King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Chapter 66 Changlu Salt Field

Chapter 66 Changlu Salt Field
Han Mingzhe sneered in his heart.

This Zhu Tan has the temperament of a child after all!

Right!

Just a teenager!

Definitely likes to hear good things!
He was still happy after he praised himself like this!

As long as you flatter him later, maybe no one will have to leave!

After Zhu Tan finished posing, he looked at Han Mingzhe and asked: "Now that you have seen my king's style! You can leave with your Salt Transport Envoy Si Yamen people! Go back to the court and wait for arrangements!"

Han Mingzhe and other officials were confused!
Why are you so anxious to drive yourself away after all the talk?
Your Highness, Prince Lu, must ruin everyone’s good life?

Han Mingzhe said anxiously: "Your Highness! I have something to report to you!"

Zhu Tan was already a little impatient when he heard this.

He was extremely curious about the scene of boiling salt in a large pot in the distance!
Now I am very unhappy to be so delayed by Han Mingzhe.

He immediately frowned and said, "Speak!"

Han Mingzhe said: "Your Highness! This salt business seems simple. It is nothing more than cooking and selling salt!
But in fact, there are many things involved in organizing kitchen households to boil salt, collecting taxes, paying salaries, and delivering the salt to salt merchants!
This Changlu Salt Farm is the largest salt farm in the Ming Dynasty!

Things are extremely complicated!

The lower official thinks that it is not appropriate to expel all the ministers and other old people!
In this case, I'm afraid the salt farm management will be in chaos! It is a harm to His Highness and to Ming Dynasty! "

Zhu Tan looked at Han Mingzhe with a smile on his face.

After all, it turns out that you don’t want to leave Changlu Salt Farm!

Think about it too.

Salt, iron, tea and silk were the most profitable businesses in the Ming Dynasty.

It was also the industry most strictly controlled by the imperial court.

If any of the huge profits leak out, it will be enough to make the outside world break their heads.

Now the officials of the Ming Dynasty are dying of poverty with the pitiful salaries they receive. They all talk about building a government, but if they don't take corruption and bribes, it won't be long before the money in their pockets is less than The face is clean.

Relying on the salt service, at least everyone can live comfortably, and even if they are a little evil, they can suddenly become rich.

It is completely normal for these salt officials to be unwilling to leave.

but.

It was impossible for Zhu Tan to retain them.

Next, he will carry out a major transformation of the salt production process of Changlu Salt Farm.

This will be his trump card to make the salt from Changlu Salt Farm popular throughout the country.

How could these officials of the imperial court learn from this?
Then how can our own Changlu Salt Farm still have a monopoly?

Even if they can't learn, there is no need to keep officials like them on their own territory!
However, Zhu Tan did not intend to drive them away directly.

After all, it really seemed unkind to expel court officials like this.

And when the news reaches Lao Zhu’s ears, I’m afraid he will also be unhappy.

I will probably be even more unhappy when I see Changlu Saltworks making so much money in the future, and maybe just take the saltworks back!

It would be better to think of a way to make people like Han Mingzhe retreat in spite of the difficulties.

Beside Zhu Tan.

Yin Shao felt that Han Mingzhe was right!
Can you, Your Highness, Prince Lu, prevent these people who are proficient in salt affairs from managing salt?
Han Mingzhe finished speaking.

Just looking at Zhu Tan, his face was full of sadness.

If Zhu Tan doesn't allow himself and others to stay, then there is really no hope.

Zhu Tan smiled.

"So that's what you meant."

Everyone nodded wildly.

Zhu Tan said with a smile: "Then let's accompany me to the Changlu Salt Farm together! From now on, this place will also be my property! You have to get familiar with it!"

Everyone couldn't help but sigh when they heard this.

Where is your property!

Give the court 100 million taels of silver a year!

It will increase by 10% every year!
Is blood loss good?
Zhu Tan walked into the salt field with great interest.

at this time.

The salt field is boiling salt in full swing.

There are large pots everywhere, and in the pots, there is boiling salt water. Although as early as the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the salt production method of sun exposure to salt had appeared in seaside salt fields, but because the technology was not mature enough, the salt produced was of average quality and had too many impurities.

Therefore, Changlu Salt Farm still uses the most traditional method of brine and frying salt.

The entire process is divided into four parts.

The first step is to pour the sand and fry the marinade: First, dig a deep hole in a place where the tide is deep. Then, put the bamboo or crossbar on the pit, first lay a straw mat on the bamboo frame or crossbar, and then spread sand.

The second step is the tidal process: when the tidal cap passes over, brine gas (i.e., salty air) seeps into the pit through the sand.

The third step is to get the brine: after the sand and straw mats are removed, shine a lamp into the pit. When the brine gas can extinguish the light, the brine can be removed from the pit.

The fourth step is to decoct the salt: the brine taken out is then used to decoct the salt, and finally the salt crystals are obtained.

At present, many kitchen households set up frying pans to cook salt, which is the fourth part, frying and refining salt.

Accompanied by a group of officials, Zhu Tan looked at the bustling labor scene with his hands behind his hands.

Frowning.

Surrounded by dilapidated salt stoves, households are cooking salt brine.

Their clothes were shabby and covered with patches from the sea wind and salt spray.

Their faces looked listless, their bodies were thin due to long hours of work, and their skin was tanned by the sun.

The flames burned brightly under the pots and pans, and the cooks gathered around the pots and pans, stirring constantly to prevent the salt brine from burning. Their eyes were glued to the pots and pans, waiting for the salt to crystallize.

The sea breeze is cool, but the kitchen households are all sweating profusely and their muscles are tense, for fear that if there is any mistake, a large pot of salt will be boiled to waste.

Zhu Tan sighed in his heart.

These poor farmers guarded the salt field, which made a fortune every day. No matter the court, salt officials or salt merchants, everyone benefited from it!
But these people who made the greatest contribution all looked malnourished.

It's like working as a laborer in ancient times.
I work hard every day, but all my money is taken away by others.

suddenly.

In front of a salt stove not far away.

A soap official whipped a stove farmer hard on the back!

"Xu Laoer! You bastard! The fire is so small, why don't you go chop wood?"

Zaodu was shuddering from being slapped.

He said in a trembling voice: "Sir! I haven't received any salary for two months! My family has been without food for three days! I really can't chop wood anymore."

Zaoli snorted coldly, and then the whip continued to hit Zaohu's back like raindrops!

"You didn't get your salary? That means you shouldn't get it? What grievances do you have with me? I just urge you to work hard! If you can't do your job well, you should be beaten!"

Zaohu Xu Laoer was knocked to the ground!
The surrounding kitchen households seemed to have been familiar with the scene in front of them for a long time, and they were indifferent and did not dare to step forward!

Zhu Tan heard the noise, looked in the direction of Xu Laoer, and couldn't help but frown.

However, he smiled.

"Is this a beating? It's interesting! Let's go and see!"

The words fell.

Everyone shook their heads.

His Royal Highness, Prince Lu, is really stupid!

Hitting people is fun!
resignedly.

Everyone had to keep up.

at this time.

The cruel official was smiling ferociously as he beat Xu Laoer happily.

While pumping, he shouted repeatedly:
"Can I chop wood? Can I chop wood?"

suddenly.