Chapter 138: The Salt Empire's Vision

Zhu Qizhen thought for a while, and suddenly his heart moved, and he said secretly: "No, isn't it supposed that the larger the scale of production, the lower the cost, why is it that on this, the production of small folk workshops is no different from the big salt works of the imperial court?" ”

He immediately realized that he secretly said: "I think the larger the scale of production, the lower the cost should be." This is the context of industrialization, and the reality of this era. ”

From this line of thought, Zhu Qizhen's train of thought suddenly went through.

The salt production of this era was actually a small workshop. So if you pass private salt. The small private salt workshop is not much different from the large salt factory of the imperial court in terms of production efficiency.

However, because the imperial court managed the salt industry, it increased a lot of costs. In terms of cost alone, the cost of the imperial court should be higher than that of the smugglers. Not to mention, the heavy taxes levied by the imperial court almost quadrupled the cost of salt production by the imperial court. Sell it again.

Under such circumstances, it is strange that the imperial court can compete with the smugglers on price.

But if, as Zhu Qizhen thought, he could implement the division of labor in the imperial court salt farm. Transform a salt farm within the scope of governance into a unit of mass production.

Under the division of labor, the efficiency of the salt industry is greatly improved. As long as the larger the production scale and the lower the cost, private salt cannot compete with official salt.

Zhu Qizhen immediately thought of the possibility of a surplus of salt.

If salt can really go to the point of surplus, it may not be impossible to consider the possibility of foreign trade. After all, not to mention the distance, Japan has always been a light food.

Japanese light food, they say it's a matter of taste, but in fact, it's not necessarily because salt is expensive.

If the salt drying method and the division of labor formed a large salt farm system, it can really bring cheap salt, and it may not be able to become the fist product of the Ming Dynasty.

"Perhaps, Britain opened a textile empire, but my Ming Dynasty opened a salt empire."

However, the beginning of this grand plan was the salt-drying method and large-scale industrial production, which would greatly increase efficiency, if not comparable to modern production efficiency.

At the very least, it can be worth the increase in freight costs.

And what makes Zhu Qizhen feel even more tricky is talent.

In the imperial court, there are a few prime ministers who can be fully responsible for the operation of the imperial court, and there are even more ministers who govern a government and a county, and even the talents of generals who lead the troops to decisive battles, although they are rare, but they are not absent.

But it can be realized, but there is not a single talent in Zhu Qizhen's heart for industrial division of labor. Zhu Qizhen didn't even know where to cultivate.

But the matter of talents, let go for a while, but Zhu Qizhen needs to make a judgment on the salt drying method.

Zhu Qizhen said slowly: "Taizu naturally has Taizu's considerations, but now he has to weigh the pros and cons, the two Huai salt farms are the largest in the imperial court, but in order to supply the salt farm fuel, there are continuous reeds on the coast. A lot of land was consumed, and now in the prosperous era, the displaced people have nowhere to settle, and the situation when the country was founded is no longer the same. ”

"These places, although not good land, are enough to settle people and reclaim them."

"If the salt drying method can save firewood, it will also save a lot of things for the imperial court. Therefore, I mean that the Fujian salt field is insignificant, since the method of drying salt is also from Fujian first, I will acquiesce to Fujian salt drying to see how the situation is? ”

Yang Pu immediately said: "Your Majesty is wise. ”

In fact, this is also the policy of the Ming Dynasty all along, as far as salt production is concerned, although Fujian also has salt farms, but do not compare with Lianghuai, that is, compared with Changlu, it is too much worse.

There are six salt transportation divisions in Daming, two Huai, two Zhejiang, Shandong, Changlu, Hedong, and Fujian.

The other five salt transportation divisions have their own tasks, such as losing the side and supplying it. However, there is no salt transportation department in Fujian, and the annual salt tax is only 22,000 taels. Moreover, the sales scope of Fujian Salt Transportation Division is only one province in Fujian.

Its status can be imagined.

Therefore, in the Fujian salt field, there are already many people who use the salt drying method. Anyway, as long as the Fujian salt farm can ensure the supply of salt in Fujian Province, and pay taxes in accordance with the amount.

Many things, the above will turn a blind eye.

