The clear green river surface is as flat as a mirror, reflecting the willow branches swaying on both sides, and the gloomy gray sky seems to have an unexpected autumn rain at any time.

A dragon boat broke through the water, and the splash of water slapped on both banks, but the deck of the ship did not move. When the fishing boats and merchant ships on the water saw the crimson dragon boat, they all quickly avoided it and looked at the boat with awe-inden eyes.

"Zhang Han was in Luo, seeing the autumn wind rising, because he thought of Wuzhong's Ulva soup and sea bass, he said: Life is so expensive, how can you detain eunuchs for thousands of miles to be famous!"

Hou Xuanyan stood in front of the mast with his hands behind his back, and said slowly, it was the golden autumn and August, it was the time when the perch in Jiangnan was fat, and he had been fighting in Liaodong for so long, and he also missed the scenery of Jiangnan a little.

"What is the difficulty of the prince if he wants to eat fish, the lower official will ask someone to go to the river to catch a few, let's not get drunk."

The voice that spoke was rough and heroic, accompanied by free and easy laughter, it was Li Haoxian, the Duke of Qi.

As soon as the curtain of the cabin door was lifted, a middle-aged man dressed as a scribe wearing a robe and a square scarf walked out, laughing as he walked: "Qi Guogong only knows what it is, but I don't know why, the prince is talking about fish, but he is using allusions to express his heart, and he is homesick." ”

Li Haoxian pouted and said, "That's exactly what I meant, I deliberately said what I said just now to make a joke, and I want you to talk more." ”

Jiang Jianxun was not annoyed, and said with a smile: "It turns out that Qi Guogong has known for a long time, that is, he is talking too much." ”

Hou Xuanyan widened his chest, and the oncoming wind lifted his spirits, and he didn't care about the two subordinates arguing, and asked, "Where have we been?" ”

A pro-soldier crossed his hands and said: "Back to the prince, the front is Yangzhou." ”

"Yangzhou? Yangzhou is a good place, but it's a pity that the city was slaughtered by Duoduo's soldiers, and now five years have passed, and I don't know how the recovery is... That's it, since the great cause has been accomplished, it is better to go to Yangzhou to inspect and see if Yangzhou City is now in the past. ”

Hou Xuanyan returned victoriously from Liaodong, because he was no longer forced by military affairs, he no longer had to go to the sea, and turned south from Beiping via the canal. Passing through Yangzhou, I had a temporary intention to go to the city to take a look, but the news on the ship could not be transmitted, and when I arrived at the port of Yangzhou, the nearby officials did not have time to greet him.

Hou Xuanyan, Li Haoxian, Du Yinxi, Zheng Zunqian and Jiang Jianxun got off the boat one after another, and the people next to them didn't know what officials were inspecting, and they were all watching on tiptoe.

Hundreds of pro-soldiers opened the way, and the group strolled to the port, where the pro-soldiers led the horses from the dragon boats. This caused even more commotion among the crowd, and this big ship carried so many horses.

When they arrived at the edge of Yangzhou City, the soldiers explained their identities to the soldiers guarding the city, and the soldiers hurriedly ran to the city to report. Hou Xuanyan and others had already ridden into Yangzhou City, and as far as the eye could see, there were merchants and wide and tidy streets. The hawkers, the shops, and the crowd of people all tell about the prosperity of this place.

Yangzhou is located on the main road of Caoyun, as long as there are suitable conditions, it is easy to re-emerge.

Hou Xuanyan didn't have any special surprises, looking at the prosperous scene around him, he just nodded secretly, it seems that the prefect here is quite qualified.

After walking for a while, he was intercepted by a bridge by the officials of Yangzhou who came in a hurry, Yangzhou prefect Liao Jingqing was the first batch of May Enke in the middle of the move, and he did a good job in Yangzhou Gaoyou, and he has been promoted to the palace here. This speed of promotion, which can be seen after the war, is almost impossible in a peaceful and prosperous era.

Liao Jingqing took a group of officials and hugged his fists on the side of the road and said: "The lower officials don't know that the prince is coming, and they are disappointed." ”

After listening to the words of the prefect, the surrounding people realized that this ridiculously big official turned out to be the regent of the current dynasty, and their emotions became even more excited.

Hou Xuanyan looked around, this place is filled with fresh faces from other places, Yangzhou Caoyun is developed and settled here There are countless wealthy businessmen and giants, and the vacancy after being slaughtered was quickly filled, which is also an important reason why it can regain prosperity.

"My class teacher returned to the court, passed by here, and came to inspect it. Yangzhou has recovered quite well, this is your credit, I will keep it in my heart. ”

Yangzhou officials are overjoyed, this kind of praise is the least valuable, but it also depends on who said it. Since it was the prince's mouth, the career of his own people is bound to be much smoother.

