In modern times, books are in open supply, and there are only those who do not like to read, and there is no shortage of books to read, except, of course, those who love a certain type of book. For example, Xue Lang sometimes reads novels on the Internet when he has time, but unfortunately because of his personal hobbies, there is often a shortage of books. The website is updated with 10,000 words every day, and the daily update of what he loves to read is less than 10,000 words, how pitiful.

With Xue Lang's mouth cannon king as the backing, Han Jin didn't worry about someone finding fault. Listening to Xue Lang preach the process, Han Jin proposed to cancel the matter of copying the instruction manual of the plough-making process.

Han Changshi obviously has more life experience than Her Royal Highness the Princess and Xue Lang, Han Jin said: "The manufacturing process of the alien plow is actually roughly the same as that of an ordinary plow, the difference is only the appearance design, if it is a skilled hand in making a plow, I am afraid that you can learn it at a glance, so this procedure can be saved." ”

Xue Lang nodded in agreement, Her Royal Highness the princess has no opinion, and in other links, when Her Royal Highness the princess repaired the book, only officials were invited, and craftsmen were not invited.

Xue Lang was reminded like this, and also reacted, now there is no intellectual property protection, Qu Yuan plough is actually coincidentally designed, people who understand it can understand it at a glance, and it is not difficult to go back and spend a little effort to imitate one. Negotiate everything in order, fix the problems in the plan, and the matter is settled!

Many places asked Han Changshi to cooperate with the co-ordination, so Han Jin went back to assign people first. Ma Sanbao also has something to do to retire, and Xue Lang is also busy, but there are still things to do, and he has to stay for a while.

Xue Lang thought about it, and still arched his hand directly towards Her Royal Highness the princess and said, "Your Highness Qiqi, my subordinates have something to ask you." ”

"What?"

Her Royal Highness the princess asked with concern, "What are the difficulties of Youyang?" Say as much as you can. ”

Xue Lang smiled embarrassedly: "That's it...... The salt in my yard has run out again! Please give your Highness some to deal with the expenses. ”

Lady Liu snorted, and Her Royal Highness the princess said: "It's just such a trivial matter?" ”

Xue Lang snorted and said: "Xiuniang said that the salt in the house is strictly controlled, and it has been used more than once, and it is still solved with the help of the Gui Nei attendants, and within a month, it has been more than twice, so I am sorry, I can only ask His Highness here with a cheeky face." ”

Her Royal Highness the princess said: "It's okay, I will give you a bucket from my share, is it enough for Youyang?" ”

Xue Lang hurriedly nodded: "You don't need to have as many buckets, two or three catties are enough for a long time!" ”

Her Royal Highness the Princess nodded: "That is the case, the first snow, let someone send three catties of salt to Tingfeng Courtyard." ”

"Whoa."

Look at the first snow and lead the order to go out and assign people.

"Your Highness."

Her Royal Highness the princess said casually: "It's okay! If you want a stone of salt, I need to spend a lot of effort, but only a few catties, only my share can be even. ”

Xue Lang asked curiously: "I heard that the salt is government-run, and the price is not expensive, but why does it look like there is still a shortage of salt?" ”

The price of salt in the Tang Dynasty was not expensive, in the Zhenguan period, it was only ten wen a catty. It was not until after Xuanzong that the price of salt rose, which was caused by the increase in salt taxes by the imperial court. Although the price of salt at this time is not as cheap as in Zhenguan, it is already cheap compared to the social situation.

Her Royal Highness looked at Xue Lang and said, "The flower grower is not short of salt?" ”

Xue Lang nodded: "There should be no shortage, my subordinates have never heard of a shortage of salt since they were young." ”

Her Royal Highness the princess said: "Looking at Youyang's style, it doesn't look like he came from a place where there is a shortage of salt. ”

Could it be that his salt standard was too wasteful in ancient times?!

Xue Lang reflected silently.

Her Royal Highness the Princess saw through Xue Lang's thoughts at a glance, and said: "I listened to Youyang discussing taxes just now, and I thought Youyang understood, but now it seems that the environment in which Youyang grew up is quite different from my Datang, so I don't understand the matter of salt politics." Come to think of it, Ah Liu doesn't know much, right? ”

"Your Highness is wise."

It turned out that Lady Liu didn't understand either. The two waited together for Her Royal Highness the princess to solve her doubts.

Her Royal Highness the princess said: "The salt production of my Datang is enough if it is only used by the population, but compared with the consumption of the population, a large part of it needs to be used for animal husbandry, and livestock also needs salt; In addition, there are places where salt is used in medicine, farming, and craftsmen, and the production of salt is scarce compared to its use. It is because of this that he eats light food in his leisure time, and he only eats salty food during war time and when he is busy with farming, which is based on this. ”

Xue Lang suddenly realized that no matter whether it was people or livestock, there was no strength if there was no salt. In ancient times, salt was used more widely than in modern times, but because of production technology and transportation, salt production could not keep up, so it is no wonder that the amount of salt used should be limited.

Hearing this, Xue Lang understood! Xue Lang asked: "Since the output can't keep up with the demand, it stands to reason that the price of salt should be high, why did the imperial court set the price of salt so low?" ”

Her Royal Highness the princess said: "For the sake of thin endowment, let it benefit the people, and recuperate." ”

Xue Lang understood: "Your Highness means that the price of salt is related to taxes?" Is the price of salt a means of controlling taxes? ”

"Yes!"

Her Royal Highness nodded appreciatively.

Xue Lang was stunned. The ancient feudal society was essentially an agrarian civilization society, with a small-scale peasant type and a local economy, and little economic circulation.

As the main body of the state, in order to control and affect the country's economic development, as well as to regulate and control the country's economy and the people's livelihood through taxation, there is nothing more suitable than the price of grain and the price of salt, which everyone needs.

There is also a difference between the north and the south, the north likes to eat pasta, and the south loves to eat rice grain. This salt is needed by everyone, regardless of east, west, north and south. No wonder in ancient times it was necessary to salt the official camp.

The low price of salt in the Tang Dynasty was obviously forced by the imperial court to set the price low, which in turn affected the reduction of taxes, and then affected the price of grain, so as to benefit the people and get the opportunity for the people to recuperate. Later, the people's lives improved, so the salt tax was raised accordingly.

Therefore, the Tang Dynasty, when the price of salt was cheap, did not say that there was no shortage of salt, but that there was a shortage of salt, but that the salt tax was low due to national policies.

Xue Lang understood, however, in the spirit of prudence, he did not rashly propose a way to increase salt production. Since the price of salt is fundamental to a country's taxation, it cannot be changed rashly. Especially since Datang has just been established, it can't withstand so many ups and downs.

In particular, people who have just experienced war have little ability to resist risks. Governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, pulling a trace and moving the whole body, Xue Lang said it is very simple, it is a matter of touching the upper and lower mouths, but for the country and the people, whether it is a good thing, Xue Lang still needs to think about it.

Just like Wang Anshi's change of law, Wang Xianggong's original intention must be good, and the country also needs it, but whether the people accept it and whether it is suitable for the people's feelings and livelihood, Wang Xianggong did not think it through, and the result of the failure of the reform is difficult to calculate the harm to the country.

Xue Lang didn't want to go through it, but became a sinner in history, Xue Lang wanted to make Datang better, not worse.

In line with the principle that only by investigating more can you have the right to speak, and only by practicing can you know the truth, Xue Lang asked Her Royal Highness the Princess about many policies and regulations on salt administration in the Tang Dynasty, and only then did he go back with the salt given to him by Her Royal Highness the Princess.