After all, if it is really to be rectified, once the stove households are greedy for its convenience, even if it is banned for a while, it will be revived after the limelight. Second, this kind of rectification action also requires costs, and who knows what the policies formulated above will look like below. He even made a farce of official coercion and civil rebellion.

The stove household is bitter enough, and the best way is to toss less.

Zhu Qizhen's heart was tempted by the idea of the salt empire, and he didn't have the heart to talk to them for a while, and he was almost talking about it at the moment. He said, "In a few days, the Imperial Council will be convened and this matter will be decided." Shousuke, I'll leave this matter to you. ”

Yang Pu said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this matter is foolproof." ”

Although Zhu Qizhen decided on this matter, there may not be no opposition from the outside, even if all ministers-level ministers may not agree.

However, together with the news of the salary increase, I want to come to the ministers below, and I also have to consider the thoughts of my subordinates.

Yang Pu is preparing for these two days, and he will talk with all the ministers attending the meeting first, and reach a consensus before the imperial meeting.

Yang Pu thought about this matter and walked out of the palace with Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen has been following in the back, and suddenly saluted: "Pavilion Elder, the lower officials have affection for them." ”

Yang Pu glanced at Zhou Chen, had some speculation in his heart, and said with a light smile: "Ruru, let's go." ”

Yang Pu found a restaurant on the street, asked people to charter a yard, and retreated. Zhou Chen has been cautious of flattery. After three rounds of drinking, Zhou Chen turned things to business.

Zhou Chen said: "Shoufu, although Shoufu has handed over the matter of minting copper coins to the Ministry of Industry, but after all, Xiaguan is the head of the household department, and there are some things that Shoufu still has to know." ”

Yang Pu smiled and said, "Oh, let's listen to it." ”

The relationship between Yang Pu and Zhou Chen is a little awkward. However, Yang Pu can also see that Zhou Chen is certainly a capable minister and can do things. But he is not a moral gentleman.

Since Zhou Chen took office as the head of the household department, his attitude towards Yang Pu has become much closer. Yang Pu saw all these in his eyes. It's just that the relationship between Zhou Chen and Yang Pu is not the core person around Yang Pu.

Naturally, it is impossible to call Zhou Chen to his home.

This kind of behavior, when Yang Pu has not served as the first assistant, there are occasional behaviors. But now after serving as the first assistant, he has an attitude of politics and private affairs.

Even if the relationship is as close as Ma Yue, he will not let him talk about business. Therefore, Yang Pu saw Zhou Chen in this restaurant, which was already a very close gesture.

The two almost hit it off.

Zhou Chen knew that he wanted to make a career in the post of the head of the household, even if he had the emperor's appreciation, he must have the support of the first assistant, otherwise it would be difficult to succeed, but it would be easy to do bad things.

Not to mention that it's Shousuke who wants to spoil his things.

And Yang Pu also figured out Zhu Qizhen's temper.

In Zhu Qizhen's eyes, people with actual local administrative experience are the ministers of the society. Regardless of whether this point of view is right or not, anyway, when Zhu Qizhen selected candidates, he came according to this.

Looking at the people reused by Zhu Qizhen, Yu Qian doesn't need to say it, just say that Liu Dingzhi is the first champion of the unification dynasty, what is the end, first went to the northwest to raise horses for a few years, and then put it on the most problematic Jing County.

If it is said that the emperor dislikes Liu Dingzhi, it is reasonable, but the emperor cares for Liu Dingzhi very much, and even gives Liu Dingzhi a brand, so that he can attack and meet him.

This is not general treatment, so it can be inferred from this that Zhu Qizhen has the idea of employing people. Cao Nai's position as a magistrate was also because he was a magistrate, so he became a subordinate.

If Yang Pu wants to expand his team, he must find a capable minister who can not be much different from Yu Qian's resume. Although Zhou Chen is Yang Shiqi's person, Zhou Chen's resume is too beautiful, and he is also very smart.

I don't think I would hang myself on Yang Shiqi's dead tree.

And speaking of which, after all, Yang Pu has cooperated with Yang Shiqi for many years, although he got Yang Shiqi down, to say that the relationship between the two of them may not be incompatible.