Jiangnan was the main producer of sea salt in this era, and the monopoly system of salt and iron implemented by the imperial court was more indispensable to these salt merchants. If the tax revenue that can be received by Jiangnan's commercial trade accounts for a part of Jiangnan's tax revenue, then the salt tax is the highlight of Jiangnan's tax. And a large part of this tax is due to the contribution of these salt merchants.

In order to control salt and iron, which was the exclusive property of the imperial court, all dynasties set up relatively strict systems, and the capital crime of selling illicit salt was one of them. But in the face of enormous interests, such a system is often inevitably shaken.

In order to make higher profits, these salt merchants bought at a low price and sold at a high price to make a lot of money. Of course, they also contributed a lot of taxes to the imperial court, and this interdependence also caused officials and businessmen to collude to sell illicit salt from time to time in the rich land of Jiangnan.

Although salt and iron are sold officially, in the production, transportation and sales, the imperial court needs to rely on these salt merchants to be responsible. The imperial court played more of a role in taxation and inspection, and as long as the normal tax collection was ensured, it often did not care too much about how much profit these merchants made from it. The fact that officials do not compete with the people for profit also leads to the occurrence of such problems in many cases.

This management system, in which only taxes are collected and only smuggled salt is checked, naturally leads these merchants to try their best to control salt, a necessity for the people. As long as you can collect and sell the officials involved in the control, you can get so much imperial salt quotations, and in addition to paying the expensive salt tax, you can also compete with the official salt for the market and buyers at a relatively cheap price.

The salt tax reform has been carried out countless times since the Song Dynasty, but each time the effect can only be seen in the early stage. Later, with the implementation of the system, it gradually became a dead letter. To put it bluntly, this is the same as what Zhao Xiaoxi heard in later generations. Institutions are dead, but people are alive. As long as the system is in the hands of the living, it is only a means for those in power.

As a businessman who wants to maximize profits, Cho Hyo-seok doesn't feel anything wrong. However, corrupting the imperial court officials and wantonly embezzling the taxes that originally belonged to the imperial court are enough to shake the foundation of a country. Without these taxes, how would the imperial court manage the world, how would it help the poor, and how would it reorganize its armaments to defend against foreign enemies?

In fact, in Zhao Xiaoxi's view, no matter what era it is, fighting a war is inseparable from the economy. As long as the imperial court has money in hand, it can form a strong army to protect the country, and it can buy war horses to build weapons and train troops. In addition, in the year of natural disasters, the imperial court can also use the stored wealth to give relief to these disaster areas, and promote the benevolence of the imperial court and the monarch.

If the court has no money, even as an emperor, you will feel constrained in whatever you want to do. As a war-torn northern border region over the years, it is very good not to let the imperial court distribute disaster relief money every day, and it is almost impossible to ask them to provide tax silver to the imperial court. This also means that the taxes in Jiangnan really determine the success or failure of the imperial court to a certain extent.

Looking at the humble Lu Wuwei, Zhao Xiaoxi smiled flatly: "President Lu, sit down and talk, Ben Qincha doesn't like to look up and talk to people." Speaking of which, the three generations of the Lu family have been in the salt business, which is also due to the imperial court. As for the intention of Ben Qincha today, I believe that President Lu and all of you know it very well. If the channel is reasonable, then everything is easy to say. If you don't make sense, you know the consequences. ”

You know the consequences!

The meaning of these words is obvious, that is, whether they will survive this time will be largely due to the subsequent negotiations. It is clear that many times this kind of negotiation is to break the wealth and eliminate the disaster, but how much money is it that they can afford? In the final analysis, in the current situation, Zhao Xiaoxi and these salt merchants need to come up with a mutually acceptable condition.

Lu Wuwei, who sat down honestly, although he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, he also said respectfully: "Thank you Lord Qincha for giving me a seat, if your lord has a send, please do not hesitate to give instructions, and we will definitely listen to the instructions." ”

Before I get down to business, Ben Chin Cha thinks it's better to tell you who I am. You may think that it is too hasty for the Holy Lord to appoint a young boy like me to raise the Jiangnan tax case.

But what I want to tell you is that in addition to serving as the Jiangnan Supervision Envoy, Ben Qincha is also the second son of King Xu today, the king of Bashu County, and the envoy of Chengdu Road. This king is different from the courtiers of other courts, he doesn't like to tell you too much truth, he prefers to talk with a knife and a gun, and to put it simply, this king is a martial artist.

Liu Guangqian, as the governor of Liangzhelu appointed by the imperial court, did not want to shepherd the people for the king, but he was greedy for some copper-smelling things, and his fate was already doomed last night. If it weren't for his sake, as an important minister of the court, this king would have cut off his head last night. Therefore, I still expect him to stand up and speak for you, I'm afraid don't be delusional.

