Ming Dynasty, starting from the empty seal case

Chapter 138 Salt Law: Points System
Personality!

Grand Duke?

Facing himself just now, Su Xian said without any concealment that the reason why he told "Salt Introduction" was to avenge Hu Weiyong's repeated grudges against them.

This is a personal grudge!
But now, after hearing Su Xian say those two reasons, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know why, maybe because of those numbers, he could no longer suppress the throbbing in his heart.

Or maybe it's really the... heavy responsibility that comes with being the Emperor of Heaven.

"Good job getting the money back."

at last.

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly, with complicated eyes, suppressing the ups and downs of emotions in his heart.

"The salt introduction system alone has exhausted the power of the country. It not only stimulated the enthusiasm of merchants, but also made up for the labor and financial losses of ordinary people transporting grain and grass."

"No matter what, this method cannot be changed at present."

Zhu Yuanzhang then said: "Anyway, you just need to be clear. Above the whipping is the punishment of the rod, above the punishment of the rod is exile, and above the punishment of exile, particularly serious private salt dealers will be sentenced to execution."

After saying this, he seemed to have remembered something and continued: "Of course, as the salt introduction said, our Ming Dynasty is vast and rich in resources. There are waterways with convenient transportation, and there are also mountain roads with numerous mountains and forests."

Although the government has taken a severe crackdown on illegal salt sales, in many cases it has turned a blind eye and is unable to do anything.

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be a little emotional, "We have used many methods to relocate people over the years. But everyone has the feeling that it is difficult to leave their homeland. Some people really would rather be buried in their hometown than move. . So in many similar places, you even have to find salt for yourself.”

Facing the doubts of several people, Su Xian just raised a question.

"So, the solution to illegal salt is actually the same as the solution to treasure banknotes."

"Yes or no."

Su Xian pondered for a moment and then said: "It seems that Your Majesty also knows that illegal salt cannot be banned at will. Just like the previous treasure banknotes, if the people themselves are willing to use silver, they may even be forced to exchange it in private. If there is something wrong, then with the current capabilities of the local government, there is actually nothing we can do.”

Instead, it must first completely defeat its own theoretical system, and then follow this gap and gradually allow it to accept foreign theoretical systems.

Thinking of this, he continued: "Let's talk about private money. What you call getting the money back actually involves private money, right?"

Facing Zhu Yuanzhang's questions, Queen Ma and Zhu Biao followed him closely.

After Su Xian said these words.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "What's more, the price of fine salt is much more expensive than the so-called one pound of salt per penny. People can't even afford the most common low-grade salt, so how can they eat fine salt?" ?”

"But Baoqiao has also put a lot of effort into it, and it only achieved some results after the bank was established. In the future, when new Baoqiao is issued, the effect may be even greater."

But before he could finish his words, he was directly interrupted by Queen Ma, "My grandson is here, what are you talking about?"

"The same goes for salt. The common people can't afford the official salt themselves. Even in private, they go to the mountains to find mineral salt and find private salt dealers to buy private salt. One is willing to be beaten and the other is willing to suffer. The people will not complain but the officials will not blame. The government I don’t have that much energy to really go deep into the people to investigate illegal salt.”

"The royal salt in the palace is the best salt made by the kitchen households. But even so, it is not as good as the salt you brought."

To change a person's mind, tell them directly what they think and make the next decision.

Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded but still replied: "It's still useful."

This is also true.

"You mean, let the common people accept official salt just like they accept treasure banknotes?"

Zhu Yuanzhang also told the truth about the Ming Dynasty.

"If it were this kind of salt, wouldn't the people be willing to do it?"

Zhu Biao sighed and told the truth at the moment, "But there is no such method in Yanshang."

Contradictory yet reasonable.

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up as if he remembered it.

Su Xian didn't answer but asked: "If Your Majesty does it yourself, how will you control the profits of private salt?"

"You kid!" Empress Ma said helplessly: "It's not like we don't touch Yangchun water and don't understand the market conditions. The salt in this salt farm is divided into three grades: upper, middle and lower."

"Is it useful?" Su Xian seemed to be really confused.

"There are some places where you can't just ban it. People also need to live. Where official salt cannot enter, or even where there is not enough profit, people have to find their own way out."

