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Ten acres of newly renovated salt pans, of which seven acres are evaporation ponds, and the rest are crystallization ponds, and the brine that evaporates more than half of the seawater hits the remaining crystallization ponds, and the three crystallization pools are filled at once. When the clean brine enters the crystallization tank, the crystallization speed is faster. After three days, a thick layer of salt crystals is precipitated out of the pool every day and floats on the surface of the brine. The salt workers slowly scooped up the precipitated salt with a large target, and then carried the salt away with a bamboo basket and piled it up on the cleared open space not far away.

These days, the salt workers of the Changle Salt Farm will come here from time to time to take a look, but Geng Jingzhong did not order to stop them, let them see the advantages of this newly renovated salt pan, so that they can do things more energetically. You must know that in the salt pans they are responsible for, if the salt produced is not enough, they will not get any wages, and the more they produce, the more they will get. Of course, the saltworks have been exploiting them all along, and the wages they are given are only enough to make ends meet. If the situation is better, there will not be a few taels of surplus money left in a year.

The Houyu Port Development Zone is so close to them, but because they have signed a contract with the salt factory, they will work in the salt factory for ten years, some for a lifetime, but they cannot leave the salt factory to work in the workshop without permission. Besides, the Salt Envoy would not allow them to leave. There were a few who secretly ran out, and they were arrested by the salt envoy sent by the salt envoy. Not only was a large amount of money confiscated, but he was also severely beaten and finally thrown into a prison cell. Judging from the current law of the Qing court, there is nothing wrong with what the salt transport envoy has done. But it was the salt workers who suffered.

The Yamen of the Salt Transport Envoy was set up in Fuzhou. Salt merchants had to sell salt. It is necessary to pay the salt tax to the salt transportation department, receive the salt guide, and then go to the designated salt-producing area to buy salt from the stove households, and then sell it to the designated salt production area (called "Yin'an") for sale. However, salt quotations cannot be collected casually, and merchants must prove that they have the privilege of transporting and selling salt on the basis of quotations. In order to obtain the nest, the merchant must "admit the nest" in advance, that is, pay a huge amount of silver taels to obtain the monopoly right granted by the government.

The salt law of the pre-Ming Dynasty adopted this system of "business and shore introduction". This system was now followed by the Manchus. There are various complex reasons behind the implementation of this system, but the most direct reason is that the former Ming and Manchu Qing dynasties did not have much power to directly control the social economy, so they tended to adopt the form of "package", seizing powerful people and instructing them to contract to the end. This is particularly evident in the setting of the General Merchant. The general merchant, also known as the general merchant, is the person with a solid family and strong capital among the merchants, and the Yamen of the Salt Transportation Division designated them as the general merchants, and the retail merchants were subordinated to their names. Every year, when the course is solicited and introduced. The general merchant must supervise the completion and be responsible for the prohibition of illegal salt. If the imperial court has any measures in terms of salt administration, it often has to negotiate with the general merchants. The general merchant of the salt industry in Fujian is the head of the Lu family.

During the Wanli period of the former Ming Dynasty, during the actual operation of the salt law, the role of salt merchants began to split, until after the intelligence entered the customs, there were names such as nest merchants, transportation merchants, field merchants, and general merchants, and they all had different functions in the circulation of salt. Nest merchants, also called business merchants. In fact, there was no distinction between nest merchants and transporters, and all salt merchants who had a nest were transported and sold by themselves. Later, because some salt merchants with nests lacked capital and were unable to traffic, they leased nests to merchants without nests to operate, so there were nest merchants and transporters.

The Nest Merchants themselves do not operate the salt industry, but purely rely on leasing to attract huge profits, which is the most prominent manifestation of the monopoly of the salt industry. Carriers, also called tenants. If a transporter wants to sell salt, he must first pay a "nest price" to the nest merchant, rent the nest, and then go to the Yamen of the Salt Transportation Department to receive the guide, and they play a role as a bridge between the production area and the sales place in the circulation of salt. A merchant is a merchant who buys salt from a stove owner in a designated salt factory and resells it to a shipper. They have seized the privilege of purchasing all the salt produced in the salt works, so they often resort to unequal exchange methods and brutally exploit the producers.

