Daming: At the beginning, recognize Zhu Yuanzhang as grandfather!

Chapter 41 He is not a good person!
Huang Xiongying, who returned to the courtyard, found that someone was already waiting for him in the courtyard. It was none other than the old man's guard, Jiang Yu.

Seeing Huang Xiongying, Jiang Yu hurriedly went up to meet him, and said respectfully, "My lord!"

"Where's my grandpa?"

Huang Xiongying glanced at Jiang Yu and asked.

Naturally, Huang Xiongying could trust the guard next to the old man.

Jiang Yu hurriedly replied: "Young Master, Lord Huang (Emperor) asked me to come pick you up. He is waiting for you at Zhuangzi in Jubao Mountain!"

"Oh--"

Huang Xiongying snorted, he was busy with salt and wine recently, but he forgot about the Zhuangzi, the old man said he would take care of the Zhuangzi, but he hadn't been there since last time.

"Then let's go!"

In fact, Huang Xiongying really liked that Zhuangzi.

Following Jiang Yu into the carriage, the two headed down Jubao Mountain...

Along the way, Jiang Yu didn't say a word of nonsense, but always sat aside respectfully, which made Huang Xiongying very fond of it.

This is what a subordinate should look like.

Don't say what you shouldn't say, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, just know how to do the things assigned by the master!
The Guo Brothers have almost the same character.

Huang Xiongying couldn't help wondering, where did the old man find so many good subordinates?
But everyone has their own secrets, and Huang Xiongying won't ask too much, as if he has time-traveled, and he has also time-traveled to a dead person, can he tell?
While thinking aimlessly, while admiring the scenery outside the window, the carriage soon arrived in front of Zhuangzi at the foot of Jubao Mountain.

"Sir, it's here!"

Jiang Yu respectfully helped Huang Xiongying lift the curtain of the carriage.

Huang Xiongying nodded and got out of the carriage, Zhuangzi remained the same as he came last time, nothing changed.

If there was a change, it was the dog at the door, who stopped shouting when he saw him, but lay down on the ground, looked at Huang Xiongying twice, and then ignored him.

The old man said last time that if he yells at his grandson again, he will kill and eat it. Maybe this dog is scared...

When I entered the house, I didn't see the old man. After asking Lao Xu, I found out that the old man was weeding the field again.

"Hey, the old man is really hardworking!"

Huang Xiongying said something with a smile, and asked Lao Xu to prepare a suit of brown for himself, and then went to the field after putting on.

When he came to the field, he saw a figure earnestly weeding in the field.

Huang Xiongying looked at it, and he couldn't help but feel admiration in his heart. He could see that the old man's status in the court was not low, but he was still able to practice it personally, putting down his figure and going to the ground, which is really rare.

"grandfather!"

Huang Xiongying yelled and walked over.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up, and then he stood up straight, holding a handful of weeds in his hand, and smiled and cursed at Huang Xiongying who came over:
"Smelly boy, didn't we say that I would hand over this village to you to take care of it? Why is the grass growing more and more in this field, except for the one we removed with you last time, the others have not been touched!"

Huang Xiongying, who approached, chuckled, and explained: "Grandpa, I'm busy with other things these days, so I don't have time to come and have a look."

"Humph!"

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted softly, and said, "Is it the salt and the bar? We've heard about it. The rich and powerful in the capital are robbing those two things like crazy. Why, you made a lot of money!"

"It's okay, it's okay, this is just the beginning, grandson doesn't just want to make money."

Huang Xiongying walked into the field while talking, and the water in the field was as cool as ever.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little tired from weeding, so he went to the field ridge, took off his cloth shoes and shook the muddy water on them, and said in his mouth: "Your two things are good things, but ah, we don't like them!"

"What?"

Huang Xiongying showed a puzzled look.

After putting away the cloth shoes, Zhu Yuanzhang sat down on a recliner on the ridge of the field, fanned the wind with his straw hat, and said to Huang Xiongying:

"Because, your things are all for the rich and powerful to enjoy and use, and they are of no use to the common people!"

Huang Xiongying was slightly taken aback when he heard this.

The old man's focus is really different from that of ordinary people, and what he said does make sense.

Huang Xiongying smiled and said, "Grandpa, didn't I just say that I don't just want to make money!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Yuanzhang showed some curiosity.

Huang Xiongying continued: "I just want to use these two things to earn a sum of money so that I can do other things, and then hand over the formula for making salt to the imperial court, so that the people of Ming Dynasty can eat clean salt in the future. !"

"Um……"

After hearing Huang Xiongying's words, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said with a grin: "Good boy, you have such a heart, yes, you are our great grandson!"