Liao Jingqing said happily: "Lord, the lower officials have set up a banquet in the mansion, I don't know if the prince is willing to appreciate his face." ”

Hou Xuanyan had a bad appetite on the boat, so he ate a bowl of gruel in the morning, and soon after the rising sun, he was hungry, and he was not humble when he heard this, and said: "That's right, lead the way, remember to cook a sea bass to eat." ”

Liao Jingqing just said casually, but he didn't expect to really invite Hou Xuanyan, and he was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly asked the little official next to him to go back to the house to make arrangements.

Liao Jingqing's mansion is not far from the city gate, he is not rooted here, and he has just been transferred here and has not had time to buy a property. just picked up his family and settled in the eastern suburbs of Yangzhou.

After coming here, Hou Xuanyan was stunned to find that this was really a small courtyard, and it was very small compared to a corner of his palace.

Some flowers and plants were planted in the middle of the yard, most of which had withered by this time, and only the chrysanthemums were blooming.

In the courtyard was a round table, sparsely arranged with a few dishes and a pot of new wine.

Hou Xuanyan not only looked at him with admiration, but also served as the prefect in a place like Yangzhou, and there was endless money in the account as soon as he stretched out his hand, if this person was not a city government, he must be a clean official.

After laughing, Hou Xuanyan sat down at the table and said, "I didn't expect that Governor Liao was still a Qing official, and he lived such an elegant and simple life. ”

Liao Jingqing hurriedly said: "The prince laughed, the lower official just took office for too short a short time, and now he is rich, and the lower official is ready to save some money, and in a few years, he will also buy a big house in Yangzhou, and after the future Zhishi, he will also come to Yangzhou for the elderly." ”

After a while, Mrs. Liao took a pair of children and came out to meet the prince. Mrs. Liao's eyes were dodgy, and she seemed to be very afraid, Hou Xuanyan only thought that she was a deep lady, and she had never seen so many guests, and she didn't care.

Hou Xuanyan looked at the two sisters and brothers who were both reserved and introverted, and they didn't dare to look at themselves with their heads down and blushing, especially the youngest son of the Liao family, whose face turned red and hid behind his sister. Such a person should have a good family style, not like the children of high-flying eunuchs. Therefore, he glanced at Liao Jingqing even more, pointed to his youngest son and said: "I look at this kid who is five or six years old, how can he be so afraid of life, a manly husband should be heroic." Liao Jingqing, put a pair of chopsticks on the table for your son, pour a glass, and accompany me to eat and drink. ”

"The prince laughed, Ying'er take your brother back."

The girl took her younger brother back to the inner courtyard, and Hou Xuanyan said with a smile: "Haha, Lao Tzu is joking with him, you are still afraid that I will not be able to bring your son badly." ”

Li Haoxian joked: "Liao Zhifu looks like a scribe, unlike me and other military men, my son was already able to fight with me when he was five years old, this kid was drunk and wanted to worship me, and I beat him so much that he couldn't get out of bed for ten days." ”

Everyone laughed together, a small servant in the house came up with a pot of scorched fish, Hou Xuanyan was hungry, and he raised his chopsticks to eat first.

"Ahh Hou Xuanyan's face turned cold, and he scolded: "What is it, why is it so bland, how can you eat this?" ”

Li Haoxian also took a sip, and sure enough, there was no salt taste, and he scolded and said: "Governor Liao, it was you who said that you were the one who set up the banquet and invited guests, and we didn't come by ourselves, who will you get these things for?" ”

Liao Jingqing's expression was straight, and he clenched his fists and said: "Lord Wang, the two Huai salt merchants have a hereditary monopoly and raise the price of salt. Yangzhou and Huai'an are rich and rich since all the salt merchants, they monopolize the salt introduction, gather countless wealth, and pity the two Huai people are on the salt pile, but they can't eat cooked salt. The lower officials have the courage to advise on this, and hope that the prince will cancel the hereditary monopoly of salt merchants and return salt to the common people. ”

Hou Xuanyan picked up the wine, took a sip, and then picked a cold dish and ate a few bites to get hungry. It was very embarrassing to hang Liao Jingqing, who risked his death.

"I said what is good for you, you have something to tell me directly, and I will naturally deal with it as appropriate. Isn't it a pity to have a good meal, let someone take it down and recook it, I'm already hungry. Looking at this table full of food, Hou Xuanyan was angry, he knew a lot about the salt introduction.

The so-called salt-drying people can't eat salt, purely to fool themselves, of course, the salt merchants monopolize the hereditary lineage, and it is true that they have seized the local finances.

This prefect is not as harmless as it seems, and this kid does not hesitate to deceive himself in order to pull the salt merchant off the horse, and he is also very bold.

