's loyalty and conduct properly, so that he would not be worried and worried about Liu Zhang's army in Chengdu all the time. of pressure.

Hearing this, Yan Pu showed the demeanor of a scholar and said humbly: "Master, you are so complimentary. Pu is just doing his job as usual, but he doesn't deserve such praise from Master... Furthermore, all officials, big and small, scholars and common people in Hanzhong are all Those who serve Master Shi attentively are like Army Sima Li Xiu, who works diligently. In just a few months, he has built the New Yangping Pass, making the Hanzhong gate without any gaps... Now everyone is united in this way, Master Master. Why worry about Liu Zhang in Chengdu?"

"That's true..." Yan Pu brought out Army Sima Li Xiu as a speech for everyone in Hanzhong to unite. Zhang Lu couldn't help but nodded in agreement. Without him, Army Sima Li Xiu was indeed competent in his work. He could be said to be diligent, not to mention Military Sima Li Xiu persuaded him several times, hoping that he would establish himself as King of Hanning. Li Xiu's loyalty was as strong as the sun and the moon.

"It's just hateful. There are many aristocratic families and young people in Hanzhong who don't obey my Heavenly Master's ways and treat me like a ghost...like Zhang Jun from Chenggu County. Although he doesn't say it on the face, he secretly slanders our Heavenly Master many times. Master, if I hadn’t considered that the Zhang family is a prominent figure in Chenggu County, has a very high reputation, and has no real evidence, I would have wiped out the Chenggu Zhang family long ago."

Zhang Lu thought of Zhang Jun and couldn't help but feel a wave of resentment. These aristocratic families who inherited classics were not very compatible with his Celestial Master way. They have already led troops into trouble.

Yan Pu listened to Zhang Lu's resentful words and comforted him: "Master, don't worry, it is our misfortune that this generation does not have sympathy with us. Now the important figures in these aristocratic families are rushing to Nanzheng, as long as we control the smugglers of these aristocratic families, everything will be fine locally, so we don’t need to pay too much attention to these local aristocratic families.”

"They are just small folk...such as Su Gu, the former governor of Hanzhong, Zhao Song, the former administrator, and Chen Tiao. Although these people are dead, most of their former guests were hiding among the people with treasonous intentions. Waiting for an opportunity, and then jumping out to cause trouble. But it was not easy for us to find and deal with this group of people."

Zhang Lu frowned. The problem Yan Pu mentioned was a problem left over from history. Su Gu, Zhao Song, and Chen Diao, the Hanzhong officials who he and Zhang Xiu worked together to kill, were all dead, but these few A large number of people has the habit of attracting guests, especially good knights, and there are even hundreds of guests. These guests are scattered all over the sky, hiding among the people, always waiting for him to reveal his loopholes, and then take advantage of him. Loophole.

When Liu Yan was alive in the past, he had great trust in him because of his mother, the Lu family. He had no worries in Hanzhong, so he had no opportunities.But things are different now. After Liu Zhang came to power, he was eyeing Hanzhong. When Liu Zhang's army attacks, most of Hanzhong's power will be projected to the front line of Yangpingguan, and maybe it will be transferred to people like Su Gu, Zhao Song, and Chen The old guests took advantage of his loophole.

"In the opinion of the meritorious officer, how should we deal with these young people?" Zhang Lu asked about Yan Pu, hoping to get the strategy for dealing with the guests of Su Gu, Zhao Song and others from Yan Pu, the mastermind.

Yan Pu thought about it for a moment, and for a while he didn't have any good method. He could only give a rough strategy: "Master, they are hiding among the people. Trying to find these people is like finding a needle in a haystack, but it's not very good." Discover... Firstly, we need to recruit a group of sophisticated people and ask them to visit around to see if they can find any clues about the guests of Su Gu, Zhao Song and others in the past. Secondly, I have some old guests here such as Su Gu, Zhao Song and others. For the list of guests, we can use heavy money to bribe these people so that they can identify and find other guests of Su Gu, Zhao Song and others in the past for us."

"Good." Zhang Lu praised the strategy given by Yan Pu as usual, and at the same time he ordered: "This matter is left to you to handle. Others' actions may not be in line with my wishes... In addition, no matter how much money is spent, as long as we can win over Su Gu and Zhao Song's guests, let them do things for us, and discover the secrets of the people, it will be worth it... Meriters do not need to worry about financial issues, Tianshi The treasury of the Tao can be entered and exited at will, and everything can be done first and reported later."

Faced with Zhang Lu's high regard, Yan Pu showed a moved and enamored face, and he bowed in admiration: "Yan Pu accepts the order and will definitely relieve the master's worries and prevent Xiaoxiao from disturbing the master."

"With merit, I have nothing to worry about." Zhang Lu Xunlu expressed his confidence in Yan Pu's ability.

After a while, after chatting some more about the defense of Hanzhong, Yan Pu resigned and left. As Yan Pu left, the peaceful look on Zhang Lu's face also left. He changed back to the old-fashioned and even a little bitter look before. complexion.

'Liu Zhang's son. Zhang Lu felt resentful in his heart. Ever since Liu Zhang became the shepherd of Yizhou, he and Liu Zhang have been tit-for-tat and quarreling with him everywhere.He couldn't sleep well, he couldn't eat well, and he was worried all the time.

'God damn Zhao Wei. When Zhang Lu thought about this, he then became angry with Zhao Wei, the general of Zhonglang in Germany. If Zhao Wei had not strongly recommended Liu Zhang to be the shepherd of Yizhou, how would he have been worried today.

(End of this chapter)