"but……"

Zhu Yuanzhang changed the subject and said: "This salt is not a simple thing. It is related to the national economy and the people's livelihood. If the imperial court obtains your method of making salt, I am afraid that some people will be restless. If you want to use this thing to make money, can you let it go?" It’s hard to say that the people of Ming Dynasty all eat clean salt!”

When Huang Xiongying heard this, he couldn't help showing a thoughtful expression.

He didn't think about it carefully.

Since ancient times, the salt tax has been an important tax in all dynasties, and Ming Dynasty is no exception, so the imperial court has very strict control over the salt tax.

But even so, there are still many officials colluding with private businessmen to sell private salt and make profits from it.

If my own batch of refined salt is transferred to the government with full authority, then there will inevitably be two kinds of salt with vastly different qualities on the market.

Moreover, in the face of huge interests, many people will definitely take risks, and there will be more behaviors of smuggling salt.

I just said that letting the people of Ming Dynasty eat clean salt is indeed a bit of empty talk and nonsense!

Thinking of this, Huang Xiongying admired the old man even more.

The ancients had the wisdom of the ancients. Even if you come from later generations and know more, if you don’t think from the perspective of this era, it will be biased.

"The grandson was really raised just now!"

Huang Xiongying replied seriously, but turned around and said: "But it is not without benefits to hand over the grandson's salt production method to the imperial court. Although it is impossible for all the common people to eat good salt, at least it will make them eat cheaper. salt!"

"Ah."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in agreement.

What his grandson said is right, as long as there is better quality salt, the salt currently on the market will be abandoned by the rich and powerful, and the majority of national tax revenue will turn to refined salt, and coarse salt will go further. The ground floor is open.

Let the people at the bottom eat cheap and convenient salt, even if it is coarse salt, this is already a great contribution!

And these were all brought by his grandson Zhu Yuanzhang!

You know, since ancient times, it has been a big problem for ordinary people to eat salt, especially at the end of the Yuan Dynasty when he lived, he who was at the bottom of the society had the deepest experience. Fade out like a bird, his second grandfather even got edema all over his body because of this, and almost died...

Now his eldest grandson can be said to have created a great blessing for all people in the world!

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a burst of pride in his heart, but he didn't show it. He knew that it was not good to give too much of anything, including praise.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked calmly: "Then tell me, if you hand over the method of making salt to the imperial court, how will the imperial court manage the salt affairs in the future?"

"Um……"

Huang Xiongying once again showed a thoughtful look, he really hadn't considered this question.

Because he never thought of participating in the management of the Ming Dynasty, but now that he has met the old man, he can talk about his own opinions.

Thinking for a moment, Huang Xiongying said: "Sun Er thinks that for the management of salt affairs, the method of opening up the middle of the country proposed by Emperor Hongwu is already very good. It benefits the people because of the benefit of the people, and it does not cost money.' It is really the best plan for the country."

In fact, Huang Xiongying's words are definitely not deliberately flattering.

Because this is not what Huang Xiongying said, but Meng Sen, a master of the Republic of China.

In the early Ming Dynasty, due to the long-term war and continuous economic decline, Zhu Yuanzhang vigorously implemented measures to develop the economy to restore the national economy, among which the opening of China and France played an important role.

In the late Ming Dynasty, as the ruling class became increasingly corrupt, the royal family, eunuchs, nobles, and bureaucrats saw that it was profitable to hold salt coins, and they all petitioned for salt coins and resold them to salt merchants for profit.This phenomenon is called "nest occupation".This phenomenon has intensified, undermining the open middle school system, and seriously affecting the government's fiscal revenue.

Later, in the Qing Dynasty, it was directly changed to an underwriting system of merchants, buyers, and sellers. The government was only responsible for supervision and supervision and payment of salt, thus gradually forming a special group, salt merchants.

For the salt merchants and the imperial power, the two parties reached a consensus on their interests, forming a symbiosis between the salt merchants and the imperial power.

It is undeniable that the emergence of salt merchants drove the development of other handicrafts and commerce during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and to a certain extent, promoted economic prosperity.

But its disadvantages are more serious.

The salt law that maximized the benefits directly led to the prevalence of extortion by officials, the prevalence of private salt, the disorder of salt law, the collusion between officials and businessmen, salt merchants bribed salt officials, and the behavior of flattering salt officials greatly contributed to the trend of corruption in official circles.

Until the good time in Huang Xiongying's previous life, salt was once again monopolized by the state, which also completely solved the problem of eating salt that had plagued China for thousands of years.

So, is Huang Xiongying's words deliberately flattering?Not at all!

