Back to Daming to be a genius

Chapter 81 The Blood Book
(PS: The second update is delivered, continue to ask for tickets and monthly tickets)

"My shopkeepers, please listen carefully. I just want to ask you why the court's salt tax has been lost so severely. I didn't say that you evaded tax money." Young Master Zhang was also a little nervous, but Not daring to reveal that he was afraid of the salt merchants striking the market and making trouble, he just slowly shook the folding fan and said calmly: "Also, two Mrs. Li, you two are so eager to encourage all the shopkeepers of the salt company to strike the market and block the river." , Have you heard the wind, and plan to make a fortune in the near future. Use this opportunity to make a fortune??"

"Wind sound? What wind sound?" All 25 great salt merchants in Yangzhou pricked up their ears at once, and some of the impatient ones directly said to the two brothers of the Li family: "Mr. Li, Mr. Li, this is not enough for you. If you hear something from the Internet, you should give us a message, how can you make a fortune by yourself?"

"Don't listen to this little dog talking nonsense! His mouth is famous for being able to talk nonsense, he is trying to sow discord!" Li Jiaguo roared angrily.Li Jiabin also quickly argued: "All shopkeepers, think about it carefully. With our relationship, I heard that there is a chance to make a fortune. Can we not tell you?"

The 25 big salt merchants in Yangzhou are skeptical—they have a good relationship with the Li family brothers, but the so-called friendship is based on business interests. They can walk together for the sake of interests, but they can also turn their faces and break up for the sake of interests. The present Yangzhou salt merchants have been able to come to this day. Didn’t they have seen countless storms, intrigues, and let go of countless sniper arrows in the business field? How can they not understand this truth?At that moment, all the salt merchants in Yangzhou exchanged glances with each other, and Wang Fuguang cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask the imperial envoy, what kind of rumors are you talking about in the court? Can the imperial envoy tell you something?"

"I can tell you." Young Master Zhang readily agreed, then waved his folding fan and said with a smile: "But before that, I have to ask the shopkeepers to tell me why the imperial court's annual salt tax of 3208 million taels can only The income is less than [-]%? What joints and strangeness are there?"

"Strange, this kid knows the salt tax situation so clearly. He must know how we evaded the salt tax? Why do you force us to talk about it?" Wang Fuguang wondered.After thinking for a while, Wang Fuguang still gritted his teeth and said: "Master Imperial Envoy, there are many and complicated reasons for the serious loss of the court's salt tax. There are three main reasons. First, private salt; second, old salt import; Third, salt consumption."

"You're still smart, you didn't say the fourth reason is the exploitation by Yandao officials." Young Master Zhang sneered in his heart, and then said: "Please explain these three reasons in detail, Shopkeeper Wang."

Wang Fuguang hesitated again, and after exchanging opinions with Qiao Chengwang and others in a low voice, Wang Fuguang said again: "Reporting to the imperial envoy, among these three reasons, private salt refers to unscrupulous people selling salt privately for profit. If the smuggled and sold salt is not declared to the imperial court, the imperial court will not receive a penny of the salt tax. Therefore, this alone will cause the imperial court to lose nearly half of the salt tax. Before the implementation, merchants from all over the country hoarded a large amount of salt that had not been paid for. After the introduction of the Salt Law, one of the ten guidelines must be used to pay for these old quotations, and these old quotations have either been taxed or paid for. It is the rewards given by the imperial court to officials, big and small, and they do not need to pay taxes, so the court’s salt tax has disappeared. The third reason is salt consumption, because there is erosion on the way to transport salt, so depending on the time of leading the salt, there will be more Get some extra consumption and extra weight..."

"Understood." Young Master Zhang interrupted Wang Fuguang, and said with a smile: "The imperial court has no express regulations on how much to increase consumption and catties, and the extra catties released do not need to be taxed, so there are many ways here, such as A nest can only receive [-] catties of salt, and you only need to pay a tax of [-] catties of salt-but in fact, you receive [-] catties of salt per nest, of which there is an additional consumption of [-] catties. The salt tax of [-] catties of salt has disappeared. Shopkeepers, are you right?"

