"Let's go! Hurry up! ”

On the streets of Wudu, a group of stubborn and stubborn postures are escorting more than a dozen men and parading them through the streets.

Passers-by who had nothing to do were very curious and watched, pointing and pointing.

As for the man who was escorted, he was very dissatisfied and shouted for himself!

"Not convinced! A certain dissatisfied! How can you tarnish people's innocence out of thin air? ”

"We're in the salt business! This has been the case for generations, what is the matter with the Guanguan Mansion? ”

"Even if it is a decree of the government prohibiting the sale of illicit salt, it must not be like this!"

The men who were escorted were all angry, if it weren't for the fact that their hands had been tied with ropes, and the left and right were all soldiers with helmets and armor, and spears in their hands, I am afraid that they would have rioted and fled in all directions!

Seeing this, Li Shu, who was onlookers, couldn't help but turn his head and whisper.

"What did they do?"

"Haven't you heard? It's for the sale of illicit salt! Nowadays, the government implements a monopoly system of salt and iron, allowing private salt to be produced and then purchased by the government, but private salt is not allowed to be sold, and violators will be severely punished. ”

"Why don't you just not sell salt? I heard that gold, copper and other things are not allowed to be sold privately. If they violate, they will be put to death and their property confiscated; The lighter ones will also be confiscated from the land and will serve 10 to 20 years of hard labor! ”

"Ahh The punishment is so severe! ”

Hearing that the state had cracked down on important resources such as salt, iron, and copper sold privately, Li Shu, who was present, couldn't help but gasp and was shocked.

After all, Wu is close to the sea, and there are a lot of copper and iron and other mineral resources in the territory, which can be described as unique.

In this way, before the implementation of the salt and iron monopoly, many people in the past Wu State started and made a fortune by selling salt, producing salt, smelting iron, smelting copper, and other means of making a living.

It's just that now the government implements a monopoly system of salt and iron, which can be said to have cut off a big financial route for them!

The state may allow the people to produce salt and open mines, smelt iron and smelt copper, but they are not allowed to sell them privately, and all the important resources such as salt and iron they produce must be sold to the government, and then the government will set prices and sell them to the outside world.

Among them, although they are profitable, the profits are really not high.

Therefore, there must be some people who are bold enough to take risks and sell salt and iron privately!

Of course, it cannot be said that salt and iron cannot be sold privately, but it must be certified by the government and purchased from the government before it can be sold twice!

……

Right Prime Minister's Mansion.

In the elegant side hall, Shi Fan Li was sitting opposite the right prime minister.

"Teacher, there are a lot of complaints from the people about the new law that has been implemented recently!"

Fan Li frowned and said: "Let's just say that the matter of the salt and iron monopoly that the disciple is responsible for is the private sale of salt in the market, and it has been repeatedly banned. ”

"What makes the disciple even more angry is that in recent days, the disciple has ordered salt merchants and iron merchants in various places to close their shops and change them to state-owned enterprises.

"In this way, a large number of peddlers and pawns have emerged in the market, not avoiding risks, and smuggling salt and iron."

After a pause, Fan Li said again: "Moreover, the government has clearly decreed that private individuals only have the right to produce salt, iron smelting, and copper smelting, and they are not allowed to sell to the outside world, and they will all be transferred to the government at a reasonable price." ”

"However, the salt and iron collected by the disciples recently are very small, and the quality is extremely poor, why? If no one is in the way, the disciples will never be trusted! ”

Hearing this, Ji Ran, who was sitting opposite, still looked like an old god at ease, and the clouds were light and breezy.

Compared with the young and vigorous Fan Li, Ji Ran seems to be much more sophisticated!

He had long guessed that it would not be easy to carry out reform in a country!

Therefore, Ji Ran has been so calm from beginning to end, not in a hurry or impatient.

"Young uncle, it is not surprising that the salt and iron monopoly system has encountered such resistance."

Ji Ran chuckled lightly and said: "The monopoly of salt and iron is beneficial to the treasury of the government, but it is competing with the people for profit!" Wu has never lacked courageous people. ”

"Now, the government has deprived the merchants of the right to sell salt and iron to the outside world, and only allowed them to have the right to produce, how can the merchants not be annoyed?"

"The salt and iron industry is an industry that can make huge profits. It used to be several times, or even more than ten times the high profits, but now they can't make much money, how can the businessmen not hate it? ”

"People's hearts are unpredictable!"

Ji Ran sighed and said: "Businessmen are greedy and profit-seeking, and almost everyone has the heart to seek benefits and avoid disadvantages. ”

"If there is a double profit, the businessmen can take risks; If there is a fivefold profit, the merchants can defy the king's law; If there is a tenfold profit, the merchants can trample on everything, whether it is the law of the country or human life! ”

"Therefore, we must not underestimate the hearts of the people, let alone the greed in the hearts of the people!"

Hearing this, Fan Li was immediately in awe, and said to Ji Ran: "Teacher, the disciple is taught." ”

"Young uncle, not only the matter of the salt and iron monopoly, but also the implementation of the county system and the leveling law for which the division is responsible, have encountered a lot of resistance."

Ji Ran shook his head and said: "In recent days, many businessmen in the streets and alleys, as well as in the countryside, have been buying the surplus grain from Li Shu's family at a high price. ”

"When the officials came to the market to buy grain, the grain and rice purchased were very small......

"Humph!"

Fan Li snorted and said dissatisfiedly: "Teacher, this is clearly the businessmen openly resisting the new law and the decree implemented by the government!" Are they not afraid of punishment in this way? ”

"Punishment?"

Ji Ran glanced at Fan Li meaningfully, and said: "Among the laws and regulations of my Wu Kingdom, is there one item that strictly prohibits merchants from buying grain, and Li Shu is not allowed to sell grain?" ”

"This ...... No. ”

"If so, what is the punishment?"

Fan Li couldn't help but be speechless.

However, in any case, the merchants purchased grain and rice on such a large scale, clearly resisting the Pinglian Law, which made it difficult for Wu to establish a national grain storage system.

After all, this is contrary to the new law and is not conducive to the country!

"Teacher, do you have a solution to this?"

Fan Li asked curiously.

"There are two ways to solve it. First, the government enacted strict laws prohibiting merchants from buying grain on a large scale, or prohibiting Li Shu from selling grain without permission. ”

"Second, suspend the law and let the businessmen continue to buy grain at high prices. In the future, when the merchants saw that it was unprofitable, and the grain and rice were hoarded for a long time and became moldy and rancid, they naturally would not buy grain and rice on a large scale. ”

"Color!"

Fan Li felt that Ji Ran's two countermeasures were good.

One hurry and one slow!

The former may cause Li Shu to complain, after all, he doesn't even have the right to sell grain and rice privately, how can Li Shu not be resentful?

In the latter, the government will be under greater pressure.

After all, to put it simply, if there is a famine somewhere in Wu and the country has no reserves of grain and rice, how can we help the victims?

At that time, the government may also have to buy grain and rice in the hands of merchants at a higher price!

The stakes are extremely high!

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