"If the privileges of those salt merchants are exempted, how can the annual shortage of grain in the border areas be solved?"

This problem mentioned by Cui Wenlong is also an important reason for the initial formation of the salt merchant group. On the nine sides of the country, there are nearly one million troops, and most of them are poor places, and they need food from the imperial court every year. And because the region is far from the north, the transportation is extremely inconvenient.

Later, the imperial court thought of a simple way to save trouble and money, and aimed at the salt administration. Isn't the salt industry profitable? Well, if you want to get a handful of this, you can send me a certain amount of grain to Jiubian every year, so that I can get the qualification to take salt from the salt works and sell it in the designated area.

Anyway, for the imperial court, whoever sells salt is the same, so it is not good governance to solve the problem of lack of food for the border army so effortlessly?

This was still a matter set by Emperor Taishang at the beginning of his reign. Originally, there was really nothing wrong with it, and those traders rushed to the border to transport grain to obtain qualifications, and the problem of lack of grain at the border was indeed solved at that time. It's just that in the past few decades, due to various reasons, it has become like land annexation, and a small number of large salt merchants have been formed covering one province or even spanning several provinces.

As long as you have a little economic acumen, you should know that with such a huge industry giant, what price should be sold for a pound of salt is not completely up to them?

"It's a good thing to donate. It's just that I've heard that now the salt merchant's donation has long been left in a form! The grain transported to the border by salt merchants every year is no longer as good as it was back then.

May I ask Master Cui, is the money and grain requested from the imperial court by the border gate increasing every year? ”

As a cabinet minister, even if he didn't participate in the operation, he knew it in the end, so Cui Wenlong nodded and said, "That's true!" Last time, Lord Zhao of the household department also mentioned this matter at the court meeting, saying that the money and grain allocated by the household department to the border pass every year has exceeded five million taels of silver, plus more than 10 million taels of military sounds, war horses, weapons and other losses, etc., the imperial court's annual military expenditure on the border army alone has reached an astonishing 18 million taels!

Therefore, Lord Zhao also proposed that the imperial court should be disarmed in order to reduce military spending. ”

Jia Qing is in charge of the military department, although he has not been working for a few days, but these are just within his authority, and he knows about these data. In addition to the border army, the imperial court also spends nearly five million taels of silver on the military expenditure of the Beijing army every year, which adds up to 23 million taels of silver! Almost caught up with nearly half of the country's fiscal revenue!

If it weren't for the fact that the military expenses of the troops stationed in the interior were borne by the local government and its own output, the imperial court would only make up a symbolic amount of money, and the military expenditure alone would have crushed the finances of the household department.

No wonder since ancient times, so many dynasties have emphasized literature over military force, regardless of other reasons, raising soldiers is too expensive to raise soldiers, which is definitely a major reason!

Because this dynasty has experienced the historical lesson of the Qing army's entry into the customs, the number of soldiers raised can be called the largest in history, and since the stability of the dynasty, the number of soldiers has never dropped to one million!

I won't talk about this section for the time being, but let's get down to business.

Jia Qing listened to Cui Wenlong's words and said: "It can be seen that relying on salt merchants to provide grain and grass for the border army has long been a thing of the past, since this is the case, it is better to exempt this outdated decree." Otherwise, the salt politics of the country and the dynasty will never be changed!

Those big salt merchants will still rely on this form to gather a huge amount of wealth. ”

Cui Wenlong said noncommittally: "If you say that you are exempted from the privileges of the existing salt merchants, what will happen after that?" ”

After all, it is impossible for the imperial court to sell salt in person, and this matter still has to rely on salt merchants in the final analysis.

"Very simply, all the ownership rights of salt (the voucher for taking salt from the salt field and the voucher for collecting salt tax) will be withdrawn, and then sold by the imperial court to all merchants in the world, and there will be no longer any geographical boundaries for salt sales...... No merchant will not see the windfall profits of the salt shop, and will definitely rush to buy it!

Everyone has salt in their hands, and in order to sell the salt in their hands, the salt sellers must reduce the price......

It is not until the salt merchants feel that there is no longer much profit from selling salt that the situation eases (that is, the industry average profit value is now called). ”

After listening to Jia Qing's words, Cui Wenlong muttered, "The movement is too big......"

Jia Qing didn't hear it, and continued: "At that time, even if the consumption of grain sent by salt merchants to the border in the past is converted into the regular salt tax, it will not hurt to reduce the salt price a lot, and this increase in cost will not have an impact on the salt price at all.

In this way, the imperial court can include the additional tax and silver into the scope of military spending, which not only solves part of the pressure on military spending, but also reduces the price of salt, isn't it the best of both worlds? ”

Of the six people present who had the right to speak, Fang Shou was a pure literati and had no experience in the household department, so he was not very familiar with these economic doorways. Not to mention Feng Tang, the origin of leading soldiers. King Beijing, naturally, he doesn't know much about it.

As for the emperor, he is the last clapper, so naturally he has to listen to his opinion first......