"The imperial envoy is right, that's the truth." Wang Fuguang said with a sad face: "But the imperial envoy, please check clearly, the 25 salt merchants present here are all well-behaved businessmen, and each nest will receive ten more at most. The additional consumption of catties of salt is not enough to consume on the road, and I have never done the immoral thing of receiving a few thousand catties of extra salt for a nest - that is too exaggerated."

"Yes, yes, we can only get ten catties of salt for a nest at most, which is definitely not as exaggerated as the imperial envoy described." "Caomin's salt name, a nest can only get eight catties of salt consumption at most." Salt merchants agreed one after another.Qiao Chengwang also said a fair word, "Master Imperial Envoy, although there are many ways to introduce salt consumption and old salt, they are still just a small one - the most important key to the loss of salt tax is private salt. Although we do not sell private salt, other People are being trafficked so badly. If the imperial envoy doesn’t believe it, he can send people to the salt field to investigate now. If you can’t find a few thousand catties of illegal salt trafficked by the unscrupulous people tonight, you will chop off the heads of the grassroots!”

"Yes, yes." Young Master Zhang also nodded his head, and said worriedly: "You are right, shopkeepers, the smugglers in the local area are really good at smuggling salt. Ten catties of salt are sold, but there are too many ants to kill elephants—they can’t stand the crowd. Each of them carries one hundred catties of illegal salt every day, and one hundred thousand unscrupulous people have to carry ten million catties of illegal salt a day. How much less is more, how much smuggled salt is stolen in a year? Most of the court's salt tax was stolen by these unscrupulous people."

"One hundred thousand people betrayed illegal salt?" At this time, Zhang Qing, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't listen anymore, and asked Young Master Zhang with a small mouth: "One hundred thousand unscrupulous people betrayed illegal salt in one night? Are they going to fight? "And all the salt merchants in Yangzhou smiled, and said one after another: "Mr. Zhang, you don't know. The local thugs are more cunning than each other. Although there are not as many as the imperial envoys said, the amount is quite large. , were all stolen by these troublemakers."

"This officer also thinks so." Young Master Zhang nodded his head and said very seriously: "My shopkeepers, I have been in Yangzhou for a few days, and I have a general understanding of the situation in Yangzhou. Law-abiding good businessmen have never evaded a penny of the salt tax from the imperial court, let alone smuggled a catty or two of illicit salt. Those who sell illicit salt are those who have no money to lure them. Those who pay the salt tax for the imperial court are all those smugglers who sell illegal salt, and you are actually the victims of smuggling salt!—Aren’t you right?”

"That's right!" 25 great Yangzhou salt merchants shouted together, and said in unison: "Master Imperial Envoy, you really deserve to be the number one upright official in our Ming Dynasty. You are absolutely right! It makes sense!"

"Thank you for your compliments, shopkeepers." Young Master Zhang bowed his hands to 25 great salt merchants in Yangzhou, and said righteously: "Don't worry, shopkeepers, after I return to Beijing, I will definitely report these situations to the emperor and nine thousand years old." Report the truth, please the emperor and Jiuqiantui severely crack down on those private salt dealers who carry salt, catch and kill each one, reduce the loss of imperial salt tax, and at the same time protect the interests of you big salt merchants!"

"Master Imperial Envoy, if you really do this, then you will be the life-saving bodhisattva of our Yangzhou salt merchants!" Wang Fuguang exclaimed excitedly: "The grass people are willing to donate another three hundred, no, another five hundred taels to the victims of the disaster in Shandong!" The other 500 The big salt merchants also clamored, "Yes, as long as Mr. Zhang can truthfully report the situation in Yangzhou, we will definitely donate more silver, and each person will donate another 24 taels!"

