Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 343 Treacherous Means

"Shaanxi Merchants are here!"

The salt merchants gathered in Nanjing recently, and King Yu was about to ascend the throne, and they didn't want to miss such a grand event.

At the same time, in Daming, or for thousands of years, if the business wants to grow, it must cooperate with the government and businessmen, and the salt merchants need this even more.

Therefore, they are not only waiting for the emperor, but also for the salt transport envoy in charge of the Lianghuai salt industry.

And at this moment, the Shaanxi merchants from Shaanxi came aggressively, which instantly shocked the salt merchants.

Liu Zhi stared at the crowd: "Since the Shaanxi merchants obtained the well salt in Sichuan, their business has leapt a thousand miles, and the huge Huguang salt industry has been completely occupied by them."

"What did you say that Sichuan salt helps Chu? He is the one who said that our Huai salt can't get in at all."

"Could it be that they want to get their hands on Huaiyan this time?"

Suddenly, a certain salt merchant said angrily, arousing the anger of everyone in an instant.

Huaiyan is responsible for supplying the entire South Zhili, Jiangxi, and even Henan and Huguang, and the market occupies one-fifth of the world.

The profits, even if distributed to officials, are beyond imagination.

Even other Huizhou merchants are not allowed to get involved, let alone Shaanxi merchants.

"This kind of thing is beyond our control!"

Liu Zhi sighed and sat down slowly.

The salt merchants seem to be the most wealthy in the world, but it is the imperial court who controls the salt fields. Even if they have all kinds of means, they can't start without salt.

The Lianghuai salt transport envoy who monitors the salt industry can almost decide their life and death with one word.

When the pressure came, the salt merchants panicked instantly.

Well salt from Sichuan can flow down the river to Nanjing, and the cost of water transportation is extremely low.

And the Shaanxi merchants have the support of the King of Yu behind them, so they are not at a disadvantage in officialdom.

It can be said that this is the biggest enemy of life and death for salt merchants.

"Is it necessary to cut the flesh?"

Everyone was frowning and full of reluctance.

"King Yu ascended the throne, how can we salt merchants not be filial?"

Liu Zhi made up his mind.

The previous neutral attitude has caused the salt merchants to suffer a lot now, and neither side is pleased.

Huizhou merchants watched with cold eyes, especially the arrival of Shaanxi merchants, and the sense of urgency came instantly.

He raised his head, looked at the crowd, clenched his fists, frowned with thick eyebrows, and said loudly:

"I would like to collect a million taels of silver, for the joy of King Yu's congratulations to his sons."

One million taels, this is the salt tax of Ming Dynasty for one year.

But all the salt merchants did not frown, but instead asked, "Is it too little?"

"It's too much."

Liu Zhi shook his head and said, "Wouldn't that make you a fat pig and cause someone to kill you?"

The salt tax in the Ming Dynasty was the highest in the first year of Tianqi.

At that time, Cui Chengxiu was the governor of Huaiyang, and he strongly supported Yuan Shizhen, the Lianghuai Salt Law Road, to reform the salt law and implement the Gang Salt Law, so that the salt tax revenue in the first year of Tianqi reached 250 million taels.

When Chongzhen came to power, Cui Chengxiu committed suicide, and Li Sancai, a member of the Donglin party and a wealthy businessman in Tongzhou in Beizhili, took over as governor of Huaiyang, the salt tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty plummeted to less than 1 million taels.

In addition, only the tea tax in Zhejiang, the salt tax in Yunnan has dropped by 50%.

Among the salt merchants sitting here, which one does not have 800,000 taels of silver?
Not to mention that it is Haimao, which can be said to be lying down and collecting money.

"Each family took out 50,000 taels."

Liu Zhi said: "In addition, after returning home, we will buy and sell land and real estate with great fanfare. If someone asks, they will say that they are short of money for business..."

"I'll wait until I understand—"

"In addition, we have made a move. How can Shaanxi merchants who have come all the way from thousands of miles just sit idly by?"

Liu Zhi smiled slightly, and said to himself, "I don't have a lot of money in my pocket, so I'll see how they do things."

Everyone suddenly realized and nodded.

And here, as soon as the shogunate came, they immediately began intensive preparations for the ceremony of proclaiming the emperor.

Including the simplest three concessions, although they are just appearances, the selection of candidates, time, location, and verbal dialogue all need to be carefully arranged, and no mistakes can be made.

In such a tight schedule, Zhu Yixi saw the handicrafts of the salt merchants—one million taels of silver.

Other silks and satins, beautiful jade, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, etc. are not included.

The million taels of silver alone was enough to amaze Zhu Yixi.

"If it is smelted into silver coins, it will be 110 million."

With a sigh, Zhu Yixi showed a smile: "Why, what stimulated these people?"

"Perhaps the Shaanxi merchants have come!"

On the side, Zhao Shu said with a smile: "His Royal Highness supports the Shaanxi merchants, which makes those salt merchants aware of the danger. After all, Sichuan also has the salt in their hands."

"What's more, Shaanxi merchants are also good at running salt shops."

"The good days have been around for a long time, it's time to put some pressure on them."

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi said disdainfully, "If you just squeeze, you will get a million taels. This is the annual salt tax during the reign of Chongzhen."

The prosperity of the salt merchants inspired him to reform the salt industry.

Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, Kaizhong and France have been corrupted, and the salt industry has gradually lost the high-handed control of the imperial court, and it seems to be doing whatever it wants.

In the face of increasing fiscal pressure, tax expansion is inevitable.

"Your Highness, with the money from the salt merchants, not only the enthronement ceremony can be held smoothly, but also there is still room to repair the palace."

Zhao Shu frowned a little, clapped his hands and praised.

The enthronement ceremony not only consumes energy, but also consumes money.

The rewards of the officials, the rewards of the soldiers.It's all huge numbers.

In addition, it is customary to exempt tax arrears, which will benefit the world, which will reduce fiscal revenue in the coming year.

"That's a good thing to do!"

King Yu nodded his head and said: "Salt merchants have started this way, Shaanxi merchants, Huizhou merchants, he has to act too!"

Sure enough, the king of Yu didn't have to wait for a long time. Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants raised funds one after another, and contributed silver in the name of giving birth to an heir for the king of Yu.

There are many Huizhou merchants, ranging from a hundred taels to tens of thousands of taels, and they quickly raised millions of taels of silver.

The Shaanxi merchants gritted their teeth and had to contribute a million taels to the King of Yu.

In just two or three days, they harvested 3 million taels of silver, which is extremely eye-catching.

"What the heck."

Looking at the empty warehouse, He Zongcheng couldn't help sighing:

"The salt merchant is really a good means. Not only did he win King Yu's favor, but he also tricked us. Good means, okay!"

"So, what shall we do next?"

The well-prepared expansion plan is about to die down because of money, which makes everyone feel unwilling.

"Without money, nothing will happen."

He Zongcheng narrowed his eyes and said bitterly.

When they came to Nanjing this time, their goal was not the salt industry, but the silver exchange business.

In other words, it is Qianzhuang.

The Yuwang Group is basically from Shaanxi. It has lived in Huguang, Yuhu for a long time, and most of its net worth is in Xiangyang.

Those dignitaries, as well as a large number of ordinary soldiers, need to use money very quickly.

At this time, the bank can get a large amount of business.

Not only can it win people's hearts, but it can also be used as an opportunity to get involved in the salt industry, fur, tea and other industries.

This was carefully planned by the Shaanxi merchants, and they raised a large amount of gold and silver. Who knew that it would be defeated before it started.

(End of this chapter)