Xinshun 1730

Chapter 1038 Great Success ([-])

After the group continued to visit the rest of the salt field, they looked at the new technology of washing crushed salt to produce fine salt. After complimenting it, Lin Min asked the craftsmen if this method was feasible in Huainan?

In Xu Guangqi's book, it has been demonstrated that it is feasible, because the salt content of seawater in Fujian is lower than that in the north.

Xu Guangqi's argument is logical, that is: how to prove that the sun-dried salt method is not only practiced in a specific area because of the special situation in a certain area?

After he demonstrated the salt content, the degree of sun exposure, etc., he concluded that the application of the sun salt method is universal and can be used at the seaside.

Based on the idea of ​​specializing in art, Lin Min felt that he was not ashamed to ask all craftsmen, which was better than just reading books to make judgments.

After the craftsman gave an affirmative answer, Liu Yu glanced at Lin Min and thought it was great.

Liu Yu knew that Lin Min didn't know about his plan to abandon salt in Huainan and cultivate wasteland.

But that's not the point.

The key point is that Lin Min took the initiative to ask the craftsmen whether Huainan can also use this method of drying salt to produce table salt.

But before asking this question, some people complained about their injustice.

Therefore, Liu Yu can judge from this that in Lin Min's mind, unemployment in Yanhu in Huainan is a price he can bear in his heart.

In other words, he prefers to boost Huainan salt production and reduce costs at the cost of unemployment for Huainan salt households.

Then, the most critical obstacle to Huainan's wasteland reclamation and salt abandonment will no longer exist.Liu Yu can recruit the reformers of the salt administration as his ally.

It's very simple: If the consequences of unemployment for salt households are acceptable, then do we need to care whether the salt farm is located in Huaibei or Huainan?

Opening a salt farm in Huaibei, the salt households in Huainan are also unemployed, so why do you have to open a salt farm in Huainan?

Although the joke says that Jiangsu is in bulk, North Jiangsu, Central Jiangsu, and Southern Jiangsu, but after all, this is Dashun, not a bunch of princes of the sacred Yanhan Empire.

Only Lianghuai Salt Envoy.

There is no Huaibei Salt Envoy and Huainan Salt Envoy.

Therefore, there is no difference in Huainan and Huaibei, where the saltworks are located.They are all unemployed, and it does not mean that being unemployed because of the Huainan Saltworks is more comfortable than being unemployed because of the Huaibei Saltworks.

The craftsman just said in theory that as long as there is sea water and the sun, and the temperature is right, the salt can actually be dried.

Lin Min did not express his attitude in public.

But Liu Yu saw that he was asking, so he deliberately led the topic to this side.

"Master Lin just asked Huainan about the possibility of drying salt, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Lin Min couldn't help scolding in his heart.

He had just experienced the complaints from the people, and he didn't say he supported or opposed it. He just asked Huainan if he could dry the salt, but Liu Yu immediately bit him like a fly that smelled of excrement.

What do you think?

What do you think, if you say it in public, wouldn't that be another piece of nonsense?

Lin Min thought that you are really not afraid of big things, but you are not watching the fun, you are also a participant.It's no good to make a fuss.

The political correctness of the sage's study is here, the control of the people's permanent property, the benefits of the small people, who dares to say that this is not important at all?

You don't learn the sage at all, you don't care about people who are pure eunuchs from the previous dynasty, can I not care?

"It's hard for me to answer the question of the Duke. What do you think? Naturally, I want to have the best of both worlds."

"We can benefit from drying the salt without harming the salt households. If we can have both..."

But before he finished speaking, Liu Yu laughed and said, "Both? The salt households in Huainan need to borrow usury every year even to cook salt and get firewood. Do you think they can dig such a large-scale salt pond?"

"This thing is not about farming. Farming can be a big deal to equalize the fields, and the small farmers farm separately. You are also thinking about equalizing the fields for this kind of thing, splitting it into small pieces, and getting the best of both worlds? How can it be both?"

After finishing speaking, Liu Yu said aggressively again: "Or, the imperial court will provide funds and loans to small salt households, follow the well field system, work collectively, and operate the big salt fields. Then, Master Lin, will you give me the money?"

"How much capital does the imperial court have that can be loaned out? If you want to have the best of both worlds, do you have the money? If you don't have any money, how can you have the best of both worlds?"

Regarding this matter, strategically, Liu Yu was very careful to keep it secret, but tactically, Liu Yu was not low-key but intentionally high-key.

Huaibei's salt administration reform has achieved initial results, and any fool knows that Huainan must be moved.

But the key is how to move.

It is a strategy to use the sales area of ​​Hunan and Chu as a buffer to nourish Sichuan salt and Huaibei salt, and counter-kill Huainan salt. Huaibei salt will withdraw from Hunan and occupy Huainan.Confidentiality is required.

As long as the secret of this strategy is kept, Liu Yu can deliberately discuss the issue of Huainan salt in a high-profile manner, because any fool knows that Huainan must be moved.