"Waste so much time and saliva, one person donates 500 taels more." Zhang Qing murmured in dissatisfaction, and kicked Young Master Zhang under the table again, protesting Young Master Zhang's futile efforts.Unknowingly, Young Master Zhang just bowed his hands to 25 great salt merchants in Yangzhou, and said solemnly: "Please rest assured, shopkeepers, I will definitely report the truth, which is what I should do. I believe that if I take the present After reporting the situation to the imperial court truthfully - the imperial court will definitely implement the new salt law proposed by Mr. Yang Lianyang, protect your interests from the root, and at the same time curb salt smuggling as much as possible!"

"The new salt law proposed by Mr. Yang Lian?" The faces of 25 major salt merchants in Yangzhou changed drastically. Hate to the bone, what good will the new salt method he proposed?At that moment, Wang Fuguang hurriedly asked: "May I ask the imperial envoy, what new salt law did Master Yang propose, and what is the content?"

"You don't know?" Young Master Zhang was surprised, pointing to the two brothers of the Li family and said, "Didn't Master Li and Second Master Li tell you? Then why did they keep encouraging you to stop the market and block the river, urging the court to implement the new law? "

"You're talking nonsense, we've never heard of any new salt law!" the Li family brothers cried out.But the 25 big salt merchants in Yangzhou were guilty of treachery, and they all thought, "Is it possible that I have been fooled by the two brothers of the Li family? Besides collecting taxes for the court and making money for themselves, their fathers are more than That bastard Cui Chengxiu is still ruthless!" Under tension, Wang Fuguang and Qiao Chengwang said in unison: "Master Imperial Envoy, we really don't know what the new salt law is, so please give me your advice."

"It's actually very simple, that is, change quotations into tickets." Young Master Zhang scratched his head with the handle of his fan, and recalled, "The main content seems to be—abolish the Yanyin nest book that can be passed down from generation to generation in your hands, and change it to To sell salt with salt tickets, the Ministry of Households established a salt ticket sales supervision department directly managed by the imperial court. Anyone can go to the sales supervision department to pay taxes and buy tickets, and then receive salt with the ticket. After receiving the salt, they can be shipped to any place Marketing. In this way, those unscrupulous people and other merchants who do not have salt can also pay taxes and sell salt. It can also be collected directly, and the hole for the loss of salt tax is also blocked.” (Note)
"Then our net worth will be ruined!" 25 big salt merchants in Yangzhou roared in their hearts at the same time——Once the new salt law proposed by 'Yang Lian' is implemented, anyone can sell salt, which is indeed a good thing for the court. It plays the role of reducing private salt and cutting off the loss of salt tax, but for them, it deprives them of the privilege of monopolizing salt sales!Without a monopoly, what else do they use to make huge profits? !

Frightened and angry, the 25 big salt merchants in Yangzhou all stared at the Li family brothers with hatred, and said together, "No wonder you two bastards encouraged us to stop the market and block the river. So you want to force the court to implement this policy." What kind of bullshit ticket salt law, so that you can make a lot of money in the Yangzhou salt transportation! Bastards, you almost fell for it!" And the Li brothers didn't notice this at all-the businessman's bounden duty is to make profits Rao, the brothers of the Li family hated Young Master Zhang deeply, and they couldn't help but be tempted by the huge profits of the Yangzhou Salt Industry. Li Jiaguo blurted out and asked, "Master Yang Lian really proposed such a new law, is it true or not?"

"Of course it is true. In order to make meritorious service and atone for crimes, Master Yang must have racked his brains to propose new laws that benefit the country and the people." Young Master Zhang spread his hands, took out a memorial from his arms, and said, "By the way, I almost forgot about this important matter. This is Yang Lian’s memorial to the imperial court to propose a new bill and salt law. Nine thousand years old asked me to bring it to the south of the Yangtze River. I just want you Yangzhou salt merchants to take a look and discuss it to see if it’s okay. Promoting it?" As he spoke, Young Master Zhang handed over the "Yang Lian" memorial to 25 great salt merchants in Yangzhou.But Wang Fuguang's face was pale, and he tremblingly took the memorial from Young Master Zhang, opened it and only glanced at it, and Wang Fuguang exclaimed: "Blood book?!"