However, his original intention should be good, if he can collect the profits of the salt merchants and return them to the imperial court, it will indeed be a lot of income, and he can also take the opportunity to lower the price of salt, so that the people can reduce the cost of buying salt.

During the Wanli period, Yuan Shizhen discussed the price of salt for water merchants, that is, the price at which salt transporters bought salt. It is said that before the Wanli Gang Law, "570 catties per salt, sold to water merchants, straight 3 taels and 2 yuan, this price is also."

However, this is only the purchase price of salt merchants, if you take into account the cost and risk of transportation, as well as the cost of intermediate resale, the profit of merchants, etc., the retail price of salt in different places, that is, the price of salt in salt shops and shops, will be different.

During the Jiajing period, Zhu Tingli recorded in the "Salt Political Chronicles" that the price of salt in Huguang, Jiangxi and Nanjing at the beginning of Jiajing was three to four cents per catty of silver, and in the eighth year of Jiajing, "Huguang and Jiangxi sold one and a half cents of silver per catty of salt, and one and a half cents of silver was sold in Nanjing." "The price is also very volatile.

The people of Yangzhou are so rich that it is impossible to afford salt, but buying salt is indeed an important expense. As for the remote people, they almost can't afford to eat it without buying illicit salt, so they really can't afford to eat salt.

Hou Xuanyan stared at Liao Jingqing, scared him into a cold sweat, although he was dedicated to the country and the people, but he deceived the prince.

Feeling the unkindness in Hou Xuanyan's eyes, Liao Jingqing regretted it for a while, he didn't pretend to be smart when he knew it, and directly made it clear that he was admonishing.

"Governing the country is a big thing, looking at the overall situation, the most taboo is to use caution to play smart, otherwise you will fall behind. From this point of view, although you are a good official, your vision and mind are not enough to scold Fang Xuan in the temple. Hou Xuan spoke, but Liao Jingqing was no longer afraid, but just lowered his head and was trained.

"This person is not allowed to be promoted within five years, and he will sharpen his temperament more. You can do things with a lot of money, but being a man and an official must be magnificent, Yangzhou Dijie Renling, you have been practicing here for five years, and after five years, you will come to Jinling to find me, I will see if there is any progress, and then decide whether to use you or not. ”

Mrs. Liao in the room stroked her chest, a big stone finally landed, her lord told the people in the kitchen not to put salt, she thought it was a banquet for some colleagues, but it turned out to be the regent of the imperial father. Mrs. Liao was almost scared to death, but now she was relieved when she heard that her master had not been dealt with outside.

Her heart was put down, not to mention how bitter Liao Jingqing's heart was, she thought she had figured out the temper of the regent, and she was loyal and outspoken, who knew that it was exposed.

Hou Xuanyan really knew too much about salt, and when the sea was blocked by Zheng Zhilong, most of the money he had came from salt merchants. Killed Huai'an is a few salt merchants, and the Northern Expedition has a surplus for a whole year, how can Hou Xuanyan, this kind of financial pillar, not be careful.

To be honest, he doesn't hate Liao Jingqing, this official may be a little cautious, but what he saw along the way matched his motives, Hou Xuanyan believes that this is a capable official who is a little cautious.

Hou Xuanyan gave him five years, hoping that he could make progress, and it was time to deal with the salt introduction issue he raised.

At the beginning, Hou Xuanyan could only acquiesce to the hereditary monopoly of salt merchants, relying on their extraordinary ability to accumulate wealth to raise an army for themselves.

Now that the imperial court has abundant finances and is working hard to benefit the people, the salt merchants have become a very discordant existence.

Some industries are indeed not suitable for the private sector, and Hou Xuanyan feels that this kind of issue related to people's livelihood is better in the hands of the imperial court.

"Salt merchant, maybe it's more suitable for the imperial court."

"How does the imperial court do business?" Du Yinxi frowned and asked, as a traditional official, his concept is still the ranking of Shinong Industry and Commerce.

"Now factories have sprung up all over the country, and our imperial court can also set up factories, just like arsenals and dockyards. Recruit people to dry salt, organize transportation and sales, and lower the price of salt, so that the people can eat salt. For example, in remote areas in the southwest, we can be transported by the imperial court, and the difference in price can be smoothed out. So that the people of the southwest can also buy salt at the same price. Hou Xuanyan talked eloquently, and Liao Jingqing was ashamed to find that the prince had already planned. If it had been an impromptu idea, I would definitely not have said it in such detail.

Although Li Haoxian didn't understand, he also knew that the prince wanted to remove the hereditary monopoly of the salt merchants, and interjected: "Those salt merchants in the Northern Expedition have made a contribution, if you remove their iron rice bowls, isn't it a little unkind." ”

"They can rely on salt to attract shares and dividends!"

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