Leave the responsibility of selling salt to the people to the merchants. Of course, the merchants will make profits from it. But compared to military and national affairs, this profit seems insignificant.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang did not care about Su Xian's problem. He just pondered for a while and then said bluntly: "Of course, the punishment will be strengthened. Anyone who dares to sell illegal salt will be sentenced to a cane or even the death penalty according to the amount of salt he sells. This is above the death penalty. There are also other categories scored, such as live mutilation..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words are actually very obvious.

To be honest, it would be great if it was summer now, and this method would not be needed. It seems that we have to wait a little longer.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xiongying, who had a small face and a look of fear in his black and white eyes.

When Zhu Yuanzhang talked about these, he was eloquent. After all, many of the punishments in the Ming Dynasty were thought up by him and then implemented by people from the pro-military Duwei Mansion.

When Su Xian heard the question, he first looked at the brazier over there.

"Who said no?" Su Xian said, looking at Zhu Xiongying, "The fine salt I gave to the emperor's eldest grandson that day, isn't it better than any private salt?"

What Zhu Yuanzhang always cared about was actually his personal gain.

"What if there was a way to turn low-grade salt into high-grade salt?"

Ok?
As soon as these words came out.

Several people suddenly thought of something. They first looked at Zhu Xiongying, and then looked at Su Xian, "Isn't this the way you said?"

Su Xian confirmed their thoughts, "Yes, that salt was indeed changed by me."

Swish!
As soon as Su Xian finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang, Queen Ma, and even the students from the main hall behind him all looked at him.

Zhu Xiongying actually said it before, but they subconsciously ignored it and were not even willing to believe it. More importantly... most of their attention was on the MSG.

Of course, there is another more important point -

"That's even worse." Queen Ma shook her head, "How much firewood will it cost to turn low-grade salt into high-grade salt? How much time and manpower will it take?"

"Your Majesty just said that in the salt fields of the Ming Dynasty, the annual official salt production is ten times the population. It can be said that, but there are too few that can actually do it, and some of them are even worse than low-grade salt. Miscellaneous salt, and commercial salt traded to foreign countries..."

"Such a large amount of salt requires kitchen households to work again and again. If we try to make it all into refined salt... it is nothing more than a dream."

Looking at several people's expressions of utter disbelief.

Su Xian looked into the distance again. Sure enough, this methodology still had to be practiced.

Real knowledge comes from practice.
And true knowledge is the most favorable evidence!
So Su Xian changed the subject and said, "Then let's talk about another method." "Your Majesty also said that the Ming Dynasty is rich in resources. There are many places with many mountains and forests, steep roads, or sparse population. It is not worthy for salt merchants to enter this place, nor It’s worth the salt merchants getting their salt from these places!”

"That's why some places don't have enough salt at all, and some places have a lot more salt every year."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "This point is mentioned in the Introduction to Salt. The most cited example is Fuzhou Prefecture!"

"So now there is a way." Su Xian said: "It is also to make some changes based on the current salt introduction system and the salt patrol censor."

"Change?" Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely curious.

"Boy, can you still hold on to the legs of those businessmen and make them follow you? Let me tell you, without profit, everything is in vain."

"In the face of profit, these businessmen who are blinded by money sometimes dare to break into the Palace of Hell even at the risk of being beheaded!"

Su Xian took over, "What a coincidence, I'm also talking about benefits."

Ok?
Facing the increasingly doubtful looks of several people, Su Xian didn't show off this time.

"In the "Salt Introduction", does Your Majesty think there is a possibility of collusion between government and businessmen and the sale of salt?"

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath subconsciously, with some anger on his face.
Zhu Biao said with a stern face: "Of course, we have dealt with many incidents in the past few years, and there are even relatives of the emperor following behind!"

"These bitches, in the name of our northern defense, are enriching their own pockets and treating the court's salt quotations as their own financial resources. Huh! They are colluding with some greedy people and selling salt quotations. We will catch and kill them all!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said he was cold-blooded and domineering.

Su Xian, on the other hand, spoke softly and beguilingly, "So, this is what I just said, it is not to abolish the salt introduction system, but to reform it."

"Nowadays, most of the salt merchants in the government are no longer the merchants who hired people from one place and transported them to Beifang."

"These small merchants sometimes work under the big merchants. And these big merchants control the channels for communicating with the imperial court."