Therefore, only Jia Qing and Cui Wenlong kept talking. However, when Jia Qing's last sentence was finished, everyone present was active.

To put it bluntly, dealing with national affairs is nothing more than the word "money"! As long as there is money to disburse, all official business will be easy to handle. Therefore, for the matter of increasing the revenue of the treasury in the name of justice, for the imperial court, it is good governance!

For individuals, though, not necessarily. Especially for the ministers who are enjoying the filial piety of the salt merchants......

Seeing that Cui Wenlong also fell into thought. Emperor Zhengqing suddenly said to Jia Qing: "Okay, you have been tired all the way, you must be a little tired, you go down first." ”

Jia Qing was stunned for a moment, and then bowed down and said, "Yes, Weichen retreats." ”

After speaking, he exited the south study.

This is not the Qing Dynasty, and you don't have to kneel down when you see the emperor. Except for the necessary kneeling when you meet, you don't have to bow when you leave.

"What does Cui Aiqing think?"

As soon as Jia Qing left, Emperor Zhengqing asked.

Cui Wenlong was still considering the feasibility of what Jia Qing said, but when he heard Emperor Zhengqing ask, he suddenly got up and said with a smile: "Congratulations to Your Majesty for your good talent......

Emperor Zhengqing was stunned, he asked what Jia Qing said, and then reacted and said, "So, Cui Aiqing also thinks it's feasible?" ”

Seeing Cui Wenlong shook his head and said: "Otherwise, this matter is very involved, and there are too many places that need to be discussed, otherwise, it will be easy to cause chaos." ”

Emperor Zhengqing was dissatisfied: "Then why are you so praised? ”

Cui Wenlong said with a smile: "Didn't Your Majesty find out, General Jia is young, not only has he learned well, but he didn't expect that he is so familiar with the economy." To be honest, if it weren't for Weichen, who happened to be the acting household department, he knew more about the economy than ordinary people, and he probably wouldn't have been able to fully understand the views and concepts put forward by General Jia.

With such talent, over time, he will inevitably become a minister in the hands of His Majesty, which is the blessing of the successors of the imperial court.

It can be seen that Lord Fang's disciples have a way! ”

Fang Shou hurriedly said: "Lord Cui has praised it falsely, he just thinks a little differently from ordinary people occasionally, he must not be so grandly said by Lord Cui." ”

Cui Aiqing also said that he would be able to become my ruler, Aiqing must have forgotten that he returned to Beijing this time, but he brought back twelve Qinglou dancers at once! Plus the matter of the White Lotus Sect Demon Maiden...... If you don't learn well at a young age, in my opinion, you will inevitably be a greedy and lustful person in the future. Emperor Zhengqing suddenly snorted.

Fang Shou was embarrassed all of a sudden, stood up and said, "The minister is negligent in disciplining, and I ask Your Majesty to punish him." ”

Cui Wenlong laughed and said: "This is the heart that a young man should have, with the identity of General Jia, these are really nothing, why should Your Majesty be angry about this." ”

If Jia Qing knew that Cui Wenlong was actually speaking for him like this behind his back, he would definitely quietly give him silver and let him continue his efforts......

Emperor Zhengqing asked Fang Shou to sit down, and then said to Cui Wenlong angrily: "I'm not angry, if it's an ordinary courtier, it's just that as Cui Aiqing said, Jia Qing is indeed a piece of jade, I just don't want him to delay his enterprising heart because of the word two!"

Such things are not uncommon in history! ”

Cui Wenlong smiled but did not speak. Fang Shoudao: "Wechen thanked His Majesty for his kindness, after Wechen goes back, he will definitely give birth to the precepts, and he will not let him live up to His Majesty's love." ”

......

Not to mention the discussion of politics that the bigwigs of the country and the dynasty in the south study continued later. After Jia Qing left the palace, he thought about it, and took advantage of the sky to go to the Xuanzhen Temple outside the city to ask to see Jia Jing.

After entering the view, Jia Qing asked Dao Tong to go in to report, originally thinking that Jia Jing would be the same as before, and let him leave directly. After a while, Dao Tong came out and said, "This is given to you by a real person!" ”

Saying that, handing over a piece of paper, Jia Qing was a little surprised, opened it and saw that there were only four words on it:

Sincerely

Be cautious

Jia Qing stared, stood in place for a long time, bowed to the main hall, and got up to leave.

......

In Rongqing Hall, Mother Jia, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue and Li Kun sat together to wipe the dominoes. Originally, Wang Xifeng also wanted to participate, but Jia's mother didn't let her and asked her to go back and rest by herself, so her position was taken by Li Kun.

Taking advantage of the gap between the cards, Aunt Xue suddenly said: "Old lady, there is a coincidental thing, I don't know if the old lady is willing to listen to it?" ”

Jia Mu said: "Mrs. Auntie just talk about it." It's true, without Feng Ya's mouth, just like us playing cards silently, there is less fun, just talking...... My aunt has nothing to say, I don't like to hear it. ”

So, Aunt Xue slowly told Jia Mu the story that Xue Xiao wrote to her about Jia Qinghu.