The scale of the Changle Salt Farm in Fuzhou is relatively small, and it relies on the Yamen of the Fuzhou Salt Transport Envoy, so all of them here are under the direct jurisdiction of the Salt Transport Envoy. In fact, it is not that the salt transportation envoy does not want to contract out here, but in all aspects of the purchase, transportation and sale of salt, the relevant officials have all extended their greedy hands, and ordinary salt merchants dare not contract here. In fact, if you contract this Changle salt farm, five or six departments in the salt transportation envoy Yamen, seven seven eighty-eight officials, who are interested in going to this salt farm, the salt merchants who contract the salt works will have to pay a tribute to the silver, and in the long run, who dares to stay here and let them knock on the bone and suck the marrow!

"Xiaole, as of today, how much new salt has been produced in these ten acres of new salt fields?" Geng Jingzhong came to the salt field again today, and the person in charge of this small salt field was the young man named Xiaole in front of him. More than a dozen salt workers are not very old, and Xiaole is their leader. Xiaole's nature is Hu, called Hu Le, but this salt field is still dominated by fried salt, so his name makes people think it is "paste" when they hear it, so no one calls him with his surname, but directly calls him Xiaole, and his partners call him Brother Xiaole.

When Geng Jingzhong decided to divide the land for salt in the Changle Salt Farm, he did not hide his identity, and directly went to find the salt transport envoy Bo Luo, only to inform him, saying that he would divide a few acres of salt fields in the salt field and make some salt by himself. Of course, Bolo didn't dare to fight back, this was not a big deal, no matter how Geng Jingzhong tossed, he would not toss the entire salt field anyway. Since Geng Jingzhong suddenly wanted to have fun, let him go. Although he thought so in his heart, Bolo did not take it lightly, he often appeared in the salt field these days, but he still hasn't seen any doorways.

He used to be just a soldier of the Eight Banners, and he was promoted to this position after accumulating military merits, and it was really difficult for him to know how to make salt. Even the affairs in the Yamen of the Salt Transport Envoy are basically handled by the master, so he just waits to count the money. However, although Bolo doesn't have much culture, it doesn't mean that he is stupid, and he is not bad at all in terms of intrigue in officialdom. This Kangxi Xiao Mazi gave him the secret purpose of secretly causing trouble for Geng Jingzhong, and he did it well. It's not. The price of salt in the whole province of Fujian has risen. And in name, Geng Jingzhong can't find his head.

"Back to the prince, these three acres of salt pond can collect about 100 catties of salt every day, and the salt has been coming out since the day before yesterday, and this is the third day in a row. A total of 310 catties of new salt were collected, all of which were packed in jars. Do you want to take a look now? Xiaole replied cautiously.

Xiao Le and the fifteen young salt workers behind him were only seventeen years old, and three of them were already married. A few years ago, when they were only thirteen or fourteen, they entered the Future Academy and learned literacy and arithmetic for two years. At that time, they were quite young. But compared to other children, it is already considered big. Students who reach the age of sixteen in the academy but are not selected by the academy to continue their training are required to leave the academy and start working.

Those of them who have studied Western studies in the school and can read and write are generally willing to ask them to do things after leaving the school. They are not like their parents, who have been tied up in the salt works all their lives, and they can go outside to do things at will. Originally, they were apprentices in a lacquerware workshop in the Monkey Island Port Development Zone, wanting to continue learning a new trade. But because they grew up in the salt factory, they usually help the family work, and they are very familiar with the salt factory. Geng Jingzhong wanted to find a salt worker to do things, but he didn't want to draw people from the salt farm. So he had to recruit a few new people to help him with his work.