"Yes, blood book." Young Master Zhang nodded, and said seriously: "In order to let the court, the emperor, and Jiu Qiansui know the painstaking efforts he has put into this new ticket salt law, he specially wrote this memorial with his own blood. , just to make the court pay attention, let the emperor pay attention, let Jiuqiantui pay attention, and prevent his hard work from being wasted. Take a closer look, what do you think?"

After reading Lu Wanling's "Yang Lian" memorial written in chicken blood with a pale face, Wang Fuguang almost collapsed on the ground, thinking only about the 24th generation of Yang Lian's ancestors--how could he come up with such a wicked new salt method?Qiao Chengwang and the other [-] big salt merchants were all ashen-faced and completely in despair. My heart said it was over, it was over, my beautiful clothes and food, my beautiful wife and concubines, and my mansion and garden were all over!It's all over!Only the brothers of the Li family were very excited, and said in their hearts, good!If old eunuch Wei really implements this new salt law, among other things, our Li family's [-] merchant ships can eat up more than half of the net worth of these Yangzhou salt mice!As for Long Yuqi and Liu Duo, their eyes were also bright, and they started to figure out how to implement the new law to earn more and faster money, and they supported the new law from the bottom of their hearts.

"My shopkeepers, what do you think of this new salt law?" Young Master Zhang waved his folding fan, and said very seriously: "To tell the truth, shopkeepers, there are quite a lot of supporters in the court for this new salt law— —For example, the officials of the Donglin Party were unexpectedly enthusiastic in their support. But Nine Thousand Years was born in the common people, knew the hardships of the common people, and knew that many talented gentry in the common people lived on the nest books that could be passed down from generation to generation. These people are driven into a desperate situation, so Jiuqiantui is hesitant. I don't know whether to implement this new salt law, so I sent this official to discuss with you with this memorial, and I want to hear your opinions before making a decision. "

"Nine-thousand-year-old saint!" The 25 great salt merchants in Yangzhou who were almost desperate came to the spirit at the same time, and they threw themselves around Young Master Zhang, and said in unison: "Master Imperial Envoy, Nine-thousand-year-old is so right, Wo Ben is here!" My Ming has been promoting it for more than 200 years, and many talented gentry rely on renting out this pocket to support their families. If it is canceled rashly, it will definitely drive them into a desperate situation! It cannot be implemented, it must not be implemented!"

Young Master Zhang didn't speak, but just shook his fan. Wang Fuguang, Qiao Chengwang and others quickly calmed down after being excited. After discussing in a low voice for a while, Wang Fuguang went to Young Master Zhang's ear again, and said in a low voice: "I am sorry to trouble you, Mr. Imperial Envoy. Nine thousand years old, starting from this year, we will honor Nine thousand years old with 10 taels of silver every year. We have offended the imperial envoy when he went south to Yangzhou this time, so we are willing to honor the imperial envoy with 2 taels of silver. As for the imperial court’s salt tax, we promise Pay [-]% every year!"

"What about the disaster relief money?" Young Master Zhang asked slowly: Wang Fuguang gritted his teeth, raised his index finger, and said with distress: "10 taels! Yangzhou salt merchants are willing to donate 10 taels!"

"Hahahahaha." Young Master Zhang laughed loudly, and Wang Fuguang and other Yangzhou salt merchants also laughed, thinking that the matter had been settled.Unexpectedly, Young Master Zhang pointed to the brothers of the Li family and asked, "Master Li, Second Master Li, if Nine Thousand Years implements the Ticket and Salt Law, how much money are you willing to donate to the victims of the disaster?"