After hearing this, Jia Mu was very surprised: "There is such a coincidence in the world?" ”

Aunt Xue smiled: "Exactly, it's just that I'm a little embarrassed to come to our family......"

Mother Jia blamed: "Hey, what did Mrs. Aunt say, what is this!" If that's the case, I can see that my brother still has to thank you for sending people to his doorstep so far. ”

As she spoke, Jia Mu couldn't help laughing. If what Jia Yucun said is true, the Xue family really sent people from afar!

Aunt Xue smiled bitterly in her heart. When Xue Pan bought Xiangling, he didn't do it to be Aunt Xue's maid!

(Buying a concubine is not the same as buying a maid, referring to Jia Yu's special purchase of a concubine, and it cost a full eight hundred taels of silver to know.) No maid can sell it for such a high price)

It was only later that Aunt Xue saw that there was a disturbance, and for the sake of Xue Pan, she forcibly asked people to her side, and said to the outside world that she was buying a maid......

If someone who knows the inside story sees Xiangling being a maid by her side, she will not have such a strong bad feeling towards Xue Pan, this is her idea.

As for why Aunt Xue still agreed to return Xiangling to Xue Pan later, probably because she couldn't bear Xue Pan's begging, and she thought that the matter was over.

The old lady laughed...... I heard that Brother Qing had taken Xiangling's biological mother to the capital, so he wanted to ask the old lady to be a middleman and return Xiangling's girl to her mother, so that his family could have a happy time. ”

Jia Mu said: "This is not difficult, but we have to see if this matter is really such a coincidence!" Besides, it cost money to buy a maid at my aunt's house, and if it was really such a coincidence, he wouldn't want my aunt's family to be alone for nothing, and I would ask him to send the silver to my aunt's house in person. ”

Aunt Xue actually meant to see if it was true or not. It's just that she is more good at being a person, and she will give people to Jia's mother first, whether it is true or not, anyway, her attitude is taken out, and she is not afraid of hurting anyone's face.

"What the old lady said, a maid can be worth a few taels of silver, and the old lady also thinks I am too stingy."

"Well, let him be the host when the time comes, and give two glasses to my aunt's wife!"

Everyone laughed. Mother Jia waved her hand and called a maid and said, "Jade, you go to the East Mansion and wait, if Brother Qing returns to the mansion, let him come over quickly." ”

"Eh" Jade obeyed the order.

Aunt Xue also said to her maid: "You also go back and ask Baochai to bring Xiangling over." ”

"Yes."

......

"The second master is back!"

In the Ning'an Hall of Ningguo Mansion, You and Qin heard the maid's reply, and hurriedly beckoned the maids and daughters-in-law to heat up the food and put it on the table.

When Jia Qing returned home, it was already completely dark.

Before arriving at Ning'an Hall, he saw a large number of people standing to greet him.

Just now, a bunch of people were standing in front of the mansion to greet him, but Jia Qing didn't stop for a moment. When I arrived here at this time, I laughed all of a sudden, and quickly stepped forward and said, "It's so cold outside, what are you all doing standing here, let's go, let's go in!" ”

It's not a good feeling for a man to go out for a few months and come home and see a large group of beautiful girls standing at the door to greet him! Jia Qing couldn't help but want to step forward and give everyone a big hug!

I opened my arms, not knowing who to hold......

Everyone saw that Jia Qing had been out for a few months, but it hadn't changed at all, and they didn't know what kind of etiquette he had when he waved his hands...... Anyway, Jia Qing did a lot of unreasonable things, smiled, and everyone didn't care.

"Second uncle hasn't eaten yet, the food in the dining room is all set, second uncle come in and eat."

"Okay." Jia Qing lowered his arm with some interest, followed the passage that everyone gave way, and walked towards the dining room.

"Hey, don't you all eat it?" On the dinner table, seeing that everyone else was standing aside, Jia Qing asked.

You Shi smiled: "Second Uncle doesn't look at when this is, naturally we have already had dinner." ”

Jia Qingdao: "It's okay, our family is not short of food and rice, and we don't care about eating more." In this way, you all sit down and eat with me a little more, eating alone is not fragrant at all. ”

Others are fine, only the third girl of the You family, who has very little contact with Jia Qing, but has listened to Jia Qing's "legend" for a few months in Jia's mansion, was a little surprised, and couldn't help pouting.

Hmph, you still need someone to accompany you when you eat......

Jia Qing happened to see it, and suddenly remembered the "injustice" between Liu Xianglian and her, and was about to test the temptation, but he didn't want to see another person when he turned around.

"Sister Jade, why are you here? Could it be that the old ancestor transferred you to me as well? ”

The jade on the side suddenly turned red, and without thinking about it, she retorted: "Who, who transferred you?" I'm an old lady who called me to come and let me call you ......"

Obviously, she was too nervous to say a word.

The maids next to them came from giggling laughter.