Chapter 110 Controversy over Compensation for Salt and Iron
I can't help but be surprised, you must know that the two people who went this time were to protect Li Shimin's safety. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info Luo Yan, can this product work?
This is to see Jieli Khan, not for fun, but when necessary, he has to stand tall and block in front of Li Shimin and be stabbed.
Looking at the suspicious gazes cast by everyone, Luo Yan said: "Most of the generals that can be sent out by the DPRK and China have fought with the Turks, and they are very familiar with each other. If you can choose one to accompany Your Majesty, it will be really difficult. You have also seen my skills, and they can still come in handy to some extent, and my weak appearance will not attract the attention of the Turks. ”
Luo Yan really didn't say anything wrong. Although he had shown his martial arts in front of people before, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he really doubted that Luo Yan was capable of rivaling the guards of the Qin Palace, as rumored.
These people think about it carefully, and it's not wrong, Luo Yan looks young and weak, but he is still very reliable at the critical moment.
Li Shimin agreed very simply: "Since this is the case, it is better for Jinzhi and Jingde to accompany me." Next, let's talk about the issue of peace, how to reward the Turks, and what materials to use. Tomorrow morning, I will know in my heart. ”
Pei Ju is the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, but Fang Xuanling, who is the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, has figured out many things in just a few days, so at this time, there is no need to wait until Pei Ju is called to ask for clarification.
"Your Majesty, there has been no major war this year, and the disasters in various places are relatively light, but the pressure on the treasury is still very great, and after the succession ceremony, one-tenth of the treasury money and grain have been consumed. If you give too many rewards to the Turks, I am afraid that the coming year will not be easy. "Zhongshu Ling is already quite the prime minister of later generations, so it is naturally a little difficult to coordinate the overall situation at this time.
Although everyone called the money given to the Turks as a reward in order to take care of Li Shimin's face, they knew very well in their hearts that this was actually the money that the Turks spent to buy peace for a few days. If you give less, the hungry wolves of the Turks will not agree. And today is different from the past, everyone has already hit the doorstep, if you don't agree and start a war directly, whether this Chang'an can be saved, or two words.
Fang Xuanling said this at this time, in fact, to tell everyone that you should stop in moderation, and you can't lose your family money just because you buy peace, and you have to live next year.
Waving his hand and signaling Fang Xuanling not to say that it was difficult, Li Shimin began to ask how much compensation should be appropriate.
"Gold and silver wealth must be indispensable, but this amount must be a little more than before, otherwise the profits will not be retreated for a long time, but there will be chaos. According to the previous examples, 50,000 taels of gold and silver were added, tens of thousands of horses were added to brocade and silk, and 100,000 stones were added to grain. Such conditions can already guarantee Jieli's retreat. This is what Chen Shuda said. As an old minister, he was accustomed to all kinds of transactions with the Turks over the years, so Chen Shuda considered the current situation and gave such a number more cautiously.
It is true that such conditions can completely move Jieli's heart, but Fang Xuanling objected at this time and said: "Gold and silver, there are fixed amounts, although the treasury can come up with so much, but the amount is too large, it will cause Jieli's doubts." When the time comes, I'm afraid that I will see through our bluffing schemes. ”
Du Ruhui also nodded at this time: "Yes, I can't underestimate the wisdom of the Turks." Even if it is a consultation, you can't give too much. ”
Fang Du's words made everyone agree.
"In my opinion, it is better to reduce the amount of all the above materials by tens of thousands, and fill this gap with salt and iron, so that a lot of materials can be saved." Luo Yan said.
As soon as these words came out, some old ministers immediately stood up and scolded: "The erector is misleading the country." ”
Why? Historically, the Turkic nomadic peoples have lacked food and salt the most, and iron has been the most lacking in warfare. Because these things are not something that these people can make out of it. Therefore, most of the sources of these materials rely on purchase or looting.
The importance of table salt to the human body is not known to modern people. The ancient people knew that if a person did not consume enough salt for a long time, his body would be weak. Therefore, for the nomads in the north, the control of salt has been quite strict. As for iron tools, not to mention, such important war materials were given to the Turks in this way, isn't that the enemy.
And there are many people here who are representatives of the family. Can the family be rich just by seizing the land? No, in fact, those who secretly traded salt and iron with the Turks happened to have the most people from these families.
Luo Yan's suggestion, whether it is from morality or national policy, or even the interests of the family, is against it, how can it not provoke criticism from some people. When these people were almost scolded, Li Shimin also began to dissuade him, which stabilized the scene.
After seeing a lot of things that Luo Yan said before, Li Shimin still asked Luo Yan what he thought, even if he risked that someone would jump up and oppose it again.