The old salt worker in the salt field heard that it was the prince who wanted to recruit people, and Xiaole's father reacted the fastest. immediately ran to the workshop and called Xiaole and the others back. Xiaole followed his father, they are all relatively spiritual people, Geng Jingzhong picked him at once, and then asked him to bring a group of people over to help, so there is the current situation. Being able to do things for Geng Jingzhong, they feel that they are really the creation of eight lifetimes of cultivation, and at this moment, Xiaole and other young men can understand the mood of those students who were selected by the academy at that time. Although they were chosen to serve the royal palace, where are they now serving the prince himself? Therefore, Xiaole and the others worked very carefully, for fear that something would go wrong.

When Geng Jingzhong was not there, even Xiaole and other young men's parents would often come to help, although there was nothing to do, but it was also reassuring to help watch. The fact that their children can become members of the royal palace in the future makes them feel proud, and their status has been greatly improved. The most direct manifestation is that the overseers of the salt works are no longer harsh about them, and even the ambassadors of the salt works will nod and smile when they see them, which was something that was unimaginable before.

Geng Jingzhong looked at the brine in the crystallization pool, and a layer of white salt began to appear on it, and it was estimated that it would be possible to fish it again in the evening. That's why they are doing this now, like the salt pans on the side, when a thick layer has accumulated in the pool, they start to collect salt, instead of scraping away the thin layer of water every day, as they are now. "Okay, bring it out and I'll take a look!" Geng Jingzhong nodded and motioned for him to do so.

Not far from this crystallization pond, there are several shacks built by Xiaole and others, and they live here every day in order to take care of these acres of salt fields, and even the meals are sent by their families. Geng Jingzhong had already seen the newly built shacks here, and he knew their mood, but he didn't say much. Xiaole's mood, in the future life, is equivalent to being asked by the president of the country to do something, then there is no reason to care, it must be devoted to it. Xiao Le and a few friends then turned around and ran into the shack and took out a few clay pots. Each clay pot is about like a bucket of mineral water in later generations, and one can hold thirty or forty catties of salt.

"Lord Wang, it's all here!" As he spoke, he lifted the red cloth on the clay pot, revealing the fresh white salt underneath. Xiaole stretched out his hand and grabbed a handful of new salt, spread it in the palm of his hand and continued: "Lord Wang, the salt produced here is much better than the previous salt, from the beginning of the water diversion, there is almost no sediment in the salt pond, and then to this crystallization pool, the brine is even cleaner, and the new salt is white like this!" ”

"Well, that's good!" Geng Jingzhong also looked at it, although the color was not as white as Xiao Le said, it was also very close, no longer as light brown as he saw before, it was similar to the coarse salt he saw in his previous life, but the particles were larger, but it didn't matter. "This color can be regarded as first-class salt! This also shows that you are very serious in your work, and you should be rewarded! ”

When Xiaole and the others heard this, they were all very excited, not for the little reward, but because their labor was recognized by Geng Jingzhong, which is the most valuable, and what they waited so hard for was Geng Jingzhong's approval. "Thank you, Lord Wang! Thank you! The crowd shouted hurriedly. I don't care if I don't know what reward I'm going to get.

"The king will continue to expand the area of this new salt pan. At that time, a large number of salt workers will be required. But this king is not familiar with the situation here. Therefore, it is necessary to have people who are familiar with the affairs of the salt works to help the king take care of it. Geng Jingzhong said this and smiled at Xiaole. I think a few of you are good! ”

"The little one is willing to serve the prince as a dog and horse!" Xiaole reacted quite quickly, and immediately bowed down and said, while also pulling the sleeves of his companions beside him.

"Oh, the little one is also willing to serve the prince!"

"The little one is willing to serve the prince as a dog and horse!"

A messy response, but they all learned from Xiaole.

"Okay, then you can help this king take care of the salt pans here. First of all, I have recruited all the people who are familiar with this area, but I can't recruit from the existing salt workers in this salt factory. I guess like you. There are still a lot of salt workers' children who have studied in the school, so I will recruit them all for me, and they will be of great use to you when I go back! Geng Jingzhong suddenly thought of the matter of refining refined salt, although Yao Qisheng went to select people to prepare for the two salt farms in Zhangzhou, but since the nearest Changle salt farm was also ready to take it down, it was necessary to reserve some talents. If you think about it, these children of salt workers have learned in the academy, so aren't they just the right candidates?