The more high-profile the tactics, the deeper the real strategic purpose will be hidden.

Are Huainan salt merchants monolithic?In Liu Yu's view, not necessarily.

If we talk about the salt reform in Huainan in a high-profile way, we will use Huaibei as a model, which will require a large amount of capital injection, and perhaps build a salt farm in Huainan.

Under this kind of deception, the Huainan Salt Chamber of Commerce united to fight?
Will there be a large salt chamber of commerce with intentions to collect funds and cash in advance, and under the tendency of capitulation, feel that it is better to take advantage of the trend and collect cash to invest in salt farm production?
Let out the wind, the reformers are the ones who are in chaos first?Or Huainan Great Salt Merchant?

Obviously, under Liu Yu's aggressiveness, Lin Min just felt that Liu Yu's method was inappropriate and too high-profile, so he insisted on forcing him to express his position here.

But I don't think Huainan can't or shouldn't be moved.

Liu Yu deliberately made such a high profile, and Lin Min guessed that the reason was that Liu Yu was forcing him to express his opinion.

But the question Liu Yu asked was too disgusting, and he couldn't answer it.

Huainan Saltworks renovation really needs money.

If you want to "best of both worlds" and guarantee the interests of the salt households, then the imperial court has to provide capital and lend to those salt households.

Obviously, the imperial court had no money, and the money was spent on the second phase of the Huaihe River project.

Even if he is rich, is Yanhu in Huainan the emperor's biological father?A lot of money for low-interest loans to salt households?
Well salt and standardized sun-dried salt are both capital-intensive industries.

As long as small farmers and small workshops cook salt, it is not.

The problem is that when Lin Min asked if he could boil salt in Huainan, the subtext was that he supported the development of the capital-intensive industry model of the salt industry.

So, where does the capital for capital-intensive industries come from?
It cannot fall from the sky.

It is impossible for Huainan salt households to rely on primitive accumulation to save money for repairing standardized salt ponds and buying steam engines.

Even if it accumulates for 1 years, it is useless, otherwise it will be impossible to recruit a thousand households, and only a hundred households will be left after running for a few years.

Why do you need low-interest loans if you want the best of both worlds?Can't the imperial court lend money to earn interest?
No, because it's salt.High-interest loans, if salt households want to repay the money, the purchase price of salt has to increase.If the purchase price of salt increases, the official salt will not be sold, and the salt households will not be able to earn money to repay the interest. In the end, the money will be lost even with the principal and interest.

Liu Yu made it clear that he would not let Lin Min get along with Xi Ni, and said clearly, don't get along with Xi Ni, let's make a statement, there is no possibility of having the best of both worlds.

Lin Min was forced into a corner, and could only laugh at this moment: "The Duke speaks like a blade. This matter cannot be explained clearly in a few sentences, and it is not for discussion at this time."

"The discussion on salt and iron lasted from February to July of the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty, and the policy was only decided. Such a major event has to be discussed by the court. Maybe this time when I return to Beijing for an audience, the court will also hold a meeting."

Liu Yu was not polite at all, and said with a smile: "Don't make random analogies. How can this dynasty discuss salt and iron? It's not at that level, it's far behind."

"Besides, is the salt and iron at that time still salt and iron today? It is really wrong to seek swords. The benefits of salt are no longer as good as customs. The salt and iron at that time are no longer what they are today, just like that The Western Regions of that time are no longer the Western Regions of today."

"Salt has many reforms, but it's just a small disturbance. To be honest, the most serious disturbance is that the common people eat illegal salt, and the court receives two or three million taels of silver less. There is no need for an iron-and-salt discussion."

"Now Huaibei is the one with the deepest understanding of the reform of the salt administration. Today, the salt officials and salt merchants in Haizhou are also here. I think let's discuss it first."

"Since Huaibei has been reformed and achieved great success, how can Huainan not change?"

"But if you want to change, you can't wait for the sword and wait for the rabbit."

"I just want to ask: Huainan salt households cook salt for a living, and they must be close to reeds and grasses. Then, reeds and grasses can grow, can they dry salt? How far away from the coast can grass and reeds grow?"

"Does the method of drying salt have a direct impact on Huainan salt households? Is the beach in Huaibei the same as the beach in Huainan where the Yellow River and the Huaihe River have been washed out for hundreds of miles in hundreds of years?"

"The environment is different, so the impact on Yanhu in Huaibei will be completely reproduced on Yanhu in Huainan?"

"The injustice of the salt households in Huaibei, are the salt households in Huainan entitled to 'enjoy'?"

A few words suddenly lit up the hope in Lin Min's eyes. After thinking about Liu Yu's words, Lin Min said joyfully, "My lord's advice! I'm the one who's waiting for the sword!"

When Lin Min asked whether Huainan could dry the salt, Liu Yu had already figured it out and understood Lin Min's inner attitude.