Of course the Li family brothers dared not speak, but they told us to donate 20 in their hearts!Young Master Zhang didn't ask any further questions, and first ordered Xiao Chuan and Chen Jianhuang to drive the Li brothers out of the flower hall, and then turned to Wang Fuguang and said slowly: "Master Wang, you can think clearly, the reason why Jiu Qiansui didn't implement stall entry Mu, because scholars all over the world are against it. But if Nine Thousand Years implements the vote and salt law, how many people in the south of the Yangtze River and Donglin officials will support it? And once the vote and salt law is implemented, how much more salt will the court charge a year Taxes? Does the imperial court still need to ask you for donations? Let alone a drought in Shandong, even if there is drought in Shandong and Shanxi, the imperial court can provide relief money, right?"

The benefit of all scholars in the world is harmed, and it is the imperial court and the country that are fattened. Naturally, there will be huge opposition when it is implemented; however, the ticket salt law only harms the interests of the big salt merchants who are in a monopoly position, and not only the imperial court and the country benefit , businessmen and gentry all over the world can also take advantage of it, and the officials of the Donglin Party, who are the spokespersons of Jiangnan merchants, will support them with all their strength, and the resistance will naturally be minimal-these reasons are naturally very clear to the 25 major salt merchants in Yangzhou.But it was precisely because they knew this that these Yangzhou salt merchants were even more terrified. After discussing together for a long time, Wang Fuguang pulled Master Zhang to a corner, leaned into his ear, and said in a low voice, "Imperial envoy!" My lord, please report to Nine Thousand Years, the imperial court’s 3208 million taels of salt tax silver, our Salt Merchant Chamber of Commerce guarantees to pay [-]% every year!"

"Thirty percent?" Young Master Zhang frowned.Wang Fuguang said with a mournful face: "Master Imperial Envoy, we know you are an expert, and you must also know how much we have to give to officials at all levels. Thirty percent is really doing our best."

Young Master Zhang sighed, knowing that Wang Fuguang had finally spoken the truth - if it weren't for officials at all levels taking bribes and corruption, the loss of salt tax in Lianghuai would not have been so serious.Young Master Zhang shook his fan and snorted, "Okay, I've brought this to Jiu Qiansui for you, and I've tried my best to persuade Jiu Qiansui to accept your terms. But what about your disaster relief donations?"

"Don't worry, Imperial Envoy, the 50 taels you plan to raise in Jiangnan will be fully covered by our Yangzhou salt merchants!" Wang Fuguang said with rare generosity.It's a pity that our Young Master Zhang is a master with a heart worse than coal, and he snorted: "What is 50 taels for? Now it's not just Shandong that is suffering from drought, Shaanxi has been drought for several years."

"Master Imperial Envoy." Wang Fuguang almost didn't cry, and this is how he believed the words of the Li family brothers - Young Master Zhang's heart is indeed darker than that of the old eunuch Wei!After discussing with Qiao Chengwang and other salt merchants for a long time, Wang Fuguang led 24 Yangzhou salt merchants to kneel down to Young Master Zhang, and said in unison: "Master Imperial Envoy, Cao Min and others are willing to raise 100 million taels to donate to the disaster-stricken people in the north! Please be merciful, Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!"

"One million taels? That's about the same." Young Master Zhang finally showed a happy smile on his handsome face, and said with a smile, "Okay, within ten days, I will send one million taels to Yingtian Mansion, and I promise to persuade Nine Thousand Years The ticket-salt law will not be implemented within five years.”

Note: The ticket salt law was implemented by Lin Zexu during the Daoguang period, which abolished the monopoly privilege of Yangzhou salt merchants to monopolize salt transportation, and also completely led to the disappearance of the Yangzhou salt merchant group.Because this new law is in line with the interests of the vast majority of people, and only harms the interests of a relatively small number of relatively weak Yangzhou salt merchants, it has been implemented extremely smoothly and encountered very little resistance. It is definitely an outlier in the reform.

(End of this chapter)