Not to mention that the smugglers in Fuzhou are being dealt a strong blow by the army army, it will not be a few days. There should be no storage of smuggled salt dealers in Fujian. As soon as this tumor is removed, it will not be interesting to keep the salt to transport Bolo. It is better to let Liu Bingzheng, the governor of Fujian, find a reason to detain him, and then get rid of him. Salt transportation makes this a fat shortage, to say that there is no money in this position, it is absolutely impossible, just let Liu Bingzheng be arrested on the charge of corruption and bribery, and then commit suicide in prison, choke to death by drinking water, accidentally fall and bump to death, etc., that is just a reason. It's so easy to control this small Changle Salt Farm!

It's another New Year, and it's the eleventh year of Kangxi in a blink of an eye, and this New Year, like previous years, is still so lively. However, this is not so good for everyone in the Mawei Group. This year's New Year, the Mawei Group has no vacation, and they are all busy. Geng Jingzhong is preparing to go to Luzon, Yao Qisheng is preparing a new salt production and marketing system, and at the same time, he is also discussing with the staff group to formulate a new system of the General Administration of Customs, and he also has to cooperate with some of the cooperation requests sent by Li Guangdi from Luzon. Fortunately, many of these things can be handled by the staff committee, and he only needs to make overall arrangements and control the general direction, but there will still be some mistakes from time to time, and he will have to deal with them personally.

Since Geng Jingzhong returned from the Changle Salt Farm, he has begun to pay attention to one of its things again, that is, education. He found from Hu Le and others that there is a huge difference between educated and uneducated, he said a little bit in the salt field, and Xiao Le and others could immediately understand, but many times he said something to the steward of the palace, but it was difficult for them to understand, this is the advantage of having a little bit of scientific learning.

Education in ancient times was definitely not compulsory education, but elite education, and only those who had the conditions could go to school. This is conditional and includes two aspects. One is that you are not a pariah to be eligible to go to school. If you're a pariah, you can't even have money. The so-called untouchables include fishermen, artisan households, happy households, merchants, military households, etc. Later, the merchants gradually relaxed, and finally got out of the scope of the untouchables. The military households also gradually opened health schools, which can be regarded as breaking away from the category of untouchables. However, due to the previous system, the merchants and military households were always inferior to ordinary households in terms of learning.

The second is naturally to be rich. Going to school is subject to tuition, and everyone else has to pay money except for students with extremely good grades who can receive subsidies from the government. The legendary situation that if you give a little rice and a little meat, you can go to school, is not common. In general, private schools have strict fee regulations, and they will not change. More often than not, if you don't have money, you can only stand outside the classroom and listen, and if the teacher doesn't pry you, it's very face-saving. Go to a private school, that's still a rich man's play.

According to the current situation of the times, if it weren't for the future school opened by Geng Jingzhong, I am afraid that only two or three of the hundred young people would be qualified and capable of going to school. And not counting girls. All private schools do not accept girls. The female champions in the TV series, female concubines or something, are definitely not reading and reading in private schools. In Fujian, there are at least 50,000 school-going children at the age of 12, including girls. If all these 50,000 children go to school, it will definitely be more than the number of children in the whole country who are qualified and able to go to school at this time.

In the face of 50,000 school-age children, there are not enough teachers, and everything is nonsense. Even if you calculate one teacher for 100 children, it will take hundreds of teachers. At present, there are only 150 schools in the future, accommodating more than 50,000 people under the age of 15, but there are still many children in remote areas who have not been enrolled. But now for the time being, Geng Jingzhong can't take care of so much, and now the urgent thing to solve is still to organize these students who have studied in the academy for several years and use them for their own use. This is the original intention of the Future School when it was opened. It seems that even if there are not so many people needed at once, it is necessary to organize them to continue their studies, such as opening some technical schools or something. (To be continued......)