The meaning of this king is very simple, that is, this king does not like to kill, but he likes to kill. This country belongs to the people of the world, and it is also my Zhao family. You embezzle the taxes of the imperial court, which is to dig up the foundation of my Zhao family. You will not know how much effort the imperial court has spent in recent years to resist the invasion of foreign tribes in the north.

If there is no protection from the imperial court, can you still sit here and drink tea like this? If there is no kingdom, what will you have with all the wealth? The imperial court needs you to provide taxes, and you also need the protection of the imperial court. If the northern foreigners invade the Central Plains, you also know what the consequences will be. ’

After speaking concisely, Lu Wuwei and the others heard that the young Qincha in front of them actually had the identity of a member of the royal family. Especially in the words just now, it was emphasized that he was a martial artist and was good at killing, which made all the salt merchants feel a little cold in their necks. I don't know what this prince plans to do with them next.

Lu Wuwei, who felt a little sweat on his forehead, said very sincerely: "Lord Qincha's words have made us extremely embarrassed, and there is indeed something wrong with us regarding the salt tax. I also ask the prince to make it clear what we need to do to make up for this mistake. Being able to do my part for the court is also a blessing for me and other mustard people. ”

Using the inappropriate place to cover up the crime of bribing corrupt officials also implies in disguise that they are willing to destroy their wealth and eliminate disasters. This person's sophistication is sleek, and Zhao Xiaoxi also feels that his saliva just now is in vain. Although he knew that the advice he made next would make these salt merchants uncomfortable and even nerve-wracking. But as long as he can keep the food guys, he believes that these salt merchants will make the right choice.

After a moment of indulgerence, he said, "Since President Lu is so knowledgeable about current affairs, then King Ben will give you a chance to repent and reform yourself." Remember, whether you can seize this opportunity or not depends on whether your next actions can satisfy the king. Don't think that if you survive today's catastrophe, you will be able to get away with it. You must know that if you break away from the rich land of Jiangnan, you will know what the consequences will be.

First, the salt tax evaded by the Salt Merchants Association over the years should be paid to the Yamen within three days. Don't think that this king is ruthless, you should know that twice the salt tax is handed over to the imperial court, and you still have a surplus of the profits earned by the others. Of course, if you think that money is more valuable than life, then listen to it.

Second, provide the king with a list of officials and the amount of wealth that the Salt Merchants' Association had bribed over the years. As for what to do with these officials, the king has his own judgment. If you feel that you want to shield these officials who have taken bribes from you, you can hide them and report them to one less official who has taken bribes, and the king will execute a salt merchant who has given bribes.

Third, in this investigation of the salt tax, Ruoer and others dared to gather a crowd to make trouble. This king will hold the Salt Merchants Association accountable, whether to kill or punish or completely change you, it depends on what choice you make. Do not think that this king is scaring you, if you do not believe it, you can try it, and see if it is your ability or the king's sword and spear are fast.

There is no room for compromise on the above three demands, and this king can give you three days to consider them. If, after three days, you do not see what the king wants. For the crime of selling illicit salt, you will be wiped out and your family will be raided, and I believe that the people will not feel that there is anything wrong. The king also knows the price of the salt you buy compared to the price of the salt you sell to the people. ”

Zhao Xiaoxi, who left these three conditions, calmly drank a sip of tea, got up and left with his clothes. All the guards armed with swords in the salt merchants' association were taken to the cells in the city to be drawn. As for these salt merchants, Zhao Xiaoxi didn't pay much attention to them. Instead, he ordered the cloth pavilion to keep a close watch, and if anyone dared to make a disturbance, he would immediately destroy it with the force of thunder.

In the final analysis, these salt merchants do have the ability to cause turmoil in the south of the Yangtze River, but as long as they grasp their handles and grab their sore feet, they are also not afraid. If these salt merchants don't know each other, Zhao Xiaoxi believes that if he is given some time, he can support a group of salt merchants again. You know, the wealth of the salt merchants also has many envy.

Kill them and change to a new batch of salt merchants, I believe that many businessmen in other industries in Jiangnan will also stab them! This is also the reason why the monopoly industry makes money and attracts countless businessmen.

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoxi was really not worried about them escaping at all, and brought all the forbidden troops out of the Wuwei Guild Hall, looking at Zhao Xiaoxi who was riding away, Lu Wuwei and the others fell into deep contemplation. In front of them, in addition to the need to break the wealth and eliminate the disaster, the most difficult thing to accept is the second one.

Submitting a list of officials who have accepted bribes is undoubtedly a way out of their future efforts to win over and corrupt other officers and soldiers. Presumably, that official would not have a good impression of a businessman who had betrayed his partner! This is the strategy that Zhao Xiaoxi came up with to draw salaries from the bottom of the kettle, so that the officials who will take over in the future will completely form an antagonistic relationship with the salt merchants.