Since they thought that the misery of the salt households in Huaibei would also be reproduced in the salt households in Huainan, and based on this, they all had the idea of ​​reforming the way of salt production in Huainan, wouldn't it be better to talk about other things?
In the same way, on the other hand, if the interests of the small salt households are considered by Lin Min to be sacrificed by default.

So, what is the difference between sacrificing to the "salt pan" or sacrificing to the "farm"?

Just now Liu Yu questioned Lin Min aggressively, telling him that it is impossible to have the best of both worlds.Lin Min's answer seemed to be ambiguous, but in fact he had already stated his position.

Dashun's political correctness is to protect small farmers and small producers.

Any argument that actually threatens this right, not explicitly opposed, is at the same time supported.

For example, it is wrong not to support parents and even to beat and scold them. As long as it is not an immediate accusation, but a close relationship, or there may be faults on both sides, then no matter how you talk about it, you will actually support beating and scolding.

Dashun has a clear moral system based on a specific economic foundation, and this moral system is also aimed at maintaining this economic foundation.

Activities that change productivity and production relations are themselves anti-moral.

Whether it is Liu Yu's support for the southern Sichuan and Huainan enclosures, or the competition where the big bully the small in the salt field.They are all changing the production relations and economic foundation, which is bound to be contrary to the morality at this time.

It is ridiculous to directly remove and change the foundation and expect the original superstructure to be directly compatible.

From the moment Lin Min ignored his grievances, he was immoral; and from the moment he asked Huainan if he could also sell salt, he was already a bad person.

The intention to kill has already started, even if he didn't kill, the law is not guilty, and the morality has been lost.Therefore, Liu Yu judged that Lin Min would not object the next time he killed the same person for a different reason.

Liu Yu was mocking Lin Min in his heart. If he didn't make it clear that Huainan's re-enactment of Huaibei was a desperate effort, wouldn't Lin Min support the Huainan salt-salting reform he imagined?

In fact, Lin Min had made up his mind a long time ago. Liu Yu's words were by no means the result of a certainty, a final decision, enlightenment, or enlightenment. They just found a curtain to cover it up.

After the curtain of covering fell, Lin Min hadn't realized that he had fallen into the trap dug by Liu Yu about waste salt reclamation in Huainan.

The excitement in his eyes is that the Lianghuai Salt Reform can continue to be implemented without being opposed by people using the suffering of Huaibei salt households as a reason.

When he was still excited, Liu Yu took advantage of the situation and said: "Xu Guangqi of the previous dynasty said that the benefit of drying salt lies in cultivating it. The salt farmers in Huainan are suffering so much. If they can cultivate it, they will not want to cook it."

"Although the success of Huaibei Saltworks was accompanied by crying, but in Huainan, there was only laughter. One person in Huaibei cried, but ten people in Huainan laughed. So far, I think there is no need to argue about the large-scale drying saltworks."

"If sun-dried salt can be used instead of boiled salt, if it originally required [-] Huainan salt households, now only [-] salt workers are needed. The remaining [-] can be reclaimed. The people cheered and cheered, and it is a kingly government. What does Master Lin think? ?”

Liu Yu didn't say where to dry the salt to replace the boiled salt in Huainan. It sounds like the default is to say that the salt is dried in Huainan.

Without any hesitation, Lin Min firmly supported: "The Duke of the State is far-sighted. Huaibei cries, Huainan laughs, they are all from Dashun, and they are all from Jiangsu."

"As Haizhou officials, you are pleading for the people. You are really commendable and highly commendable."

"As for my trip to Jiangsu, Huainan and Huaibei, I have to consider it; the important ministers of the Duke's court have jumped out of Huainan and Huaibei again."

"In this matter, you are not wrong, I am not wrong, and the Duke is not wrong. As the local officials of Haizhou, I praise you for your righteousness in pleading for the people, but you do not understand the overall situation."

He seems to be praising the officials who just pleaded for the people, but in fact he puts on a big hat: the relationship between the local government and the court.

Once this big hat is buckled, there is no way to argue.

Lin Min made it clear that he very much agreed with these people's pleading for the people's life. In other words, his morals were the same as theirs, otherwise this would not be the evaluation of pleading for the people's life.

After expressing that his morality was consistent with theirs, the debate collapsed directly.

Because they used to make the people cry out for grievances and speak up for justice, the root of which is that "I am morally right and you are morally wrong".

But now, Lin Min said that he is also morally right, you are not more righteous than me, I do not oppose your morality, on the contrary, I also support it.It’s just that, if you continue to fight, the local government is trying to fight against the imperial court—Talk about Yili, do you want to talk to Shanxi’s salt-producing areas? Why does the imperial court not allow Henan to use closer Shanxi salt?And use farther Huaibei salt?Do you want to talk to Kuizhou? Why does the imperial court not allow Hubei to use Chongqing Kuizhou salt, but use Lianghuai salt farther away?Who is going to discuss righteousness with merchants and salt people in Shanxi and Kuizhou?
(End of this chapter)