The status of a merchant during the Taizu period? Zhu Youzhu thought for a moment, then turned his head to look at his son and said, "What exactly do you want to say?" ”

During the Zhu Yuanzhang period, not to mention the status of businessmen, the status of scholars was not good, and they were killed, whether it was Zhu Yuanzhang or Zhu Di, killing people was the same as killing chickens. It is very much in the style of the Han Dynasty, but since Taizong and Taizu, the Ming Dynasty has not had such a strong emperor.

Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "Why was the status of a merchant very low when Taizu was there? At that time, the scholars didn't seem to have the arrogance they have today, right? ”

Listening to Zhu Houzhao's words, Zhu Youzhu nodded, this is indeed the case, everyone used to think that this was because Emperor Taizu's voice shook the universe and his prestige shook the sky, but now it seems that it is not all like that!

"Our royal people can't understand it, but the people below can see it very clearly." Zhu Houzhao sighed and said: "This is because of the integration of scholars and businessmen, not only the integration of relationships, but also the ambiguity of their own positioning, and some people are not only businessmen, but also scholars." In the past, scholars had status, after all, they were farmers and industrialists, but they had no money! In this world, whether it is now or before, nothing can be done without money, whether it is for individuals or for the country, isn't it impossible for our court to do without money? ”

"Merchants have money, but they don't have status!" Zhu Houzhao spread his hands and continued: "The merchant's son is not even allowed to take the imperial examination, and he has to wear sackcloth when he goes out, let alone silk and satin. ”

"One has status but no money, one has money and no status, the rich want status, and the status wants money, and the result is naturally a hit. Those with status wanted to be rich, so they began to do business, and those with money wanted status, so they began to take the imperial examination, and both sides were trying to blur the status between merchants and scholars. There is even a title of Confucian merchant, don't you think it's ridiculous? In the eyes of Confucianism, Confucianism is such a noble word, how can it be willing to be used by lowly businessmen who are covered in copper stench? But people are willing to do it, why? Because so are they. ”

"The integration of scholars and merchants has made them form a group, they are not simple scholars, nor are they simple merchants, they are very powerful and difficult to deal with."

"Father, do you know what is the most angry about your son? Erchen is most angry not that they do this, because this is human nature, Erchen is most angry that they do this, and they still shout in their mouths that they are businessmen and businessmen when they make money, and they are scholars in ordinary times, and they really don't suffer at all, but what about farmers and workers? Facing the loess with his back to the sky, he can't eat, he can't wear warm clothes, and he can't afford to read, but the businessman can afford to read, eat well, and dress warmly. ”

"The peasants have little income and heavy taxes, but what about them? All of them are full of brains and intestines, thinking about how to suck blood from the court all day long, and they are all about to become moths. ”

Zhu Youzhu saw that his son was not pleasing to the eye for a long time, so he walked down from the dragon chair and walked around Zhu Houzhao, and Zhu Youzhu said, "Then what do you want to do?" ”

"Easy!" Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "Didn't they make themselves confused? Then let's come vaguely, when we hope that they are merchants, they are merchants, and when we hope that they are scholars, they are scholars. Aren't the saltworks controlled by them? Then let's give him a salary from the bottom of the kettle, salt introduction is a qualification in the final analysis, but salt introduction is messy, there are many salt merchants, and it is not conducive to management. ”

"The imperial court can set the quota of salt merchants, for example, the Jianghuai Salt Farm has ten salt merchants, and the imperial court will issue qualifications, and only those who have obtained the qualifications of the imperial court can be salt merchants and be able to sell salt, otherwise they will be punished as selling smuggled salt."

In Daming, selling smuggled salt is a big crime, this crime is big, it is to kill the head, Zhu Houzhao's move can be said to be really a salary draw.

"A special yamen was set up to manage the salt works, and the salt works were completely separated from the localities, and all the officials of the salt works were appointed by the central government. At the same time, he sent the palace attendants to the salt field to be the eunuchs of the town and watch these people. As for the choice of salt merchants, it would be easier to do, don't the relatives always cry poor? Let them find someone, they should all have someone? Just let them do it. Of course, this qualification must require money, and it is not possible to produce less. ”

"The salt class is still the same as before, and this matter is basically like this, Erchen estimates that this salt class can rise a lot, plus the money to buy qualifications, it is estimated that the treasury can have a lot of money."

Zhu Youzhu looked at his son, and he didn't know what it was like in his heart, why was his originally happy little son so insidious and vicious? As the emperor, Zhu Youzhu knew that this was a good thing, but he was uncomfortable in his heart.

To put it bluntly, I said that whoever I let do it can do, rather than the businessmen who take the salt themselves, take the money to bribe, and receive the salt themselves, and directly collect the power on the salt farm. For example, the Ye family, can't you be able to withstand it locally? If you are not qualified, you will not be allowed to do it, what can you do? You're so angry that you stare dryly.

Let Xun Qi do it, Zhu Youzhu also knows that Zhu Houzhao is not seeking any benefits for Xun Qi at all, this is making Xun Qi jump inside.

Of course, it's a money-making thing, right? It must be earned, the salt merchant is the most profitable in the Ming Dynasty, but Xun Qi used to cooperate with salt merchants, they have no chance to end up if they want to, those salt merchants can't let Xun Qi end, you are over, how can we play? Now it's different, with the quota limit, who will not let anyone go, what you say doesn't count, what the emperor says counts, then the advantage of Xun Qi is highlighted.

In addition, Xun Qi has attracted a group of close salt merchants, and the remaining salt merchants can't make trouble if they want to, besides, if there is no emperor here, this eccentric referee must blow all kinds of black whistles.

Those people can only find a way to make a trip in the local area, and this emperor will be beyond the reach of the whip, but don't forget, what kind of lord are these nobles and relatives, can they get used to your problem? The emperor doesn't have time to fight with them, but these nobles and relatives have time to block my financial path, grandma!

"By the way, this quota can't be permanent, it's good to look at it for ten years." Zhu Houzhao said with an abacus: "Let them make a fortune for a few years first, and then they can continue to pay grain in a few years, and send the grain to the border pass, you can be exempted from the salt class, and the grain sent will be offset by the salt payment, and the person who sends the grain can receive the salt first, which is a little far, and when the merchants walk, the border passes will flourish, and the merchants will be able to rise." ”

"The price of the first ten years may not be high, but the second time must be very high, it is estimated that it can break the head, forget it, ten years is too long, five years is just right, what does my father think?"