But at this time, after hearing Huang Xiongying's words, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't hide anymore, and the wrinkles on his face melted away unconsciously. Such a sentence, which is the best plan for the country, made his heart sweeter than honey.

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile: "Is there anything else? Tell me!"

Huang Xiongying continued: "My grandson thinks, why is it difficult for ordinary people to eat salt? The most fundamental reason is that the income from selling salt has become an indispensable part of the treasury's income. If the imperial court can get rid of the dependence on salt, then ordinary people will eat salt The problem will be completely resolved!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Huang Xiongying with burning eyes. He didn't expect Huang Xiongying to see the problem so deeply, just like the Southwest chieftain problem last time, he explained the root cause in one sentence.

If the last time was thoughtful, then this time it can definitely be said to be an impromptu answer.

I have also thought deeply about this question, and only then did I understand the root of it, and now Dasun hastily gave an answer.

Our eldest grandson is indeed the unicorn of our old Zhu family!

While Zhu Yuanzhang was amazed in his heart, he also sighed softly: "We have thought about this problem too, but our Daming has taken over a mess from Meng Yuan's hands, and all aspects require huge expenses. This is also helpless!"

Huang Xiongying nodded approvingly.

An era has its own limitations. It is not enough for you to understand the truth. The problem of salt education has lasted for thousands of years, and it cannot be improved overnight. It needs to increase the productivity of the entire society.

"Anymore?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were full of encouragement.

Huang Xiongying nodded and continued: "If grandson's salt production method is handed over to the imperial court, grandson hopes that the imperial court can strengthen the supervision of salt affairs and form a supervisory system. The officials of the local salt administration have supervised at every level, and if anyone dares to corrupt, everyone involved will be punished severely, no matter whether it is an official or an unscrupulous businessman, they will be severely punished and announced to the world!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "That's it?"

Huang Xiongying thought for a while, and said: "Grandson is just expressing what he feels, if there is something wrong, please correct me, grandpa!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "It's quite appropriate, but...it's too light!"

Huang Xiongying was startled, and only heard Zhu Yuanzhang say: "These corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen dare to corrupt ink as the salt of the people's livelihood. It is too light to execute them alone. They should all ransack their homes, fill their wives and daughters into the priest's workshop, and the local government records In the case, all descendants of the family will be treated as pariahs!"

"..."

Huang Xiongying was stunned, isn't this too cruel?

The Ming Dynasty had a strict hierarchical system, and the untouchables were the lowest class. They were not allowed to participate in the imperial examination, be a scholar, do farming, do business, or even work.

To become a pariah is equivalent to being unable to stand up forever.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Did grandson think our method is too ruthless?"

Seeing that Huang Xiongying did not answer, Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "You are still too young, and you have never seen the tragedy of the people. When we were young, Meng Yuan was in power, extortionate and extortionate, natural disasters occurred in our hometown, and there was no harvest! But those Not only did the government not provide relief, they were greedy for disaster relief food, but instead increased taxes. We remember that at that time, the bark on the mountain was eaten up, and the grass on the ground was also eaten up. Changing sons to eat, but I still don’t know how many ordinary people are starving to death!”

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned slightly red: "Your great grandpa and grandma starved to death, and our second grandpa also died of eating Guanyin soil!"

Huang Xiongying was silent.

Yes, I was born in a good age. Although it was a bit hard, I was never hungry or cold. The words "changing children and eating" make people shudder just by listening to them.

Think about those people who are hungry and crazy, what kind of mood would that be?
Huang Xiongying can't imagine...

"Okay, let's not talk about this, let's see you, no matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like farming material, don't pull it out, let's touch the crab!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and ended the heavy topic, because he had already got a satisfactory answer from Huang Xiongying.

"Grandpa, don't underestimate me, I'm also good at farming!" Huang Xiongying laughed.

"Ah--"

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled: "Pull a weed like a radish, how good is it? Let's hope the mouth is real!"

"You'll find out later!"

As Huang Xiongying said, he put the weeds in his hands on the field stalks, pouted his buttocks, and went to dig out the crabs.

"Hey, I'm quite honest!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed cheerfully, pulled up his wet cloth shoes, and walked into the field...

……

"Did Sapphire go to your place?"

At the dinner table, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Huang Xiongying while holding a crab and biting it.

"Ah."

Huang Xiongying nodded.

It was not a secret that Lan Yu went to his winery, many rich and powerful children went to him to buy wine because of Lan Yu's visit.

He originally wanted to mention Sapphire to the old man, but he didn't expect the old man to mention it first, which saved him a lot of trouble.

"What do you think of Sapphire?"

The old man asked seemingly casually.

Huang Xiongying thought for a while and said, "Lan Yu...he is not a good person!"

(End of this chapter)