"The largest group of people are Shanxi merchants who source materials from nearby Shanxi. Shanxi salt farms have been producing salt since ancient times."

Su Xian didn't explain to them that salt is actually a renewable substance. There are lake salts in many places. After you scrape off a layer, they can crystallize again within a few years.

"As Shanxi merchants gradually become stronger under the Yanyin system, they will form a huge interest group. This group is not just merchants, but also the civilians they employ and the land they farm. The contacts with the major military households in the guards, Some interactions with local officials..."

As Su Xian said this, Zhu Yuanzhang had obviously realized something, and his expression gradually became serious.

"Of course, these are unavoidable. Shanxi is close and has many people. The salt merchants only need to provide employment to solve the problem. Even if the court replaces others, the end result will be the same."

"But, can the imperial court borrow this kind of method? It only needs one method..."

Su Xian said, and then spit out eight words, "Lure it with profit, attack it with division!"

"What do you mean?" Zhu Yuanzhang was confused.

"It's very simple. From now on, the imperial court will no longer use the previous system where anyone can transport grain and grass to the defense line to obtain salt."

"I don't just want to transport salt to a salt farm with easy access, but I don't want to go to a remote place."

"Rather, the imperial court designated official merchants. All merchants transporting salt must be recorded on the imperial court's roster."

Su Xian looked at how everyone was listening, and in order to make it easier to understand, he simply gave an example.

"For example, there are many salt merchants outside, but we only choose ten relatively large salt merchants. Let them transport grain and grass, and transport one stone of grain and grass in exchange for one stone."

“Adopt a points system!”

"Every year, whoever transports more grain and has more points will continue to retain the salt merchant."

"Whoever delivers less and has fewer points will be eliminated."

At this moment.

After hearing Su Xian's words, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma showed surprise.

integral?

This is the first time they have heard of this!
"Go on, I've never heard of this before. What's the integration method?" Zhu Yuanzhang said quickly, and at the same time winking, he asked the master who was watching on the side to quickly write it down.

Li Xiyan was a little helpless, but still nodded silently.

Su Xian waited for a while before continuing: "For example, if our waterway in South Zhili is smooth, then the salt field that transports South Zhili will be worth one point!"

"And for places in remote mountains and remote areas such as Fuzhou Prefecture and Sichuan, it will be divided into two points!"

"To give the simplest example, Wang San received one point for transporting 10,000 imported salt from the Lianghuai Salt Farm."

"Then on the contrary, if ten thousand salt is transported from Fuzhou Prefecture, then it will be recorded as two points."

"Of course, the same principle applies when delivering goods to some remote places."

"As for those who have become big, such as Shanxi merchants, then we can separate them and use the points system to divide them into several companies, and then compete invisibly."

"The government uses this assessment to evaluate every year or every three years. Those who score more can participate in the next official and commercial transportation, and those who are excellent can get a larger share of salt. Those who score less or have no points will have less salt. Introduce quantity, or be eliminated and choose other salt merchants!"

this moment.

As Zhu Yuanzhang listened more, he became more and more stunned. How could this brain come up with such a method?

"It can indeed be used in mountains and forests. In this way, salt fields in Fuzhou Prefecture and other places do not need to be piled up for no reason. Even for more detailed purposes, we can also convert them. For example, in some dangerous places in Sichuan and Sichuan, we can even give them Two points, even five points!”

"By transporting this salt, we will have more salt in Ming Dynasty, and many places can also control the price of salt."

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang draw inferences, Su Xian nodded, "That's exactly it!"

How to distribute transportation salt has been settled.

And the next step was to stab Hu Xiang.

Seize power!

It’s even time to truly reap the profits from the salt of the earth!

And just when Su Xian was about to speak.

Beside them, Zhu Xiongying, Chang Sen and others were hearing things that were getting weirder and weirder.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiongying couldn't bear it anymore, "Su Xian, how come this mechanism of adding and subtracting points is the same as ours?"

"You?" Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, and then quickly remembered.

Da Sun once said: They also have the first class, the left class, and the right class, and they also have a points system...

hiss!
Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang took a breath!
I've known for a long time that this kid has been waiting here for a long time.
and many more……

Zhu Yuanzhang was moved. How could these bonus points and subtraction points really be used in the official assessment?

(End of this chapter)