Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 62 On Salt
In modern times, books are openly available, only those who don’t like to read, and there is no shortage of books to read, except of course, except for those who only love a certain type of books.For example, Xue Lang sometimes reads novels on the Internet when he has time, but because of personal hobbies, he often runs out of books.The website updates tens of thousands of words every day, and the one he loves to read is not updated every day, which is so pitiful.

With the backing of Xue Lang, the gun king, Han Jin doesn't have to worry about someone finding fault.After hearing Xue Lang explain the process, Han Jin proposed to cancel the matter of copying the plow-making manual.

Han Changshi obviously has more life experience than Her Royal Highness and Xue Lang. Han Jin said: "The manufacturing process of a foreign plow is basically the same as that of an ordinary plow. You can learn it, so this procedure can be saved.”

Xue Lang nodded in agreement, and Her Royal Highness also had no objection. For other links, when Her Royal Highness was revising the book, only officials were invited, and no craftsmen were invited.

Xue Lang was reminded like this, and he also realized that there is no intellectual property protection now, and Qu Yuanli actually designed it by coincidence. People who understand it can understand it at a glance, and it is not difficult to spend a little time to copy one when they go back.Negotiate everything properly, fix the problematic parts of the plan, and the matter will be settled!
Many places required Han Changshi to cooperate in overall planning, so Han Jin went back to assign manpower first.Ma Sanbao also had something to resign, and Xue Lang was also busy, but there were still things to finish, so he had to stay for a while.

Xue Lang thought for a while, then directly cupped his hands to Her Royal Highness and said, "His Royal Highness, I have something to ask of you."

"What's the matter?"

Her Royal Highness asked with concern: "What is the difficulty of Youyang? Feel free to tell me."

Xue Lang said with an embarrassed smile: "That's the one... the salt in my yard has run out again! Please give me some to meet expenses, Your Highness."

Lady Liu snorted, and Her Royal Highness smiled, "It's just such a trivial matter?"

Xue Lang snorted and said: "Xiu Niang said that the salt consumption in the mansion is strictly controlled, and she has already used it more than once, and it was resolved with the help of the waiter in Guinei. Within a month, she exceeded it twice in a row. I'm sorry, I can only be generous." I have the shame to ask His Highness here."

Her Royal Highness said: "It's okay, I will give you a bucket from my share, is it enough for Youyang?"

Xue Lang nodded quickly: "You don't need a bucket so much, two or three catties are enough for a long time!"

Her Royal Highness nodded: "In that case, Chuxue, ask someone to send three catties of salt to Tingfengyuan."

"Here."

Seeing that Chuxue took the order to dispatch people.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Her Royal Highness said casually: "No problem! If Youyang wants a rock salt, it will take me a lot of work, but it's only a few catties, and I can even out it with my portion."

Xue Lang asked curiously: "I heard that the salt is run by the government, and the price is not expensive, but why does it look like there is still a shortage of salt?"

The price of salt in the Tang Dynasty was not expensive. During the Zhenguan period, it was only ten coins per catty.It wasn't until after Xuanzong that the price of salt rose, which was due to the increase in taxes on salt by the imperial court.Although the price of salt at this moment is not as cheap as in Zhenguan years, it is already considered cheap compared to the social situation.

Her Royal Highness looked at Xue Lang and said, "Flower growers are not short of salt?"

Xue Lang nodded: "There should be no lack of salt. This subordinate has never heard of any lack of salt since childhood."

Her Royal Highness said: "Looking at Youyang's behavior, it doesn't look like he came from a place lacking salt."

Could it be that his salt standard was too wasteful in ancient times? !
Xue Lang reflected silently.

Her Royal Highness saw through Xue Lang's thoughts at a glance, and said: "Just now I heard Youyang discussing taxes, I thought Youyang understood, but now it seems that the environment in which Youyang grew up is quite different from that of my Tang Dynasty, so I only care about the Yanzheng matter. Puzzled. Come to think of it, Ah Liu doesn't know much, does he?"

"Your Highness is wise."

It turned out that Miss Liu didn't understand either.The two waited together for Her Highness the Princess to clarify.

Her Royal Highness said: "The salt output of my Tang Dynasty is sufficient if it is only used by the population, but compared with the consumption of the population, a large part is used for animal husbandry, and livestock also need salt; in addition, medicine Where salt is used, farming, and craftsmen, the production of salt is stretched compared to its use, and the supply is insufficient. Therefore, we eat light food in leisure time, and eat salty food in wartime and busy farming. .”

Xue Lang suddenly realized that no matter whether it is a person or an animal, if there is no salt, there will be no strength.The use of salt in ancient times was wider than in modern times, but because of production technology and transportation, the output of salt could not keep up. No wonder the amount of salt used was limited.

Hearing this, Xue Lang understood!Xue Lang asked: "Since the production cannot keep up with the demand, logically speaking, the price of salt should be high. Why did the court set the price of salt so low?"

Her Royal Highness said: "For the sake of giving money, giving benefits to the people, and recuperating."

Xue Lang understood: "Your Highness, you mean that the price of salt is related to taxes? Is the price of salt a means of controlling taxes?"

"Of course!"

Her Royal Highness nodded appreciatively.

Xue Lang was stunned.The ancient feudal society was essentially a farming and civilized society, dominated by small farmers and local economies, with little economic circulation.

As the main body of the country, to control and influence the national economic development, and to adjust and control the national economy and the national economy and people's livelihood through taxation, there is nothing more suitable than food prices and salt prices, which are needed by everyone.

There is also a difference in food between the north and the south. The north likes to eat pasta, while the south likes to eat rice grains.This salt is needed by everyone, regardless of whether it is east, west, north or south.No wonder there was an official camp for salt officials in ancient times.

The low salt price in the Tang Dynasty was obviously because the court forcibly set the price low, which in turn affected the reduction of taxes, which in turn affected the price of food, and benefited the people, so as to get the opportunity for the people to recuperate.Later, the lives of ordinary people improved, so the salt tax was raised accordingly.

Therefore, the Tang Dynasty, where salt was cheap, did not mean that there was no shortage of salt, but that there was a shortage of salt. It was only due to national policies that the salt tax was set low.

Xue Lang understood, but, following the principle of prudence, he did not rashly propose a way to increase salt production.Since the price of salt is fundamental to the taxation of a country, it cannot be changed rashly.In particular, Datang has just been established and cannot withstand so many ups and downs.

Especially the people who have just experienced the war have little ability to resist risks.Governing a big country is like cooking a small dish, and it affects the whole body. It is very simple for Xue Lang to say it. It is a matter of touching the lips, but for the country and the people, whether it is a good thing or not, Xue Lang still needs to think about it. Think about it.

Just like Wang Anshi's reform, Wang Xianggong's original intention must be good, and the country needs it. However, whether the people accept it and whether it is suitable for the people's livelihood, Wang Xianggong did not think carefully. The result of the failure of the reform, the harm to the country is difficult to calculate .

Xue Lang didn't want to travel through time, but became a sinner of history. Xue Lang wanted Datang to become better, not worse.

Based on the principle that more investigations lead to the right to speak, and practice leads to true knowledge, Xue Lang consulted Her Royal Highness on many Tang Dynasty policies and regulations on salt administration, and returned with the salt Her Royal Highness gave him.

(End of this chapter)