"As you all know, we are not short of salt right now." No matter what strange eyes were cast around him, Luo Yan still said to himself: "The imperial court has banned illegal salt for so many years, is it possible that the Turks will not live this day?" The official ban has led to a flood of illicit salt, and in the end, it has not flowed into the pockets of some people. It is forbidden to sell salt and iron to the Turks, and the Turks have not seen a trace of emaciation in recent years, and the Turks' blades have not decreased in the slightest, why? ”
Luo Yan didn't care if he would offend some vested interests at this time, and he pointed out this matter very sharply.
"We don't take salt and iron as compensation now, but just take more gold and silver and let the Turks buy it themselves. If you can ban this private salt and iron, I won't say it. With Li Shimin's support, what are you afraid of, Luo Yan immediately put the picker over.
"It's just that the world is ...... leisurely" There were still some old gentlemen who wanted to come out and say a few words, but they were quickly stopped by Li Shimin.
In fact, the rulers are not unaware of the private salt and iron smugglers, and there are not a few people who are arrested every year for selling smuggled salt, and some even lose their heads because of this. And not to mention this iron weapon, the iron that the Turks have looted in recent years is not enough for him to fight so many battles, and someone must have sold a lot of it privately.
Luo Yan's words blocked many people's mouths.
Li Shimin thought about it carefully, it was really like this, and he didn't discuss it much, so he decided: "In recent years, after the rebellion in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, especially in Huaisi, the output of sea salt has increased year by year, and a lot of salt has indeed been stored in the treasury. It's just that even if salt and iron are used instead of gold and silver, there is a quantity, and the Turks can't be cheapened for nothing. ”
"If possible, only sea salt should be used instead of gold, silver and grain, and a pound of salt can be worth a lot of grain and gold and silver, especially for the Turks, this thing is too important. I'm not afraid that they won't commit it. Fang Xuanling suggested.
The next thing can only be solved tomorrow morning. Before leaving, Li Shimin stopped Luo Yan and said: "Whether this decision can work depends on how Jinzhi behaves in the morning tomorrow, go back tonight and think about it." Obviously, Li Shimin gave Luo Yan the task of persuading the courtiers.
Although Luo Yan has now become a seven-rank official, until now, Li Shimin has not rewarded him with a mansion, so he is still living in Lu Deming's house.
found Lu Deming, and Luo Yan began to discuss this matter with him.
"Come on, you're taking too much risk in this matter. The matter of salt and iron will shake the foundation of the country, and even those families will be offended. In the future, I am afraid that your road will be a little difficult. Lu Deming said with some concern.
"Teacher, if the disciple said that it was precisely because he was afraid of shaking the national foundation that the disciple did this, would you believe it?" Luo Yan replied with some bitterness.
After a little silence, Lu Deming sighed lightly: "Maybe it's because I like your character that the teacher is so worried." You are too young, and I used to worry that you would always walk alone and make a difference in officialdom. Now that you are valued by Your Majesty, I am worried that you have offended too many people. "As a disciple, why is he more and more worried, Lu Deming can't figure it out.
Luo Yan was a little happy when he heard his teacher's answer, and said: "The state bans the sale of salt and iron, firstly, to fill the treasury, and secondly, to weaken the Turkic strength. It's just that there is private salt and private iron, and both of these things have suffered serious damage. There is already too much salt produced in Jianghuai, and if it is not properly handled, the domestic salt price will plummet, and the deficit in the national treasury will be very serious before it is ready. Now, taking advantage of the opportunity given to the Turks, they can reduce some of their stocks in order to delay the arrival of the crisis. ”
Hearing Luo Yan say this, Lu Deming sat up straight and asked, "Is the matter really so serious?" ”
"Not yet, otherwise Your Majesty would have been in a hurry. I just want to take this opportunity to put things off for a while, and then discuss it with Your Majesty. If this matter leaks out, I'm afraid there will be chaos. As for those accusations from the court, as long as His Majesty knows it, the disciples will not have anything to do. ”
Thinking about how much his disciples are valued by Li Shimin, Lu Deming is also a little relieved, but he still has to instruct: "Don't act recklessly because Your Majesty values it for a while." In the past dynasties, there were many people who were valued by kings, and there were not a few who died and died, there were Shang Jun in ancient times, and Liu Wenjing in today. Don't follow in your footsteps. ”
Luo Yan must have known about Shang Ying and Liu Wenjing, so he didn't dare to speak out, and he did listen to this, so he said respectfully: "Disciple remembers." ”
There was nothing to discuss, so Luo Yan retired.
When he returned to his room, he sighed: "Those who know me say that I am worried, and those who do not know me say that I want something." I'm afraid I don't even have anyone who knows me. Shaking his head, he began to write tomorrow's recital.