The princess is so sweet and charming that she can't escape if she offends the prince.

Chapter 46 Prince, Don't Do It

Salt control in the Great Zhou Dynasty has always been managed by the Salt Affairs Department in various places, and the control power is in the hands of the government.

Although this method can ensure fiscal revenue, it has many disadvantages. It not only results in a bloated bureaucracy, a dominant transportation and sales company, but also creates many gray industrial chains.

Some corrupt officials make a lot of money, but pitiful ordinary people. This policy has long made the people complain.

Since Zhou Yuan came to the throne, he has always wanted to change, decentralize the management of salt, and change the previous completely official operation to official collection, commercial transportation, commercial sales, and unified salt tax collection.The state is only responsible for purchasing and wholesale, and has reduced the corresponding salt affairs agencies.

In this way, the court was relaxed, tax revenue would not be reduced, and the salt merchants seemed to have greater freedom. In fact, they were still under the control of the court. The court only needed to control the salt merchants and prevent them from driving up prices.

Moreover, the development of salt transportation industry also promotes employment and economic development.

But the ideals are full, and the reality is skinny. Although the policies are good, only a few places can successfully reform. Most areas are still stuck in the old ways, unable to implement them due to overt and covert obstacles.

This reform is also a pilot project starting from Liuzhou. This place is close to the capital. If the reform can promote the development of the surrounding economy, it will be a good start. It will be easier to implement it in other places in the future.

After Xiao Lan said these things, Cao Songshan frowned in embarrassment:
"This policy sounds good, and we want to cooperate with it, but the prince doesn't know. If you want to take back the salt transportation rights from the local area, it is like snatching bones from the mouth of a vicious dog. It is not that easy."

"Let's just say that the Qianchuan Chamber of Commerce manages most of the salt transportation channels, especially water transportation. The cargo ships at the major terminals are all owned by them. Over the years, they have become their own group. They have dealings with gangs in the rivers and lakes. It's just a simple sentence. I can control my orders."

"If you want to exclude them now and find others to join, it is simply a fantasy."

Having said this, Cao Songshan glanced at Xiao Lan's face, sighed and said, "But don't worry, Your Majesty, I will still give it a try no matter how difficult it is for me to get off the job."

Xiao Lan had a serious face and said word by word: "It's not about trying, it's about doing it. Can't the government even control a chamber of commerce?"

Cao Songshan seemed to have expected that he would say this, and said with a troubled expression:

"This, it's really not that I don't want to do it. Chambers of commerce in various places are free to compete. I can't help others if they can't compete for it. Other traders can't get on the ship even if they get the salt. Besides, it's not true that the government is involved in the grievances between rivers and lakes. All right."

When it comes to wrangling, Cao Songshan is the best at it, and he just doesn't want to take care of it.

Ruan Ning understood clearly. Isn't this a monopoly? Prefect Cao probably benefited a lot from it.

Xiao Lan directly pointed out the key points: "The dignified Salt Affairs Department was actually held hostage by a chamber of commerce. The chamber of commerce did not grow overnight. How did it reach such a scale? Doesn't Governor Cao know?"

Cao Songshan pretended to be confused: "This, this official really doesn't know that this was the case with the Qianchuan Chamber of Commerce before he took office. You let me compete with them. I am really powerless."

*
At night, Xiao Lan and Ruan Ning stayed at the prefect's mansion. Ruan Ning thought of Cao Songshan's glib expression just now and couldn't help but say:

"Your Majesty, do you really not care about this matter?"

Xiao Lan glanced at her: "What do you think?"

Ruan Ning didn't believe that Xiao Lan would just let it go. She really wanted to see how he could get rid of the problem.

She smiled: "I think you must have a clever plan."

Xiao Lan curled her lips, noncommittal.

The boy from the Prefect's Mansion sent the two of them back to the courtyard. Xiao Lan had been to this place once, so it was not unfamiliar.

When they reached a fork in the road, Xiao Lan suddenly pressed Ruan Ning's shoulders, then fiddled with the hairpin on her head, and said in a deep voice: "The hairpin is crooked." Ruan Ning tilted his head, not understanding what he was doing. No matter what she wanted to do, the next second, she saw Xiao Lan glance towards the path on the right, as if giving her a wink.

She looked at the boy walking straight ahead, and then at the fork in the road next to her. She made up her mind and immediately spoke:
"Ah, this prefect's mansion is so beautiful. There is also a lake in the yard. My lord, I want to take a stroll, okay~"

Ruan Ning showed her pretense to the end, her voice was so soft that it could make her water drop. She thought that was enough, but she didn't expect Xiao Lan to start pulling her.

He looked serious and said, "Aren't you tired? You'd better go back and rest early."

Ruan Ning took a deep breath, held Xiao Lan's arm, shook it, and said in her throat: "No, it's still early, just play for a while, Your Majesty~"

The boy in front stopped when he saw this, and he couldn't help but be speechless. They all said that a hero has a hard time being a beauty. Who can bear this?

Sure enough, in the next second, Xiao Lan immediately relaxed, pinched Ruan Ning's face slightly, and said in a doting tone: "Okay, it's up to you."

Ruan Ning was caught off guard by Xiao Lan's pinching of the face, and her cheeks felt a little numb for no reason. She quickly calmed down, pulled Xiao Lan and walked aside. Before leaving, she did not forget to say to the boy: "Let's go for a walk." , no need to follow us."

After walking away, Ruan Ning let go of Xiao Lan and rubbed the face he had just pinched.

*
The two of them walked away away from the crowd, getting more and more remote. The night was cool, and Ruan Ning couldn't help but shrink his neck when the cold wind blew.

Although she believed Xiao Lan, she still couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, where are we going?"

Xiao Lan said truthfully: "When I came here last time, I found a secret passage in the house and went to take a look."

Secret passages?Ruan Ning felt dangerous after hearing this. She didn't want to go and asked tentatively: "I don't know anything. If you take me with you, aren't you afraid of dragging you down?"

Xiao Lan glanced at her and said, "What would you say if someone discovered you if you were left alone in the yard?"

That's true, but...

Ruan Ning: "Is it easy to explain that we both disappeared together?"

As soon as they finished speaking, footsteps suddenly came from behind the two of them. Ruan Ning was startled. Before he could react, he was picked up by Xiao Lan and pushed directly against the tree next to him.

If Ruan Ning didn't know Xiao Lan's personality, he would most likely think he was playing a hooligan.

She was helpless and grabbed Xiao Lan's shoulders: "No, what are you doing?"

Xiao Lan spoke concisely and to the point: "Call."

Ruan Ning didn't react for a moment: "Huh?"

Xiao Lan said in a low voice: "Someone is watching."

Ruan Ning understood. He was asking her to cooperate with him in acting, but this was too embarrassing. Although she had never eaten pork and had seen pigs running away, it was really difficult for her to do so in such a blunt situation.

Xiao Lan leaned in front of her and covered her with his whole body. Ruan Ning had to bite the bullet and say: "Your Majesty, no~"

*
(End of this chapter)